Here’s a view of the deals made ahead of the NBA trade deadline (3 p.m., Thursday):
Toronto, Portland in three player swap
The Portland Trail Blazers have acquired shooting guard Norm Powell in a trade with the Toronto Raptors, a person with knowledge of the deal said Thursday.
In exchange, the Blazers have sent Gary Trent Jr. and Rodney Hood to the Raptors. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade had not been formally announced. The deal was first reported by ESPN.
Powell, 27, is averaging a career-best 19.6 points per game this season and is shooting 43.5% from beyond the arc. He scored a career-high 43 points against the Pistons earlier this month.
Powell, who had a player option for next season, was expected to instead test free agency this summer.
He was the 46th overall pick in the 2015 draft out of UCLA by the Milwaukee Bucks, who dealt him on draft night to the Raptors.
The Blazers (25-18) are sitting in sixth place in the Western Conference.
Credit: Mark J. Terrill
Credit: Mark J. Terrill
Lou Williams to Hawks
The Hawks send guard Rajon Rondo to the Clippers in exchange for guard Lou Williams, two second-round picks and cash considerations, according to a person familiar with the situation tells the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The second-round picks are for 2023 and 2027.
The Hawks signed Rondo in free agency in November on a two-year, $15 million deal, aiming to bring a veteran presence to a young team attempting to exit the rebuilding phase and make the playoffs. Although Rondo brought knowledge and mentorship to the team, he struggled on the court for much of the season, averaging 3.9 points and 3.5 assists in 14.9 minutes per game. He also wasn’t at his healthiest, only playing in 27 games.
Credit: John Raoux
Credit: John Raoux
Nuggets acquire Aaron Gordon from Orlando
DENVER — The Denver Nuggets have made another aggressive move at the trade deadline by acquiring Aaron Gordon from the Orlando Magic, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said Thursday.
In exchange, the Magic receive veteran shooting guard Gary Harris, rookie R.J. Hampton and a first-round draft pick, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal was still pending NBA approval. Denver also is receiving forward Gary Clark as part of the trade package.
The 25-year-old Gordon averaged 14.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Magic this season. He was the fourth overall pick by Orlando in the 2014 draft.
Clark appeared in 35 games for the Magic this season, with 11 starts. He averaged 3.4 points and 3.2 rebounds over 18.2 minutes per game.
Harris has long been a favorite of Denver’s coaching staff due to his defense. He’s been plagued by injuries since being picked 19th overall in the 2014 draft. Playing time has been sporadic for Hampton, who is averaging 9.3 minutes per game.
The deal was another splashy move by the Nuggets as they chase after their first NBA title.
Credit: John Raoux
Credit: John Raoux
Evan Fournier headed to Boston
Evan Fournier is being traded by the Orlando Magic to the Boston Celtics for a pair of second-round draft picks, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said Thursday.
The Celtics were able to take on Fournier’s salary by using part of the trade exception that they created last year in the move that sent Gordon Hayward to Charlotte, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal was still pending NBA approval.
Fournier is averaging career highs of 19.7 points and 3.7 assists this season for the Magic, who turned trade-deadline day in the NBA into the start of their rebuild. Orlando also struck a deal earlier Thursday with Chicago to send All-Star forward Nikola Vucevic to the Bulls.
Vucevic and Fournier were Orlando’s two leading scorers this season.
Fournier gives the Celtics added wing depth and another ballhandler. The Celtics started Thursday eighth in the Eastern Conference with a 21-23 record, well below their expectations coming into the season.
Credit: Michael Dwyer
Credit: Michael Dwyer
Magic trade Nikola Vucevic to Bulls
All-Star forward Nikola Vucevic is being traded from the Orlando Magic to the Chicago Bulls, a person with knowledge of the deal said Thursday.
Vucevic and Al-Farouq Aminu are going to the Bulls in exchange for Wendell Carter Jr. and two future first-round selections, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal was still pending NBA approval.
The deal would appear to be the start of a rebuild for the Magic, with Vucevic unquestionably the team’s best player for the past several seasons. The two-time All-Star is averaging a career-best 24.5 points this season and 11.8 rebounds.
He also has two full seasons left after this one on his contract, a four-year, $100 million deal signed in 2019. Vucevic is in his 10th NBA season, the last nine of which have been with the Magic.
Credit: Ron Schwane
Credit: Ron Schwane
Nuggets reacquire JaVale McGee
DENVER — The Denver Nuggets are bringing back center JaVale McGee in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.
The Nuggets will send power forward/center Isaiah Hartenstein to the Cavaliers along with protected second-round picks in 2023 and ’27. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday because the deal had not been announced.
It’s the second time the Nuggets have acquired McGee in a trade-deadline deal. They also picked him up from the Washington Wizards as part of a three-team exchange in 2012.
The 33-year-old McGee averaged eight points and 5.2 rebounds in 15.2 minutes per game for the Cavs this season. In Denver, McGee will be a backup to All-Star big man Nikola Jokic.
This may be the start of a busy trade-deadline day for the Nuggets, who made it to the Western Conference final inside the NBA bubble last season before being eliminated by the champion Los Angeles Lakers. The Nuggets are 26-18 and fifth place in the standings.
Credit: Carlos Osorio
Credit: Carlos Osorio
Delon Wright to Kings
DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons have agreed to trade guard Delon Wright to the Sacramento Kings for guard Cory Joseph and two second-round draft picks, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.
The person spoketo The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday because the trade had not been announced.
The 6-foot-5 Wright has averaged 10.4 points a game this season for the rebuilding Pistons. They acquired the 28-year-old guard in an offseason move. He has also played for Dallas, Memphis and Toronto.
The 29-year-old Joseph is averaging 6.6 points this season. He has spent the past season and a half with the Kings. Before that, he played for Indiana, Toronto and San Antonio.
ESPN first reported the trade.
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