Category: NBA

Why are we talking about trade rumors? How many of these articles…

Oops. Sorry. Thought I was in the comments section.

Look. It’s trade season. There will be trades. There will be trade discussions. If you’re someone who gets irrationally furious at the mere mention of an NBA trade (a surprisingly common cohort), the internet is not for you. Go to the park.

If you’re still here, let’s take a look at some Houston Rockets trade rumors.

Coby White

We’re mostly talking about guards here, for obvious reasons.

Whether those reasons are obvious to Ime Udoka is a different question.

To us laymen, it sure looks like Houston needs a player who can handle the ball. It ought to be someone who also has at least a semblance of off-ball value. The Rockets don’t need to revolutionize their offense by bringing in a ball-dominant star. Alperen Sengun is doing well with playmaking reps, and both Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard are making progress throughout the season.

White would suffice. He’d make the offense more dynamic. He’s averaging 19.0 points and 4.7 assists per game this year, and shooting 37.0% from long-range.

There are complications. White’s on an expiring deal. The Rockets would likely be looking at flipping Dorian Finney-Smith’s nearly identical contract and a heavily-protected first-rounder for a potential rental. It doesn’t feel like Stone’s style.

Let’s look at some lower-risk moves.

Jose Alvarado

Here’s the conundrum: lower risk means lower reward. Spoiler: The other guards on this list would not be certain to usurp Aaron Holiday in the rotation.

Although it wouldn’t be absurd to prefer Alvarado’s statistical profile. He’s averaging 12.9 points, 5.2 assists, and 1.6 steals per 75 possessions to Holiday’s 15.9, 2.7, and 1.1. Alvarado (-2.2) has a marginally better Box Plus/Minus than Holiday (-2.6). He may be the better player.

Does he move the needle enough to be worth doing – well, anything? That’s a different question. If Alvarado can be had for a couple of second-round picks, the juice should be worth the squeeze, but parting with anything substantial would be a mistake.

On that note…

Chris Paul

The Clippers have to trade Paul. They won’t get anything valuable in exchange for the right to roster him for the second half of the last season of his career. The Rockets could send Jeff Green, and unless the Clippers are including Paul in a larger deal elsewhere, they’d have to accept that deal.

So, for the Rockets, the question becomes three-pronged: Will they play Paul, do they want his voice in the locker room over Uncle Jeff’s, and will they play him enough to justify making that deal if not?

It seems like Paul began to grate on the Clippers. He’s always been prickly. It shouldn’t have shocked anyone if he wasn’t able to co-exist with James Harden.

…

Personality-wise, it feels like he’d be a better fit in Houston. There’s no coddling under the Ime Udoka regime. If Paul is cussing Reed Sheppard out for overhelping on defense, Udoka is likely to nod in agreement.

Still, there are basketball realities to consider. Paul averaged 7.7 points, 8.7 assists, and 1.8 steals per 75 possessions in 16 games for the Clippers. This is a man who can no longer score at an NBA level, as evidenced by Paul’s 41.3 True Shooting % (TS%) during that stretch. It’s hard to think of the right adjective for that number. Horrifying? Yes. Paul’s efficiency this year should make you feel horrified.

Still, as Sigmund Freud said, sometimes a 16-game stretch is just a 16-game stretch. If Paul even just caught fire from beyond the arc at the right time for Houston, he could change their season. He’s still evidently haunted by nightmares where he makes the wrong read in the pick-and-roll. Paul can still orchestrate an offense as well as anyone.

Honestly, I don’t know. Maybe? That’s where I stand on any of these. An emphatic maybe.

Here comes a stronger opinion…

Another Big

Here’s what I initially wrote:

No!

No, no, no. One more no: No. Wait, that’s two more no’s. Nooooooo!

On the buyout market? Sure. Where is Nerlens Noel? Isn’t it time for his annual half-season of NBA basketball?

Trading for a big man would be comically absurd. If the deadline comes, and the Rockets acquire Yves Missi at nearly the same price the Timberwolves pay for Coby White…

Well, I’ll write an article about it.

That was before the Adams injury. Hopefully, the big man rests up well and is back on the floor as soon as possible, but there may be an opportunity here.

I’ll cede some ground: Get a stretch big. Adding another non-shooting big – so, not Missi – would still be senseless. The double big lineups have been lacklustre this year. Now that we’re tinkering, let’s try something new. Someone like Andre Drummond (yes, he shoots now), Bobby Portis, or Zach Collins would be good. Just know that if the Rockets get a non-shooting big…

I will write an article about it.

A 60-second tribute video honoring LeBron James has become routine over the past eight years whenever he returns to Cleveland, the city where his NBA journey began.

But Wednesday night at Rocket Arena was different – and it felt that way long before James’s Los Angeles Lakers fell 129-99 to the Cavaliers in a nationally televised game.

For the first time, James struggled to contain his emotions.

As his name was announced during pregame introductions, the crowd rose in a thunderous standing ovation that lingered longer than usual. Minutes later, during the game’s first break, the tribute video played on the jumbo screen hanging above the court. James remained seated on the Lakers’ bench, watching intently along with nearly 20,000 fans who understood they were witnessing something more than a routine return.

The video featured a montage of historic moments from James’s Cavaliers career, highlighted by his unforgettable performance in Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals – when he scored 25 consecutive points, capped by a game-winning layup against the Detroit Pistons. It was the night that first cemented James not only as a superstar, but as Cleveland’s own.

Several times Wednesday night, James lowered his head and wiped away tears with the inside of his jersey. He later reached for a paper towel, dabbing his eyes before the game resumed.

“The moment they put up [the tribute video], the Detroit game, looking up in the rafters and I saw our championship banner [from Cleveland’s 2016 NBA title] … it was a lot of reflection,” James said after the game. “Being present in the moment. It got to me a little bit for sure. I was super thankful.”

On Wednesday, James finished with 11 points, five assists and six turnovers – his worst performance in his return games – but the stat line was secondary to the night’s emotion.

Now in his 23rd NBA season since he was drafted No 1 overall by the Cavaliers in 2003, James’s Hall of Fame résumé includes being the league’s all-time leading scorer, four championships with three different teams, countless playoff moments and nearly every significant individual milestone the league has to offer. Yet as the finish line slowly comes into view, whenever that may be, moments like Wednesday carry deeper meaning. This may have been the final time James played an NBA game in the city where it all began.

Related: Welcome to Duncanville: why the road to the NBA runs through Dallas

“Because it could be [my last season]. I haven’t made a decision on the future, but it very well could be [my final game in Cleveland],” James said. “No matter if it’s here or in Washington playing in our next game, or in the Barclays on this road trip. Obviously, it means more here for me personally because I grew up 35 miles south of here.”

What made the night feel different wasn’t the tribute itself – the Cavaliers have done this many times before – but the collective awareness inside the building. This didn’t feel like a reunion tour stop. It felt like a pause. A moment when a city and its greatest athlete quietly acknowledged, without saying it out loud, that there may not be many of these nights left.

The ovation lingered. Fans stayed on their feet. Some recorded on their phones. Others simply watched. Cleveland no longer demanded anything from James. The city was offering gratitude.

The emotions extended well beyond the court. The night was even more meaningful because James was able to share it with his son and teammate, Bronny, along with several family members watching from a suite.

“It was pretty cool just sitting over there and watching [Bronny] continue to live out his dream,” James said. “My mom was here watching her son and her grandson. I don’t even know how to wrap that all into one in my brain. It’s so weird and so cool and so surreal.”

Bronny, who scored eight points in the loss, felt the weight of the moment himself. As in his game at Rocket Arena last season, the crowd erupted when he entered the game and cheered loudly after his fourth-quarter dunk. It was a symbolic passing of time inside the same building where his father once ruled the league.

“Very nostalgic to be here,” Bronny said. “I was here pretty much every day as a kid, so it feels good to be out here. I was almost emotional myself. Being home is another feeling. It’s crazy to come back and have so much love. It got him. It almost got me.”

James’s mother, Gloria James, was also reflective. She has been present for nearly every step of her son’s career, from his earliest NBA games to the moment he lifted Cleveland’s first championship banner in 2016.

“I don’t get as emotional as I used to, but I did a little,” Gloria James told the Guardian. “I’ve been there from day one, every single game he’s played in the NBA. Thinking about all of those years and being here tonight – it’s memorable and awesome.”

For those who know James best, the emotion wasn’t surprising.

Chris Dennis, once a James family adviser, said the reaction inside the arena reflected how intertwined James’s story is with Cleveland’s identity.

“They were hyped when LeBron came back into the game after the video, because the fans are a part of who he is,” said Dennis, who is managing partner of Tribute Sports. “A lot of those fans grew up watching LeBron. When you grow up with a dude that represented your city, you’re going to show that love.”

Dennis said the moment hit harder because James understands, even if he hasn’t said so publicly, that time is no longer on his side.

“I’m not basing this on anything I’ve heard,” Dennis said. “But he knows he’s toward the end of his career. It’s harder for him to prepare for games. It’s not easy for a 41-year-old to get ready and play at this level every night.”

Planning for the end is new to James, whose career for most of its duration centered on what he would accomplish next. Now, the question lingers quietly in the background: what comes after?

Several paths remain. James, who spoke before the game about mapping out offseason golf plans, could retire. He could re-sign with the Lakers. Or, in a storybook ending, he could return once more to Cleveland.

Only James knows which direction he will choose.

“The question gets asked more, and the thought creeps into my mind more at 41 years old,” James said. “Of when the end is and where the finish line is when it comes to hanging this thing up. I’m in a battle with Father Time, and I’m taking it personally – seeing how many times I can be victorious over him. But I won’t be one of those guys who won’t be able to walk off the court. That’s for sure.”

On Wednesday night, near the Lakers’ locker room after the game, James gathered with family members, including his mother, surrounded by love, memories, and reflection – not knowing if it would be the last time in this arena.

Time will tell.

This won’t help Charles Barkley re-enter Michael Jordan’s good graces.

Barkley called out NBC for its controversial Michael Jordan usage during its NBA coverage, with one interview being splintered into different segments to be used throughout the season instead of regular chats with the legendary player that some expected for the format.

“It’s a bad look for NBC and it’s just a bad look, plain and simple,” Barkley said on SiriusXM Radio on Wednesday, according to Awful Announcing.

“They couldn’t fly to Michael like once a month and do a new interview? That makes NBC look really bad, plain and simple.”

Many NBA fans loved the idea that Jordan — who can be reclusive — agreed to contribute to the new “NBA on NBC” coverage in its return to the air, hoping to regularly here his takes on the league.

NBC stated Jordan would be a “special contributor.”

Barkley, who had a falling out with Jordan due to critical comments about his Charlotte ownership, said in May that he was “shocked” to learn of Jordan’s decision, but added that he did not expect a ton from him.

Well, it turns out the Round Mound of Rebound had the right idea.

The special contribution from Jordan consisted of one sit-down interview with Mike Tirico that has been cut into different clips for his “MJ: Insights to Excellence” segment.

Instead of Jordan touching on the topics of the day, such as Giannis Antetokounmpo asking out of Milwaukee, the interviews are focused on broader topics.

“I was excited. We need Michael Jordan affiliated with the NBA, but now you see this thing coming out with NBC and you’re like, ‘Wait, y’all did one interview like five months ago and y’all gonna sprinkle it throughout the season?’ Come on, man,” Barkley said. “That’s disingenuous by NBC. That’s crazy, man. I’m so disappointed at the way that worked out.”

Tirico recently addressed the pushback against the segments, focusing on the positives while noting there are no plans yet for a second interview.

“Was it what everyone wanted? Probably not,” Tirico said on the “SI Media with Jimmy Traina” podcast earlier this month. “Was it better than not hearing from Michael Jordan? You’re damn right it was. And if we get another shot at it, will I be more than excited to be a part of it? You betcha. In our world right now, all you want to do is make the final answer before you know everything. I love that Michael trusted us enough to sit and do something that he hasn’t done in a long, long, long time.”

As Barkley criticizes NBC, he’s also expressed some frustration with his new bosses at ESPN over the lack of usage of his “Inside the NBA” show in its transition after exiting TNT.

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan beat Australia in a Twenty20 for the first time in eight years on Thursday.

The comfortable 22-run win to open the three-match series pitted a full-strength Pakistan against an under-strength Australia just over a week out from the T20 World Cup.

The spin quartet of Saim Ayub, Abrar Ahmed, Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz — all selected for the T20 World Cup —- shared six wickets to restrict Australia to 146-8 in reply to Pakistan's 168-8.

Ahmed led with 2-10 off four overs and Ayub's two wickets included Australia stand-in captain Travis Head for a 13-ball 23.

“It was a great game,” captain Salman Ali Agha said. “I felt 170 was enough on this pitch because our spin bowling is outstanding.”

In the absence of five World Cup players, Australia also benched captain Mitchell Marsh and handed debuts to Matt Renshaw, Jack Edwards and Mahli Beardman on a slow Gaddafi Stadium pitch.

Head holed out to long-off off Ayub’s fuller delivery but Australia recovered to 51-2 at the end of the power play with Renshaw and Cameron Green set.

But in the eighth over, Renshaw was run out while attempting a needless single and Cooper Connolly was clean-bowled by Ahmed.

Green top-scored with 36 and Xavier Bartlett, 34 not out, narrowed the margin of defeat by hitting three fours and two sixes.

“It was disappointing, but that’s how batting goes sometimes,” Head said. “We felt like we dragged it back well after the first 10 overs … but the conditions made it difficult.”

Earlier, Australia leg-spinner Adam Zampa (4-24) put the brakes on Pakistan’s strong start after Ayub (40) and Agha (39) shared a 74-run second-wicket stand off 43 balls.

Agha smashed four sixes and a boundary while left-handed Ayub’s 22-ball knock featured his trademark no-look boundaries over fine leg against pace. Zampa removed both set batters in his first two overs.

Babar Azam, who made a scratchy 20 off 24 balls in his 100th T20, struggled to keep the momentum going. Zampa pinned him in his return spell when Babar went for a reverse sweep.

Zampa missed a difficult return catch which could have dismissed Usman Khan on the next ball but ended up with brilliant figures when Khan holed out to long-on.

Lahore will also host the final two games on Saturday and Sunday.

___

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Two teams inside the Eastern Conference Play-In group collide when the Miami Heat visit the Chicago Bulls tonight.

Both teams lost games on Wednesday as they will play the second half of back-to-backs.

Miami is one of the better teams playing on consecutive nights, so my Heat vs Bulls predictions and NBA picks side with the visitors to the United Center on Thursday, January 29.

Heat vs Bulls prediction

Heat vs Bulls best bet: Heat -2 (-110)

You don’t see this very often, but this is the first of three straight games between these teams, with the Chicago Bulls hosting the Miami Heat tonight before back-to-back weekend games in South Beach.

The Heat got dumped 133-124 in Orlando on Wednesday, but they hold the fourth-best cover record in the NBA playing the second half of a back-to-back, going 7-3-0 ATS.

It helps that they have a Top-3 scoring offense, averaging 119.8 points per game.

The Heat are also dominant against teams below .500, going 15-4 – that’s tied for the fewest losses in the East, and second-fewest losses in the NBA in that category.

After a nice four-game winning streak, the Bulls have crashed down to earth, losing at home to the Lakers before getting toppled by the lowly Pacers 113-110.

They’re not exactly a successful turnaround team, either, going just 2-5-0 ATS on the second night of back-to-back sets, with only SacTo, OKC, and Brooklyn beneath them.

While these Bulls can also score, tied for seventh in the NBA at 117.7 points per game, this is also a Bottom-5 scoring defense, getting eaten up for 119.8 PPG.

Miami torched them for 143 points the last time they met – which, wildly, only matches the second-most points they’ve allowed in a game this season.

I like the Heat’s offense to carry them to a cover and a win tonight.

Heat vs Bulls same-game parlay

Norman Powell had 22 points against Orlando, snapping a three-game sub-20-point slide, but he hasn’t cracked 23 in seven straight games.

Josh Giddey’s assist line is 7.5, but he’s only topped that number once in the last five games. However, he’s been dealing against Miami, picking up at least eight dimes in three straight games, making this bet definitely worth the sprinkle.

Heat vs Bulls SGP

• Heat -2
• Norman Powell Under 21.5 points
• Josh Giddey Over 7.5 assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: Flickering Flames

I get Bam Adebayo is on a rebounding binge, as he pulled down 12 against the Magic and has at least 12 in five of the last seven games. But it’s a different story against the Bulls, who have limited Bam to 10 or fewer in eight of their last 10 matchups.
 
And Jaime Jaquez Jr. has hit 14 points or more in a game just once in his last six, and if his recent minutes stay the same, so should his scoring. Jaquez has played 28 minutes or less seven times in his last 10. Of those games, he has scored 14 points or fewer six times.

Heat vs Bulls SGP

• Heat -2
• Norman Powell Under 21.5 points
• Josh Giddey Over 7.5 assists
• Bam Adebayo Under 10.5 rebounds
• Jaime Jaquez Jr. Under 13.5 points

Heat vs Bulls odds

• Spread: Heat -1.5 (-110) | Bulls 1.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Heat -120 | Bulls +100
• Over/Under: Over 240.5 (-110) | Under 240.5 (-110)

Heat vs Bulls betting trend to know

Miami has won seven of its last eight games against Eastern Conference opponents with a losing record. Find more NBA betting trends for Heat vs. Bulls.

How to watch Heat vs Bulls

Heat vs Bulls latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

The Atlanta Hawks will look to extend their four-game win streak when they host the Houston Rockets at State Farm Arena tonight.

Rockets vs Hawks prediction

Rockets vs Hawks best bet: Jalen Johnson Over 39.5 points + rebounds + assists (-112)

Jalen Johnson is enjoying a career-best season, averaging 22.9 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 7.9 dimes, good for 41.3 PRA. He’s reached 40+ PRA in 27 of 45 games this season and 11 of 19 at home. 

Rockets vs Hawks same-game parlay

The Hawks have won and covered in four straight and six of their last 10. The Rockets are just 3-7 ATS in that span, and the Rockets dropped a home game to the San Antonio Spurs last night.

Based on recent form, I'll back the home team to cover a small spread tonight.

Rockets vs Hawks SGP

• Jalen Johnson Over 39.5 points + rebounds + assists
• Hawks +3.5
• Under 225.5

Our "from downtown" SGP: Good Sheppard

Reed Sheppard shot 41.4% from beyond the arc over his first 42 games, but he's knocked down just 2-of-18 three-pointers across his last three games. He's due for a bounce-back performance against a middle-of-the-pack perimeter defense.

Rockets vs Hawks SGP

• Jalen Johnson Over 39.5 points + rebounds + assists
• Hawks +3.5
• Under 225.5
• Reed Sheppard Over 2.5 made 3-pointers

Rockets vs Hawks odds

• Spread: Houston -3.5 (-110) | Atlanta +3.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Houston -160 | Atlanta +135
• Over/Under: Over 225.5 (-110) | Under 225.5 (-110)

Rockets vs Hawks betting trend to know

The Rockets have hit the Under in 15 of their last 18 games (+11.70 Units / 59% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Rockets vs. Hawks.

How to watch Rockets vs Hawks

Rockets vs Hawks latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

NBA legend LeBron James was brought to tears by a tribute video during the Los Angeles Lakers' defeat at the Cleveland Cavaliers.

James, 41, returned to his home state and former team for possibly the last time on Wednesday as speculation continues over whether he will retire at the end of the season.

He won the NBA title with the Cavaliers in 2016 after returning for a second stint.

During the break after the first quarter at Rocket Arena, the Cavaliers showed highlights of James' performance in game five of the 2007 Eastern Conference finals, when he scored 48 points to seal a double overtime victory.

James started watching the video before pulling his vest over his face then wiping his eyes with a tissue.

"I'm just trying to take everything in, not take the moments for granted," he said.

James said he had "not made a decision on the future" but that it "very well could be" his final season.

He said he was "more present" than on previous trips to Cleveland and that the occasion "definitely got to me a little bit".

James had won nine and lost three of his previous visits to Cleveland, with the Lakers and the Miami Heat.

He had never scored fewer than 21 points in a game, but managed only 11 in a 129-99 defeat on Wednesday.

James is the NBA's all-time leading scorer and has made 28 appearances for the Lakers this season.

The four-time NBA champion signed a one-year contract extension in June.

Although he missed the start of the season with sciatica, he became the first player to feature in 23 NBA seasons when he returned in November.

• NBA fixtures & results

The sinking Sacramento Kings have been largely unwatchable during a six-game losing streak, and it’s no surprise that they’re big underdogs tonight against the Philadelphia 76ers.

While Philadelphia is still searching for consistency and juggling load management absences, Sacramento’s struggles are on a whole other level, and my Kings vs. 76ers predictions signal one-way traffic for the hosts, led by an in-form Joel Embiid.

Check out my NBA picks ahead of this contest on Thursday, January 29.

Kings vs 76ers prediction

Kings vs 76ers best bet: Joel Embiid Over 27.5 points (-120)

For once, there’s not much mystery to decipher on the Philadelphia 76ers injury report. Both Joel Embiid and Paul George are probable, and that spells trouble for the reeling Sacramento Kings.

Say what you want about some of Embiid’s limitations after all his knee injuries, the man is still putting up huge numbers, raising hopes about the 76ers’ postseason chances. He’s averaging 28.3 PPG on 54% shooting in January, and I’m taking these odds for his scoring binge to continue. 

Embiid has gone past this number in five straight, headlined by a 38-point effort against the Knicks last weekend, and his minutes are quietly creeping up. Even without some of his explosiveness around the basket, he’s been making plenty of noise — and actually making a few 3-pointers, too.

In this matchup, the Kings have no shot at slowing him down. They’re giving up 120.8 PPG, the fourth-worst mark in the NBA, and there’s not much reliable center depth beyond Domantas Sabonis.

When Embiid is on the court, it makes sense for Philadelphia to feed him touches and keep Tyrese Maxey fresher for when he’s flying solo. That kind of formula positions the former MVP to feast in the paint and paves the way to the Over.

Kings vs 76ers same-game parlay

The 76ers have had a major edge over the Kings in recent years, winning eight of the past 10 meetings and posting a 7-2-1 ATS mark in that span. Sacramento is 1-5 ATS during its ugly skid, and I’m laying the points with a Philly team that should be close to full strength.

DeMar DeRozan could be a trade candidate before the deadline, and this is a nice spot for an audition. He scored 34 points against the Knicks last time out, and the Kings are dealing with backcourt injuries to Malik Monk, Russell Westbrook, and Zach LaVine. Pencil him in for this Over.

Kings vs 76ers SGP

• Joel Embiid Over 27.5 points
• 76ers -12
• DeMar DeRozan Over 19.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: My Precious Rebounds

Precious Achiuwa has made the most of his minutes lately, and he’s averaging 5.9 RPG this month. The Kings will need all the frontcourt help they can get against Embiid, so this rebounds O/U line feels a little light.

Kings vs 76ers SGP

• Joel Embiid Over 27.5 points
• 76ers -12
• DeMar DeRozan Over 19.5 points
• Precious Achiuwa Over 5.5 rebounds

Kings vs 76ers odds

• Spread: Kings +11.5 (-110) | 76ers -11.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Kings +400 | 76ers -550
• Over/Under: Over 225.5 (-110) | Under 225.5 (-110)

Kings vs 76ers betting trend to know

The Kings are 3-20 SU on the road this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Kings vs. 76ers.

How to watch Kings vs 76ers

Kings vs 76ers latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

The 2026 NBA trade deadline will have a hard time topping its predecessor. Last year’s Luka Doncic-for-Anthony Davis bombshell was an all-time trade deadline moment, and there were a bunch of notable deals after it, with De’Aaron Fox, Jimmy Butler, and Brandon Ingram among the players who were sent to new homes. There’s potential for more fireworks this year, but no one really knows what to expect just yet.

This feels like a seller’s market. There’s a pretty clear pack of 3-4 championship contenders, and then a handful of other teams on the outside edge of the title picture. The Oklahoma City Thunder don’t feel like a runaway favorite anymore, the Denver Nuggets still need to be worried about Aaron Gordon’s lower-body injuries, and the San Antonio Spurs still haven’t let a playoff game in the Victor Wembanyama era, let alone a series. That’s just the West: the East is so much more wide open, with the Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, and Boston Celtics leading the pack, each of them saddled with their own potential fatal flaws.

With the Feb. 5 trade deadline rapidly approach, here’s 30 players who could be moved.

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, F, Milwaukee Bucks

Why would he be traded? The Bucks and Giannis are finally ready for a divorce, according to Shams Charania. It’s very likely either happening now or in the summer. Here’s our list of Giannis suitors.

What would Bucks want back? 3-4 first-round picks, swaps, and a blue chip young player.

2. Anthony Davis, C/F, Dallas Mavericks

Why would he be traded? The Mavs are ready to rebuild around Cooper Flagg, and they need to recoup draft compensation without control of their first-round pick from 2027-2030. Here’s three fake trades for Davis, though his current injury complicates the trade landscape.

What would Mavs want back? Salary relief, a first-round pick, a promising young player.

3. Karl-Anthony Towns, C/F, New York Knicks

Why would he be traded? The Knicks are desperate to make the most of their championship window in the East in a down year for the conference. New York’s two best players might not be able to play together in games that matter. Towns probably won’t get traded at the deadline, but the probability that he’s traded will rise significantly this summer if the Knicks fail to make the 2026 NBA Finals.

What would Knicks want back? Giannis. Or assets that help them land their next star.

4. Domantas Sabonis, C, Sacramento Kings

Why would he be traded? The Kings need to blow it up badly. There’s no scenario where Sabonis is on the next good Kings team.

What would Kings want back? A first-round pick and/or a promising young player.

5. Michael Porter Jr., F, Brooklyn Nets

Why would he be traded? Porter Jr. has had an All-Star caliber season in his first year away from Denver, and the Brooklyn would be selling high on him now as it continues to go back into its rebuild.

What would Nets want back? Two first-round picks, or one pick and one interesting young player.

6. Ja Morant, G, Memphis Grizzlies

Why would he be traded? The Grizzlies seem done with the Ja Morant experience. Here’s our list of potential Morant trade suitors.

What would Grizzlies want back? A first-round pick and an interesting young player.

7. Coby White, G, Chicago Bulls

Why would he be traded? He’s an expiring contract, and the Bulls might want to get something for him now instead of entering a bidding war in free agency.

What would Bulls want back? A first round pick, an interesting young player, and expiring salary.

8. Kristaps Porzingis, C, Atlanta Hawks

Why would he be traded? He’s an expiring contract, and he can’t stay healthy.

What would Hawks want back? Salary relief and draft compensation

9. Ayo Dosunmu, G, Chicago Bulls

Why would he be traded? He’s an expiring contract, and the fact that he’s playing the best ball of his career offers Chicago the chance to finally sell high on a player.

What would Bulls want back? A first-round pick or an interesting young player and multiple seconds.

10. Zach LaVine, G, Sacramento Kings

Why would he be traded? The Kings need to blow it up, and LaVine needs a fresh start after spending his entire career with bad teams. He’s certainly opting in to the final year of his contract for $48.9 million, but then he’s off the books after next season. Can we finally get this guy to a contender?

What would Kings want back? Anything.

11. Tobias Harris, F, Detroit Pistons

Why would he be traded? If the Pistons want to make a big move to improve their chances at coming out of the East, Harris a large expiring salary to grease the wheels.

What would Pistons want back? A starting four or a starting-caliber guard to aid the NBA Finals push.

12. Goga Bitadze, C, Orlando Magic

Why would he be traded? An advanced stats star with two more playoff runs left on his cheap contract, Orlando could try to trade its backup center for future assets that could help them build.

What would Magic want back? Draft picks or a promising young player.

13. Bennedict Mathurin, G, Indiana Pacers

Why would he be traded? He’s set to be a restricted free agent, and he’s never really fit into the Pacers’ long-term vision.

What would Pacers want back? Picks and potentially a young big man.

14. Daniel Gafford, C, Dallas Mavericks

Why would he be traded? The Mavs need to prioritize their future over their present, and they already have a gifted young center on the roster in Dereck Lively II.

What would Mavs want back? Future draft assets and cap flexibility.

15. Naji Marshall, F, Dallas Mavericks

Why would he be traded? He has two playoff runs left on a team-friendly contract, and he could bring in a solid return.

What would Mavs want back? Future draft assets or a promising young player.

16. Rui Hachimura, F, Los Angeles Lakers

Why would he be traded? He’s an expiring contract, and the Lakers might want to get something for him now if he’s not part of their long-term vision around Luka Doncic.

What would Lakers want back? Future draft assets or a young player.

17. Grant Williams, F, Charlote Hornets

Why would he be traded? The Hornets are a year away from a playoff run in the East, and Williams will have some appeal as a 3-and-D veteran with two playoff runs left on his contract.

What would Hornets want back? Future draft assets and expiring salary.

18. Keon Ellis, G, Sacramento Kings

Why would he be traded? The Kings need to be rebuilt from the ground up.

What would Kings want back? Future draft picks.

19. Anfernee Simons, G, Boston Celtics

Why would he be traded? The Celtics are trying to duck the luxury tax, and he’s the biggest salary on the cap sheet that they could justify cutting ahead of the potential return of Jayson Tatum.

What would Celtics want back? A small enough salary to get them out of the tax.

20. Bobby Portis, F, Milwaukee Bucks

Why would he be traded? The Bucks are ready to tank, trade Giannis, and tear the whole thing down.

What would Bucks want back? Future draft assets and/or interesting young players.

21. Rob Dillingham, G, Minnesota Timberwolves

Why would he be traded? The Wolves need to upgrade at point guard next to Anthony Edwards, and their bold swing for Dillingham during the 2024 draft just hasn’t paid off. Dillingham still can’t crack head coach Chris Finch’s rotation, and it’s time to find a lead guard who can.

What would Wolvevs want back? A starting-caliber point guard.

22. DeMar DeRozan, G, Sacramento Kings

Why would he be traded? Because he’s on the Kings ahead of their liquidation sale.

What would Kings want back? Second-round draft assets and expiring salary.

23. Jusuf Nurkic, C, Utah Jazz

Why would he be traded? This is probably the final year of the Utah’s tank, and a veteran like Nurkic is an obvious player to free. He’s not in his physical prime anymore, but Nurkic can still crash the offensive glass at an elite level at a time when it feels more important than ever.

What would Jazz want back? Second-round draft compensation.

24. Jordan Poole, G, New Orleans Pelicans

Why would he be traded? The Pelicans have no use for the final year of his deal at $34 million.

What would Pelicans want back? Second-round draft compensation.

25. Gradey Dick, G/F, Toronto Raptors

Why would he be traded? As part of a package for an impact center or another ball handler.

What would Raptors want back? An impact center or another ball handler.

26. Dalton Knecht, F, Los Angeles Lakers

Why would he be traded? He’s demanded a trade! I repeat: Dalton Knecht has demanded a trade!

What would Lakers want back? Second-round draft compensation or a better defensive player.

27. Kyle Kuzma, F, Milwaukee Bucks

Why would he be traded? The Bucks are ready to tear it down as they weigh offers for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

What would Bucks want back? All of the picks if Kuzma goes out in a Giannis deal, also salary relief.

28. Terrence Shannon Jr., G, Minnesota Timberwolves

Why would he be traded? The Wolves are firmly in their championship window, and Shannon hasn’t been able to crack the rotation even after Nickeil Alexander-Walker left in free agency.

What would Wolves want back?

29. Jeremy Sochan, F, San Antonio Spurs

Why would he be traded? He’s out of the rotation, and out of time in San Antonio has he approaches restricted free agency.

What would Spurs want back? Second-round draft capital

30. Jakob Poeltl, C, Toronto Raptors

Why would he be traded? He has one of the least team-friendly contracts in the NBA, and he’s always hurt.

What would Raptors want back? Just getting off his deal would be a miracle.

The Houston Rockets head to Georgia to take on the Atlanta Hawks in the second game of a back-to-back for both teams. Atlanta was in Boston last night while the Rockets were at home against the Spurs.

Atlanta has already made their big move for the trade deadline, sending Trae Young to Washington for C.J. McCollum and Corey Kispert. The move paved the way for Jalen Johnson to become the alpha in Atlanta and the Hawks seem ready to build around the young star. After a tough start to the Johnson Era in Atlanta, the Hawks had won three straight heading into Boston. The Hawks have been scorching from deep as of late, and that has been Houston’s kryptonite at times. Sometimes, the NBA really is just a math problem.

My assumption is that Tari Eason and Dorian Finney-Smith will be held out tonight since it’s a back-to-back. With the injury to Steven Adams, Houston will be pretty thin if those two wings are unavailable. Expect plenty of Jae’Sean Tate minutes.

Tip-off

7pm CT

How To Watch

Space City Home Network

Injury Report

Rockets

Steven Adams: OUT

Fred VanVleet: OUT

Tari Eason: GTD

Dorian Finney-Smith: GTD

Hawks

Kristaps Porzingis: OUT

Zaccharie Risacher: GTD

N’Faly Dante: OUT

The Line (as of this post)

Hou -4.5

Check here for updates

Looking ahead because we can

Saturday night at home against the Dallas Mavericks

MUNICH (AP) — Germany midfielder Leon Goretzka says U.S. President Donald Trump “has managed to make us feel not only German, but also European.”

Goretzka, who plays club soccer for Bayern Munich, in an interview with Die Zeit newspaper published on Wednesday, spoke about the World Cup being hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, and he suggested Germany and other European teams will be the favorites.

“Others have caught up but in the most important game in the world we’re still ahead of every continent,” Goretzka said. “Far from being left behind, Europe will show everyone what’s what on the field.”

The countdown to the June 11-July 19 tournament has drawn calls for a boycott. Oke Göttlich, the president of Bundesliga club St. Pauli and one of the German federation’s 10 vice presidents, last week said the time had come to “ seriously consider and discuss this.”

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter also weighed in on Monday.

"I’m aware of the political debates,” Goretzka said. “Still, I expect it to be a great tournament. It will advance football there and convince many people that it’s a fantastic game.”

Germany has been drawn in World Cup Group E with Ivory Coast, Curaçao and Ecuador.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

He hears it in nearly every arena the Lakers enter.

“We want Bronny. We want Bronny.”

But on Monday night in Cleveland’s Rocket Arena, where the familiar chant reached arena-filling decibels, it felt different. It felt like home.

Bronny James provided some of the few Lakers highlights in the team’s worst loss of the year — a 129-99 drubbing by the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday — to turn an emotional homecoming for his father into a happy return for the 21-year-old. James scored eight points with two rebounds, an assist and a steal. He knocked down two three pointers and slammed a one-handed transition dunk to elicit a roar from the crowd that welcomed back a son they watched grow up.

“I was just excited to go out there and play,” James said. “I’m always ready to go out and play, whether that’s when the entire arena is saying ‘We want Bronny‘ or no one is. I was just really, really grateful that they put me in at that time and I was able to go out and get a few buckets.”

With the Lakers trailing by 20 by the third quarter, the chants for James started early. “We want Bronny” chants occur at nearly every Lakers game, almost turning the young guard’s playing time into a sideshow instead of much-needed opportunities for a developing player trying to find his footing in the NBA.

James hadn’t played in a game since Jan. 18 and hadn’t scored since Jan. 12. But he got on the scoreboard in thrilling fashion Wednesday night, tipping away a crosscourt pass and taking the ball in transition for a dunk that left even his dad nodding approval from the bench.

“He handles all of it so well,” said guard Gabe Vincent, who called Bronny “a light” in the Lakers’ otherwise forgettable blowout. “It's incredible. His maturity through it all is incredible. … It's great to see him have a moment like that.”

Read more:'Like it was yesterday.' Lakers lose in emotional return to Cleveland for LeBron James

The former USC guard who also scored his first NBA points in Cleveland as a rookie last year has bounced between the Lakers and the team’s G League affiliate this year as he hopes to make strides as a shooter and on-ball defender while “building up his tolerance for being in elite shape,” coach JJ Redick said. James has had some promising moments, especially when the Lakers were short-handed earlier this season, showing quicker decision making and increased confidence shooting the ball.

Monday was just the second time in his career that he made two threes in a game.

“He's as level headed and just as normal of a 21-year-old as I've ever been around,” Redick said.

When the Lakers got to the arena Monday, James was welcomed home by a childhood photo of him on a screen outside the visiting locker room. It showed him on stage in 2016 during the Cavaliers’ championship celebration wearing a championship hat and white T-shirt, holding up one finger.

Read more:Bronny James shows his improvement for shorthanded Lakers

LeBron James glanced at the championship banner from that team before the game Monday, fueling the intense emotions of what could be his last game in his hometown against the team that launched his NBA dreams in 2003.

The Cavaliers, wearing navy blue throwback uniforms, showed a tribute video for LeBron James during the first quarter, highlighting James’ takeover of Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals in which he scored 25 consecutive points. Bronny was 3 years old at the time. Almost two decades later, he remembered all the afternoons he spent at the Cavaliers arena after school.

“It’s literally my entire life,” Bronny said of the city of Cleveland. “So just really appreciative of all the people that show some love. I just remember being a kid and being here pretty much every day after school. It’s a bunch of nostalgia coming back and being here.”

The James family was prepared for the occasion. LeBron scanned the arena before the game to find his mother in a suite. She once watched him begin his career in this very arena, now she was watching both her son and her grandson play in the same game. After saying it out loud, the elder James struggled to process 5 idea.

“I don't even know how to even, like, wrap that all in one in my brain,” LeBron James said. “It’s so weird and so cool and so surreal. My mom gets to watch her son and her grandson play in the NBA at the same time.”

Gloria James waited in the hallway outside the Lakers locker room to take photos with her son and then her grandson. Bronny was the last Laker out of the arena, stopping to take dozens of photos with family members dressed in purple and gold Lakers jerseys. His grandmother told him to “act right.” He promised to oblige.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

The Phoenix Suns needed a win on Tuesday night. Badly. Two straight losses had already piled up, and the schedule ahead offers no mercy. Detroit is looming. Cleveland too. Then the Clippers. Lose this one, and a six-game skid was no longer theoretical, it was staring them down. So this game mattered. Not as a statement, but as a tourniquet. Stop the bleeding first, worry about momentum later.

What they can actually build on came from the middle of the floor. Mark Williams delivered his best night since arriving in Phoenix. 27 points on 13-of-16 from the field. Perfect in the second half. Calm, physical, dependable. He gave them interior stability and something this offense rarely has, a release valve that does not live beyond the arc.

And here is the contrast. The Suns are not an interior team by design. They do not hunt shots at the rim. They are 29th in the NBA in attempts inside five feet, taking 23.8 per game. That is who they are. On Tuesday, that script bent. 28 of their 77 shots, 36.3%, came from inside five feet. Not because the philosophy changed, but because Williams forced it to.

So to see them bend their identity and adjust how they operate, all in response to a specific opponent, speaks to the intellect and schematic feel that Jordan Ott brings to the bench. There is flexibility here. There is awareness.

But now comes the real question. Is it replicable?

Because the stretch ahead demands it. The Suns are entering a run where every ounce of offensive potency matters, no matter the matchup, no matter the look they are given. Can they keep feeding Mark Williams with enough consistency and with enough purpose to actually win games?

That is where this gets tricky.

On Tuesday night, when the Suns beat the Nets 106-102, the math worked in their favor. It was a plus matchup for Williams. Nic Claxton is a solid center and a legitimate defender. He grades out in the 80th percentile as a rim protector. But the Suns leaned into his lack of size, used switching to their advantage, and consistently put Williams in spots where he could thrive. They maximized the skill set.

And Williams has a very specific one. He finishes around the rim. Not through bodies, but around them. Fluid, patient, controlled. He grades out in the 92nd percentile in finishing talent.

The numbers back it up. Across two matchups this season, Williams guarded Claxton for 15:40. In that span, 72 points were scored on 70.9 possessions, and Claxton accounted for 11 of them, going 4-of-10 from the field. Flip it around. When Claxton guarded Williams, 13:49 of game time, the Suns scored 71 points on 58.8 possessions. Williams went 7-of-9 for 15 points.

Keep those numbers tucked away. They are going to matter later.

The hope is that nights like this become the norm for Mark Williams. The reality is they probably will not. Because for all the value he has brought this season, the size, the stability, the calming presence at center, there is a tradeoff on the other end of the floor. Williams can be hunted defensively. That is not a secret. It is also why we have seen so much Oso Ighodaro.

Credit to Oso for fully embracing that role and being effective in it. His value lives on the defensive end. He can switch. He can move. He can survive in space. That is what makes him playable. Opponents know the counter with Williams. They spread the floor, pull him out of the paint, run high screen actions, and force a decision. When Williams does not sit in drop coverage, the geometry breaks. The paint opens. Driving lanes appear. The offense gets comfortable. When he drops, pull the trigger from deep.

Oso does not bring the same offensive ceiling. That is clear. What he does bring is defensive versatility, and that matters in this league. It matters every night.

So the Suns have work to do here. They need to get more creative defensively when Williams is on the floor. They need to protect him in specific situations, anticipate when teams are clearly trying to target him, and manage those minutes with intent. Because his offense is worth it. It has real value.

But it is matchup-driven. When the opposing center is someone Williams can neutralize, or someone who cannot impose their will, he lasts longer. He becomes more effective. He tilts the math. When that is not the case, the margin shrinks fast.

And that, more than anything, is the challenge. And the next three games? That challenge will be tested.

Detroit first. Jalen Duren. That matchup already gave us a preview, and it was not encouraging. Williams logged 6:24 against him, covering 31.5 possessions. In that window, the Suns gave up 46 points. Duren went 5-of-9 for 10 points. On the other end, Duren guarded Williams for 5:45 across those same 31.5 possessions. The Suns scored 22 points in that span, and Williams finished with zero points on 0-of-2 shooting.

Then comes Cleveland the following night. Jarrett Allen, with Evan Mobley sidelined. Williams versus Allen has also happened once this season. The results were similar. Williams defended Allen for 6:51, covering 39.8 possessions. Cleveland scored 61 points in that stretch, and Allen put up 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Flip the matchup. Allen guarded Williams for 6:18 and 31.2 possessions. The Suns scored 31 points, and Williams again finished scoreless, 0-of-2 from the field.

The upcoming center matchups are a concern for Mark Williams. Numbers in their previous matchups:

vs Duren (10 pts, 5-of-9): PHX allowed 46 pts in 31.5 possessions; Williams went 0-of-2

vs Allen (12 pts, 5-of-9): CLE scored 61 pts in 39.8 possessions; Williams again 0-of-2 pic.twitter.com/tshzRgSLV9

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) January 29, 2026

And then the homestand closes on Sunday with the Clippers. Ivica Zubac is the assignment. A load. A true center. One the Suns can work if their high actions are sharp and if they can consistently pull him away from the paint. That said, the Clippers have been locked in defensively as a group lately, so that muddies the waters.

Across three matchups this season, Williams defended Zubac for 19:12, covering 86.3 possessions. In that time, Zubac scored 29 points on 12-of-17 shooting, and the Clippers scored 87 points overall. Offensively, Williams was more productive here. He scored 19 points in 16:12 and 84.9 possessions, going 7-of-12 from the field. The Suns scored 109 points.

That is the spectrum. The good, the bad, and the uncomfortable middle. And it brings us right back to the same place. Matchups decide everything.

I love what Mark Williams brings to this team. He gives them the rim running element they have been craving for a long time. He is long defensively, and while no one is confusing him for a perimeter stopper, he does a solid job as a deterrent when he is stationed in the paint. He is a capable rebounder too, even if it does not always feel dominant for a center. He grades out in the 81st percentile in defensive rebounding and the 93rd percentile in offensive rebounding.

All of that said, there is an important reminder here. He is making $6.3 million. You are getting exactly what you paid for, and probably a little more. Price for value paid? Check.

But over these next few games, as the Suns search for answers within the flow of a night, as they try to manufacture points without Devin Booker and Jalen Green, the focus has to sharpen. When Mark Williams is on the floor, he has to be involved. Intentionally. Deliberately.

Because he is not going to play with total regularity. Defensive limitations and matchup realities see to that, and there are other options on the bench who make sense in certain stretches. Still, there are moments in almost every game where you find yourself yelling it. “Give the ball to Williams!!!”

During this upcoming stretch, that instinct needs to become policy. At least in the moments that he is out there.

On Wednesday, the San Antonio Spurs announced a partnership with Austin-based Wanderlust Wine Co. Coincidence or not, the announcement came on the birthday of Gregg Popovich, a noted wine connoisseur.

The San Antonio Spurs announced a new partnership with Wanderlust Wine Co., making it the official wine of the organization. Wanderlust will also become an official partner of the team’s NBA G League affiliate, the Austin Spurs. The collaboration will come to life with future Spurs pop-up events at Wanderlust’s storefronts in Austin and sampling at select home games, furthering the strong connection between the team and its fanbase throughout the entire I-35 corridor.

Said Sammy Lam, founder & president of Wanderlust Wine Co.,

“We’re incredibly proud to partner with the San Antonio Spurs and Spurs Sports & Entertainment. This collaboration brings together two organizations that care deeply about community, innovation, and delivering memorable fan experiences. We’re excited to introduce Spurs fans to Wanderlust wines in a way that’s both premium and sustainable.”

The award-winning winery remains family-owned and laser focused on maintaining their green practices.

Brandon James, senior vice president of strategic growth and deputy general counsel for Spurs Sports & Entertainment added,

“We’ve been fortunate to engage with Wanderlust organically over the past few years, watching them grow and scale while staying true to Austin’s character. To now grow together through an official partnership is a big win for both organizations. Their strong connection to the community mirrors the special bond we share with our fans, making this partnership a natural fit.”

This partnership extends the Spurs organization’s presence in Austin. Through fan engagement activations, game watch parties, support for the local sports and fitness community, the Spurs continue community outreach.

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