Trade buzz: Nets' Murphy on move
After nearly two months of trying to find a trade for him, the New Jersey Nets are near an agreement to send Troy Murphy to the Golden State Warriors for Brandan Wright and Dan Gadzuric, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
The trade is expected to be completed on Wednesday, but could still become larger with the inclusion of Nets point guard Devin Harris into a three-team package – most likely with Portland or Dallas, sources said.
The Warriors, who would also receive a 2012 second-round pick from the Nets, will buy out the remainder of the $12 million owed Murphy in the final year of his contract and allow him to become a free agent.
Murphy, a 6-foot-11 forward, has the interest of several playoff contenders, including Orlando, Dallas, Miami and Boston, sources said. His 3-point range and size make him attractive to playoff teams.
After Murphy was traded to the Nets from Indiana in the preseason, he fought injuries and ultimately failed to fit into coach Avery Johnson’s plans. Murphy played just 18 games before the Nets allowed him to leave the team on Jan. 7 and await a trade.
Adrian Wojnarowski, 10:25 p.m. ET, Feb. 22
Bulls trying to work deal for Lee
The Chicago Bulls are still pursuing shooting guard Courtney Lee, offering a first-round draft pick to the Houston Rockets, sources said.
Chicago could make the offer more intriguing with the addition of the Miami Heat’s 2011 first-round pick that the Bulls acquired from Toronto for forward James Johnson on Tuesday. For now, the Rockets are determined to bring back size and want Bulls center Omer Asik in any package for Lee.
The Bulls are determined to find a shooting guard before Thursday's deadline.
– Adrian Wojnarowski, 2 a.m. ET Feb. 23
Hornets to acquire Landry
The Hornets are close to completing a trade for Sacramento Kings forward Carl Landry, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
The Kings will receive guard Marcus Thornton and cash from New Orleans. The deal is expected to be finalized on Wednesday.
The Kings held Landry out of Tuesday's loss in Miami. Sacramento coach Paul Westphal told reporters Landry didn't play because he was involved in trade talks.
Landry has one year left on his contract at $3 million.
– Marc J. Spears, 11:29 p.m. Feb. 22
Nets' Harris wants trade
As badly as the New Jersey Nets have wanted to move underperforming point guard Devin Harris(notes), the sentiment is mutual: Harris has fully embraced the Nets’ intent to trade him, sources told Yahoo! Sports.
After Harris pushed for the Nets to hire his former coach with the Dallas Mavericks, Avery Johnson, the two have had a difficult time working together, and Harris’ production has declined across the season. The Nets have discussed deals with multiple teams for Harris, with possible scenarios in the works with the Portland Trail Blazers and Dallas, sources said.
Privately, Harris is hoping for a trade back to Dallas where he started his career, two sources familiar with his thinking told Yahoo! Sports. The Mavericks also have serious interest in a reunion with Harris.
– Adrian Wojnarowski, 7:10 p.m. ET, Feb. 22
Nene seeking new deal
With Carmelo Anthony(notes) now gone, Denver Nuggets center Nene has become increasingly frustrated that he hasn’t been offered a contract extension, a league source said.
The Miami Heat, Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder have all inquired about Nene, but the Nuggets don’t plan to trade him, a source with knowledge of the team’s thinking said. The source expects the Nuggets to soon give Nene an extension offer.
Nene has said he prefers to stay in Denver. His wife is from Colorado and the couple is expecting a child in June.
Nene is hoping for a contract extension comparable to the five-year, $60 million deal Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford(notes) and Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah(notes) received.
Nene has a window to opt out of the $11.6 million final season of his contract from the day after the Nuggets’ season ends until June 30. He’s averaging 15.1 points and 7.1 rebounds while shooting an NBA-best 63.7 percent.
– Marc J. Spears, 7:10 p.m. ET, Feb. 22
Hawks shopping Bibby, eye Hinrich
The Atlanta Hawks are working hard to move point guard Mike Bibby(notes), and Washington’s Kirk Hinrich(notes) has emerged as a real target for them. Denver’s Raymond Felton(notes) and Portland’s Andre Miller(notes) also are looming large on the Hawks’ radar, sources say. The Hawks have inquired about the Nets’ Harris, but there are no deal possibilities there, sources said.
The Hawks are trying hard to rid themselves of the three years and $23.2 million left on Marvin Williams’(notes) contract after this season. “For what he makes, it’s a tough sell,” said one NBA coach whose team desires a forward who can score the ball.
The Hawks also have explored trying to trade guard Jeff Teague(notes) and swingman Maurice Evans(notes) to the Cleveland Cavaliers for guards Ramon Sessions(notes) and Manny Harris(notes), one source said.
– Adrian Wojnarowski and Marc J. Spears, 7:10 p.m. ET, Feb. 22
Hornets looking to strengthen roster
New Orleans Hornets general manager Dell Demps remains aggressive in pursuit of scorers and power players, using shooting guard Marcus Thornton(notes), the $4.7 million expiring contract of Marcus Banks(notes) and a trade exception as bait, sources said.
The Hornets have been talking with the Sacramento Kings about power forward Carl Landry(notes), who has a $3 million expiring contract and could be an ideal candidate to re-sign should David West(notes) opt out of his contract and leave as a free agent.
West is no longer discussing a contract extension with the Hornets and plans to opt out of the $7.5 million left on his deal for next year, sources said. West should be able to command $10 million a season in an extension, several front office executives said. The Hornets have tried to sign West to a new deal, but so far have been unsuccessful.
Demps inquired with the Milwaukee Bucks on small forward Corey Maggette(notes), who has most of three years and $30 million left on his contract, sources said. The trade would’ve been framed as a salary dump for Milwaukee, but talks didn’t go far. Under NBA ownership now, there’s no easy way for the Hornets to absorb the rest of Maggette’s contract onto their books. The Bucks are trying to get healthy for the stretch run and make a push for a return to the Eastern Conference playoffs.
– Adrian Wojnarowski, 7:10 p.m. ET, Feb. 22
Thabeet draws interest
The Oklahoma City Thunder have inquired about Memphis Grizzlies center Hasheem Thabeet(notes), but haven’t decided on making an offer for the 7-foot-3 bust out of UConn. Thabeet was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft and shuttled between the NBA’s Developmental League and the Grizzlies’ bench.
The Nuggets also have expressed interest in Thabeet.
– Adrian Wojnarowski, 7:10 p.m. ET, Feb. 22
More chatter
Denver has made clear to teams around the league and associates of former Knicks forward Danilo Gallinari(notes) that general manager Masai Ujiri plans to keep him, not trade him. … Why did Chicago move young forward James Johnson(notes) to the Toronto Raptors for a Miami Heat first-round pick? Coach Tom Thibodeau simply wasn’t an advocate of Johnson, who was the 16th overall pick out of Wake Forest in the 2009 draft. The Bulls’ front office was higher on Johnson than Thibodeau, but Thibodeau has gained a great influence in player personnel with the Bulls. Chicago is still talking to Houston about shooting guard Courtney Lee(notes), a favorite of Thibodeau’s, sources said. … The Knicks are trying to acquire Portland center Marcus Camby(notes), but the Blazers are weighing more options.
– Adrian Wojnarowski and Marc J. Spears, 7:10 p.m. ET, Feb. 22
