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The last 24 hours have been a whirlwind in the NBA, with multiple trades taking place after the moratorium was lifted. Let’s get into it.
Bucks trade for Jrue Holiday, Bogdan Bogdanovic
The Milwaukee Bucks were A-C-T-I-V-E—active yesterday. Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, Milwaukee have acquired Jrue Holiday from the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for three first-round picks and two future pick swaps.
New Orleans also receives two future draft pick swaps from Milwaukee, along with three firsts, sources said. https://t.co/pZtkfvZkrD
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 17, 2020
That’s a pretty good haul for the New Orleans Pelicans if you ask me. Feels like a lot for the Bucks to give up, but if they win a title it’ll be worth it.
Milwaukee wasn’t done after acquiring Holiday. They picked the phone back up and dialed the Kings, landing Bogdan Bogdanovic while sending Donte Divincenzo, DJ Wilson, and Ersan Ilyasova to Sacramento, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
The Bucks are trading Donte Divincenzo. Ersan Ilyasova and DJ Wilson in the deal to the Kings, sources said. https://t.co/Vrho6gZQhH
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 17, 2020
Milwaukee appears to be going all in for this upcoming season.
Houston sends Robert Covington to Portland, gets back two firsts and Trevor Ariza
The Portland Trail Blazers have traded for our beloved Robert Covington, sending two first rounds picks, including no. 16 in Wednesday’s NBA Draft, and Trevor Ariza to the Houston Rockets, per Woj.
The Rockets are finalizing a trade to send Robert Covington to Portland for Trevor Ariza and 2020 first-round pick and 2021 protected first-round pick, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 17, 2020
It would have been poetic had Daryl Morey found a way to get Covington back in a Sixers uniform, but it’s safe to say it’s not happening anytime soon. I love the fit and I’m happy to see Covington land somewhere that I think he can thrive.
Chris Paul has a new home in Phoenix
The Phoenix Suns have been searching for a ball handler to ease Devin Booker’s offensive load for what feels like forever and they’ve finally done so, landing Chris Paul from the Oklahoma City Thunder, per Shams. The Thunder are getting back Ricky Rubio, Kelly Oubre, Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque and a 2022 first round pick.
OKC has traded Chris Paul to Phoenix for Ricky Rubio, Kelly Oubre, Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque and draft compensation, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. https://t.co/QA1hoZlxzM
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 16, 2020
Sam Presti continues to build on OKC’s massive stash of draft picks. Love what he’s done over the last two offseasons.
Brooklyn Nets swap Dzanan Musa, 2021 2nd round pick for Bruce Brown
The Brooklyn Nets have traded for Bruce Brown, sending the Detroit Pistons Dzanan Musa and a 2021 second round pick, per Woj.
The Nets are sending the 2021 second-round pick via Toronto, per sources. Musa was the 29th overall pick in the 2018 Draft, a versatile 6-9 forward. Nets like Brown's defensive ability, honed in University of Miami program. https://t.co/TzVM04uMC7
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 16, 2020
James Harden turns down extension, focused on being traded to Brooklyn Nets
After turning down the chance to become the first $50 million per year player in league history, Houston Rockets All-NBA guard James Harden has made it clear to ownership that he’s singularly focused on a trade to the Brooklyn Nets, sources told ESPN.
As Harden’s conversations with the Nets’ stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving ramped up in recent weeks on the West Coast, sources said the Rockets made a pitch for him to sign the maximum allowable extension — two years and $103 million on top of the remaining three years, $133 million on his current deal.
Welp, Harden-to-Philly rumors were fun while they lasted!