James Harden averages 25.4 points per game for the Los Angeles Clippers this season [Getty Images]
James Harden is set to join the Cleveland Cavaliers from the Los Angeles Clippers, with Darius Garland moving in the opposite direction after the sides agreed a trade.
Harden, 36, is an 11-time NBA All-Star and regarded as one of the greatest guards in history, but he has never won an NBA title.
Although the deal is yet to be confirmed by the NBA, Harden said the opportunity to win a first championship was key in deciding to move.
The Cavaliers are fifth in the Eastern Conference in their pursuit of a play-off spot, while the Clippers are ninth in the West.
"I see an opportunity to win in the East - they got a very good team, coaching staff, all of the above," Harden told ESPN.
"As much as I wanted to stay in LA and give it a go, I've never won one before. As a basketball mind, I think we have a bit better chance."
Harden has helped the Clippers climb the table after a dismal 6-21 start this season, but sat out Sunday's defeat by the Philadelphia 76ers while talks with the Cavaliers progressed.
Harden, who won the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award in 2018 while with the Houston Rockets, denied speculation that he requested a trade from the Clippers.
"That wasn't the case at all. In life, not even just basketball, when things don't work out, there are ways to end things in relationships without having to crack each other," he said.
"Maybe we just don't see a future with each other. Maybe we just outgrew each other. Whatever the case may be, I feel like our situations weren't like that."
Across stints at five franchises, Harden has scored 28,805 points, putting him ninth on the NBA's all-time list.
The Cavaliers have not won a title since 2016.
Garland, 26, averages 18 points this season in a campaign blighted by injury.
As part of the trade, the Clippers secured a second-round pick for this year's draft.
The Clippers host the Cavaliers on Wednesday, but Harden and Garland must pass medicals before the trade is confirmed.
The Spurs are back in the win column again, just in time for a visit from the NBA’s best team (by record), fresh off of their 40th win of the season.
The Spurs have had the Thunder’s number for most of the season, with a 3-1 record against them, but the Thunder finally flipped the tables in the last contest with a 21-point win, and I expect they’ll be out to avenge both their record against San Antonio and the once-building sentiment that they’re in the reigning champs’ collective heads.
The book is out on how the Spurs can defeat OKC. They must deny penetration and interior scoring, refrain from giving the Thunder any breathing room beyond the arc, and avoid getting sloppy against the team that leads the NBA in points off turnovers.
Rebounding (4th) will assist in denying the Thunder extra possessions and keeping them from getting easy points from an offense that’s spent most of the season in the top 10 for points scored in the paint.
While the Thunder are near the top of the league in Effective Field Goal Percentage (4th) and True Shooting Percentage (3rd), a vulnerability has been exposed by the Spurs in their long-distance shooting.
Oklahoma City sits in the middle of the pack in both three-point percentage (15th) and three-pointers made (15th), and their offense simply does not move anywhere near as fluidly when they’re having difficultly inside.
It’s possible that this is related to a shortage of distributors, but whether it’s a personnel issue or their ball-movement’s Achilles heel is a matter of debate. That they’re 18th in assists, 28th in assist percentage, and 18th in assist ratio is not. Something goes amiss when they’re denied the interior, suggesting their offense is riding a fine line between team-play and heliocentric distribution.
Offensively, the Spurs will need to push the pace at every opportunity, exercise patience in picking the stingy Thunder defense apart, and make the paint their home. The Thunder are tops in the league in fast break defense and denying points in the paint, but the speed of San Antonio’s guards and Wemby’s length have positioned them as one of the few teams that can create advantages in those areas.
And, of course, the Spurs will need their long-distance shooters to be firing on all cylinders. A lot of San Antonio’s games have gone as their three-point shooting has gone, and that’s led to a bit of scuffling over the last month.
It’s very unlikely they’ll taste victory if that goes poorly against the Thunder, unless they can return the favor defensively. That could be a lofty challenge with perimeter-defending maestro Stephon Castle out for the night.
Still, this Spurs team has proven that the Thunder are not some unbeatable juggernaut, and they seem to play them with maximum focus, confidence, and drive. Their playbook against the Thunder has given other teams ideas, and OKC is coming into this one at 6-4 over the last ten games (identical to the Spurs), so don’t be surprised if they come away with another victory against a Thunder team that refuses to acknowledge how good they actually are.
Now, if we could only get them to play this way against everyone!
Spurs Injuries: Jeremy Sochan – Out (Quad), Lindy Waters III – Out (Knee), Stephon Castle – Doubtful (Groin)
Thunder Injuries: Thomas Sorber – Out (Knee), Nikola Topic – Out (Cancer), Ajay Mitchell – Day-t0-Day (Abdominal Strain), Jalen Williams – Out (Hamstring)
The Los Angeles Clippers had won 16 of their last 20 games to roar back into the fringes of the Western Conference playoff race. Which is when James Harden decided he wasn’t going to play for the team again without a contract extension. Now he’s a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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
That’s not ESPN’s finest Photoshop work on that graphic.
Harden demanded a trade last week after the Clippers rejected his request for a two-year extension to his contract, reportedly worth roughly $40M per season, which would wreck the Clippers’ long-standing plan to max out their cap space in the summer of 2027, when many contracts, including that of tree-lover Kawhi Leonard, expire.
Plus, Steve Ballmer may have bristled at paying top dollar for Harden at age 38, much as the Philadelphia 76ers balked at giving Harden a maximum contract extension back in the summer of 2023, when Harden demanded a trade, refused to play, and called team president Daryl Morey a liar during a trip to China, admittedly a country that’s very sympathetic to Daryl Morey slander.
James Harden: “Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of. Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of.” pic.twitter.com/AmHJ0WwbF2
How did it come to this? Part of it comes from the Clippers signing Harden to an overly-clever deal where he has a 2026-27 player option worth $42.3M he must exercise by June 29, but the Clippers can waive him by July 11 and owe him only $13.3M. This was a smart move to save money and a dumb move for anyone who has paid attention to Harden’s feelings about contracts for the last five years.
Once Harden was playing well this season — and he has been a borderline All-Star, averaging 25.4 points and 8.1 assists — that option became a ticking time bomb. He wasn’t going to risk picking up his option and then getting waived, nor was he willing to roll the dice on unrestricted free agency. Even when he was unhappy with the Sixers in 2023, Harden still picked up his player option, choosing to wait months for a trade rather than simply become a free agent.
This author would guess we will hear news of a Harden extension soon. He was happy to go to the Cavaliers, even though it meant foregoing most of his 15% trade kicker.
In return, the Clippers received two-time All-Star Darius Garland, who is 10 years younger than Harden and the son of former Golden State Warriors guard Winston Garland, the last active NBA player to be named “Winston.” (Cassius Winston has been out of the league since 2022, and he doesn’t count.) In a sign of how far Garland’s star has fallen, it was the Cavs who had to include a second-round pick to complete the deal.
Why did Cleveland make this move? Some of it is his fit alongside 6-foot-2 Donovan Mitchell, another small guard, which teams have exploited in the playoffs. Some of it is his contract, which costs roughly $87M for the next two seasons. The Cavaliers traded De’Andre Hunter earlier this week for Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis in a move that saved them $50M in payroll and luxury taxes combined. Ditching Garland reduces their future liability, and they could get under the second luxury tax apron by trading Lonxo Ball before Thursday’s deadline.
The biggest factor might be Garland’s recent history of injuries. He was hobbled during last year’s playoffs with a toe injury that he’s continued to battle this year, and has underperformed his regular-season averages in his playoff career.
It’s a rare situation where adding James Harden actually might give Cleveland a better playoff performer. And if Harden does falter in the playoffs (he’s definitely going to falter in the playoffs), the Cavaliers do have Ellis and Schroder off the bench, and sophomore sensation Jaylon Tyson, the second-best former California Golden Bear named Jaylen/Jaylon in the NBA.
The Clippers got an escape ramp off their aging roster with an actual young player with actual talent, though they probably get worse this season. The Warriors don’t have to see their old friend The Beard until April 2. Harden gets to hang out with Cleveland legends Machine Gun Kelly, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, and Flo from Progressive. The Cavaliers get one of the greatest scorers, partiers, and floppers in NBA history. And there’s still a day and a half before the trade deadline!
The Bulldogs (11-11, 5-6 Mountain West) outscored UNLV 9-4 in the final 23 seconds to steal the win.
Zaon Collins scored 16 points, DeShawn Gory and reserve Bastien Rieber each scored 15 points and Wilson Jacques 10 for Fresno State which shot 59% (29 of 49) including 53% (8 of 15) from 3-point range.
Fresno State managed to overcome 15 turnovers to just 11 assists.
Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn scored 28 points, Howie Fleming Jr. scored 23 points and Kimani Hamilton 14 for UNLV (10-12, 5-6).
Down 96-93, David Douglas Jr. made a 32-foot, 3-pointer with 1.5-seconds left to bring Fresno State into a 96-all tie.
On the ensuing inbounds, Howie Fleming Jr. overthrew Naas Cunningham on the other end of the floor and the ball went out of bounds to give possession back to Fresno State at its basket.
After an officials review to confirm Fresno State possession, Heidbreder faked an attempt to set a screen and froze his defender. He then sprinted to the baseline for a clean look from 14 feet to end it.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Collin Gillespie scored a career-high 30 points, Mark Williams had 24 points and 12 rebounds, and the Phoenix Suns bounced back from a slow start for a 130-125 win over the reeling Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night.
Grayson Allen also scored 24 points on 11-of-14 shooting and Jordan Goodwin had 16 points and 10 rebounds on a night when the Suns played without leading scorer Devin Booker (25.4 points per game), who was out with a right ankle sprain. Jalen Green was also out of the Suns' lineup.
Gillespie tied a career high with eight made 3-pointers and also had 10 assists.
Jerami Grant had 23 points to lead Portland, which lost its sixth straight game. Donovan Clingan had 14 points and 15 rebounds. Shaedon Sharpe added 19 points for Portland.
The Trail Blazers also played without their leading scorer and second-leading rebounder, Deni Avdija (25.5 points per game), who has a lower back strain and was just named to his first All-Star game.
Vit Krejci had five points in his Portland debut after being acquired in a trade with Atlanta.
Portland jumped to a 41-30 lead after one quarter but Phoenix pulled within 72-67 at halftime. The Suns took control by outscoring the Blazers 34-22 in the third quarter.
Williams’ layup with 3:55 left in the third quarter put the Suns ahead for good at 88-87.
The Trail Blazers turned the ball over 17 times, six more times than the Suns.
Up next
Suns: Return home to play Golden State on Thursday night.
BOTTOM LINE: New York hosts Denver trying to extend its four-game home winning streak.
The Knicks are 20-6 on their home court. New York is sixth in the Eastern Conference with 27.0 assists per game led by Jalen Brunson averaging 6.0.
The Nuggets have gone 19-8 away from home. Denver is 6-7 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The Knicks are shooting 47.1% from the field this season, 0.4 percentage points higher than the 46.7% the Nuggets allow to opponents. The Nuggets average 13.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.2 fewer makes per game than the Knicks give up.
TOP PERFORMERS: Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 19.8 points and 11.9 rebounds for the Knicks. OG Anunoby is averaging 19.2 points over the last 10 games.
Jamal Murray is scoring 25.6 points per game and averaging 4.3 rebounds for the Nuggets. Tim Hardaway Jr. is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 7-3, averaging 113.4 points, 49.0 rebounds, 27.4 assists, 8.3 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 99.8 points per game.
Nuggets: 5-5, averaging 109.2 points, 40.6 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 7.0 steals and 5.6 blocks per game while shooting 46.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.3 points.
INJURIES: Knicks: Mitchell Robinson: day to day (ankle), Josh Hart: day to day (undisclosed), Mohamed Diawara: day to day (ankle), Miles McBride: day to day (ankle).
Nuggets: Cameron Johnson: out (knee), Tamar Bates: out (foot), Aaron Gordon: out (hamstring).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Western Conference foes San Antonio and Oklahoma City square off on Wednesday.
The Spurs are 19-13 in Western Conference games. San Antonio scores 116.9 points and has outscored opponents by 5.0 points per game.
The Thunder are 30-7 against Western Conference opponents. Oklahoma City is seventh in the Western Conference with 25.5 assists per game led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaging 6.4.
The Spurs average 12.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.6 fewer makes per game than the Thunder allow (14.5). The Thunder average 13.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.3 more makes per game than the Spurs allow.
The teams meet for the fifth time this season. In the last matchup on Jan. 14 the Thunder won 119-98 led by 34 points from Gilgeous-Alexander, while Stephon Castle scored 20 points for the Spurs.
TOP PERFORMERS: De'Aaron Fox is averaging 19.8 points and 6.2 assists for the Spurs. Victor Wembanyama is averaging 23.6 points over the last 10 games.
Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.8 points and 6.4 assists for the Thunder. Isaiah Joe is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Spurs: 6-4, averaging 112.2 points, 43.5 rebounds, 27.3 assists, 6.3 steals and 6.3 blocks per game while shooting 47.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.0 points per game.
Thunder: 6-4, averaging 116.8 points, 42.8 rebounds, 25.1 assists, 8.3 steals and 6.1 blocks per game while shooting 49.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.0 points.
INJURIES: Spurs: Stephon Castle: day to day (adductor), Lindy Waters III: day to day (knee), Jeremy Sochan: out (quad).
Thunder: Ajay Mitchell: out (hip), Nikola Topic: out (groin), Jalen Williams: out (thigh), Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Houston heads into a matchup with Boston as winners of three straight games.
The Rockets have gone 17-4 in home games. Houston scores 116.0 points and has outscored opponents by 6.0 points per game.
The Celtics are 16-10 on the road. Boston ranks second in the league averaging 15.5 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 36.7% from downtown. Derrick White leads the team averaging 2.8 makes while shooting 32.0% from 3-point range.
The 116.0 points per game the Rockets average are 7.1 more points than the Celtics allow (108.9). The Celtics average 15.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.4 more made shots on average than the 12.1 per game the Rockets give up.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Rockets won 128-101 in the last meeting on Nov. 2. Kevin Durant led the Rockets with 26 points, and Baylor Scheierman led the Celtics with 17 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Amen Thompson is averaging 18.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.5 steals for the Rockets. Durant is averaging 24.4 points over the last 10 games.
Jaylen Brown is averaging 29.5 points, seven rebounds and 4.8 assists for the Celtics. Payton Pritchard is averaging 16.6 points and 4.5 assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Rockets: 8-2, averaging 111.3 points, 49.2 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 9.4 steals and 6.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.0 points per game.
Celtics: 7-3, averaging 113.2 points, 46.8 rebounds, 24.8 assists, 7.4 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 45.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 103.7 points.
INJURIES: Rockets: Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Kevin Durant: day to day (ankle), Steven Adams: out for season (ankle), Dorian Finney-Smith: out (ankle).
Celtics: Jayson Tatum: out (achilles), Chris Boucher: day to day (personal).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Utah Jazz (16-35, 13th in the Western Conference) vs. Atlanta Hawks (25-27, ninth in the Eastern Conference)
Atlanta; Thursday, 7:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Jalen Johnson and the Atlanta Hawks host Lauri Markkanen and the Utah Jazz in non-conference action.
The Hawks have gone 9-14 in home games. Atlanta is the league leader with 30.7 assists per game led by Johnson averaging 8.0.
The Jazz are 6-18 in road games. Utah ranks eighth in the Western Conference with 43.7 rebounds per game led by Jusuf Nurkic averaging 10.2.
The Hawks are shooting 47.3% from the field this season, 1.9 percentage points lower than the 49.2% the Jazz allow to opponents. The Jazz are shooting 46.8% from the field, 0.8% lower than the 47.6% the Hawks' opponents have shot this season.
The teams meet for the second time this season. In the last meeting on Nov. 14 the Hawks won 132-122 led by 32 points from Onyeka Okongwu, while Markkanen scored 40 points for the Jazz.
TOP PERFORMERS: Johnson is scoring 23.2 points per game with 10.5 rebounds and 8.0 assists for the Hawks. CJ McCollum is averaging 18.7 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 48.0% over the past 10 games.
Jaren Jackson Jr. is averaging 19.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks for the Jazz. Keyonte George is averaging 18.9 points and 2.0 rebounds while shooting 48.0% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Hawks: 5-5, averaging 113.7 points, 44.4 rebounds, 28.9 assists, 9.0 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.6 points per game.
Jazz: 2-8, averaging 113.9 points, 41.0 rebounds, 30.9 assists, 8.8 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 48.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 124.9 points.
INJURIES: Hawks: Onyeka Okongwu: day to day (face), Kristaps Porzingis: day to day (illness), N'Faly Dante: out for season (knee), Duop Reath: out for season (foot).
Jazz: Kevin Love: day to day (illness), Keyonte George: day to day (ankle), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder), John Konchar: day to day (neck).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Philadelphia 76ers (29-21, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (30-19, fifth in the Western Conference)
Los Angeles; Thursday, 10 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Philadelphia will attempt to build upon its five-game win streak with a victory over Los Angeles.
The Lakers are 12-8 in home games. Los Angeles is eighth in the Western Conference with 25.1 assists per game led by Luka Doncic averaging 8.7.
The 76ers are 14-8 on the road. Philadelphia is 11-17 against opponents with a winning record.
The Lakers score 116.3 points per game, 1.0 more point than the 115.3 the 76ers allow. The 76ers' 46.0% shooting percentage from the field this season is 2.5 percentage points lower than the Lakers have allowed to their opponents (48.5%).
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Lakers won 112-108 in the last matchup on Dec. 8.
TOP PERFORMERS: Doncic is scoring 33.4 points per game with 7.9 rebounds and 8.7 assists for the Lakers. LeBron James is averaging 20.5 points and 5.4 rebounds while shooting 49.7% over the past 10 games.
Tyrese Maxey is averaging 28.9 points, 6.8 assists and two steals for the 76ers. Kelly Oubre Jr. is averaging 2.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Lakers: 6-4, averaging 115.6 points, 41.1 rebounds, 25.5 assists, 8.8 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 50.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.3 points per game.
76ers: 7-3, averaging 117.0 points, 42.4 rebounds, 26.9 assists, 10.1 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 48.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.8 points.
INJURIES: Lakers: Adou Thiero: out (knee).
76ers: Joel Embiid: out (injury management).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Washington Wizards (13-36, 14th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Detroit Pistons (37-12, first in the Eastern Conference)
Detroit; Thursday, 7 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Detroit hosts Washington looking to extend its three-game home winning streak.
The Pistons have gone 23-6 against Eastern Conference teams. Detroit is fourth in the NBA with 13.1 offensive rebounds per game led by Jalen Duren averaging 3.8 offensive boards.
The Wizards are 8-20 in Eastern Conference play. Washington averages 15.2 turnovers per game and is 7-6 when turning the ball over less than opponents.
The Pistons average 11.1 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.7 fewer makes per game than the Wizards allow (13.8). The Wizards are shooting 45.7% from the field, 1.6% higher than the 44.1% the Pistons' opponents have shot this season.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Pistons won 137-135 in overtime in the last matchup on Nov. 11.
TOP PERFORMERS: Duren is averaging 18 points and 10.7 rebounds for the Pistons. Cade Cunningham is averaging 19.7 points over the last 10 games.
Bub Carrington is shooting 40.0% and averaging 10.1 points for the Wizards. Tre Johnson is averaging 1.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pistons: 8-2, averaging 117.0 points, 43.4 rebounds, 27.6 assists, 11.7 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 47.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.5 points per game.
Wizards: 3-7, averaging 110.0 points, 43.3 rebounds, 25.1 assists, 9.8 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 44.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.1 points.
INJURIES: Pistons: Kevin Huerter: day to day (back), Dario Saric: day to day (not injury related).
Wizards: Tristan Vukcevic: day to day (hamstring), Cam Whitmore: out for season (shoulder), Tre Johnson: day to day (ankle), Trae Young: out (quad).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JANUARY 28: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on January 28, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Lakers 129-99. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As the NBA threatens to get upended around them by Thursday’s trade deadline, the Lakers have been quiet thus far.
The Lakers did get one piece of notable news Tuesday: LeBron James “is still expected to finish out the season” in L.A., according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN. Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul said as much on his podcast in December, but league sources re-emphasized to McMenamin that “James will not be joining a new team before this season is over.”
If that’s true, that limits the Lakers’ options at the trade deadline.
Can the Lakers go big-game hunting?
The Lakers are currently less than $1 million below the $195.9 million first apron. They’re hard-capped at that threshold since they spent their non-taxpayer mid-level exception on Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia this past offseason. That means they can’t go over $195.9 million in total salary until the new league year begins on June 30.
The Lakers do have more than $44 million in expiring contracts between Rui Hachimura ($18.3 million), Gabe Vincent ($11.5 million), Maxi Kleber ($11.0 million) and Jaxson Hayes ($3.4 million). But since they’re so close to the first apron, they can’t take back much more salary than they send out in a trade.
James’ $52.6 million contract would be ideal to dangle from a salary-matching perspective. However, he has a full no-trade clause, which means he can scuttle any deal involving him.
If James won’t sign off on a trade, the Lakers could instead offer Jarred Vanderbilt, who’s owed $11.6 million this year and $12.4 million in 2026-27. He also has a $13.3 million player option in 2027-28, which likely makes him less desirable to potential trade partners.
Aside from Vanderbilt, though, the Lakers can offer significant salary relief in the form of Hachimura, Vincent and Kleber. Those three plus Vanderbilt get them above $50 million, but they’d also need to include Hayes to get into the $55 million range.
Teams don’t have enough open roster spots to swing a five-for-one deal during the season, though. The Lakers would need to recruit at least one other team to help push any deal for a superstar over the edge.
LeBron’s uncertain future
The Lakers could have upwards of $50 million in cap space this offseason, but it would require them to part ways with all of their free agents, including LeBron. They figure to be fiercely protective of that financial flexibility at the trade deadline unless it’s for a clear long-term upgrade.
The uncertainty surrounding LeBron’s future is the real impediment, though.
Even if this isn’t James’ final season in the NBA, it very well could be his final season in L.A. The Lakers have a unique opportunity to take advantage of Austin Reaves’ below-market salary-cap hold this offseason. If/when they re-sign Reaves, that window closes.
The Lakers are now feeling the inherent tension that every LeBron James team feels at some point. They have to weigh the risks of making a win-now push versus preserving their assets for their post-LeBron future. Luka Dončić’s arrival in L.A. last year only further complicated that.
LeBron, who’s in his age-41 season, doesn’t have much time left in the NBA. Dončić, who turns 27 at the end of February, could be the Lakers’ franchise cornerstone for the next decade. LeBron might feel as though the Lakers owe it to him to make one last push for a championship, but the Lakers have to be mindful of how best to build around Dončić moving forward.
On that front, longtime NBA insider Marc Stein reported Wednesday that the Lakers would be “a very viable threat” to land Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo if he doesn’t get moved by the trade deadline.
“There is little choice for the Lakers, heading into Thursday’s deadline, except to stay patient and avoid deals that involve any long-term salary to maintain maximum flexibility for the spring,” Stein wrote. “The hope for the purple-and-gold would then be to use their considerable projected salary cap space to be able to take in a contract like Antetokounmpo’s via trade—or another expensive star if one shakes loose post-playoffs.”
That approach may frustrate LeBron in what could be his final NBA season, but it’s the wise route to take. Besides, the only one who’s forcing LeBron to stay in L.A. is LeBron.
PORTLAND, OR - FEBRUARY 3: Collin Gillespie #12 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on February 3, 2026 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. 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 Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
What a game. The Suns trailed by as many as 19 and won by five for their second-largest comeback win of the season. No Devin Booker. No Jalen Green. No problem.
It started with Portland raining in threes nonstop early, and it looked like things were going to get ugly. Then, the Suns reminded us of who they really are.
The defensive intensity picked up. Collin Gillespie went on an absolute heater, and Grayson Allen and Mark Williams put the finishing touches on the Blazers late. The Suns improve to 31-20 with the victory, and 14-13 on the road.
Collin Gillespie scored a career-high 30 points to go with 10 dimes and 3 steals on 8-14 shooting from deep. Jordan Goodwin put together a complete game with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 steals in 23 minutes. Mark Williams chipped in with 24 points and 11 rebounds on 11-14 shooting.
The Suns got off to a rough start. Donovan Clingan scored 9 early points off three triples, and the Blazers just punched Phoenix in the mouth with a 16-4 run to open the game.
Mark Williams finished a three-point play to break up a little of the early Portland momentum. The Blazers followed that up with a pair of threes to make them 6 of 9 from deep to open the quarter with a 24-9 lead.
Things only got uglier as the Blazers pushed the lead to 31-13 with less than five minutes remaining in the period.
The Suns competed like hell in the second quarter, dropping 37 points and making it a ballgame. It was 72-67 at the half. Gillespie led the way with 14 points, and Williams chipped in with 12.
Second Half
The Suns picked up where they left off in the third quarter, jumping out to a 17-10 advantage coming out of the half.
Phoenix won the third quarter by 12 thanks to Collin Gillespie and co. catching fire. The 34-22 advantage was the story of the night after they allowed 41 in the opening quarter. There was some chirping going back and forth, and things started to get a bit heated as the Suns began their run back into the game. Mark Williams began to feast as well, which was a major key for a Blazers team that had struggled to protect the paint in their previous game against Jarrett Allen.
The fourth quarter was more of that from the Villanova product, setting up others and aggressively finding looks for himself with and without the basketball. His relocation and movement shooting off screens and pullups were masterful. Phoenix was relentless in its pursuit of the basketball.
Ryan Dunn hit back-to-back threes to extend Phoenix’s lead to twelve, 116-104.
Jordan Goodwin continued to play his in-your-face, harassing defense to frustrate the Blazers’ ballhandlers and force turnovers. He had 5 steals in this one, but it felt like 10.
In crunch time, Portland went on a run to cut the lead to just five with 1:30 remaining. A Grayson Allen lob to Mark Williams gave them a needed bucket, but Jermai Grant hit a three the following possession to cut it to four.
And then, a step-back three from Grayson Allen and Jrue Holiday turnover put the dagger in the Blazers’ back to seal the deal.
Up Next
The Suns will host the Warriors back in Phoenix on Thursday night.
DALLAS, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 03: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks brings the ball up court against Luka Garza #52 of the Boston Celtics during the third quarter at American Airlines Center on February 03, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks lost at home 110-100 to the Celtics tonight behind a monster performance from MVP candidate Jaylen Brown. Brown finished with 33 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists on 50% shooting from the floor. Cooper Flagg continued his rookie of the year campaign with 36 points, nine rebounds, six assists, on an insane 50/50/100 shooting night. Caleb Martin also had 13 points and six rebounds and Daniel Gafford had an ugly 10 point, 12 rebound double-double. For the Celtics, Payton Pritchard had 26 points on 12-for-20 shooting while Luka Garza had 16 points on four made threes.
Boston took control early behind Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard’s shot-making. Still, Dallas kept the game close in the opening quarter by winning the interior, with Daniel Gafford finishing lobs and putbacks and Cooper Flagg attacking off the dribble to counter a series of missed Mavericks threes. Even with multiple empty possessions from Christie, Marshall, and Thompson, the Mavericks stayed within 32-29 after one, thanks to offensive rebounding and rim pressure. The Celtics then created separation in the second quarter, using a Pritchard-led run built on pull-up jumpers and a deep three to push the lead into double digits while Dallas went through a long stretch of misses from the perimeter and mid-range. Gafford and Flagg kept generating second chances, but Boston’s consistent half-court scoring allowed them to carry a 59–49 lead into halftime, leaving Dallas trailing despite a competitive effort inside.
Any hopes of a sustained Dallas push out of halftime were short-lived, as Boston immediately reasserted control behind Jaylen Brown’s downhill scoring and Payton Pritchard’s pull-up shooting. Every time Dallas threatened to string together stops, the Celtics answered with clean half-court execution, using Brown’s drives and Pritchard’s shot creation to keep the lead comfortably in double digits. Cooper Flagg did everything he could to keep Dallas afloat, scoring repeatedly off the dribble, crashing the glass, and even pulling up from deep. Still, his individual scoring bursts were consistently offset by Boston baskets on the other end. The fourth quarter became a grind, with Gafford and Flagg generating second chances. At the same time, the Celtics calmly bled the clock, ultimately closing out a 110–100 win without ever letting the Mavericks meaningfully flip momentum.
11: Free throws attempted by Cooper Flagg
Cooper Flagg has been absolutely dominate the past few games, averaging 24 points on 50% shooting and 30% from three to go along with 7.5 rebounds and 4 assists in his last 10 games, and followed it up again tonight with a 36 point, nine rebound, six assist night on 50% shooting and 50% from three point range. He also only committed one turnover tonight against the Boston Celtics, who have one of the best defenses in basketball. Despite his awesome play, a constant complaint that arises, at least in the MMB Slack, is the lack of whistles he gets. Constantly getting bumped and hit while attacking the rim and getting absolutely no calls. In his last 10 games, he has only shot double-digit free throws once, including five times where he shot less than five total free throws. Tonight, Cooper’s whistle turned a corner, as he shot 11 free throws and made 10 of them. He even got fouled on a three-pointer to help solidify his season average of over 20 points per game. We saw tonight that when Cooper gets to the line, it elevates the floor of his production every night, in a very good way.
?: How many players get traded before the Mavericks next game
The Mavericks played their last game before Thursday afternoon’s trade deadline, where the Mavs are looking to be major players as they try to reshape their future around Cooper Flagg. All season, the Mavericks have been the center of trade rumors, with Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, and Klay Thompson the key names expected to be dealt before the deadline. Davis will remain a Maverick; given his injuries, his market value is all but nonexistent. Klay and Gafford may still get dealt, but Klay only played 2o minutes tonight and finished a team-worst -15 after going 1/5, and Gafford spent part of his potential last game in Dallas in the locker room dealing with various injuries, reminding all of us, and the league, why we want to trade these guys at all. With awful recent performances, including an ugly last taste in our mouth tonight, it will be interesting to watch if the Mavs get anything done in the next 40 hours.
On Saturday, on a rare Celtics offday, Xavier Tillman and Anfernee Simons sat courtside at a Boston College basketball game. | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
DALLAS — Every single time the Celtics boarded the team plane to embark on a roadtrip this season, Anfernee Simons has sat right next to Baylor Scheierman.
But when the Celtics boarded their flight from Dallas to Houston late Tuesday night, Scheierman’s seatmate was nowhere to be found.
That’s because, as the Celtics prepare to face the Houston Rockets, Simons is headed to Chicago, where he was traded earlier Tuesday afternoon in exchange for veteran big man Nikola Vucevic.
And, though all of the Celtics understand that midseason trades are a part of the business, it doesn’t necessarily make things any easier.
“We had a growing relationship that was really good,” Scheierman said. “He’s just a good dude. Was a great teammate. As far as a basketball player, obviously, very talented — came in and put his work in, did things the right way, and cared about the people here. I’m definitely sad to see him go.”
Such is life across the NBA in early February.
On Tuesday alone, sixteen players across the league were reportedly traded, while 5 players switched teams earlier in the week.
Players understand it’s part of the business. They say all the right things. In line with that, ahead of the Celtics’ Tuesday night game against the Dallas Mavericks, head coach Jason Kidd noted that midseason trades were “in the small print” of players’ contracts.
“Those guys in that locker room are pros, professionals that understand that they could be traded after the game or before the game or during the game,” Kidd said. “We’ve seen it all.”
But that doesn’t erase the human component of the trade deadline
For Xavier Tillman, Tuesday’s Anfernee Simons trade is a family affair. Tillman’s children are close friends with Simon’s kids, and whenever the Celtics were on the road this season, the two players’ children and significant others oftentimes spent extended time at each others’ homes.
“That’s the hardest part for sure,” Tillman said. “The kids are building these relationships that they hope are lifelong.”
However, Tillman is a veteran, and it’s not the first time his family has been through this; his kids also became very close with Jrue Holiday’s children over the past two seasons. So, after Jrue was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers, the Tillmans visited the Holidays over the summer, and they continue to ensure the friendship is cultivated.
“We told Ant [Anfernee Simons], this summer, we’re gonna make sure we spend some time as a family together,” Tillman said. “Because our kids really did build a really good bond, and our wives did as well — they’re part of our chosen family.”
On Saturday, on a rare Celtics offday, Xavier Tillman and Anfernee Simons sat courtside at a Boston College basketball game. | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Tillman is still extremely close with his former teammates from Memphis, where he spent the first four seasons of his NBA career.
“You have to be,” Tillman said, “because they are the only people who actually understand what we go through on a day-to-day basis.”
Joe Mazzulla centered the human side of the trade deadline
Luka Garza said that Mazzulla addressed some of the players on Tuesday in the wake of Simons’ trade, and the humanity with which he approached the situation stood out.
“Most coaches that I’ve been around kind of pretty much avoid talking about it,” said Garza, who is in his fifth year in the league. “Joe kind of said to me today — understand that we’re all humans, and it’s a business, but at the same time, he understands that what we’re all going through and stuff, which meant a lot.”
For Mazzulla, the decision to humanize is an extension of how he views everything. The trade deadline is a difficult time, but other times might be as well, and the Celtics coach makes sure to acknowledge the off-court stuff year-round.
“You just have to understand that they’re more than basketball players — they’re people, they’re humans, they got families,” Mazzulla said. “And the more you can just create an environment where you’re there for those guys, it helps get through a long season.”
And Jaylen Brown spoke at length after the Celtics win over the Mavericks on Tuesday.
“Anfernee has all the respect in the world from me — it’s a business, but there’s a human aspect to it,” Brown said, noting that Simons has won the Celtics several games. But, like the rest of the Celtics, he emphasized that it’s the human being he’ll miss most.
Jaylen Brown really gushed when asked by @ByJayKing about Anfernee Simons being traded:
“Anfernee has all the respect in the world from me — it's a business, but there's a human aspect to it. And since he's been here, he's contributed to winning. He's won us some games. He's… pic.twitter.com/YX6wAB48HM
“He’s just a great, great person, great kid on and off the floor, just humble — I hope he gets everything that he’s looking for just because he just fit right in with his group of guys in our locker room,” Brown said. “He could have had different thoughts, and thought differently, and his energy could have been different. He was a great teammate and did everything he needed to do that we asked him and more and contributed to winning. So Anfernee has all the respect in the world from me, and I hope he gets everything he deserves.”
Tillman acknowledged that NBA players get paid handsomely and that all of it is a part of the game. But it doesn’t necessarily make it easier.
“It’s like a friend that you had, that you’ve been growing a relationship with, and all of a sudden, they just picked up and left ,and they didn’t want to,” Tillman said. “It’s that kind of vibe.”
Scheierman, who is in his second season in the NBA, has a healthy mindset ahead of the trade deadline, the one that players often echo.
“You can only control what you can control,” Scheierman said before the Celtics’ game in Dallas on Tuesday. “You can’t really focus on that. It’s outside of our control. And so we come and then get ready to play and put our best effort out there.”
The Celtics certainly put forth their best effort out there on Tuesday night, coming away with a 110-100 win over the Mavericks to improve to 32-18 on the year.
But the feeling in the locker room postgame was slightly different from a typical win.
“They always talk about it being a business, but you build relationships with people, and you grow to really care about them and their families,” Tillman said. “And it’s always tough to see your friends get separated from you.”
