PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 10: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on February 10, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA All-Star break is only a day away. It is human nature to start looking ahead and thinking about time off. Heck, I have a three-day weekend coming up, and I have been thinking about it since Monday. I can only imagine what physically and mentally fatigued players across the league are feeling as the opportunity to rest is within reach. For eight days, they finally get to stop traveling and living from city to city during the grind of the season.
On a side note, I want to congratulate myself for not breaking into Michael Jackson lyrics after I wrote the words “human nature”. Why, why?
The Phoenix Suns are a team that thrives on disruption, hustle, energy, and focus. Since the beginning of February, it feels as if their edge has dulled a little bit. There are multiple reasons for this, with injuries being the primary culprit. It is also understandable to assume that human nature is taking a little bit of that edge off, as a team with bumps and bruises earned in the heat of battle is aching for rest.
When you look at the stats from before February and compare them to this month’s, you can see the blade is not as sharp as it was.
Pre-February, the Suns carried a +2.9 net rating (10th) and 111.8 defensive rating (5th). In Febraruy? Phoenix has a -3.0 net rating (19th) and 116.3 defensive rating (18th). Their rebounding percentage was 50.3% (11th), but since the dawn of February, it’s 44.2% (28th). Can we say, “tired legs”?
What makes the Suns different from many teams across the Association is that they need to keep their blade sharp at all times to be successful. This team is outperforming expectations thanks to their continued focus and energy each night. If that focus or energy is slightly off, their superpower is compromised. Because that is the NBA, where winning is hard. That is the level of competition you face every night. It happens even if it is the depleted Warriors on trade deadline day. It happens even if it is the Dallas Mavericks, a team that is clearly aiming to tank.
That will be the challenge as the second half of the season begins after the All-Star break. The Suns need to do all they can to stay as sharp as possible. The energy from opposing teams will rise as they lock in for the final stretch of the season, and playoff seeding is on the line.
When you look at the teams actively tanking, like the Wizards or the Jazz, the Suns don’t play many games against them. They play Jazz again and face the Kings, Pacers, and Mavs. No, for Phoenix, it’s the 4th-toughest remaining schedule in the NBA, per Tankathon. They will be playing against teams who will use the final third of the season as an opportunity to sharpen their knives and prepare for a deep postseason run.
Fatigue has set in, and there is no doubt about that. Whether it is physical or mental, the Suns need a break. This time off could not have come at a better time, as the arrow is starting to trend downward. Is that trend caused by fatigue or human nature? It is a possibility. The break needs to happen.
The Suns have one final test tonight against the Oklahoma City Thunder. After that, the rest can occur. The hope is that they maintain focus for tonight and moving forward. The schedule is going to get tough. The Suns will have to be tougher.
The brawl began after Diabate was fouled by Duren with more than seven minutes remaining in the third quarter. The players exchanged words and then Duren shoved Diabate in the face. Bridges stepped in and shoved Duren before Diabate threw a punch at Duren and had to be held back by coaches and teammates, according to the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are ready for the All-Star Break, looking to put a rough few weeks behind them.
A win against the Portland Trail Blazers would help that cause.
My Trail Blazers vs. Timberwolves predictions focus on Minnesota’s newest piece, perhaps buoyed by Anthony Edwards’s possible absence, an odd twist in my NBA picks for Wednesday, February 11.
Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves prediction
Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves best bet: Ayo Dosunmu Over 13.5 points (-115)
Ayo Dosunmu scored 21 points on Monday night, his second game with his new team. His 11 points in his Minnesota Timberwolves debut also encourage this prop, even if falling short in that moment.
Minnesota was blown out, and the Timberwolves' trade deadline acquisition played only 25 minutes. As Dosunmo's workload increases, so should his scoring.
While the Portland Trail Blazers have been an enjoyable story this season, their defensive rating ranks No. 20 over the last 10 games. This is a defense ripe for Dosunmu's aggressive offense.
Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves same-game parlay
With Anthony Edwards considered questionable due to an illness, there is immediate value in Jaden McDaniels scoring more.
That has been a consistent bet all season, as the T-Wolves continue to prove they’re much more than just their dynamic superstar shooting guard.
Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves SGP
Ayo Dosunmu Over 13.5 points
Jaden McDaniels Over 14.5 points
Timberwolves moneyline
Our "from downtown" SGP: Less Ant, No Problem
If Anthony Edwards does play, sharing the ball with Dosunmu before the All-Star Break may be a priority.
Edwards has also expressed some skepticism about whether he’ll even play in Sunday’s All-Star Game, as he’s seeking some rest.
Over/Under: Over 234.5 (-110) | Under 234.5 (-110)
Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves betting trend to know
The last five Blazers’ games have all cashed their Overs, exceeding bookmakers’ expectations by an average of 18.7 points per game. Find more NBA betting trends for Trail Blazers vs. Timberwolves.
How to watch Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves
Location
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Date
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
KUNP, FDSN North
Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves latest injuries
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Isaiah Stewart committed one of the NBA's cardinal sins: He left the bench to get involved in a fight.
That's going to cost him seven games as the NBA handed down its suspensions from Monday's fight during the Detroit at Charlotte game. The suspensions, all without pay, are:
• Isaiah Stewart: 7 games • Miles Bridges: 4 games • Moussa Diabate: 4 games • Jalen Duren: 2 games
The NBA said that the length of Stewart's suspension was based in part on "his repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts." This is the fourth time he has been suspended for a fight.
Stewart's suspension feels about right — the league had to come down hard on him. Duren, whose push of Diabate started the entire thing, got off lightly here.
The fight came in the third quarter of the Pistons' win over the Hornets on Monday. It had been a chippy, physical game already midway through the third quarter when Detroit's Duren and Charlotte's Diabate had some words before an inbounds play. Detroit moved the ball around and got it to Duren in the post, who turned to score and was fouled by Diabate. Up to that point, this was all standard NBA stuff.
Then Duren and Diabate got face-to-face and had words again, which is when Duren pushed Diabate away in the face. Diabate got angry and went at Duren, taking swings while Tobias Harris held him back, and from there it escalated into a proper fight. Bridges had jumped in to defend Diabate and took swings as well.
Stewart left the Pistons bench to get in the middle of it and with that was always going to get the largest fine.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 16: Kadary Richmond #19 of the Washington Wizards dribbles the ball during the game against the Utah Jazz during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 16, 2025 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards have signed Kadary Richmond to a 10-day contract, the team announced Wednesday.
Official: The Washington Wizards have signed Kadary Richmond to a 10-Day Contract. 🤝
Richmond, 24, played Summer League with the Wizards before he later signed with the Capital City Go-Go, the organization’s G League affiliate.
In 23 games appearances with the Go-Go this season, the 6-foot-5 guard has averaged 8.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game on 45.7% FG. Richmond played five collegiate seasons with three programs: Syracuse, Seton Hall and St. John’s.
The Wizards’ roster sits at 13 standard NBA contracts and three two-way deals. Keshon Gilbert and Richmond now occupy the final two roster spots, with both on 10-day contracts.
Playing the same opponent on back-to-back days creates a unique dynamic with one side leaning on familiarity, while the other looks for redemption after falling short.
That’s exactly the situation for the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers, and after Tuesday’s matchup stayed Under the total, Wednesday’s meeting shapes up similarly as I break down in my Clippers vs. Rockets predictions.
With that, let’s get into my NBA picks for February 11.
Clippers vs Rockets prediction
Clippers vs Rockets best bet: Under 208.5 (-110)
These teams fared off Tuesday and essentially shared the blueprint for what to expect in the rematch Wednesday.
After the Houston Rockets picked up a 102-95 win, my pick undoubtedly takes the Under.
These are two of the Top 9 teams in the NBA in scoring defense, and both have winning Under records when playing the second night of a back-to-back.
Houston is no stranger to going low, having cashed the Under in eight of its last 10, while the Los Angeles Clippers – still awaiting the debut of Darius Garland – have worked their way Under in three of their last four.
Clippers vs Rockets same-game parlay
With Garland (toe) still sidelined, John Collins has been the second-leading scorer in all three games since trading away James Harden, while topping his 13.5 scoring line set for Wednesday each time.
Kevin Durant went 3-for-7 from distance in the win over LA, the sixth time in his last he’s banged in at least three. Against the Clips? That’s now at least three 3-point makes in four of the last five.
Clippers vs Rockets SGP
Under 208.5 points
John Collins Over 14.5 points
Kevin Durant Over 2.5 three-point makes
Our "from downtown" SGP: Raining from three
It’s all about the moneyball in this lotto SGP. Reed Sheppard went 4-for-6 from distance last game, and is 13-for-26 (50%) from three-point range in his last four against LA.
Jabari Smith Jr. has been potent from long range too. His 2-for-3 effort Tuesday makes it eight times in the last nine games he’s hit at least two triples in a game.
Brook Lopez has hit a three-pointer in all six games in February, but the big man has only topped 1.5 makes in a game twice in that span.
Clippers vs Rockets SGP
Kevin Durant Over 2.5 three-point makes
Reed Sheppard Over 2.5 three-point makes
Jabari Smith Jr. Over 1.5 three-point makes
Brook Lopez Under 1.5 three-point makes
Clippers vs Rockets odds
Spread: Los Angeles +9 (-110) | Houston -9 (-110)
Moneyline: Los Angeles +290 | Houston -370
Over/Under: Over 208.5 (-110) | Under 208.5 (-110)
Clippers vs Rockets betting trend to know
Los Angeles has covered four straight games vs Houston. Find more NBA betting trends for Clippers vs. Rockets.
How to watch Clippers vs Rockets
Location
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Date
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Southern California, SCHN
Clippers vs Rockets latest injuries
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LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 10: Keldon Johnson #3 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 10, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA is annoying right now. The Spurs are my perfect, beautiful angels who can absolutely do no wrong and I love them deeply and irrationally, but the NBA as a whole? Annoying. The league. The season. The vibes. It’s hard to get excited for these games right now. I feel unenthused. Unaffected. Uninspired. I’m trying to feel something, you know? It turns out that watching Victor Wembanyama stomp around on Jaxson Hayes’s sandcastle didn’t exactly do the trick.
I realize the Spurs are not blameless in the grand phenomenon of Load Management and DNP Old. If anything, they wrote the playbook for it. Tim Duncan and co.’s minutes quietly shrinking. That Miami game. The fine. Look, Pop wasn’t apologizing for it then, and most of us weren’t either. It felt rebellious. It felt punk rock. It felt smart.
And maybe it still was. At least, maybe that version of it was. Maybe I’m just a hypocrite! Fine. But whatever the league has turned into now is leaving me cold. The strategy around when and how teams are sitting people, the current iteration of the Spurs included, no longer feels like a cheeky shenanigan. It feels corporate and methodical. It’s like spending my entire day trapped in an Excel doc, only to come home and discover that my cool, fun hobby has also been corrupted by the unholy spreadsheet.
I don’t know what the fix is. I’m not even talking about tanking. The Spurs’ hands are just as unclean on that front, so it’s probably more polite to stay on the sidelines for that particular conversation. All I’m asking for is that these games matter. Just a little. I want them to have some stakes. I want it to feel important every time we line our guys up against theirs. I want it to hurt to miss a game. I want this stuff to mean something!
Because the scary little secret lurking under the surface, the one no one is really allowed to say out loud, is that it doesn’t. None of it does. The games. The league. Everything. The Thunder won the title last year? Doesn’t matter. The Spurs have won five banners? Doesn’t matter. In a real world sense, this is all pointless. It’s a game, and a silly one at that! One that’s been inflated into a giant industrial complex designed to separate us from our money as efficiently as possible and keep us coming back.
And yet.
The players keep me coming back. Their stories. Their lives. Their games. I want to watch them grow and excel and do things that make me sit back in awe of what the human body is capable of.
The fans keep me coming back. The community. The family. I want to be part of something bigger than myself. I want to feel alive when the crowd erupts after a big play. I want to hug strangers because they’re wearing the same colors as me. I want to feel joy and pain in equal measure with the people around me. I want to beam with pride every time I see San Antonio represented on the world stage.
It only matters because we care about it. Because we ascribe meaning to it. We have to figure out how to hold on to that. To blow on whatever embers of passion are still glowing in there, because the slog the regular season keeps turning into is going to extinguish it for good if we’re not careful.
Takeaways
Ok. It was pretty cool to watch Victor for a bit there. It wasn’t a fair fight and it definitely had that tang of watching a 14-year-old dunk on an 8-foot rim. Like, yes, buddy. We see you. Maybe set your sights a little higher. But you can only play the opponent in front of you, and Victor absolutely did that. Seventeen in four minutes. Thirty-seven at halftime. Forty in twenty-six minutes. If you’re going to participate in a scrimmage disguised as a nationally televised game, at least make it art. Congrats to him on that.
The Spurs are getting a touch better at not turning these schedule wins into full-blown emotional stress tests designed to shave years off my life. There was a time (recently!) when “undermanned opponent on the second night of a back-to-back” meant we’d flirt with disaster for three quarters before escaping with a six-point win and mild cardiac damage. This one was different. It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t transcendent. But it was competent. Mature. A touch better. Just a touch!
I would prefer, specifically, if none of our players ever got hurt. Ever. I recognize that this is not how sports works, but you miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take, yeah? Steph, we simply must protect our pelvises. I love the reckless abandon. I love the full-court sprint into a chase-down block attempt when the game is already in hand. I love it! But also, please. The Pelvi. We need them intact. Protect the pelvi.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 09: Miles Bridges #0 of the Charlotte Hornets fights Isaiah Stewart #28 of the Detroit Pistons during the second half of a basketball game at Spectrum Center on February 09, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 David Jensen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA has announced suspensions to four players related to the extended melee between the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets on Monday. Pistons big men Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren received a seven-game suspension and a two-game suspension, respectively. Hornets players Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate are suspended for four games apiece.
The suspensions were announced by James Jones, head of basketball operations for the league.
Stewart received the longest suspension because he left the bench to get involved in the altercation, eventually laying hands on Bridges, and because he has a history of league discipline, termed “his repeated history of unsportstman like acts” by the NBA in the release. The suspension means Stewart will not play enough games to be in contention for All-Defense honors.
Presumably, Diabate and Bridges were next in line because Diabate escalated a confrontation with Duren beyond the boiling point and had to be restrained multiple times while trying to get to Duren. Bridges, meanwhile, seemed to be the only person to land a thrown punch and proactively went after Duren after not being involved in the original dust-up. Duren “initiated the altercation,” the league says, presumably when he put his hands on Diabate’s face to shove him away after they went head-to-head following a hard foul, so he gets the least of it but does not walk out of the situation unscathed.
The two-game suspension should not in any way prevent Duren from participating in All-Star weekend as a reserve for Sunday’s game.
Both Pistons players will miss tonight’s matchup against the Toronto Raptors, and the Pistons have recalled two-way big man Tolu Smith to help provide some center depth. Duren will also miss a big rematch against the New York Knicks on Feb. 19. Stewart will miss those games as well as matchups against the Bulls, Spurs, Thunder, Cavs, and Magic.
In other words, this is coming at one of the most difficult stretches of Detroit’s schedule.
What’s your reaction to the level of punishment for all involved? Sound off in the comments.
It’s the battle of the tanks as the Western Conference’s worst team, the Sacramento Kings, travel to Salt Lake City to take on the No. 13 team out West, the Utah Jazz.
Utah (17-37) and Sacramento (12-43) split their previous two meetings earlier in the regular season, and this game is vital in the tanking race. Every win — and every loss — is crucial for both teams’ lottery chances in May.
Injury Report
Utah Jazz:
Keyonte George — OUT (right ankle; sprain)
Sacramento Kings:
De’Andre Hunter — OUT (left eye; iritis)
Zach Lavine — OUT (right 5th finger; tendon injury)
Malik Monk — OUT (illness)
Keagan Murray — OUT (left ankle; sprain)
Domantas Sabonis — OUT (left knee; injury management)
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 29: Retired NBA player John Wall speaks on a pregame show prior the game between the Washington Wizards and the Milwaukee Bucks at Capital One Arena on January 29, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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 Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the NBA All-Star Break now ready to begin, the NBA will start airing related content across multiple networks like NBA TV, NBC, Versant, Amazon and Disney (that’s ESPN and ABC). As Washington Wizards fans, this will be our best opportunity this season to see some players, namely Tre Johnson, Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George on some of these networks. That’s simply because the Wizards are one of the worst teams in the NBA and started the season with no superstars. So they just aren’t going to be on national TV very often.
That said, last month has been quite exciting for the Wizards. They now have two superstars (even if they aren’t at their peaks) with Trae Young and Anthony Davis. Don’t be surprised if Young and Davis aren’t playing this season, but it gives Wizards fans something to look forward to for the 2026-27 season. And the national media will almost definitely start to play Wizards games in their rotation again.
So here’s my question In light of the trades and national media. How many Wizards regular season games do you think will be aired on national television (we’ll include streaming as well)? Let us know in the comments below.
NBA All-Star Weekend is here, and fans can tune in to all their favorite events on NBC and Peacock. The festivities tip off on Friday with the Rising Stars Challenge at 9:00 PM ET and HBCU Classic at 11:00 PM ET.
NBA All-Star Saturday features the State Farm 3-Point Contest, Kia Shooting Stars and the AT&T Slam Dunk Contest all tipping off at 5:00 PM ET.
The weekend closes with the 75th All-Star Game on Sunday, broken into four mini-games beginning at 5:00 PM ET.
See below for additional information on the AT&T Slam Dunk Contest and how to watch all of the other exciting events featured on NBC and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season NBA games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.
The second-year man out of Arizona has averaged 7.6 minutes per game across 21 appearances for the Heat this season. He's seen most of his playing time with the G League's Sioux Falls Skyforce.
Jase Richardson, Orlando Magic
The rookie first-rounder has logged 12.2 minutes per game, and he scored a career-best 20 points against the Washington Wizards on January 6. Richardson is the son of two-time Slam Dunk Contest winner Jason Richardson.
Carter Bryant, San Antonio Spurs
The first-year man from Arizona is averaging 3.3 points and 1.9 rebounds across 9.3 minutes per game, but he had the best game of his career in Tuesday's win over the Lakers, going for 16 points, four rebounds, three assists, a steal and three three-pointers across 27 minutes.
Jaxson Hayes, Los Angeles Lakers
Hayes is a regular part of LA's rotation, logging 17.3 minutes per game with six starts. A lethal lob threat, he ranks 19th in the Association with 75 dunks this season.
Youngest Dunk Contest winner: Kobe Bryant, 18 years old (1997)
Notable Slam Dunk Contests
1986 - Spud Webb Elevates
Webb was a late sub for Michael Jordan, and the 5'7 guard answered the call with a shocking display of bounce to claim the win over teammate Dominique Wilkins.
1988 - His Airness Takes Flight
The most famous dunk of Jordan's illustrious career came at the 1988 Slam Dunk Contest when he took down Dominique Wilkins with a slam from the free throw line that earned him a perfect 50.
2000 - Vinsanity Unleashes
Widely regarded as the best Dunk Contest of all time, Vince Carter unleashed a series of jaw-dropping jams to defeat Tracy McGrady and Steve Francis. After nailing a between-the-legs windmill, he famously declared, "it's over."
2008 - Superman and the Cupcake
Dwight Howard donned his Superman cape for one of the Dunk Contest's most iconic finishes. He defeated Gerald Green, who blew out the candle on a cupcake placed on the rim.
2016 - LaVine vs. Gordon
The only contest that can hold a candle to the 2000 event featured a barrage of spectacular dunks from two of the NBA's most athletic finishers. LaVine narrowly won after a remarkable back-and-forth with Gordon.
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
How to sign up for Peacock:
Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You’ll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.
NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule
Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.
Feb 4, 2025; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka speaks before introducing Luka Doncic at UCLA Health Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Whether it was the plan all along or not, the next chapter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ franchise will be written this summer.
With no first-round picks traded away or long-term money taken in, the Lakers have now positioned themselves with immense optionality in the offseason. This may sound like familiar spin or excuses from the front office. Yet it is different now, because it has to be.
Of the 14 players on the roster today, only five have guaranteed deals heading into next year. That can grow to seven if Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart pick up their player options. Austin Reaves should also be safely assumed to be back on a new deal. Beyond that, the books are as clean as they’ve been in recent memory.
As a result, the Lakers are set to have roughly $50 million in cap space this summer. The actual number could be more or less, depending on a few variables. Most prominently, the future of LeBron James.
On top of their spending ability, the Lakers’ draft capital will also jump from one to three tradeable first-round picks come draft night. They also still have future pick swaps they could use to sweeten a deal.
All these resources ultimately only matter if the Lakers, and specifically President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka, can capitalize on them. When given the choice to improve their championship odds, Pelinka and the rest of the team’s braintrust decided to stand pat. Their time to strike would be in July and August. And if that decision doesn’t pay off, then consequences should follow.
Despite trading for Luka Dončić, being promoted and receiving a contract extension just last year, there may be no front-office person under more pressure this summer than Pelinka.
Pelinka’s long-term job security likely was never going to be in immediate jeopardy under the team’s previous ownership. But under a new regime led by Mark Walter, Pelinka will not be able to coast by on sentimental ties alone. He will need to provide results quickly.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 21: Jeanie Buss (L) and Mark Walter attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena on October 21, 2025 in Los Angeles, 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 Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The team’s trust in Pelinka to build the Lakers squad of the future may already be splintering. A report from The Athletic noted that multiple league sources expect the team to make “significant hires” in a wide range of front-office positions this summer.
Filling a previously bare-bones front office does not suggest Pelinka’s job is at stake, but it is noteworthy that he will no longer be the sole voice in the room.
Beyond the pressures of working under a new ownership, Pelinka must also contend with building a winner around Dončić within a shorter window than is often discussed.
While Dončić being 15 years younger than James affords the team a longer shot at sustainable success, time is still ticking when it comes to competing for a championship. The Lakers are only guaranteed to have Dončić for two more seasons before he can opt out of his deal.
If that decision were to be made today, it is likely Dončić would sign a new extension with Los Angeles. However, if the Lakers prove unable to surround him with a legitimate championship-caliber team by then, history has shown that stars will ultimately go to better winning situations if given the opportunity.
Feb 4, 2025; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka introduces guard Luka Doncic at UCLA Health Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
So how does Pelinka go about actually building a roster that can contend now and for the future this offseason? It likely begins with their aforementioned cap space.
With at least seven spots to fill on the depth chart, the Lakers can go the traditional route and use their space to sign players who better fit around Dončić. It is worth noting that the unrestricted free-agent market this summer is projected to be extremely thin in high-end talent and even clear upgrades to current personnel. The restricted free-agent class, on the other hand, has several intriguing names that should be on the Lakers’ wishlist.
That said, restricted free-agency comes with its own set of hurdles. An interested team must get the player to agree to sign with them, and if they do, the money offered will then be tied up for days while the incumbent team decides whether to match the offer. The two teams could also work on a sign-and-trade for that player, with the interested team needing to send assets in return.
The latter will likely need to be the case if the Lakers hope to pry players such as Peyton Watson, Jalen Duren, Walker Kessler or Tari Eason away from their teams.
Due to a weak free-agent crop, canvassing the league for trades could end up being a more fruitful use of the Lakers’ cap room. They could use their flexibility to take on bad contracts from a team facing tax issues and pick up assets in return, or go star hunting, with the most obvious target being Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Not that it needed confirmation, but reports indicate the Lakers are expected to make a “hard push” for Antetokounmpo this summer.
The Lakers do not have the draft capital or blue-chip prospects that Milwaukee will likely covet in return, but can absorb nearly the entirety of Antetokounmpo’s deal into their space without needing to send back bloated contracts. It remains to be seen if this is of interest to Milwaukee, but it is a unique bargaining tool the Lakers hold over nearly every other team this offseason.
Whether it’s a star like Giannis or multiple role players, the Lakers must explore and be open to every pathway to improve because they can’t afford to be wrong.
Cap space will not last forever. The top of the Western Conference is young and only getting better. Dončić is only in his prime once.
If gaining optionality was their end goal, the Lakers have achieved it. But they must understand that with more choices also comes more chances to make a misstep. The wrong max contract or wrong trade target could put a halt to the next era before it even begins.
These are the self-imposed stakes they put on themselves this summer. Not because they are the Lakers, but a result of years of their own inaction.
All stats courtesy of Cleaning the Glass unless otherwise stated. You can follow Alex on Bluesky at @alexregla.bsky.social.
It’s a jam-packed night of hoops action with 14 games on the NBA betting board.
I’ve sorted through the odds and found my three favorite plays for the day, including one on a Grizzlies guard who keeps giving us value and another on a rookie starting to show why he was a top pick.
Those and more NBA picks for Wednesday, February 11, are below.
As long as the Miami Heat keep playing basketball, I’m going to keep fading them on the glass.
The Heat aren’t the worst rebounding team, but it’s their high tempo that’s made them profitable.
Miami leads the NBA in pace and shot attempts per game, so that inherently means a lot of rebounds. It surrendered the second-most rebounds per game heading into tonight’s matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans.
My favorite Pels player to back is Trey Murphy III, who has pulled down six or more boards in three of his last five games.
Despite the injuries... the trades... the losses... the Memphis Grizzlies are showing some fight. Memphis is playing team basketball and getting performances from places you wouldn’t expect.
KCP is putting up 11.3 points per game over his last six, getting to double digits five times. We’re getting even money against a Denver Nuggets team that ranks 24th in defensive rating.
Utah Jazz rookie Ace Bailey has been playing the best basketball of his young career, and I’m betting he keeps rolling in tonight’s matchup against the Sacramento Kings.
Bailey is putting up 16.1 points per game with a .522 effective field goal percentage over his last 11, and he’s had 16+ points seven times during that stretch.
Yet, we’re still getting Bailey’s points prop at 13.5 against a Sacramento team that can’t stop anyone from getting buckets these days. The Kings have the third-worst defensive rating in the NBA, so why would they suddenly slow down Bailey?
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
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Make no mistake about it, Monday’s blowout loss in Portland was an unfortunate ending to Philadelphia’s five-game West Coast trip that started off with convincing wins against the Clippers and Warriors. A few days prior to the loss on Monday was a loss in Los Angeles against the Lakers which happened to coincide with an NBA Trade Deadline that did not please Sixers fans.
By now, you all know what happened as the Sixers ducked the tax again and subtracted a young player in Jared McCain and were unable to flip the draft capital they acquired for McCain for a different player.
Fast forward to Wednesday night, and Philly is set to return home to Xfinity Mobile Arena and welcome in the hated New York Knicks. In recent seasons, Knicks games in Philadelphia have seen an avalanche of New Yorkers make the short trip down the Jersey Turnpike and across the bridge. There’s a good chance Wednesday night is no different — but it should be.
New York sits third in the Eastern Conference, a half game behind the Boston Celtics. In seventh place in the East, and just below the play-in tournament cut line, is the Orlando Magic with a record of 28-24. That’s right, only five games in the loss column separated the second-place teams from the seventh-place team in the conference and Philadelphia is included in this jumble. As for the first-place team in the East, that would be the Detroit Pistons, a franchise that has not won a playoff round since 2008.
Nothing against Detroit, but I don’t think anyone would fear the Pistons in a postseason series. Of course, this landscape of the Eastern Conference was part of the argument behind a more aggressive trade deadline from Daryl Morey and his staff. It seems like a wide-open conference and if you’re the Sixers, why not go for it or at least push a few more chips into the middle of the table in a season many would probably call an overachieving one so far?
I understand the fan fatigue that’s probably existed in Sixers country lately. Countless early exits in the postseason followed by a disastrous 2024-25 season had a lot of fans tuned out at the start of this season and based on how tickets have been selling on the secondary market, it doesn’t seem like much has changed despite the team’s solid first half. Toss in a disappointing trade deadline and what do you have left to hang your head on?
However, if you were a fan arguing for additions instead of subtractions at last week’s trade deadline, you were doing so because you believed in this year’s roster at least a little bit. Part of you allowed yourself to enjoy some of the younger blood on the team and frankly, McCain had been having an underwhelming season anyway. Morey said he believes the team sold high on McCain and maybe he’s right.
So why not get behind a team that’s been overachieving so far this season? Joel Embiid has played at a higher level than most people would have anticipated. Tyrese Maxey has raised his level to become an All-Star starter. VJ Edgecombe has come right in and been an instant contributor as a rookie. Are they destined for the NBA Finals? Probably not. But sooner or later the invasion of Knicks fans at Xfinity Mobile Arena has to stop.
Villanova and Notre Dame are finalizing an agreement to open the 2026-27 season with a men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader in Rome, according to multiple reports on Tuesday, Feb. 10.
The games would take place on Nov. 1, one day before the official start date of the season, but the NCAA reportedly gave the schools special clearance.
Given the circumstances, it’s easy to understand why.
Pope Leo XIV is a Villanova alum, having graduated from the university in 1977 with a degree in mathematics (back when he was known as Robert Prevost). He’s also a native of Chicago, which is a relatively short trip from Notre Dame’s South Bend, Indiana campus and is home to a significant number of Fighting Irish fans. Both universities are Catholic schools.
According to CBS Sports, which first reported news of the planned doubleheader, the Pope’s involvement in the event is unclear.
The game will be played at the 3,500-seat Palazzetto dello Sport and will air on Fox, according to CBS. The games will lead into the network’s NFL coverage that Sunday.
It will mark the second time in the past four seasons that Notre Dame’s women’s basketball team has opened a season on European soil. In Nov. 2023, the Fighting Irish lost to eventual national champion South Carolina 100-71 in a game played in Paris.
Villanova and Notre Dame were both in the Big East from 1995-2013, but haven’t met regularly since the Fighting Irish left for the ACC for non-football sports after the 2012-13 season. The two schools haven’t squared off in men’s basketball since 2016 and haven’t played each other in women’s basketball since 2018.
Notre Dame’s women’s basketball is among the most decorated programs in the sport’s history, with two national championships and five Final Four appearances. The Fighting Irish are struggling this season, though, with a 15-9 record.
On the men’s side, Villanova has been one of the most accomplished programs of the past 50 years, with three national championships, including titles in 2016 and 2018 under then-coach Jay Wright. After three tumultuous seasons after Wright’s surprise retirement in 2022, the Wildcats are 19-5 under first-year head coach Kevin Willard.
Kurt Helin
Trey Murphy III
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Ace Bailey