NBA Trade Rumors: A Hawks fire sale? Warriors linked to 2 stars, Celtics eyeing Raptors center

Hello Hoop Heads! Here's the latest in NBA trade rumors

NBA Trade Rumors: An Atlanta Hawks fire sale?

The Atlanta Hawks find themselves six games below .500 and 10th in the Eastern Conference despite having All-Stars Trae Young and Dejounte Murray. With Atlanta underperforming and little means to improve, they are reportedly considering tanking, according to Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer.

While Young and Jalen Johnson are expected to be off limits in trade talks, everyone else on the roster is fair game, and teams could potentially poach talented players such as Murray, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Clint Capella from the Hawks.

Atlanta's plan is to bottom out this year and secure a top-10 pick while they can, according to Fischer. The reason for doing so is the disastrous Murray trade that they made with the San Antonio Spurs in the summer of 2021, in which they sent three first-round picks and a pick swap to the Spurs.

As a result, they will be giving up both their 2025 and 2027 first-round picks, no matter where they land, as well as potentially being required to swap picks with the Spurs in 2026. That could prove costly if Atlanta isn't better next season and Young eventually demands to be traded.

With few other options, tearing down the roster and trading their best players for as many assets as possible seems to be a reasonable strategy, all things considered.

NBA Trade Rumors: The Raptors' unusual Siakam strategy.

It's no secret that Toronto Raptors star Pascal Siakam is on the trade block, but a new report provides interesting context on how it got to that point. Siakam will hit free agency in the summer after failing to agree to a contract extension with his team, but it seems that they played hardball with him and not vice versa as many would expect. The Raptors reportedly went radio silent during negotiations, essentially ending contract discussions.

"It’s led a couple of league sources to wonder whether the Raptors’ unusual, and at times disrespectful, treatment of Siakam dating back to last summer has been intended to force his hand, or worse, push him out," according to Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports

Now, with him on the last year of his deal and unwilling to sign an extension with any team that he's traded to, the Raptors may have limited options. Other teams may not be willing to give up a lot for what could be a rental, and he can torpedo a deal by stating that he wouldn't re-sign with his new team. The Raptors can't lose their best player for nothing, but they aren't interested in rebuilding either, so they aren't looking to get a package of picks back for Siakam.

That could make it hard to thread the needle for the Raptors when it comes to moving Siakam, but there may be a team that could appeal to Siakam and have the assets needed to get a deal done with Toronto.

NBA Trade Rumors: The Warriors have been linked to two stars

The Golden State Warriors simply can't seem to catch a break. When it looked as though they were getting back to full strength with the return of Draymond Green, they lost Chris Paul for 4-6 weeks and also had to deal with two frustrated prospects, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody.

With the Warriors season going off the rails, Sam Amico and Chris B. Haynes report that they are a team to watch as a possible destination for Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine as well as Toronto Raptors star Pascal Siakam.

Unlike most playoff teams, Golden State can easily match salary in a deal for either player and have most of their picks, as well as Kuminga and Moody, to offer up, though it is unclear if they are willing to trade their two recent lottery picks.

It's possible that they could acquire either star without them by offering Paul, Gary Payton II, their 2026 first and top-8 protected 2028 first for LaVine or for Siakam. Either deal would be an upgrade for Golden State, but with Klay Thompson not being the same player that he once was and Green being more erratic than ever, it may be painting over the problems that the Warriors have.

NBA Trade Rumors: the Boston Celtics are targeting a Raptors big man

The Boston Celtics continue to be linked to big men. First, it was Detroit Pistons power forward/center Isaiah Stewart, then it was Utah Jazz big man and former Celtic Kelly Olynyk, and now it is reportedly Raptors backup big man Chris Boucher. According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Celtics have been fans of his game for a while now, and they could target him.

Despite their interest in the Raptors big man, they may have a hard time trading for him and his $11.7 million salary. With so few expendable players, they would have to move at least three players, possibly four, in a deal for Boucher, including Payton Prichard.

That is probably unrealistic in-season, though they could circle back around in the offseason to check his availability. Of the three players they've been linked to, Stewart is the youngest and cheapest, which in theory makes him a much more likely option. What the Celtics do to address depth at center is something worth keeping an eye on.