Tuesday, the Cavaliers acquired James Harden from the Clippers in exchange for Darius Garland and a second-round draft pick in 2026 – a move that immediately catapulted them to being priced as co-favorites alongside the Knicks at DraftKings Sportsbook to win the Eastern Conference.

The trade hasn’t been met with universal acclaim for Cleveland, however. Some pundits have argued that trading away a two-time NBA All-Star entering his prime for a 36-year-old on the verge of a new contract is short-sighted. Others have questioned the fit of Harden alongside Donovan Mitchell in the team’s backcourt.

Using FTN’s new NBA StatsHub, let’s take a closer look at what Harden will bring to his new team, and why the Cavaliers were comfortable trading away Garland as they set their sights on a deep playoff run in a wide open Eastern Conference.

James Harden Is Still a High-Impact Player

James Harden is certainly past his prime, but this version of him was still good enough to earn a down-ballot MVP vote and Third-Team All-NBA honors last season while playing 79 games for the Clippers.

Looking at NBA StatsHub, we can see that Harden is one of only five players this year averaging at least 20 points and 8 assists per game — a benchmark he’s reached in five of the past six seasons. Only Harden, Luka Dončić, Nikola Jokić and Trae Young have more than two such seasons during that span.

Harden has often been critiqued as a ball-dominant, isolation artist whose net offensive contributions to a team are up for debate, but he has a positive Field Goal Over Expectation this year, indicating he’s converting difficult shots at a strong rate. He’s also been one of the league’s most efficient passers, consistently creating high-quality shot attempts rather than simply accumulating assist volume.

Harden ranks 16th overall in our NBA Model Player Ratings, even including a rough start to the campaign. Put simply, he remains one of the game’s premier players.

He’s been a core reason that the Clippers have been able to revive their playoff hopes, following a dreadful 6-21 start. Since Dec. 20, the Clippers are an NBA-best 17-5, ranking fifth in Net Rating (+7.8).

The Clippers’ 121.2 offensive rating during that stretch would lead the entire NBA if extrapolated to the entire season. Clearly, Harden is still capable of contributing to high-level offense and making his teammates better.

Perhaps most importantly, Cleveland is getting durability in this trade. Since joining the Clippers, Harden has missed only seven games due to injury across three seasons, per The Athletic. This part of the trade matters tremendously, given Garland’s recent injury history. He’s played in only 26 of Cleveland’s 51 games this season and was available for only five of the team’s nine playoff games this past spring due to injury.

At 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, Harden will also bring more size to the team’s backcourt. Size and strength undoubtedly contribute to a player being able to stay healthy – it’s also important defensively, which is one reason why teams with diminutive backcourts very rarely advance deep into the postseason.

Harden represents a meaningful upgrade in these areas over Garland and immediately puts the Cavaliers back in the championship conversation.

Why the Cavs were comfortable trading Garland

On this date last season, the Cavaliers were 40-10, with the best Net Rating in the Eastern Conference. They earned the No. 1 seed heading into the playoffs, but they were prematurely bounced in the second round of the postseason, losing in five games to the Pacers.

This year, Cleveland broke training camp with championship-or-bust expectations, but they have already lost more games (21) than they did during last year’s entire regular season when they finished 64-18. They are only 13-15 against teams with a winning record and rank 4th in the Eastern Conference in Net Rating.

Part of their struggles can be attributed to a lack of lineup consistency – Garland’s absences being the most notable. He missed the beginning of the season due to complications from a toe injury, then suffered another injury to the toe in mid-January.

When Garland has been available, his performance has fallen short of expectations on both ends of the floor. He’s shooting only 36.0% from 3-point territory and averaging only 18.0 points per game – both of which are his worst numbers since his sophomore campaign.

It’s also worth noting that Garland has shot only 42.8% from the field in 22 career postseason games. Cleveland is 9-13 in those contests, and only 2-6 if we exclude the opening round. The Cavaliers aren’t sacrificing any meaningful playoff pedigree with this deal.

This season, Cleveland’s offensive efficiency has been 1.9 points better with Garland off of the floor. Garland has continued to struggle defensively as well, ranking worst on the team in defensive rating, per our FTN NBA Model Player Ratings.

The Cavaliers’ 117.7 defensive rating with Garland on the court this year would rank 25th in the NBA, only ahead of the Nets, Pelicans, Kings, Wizards and Jazz.

The Cavaliers’ 110.7 defensive rating with Garland off of the court this year would rank 3rd in the NBA, only behind the defending champion Thunder and current No. 1 seed Pistons. This gap perfectly illustrates the challenge of playing high-level defense with two smaller guards on the floor at the same time.

The Takeaway

Using FTN’s NBA StatsHub, it’s clear that James Harden is still playing at an extremely high level. He brings a rare blend of scoring and facilitating ability to a Cleveland roster that has capable shooters and two athletic bigs well-suited to finish plays around him. His size also gives the Cavaliers more defensive flexibility alongside Donovan Mitchell in the team’s backcourt.

Harden’s age and postseason resume will certainly invite scrutiny, but Cleveland is ultimately betting on availability, size, and increased playmaking ability with this trade.

During this year’s regular season, Cleveland is 13-13 with Garland in the lineup, compared to a 17-8 record without him. His uncertain health outlook, coupled with his underwhelming play in 26 games make trading him to the Clippers a calculated risk worth taking for a Cavaliers team that has championship ambitions this summer.

It’s NBA trade deadline eve, which means it's the last night some big names could play for their current teams, or role players to show their value to contenders.

Either way, it creates some intriguing situations when it comes to NBA player props, and I’ve found my three favorite for the day, which include a big night for Zion Williamson.

Find those NBA picks and more for Wednesday, February 4, below.

Best NBA player props today

Prop #1: Zion Williamson double-double

+375 at bet365

Zion Williamson has been a beast on the boards for the New Orleans Pelicans, averaging 9.2 rebounds over his last six games, hauling down double digits four times. 

I like him to keep cleaning the glass against the Milwaukee Bucks.

It’s impressive to be this bad at rebounding when you have Giannis Antetokounmpo, but Milwaukee has figured out a way to have the second-worst rebounding rate in the NBA. And Giannis isn’t playing tonight.

But over 6.5 rebounds for Zion is boring. He’s got four double-doubles in this six-game stretch, at +375, let’s take a swing for him to do it again.

• Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: GCSEN, FanDuel Sports Network-Wisconsin

Prop #2: Stephon Castle Over 15.5 points

-110 at bet365

The best new rivalry in basketball resumes tonight when the San Antonio Spurs host the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Spurs have won three of the four meetings, and a big reason why is thanks to their guard play with De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle. 

Castle, in particular, has been effective in this matchup, putting up 22, 24, 19 and 20 points in the four matchups.

And opposing guards have been a problem for OKC all season, allowing the third-most opponent points per game to them. Meaning Castle’s point total of 15.5 is too low.

• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: ESPN

Prop #3: Ty Jerome Over 15.5 points

-115 at bet365

The combination of injuries and the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade mean the Memphis Grizzlies have been declawed heading into tonight’s matchup against the Sacramento Kings.

But someone has to get buckets for the Grizz, and the Kings aren’t exactly adept at stopping anyone with their third-worst defensive rating.

Luckily for Memphis, Ty Jerome returned to the lineup just in time. A calf injury cost the shooting guard the entire season up until two games ago, and he immediately put up 20 and 19 points.

I’ll take a shot at the Over 15.5 points. Like I said, someone has to score.

• Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network SE-Memphis, NBCSCA

These props are available now at bet365, one of our best betting sites.

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

I was so tired yesterday that I put the Knicks on and legitimately enjoyed watching them play a no-contest game against the Wiz Kiz with no stress baked into the affair.

Now, for the drama and the nerves, here comes the NBA trade deadl—actually, scratch that. The Knicks ain’t trading for Giannis, fam.

Here’s a bunch of quotes and a Guerschon revelation.

Knicks head coach Mike Brown was frank in the opening statement of his postgame presser, saying “obviously, Washington’s a young team, and the direction they’re going in is what most young teams do at this point in the year.”

Knicks beat the Wizards 132-101 tonight. pic.twitter.com/TqEmTmKTuO

— Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) February 4, 2026

Mike Brown

On ball movement and decision-making:

“Guys are trying to share the basketball. And we only had eight turnovers. So you’re not only sharing the basketball, but sharing it the right way. Guys are trying to play for one another with the correct spacing and making the correct decisions. It’s a lot of fun to see when guys get rolling.”

On locking in against Washington:

“Obviously Washington is a young team and the direction they’re going is what most young teams do at this time of the year. So we went out there and locked in and did the little things the right way. It was impressive to see.”

On evaluating Landry Shamet before taking the job:

“I watched tape before I got the job. I was a fan of his. I saw the things that he did out there last year and I was like, ‘Wow. This guy can be really good on both ends of the floor.’ And that was something I came in saying early in the process.”

Josh Hart

On following trade deadline chaos:

“I’ll be for sure tuned in. It’s great entertainment for me. I can’t wait for Thursday. It’s fun entertainment because you’re always going to see what’s happening, what’s going on. Be messy. Talk about random trades that are just pointless behind the scenes.”

On the players-only meeting false narrative:

“We talked but it wasn’t like, some thing. That got dragged. We didn’t have a players-only meeting.”

Vociferous MVP Chants for Jalen Brunson in Washington! @LT__Murray | @WaltFrazier | #NewYorkForeverpic.twitter.com/Cszr6N7tmD

— KNICKS ON MSG (@KnicksMSGN) February 4, 2026

Karl-Anthony Towns

On setting the tone early against Washington:

“We came out with that third-quarter intensity in the first quarter and it allowed us to dictate the game. That’s what’s asked of us and that’s something we wanted to accomplish. So today is a good day where you actually do what you say.”

On being named an All-Star reserve:

“I didn’t know and it was special. This one a real special one. I think this is one I’ll cherish.”

Landry Shamet

On handling highs and lows in his career:

“It’s part of the journey. There’s highs and lows in this thing. You can’t get caught up on either end of that spectrum. Just take care of your work every day, try to be a good teammate and the rest will take care of itself.”

DPOG 🦺 CAP 😤 pic.twitter.com/4o8XkMuHqc

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 4, 2026

Jalen Brunson

On the so-called players-only meeting:

“It was just me voicing my opinion after the game against Dallas. It wasn’t me calling a team meeting. We meet after games. I said something before coach walked in. That’s it.”

On taking charges on a steady basis:

“It’s something I’ve always done. I think it not only does a lot for your team, it’s a turnover, you get the ball, it can be a momentum swing for you. It’s an offensive foul, you get the ball back, it could be big for your team.”

Mikal Bridges on the Knicks being on the same page and sticking up for one another! 💪@LT__Murray | @WaltFrazier | #NewYorkForeverpic.twitter.com/aYmobwuSgu

— KNICKS ON MSG (@KnicksMSGN) February 4, 2026

Mikal Bridges

On starting strong against the Wizards:

“We had to start off strong and just play hard. They’re young and they can get out strong and fast and we just had to play our way.”

On the improved defensive cohesion:

“I think just everybody is on the same page being together, being on one string and stepping up for each other is great to see. When you go back and watch the film you see everyone trying to make the right play and help each other out.”

Guerschon Yabusele on report of team in Israel pushing to sign him:

“I ain’t closing no door on nothing. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t know what tomorrow’s going to be. So right now I can tell you nothing has been discussed or signed or anything like that. I’m a…

— Stefan Bondy (@SbondyNBA) February 4, 2026

Guerschon Yabusele

On trade rumors and overseas interest:

“I ain’t closing no door on nothing. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t know what tomorrow’s going to be. Nothing has been discussed or signed. I’m a Knicks player at the end of the day. But there’s been teams calling. We’ll see what happens.”

Dink Pate is going to All-Star Weekend

The Westchester Knick will play in the NBA G League Next Up Game pic.twitter.com/lTChp6yaXZ

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) February 3, 2026

Cooper Flagg continues to impress, earning Western Conference Rookie of the Month for January. Flagg has been exceptional in his rookie year as he racks up record after record and January was no exception. In 12 games, he averaged 20.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.

THREE STRAIGHT 🔥🔥🔥

Coop is ONCE AGAIN your Western Conference Rookie of the Month!#MFFLpic.twitter.com/MDNvEvyasp

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) February 3, 2026

This is the third consecutive time he has received Rookie of the Month honors, getting him halfway to a season sweep. Flagg likely had the award locked up in his first 10 games of the month, but decided to cap off January with a 49-point outburst, followed by a 34-point effort to leave no doubt. Following bizarre takes by Udonis Haslem and Jamal Mashburn this recognition is a bit sweeter for Mavs’ fans than it otherwise would have been.

As Flagg angles for Rookie of the Year, his former teammate Kon Kneuppel is making noise in the east. Both players have taken the respective award every time this season, making for an interesting meta-battle between the two. However, the aforementioned 49-point barrage came against Kneuppel in a 123-121 Maverick loss, adding more intrigue to the dynamic.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

There are apparently some people who still think that Cooper Flagg is the product of hype, the latest Great White Hope, but the facts on the court show how lazy that sort of thinking is.

Because Flagg is just killing it. These are some stats from the last three games:

• 49 points, 10 boards, three assists vs. Charlotte.
• 34 points, 12 rebounds, five assists vs. Houston
• 36 points, nine rebounds, six assists vs. Boston

Over his last 10 games, Flagg is getting 24 ppg, 7.5 rebounds and 4 assists. He’s shooting 50% too.

And he’s just 19, with a teenager’s body.

Lazy thinkers think it’s all media hype or entitlement, but Naji Marshall, who actually plays in the NBA and who is currently a Maverick, says he wants to play his entire career there because “I want to play with Cooper Flagg my whole motherf*****g career. That’s my dog, and he’s gonna create history. And to be part of that would be unbelievable.”

What really sets Flagg apart, like his buddy and former Duke roommate Kon Knueppel, is that they were brought up on playing the game the right way. Those guys understand there’s much more to basketball than three point shots and dunks. The modern NBA has gotten boring but if you go back and watch old tape from when teams actually had different styles and approaches, well, the past is the future.

Or should be.

If you take the vastly improved skills of today’s players and combine that with the subtle nature of old school basketball, you get what Flagg and Knueppel are doing. Hopefully there will be many more who emulate them.

• Cooper Flagg’s NBA ascent no surprise to Brian Scalabrine: ‘He’s the same kid’
• ESPN just revealed the Mavericks’ franchise-shaping Cooper Flagg trade-deadline plan
• Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg makes NBA history, again, and this time it’s pretty crazy
• Cooper Flagg stays confident as rookie surge continues in loss to Celtics
• Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg Does What No NBA Player Has

Go to the DBR Boards to find Blue Healer Auctions | Drop us a line

For the first time since the 2022 offseason when they parted ways with Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, the Utah Jazz are making headlines for being a party in a blockbuster trade, as, on Tuesday, they packaged Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang and three future first-round picks to obtain the services of Jaren Jackson Jr. (among others). 

From a value perspective, this seems like a fair price to pay for a multi-time All-Star. Anderson and Niang seem like cool dudes, but they are functionally matching salary at this point in time. Hendricks (age 22) wasn’t getting consistent tick on a 15-35 team, so it didn’t seem like he factored too heavily into their long-term plans anyway. Clayton seems to have the makeup of a long-time NBA rotation player, but the strides taken by Keyonte George and Isaiah Collier made him easily expendable. And while the third first round picks seems excessive, don’t forget that just seven months ago the Orlando Magic had to part with four of those to land Jackson’s less-accomplished former teammate. 

But just because a trade is a win in isolation doesn’t mean it necessarily pushes your franchise in the right direction. How does Jackson fit in with what the Jazz have spent the last four years building? And does he bring them one step closer to contention?

Utah Jazz cap situation after acquiring Jaren Jackson Jr.

It's easier to trade for him now while he's making $35 million. His salary balloons to $49 million next season.

They still have plenty of tax space to take one bad money and picks with the John Collins trade exception. pic.twitter.com/0xlx7y9S0u

— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) February 3, 2026

How Jaren Jackson Jr. Fits On The Current Utah Jazz

With the Jazz needing to finish in the top eight in the Draft Lottery to keep their 2026 first round pick, they probably aren’t in the business of winning too many games for the remainder of the season. Before being moved, Jackson was dealing with a quad injury that kept him out of their Saturday loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. I wouldn’t be surprised if they try to milk nagging injuries like that to sit him out and keep him from unnecessarily contributing to wins. 

Still, while draft capital is important, you also need to build a culture of winning. In 2020-21, the 23-49 Minnesota Timberwolves famously won 6 of their last 11 games. Doing this cost them their first round pick in the 2021 NBA Draft (which ended up being Jonathan Kuminga), but they also haven’t missed the playoffs since.

Jackson – a former Defensive Player of the Year – automatically gives the Jazz a defensive building block. Utah is going on their third straight season as the worst defense in the entire NBA. Jackson’s defensive footprint isn’t as mighty as it was when he took home the DPOY award in 2022-23, but that can mainly be explained by the increased offensive load that his team’s myriad of injuries forced him to endure. Now that he has two new reliable co-stars both averaging over 24 PPG (George and Lauri Markkanen), Jackson can focus on returning to his defensive roots.

How Does Jaren Jackson Jr. Align With The Utah Jazz’s Future?

Of course, the real reason a team that is 20 games under .500 makes a move like this is with an eye toward the future. 

To understand the scope of having both Jackson and Markkanen on the roster, think about two of the league’s most exciting rising stars: Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama. What makes them so exciting is their rare combination of size and skill. That’s the same reason why everyone and their mothers was trying to pry Markkanen from the Jazz when they looked directionless. 

Now, the Jazz have two of these unicorns. Think about the endless possibilities this creates for the Jazz and their mad scientist head coach, Will Hardy. With Markkanen and Jackson as your four and five, you have two giants who can space the floor (both career 35.9% 3-point shooters), score in the paint, and put the ball on the floor. Jackson can make up for Markkanen’s rim protection limitations, and Markkanen’s off-ball gravity will create openings for Jackson that he’s never had before. This is all without getting into all the big-to-big actions Hardy can run involving these two.

Thanks to their shooting and ball skill, the idea of starting them at the three and four is tenable when Walker Kessler returns from his torn labrum next season. In 2021-22, when Markkanen shared the floor with the Cleveland Cavaliers’ twin towers (Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen), the team had a +7.9 net rating in 621 minutes (per PBP Stats). Jackson is a better shooter than both of those guys were, so the fit between him, Markkanen, and Kessler should be even more seamless. 

Jaren's best lineup pairings over the last 5 years…

a great player, but play him next to a solid rebounding big, and he can be a star. I expect great things out of the Kessler-Jackson duo pic.twitter.com/7IG5tCGKDz

— moose (@roadto81pct) February 3, 2026

George has been one of the most improved players in the league this season. Collier has gone from one of the least efficient players in the association to someone who can be counted on to bolster second units when George is on the bench (57.2% true shooting, 49th percentile). Ace Bailey is your typical rookie. So, his advanced stats look terrible and his tape is littered with learning experiences, but the dude is just 19 years old, huge (6’9 with a 7’0.5 wingspan), can score with the best of them, and has had some nice moments as a cutter in Hardy’s movement-heavy offense (1st in assist percentage). 

Utah still has an extreme case of the hour glass problem. They have drafted some great guards, and this Jackson trade solidifies their big man rotation for the next half decade. But they still need a couple wings to truly field a complete roster. 

Even without any offseason moves, a healthy version of the Jazz will compete for a playoff spot in the loaded Western Conference in 2026-27. And if they can find the right wing (or two) to compliment all these tantalizing pieces, Utah may be back on the map a lot sooner than we expected. 

The Dallas Mavericks hosted the Boston Celtics Tuesday night. With no one curiously resting less than 48-hours before the trade deadline, Dallas was unable to get the win, dropping a 110-100 contest to push their losing streak to a season high five games.

Let’s get to the grades!

Naji Marshall: C

9 PTS / 8 REB / 3 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 31 MIN

Marshall shooting less than 60% from the field is almost shocking, but he’s strung together a couple of stinkers recently. Tonight just wasn’t pretty, with poor shooting being the biggest blemish. Solid rebounding buoyed him slightly, but there wasn’t much else to write home about.

Max Christie: C

10 PTS / 2 REB / 3 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 30 MIN

Christie’s shot has not been falling quite as consistently of late. Sometimes they just aren’t going to drop, but it would be great to see him camp out at the three-point line a bit less. His best stretch of the season came when he was doing a bit of everything, so he will hopefully get back to slashing and shooting some mid-range shots.

Cooper Flagg: A

36 PTS / 9 REB / 6 AST / 0 STL / 2 BLK – 37 MIN

Flagg did it all Tuesday night, pouring in a ton of points, drawing fouls, shooting a high percentage and taking care of the ball. With the absence of Anthony Davis, Flagg is the clear cut number one and is making the most of the opportunity. Excellent all-around game.

Caleb Martin: B

13 PTS / 6 REB / 3 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 29 MIN

Martin had a quietly good game, hitting 50% on 10 shots and chipping in some boards and assists. While not spectacular, he was efficient and didn’t turn the ball over.

Daniel Gafford: A-

10 PTS / 12 REB / 1 AST / 1 STL / 2 BLK – 25 MIN

Gafford missed a chunk of gametime after sustaining an ankle injury in the second quarter, but managed a solid game in somewhat truncated minutes. I have to remind myself that Gafford is an ideal backup playing as a starter. With that in mind, a double-double and returning from an injury he gets a boost on his grade.

Klay Thompson: C-

4 PTS / 0 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 20 MIN

Thompson was largely absent from this one, and landing in the Grades-basement would not have been off the mark, but perhaps I’m irrationally generous? He couldn’t hit his shots and really just couldn’t stay on the floor.

Final Thoughts

Dallas looked like they were going to give us a show, but after the first quarter, were largely outplayed. Falling down by more than 20 points, they eventually made a bit of a run to keep things interesting, but you never quite felt like they’d make a real run given the poor shooting of too many starter.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

It’s trade-deadline eve and the Milwaukee Bucks host the New Orleans Pelicans in a game that may very well have profound implications on the Bucks’ future. Having swapped 2026 pick rights with the Pelicans as part of the Jrue Holiday trade, and the Pelicans trading their 2026 first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks for Derik Queen, the Bucks find themselves in the precarious position where losing is good—so long as they finish with a better record than their foes from the bayou. With Pelicans in the midst of a relative purple patch, going .500 over their last six, and the Bucks losers of eight of their last 10, the gap in the win-column has dropped to just six. Tonight then, we root for a win. Hurrah!

Where We’re At

The Bucks have, well… continued to play basketball, even if there hasn’t been much to crow about. There was the dynamite start against Boston. And Myles Turner had a nice three-game stretch prior to that. Kyle Kuzma has tried hard too. But, yeah, it’s mostly been capital ‘R’ rough. Thankfully, the Bucks softened the edges by putting on a clinic against the Chicago Bulls, with nearly everyone playing well and Kuzma leading the way with a Giannis-esque 31 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists.

New Orleans is having a similarly woeful season, yet their recent results have been better, with two wins over the Memphis Grizzlies and an unexpected victory against the San Antonio Spurs. They’ve also been much more competitive in their losses, having not gone down by more than 10 points since being blown out by the Atlanta Hawks nearly a month ago. On an individual level, Saddiq Bey was in the midst of his best stretch of the season, averaging 26.4 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 3.6 APG, and 1.4 SPG, while hitting 3.6 three-pointers at 50% over five games prior to a stinker against the Charlotte Hornets. Throw in Zion Williams, Trey Murphy, Queen, Herb Jones, and Jeremiah Fears (even if he might’ve hit the rookie wall), and the Pelicans have an array of talented guys who can get it done. Interestingly, coach James Borrego has opted to go ultra-big lately, moving Fears to the bench and starting a Queen-Williams-Bey-Murphy-Jones pentumvirate. Consequently, Jordan Poole has been collecting DNP-CDs and looks primed to again be traded, while promising big Yves Missi is apparently also being shopped.

Injury Report

With the Bucks on the second night of a back-to-back, their injury report has yet to be submitted, though it’s safe to say Giannis (calf) and Taurean Prince (neck) will continue to remain out. Kevin Porter Jr. (oblique) is more of a question mark, with Doc Rivers stating that he could return tonight, as is Bobby Portis, who missed last night’s game with a hip issue.

For the Pelicans, Dejounte Murray is out as he continues his Achilles rehabilitation.

Player To Watch

Gary Trent Jr. has had a bad season. You know this. I know this. My wife (not that she’s interested) also knows this. But Trent is not a bad player and last night was a reminder of the value he can bring: 15 points on 5/8 shooting from downtown and a +17 plus/minus—his best on the campaign and just the 12th time this season he’s finished in the positives. It was even enough to earn him an A- in Jackson’s player grades. Tonight then, pay attention to whether Trent can replicate his performance. If he can, maybe it’s enough for the Bucks to nab a trade deadline prize. Or maybe it just sets him up for the remainder of the season and into next. Either way, good begets good.

How To Watch

FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin at 7:00 p.m. CST.

---

---

It is trade deadline week, and even if the Suns end up standing pat, that does not mean the thought exercises stop. That is part of the fun. Because what is the point of having a trade machine at your disposal if you never fire it up?

I tossed a deal into the community feed recently, and it grabbed some attention. That usually happens for a reason. You can argue it both ways. There is logic on each side. That is when these conversations work best. It becomes a lens. Roster construction. Development. Fit. Direction.

The idea in question was simple. Bringing in Jeremy Sochan from San Antonio. That is where the conversation starts.

As you can see above, this gives the Suns a path to move off both Nick Richards and Nigel Hayes Davis, with those contracts heading to New York. From the Knicks’ side, there is flexibility gained. They clear two deals that sit on their books for the next two and three seasons in Gershon Yabusele and Pacome Dadiet. Those contracts slide to San Antonio in a three team construction, and the Spurs send Jeremy Sochan to Phoenix.

That is the exchange. Talent versus structure. Present need versus future control.

To balance the scales, Phoenix sends a pair of second round picks to San Antonio. That matters, because the Spurs are the ones parting with the most talented player in the deal. Picks become the lubricant. The extra incentive that makes the conversation real instead of theoretical.

So that is the framework. The mechanics. The moving pieces.

Now comes the harder part. Deciding whether this is a deal you actually make.

The Case For Doing the Trade

There are a few clear reasons you can talk yourself into this deal.

Start with size. Not a dramatic swing, but an upgrade. And if the Suns are leaning into the identity of aggressive disruptors, Sochan fits cleanly. He is a dog. An energy piece. A guy you can drop into a game and immediately feel the temperature change. Picture him next to Dillon Brooks. That is the kind of pairing opposing teams would dread dealing with.

There is also the roster math. Bringing him in while sending two players out creates flexibility. Another open roster spot matters as it gives the Suns the ability to convert Jamaree Bouyea and Isaiah Livers. That is not nothing. It stabilizes the back end of the roster with players already in the system.

And then comes the ripple effect. Two-way slots open up. Optionality returns. If the Suns want to keep CJ Huntley around, which they should based on how he has looked in the G League, they now have a clean path to do it. That is the contrast. One move that is not about stars, but about structure. Energy now, flexibility later.

The Case For Not Doing the Trade

Personally, I have never been much of a Sochan guy. Which is funny, because I have a Spurs buddy who swears by him, talks him up constantly, and then every single time trade talks come up, he is trying to move him. That disconnect always sticks with me. If he is that good, why is he always the first name offered?

The reality is this: he is still an undersized power forward. He is also a career 28.7% shooter from beyond the arc. And that leads me to the obvious question. Don’t the Suns already have this player in Ryan Dunn? Dunn may not bring the same visible chaos off the bench, but the offensive output would be similar. Low usage. Limited shooting. Defense first.

Then there is the cost. Attaching a pair of second-round picks, when this team already operates with so few, feels irresponsible. Especially when you factor in that Sochan is on an expiring deal. You would have to want to re-sign him. Given the current roster construction, why would you? If the goal is flexibility, keeping Nick Richards accomplishes that without giving up assets. His contract expires. Money stays cleaner.

And the money matters. Making this deal keeps the Suns in the luxury tax, and as a repeater, that becomes a real problem heading into the offseason. If the argument is energy off the bench, that need does not exist. This team already has it. In abundance.

Even if the second round picks were removed entirely, I still would not do it. The fit is questionable. The cost is unnecessary. And the upside does not outweigh what the Suns already have in-house.

---

So that is the case for it. And the case against it. Which brings it back to the only question that really matters. Where do you land?

If you were Brian Gregory, would you make this deal? Vote below and tell us why in the comments.

The conventional wisdom was that this trade deadline would likely to be meh with the bigger moves expected around the NBA Draft come June. But the James Harden-for-Darius Garland deal, along with Tuesday’s flurry of deals big and small, seems to have changed things.

However, the original narrative still applies to the Brooklyn Nets who not only made no moves on Tuesday, but weren’t even mentioned in any rumors, unless you count the recurring reports of league interest in Day’Ron Sharpe, which now reportedly extends to the Lakers who saw him go for 19 and 14 Tuesday night or the Nets willingness to facilitate bigger deals for other clubs..

They don’t seem to be that interested, at least for now, in Giannis Antetokounmpo which as Brian Lewis noted used to be their “white whale.” Nor do they seem willing to move Michael Porter Jr., who has publicly expressed a desire to stay in Brooklyn, interested in the franchise’s “trajectory” back to contention.

The Harden deal will send him to his fourth team in the past five years after the Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, the Los Angeles Clippers and now the Cleveland Cavaliers. Before that, he left the OKC Thunder, in case you forgot. None of his departures seemed too happy. (If you add up all the teams the Big Three have played for over their careers, the number is now 14, five each for Harden and Kevin Durant, and four for Kyrie Irving. So much for loyalty.)

BREAKING: The Los Angeles Clippers are trading James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland and a second-round pick, sources tell ESPN. Prolific swap of the star point guards. pic.twitter.com/IHhhhabJnX

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 4, 2026

The Harden news and Tuesday’s other trades had some implications for the Nets.

• Harden should give new life to the Cavaliers chances of making a deep run in the playoffs (although his talent is his talent, his record is his record as well and he’s been criticized for not leading any of his teams to the promised land.) Another failure this spring could have a deleterious effect on the Cavs. With Donovan Mitchell staring at an off-season extension next year, he may want to move on and we know that at the very least, the Nets were interested in the now 29-year-old. “The key here is that the Cavs are moving away from believing in the Core 4,” Brian Windhorst told ESPN Cleveland. “And I think the genesis of this is because they’re worried that Donovan is not going to re-sign this summer.”
• Yesterday’s other two moves, the Memphis Grizzlies and Boston Celtics blockbusters could have an effect on the Nets desire to have a facilitator role. Both of those deals created big exceptions, $28.8 million for the Grizz — the biggest in NBA history — and $27.7 million for the Celtics. Those two and another one of $18 million created by the Bulls in the three-team deal involving them, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons are all larger than the $15.3 million salary cap space the Nets retain. Cap space is better than TPEs, but the differences are not so big in the short term. The three exceptions will be available once the trades are official, which no doubt will be prior to Thursday’s 3:00 p.m. ET deadline.

Specifics on the latest Sharpe rumor came post-game in Brooklyn with Dan Woike of The Athletic extolling on how much the Lakers like the 6’10” 24-year-old who is currently the NBA’s all-time leader in offensive rebound percentage (18.3%).

Sources inside the Lakers locker room are fans of Brooklyn center Day’Ron Sharpe, who had 19 points and 14 rebounds in the Nets’ loss to the Lakers on Tuesday night. The Giannis trade chase could create ripples beneficial to the Lakers. As teams maneuver for financial flexibility, the Lakers’ expiring deals and future first-round pick could get them in conversations for high-end role players…

Meanwhile, MPJ is counting the hours to the deadline. Despite the horrors of the last several weeks, he seems happy in his role with the Brooklyns, as Brian Lewis reported.

“Yeah, I’ve stated that I’m enjoying my time here, and I do see that the light at the end of the tunnel, and I do see the path that we’re trying to take,” said Porter, who returned from a personal leave for Tuesday’s 125-109 home blowout loss against the Lakers. “That’s something that’s out of my control. And wherever the wind blows, whatever the guys who run the organization want, then I’m down for.

“I know that every situation has its blessings and things to take away from,” said Porter, who scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the loss. “So I’ve stated that I enjoy my time here. And two more days, if I make it through two or three more days, I’ll be here. So, we’ll see. We’ll see what happens.”

As for the others rumored to be of interest to NBA clubs — or not — nothing much new. Yes, teams do still appear to be interest in Nic Claxton, not so much in Cam Thomas.

The deadline could have other roster implications. Haywood Highsmith, if healthy, likely would have yielded a second rounder, but he’s not. As an expiring — $5.6 million contract — but injured, he’s likely to be done with the Nets no matter what. That could open a standard deal for one of the Nets two-ways, likely E.J. Liddell, who’s spent some time of late with the big club, or Tyson Etienne, Long Island’s new all-time leading scorer. In turn, that could open a two-way spot for Grant Nelson, the 7-foot rookie who has been playing well despite minutes restrictions — per 36 numbers in excess of 20 and 10 in eight starts.

Stay tuned.

Guerschon Yabusele arrived in New York this summer and had all of us kinda excited as one of only two free-agent additions made by the Knicks, along with microwave-scorer-turned-ice-cube Jordan Clarkson.

Then, Yabu started to play a decreasing number of minutes and to have a lesser impact each passing day since training camp.

On Tuesday, Yabusele didn’t even grace the court, earning a solid DPN-CD in the Knicks’ 132–101 trouncing of the Washington Wizards, but he still found a way to catch attention.

It happened after the game was over, however, as Yabu was asked and opened up on his questionable future in New York with the trade deadline right around the corner.

Yabusele has appeared in 41 games this season, averaging just 2.7 points and 2.1 rebounds in under nine minutes per game.

Following the win, Yabusele addressed multiple reports linking him to EuroLeague clubs, including Panathinaikos, Hapoel Tel Aviv, and Real Madrid.

Guerschon Yabusele on report of team in Israel pushing to sign him:

“I ain’t closing no door on nothing. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t know what tomorrow’s going to be. So right now I can tell you nothing has been discussed or signed or anything like that. I’m a…

— Stefan Bondy (@SbondyNBA) February 4, 2026

“I ain’t closing no door on nothing. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t know what tomorrow’s going to be,” Yabusele said. “So right now, I can tell you nothing has been discussed or signed or anything like that. I’m a Knicks player at the end of the day.”

SDNA’s Sotiris Vetakis has reported that Panathinaikos is in advanced discussions with Yabusele’s camp. The Athens-based club is seemingly just waiting on developments from New York before finalizing any deal, perhaps just in case an actual NBA trade emerges before Thursday’s deadline.

“There’s been teams calling,” Yabusele said on Tuesday. “I feel like the report was just them saying they want me, and then everybody thought that I signed something already. No, nothing like that. But there’s some teams out there that we heard are getting ready to sign me if I go back that way. We’ll see what happens.”

Sport5, meanwhile, reported that Israel-side Hapoel Tel Aviv is in direct talks with Yabusele’s representatives, with a move there requiring the Knicks to buy him out.

🔙 Yabusele, on a possible return to Europe. He has contract in the NBA through 2027 pic.twitter.com/LA4JRiuZ5A

— Toni Canyameras (@Canyameridis71) January 29, 2026

Yabusele himself acknowledged Real Madrid would be among the first teams he’d speak to if he returned overseas.

“It was hard to come back to the NBA [but once I was here], my mind definitely wanted to stay there, but we’ll see when the opportunity presents itself. It’s definitely going to be a conversation to have and see what the options are in Europe. We’ll see how it goes. I will never say never to anything,” Yabusele said. “Madrid is going to be, to be honest, one of the first teams that we’re going to have the conversation first. I’m not closing my door on anything else, but you know, my house is in Madrid.”

The 30-year-old signed a two-year, $11.3 million deal with the Knicks last summer and holds a $5.8 million player option for the 2026–27 season.

According to Marc Stein and Ian Begley, New York is actively exploring smaller trades involving Yabusele’s expiring salary to clear long-term cap flexibility, with a major move—read: trading for Giannis—not expected to happen this deadline.

The Knicks have reportedly engaged with the San Antonio Spurs, New Orleans Pelicans (both per HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto) and Phoenix Suns (per Forbes’ Evan Sidery) on potential trade packages that could offload Yabusele.

#1 – A court geometry lesson from Joe Mazzulla

The Celtics coaching staff’s ability to optimize court-mapping is one of the reasons the team has been so successful this season, despite the loss of scoring talent. The Celtics’ goal was to find a way to punish Daniel Gafford as a roamer. The Mavericks are using their center the same way the Celtics were using Robert Williams III, trying to keep him as close as possible to the rim.

This possession is a great example of how movement, screening, and smart positioning can punish this approach. The Mavs are in a 3-2 zone, with Cooper Flagg and Gafford at the back.

The Celtics start with Luka Garza in the corner and Sam Hauser one pass away from the ball on the left, but then quickly flow into their action. Garza runs to set a pick on the ball while Hauser runs to the strong-side corner.

Because Gafford must remain close to the paint, Max Christie is tagging the Celtics center. However, the Mavs’ big man now has to focus on:
– Derrick White with the ball
– Hauser in the corner
– Garza rolling to the rim

As Gafford has to make a decision, the Mavs get punished. He helps on the ball and leaves Hauser totally open. The problem? Sam Hauser is shooting 48% on corner threes this season.

Looking back at the action and the game, this is a great example of why this group is able to sustain an elite offense with less offensive talent: they know how to play based on the opponent’s defensive weaknesses and choices.

---

#2 – Zoom-actions to create space

But the Celtics coaching staff had other ways to attack the Mavericks’ defensive scheme. Keeping their center close to the rim requires him to be in a drop coverage position when defending a ball-screen. Therefore, the Celtics used Zoom-actions to punish that.

With one screen plus the handoff from the player defended by the center, the Celtics create space for the ball-handler. Here, Klay Thompson is quickly behind the play because of the two screens.
It gives Payton Pritchard time and space to walk into the paint, as Garza positions himself between the Mavs center and the ball. Great patience and perfect execution from the Celtics guard.

Because the ball-handler in these actions only receives the ball at the moment of the second screen, he has much more speed and the defenders are already behind. And because the Mavs are in drop coverage, players with great touch on floaters, like White, can make the most of it.

So, as the game unfolds, the Mavs start sending more help behind the drop coverage to cover both the drive and the roll-man… which opens more space beyond the three-point line.

---

#3 – Celtics poetic playcall

It’s hard not to be romantic about basketball tactics. Last night, in the third quarter, the Celtics ran a similar playcall a couple of times in a row. What makes it quite poetic is that this playcall — a double-drag (also called “77”) — was the go-to action for the Mavericks when Luka Dončić was still there.

The first one is very well executed by Jaylen Brown and Neemias Queta. The Celtics All-Star rejects the screen and starts driving as the big man rolls to the rim, leading to an easy dunk. On the second action, the result is the same but with a different execution, as JB comes from the left and uses both screens to create separation.

---

#4 – More isolations for PP and JB

The Celtics were the only team to have three players averaging more than two isolations per game, with Pritchard, Brown, and Anfernee Simons. As the offensive approach leans more toward creating one-on-one situations when needed, their isolation volume should increase — and it started last night.

With 49 field-goal attempts and 59 points, the message is clear: Brown and Pritchard are here to carry the scoring load, and a lot of it will come from isolation situations.

---

#5 – Rebranding of the rotation

Without Simons’ offensive boost off the bench, the Celtics now have to rethink their rotation. How do you balance spacing needs, scoring necessity, and defense after swapping a shooting ball-handler for a center who previously played as a spot-up shooter? Apparently, it starts by moving Pritchard to the bench — and it makes a lot of sense.

As Baylor Scheierman and Hauser can provide off-ball spacing for Brown and White in the starting lineup, Pritchard’s offensive juice can come later in the game. And it doesn’t mean his offensive responsibilities go down — quite the opposite.

Last night was, per cleaningtheglass, his third-biggest offensive load of the year, with a 33% usage rate. The next question is: how do you insert Nikola Vučević into the current rotation? Looking forward to seeing how it unfolds.

---

#6 – Great rim protection

The Celtics’ defense was able to keep the Mavs’ offensive efficiency pretty low last night, allowing just 61% at the rim and a concerning 46% eFG overall. And it was obvious from the first action that the Mavs would struggle to get into the paint. With Queta staying close to the rim, the Mavs couldn’t punish the defensive scheme.

Thanks to White’s great screen navigation and Queta’s rim protection, the first attempt at the rim for the Mavs was a perfect example of what their offensive night would look like.

Beyond Queta’s rim protection, there was a collective willingness to fight for one another to keep the rim as safe as possible. Look here: as Brown gets beat on the drive, both Pritchard and Garza come over to help slow down Caleb Martin’s rim attack.

Even in transition, the Celtics competed and kept the Mavs’ efficiency extremely low, allowing just 0.75 points per 100 possessions.

---

#7 – Jordan Walsh couldn’t keep up with Flagg

While the Celtics did a great collective defensive job, it was a rough night for Walsh on that end. As soon as he stepped on the court and was matched up with the rookie, he was put in difficult situations and exposed within the Celtics’ defense.

As he struggled, the Celtics’ defense also failed to protect him. Here, Garza helps on the screen to force Flagg to give up the ball, but Brown doesn’t come up to tag the roll-man as he’s watching the weak side — leading to an open dunk.

On the next play, Walsh goes under the first screen but can’t keep up once Flagg drives, which forces help from Brown and Hugo González and opens the corner for Martin.

On the next possession, Walsh is isolated on Flagg again and commits a foul. A few minutes later, he’s sent back to the bench and finishes with just 10 minutes played. In the second half, his minutes are matched with those when the rookie is on the bench.

While Walsh struggled, Brown and Baylor Scheierman did a great job staying in front of Flagg long enough to allow help to arrive.

---

#8 – Flagg would look good in green

I don’t know if it’s the shoes or all the noise around Cooper being a Celtics fan, but sheesh, would he look good in green. I assume the Mavs won’t let another franchise player walk away anytime soon, but we’ll be monitoring his career and situation closely as his career goes on — what a player.

---

#9 – A decisive 8-0 in the third

There’s always a moment in a game when it feels like you’ve taken a huge step toward winning — last night, it came late in the third quarter. The Celtics held a fragile 11-point lead, but things were about to change. First, a pick-and-pop between the two bench scorers of the night.

Then González comes flying in behind Gafford to steal the pass for the alley-oop…

Then he drives and kicks it out to White, open in the corner.

Right after another strong defensive play from Hugo, the Celtics push the pace, and Pritchard runs another pick-and-roll with Garza to push the lead to 19 — a margin the young Mavs won’t be able to overcome.

---

#10 – Time flies

Looking at last night’s game, it felt like time had flown by. Less than two years ago, the Celtics and the Mavs were meeting in the Finals. Now, most of the starters are gone or sidelined for months. In less than two years, the direction of these franchises had to adapt to an eventful period — one now resting on the shoulders of a teenager, while the Celtics wait to learn when their go-to guy will return.

The short-handed Memphis Grizzlies visit Golden 1 Center for a Western Conference matchup with the Sacramento Kings tonight.

Cam Spencer has provided a spark off the Memphis bench, and my Grizzlies vs. Kings predictions expect plenty of assists from the former UConn Huskies star. 

Read on for my NBA picks for Wednesday, February 4. 

Grizzlies vs Kings prediction

Grizzlies vs Kings best bet: Cam Spencer Over 5.5 assists (+120)

Cam Spencer is handling primary facilitator duties for the Memphis Grizzlies and doesn’t need a ceiling game to reach six assists. 

He’s averaging six helpers over his last five games, and after yesterday’s major trade, Memphis is thin on bodies for tonight’s matchup with the Sacramento Kings. 

That points to heavier minutes for the UConn product. 

Sacramento’s defense has allowed 119 points per game during its nine-game losing streak, creating terrific assist-friendly conditions for Spencer. 

Additionally, with Grizzlies leading scorer Santi Aldama expected to suit up, getting plus money on Spencer’s assist prop feels mispriced.

Grizzlies vs Kings same-game parlay

DeMar DeRozan has scored at least 20 points in three of his last five games. He remains one of the league’s best mid-range scorers and should find his spots comfortably without having to deal with Jackson’s length. 

Ty Jerome has returned to the Grizzlies lineup with a hefty 36% usage rate. The scoring sample is still small, but the role is real.

Against a leaky Kings defense, asking Jerome to reach 15 points is not a stretch given the expected minutes and shot volume.

Grizzlies vs Kings SGP

• Cam Spencer Over 5.5 assists
• DeMar DeRozan Over 19.5 points
• Ty Jerome Over 14.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Crown the Kings

We’ll back the Kings to win. They’ve lost nine straight, but the Grizzlies are 3-7 in their last 10 games with Jackson on the floor and arrive depleted. 

With fresher legs and more continuity, Sacramento is the steadier side tonight.

Grizzlies vs Kings SGP

• Cam Spencer Over 5.5 assists
• DeMar DeRozan Over 19.5 points
• Ty Jerome Over 14.5 points
• Kings moneyline

Grizzlies vs Kings odds

• Spread: Grizzlies +2 (-110) Kings -2 (-110)
• Moneyline: Grizzlies +114 | Kings -134
• Over/Under: Over 231.5 (-110) | Under 231.5 (-110)

Grizzlies vs Kings betting trend to know

The Kings have hit the moneyline in six of their last 13 games at home (+11.85 Units / 81% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Grizzlies vs. Kings.

How to watch Grizzlies vs Kings

Grizzlies vs Kings latest injuries

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