As the NBA season rolls on, many around the league are dealing with injuries and juggling rotations. However, teams are also making preparations for the trade deadline - which is just over a month away. Here are all the latest NBA news and rumors you need to know:
Cavs looking to make a trade
The Cleveland Cavaliers are clearly the best team in the Eastern Conference again this season, but they aren't satisfied with their current roster. Even after acquiring Kyle Korver from the Hawks, general manager David Griffin said that Cleveland is still looking to acquire a playmaker.
"It's something where we're all pretty keenly aware that it would help take some burden off of Kyrie [Irving] and LeBron [James] as our primary playmaker, so if we could get somebody else that could do it ... and it really doesn't even have to be a point guard; it's just we need playmaking," Griffin said.
"So, again, the hope is that Kyle gives us the opportunity to create some offense another way and make us less dependent on those two play creators. Obviously coach [Tyronn Lue] has done some creative things with Kevin Lfove to make offense run through him as well. But all season long, we've known we need more playmaking and just more intelligence at times on the floor in terms of the decision-making. We'll continue to try to improve."
Raptors also looking to make a deal before the deadline?
The Toronto Raptors are trying to contend with the Cavs in the East, but many believe they are still well behind Cleveland. Because of that, James Herbert of CBS Sports writes that the Raptors will also be looking to make a trade to improve before the deadline.
Toronto's position has led to a public push for the front office to make a move to close the gap with Cleveland before the Feb. 23 trade deadline. Raptors president Masai Ujiri is patient, but that shouldn't be confused with complacency. He wants to improve the team and challenge the Cavs, and he also wants to preserve as many assets as possible. With six weeks between now and the trade deadline and plenty of motivation to get something done, there are several significant questions surrounding Toronto.
Toronto is 0-3 against the Cavaliers this season.
Bogut out for the "foreseeable future"
The Dallas Mavericks have performed well below expectations this season, and will now be without starting center Andrew Bogut for the "foreseeable future" with a hamstring injury, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon:
Mavs C Andrew Bogut will be out "for the foreseeable near future" due to a strained right hamstring, coach Rick Carlisle told reporters. Bogut did not play in Thursday's win over the Suns. Carlisle said the Mavs don't consider the injury serious, but they plan to proceed with caution to ensure that Bogut doesn't aggravate the strain.
Bogut is averaging 3.0 points and 9.1 rebounds per game in 22 games this season.
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