NBA Intel: Lonzo Ball, Nikola Vucevic, Brandon Ingram Trade Talks; Lakers, Warriors, Knicks, more

Following blockbuster trades involving Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis, and De'Aaron Fox, teams are moving urgently, only two days before the NBA trade deadline.

HoopsHype has gathered the latest intel on trade talks involving Bulls center Nikola Vucevic and guard Lonzo Ball, Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram, and more, including updates on the Lakers, Warriors, Knicks, Bucks, Nuggets, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Pistons, Hawks, and Hornets.

Nikola Vucevic trade interest

Following the trade of star guard Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings, the Chicago Bulls are gearing towards a rebuild, and with two-time All-Star Nikola Vucevic desiring a win-now situation, there’s a growing sense the Bulls will look to move Vucevic ahead of the deadline.

Vucevic has drawn trade interest from the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers, most notably, league sources told HoopsHype. Both the Warriors and Lakers intrigue Vucevic from afar, HoopsHype has learned.

The Warriors are scouring the trade market, hoping to improve the roster around franchise star Stephen Curry to give him the best chance to compete for a championship in the remaining years of his career.

Following the acquisition of Luka Doncic, the Lakers are also poised to contend for the foreseeable future.

The Bulls have held out hope for a first-round pick for Vucevic but may have to settle for multiple second-round picks if they move him ahead of the deadline in the eyes of NBA executives who spoke with HoopsHype.

The 34-year-old center is having an efficient season, averaging 19.9 points on 55.1 percent shooting from the field and 40.1 percent from beyond the arc, 10.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists.

Lonzo Ball trade interest

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball has been arguably the best comeback story in the league after returning this season from knee injuries that sidelined him since January 14, 2022.

Ball has received trade interest from several teams, including the Memphis Grizzlies, Detroit Pistons, Minnesota Timberwolves, and others, league sources told HoopsHype.

Some teams are also monitoring whether Ball could hit the buyout market.

Ball has looked spry lately, averaging 10.2 points on 40.3 percent shooting from beyond the arc, 3.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 24.7 minutes through his last 11 games while on an expiring contract worth $21.4 million.

What’s next for the Bulls?

In addition to potentially trading Nikola Vucevic and Lonzo Ball, as mentioned, the Chicago Bulls have several more items on their agenda before the deadline.

The Bulls are also exploring the possibility of rerouting newly acquired guards Tre Jones and Kevin Huerter, league sources told HoopsHype, and as reported by KC Johnson.

Jones is on an expiring contract worth $9.1 million, and Huerter is owed $34.82 million through the 2025-26 season.

In general, Chicago is looking to clear future cap space and wants to avoid taking back future salary in trade talks ideally, league sources said.

After re-acquiring their original 2025 first-round pick back from the San Antonio Spurs in the three-team Zach LaVine trade involving the Sacramento Kings, Chicago is expected to focus on developing its younger players and rebuilding.

Brandon Ingram trade talks with the Pelicans and Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks are among the teams who’ve called the New Orleans Pelicans to gauge the price tag on forward Brandon Ingram, league sources told HoopsHype, and as reported by The Stein Line.

The Hawks have explored the trade market on veterans Clint Capela and Bogdan Bogdanovic, as previously reported by HoopsHype. Hawks forward De’Andre Hunter has also drawn trade interest from the Cleveland Cavaliers, league sources told HoopsHype.

In talks between the Hawks and Pelicans, league sources told HoopsHype the Pelicans would be reluctant to take back future salary, including Bogdanovic, who’s owed $16 million for the 2025-26 season and has a team option worth $16 million for the 2026-27 season.

Previously, the Pelicans did their due diligence on Capela this past offseason before drafting Yves Missi, as reported by HoopsHype. Capela is on an expiring $22.27 million deal.

In addition to gauging the Ingram trade market, another item on the agenda for the Pelicans is ducking the luxury tax, league sources told HoopsHype. With that in mind, NBA executives around the league are monitoring New Orleans to possibly trade two of the following players: Daniel Theis, Javonte Green, and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl.

Following the trade deadline, there’s a strong belief the Pelicans will convert two-way guard Brandon Boston Jr. to a standard NBA contract, league sources told HoopsHype.

Boston Jr. is averaging a career-high 10.7 points in 23.9 minutes per game.

What’s next for the Bucks?

The Milwaukee Bucks have been active on the trade market involving conversations centered around Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis, Pat Connaughton, Marjon Beauchamp, and their 2031 first-round pick, league sources told HoopsHype.

Milwaukee has circled the wagon on various players looking to improve the roster while Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard are in their primes, including six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler, Kyle Kuzma, and role player upgrades, including Cody Martin, etc.

As reported by HoopsHype since January 16, with the Bucks $6.5 million over the second apron, executives on teams looking to be trade facilitators, have been monitoring Connaughton as a candidate to be moved.

Connaughton has a $9.42 million player option for the 2025-26 season, which he’s expected to exercise for the 2025-26 season, HoopsHype has learned.

The 32-year-old swingman has appeared in 28 games this season, averaging 4.5 points in 14.9 minutes.

Middleton has a $34 million player option for the 2025-26 season, with the expectation around the league that he’ll exercise it.

The 33-year-old swingman has appeared in only 23 games this season, but has shot the ball well at a 51.2 percent clip from the field and 40.7 percent from downtown for 12.6 points in 23.2 minutes.

Portis has a $13.45 million player option for the 2025-26 season. It’s unclear at this juncture which direction Portis will choose regarding his player option.

Portis, who turns 30 on February 10th, has put up similar numbers to last season, averaging 13.4 points and 7.9 rebounds in 41 games.

Following the Phoenix Suns breaking up their 2031 first-round pick for three first-round picks in a trade with the Utah Jazz, several NBA executives have expressed interest in similarly trying to acquire Milwaukee’s 2031 first-round pick for multiple first-round picks, league sources told HoopsHype.

Cody Martin drawing trade interest

Charlotte Hornets swingman Cody Martin has received trade interest from several teams, including the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, and Denver Nuggets, league sources told HoopsHype.

Previously, the Phoenix Suns tried to acquire Martin in a bigger trade that would’ve sent Jusuf Nurkic to the Hornets, as reported by HoopsHype on January 16th.

In addition, Martin and future second-round draft picks from Charlotte were discussed in sign-and-trade discussions for Cleveland Cavaliers swingman Isaac Okoro this summer, which fell through once Okoro agreed to re-sign with Cleveland, league sources told HoopsHype.

Martin has averaged 7.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 24.8 minutes for the Hornets this season. He’s owed $8.12 million this season and has a non-guaranteed $8.68 million for the 2025-26 season.

Knicks center Jericho Sims’ trade market

New York Knicks center Jericho Sims has drawn interest on the trade market from teams, including the Lakers, Clippers, and Bucks, league sources told HoopsHype.

The 26-year-old center and former Slam Dunk Contest participant is on an expiring $2 million contract.

The Knicks have a frontcourt logjam in All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns, the expected return of Mitchell Robinson should he remain in New York past the deadline, Precious Achiuwa, Sims, and Ariel Hukporti while only $535,301 below the second apron.

Will the Denver Nuggets make a trade?

Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone said forward Michael Porter Jr. won’t be traded during a recent postgame press conference.

Porter Jr. previously came up in reported trade talks surrounding Zach LaVine when he was on the Bulls earlier this season. Chicago, however, was resistant to taking on Zeke Nnaji’s four-year, $32 million contract, as previously reported by HoopsHype. On the basketball court, there were also internal questions about whether LaVine and Nuggets guard Jamal Murray could’ve coexisted effectively on both sides of the ball.

The Nuggets have continued to gauge the trade market on Nnaji and also Dario Saric, league sources told HoopsHype.

With Denver lacking draft capital to trade, teams have countered by asking for the availability of Denver’s younger rotation players such as Peyton Watson and Julian Strawther. Nuggets starter Christian Braun has also drawn trade interest, but it’s been rebuffed by Denver.

As reported above by HoopsHype, the Nuggets have expressed interest in Cody Martin. The Nuggets have also been linked to Philadelphia 76ers forward Guerschon Yabusele, as reported by HoopsHype on January 30th.

Denver will continue to scout the trade market for potential bench upgrades ahead of the deadline.

You can follow Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: NBA Intel: Lonzo Ball, Nikola Vucevic, Brandon Ingram Trade Talks; Lakers, Warriors, Knicks, more