Both the Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings remade their rosters at the trade deadline, and now the division rivals will face off.
The Clippers flipped James Harden into Darius Garland. While the Kings brought in Garland’s former teammate, De’Andre Hunter. But my Clippers vs. Kings predictions are banking on the old guard to have a big impact on this game.
Those and more NBA picks for this Pacific Division clash set to tip off at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento at 10 p.m. ET on Friday, February 6.
Clippers vs Kings prediction
Clippers vs Kings best bet: DeMar DeRozan Over 16.5 points (-120)
There are plenty of new faces in new places in this matchup, but I’m betting on an old face who has found the fountain of youth recently.
Sacramento Kings veteran DeMar DeRozan has been on one of his classic heaters lately. He’s averaging 23.4 points over his last five games, topping the 30-point plateau twice in that span.
The Los Angeles Clippers defense has regressed a bit lately, surrendering 122 points or more in three of their last four games, and they still rank 21st in defensive rating for the season.
DeRozan’s point total is a modest 16.5, which is a number we can attack.
Clippers vs Kings same-game parlay
The Kings traded for Hunter because they’ve been so bad defensively. They rank 29th in defensive rating this season. But he won’t help in the paint where they allow the second-most points per game.
That has me looking at John Collins. The Clippers' power forward is averaging 16.4 points over his last 15 games, topping 16.5 points eight times over that stretch.
I’m expecting both teams to get buckets in this one, so the Over looks like a solid add to this SGP.
Clippers vs Kings SGP
DeMar DeRozan Over 16.5 points
John Collins Over 16.5 points
Over 222
Our "from downtown" SGP: Buckets in bunches
We are going to see more scoring than oddsmakers expect in this Pacific Division matchup.
Clippers vs Kings SGP
DeMar DeRozan Over 16.5 points
Domantas Sabonis Over 14.5 points
John Collins Over 16.5 points
Brook Lopez Over 9.5 points
Clippers vs Kings odds
Spread: Clippers -3.5 | Kings +3.5
Moneyline: Clippers -170 | Kings +145
Over/Under: Over 222 | Under 222
Clippers vs Kings betting trend to know
The Clippers have hit the moneyline in 17 of their last 23 games for +12.75 Units and a 27% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Clippers vs. Kings.
How to watch Clippers vs Kings
Location
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Date
Friday, February 6, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Clippers vs Kings latest injuries
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
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Kenny Atkinson knows his life is going to be very different with James Harden in Cleveland.
"I'll probably call less plays," the Cavaliers coach joked.
Atkinson and star Donovan Mitchell — not to mention Cavaliers fans and everyone else invested in the team — were frustrated with how last playoffs ended: A second-round exit, winning just one game from the Pacers after a 64-win regular season. They were frustrated with how this season started — 17-15 on Christmas Day and sitting in the play-in — and, on the basketball operations side, felt they needed to shake things up.
Mitchell used his leverage as the team's star who could be a free agent in 2027 to push for a roster upgrade at the deadline, league sources confirmed to NBC Sports, but their front office was already thinking that way.
One key issue throughout it all had been point guard Darius Garland, who sparked the offense last regular season but whose toe issues slowed him in the playoffs and those carried over into this season despite surgery (he's now dealing with issues in both feet).
"We're excited," Atkinson said. "We're excited to have James, he gives us a different dimension, obviously different type of player. But his resume speaks for itself."
"I think our ceiling is definitely higher when you have a guy like James Harden," Mitchell said. "When you look at it, you know what he brings, but with that there's definitely a higher expectation. Understanding that this is what we gotta do. For us, this is a part of it. We weren't able to get it done for the last three years now we gotta try and get it done now...
"It's not gonna always be pretty. You make a move at the deadline, there's gonna be bumps in the road, but for us this is the time."
Those bumps in the road are all about style of play.
Cleveland’s offensive adjustments
The adjustments are going to be real and start Saturday in Sacramento, when Harden is expected to make his Cleveland debut.
For example, Harden plays much slower than Cleveland prefers — the Cavaliers are top-10 in the league in percentage of offense started in transition, while the Clippers are dead last (stats via Cleaning the Glass). Atkinson trusts they can work this out.
"Great players fit together, usually. It's rare that it doesn't work," Atkinson said. "So now, like I said, it's, it's up to us as coaches, collaborating with Donovan and James on what that looks [like].
"How that looks? How do the rotations look? How do we stagger them? How do we play when each is alone in the court? How do we play when they're together? That's all things to be to figure out. But usually, when you have such talented players — and really, I can't emphasize this enough, high IQ players — it makes it a heck of a lot easier for the coaching staff to figure out."
Harden has attacked far more in isolation this season than any other player in the league and scores at an impressive 1.11 points per possession on those. Cleveland runs a lot of pick-and-rolls with its mobile big men — Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley — and Harden has thrived in that role as well, finding big men on duck-ins or rolling off dribble hand-offs. Atkinson said he reached out to Mike D'Antoni, who coached Harden in Houston, to discuss the best way to maximize Harden's skill set.
Mobley and Allen should thrive playing with Harden — Joel Embiid won his MVP when Harden was feeding him in Philadelphia, and more recently Ivica Zubac had his best years in Los Angeles with Harden at the point.
"When you watch his film, what really stands out is the passing," Atkinson said. "Everybody talks about ISO and pick-and-roll, but he's a great, great passer, and I can't wait to see how he interacts with our two talented bigs."
What Atkinson said he trusts most is that both Harden and Mitchell understand the game and want desperately to win. Atkinson believes the Cavaliers just became a much more dangerous playoff team.
"The number one thing that stands out is his IQ, his feel for the game," Atkinson said. "We're "big believers that IQ translates to playoff success. I'd say another thing certainly you have to add into this he's got great size for a point guard (6'5").
"Great size, makes others better. and obviously can score the ball when you need it. So kind of all those things I'm saying are stuff that translates to the playoffs."
Harden has had some brilliant playoff games, but also more than his share of duds in clutch moments. Cleveland is banking on its defense and Mitchell being able to handle any of those off nights and keep the team winning.
The East may be wide open but it's also no cake walk — New York is a very good team, Detroit has an elite defense and Cade Cunningham pushing them to the top of the conference, and Boston is a threat whether or not Jayson Tatum returns.
Cleveland believes with this trade, it is in that mix — and can be the best of them. Now the work starts to work out the style issues and prove that vision right.
The Minnesota Timberwolves exited the NBA trade deadline without making a major move, and they should be better for it. The New Orleans Pelicans also sat rather quietly, sticking to their core despite steep offers for a few pieces.
My Pelicans vs. Timberwolves predictions and NBA picks recognize the value in Minnesota now that calm and focus can return on February 6.
Pelicans vs Timberwolves prediction
Pelicans vs Timberwolves best bet: Jaden McDaniels Over 1.5 threes (+100)
Jaden McDanielshas hit multiple 3-pointers in five of his last six games and in seven of his last nine, all while shooting 23 of 39 from deep, an absurd 59% from beyond the arc.
And that was all while McDaniels’s name was in every headline regarding Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors. Now that he's able to focus entirely on basketball, why doubt McDaniels’s shooting against the New Orleans Pelicans?
Frankly, his shooting is part of why the Minnesota Timberwolves did not trade for the Greek superstar.
Pelicans vs Timberwolves same-game parlay
As the Timberwolves hit a lull in recent weeks, it was clear their defensive focus had lagged. Now through the trade deadline and with the roster effectively intact — even including Mike Conley’s return after being traded — that focus should lock back in.
Pelicans vs Timberwolves SGP
Jaden McDaniels Over 1.5 threes
Jaden McDaniels Over 15.5 points
Under 236.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Individuals in the pack
Julius Randle was also part of many trade rumors, which showed in his on-court play. Trust in him with those now behind the Timberwolves.
Pelicans vs Timberwolves SGP
Jaden McDaniels Over 1.5 threes
Jaden McDaniels Over 15.5 points
Julius Randle Over 21.5 points
Under 236.5
Pelicans vs Timberwolves odds
Spread: Pelicans +9.5 | Timberwolves -9.5
Moneyline: Pelicans +320 | Timberwolves -400
Over/Under: Over 236.5 | Under 236.5
Pelicans vs Timberwolves betting trend to know
The Pelicans went 0-3 against the spread in the week leading up to the deadline. Find more NBA betting trends for Pelicans vs. Timberwolves.
How to watch Pelicans vs Timberwolves
Location
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Date
Friday, February 6, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
GCSEN, FDSN North
Pelicans vs Timberwolves latest injuries
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
Finding the right value on a Friday night slate is all about identifying trends and mismatches before the market catches up. For this February 6 lineup — the first Friday after the NBA Trade Deadline — I’ve put together a four-leg moneyline parlay that balances momentum with favorable matchups.
My NBA picks start at TD Garden, where the new-look Celtics clash with Heat and end in the Pacific Northwest, where the Blazers look to snap out of a six-game funk against the decimated Grizzlies.
This parlay has been BOOSTED from +332 to +383 by our friends at bet365.
There’s only a small edge on the Celtics here, as I price them closer to a -275 favorite over the Heat, but it’s still an edge worth attacking with the market offering -240. Jaylen Brown has been cleared to play, and Nikola Vucevic is set to make his Celtics debut.
Vucevic’s presence only amplifies a key matchup advantage Boston already holds: the ability to pull Bam Adebayo away from the rim and neutralize his impact as an elite roaming help defender. The Celtics’ five-out “Mazzulla Ball” offense already stresses Miami’s defensive structure, but inserting Vucevic at the five makes those coverages even harder to execute and exposes the Heat further on the back line.
The New York Knicks are trading as -115 favorites on the moneyline for Friday’s matchup between two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, and at that price, I’m backing the Knicks. I believe they should be closer to a -130 favorite.
There’s a lot to monitor on the injury report, with multiple players carrying questionable tags on both sides. The most concerning status is Jalen Duren, who exited Thursday’s game against the Wizards and did not return for the second half. He feels much closer to doubtful than questionable.
Karl-Anthony Towns is also listed as questionable with an eye laceration, but he returned after the injury in his last game and shot the ball well. With the Pistons playing on the second night of a back-to-back and Duren’s availability very much in doubt, give me the Knicks on the moneyline.
The Minnesota Timberwolves took a big swing at the trade deadline by pursuing Giannis Antetokounmpo, but ultimately came up empty-handed. It’s fair to wonder whether all the trade rumors impacted team chemistry, especially for a group that has been together for a while.
The bigger question, though, is whether the New Orleans Pelicans are capable of taking advantage of any lingering distraction or negative energy. The answer is no. New Orleans doesn’t even control its own first-round pick, is actively trying to win games, and still hasn’t shown the ability to do so consistently.
On the court, this matchup heavily favors Minnesota. Rudy Gobert should have no issues containing rookie center Derik Queen, while Jaden McDaniels’ length and defensive versatility are a nightmare for Trey Murphy’s perimeter-oriented game. All signs point to the Timberwolves handling this one comfortably.
The Portland Trail Blazers won’t wow you with expected value while sitting as a -300 favorite against the Memphis Grizzlies, but this is a spot where the market still may not be fully accounting for what Memphis has become.
The Grizzlies moved Jaren Jackson Jr. at the trade deadline and explored a trade market for Ja Morant, only to find none. Now armed with significant draft capital, it’s clear this franchise has shifted its focus away from winning games in the second half of the season. That reality is already starting to show up in their rotations and injury reports.
Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers are pushing for a playoff spot and have every incentive to take care of business in games like this.
Let’s tip off Super Bowl weekend by building your bankroll with some NBA player prop winners, and with six games on the board, there’s no shortage of options.
My favorite plays today include Jaylen Brown continuing to crash the boards, and, slump or no slump, Anthony Edwards is going to keep shooting. Those and more NBA picks for Friday, February 6, are below.
Jaylen Brown was just named the NBA Player of the Month for January and he’s carried that strong play into February.
The Boston Celtics star averaged 29.2 points with 7.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists over 14 games, and today I want to focus on the rebounds.
Brown has been a beast on the boards, hauling down 9.8 per game over his last eight games, and tonight he faces one of my favorite rebounding fades, the Miami Heat.
The Heat’s high pace means a ton of shots, and in turn, a lot of rebounds. They surrender the second-most rebounds per game.
The New Orleans Pelicans may think they have a playoff-calibre roster. But that’s not what the stats say at this point.
The Pelicans rank 27th in defensive rating, and they really struggle on the perimeter, surrendering the second-most attempted and made threes per game.
That puts them in a tough spot against Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Ant is in a bit of a slump. But he’s a shooter. And shooters shoot.
Ant is still shooting better than 40% from beyond the arc and has still drained four-plus threes in eight of his last 14 games overall.
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: GCSEN, FanDuel Sports Network-New Orleans
The Bucks and Pacers rank 28th and 29th, respectively, in rebounding rate. And with Giannis Antetokounmpo still sidelined, the Bucks' only really reliable rebounder is Bobby Portis.
Portis is expected to return after missing a couple of games with a hip issue. Before that, he hauled down nine or more boards in three of his last four games.
Portis to record a double-double is worth a look, but Over 8.5 boards looks like a great bet tonight.
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network-Indiana, FanDuel Sports Network-Wisconsin
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
We’re midway through the 2025-26 season, and the Knicks are in a solid spot.
They woke up the morning after the trade deadline with a 33-18 record, fully recovered from the January swoon that nearly saw management press the panic button, and tied for second in the Eastern Conference. They even figured to bolster the bench by acquiring Jose Alvarado and opening up space to sign a 15th player in the buyout market.
It’s a lot of work exploring every nook and cranny of NBA business. Thankfully, SBNation is partnering with SalarySwish to use their data and help answer every question we have about the Knicks’ financial situation and what it might mean this offseason and going forward.
Below are the full, comprehensive details from SalarySwish, as well as an FAQ breakdown.
Knicks Roster, Salaries, Draft Picks, Cap Space and More
Here is a table with all of the Knicks’ salary information, courtesy of our friends at SalarySwish:
FAQ
Now, let’s answer some of your most frequently asked questions about the Knicks’salary cap and draft pick situations moving forward.
What is the Knicks’ cap situation?
According to Salary Swish, the New York Knicks have a projected cap hit of $206.7 million for the 2025-26 season with 14 players rostered, leaving them $52 million over the projected salary cap. They are $18.7 million over the luxury tax and $10.7 million over the first apron, but remain $1.15 million under the second apron with a hard cap at the second apron.
The team, prior to trading Guerschon Yabusele, was not able to sign a 15th player in the buyout market until early April. That changes now, as the team opened up an extra $1 million and can sign a player immediately, provided they made under the mid-level exception ($14 million) on their initial deal.
Looking ahead to the offseason, the Knicks already have over $200 million allocated next season, despite losing Mitchell Robinson, Jordan Clarkson, and Landry Shamet to free agency. Jose Alvarado’s $4.5 million player option will also go a long way towards whether the team can stay out of the second apron. If he accepts, they have under $17 million in space.
Is the second apron inevitable?
For those living under a rock, here’s a second apron explainer. You do not want to be there.
The second apron is currently causing everyone in Cleveland to panic about their timeline. Why do you think they traded for James Harden? The vaunted apron has already caused (rather successful) teardowns in Phoenix and Boston, and could come for teams like Orlando next.
As of right now, the Knicks will probably be a second apron team next year if they want to be serious about competing. Alvarado could very well decline his player option if he performs well, so he’ll need a raise. As will Shamet. We all know the value of Mitch, as well. Well, you not only have under $22 million in space to sign these three, but an additional minimum contract or two.
Now, this is assuming the Knicks don’t do anything seismic in the offseason, which could very well happen if they flame out in the playoffs. Say they trade Karl-Anthony Towns and his bloated $57 million salary, and that creates space; they’ll be able to stay under. What if they go after Giannis? That’ll likely hard cap them once again due to the rule of aggregating salaries.
How much will the Knicks pay in luxury taxes this year?
SalarySwish currently estimates about $40 million, which is a pretty penny.
This is the team’s second year in the luxury tax, so it’s not cataclysmic yet. It will be next year. It’s hard to project a luxury tax rate next year, but do not be surprised if the bill is nine figures, which will begin to test the mettle of James Dolan if the team isn’t bringing home a Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Who are extension candidates?
Mitchell Robinson is currently extension-eligible, but it is not going to happen in-season. He wasn’t dealt at the deadline, so we have to assume they at least have some interest in retaining him to a certain price point.
Two players become extension-eligible this offseason, and one became eligible in December. All three are intriguing.
Deuce McBride is already extension-eligible and can make up to $95 million on his next contract. While he’s signed through next season on a criminally cheap contract, the Knicks will eventually have to pay up for his services. With the second apron looming, do they really want to do that?
Josh Hart becomes eligible this offseason, but I don’t see that happening. He’s under contract through next season and has a $23 million team option for 2027-28. He’ll be 33 in 2028, so giving him a further extension feels unlikely, especially considering he might not play much longer than that.
Karl-Anthony Towns is eligible for a gigantic extension that he won’t receive. It’s nothing personal; it’s just not wise to give $260 million over four years to a player coming off his worst season in a good bit.
What draft picks do the Knicks have?
The Knicks were able to shed salary and make an upgrade, and it only cost them two inexpensive second-round picks. The picks they traded, specifically, were a (likely) Pistons 2nd this year and a convoluted pick from next.
Unless the Wizards manage to stumble their way out of the top eight, the Knicks will have their own first and seconds in the 2026 draft. If/when the Wizards pick doesn’t convey, the Knicks will possess Washington’s second-round pick in both 2026 and 2027, which could give them a pair of top-40 picks.
Aside from those two likely picks, the Knicks have six additional second-round picks through 2032. If you’re looking at the trade market, the team will be able to trade two unprotected firsts (2026, 2033) as soon as the NBA Draft occurs. They additionally have two pick swaps available due to the Stepien Rule in 2030 and 2032.
If you want to take the role of GM and mock up some trades, check out FanSpo or ESPN’s trade machine. And don’t forget to check your numbers with Salary Swish!
If you found this page useful, please bookmark it and/or share, and if you have any questions or information you’d like to see included, let us know in the comments below!
MEMPHIS, TN - NOVEMBER 8: The Memphis Grizzlies huddle during the game against the Miami Heat on November 8, 2023 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. 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 2023 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Order has been restored in the NBA universe.
After a weird time where it felt like we were in the upside down, the Lakers and Grizzlies are back to their rightful places.
For those unaware, many years ago, the former fearless leader of the site, Harrison Faigen, once expertly pointed out that the Grizzlies had become the Lakers feeder team. At the time, a string of players came through Memphis, were bought and eventually made their way to LA, including Rajon Rondo and Dwight Howard.
That was flipped on its head early last year when the Grizzlies began turning former Lakers G League players into quality role players. Both Scotty Pippen Jr. and Jay Huff earned standard contracts in Memphis after failing to stick in LA while Colin Castleton had a brief stint on a two-way there as well.
At last, though, the Lakers are back where they should be after the last two transaction cycles. On Thursday, they acquired Luke Kennard via trade, a player who spent two-and-a-half seasons in Memphis. Notably, he was part of the Grizzlies team that played against the Lakers in the playoffs.
He joins a pair of players on the Lakers who he was already teammates with on the Grizzlies as well. Marcus Smart played a season-and-a-half in Memphis while Jake LaRavia was drafted to Memphis and spent two-and-a-half seasons with the franchise.
So, for the entire 2023-24 season and half of the 2024-25 season, all three players were teammates. Fast forward a couple of years and we’re right back at it with the three of them reuniting in much warmer weather.
“It was a pleasure to play with Luke in Memphis,” Smart said after Thursday’s win over the Sixers. “One of the better shooters in this league. He comes to work every day and I’m excited to see him out here with us again [with] me and Jake, and kind of keep going what we had in Memphis.”
Not only are the Lakers using the Grizzlies as a farm team again, but it’s predominantly guards throughout the years who have made their way through the pipeline. Fortunately, the Lakers already have a couple of prominent on-ball players, so there’s no Ja Morant tenure in purple and gold to worry about, but it’s never too early to start scouting for the next player to come to LA.
Cedric Coward has had a great rookie season and sure would look nice with the Lakers. Jaylen Wells is a promising young player, too. Or maybe we can create a full loop and bring back Kentavious Caldwell-Pope or Pippen Jr.
Whoever it is, it’s nice to know things are back in their rightful place in the NBA universe.
After completing a blockbuster trade to send Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz, the new-look Memphis Grizzlies travel west to face the Portland Trail Blazers.
Donovan Clingan is one of the NBA’s top rebounders, and my Grizzlies vs. Trail Blazers predictions expect him to dominate the glass against a depleted Grizzlies frontcourt.
Here are my best free NBA picks for this Western Conference showdown on Friday, February 6.
Grizzlies vs Trail Blazers prediction
Grizzlies vs Trail Blazers best bet: Donovan Clingan Over 12.5 rebounds (-112)
Donovan Clingan ranks fifth in rebounds per game this season at 11.2, and he’s pulled down 11 on the road compared to 11.4 at home. He’s pulled down at least 13 rebounds just 15 times in 47 appearances this season, but five of those have come across his last eight games.
The Portland Trail Blazers big man has averaged 13.6 rebounds in that eight-game span, and he’s averaged just over 14 boards per game over his last three at home.
Over the last 10 games, the Memphis Grizzlies have surrendered the ninth-most total rebounds (46) and second-most offensive rebounds (14.1), setting Clingan up for a nice day on the glass.
An already-depleted Grizzlies frontcourt traded Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jock Landale, and Santi Aldama and Zach Edey are still sidelined. Clingan should feast tonight against the shorthanded Grizzlies and comfortably clear this rebound line.
Grizzlies vs Trail Blazers same-game parlay
Portland has dropped six straight, and they'll be hungry for a victory in front of the home crowd. The Grizzlies made a monster trade this week, and the new players are not yet in place.
Portland is 15-11 ATS at home, while Memphis is just 10-12. I'll take the home team to snap its six-game skid with a comfortable victory over the new-look Grizzlies.
Memphis is 7-15 to the Under on the road and 5-12 to the Under as the road underdog. Memphis will have a tough time scoring the ball with Jackson Jr., and Landale traded, and electric scorer Ty Jerome sidelined.
Grizzlies vs Trail Blazers SGP
Donovan Clingan Over 12.5 rebounds
Trail Blazers -8.5
Under 231.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Spencer on Fire!
Cam Spencer's role has taken a hit over the last three games since Jerome's return, but Spencer has still averaged 13.7 points and five assists.
Spencer posted 25 and 21 points+assists across his last two games, and with Jerome out tonight, the former should be in line for strong numbers.
Over/Under: Over 234.5 (-110) | Under 234.5 (-110)
Grizzlies vs Trail Blazers betting trend to know
The Trail Blazers have hit the game total Under in 17 of their last 24 games (+9.30 Units / 35% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Grizzlies vs. Trail Blazers.
How to watch Grizzlies vs Trail Blazers
Location
Moda Center, Portland, OR
Date
Friday, February 6, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN southeast-Memphis, KUNP
Grizzlies vs Trail Blazers latest injuries
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 the worst-kept secret in the league around the trade deadline.
Mike Conley is beloved by the Timberwolves organization and fans, and the feeling is mutual. The second he was traded from Minnesota to Chicago on Tuesday, as part of the three-team deal that brought Jaden Ivey to Chicago, the expectation was that the Bulls would trade him again, allowing Conley to return to Minnesota as a free agent. Sure enough, 24 hours later, Chicago traded him to Charlotte as part of the Coby White deal. Charlotte then announced it was waiving the 38-year-old veteran point guard.
Which clears the way for the news that Conley plans to re-sign with the Timberwolves as a free agent, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. To say this news was expected would be an understatement. The deal likely won't be consummated until after the All-Star break.
Conley returns to a Timberwolves team that will welcome him with open arms in the locker room, but he will not see many, if any, minutes on the court. Conley had been playing less than 20 minutes a game off the bench, and now those minutes (and some of Bones Hyland's minutes) are going to go to Ayo Dosunmu, one of the best pickups of the deadline. Conley will essentially be the last point guard on the bench.
It's been a little over a week since Nikola Jokić returned to the court for the Denver Nuggets following a month-long absence, but things have not gone as swimmingly as many in Denver had hoped.
The three-time NBA Most Valuable Player suffered a bone bruise and a hyperextended knee in a loss to the Heat on December 29th. At the time, the four-to-six week timeframe he was given for his recovery seemed like a potential death sentence for a Nuggets team that was already playing without three other starters: Christian Braun (ankle), Cameron Johnson (knee), and Aaron Gordon (hamstring). Yet, the Nuggets went 10-6 without their seven-time All-Star, thanks to the steady hand of Jamal Murray, the emergence of Peyton Watson, and a handful of other players who stepped into much larger roles.
When Jokić returned to put up 31 points and 12 rebounds in just 25 minutes against the Clippers on January 30th, it seemed like things would kick into gear for Denver. Instead, they've now lost three straight games, with Jokić averaging 23.3 points, 12 rebounds, and 7.3 assists but shooting just 45.5% from the field and 25% from three, both of which are well below his season-long marks of 59.4% from the field and 41.8% from the three-point line.
It's obvious that the Nuggets are better with Jokić on the floor, and three losses to the Thunder, Pistons, and Knicks aren't enough to start ringing alarm bells. Yet, this recent stretch has crystallized one of Denver's biggest struggles this season, which is the seemingly impossible task of being forced to endlessly redefine roles and chemistry in the wake of constant injuries.
“I think the complicated part is that everybody else had a rhythm, and then they come back," Nuggets coach Dave Adelman said about Jokić and also Christian Braun, who returned from his ankle injury earlier this week. "Now those guys, they demand roles, and they deserve them. Obviously, Jokić is one of the best players alive. So I think it's the growing pains for everybody. We’ve just got to find a rhythm together again. While you manage them, you really have to manage the others because those guys are the ones who have been playing and grinding, and now their games are changing a little bit."
Four of those players who have been really grinding during the recent string of injuries have been Peyton Watson, Jalen Pickett, Spencer Jones, and Jonas Valančiūnas.
Valančiūnas' role is the easiest to modify because he was signed to back up Jokić and will go back to doing that. Watson's situation is also, unfortunately, a bit easier to manage than it was when Coach Adelman made these comments before the Knicks game. The 23-year-old hurt his hamstring during that loss and will be out for "an extended period of time." It's a tough blow for Denver because Watson had emerged as a real driving force for the Nuggets, averaging 14.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.0 assists on the season and had upped that to 22.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.1 steals in 15 games without Jokić.
Spencer Jones also played nearly 30 minutes a game without Jokić, averaging 6.4 points and 4.0 rebounds, but providing strong defense and doing a lot of the little things in the offense that go unnoticed. Jalen Pickett also played 27 minutes per game without Jokić, averaging 9.1 points, 4.1 assists, and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 41.5% from beyond the arc. Now, in the four games that Jokić has been back, Jones is down to 25 minutes per game, and Pickett has taken a much bigger step back, playing just 10 minutes in Christian Braun's first game back and not seeing the floor at all in a double overtime loss to the Knicks on Wednesday.
"I think it’s just redefining roles," explained Adelman. "That's going to happen over the games we play. We're not going to [have time to] practice. We need it, and I'm not talking like running lines here, like just stuff where you actually have some chemistry, script, talk about defensive coverages. You know, different guys are doing different things right now than they were doing two weeks ago. So I think patience is important, competitive patience, if that makes sense. But we'll manage as best we can."
The Nuggets will have to manage that re-definition of roles now and then have to do it all over again in a few weeks.
"We'll redo it again when Cam [Johnson] and AG [Aaron Gordon] come back, so it's just going to be the process," said Adelman. "The bottom line is, we've got plenty of time here to find the right rhythm. Those guys who held things down this past month have put us in a position to have a little bit of leeway. Those guys are the heroes of the season. That's why we're where we're at, and we can have a little bit of a struggle and come out the other side.”
That struggle has also come for Denver's best player. This recent stretch on the sidelines is the longest stretch Jokić has ever had with an injury during his NBA career. Sitting out for that long has not only impacted his rhythm and timing with his teammates, but it also impacted his ability to be himself on the court for an entire game.
“I think that the conditioning is one thing," suggested Adelman, "but I think the rhythm with conditioning, once you feel that and you feel good about the way you're moving, not just the fact that you're running with the game. I think those two different things, once you blend them together, then you'll see who he is. It's gonna take some time."
The Knicks game was a perfect example of that. The double overtime, back-and-forth nature of the game meant that Jokić played 44 minutes, and the coaches were happy with his conditioning, but the big man also couldn't get his shot to fall and was just 1-for-13 from beyond the arc.
“I couldn’t make a shot," said Jokić after the game. "Especially lately, it’s more off, but that's how the game goes. It happens. We’ll probably go back to the gym and work on it."
"I think the rhythm is going to come," echoed Adelman. "You know, the shooting rhythm.” Jokić himself is also not concerned about his ability to find his shooting stroke again: "I think we all have muscle memory. My body, and not just mine, but, like, we're used to it and how we play.” There is little question that the big man will get back to being the player that he was before the injury, but the process of getting back to that consistently is taking a bit longer than some, perhaps unfairly, expected.
"The expectations of him are so high that if he has an off shooting night, I think we probably take it too far," suggested Adelman. "It's coming, man. Everybody knows what this is and who he is, and he'll be what he is in time and with more games under his belt, more experience with the rhythm of the game, and playing with his new teammates, guys that are in and out, I think you'll see the best version of him soon.”
All-Star point guard Jamal Murray agreed. Despite the frustration with the team's third-straight loss and their inability to hold an early lead, Murray seemed confident in the team's ability to right the ship: “We have a great unit. Whoever is on the bench is ready to come into the game. They’ve obviously had experience this year coming in and playing, so there should be no hiccups...Plug and play, and be a bit more aggressive and try to see if we can have a better start."
With the injury to Watson, more guys are going to get a chance to come into the game, and the Nuggets will need that much more time to adjust to their new roles.
“It's just the next iteration," sighed Adelman. "We’ll have to reevaluate the starting lineup, reevaluate the rotation, get ourselves to the break, and take a long, long rest...I just feel bad for the guys in the locker room. It's deflating when you keep seeing people go down around you when you're trying to build towards something...But I'm excited for the whole group to get back. I think they've earned themselves a chance when things could have really gone the opposite way, and I think patience will be key with that.”
Patience with a coach tinkering with new lineups. Patience with players adjusting to new roles, and patience with a star making his return from a long layoff. While that patience could result in continuing to lose some games in the short-term, the Nuggets and their head coach believe that it will ultimately help lead them to where they want to go.
"You know, we got whatever 30 games to go," said Coach Adelman, "so I'll take the ugly times for the pretty ones. They're going to come.”
Feb 5, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) dunks the ball during the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The Spurs outlasted another short-handed opponent for their second win in a row. Victor Wembanyama led the team with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Harrison Barnes contributed 19 points, and De’Aaron Fox scored 17, while Stephon Castle chipped in 18 off the bench.
Congratulations to De’Aaron Fox on his 900th career 3. Here’s to 900 more and all hopefully with the Silver and Black.
OK Carter Bryant, I was not familiar with your game. Apparently the rookie has been grinding tape of Chris Paul lobs. Speaking of which, CP3 is going to be a Spur right? I mean the good guys are the second seed in a stacked West, and maybe they could use the depth, basketball wisdom, and veteran presence—he’ll bring the same tenacity and accountability that the Clippers wanted no part of?
Discuss amongst yourselves. I’ll throw in a second subject to discuss: For the sake of random chaos, let’s bring back those synthetic basketballs the NBA tried to use 10 years ago and then subsequently ditched to go back to the old leather balls because the players complained (reasonably so) that it tore up their hands like paper cuts.
On Thursday night, you cannot stop Cooper Flagg, you can only hope to contain him. Dylan Harper did his best with this fresh and so clean block on the rookie big man. While Flagg has the unenviable task of shouldering the Mavericks franchise in the aftermath of Luka Doncic’s trade to L.A. and Anthony Davis’s trade to Washington, Dylan Harper has been afforded every opportunity to grow and develop his game with the Spurs.
The participants for the 2026 3-Point Contest have not been finalized with only Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel being the first confirmed player. To that point, I think we’re all waiting for Wembanyama’s invite. He could just casually step over each cart after coolly draining threes from each area behind the arc. I’m rather interested in him creatively finding a way to gain an advantage only for officials to step in and declare it “illegal,” similar to last year’s skills contest with Chris Paul.
You cannot spell so efficient planchettes without Stephon Castle. But you don’t need a Ouija board to have the clairvoyance to know that Castle made the most of his 21 minutes off the bench, scoring 18 points, pulling down 7 boards, dishing out 6 assists, and swiping 3 steals.
A quietly dominant performance from Stephon Castle who came in off the bench for San Antonio (something Mitch Johnson was likely a one-off thing as teammates get healthy).
• Game-high +27 in 22 minutes • 18 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists • 61.5% shooting from the field
If you wonder how Castle could be so efficient in so little minutes, it’s due to plays like this where he has a steal and an assist in under 10 seconds flat.
Castle smartly turned down the invitation to reappear in the Slam Dunk Contest because you know they’re just going to unearth Mac McClung from the depths of space to come rumbling in at the last minute in front of a panel of biased and misguided judges? Yeah, I said it and am still salty over last year’s snub for Castle.
Which bears a legitimate thought exercise: The NBA should not announce who is participating in the dunk contest. What if we turned the All-Star Slam Dunk Contest into an unhinged, chock full of surprise, pro wrestling-style extravaganza? Imagine an over exuberant Kevin Harlan on his 5th cup of espresso losing his mind when he sees a mystery player come down the ramp, “OH MY GOODNESS I CANNOT BELIEVE IT . . . IT’S . . . ANTHONY EDWARDS!! AND HE’S WEARING A CAPE!! WHY DID HE JUST HIT RUDY GOBERT HIS OWN TEAMMATE IN THE BACK WITH A METAL CHAIR? WHO CARES?! HE’S ABOUT TO THROW DOWN A REVERSE, INVERTED, 360 BACK FLIP ONOMATOPOEIA BOOMSHAKALAKA DUNK OVER A WALL OF FLAMESSS! I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN MY LIFE!!”
Following the NBA’s trade deadline on Thursday, co-general managers Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi were able to speak with the media about the deadline. Unlike last year, when Nico Harrison spewed “defense wins championships” at the media for 15 minutes, the duo was able to provide an interesting perspective on where they see the organization as being after the Anthony Davis trade. Beyond that, I think there’s an interesting tidbit about how the Mavericks will approach this upcoming draft. To the quotes!
Opening statement
Michael Finley: Well first, I want to thank Anthony Davis, Jaden Hardy, Dante Exum and D’Angelo Russell for their professionalism while they were with the Mavericks. Both on and off the court, in the community, those guys were great. So, kudos to those guys and good luck to them in their future endeavors.
We decided as an organization, front office and management, that we needed to something to bring back the winning culture here in Dallas. We thought doing the move that we did puts us back in that conversation, and gives the fans something to be excited about. And I think we’re moving in the right direction by doing the move we did, it puts us in the mindset of having a championship atmosphere around here. That’s what it’s all about, and I think we’ve achieved that with the move we just did. And we will continue to do that, and do what we think is best for the organization this day, and going forward as well.
Matt Riccardi: I echo a lot of Fin’s thoughts. But most importantly, thank you to the players, and we’re excited for the new guys coming in. Just to expand on one of Fin’s points, I think we had to take an honest look at ourselves in the mirror and realize where we were and where we wanted to be. Sometimes, the path is not straightforward, and you’ve got to go a roundabout way to get where we want to go. But our goal here remains the same. We want to win championships, we want to build a championship roster, and we want to do everything we can to provide the players with the proper resources and the staff to make that happen.
Not a ton here to digest, although I think Riccardi’s quotes are telling about how the organization looked in the mirror and didn’t like what they saw. Admitting that they’re going in a “roundabout way” to get where they want to go is as close as anyone will get to saying they’re eyeing a higher draft pick. That’s a good thing! This is the most hopeful statement they could’ve given after this deadline.
On the Mavericks offense (27th in the NBA) and how it correlates with the lack of guard play
Finley: If you look around the league, the teams that are most successful have great guard play. Someone who can lead the offense, get the guys in the right position to make easier shots. And for us, I think guard play is as important, because it’s less pressure and stress that we can put on Cooper offensively. So, if we can get him with a guy that makes his job just a little bit easier, I think it does wonders for him, hopefully for his whole career.
(Photo by Cooper Neill/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If you’re looking for potential easter eggs about how this front office would build the roster out if they were given the keys full time, this statement is very telling. Finley talking about pairing Cooper Flagg with a guard “for his whole career” is something that I’m going to file away when June comes around. It’s clear this front office understands the NBA in ways that Nico Harrison didn’t, which was ultimately his demise. You must have great guard play to be a contender in today’s NBA. It’s a non-starter when building a team out, and this front office gets that.
These two quotes should inspire confidence that the Mavericks would be just fine with these two at the helm. Finley and Riccardi are widely respected around the NBA, and their understanding of doing what is best for the long-term future of the team should make you feel hopeful for the future.
Now that the dust has settled after an eventful NBA trade deadline, all the attention goes to the playoff race. As of now, the Phoenix Suns’ record is 31-21, sitting in seventh in the Western Conference and able to climb even higher. The Suns are only one game behind the Timberwolves, Lakers, and Rockets, and are two games behind Denver for third in the conference.
The good news for the Suns is that no team ahead of them made a big move to improve significantly. Nor did any teams following closely behind them.
Let’s start with the top-tier title contenders. The Thunder added Jared McCain, who could play backup guard minutes, but is not a game-changer for them this season. The San Antonio Spurs did not make a move at the deadline and have a roster that is ready to compete for an NBA title. The Denver Nuggets traded Hunter Tyson and a second-round pick to Brooklyn for tax purposes and to open up a buyout spot on the roster. No needle movers so far.
The Houston Rockets stood still as well. Maybe a point guard worth adding will appear on the buyout market, but the Rockets will likely head into the playoffs as currently constituted. As for the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James is still on the team despite the rumors that he and the Lakers are potentially ready to part ways. The Lakers did trade Gabe Vincent for Luke Kennard to add more perimeter shooting and another traffic cone on defense. The Lakers need shooting and found a reliable shooting option in Kennard, but he will only make an already flawed defensive roster even worse.
Perhaps the best news of all for the Suns, and all Western Conference teams, is that Giannis Antetokounmpo did not get traded to any team in the West. The Timberwolves were wheeling and dealing at the deadline and were reportedly one of the teams interested in Antetokounmpo. The Timberwolves traded Mike Conley, Rob Dillingham, and second-round picks in separate trades. The return? Ayo Dosunmo from Chicago: he is an upgrade at the guard spot and will help Minnesota fill the biggest hole it has on its roster. Is he a good fit for what they needed? Mayyyyyyybeeeeeee…? As far as needle-moving trades go, this one was the only trade by a team ahead of the Suns that made them better.
Now we are to the Suns, who traded Nick Richards and Nigel Hayes-Davis to Milwaukee for Amir Coffey and Cole Anthony. The move was made primarily to get Phoenix below the luxury tax, so neither player will crack into the Suns’ rotation immediately (Anthony might get cut before ever showing up), but if Phoenix continues to suffer injuries, they could find their way into some playing time.
Now this is where things get a little more interesting. The eighth-place Golden State Warriors finally traded Jonathan Kuminga, who finally got his wish after making his 17th trade request in the last two seasons. The full trade included Kuminga and Buddy Hield for Atlanta Hawks center Kristaps Porzing in return. The Warriors add much-needed size, but injury concerns for Porzingis are real. If Porzingis plays, he makes the Warriors much better, but after losing Jimmy Butler for the season, Golden State needed a bigger move to have a shot at making a playoff run.
Despite being one of the best teams in the NBA over the past month or so, the ninth-place Los Angeles Clippers were sellers at the trade deadline. They were 17-4 in their last 21 games, but still decided to trade James Harden and Ivica Zubac. Harden was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers for guard Darius Garland, who, while talented, has spent more time on the bench this year due to foot injuries. Long term, the Clippers made a shrewd, smart move to get younger and take a chance on hitting big with Garland, but it makes the Clippers worse right now.
The other move they made was trading Zubac for Bennedict Mathurin and two first-round picks. Another long-term move from the Clippers that could work out, but it does not improve the Clippers pursuit of a playoff spot. Regardless of the Clippers getting worse at the deadline, they are not a team you want to see in the play-in with a healthy Kawhi Leonard.
The tenth-place Blazers added Vit Krejci for Duop Reath a few days before the deadline, and other than that, were as quiet as a mouse.
As for the rest of the conference, unless the Suns spiral to end the season, they will not get caught by any teams below the Blazers. And even that is being extreme. However, the race for the two play in spots behind the Suns and Warriors is wide open. The Memphis Grizzlies traded Jaren Jackson Jr. to Utah and appear to be blowing things up. The Utah Jazz have a lot of good players on the roster, but owe the Thunder a first round pick if it falls outside the top eight. Will they continue to rest and tank to keep their pick? Or will they make a run at the play-in?
Overall, things could not have worked out better for the Suns at the deadline. No team behind them made a move that puts them in jeopardy of not hosting a play-in game at worst. At best, if the Suns continue to play well and any team falls in front of them, they could finish in the top six in the West this season and a real chance to potentially win a series depending on the matchup.
The NBA trade deadline has come and gone, and the Boston Celtics surprised most fans with their level of activity. Over a three-day span, Boston completed four trades, parting ways with Anfernee Simons, Xavier Tillman, Josh Minott, and Chris Boucher.
Each move carried meaningful financial implications, as the Celtics emerged from Thursday’s deadline below both the first and second aprons, and under the luxury tax. From an on-court perspective, however, their most notable player acquisition was former Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic.
Vucevic comes to Boston as one of the most consistent double-double machines as a 35-year-old in his 15th season. In his last 10 campaigns, Vucevic has averaged 18.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, officially notching double-double status in eight of them.
This season, Vučević has continued to post strong offensive production, averaging 17 points, nine rebounds, and four assists per game while shooting an efficient 50/38/83 in 30 minutes a night. While it’s unlikely he sees that level of playing time in Boston, his skill set offers a different, but effective way to replace the microwave scoring fans enjoyed from Simons.
Speaking of Simons, it’s striking how similar he and Vucevic are aside from age and measurements. They both enter their Boston tenure on expiring contracts coming from subpar teams and viewed as very good offensive talents who struggle on defense.
And yes, later in this piece I will give you the speech about how if a defender as porous as Simons was in Portland can steadily improve on that end in Boston, there’s reason to believe Vučević can do the same. Before you yell at me, yes defense from the point guard position is a lot different than defense from the center position. But I then raise you one Luka Garza.
Garza has completely shattered most expectations he had coming into this season but please try to think back and remember what most thought of him defensively when he was signed. Garza still isn’t this great defender, but some hope should be gained seeing how he’s improved on that end and how he has continued to be successful despite those shortcomings.
If you think age and the drive to prove oneself are the key factors behind Simons and Garza improving defensively, fair enough. Vucevic definitely isn’t young, but I do believe the motivation overall is there.
With that being said, let’s get into what we may see from Vucevic ahead of his Celtics debut.
Strengths
Scoring
Vucevic brings a distinctly different offensive look to Boston’s center rotation. His shot making ability and shot variety have been one of the more unique profiles among big men for a while. He truly has a shot for every spot on the floor. Here’s a look at his shot profile in full.
Vucevic occupies rare air among NBA centers this season. He’s one of only four big men attempting four or more above-the-break threes while also taking three or more shots at the rim per game. That list reads Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, Karl Anthony Towns, and Nikola Vucevic.
When you factor in Vucevic’s most frequent scoring area, the paint (outside the restricted area), he and Nikola Jokic are the only two centers in the league attempting four or more above-the-break threes, three or more shots at the rim, and four or more shots in the paint per game. Just shows how rare his skillset is for a big.
Vucevic’s two-point shot variety is particularly valuable, especially alongside higher-caliber teammates in Boston. According to Bball-Index, he is the league’s best when it comes to scoring off the pick-and-roll as a screener, showcasing his ability to convert in multiple ways and keep defenses guessing.
This is mainly because again he has a shot for every part of the floor with good reliable touch. He uses floaters and hook shots frequently to put the ball in the basket.
Vucevic attempts 2.6 hook shots a game (99th percentile) and shoots them at a 56% clip.
When it comes to floaters, he takes 2.2 a game (94th percentile) and hits 58% of those.
What’s so good about these is you see him making them against every defensive coverage. If a big is in drop, that pocket is open and he will make money. If the big is up to the level, you can give him the ball and let him attack off the bounce. If Jaylen Brown is scorching hot and teams trap him as the pick-and-roll handler, he can get it off in the short roll. It makes an already great offense more unpredictable.
Stepping a few feet back, Vucevic’s mid-range should translate seamlessly in Boston, a team that already takes the third-most mid-range attempts per game in the league. Among Celtics players who attempt more than one mid-range shot per game, Vucevic would rank second on the roster in mid-range field-goal percentage.
Rounding out his scoring arsenal is Vucevic three-point shooting. Vučević is one of just four centers in the league shooting 38 percent or better on 4.5 or more three-point attempts per game. 91% of his threes are taken above the break, which definitely fits his new squad. Celtics rank first in above the break three-point attempts per game with 35.7.
When you watch him shoot, it becomes clear why he’s been the league’s best screener shot maker this season. We saw him roll and have great touch hitting floaters and hooks, but he can also pop and be lethal from deep. Rejecting screens with him popping can be lethal given the opposing big will either stick to his body or take steps towards the handler. Either decision creates an advantage, and the Celtics are well equipped to exploit it.
One thing I believe will be an evident difference between Vucevic and our other bigs, is the movement speed after defensive rebounds and in the half court. We see Garza and Neemias Queta fly up the court to set early offense screens every game for our scorers. In Chicago, Vucevic gets a good chunk of his threes trailing the play.
This doesn’t mean he won’t do what Queta and Garza do if asked by the Celtics, but I just see a difference in mindset due to skillset. Also, the Bulls have the fifth fastest pace in the league so it could look different here.
Lastly, I’m not sure how much the Celtics will dip into this, but Vucevic ranks in the 100th percentile in points per possession when coming off screens.
This play type is only 3.5% of his possessions, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I saw some “Korver” screens for Vucevic like.
Boston has grown markedly better at closing possessions with defensive rebounds as the season has gone on, but it never hurts to add a few more. It just so happens that Vucevic has been one of the best glass cleaners on that end for the past decade.
Over the past eight seasons, the Montenegrin big man has finished outside the top 10 in defensive rebounds per game just once, ranking 11th last year. This season, he sits 10th, and there’s little doubt he’ll help sustain, if not elevate, the team’s upward trend in defensive rebounding percentage.
He gets busy on the offensive glass as well. He’s no Garza, but he does grab just over two a game. He has a feel for positioning and great hands that allow for immediate putback attempts when he’s in close. He’s had monster rebounding outings vs the Pistons (16) and the Celtics (15) this season.
Passing
Vucevic ranks eighth among centers in assists, averaging 3.8 per game. His 3.8 potential assists per minute place him in the 96th percentile, while his 2.4 rim assists per game rank in the 94th percentile, justifying his value as a connective playmaker and cut hitter.
Wherever you want him to pass from, he can do it. He makes great reads out of the post, as a handoff passer, and in the short roll. He’s a player who can naturally command double teams in the post against mismatches, even with Brown on the floor. And if opponents choose not to send help, Vucevic has more than enough skill to make them pay.
Screening
My takeaway on Vucevic as a screener is fairly straightforward: he’s just good. Which is a good thing, but it’s not Garza or Queta. He may not rank among the very best in the league in that area, but his screen-assist numbers are more likely a reflection of his broader offensive skill set, popping, slipping, and drawing defensive attention, than any real deficiency as a screener.
When he set quality screens in Chicago, the ball often found its way back to him as the second scoring option on most nights. Additionally, the Bulls’ pace, and their 17.6 fast-break points per game (sixth in the league), naturally limited his opportunities to operate as a traditional half-court screener. His 2.3 screen assists aren’t bad at all but depending on what the Celtics ask of him, I can see that increasing some.
WEAKNESS
Defense
As most know by now, the biggest weakness in Vucevic’s game is his defense. While I do agree that he’s not a great or even good defender, I struggled to find the horrible defender most paint him as.
I’ve gone back and watched eight games of Vucevic this year and I want it to be known that eight games does not define a player’s body of work. These very well could’ve been the best defensive games Vucevic has ever played, but my goal was to watch him against great teams this season and see how he faired. Also, these games don’t take away the reputation he has built as a defender, which I assume is for a reason.
I primarily focused on the Bulls three meetings with the Pistons and the two they’ve had with the Celtics. In watching those games, I do not think this is a player that is incapable of being just solid defensively. He is not a stopper and will get scored on, but I believe he can be similar to or even slightly better than what Garza is defensively.
Some nights will look worse than others but in the grand scheme I don’t anticipate this being a player fans are screaming to get off the floor because of his defense.
Showing why matters so let’s get into the good and the bad.
The worst of the worst in the games I watched was Isaiah Stewart of the Detroit Pistons, giving Vucevic about 16 of his career high 31 points. He was definitely having “one of those nights,” but he was able to get into the chest of Vucevic and finish over him regularly. That was the first game I watched so I felt horribly about him, but things got better.
One thing that will not get better is his athleticism. In the second Pistons game I watched even though he defended much better overall, the lob throwing going against more athletic bigs like Jalen Duren was a problem.
While this is true, I think the Celtics can help with this. For one, the Celtics are going to put Vucevic in positions they think he can succeed more often than the Bulls will. Chicago’s primary pick and roll coverage defensively in these game with Vucevic was to be at the level of the screen and show on the handler for as long as possible.
I’m here saying that Vucevic can be solid, but I know for a fact that sliding his feet on the perimeter isn’t the best way to use him. Secondly, Chiago has guards who aren’t good taggers of the roll. They put Vucevic in a position where he must show high and get back most times, knowing he doesn’t have the best foot speed and run this coverage with Tre Jones and Josh Giddey as the only hopes to stop Duren rolling.
I am much more confident that any of Derrick White, Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh, Neemias Queta, or Baylor Scheierman can do a better job at sticking their nose in there.
When it’s bad for Vucevic, it’s bad but once again I just saw much more solid defense than the opposite.
He has surprisingly good hands and will elect to strip down on intruders driving to the paint. Against the Celtics he was able to hold his own and move well to avoid Spain action back screens with moments of decent switching.
All Vucevic has wanted to do for a while now is win.
When you put it all together, Nikola Vucevic brings a level of offensive versatility and reliability that few centers in the league can match. His shot variety, playmaking, and ability to function as both a scorer and connective piece fit naturally within Boston’s offensive ecosystem.
While his defense is far from where we would like, I have seen evidence of him being able to do the things that will be required of him. Consistency will be the key.
You don’t have to trust me, but I’m asking that you trust Joe Mazzulla.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 27: Danny Ainge the CEO of the Utah Jazz laughs as he watches warmups before their game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Delta Center on October 27 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Chris Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA trade deadline went off the rails Tuesday, and it still hasn’t recovered.
Jaren Jackson Jr. is now on the Jazz. Anthony Davis is now on the Wizards?! Darius Garland is on the Clippers? James Harden is a Cavalier? And the Sixers gifted the defending champions Jared McCain so they could duck the luxury tax? (Well, that last one isn’t that surprising.)
The Lakers even jumped into the fray Thursday, sending Gabe Vincent and their 2032 second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks for Luke Kennard. Both Kennard and Vincent are on expiring contracts, so this move didn’t cut into the Lakers’ precious cap space this offseason.
In the meantime, the Lakers should be thankful that other teams have been aggressive at the trade deadline. Their wheeling and dealing has drastically reshaped the 2026 free-agency landscape.
That’s good news for the Lakers’ (already strong) chances of re-signing Austin Reaves this offseason.
The trade deadline shakeup
In early November, Spotrac’s Keith Smith posted some initial cap-space projections for the 2026 offseason. Six teams made the cut: The Wizards ($80.9 million), Clippers ($67.6 million), Lakers ($55.6 million), Jazz ($48.4 million), Nets ($44.4 million) and Bulls ($35.0 million).
The Wizards have since burned all of that projected cap space on their acquisitions of Davis and Trae Young. Unless Young leaves in free agency this offseason, the Wizards are no longer even a remote threat to throw a bag at Reaves.
The same goes for the Jazz, who just burned their cap space on JJJ. If anything, that deal may work the other way on them. Not only can they no longer offer Reaves a huge contract, but the Lakers may now be able to pry Walker Kessler away in free agency by throwing a massive offer sheet at him in restricted free agency.
The Clippers still have John Collins’ $26.6 million contract coming off their books and $31.1 million in team options between Bogdan Bogdanović, Brook Lopez and Nic Batum. However, they now have Garland’s $42.2 million in guaranteed salary on their books for 2026-27. Harden only has $13.3 million of his $42.3 million salary guaranteed, which appears to have been the beginning of the end for his time in L.A.
Once the dust settles on the Bulls’ whirlwind of activity, they figure to still have a sizable amount of cap space as long as they let all of their players on expiring contracts go. However, they’ve acquired a number of guards ahead of the trade deadline, including Anfernee Simons, Jaden Ivey and Rob Dillingham. Will they still have interest or the roster makeup to make a big run at Reaves?
The Hawks also still project to have some cap space, although they wiped out a fair bit of it Wednesday night by acquiring Buddy Hield ($9.7 million next year) and Jonathan Kuminga for Kristaps Porziņģis’ expiring contract. If the Hawks plan to re-sign Kuminga — or just pick up their $24.3 million team option on him—that will likely slam the door on any chances they had of signing Reaves.
The Nets haven’t cut into their offseason spending power yet, but they’re in the early stages of a rebuild and just spent approximately 17 first-round picks on guards this past June. Reaves might not prefer to join a team that far away from contention unless its offer was far better than any other.
The Lakers’ outlook
There have been zero indications to date that Reaves is seriously entertaining the prospect of leaving the Lakers this summer in free agency. In fact, he’s said quite the opposite, and all indications have been that he wants to remain with the Lakers.
Reaves will be an unrestricted free agent once his declines his $14.9 million player option, so he could leave them empty-handed if he does sign elsewhere this offseason. The lack of rumors about his future can only mean good things for the Lakers, though. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Reaves and the Lakers already had a basic understanding of what his next contract will look like.
If teams thought Reaves was a real flight risk, more of them might have lined up their books for a run at him in free agency. Instead, with the high-end soon-to-be free agents already flying off the board, most cap-space teams just went with the “pre-agency” approach at the trade deadline.
That doesn’t mean the Lakers are free to lowball Reaves, though. If the Lakers try to take advantage of his dwindling number of potential suitors, his agent could start sniffing around other teams and encouraging them to free up more cap space. As the Milwaukee Bucks proved last year when they waive-and-stretched Damian Lillard to sign Myles Turner, it only takes one wild card for a team’s best-laid plans to go awry.
Reaves is critical to the Lakers’ offseason plans, specifically from an order-of-operations standpoint. His $20.9 million salary-cap hold is far lower than what his next contract figures to begin at. The Lakers can spend their cap space first and then re-sign Reaves once they’re over the cap.
If Reaves wasn’t on board with that plan, he could blow up their entire strategy. Much like Tyrese Maxey and the Sixers a few years ago, there’s likely a mutual understanding of how much Reaves will cost on his next contract.
Even if negotiations do take a hard left turn at some point, the Lakers can rest easy in knowing that the pool of potential threats for Reaves is already thinning out.
Celtics
Knicks
Timberwolves
Trail Blazers
Miami Heat vs 
Detroit Pistons
New Orleans Pelicans vs 
Memphis Grizzlies vs 
Bobby Portis
