In the latest NBA trade season news from NBA insider Marc Stein, with the February 8 deadline fast approaching, several teams, including the Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers, Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings, and Washington Wizards being focuses.
There’s significant interest in Toronto Raptors’ Bruce Brown, with the team seeking at least a future first-round pick and a quality player in exchange. The Lakers and Knicks, who previously showed interest in Brown, are among the potential suitors.
Brown even recently advocated himself as a trade candidate for the Knicks before his matchup against the Raptors, describing himself as being “the type of player that [Thibodeau] likes.”
“I am a dog,” Brown told The Post… “I play extremely hard on both ends of the floor. I can do just about whatever [Thibodeau] needs me to do… I play extremely hard I would think [I’m] the type of player that [Thibodeau] likes.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Bruce Brown, Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
In Portland, there’s resistance to trading forward Jerami Grant despite their struggles this season. Grant, who has recently signed a significant five-year deal, has expressed his desire to stay with the Blazers amidst speculation about his future.
“I’m cool here,” Grant told Sean Highkin. “I’m good with what I’m doing. Keep my head down and keep working, keep trying to help the young guys as much as I can. [Trade speculation is] definitely something you see. It’s not something you can do anything about, especially since I just signed a deal. I’m here for as long as they want me.”
Malcolm Brogdon of the Blazers is seen as a likely trade candidate, with the Knicks showing interest as they look to strengthen their guard rotation. New York also considers Jordan Clarkson for this role, but the Utah Jazz’s recent success could make it more challenging.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jordan Clarkson, New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers, Malcolm Brogdon, Utah Jazz Updates
Jazz coach Will Hardy praised the evolution of Clarkson’s game, becoming a more well-rounded creator by involving his teammates and honing in his shot selection. By involving the weak side of the floor more consistently by making low-man reads, it activates the whole half-court offense while making operating simpler for himself.
“I think Jordan has done a really great job of sort of trying to have a little humility on the offensive end at times of just like, ‘They’re going to run a couple of guys at me, I have to try to generate some looks for my teammates,'” Hardy said of Clarkson. “I think that he’s improved the most as the season has gone on is finding players on the weak side of the floor.
“He’s had an instinct to sort of find Walker [Kessler] and the bigs in the middle of the floor, but I think making those decisions on who to find on the weak side, whether it’s the corner or the wing, I think is something he’s really grown at this year, but it’s hard,” Hardy explained. “It’s hard to do what he did tonight because there’s plenty of possessions where we want him to shoot.”
The Dallas Maverick have inquired about Washington Wizards’ Kyle Kuzma, who the Wizards value highly, seeking at least two first-round picks in exchange. Despite Washington’s poor performance this season, they are determined to leverage the high demand for Kuzma and other players like Daniel Gafford and Tyus Jones in the trade market. The Mavs can only move a 2027 first-round pick midseason.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards, Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings Updates
The Sacramento Kings, another team interested in Kuzma, and the Mavericks are considering how his contract could fit their existing salary structures. Kuzma’s descending contract value over the next four years makes him a viable option for teams with significant financial commitments to other players.
