Mavericks trade Bogut, cut Williams to get younger
No blockbuster trades on deadline day; OKC gets help for Westbrook
The Dallas Mavericks made two plays for the future Thursday, acquiring big man Nerlens Noel from the Philadelphia 76ers before the trading deadline and waiving point guard Deron Williams to clear the way for rookie Yogi Ferrell.
The Mavericks sent veteran center Andrew Bogut, young swingman Justin Anderson and a protected first-round draft pick to the 76ers.
Bogut ended up not being a great fit at center in Dallas after coming over in a trade with Golden State when the Warriors had to unload players to make room under the salary cap for Kevin Durant.
The 32-year-old Bogut was limited to 26 games by injuries but ended up coming off the bench when he was healthy. The Mavericks discovered early in the season that he wasn’t a good starting fit with Nowitzki, and Barnes’ success in Nowitzki’s spot played a part in that.
The 22-year-old Noel was the sixth overall pick in the 2013 draft. He clashed with the Sixers at times during his stay due to a logjam in the frontcourt that also included Jahlil Okafor and Joel Embiid. He gives the Mavericks an athletic, defensive-minded power forward who will be a restricted free agent this summer.
“What an exciting journey it’s been,” Noel wrote on his Instagram account. “To have such an amazing city embrace a kid from Boston coming out of Kentucky the way y’all did, is something I’ll truly never forget. And even through the ups and downs I never doubted the love here and that won’t change.”
Noel’s fit in the rotation could be tricky early because of how Harrison Barnes has thrived in his first season with the Mavericks in Dirk Nowitzki’s spot at power forward with the 7-foot German playing more center.
But the trade fits with the Mavericks’ intentions to get younger and more athletic with Nowitzki’s career winding down and the team among the also-rans in the Western Conference with an outside shot at the eighth playoff spot.
Aperson with knowledge of the situation told the AP that Williams plans to join LeBron James to give Cleveland the backup point guard the defending champion needs. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because Williams has to clear waivers before signing with the Cavaliers.
Thunder: Oklahoma City got some help for Russell Westbrook by acquiring forwards Taj Gibson and Doug McDermott from Chicago just before the ttrade deadline.
The Bulls also sent a 2018 second-round pick to the Thunder. Oklahoma City sent Cameron Payne, Joffrey Lauvergne and Anthony Morrow to Chicago.
Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti said he likes where his team is after the moves.
“I think that we’re a better team this evening than we were this morning because I think we were able to add some things to help our teams in terms of the collective, the aggregate,” he said. “How much? I don’t know how to answer that. We have to see how we play.”
Suns: Phoenix pulled off a pair of trades just before the deadline, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.
The Suns traded forward P.J. Tucker to Toronto for forward Jared Sullinger and a pair of second-round draft picks (2017 and ’18) and acquired power forward Mike Scott from Atlanta for cash.
Guard Brandon Knight remained with the Suns despite widespread speculation he could be headed elsewhere because he has been inconsistent and not thrilled with his role coming off the bench behind starters Eric Bledsoe and Devin Booker.
Tucker was the most competitive of the Suns, known for his fiery attitude, tough defense and rebounding.
Nuggets: Denver added another big man for the stretch run by acquiring Roy Hibbert from the Bucks for a protected second-round pick in 2019.
Pelicans: New Orleans waived forward Terrence Jones and signed shooting guardHollis Thompson to a 10- day contract.
The moves give New Orleans more depth at shooting guard after the club traded away guards Tyreke Evans, Buddy Hield and Langston Galloway to Sacramento as part of a trade Sunday night that brought All-Star 6-foot-11 forward DeMarcus Cousins and 6-9 forward Omri Casspi to the Pelicans.
Nets: Brooklyn acquired swingman K.J. McDaniels from the Houston Rockets. The Nets are sending cash to the Rockets.
Grizzlies: Memphis signed guard Toney Douglas for the remainder of the season.
Lakers: The new job has prompted Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson to field numerous phone calls from numerous executives. None of those conversations yielded any blockbuster moves, but it still resulted in roster changes.
The Lakers acquired 22year-old guard Tyler Ennis from the Houston Rockets for veteran guard Marcelo Huertas, according to The Vertical.
Hawks: Coach Mike Budenholzer says newly acquired power forward Ersan Ilyasova was targeted as a player he sawas a good fit on Atlanta’s front line.
Jazz: Utah coach Quin Snyder expects Rodney Hood to return to game action Friday.
Hood hadn’t practiced since suffering a lateral collateral ligament sprain and bone contusion in his right knee on Feb. 1, but was a full participant.