Category: NBA

With the signing of Haywood Highsmith the other day, the Suns now have a full roster with 15 players ready for the playoffs.

Free agent forward Haywood Highsmith has agreed to a multiyear deal with the Phoenix Suns, his agent Jerry Dianis tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/UbkwghKYRL

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 14, 2026

That being said, Cole Anthony, who was acquired at the trade deadline, has not reported with the team since being sent there.

Cole Anthony is still not with the Phoenix Suns. #Suns

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) February 9, 2026

This has many speculating that he will eventually be waived, and one of the standout two-way players on this team will be converted to the main roster.

Both Isaiah Livers and Jamaree Bouyea have been solid products for this squad and have shown they deserve the conversion. With the Suns signing Highsmith and keeping Amir Coffey, though, the wing room will be full. That leaves Bouyea as the most likely to be converted, with the Suns needing some guard depth as well due to injuries this season. Bouyea has delivered on both ends, being another happy story from the Suns’ front office, making moves on the margins.

This trade by the Suns will almost certainly create a spot for Jamaree Bouyea in the near future.

— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) February 5, 2026

With Bouyea expected to get converted, we can speculate when that will happen. Since the Suns ducked the luxury tax at the trade deadline, they do not want to do it again. With each day getting closer to the end of the season, the guaranteed money on a contract shrinks. Therefore, Bouyea will be converted once he has reached his limit of 50 games played and can no longer play, at which point he will be on the main roster. This season, he has only played in 28 games for the Suns, so that still leaves 22 games of availability. With only 27 games left in the season, it would be expected that this would happen right before the season ends, to save as much as possible. That being said, if they want to sign someone to a two-way deal, the deadline is March 4th, so that it could happen before then.

When Anthony is eventually waived, and Bouyea is signed, that is where the fun begins, as the Suns will have an open two-way spot and can use it to convert another player who they think deserves some playing time at the end of the season, when teams are locked into seedings.

So let’s look at this great site created by my friend Finn Kuehl, twowaytalents, to see the best available guys the Suns could get to replace Bouyea. This site is absolutely fantastic, showcasing the latest on two-way and G-League players, so I definitely advise checking it out!

Damion Baugh

First, let’s start with the most likely candidate, as he is already in the Valley. Damion Baugh has been incredible for the Valley Suns and has definitely earned the case to get this spot. Funny enough, he also comes from the Suns’ favorite trade partner, the Charlotte Hornets. Baugh went undrafted in 2023 and has floated through some G-League teams before signing a two-way contract last year with Charlotte. With them taking him, he was able to get some playing time and notched 15 games in the NBA.

He ended up in Phoenix on an Exhibit 10 deal and has been the gritty player this team envisions on its roster already. He would fit the hard-nosed defense that Jordan Ott has embraced all season. He would be someone who could come in and help out this team, with all the little things, aiding the shot creators they have throughout the team.

This season, he is averaging 23.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.9 steals, and 0.3 blocks on 41/27/86 shooting splits, in 35 minutes per game. The 6’4” scrappy guard could learn a lot from Jordan Goodwin and Dillon Brooks, who could take the young guard under their wing.

Jared Rhoden

With a list like this, I have to make a homer pick, and Jared Rhoden is that guy. Someone from my alma mater, Seton Hall, and to a team that already has some Big East ties, sign me up! Rhoden has not stuck in the NBA but has had multiple opportunities across the league since going undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft. He had two-way contracts with the Detroit Pistons, and then spent time in Charlotte and Toronto on two-way deals as well. Currently, he is overseas playing for Paris Basketball, part of the LNB Elite and the EuroLeague.

Rhoden could fit this team, as he is a wing player who could help mold the 3&D wing he has tried to be since college. Rhoden has always been known for his three-point shooting, which was his specialty, but his wingspan helps him defend multiple positions on the wing. If all the tools were able to come together, he could be one of those fun spark plugs on the bench who can get hot.

This season for Paris Basketball, he is averaging 12.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.4 blocks on 54/44/81 shooting splits in 22 minutes per game. The 6’5” guard/wing could definitely bring some offensive juice if he were signed back to a two-way and learn from shooters like Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale.

Drew Peterson

Last but certainly not least is Drew Peterson, who could be another fun shooter for this team. Peterson is someone I have liked due to his success with the Boston Celtics on a two-way deal. After going undrafted in 2023, he spent some time with the Miami Heat’s summer league and G League affiliate before being picked up by Boston. He then spent two years there, during which he won a championship in 2023. This season, though, he was not brought back and, in fact, signed with his old assistant head coach, Charles Lee, in Charlotte.

Unfortunately for Peterson, that was cut short early as he was waived right before Christmas, but not due to his terrible play. In fact, the Hornets just needed size and frontcourt bodies as they were hit by injuries. They ended up replacing Peterson with PJ Hall, and now he is on the Pistons’ G League affiliate, the Motor City Cruise.

Peterson on this team would be similar to Rhoden: just another sharp shooter and scorer this team could use as a trial to see if they can be a long-term investment. Peterson showed that value by getting minutes in multiple games with the Celtics last year. If a coach like Joe Mazzulla trusts him, I am sure a guy like Jordan Ott would do the same.

The 6’8” wing would definitely fall under the wings of Grayson Allen, where he could learn to continue to be the knock-down shooter he has been so far. This year, he is averaging 15.1 points and 6.9 rebounds. 5.3 assists, 1.9 steals, and 0.1 block on 47/36/85 in 31 minutes per game.

Final Thoughts

The Suns very well could not pick someone up and wait to convert Bouyea after the deadline. With that, though, they cost themselves an opportunity to hit on the margins as they have succeeded in the past. Look at the signings of Collin Gillespie, Jamaree Bouyea, and Jordan Goodwin as examples of that. If they could do that again with one of the three men listed above or anyone else, it could help them find more key role players for cheap to build this roster. Something that has proven to be a successful way to build a team under the new CBA.

What do you think about this? Do you like any of these names, or do you think the Suns should get someone else? Let me know your thoughts!

Kevin Durant LOVES social media. Well, Twitter in particular. He engaged with fans on online platforms more than any other superstar ever seen.

In any sport, most likely. His teammate, Houston Rockets point guard Fred VanVleet stated that Durant will fire up a tweet and then go get his ankles taped up, or go on about his daily basketball preparation routine. 

Which means posting on Twitter has become part of his daily routine. Which is okay.

Hell, the man was visibly on his phone through the All-Star game. 

Durant has even joined Twitter Spaces a time or two. Which also isn’t a bad thing.

One of those times was in the offseason. Players can do what they wish in the offseason. 

Or when they’re not on the hardwood. 

However, Durant has gotten himself into scandals involving burner accounts on social media. 

As a side note, the use of burner accounts is fairly common amongst athletes. Jalen Green openly admitted that he has a handful of them.

What’s unusual about Durant is that his burner accounts seem to get exposed. 

Key words: seem to.

Because we ultimately don’t know. 

Well, there was a situation in 2017 that’s been confirmed by Durant himself. He unknowingly tweeted from his own account defending himself against the backlash he’d received for leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Golden State Warriors. 

Durant clearly intended to tweet from a non-verified account, in that situation. 

Over the weekend, Durant became the subject of another situation, this time involving a group chat on Twitter with a burner account.

This time, it’s been unverified. But based on Durant’s history with fake accounts on Twitter, many believe there’s merit here.

This time, a Twitter user with just 75 followers (and a now private account) was seen commenting in a group chat about many of Durant’s former teammates.

Specifically Ben Simmons, James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Stephen Curry. 

Durant’s current Rockets teammates were also mentioned.

Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun, in particular. 

Again, there is no way to confirm whether this was Durant himself.

However, he could shut it down directly, if he so desired. 

(He has no problem using the platform to call people out or shut things down).

This could be a random person posing as Durant. Let’s hope it is.

Because if otherwise, this is entirely immature, and avoidable, I should add.

And based on his past, there’s no way to dismiss it with absolute certainty.

Mark Cuban is adamant tanking is actually good for the NBA.

In a lengthy post on his X page on Tuesday morning, the Mavericks’ minority owner argued the league should “embrace” the act of intentionally losing in order to get better.

“Fans know their team can’t win every game,” said Cuban, who later apologized for the typos in his message. “They know only one team can win a ring. What fan that care about their team’s record want is hope. Hope they will get better and have a chance to compete for the playoffs and then maybe a ring.

“The one way to get closer to that is via the draft. And trades. And cap room. You have a better chance of improving via all 3 , when you tank.”

He then stated the league should focus on making games more affordable — claiming that’s a far bigger problem for the NBA than tanking.

“The NBA should worry more about fan experience than tanking,” he said. “It should worry more about pricing fans out of games than tanking. You know who cares the least about tanking , a parent who cant afford to bring their 3 kids to a game and buy their kids a jersey of their fave player.

“Tanking isn’t the issue. Affordability and quality of game presentation are.”

Tanking has been a dilemma that’s plagued the Association for decades, but during a press conference at All-Star Weekend on Saturday in Inglewood, Adam Silver said it’s “worse this year than we’ve seen in recent memory.”

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The commissioner already levied massive fines on the Jazz and Pacers for sitting their stars in games, and then he vowed to implement whatever he could further to slow it down, including potentially taking away draft picks.

But Cuban seemed certain Silver should be directing his energy elsewhere.

“We didn’t tank often,” the former Mavericks majority owner said. “Only a few times over 23 years, but when we did, our fans appreciated it. And it got us to where we could improve, trade up to get Luka (Doncic) and improve our team.”

Cuban made a compelling case, though given the way Silver sternly spoke about the matter over the weekend, it’s unlikely he and the NBA change course anytime soon.

DALLAS (AP) — Mark Cuban wrote in a pair of lengthy posts on social media that the NBA should embrace tanking, and the minority owner of the Dallas Mavericks criticized the league for punishing teams that appear to be losing on purpose to improve their chances of landing a high pick in the draft.

Cuban's posts on X on Tuesday came three days after Commissioner Adam Silver said the NBA was considering changes to the draft lottery and the possibility of revoking picks.

When announcing a $500,000 fine last week for Utah after the Jazz sat star players Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. in the fourth quarter of a loss to Orlando, Silver said the league “would respond accordingly to any further actions that compromise the integrity of our games.”

The sharpest comments from Cuban amounted to a response to Silver's strong words.

“The worst that the NBA dishes out is that if you don’t lie to your fans about what you are doing, even though it’s obvious to them, you get fined,” Cuban wrote. “And (they) threaten you with losing picks.”

Indiana president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard, whose Pacers were fined $100,000 at the same time as the Jazz over roster management decisions, asked his fans in a post if they agreed with Cuban. Most did.

The Pacers reached the NBA Finals last season, losing to Oklahoma City. Their best player, Tyrese Haliburton, tore an Achilles tendon in Game 7, and the expectation was he would miss the entire 2025-26 season. Indiana lost 12 of its first 13 games and had a 13-game losing streak to drop to 6-31, but has a .500 record since then.

The Mavericks are in a similar situation a year after trading generational superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for a package centered around oft-injured big man Anthony Davis, just nine months after Dallas reached the NBA Finals.

Davis missed more games than he played for the Mavs before getting sent to Washington in a trade deadline deal this year. It was the final step in moving on from an ill-fated trade. The first was the November firing of general manager Nico Harrison, who orchestrated the Doncic deal.

Dallas converted just a 1.8% chance in the lottery for the rights to draft former Duke star Cooper Flagg first overall this past summer.

Flagg is now the future of the franchise, and the Mavs have to decide, presumably soon, whether Kyrie Irving will play at all this season. The nine-time All-Star tore an ACL last March, and the Mavs entered the All-Star break on a nine-game losing streak, their longest in 28 years.

While Cuban is no longer in a decision-making role after selling majority ownership of the Mavs, he was fined $600,000 by the league when he was still in charge late in the 2022-23 season for admitting Dallas was tanking to try to protect a first-round pick. The Mavs ended up getting center Dereck Lively II, a promising talent who has been plagued by injuries.

With tanking a hot topic again, Cuban started his post with “Why the NBA should embrace tanking,” and went on to say fans don't mind tanking because they want to have hope that the team can improve.

“Few can remember the score from the last game they saw or went to,” Cuban wrote. “They can’t remember the dunks or shots. What they remember is who they were with. Their family, friends, a date. That’s what makes the experience special.”

With that in mind, Cuban said, the league should focus more on affordability than the integrity issue that is at the heart of tanking.

“The NBA should worry more about fan experience than tanking,” he wrote. “It should worry more about pricing fans out of games than tanking.”

Though the Mavericks weren't accused of tanking in 2017-18, Cuban essentially wrote in his post that they did. Dallas finished with its worst record in 30 years at 24-58, but didn't get lucky in the lottery like this past year. The Mavs ended up with the fifth pick and had to trade up two spots to get Doncic.

“We didn't tank often,” wrote Cuban, who also noted that current salary cap rules have made productive rookies even more valuable for winning rosters. “Only a few times over 23 years, but when we did, our fans appreciated it. And it got us to where we could improve, trade up to get Luka and improve our team.”

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior accused an opponent of racially insulting him during Tuesday's Champions League game against Benfica, leading to the game being halted for nearly 10 minutes amid angry scenes at the Stadium of Light.

Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold called the incident “a disgrace to football” while Benfica manager Jose Mourinho said Vinícius had incited his players and fans by the way he celebrated his goal in the 1-0 win for Madrid.

Vinícius had just curled in a shot into the top corner when French referee François Letexier had to stop the match in the 52nd minute, making a signal with his arms to show that an accusation of racism had been made.

Benfica fans had reacted angrily to Vinícius celebrating his goal by dancing by the corner flag, throwing bottles and other objects toward the Madrid players. Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni then confronted Vinícius and said something while covering his mouth with his jersey.

The Brazil forward then suddenly pointed to his Argentine opponent and ran toward the referee.

Cameras picked up Vinícius telling Letexier that Prestianni called him “monkey.”

After the match, Vinícius posted a photo on Instagram of him celebrating by the Benfica corner flag. He wrote: “Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to cover their mouths with their shirts to show how they are weak. ... Nothing that happened today is new to me in my life and in my family’s life. I was shown a yellow card for celebrating a goal. I still don’t know why.”

When Vinícius made his complaint, the referee immediately stopped the match and crossed his arms above his head to start the anti-racism protocol. Vinícius, who is Black and has been repeatedly subjected to racist abuse in Spain, went to the sideline and sat in the dugout while play was stopped. Some of his teammates also started to walk toward the sideline.

Mbappé and midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni said the team considered leaving the field but eventually decided to continue playing. Mbappé said he asked Vinícius to see what he wanted to do.

“What’s happened tonight is a disgrace to football,” Alexander-Arnold said after the game. “It’s overshadowed the performance, especially after such an amazing goal. Vini has been subjected to this a few times throughout his career, and for it to happen tonight and ruin the night for us as a team is a disgrace. There’s no place for it in football or society. It’s disgusting.”

The 20-year-old Prestianni just looked on from afar as Vinícius talked to the referee.

“The players who were near said that (Prestianni) said something ugly, that shouldn’t be said,” Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde said. “If you cover your mouth to say something it’s because you are saying something that is not nice. I’m proud of my teammates who defended Vini and of Vini.”

Benfica players said Prestianni told them that he provoked Vinícius but never used any racist insult.

“I asked him and he said it was a normal provocation between players during a match,” Benfica midfielder Leandro Barreiro said. “He said it was nothing racist.”

Both coaches, Benfica's Mourinho and Madrid's Álvaro Arbeloa, talked to Vinícius near the benches.

Mourinho said he did not want to say he believed one player over the other after talking to both, but criticized Vinícius for celebrating near the fans.

“Unfortunately he was not just happy to score that astonishing goal,” Mourinho told Amazon Prime. “When you score a goal like that, you celebrate in a respectful way.”

Mourinho said he told Vinícius that the greatest player in Benfica's history — Eusébio — was black, but seemed to question why the Real Madrid player is so frequently targeted by racist abuse.

“There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium,” Mourinho said. “The stadium where Vinicius played something happened. Always.”

The referee appeared to show that he did not hear anything and gestured that Prestianni had the shirt over his mouth.

The Argentine player was not shown a yellow card and continued playing. He was substituted in the 81st and was applauded by Benfica fans.

The game restarted in the 60th and Vinícius was jeered loudly by the home crowd during the rest of the match.

He was hit by the bottle in the final minutes while near the sidelines in front of Benfica fans. The referee asked for an announcement to be made through the stadium's loudspeakers to warn fans not to through objects onto the field.

Mbappé, who was defending Vinícius while Benfica players confronted his teammate, was also jeered by Benfica supporters. Cameras also showed Mbappé apparently telling Prestianni that he was a racist, along with expletives.

“We can't accept that a player who plays in Europe's top competition behaves like that,” Mbappé said. “He shouldn't keep playing in the competition. Let's see what happens now.”

The Brazilian soccer confederation showed solidarity with Vinícius, saying in an X post that he was “not alone” and that “racism is a crime" and has “no place in soccer anywhere.” It called Vinícius' decision to complain to the referee ”an example of courage and dignity. We are proud of you."

Mourinho sent off

Mourinho, a former Madrid coach, was shown a red card in the 86th for complaining to the referee.

He said the he referee was not awarding yellow cards to the Madrid players as he should have, hinting that it was because they would miss the next game because of an accumulation of cards.

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

LeBron James’ start to the Lakers’ season was not sweet — in more ways than one.

The Los Angeles superstar revealed on this week’s episode of “Mind the Game” that while he was out for the Lakers’ first 14 games of 2025 while dealing with sciatica, he gave up eating his beloved chocolate chip cookies.

“I wasn’t playing obviously as the season started,” he told Steve Nash on the show. “So I needed to give up something. I gotta sacrifice something. And I actually did two things that I very love. And that is drinking wine and my chocolate chip cookies for dessert. I completely took it out.”

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James’ love for the classic cookies is well documented — just last year, he said his infatuation with the dessert actually caused some strife between he and Pat Riley when he was a member of the Heat.

And, when he told Nash about the sugar abstinence, it wasn’t hard to see just how difficult it was for the 41-year-old to give up.

James said he initially implemented the cookie and alcohol ban for November, as he tried to get his body in top shape for its return from his back ailment.

He added that he decided to continue it all the way through December as well.

“I kept going,” James said. “I didn’t have my first drink and my first piece of dessert until New Year’s. New Year’s Day. So I ended up going basically two months.”

James initially said giving up the cookies was the hardest, though he went on to say losing wine wasn’t a thrill either.

“Not playing, being a little stressed, I maybe wanted a glass here. A glass there,” James said. “But it was good to give my body a break.”

James made his season debut for the Lakers on Nov. 18, and he went on to play in 36 total games for the Lakers befpre this weekend’s All-Star break.

He averaged 22 points, 7.1 assists and 5.8 rebounds per contest, and earned his 22nd consecutive All-Star nod.

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In today’s Dub Hub:

• Steph Curry pushes back on tanking concerns, says the NBA is “in a great place.”
• The Athletic’s Nick Friedell outlines how the Warriors can maximize the rest of the season despite a lack of playoff expectations.
• The 2026 NBA All-Star Game drew 8.8 million viewers, its largest audience since 2011.

Stephen Curry isn’t buying into the idea that tanking is a major problem in today’s NBA.

When asked what the league should do to reduce teams intentionally losing for draft position, the Golden State Warriors star pushed back on the premise itself, pointing to the level of competition across the league.

Steph Curry was asked what he thinks the NBA should do to reduce tanking:

“Is it really that big of a problem? I’m asking. We feel like there’s obviously a lot of competition. It’s something I’m sure every year the NBA wants to address, why the Play-in Tournament exists. Things… pic.twitter.com/tMVMb1VaNK

— aly ✶ (@jinthirty) February 14, 2026

Curry also noted that the regular season still carries real weight through seeding battles and the playoff chase, adding that if there’s an issue worth more attention, it might be the length of the schedule rather than tanking.

“There still is relevancy regular season-wise of the seeding and playoff chase,” Curry said. “I know there’s a conversation around how many games we’re playing. That’s probably where I would focus more of the attention.”

The tanking conversation has picked up this season in part for several reasons. The upcoming draft class is widely viewed as a strong one, giving struggling teams or teams who have traded protected picks added incentive to prioritize lottery positioning. At the same time, the NBA’s current collective bargaining agreement has placed a premium on young players on rookie-scale deals, making cheap, controllable talent more valuable than ever for teams trying to manage the cap and avoid harsh luxury-tax penalties.

Even with those pressures, Curry’s message was clear: the big picture focus on the game itself still matters.

“Let’s not forget the league is in a great place overall in terms of the attention, the skill level, the global reach, all of that stuff,” Curry said.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Tuesday, February 17th:

Warriors News:

Post-All-Star break could be fun for Warriors team devoid of playoff expectations | The Athletic

If Porziņģis’ two-month tryout with the Warriors goes well, they can try and find a way to re-sign him, something general manager Mike Dunleavy acknowledged as a possibility during his post-deadline news conference. It also allows for the possibility that Porziņģis’ new deal could be used as a sign-and-trade for a bigger star over the summer. Either way, the Warriors are banking on Porziņģis finding his form because it’s in the best interest of the player and the organization. Whether Porziņģis stays with Golden State or not, he has to prove to the rest of the league that he can stay on the floor and produce.

Warriors star Steph Curry shares thoughtful outlook on eventual NBA retirement | NBC Sports Bay Area

“Every time you do something cool, it’s like, ‘Oh, you’re the oldest to do such and such’ or ‘You’re the oldest point guard to fill in the blank,’ ” Curry told PEOPLE. “So I wear all of those things like a badge of honor, because I know how much work goes into it— to play this game that I love.” 

Steph Curry reacts to alleged inspiration behind the villain in his new movie GOAT

Was Dillon Brooks the inspo behind the villain in Steph’s new GOAT movie? 🤔🤣
pic.twitter.com/k6Heq3rn3s

— TheWarriorsTalk (@TheWarriorsTalk) February 16, 2026

NBA News:

Cuban: NBA should ’embrace tanking’ to improve fan experience | ESPN

“When I got into the nba, they thought they were in the basketball business. They aren’t. They are in the business of creating experiences for fans,” he said.

To Cuban, a good fan experience also includes affordability.

“You know who cares the least about tanking , a parent who cant afford to bring their 3 kids to a game and buy their kids a jersey of their fave player,” he wrote. “[The NBA] should worry more about pricing fans out of games than tanking.”

NBA All-Star Game drew an average of 8.8 million viewers

The first NBA All-Star Game presented by NBC Sports since 2002 delivered the largest NBA All-Star Game audience since 2011, according to preliminary Nielsen data and digital data from Adobe Analytics.

Per @NBCSportsPRpic.twitter.com/EMObgmN91B

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) February 16, 2026

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Warriors sign Nate Williams to two-way contract

Being 27 years old, Williams is a bit on the older side but does have a bit of experience as an NBA contributor. However, it remains unlikely that he will see actual rotation minutes outside of garbage time situations this season.

Follow @unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Germany sweeps two-man bobsled medals, second such sweep in Olympic history.

When the Lakers were sold to Mark Walter, the initial conversations focused on keeping things relatively the same. Jeanie Buss was going to remain the governor of the Lakers, and while an injection of money was imminent, perhaps it didn’t mean people were going to be leaving.

Well, just a couple of months into the transaction, and business has been far from usual.

Joey and Jesse Buss were terminated from their executive positions along with most of the scouting staff.

Now, according to Dan Woike of The Athletic, Tim Harris, the Lakers President of Business Operations, will not return next year.

Lakers president of business operations Tim Harris informed staff Tuesday that this will be his final season with the organization per sources. Harris, who was the driving force between the massive local TV rights deal with Spectrum SportsNet, has been with the Lakers/The Forum…

— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) February 17, 2026

Harris is widely considered responsible for the Lakers’ local TV rights deal with Spectrum SportsNet, which is incredibly good. That deal has brought in billions of dollars to the franchise over the years, helping the Buss family run the organization.

Considering that Harris has been with the Lakers for over 35 years, this is a major shake-up. It’s unknown at this time why this is happening, or whether Harris had been contemplating it for a while, or if the change in ownership influenced his decision.

What is known is that Harris was one of the people in Jeanie Buss’ inner circle who received a huge bonus after the sale of the Lakers.

Another thing that is all but guaranteed is that this won’t be the last person to leave the Lakers in the near future. A new owner often means changes are on the way.

And even if the perception is that Walter allows his employees to do their work and can be a bit hands-off, he didn’t hire the current people working for LA.

So, expect change to be a constant for the purple and gold. And even people like Harris, who have been with the franchise for decades, will be exiting as Walter fully takes over and starts making more decisions.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah Jazz forward Jaren Jackson Jr. underwent surgery on Tuesday to remove a growth in his left knee.

The Jazz said Jackson will begin rehabilitation and be re-evaluated in four weeks to determine his recovery status. Dr. Travis Maak performed the procedure in Salt Lake City.

Utah acquired Jackson from Memphis in an eight-player trade on Feb. 3. A post-trade physical revealed the localized pigmented villonodular synovitis growth.

Jackson was acquired as a key building block with Lauri Markkanen.

The 26-year-old was drafted by the Grizzlies with the No. 4 pick in the 2018 draft. He was a two-time All-Star in Memphis and the 2023 NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

Jackson, who played in three games for Utah, has averaged 19.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.4 blocks in 48 games this season.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

As the college basketball season pushes deeper into the winter stretch, the picture surrounding the 2026 NBA draft class is continuing to evolve.

In the newest installment of The Long Forecast on NetsDaily, we take a closer look at the latest risers, fallers, and the latest in the NCAA as we continue to inch closer to June.

Where do the Nets’ picks sit?

The Nets lost their lone game after last week’s column, falling to the Indiana Pacers, 115-110, at home.

They currently hold the NBA’s fifth-worst record at 15-38, while their second-round selections currently sit at Nos. 35 and 41 overall.

Here are the latest mock drafts from Tanakthon and Bleacher Report.

Risers

Christian Anderson, Texas Tech

Christian Anderson has taken a meaningful sophomore leap at Texas A&M this season.

In 24 games, he averages 19.1 points and 7.7 assists, shooting 43.5% from 3-point range across 38.8 minutes per contest.

Against the No. 1-ranked Arizona Wildcats on Saturday, Anderson erupted for 19 points and eight assists while knocking down 40% of his 3-point attempts, leading the Red Raiders to an overtime road victory.

Texas Tech's Christian Anderson put on a passing clinic in a win at Arizona.

19 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, 6-15 from three.

Works so well out of the high pick and roll. Makes some ridiculous passes. Confident enough to pull up on a dime.

First round pick this summer. pic.twitter.com/tY2H2HpRNN

— anthony chiu (@acfilmroom) February 16, 2026

He can score at all three levels and is an elite shot creator, standing 6’3” and 178 pounds.

At a 5.0 TO% 44.6% three-point shooting on 202 attempts, Donovan Atwell brings so much value to Texas Tech's offense.

JT Toppin (NPOY), Christian Anderson, LeJuan Watts and Jaylen Petty give Red Raiders the NCAA's best game-closing 5.

Final Four team? pic.twitter.com/WLOQHamJbJ

— Ersin Demir (@EDemirNBA) February 15, 2026

Aderson currently projects as a late first-round pick, but at this pace, he will rise even further as the draft approaches.

Fallers

Caleb Wilson, North Carolina

This has absolutely nothing to do with performance.

Caleb Wilson had been putting together a tremendous freshman campaign, flashing his two-way versatility and high defensive upside that made him one of the most intriguing prospects in this year’s draft class.

However, a broken hand halted that momentum. Wilson is still only a freshman, but he will need to get back on the court, re-establish his rhythm, and show scouts he can produce at the same level post-injury.

If he returns healthy and looks like himself, the long-term outlook won’t change, but in the short term, the injury will inevitably raise questions about his draft stock.

Spotlight of the week

Kingston Flemings, Houston

Kingston Flemings has been one of the most productive guards in the country at Houston this season, averaging 16.4 points and 5.3 assists while shooting 49.2% from the field in 31.1 minutes per game.

Beyond that, his poise has stood out while operating the Cougars’ offense as a freshman.

watch Kingston Flemings (top of screen)

not your typical freshmen guard pic.twitter.com/O1cJS16sBV

— Tyler Rucker (@tyler_rucker) February 17, 2026

The Nets also seem to be interested.

Speaking on the “Locked on Nets podcast,” with Erik Slater of Clutch Points, No Ceilings’ Corey Tulaba said that the Nets have expressed interest in the 19-year-old.

“Kingston Flemings is a name that I’ve heard the Nets are interested in.”@CoreyTulaba on the top draft prospect outside the top four that Nets fans should be watching. pic.twitter.com/ZqhJgGbRi9

— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) February 16, 2026

Standing at 6’4” and 190 pounds, Flemings is highly athletic, can score at all three levels, and is making a case as the top point guard in this year’s draft class. Finally, the kid can play defeense.

Sleepers

David Mirković, Illinois

At 6’9” and 250 pounds, David Mirković is beginning to catch fire at Illinois during his freshman season.

Against Indiana on Sunday, he turned heads, pouring in 25 points, while collecting seven rebounds and shooting 62.5% from the field.

David Mirkovic vs Indiana..

25 PTS (10-16 FG, 3-6 3PT)
7 REBS
3 AST

I have never seen him before but bro got GAME.. Is he a NBA Draft Prospect?? And he’s only a Freshman.. pic.twitter.com/PDvbwxfc5Z

— Frankie Vision (@Frankie_Vision) February 15, 2026

On the season, Mirković is averaging 13 points and eight rebounds in 29.1 minutes while shooting 47.9% from the field and 39% from beyond the arc.

Mirkvoić is unique because he can use his size to dominate the rebounding game, yet he is also productive as a perimeter shooter.

David Mirković working the glass 😤 pic.twitter.com/zB6iSknI2b

— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) February 15, 2026

It is a skill set worth monitoring as evaluators search for upside beyond the consensus tier.

This week’s watch guide

Here is a list of NCAA games fans should tune in to this week.

• February 18, 7:00 PM tip-off: Arkansas @ Alabama
• February 18, 10:00 PM tip-off: Illinois @ USC
• February 21, 1:00 PM tip-off: Cincinnati @ Kansas
• February 21, 3:00 PM tip-off: Arizona @ Houston
• February 21, 6:30 PM tip-off: Michigan @ Duke
• February 23, 9:00 PM tip-off: Houston @ Kansas

If Milwaukee is ready to part ways with Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason, the Lakers reportedly have big interest in being at the forefront of trade talks.

At least one Western Conference executive believes if the Bucks intend to shop their nine-time All-Star following the end of the 2025-26 season, the Lakers view him as the “big prize,” according to ESPN.

And, the outlet added, Lakers sources believe they’d be “on a very short list” of teams Antetokounmpo would like to be sent to if he is indeed getting moved this summer.

Of course, whether or not Antetokounmpo is available is a big if.

He’s been with the Bucks for all 13 of his NBA seasons, and while there’s been loud chatter recently that he’d prefer to play for a team in serious championship contention, Milwaukee could always find a way this offseason to retool around him and keep him on the roster.

A Lakers potential offer of three future first-round picks, though, could help sway things, ESPN reported.

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Los Angeles chose to stand relatively pat at the trade deadline earlier this month, making just one minor move for guard Luke Kennard — which does set them up for bigger possible acquistions at the conclusion of the season.

LeBron James’ future with the team will certainly impact any moves the team makes.

The future Hall of Famer and the Lakers were reportedly headed for divorce, but ESPN claimed Tuesday the Lakers would welcome him back if he wanted to return in 2026-27.

There are still plenty of games left for the Lakers this year, but barring a huge playoff run, the real fireworks for the Lakers in 2026 might not begin until the summer.

It was all but official about two weeks ago at the NBA trade deadline.

Now, it’s official.

As reported by numerous sources, Mike Conley is returning to the Minnesota Timberwolves. For those of you curious about the timeline and why this signing is just happening now, here’s a general breakdown.

• February 3 @ 1:24 pm: Mike Conley traded to the Chicago Bulls as part of a salary dump for the Wolves to get under the first apron.
• February 4 @ 1:56 pm: Conley traded to the Charlotte Hornets as part of the Coby White transaction.
• February 5 @ 8:55 am: Wolves trade for Ayo Dosunmu.
• February 5 @ 2:15 pm: Conley waived by the Hornets.
• February 6 @ 10:15 am: Conley reported to re-sign with the Wolves after buyout.
• February 17 @ 11:52 am: Officially signed with the Wolves.

Why was there an 11-day delay in Conley coming back to rejoin his team? Essentially, it was a simple dollars and cents situation. The Wolves waited to re-sign him after the All-Star break because his prorated veteran minimum rate now affords Minnesota to sign another minimum player in addition to Conley. Had they signed him back on February 6th, the Wolves likely would have been capped at 14 players instead of the option of adding a 15th due to their cap situation.

Something like that.

On to basketball. Though the veteran has seen his play spiral downwards this season, but what he brings to Minnesota goes much beyond what happens on the hardwood. The former NBA All-Star (2021) and All-Defensive Team (2013) point guard has been a cliché “locker room presence” that has helped guide Minnesota to two straight Western Conference Finals. Players like Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert have openly talked about wanting the 38-year-old back.

It will be interesting to see how Wolves Head Coach Chris Finch handles his return. It’s no secret that Finch would trust Conley with his life. However, the addition of two-way dynamo Ayo Dosunmu, increased consistency from Bones Hyland, and the imminent return of Terrence Shannon will likely interfere with Finch’s desire to run Conley onto the court.

Someone will have to sacrifice.

In this current season, Conley has averaged the seventh most minutes (18.5) on the team despite being 11th in Win Shares per 48 minutes. He’s suffering career lows across the board. Conley’s 32.1% mark from beyond the arc is his worst ever, despite a career-high in three-point rate. A once undeniably reliable float game is now unrecognizable, shooting a horrendous 32.6% from two-point range on a not nice 6.9% mark within three feet of the hoop.

In the meantime, almost everyone is happy to see Conley back in a Wolves uniform despite his flaws on the court. Let’s turn those tears of sadness into tears of happiness. As Ricky Rubio once said, “Change this face, be happy!”

The union between LeBron James and the Lakers has been a long and prosperous one, but with no contract for next season and retirement questions swirling, what happens next is a mystery.

LeBron will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and he can either retire as a Laker, go to another team, or return to LA for another season.

Retirement will be entirely up to LeBron, and so far, he hasn’t decided whether that’s the route he wants to take. If James wants to play for other teams, he will most certainly find a franchise that will take him. The Cavs, for example, would reportedly “gladly welcome” LeBron back.

When it comes to the Lakers, his desire to return is clear. LA has been his home for eight years, and his son plays for the team. If the Lakers make the right trades this summer, it could be the best place for him to pursue his fifth title.

The question is, do the Lakers want him back?

In a recent article, Dave McMenamin of ESPN stated that the franchise would welcome James’ return next season if that’s what he desires.

If James wants to play a 24th season, he would be welcomed back in L.A., sources told ESPN.

Pelinka declared before the start of this season that he would love it if James retired a Laker, and, sources told ESPN, that sentiment was meant to reflect a 2026 retirement or a 2027 retirement, if James intends to extend his career.

While rumors swirl, the Lakers have consistently said they’d welcome LeBron back if that’s what he wants.

Lakers President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka said he would “love” to have LeBron retire in LA. NBA insiders have also speculated that if LeBron plays next year, it’s likely to be with the Lakers.

LeBron is in a rare position where he truly has all the options available and can pick whichever one is best for him. The Lakers are known for treating their stars right and making an effort to ensure things end on good terms.

LA signed Kobe Bryant to a two-year, $48.5-million contract extension back in the summer of 2013 when few thought that was the right financial decision. However, it mattered to the franchise that Bryant remain in LA and also for him to be the highest-paid player.

While LeBron’s scenario is different, it is similar. James is a legend in his own right, helped LA win a championship and has been the face of the franchise during most of his tenure.

Whether his career concludes this season, next season, or in a couple of years, the Lakers ideally want it to be a happy ending. And, if LeBron wants one more dance in LA, the Lakers will gladly oblige.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.