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The chemistry had deteriorated and gotten toxic. The roster was too old, too lacking in dynamic athletes. The rotation was too thin. The team’s best asset — the Nets’ first-round pick — was deemed untradeable because it was the franchise’s only defense against a possible free-agent departure by LeBron James. The Cavs were clearly not on the same level as the Raptors and Celtics in the East, and there was some question as to whether they could hold on to their spot as the conference’s No....

Why? It’s the date most of the players who signed contracts in the offseason become eligible to be traded. There were a decent amount of players who were already trade eligible, of course, but the pool is now much greater. That means more trade targets and move avenues for teams to create trade packages. Now a month out from the trade deadline, here are 10 players who could be traded this season, in no particular order....

News of the trade was reported at the start of the draft. ESPN.com later reported Butler has been told of the trade. MORE: NBA Draft tracker | Trade tracker Dunn was the No. 5 pick in last year’s draft out of Providence. LaVine, a first-rounder of the T-wolves in 2014 out of UCLA, is coming off an ACL injury. Butler played in Chicago for current Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau.

The drama in New York between Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony and team president Phil Jackson is getting better than anything you’ll see on small or big screens. On Tuesday, Jackson, indirectly took a shot at Anthony, whom the Knicks have been rumored to be looking to move before the NBA’s Feb. 23 trade deadline. Jackson posted a cryptic tweet that appeared to categorize the small forward as a prodigious scorer who isn’t receptive to being coached into being a champion....

The Cavaliers continue to receive calls about potential trades for the 33-year-old shooting guard, according to a report from Cleveland.com. Smith played in just 11 games in 2018-19 before he agreed to part ways with the team and sat out the rest of the season. Cleveland had a chance to move Smith before the deadline but decided to hold on to him with the hopes of trading him this summer, the report says....

In its attempt to land Jordan, Cleveland is reportedly offering its own 2018 first-round pick — rather than the more desirable Brooklyn pick, which could land in the top 10 — along with “unwanted” contracts. The Clippers center would immediately add rebounding and rim protection to a Cavs team that has struggled defensively throughout the season, but keep in mind Jordan, who is averaging 11.6 points and 14.9 rebounds per game this season, could become a free agent this summer, as he has a player option for 2018-19 worth just over $24 million....

The Cavs selected Collin Sexton with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, locked up Kevin Love with a four-year extension and recently agreed to a deal with former Bulls guard David Nwaba. Cleveland is preparing to fight for a playoff spot in the East rather than tearing it all down as part of a rebuild — and the front office might not be done making moves just yet....

Reports on Tuesday suggested possible moves for the Suns and Knicks among other teams. The 2020 NBA Draft is next Wednesday, and with a shortened offseason set to conclude Dec. 22, important moves could come in a flurry of activity. MORE: LeBron James wishes NBA didn’t trim offseason Here are the key NBA trade rumors to come out of Tuesday: Chris Paul to the Suns Source: ESPN Brian Windhorst of ESPN reported Tuesday afternoon that the Suns have “had discussions” with the Thunder about acquiring veteran point guard Chris Paul....

Trade news often breaks on the internet before players are notified, as was the case for Mavericks forward Harrison Barnes. NBA TRADE RUMORS: Latest news, buzz, reported deals ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Wednesday night that Dallas had traded Barnes to Sacramento: This was one of several trades made that night, but it immediately stood out because Barnes was playing in a game for the Mavericks when the news of his trade broke....

Kemba Walker is the Hornets’ No. 1 option. The team has pretty much given up on Nic Batum assuming the role of No. 2 scorer. Clifford knew Kaminsky had to get more aggressive, and told him so. “I think it was before the Portland game on our road trip,” Kaminsky told Sporting News. “(Clifford) sat me down and had a talk with me about approach, what I should be doing, what I was doing before and what needs to change....

A league source told Sporting News’ Sean Deveney last week that a Smith trade “is a matter of when, not if.” The Mavericks are looking to build around Luka Doncic, who has performed significantly better with Smith on the bench, so Smith has quickly gone from a rebuilding piece to a trade asset. MORE: Can Doncic change Mavs’ fortunes in free agency? Despite Smith’s struggles early in his career and his battles with Carlisle, there should still be plenty of interest as the Feb....

After it was initially reported Tuesday afternoon by Vincent Goodwill of NBC Sports Chicago that the Bulls had agreed to send Nikola Mirotic to the Pelicans in exchange for Omer Asik and a first-round pick, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski revealed the deal had “fallen apart.” It’s possible the Bulls and Pelicans still figure out a way to complete a trade, but there are some obstacles in the way. LEROUX: Why Pistons’ desperation move could come back to haunt them...

The Sixers will trade Okafor along with Nik Stauskas and a second-round pick (via the Knicks) to the Nets in exchange for Trevor Booker, according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe. Brooklyn will release Sean Kilpatrick to make room for Okafor and Stauskas, according to The Vertical’s Shams Charania. MORE: Ben Simmons’ biggest strengths, flaws as explained by NBA scout Okafor failed to crack the rotation in the Sixers’ last 13 games and has only logged 25 minutes all season....

But before you check out EuroBasket action, you may need to brush up on international rules. There are some notable differences between FIBA and NBA play that you will undoubtedly notice. Let’s dive into the international rules and how they impact EuroBasket games. MORE: EuroBasket 2022 expert picks, predictions Watch every EuroBasket 2022 game live and on demand with ESPN+. Sign up now to catch all of the action with some of the NBA’s biggest stars, including Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and more....

In Perfectly You: Embracing the Power of Being Real, Atencio writes about the encounter when she was selected to be part of the network’s presence at the annual White House gathering. She wrote how thrilled she was to “represent our people, proud of having a seat at the table, literally and figuratively.” In an effort to honor her heritage, she planned on wearing something prominently featuring the colors yellow, blue and red, the colors featured on many South American nations’ flags....

NBC Sports Group has reached a six-year extension of its rights to broadcast Premier League games in the U.S., the network announced Monday. MORE: Premier League storylines for 2015-16 | EPL players to watch The network is in the third and final season of its original deal, which it secured for $250 million. The New York Times reports the extension, which runs through the 2021-22 season, is expected to include a “significant increase” in rights fees....

The document outlines how schools should acclimate student-athletes into workouts following low-activity periods, which carry greater risk of injury or death because players have not yet adjusted to strenuous drills. It would also discourage the use of intensive workouts as a form of punishment, and establish how to properly diagnose and treat heatstroke. MORE: Jordan McNair timeline Fourteen medical organizations, including the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and the Korey Stringer Institute — which strives to prevent sudden death among athletes at all levels — are reviewing the proposal and suggesting amendments....

NCAA president Mark Emmert told USA Today Sports that while he has not set a deadline for the investigation to conclude, “Sometime in the relatively near future we’ll move toward a resolution." MORE: Sunday March madness betting picks | UNC looks like your national champion The academic violations occurred over almost a 20-year period — from 1993 through 2011 — and involved multiple sports and more than 3,000 student-athletes, including members of the university’s perennially successful basketball team....

A source who works in college basketball told Sporting News that several of the officials showed up Sunday evening to check into their hotels and submit to virus testing, but they were informed their rooms at the hotel were not ready and were encouraged by an NCAA representative to use the time before testing would be available that night to get dinner somewhere outside the hotel. After one of them tested positive upon returning, the source said, the other five at the dinner were informed they could either quarantine for two weeks at the hotel or depart and quarantine at home....

But while a majority of people are opposed to paying student-athletes, that majority is getting more silent (if not smaller) by the day. Few people have spoken out against Gurley’s actions. And many who have invoke only a “rules are rules” explanation, less along the lines of “do the crime, do the time” and more along the lines of “come on, what did you expect would happen?” There are a lot of factors involved in these types of changes in public opinion but the NFL’s tumultuous summer and start to the season looms large....