Ole Miss and Oregon coasted to victory in the opening round of the CFP while a pair of NFL regular-season games took place on Saturday.
All-Star first baseman Ryan O'Hearn and Pirates agree to a $29 million, 2-year deal, AP source says
All-Star first baseman Ryan O'Hearn and Pirates agree to a $29 million, 2-year deal, AP source says By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer The Associated Press PITTSBURGH PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates took another step toward being a contender in 2026, agreeing to a $29 million, two-year contract with All-Star first baseman/outfielder Ryan O'Hearn that's designed to give one of the worst offenses in the majors a boost. A person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the deal includes $500,000 annually in performance bonuses. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because it was not yet official. O'Hearn receives the first multiple-year free agent deal the Pirates have agreed to since 2016. The left-handed slugger is coming off the best season of his big league career. He hit .281 with 17 home runs and 63 RBIs in 2025 and made the All-Star team for the first time while playing for Baltimore and San Diego. The rare splurge by the Pirates is their second significant acquisition in less than a week. Pittsburgh acquired two-time All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe from Tampa Bay on Dec. 19 as part of a three-team deal that included sending starting pitcher Mike Burrows to Houston. Pittsburgh has vowed to build around a pitching staff that includes reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes and rookie Bubba Chandler. The Pirates are coming off a 71-91 season in which the offense finished at or near the bottom of the majors in most significant statistical categories, including runs and home runs. O'Hearn gives Pittsburgh a bit of versatility. He has played both first base and a corner outfield spot. The Pirates have the left-handed hitting Spencer Horwitz at first, though O'Hearn could see time there and perhaps in the outfield alongside Oneil Cruz and two-time All-Star Bryan Reynolds. O'Hearn is a career .252 hitter, but his numbers improved as he became a reliable contributor during his 2 1/2 seasons with the Orioles, who traded him to the contending Padres at the deadline. He is batting .277 with 46 homers and 182 RBIs since 2023 and now finds himself playing half his games in a ballpark where the 21-foot-high Clemente Wall starts just 320 feet from home plate. ___ This story has been corrected. A previous version reported incorrectly that O'Hearn played for Kansas City in 2025. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
All-Star first baseman Ryan O'Hearn and Pirates agree to a $29 million, 2-year deal, AP source says
All-Star first baseman Ryan O'Hearn and Pirates agree to a $29 million, 2-year deal, AP source says By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer The Associated Press PITTSBURGH PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates took another step toward being a contender in 2026, agreeing to a $29 million, two-year contract with All-Star first baseman/outfielder Ryan O'Hearn that's designed to give one of the worst offenses in the majors a boost. A person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the deal includes $500,000 annually in performance bonuses. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because it was not yet official. O'Hearn receives the first multiple-year free agent deal the Pirates have agreed to since 2016. The left-handed slugger is coming off the best season of his big league career. He hit .281 with 17 home runs and 63 RBIs in 2025 and made the All-Star team for the first time while playing for Baltimore and San Diego. The rare splurge by the Pirates is their second significant acquisition in less than a week. Pittsburgh acquired two-time All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe from Tampa Bay on Dec. 19 as part of a three-team deal that included sending starting pitcher Mike Burrows to Houston. Pittsburgh has vowed to build around a pitching staff that includes reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes and rookie Bubba Chandler. The Pirates are coming off a 71-91 season in which the offense finished at or near the bottom of the majors in most significant statistical categories, including runs and home runs. O'Hearn gives Pittsburgh a bit of versatility. He has played both first base and a corner outfield spot. The Pirates have the left-handed hitting Spencer Horwitz at first, though O'Hearn could see time there and perhaps in the outfield alongside Oneil Cruz and two-time All-Star Bryan Reynolds. O'Hearn is a career .252 hitter, but his numbers improved as he became a reliable contributor during his 2 1/2 seasons with the Orioles, who traded him to the contending Padres at the deadline. He is batting .277 with 46 homers and 182 RBIs since 2023 and now finds himself playing half his games in a ballpark where the 21-foot-high Clemente Wall starts just 320 feet from home plate. ___ This story has been corrected. A previous version reported incorrectly that O'Hearn played for Kansas City in 2025. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Jeff Brohm ‘happy’ with Louisville job amid Michigan search rumors
Following Louisville's win in the Boca Raton Bowl, Jeff Brohm was asked about his name reportedly in the mix at Michigan. Here's what he said.
Elijah Williams injury update: WKU lineman carted off in New Orleans Bowl
Here's the latest injury updates on Western Kentucky offensive lineman Elijah Williams, who was carted off during the New Orleans Bowl.
Brooks Koepka quits LIV Golf after three years but PGA Tour return uncertain
The 35-year-old joined Saudi-funded tour in 2022
‘Brooks is prioritising the needs of his family’
Brooks Koepka, the five-time major champion, has become the first player to defect from LIV Golf, a significant blow to the league funded by Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund and raises questions whether the PGA Tour will find a way for him to return.
The 35-year-old American has made the decision in order to spend more time with his family. He joined the rival tour in 2022 and won five events over four seasons – he was also the first LIV player to win a major at the 2023 PGA Championship.
Continue reading...Mount Carmel’s Jordan Lynch named ALL-USA Midwest Team Coach of Year
Chicago Mount Carmel won its 4th straight Illinois state title, and its coach, Jordan Lynch, is the ALL-USA Midwest Football Team Coach of the Year.
Louisville, Toledo get into scuffle on sideline toward end of Boca Raton Bowl
Louisville and Toledo broke into a brawl in the late stages of the Boca Raton Bowl when the Louisville bench thought there was a late hit.
NHL Hockey News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games 2025-12-23 22:30:56
Trey Jemison III a prime example of Knicks player development program
Late last Thursday, Jalen Brunson added another clutch shot to his resume.
Brunson hit a step-back 27-footer over Andrew Nembhard to give the short-handed Knicks a win at Indiana.
Highlights of the shot quickly ricocheted all over social media. It elicited a rare ‘double Bang’ from Mike Breen. Another game-winning shot from the 2025 Clutch Player of the Year.
“Our MVP – the league’s MVP – Jalen Brunson,” Mike Brownsaid after the game.
Later in his press conference, Brown referenced another award. The coach named Trey Jemison III as his Defensive Player of the Game.
Jemison III had five rebounds, a block, five points and played strong team defense in a key second-half stretch against Indy.
“Trey’s physicality and communication in the second half was off the charts,” Brown said.
What you saw that night from Jemison III is the same intensity and effort he plays with in practices and workouts.
“He brings energy (to every practice), makes you compete in practice,” is how one Knick staffer described Jemison.
Jemison has split time this season between the Knicks and their G League club, the Westchester Knicks. He’s one of several young players immersed in New York’s player development program.
All of the hours spent working with Knicks coaches have sharpened Jemison’s game (more on that below). But the foundation for his Jemison’s game – and the rest of his life – is his faith.
Jemison hosts regular Bible study sessions on his Instagram page.
He’s deeply spiritual and conducts study sessions to help his audience "understand the word of God."
“A lot of times, people read the Bible, and it's like all these old words and they're like, ‘I'm not reading that.’ So I try to make it simple so people can stay (engaged),” Jemison says.
He started doing study sessions on Instagram two years ago. At the time, Jemison says he had roughly 7,000 followers. Today, he has 70,000.
“When you go to God about something and you put him first, like, it's crazy the things you can really do,” Jemison says.
From time to time, Jemison will hear from audience members impacted by his words.
“It’s just priceless,” he says. “It's not an NBA game, not a dollar amount you can give (to match the value of) hearing somebody, say, ‘Hey you helped me get through a situation.’ That's just, yeah, that's a blessing for me.”
Jemison is one of the young Knicks heavily involved in the franchise’s player development program. New York has put resources into its program – hiring former St. Joseph’s coach Billy Lange to oversee things.
Jemison says Lange and the whole player development group have helped him.
Case in point: before the season, players had to make 10 free throws before they could leave the gym. Jemison was having a tough time until members of the coaching staff delivered a message:
“You can make these free throws. You're a good shooter.”
Jemison said the coach’s confidence helped him right away. From there, the Knicks worked a bit on Jemison’s form and his timing. After some fine-tuning, Jemison stopped getting stuck in the gym.
“Their belief in me, and they're breaking down small small details... has switched it up completely,” Jemison says of his free throws.
The former UAB star is grateful to be in New York, working with Lange and coaches like Mark Bryant and Carson Shanks and playing for Brown. Jemison and his agent, Derrick Powell of Dedicated Performance Sports, decided that the Knicks were a great option in part because of Brown.
The Knick head coach likes what he’s seen from the 26-year-old.
“He’s a physical presence. He’s a guy who communicates extremely well for a young guy,” Brown said earlier this season. “Guys like playing with him because they know he’s going to set screens and get them open. And he’s got good feet and a good motor.”
Jemison met with Lange and some Knicks coaches earlier this year to go through a development plan tailored for him. The plan remains in place when Jemison is with the big club or the G League team.
“They have a growth path for me,” Jemison says. “They don’t just ignore you because you’re on a two-way (contract). They want me to get better and grow my game so when my name is called, I can help the Knicks be the best team they can possibly be.”
Jemison has worked with Shanks, Bryant and the group on passing this season. The coaches have Jemison III make live reads at a fast pace.
“Now in games, it’s super slow for me. I see the cut before it happens,” Jemison says. “Now I understand, if I gotta screen this man, make this next pass, I know where to put it before he even cuts.”
That skill was on display in Indiana when Jemison made a well-timed pass to Brunson in the first half.
With the Knicks’ plans to rest rotation players at times over the course of the season, Jemison should have more opportunities to show what he’s learned under Lange and his group.
“My game is growing,” he says. “From my position coaches, to all my G League coaches, they are buying in and helping me set a higher standard for myself and it’s been great…. I love coming to work every day.”
Wizards' Cam Whitmore out indefinitely with deep vein thrombosis in right shoulder
Getting traded from a deep Houston roster to Washington last summer was an opportunity for Cam Whitmore to have the space to grow and develop. That opportunity has come to an end after 21 games.
Whitmore will be out indefinitely due to deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder, the team announced.
G/F Cam Whitmore has been diagnosed with upper-extremity deep vein thrombosis. Whitmore was evaluated after missing the previous two games with right shoulder soreness.
— Wizards PR (@WizPRStats) December 23, 2025
Whitmore is expected to be sidelined indefinitely. His progress and recovery will be monitored, and his status…
After missing a couple of games with a sore shoulder, the team's doctors took a closer look, ran tests, and found a blood clot that led to the diagnosis. While there is no timeline for his return, Victor Wembanyama missed the second half of last season with the same issue, and Whitmore could be out until next season.
Whitmore was averaging 9.2 points a game shooting 45.6% from the floor in nearly 17 minutes a night for the Wizards. While whispers of questionable practice habits have followed him, Whitmore had been working more closely lately with Wizards coach Brian Keefe on a development plan and finding a role in Washington, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania. While Whitmore's athleticism and potential are without question, he is seen as a guy with tunnel vision who prioritizes his own scoring and is not a great passer. That has to change for him to find a consistent role in today's NBA.
Whitmore is making $3.5 million this season in the third year of his rookie contract. He is under contract for $5.5 million next season and is extension eligible next summer.
Did Red Sox give up too much for Contreras? Prospect expert weighs in
Did Red Sox give up too much for Contreras? Prospect expert weighs in originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Red Sox got a much-needed right-handed bat and first base upgrade in Willson Contreras, but did they give up too much in their trade with the St. Louis Cardinals?
Boston parted ways with right-hander Hunter Dobbins and minor-league righties Yhoiker Fajardo and Blake Aita. Dobbins, a former top pitching prospect in the Red Sox system, showed potential in his first taste of big-league action before suffering an ACL tear in July. Fajardo was the No. 8-ranked Red Sox prospect, per SoxProspects.com, while Aita landed just outside the top 30.
Is Contreras worth that price? Ian Cundall of SoxProspects.com shared his take on the trade in a recent conversation with NBC Sports Boston.
“I thought it was a fair return,” Cundall said. “They didn’t have to give up any of their top prospects, and Fajardo is the best prospect there. Obviously, Dobbins is a separate case since he’s already graduated.”
The Red Sox initially acquired Fajardo from the Chicago White Sox for reliever Cam Booser last offseason. The 19-year-old has shown high upside, but one noticeable flaw may have resulted in his departure.
“The issue with him, and it’s something that is a trend with actually all three pitchers in this deal, is he just really struggles to strike guys out with his fastball,” Cundall said. “And if we know one thing with Craig Breslow, they want in zone swing and miss, and especially on the fastball. You see guys like Garrett Crochet or Aroldis Chapman, all the guys he’s acquiring at the major league level, that’s what they do. Unfortunately, that’s the weakest part of Fajardo’s game.”
As for Aita, Cundall sees the 22-year-old having some future success as a reliever, but he isn’t someone that Red Sox fans should lose any sleep over trading away.
“His best thing is he can really spin a breaking ball,” Cundall said. “He’s got a sweeper and a curveball, and the sweeper is one of the highest spin rates in the org. … But I think other than the sweeper, it’s more kind of like an average fringy arsenal. Long-term, he’s probably best suited for the bullpen.
“I think he could be a pretty decent reliever there, because if you can spin a breaking ball like he can, you’re gonna get a shot at the major leagues. He’s a pretty high floor guy, but I’m just not sure how much upside there is there.”
Dobbins, of course, was the headliner of Boston’s trade package. The 26-year-old amassed a 4.13 ERA and 1.28 WHIP with 45 strikeouts and 17 walks over his first 13 MLB appearances (11 starts). A torn ACL ended his rookie year prematurely, but he was expected to battle for the No. 5 spot in the 2026 Red Sox rotation.
Despite Dobbins’ upside, Cundall has no issue with Boston sending him to St. Louis for help at first base after missing out on Pete Alonso in free agency.
“I always go back to, you have to give something to get something,” Cundall said. “When you look at the Red Sox, their first base production they’ve had gotten in the last few years has just been unacceptable. That’s supposed to be one of your marquee offensive positions. I think their wRC+ (Weighted Runs Created Plus) was 86 or something last year. You can’t have that and then also a bad defense, which is the other aspect that they’ve had.
“I think with Contreras, when you look at the available options, he’s making half as much money as Pete Alonso. He’s a substantially better defender. And yes, Alonso’s gonna hit more home runs, but I think when you look at the end of the day, their overall production like wRC+, it’s gonna be pretty similar, because Contreras can get on base, he’s gonna hit 20 to 25 home runs. He’s gonna hit a lot of doubles at Fenway, especially given his ability to pull the ball in the air. Obviously, he’s an above-average defender at first. So I think that he fits well.”
Like Fajardo and Aita, Dobbins has struggled to get whiffs on his fastball. Cundall believes that’s a big reason the Breslow-led front office was comfortable including him in the deal.
“You can get by on that for a few weeks or a few months, but it’s just hard to get by without a bat-missing fastball at the major leagues to be anything more than a back-end starter year after year,” Cundall said. “I think that’s the thing with Dobbins is, as much as I love the mentality, the personality, the way he pitches, there’s a lot to like there. He’s got a really wide-ranging arsenal, he can really mix and spin things.
“But at the end of the day, you’ve got to be able to establish your fastball, and he just doesn’t really have that pitch right now. … So to me, he’s more of a back-end type, and they just got an everyday upgrade at first base on a very reasonable deal.”
With Contreras in the fold, it’ll be interesting to monitor how the Red Sox proceed with fellow first baseman Triston Casas. Casas missed most of the 2025 campaign due to a ruptured patellar tendon and will have to battle for a role on the 2026 club with Contreras expected to be the primary first baseman.
As for Boston’s pitching depth without Dobbins, it’s still in solid shape with Kutter Crawford, Patrick Sandoval, Connelly Early, Payton Tolle, Kyle Harrison, and the newly acquired Johan Oviedo expected to compete for spots at the back end of the starting rotation.
Did Red Sox give up too much for Contreras? Prospect expert weighs in
Did Red Sox give up too much for Contreras? Prospect expert weighs in originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Red Sox got a much-needed right-handed bat and first base upgrade in Willson Contreras, but did they give up too much in their trade with the St. Louis Cardinals?
Boston parted ways with right-hander Hunter Dobbins and minor-league righties Yhoiker Fajardo and Blake Aita. Dobbins, a former top pitching prospect in the Red Sox system, showed potential in his first taste of big-league action before suffering an ACL tear in July. Fajardo was the No. 8-ranked Red Sox prospect, per SoxProspects.com, while Aita landed just outside the top 30.
Is Contreras worth that price? Ian Cundall of SoxProspects.com shared his take on the trade in a recent conversation with NBC Sports Boston.
“I thought it was a fair return,” Cundall said. “They didn’t have to give up any of their top prospects, and Fajardo is the best prospect there. Obviously, Dobbins is a separate case since he’s already graduated.”
The Red Sox initially acquired Fajardo from the Chicago White Sox for reliever Cam Booser last offseason. The 19-year-old has shown high upside, but one noticeable flaw may have resulted in his departure.
“The issue with him, and it’s something that is a trend with actually all three pitchers in this deal, is he just really struggles to strike guys out with his fastball,” Cundall said. “And if we know one thing with Craig Breslow, they want in zone swing and miss, and especially on the fastball. You see guys like Garrett Crochet or Aroldis Chapman, all the guys he’s acquiring at the major league level, that’s what they do. Unfortunately, that’s the weakest part of Fajardo’s game.”
As for Aita, Cundall sees the 22-year-old having some future success as a reliever, but he isn’t someone that Red Sox fans should lose any sleep over trading away.
“His best thing is he can really spin a breaking ball,” Cundall said. “He’s got a sweeper and a curveball, and the sweeper is one of the highest spin rates in the org. … But I think other than the sweeper, it’s more kind of like an average fringy arsenal. Long-term, he’s probably best suited for the bullpen.
“I think he could be a pretty decent reliever there, because if you can spin a breaking ball like he can, you’re gonna get a shot at the major leagues. He’s a pretty high floor guy, but I’m just not sure how much upside there is there.”
Dobbins, of course, was the headliner of Boston’s trade package. The 26-year-old amassed a 4.13 ERA and 1.28 WHIP with 45 strikeouts and 17 walks over his first 13 MLB appearances (11 starts). A torn ACL ended his rookie year prematurely, but he was expected to battle for the No. 5 spot in the 2026 Red Sox rotation.
Despite Dobbins’ upside, Cundall has no issue with Boston sending him to St. Louis for help at first base after missing out on Pete Alonso in free agency.
“I always go back to, you have to give something to get something,” Cundall said. “When you look at the Red Sox, their first base production they’ve had gotten in the last few years has just been unacceptable. That’s supposed to be one of your marquee offensive positions. I think their wRC+ (Weighted Runs Created Plus) was 86 or something last year. You can’t have that and then also a bad defense, which is the other aspect that they’ve had.
“I think with Contreras, when you look at the available options, he’s making half as much money as Pete Alonso. He’s a substantially better defender. And yes, Alonso’s gonna hit more home runs, but I think when you look at the end of the day, their overall production like wRC+, it’s gonna be pretty similar, because Contreras can get on base, he’s gonna hit 20 to 25 home runs. He’s gonna hit a lot of doubles at Fenway, especially given his ability to pull the ball in the air. Obviously, he’s an above-average defender at first. So I think that he fits well.”
Like Fajardo and Aita, Dobbins has struggled to get whiffs on his fastball. Cundall believes that’s a big reason the Breslow-led front office was comfortable including him in the deal.
“You can get by on that for a few weeks or a few months, but it’s just hard to get by without a bat-missing fastball at the major leagues to be anything more than a back-end starter year after year,” Cundall said. “I think that’s the thing with Dobbins is, as much as I love the mentality, the personality, the way he pitches, there’s a lot to like there. He’s got a really wide-ranging arsenal, he can really mix and spin things.
“But at the end of the day, you’ve got to be able to establish your fastball, and he just doesn’t really have that pitch right now. … So to me, he’s more of a back-end type, and they just got an everyday upgrade at first base on a very reasonable deal.”
With Contreras in the fold, it’ll be interesting to monitor how the Red Sox proceed with fellow first baseman Triston Casas. Casas missed most of the 2025 campaign due to a ruptured patellar tendon and will have to battle for a role on the 2026 club with Contreras expected to be the primary first baseman.
As for Boston’s pitching depth without Dobbins, it’s still in solid shape with Kutter Crawford, Patrick Sandoval, Connelly Early, Payton Tolle, Kyle Harrison, and the newly acquired Johan Oviedo expected to compete for spots at the back end of the starting rotation.
QB Keisean Henderson named ALL-USA Southwest Team offensive captain
Keisean Henderson capped an amazing career with a huge season and is the ALL-USA Southwest Football Team's offensive captain.
NBA Trade Rumors 2025-26: Lakers seek defense, Bucks eyeing adding Zach LaVine
With front office personnel leaving Orlando and the G League Showcase, trade talk is now in full swing around the league. Let's break down some of the latest talk around the league.
Bucks looking at adding Zach LaVine
While most fans (and plenty of content producers) are heading to trade machines looking for ways to get Giannis Antetokounmpo out of Milwaukee, the Bucks are in "desperate pursuit" of ways to bring in talent, re-energize the 11-18 team, and make Antetokounmpo happy (or, at least, less unhappy).
Enter Zach LaVine, reports NBA insider Chris Haynes, who reported this:
"The Milwaukee Bucks are in desperate pursuit, looking out on the trade market to see if they can bring in a difference-maker type of player. Sources have relayed they are canvassing the market, and one of the guys I identified is Zach LaVine of the Sacramento Kings."
While LaVine is available, there have been no serious talks between the sides, Hayes reports. It would be a difficult trade to construct because LaVine makes $47.5 million this season, it would likely require Kyle Kuzma, Bobby Portis and more heading out of Milwaukee (and maybe a third team involved).
Whether or not this specific deal comes together, it shows the Milwaukee front office's mindset: they are not trading Antetokounmpo unless he demands it and forces them to, and instead they want to be buyers at the deadline.
Lakers eying defensive wings Jones, Ellis
"Being able to contain the basketball is probably the most difficult thing for our team right now," Lakers coach J.J. Redick said of his team's point of attack defense after the Spurs eliminated the Lakers from the NBA Cup, a game in which San Antonio's young guards blew by their defenders, touched the paint, and either made a shot or sprayed it out for an open 3-pointer.
It's why the Lakers are looking hard at defensive wings, specifically good 3&D wings, Dan Woike of The Athletic reports. The challenge is that there aren't many of those players, and all 29 other teams are interested in them as well.
The Pelicans' Herb Jones is at the top of the list, but all reports out of New Orleans are that the asking price for him (or Trey Murphy III) is exceedingly high (the Pelicans don't really want to trade either). As Woike put it, the Pelicans "have signaled to interested teams that they're not entertaining Herbert Jones trades — at least not at any cost the Lakers can meet."
Sacramento's Keon Ellis also is available, a disruptive perimeter defender but a limited ball handler and not strong enough to switch onto larger forwards defensively. While Ellis is drawing more interest from other teams than the Kings' big three stars, he is a divisive figure among scouts, and it might be telling that both of the Kings' last two coaches — Mike Brown and Doug Christie — have limited his minutes.
Other defensive wings might be available — Derrick Jones Jr. (Clippers), Terrance Mann (Nets), Andrew Wiggins (Heat) — but the Lakers can trade one first-round pick, one second and find a matching salary (likely starting with Gabe Vincent), and the question becomes, will that be enough?
Nets make Michael Porter Jr. available
Brooklyn was expected to be active at the trade deadline, in part because they have more cap space than any other team and are likely a third team in to help facilitate any big trades.
However, they are looking to make one on their own and are testing the market for Michael Porter Jr., reports Jake Fischer at The Stein Line. It's not just Porter, the Nets are "willing to listen to pitches on the bulk of their veteran players," which would include Cam Thomas, Nic Claxton, Terance Mann, and more.
Porter Jr. is averaging 25.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, shooting 40% from 3-point range — he can help the offenses of a lot of teams. Porter Jr. is making $38.3 million this season and is guaranteed $40.8 million next season in the final year of his contract.
Consider Porter Jr. the name to watch for teams looking to make a big splash at the deadline and improve their playoff chances.
Warriors eying Gafford, Claxton
While the Warriors are reportedly patiently eyeing the Giannis Antetokounmpo situation (although constructing a trade that works with the Bucks is nearly impossible at the deadline), what they really want is a rim-protecting big man, reports NBA insider Chris Haynes on Amazon's NBA on Prime coverage.
Specifically, the Warriors are eying three players: Daniel Gafford (Mavericks), Nic Claxton (Nets), and Robert Williams (Trail Blazers).
"You look at the Warriors — rebounding and block shots, they're in the bottom half of the league," Haynes said on the broadcast. "And points in the paint, they are dead last. So they are looking for an athletic center…
"Those are three names who are on the Golden State Warriors' list of targets, to try to bring in a rim-running, block-shot defender. I was told they are really serious and they are trying to do everything they can to try to get the team back to being of the caliber of a championship-contending type."
Guerschon Yabusele
The Knicks signed Greece's Guerschon Yabusele last summer, with the big man coming off a solid season for the 76ers. That hasn't worked out as planned, so the Knicks are now open to trading him, reports James Edwards III at The Athletic.
Yabusele has not found a comfort zone with the Knicks this season, averaging 3 points a game on 39.4% shooting (30.6% from beyond the arc). That is not attracting many suitors, as Edwards notes.
Multiple league executives believe the Knicks would have to attach something to Yabusele in order to have a chance to move him before the deadline. Other than what New York does or doesn't do with Yabusele, the franchise has long put out feelers about adding another ballhandler and/or frontcourt player, per league sources.
Just something to watch as we approach the deadline.
Coby White
Among the names most mentioned as trade talk ramps up is Chicago point guard Coby White.
There are a number of teams looking for point guard help who are not interested in the big-name/big-expense players (Ja Morant, LaMelo Ball), and White might be the best of the next tier of players. White has been good for the Bulls this season, averaging 21.2 points and 5.2 assists a game, but he is shooting 29.8% from 3-point range (he's a career 36.7% from deep) and he is a minus defender. Still, he is in demand.
In his substack, Marc Stein reported that this "doesn't mean they'll actually move him before the Feb. 5 trade deadline, but the Bulls have left the impression with rival teams inquiring about White that they are more open to trading White than they've ever been."
Just something to watch going forward.
Malik Monk
Monk has not been a key part of Doug Christie's rotation in Sacramento of late, but some teams believe a change of scenery would do him good and he could work as a sixth man.
The Kings have made Monk available, reports Chris Haynes.
Sources: Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk, one of the most dynamic Sixth Men in the league, has been made available in advance of Feb. 5 trade deadline. pic.twitter.com/O8MblILHq6
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) December 23, 2025
The Kings have made pretty much everyone except Keegan Murray available by trade, they are one of the big sellers at the deadline, but how much interest there is in Monk, an injured Domantas Sabonis and others remains to be seen (Keon Ellis is the one name drawing a lot of interest).