Weary and downtrodden from a losing streak that stretched to three games after a loss to the Sacramento Kings on Monday, the Lakers entered Tuesday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks with Luka Doncic and LeBron James both listed as “questionable.” It looked like an inevitable loss would be coming.

That is, until James collected a full-court baseball pass from Marcus Smart in the first quarter and slammed it down with one hand. The superstar still had his bounce Tuesday.

Doncic and James led the way as the Lakers (24-14) avoided their season-long losing streak. Doncic, who was dealing with groin soreness from Monday’s loss, had 27 points and 12 assists while James, playing on back-to-back nights for the first time this season, had 31 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.

“It's remarkable,” coach JJ Redick said of James. “His competitive stamina is off the charts.”

Read more:Luka Doncic plays and scores 27 points as the Lakers rout the Hawks

Here are three takeaways from the game: 

LeBron James shows his greatness 

Redick said he didn’t expect James to play Tuesday. He had not played in two games in as many days all season, and, at 41 years old, James said his status for all back-to-backs going forward should be “to be determined.”

Then James dominated with his third 30-point game of the month and his 61st 30-point double-double as a Laker, passing Kobe Bryant for seventh most in franchise history.

“I don't take for granted the LeBron stuff,” Redick said. “It's unfortunate actually — not to go on a little tangent here — but it's actually unfortunate how much this guy puts into it and how much he cares and the way certain people talk about him. It's crazy. Come be around him every day and see how much this guy cares. It's off the charts.”

Redick then followed the tangent when asked why it was “unfortunate.”

“That's the nature of envy,” the coach lamented. “It's the nature of envy. You're not going to get a click, you're not going to get a response, by saying something nice about somebody, by acknowledging someone's greatness, by acknowledging how much they care and how much they work and how much they've accomplished and continue to accomplish and continue to go after something. I mean, you got to say something bad about him. You got to go on TV and knock him. You got to go read into, ‘Oh, he did this pregame and he did this.’ It's all just nuts. Be around him every day. He's unbelievable.”

Teammates have tried futilely to beat James to the arena or the practice facility in the morning and can never seem to arrive early enough. His extensive pregame routine Tuesday, only hours after he played 33 minutes and 13 seconds on Monday in Sacramento, included an ice bath in a hyperbaric chamber before arriving at the arena then hours of activation, treatment, stretching and lifting before the game.

“For me, he’s one of a kind,” Doncic said. “To be in his 23rd season, to play back-to-back, it costs everybody. But for him it’s probably even more difficult. It shows how much he cares.”

Despite owning nearly every record and accolade, James said he still has no choice but to keep his standard high.

“I would never disrespect the basketball gods,” James said. “I understand that it's a real thing. … Every time I hit the floor or I'm at a practice, whatever the case may be, trying to set an example for my teammates and the younger generation that's watching me or watching throughout my career. I mean, shoot, my son is right over there.”

Read more:Why LeBron James' Lakers jersey has a new 'super cool' patch

With three minutes and 43 seconds left, James was just one rebound shy of his first triple-double since Feb. 1, 2025, but didn't chase the significant stat. After hitting a free throw, he quickly committed a take foul to stop the clock so he could leave the blowout.

He subbed out for son Bronny.

Rui Hachimura returns off the bench 

Rui Hachimura made his return from a right calf strain that kept him out for two weeks, scoring seven points on three-for-seven shooting with two rebounds. He was on an 18-minute restriction, which kept him on the bench at the beginning of the game. Hachimura was the Lakers’ first sub, coming in for James with six minutes and 30 seconds left in the first quarter.

“He's our best catch-and-shoot guy,” Redick said of Hachimura before the game, “so looking forward to [having him back].”

Hachimura was one of three from three-point range Tuesday as the Lakers shot 55.9% from three, a season high. The shooting spree came less than 24 hours after the Lakers, who rank 24th in three-point shooting percentage, were a frigid eight for 36 from deep against Sacramento. Hachimura is shooting a team-high 44.5% from three-point range this season.

Deandre Ayton shoulders the load 

With Jaxson Hayes sidelined because of left hamstring soreness, Deandre Ayton had a second consecutive double-double with 17 points and a season-high 18 rebounds.

Ayton’s energy has appeared to fluctuate in recent games, including two games in which he did not finish the fourth quarter on the court. Ayton promised to be a defensive anchor for the team that picked him up in free agency after he flamed out with Portland last season, and the 7-footer has been good, Redick said, “when he’s engaged.”

Read more:How will Rui Hachimura's return impact the Lakers?

“It just, you know, just more consistency," Redick said. "He's shown he can do it … Deandre's told on himself: he can be a really good defender.”

Hayes’ defensive struggles got him benched late last season, but Redick has commended the center’s improvement on that end of the court. Hayes has delivered what Redick called several “teach tape verticalities” this year to protect the rim. His progress on defense and electric dunks on offense helped Hayes earn closing minutes in clutch games against the Memphis Grizzlies on Jan. 2 and the Milwaukee Bucks on Jan. 9.

But Hayes felt the hamstring injury late in the game against Sacramento and couldn’t return, Redick said. The team got imaging on the injury and will soon know more. Without his frontcourt running mate, Ayton said he wanted to bring the same mindset he’s had all season to help the Lakers bounce back from Monday’s disappointing loss.

“You can say one thing about these back-to-backs,” Ayton said, “but being in the NBA, having games that you lose or you didn't play so well in as a team, you get another opportunity like tonight to redeem.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

The NBA trade deadline is nearing, and the league already blessed us with a Trae Young deal as an appetizer. Now the main course is coming, and with the Eastern Conference wide open and the West closer to that than imagined, you can expect a buffet of transactions. 

Here’s your primer for the incoming trade season, looking at the league’s big players, and how the Knicks might be approaching the deadline...

Biggest names

The domino many are waiting to fall is Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo formally requesting a trade from the Bucks. We’ve seen flip-flopping quotes and buzz, but nothing definitive to put him on the market. In fact, signs point to the Bucks being buyers in a last ditch effort to keep him aboard.

Ultimately that’s likely how this ends, with an inevitable Giannis deal in the offseason when it’s much easier to pull off. This would also give the Knicks a shot to win with this roster under a new head coach -- something they likely want to see before blowing it up again.

The two next biggest names are Anthony Davis and Ja Morant, two unlikely Knicks targets for differing reasons. Davis will have surgery and likely miss the rest of the regular season, which he’s already been in and out of, while Morant plays the same position as Jalen Brunson and is a big question mark off the court. 

Other rumored names are Lauri Markkanen, Domantas Sabonis, and Zach LaVine. Two high-level guys in Michael Porter Jr. and Jonathan Kuminga look certain to be dealt.

Biggest movers

The Knicks aren’t expected to chase a big fish, or even be one of the more active teams. They’re one of the surest contenders in the East with only slight holes to fill when fully healthy.

Who might stir the pot big time in early February is the aforementioned Bucks, desperate to build something of a winner around Giannis. Another big buyer could be the Hawks, fresh off the Young trade with assets and young talent in tow.

If they decide to go all-in on a run this year, the Pistons could get active with Tobias Harris' salary and draft capital around their dangerous core. The Timberwolves and Rockets should be cornering the guard market, with the Heat and Raptors window shopping, while the Clippers only have incentive to buy so long as they don’t give up future assets.

On the selling side, the Knicks can target tanking teams like the Nets, Wizards, and Jazz for some marginal talent at cheaper costs. Also, watch out for the Celtics potentially trying to cash in on this surprising season and lower their tax bill.

What do the Knicks do?

While we may be in for a wilder trade season than usual, it won’t be because of New York, unless Leon Rose pulls the trigger on some massive surprise trade. They’re a bit restricted under their current cap and asset situation, don’t want to mess with a winning core, and don’t have viable targets out there to even consider doing so.

The probable outcome is a small deal around Guerschon Yabusele’s salary for a depth upgrade. That may not inspire awe for fans, but it’s what the team needs most -- not another blockbuster deal.

The deadline brings out the league’s most desperate teams in hopes of reshaping their roster for the home stretch. If it’s any indication of how their season is going, the Knicks largely being absent from the festivities is a good sign.

Why Celtics should steer clear of a Jaren Jackson Jr. trade amid rumors originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics will spend the next month linked to every available player 6-foot-10 or taller. But even if the Memphis Grizzlies were willing to consider offers for former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr., it’s hard to see how the Celtics could afford the long-term splurge.

A report this week in the Hardwood Paroxysm newsletter suggested the Celtics have long held interest in Jackson Jr., whom the Grizzlies could entertain moving as part of a bigger teardown that should start with a Ja Morant trade.

The Celtics could put together a package built around Anfernee Simons, Sam Hauser, and draft picks to get into any Jackson Jr. sweepstakes, but the long-term financial implications make a swap seem unlikely.

Jackson is making $35 million this season (22.6 percent of the cap) before his salary balloons to an average of $50.5 million over the next three seasons. Even if the Celtics were able to stomach that number this season, it becomes basically untenable moving forward.

For the 2026-27 season, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will combine to earn $115.6 million. Add in Jackson’s $50 million and Derrick White’s $30.3 million salary, and the Celtics are at nearly $200 million in total salary for four players next season.

Boston would be launching back above the second apron after swallowing hard to get off of it this past summer. The Celtics would still have to navigate pesky repeater tax penalties that would drive the total cost of this roster to the moon, and leave no pathway to resetting those penalties without moving on from at least one of those core pieces.

The Celtics obviously need to figure out what the next iteration of a championship-contending frontcourt looks like, particularly after moving on from Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kornet this past summer.

Neemias Queta has performed beyond expectations as Boston’s starting big man and Luka Garza has reinvigorated the bench since his return to the rotation in late December. Still, the big-man position — and size in general — is Boston’s greatest area of need, even if Tatum will add some much-needed size and rebounding whenever he’s back on the floor.

Jackson Jr.’s defensive pedigree is intriguing, as is his ability to stretch the floor on the offensive end. He’s still only 26 years old. The downsides: His rebounding is underwhelming (5.6 per game this season and only one season with 6-plus rebounds per game) and he can be a bit of a foul magnet.

Ultimately, it’s the price tag that poses the biggest challenge, as well as the draft capital that you’d have to expend to land a player like Jackson Jr.

Taking on that sort of salary makes it vital to have a steady stream of low-cost draftees coming into the program, and Boston would have to mortgage much of that future as well as basically all of its flexibility.

What the first half of the season has shown about Nick Nurse's offensive scheme originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

So much is made from fans and commenters that Nick Nurse doesn’t run any plays, that he’s taking a lazy approach to calling the Sixers offense.

Now nearing the halfway point of the season, the Sixers have posted a middling offensive rating (114.8), ranking 13th in the league, while shooting the 15th-most threes, making the 14th-most and not excelling in any specific statistic so far.

There are fair criticisms of the job Nurse has done so far this season but let’s dive into what the ideas are behind the offense.

Nurse’s main offensive philosophy lies in creating mismatches in isolation, something that helped him elevate the Raptors from early round playoff purgatory into NBA Champions.

The 2019 champion Raptors had a slew of isolation scoring experts.

Kawhi Leonard, Pascal Siakam, Fred Van Vleet, and Kyle Lowry all excelled at their individual shot making. 

Putting them in positions to succeed was something Nurse leaned on for his offense.

Creating mismatches by getting his guards isolating opposing bigs, or identifying the weak defensive link for Leonard and Siakam to exploit, the Raptors were able to create advantages on offense with their given offensive skill sets.

While Nurse also had set plays to get easier looks for shooters, or open looks at the rim, he also understood that the offensive firepower in the NBA can be unleashed in isolation.

This offensive strategy would not work with every NBA team. A certain roster build is necessary that includes several gifted scorers who are capable on the defensive end. Players who are upper tier athletes who won’t back down from moments where the focus is solely on them.

Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, Paul George and VJ Edgecombe are four players that Nurse loves to put in the same isolation situations.

All four guys (wild that one of them is a rookie) are able to get their own shot against defenders. 

While fans clamor for Nurse to “run more plays” (something he does a lot of already and something we will dive into in the future), oftentimes the best offense can come just from putting one of the aforementioned Sixers in an isolation that favors them.

The concepts on offense don’t have to be complex. With the right players it can look like nothing is happening. The simplicity of the ball screen has stayed in the NBA for as long as it has because it’s so effective.

A simple ball screen to get Maxey onto a big man on the perimeter, or to get Embiid the ball deep in the post against a much smaller player can be all you need.

Nurse also runs a fair number of “empty side” ball screens, to eliminate any help defense that can come from the baseline. This helps Maxey and Embiid work in ample space and use their prowess to carve defenses.

The true speed bump for Nurse’s offense has been the changing availability up and down the roster.

The pace of the offense changes violently depending on which players are available. It can be the frantic, blazing offense commanded by Maxey, or the methodical, all-eyes-on-me offense that Embiid has anchored for several seasons now.

The Maxey offense is wild. It’s fast. It’s fun. It’s something Philadelphia hasn’t seen in a long long time and it’s a change of pace turned up to the highest notch.

Maxey could well be one of the twitchiest players the league has seen, blending his straight line quickness with deceleration that confounds defenders and leaves them guessing if they should try to follow him to the rim, or try to retreat with him to the three point line.

His improved playmaking has elevated his teammates as oftentimes, more than one defender is needed to stop the simplest of Maxey isolations.

It’s a tough ask to find another player who has his combination of speed, shooting, handle, strength, flexibility, and overall burst.

Play too close and he goes right around you. 

Take a step back, he shoots right over you.

But a bigger defender on him? He’s too fast for them.

Put a quicker guard on him? He’s too strong for them!

Although Maxey’s Most Improved Player Award from 2023-24 sits somewhere in his home, you could argue this current season has been the true breakout as Maxey ascends towards super stardom.

Maxey gives Nurse’s offense movement with the ball in his point guard’s hand. His breaking down of defenses opens passing windows, cutting lanes, and shooting opportunities for himself and others. 

Maxey has run ball screen actions with several players as his screener this season. Embiid, Jabari Walker, Dominick Barlow, Andre Drummond, Adem Bona, Edgecombe, Quentin Grimes. Jared McCain, Trendon Watford, Kelly Oubre (ok basically the whole roster) have been involved in screening for Maxey.

Teams will throw their best guard and wing defenders on Maxey or give him different looks to try to slow him down.

While this can work to an extent, the lesser defender on the screener can get switched onto Maxey.

The most notable so far was on Edgecombe’s game winner in Memphis. The Grizzlies attempt to hide a weaker defender Ja Morant on Edgecombe.

The Sixers put him in the ball screen action to force him and the Grizzlies into a decision with quick communication. 

The Grizzlies decide to blitz Maxey who finds Edgecombe with an open shot for the lead.

Given that Maxey has taken such another huge leap, the offensive hub that has been Embiid for seasons on end seemed to be dwindling to an end.

That was until the recent surge of play that looks as close to the Embiid of old as we have seen in some time. 

This offense has been predicated on Embiid operating out of the post, trying to find cutters when he’s double teamed, drawing fouls on defenders reaching, and scoring on practically everyone who faces him.

This style led him to a scoring title, MVP, and a staple as the top points scorer in the league. 

As injuries continue to beat him down, he can no longer be the initiator of the offense. 

The physical toll of his style of play draws too much contact for his body.

Putting him against smaller defenders later in the possession is something that can extend his longevity.

With Maxey now leading the offense and controlling the ball, Embiid has transitioned to more of a decoy and play finisher for the first time in a long time.

Nurse’s offense doesn’t give Embiid as many post ups as before. He’s now operating in the middle of the floor near the free throw line, often receiving a pass from Maxey who has created an advantage.

Trusting his offensive players to capitalize on the smallest of advantages may not be the flashiest offense, but Nurse and Maxey have led the Sixers to a 22-16 start in a season that had the potential to repeat the abject failure of the 2024-25 season. 

If the simplicity of the offense can sustain for the rest of the season and into the spring time will be the true test to see what Nurse has up his sleeve.

While the main philosophy of Nurse’s offense relies on these mismatches and tiny advantages, there are several other sets Nurse runs to give his players a favorable chance to score.

More on Nurse’s offense will come in the following weeks.

How Warriors, Blazers players made NBA history with impressive 3-point barrage originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Although the Warriors blew out the Portland Trail Blazers 119-97 on Tuesday, the two teams combined to make NBA history. 

With 10 players on the Warriors and 11 Trail Blazers making at least one 3-pointer, the two teams set an NBA record for most players with at least one 3-pointer made in a single game.

Warriors guards De’Anthony Melton and Moses Moody led the way, both tying for a game-high four 3-pointers made. Golden State finished with a whopping 40.4 3-point percentage.

The Warriors attempted 57 three-point shots against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday night, tying a season-high.  

“The ball just went in. Sometimes it’s that simple,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr explained to reporters after the win. “We had some good looks the other night that didn’t go, and you just keep firing, and we did that. [57] threes [attempted] is a lot.” 

Steph Curry, the NBA all-time 3-point leader, made just two 3-pointers, which were his only field goals made in the game. Entering Wednesday, he is tied with Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell for most 3-pointers made this season (143). 

Each Portland player who entered the game made at least one 3-pointer. However, the Trail Blazers finished with just a 29.8 3-point percentage. 

The previous record was 20 players in a game, done three separate times, according to SportRadar. The first occurrence of 20 different players making a 3-pointer came between the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks on Aug. 4, 2020, during the NBA bubble. 

This season, the most players in a single game to make a 3-pointer was 18, done twice. Both games included Golden State and Portland: Trail Blazers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder on Nov. 23 and Thunder vs. Warriors on Dec. 2. 

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Knicks coach Mike Brown discusses Kings tenure ahead of 'emotional' return originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Mike Brown will make his first return to Sacramento on Wednesday night since being fired by the Kings less than two months into the 2024-25 season.

Brown, who was hired by the New York Knicks in July 2025, spoke to the media in Sacramento on Tuesday for nearly seven minutes to discuss his tenure with the Kings that ended abruptly and as a shock to the entire NBA.

Sacramento hired Brown in 2022, and his impact was immediate. He brought a winning culture back to California’s capital, helping lead the team to end a 17-year playoff drought as the Western Conference’s No. 3 playoff seed.

Brown shared what he learned from his time in Sacramento.

“Every day you feel like you’re learning, whether you’re learning from something good or something bad,” Brown said (h/t CBS13’s Jake Gadon). “But there are a lot of stuff I learned. Trying to figure out different types of problems we had. Trying to enhance whatever we had that was good here. There’s just a tremendous lateral growth that I went through here. Not just on the floor, but out in the community, too.

“I really enjoyed being out in the community and getting to know the people out there. That was a lot of fun as well.”

The “Beam Team” Kings won 48 games during Brown’s first season as head coach. He was awarded Coach of the Year, and then-general manager Monte McNair was named Executive of the Year.

Sacramento won two games less the following season, but the Western Conference shakeup dropped the Kings all the way to the ninth seed.

The Kings defeated the Warriors in the first Play-In game but fell to the New Orleans Pelicans in the second game that would have sent them to a first-round playoff series.

After making the playoffs in his first season and falling just short in his second, there was increased pressure riding on Brown and the Kings entering the 2024-25 season. But a 13-18 start to the campaign was enough for Kings ownership and front office to part ways with Brown, as he was fired while driving to the airport for a road trip.

Brown was asked if he was surprised that he wasn’t given more leeway after the newfound success and culture refresh he brought to the city.

“Those situations, it’s part of life. Sometimes things happen. You may think one thing, you may think another thing, but at the end of the day, who knows? The best thing you can do in life is keep moving forward. That’s what myself and my family has done. We really love New York. We’ve embraced the change.

” … [There are] a lot of good things if you keep your mind present and moving forward, and that’s what we’ve done. We’ve really enjoyed our time being in New York, even though it’s been a short amount of time so far.”

Brown was let go on Dec. 27, 2024. He didn’t land — or seek — another NBA job the rest of the season.

Instead, he chose to utilize the time to travel with his wife, never letting the thought of his Kings tenure potentially being his last NBA head-coaching gig.

“I never really think that way,” he said. “When it happened, you process it real quickly and then literally, my wife and I went to Australia, then from there we went to Brooklyn, then we went to Puerto Vallarta and then we went to St. Barts. It’s life, you know? You keep moving forward. You can really beat yourself up if you try to guess or figure out what should’ve happened, why it happened, what could’ve happened, all that stuff. So, life is short. I try to embrace it.

“I enjoy what I can enjoy and control what I can control. If I can’t control it, try to find something else to do.”

Brown said he doesn’t have any regrets from his time in Sacramento, but rather thinks about the “what-ifs” from the injuries the team sustained in his second year.

Former starting Kings shooting guard Kevin Huerter suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in March. A few weeks later, Malik Monk, the runner-up for Sixth Man of the Year, also was ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a calf injury.

Brown believes the Kings would have won 50 games had they not lost those players to injuries.

After Brown was fired, Doug Christie replaced him as interim head coach. Christie had the interim tag removed from his title for the 2025-26 season, in which the Kings currently hold a 10-30 record.

A lot has changed since the last time Brown stepped into the Golden 1 Center building. Most notably, former Kings franchise point guard De’Aaron Fox was traded to the San Antonio Spurs last February. The Kings also hired Scott Perry as their new general manager after relieving McNair of his duties.

Brown was asked about the massive turnover since his departure, but he kept his response vague.

“Not being here, you don’t know what’s going on behind closed doors,” Brown said. “So I don’t think much about it. They have their reasons for doing it because they’re here every day and I’m not. I can’t say much on that.”

One Kings player who remains from the Beam Team era is fourth-year forward Keegan Murray, someone Brown said he loves and is excited to see, as evidenced by his “KEEGAN! MURRAY!” chant.

Brown is focused on his new team, the Knicks, who are 25-14 and the No. 2 seed in the East, but he acknowledged it will be an emotional night as he steps into the building where he has many unforgettable memories in a city he still has a lot of love for.

“I think the crowd will be good,” Brown said. “You never know. I enjoyed my time here. I enjoyed the fans here. Hopefully, they appreciate what we accomplished while I was here. … The reality of it is, coming back here, a place we really enjoyed, yeah, it’s a little emotional.

“But at the end of the day, the fans, if they cheer me or hug me when they see me, trust me, they want to kick my ass and the Knicks’ ass. And we want to do the same.”

Touché.

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By Mike Barner, RotoWire.com

The NBA trade market is officially open for business. With Atlanta already sending Trae Young to Washington and the NBA Trade Deadline approaching, roster values are beginning to shift across the league. Savvy fantasy basketball managers don't have to wait for the next blockbuster to act, though, as this is often the best time to capitalize on slumps, hot streaks and changing team directions.

Whether you're looking to buy low on proven talent, sell high on an unexpected breakout or stay patient with a struggling star, these fantasy basketball trade tips will help you navigate the market and position your roster for the stretch run.

Buy

Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat

Adebayo is in the midst of a disappointing stretch, averaging just 13.0 points over his last 10 games. He attempted 12.1 shots per game during that span, which isn't far off from his season average of 13.6 attempts. However, the main reason for his decline in scoring is that he shot just 41.3% from the field.

Even with Adebayo struggling with his efficiency, he provided 10.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game during that 10-game span. With him attempting more 3-pointers this season, his overall shooting percentage has declined to 45.6%. Still, it's difficult to complain too much with him providing 16.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.3 3-pointers per game. This might be an opportunity to acquire him at a slight discount in a trade.

Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs

Much like Adebayo, Castle has gone cold from the field. Over his last nine games, he has shot just 34.2%, including 24.1% from behind the arc. That left him to average 13.9 points and 0.8 3-pointers. On the bright side, he still averaged 5.2 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.2 steals over those nine matchups.

Castle is not a good 3-point shooter. He shot 28.5% from behind the arc during his rookie season and is shooting 27.3% this season. Still, he is shooting 46.1% from the field while providing 17.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.3 steals in 2025-26. He should remain a very valuable fantasy option during the second half of the season, so try to acquire him now before he gets his shot back on track.

Sell

Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers

Nembhard is having a breakout season, averaging 17.5 points, 7.1 assists and 1.9 3-pointers. With Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) out, Nembhard has played 32 minutes per game and with a career-high 23.9% usage rate so far. Prior to this season, he had never posted a usage rate higher than 16.3%.

While Nembhard is thriving, the Pacers are not. They have the second-worst record in the NBA as they find themselves basically out of the playoff hunt already. Entering Wednesday, they are 9.5 games behind the Bulls for the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference. The Pacers could become a tanking team during the second half, which might mean rest days are on the horizon for Nembhard. See if you can trade him now for a player with a better outlook down the stretch.

John Collins, Los Angeles Clippers

Entering Monday's game against the Hornets, Collins was in the midst of his best stretch of the season. Across the previous five games, he averaged 19.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 3.2 3-pointers. It certainly helped his cause that he played 33 minutes per game during that span. However, he also showed efficiency that is not sustainable, shooting 72.2% from the field and 69.6% from behind the arc.

Collins came back to reality against the Hornets, posting three points and five rebounds over 30 minutes. Ivica Zubac recently returned from injury and has been playing more each game, so Collins could see his playing time dip again soon. In a disappointing season while averaging 13.1 points and 5.0 rebounds, this might be a rare opportunity to sell high on him in a trade.

Hold

Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies

The Hawks decided to take their franchise in another direction when they traded Young to the Wizards. It appears that the Grizzlies are prepared to do the same with Morant. Morant is currently out with a calf injury, but it was reported last week that Memphis is entertaining offers to deal him before the trade deadline.