NBA Trade Rumors Heat Up As Deadline Nears
The trade deadline is just a few hours away and that can only mean one thing: NBA trade rumors are flying around the internet.
Will Josh Smith leave the Atlanta Hawks? Is Jordan Crawford headed to Boston? Will the Lakers ditch Dwight Howard?
Those questions will be answered today at 3 p.m. ET when the trade deadline expires.
Most eyes today are on Josh Smith and the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks have been entertaining offers for their star players but so far it looks like they aren’t going to get what they want. Hoops World’s Alex Kennedy, however, expects the Hawks to make a last minute deal.
Kennedy writes: “ATL still underwhelmed with offers for Smith, but most believe they’ll settle for one of the offers rather than risk losing him this summer.”
The Bucs, Suns, Spurs, and Wizards are all in “serious talks” to acquire Smith but Fansided reports that he could end up going to Boston. Rumors have been flying about the Celtics breaking up their big three this year and FanSided calls them the “dark horse” in the Smith trade. It’s unclear what Boston would give up to acquire Smith.
Smith is the biggest question mark in the NBA right now as most sources have already squashed trade rumors like Dwight Howard leaving the Lakers or Carlos Boozer leaving the Chicago Bulls.
Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said:
“We’re not trading Dwight Howard … He will not be traded, and there’s nothing that anybody can do today to call me today and ask me, ‘Would you do this?’ and get a positive result.”
Here are some more NBA trade rumors floating around today.
Nets have made play this week for Milwaukee’s Ersan Ilyasova, I’m told, but their trusty Kris Humphries/MarShon Brooks bundle was rejected
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 21, 2013
Trade to watch: Udrih-to-Dallas in play but Beno won’t be dealt on own til end of deadline in case Bucks need him in bigger (JSmoove) deal
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 21, 2013
Bucks “keep upping the ante” in pursuit of J.J. Redick, source says. Could mean confidence growing that they will land Josh Smith.
— Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) February 21, 2013
Do you think Josh Smith will be leaving the Atlanta Hawks?
