The Bucks and Lakers have taken at least one concrete step toward a possible deal.
According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the two teams have held exploratory conversations about a trade that would send Jericho Sims from Milwaukee to Los Angeles, with the Lakers attaching second-round draft capital to move Dalton Knecht’s contract. Fischer adds that Milwaukee would waive Knecht in that arrangement.
Even so, there’s real doubt that the deal gets done. Fischer reported hearing “some pessimism” about the trade actually coming together, and says the Lakers could simply waive Knecht if nothing materializes before Monday’s deadline to set the regular-season roster.
Milwaukee’s roster crunch doesn’t stop there. Fischer also says the Bucks have considered moving Caris LeVert and Kevin Porter Jr. as they sort through their options. One name they’d prefer to keep is Pete Nance, though there is concern another team could claim him if Milwaukee waives his non-guaranteed salary and tries to bring him back on a two-way deal.
Memphis is dealing with its own squeeze, and Fischer says Micah Peavy is a strong candidate to be waived. The Grizzlies are also exploring the trade market, with GG Jackson II and Walter Clayton Jr. coming up in discussions.
Memphis still needs to cut two players before opening night if it doesn’t make a move, and Fischer notes that while he didn’t identify any teams tied to Jackson or Clayton, the Warriors and Heat were both intrigued by Clayton before last year’s draft. Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal pushed back on one part of Fischer’s reporting, saying the Grizzlies are not talking about trading Jackson.
Charlotte has a similar decision to make with a veteran piece and a young lottery pick. Fischer says the Hornets want to keep Pat Connaughton, whose salary is non-guaranteed, but doing so may require them to trade or waive Tidjane Salaun, the No. 6 pick in the 2024 draft.
Fischer has heard several times that Salaun has improved this offseason, yet he has not stood out in the preseason and “realistically projects” as a possible rotation player. Charlotte once viewed him as having “star-level” upside.
Fischer also points to Liam McNeeley as another player who could be at risk if the Hornets decide to keep Connaughton, who is valued as a locker room leader.
Dallas is in a comparable spot with Dwight Powell. Fischer writes that the Mavericks are “known to be exploring pathways” to keep the veteran big man, whose partial guarantee rises from $1MM to $1.5MM if he makes the opening-night roster.
If the Mavericks keep Powell, that could mean moving on from a player such as second-year center Moussa Cisse. Fischer also says Sims and Cisse are both possible future targets for the Sixers, once Philadelphia starts looking for a backup center to replace Ariel Hukporti, who tore his Achilles during the preseason.
The Clippers already waived Cam Christie on Wednesday, but Fischer reports they’re interested in bringing him back on a two-way contract if the 21-year-old guard is willing.
In Other News...
Charles Lee Called Out What Still Holding Back The Hornets
After the loss to Boston, Charles Lee pointed straight at the habits he still wants the Hornets to build. He said the effort has to show up with more consistency, quarter by quarter, and he tied that to the turnover issues that have continued to undercut Charlotte when it needs cleaner possessions and a steadier rhythm.
Lee also singled out one player for bringing a true two-way mindset, noting the value of impact on both offense and defense as the team tries to establish a better standard. For a Hornets group still working to turn stretches of competitiveness into something more dependable, that kind of buy-in is part of the foundation, even if the bigger breakthrough is still ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Christian Anderson Jr. Showed Hornets Fans Exactly Why He Matters
Christian Anderson Jr. finally got on the floor for his Charlotte Hornets preseason debut after sitting out two games with an ankle injury, and he wasted little time reminding everyone why he was such a significant first-round addition. The No. 18 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft finished with 10 points, hit two 3-pointers and added two steals in a loss to the Boston Celtics, a showing that fit neatly with the two-way reputation he built during a notable college run at Texas Tech.
The Hornets were already short on guard help, so Andersons return arrived at a useful moment for a backcourt trying to sort itself out. He said he wants to contribute on both offense and defense, and the outing backed that up, with his energy on the perimeter and willingness to make plays showing up even in a preseason setting. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Make Another Back-End Roster Move With A Familiar Purpose
The Hornets kept working the edges of their preseason roster shuffle this week, cycling through a pair of undrafted guards as they continue sorting out Exhibit 10 candidates. Charlotte waived forward Wyatt Fricks, then signed DaJuan Gordon before waiving him and bringing in Latrell Wrightsell, a familiar kind of back-end move for a team trying to stock its camp with developmental depth and G League ties.
Gordon and Wrightsell both arrive with G League experience, which fits the purpose of these transactions as much as the names themselves do. Charlotte is not alone in taking this route, either, with teams like the Rockets, Hawks, Jazz and Nets using similar waiver-and-signings to line up their preseason paperwork and keep roster flexibility intact while the deeper competition for jobs plays out. [Read more 🡒]