Updated 12:11 p.m. CST
With the NBA’s trade deadline coming up today and with so many trade rumors swirling around, this will be our trade headquarters we’ll update you with the links to the latest trade rumor posts on Project Spurs and around the web. We’ll have a button up on our sidebar for easy access once another post pushes this below the fold.
• Spurs still trying to trade Mason
According to Adrian Wojnarowski’s twitter page, the Spurs are still trying to move Mason, but nothing seems to be in the works.
Spurs still trying to trade Roger Mason but nothing imminent, source says. As for Richard Jefferson, forget it. They tried. No shot.
• Spurs lose out on Thomas
It looks like the Spurs’ talks with the Bulls about Tyrus Thomas are officially over as it appears the Bulls will be sending Thomas to the Charlotte Bobcats for Flip Murray, Acie Law and a future first round pick.
• Spurs considered making bid for Stoudemire
Amare Stoudemire was mentioned in a trade rumor several weeks ago, and his name is being brought up again.
From Yahoo Sports:
Everyone keeps waiting for a sleeper to steal Amare Stoudemire in the last hours prior to the trade deadline. How about the San Antonio Spurs? After all, they had privately considered making a bid for Stoudemire.
Still, while the Spurs and Suns did have a cursory conversation in this process, discussions never got going because San Antonio is unwilling to move two of its best young players, guard George Hill and forward DeJuan Blair.
UPDATE: Stoudemire told he will not be traded
• Sixers inquired about Mason
Fox Sports reports that the Philadelphia 76ers contacted the Spurs about Roger Mason, but Mason will unlikely be packing his bags for the City of Brotherly Love anytime soon.
According to one source, the Sixers have inquired about San Antonio Spurs guard Roger Mason, as well as Golden State Warriors swingman Anthony Morrow. Neither player was available for the Sixers. In one case, the team wasn’t willing to part with the player. In the other, the Sixers couldn’t offer enough in return.
• Spurs had shot at Salmons
The Spurs and Bulls had been in discussions yesterday about a deal that would send Roger Mason and Matt Bonner to Chicago for Bulls’ swingman John Salmons. It appears the Bulls instead took a trade offer from the Bucks that should be completed later today, reportedly for Kurt Thomas and Francisco Elson. Hakim Warrick and Joe Alexander have also been mentioned.
• Grizzlies interested in Mason
Adrian Wojnarowski said sources informed him that the Grizzlies were interested in Mason’s services. While the Grizzlies have the cap space to absorb Mason’s contract, there aren’t many players in Mason’s salary range on the Grizzlies roster that the Spurs could realistically get. Perhaps a combination of Sam Young and/or Darrell Arthur would pique the Spurs interest, but the latest is that talks between both parties have stopped.
• Mason to Heat falls through
ESPN’s Marc Stein reported that trade talks about sending Roger Mason to Miami for a second round pick have ceased.
• Pop says “don’t expect a trade”
Before tonight’s game against the Pacers, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich spoke to the media. When questions came up about trade rumors, Pop confirmed that the Spurs had been in contact with several teams.
From MySA.com
“We’ve talked to teams, teams have talked to us,” Popovich, who doubles as the Spurs’ president, said before Thursday’s 90-87 victory at Indiana. “That goes on all year long. It just intensifies come trade deadline. As we all know, very few things happen at the trade deadline, and I wouldn’t expect anything to happen for us, either.”
• Spurs still shopping Jefferson
According to an article from SI.com, the Spurs are aggressively shopping Richard Jefferson and his $15 million contract, but they may be hard-pressed to find any takers.
Jefferson was touted as the missing piece for the Spurs to bring them back to the NBA Finals when he was acquired via trade from the Milwaukee Bucks this past summer. However, it has not worked out and has drawn the ire from fans and has even ran out the patience of the Spurs themselves. Not to mention he is having his lowest production since he was a rookie averaging 12.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists.
• Spurs looking to trade McDyess? Maybe not
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reported that the Spurs were looking to swap McDyess for the Bull’s Tyrus Thomas. McDyess’ three-year deal never made any sense to me and according to this article, perhaps the Spurs front office realized it was a mistake as well. This is definitely one deal I would complete without hesitation, but according to a report in the San Antonio Express-News, a league source told the paper McDyess had not been mentioned by the Spurs in any trade talks.
• Mason eyes New York as possible trade destination
Howard Beck of the New York times on twitter said he had been informed that New York was a preferred destination of Mason if he does get traded. So far there have been no rumblings of interest from the Knicks.
Roger Mason seems to be the one player getting the most interest, likely due to his play last season and the fact that he has an expiring contract. Yahoo Sports originally reported that Mason demanded a trade, but his agent, Mark Bartelstein, told the Express-News it is simply a matter of trying to see if he can get more minutes elsewhere. The latest is that the Spurs are expected to contact the Heat about Mason with hopes of acquiring either Udonis Haslem or Dorell Wright.
In my opinion, trading Mason is a mistake, and with all of the struggles Jefferson has been going through, I though Mason should have been inserted into the lineup a month ago. We’ve seen that he can be productive with the starting five, and Jefferson might benefit from being the first or second option with the second unit instead of being fourth option in the starting lineup.
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