NBA Intel: Trae Young, Anthony Davis, Michael Porter Jr, Ivica Zubac, Pacers, Cavs, Nets, Celtics, Wolves
With the NBA trade deadline just a month away, the rumor mill has accelerated from a gentle hum to a deafening roar. Front offices across the league are posturing, and the latest intel dump from HoopsHype suggests that several All-Star caliber names—including Anthony Davis and Trae Young—are dominating the conversation.
The most eye-popping development concerns the Atlanta Hawks and their pursuit of Anthony Davis. While the idea of pairing Davis with Atlanta’s core is tantalizing, negotiations appear to have hit an early snag. Sources indicate the Hawks are currently resisting the inclusion of rookie Zaccharie Risacher and the New Orleans Pelicans’ unprotected 2026 first-round pick in any deal. That pick, widely viewed as a goldmine given New Orleans’ trajectory, could be the sticking point in what would otherwise be a league-altering blockbuster.
Meanwhile, the Hawks’ current franchise cornerstone, Trae Young, is generating significant buzz elsewhere. The Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Los Angeles Clippers are all reportedly monitoring Young’s situation. Minnesota’s interest is particularly noteworthy; the Timberwolves have been actively scouring the market for a starting point guard upgrade to bolster their championship odds, and Young’s playmaking engine would be a seamless, albeit expensive, fit.
In Los Angeles, the Clippers are fielding calls on center Ivica Zubac. Both the Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics have expressed interest in the reliable big man to shore up their interior defense. However, the Clippers aren’t selling low—they are reportedly demanding at least two first-round picks for Zubac, a steep price that tests how desperate contenders are for size down the stretch.
Elsewhere, Michael Porter Jr.’s name has surfaced in trade chatter involving the Brooklyn Nets, while the Cleveland Cavaliers remain active in gauging the market for upgrades. As the deadline nears, the separation between buyers and sellers is becoming stark, and the willingness of teams like Atlanta or Minnesota to push their chips into the middle could define the second half of the season.
The most eye-popping development concerns the Atlanta Hawks and their pursuit of Anthony Davis. While the idea of pairing Davis with Atlanta’s core is tantalizing, negotiations appear to have hit an early snag. Sources indicate the Hawks are currently resisting the inclusion of rookie Zaccharie Risacher and the New Orleans Pelicans’ unprotected 2026 first-round pick in any deal. That pick, widely viewed as a goldmine given New Orleans’ trajectory, could be the sticking point in what would otherwise be a league-altering blockbuster.
Meanwhile, the Hawks’ current franchise cornerstone, Trae Young, is generating significant buzz elsewhere. The Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Los Angeles Clippers are all reportedly monitoring Young’s situation. Minnesota’s interest is particularly noteworthy; the Timberwolves have been actively scouring the market for a starting point guard upgrade to bolster their championship odds, and Young’s playmaking engine would be a seamless, albeit expensive, fit.
In Los Angeles, the Clippers are fielding calls on center Ivica Zubac. Both the Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics have expressed interest in the reliable big man to shore up their interior defense. However, the Clippers aren’t selling low—they are reportedly demanding at least two first-round picks for Zubac, a steep price that tests how desperate contenders are for size down the stretch.
Elsewhere, Michael Porter Jr.’s name has surfaced in trade chatter involving the Brooklyn Nets, while the Cleveland Cavaliers remain active in gauging the market for upgrades. As the deadline nears, the separation between buyers and sellers is becoming stark, and the willingness of teams like Atlanta or Minnesota to push their chips into the middle could define the second half of the season.
