NBA Trade Rumors, 12th Jan 2019: Bradley Beal not joining Lakers, Sixers target big man and more

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, whereas every team except the Phoenix Suns has 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 get traded have time to settle into their new teams, and this year's trade window will close on February 7th. So with the deadline just a month away, here are the biggest trade rumors you need to know for January 12th.

#1 Bradley Beal backed to stay with the Washington Wizards

Back in November, reports surfaced that Bradley Beal wanted out of the Washington Wizards, and Beal has been linked with the Los Angeles Lakers ever since. Despite this USA Today is reporting that teams such as the Lakers will be unable to put a trade package together for Beal this month:

There haven't been too many murmurs regarding Beal on the trade market recently, but his name has come up just enough. It's doubtful we see the shooting guard get dealt this season, even if the team continues to struggle. Especially not with Washington (somehow) only three games out of a playoff spot in the East. Beal is simply too valuable an asset to move -- performing at an elite level while under contract for another two years after this one.

Beal is a one-time All-Star, and so far this season he is averaging 24.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.8 assists.

#2 Jeremy Lin could be heading to the Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers currently sit 4th in the Western Conference standings with a 26-17 record, and Sean Deveney is reporting that the team is looking to tighten their grip on a playoff spot by targeting Atlanta Hawks point guard, Jeremy Lin:

Sources tell SN that Portland Trail Blazers have expressed interest in another player expected to be made available for a first-round pick: Atlanta point guard Jeremy Lin. When the Hawks traded for Lin last summer, the hope was that he could be a veteran presence for the first part of the season for young point guard Trae Young, then could be swapped for a rebuilding asset to help the woebegone Hawks' future.

Lin joined the Hawks back in July of 2018, and so far this season the 30-year-old is averaging 10.9 points, 3.5 assists, and 2.4 rebounds in 19.4 minutes per game.

#1 Sixers want to sign a back up big man

The Philadelphia 76ers engaged in a huge trade back in November that landed the team All-Star Jimmy Butler, however, the Sixers had to give up a lot of depth on their roster to get a deal done. According to Sporting News, the team is now looking to sign a big man that can stretch the floor:

The Sixers are another team willing to part with this year’s pick for immediate shooting help, as Philly looks for a big man who can shoot, along the lines of Mike Scott, Frank Kaminsky or Noah Vonleh. The Sixers gave up Dario Saric in the Jimmy Butler deal and miss his ability to stretch the floor.

The Sixers currently hold a 27-16 record and a backup center will provide support for Joel Embiid who is currently averaging 26.9 points, 13.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.