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:
Lakers want to trade for Millsap
The Los Angeles Lakers are very happy with their young core of players and are not going to trade any of them (D'Angelo Russell, Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle), but that hasn't kept them from being active on the trade market. According to Sean Deveney of the Sporting News, LA is interested in acquiring Paul Millsap from the Hawks or Nerlens Noel from the 76ers.
The Lakers have inserted themselves on trade talks this season and will continue to do so. They had talks with Atlanta about Paul Millsap and expressed interest in Nerlens Noel, if the Sixers decide to go ahead with a deal for him. But the best asset the Lakers can put forth is a future draft pick, probably not until 2021 depending on how the lottery plays out this May. That’s going to limit their activity on the market, and there is a chance they could even be a seller with a veteran such as Luol Deng.
Magic interested in Dragic
The Miami Heat are expected to listen to offers for point guard Goran Dragic ahead of the trade deadline to try to get some future assets in return for the 30-year-old, and the Orlando Magic are interested in acquiring him, according to ESPN's Zach Lowe:
Flipping Dragic for future assets was their most obvious path to the bottom, but Miami's injury situation has gotten so ugly, they don't even have to do that! They're 11-29, ahead of only the Nets. Teams will express interest in Dragic ahead of the trade deadline -- a bunch, including the Magic, already did, per league sources -- but Miami can hold out for a hefty return. They gave up a ton for Dragic, and they'd need to save face in any teardown trade.
Dragic is averaging 19.0 points and 6.5 assists per game so far this season.
Griffin to return by end of month
Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin has been out since having knee surgery on Dec. 20, and is expected to return to the court by the end of the month, according to the Associated Press.
Blake Griffin is on track to return to the Los Angeles Clippers likely later this month after having right knee surgery. Coach Doc Rivers says Griffin "feels great" and his return is still based on the team's original estimate of four to six weeks. Rivers said before Wednesday night's game against Orlando that "all things are go" for Griffin.
Griffin is averaging 21.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game this season.
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