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Report: While Bulls have had 'internal discussions' about Anthony Davis trade, would not give up young core

The expectation in league circles is that the new front office in Dallas — either the current interim one or whoever takes the job full-time — will explore the trade market for Anthony Davis. One of the names that comes up as a potential landing spot is the Chicago Bulls, sending Davis back to the city where he grew up, ideally to become the two-way big man this improving team needs.

Chicago has had "internal discussions" about a Davis trade, reports Jamal Collier of ESPN — but the Bulls wisely would not give up any of their young core in a deal.

The Bulls have had internal discussions about how to proceed, including conversations about Dallas Mavericks star Anthony Davis, sources told ESPN, whom they believe could help the team's porous rim protection and defensive interior ... However, team sources said the Bulls will not sacrifice any of their young core to execute such a deal until the team is closer to contention.

"I don't think going out and chasing X megastar is the way to proceed -- at least today," one source told ESPN.

The Bulls picture their young core as Josh Giddey (23), Coby White (25), Matas Buzelis (21), and, hopefully, rookie Noa Essengue (18), along with whomever they draft in the next couple of years. Isaac Okoro, 24, might fit in that group as well.

Anthony Davis is 32, turning 33 in March, and comes with a history of nagging injuries. What's more, Davis is making $54.1 million this season, has a guaranteed $58.5 million next season, and will be seeking a contract extension this summer. He does not fit Chicago's retooling timeline and takes up a lot of cap space for a team where ownership rarely spends into the luxury tax (three times in the past 13 years). First, Davis will have to stay healthy and produce on the court throughout December and into November before any team will even seriously consider a trade.

Because of his massive salary and the fact that the Mavericks are up against the second apron, where they are hard-capped, constructing any reasonable Davis trade in-season is next to impossible. Chicago could make it work financially with an offer of Nikola Vucevic, Patrick Williams and another player making less (maybe Jevon Carter) plus a pick, but that's not going to interest Dallas (remember what they gave up to get Davis).

No doubt the Bulls have had internal discussions about Davis, but in the NBA "internal discussions" are nearly meaningless — front offices are always throwing around ideas and thinking through options, even ones they have little to no interest in actually executing. Call it due diligence, but front offices want to think through every reasonable scenario.

If Davis gets traded, it's far more likely an offseason move. But the rumors are not going to stop until the trade deadline passes.

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Carter Hart Could Become An Asset For Golden Knights: Devan Dubnyk

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart is projected to make his return to the NHL against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday.

The Golden Knights signed Hart to a two-year contract following his reinstatement into the NHL, along with the four other former Canadian world junior players who were acquitted of sexual assault in London, Ont., in July.

As of Monday, these players – Hart, Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Cal Foote – have served their suspensions and are eligible to play for an NHL club, cueing Hart's debut for the Golden Knights.

Former NHL goaltender Devan Dubnyk said Hart suiting up for Vegas is more than having goalie depth on the roster. If Hart can play like a starting goaltender like he once did for the Philadelphia Flyers, the Golden Knights have an asset.

"This is a guy who has a ton of potential and was a really good goalie when he was in Philadelphia coming up," Dubnyk said on The Hockey News' Big Show on Monday. "You might have signed somebody who can become part of your team, and then he becomes an asset.

"Whether that's an asset that you want to keep around, or an asset you want to move for somebody else, they find that out now. I don't think there's any point in waiting," the former netminder said. "If (Carl) Lindbom had been putting up wins and doing his thing, well then that's a different story, and you don't necessarily push a guy out of there, but that hasn't been the case in my eyes, and I think it's an opportunity for them to give him a look."

Dubnyk pointed out that although Akira Schmid's been winning games, Lindbom hasn't been up to par in Vegas' net since Adin Hill suffered a lower-body injury on Oct. 20.

Schmid has made 13 starts this season and has a 9-2-4 record, .896 save percentage, 2.51 goals-against average and 2.2 goals saved above expected, according to moneypuck.com. Lindbom, meanwhile, has one win in seven starts while putting up an .870 SP, 3.14 GAA and minus-2.7 goals saved above expected.

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Akira Schmid (40) is congratulated by Carl Lindbom (30) after the Golden Knights defeated the Detroit Red Wings 1-0 at T-Mobile Arena on Nov. 4. (Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images)

Hart should have an opportunity to become the starter with Hill reportedly being out for a little while longer. If the 27-year-old indeed hits the ground running, Vegas will have options to move a goaltender when Hill returns, whether that's Schmid, Hill or even Hart. While Lindbom is exempt from waivers, the other three aren't.

That said, every team in the NHL had a chance to sign Hart as soon as Oct. 15. But some teams made it clear they weren't signing him.

The Flyers confirmed in September they would not sign Hart after the goalie's representative said it was better for them to look for a fresh start. The Edmonton Oilers, which have a league-worst .865 team save percentage, did not see Hart as an option and instead gave votes of confidence to Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard to start the season.

"Right now, we're not looking at those types of situations," Oilers GM Stan Bowman said in September.

Hart was briefly linked to the Carolina Hurricanes in September, but those reported talks stopped. The Pittsburgh Penguinsdidn't make any inquiries despite surfacing in speculation, and the Utah Mammothwere out as well.

NHL Suspensions End For Five Players Acquitted In Hockey Canada TrialNHL Suspensions End For Five Players Acquitted In Hockey Canada TrialAs 2018 Canadian world junior players Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Cal Foote are now eligible to play in the NHL again, here's where they're playing now.

Before Hart left the Flyers in late January 2024 to face the sexual assault charge, he played 26 games and posted a .906 SP, 2.80 GAA and 12-9-3 record.

Hart wrapped up his conditioning stint with the Golden Knights' AHL affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights. He made three appearances, registering a 3.07 goals-against average and a .839 SP.

There shouldn't be much stock put into Hart's AHL stats, Dubnyk said.

"It's completely different hockey," Dubnyk said. "I'll preface this with not bashing anybody who plays in the American League, they're still good players, it's still good hockey. It's chaotic. It's chaotic, and most of your chances are created off of mistakes. There are turnovers that don't happen in the NHL. There are plays that don't happen in the NHL."

On good NHL teams, there's structure in front of a netminder forcing opponents to create chances, Dubnyk added. Of course, he said players such as Connor Bedard, Macklin Celebrini or Nathan MacKinnon will still find ways to score, even if goalies know what to expect in the NHL.

"When you're used to seeing NHL play in front of you, it is completely different," he said. "That's where you get guys saying, some find it easier to play in the NHL because of that reason."

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Tyler Kolek’s emergence gives Knicks another weapon amid championship pursuit

Injuries can be a real drag on a team’s season, especially one with expectations as high as the Knicks’, but there’s a silver lining to them as well. Guys buried deep on the bench get an opportunity they may not otherwise receive, and teams can often be pleasantly surprised by what’s been hiding outside of their usual rotation.

We’re seeing such a case play out with Tyler Kolek, New York’s 34th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, who’s stepped up in the wake of injuries to OG Anunoby and Landry Shamet to help the Knicks to a nice stretch of wins. This comes after Kolek failed to meaningfully crack the early season rotation despite some leash during the preseason and the first few games of the regular season.

Should this continue, it would make for a great turnaround for Kolek and huge development for management after not seeing real returns from any of their draft classes after 2021. But most importantly, Kolek’s emergence potentially gives the Knicks another weapon in their chase for a championship.  

Kolek was a gifted scorer and creator at Marquette who fell deeper into the draft due to the inherent limitations in his age and athletic build. After some dealing around with their picks, the Knicks scooped him up, desperately needing some added ball-handling off their bench.

Offensively, he actually looked the part relatively early in Las Vegas, preseason and even some early-season NBA minutes in 2024-25. He was a clear-cut floor general who could run an offense, dribble-drive into opportunities and score when confidently looking to. 

He didn’t get the chance to see sustained NBA minutes his rookie year though, spending a few games in Westchester but not displaying anything spectacular. After a head coaching change that emphasized experimentation and depth, pressure was on heading into Kolek’s second year.

To make matters tougher, the Knicks brought in a host of veteran guards - Jordan Clarkson, Shamet, and Malcolm Brogdon - to compete with Kolek for reserve guard duties. Kolek held his own in the preseason despite seeing his name in trade rumors, but even with Brogdon retiring, he fell out of the rotation after a couple of appearances in late October.

When Shamet went down with a shoulder strain in Orlando almost two weeks ago, Kolek stayed ready as the next man up, and hasn’t disappointed. He’s averaged 5.6 points, 2.6 assists and 1.2 steals in 14.6 minutes a night, shooting 45.5 percent from the field.

Oct 26, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Knicks guard Tyler Kolek (13) drives to the basket against Miami Heat guard Dru Smith (12) and center Bam Adebayo (13) during the third quarter at Kaseya Center.
Oct 26, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Knicks guard Tyler Kolek (13) drives to the basket against Miami Heat guard Dru Smith (12) and center Bam Adebayo (13) during the third quarter at Kaseya Center. / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Even extrapolated over 36 minutes a game, these numbers aren’t anything crazy. But Kolek has brought in a steady hand and surprisingly stout defense, which is impacting winning.

If there were numbers to call out they would be Kolek’s plus-17 in those 36 minutes, and a 6.5 assist-to-turnover ratio. When Kolek is on the court, you know the offense is going to be organized, with his commitment to pushing the ball up and getting into an action with pace on every play apparent. 

He’ll defer to the stars when asked, but otherwise Kolek units feel like fully fleshed out conduits of Mike Brown’s system -- and all that zip and movement is tangible. It’s a healthy dose of action that’s completely controlled, as Kolek rarely turns the ball over, which is a valuable and unique trait for someone with high passing volume.

A lot of this was the case before this stretch, but Kolek has taken this opportunity with a newfound aggressiveness and desperation that elevated his game. He’s only hit a third of his threes but looks more prepared to put them up, and has even looked comfortable in the paint.

Cut through the film and he’ll almost look unrecognizable, posting up Desmond Bane for a fadeaway, trying shoulder bump floaters, and hitting tough sweeping lays. It seems like his confidence is only growing with each passing game.

The offense has been a great if not totally surprising spark, but it’s the defense that will keep Kolek on the court long-term. He’s no weapon on that end, but if he keeps rotating this hard and playing with this physicality, his scouting report will date itself quickly.

Once Shamet returns, the rotation could look a little guard-heavy, but the Knicks should still have room for Kolek’s ball-handling. Even if it gets tricky at full health, having Kolek earn his stripes now could prepare him for the trials of late April and May hoops, when the Knicks might really need him. 

The small and moral victories may not do it for Knicks fans thirsting for the franchise’s first title in half a century, but accumulating them can help New York in achieving that goal. It may have taken an unfortunate injury, but Kolek proving himself worthy of playing with the big club is nothing to scoff at, and could pay even bigger dividends down the line. 

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How to watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Golden State Warriors: TV/live stream info, preview for tonight's game

Tonight's Coast 2 Coast Tuesday doubleheader begins at 8:00 PM ET, as the New York Knicks face the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Then, at 11:00 PM, the Oklahoma City Thunder go-head-to-head with the Golden State Warriors. Live coverage begins at 7:30 PM on NBC and Peacock. See below for additional information on how to watch both games and follow all of the NBA action on NBC and Peacock.

Click here to sign up for Peacock!

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Oklahoma City Thunder:

The Oklahoma City Thunder have not lost a game in nearly a month. Their only loss of the season came on November 5 against the Trail Blazers, and since then, they have won 12 straight games.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to excel for the Thunder. He is averaging the second-most points in the NBA (32.5 ppg) and is on pace to average over 30 points per game for his fourth consecutive season.

The Thunder (20-1) currently have the best record in the NBA and hold a four-game lead for the top seed in the Western Conference.

Golden State Warriors:

The Warriors are coming off a 104-96 victory over the Pelicans on Saturday. Jimmy Butler had 24 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds, while Gary Payton II added 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds off the bench.

Stephen Curry did not play on Saturday due to a right quad contusion. He is expected to miss tonight's game as well.

How to watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs Golden State Warriors:

  • When: Tonight, Tuesday, December 2
  • Where: Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
  • Time: 11:00 PM ET
  • Live Stream:Peacock

What other NBA games are on tonight?

How to watch New York Knicks vs Boston Celtics:

  • When: Tonight, Tuesday, December 2
  • Where: TD Arena, Boston, MA
  • Time: 8:00 PM ET
  • Live Stream:Peacock

How to watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock:

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.

Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

How to sign up for Peacock:

Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.

NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule

Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.

What devices does Peacock support?

You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.