The Ben Simmons case is far from resolved”>trade deadline of February 10 is approaching, and the negotiations are getting underway.
The NBA, like every January, it is experiencing the liveliest part of its trading market in recent weeks. The trade deadline, in fact, is set for Thursday 10 February and the deductibles do not want to be caught unprepared a few hours from the gong, which is why the main negotiations are already starting in these days. Here is a small recap of what emerged in the last week.
Simmons-Kings: maybe we are (but watch out for Harden)
The catchphrase of recent months is certainly that relating to Ben Simmons – which we have spoken extensively about. Among the Australian’s suitors stand out above all the Sacramento Kings, a dilapidated Californian franchise that sees the turning point in the native of Melbourne after 15 years of absolute mediocrity.
The two teams, therefore, have spoken repeatedly in recent days, with Philly who would have bet above all Tyrese Haliburton, a young point guard from Sacramento seen as the ideal replacement for Simmons. The very name of Haliburton, however, has stalled the negotiations, with the Kings who would prefer to give only Harrison Barnes and Buddy Hield, big discontents of the Sacramento roster.
Dissatisfied with this – and the other – offers, Philadelphia would therefore have decided to change course: Simmons is kept – albeit inactive – until the end of the season, hoping that the collapse of other projects will lead a superstar to ask to change shirts favoring an exchange. Favorite profile? Obviously James Harden, protege of the Philly Daryl Morey plenipotentiary in Houston and ready to leave in the event of a new defeat by the Brooklyn Nets, always struggling with Kevin Durant’s injury and the known problems concerning Kyrie Irving.
Collins, the great discontent, but the market seems to be small
Among the most talked about names this week there seems to be that of John Collins, wing of the Atlanta Hawks which would have required the transfer due to misunderstandings with the coaching staff. On him, however, only lukewarm interests are reported.
The Hawks would like to put it in a package for Ben Simmons – a solution that would intrigue Philadelphia a lot, without fully convincing it – while the player would be fascinated by the insistence with which the Dallas Mavericks they are asking for him. We’ll see if the Texans find the right offer, convincing even a reluctant Atlanta.
Duncan Robinson, what’s up? From the Finals to the sale
Going from being a role player in a university football-dominant as Michigan to a star in the most incredible NBA Finals ever is definitely a leap, but Duncan Robinson for years he didn’t seem particularly worried about the pressures. This season, however, his three-point percentages have dropped significantly, forcing the Miami Heat – also considering the growth of young shooters such as Gabe Vincent and Max Strus – to reflections.
Pat Riley’s front office would be willing – in the event of an adequate offer – for the sale, but there are no negotiations yet.
Boston, we need to change: Marcus Smart the sacrificed?
Marcus Smart, charismatic and defensive leader of the Boston Celtics, is from today, January 25, free to be traded by your team. Precisely for this reason the white-green, authors up to this moment of a season with anonymous and disappointing colors, are looking for the missing piece to return to compete by offering the number 36.
Smart, according to some insiders not on excellent terms with the stars of the team Jayson Tatum e Jaylen Brown, for example, it would have been included in negotiations with Utah to bring it to Massachusetts Bojan Bogdanović, deadly shooter from the big forward position that would take the pressure off the static attack of coach Ime Udoka. We will see if this draft agreement will be completed.
