Get the latest scoops, news and rumors as the NBA trade deadline approaches.

As the NBA nears its halfway point of the 82-game schedule and teams look forward to the All-Star break, those that are in the playoff hunt will potentially look to bolster their roster, while other teams might look for take on expiring contracts in order to get ready for the 2019 free agency period.

This year, the trade deadline is Feb. 7 at 3 p.m. ET, and while no major trades have been made yet, expect the market to heat up over the next month.

Here are all the latest transactions and rumors around the NBA.

• The Mavericks are escalating discussions to find a trade for point guard Dennis Smith Jr. The Suns and Magic are in ongoing talks with the Mavs for Smith Jr. who has sat out three games with a sore back. (Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN).

• The Chicago Bulls are refusing to negotiate a buyout with center Robin Lopez, which would prevent his from joining the Golden State Warriors. Lopez is in the final season of a four-year, $54 million contract. (Chris Haynes, Yahoo Sports)

• The Knicks have explored a possible trade for Enes Kanter deal with the Chicago Bulls. Talks have centered around Bulls forward Jabari Parker. Kanter will become a free agent in the summer and Parker has a club option for the 2019-2020 season. (Stefan Bondy, New York Daily News)

• As most teams hold tight to their first-round picks, the New Orleans Pelicans have shown interest in trading theirs to get immediate help. The team is interested in Magic forward Terrence Ross, who is set to become a free agent this summer. (Sean Deveney, Sporting News)

• The Pelicans and 76ers have also inquired about Hawks guard Jeremy Lin. (Sean Deveney, Sporting News)

• The Kings are set to pick up options for head coach Dave Joerger’s assistant coaches in order to align their deals with Joerger's. (Sam Amick, The Athletic)

• Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge says he will only execute a trade before the deadline if it makes sense for their team. (Adam Himmelsbach, Boston Globe)