The (new) latest trade winds
A fresh helping of Weekend dime-dropping brings you up to date on trade scuttle with the NBA's annual in-season deadline for making deals (Feb. 10) just days away now
With less than two weeks left in the NBA's 2021-22 trade season, there are still only five teams in the whole league who are realistically out of contention for a spot in the playoff play-in round.
Indiana, Oklahoma City, Houston, Detroit and Orlando comprise the fivesome that awoke Friday more than three games out of a play-in spot in the standings. It means that the league's list of teams regarded as willing sellers remains short, while the price tag to acquire coveted players from the presumed selling quintet, as a result, is not cheap.
Example: The Pacers, now widely considered less likely to trade Myles Turner because of a stress reaction in Turner's left foot, are said to be seeking at least two future first-round picks for Caris LeVert.
Another example: Oklahoma City, according to my Bleacher Report pal Jake Fischer, wants at least one future first-round pick to part with swingman Kenrich Williams, whose stock is rising as a defensive specialist capable of guarding four positions as he improves offensively.
More of what I'm hearing from the personnel grapevine as we dribble ever closer to the NBA's trade buzzer (3 PM ET on Feb. 10) …
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