In the fast-paced world of NBA trades, even seasoned insiders can find themselves caught off guard. For Shams Charania, the night before one of the league’s biggest moves in recent years was anything but ordinary.

The veteran NBA reporter admitted he barely slept, managing only about 30 minutes of rest before heading to Bristol the next morning for free agency coverage. At the time, his focus was set on other big names, potential moves involving De’Aaron Fox and Jimmy Butler, but something else was quietly unfolding in the background.

The unusual part? Calls and texts from coaches and executives in both Dallas and Los Angeles, each hinting that a trade was brewing. The chatter all pointed to one particular player, but none of it matched the usual patterns.

Charania recalled the happenin

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