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USATSI

We're now less than a month away from the 2023 NBA trade deadline on Feb. 9, and as expected, the rumor mill is starting to heat up. This is about the time when teams have to decide if they want to be buyers or sellers, and with Victor Wembanyama waiting in the 2023 NBA Draft, there may be more of the latter than usual. 

Let's take a closer look at some of the latest bits of information:

Rockets turned down Bucks' offer for Gordon 

The Houston Rockets were not expected to be good this season, but things have gotten really rough over the last month or so. They've lost 12 games in a row, and 17 of their last 18 to fall into last place at 10-35. At this point, they may as well stay down there, which is why Eric Gordon is a prime candidate to be moved soon. 

Gordon is the lone remaining member of the Rockets' 2018 Western Conference finals team still on the roster, and clearly isn't having a good time as a veteran. "There's no improvement," Gordon said in a recent interview, a damning indictment of not only his young teammates but the infrastructure around them. 

Now 34 years old, Gordon is well past his prime but could still be a useful bench scorer for a contender. He can create his own shot, has also been a solid spot-up shooter throughout his career (36.4 percent on catch-and-shoot chances this season) and gives you a bit of secondary playmaking. 

He would be a perfect addition for the Bucks, who could use all of the above alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. If Milwaukee wants to get Gordon, though, Jon Horst and Co. will have to come up with a better offer than four second-round picks. The Rockets turned that down, according to Marc Stein, and are holding out for a first-round pick for Gordon. That could be an issue for the Bucks, as they only own two of their future first in 2028 and 2029. 

Hornets will take calls on Hayward

The Charlotte Hornets are another team that has been a disaster this season. Between the Miles Bridges situation, injuries and a total lack of interest in playing defense, the once-promising Hornets are now among the worst teams in the league. Their 12-34 mark is better only than the Detroit Pistons and the Rockets. 

One of the oft-injured players is veteran forward Gordon Hayward, who has been limited to 21 games this season, and 114 games since he signed with the club in 2020. Though he has not shot the ball well at all this season, he's still a solid all-around player, averaging 13.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists. 

Per Stein, the Hornets are prepared to "take calls" on Hayward, which is not a surprise. They're going nowhere, and if they can get a decent return for Hayward at this point, they might as well do so. The thing is, he makes $30 million this year and $31 million next year and gets hurt all the time. Contending teams would love to have a guy like Hayward, but they'd have to give up $30 million in salary to get him and hope he stays healthy, which means they probably wouldn't offer any super enticing assets in return. 

Jazz have made Markkanen, Kessler off limits

The Utah Jazz have cooled off significantly since their incredible start, but are still one of the most surprising teams this season. At 24-25, they sit in eighth place in the crowded middle of the Western Conference standings and are just two games out of fifth. 

Where they go from here will be fascinating. After trading Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert last summer, everyone assumed they would be in super tank mode. Then they got off to such an incredible start that it looked like they might try to make the playoffs. Now, as the deadline approaches, they have a choice to make: continue fighting for the postseason, or ship out the vets and try to sink down the standings after the All-Star break. 

They've won too many games to get anywhere near the worst teams, but they're still only five games ahead of the Orlando Magic for the fifth-worst record. They could still get into the mix for a high lottery selection if they blow it up soon. To that point, Stein reported that the team is willing to trade anyone besides Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler. 

Markkanen, of course, makes sense. Since arriving in the Mitchell deal, he's transformed into an All-Star and has been by far their best player. Kessler, though, is a bit surprising. Even though he's been terrific over the last few months and recently put up a 20-20 game, it's fascinating that the Jazz see him as in irreplaceable part of their roster. No one would have expected him to be the most valuable player they received from the Timberwolves in the Gobert deal.