BROOKLYN, NY - OCTOBER 24: Cam Thomas #24 of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles the ball during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 24, 2025 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas is drawing trade interest from the Cleveland Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks ahead of the trade deadline, league sources told @hoopshype. Thomas is out for tomorrow’s game against the Orlando Magic due to “personal reasons.” pic.twitter.com/fDdX9Brylw
Thomas is your prototypical sixth man. He’s a 6’2” guard who comes off the bench with the sole purpose of getting buckets. On the season, Thomas is averaging 15.6 points and 3.1 assists on .399/.325/.843 shooting splits in 24.3 minutes per game.
Staying on the court has been an issue for Thomas throughout his five-year NBA career. The 24-year-old has only played over 65 games twice. Last season, he appeared in 25, and this season, he’s played in just half of Brooklyn’s games.
Figuring out exactly who the Cavs would be sending out for Thomas is difficult. Technically, the Cavs could acquire Thomas without sending out any players, as he could be traded for via the $6.9 million trade exception that was created from the De’Andre Hunter trade with the Sacremento Kings. Thomas is on an expiring $5.9 million deal.
It’s also worth questioning how Thomas would fit with the Cavs. The ability to stagger Donovan Mitchell and Harden makes the need for a guard bench scorer less necessary. Thomas likely wouldn’t get minutes over Schroder, and the team already has plenty of two guards that need minutes.
It’s possible that targeting Thomas would make more sense as part of a larger deal.
We’ll see if anything comes of this rumor. The trade deadline is Thursday at 3 PM.
Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes received a one-game suspension on Wednesday for pushing the Washington Wizards' mascot before a game last week.
Hayes pushed the mascot “G-Wiz” during pre-game introductions ahead of the Lakers’ 142-111 win on Friday.
Hayes had 10 points, three rebounds, an assist and a steal off the bench. He will serve the suspension on Feb. 5 when the Lakers host the Philadelphia 76ers, according to a statement from the NBA.
Hayes was drafted by Atlanta in the first round of the 2019 draft, but his rights were immediately traded over to New Orleans. He spent his first four seasons with the Pelicans before joining the Lakers in 2023.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 26: Jared McCain #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives by Sion James #4 of the Charlotte Hornets during the second half at Spectrum Center on January 26, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Two major trades Wednesday involving former Duke stars Jared McCain and Marvin Bagley: McCain will join Oklahoma City and Bagley is heading south of there to Dallas.
These were big deals. The Sixers sent
As for the Wizards-Mavericks trade, Dallas gets Bagley, Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson and Malaki Branham and two first-round picks along with three second-round.
In return, the Wizards get Always Damaged, Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum.
Given Davis’s injury history and age, Dallas looks like it cleaned up.
As for the Sixers-OKC deal, the Thunder get McCain while Philly gets a 2026 first-round pick and three second round picks.
McCain should get some minutes since Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is out for a while with an injury, so at least he gets a chance to make an impression.
In a subsequent trade, OKC also picked up former Duke big man Mason Plumlee.
Meanwhile, future Hall of Famer Chris Paul is moving from the Clippers to the Raptors, though the Raptors will not require him to report to the team and could look to trade him again before Thursday's deadline.
Agbaji, 25, was the No. 14 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft out of Kansas. A 6-foot-5 shooting guard, Agbaji has averaged 7.3 points and 2.8 rebounds over the course of his four pro seasons. He averaged a career-best 10.4 points per game with the Raptors in 2024-25.
There’s been a different vibe around the New York Knicks since a timely players-only meeting, and they’ll go for an eighth straight win in tonight’s clash with the Denver Nuggets.
Denver welcomed Nikola Jokic back on Friday with a minutes restriction, but has dropped its last two contests, and my Nuggets vs. Knicks predictions and NBA picks target another big man with a wager on Karl-Anthony Towns.
Nuggets vs Knicks prediction
Nuggets vs Knicks best bet: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 11.5 rebounds (-110)
Endless trade rumors seem to have taken a toll on Karl-Anthony Towns, but he’s not letting that affect his rebounding.
KAT leads the NBA with 11.8 rebounds per game, but he’s taken that up another notch lately, with a whopping 17.5 RPG across his past four outings. He even reached the 20-rebound mark in consecutive games last week, padding those numbers at the expense of his scoring.
With Nikola Jokic still finding his feet again after his knee injury and the Denver Nuggets on the second night of a back-to-back set, the visitors may take the cautious approach here with their three-time MVP, paving the way for Towns to own the paint.
Josh Hart’s ankle injury last night adds another wrinkle. It's another reason to think Towns will feast on the glass, with the New York Knicks potentially needing to replace Hart’s reliable rebounding tallies.
KAT finished with double-digit boards in both games against Denver last season, and he knows this matchup well from his days with the Timberwolves.
Though foul trouble is always a risk with Towns, he’s most comfortable around the basket defensively, and this Over is well within reach.
Nuggets vs Knicks same-game parlay
The Under is 8-2 in the Knicks’ last 10 games, and it’s also been a winning ticket in four of the past six meetings between these teams. With question marks around Hart's and Jokic's availability, plus a dose of back-to-back fatigue for both squads, I’m giving the defenses the edge.
Whichever way the Nuggets handle Jokic’s workload, there’s going to be a role for Jonas Valanciunas. He grabbed 11 rebounds in last night’s loss in Detroit, and he’s shown he can nail this Over in limited minutes.
Nuggets vs Knicks SGP
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 11.5 rebounds
Under 226
Jonas Valanciunas Over 5.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: Peyton's Place
Peyton Watson is shaping up to be a key man in Denver’s playoff rotation, and he continues to blossom as a scorer. He’s gone past this O/U number in four straight contests, headlined by a 29-point effort against the Thunder on the weekend.
Nuggets vs Knicks SGP
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 11.5 rebounds
Under 226
Jonas Valanciunas Over 5.5 rebounds
Peyton Watson Over 15.5 points
Nuggets vs Knicks odds
Spread: Nuggets +4.5 (-110) | Knicks -4.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Nuggets +160 | Knicks -190
Over/Under: Over 226.5 (-110) | Under 226.5 (-110)
Nuggets vs Knicks betting trend to know
The Nuggets are 19-8 on the road this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Nuggets vs. Knicks.
How to watch Nuggets vs Knicks
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Nuggets vs Knicks latest injuries
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 22: Coby White #0 of the Chicago Bulls dribbles the ball during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 22, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Coby White has been one of the Chicago Bulls’ lone bright spots during an otherwise forgettable stretch of basketball in the 2020s. Chicago chose White with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2019 draft, and watched him improve year-over-year to become arguably the team’s best player. Now the Bulls have traded White before he becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer.
The Hornets are loading up for a playoff run, while the Bulls are tearing it down in their effort to retool a mediocre roster. Let’s grade this trade for both sides.
Hornets grade for Coby White trade
The Hornets have one of the NBA’s best young cores in place with LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, and Brandon Miller leading the way. White offers an immediate upgrade from Sexton in the backcourt with his ability to play on- or off-the-ball with high-volume three-point shooting ability.
White has always been a streaky shooter, yet he winds up with a similar three-point percentage every year. White has made either 37 percent or 38 percent of his threes each of the last four seasons. He’s been a little slowed this season while battling a calf strain, and he’s only made 34.6 percent of his threes at the time of the trade.
White is not a very good defender. He currently ranks in the 14th percentile of defensive EPM. He’s an offense-first player ranking in the 84th percentile of offensive EPM, but this hasn’t been his best season. The Hornets have already bought low on White at the trade deadline, and it’s possible they can resign him to another bargain contract. He’s only 26 years old so he could have multiple suitors, but the North Carolina native could be motivated to stay in his home state with a rising young team.
I like the idea of White as a super sixth man in Charlotte who can play some point guard if Ball endures more injury troubles. This is a small price to pay for a good player.
Grade: A
Bulls grade for Coby White trade
The Bulls decided they weren’t going to resign White this summer, so they traded him for future assets while they still could. That’s fine, but Chicago could have gotten way more for him at last year’s deadline if they knew what they were doing.
It sure feels like the Bulls are fully rebuilding after trading White, Nikola Vucevic, and Kevin Huerter ahead of the trade deadline. Anfernee Simons will be a good replacement for White, but he needs a new contract. Jaden Ivey will step into a big role, but he hasn’t looked like the same player coming off a horrific leg injury, and he’ll also be a restricted free agent this summer. Chicago has one healthy big man on the roster in Jalen Smith, and he’s more of a power forward than a center as the league opts for more two-big lineups. The Bulls could be very bad the rest of this season.
Trying to get more ping-pong balls rather than going for another doomed play-in tournament run is a good move for Chicago’s front office, but it feels like too little, too late. The Bulls might be able to get to No. 9 or No. 10 in the reverse standings, but they’ll still need a lot of lottery luck to move up. Chicago deserves it: the Bulls have refused to lose on purpose for the last five years unlike the other star-less teams, and they have one of the biggest fanbases in the league that is starving for a superstar. Landing Cameron Boozer or Darryn Peterson would change everything for the Bulls, and now there’s a greater chance it happens even if it still requires a ton of luck.
The Bulls should have traded White a year ago to maximize his value. By holding onto him until the very last second, they got basically nothing in return for him.
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes has been suspended one game without pay for push a Washington Wizards mascot. (Julio Cortez / Associated Press)
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes has been suspended one game without pay for pushing a Washington Wizards mascot during pregame introductions, the NBA announced Wednesday.
The Lakers played the Wizards at Capital One Arena on Friday night.
Hayes will miss the Lakers’ game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena.
The backup center is averaging 6.4 points on 77.5% shooting and 3.8 rebounds. He’s the primary lob threat for Lakers All-Star Luka Doncic.
The Lakers just completed an eight-game trip with a 5-3 record.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 23: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks sustained an apparent injury on the bench during the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Fiserv Forum on January 23, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This season has been a miserable one for the Bucks, whose record will only get worse now that Giannis is out for an extended period (again). Simply put, they are a bad team that, for the first time in a long time, sits at the lunch table with the NBA’s bottom-feeders as opposed to its contenders. I don’t need to go through the reasons why—we all know them by now: team has a major talent deficit, coaching is among the worst in the league, yada, yada, yada. The question is this: what should the Bucks be hoping to gain from this season at this point? As I’ll explain, they have the option to tank with somewhat minimal downside—a unique quirk of this season. Alternatively, the Bucks could do what they’ve always done and make moves to improve the roster and compete until the bitter end.
To compete or to tank
For me, the place to start this conversation is to evaluate the incentives for each option. Look, I think there’s at least a chance that this team could make the play-in tournament, even with Giannis playing just the final portion of the season. I wouldn’t say it’s very likely, but it’s possible. From that point, there’s no telling what the eternal play-in trio of Atlanta, Chicago, and Miami will serve up. With Antetokounmpo, I’d give the Bucks as good a chance as any to at least win the first play-in game. Maybe they’d sneak into the playoffs. Maybe they’d win a game over the Pistons, Celtics, or Knicks. But I think it’s fair to say that they’d lose the series in a noncompetitive fashion. Now, I suppose there is some level of incentive for this path—both from a playing perspective and the org’s bottom line—but neither of which I see as anywhere near important enough to override the upside of the alternate route.
Put simply, there is a significant incentive to what I would call a “qualified tank” for the rest of the season. I added the word “qualified” because Milwaukee must still keep an eye on New Orleans. The Bucks own the least favourable of their own first-round pick and the Pelicans’ pick in this year’s draft. It’s easy to assume New Orleans won’t win much this season and will stay at the bottom of the standings. I guess it’s relatively likely that it ends up that way. Still, we should remember that 1. the Pelicans have no incentive to tank, while the teams around them do (and what do you think will happen when these teams play each other?), and 2. they actually have a pretty talented roster when healthy. This is why it’s not necessarily smart for Milwaukee to try to tank every game indiscriminately.
Ideally, the Bucks lose at the same rate the Pelicans lose, and win at the same rate they win (unless it’s the very end of the season and there’s a situation in which the Bucks can move up the draft odds order by losing, but the Pelicans cannot move down by winning). But let’s be honest, it’s also completely unrealistic to think the front office could hatch a plan in which they dictate who plays from night to night based on whether the team needs a win or a loss. I get that this strategy is somewhat typical for younger teams (that also generally don’t have to worry about swap obligations), but probably not for a veteran-laden squad like Milwaukee.
My take on the situation is that the Bucks, especially without Giannis, are very bad and will lose a lot of games without needing lineup manipulation. They’ll win the odd game too, which will probably be a good thing, because the Pelicans won’t go winless the rest of the way. From there, it’s simply out of Milwaukee’s hands. All Bucks fans can do is 1. hope New Orleans loses as much as possible, and 2. hope the other bottom-feeders win, though they will be increasingly trying not to as the season draws to a close. As I’ll get into, this is the ultimate foil for any “disaster” the Bucks could run into vis-a-vis the draft.
On a broader level, though, the Bucks need as high a pick as possible, so this dance is a necessary one. I want to remind folks of Milwaukee’s daunting first-round pick outlook moving forward. Should everything stay as is (which, it must be noted, could change), the Bucks will likely not have the opportunity to control their own destiny regarding their pick until 2031. Why? Because they don’t own their pick next year, and Portland either owns their pick or has swap rights in the three years after that. If you ask me, the Blazers are likely to be better than the Bucks by that point and thus swapping for Milwaukee’s more favourable picks.
However, as I mentioned, this year’s pick swap is with New Orleans, which is obviously worse than Milwaukee (right now, at least). Sidenote: the Pelicans’ pick is owned by the Hawks, but I hesitate to even mention this because it just confuses people; the only thing fans need to know is that it is New Orleans’ and Milwaukee’s picks in the swap. Anyway, assuming the Pelicans remain a bottom-feeder, the Bucks are likely to retain their own pick since they will probably finish a good number of spots above New Orleans in the standings.
That said, even if Milwaukee finishes with a similar record to New Orleans (at the bottom, crucially), the situation could still turn out fine for Milwaukee—and actually has higher-reward outcomes than the scenario above. Sure, the Bucks would have a much higher chance of their pick being swapped, but both their and the Pelicans’ pick will have a high floor to fall back on. For example, let’s assume just for argument’s sake that the Bucks end up with the third-worst odds and the Pelicans end up with the second-worst. Both of those picks would have a floor of seventh.
Alternatively, let’s lay out a scenario in which the Bucks end up with the ninth-worst odds and the Pels end up with the second-worst, but Milwaukee’s pick somehow jumps above New Orleans’ pick to number one (see Cooper Flagg). The Bucks would give it away, which wouldn’t be great. However, the Pelicans’ pick would have a floor of sixth. Of course, the disaster scenario is that by the end of the season, the Bucks and the Pelicans have somehow swapped spots with roughly where each team currently sits. Milwaukee could give up a top-three pick and only get swapped one seventh or after. Fingers crossed that does not happen.
About the 2026 NBA Draft
So now that I’ve gone through the incentive to tank (again, provided the Pels are also bad) from a long-term team-building POV, let’s get more specific and discuss the strength of the 2026 draft itself. Obviously, no two drafts are the same. The no. 1 pick in one draft does not hold the same value as the no. 1 pick in another draft. I mean, just compare Cooper Flagg to Zaccharie Risacher (all due respect). Notably for the Bucks, this upcoming draft is loaded, per all the experts. There are three bona fide contenders for the top pick—Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and AJ Dybantsa—but the talent remains exceptional all through the lottery, first round, and heck, even second round.
The 2026 NBA Draft was always destined to trigger a massive tanking race. This class clearly had three potential No. 1 overall picks from the very start of the process, and all three are living up to the hype to start their one-and-done college seasons.”
“The depth of this freshman class has also impressed, with North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson dominating on both ends with his high-motor, breakneck style, and Houston point guard Kingston Flemings emerging as a legit top-5 pick in his own right as the biggest surprise of the year so far.
“It isn’t just freshmen that make this draft class special. A group of upperclassmen led by Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg, Iowa State’s Joshua Jefferson, Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz, and Florida’s Thomas Haugh are proving that staying in college for a few years won’t kill your draft stock in the NIL era.
“With that in mind, it seems clear that the incentives behind a tank are a lot more intriguing than Ryan Rollins getting playoff reps, rich owners getting richer, and the Bucks getting a pick in the mid-teens. I believe that moving forward, whether Giannis is in the picture or not, it’s a no-brainer to get as high a pick as possible in this draft and leave this season with the best possible asset. That player can slot in as a core building block for a team with the very few of those.“
Final thoughts…
Other than the obvious concern that the Pelicans go on a winning streak, the only other part of a “tanking” plan I worry about is whether Jon Horst will actually commit to it. I don’t expect him to change much about how the team operates, including lineup manipulation (other than holding Giannis out for the rest of the season, which I absolutely think the Bucks should do for several reasons). What I do worry about, though, is Horst trying to improve the team with a trade for some reason that gets them, like, five more wins than they needed. He’s only acted aggressively in the Giannis era. Is he capable of switching speeds and recognising the golden (but admittedly complicated) opportunity in front of him?
Finally, just a note on tanking in and of itself. Look, I admit that after hoping for this team to win every game for so long, as all fans did, it brings me no joy to now be “cheering” for the opposite result (most of the time). Tanking is tough for both teams and their fans. By the same token, finishing high in the lottery is the easiest way to acquire elite talent, which is what allows you to win in this league, especially in a small market like Milwaukee. Just about every team has tanked it or will tank in the future. I’m not here to get into the whole “is tanking bad for the league?” conversation; that’s a topic that’s been covered extensively at this point. I would just say that until the NBA changes the tanking incentives—which, to be clear, I don’t think it should—teams are going to operate with those incentives top of mind. Don’t hate the player, hate the game.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 30: Jaxson Hayes #11 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the first half against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on January 30, 2026 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA continues to get softer as a league. Apparently, it’s now a punishable offense if you push a mascot, and the league is using Jaxson Hayes as an example.
He will be suspended for one game without pay for pushing the Wizards’ mascot, G-Wiz, during pre-game introductions. The Lakers went on to win that game 142-111.
Here is the shove Hayes gave that the NBA felt was worthy of a suspension. It seems like a very slight bump, and Luka Dončić certainly deals with more physicality on the court than whatever this is.
Jaxson Hayes shoved Wizards mascot, G-Wiz, in pre-game introductions
Well, I hope G-Wiz got the justice he feels he deserves, and that Hayes learns something here, I guess?
This is an odd event, to say the least, and hearing what Lakers head coach JJ Redick thinks and what Hayes has to say about it will likely be very entertaining.
Of all the things a player could get suspended for, this seems beyond trivial and silly, but hey, the league continues to crack down on physicality, including what happens between players and mascots.
And honestly, when it comes to gambling, salary cap circumvention, and a myriad of other issues players can get in trouble for, pushing mascots is the best problem to crack down on first.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 01: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to missing a 3-point basket during the first quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on February 01, 2026 in New York City. 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 Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Anthony Davis was the biggest story in basketball last year. It was a bold move, and by bold we of course mean “moronic.” At least the NBA Draft Lottery machine went brrrr in the right way to give Dallas the No. 1 overall pick and Cooper Flagg, or they would be utterly unwatchable.
Davis’ tenure with the Mavericks is now over after being traded to the Washington Wizards in a stunner. It will be remembered mostly for Anthony Davis spending a whole lot of time in street clothes, as he only played 29 times for Dallas out of a possible 90 games. Now the dust has settled on both deals we have a complete look at what the Mavericks got for Luka Doncic, the No. 1 scorer in the NBA this season.
Dallas Mavericks trade …
Luka Doncic
Maxi Kleber
Markieff Morris
D’Angelo Russell
Dante Exum
Dallas Mavericks receive …
Khris Middleton
AJ Johnson
Malaki Branham
Marvin Bagley III
Max Christie
2026 1st round pick (from Thunder)
2029 1st round pick (from Lakers)
2030 1st round pick — Top 20 protected (from Warriors)
Kudos to the Mavs for managing to get a decent return in the Anthony Davis trade, but this really underscored just how horrific the original Luka trade was. The Mavericks lost the best scorer in the entire NBA, handing the Lakers their future — and they got two firsts that will be in the back-end of the first round, and another first they might never see because of the protection. Oh, and they also got the island of misfit toys.
One of the worst trades in basketball history remains one of the worst trades in history.
HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 27: Evan Mobley #4 and Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers high five before the game against the Houston Rockets on December 27, 2025 at the Toyota Center in Houston, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers have made two big moves already at the trade deadline. It’s unlikely that they make another core-altering trade, but you never want to rule things out with this front office. If they did want to make an additional deal, it’s clear that other teams are interested in big man Jarrett Allen.
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If the Cavs were to make another bigger move before the deadline, it seems like Allen would be the one guy that could be sent out. His roughly $30 million per year contract increase that starts next season isn’t an overpay, but it could be looked at as such if you’re a team like the Cavs that is already over the second apron and has an All-NBA caliber center in Evan Mobley.
At the same time, Allen should be a phenomenal fit with James Harden. Harden is at his best when he’s able to run high pick-and-rolls with a good screener and rim finisher. Allen checks those boxes better than Mobley does at this point in his career. It’s not difficult to envision Harden and Allen lineups carving through opposing defenses.
Still, Allen’s trade value is worth monitoring. The front office has shown that they aren’t afraid to make win-now moves, and it’s clear that there is at least a market out there for Allen’s services.
We’ll see if the Cavs make any additional moves before Thursday’s deadline.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 30: Stephen Curry #30 and Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors embrace prior to the start of the game against the Detroit Pistons at Chase Center on January 30, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to February Daily Topics at Golden State of Mind. A question (almost) every day this month to give the community a prompt to talk about!
The 2026 NBA trade deadline is less than 24 hours away. We’ve already seen some huge names get moved, such as Anthony Davis and James Harden. The Golden State Warriors have moved in silence, as they make a run at Giannis Antetokounmpo … and don’t seem interested in doing anything else.
It appears that all of the cards are on the table for the Warriors. They’re going all-in for the two-time MVP from Greece, and it seems as though the Milwaukee Bucks can name their price (as long as it doesn’t include Steph Curry).
That means that virtually every Warriors player is seeing their name in trade rumors and rumblings. For some fans, it’s exciting seeing names pop up; for others, it’s concerning or sad.
Whether you’re pretending to be Mike Dunleavy Jr. making the best move, or just acting as a sentimental fan, we all have players we cling tightly to. Who are those players for you? Who would you make untouchable in trades?
For me, while I’d be heartbroken to see Draymond Green leave, Curry is the only untouchable. There’s no trade I’d make for Curry … not even Nikola Jokić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, if such a silly idea were possible. At this point he means too much, and seeing his story come to an end in Golden State is an irrational priority of mine.
The NBA trade deadline is drawing nearer and more teams are making game-changing moves to alter the NBA landscape heading into the playoffs. However, through all the hullabaloo, the most impactful event might have happened last night.
SGA had been selected as an All-Star Game starter. 2026 would have marked his fourth consecutive All-Star Game appearance.
When did SGA suffer his injury?
Gilgeous-Alexander suffered his abdominal injury during Oklahoma City's 128-92 win against the Magic on Feb. 3.
Despite the injury, SGA still managed 20 points and nine assists, extending his streak of consecutive 20-point games to 121 games. He played 28 minutes in the contest, scoring his final point with just over two minutes remaining in the game.
When will SGA return?
SGA will miss at least five games, and will be re-evaluated following the All-Star break. Oklahoma City's first game after the break will be on Feb. 20 at home against the Brooklyn Nets.
Well this is awkward. Will James Harden be on the Cleveland Cavaliers bench in Intuit Dome as they immediately face his now-former team, the Los Angeles Clippers?
My Cavaliers vs. Clippers predictions cannot capitalize on that likelihood, but they do recognize how quickly Kawhi Leonard struggles without Harden, a harsh truth amid our NBA picks on Wednesday, February 4.
Cavaliers vs Clippers prediction
Cavaliers vs Clippers best bet: Kawhi Leonard Under 26.5 points (-110)
Without James Harden in the lineup, Kawhi Leonard scores three fewer points per game and shoots much worse from deep.Harden both set up Leonard and took offensive pressure off him. In four games playing without Harden this season, Leonard has fallen short of this prop three times.
That is not a massive sample size, but it is worth noting.
And it will be only human if Leonard’s urgency wanes the day after his supposed running mate with the Los Angeles Clippers has been traded despite the Clippers’ recent surge, not to mention that he was traded to tonight’s opponent, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Cavaliers vs Clippers same-game parlay
Leonard has shot 3-of-23 from deep in four games without Harden, falling short of this three-pointers prop in all four games. Playing shorthanded tonight should not help the Clippers in any way.
Cavaliers vs Clippers SGP
Kawhi Leonard Under 26.5 points
Kawhi Leonard Under 2.5 three-pointers
Cavs -2
Our "from downtown" SGP: Clippers Sinking
Swapping frustrating point guards who will both not play tonight should obviously deflate this total. It should also further deflate the Clippers. Cleveland just went in on a title chase this season; Los Angeles just ruined all positive momentum.
Cavaliers vs Clippers SGP
Kawhi Leonard Under 26.5 points
Kawhi Leonard Under 2.5 three-pointers
Donovan Mitchell Over 28.5 points
Cavs -2
Under 222.5
Cavaliers vs Clippers odds
Spread: Cavaliers -2 | Clippers +2
Moneyline: Cavaliers -130 | Clippers +110
Over/Under: Over 222.5 | Under 222.5
Cavaliers vs Clippers betting trend to know
Cleveland has gone 4-1 against the spread in its last five, exceeding bookmakers’ expectations by an average of 10.5 points even when including the sole ATS loss. Find more NBA betting trends for Cavaliers vs. Clippers.
How to watch Cavaliers vs Clippers
Location
Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA
Date
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Tip-off
10:30 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Ohio, FDSN SoCal
Cavaliers vs Clippers latest injuries
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 6: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks and Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors battle for position on MARCH 6, 2024 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s starting to look like the Jonathan Kuminga saga could drag out into the summer, even though that’s not what anyone had hoped for. Things have been trending in that direction for a while, despite Kuminga’s roller-coaster season with the Golden State Warriors, and now it really looks like they might end up that way.
Kuminga, after a long stalemate of an offense, returned to the Warriors on a 1+1, and it seemed there was an unspoken agreement that he would be dealt at the deadline. But then he was in the starting lineup on opening day, and thrived, and it briefly looked as though he would return to being a core part of the team going forward.
That didn’t last long. Kuminga was removed from the starting lineup and, eventually, the rotation altogether. When he became trade eligible on January 15, he asked for a trade, and it seemed the writing was on the wall.
Not so fast. The Warriors, while clearly trying to trade the fifth-year wing, poured some cold water on the idea when Mike Dunleavy Jr. pointed out that there needs to be an interested party with a compelling offer in order for a trade to occur. And all the rumors and reports have suggested that no such offer has taken place.
Which brings us to the star of the hour: Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Warriors are trying with all their might to trade for the two-time MVP, and all of their chips are on the table. Kuminga would almost certainly be involved in any deal for the superstar: his contract could be paired with Draymond Green’s to match salary, or, if the Dubs use Jimmy Butler III to match salary, Kuminga could be added on top to allow Milwaukee to offload a contract.
Golden State has put all of their eggs in the Giannis basket and, as such, they’re unlikely to entertain any other trades until the Antetokounmpo situation is fully resolved (there wasn’t even a hint that they were in on Anthony Davis, for instance, and he was just traded for peanuts).
That puts Kuminga in a funny situation. The Warriors are Giannis or bust, and so, it seems, is Kuminga. Appearing on an episode of Run it Back, The Athletic’s Sam Amick noted that the Sacramento Kings still had interest in Kuminga before the Antetokounmpo rumors heated up, but, “if Giannis doesn’t get traded, I think the Warriors hold him.”
A Jonathan Kuminga trade is dependent on Giannis, says Sam Amick 👀
It would potentially be a little awkward if Kuminga rides out the season on the Warriors. But, with Butler’s injury, he’ll have a big role on the Dubs or the rest of the year, if he can get and stay healthy. And if he plays well, the Warriors can opt into his contract for next season, and then make another run at trading him over the summer … maybe even revisiting an Antetokounmpo deal.
