NBA Trade Rumors: Feb. 13–15

With the February 23 trade deadline just around the corner, trade rumors are flying. Until then we’ll be running down the latest NBA trade rumors twice a week instead of just on Sundays.

We’ve already had a couple major trades this week. The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski first reported on Tuesday that the Toronto Raptors were acquiring Serge Ibaka from the Orlando Magic in exchange for Terrence Ross and a 2017 first-round pick (either the Raptors pick or the Los Angeles Clippers’ pick which the Raptors own).

The Magic had been looking to move Ibaka for a couple weeks, with teams like the Houston Rockets and Miami Heat among those reported to have interest. Toronto, ultimately, was able to make a deal happen for the 27-year-old forward. Ibaka, who becomes an unrestricted free agent after the season, is averaging 15.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while shooting 38.8 percent from three this season.

We’ve reported extensively on Sunday’s trade between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Denver Nuggets. Rumor is that Denver may not be done dealing. On Sunday, Marc Stein of ESPN reported that Danilo Gallinari is a player to watch as the deadline approaches:

The Raptors and Clippers are among the teams said to be monitoring Gallinari's availability, amidst a growing belief that Denver is prepared to move him, given that the Nuggets anticipate that Gallinari will bypass the final season of his current contract (valued at $16.1 million) and join Millsap on the open market, and they don't plan to spend big to retain the Italian.

Gallinari’s father and agent, Vittorio Gallinari, reportedly said that the Houston Rockets have shown interest in his son. “I never called Mike D’Antoni (Rockets head coach) but I think that the interest of Houston for Danilo comes from Mike’s desire to coach him again.” D’Antoni coached Gallinari with the New York Knicks in the 2008–09 and 2009–10 seasons. Gallinari is averaging 17.2 point per game as a starter for Denver this year.

In addition to Gallinari, Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders lists Wilson Chandler and Emmanuel Mudiay as players the Nuggets would be willing to trade. Chandler has moved in and out of the starting lineup for Denver this season. Mudiay has struggled with back spasms in his second season.

It seemed like a trade for Jahlil Okafor was imminent this past weekend after Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown told reporters that he held Okafor out of Saturday’s game because of a potential trade. Okafor then didn’t travel with the team to Charlotte for their game on Monday.

However, the former third overall pick has now rejoined the 76ers for their game in Boston Wednesday night and Keith Pompey of Philly.com has reports that while trade talks continue, “the team is not as close to trading the second-year center as it seemed to be in recent days.” The New Orleans Pelicans and Chicago Bulls are believed to be the teams most interested in acquiring Okafor, with Denver and Portland also questionably listed as potential destinations.

Separately, the Bulls are looking to get an additional first-round pick in this year’s draft.On Monday, Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders reported that Chicago is willing to part with either center Robin Lopez or forward Doug McDermott in exchange for a first-round draft pick.

Robin’s twin brother Brook Lopez of the Brooklyn Nets has also been involved in trade rumors. According to Michael Scotto, the Nets have discussed trading their starting center to New Orleans for Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, Tim Frazier and a 2018 protected first-round pick.

Earlier this week, Alex Kennedy of Hoops Hype reported that the Los Angeles Lakers may be looking to trade Lou Williams:

On Tuesday, a general manager confirmed that the Lakers have, in fact, shopped Williams and seem likely to move him prior to the deadline.

As previously mentioned, the Lakers have a lot riding on this year’s lottery, so moving Williams increases the likelihood that they keep their 2017 and 2019 first-round picks, gives the younger backcourt players more minutes and brings in assets (such as another young player or a pick).

Williams is having a productive year for the Lakers. The veteran guard is averaging a career high 18.5 points in just 24.2 minutes per game.

According to Kennedy, another available guard is Darren Collison of the Sacramento Kings. Kennedy wrote that the Kings have made a number of players available, but that Collison specifically could be moved. Collison has averaged 13.7 points per game as a starter for Sacramento this season.

The trade deadline is just over a week away, so check back here on Sunday for the latest NBA trade rumors.

Addition: ESPN senior writer Zach Lowe reports that the Detroit Pistons have quietly tested the trade market for Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson, calling any sort of Drummond deal “an extreme long shot,” while listing possible destinations for Jackson, who is having a down season:

Any Drummond deal at the deadline is an extreme long shot, but Jackson remains in play for Minnesota, Orlando, New Orleans, or some mystery destination. Even if Detroit keeps him, missing the playoffs would put dramatic changes on the table this summer.

H/T: ozqb3