Western Conference · Southwest · 74 updates
Christian Shumate has signed a training camp contract with New Orleans, according to Paul Garcia of The Spot Up Shot. The undrafted wing spent last season with the Pelicans' G League affiliate in Birmingham after being waived from an Exhibit 10 deal, averaging 11.2 points and 6.6 rebounds in 40 games.
A proposed deal would send New Orleans forward Herbert Jones and Croatian big man Karlo Matkovic to Los Angeles for Dalton Knecht and Jaden Hardy. The Lakers would use a trade exception and a non-taxpayer midlevel slot to absorb the incoming salaries, meaning New Orleans avoids adding payroll.
Jake Fischer said on his Bleacher Report stream that Jordan Hawkins, newly dealt from New Orleans to Memphis, is likely to get a real look at a roster spot. Memphis carries 19 players for 15 spots, and Fischer flagged D'Angelo Russell, Kris Murray, Walter Clayton Jr. and Micah Peavy as most at risk if Hawkins sticks.
New Orleans has waived Taj Gibson days after landing him from Memphis in the Jordan Hawkins trade. Gibson had signed a multi-year deal with the Grizzlies back in February. In his brief stint with Memphis this season, the 40-year-old averaged 3.4 points and 2.7 rebounds in 9.7 minutes across 10 games.
Athlon Sports writer Nathaniel Holloway floated a Celtics-Pelicans swap sending Paul George to New Orleans for Trey Murphy and Dejounte Murray.
Stephen Curry remains eligible for a two-year, $137 million extension but has made no move, with Golden State content to wait as he weighs a max deal, a discount, or holding off until next summer.
New Orleans is sending Jordan Hawkins and Micah Peavy to the Grizzlies for AJ Johnson and Taj Gibson, ESPN's Shams Charania reports, with New Orleans also attaching a future second-round pick and a second-round pick swap. Hawkins, the 14th pick in 2023, never established himself with the Pelicans.
+3The Clippers' Kawhi Leonard trade to Toronto is expected to close soon now that the league's cap-circumvention probe has ended with a $700K fine and no suspension for Leonard. Under the original terms, the Clippers would get Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks and other assets back.
Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes pitched a swap sending De'Aaron Fox, Luke Kornet and a heavy haul of first and second-round picks to New Orleans for Trey Murphy III and Dejounte Murray.
NBA insider Brett Siegel reports that New Orleans still wants roughly three first-round picks plus a young player for Trey Murphy III, and hasn't budged despite trade interest from the Lakers and Warriors as well as a Pistons package floated by Sean Devaney sending Duncan Robinson, Ron Holland II and two future first-rounders (2028, 2030) to pair Murphy with Cade Cunningham.
