HoopsHype.com Rumors

Look for new Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations Flip Saunders to engage Charlotte, holders of the No. 4 pick in next month's draft, in trade talks. According to league sources, Saunders is a big fan of Indiana guard Victor Oladipo, and the only way to get him is to move up from the ninth-spot. 1500 ESPN

Charlotte Bobcats, Minnesota Timberwolves, Draft, Trade, Flip Saunders 

Tom Withers: Of course #Cavaliers are considering Porter with the No. 1 overall pick and Noel and McLemore and Oladipo and others. Trade also in play. Twitter @twithersAP

Cleveland Cavaliers, Draft, Trade, Nerlens Noel, Ben McLemore, Victor Oladipo, Otto Porter 

George Sfairopoulos, the agent who represents the 6-9 small forward, says the likely scenario is Portland opting to trade Papanikolaou's rights. “As of now, we don't have any sign that leads us to believe that Kostas will go to Portland,” Sfairopoulos told CSNNW.com. “Therefore, we believe that he will not be in the plans of the organization next season and probably will be traded.” CSNNW.com

Portland Trail Blazers, Trade, Kostas Papanikolaou 

The Dallas Mavericks, with their first lottery draft pick in a dozen years firmly in hand, have their eyes on a bigger prize. Multiple sources have told ESPN.com's Chad Ford the Mavs are likely to shop the pick in hopes of creating the cap space necessary to make a run at Dwight Howard in free agency. The 13th overall pick has a cap hold of $1,655,300. ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Free Agency, Draft, Trade, Dwight Howard 

The hope is to sell Howard or Chris Paul -- who would each have to sacrifice a fifth year on the max contract that he could get from the Lakers and Clippers, respectively -- on the possibility of building a championship contender. "We'd love to get one of the main guys," Nowitzki said last week. "It's going to be tough to get them out of the situation that they're in. I think that's pretty easy [to see]. I think both are in L.A., where you want to play basketball, and both are in great positions and situations. We'll just have to wait and see." ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Draft, Trade, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard 

Sam Amico: NBA exec says anyone who thinks Wolves would trade Kevin Love "can't actually follow the NBA," and other teams know not to bother asking. Twitter @SamAmicoFSO

Minnesota Timberwolves, Trade, Kevin Love 

It's been 20 years since the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft was traded, when the Orlando Magic moved Chris Webber, but it's possible that streak could end this year. The Cleveland Cavaliers, who scored the top pick at Tuesday night's draft lottery, will be willing to listen to trade offers for it. "You want to look at all your options and make the best decision for your team," Cavs general manager Chris Grant said. "This is a valuable asset that we can add to the group, whether it's in trade or keep it and add a player." ESPN.com

Cleveland Cavaliers, Draft, Trade, Chris Grant 

Grunwald confirmed the Knicks are unable to do a sign-and-trade for free agents Chris Paul or Dwight Howard because of new collective bargaining agreement rules forbidding luxury taxpayers from partaking in free agency. They only have the $3.1 million mini-midlevel exception, plus the 24th overall pick in June’s draft. New York Post

New York Knicks, Free Agency, Trade, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard 

Colangelo, who famously once called Bargnani the “enigma of enigmas,” said he wasn’t sure why Bargnani didn’t harness his talent more often. “We know he’s got it, we’ve seen how he’s capable of playing at a certain level. How would I handle it differently? I’m not sure I would. “Maybe I would have traded him before he got hurt so the trade value didn’t go down or there was an opportunity to do something before the trade deadline, but I can’t control the injury aspect of things and this past year he had two distinct injuries to his elbow that really put a crimp on timing,” Colangelo said. “I still would say there’s value in Andrea as a player. I get the fact that a change of scenery is probably best for all sides. I’ve publicly acknowledged that but, again, the new guy is going to have to decide how to handle it and there are a few options. You can obviously move down different paths with Andrea now." Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Trade, Andrea Bargnani 

Mary Schmitt Boyer/Jodie Valade: #Cavs GM Chris Grant on possibility of trading No. 1 pick: "We're open. We're looking at all our options." Twitter @PDcavsinsider

Cleveland Cavaliers, Draft, Trade, Chris Grant 

Chad Ford: Hearing from multiple sources that Mavs likely to trade the No. 13 pick. Want to save cap space for Dwight Howard run ... Twitter @chadfordinsider

Dallas Mavericks, Free Agency, Draft, Trade, Dwight Howard 

Grunwald said the Knicks will not be able to do sign-and-trade this summer to acquire a free agent because of the new CBA rules. However, if one of their current free agents wants to do a sign-and-trade to depart, the Knicks are permitted. In other words, they can do a sign-and-trade with Chris Copeland and get back an asset. New York Post

New York Knicks, Trade, Glen Grunwald, Free Agent, Chris Copeland 

Jimmy Smith: Source says rumors regarding possible Eric Gordon trade by #pelicans have no merit. Twitter @JimmySmith504

New Orleans Pelicans, Trade, Eric Gordon 

Tim Kawakami: Jackson was open to possible roster changes:"I have no problem coming back with the same group, but this is truly a business." Twitter @timkawakami

Golden State Warriors, Free Agency, Trade, Mark Jackson 

Bill Oram: GM Dennis Lindsey said Jazz are open about what they'll do in first round. "Open is a good thing," he said. Could pick, move up, move down. Twitter @tribjazz

Utah Jazz, Draft, Trade, Dennis Lindsey 

Bill Oram: But, Lindsey said, "I think we can move up. I think we've already had a few loose conversations around that so there's some potential there" Twitter @tribjazz

Utah Jazz, Draft, Trade, Dennis Lindsey 

Moreover, the window on this alleged title drive could close after next season. Anthony can opt out of his five-year deal next summer and probably will if the Knicks are second-round losers again. Amar’e Stoudemire will finally be a trade candidate next summer in 2014 because he will have an expiring contract. Tyson Chandler may have to be traded then, too, if the Knicks blow it up. New York Post

New York Knicks, Trade, Amare Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler 

Regardless of whether Kidd or Pablo Prigioni return next season, the Knicks need to upgrade at point guard. They will likely look to add a young guard through the draft or free agency (they will have the veteran's minimum or the mini-mid-level exception to offer free agents) or via a trade. Ideally, they'd find a guard who can excel on both ends of the floor. Outside of Iman Shumpert and Smith (when he's engaged), the Knicks don't have many two-way players. ESPN.com

New York Knicks, Free Agency, Draft, Trade, Pablo Prigioni 

So where one general manager shook his head and said, “Oh, they’re screwed,” another stated strongly, “As long as you have assets, you’re never screwed. The Celtics have players that other teams want. They’ve also got some guys that would be really hard to move, but when you’re talking about Rajon Rondo and even (Paul) Pierce and (Kevin) Garnett, those are people who can make a team better. Now the question then becomes who you can get back for them and will those new guys make the Celtics better.” One GM asked about Rondo said, “I haven’t heard his name being put out there like I have in the past, but if they’re ever going to try to overhaul that team, they’re going to have to at least be willing to discuss him (in trades). The thing is, with Rondo coming off an ACL (tear), teams will be looking to get a bargain, and Boston can’t go there. They’re better off letting him come back and show everyone what he can do again.” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Trade, Rajon Rondo 

“I’m really not sure what the Celtics will be able to do. Players get older, and that makes it harder to trade them. It’s hard to get another team to give you an asset of any value when they’re getting someone who will only be playing another year or two. Not many teams want to go that way, because it means they’d have to win right now to make the trade worthwhile — and that’s hard to do under any circumstances. “Everyone knows KG and Pierce can still play, but if you’re another team, what can you really give up for them? Another coach may want to make that deal, but the GM and the owner probably won’t.” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Trade