The countdown to the NBA’s trade deadline has reached four weeks, and with 25 teams within 3.5 games of a postseason slot, the league swap meet could be as confused as ever.

Let’s have a look in this week’s Rumor-rama, or as it is known in Canada, Rumour-rama.

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One of the difficulties that arises for those with players to peddle at this time of year is the way teams clasp tightly to first-round picks, protecting them as though they possess part of the nuclear codes. First-rounders are the best way to get high-quality cheap labor and, naturally, there is little incentive to part with cheap labor.

But, according to league sources, there are a handful of teams that have been willing to offer up first-rounders this year. For teams seeking to rebuild — and with so many teams angling for the postseason, there are not many — that figures to be good news.

One of the teams most eager to move its first-rounder along for immediate help is the Pelicans, who have won three of their last four games as they’ve gotten Elfrid Payton and Nikola Mirotic back from injury but are still desperate for small forward help. A source told SN that the Pels made a pitch for small forward Kelly Oubre before Washington traded him to Phoenix, and New Orleans has continued to look for a starting-quality wing.

The Pelicans have shown interest in Orlando small forward Terrence Ross, who has had a career year, but is a free agent this summer and uncertain to re-sign with the Magic.

Orlando has been reluctant to deal Ross as the team has been within range of a playoff spot, but a recent four-game losing streak left the Magic seven games under .500 and perhaps ready to give up the postseason dream and get back to the long-term rebuilding project. They have a difficult five-game slate ahead and could be out of the playoff mix by next weekend.

The Magic’s preference has been to trade Jonathon Simmons, who has struggled this season. Simmons is signed for next season, at $5.7 million, but only $1 million is guaranteed. Still, teams pushing for the postseason (like New Orleans) prefer Ross for a first-rounder. The Magic may have to budge on that if they want a pick.

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The Sixers are another team willing to part with this year’s pick for immediate shooting help, as Philly looks for a big man who can shoot, along the lines of Mike Scott, Frank Kaminsky or Noah Vonleh. The Sixers gave up Dario Saric in the Jimmy Butler deal and miss his ability to stretch the floor.

Philadelphia did acquire Miami’s 2021 pick in the deal with the Suns for Mikal Bridges, but the Sixers have kept that pick out of trade discussions. Should the Heat unravel in the next couple of years, that pick will have increased value.

Portland, too, would be willing to part with its first-rounder to add depth to a roster that badly needs help in the backcourt and on the wing. The Trail Blazers could be a player for Ross or Simmons, too. But sources tell SN that they have expressed interest in another player expected to be made available for a first-round pick: Atlanta point guard Jeremy Lin.

When the Hawks traded for Lin last summer, the hope was that he could be a veteran presence for the first part of the season for young point guard Trae Young, then could be swapped for a rebuilding asset to help the woebegone Hawks’ future. A first-rounder would do the trick.

The Pelicans and Sixers have also inquired about Lin (10.8 points in 19.5 minutes per game this season), and the Hawks may be able to create some bidding for his services ahead of the deadline. It’ll still be tough to wrestle one of those first-rounders away, but this time around, there are at least more on the market.

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Draft picks aplenty for Celtics (again)

The Celtics are poised to have three first-rounders in next year’s draft, and possibly two lottery picks. But, according to league sources, none of Boston’s picks are expected to be available at the deadline.

Boston has the Grizzlies’ pick, protected for the top eight. Memphis currently has the ninth spot in the draft, but is on a downward trajectory, going 4-14 after a 15-9 start. The Celtics could lose this pick if Memphis keeps dropping, but it is protected only for the top six next year and unprotected in 2021 — just in time for the departures of Mike Conley and Marc Gasol, and the likely bottoming-out of this team.

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The Celtics have Sacramento’s first-rounder, too, which is unprotected. The Kings’ surprising start dinged the value of this pick (now at No. 13), and Sacramento is seeking to add depth to keep its playoff push alive. But the Kings have lost five of eight and have a very difficult six-game road trip at the end of the month.

No matter how Memphis or Sacramento performs in the coming month, expect the Celtics to sit on these picks and hope that they can be part of a bigger overall package (yes, possibly for Anthony Davis) ahead of draft night.

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Brotherly love with Bucks?

The Bucks are not expected to make a major move, having already acquired George Hill, absorbing an addition $19 million in salary for 2019-20 along the way. But the team is in the market for a low-cost backup big man for Brook Lopez, whose perimeter shooting has been a key to the Bucks’ rise this year.

Can’t help but notice that, just 90 miles south of Milwaukee, the Bulls have a backup big man who can be had at the deadline: Robin Lopez, Brook’s twin brother. It’s been 11 years since the two played together at Stanford, and over that span, they’ve had productive careers while also cultivating offbeat, entertaining and somewhat goofy personae.

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Robin would fit nicely with the Bucks. And don’t forget, it was only two years ago that he gave the Celtics fits in a first-round playoff series (12.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, 65.4 percent shooting) that Chicago may have won had Rajon Rondo not been injured.

Boston is a likely Bucks opponent somewhere in the playoffs. That was a different Celtics team, of course, but Robin does have playoff credentials.

It’s about time we got the Lopez twins on the same roster.