Mavericks considering Simmons play; Davis Lakers’ ‘plan B’ option: Rumour Mill

A Western Conference powerhouse is reportedly weighing up a play for Ben Simmons.

Plus the LA Lakers are contemplating all choices to dig themselves out of their present mess.

Catch up on all the newest whispers in our NBA Rumour Mill!

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MAVS CIRCLING SIMMONS

The Dallas Mavericks are a group to control for a possible Ben Simmons commerce, in accordance with Heavy.com’s Sean Deveney.

It comes forward of a showdown between Simmons’ Brooklyn Nets and the Mavericks on Tuesday (all occasions AEDT), with the Aussie set to return from a knee harm, however is predicted to be restricted to twenty minutes.

Simmons has been rusty in his return to the court docket for the struggling 4-6 Nets, and a rival Wester Conference government mentioned Dallas is monitoring the scenario.

“Dallas is a team to watch, Simmons would be an interesting fit next to Luka (Doncic) if the Nets were willing to take back (Tim) Hardaway and (Davis) Bertans. I am not sure how much higher the Mavs could go in terms of an offer but that would definitely be interesting for Luka.”’

It comes after a report from SNY’s Ian Begley that not less than one Western Conference group has engaged with the Nets on a Simmons commerce.

“In the days before (Sunday’s) brutal loss to the Indiana Pacers, the Nets had been in cursory talks with one Western Conference team about a deal that would return a veteran shooter, per SNY sources. Ben Simmons’ name came up in the talks, sources say,” Begley wrote final week.

“It’s unclear if talks advanced past the cursory stage, but Brooklyn was said to be aggressive in its pursuit of perimeter shooting.”

Simmons is contracted till the 2024/25 season for a median of $37 million per marketing campaign.

Through six video games for the Nets, he’s averaged 6.2 factors, 6.5 rebounds and seven.3 assists in 31.8 minutes.

DAVIS LAKERS’ ‘PLAN B’ OPTION

The LA Lakers have stumbled badly out of the gates this season at 2-7, prompting requires them to make a commerce and rejig their roster so as to add extra exterior taking pictures they desperately want.

Russell Westbrook has been on the centre of such commerce talks and offloading his expiring $47 million deal. However shifting the previous MVP would additionally seemingly require the Lakers surrendering two first-round picks – whereas their first rounder this season is already tied to the Pelicans.

According to the Ringer’s Bill Simmons, the Lakers are contemplating all choices, even hinting that Anthony Davis might get placed on the commerce desk.

“So, the Lakers lost again (Monday). There’s some buzz, some buzzing that AD might be available,” he mentioned on The Bill Simmons Podcast.

“That that’s a Plan B. Because the Westbrook trade, or whatever they think they can get for Westbrook and whether you want to give up future assets, maybe that doesn’t even make sense because what are you getting if you’re the Lakers?”

Despite declining from his earlier epic heights, the 29-year outdated Davis has nonetheless averaged 22.5 factors, 11.1 rebounds and a couple of.1 blocks from eight video games this season and is taking pictures 52.9 per cent from the sphere, whereas his 24.3 PER ranks twelfth within the league amongst certified gamers.

The star huge man is contracted till the tip of the 2024/25 season for a complete of over $120 million (AUD $185m)

Davis and LeBron James, 37, come off the Lakers’ books on the identical time and each have participant choices for the 2024/25 marketing campaign.