NBA Trade Rumors Roundup Jan 16th: DeAndre Jordan's Mavericks future in doubt, Jeremy Lin trade and more

Modified Nov 08, 2022 11:44 GMT

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 less than a month away, here are the biggest trade rumours you need to know for January 16th.

The Hawks make a number of players available for trade

The Atlanta Hawks have once again struggled this season, and the team is currently well outside of the Eastern Conference playoff hunt. Due to this, Marc Stein from the New York Times is reporting that the team has made three senior members of the roster available for trade:

The Hawks are known to have made the veteran point guard Lin, big man Dewayne Dedmon and swingman Kent Bazemore available in advance of the Feb. 7 trade deadline in search of more draft picks.

Jeremy Lin and Dewayne Dedmon both have expiring contracts and will become unrestricted free agents this summer. Lin plays at the point guard position and is currently averaging 10.8 points and 3.6 assists per game. Dedmon is a 29-year-old center who is currently posting 9.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.

Meanwhile, Bazemore is averaging 14.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game and the 29-year-old has a player option for the 19/20 season worth $19 million.

Dennis Smith Jr. is open to a move away from the Dallas Mavericks

Reports emerged earlier this week that the Dallas Mavericks had made the decision to trade away Dennis Smith Jr. The 21-year-old was only drafted by the Mavericks last season, although Brad Townsend from the Dallas Morning News is reporting that Smith Jr. himself is now open to being traded:

'A source close to Dennis Smith Jr confirms that neither Smith, nor his agent, requested a trade, but are open to one. He likes the organization and he likes the players. I just don’t think it was probably a good (basketball) fit'

Smith has made 28 starts for the Mavericks this season, although he has not played in the teams last three games. For the 2018/19 season, Smith Jr. is averaging 12.6 points, 3.9 assists and 2.4 rebounds per game, and the point guard is contracted with the team until 2022.

DeAndre Jordan unlikely to stay with the Mavericks

DeAndre Jordan joined the Dallas Mavericks last summer, two years after snubbing the team in favor of re-signing with the LA Clippers. The 30-year-old penned a one year deal in Dallas, however, the Star-Telegram is reporting that the team has no plans to hand Jordan an extension this summer:

NBA sources said they do not believe the Mavs will offer Jordan a multi-year deal after his contract expires in the offseason, which is what both he and his agent will want. He's always been a better athlete than a basketball player. An NBA basketball player can age well. The NBA athlete does not age as well as the player.

So far this season, Jordan has started 43 times, averaging 10.9 points and 14.0 rebounds per game. The center is a one-time All-Star, although, with the Mavericks still in playoff contention, it is questionable whether the team will trade him this month.