NBA trade rumors: Alex Caruso available for multiple picks.Jazz considers his three players untouchables

Another day, another string of trade rumors as the NBA deadline approaches. It’s not because you didn’t try. There’s been a lot of news about what the team is trying to accomplish over the past few days, and on Friday we have a whole new batch to sift through.

So far, Chicago’s two headliners, DeMar DeRozan and Zach Lavigne, don’t seem to have much traction. But with five losses in his last eight games, the Bulls have dropped him to 11th in the Eastern Conference. A healthy Lonzo Ball would help, but the gap between where they are now and where they want to be is much bigger than a single sub-all-star guard. need to sniff out and consider ways to reorganize the roster.

Who is your favorite player right now? One of the best defenders in the NBA, Alex Caruso earns only a moderate salary. FiveThirtyEight’s RAPTOR ranks his Caruso as the NBA’s best defender regardless of position, while Dunks & Threes’ EPM places him second in line. The Bulls tell Caruso that he wants two of his first-round picks, and Jake Fisher marks on his episode of Live He Don’t Consolidate This With Stein.

That price might seem a little high for a guard averaging 5.5 points per game, but Caruso fits in virtually any team. Having fought, he can guard almost any player in the NBA. Teams that have enough shooting to maximize him offensively as a cutter and connective passer should find him well worth the price.

Magic listening to multiple vet offers

The Orlando Magic may have another season of rebuilding, but for the first time since Dwight Howard’s heyday, the franchise is seeing a turnaround. With Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Wendell Carter Jr. emerging as cornerstones of the franchise, the Magic began exploring signing players not included in its long-term plans.

Marc Stein names four players Orlando has received offers for. Mo Bamba, Gary Harris, Terrence Ross, RJ Hampton. Harris and Ross are obvious candidates to move. They’re the veterans that make more sense for a team that’s more interested in winning now than the Magic. would like it

Bamba is shut out by a group of more valuable tycoons. All three cornerstones are minutes from Bamba. Now that Jonathan Isaac is back on the floor, Orlando doesn’t need his center back he makes eight figures. However, the combination of Bamba’s shooting and his rim protection should make him a viable starter for someone else.

Hampton are also getting crowded, with Jalen Suggs, Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony each having their strengths, but not as many frontcourt players have emerged as All-Star talent. It has only failed in production since arriving from Denver two years ago. He has averaged only 5.7 points per game this season and has been out of the rotation for a long time.

Jazz considers Markkanen, Kessler, Agbazi off limits

The Magic may be able to get selected veterans, but the Utah Jazz seem to be working the other way around. According to Stein, his three players Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler and Ochai Agbaj are considered off-limits. The rest of the roster appears to be available for the Jazz team, who dropped out after a fast start.

Markkanen has emerged as a potential franchise player in Utah. He is averaging his career-high 24.8 points while approaching his split shooting 50-40-90, so he could be the first All-Star to his team this season. Markkanen said he was one of the major pieces sent to Utah in his Mitchell trade for Donovan, but even Utah could not predict how valuable he would become.

Agbaj was also in that trade and was barely productive but turned upside down after a short stint on the court. After being in and out of the rotation early in the season, he’s averaged 20 minutes per game in his last 10 games for Utah. Kessler doesn’t have more playing time than that, but he’s making the most of his playing time. In his single night he has played 20.1 minutes and he has scored 1.9 blocks per game. This is his 7.8% block rate, higher than Rudy Gobert’s career average so far.

The Jazz didn’t seem to expect to perform as well as they did this season, but they don’t seem to stop moving to focus on their long-term prospects. Markkanen and the rookie are young enough to remain Utah’s next winner, but it makes sense to cash in on their veterans now that they have the chance.