ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JANUARY 24: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers goes up for a shot against the Orlando Magic during the fourth quarter at Kia Center on January 24, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What’s this feeling in my head? Whiplash? Dizziness? The Utah Jazz are not finished making last-second moves before the Feb 5 trade deadline after an eight-player swaperoo that sent Clayton, Hendricks, Anderson, Niang, and three firsts to Memphis in exchange for Jaren Jackson Jr, John Konchar, Vince Williams, and Jock Landale.
Of that return, I really hope you didn’t get too attached to Landale.
In what was ultimately revealed to be a three-team trade, the Utah Jazz have dealt newly-acquired 30-year-old center Jock Landale to Atlanta in exchange for cash considerations, while the Cleveland Cavaliers chipped in, sending Lonzo Ball and two second-round picks Utah-bound — the final second-rounders that Cleveland had available to trade, according to Jake Fischer.
It's the Cavaliers' 2028 and 2032 second-round picks heading to Utah to move off of Lonzo Ball, per source. Only two seconds Cleveland had left to trade, at the moment.
Much like with Landale, I really hope you didn’t jump at the opportunity to buy a Lonzo Ball jersey, as the Jazz are expected to waive the former second-overall pick before he ever suits up in Utah.
The Utah Jazz front office is waist-deep into the trade deadline hokey-pokey. You put your Landale in, you take your Landale out, you put your Lonzo in, and you trade them all about.
Cleveland is gentrifying its roster with James Harden (who was recently swapped for Darius Garland), Keon Ellis, and Dennis Shröder. Atlanta walks away with lighter pockets, but a deeper frontcourt with Landale, who was enjoying a career-best season in Memphis prior to being moved.
Historically, this move is reminiscent of the last time Utah waived a point guard from Cleveland. Do you remember the time that former MVP Derrick Rose was included in the trade that sent Jae Crowder to Utah? Rose was waived immediately, much to the delight of this hospital patient, who was quick to remind everyone that the former All-NBA guard was well past his prime.
Utah comes away with two second-round picks, proving that their recent trade for Jaren Jackson Jr does not mean the Jazz plan to win now and win at all costs — just as patiently as the rebuild began, Utah has no intention of prematurely chopping the timeline. Draft capital collection and deliberate personnel decisions will define the coming years of Utah Jazz basketball; there is nothing short-sighted about Utah’s franchise reconstruction.
Calvin Barrett is a writer, editor, and prolific Mario Kart racer located in Tokyo, Japan. He has covered the NBA and College Sports since 2024.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal went to a record-setting salary arbitration hearing Wednesday, with the left-hander asking for $32 million and the Detroit Tigers offering $19 million.
A decision by Jeanne Charles, Walt De Treux and Allen Ponak is expected Thursday.
Toronto first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has the highest salary in an arbitration case decided by a panel, winning at $19.9 million in 2024 in a case decided by Charles, De Treux and Scott Buchheit.
A two-time All-Star, the 29-year-old Skubal will be eligible for free agency after the World Series. He is 54-37 with a 3.08 ERA in six major league seasons.
Skubal was 13-6 with an AL-best 2.21 ERA in 31 starts last year, striking out 241 and walking 33 in 195 1/3 innings while earning $10.5 million. His 0.891 WHIP topped qualified pitchers.
Players have won both decisions thus far. Right-hander Kyle Bradish was awarded $3.55 million instead of the Baltimore Orioles’ offer of $2,875,000, and catcher Yainer Diaz received $4.5 million instead of the Houston Astros’ $3 million proposal.
Three cases have been argued with decisions withheld so as not to impact other players in arbitration: Toronto left-hander Eric Lauer ($5.75 million vs. $4.4 million), Atlanta left-hander Dylan Lee ($2.2 million vs. $2 million) and Tampa Bay right-hander Edwin Uceta ($1,525,000 vs. $1.2 million).
Seven players remain scheduled for hearings, which run through Feb. 13: Baltimore left-hander Keegan Akin ($3,375,000 vs. $2,975,000), Cincinnati right-hander Graham Ashcraft ($1.75 million vs. $1.25 million), Kansas City left-hander Kris Bubic ($6.15 million vs. $5.15 million), Milwaukee catcher Willson Contreras ($9.9 million vs. $8.55 million), Los Angeles Angels left-hander Reid Detmers ($2,925,000 vs. $2,625,000), Miami right-hander Calvin Faucher ($2.05 million vs. $1.8 million) and Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson ($6.8 million vs $6.55 million).
Two Eastern Conference franchises trying to emerge from NBA play-in status are exchanging valuable backcourt pieces in a multi-team move involving the defending NBA champions ahead of the 2026 NBA trade deadline.
White, 25, is slated to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason and joins the Hornets as they've surged to seven-straight wins behind a nucleus featuring rookie Kon Knueppel, LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. White is averaging 18.6 points, 4.7 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game in his seventh season since the Bulls drafted him with the No. 7 overall pick in 2019.
Sexton was Charlotte's leading scorer off the bench this season and will also be an unrestricted free agent after this season. He is averaging 14.2 points and 3.7 assists per game. Conley and Plumlee could be candidates to be waived by their new teams with both on expiring contracts. Dieng will also be a restricted free agent after this season.
The Nets have ruled out guard Cam Thomas for Thursday’s game against the Magic due to personal reasons.
Curious timing, considering Thomas has been mentioned in trade rumors dating back to last year, when a contract extension was not agreed on.
Thomas did not make the trip to Orlando with his team as the basketball world awaits whether Brooklyn will trade the guard ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline.
The Nets drafted Thomas with the No. 27 pick of the 2021 NBA Draft and he gradually became a proficient scorer. After averaging 8.5 and 10.6 points per game in his first two seasons, Thomas took a major jump in the 2023-24 season when he became a regular starter for the Nets.
Across 66 games (51 starts), Thomas averaged 22.5 points and 2.9 assists while averaging 31 minutes a game.
The next season, Thomas was on track to have similar numbers, but suffered a number of injuries. He appeared in just 25 games (23 starts) but averaged a career high 24 points across 31 minutes.
This season, Thomas has played just 24 games with the Nets, averaging 24 minutes and 15.6 points on 40 percent shooting.
In the Nets’ loss to the Lakers on Tuesday, Thomas scored eight points on 3-of-7 shooting and dished two assists across 23 minutes.
If the Nets were to move Thomas, it would be another deal ahead of the trade deadline for GM Sean Marks after they acquired guard Ochai Agbaji and a second-round pick from the Raptors in a three-team trade that involved the Los Angeles Clippers.
Boston Celtics (32-18) at Houston Rockets (31-17) Wednesday, February 4, 2026 8:00 PM ET Regular Season Game #51, Road Game #27 TV: NBCSB, Space City Home Network, NBA-LP Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, 790 AM, Sirius XM Toyota Center
The Celtics visit the Houston Rockets for the 2nd and final meeting between these two teams this season. The Rockets won the first meeting 128-101 in Boston on November 1. They split the series 1-1 last season, with each team winning on the road. The Celtics are 98-58 against the Rockets overall, all time. They are 42-34 in games played in Houston. The Celtics are playing in the 2nd of back to back games. They are 5-3 this year on the second night of back to back games.
The Rockets made some significant changes since last season. Their biggest change was a trade that brought Kevin Durant and Clint Capela to Houston in exchange for Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green and the 10th pick in the draft. They also signed Dorian Finney-Smith and Josh Okogie as free agents. They also brought in JD Davison as a 2-way player.
The Celtics are 3rd in the East, 5.5 games behind 1st place Detroit. They are tied with 2nd place New York, 2.5 games ahead of 4th place Toronto and 5th place Cleveland, 3.5 games ahead of 6th place Philadelphia and 6 games ahead of 7th place Miami. The Celtics are 10-6 against Western Conference opponents. They are 16-10 on the road and 7-3 in their last 10 games. They have won their last 3 games.
The Rockets are 4th in the West, 7 games behind first place OKC, 1.5 games behind 2nd place San Antonio, 1 game behind 3rd place Denver, 1.5 games ahead of 5th place Minnesota, 2 games ahead of 6th place Los Angeles Lakers, and 7th place Phoenix. They are 14-2 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 17-9 at home and 8-2 in their last 10 games. They have won their last 3 games.
The Celtics complete a 2 game road trip with a game at Houston on Wednesday. After this trip they will host Miami, New York, and Chicago for a 3 game home stand, which will take them into the All Star Break. After the break, they will head out on a 4 game Western road trip through Golden State, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix, and Denver.
The Rockets are playing in the first of 2 home games. They will host Charlotte on Thursday in back to back games. They then play one game at Oklahoma City before hosting the Clippers for 2 straight games. Then they break for the All Star break before playing at Charlotte and at New York. They then host Utah and Sacramento.
The Celtics are still without Jayson Tatum as he rehabs from the Achilles tear. Chris Boucher is out for personal reasons. Anfernee Simons was traded to Chicago for Nikola Vucevic and neither player will be available since the trade is not official as yet. Jaylen Brown is doubtful with knee and hamstring soreness. Sam Hauser is out due to a thumb injury. I’m just making a wild guess that Pritchard, Scheierman and Walsh will get the start. With Joe Mazzulla you never know.
For the Rockets, Steven Adams is out for the season after undergoing season-ending left ankle surgery. Fred VanVleet is also out for the season after suffering a torn ACL in late September. Dorian Finney-Smith is out due to left ankle injury management. Kevin Durant missed Monday’s game against the Pacers due to a left ankle sprain. He is expected to return for this game and is listed as probable.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Derrick White vs Amen Thompson
Derrick White | Getty ImagesAmen Thompson | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Celtics Reserves Xavier Tillman Hugo Gonzalez Luka Garza Josh Minott
2-Way Players Ron Harper, Jr Max Shulga Amari Williams
Injuries/Out Jayson Tatum (Achilles) out Chris Boucher (personal) out Sam Hauser (thumb) out Anfernee Simons (personal) out Nikola Vucevic (traded) out Jaylen Brown (hamstring/knee) doubtful
Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
Rockets Reserves Aaron Holiday Jae’sean Tate Steven Adams Reed Sheppard Josh Okogie Clint Capela Jeff Green
Two Way Players JD Davison Isaiah Crawford
Injuries/Out Fred VanVleet (ACL) out Steven Adams (ankle) out Kevin Durant (ankle) probable Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) out
Head Coach Ime Udoka
Key Matchups Jaylen Brown vs Kevin Durant This should be a good matchup. Durant is averaging 26.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. He is shooting 51.0% from the field and 40.5% from beyond the arc. In the first game against the Celtics, Durant finished with 26 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block and 2 steals while shooting 72.7% from the field and 66.7% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to do a better job of defending him in this game.
Neemias Queta vs Alperen Sengun Sengun is averaging 21.4 points, 9.4 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 50.1% from the field and 29.3% on threes. In the first game against the Celtics he finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 blocks and 1 steal while shooting 38.5% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to defend him well and box out on rebounds if they want to win this game.
Honorable Mention Derrick White vs Amen Thompson Thompson is averaging 17.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He is shooting 50.7% from the field and 18.6% from beyond the arc. In the first game against the Celtics, he finished with 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists while shooting 50% from the field and 100% from beyond the arc.
Keys to the Game Defense – Defense is always a key to winning. Players struggle on offense in some games, but they can always play defense. The Rockets have an offensive rating of 117.9 (5th). The Celtics have an offensive rating of 120.7 (2nd). The Rockets are 4th with a defensive rating of 111.9 while the Celtics are 11th with a defensive rating of 113.1. The Celtics have to stick to their defensive identity in this one because the Rockets play tough defense and the Celtics can’t depend on a shoot out to win. In the first game between these two teams, the Celtics allowed the Rockets to shoot 54.5% from the field and 65.5% from beyond the arc. They have to defend better in this game if they hope to win it.
Rebound – In order to score, the Celtics need the ball and to get the ball, they will need to crash the boards as a team. The Celtics average 45.0 rebounds per game (11th) while the Rockets average 49.4 rebounds per game (1st). Much of rebounding is effort and when the Celtics put out extra effort on the boards, it usually carries over into the rest of their game. The Rockets are 1st in the league with 18.8 second chance points per game. The Rockets are a very good rebounding team and so the Celtics must come into the game determined to put out extra effort and to hustle for every rebound to limit 2nd chance points for the Rockets. In the first game against the Rockets the Celtics were out-rebounded 53-36. They must rebound better in this game.
Be Aggressive and Stay Focused – The Celtics have to be aggressive in taking the ball to the basket and not settling for 3 pointers on every possession, especially if the 3s aren’t falling. They also have to be aggressive in hustling for rebounds and for loose balls. And they have to be aggressive on defense. They have to play harder than the Rockets and play like the team that wants this game more. They also need to carry that aggressiveness through all 4 quarters with no let up. They also need to stay focused on taking good shots and making them. They have to keep their focus on playing team ball.
Be Consistent – The Celtics have been up and down this season so far. One game they lose to a team that they clearly should have beat. The next game they win in a blowout over a contender. One game they give up a big lead and lose down the stretch. The next game they come from behind to get a win. The Celtics need to get back to giving consistent effort every game and every quarter. No let up and no easy easy shots for their opponent.
X-Factors Back to Back Road Game – The Celtics are on the road where they have a 15-10 record. The Celtics are playing on the second night of back to back games while the Rockets at home and in the first of back to back games. The Celtics had to travel, stay in a hotel, play in front of a hostile crowd and on an unfamiliar court while the Rockets should get a boost from being on their home court. The Celtics also will be short handed as they wait for the trade to be finalized.
Coaching – The Rockets are led by former Celtics coach Ime Udoka, who left Boston under less than desirable circumstances. He was suspended for violating team rules and assistant coach Joe Mazzulla was made interim coach. Eventually, Udoka was officially released and Mazzulla was made head coach. I am sure that Udoka would love nothing more than to once again beat the team that let him go after he led that team to the Finals.
Officiating – The officiating is always an x-factor. Some referees call the game tight and others let them play. Some favor the home team and others call it evenly. Recently the officiating has been getting some scrutiny for being visibly bad. The Celtics have to play through whatever calls go against them and not allow bad calls or no calls to take away their focus on playing the game the right way.
SGA will be re-evaluated after the break. He suffered the injury in the Thunder's win over the Magic.
Gilgeous-Alexander being out for the All-Star Game means Commissioner Adam Silver will get to pick his replacement on the World Team for the game on Feb. 15 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.
SGA's injury comes as backup point guard Ajay Mitchell is also out for Wednesday's game against the Spurs with a hip injury (he was out for the Orlando game as well).
The Thunder have been hit with injuries of late, and Wednesday against the Spurs will also be without Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein, Lu Dort and Alex Caruso. That said, OKC has a comfortable six-game lead over San Antonio for the No. 1 seed in the West.
Oklahoma City has some guard help coming, trading for the 76ers second-year player Jared McCain.
The Thunder are sending the Rockets' first-round pick this year (likely in the mid-20s) and three second-round picks for the promising shooting guard with a large social media following. Oklahoma City creates the roster spot by trading Ousmane Dieng to Charlotte for Mason Plumlee, then the Thunder will waive Plumlee.
This is a great pickup for the Thunder. McCain was the early frontrunner for Rookie of the Year last season until injuries derailed that, sidelining him for the season. He still hasn't been right this season, but in recent weeks, he has looked more like himself and started to find his form. McCain averaged 15.3 points in the 23 games he played pre-injury last season. He recently scored 17 against the Bucks and 12 against the Pelicans, but for the season is averaging 6.6 per game in limited minutes.
For a Thunder team that has some hard financial decisions coming — Holmgren and Williams max extensions kick in next season, Isaiah Hartenstein and Lu Dort are extension-eligible this summer, and Mitchell will be in 2027 — finding good players on rookie contracts who can contribute will be critical. McCain can be that guy.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JANUARY 24: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers goes up for a shot against the Orlando Magic during the fourth quarter at Kia Center on January 24, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers are reportedly trading point guard Lonzo Ball to the Utah Jazz, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Cleveland will be parting with their two remaining second-round picks to complete the deal. They have no more left available to trade.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed to trade Lonzo Ball and two second-round picks to the Utah Jazz, sources tell ESPN. Ball's agent Rich Paul and the Jazz are expected to discuss his future soon. pic.twitter.com/qrNtC6tlc7
Ball was acquired this past summer from the Chicago Bulls for Isaac Okoro, a move that has not hit its intended target on Cleveland’s roster.
Ball’s short tenure in the wine and gold will be largely remembered as a disappointment. Despite actually managing to stay relatively healthy, the on-court product was far from expected. He shot exceedingly poorly, 30.1% from the floor and 27.2% from three-point territory, while not being able to make the defensive, playmaking, and rebounding gains make up for it. Ball’s effective field goal percentage is the second-worst in the league for wings per Cleaning the Glass.
As if the writing was not already on the wall when Craig Porter Jr. passed Ball on the depth chart months ago, the Cavs recently acquired point guard Dennis Schroeder from the Sacramento Kings. While not as defensive or playmaking-savvy as Ball, Schroeder can shoot the basketball, get an offense situated, and play off the ball next to either Donovan Mitchell or James Harden. Keon Ellis, whom the Cavs also acquired from the Kings, will slot in as the best backcourt defender as well — filling a role Ball was expected to occupy.
Ball is effectively an expiring salary, as his $10 million due next season is a team option that will almost certainly not be picked up by the Jazz. This move gets the Cavs closer to being out of the second apron, opens up a standard roster slot for Nae’Qwan Tomlin, and gives them the flexibility for a bigger trade at the deadline if they wanted to go that route.
Chris Paul's final NBA season is being re-routed north of the border, with another stop potentially on the way.
The 40-year-old point guard was traded by the Los Angeles Clippers to the Toronto Raptors as part of a multi-team deal ahead of the 2026 NBA trade deadline, ESPN reported on Wednesday, Feb. 4. Paul will go to the Raptors, while forward Ochai Agbaji and a 2032 second-round pick will move from Toronto to the Brooklyn Nets in the transaction.
But the State Farm pitchman might not be there for long, according to multiplereports. It's still unclear if Paul will actually report to Toronto, be included in another trade or be waived by the Raptors in the coming days. What jersey he'll be wearing for his final NBA game will remain an ongoing subplot.
Paul signed a one-year, $3.6-million contract to return to the Clippers this past offseason and then later announced this would be his final NBA season. The Clippers then shocked the NBA in December when they sent Paul home in the wee hours of the night in the middle of a road trip as the team struggled early on this season. General Manager Lawrence Frank and coach Tyronn Lue made clear the organization intended to part ways with one of the greatest players in franchise history as reports emerged about friction involving Paul's leadership style inside the team's locker room.
Paul could be a veteran presence on the bench for an emerging Raptors roster led by multi-faceted forwards Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes, which is readying for a postseason run after emerging as one of the pleasant surprises in the Eastern Conference this year. The Raptors would become the eighth NBA team of Paul's decorated career. He was averaging a career-low 2.9 points and 3.3 assists in 14.3 minutes over 16 games this season with the Clippers.
Agbaji is set to be a restricted free agent this offseason after being selected with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft and will get a chance to prove himself to potential suitors with the rebuilding Nets. He was initially traded to the Raptors in 2024 and saw his playing time drop significantly this season.
SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 21: Ochai Agbaji #30 of the Toronto Raptors plays defense against Dennis Schroder #17 of the Sacramento Kings during the game on January 21, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In a three-team deal, involving the Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers announced Wednesday afternoon, the Nets acquired 6’5” shooting guard Ochai Agbaji, a 2022 lottery pick; and a 2032 second round pick from the Raptors plus $3.5 million in cash considerations from the Los Angeles Clippers. all essentially for nothing.
In return, Brooklyn sent the Clippers their draft rights to Vanja Markinovic, a 29-year-old Serbian shooting guard who the Nets acquired as part of the 2023 Kevin Durant trade with the Phoenix Suns. He was not seen as an NBA prospect even before he injured his knee last week, ending his season in Serbia. Also in the deal announced , the Raptors obtained Chris Paul from the Clippers. He is expected to be waived, freeing him up to sign with any team other than LAC.
Shams Charania was first with the news…
The Los Angeles Clippers, Brooklyn Nets and Toronto Raptors have agreed on a multi-team trade sending Chris Paul to the Raptors and Ochai Agbaji, a 2032 Raptors second-rounder and cash to the Nets, sources tell ESPN.
Moreover, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that the Nets are not near done. “Brooklyn, I expect to be in multiple deals in the next 24 hours.” he said on ESPN following the Shams tweet.
Ogbaji is in the final year of his rookie deal which will pay him $6.4 million. A 6’5” 25-year-old, Milwaukee native was taken at No. 14 in 2022 after starring at the University of Kansas with Nets forward Jalen Wilson. Agbaji was named a consensus first-team All-American and voted the Big 12 Player of the Year in 2022. He led the Jayhawks to a national championship and was named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player.
He was drafted originally by the Cleveland Cavaliers as a 3-and-D prospect. However, he was traded to the Utah Jazz that September before playing a regular-season game in Cleveland then later traded to the Toronto Raptors in February 2024.
In 243 NBA games, 108 starts, Agbaji has averaged 7.3 points on 45/34/75 shooting splits. His best year was two years ago when in 64 games, he averaged 10.4 points on 50/40/71 shooting splits and a registered 1.0 “stocks,” aka steals and blocks.
His acquisition, once completed, will put the Nets roster at 16 players requiring them to cut someone before game time in Orlando Thursday.
Yossi Gozlan of capsheets.com and the Third Apron podcast laid out the Nets current salary cap and draft assets situation…
The Brooklyn Nets now have a whopping 21 second-round picks through 2032 by taking on Ochai Agbaji.
They can absorb him with their $15.3 million in cap space, leaving them with $8.9 million.
The Nets will need to create a roster spot for this trade.
In other words they can either absorb Agbaji into their league-high $15.3 million in cap space and still have $8.9 million left. However, if in other deals, they exhaust the rest of their cap space to take on more expensive contracts before Thursday, then they could instead use their $8.8 million Room Mid-level Exception to absorb Agbaji, according Gozlan.
Meanwhile, the Nets left Cam Thomas behind in New York Wednesday at they flew from Newark to Orlando for Thursday’s game vs. the Magic.
Can confirm Cam Thomas was not on the #Nets team plane, which just departed for Orlando. Brooklyn plays the #Magic tomorrow, with the #NBA Trade Deadline being Thursday at 3 p.m. https://t.co/f0M6m9aAu9
Michael Scott reported that Thomas is “receiving trade interest” from the Cleveland Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks.
Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas is drawing trade interest from the Cleveland Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks ahead of the trade deadline, league sources told @hoopshype. Thomas is out for tomorrow’s game against the Orlando Magic due to “personal reasons.” pic.twitter.com/fDdX9Brylw
After exercising his qualifying offer in October, Thomas is making $6.0 million this season as an unrestricted free agent. As such, he’ll have to approve any trade.
This is the fifth salary dump the Nets have participated in since last summer. In the others, they acquired:
Michael Porter Jr. and an unprotected Nuggets first in 2032 from Denver for Cam Johnson;
Terance Mann and an unprotected Hawks first in 2025 (that became Drake Powell) from Denver for $1.1 million in cash considerations;
Haywood Highsmith and an unprotected Heat second in 2032 for a heavily protected second in 2026 from Miami;
Kobe Bufkin for $110,000 in cash considerations from the Hawks.
BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 30: The sneakers worn by Maxime Raynaud #42 of the Sacramento Kings during the game against the Boston Celtics on January 30, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 29: Chris Paul #3 of the Los Angeles Clippers jogs off court during the first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Intuit Dome on November 29, 2025 in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Shams Charania reports that the Toronto Raptors have sent off Ochai Agbaji and a second-round pick in a three-team deal to bring Chris Paul over from the Clippers, who had been languishing after being sent away from team activities by the Los Angeles franchise. Agbaji will head to the Brooklyn Nets.
The Raptors will not make CP3 report to the team, likely moving him before tomorrow’s NBA trade deadline OR buying him out after. Potential suitors could include his former franchises, the Thunder and Pelicans, seeking to capitalize on their one-time great’s last year…
Unless we’re getting a cool young player back and Paul is content to stay, I’d be happy to have another veteran presence on the young squad if he can mesh well with the team culture. And hey – maybe he and Garrett Temple can reminisce about the old days…
What do we want to do with Paul now that we’ve got him? Do you guys like the idea of having his veteran presence on the squad, or is it better to try and shop the star for a bigger return? Who would you want the Raptors to seek out in return for him?
PLUS, it seems like this move is officially the nail in the coffin regarding Domantas Sabonis talks. Agbaji would have been necessary salary matching in a deal like that. Do you agree that now is NOT the time to take a swing on Sabonis?
Patrick “Pat” Mahomes Sr., 55, was arrested Tuesday during a meeting with his probation officer after a warrant was obtained for a probation violation, authorities said. He remained in Smith County jail in Tyler on Wednesday. His attorney did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press.
The elder Mahomes was sentenced to five years probation after pleading guilty in August 2024 to a DWI charge. On Jan. 1, he had a high alcohol reading on his ankle monitor, according to a probation violation report.
Mahomes Sr. had been arrested on the DWI charge in February 2024, a little more than a week before his son led the Chiefs to a second straight Super Bowl championship with a win over San Francisco.
Smith County jail records show multiple DWI arrests over the years for the elder Mahomes.
Mahomes Sr. is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for six teams during an 11-year major league career that ended in 2003, according to Baseball Reference.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 8: Anthony Davis #3 of the Dallas Mavericks adjusts his Oakley glasses during the second half of their game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center on January 8, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When the dust settles and we look back on this era of Dallas Mavericks basketball, it will be easy to view Anthony Davis’ tenure with the Mavericks as a failure. After all, he appeared in just 29 games in a little over a year’s time and left multiple games with injuries that would sideline him for weeks.
It’s easy to take the last year out on Davis, all the pain from the trade and having to accept that we’re not going to be contending for championships anytime soon. He is the face of the worst trade in modern sports history, his return was marginal at best, and it will be easy to hold that against him.
I don’t think we should.
Davis didn’t ask to be traded to Dallas, and he certainly didn’t ask to be brought in via the trade that angered a fanbase so much that its architect was fired just nine months after he made it. Davis came to Dallas to play basketball and try to earn the fans’ love in any way he could. His injury history was frustrating at times, but it’s not like he asked to sit out games.
Davis wants to play, and he wants to play hard. He can be a valuable part of a championship team, and he’ll be a first-ballot Hall of Famer when he hangs it up in a few years. I hope that with time, we can accept that he was put into an unwinnable situation by an egotistical man who thought he knew better than everyone around him. Davis is not the man who should get your ire; Nico Harrison is.
I enjoyed watching Davis play as a Maverick, and I also think it was time for him to go, but not because of him or anything he’s done. He just doesn’t fit the timeline of this team anymore. The infamous trade sent us from a contender to a rebuilding team, and you just can’t have a guy making over sixty million dollars a year on a rebuilding team.
I hope he succeeds in Washington, whatever that may look like, and I hope he has an entertaining and fulfilling end to his career. I wish he could’ve come to Dallas under better circumstances, but we don’t always get what we want in life.
With time, I hope Mavericks fans will see this situation the same way I do: with appreciation that he treated his time in Dallas as a professional and tried to gain the support of a fanbase that was — understandably — scarred by his presence. He was a good mentor to Cooper Flagg in their limited time together and he bought into a team that was heading for a rebuild despite nearing the end of his prime.
In total, his time in Dallas spanned just 367 days, and I think it’s best for everyone that his Maverick career is over. I just also hope we remember he never asked to be put under the microscope he got placed underneath and he never turned his back on this team.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 8: Anthony Davis #3 of the Dallas Mavericks adjusts his Oakley glasses during the second half of their game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center on January 8, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards acquired 10-time NBA All-Star Anthony Davis, Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, 2 first-round picks and 3 second-rounders, according to ESPN.
BREAKING: The Dallas Mavericks are trading 10-time NBA All-Star Anthony Davis, Jaden Hardy, D'Angelo Russell and Dante Exum to the Washington Wizards for Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, 2 first-round picks and 3 second-rounders, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/sfrQQubI5i
None of the picks they are shipping out are their own:
• 2026 first-rounder (via OKC)
• 2030 top-20 protected first-rounder (via GSW)
• 2026 second-rounder (via PHX)
• 2027 secone-rounder (via CHI)
• 2029 second-rounder (via HOU)
After acquiring Trae Young in January, the Wizards have made another move, this time to bolster their frontcourt alongside Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George.
Potential Wizards starting five:
PG: Trae Young SG: Tre Johnson SF: Kyshawn George PF: Alex Sarr C: Anthony Davis pic.twitter.com/1nwrq7DmBm
Davis has missed the majority of the last two season’s due to injury. And he is under a rather hefty contract that runs through the 2026-27 season with a player option in 2027-28.
2025-26: $54.1 million
2026-27: $58.4 million
2027-28: $62.7 million (player option)
But Washington clearly liked the value in acquiring Davis to pair with its young core — especially Sarr, who’s emerged as one of the league’s premiere rim protectors at just 20 years old.
Jaden Hardy is just 23 years old and under contract both this season and next. He has a team option at $6 million for the 2027-28 season. It’s possible he sticks around as a young guard the Wizards try to further develop.
D’Angelo Russell, on the other hand, is 29 years old and was recently removed from Dallas’ rotation. He has a player option at $5.9 million for next season. Given how the Wizards handled similar situations with veterans acquired via trade (Marcus Smart for example), Russell is a possible buyout candidate if Washington can’t flip him elsewhere.
Dante Exum is on a $2.3 million expiring contract. Washington will likely let him enter free agency this offseason.
The Mavericks have reportedly shipped the headliner of that deal, forward-center Anthony Davis, to the Washington Wizards.
According to ESPN, the full package sent to Washington also includes Dallas guards Jaden Hardy, D'Angelo Russell and Dante Exum. In return, the Wizards are receiving veteran forward Khris Middleton, guards AJ Johnson and Malaki Branham and forward Marvin Bagley III, though the real draw are two first-round draft picks and three second-round selections.
The deal generates interesting implications, so how do we make sense of what this means? Here are grades for the Mavericks-Wizards Anthony Davis trade:
This really is intriguing. Washington has been in a rebuild for the better part of the last decade, but coach Brian Keefe has shown this season that he can get flashes of production from an incredibly young roster. In fact, the team’s starting lineup during a Jan. 24 loss against the Hornets had an average age of 20.64 years, the youngest average age of a starting lineup since the NBA began tracking that data in 1970-71, according to Elias.
But the Wizards have won only 13 games, tied for fewest in the East. This was a team that desperately needed steady, veteran leadership, yes, but is this the most effective way to elevate the team out of a rebuild? Paired with the trade that shipped Trae Young to Washington, the Wizards now have a pair of veterans with 14 combined All-Star selections. But there’s some significant risk here.
Davis played just 29 games for the Mavericks since the February 2025 trade and has faced constant injury concerns throughout his career. In fact, he’s currently sidelined with a left-hand issue and appears to be a few weeks away from a return. Similarly, Young is out with a sprained right knee and bruised quadriceps.
For these deals to be fruitful, Davis and Young need to be healthy and available. But they also have to gel. The Wizards rank dead last in net rating (-10.7) and second-to-last in both offensive rating (109.3) and defensive rating (120.0). Young is a defensive liability. Davis (20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game) should provide stability on both ends.
Keefe will need to get Davis, 32, and Young, 27, to buy in and lead Washington’s young players. This was certainly a team that needed to make calculated moves. But if it doesn’t work, the Wizards could continue to find themselves at the bottom of the standings.
One way the Wizards mitigated some risk in this deal is that none of the draft picks they traded were their own. So if Washington remains in the lottery, those picks will stay with the team.
Grade: B
Dallas Mavericks
It was clear the fit with Davis was never seamless. Perhaps, in an alternate universe in which star point guard Kyrie Irving doesn’t tear his anterior cruciate ligament, the Mavericks could’ve sustained the post-Dončić era.
But that’s not reality and the Mavericks are paying for the sins of former general manager Nico Harrison. Interim co-GMs Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi made this deal to make the best of a tough situation. The franchise saw the recent stellar play of 19-year-old rookie Cooper Flagg and understood that it needs to build around him. This is something that is going to take years. It’s not an enviable position, and the draft picks coming back seemingly won't be top-of-draft selections.
Despite moments of competitive play, Dallas has lost five consecutive games and probably understood that a pathway toward the play-in picture was doubtful. The Mavericks are sitting at 19-31 and seemingly believe that it’s better to admit a mistake than compound it. Put another way: the Mavericks considered Davis to be a sunk cost, especially considering that he was set to make $112.6 million through the 2026-27 season, with a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28.
Updated return on the Luka trade:
3 first-round picks 3 second-rounders Max Christie Khris Middleton AJ Johnson Malaki Branham Marvin Bagley III
This does provide some financial flexibility for Dallas to be more aggressive with its roster construction.
Dallas also holds its own 2026 first-rounder. This is a draft loaded with talent at the top, so the Mavericks could even package their new draft capital to move up and target a player of their choosing.
Davis was barely playing for the Mavericks. Dallas at least squeezed as much value as possible out of him.
