The Indiana Pacers have agreed to acquire Thomas Bryant from the Miami Heat for a future second round pick swap. Bryant becomes trade-eligible on Sunday after signing a one-year deal with the Heat this past offseason.
Bryant will give the Pacers depth at center following injuries to James Wiseman and Isaiah Jackson.
Bryant is averaging 4.1 points and 3.2 rebounds in 11 minutes this season.
The Houston Rockets were on the market for a star at last year’s trade deadline and again in the offseason, but sources tell Sam Amick of The Athletic that is no longer the case and they want to keep their existing core in tact. The Rockets are highly unlikely to pursue a trade for Jimmy Butler, who has the team on his list of preferred destinations should the Miami Heat eventually decide to move him.
The Rockets are resistant to adding a player in their thirties to their young team, similar to the 2023 offseason when they pivoted away from James Harden.
Houston chose to make a major trade less likely in October when they signed Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun to extensions. The success the Rockets have had without making a major trade has emboldened their thinking that keeping their existing players and future draft picks is the sensible path. If the Rockets ever do make a major trade, the conventional widsom has been that it will be for a younger player.
Trae Young has become a better leader this season for the the Atlanta Hawks, sources tell ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. Young has taken a more distributive role within the Hawks’ offense as his usage has dropped to 27.0 from its peak of 34.4 in 21-22 when he was voted All-NBA Third Team. Young has always had a high assist rate, but that’s at a career best 47.5 this season.
Young flew Dyson Daniels and Zaccharie Risacher to Oklahoma this past summer for multiday training and bonding.
Officials with the Hawks have been actively working with Young on his leadership and relationship-building as he has had a reputation as an introvert.
