After a flurry of deals Tuesday night, this is what we learned about the following NBA teams:
Lakers want George and No. 2 pick
Lakers are going after Paul George harder than we thought. The Lakers just made a trade with the Brooklyn Nets by sending D'Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov for Brook Lopez and the No. 27 overall pick in this year's draft. This trade is great for the Lakers in dumping Mozgov's salary and getting a former all-star in Lopez.
The Lakers are hoping that they can flip the No. 27 overall pick with the No. 28 overall pick, Julius Randle, and Jordan Clarkson to the Pacers for George according to ESPN's Marc Stein.
The standstill has always been and will be the Pacers desire for the No. 2 overall pick in the draft. With the Lakers getting rid of Russell, there is no doubt they will use that pick on Lonzo Ball, which makes it untouchable. The Pacers are going to have to decide soon if this is the best offer they are going to get.
Butler wants to stay in Chicago
Chris Barnewall of CBS Sports reported that the Cavaliers had been informed that Butler is reluctant to commit to the Cavaliers long term. Butler is a free agent in 2019, but also stated that he wants to stay in Chicago and lead the Bulls back into the conversation of great teams.
The Bulls were also informed that Dwyane Wade would pick up his player option, so the Bulls are heading down a road of having the same exact team as last year.
Rajon Rondo will likely resign if Butler and Wade are on the team again.
Hawks starting rebuild with Howard trade
The Atlanta Hawks made the second surprising trade of the evening by sending Dwight Howard and the No. 31 overall pick in this year's draft to the Charlotte Hornets for Miles Plumlee, Marco Belinelli, and the No.
41 overall pick. The Hornets will also absorb the remaining three years and $70.5 million left on his contract.
This is a confusing move by the Hornets. The Hornets already had young centers in Frank Kaminsky and Cody Zeller. Bringing in Howard will reduce playing time for both of those players. Howard is also 31 years old, and his production is down dating back to his eight all-star appearances with the Orlando Magic.
Injuries have also slowed Howard.
The upper brass must think that the Hornets can be the destination that turns his career around. Howard will be paired with Kemba Walker, Nicholas Batum, and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. The Howard moves make the Hornets better, but nothing more than a seven or eight seed in the East.
