HoopsHype.com Rumors

Later, Ainge was asked more directly if he'd ponder trading Rondo or Bradley in the offseason given the way his team has performed. "I can’t envision any scenario, no," said Ainge. "I love those guys, where Rondo is right in the prime of his career, and Avery's not even there yet, he's continuing to get better. I think they are a great guard combination and to ever consider doing something like that, it would have to be something significant." ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Trade, Rajon Rondo, Danny Ainge, Avery Bradley 

As it relates to the Orlando Magic, let’s just say that rookie GM Rob Hennigan won’t be getting fitted for glasses anytime soon. When Hennigan made the decision last August to pass on acquiring all-star center Andrew Bynum from the Los Angeles Lakers, it not only saved the Magic from a personnel and PR disaster, but it also likely helped to alter the future of the franchise. While that move would have qualified as an absolute stroke of genius from pro basketball lifers such as GMs Pat Riley, Donnie Walsh, Geoff Petrie or R.C. Buford, it’s especially impressive when you consider that Hennigan – the youngest GM in the NBA – had been on the job just six weeks. NBA.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Trade, Andrew Bynum, Dwight Howard, Rob Hennigan 

Warriors guard Klay Thompson played big in blowout win at #Rockets. Then he addressed James Harden trade rumors... Does the fact that many fans hoped the Warriors traded you for Harden play into your matchup with him? "I had no idea." Sulia

Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Trade, James Harden, Klay Thompson 

You didn't hear about Bill Simmons saying Warriors turned down a trade swapping you and Harden? "I didn't know that. Even if I did, he can say what he wants. All I know is we've got a better record than them at this point. I seem to play well against him. So, yeah, it don't effect me. All I can control is what I do out there." Sulia

Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Trade, Media, James Harden, Bill Simmons, Klay Thompson 

Were the Warriors hypothetically interested in acquiring someone as young and as talented as Harden who could fit very nicely alongside Steph Curry? Yes, I’d think so. But the first problem: Harden was seeking–and eventually landed–a max extension that the Warriors couldn’t fit into any kind of cap situation unless they were off-loading either Richard Jefferson or Andris Biedrins’ deal in the process. And that was a non-starter for the Thunder, no way they were taking one of those bad deals. More problematic, as part of any Harden deal, the Thunder also wanted a good future 1st-round pick in the deal because OKC knew it couldn’t get back Harden’s full value from any player combination in return, so they wanted picks to back up the acquisition. But OOPS, the Warriors couldn’t offer them their 1st-round pick this year (it’s owed to Utah) or next year’s pick (can’t trade successive future 1st-round picks), which meant the closest 1st-rounder the Warriors could’ve offered was the 2015 pick. And that’s too far away to have any real value when you’re talking about a Harden trade. San Jose Mercury-News

Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Trade, James Harden 

And you can’t say the Warriors turned down Harden for Thompson and a pick, because there was no pick to trade, no clear financial way to do this and no official give-and-take on the supposed offer. It was virtually impossible. San Jose Mercury-News

Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Trade, James Harden, Golden State Golden State Warr 

In free agency news, word is the Hawks’ first priority will be to keep unrestricted free agents Josh Smith and Kyle Korver during the off-season. If it proves too costly, the Hawks will shop one (or both) in a sign-and-trade. FOXSports Ohio

Atlanta Hawks, Free Agency, Trade, Kyle Korver, Josh Smith 

Meanwhile, the Jazz are expected to sign and keep either Al Jefferson or Paul Millsap (both unrestricted), but not both. Like the Hawks, the Jazz are more likely to get involved in a sign-and-trade then just let either player walk away for nothing. FOXSports Ohio

Utah Jazz, Trade, Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap 

Former Knicks center Timofey Mozgov played nine garbage-time minutes in Denver on Wednesday. The young 7-foot-1 Russian has been out of the Nuggets’ rotation and becomes a restricted free agent July 1. The Knicks have interest and inquired about Mozgov at the trade deadline. But they have little flexibility with their $3.1 million mini mid-level and are unable to make a sign-and-trade under the new rules. “We got the option to choose a team where I can play,’’ Mozgov told The Post. “I can’t say [Nuggets coach] George [Karl] is bad. Of course it’s not a good feeling when you don’t play, but I’m still part of the team. New York is a good city, no question, but there are 30 teams.’’ New York Post

Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Free Agency, Trade, Timofey Mozgov 

A big factor in Lillard’s drop in turnovers has been the Blazers’ trade-deadline acquisition of Eric Maynor, who has become Lillard’s primary backup and has also frequently played alongside him. "It helps a lot," Lillard said recently. "I'm not exerting as much energy offensively or defensively, because he's taking that pressure off of me. … The defense can't just set up and get ready for me because I don't have the ball all the time coming up the court.” Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Trade, Eric Maynor, Damian Lillard 

Chicago Bulls assistant coach Ron Adams on coaching David Robinson: “David was good already. Tom, (Thibodeau) our head coach and I were both on the staff in San Antonio. I think he (Robinson) got into a good routine offensively and defensively. He was so much more than just a basketball player. He was kind of the foundation stone. The hallmark of the Spurs from that time to now is having good people on the team. You had David, Sean (Elliott), a wonderful guy, and Avery (Johnson). Then this was carried out by Tim (Duncan), he’s a heck of guy. So now you had David and Tim together. Now, having Tim gives you that kind of stability, probably a different kind of leadership than David. We were a very close knit-team. We (Bulls coaches) were just at a restaurant. I was with Tom and I told him, ‘This was the place where we gave Sean his going away party when we traded him.’ That’s highly unusual. Now guys go from team-to-team all the time. If someone on the team had a birthday, we would celebrate by going to that person’s house and most of players would be there with their wives. It was a nice and constructive social setting, which carried over to the basketball floor. David was the catalyst certainly to that.” NBA.com

Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, Trade, Coaching, Ron Adams, David Robinson 

With his former team in town on Friday for the rematch at Verizon Center, Ariza is healthier – though he is dealing with a sore left knee – and has finally found a comfortable role on the Wizards. But he isn’t trying to place any special meaning in facing the team that traded him, along with Emeka Okafor, last June in a deal for Rashard Lewis’s expiring contract. “I’ve been on a number of teams,” Ariza said with a grin. “Treat it like it’s a regular game. Not really worry about me, or individual things, but this is not an individual sport. It’s a team sport. Just stick to our game plan and do what I need to do.” Washington Post

New Orleans Hornets, Washington Wizards, Trade, Rashard Lewis 

When asked about the situation last June, Ariza said: “It is what it is. I loved my teammates there. They are all great players. I did everything I can to help them. Even when I wasn’t playing, I still encouraged all the players to be all they can be, to continue to work hard. I still did what I needed to do, to stay in shape, to keep my game going to try to get better. When they realized they wanted to bring Farouq along, I was all for it. It’s not my team. It’s their decisions to make and I’m just a player in this league.” Washington Post

New Orleans Hornets, Washington Wizards, Trade, Rashard Lewis 

Tony Allen: Well, I just think we turned into the team that we were two years ago, without the guy that we traded. Obviously, we’ve made some additions, but for the most part we’re the same team from that 2010-11 season (...) Just Grit and Grind, in and out basketball. Everybody playing hard, playing together. HoopsWorld

Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors, Trade, Rudy Gay, Tony Allen 

When asked why the Memphis Grizzlies have been playing better in recent weeks, Tony Allen had this to say: "Well, I just think we turned into the team that we were two years ago, without the guy that we traded. Obviously, we've made some additions, but for the most part we're the same team from that 2010-11 season. Just Grit and Grind, in and out basketball. Everybody playing hard, playing together." Sulia

Memphis Grizzlies, Trade, Rudy Gay, Tony Allen 

At the same time, the alternative universe is impossible to ignore. "I look at situations like that," Telfair says as he thinks about not having the gun, and not behaving as if he'd achieved success already. "And maybe it's Rondo that goes in that trade instead of me. And I would have had a chance to play with Paul [Pierce], Ray Allen, and KG. I look at situations like that also." SI.com

Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, Trade, Sebastian Telfair 

It’s been a terrible year for Bargnani – and he hasn’t helped himself at all with his manner or his personality or his work ethic and he has to take more than his share of the blame for how things turned out – but at least it’s over and we can all put it out of our minds until at least late June. Toronto Star

Toronto Raptors, Trade, Andrea Bargnani 

When I was talking to Tom Anselmi for the ticket story the other day, the conversation did turn to the front office future with the Raptors – specifically the option year on Bryan – and the answer was totally expected but at least now on the record. “We’re just going to park it until the end of the season … let’s focus on finishing the year in a quality way.” Toronto Star

Toronto Raptors, Trade, Andrea Bargnani 

Even if Bargnani recovers quickly, is medically cleared to play and can somehow show the mental resolve to fight through whatever discomfort remains, time becomes a factor. It’s why the likelihood of Bargnani suiting up again this season appears remote, if that. Long term, his future in Toronto is very much up in the air. Nothing in basketball, meaningful that is, gets done until the June draft, a time when deals are made, a time when Bargnani’s time in Toronto may eventually come to an end. “He’s had a horrific year as far as luck goes,’’ said GM and team president Bryan Colangelo, who used the first overall pick in the 2006 draft to select Bargnani amid much fanfare and expectation. Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Trade, Bryan Colangelo 

Bargnani is neither a bad guy and nor is he a bad player. He has his deficiencies, but his skill set, an ability to make deep threes as a stretch four and being able to shoot off the dribble aren’t exactly in abundance among bigs. “Dating back to all the conversations leading up to the trade deadline, nothing has changed,’’ added Colangelo . “He’s a part of the team and until he’s not part of the team we’re going to view him as a piece who is a talented player. Again, somewhat of an enigma. And we’ll try to get the most out of.” Recently, Bargnani showed signs of finding the rhythm that went missing when he returned from his first elbow mishap. And now comes this. “It’s a shame,’’ said Colangelo. “He was just starting to find his rhythm.” Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Trade, Bryan Colangelo