Arizona remains at No. 1 with all 31 first-place votes. Michigan stays at No. 2 thanks to a pair of solid Big Ten wins this week. Connecticut and Duke remain at third and fourth respectively.
Gonzaga inherits the No. 5 spot, followed by a surging Illinois vaulting four positions to No. 6 after its Sunday defeat of Nebraska. Iowa State jumps ahead of fellow Big 12 contender Houston by just two poll points for the No. 7 position. Nebraska and Michigan State each fall back multiple spots but stay in the top 10.
There’s a strong Big 12 presence in the next five as Kansas is back up to No. 11 leapfrogging No. 12 Purdue. Texas Tech and Brigham Young hold the next two positions, and Vanderbilt now leads the SEC contingent at No. 15.
Texas A&M joins the rankings at No. 25. Thanks to last week’s tie there are actually two dropouts as Alabama and Iowa fall.
On Sunday, Feb. 1, Atlanta-based civil rights attorney Harry Daniels announced in a news release that Taylor has hired him to pursue a potential civil lawsuit.
In a video from HBCU Gameday that was widely shared on social media, Taylor is shown confronting a security officer as players from Tuskegee and rival Morehouse College shook hands after their game on Saturday, Jan. 31 at Forbes Arena on the Morehouse campus in Atlanta.
According to Taylor and Tuskegee athletic director Reginald Ruffin, Taylor asked the security officer to follow conference rules and help remove a group of Morehouse football players — who Taylor said were yelling obscenities — from the handshake line. Instead, after a brief interaction, the security officer handcuffed Taylor and walked him off the court.
"Such behavior from the Morehouse football players, particularly their intermingling with the basketball players on the court and during the postgame handshake is prohibited by conference-mandated security protocols," Daniels said in a statement announcing he had been hired by Taylor. "When Coach Taylor asked two police officers to enforce those protocols attempting to diffuse an increasingly dangerous situation, however, one of the officers chose to place him in handcuffs and escort him from the court. Coach Taylor was never charged with a crime.”
According to Daniels, attorneys are investigating “all legal avenues.”
“It would be bad for a police officer to treat anyone like this,” Daniels said in the release. “But to do it to a man like Coach Taylor, a highly respected professional and role model, to put him in handcuffs, humiliate him and treat him like a criminal in front of his team, his family and a gym full of fans is absolutely disgusting and they need to be held accountable.”
In a letter Sunday addressed to “Tuskegee Family and Friends,” Ruffin and Tuskegee president Dr. Mark A. Brown said Taylor has “our full, unequivocal, and unwavering support” while adding that the coach is “a respected professional who has consistently demonstrated exemplary leadership, integrity, and concern for the well-being of his student-athletes.” Taylor has been the head coach at the school since 2019.
“During the events in question, Coach Taylor acted solely out of his fundamental responsibility to protect his student-athletes and staff — particularly in an environment where agreed-upon and customary game‑management and security protocols were not properly carried out,” the letter said. “His conduct remained measured, professional, and entirely consistent with the expectations of a head coach entrusted with the safety of his team.
“At no time did Coach Taylor engage in behavior that could be characterized as unbecoming, unprofessional, or inconsistent with the standards of Tuskegee University, the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), Morehouse College, or intercollegiate athletics broadly,” the letter continued. “Conversely, the circumstances that culminated in Coach Taylor being handcuffed — albeit briefly — fall well outside the bounds of what is normal, acceptable, or appropriate in collegiate athletic environments. No coach should ever be placed in such a position for carrying out their duty to safeguard student-athletes.”
The university said it remains “committed to working closely” with the SIAC and its fellow members to ensure that security and event-management standards are implemented and upheld at future sporting events.
The Alabama-based school hasn’t responded to a USA TODAY Sports request for comment.
We are just days away from the NBA trade deadline — Thursday, Feb. 5, at 3 p.m. Eastern — and the trades are coming fast, with De’Andre Hunter and Keon Ellis switching teams. The rumors are coming faster. To help you stay on top of all of it, the NBCSports.com NBA crew is on it, putting updates on everything worth knowing in this one place. Just refresh here and stay up to date on everything.
Knicks deadline decisions
If the Knicks — both the front office and their fans — could waive a Harry Potter magic wand and make it happen, Giannis Antetokounmpo would be a Knick before Thursday. The reality is that leaks coming out of New York suggest they may not think that will happen.
"The Bucks are looking for a premier young player(s) and multiple, good draft picks in exchange for one of the three best players in the NBA. The Knicks have neither of those, and to get close to what the Bucks are asking for, New York would need to trade two or three players in its starting lineup, most likely OG Anunoby, [Mikal] Bridges and/or [Karl-Anthony] Towns."
If the Knicks are not going to get Antetokounmpo before the deadline, they have other priorities.
They are focused on landing a big man for depth and have trained their sights on Goga Bitadze, who has fallen out of the rotation in Orlando, or on New Orleans' Yves Missi, reports Ian Begley of SNY.tv. Either man would just be bench help for now, although Missi — just a second-year player — could grow into a larger role. —Kurt Helin
Doc Rivers thinks Giannis stays a Buck. For now.
What else is Doc Rivers going to say? You think he wants to stick around and coach through a rebuild?
On ESPN’s NBA Countdown over the weekend, the Milwaukee Bucks coach said what he has always said, that Giannis Antetokounmpo is saying all the right things to his teammates, and that Rivers expects him to be with the Bucks past the deadline.
"Giannis has said everything that we need to hear, that he wants to be a Buck, he loves the city and that's all I can go by as a coach right now. Has it been difficult? Yeah. Your players every day have to hear stuff. Every single day, about not just their best player but they're thrown in the mix as well. My favorite day of the year this year will be the day after the trade deadline. That'll be my favorite day. I think everyone will be here." Rivers may well get his wish, with league sources continuing to tell NBC Sports they expect the Antetokounmpo trade saga to drag out past the Feb. 5 deadline and into the offseason. Whether Antetokounmpo — and for that matter, Rivers — are back with the Bucks next season is another question. —Kurt Helin
DeMar DeRozan staying put
There's no real interest in DeMar DeRozan around the league, and while that could change it seems more likely DeRozan will play out the season in Sacramento, reports Sam Amick of The Athletic. DeRozan can still get a team buckets, he's averaging 19.2 points a game this season and shooting 50.6% from the floor, but he's a midrange shooter who is 36 and making $24.6 million this season and $25.7 million next season. That's more than teams want to take on in the apron era, at least at the trade deadline. —Kurt Helin
Ja Morant’s cryptic post
Ja Morant trade talk has died down, and it appears highly unlikely he gets traded before the Feb. 5 deadline. With that in mind, what does this cryptic social media post from Morant mean? — Kurt Helin
It's an issue for every NBA coach in February: How do they keep their team focused with trade rumors swirling around and players looking ahead to the upcoming All-Star break? The Knicks' Mike Brown summed it up well, talking to Ian Begley of SNY.tv.
"We understand that we have no control over the noise out there, so we have to have a bunker mentality. Not just at the trade deadline but all the time because there is a lot of noise out there. We're all human and you try not to listen to it – you just try to stay together. You keep moving forward, trying to get better as the days go along and I think that's what this group is trying to do." —Kurt Helin
Matthew Tkachuk has hit the ground running this season, leading Florida in points and expected goals, while sitting second in shots over his first seven games.
My Sabres vs. Panthers predictions expect another active offensive performance from Tkachuk against Buffalo.
Let’s break down my NHL picks for Monday, February 2.
Sabres vs Panthers prediction
Sabres vs Panthers best bet: Matthew Tkachuk Over 2.5 shots on goal (-155)
Matthew Tkachuk has shot the puck at a healthy clip since returning from injury, averaging 2.9 shots on target through seven games.
He has posted better numbers at home, where he attempted at least five shots in all three showings.
His outputs have also shown spikes following a day of rest. He has generated 3.8 shots per game through four games under those circumstances.
Tkachuk is at home and rested, and the matchup against the Buffalo Sabres doesn’t get much better.
The Sabres are a high-event side that gives up a lot of shot volume. They’ve allowed the second-most shots to wingers over the past 10 games while playing at the sixth-highest pace.
This is a big pace-up spot for the Florida Panthers, who sit 31st in pace during that span. The Sabres should speed the Panthers up a bit, creating a better game environment for offense.
In an important inner-division clash against a team just ahead of the Panthers in the standings, Florida will be heavily reliant on its star winger to lead the charge.
Sabres vs Panthers same-game parlay
Tkachuk has only scored in one of his seven games this season, but he is getting a lot of looks around the net, and the Panthers are favorites in a game with a total of 6.5. This would be a good spot to get one.
Carter Verhaeghe is playing on Tkachuk’s opposite wing, and the two are both featured on the No. 1 power play. Dating back to last year, Verhaeghe has 15 assists over his past 18 games with Tkachuk in the lineup.
Matthew Tkachuk has averaged 4.5 shots on goal over his last eight games against Buffalo. Find more NHL betting trends for Sabres vs. Panthers.
How to watch Sabres vs Panthers
Location
Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL
Date
Monday, February 2, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
MSG-Buffalo, SCRIPPS
Sabres vs Panthers latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
Both the Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins rank in the Top 10 in goals per game, but it's the Under that stands out in this matchup.
My Senators vs. Penguins predictions expect a lower-scoring affair between two Eastern Conference teams riding winning streaks.
Let’s break down my NHL picks for Monday, February 2.
Senators vs Penguins prediction
Senators vs Penguins best bet: Under 6.5 (ODDS)
The Pittsburgh Penguins have done a very good job defensively under first-year head coach Dan Muse, ranking 13th in shot suppression, fifth in penalty kill percentage, and tied for ninth in goals allowed.
The Ottawa Senators have had a more difficult time keeping the puck out, but they’ve largely held up when facing other teams that defend well.
Seven consecutive Senators games vs. Top 10 teams in goal prevention have featured five goals or fewer. They allowed 25 shots or less in each of those games, helping make life as easy as possible on their goaltenders.
This stretch includes a matchup with the Pens back in December. Just four goals were scored in that contest — a 4-0 victory for Ottawa — and the two sides combined for only 50 shots on target.
Defense is Ottawa’s calling card, and the Senators will be looking to keep things tight as they try to inch back towards a playoff spot.
The suspension of Bryan Rust and injury to Kris Letang should also take a bite out of their offense and make them easier to slow down.
Senators vs Penguins same-game parlay
Dylan Cozens has generated shots at a very consistent clip, averaging 2.7 on 4.5 attempts over his last 10 games. He cleared 1.5 shots in nine of them, only failing to do so against the No. 1-seeded Colorado Avalanche.
While Thomas Chabot left Ottawa’s last game with an injury, it was cited as precautionary. If he’s good to go, two shots is not much to ask for the minute-muncher who has registered multiple shots on target in 14 of his past 20.
The Over is just 2-7-1 over the past 10 head-to-head matchups. Find more NHL betting trends for Senators vs. Penguins.
How to watch Senators vs Penguins
Location
PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
Date
Monday, February 2, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN5, SportsNet-Pittsgurgh
Senators vs Penguins latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
It was a frustrating end to January for the Florida Panthers.
After reeling off wins in six of eight, Florida appeared to be rounding a corner and building some momentum heading into an extremely crucial point of the season.
That was until the past week, when the Panthers dropped each of their three games, two of which coming on home ice and all by a single goal.
Before the defeats, Florida had climbed to within three points of the second Wild Card spot (which was Boston at the time), with a game in hand, and four points back of third place in the Atlantic Division (back then it was Buffalo).
Fast forward to now, where the Cats enter play on Monday eight points behind the Sabres, who hold the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, and ten points back of third-place Montreal with one game in hand.
With only 28 games remaining on their schedule, it’s getting to the point where Florida is losing any margin for error in terms of failing to accumulate points in the standings. Losing three straight games to teams who all had less points than the Panthers is something that simply can’t happen.
This will be the third of four meetings between Florida and Buffalo this season.
A 3-0 road loss to the Sabres back on Oct. 18 capped an early-season four-game losing streak for the Cats, while Florida picked up a 4-3 win in Buffalo on Jan. 12 that was actually the first home loss for the Sabres in about six weeks.
When the Panthers hit the ice on Monday they’ll be in the familiar position of shorthanded thanks to another pair of key forwards missing the game.
Both Brad Marchand and Anton Lundell are considered day-to-day and could play before the NHL breaks for the Olympics, but it won’t be against Buffalo.
Photo caption: Jan 12, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) controls the puck during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. (Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images)
Mercedes principal insists their new car is within rules
‘Other teams are finding excuses before they have started’
Toto Wolff has dismissed claims from rival teams over the legality of Mercedes’ new engine, insisting it is within the regulations. The Mercedes team principal said that the onus lay with the other manufacturers who had missed an opportunity and that they should get their “shit together”.
The row over whether Mercedes and Red Bull have stolen a march on the opposition in their engine design has dominated the buildup to the new season and Wolff notably did not rule out other teams protesting against the legality of their engines after they are used competitively for the first time at the Australian Grand Prix on 8 March.
We have two first-time All-Star Game coaches this season.
San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson will represent the Western Conference as a head coach in the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, which became official Sunday night.
All-Star Bound
Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson and his coaching staff will coach one of the three All-Star teams in the new U.S. vs. World format!#PorVida | @Ledgerpic.twitter.com/mivMRwKpSN
Johnson has led San Antonio to a 33-16 record, the second-best mark in the West (and third-best mark in the NBA). That is also the Spurs' best record through 49 games since the 2016-17 season (a Western Conference Finals team led by Kawhi Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge and Tony Parker.
Johnson will coach one of the USA teams — Stars or Stripes — or potentially the third team in the USA vs. World format (more on that below).
Johnson stepped up as the Spurs' head coach last season after Hall of Fame coach Gregg Popovich had to step aside for medical reasons. This season, with a talented young core led by All-Star starter Victor Wembanyama, Johnson's fingerprints are all over the Spurs' success, evident in his player development and defensive focus.
Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff will be the coach representing the East in the All-Star Game, and it is also his first time coaching the game. While Oklahoma City has the best record in the West, because Mark Daigneault coached the All-Star Game last year, he is ineligible to coach this year.
All-Star Game format
This year, the NBA All-Star Game returns to NBC and debuts on Peacock — and it falls right in the middle of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. That was a perfect setup for the first-of-its-kind All-Star Game format, a USA vs. World showdown that fans and players have been asking for.
The 24 All-Star players will be divided into three teams, two USA teams and one world team. Those three teams will compete in a round-robin tournament of four 12-minute games. Each of the three teams will have a minimum of eight players (if the USA or World teams are short on players, the league office will select one or more players to reach the required number).
At the end of the round-robin, the two top teams will play a championship game (the fourth 12-minute game of the day) for the title.
The 75th NBA All-Star Game will take place on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 5 p.m. Eastern, an earlier time than in previous years, leading into more coverage of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
Every moment of All-Star Weekend — the Rising Stars challenge on Friday. (Feb. 13), All-Star Saturday Night with the 3-Point Contest and Dunk Contest (Feb. 14), as well as the All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 15 — will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.
The 75th NBA All-Star Game will take place on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 5 p.m. Eastern, a time earlier than in previous years, leading into more coverage of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
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.
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The Detroit Red Wings are beginning to feel their momentum slow. Once the hottest team in the NHL, they now find themselves on a three-game losing streak and losing four of their last five games before heading into one of the most difficult road environments in the league: Colorado.
This trip marks the Red Wings’ first journey west and into the Rocky Mountains this season. They will be looking to bounce back from a 5–0 blowout loss to the Avalanche last Saturday on home ice. Detroit now has a chance to return the favor, though improving their recent road form will be key after posting two wins and two losses over their last four away games.
Colorado has also struggled recently, but Saturday’s win over Detroit may have helped halt an eight-game slump in which the Avalanche lost six of their previous eight contests. Both teams are eager for a victory, setting the stage for an exciting showdown in this marquee matchup.
Lineup Storylines
The Red Wings are going through a noticeable shift in form. Their offense has slowed considerably during a five-game losing streak, and while the defense has tried to hold things together, cracks have begun to show.
Detroit’s once red-hot goaltender John Gibson has now lost three straight starts, with his most recent defeat coming against Colorado. In that game, he allowed four goals on 21 shots, making it his most deflating performance in recent weeks.
The hope is that the potential Vezina Trophy contender can steady himself and regain his rhythm, especially as the defense continues to adjust without Simon Edvinsson in the lineup. Offensively, the usual leaders remain Alex DeBrincat and Lucas Raymond, while Marco Kasper has surprisingly tied for third on the team in points over the skid with one goal and two assists.
The concern is how quickly the scoring has dried up as DeBrincat and Raymond have combined for seven goals during the five-game stretch, while the rest of the roster has contributed just five. Depth scoring has swung wildly this season, starting as a major weakness, turning into a strength during winning streaks, and now slipping once again.
This downturn could prompt general manager Steve Yzerman to explore a move for additional offensive help, especially with rumors linking Detroit to New York’s Artemi Panarin. Regardless of roster speculation, the Red Wings need secondary scoring to reemerge.
Rookie Emmitt Finnie has gone 18 games without a goal, while second-line center Andrew Copp has failed to score in nine straight games after previously being on pace for a career year alongside Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane. Even Kane himself has been held without a goal in 11 consecutive games.
Detroit will need to rediscover its offensive identity sooner rather than later, especially against a Colorado team that demands near-perfection from its opponents.
Despite their recent struggles, the Avalanche have had little trouble generating offense, scoring 29 goals during an eight-game skid that still averages out to 3.22 goals per game. Their main issue has been on the defensive side, as the absence of key blueliner Devon Toews has forced constant changes to their pairings.
Those adjustments have not gone smoothly, with Colorado allowing 3.78 goals per game over that span, the fifth-worst mark in the NHL during that stretch. The Avalanche are also dealing with significant offensive absences, as captain Gabe Landeskog, Martin Necas, and Drew O’Connor are all sidelined heading into Monday.
If the Red Wings can rediscover their scoring touch and turn the game into a high-tempo shootout, they may be able to pull off a surprising victory.
Goalie Matchup
Detroit: John Gibson (21-11-2 record, 2.68 GAA, .903 SV% | VS COL: 10-12-2 record, 2.59 GAA, .920 SV% in 26 games)
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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 28: Georgii Merkulov #42 of the Boston Bruins skates against the New York Rangers at the TD Garden on November 28, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Providence Bruins beat the Charlotte Checkers 3-0 on Sunday afternoon, their seventh win in a row and eighth in their last ten games.
However, the win was a bit more notable for another reason: Georgii Merkulov became the new all-time leading scorer in franchise history, as he recorded an assist in the win.
That assist gave Merkulov 211 career AHL points, one more than Andy Hilbert recorded as a member of the Providence Bruins.
In his AHL career, the Russian winger now has 84G-127A-211PTS totals in 240 games over parts of five AHL seasons.
Hilbert, who had cups of coffee with the NHL Bruins and went on to have a decent NHL run with the New York Islanders, recored 101G-109A-21oPTS totals in 234 games with Providence.
Frankly, I was a bit surprised to see that this is Merkulov’s fifth AHL season, and even more surprised to see that he was now the franchise’s leading scorer.
That’s not meant as a knock on Merkulov, rather that I assumed there might have been a more prolific, long-time AHLer who had a higher mark over a longer period of time.
However, Merkulov has been consistently productive for Providence: coming into the current season, he led the P-Bruins in scoring three seasons in a row, which had never happened before.
Regardless, it’s a nice milestone for Merkulov, who has played 11 games at the NHL level and is still looking for his first goal.
The Bruins signed Merkulov to an entry-level contract in April of 2022, after just one season at Ohio State University.
He signed a one-year, two-way contract extension last summer. He’s now waiver-eligible, and had to clear when he was cut from training camp prior to this season.
Whether or not he gets another crack at the NHL roster remains to be seen, but being any franchise’s all-time leading scorer is no small feat.
Mike and Dan look back at a packed week of trades, wins, a season sweep and one terrible loss that makes an already daunting upcoming week for the Islanders even more scary.
For five days last week, Islanders fans were feeling good. Three wins, two over the Rangers in a humiliating season sweep complete with chirps from a goofball kid who’s already a star, and trades for Carson Soucy and Ondrej Palat that, while open to criticism, have yielded good early results. Then Saturday happened, when the Islanders played a sloppy, maddening game against the Nashville Predators at home and took a giant step back after three steps forward. It was the last thing we wanted to see with a huge slate coming up and an Olympic break looming that will put us all in stasis for three weeks.
We look back at all of last week’s games and ahead to games against the Capitals, Penguins and Devils to close out the pre-Olympic schedule. One against a team directly behind you, one against a team directly in front of you and one that should be easy on paper but might end up being necessary. It’s a massive week that will tell us a lot about how the trade deadline might shape up. Of course, we said that before this week, too…
Finally we look at an article that ranked NHL arena experiences and at UBS Arena’s fair placement. It’s a great venue with one huge issue keeping it from the league’s upper echelon.
Be sure to count the times Dan says he wants to talk about something and then just never does. This might be an all time record.
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MILWAUKEE, WI - NOVEMBER 7: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks the ball during the game against the Chicago Bulls during the 2025-26 Emirates Cup on November 7, 2025 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
Giannis Antetokounmpo is holding the 2026 NBA trade deadline hostage as it approaches on Thursday, Feb. 5. Antetokounmpo’s passive trade request has forced Milwaukee to consider dealing him this week, and according to ESPN insider Shams Charania, the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, and Minnesota Timberwolves are considered the most serious suitors. We have Giannis trade ideas for those four teams here.
The Bucks don’t want to trade Giannis, but if they do, they rightfully want a huge package of draft picks, swaps, and young players in return for their superstar forward. Milwaukee might hold onto Antetokounmpo until the summer to see if they can convince him to sign another max extension, but it seems like a long-shot that he’d actually sign it. The writing has been on the wall for years after three straight first-round exits in the playoffs, and this year’s Bucks are so bad that they are already best suited to pivot to tanking for a loaded 2026 NBA Draft while Giannis nurses a calf strain. Milwaukee could pick as high as No. 2 overall in 2026 due to a pick swap with the Pelicans and Hawks.
Antetokounmpo remains a top-3 player in the world when he’s healthy at 31 years old. He’s the type of superstar who is bound to get mystery teams involved in the bidding process, and one surprising team kept popping up in internet rumors over the weekend: the Chicago Bulls.
The Bulls jumped to the front of the betting market over the weekend if Giannis is traded in-season.
The Chicago Bulls have become frontrunners to land Giannis if he leaves Milwaukee 🚨 pic.twitter.com/89WeFgBHGx
It’s all starting to add up: Giannis is buying property and going to church in Chicago, which is only a 90-minute drive from his stronghold in Milwaukee. The Bulls control all of their future draft picks, and could put them on the table for a deal, plus they have the expiring salary that Milwaukee could crave.
How’s this for a trade?
NBA teams can only trade their first-round pick every other year because of The Stepien Rule — which Secret Base has a great documentary on. This trade would deliver Milwaukee the Bulls’ unprotected first-round pick in 2026, 2028, 2030, and 2032, plus pick swaps in 2027 and 2031. Chicago can’t trade Milwaukee a pick swap in 2029 because Milwaukee doesn’t own its pick.
The Bulls would essentially be giving up six years of draft control for Giannis, as well as their best player in 23-year-old Josh Giddey. It’s usually a pretty good bet to fade the Bulls, who haven’t won a playoff series since 2015 and have only won one playoff game since trading Jimmy Butler almost nine years ago. It would leave Chicago with the following rotation:
G Tre Jones
G Ayo Dosunsmu
F Matas Buzelis
F Giannis Antetokounmpo
C Nikola Vucevic
Bench: Jalen Smith, Kevin Huerter, Patrick Williams, Julian Phillips, Julian Phillips, Noa Essengue (out for season)
Trading for Giannis now gives a team two playoff runs with him before he hits unrestricted free agency. The Bulls or any other team probably wouldn’t mortgage their future like this without a backdoor agreement that Antetokounmpo would sign an extension. If Milwaukee actually accepted that package, the Bulls would have to ask themselves if they could win big with Giannis right now.
Chicago is 24-26 on the season at time of publish, and currently sits in their familiar place of the No. 9 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls would have work to do just to get out of the play-in tournament range this season. Given that Giannis has battled lower-body injuries all season (and for the last three years, really), it’s an open question whether he would be at 100 percent physically to finish this year.
Does a Giannis to the Bulls trade actually make sense?
No it doesn’t.
Giannis is ready to leave Milwaukee because he wants to compete for championships again, and in Chicago he would have the same problems he has right now in Milwaukee. The rest of the Bulls’ roster just wouldn’t be good enough to push for a Finals berth even in a horrible Eastern Conference. The downside of Giannis continuing to get injured, or potentially leaving in free agency, asking for another trade would be too much to give up so many years of draft control.
Antetokounmpo buying an apartment building in Chicago is just the type of real estate move rich guys make. I don’t really tell you why he was in the city to go to church, but I don’t think there’s some grand conspiracy behind it.
The Bulls refuse to tank and desperately need a superstar, so who cares about draft control? It sounds good in theory, but it would be an extremely reckless trade for Chicago with huge downside risk. The Bulls just seem to go a few games under .500 every year anyway, so who cares? While that’s a decent counter-argument, it’s a tough trade to swing when Giannis has already been unable to finish the last few seasons healthy.
The real failing for the Bulls is that they’ve been rebuilding for nine years and still aren’t in a position to trade for someone like Giannis. Chicago keeps trying to take shortcuts to rebuilding without actually tearing the down the roster, and it keeps resulting in the same outcome every year: the Bulls lose slightly more games than they win and ultimately bow out in the play-in tournament. Ownership led by Jerry and Michael Reinsdorf continues to be the biggest issue. If the Reinsdorfs don’t want to treat the Bulls like the world-class franchise they should be, they should sell the team. Michael Reinsdorf’s refusal to hold front office leader Arturas Karnisovas responsible for the team’s entrenched mediocrity is why this franchise will never be great.
With better leadership over the last nine years, the Bulls would have been in position to trade for Giannis. Now it doesn’t make sense.
I wouldn’t be shocked if a mystery team emerges for Giannis at the trade deadline, but my best guess is he stays in Milwaukee. The Bucks will probably try to sell him on a big trade that keeps him around long-term this summer, but ultimately it seems like Giannis knows he needs to leave to compete for championships again. This Bulls offer is really good, but Milwaukee probably wants a blue chip young player better than Giddey in any team. I’ll guess the Heat or the Knicks for where the Greek Freak eventually ends up this summer. Until then, expect more bizarre rumors like this one with the Bulls.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 31: Kelly Oubre Jr. #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the New Orleans Pelicans in the second quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 31, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Pelicans 124-114. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Way, way back – all the way back on Friday – the Sixers’ reality was so much simpler than it is now. The team looked OK, with the potential to get better at Thursday’s trade deadline. With the potential to offload somebody and get bench help or rebounding help or luxury-tax relief. Or all of the above.
Veteran forward Kelly Oubre Jr. has heard the same speculation everyone else has. He has heard his name bandied about as possible trade bait, since he is a useful player with a manageable contract. (He is earning $8.4 million this season, the last on his deal.)
Asked after Saturday night’s 124-114 victory over New Orleans whether the chatter bothers him, he said at first that it did not.
Then he paused, and reconsidered.
“It does kind of stink a little bit to have a contract that is easily, like, washable, you would say,” he said. “So I’m putting in the work, showing up every day, showing what I mean to this league and to this team. And hopefully, I can not be in this position again.”
With Paul George’s suspension, things would appear to be different than they were. Now it would appear that Oubre – already part of the Sixers’ most effective lineup – would be a guy they need to keep, Daryl Morey willing.
Now, it seems, the guy with the washable contract is anything but disposable.
Before Saturday’s game, coach Nick Nurse said replacing George will be a group project, that it will take the combined efforts of several guys to replace all that he did, as a scorer, playmaker and defender. Nurse then listed seven players, Oubre foremost among them.
“There are shots there,” the coach said. “Somebody’s got to fill in and take those shots. I imagine Kelly’s kind of played that role for us a lot already. I would imagine some of those shots, or a good portion of those shots, will shift back over to him.”
Gotta be music to the ears of Oubre, who at age 30 is 11 years into his career, and on his fifth team. He comes off as a free spirit, as a guy who is a loud and amusing presence in the locker room. A guy whose many tattoos include one on his leg of Bruce Lee (because, Oubre once said, he is not only a martial arts fan but “a big fan of being like water”).
But his game reflects a certain seriousness, a certain diligence. That’s reflected by another one of his tats, this one on his upper abs. “Sacrifice,” it says, an homage to his dad, who raised him first in New Orleans and then Houston, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
He often guards the other team’s best perimeter threat, and offensively he makes adroit cuts and astute decisions – something that has been especially useful recently, as he has melded with the George-Joel Embiid–Tyrese Maxey–VJ Edgecombe lineup. Oubre’s shooting percentages this season (49.5 percent from the floor, 36.9 percent from the arc) are both career highs, and his 14.2 point-per-game average is slightly better than his career norm (13.3).
Nor should his off-court energy be dismissed.
“It’s very vital,” backup center Adem Bona said earlier this season. “Someone like him that has a lot of experience in the game, honestly, brings that kind of energy day in, day out. … He pushes the younger guys to want to match his energy, to do as much as he does for the team.”
On Saturday Oubre scored 19 points, three after collecting Edgecombe’s behind-the-back pass at the top of the circle and burying a third-quarter triple. Afterward Oubre needled Edgecombe about the play, as the rookie met with reporters at his locker.
“He made the shot,” Edgecombe said, stifling a chuckle. “That’s all that matters. I just got it there on the money. It was a little shaky at first. I was a little worried. … But it looks good. The points (are) all that matters.”
Oubre, sitting in the interview room and cradling his infant son TsuSun shortly thereafter, acknowledged that there is “a little bit” of pressure to make a shot after a pass like that, that there is a desire to complete a highlight-worthy play.
“But,” he said, “you can’t think about it in the moment. You’ve gotta just let it fly.”
Either way, he added, “It takes a lot of cojones to make that type of pass, especially with a lot of defenders around. So VJ, he’s goated for that one, man.”
It was left to Embiid to finish things off. He notched 17 of his season-high 40 points in the fourth quarter, nine in a closing 20-7 rush.
“But at the end of the day, man, any given night we have a team that people who can show up and put points on the board, be key contributors to winning,” Oubre said.
They will get the chance to prove that now, with George out and a five-game road trip commencing Monday night against the Clippers. And Oubre can only hope to be “a key contributor to winning,” as he put it.
Everything will come out in the wash, as it always does. But on the face of it Oubre’s contract doesn’t look nearly as washable or expendable or whatever-able as it did, only a few days ago.
Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz will announce on Feb. 2 that he is stepping down, according to a report from Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
The report from Friedman also indicates Trotz will continue in the role until his replacement can be found.
The Predators have announced a news conference on Feb. 2. The release said Trotz will have an announcement at Bridgestone Arena along with CEO Sean Henry and owner Bill Haslam. The Predators did not disclose the nature of the announcement.
The timing of this decision sets up a challenging rest of the season. With the Predators' record at 25-23-6 (56 points) and four points out of the final wild card spot, they are within striking distance of the playoffs. But in the ultra competitive Western Conference, their chances of a deep playoff run are slim. Trotz has indicated he's been willing to listen to offers on players like Ryan O'Reilly, Michael McCarron, and Michael Bunting at the trade deadline, which is on March 6.
Trotz, 63, took over as general manager in 2023 after the retirement of David Poile. Trotz was the first coach in Predators history, coaching from 1998 until 2014.
When Trotz took the job, he made a flurry of changes in an attempt to change the locker room culture. Matt Duchene's contract was bought out, Ryan Johansen was traded to Colorado, and the team signed center Ryan O'Reilly. The moves worked to transition the team away from the previous core and into a new look.
But many moves by Trotz came under heavy scrutiny. The decision not to sell Alex Carrier at the deadline in 2024, then sign him over the summer, then trade him just two months into the next season. The decision to sign Juuse Saros to an eight-year contract, instead of transitioning to Yaroslav Askarov in net. Losing Dante Fabbro in waivers to Columbus. Trading Luke Schenn to the Penguins for a third round pick, then seeing the Penguins immediately flip him for a second round pick. It was hard to find wins among the many apparent losses.
As the team looks for its next general manager, it will be worth noting if they keep with tradition and stay within the "Predators family" or if they look outside of the organization.
PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 31: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins carries the puck against Vladislav Gavrikov #44 of the New York Rangers at PPG PAINTS Arena on January 31, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
There were some sketchy moments over the past two games, but the Pittsburgh Penguins kept their winning streak going this past week with a 6-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night and a 6-5 win over the New York Rangers on Saturday afternoon. The week got off to a rocky start with a sloppy first period against the Blackhawks before they flipped the switch and absolutely steamrolled them over the remaining 40 minutes. Saturday’s game against the Rangers was pretty much the exact opposite as they dominated the first 44 minutes and jumped out to a 5-1 lead, before having to cling to a one-goal lead in the closing seconds after allowing four third period goals.
The third period goals against are concerning given what this team has done previously this season, but they still managed to get the two points. They enter this week having won six games in a row, seven of their past eight games and have at least one point in each of their past nine games. That has them sitting on Monday with the sixth-best points percentage in the entire NHL and the third-best points percentage in the Eastern Conference.
Lately, they have done what you would expect a good team to do and beat up on teams below them in the standings.
This week the schedule gets a little bit tougher with three pretty significant games against potential Eastern Conference playoff contenders as they go into the Olympic break.
The week begins on Monday night, at home, against the Ottawa Senators.
From a record and standings perspective, the Senators have been one of the more disappointing teams in the NHL this season having gone from a playoff spot in 2024-25, to a team that is struggling to stay in contention. But their record is also a little misleading and not a great reflection of the way the team has played.
There might not be a team in the NHL that has been hurt by goaltending more than them.
Ottawa is a top-10 goal-scoring team this season (ninth in the NHL at 3.33 goals per game) with a 54.01 percent expected goals share during 5-on-5 play (fourth-best in the NHL). They do a lot of things well, and have typically controlled the pace of play in their games.
They just can not get a save. From anybody. The Senators enter play on Monday with an all-situations team save percentage of just .868, which is 32nd out of 32 teams in the NHL. With even adequate or league average goaltending this might be a playoff team again. This is not a game to be taken lightly, especially with the Senators coming in having won three games in a row, outscoring their opponents by a 16-4 margin. It is also worth noting that two of those wins were against the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche.
They are capable of playing very well. Lately, they are. They are also finally getting some saves. Ottawa won the first meeting this season by a 4-0 margin, in Ottawa, back in December.
The Penguins then have a quick turnaround with a back-to-back situation on Tuesday night when they travel to Long Island for a massive game against the New York Islanders.
The Islanders are right behind the Penguins for the second spot in the Metropolitan Division.
Entering play on Monday, the Penguins are two points ahead of the Islanders for that second spot with two games in hand.
The Islanders also play on Monday night against the Washington Capitals (at Washington), so both teams will be playing the second half of a back-to-back with travel. That helps even things out for both teams.
The outcomes of Monday’s games could really change the stakes for that Tuesday game on Long Island.
A Penguins win, combined with an Islanders loss, would give the Penguins a four-point lead over the Islanders going into Tuesday’s game (with still two games in hand) and give them a chance to take a really commanding lead in that race for the second spot in the Metropolitan Division.
A Penguins loss on Monday, combined with an Islanders win, would draw the Islanders even in terms of total points and give them a chance to move ahead on Tuesday with a win.
There is potentially a lot happening there.
This Islanders team is also winning in the most New York Islanders way imaginable. They do not really do anything particularly well. They are not a great offensive team. They are 32nd out of 32 teams in expected goals against per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 play. They are 29th in the NHL in expected goal share during 5-on-5 play.
So how are they winning and staying in the race? It is the goaltending. Ilya Sorokin is playing out of his mind, and after a couple of down years (by his standards, anyway) he is back to playing like one of the truly elite goalies in the NHL.
They also have Matthew Schaefer. The No. 1 overall pick has stepped right into the NHL and made an almost unbelievable impact. We really have not seen an 18-year-old defenseman impact games and a team the way he has in decades. If ever. He is legit. He is the real deal. The Penguins won the first meeting of the season by a 4-3 margin in their home opener.
The Penguins then close out their pre-Olympic break schedule on Thursday with a road game at the Buffalo Sabres. It was not even two months ago that game looked like a potential win that you could pencil in given how bad the Sabres started the season and how they looked like every other Sabres team from the past 14-15 years. Lately, though, they have been one of the hottest and best teams in the league, look like a playoff team, and are playing like a playoff team. That is not going to be an easy game.
Not only is Buffalo playing exceptionally well, it also has some really high-level players that can take over games in forward Tage Thompson and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin. The Penguins won the first meeting of the season against the Sabres, in Pittsburgh, but it was not one of their crisper or cleaner games.
This is going to be a challenging week, not only in terms of opponent, but also because of going on the road and having another back-to-back situation. The good news: They will have Bryan Rust back for Tuesday’s game against the Islanders, even if that creates a lineup crunch that will probably take Rutger McGroarty out of the lineup. If the Penguins can get three or four points out of this week, that would be a fine result and really keep their momentum going into the Olympic break and keep them in a great position in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
