We had extreme turbulence on the NBA trade market last week, but so far, deadline week has been quiet. When there is one dominant player looming over the whole thing — Anthony Davis in this case — the rest of the scuttlebutt tends to be drowned out. But let’s have a look around the league in today’s Rumor-rama.
Even after the embarrassing tussle between players at a practice three months ago, even after another season-sinking injury to star guard John Wall and even after their current run of four losses in five games — which included defeats at the hands of the Cavaliers and Hawks — the Wizards don’t appear to be budging.
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Heck, owner Ted Leonsis has come out and said it publicly: Washington has no plans to break up its three-player core of Wall, Bradley Beal and Otto Porter. Rival executives have said much the same thing. As one told Sporting News, "They’re not budging. Maybe they’d deal Porter, but they want a star-type player back, and that’s not happening."
Indeed, Porter makes the most sense as a Wizards salary dump. He is due to make $27 million next year, with a player option for $28.5 million in 2019-20. With Wall’s four-year, $170 million extension kicking in next year, the Wizards will be essentially at the $118 million salary cap despite having only six players signed.
That’s fueled the rumors around Porter from teams like Portland, Dallas and Utah. While most have approached a deal for Porter under the assumption that his weighty contract and shrinking production (12.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 36.9 percent 3-point shooting, down from 44.1 percent last year) would spur the Wizards to let him go for a reduced return, that hasn’t been the case.
If they’re not going to let Porter go for a reduced return, they’re not going to let Porter go.
For better or worse, the Wizards remain committed to their core. With the salaries being paid out, Washington won’t have much opportunity to put a supporting cast around Wall, Beal and Porter, but that’s been the franchise’s dilemma for the last few years.
And it’s unlikely to change in the next couple of days.
Markelle Fultz won't be on the move
Another guy not expected to go anywhere ahead of Thursday’s deadline: Sixers guard Markelle Fultz.
Fultz, the No. 1 pick in the 2017 draft, has played only 19 games this season, averaging 8.2 points on 41.9 percent shooting and 28.6 percent 3-point shooting. He’s been rehabbing his shoulder for a condition called thoracic outlet syndrome and has not played since Nov. 19.
The Sixers, according to sources around the league, are not ready to move on from Fultz, given the investment the franchise made into him, the utter cratering of his trade value and the fact that he’s only 20 years old and still has a chance to be productive.
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That could change this summer, when the Sixers’ future outlook will firm up once Jimmy Butler hits free agency and Ben Simmons is eligible for a contract extension. Both could wind up with max deals, which would make Fultz a trade chip that could be used to fill out the roster with role players.
Fultz is planning on playing this season, though the Sixers — battling for the No. 3 seed in the East at 34-19 — are not considering his return a factor as they look to improve the roster ahead of the deadline.
Philadelphia has been "very active for a while," one source said, as the team seeks depth. But the Sixers also have last year’s experience of bringing in waiver signees Ersan Ilyasova and Marco Belinelli for the stretch run. Both played well, and the Sixers would be comfortable going that route again in what should be a busy buyout market.
That Marcus Morris money is coming
For all the tumult that has engulfed the Celtics this season, the guy who might be the most interesting on the roster is rarely mentioned: forward Marcus Morris. As one scout said last week, "I would hate to think where they’d be without Morris. All the stuff that’s gone on, at least on the floor, he kind of holds it together for them."
Morris will be a free agent this summer and has played himself into a major raise. He was acquired from the Pistons for Avery Bradley two summers ago and has put together a career-best season at age 29, averaging 14.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 48.0 percent shooting and 41.4 percent 3-point shooting — all career highs. His cap hit is a mere $5.4 million.
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Not for long. Executives around the league estimate that Morris, who will turn 30 in September, will command a salary starting in the $11-12 million range. Given his age, Morris won’t get a long-term deal. As one GM said, "Two years makes sense, but maybe a third year on an option."
Expect teams looking for veteran help — Sacramento, Utah, Indiana — to have interest in Morris this summer.
Morris’ twin brother, Wizards forward Markieff Morris, will also be a free agent next summer. He’s making $8.6 million this year and is currently recovering from a neck injury.