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76ers cut ties with veteran guard, acquire former Sixth Man of the Year in trade idea

It’s no secret that Philadelphia will be involved in trading season, and one option they could look into is Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson.

Clarkson has been available ever since the Jazz pretty much blew up their team in 2022. The only reason why he hasn’t found a new team is because of his contract. Now that it runs for only one more season after this one, it’s easier to acquire. That’s why he’s been floated before as a potential trade target for the Sixers.

Clarkson may be undersized, but he would be an upgrade over Eric Gordon and Reggie Jackson. His resume speaks for itself as a former Sixth Man of the Year. He would also be inexpensive, making $14 million this season and next.

How the Sixers could get Clarkson
The following trade could get Clarkson in Philadelphia.

Sixers get: Clarkson

Jazz get: Jackson, Gordon, Ricky Council IV, KJ Martin

The Sixers might try to find better options than Clarkson if they can snag one. Martin’s contract is convenient for potentially better players available in a trade.

What might make a Clarkson trade easier for the Sixers to get him is that the Jazz are likely at the point where they want to get rid of him without any assets being involved.

There will likely be better players available for the Sixers to go after, but Clarkson might be the most realistic.

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Kings could land Lakers star with massive three-player, four-pick trade offer

But it’s hard to imagine a better fit for James than the Sacramento Kings, who Athlon Sports’ Caleb Crowley created a LeBron trade package for on Thursday.

“To win his fifth ring, James needs a strong supporting cast of other star players and solid role guys,” Crowley said.

“With the Kings, that possibility stands.”

“James has seen his best success with a quick, shifty guard and a stretch big around him. Both his tenure with the Miami Heat and second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers included this combination. Undoubtedly, Fox and Sabonis could be the best imaginable modern rendition of the win-with-LeBron-James philosophy.”

To acquire LeBron, Crowley envisioned the Kings sending the Lakers a massive haul: DeMar DeRozan, Keegan Murray, Trey Lyles, Devin Carter, three unprotected first-rounders (2025, ’27, ’29) and two future swaps.

“Is it worth it for the Kings?” Crowley said.

“Theoretically, they still have plenty of depth and shooting with Kevin Huerter, Malik Monk and company. A big three of Fox, James and Sabonis would be a fearsome squad in a loaded Western Conference. If the Kings feel prepared to go all-in, James is no doubt the best player they can land.”

“In the hypothetical world where James demands a trade, the Sacramento Kings could be the most favorable destination in terms of basketball.”

LeBron leaving the Lakers would be somewhat of a surprise, but if he truly does care about winning another title, there are a handful of franchises that offer a better opportunity for him to do so compared with his current situation.

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Jimmy Butler’s hair, explained: Why NBA fans are convinced Heat star is fueling trade rumors with color choices

While Butler’s choices of yellow, red, blue and orange hair dye may seem random at first, NBA fans are convinced there’s a deeper meaning behind them.

Here’s why fans have theorized that Butler’s color choices are a message to the Heat — and a few teams around the league.

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Jimmy Butler’s hair, explained
With Butler’s name in trade rumors, fans believe his hair color choices directly correlate to the teams he would reportedly welcome a trade to: Golden State, Houston, Dallas and Phoenix.

On Nov. 4, Butler went blond (yellow), which fans now believe is a signal that he is open to joining the Warriors.

Jimmy Butler blond hair
After a few games in blond, Butler debuted the red two weeks later on Nov. 18. And while it matches Miami’s “blood red” uniforms, the red also matches Butler’s hometown team, the Houston Rockets.

Jimmy Butler red hair
Butler kept the red in for a few games before switching things up again, debuting his royal blue look on Dec. 1 in Toronto. The shade of blue is awfully similar to the color of the Mavericks’ “Icon Edition” uniforms.

Jimmy Butler blue hair
Ahead of a Dec. 12 meeting with the Raptors, Butler took to Instagram to provide a hair update: He’s gone orange.

Amid reporting that Butler has an interest in the Suns, this is a significant update.

Appears that Jimmy Butler will be going with orange hair tonight. pic.twitter.com/Zw4rZBrmLq

— Anthony Chiang (@Anthony_Chiang) December 12, 2024
MORE: Why the Warriors are a real threat to acquire Jimmy Butler

Jimmy Butler trade rumors
Butler has a player option for the 2025-26 season, meaning he could elect to enter free agency at the end of the season. He and his representation have reportedly been unable to gain traction on a contract extension with Miami, resulting in rumors of Butler seeking a new home.

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, has indicated that Butler “is open” to a trade to Dallas, Golden State or Houston. Lee later refuted the report but Charania doubled down on Butler’s openness to move on to those teams.

Charania followed up his original report of the three aforementioned teams to mention the Suns as a fourth destination Butler would be open to joining.

The Phoenix Suns are another team that Jimmy Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, has indicated in league circles that the six-time All-Star is open to as a destination while Miami listens to trade offers, sources tell ESPN, joining Dallas, Houston and Golden State. pic.twitter.com/QCXA2uEMXt

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 11, 2024
If nothing else, Butler has proven to be a world-class troll over the past few years. If the hair colors aren’t coincidental, Butler has found a way to have fun with his name being mentioned in trade rumors to very specific teams.

Should Butler change his hair color again, perhaps another potential trade destination should be added to his list.

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Spurs predicted to add Lakers superstar in surprising blockbuster trade

LeBron on the Spurs would be way more exciting than what’s happening in Los Angeles, and LeBron has to know this. A core of Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, Chris Paul, and James would be a wondrous mix of young, generational talent and veteran all-timers. There’s no reason why that core couldn’t contend, either, even in the crowded Western Conference.

Fadeaway World’s Eddie Bitar outlined a possible Spurs-LeBron deal on Thursday. It would be Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, and a trio of first-rounders for the King.

“For the Spurs, this trade is a statement of intent to contend sooner than expected,” Bitar said.

“However, while this deal gives San Antonio a path to compete, the Lakers might be reluctant to give up LeBron for assets that, while valuable, lack the immediate impact needed for another championship run.”

“Devin Vassell is a dynamic two-way wing who could fit seamlessly into the Lakers’ rotation (16.6 PPG, 2.8 APG), while Keldon Johnson brings scoring and leadership (12.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG), though he still has room to develop. The multiple first-round picks—especially the 2027 ones—offer the Lakers a path toward a potential rebuild but might not be enough for Rob Pelinka to accept.”

Indeed, the Lakers are sure to receive other offers for LeBron, some of which might trump a Spurs’ package.

Still, San Antonio should have an offer ready and stay in contact with LA in case other deals fall through.

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Knicks’ unlikely trade proposal to Mavs would bring in more reliable center

“Adding Gafford would give the Knicks some much-needed stability down low, allowing Towns to focus more on scoring without having to worry about anchoring the defense,” Leiva said.

“For the Mavericks, this deal makes sense too. Dereck Lively II has locked up the starting center spot, and Gafford’s role has shrunk. Flipping him for Robinson gives them another defensive big while also snagging a 2025 first-round pick via Washington. It’s a win-win, especially with Dallas currently third in the West and relying heavily on Luka Doncic to keep them competitive.”

“This isn’t a flashy move, but it’s exactly the kind of low-key trade that could make a big impact for the Knicks. Gafford would shore up their frontcourt and give them a better chance of keeping pace with the heavyweights in the East.”

One thing Leiva failed to mention is that the Knicks’ first-rounder from the Wizards is top-10 protected, and it seems likely that the lowly Wiz are going to end up with a top-10 pick in the upcoming draft.

Perhaps New York could toss in some second-round draft capital instead to entice the Mavs into this deal.

Robinson is a fascinating trade chip because it’s impossible to know how teams value him, given his injury history. Dallas wouldn’t consider this deal unless they examined Robinson’s physical and came away optimistic.

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Grizzlies predicted to acquire former disgruntled Knicks guard in key trade

In particular, newcomers from the Knicks, Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, haven’t quite had the impact Minnesota hoped they would. It’s still mighty early, but if the Wolves get antsy, they’ll have plenty of suitors for DiVincenzo, including — according to Fadeaway World’s Fran Leiva — the Grizzlies.

On Wednesday, Leiva proposed the Grizz sending a package of Luke Kennard, Jay Huff, and a second-rounder to Minnesota for DiVincenzo.

“DiVincenzo would be an ideal fit with his defensive intensity and ability to play off the ball,” Leiva said.

“Plus, he brings playoff experience, which never hurts for a team looking to make a deep run.”

“In return, the Wolves get Luke Kennard, one of the best three-point shooters in the league … (and) Jay Huff, a big man who’s been making noise since leaving the Lakers. Huff is a shot-blocker, rebounder, and can even hit threes—a perfect backup to Gobert who gives the Wolves more flexibility up front.”

“For the Grizzlies, this deal is all about getting a guy who fits their gritty, hard-nosed identity. … For the Wolves, it’s about finding pieces that make sense next to their stars. Kennard and Huff offer shooting and versatility, and that 2030 second-rounder is a little cherry on top.”

Would this be a good trade for both sides?