We have now passed the halfway point of the 2018/19 NBA season, and teams are starting to get a good idea about where they currently stand. Up until this point, both Conferences have remained competitive, with eleven teams in playoff contention in the Eastern Conference, while every team except the Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies still have a shot in the West.
The February trade deadline is also quickly approaching, as the NBA has made changes to the deadline so that it will now always occur 10 days before the All-Star game. This has been done so that players who are traded have time to settle into their new teams, so this year's trade window will close on February 7th.
So with the trade deadline just two weeks away, here are the biggest trade rumours you need to know for January 29th.
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Marc Gasol is interesting the Pistons and Kings
The Memphis Grizzlies have won just one of their last ten games, and this poor run of form has all but ended the team's chances of reaching the NBA postseason. Due to this, the franchise has been linked with trading away their longtime duo of Mike Conley and Marc Gasol, and The Ringer is reporting that Gasol is attracting interest from both the Pistons and Kings:
So far, Gasol is generating more chatter on the market than Conley. The Kings and Pistons have expressed interest, according to multiple league sources.
Gasol is a three-time NBA All-Star, who has spent his entire NBA career in Memphis. The Spanish center has a player option for next season worth over $25 million, and so far this season, he is averaging 15.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game.
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Also read: Celtics Trade Rumors Roundup
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Pelicans issue statement on Anthony Davis
The future of Anthony Davis was the talk of the NBA community yesterday, as it was revealed that Davis wanted to be traded. The 25-year-old also stated that he wouldn't be signing an extension with the Pelicans, and this news was met with excitement by Lakers fans. Nevertheless, the Pelicans have since released this statement, suggesting a trade is not imminent:
Relative to specific talks of a trade, we will do this on our terms and our timeline. One that makes the most sense for our team and it will not be dictated by those outside of our organisation. We have also requested the League to strictly enforce the tampering rules associated with this transaction.
So far this season, Davis has averaged 29.3 points, 13.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game, and the 5-time All-Star remains under contract with the Pelicans until 2020.
Enes Kanter standoff continues
Enes Kanter has played in just three of the Knicks' last ten games, as the struggling franchise has prioritised the development of young players. Due to his lack of minutes, Kanter has stated his desire to be traded, although Newsday is reporting that a buyout may be Kanter's only option:
With Kanter and Fizdale playing out a less-star-powered version of the recent Carmelo Anthony versus Phil Jackson Knicks wars. The image conscious Knicks would like Kanter to take his public persona elsewhere as soon as possible. He certainly can help a team with his scoring and offensive rebounding, even if he is an old-school center. However, because of a hefty salary that is hard to match, a buyout may be the way out.
The Turkish center will become a free agent this summer, and so far this season, Kanter has averaged 14.4 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.
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