One team that has been conspicuously absent from the latest NBA rumors is the Dallas Mavericks. Dallas tends to be one of the more active teams around the trade deadline, but this season, they've so far been content to stand pat. In fact, the only noise they are really making is when their owner is talking about other teams.
However, the Mavericks may be trying to enter the game late in the process. ESPN's Marc Stein reports that the Mavericks are making a last-minute chase to acquire either Detroit's Tayshaun Prince or Denver's J.R. Smith.
The Mavericks plan to make last-ditch trade runs at Detroit's Tayshaun Prince and Denver's J.R. Smith before Thursday's 3 p.m. ET trade deadline, sources close to the situation say.
But Dallas isn't optimistic about acquiring either player.
The problem is that neither team wants to give up its player at this point. Dallas has been careful about adding long-term salary, so players with expiring contracts, like Smith or Prince, are the way they will likely go. Still, given the upheaval in the Western Conference, you'd think a bold move to win this season would be worth more than in most years.
Other rumors as we get closer to the 3 p.m. deadline:
- The Grizzlies are talking to the Rockets about trading Hasheem Thabeet for Shane Battier, but the Rockets want an additional first-round pick.
- The Grizzlies have also turned down every trade offer for Zach Randolph and O.J. Mayo, according to Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. The Bulls offered Kyle Korver and the Nets offered Anthony Morrow for Mayo, but owner Michael Heisley turned both down.
- Raymond Felton's agent met with Nuggets GM Masai Ujiri Wednesday night to discuss his client's future with the team, according to ESPN's Chris Broussard. Felton reportedly doesn't want to be a reserve, but the Nuggets have named Ty Lawson the starter. Many teams have called about Felton's availability, but the Nuggets have so far rebuffed those calls.
- The Bulls continue to look for a shooting guard, and have zeroed in on Mayo and Courtney Lee, but they are only offering their two first-round picks, writes K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. Teams have asked for either Taj Gibson or Omer Asik instead, and the Bulls want to keep both.
- The Timberwolves have put point guard Jonny Flynn on the market, according to ESPN's Chad Ford. They talked to the Jazz about shooting guard Raja Bell, and have also called the Blazers.
- The Warriors will buy out recently-acquired Troy Murphy, no matter how long it takes, writes Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle. Several contenders would be interested in Murphy once that happens.
- The 76ers will likely be quiet at the trade deadline, writes Kate Fagan of the Philadelphia Inquirer. There's still a chance a minor deal happens involving forward Marreese Speights, who the 76ers aren't that inclined to trade, or the expiring contracts of Jason Kapono or Darius Songaila.
- Interesting note from Stein: the Kings are under the minimum salary threshold (75 percent of the salary cap) after trading Carl Landry for Marcus Thornton. They will likely have to make a move to get back over the line.
- The Hawks look like they will keep sixth man Jamal Crawford even after acquiring Kirk Hinrich from the Wizards. Crawford, for his part, thought he was going to be moved, and according to Chris Palmer of ESPN, the Nets had interest before trading for Deron Williams.
- T.J. Ford may go to the Portland Trail Blazers, according to John Canzano, but only if the Pacers buy out the final year of his contract ($8.5 million). The problem is that Ford has resisted buyout talks up to this point.
- We talked on Tuesday about how the Blazers, in general, were in an odd position. But after a recent winning streak, they have decided to be buyers, writes David Aldridge.