Rumour Mill: Aussie NBA teammates in trade talk as Warriors eye shake up
Two Aussies have emerged in trade rumours less than two months out from the NBA trade deadline as the Warriors eye a shake up.
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BLAZERS ‘FIELDING OFFERS’ FOR REATH
With Duop Reath stuck at the end of Portland’s logjam of centres, the Blazers have reportedly put the Aussie big on the trade block.
NBA reporter of Forbes Evan Sidery revealed Portland is “fielding trade offers” for Reath as it canvasses the market for teams looking to add a backup centre.
“Under contract through 2025-26 at only $2 million annually, any contending team in need of centre depth could utilize Reath’s skill set,” Sidery wrote on X.
“Portland’s centre rotation hasn’t allowed Reath opportunities.”
After Reath impressed in his rookie season for Portland — averaging 9.1 points, 1.3 threes and 3.7 rebounds in 17.9 minutes across 68 games as DeAndre Ayton’s primary backup — the 28-year old’s situation has changed considerably this campaign.
Robert Williams, who returned from injury, and No. 7 pick draftee Donovan Clingan have moved ahead of Reath in the big man pecking order behind Ayton in Chauncey Billups’ 9-18 side, limiting the 2020 bronze medal-winning Boomer to 13 of a possible 27 games.
It includes Reath having hit the court just twice so far in December.
The news comes after NBA insider Jake Fischer reported via Marc Stein’s Substack earlier this month that Reath has interest around the NBA given his $2 million contract could appeal to teams in tight salary positions amid the strict new CBA restrictions.
One Western Conference executive called the big man “really interesting”.
“Reath is behind three big men in the Trail Blazers’ rotation … but Reath could realistically provide backup minutes elsewhere,” Fischer wrote earlier this month.
“He’s making $2.048 million this season and is on Portland’s books for 2025-26 at $2.2 million. Is there a world where some rival front office, limited in ways to improve their team, values Reath’s potential contribution enough to offer the Blazers multiple second-round picks? We’re going to find out.”
Williams is also a candidate to get traded by the rebuilding Blazers and “on the Lakers’ wishlist of bigs,” according to Fischer’s latest report, but he said Portland isn’t “eager to part ways with Williams just yet.”
Fischer continued: “If there’s any move coming in Portland’s crowded frontcourt — which also houses Ayton, Duop Reath, and Clingan — it is not expected to come until much closer to the (February 7) deadline.”
WARRIORS ‘RAMPING UP’ TRADE PLANS, THYBULLE AMONG PLAYERS ON RADAR
The Golden State Warriors have already made a big move by bringing in Dennis Schroder. And they mightn’t be done there, with a renewed “willingness” to trade key pieces from their young core.
Since falling to the Houston Rockets in the NBA Cup quarter-finals last week, the West’s No. 10 seeded Warriors (14-12) have “been ramping up their activities on the trade market,” sources told Clutch Points NBA insider Brett Siegel.
“There is certainly more of a willingness to discuss their young core of Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, and Brandin Podziemski in trade discussions than ever before, sources said, opening several possibilities for how the Warriors could attack the trade deadline,” Siegel wrote.
That’s a shift from the Warriors after they reportedly weren’t willing to trade Podziemski and Kuminga when exploring a deal for Utah’s Lauri Markkanen last off-season.
Golden State remains on the lookout for another superstar to maximise Steph Curry’s prime, one several teams that have been linked to Jimmy Butler.
Siegel said the Warriors are the absolute “favourites” for Butler, but striking a trade with Miami for the six-time All-Star’s $48.7 million deal while the Warriors are in the first apron is problematic.
According to Siegel, Golden State is eyeing several others players to upgrade its roster including Aussie Matisse Thybulle, who was sensationally cut from the Boomers’ 2024 Olympics squad, ahead of the February 7 deadline.
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