NBA trade rumors: Latest news, buzz as deadline nears

The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 18 at 3 p.m. ET, and as usual, the rumors have begun to swirl in full. With the NBA All-Star Weekend festivities all wrapped up, the rumors will only intensify as the deadline nears.

Numerous big names could be on the move, as contenders look to bolster their teams ahead of the NBA playoffs. Other teams could be looking to unload salary ahead of the summer, when the salary cap will jump to unprecedented levels. Teams rumored to be looking to make moves include the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics and more.

Who’s staying? Who’s going? Stay tuned for updates as the clock continues to tick.

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Feb. 16

• The Clippers are close to acquiring forward Channing Frye, reports The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Cavaliers are among numerous teams also interested in Frye. The Clippers are using Lance Stephenson as a trade chip, according to the report.

• The Brooklyn Nets have offered their general manager job to San Antonio Spurs assistant GM Sean Marks, reports Wojnarowski.

• The Raptors and Clippers have interest in Nets forward Thaddeus Young, reports Frank Isola of the New York Daily News.

• The Timberwolves at present have no “ongoing trade talks” for Ricky Rubio, reports Wojnarowski. Their stance could change come summer.

• Wojnarowski reports that the Pistons, after acquiring Tobias Harris on Tuesday, are still on the market to add a veteran guard.

• ESPN’s Marc Stein reports the Hornets and Rockets have discussed the framework of a trade involving Dwight Howard but have not found a workable deal. ESPN’s Calvin Watkins reports the Rockets have also talked to the Heat, Hawks and Raptors about the veteran center.

• Wojnarowski reports that Charlotte has shown “no interest” in moving assets for Howard.

• The Hornets have acquired Courtney Lee from the Memphis Grizzlies in a three-team deal that sends Brian Roberts to the Heat and Chris Andersen to the Grizzlies, The Vertical reports. Memphis also receives two second-round picks from the Hornets and the Heat.

• The Magic traded Tobias Harris to the Pistons for Brandon Jennings and Ersan Ilyasova.

• The Indiana Pacers are shopping forward Chase Budinger, reports Candace Buckner of the Indianapolis Star.

• The Phoenix Suns continue to shop forward Markieff Morris. According to The Vertical, Phoenix is seeking a young player and a first-round pick in exchange for the oft-troubled player.

• The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Toronto Raptors, linked to a move for a power forward, are not interested in Morris.

• If the Cavaliers trade Kevin Love—and that's a big if—they reportedly want a star player in return and not a bundle of draft picks and young parts, according to ESPN.com.

• The Cavs have an open roster spot, and have the option to wait for a player to be bought out, potentially Nets forward Joe Johnson, reports ESPN’s Zach Lowe.

• The Clippers are listening to offers on star power forward Blake Griffin, Lowe reports. While the team may wait until the summer and make another run at it with its core as constituted, their decision on Griffin may be linked to their chances to land Thunder forward Kevin Durant, who will be an unrestricted free agent.

• One of the teams calling on Griffin is the Boston Celtics, according to the Boston Herald, although the Clippers have “no real intention” of moving him. GM Danny Ainge told the Herald the Celtics want to make the team both “short and long-term better” at the deadline.

• The Pelicans and Bucks have had talks about Milwaukee big man Greg Monroe. Lowe reports New Orleans is looking for a physical player to pair with Anthony Davis in the post.

• The Timberwolves are looking to move Kevin Martin and/or Adreian Payne before the deadline, according to ESPN.com. Chris Broussard reports the team covets Bucks big man Miles Plumlee. 

• The Kings' front-office situation continues to be a fluid situation. The Vertical is reporting owner Vivek Ranadive could bring in a general manager this summer to work under Vlade Divac. 

• Three players that reportedly could be bought out if not traded: Andrea Bargnani (Nets), David Lee (Celtics) and J.J. Hickson (Nuggets).

• Kyle Korver is a "dream target" for the Cavaliers, according to ESPN.com.

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• The Kings are working with Ben McLemore to find the shooting guard a new home before the trade deadline, reports ESPN.com.

• The Raptors are looking to add a power forward before the deadline, reports ESPN.com.

• Orlando could be a team to watch before the deadline. ESPN.com reports the team is interested in Jeff Teague and could be willing to move some of its key players, including Victor Oladipo and Channing Frye. 

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Feb. 15

• Miami and Houston are discussing a deal that would send Dwight Howard to the Heat and Hassan Whiteside to the Rockets, reports Frank Isola of the New York Daily News.

• The Magic are willing to discuss trading away former No. 2 pick Victor Oladipo and Tobias Harris, reports ESPN. Orlando has also looked into acquiring Hawks point guard Jeff Teague.

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• The Los Angeles Clippers offered an injured Blake Griffin and Lance Stephenson to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Nikola Jokic, Will Barton, Danilo Gallinari and Kenneth Faried, reports ESPN's Chris Broussard.

• Rumors swirled on Friday night of a potential deal that was discussed between the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics and Knicks that would include Carmelo Anthony but was quickly shot down. Anthony would have to waive his no-trade clause for a move but now plans to play all the remaining games on the Knicks' schedule, the Daily News reports.

• The Knicks are seeking help at point guard but may not have the assets to make a run at Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio, according to the Daily News.

• The Denver Nuggets have made Kenneth Faried and J.J. Hickson available, the Daily Newsreports.

• After fielding questions about potential trades being discussed, DeMarcus Cousins says that he would like to stay put with the Kings, if it was up to him. “First of all, I can’t control the trade (rumors) and I can’t control if I’m traded or not,” Cousins told NBC Sports. “But I do want to be in Sacramento, and I know everybody in Sacramento knows that.”

• Despite the team's lack of a general manager, the Brooklyn Nets could still find a way to move Brook Lopez or Thaddeus Young, according to the Daily News.

• The Heat are interested in New Orleans Pelicans power forward Ryan Anderson as the team is uncertain on Hassan Whiteside's future, Barry Jackson of the Miami Heraldreports.

• The Cavaliers are unlikely to re-sign 7'1" center Timofey Mozgov, reports Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. ESPN’s Marc Stein reports the Cavs have pursued Kings bigman Kosta Koufos this week.

• The Boston Celtics are trying to trade David Lee but one source tells Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald that the forward has “no trade value.”

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