Category: Basketball

The NBA trade deadline has come and gone with neither the Miami Heat nor the Boston Celtics making seismic moves.

Miami, in particular, stands out as one of only three teams to have not made a trade this season.

My Heat vs. Celtics predictions expect Miami to be a bit let down by that inaction, the effects of the trade deadline impacting plenty of NBA picks on Friday, February 6.

Heat vs Celtics prediction

Heat vs Celtics best bet: Under 228 (-110)

The Miami Heat were supposedly in the mix for two of the biggest names on the trade market. And they walked away with exactly nothing.

We have all heard that story before, but it has to be deflating for that locker room to hear it was considering title contention only to putter forward with this middling roster.

That deflated vibe should play right into the Boston Celtics’ preferences.Miami plays at the fastest pace in the league, while Boston plays at the slowest.

Trust the Celtics to set the terms tonight.

Heat vs Celtics same-game parlay

This exact same-game parlay has cashed in two of Boston’s last four games.

In fact, the Celtics have won against the spread in their last four games.

Heat vs Celtics SGP

• Under 228
• Celtics -6
• Payton Pritchard Over 2.5 threes

Our "from downtown" SGP: Preaching Pritchard

This is simply overpriced. Payton Pritchard has hit at least three 3-pointers but fallen short of 17 points in six games this season.

A slower game should set him up for that exact dichotomy.

Heat vs Celtics SGP

• Under 228
• Celtics -6
• Payton Pritchard Over 2.5 threes
• Payton Pritchard Under 16.5 points

Heat vs Celtics odds

• Spread: Heat +6 (-110) | Celtics -6 (-110)
• Moneyline: Heat +195 | Celtics -240
• Over/Under: Over 228 (-110) | Under 228 (-110)

Heat vs Celtics betting trend to know

Boston’s last seven games have all gone Under their totals, and by an average of 14.8 points. Find more NBA betting trends for Heat vs. Celtics.

How to watch Heat vs Celtics

Heat vs Celtics latest injuries

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

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Patrick Reed birdied two of his last three holes Friday for a 5-under 67, giving him a one-shot lead in the Qatar Masters as the American tries to wrap up a career-changing month in the Middle East with another victory.

Reed took advantage of late scoring opportunities at Doha Golf Club. He drove just short of the reachable par-4 16th to set up a pitch-and-putt birdie, then chose to lay up from 272 yards on the par-5 18th with water down the left side. Reed hit wedge to 7 feet for birdie.

That put him at 12-under 132, one shot ahead of Joakim Lagergren of Sweden, who had a 66. Daniel Hillier of New Zealand (69) and Richard Sterne of South Africa (66) were another shot back.

Reed came over to the Middle East a month ago while preparing for his fifth season on LIV Golf. But he won the Dubai Desert Classic, revealed he still had not signed a contract with LIV and then couldn't agree on a new deal with the Saudi-funded league.

Reed is playing a European tour schedule this year with an eye toward returning to the PGA Tour. A victory in Qatar would all but lock up one of the 10 tour cards offered to leading European tour players who are not yet PGA Tour members.

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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

The NBA’s official definition of “clutch time” refers to when a game is within five points or less in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime. It can be exciting for fans who want a thrilling game, but it can also be stressful and may not be for everyone on every night, especially if you’re already tired or stressed and just want a relaxing viewing experience.

The Spurs have not been relaxing to watch lately, and frankly, I’m starting to think they like it that way. I think they like playing in the clutch. They enjoy the thrill and experience that comes with closing out tight games, and as fans may have deduced at this point, they’re good at it. The have the fifth best record in the league in “clutch” games, sitting at 19-10 (65.5%, just slightly under their overall win percentage), and it’s almost like they’re out to increase that number, which they did last night.

Their opponent was an improving Mavericks team that is no longer the deer-in-the-headlights group they encountered in their season opener — led by the then doe-eyed but now scintillating Cooper Flagg — but they have also committed to starting over from the mess former GM Nico Harrison created. They traded away the cornerstone of his shocking and terrible deal that sent Luka Doncic to LA, sending the oft-injured Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards, and I sensed a bit of relief in the air of their arena last night, even from my own couch. That painful page in franchise history is officially turned for good, and now they can move on (even if it will always linger, like the page that a book always opens to first because it’s been open so much lately that the spine has been shaped around it).

Despite being likely destined for the lottery again, the Mavs showed that with the right future moves, they and Flagg could be a force to reconned with again soon, and the Spurs learned that last night. With their propensity to play down to opponents, they failed to build any kind of sizable lead all night but remained ahead and just enough in control to stop any threating Mavs runs. With 5:15 left in the game, Devin Vassell hit one of his reliable midrange jumpers to put them ahead by seven, but wait! We can’t have the Spurs not having any clutch time when they enjoy it so much, so of course they allowed a quick 6-0 Mavs run to get within a point a minute later, and perhaps for the first time all game, there may have been a tad bit of doubt about the outcome.

But then, the Spurs proceeded with what I’ve decided has been their mischievous plan all along considering the repeating pattern: dominate the rest of clutch time by closing on a 15-4 run so they could continue to pad those clutch time stats. Stephon Castle hit a big three to start it off and put back a Victor Webmanyama miss with an emphatic dunk to close things out, and everyone did everything right on both ends in between.

As fun as it may be, I need a break from tight games. Whether that relief will come in the form of a blowout win in the next three games or simply as a part of the All-Star break after that is the ultimate question. Don’t get me wrong: I love a team that knows how to tighten the strings and put things together on both ends when the game is on the line, which will be very important in the playoffs, but I would also happily accept a blowout win here or there, just for my own sanity.

Takeaways

• Lately, the Spurs path to victory has been more akin to defensive slugfests because of their inconsistency on offense and from their three-point shooters. In this game, the defense was lazy at times, but they made up for it with a balanced offensive attack. Seven players scored in double figures, including all five starters, and overall, they hit 17-41 threes to keep the defense honest. That included Wemby and Harrison Barnes finding their strokes from outside, combining to hit 10-18 with the former hitting his first five (all in the first half) and the latter spreading them out across the game. It was especially noteworthy for Barnes, who has been in an extended shooting slump dating back months, and this was the first time he hit five threes since December 2. His stroke has slowly been returning to form in recent games, and hopefully this is finally the breakthrough performance that returns him to his Uncle Harrison form from earlier in the season. When he’s on, his spacing does wonders for the starting lineup (especially if Julian Champagnie is off, which he was last night with a 2-8 performance from three).
• The Stephon Castle Viewing Experience continues to be a wild ride. Whether it’s game-to-game, quarter-to-quarter or even play-to-play, you never know whether you’re going to get his frustrating or game-changing version. Last night, he was mostly the latter. He came off the bench for the first time in 11 months after missing the night before to nurse his sore adductor, with the reason reportedly being he’s on a minutes restriction. He was his usual self regardless of role, with 18 points on 8-13 shooting, 7 rebounds 6 assists and 2 steals, plus the aforementioned huge clutch shots, but there was also the frustrating moments, like him driving into traffic and getting stripped on his way to three turnovers.
• Don’t look now, but despite an up-and-down January when the Spurs barely crossed over the .500 mark with an 8-7 record, they have won three straight to start the month of February (even if they haven’t been pretty). As a result, they are in firm control of the second seed once again as the teams behind them continue to struggle, with a three-game cushion in the loss column on the Nuggets and Rockets. In fact, along with the Lakers, they are the only team in the West with a better record than 6-4 across their last ten games. That doesn’t mean they can relax — the schedule continues to be brutal, and the Rodeo Road Trip begins next week — but even if the Spurs want to give us a heart attack in the process of winning, it’s nice to be able to enjoy standings watching again.
• Speaking of the Rockets, my Alperen Sengun sports hate has been justified. Thank you. (Not going to embed everything here, but for proof, click here, here and here. Rough 24 hours for the big fella.)

The fuel on the “LeBron James is coming back to Cleveland” fire is seemingly getting gasoline poured on it from every corner. Noted The Athletic columnist Jason Lloyd spoke on 92.3 The Fan and dumped even more lighter fluid on the rumor (or at this point, league-wide assumption) that James will end his tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers and rejoin the Cleveland Cavaliers for one last ride.

"If (LeBron) plays anywhere next year it's gonna be here. He's not going back to LA… I also don't think he's gonna take the league minimum deal so they're gonna have to work through that."

📞@ByJasonLloyd thinks LeBron's only option next season is in Cleveland pic.twitter.com/vPsIAh2OAm

— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) February 6, 2026

“If (LeBron) plays anywhere next year, it’s going to be here,” Lloyd said. “He’s not going back to LA.” Lloyd also went on to give his experience as someone who saw the writing on the wall in Cleveland in 2018 when it became apparent that James was leaving the Cavaliers for the second time. “I’ve seen this movie before.”

James and the Lakers have been at odds seemingly for quite some time, whether that be due to the roster or the head coach. With the acquisition of Luka Doncic, who immediately became the face of the franchise in Los Angeles, it further alienated James — who rarely plays second fiddle to anyone. Even to a top-five player in the league like Doncic.

There are two questions that remain in this fairytale. The first one is if James decides to play again, which is not a given. The 41-year-old is still throwing down reverse dunks and nabbing alley-oops, but there is no guarantee that he will take the court after this season. The second question is how much money he will ask for as an unrestricted free agent playing likely his last year in the NBA.

James is an anomaly, an alien of basketball with a physical fitness level unseen in the league before. This isn’t Paul Pierce signing a deal to retire in a Boston Celtics jersey. The Cavs would be leveled up with James on the roster. But that comes at a price, and it won’t be the league minimum value.

“I don’t think he is going to take a league-minimum from Dan [Gilbert],” Lloyd continued. “Find a way to get to the mid-level [exception], have to get under the [second] apron, there’s other conversations that have to be had.”

The Cavs did good work this past week or so to put themselves in a position to get under the dreaded second apron with the trades of De’Andre Hunter and Lonzo Ball, and they have some expiring salary they can shed. It’s worth noting that they would need to get out of more than just the second apron to get full access to the mid-level exception.

That said, if there is a willingness from both sides to make it work out from a salary perspective, there’s a good chance it will in the end.

MILAN (AP) — The opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina Olympics is happening Friday night. Here's what you should know about it.

It will be centered in Milan’s landmark San Siro stadium, featuring the Parade of Athletes and entertainment over the course of the nearly three-hour spectacle that is expected to be the most widely viewed moment of the Games as millions around the world watch on official broadcasters.

How to watch the Milan Cortina Olympics opening ceremony

The opening ceremony begins at 8 p.m. local time (2 p.m. Eastern, 1900 GMT) and will air live on NBC and stream on Peacock and NBC Olympics platforms. Also, NBC will air an enhanced encore in primetime at 8 p.m. ET.

Pop star Mariah Carey and crossover tenor Andrea Bocelli are among the performers. Some 60,000 people are expected to attend the ceremony live in San Siro, including a U.S. delegation led by U.S. Vice President JD Vance.

Because the Games are spread out across Italy, elements of the opening ceremony including the procession of athletes will also be conducted in three other locations. Moments will be beamed to the televised audience from Cortina in the heart of the Dolomite mountains, Livigno in the Italian Alps as well as Predazzo in the autonomous province of Trento.

Who will light the Olympic cauldrons? Yes, plural

There will be two cauldrons — an Olympic first — inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s geometric studies: one in Milan, at the Arco della Pace some 4 kilometers (2½ miles) from San Siro, and the other at Piazza Dibona in Cortina, some five hours and 400 kilometers (250 miles) away. The cauldrons will be lit simultaneously.

Of course, the identities of the final torchbearers won't be revealed to the world until they step into the spotlight Friday night.

What is the theme of the Milan Cortina Olympics opening ceremony?

The theme is “Harmony,’’ an especially potent message with many populations exposed to violence. The concept of an Olympic Truce, originating in ancient Greece and revived by Olympic officials in the 1990s, is even more urgent this year, opening ceremony creative director Marco Balich told The Associated Press recently. The truce aims to promote peace and dialogue through sport by ceasing hostilities for a week before the Olympics and a week after the Paralympics, which close March 15.

Some 1,200 volunteers have been rehearsing since November for Friday's show. Volunteers include Balich’s butcher, the head of his office and an 88-year-old widow.

The ceremony will also include a tribute to the late Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani, who died in September at the age of 91. Armani had long designed the Italian team’s Olympic uniforms, and his legacy as one of the founders of Italian ready-to-wear is tightly tied to Milan.

Balich is the producer of a record 16 Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies, including the 2006 Turin opening ceremony.

Who else will participate in the opening ceremony?

In addition to Carey and Bocelli, mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli, Italian singer Laura Pausini and concert pianist Lang Lang will perform. Italian actors Sabrina Impacciatore, who appeared in the second season of HBO’s “The White Lotus,” and actress Matilda De Angelis will also participate.

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AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

According to league sources and first reported by Grant Afseth of the DallasHoopsJournal.com, the Dallas Mavericks continue to see strong long-term potential in pairing Kyrie Irving with Cooper Flagg as soon as Irving returns from injury.

The trade of Anthony Davis, Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum to the Washington Wizards for Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, 2 first-round picks and 3 second-rounders on Wednesday, however, was clearly driven by flexibility and the desire to clear long-term salary.  

But according to this report, the Mavericks also believe it will help clear the way for a roster more cleanly oriented around Flagg. And they see Irving as a natural complement, rather than a conflicting presence.

As an experienced 14-year veteran point guard, Kyrie Irving would be expected to regain the reins of the Mavericks offense as soon as he returns from injury. The Mavericks will without a doubt breathe a sigh of relief that their table setter will soon be back on the court – some reports say after the All-Star break, but most realistically, we won’t see Irving in a Dallas Mavericks uniform until next season. 

But interestingly, as the organization moves to build a roster around Cooper Flagg, they look to have other plans in mind for Kyrie Irving: 

“The Mavericks believe Flagg’s comfort handling the ball and making early reads has validated internal projections made before the draft. Some within the organization now view him as the team’s best passer, even as his scoring responsibility continues to grow,” league sources toldDallasHoopsJournal.com.

“Irving is regarded internally as a score-first guard who is at his best when he doesn’t have to expend energy running the offense. Flagg’s ability to initiate offense, dictate pace, and absorb playmaking duties is seen as a way to create those advantages.”

That sentiment was echoed in co-interim general managers Matt Ricardi and Michael Finley’s press conference Thursday. 

When Michael Finley was asked how much Kyrie Irving is part of the future vision for the Dallas Mavericks, he was adamant:

“Kyrie has the ultimate respect for Cooper, he loves the kid’s work ethic, he loves the kid’s love for the game, and I think Kyrie is embracing the role of a mentor to Cooper…I think Cooper can learn a lot from Kyrie.”

As Grant Afseth reports:

“Rather than asking Irving to function as a full-time organizer, the Mavericks envision Flagg handling much of the early offense while Irving attacks gaps, punishes rotations, and takes over late in possessions. Sources described the pairing as complementary, with each player amplifying the other’s strengths.”

That sounds a lot like how the Mavs used Irving next to Luka Doncic, which was a great strategy that allowed the team and both players to get the best out of each other, while using their energy more efficiently. 

The difference, however, is that Luka Doncic was a legitimate point guard. But playing Irving next to Flagg in this position could be very interesting to follow, because it would allow Irving to rest and use his skills for reading the game and elite finishing ability as efficiently as possible. In turn, Irving could provide leadership and a calm presence next to Flagg as the ball handler, which he has needed at times. 

Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg have yet to play a minute together, however. But their chemistry and relationship have had ample time to develop throughout the season, as Irving has been very active in both mentoring and coaching the younger guys, like Brandon Williams and Cooper Flagg here. And that has the potential to make this combination very interesting. 

Im so happy Kyrie Irving took Cooper Flagg under his wing. He’s going to make Cooper Flagg the most skilled player at 6’9🥶🥶 pic.twitter.com/lwB2H36M89

— Batman’s Almost Here (@NevaMiss24) January 24, 2026

Find more Beyond Basketball pieces here.

The West Coast Conference has fined the University of Portland $5,000 for a violation of the conference's court storming policy.

Following an 87-80 upset victory for the Pilots over the Bulldogs on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at the Chiles Center in Portland, fans rushed the court to celebrate the biggest upset victory in program history. The win ended a 30-game losing streak for the Pilots against AP Poll top-10 teams.

REQUIRED READING: Duke-North Carolina headlines men's college basketball weekend games to watch

The victory came with coach Shantay Legans injured on the sidelines after he sustained an injury days before playing with the scout team to prepare for the matchup against the Bulldogs.

The feel-good story was not enough for Portland to avoid a fine from the conference.

"The safety of our student-athletes, coaches, officials and fans is always our top priority,” West Coast Conference Commissioner Stu Jackson said in a statement. “While we understand the excitement and emotion that come with an exciting victory, our policy is in place to ensure that these celebrations happen safely. We have imposed this fine to reinforce the importance of following these safety measures, and we will continue to work with our membership to uphold a safe environment for every competition."

Portland built up a six-point halftime lead and was able to hold off Gonzaga in the second half for the victory. Joel Foxwell scored a game-high 27 points and added eight assists. They entered the game as 21 1/2-point underdogs.

The fine of $5,000 will be donated to MENTOR, an organization associated with the late Bill Russell. The West Coast Conference policy ― which was adopted in November 2023 ― is to ensure members of the visiting team, coaches, officials and administrative staff have the opportunity to safely leave the playing surface prior to fans entering the court.

A subsequent offense for the Pilots would result in a fine of up to $25,000 (second offense) and up to $50,000 (third offense), in the same season.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WCC fines Portland after fans rush court following win vs Gonzaga

By Noah Rubin, Rotoworld.com

In head-to-head fantasy basketball leagues, it all comes down to the weekend. You can have a comfortable lead in multiple categories or by a bunch of points, but if you don’t make the most of the weekend, you can walk out with a loss.

Only 10 teams play twice this weekend, including the Celtics, Pacers, Clippers, Grizzlies, Heat, Timberwolves, Knicks, Trail Blazers, Kings and Wizards. Prioritize those teams if you’re looking to maximize your games played.

Of course, the trade deadline is going to make things whacky. It may not be clear who is and isn’t available for games until close to the start time, which means managers have to check their lineups a little more than usual. Be sure to tune into our player news section for every update.

That’s often what it comes down to in standard points and category leagues, but that’s not always the case. Leagues with some sort of games cap or best ball formats like Yahoo High Score leagues aren’t just looking for volume, though having two chances at a big night is a good strategy in best ball leagues.

2026 NBA Trade Deadline Winners, Losers: analysis, recap including James Harden, Anthony Davis deals

The Knicks were winners, but so were the Jazz and Pacers.

Absolute must-start: Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers

Portland has struggled recently, but Clingan has been a beast on the glass despite the team’s six-game losing streak. During that time, he has averaged 10.8 points, 14.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.2 triples per game despite shooting 41.3% from the floor, which is over 10% worse than his season-long percentage.

This weekend, Portland hosts the Grizzlies for a back-to-back on Friday and Saturday. Memphis just traded away Jock Landale and Jaren Jackson Jr., and Santi Aldama has been ruled out for Friday’s game. That means their tallest players will be GG Jackson and Olivier-Maxence Prosper, unless Kyle Anderson and Taylor Hendricks are available for their debut. Basically, this will be a tiny lineup, so Clingan should feast.

Guards

Ryan Rollins, Milwaukee Bucks

Though the Bucks only play one game, Rollins has been hot enough for it to be worth it. He has been on fire recently, averaging 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 3.3 triples per game over the past two weeks. They take on the Pacers, who have the 22nd best defensive rating over their last 10 games. Milwaukee will also be slightly shorthanded after trading away Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey before the deadline, which may mean a few extra minutes and touches for Rollins.

Aaron Nesmith, Indiana Pacers

Nesmith has been on a heater recently, having scored in double figures in five straight games while shooting 56.1% from the floor during that stretch. They take on the Bucks and Raptors, with Milwaukee ranking 28th in defensive rating over their last 10 games. Plus, with Bennedict Mathurin now in L.A., there should be extra shots for Nesmith.

Bilal Coulibaly, Washington Wizards

As the Wizards wait for the Anthony Davis trade to go through, they will be shorthanded. Washington takes on a subpar Nets defense and a fast-paced Heat team, which should lead to a pair of strong performances for Coulibaly. He played 36 minutes on Thursday and finished with 11 points, five rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block against the Pistons, who have been one of the best defensive teams in the league this season.

Forwards

Jaden McDaniels, Minnesota Timberwolves

McDaniels has been on fire recently, averaging 22.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 3.5 triples per game while shooting 67.3% from the floor. The T-Wolves play the Pelicans and Clippers this weekend, and New Orleans has been one of the worst defenses in the league all season. Plus, Julius Randle (thumb) is questionable, so there could be extra shots available for McDaniels.

GG Jackson, Memphis Grizzlies

With Aldama out on Friday, Jackson will be even more important for Memphis. Aldama may be back for Saturday’s game, but Jackson should start both regardless, and he is averaging 16.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists over his last three games. Memphis is shorthanded after the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade, so GG should be an important part of the rotation for the rest of the season. We may even get Jackson performing like he did at the end of his rookie year.

Will Riley, Washington Wizards

At just 20 years old, it took Riley some time to figure things out in the NBA, but he is starting to come into his own. Over his last four games, he has averaged 17.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.8 steals and 2.8 triples per game. He scored a career-high 20 points against Detroit on Thursday and will carry that into a back-to-back against the Nets and Heat. Expect Riley to stay hot.

Centers

Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves

Minnesota plays the Pelicans and Clippers this weekend. New Orleans has been a bad rebounding team, and the Clippers just traded one of the best rebounders in the league to the Pacers. Without Ivica Zubac, Brook Lopez should continue to start at center. Gobert should have no problems dominating the glass.

Moussa Diabaté, Charlotte Hornets

The red-hot Hornets only play one game this weekend, which comes against the Hawks, one of the worst rebounding teams in the league. Diabaté has averaged 10.3 points and 10.6 rebounds while shooting 70.6% from the floor over the past two weeks. The Hornets will look to push their winning streak to nine games, and Diabaté should be a big part of that.

Jay Huff, Indiana Pacers

Zubac may have a chance to make his debut on Sunday against Toronto, but that isn’t guaranteed. Huff should see extra minutes as the starting center now that Isaiah Jackson is gone. The Bucks have been a bad rebounding team, especially with Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined, and the Raptors haven’t been much better. Huff hasn’t been a great rebounder, but he may be able to make an impact on the glass this weekend, and he should see more minutes than usual.

It’s hard to match the absolute insanity that was the 2024-25 NBA trade deadline, and to the majority of the league’s credit, teams didn’t really try. But there was still some notable movement ahead of Thursday’s 3pm EST deadline – to varying degrees of success. Let’s do the early assessment of who came out on top, and who left us scratching our heads.

Winners

Washington Wizards. I’m old enough to remember a season ago, before the blockbuster Luka Dončić trade, when Anthony Davis, bad injury luck and all, was regarded as a top-12 player in the NBA. To start this season, he was even garnering MVP buzz. The Dallas Mavericks were understandably eager to put the dark stain that was one of the most ill-conceived trades in NBA history behind them and focus on their exciting young Rookie of the Year candidate Cooper Flagg, but in doing so, they moved on from Davis at the floor of his trade value. Enter stage left: the Wizards, who acquired both Davis and fun-but-polarizing four-time All-Star Trae Young this deadline. They gave up only two first-round picks in totality for both stars – neither of which will likely end up higher than the No 20s – and the players they shipped out, including veterans Khris Middleton and CJ McCollum, were hardly needle-movers. It’s a very low-risk and potentially high-reward move to embrace the ascent of young upstarts Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George, and raise a middle finger to the bottom dwelling. Add in a potential high lottery pick in a stacked draft, and Washington could be cooking with gas next season.

Related: Welcome to Duncanville: why the road to the NBA runs through Dallas

New York Knicks. It’s often the smaller, less flashy moves at the deadline that end up being the most impactful for teams who fancy themselves contenders. See: the 2024 Mavericks trading for Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington in a series of small but savvy swings that ultimately sent them to the NBA finals. (Yes, they made some, shall we say, questionable deadline moves the following year, but we won’t get into those.) It’s my wager that the Knicks made one such move on Thursday, when they traded two second-round picks for Jose Alvarado, the workhorse guard who’s earned such a reputation for his sneaky on-ball defense that he’s earned the nickname “Grand Theft Alvarado”. The Knicks need his off-the-bench services more than it even initially seemed, as their current reliable bench guard Deuce McBride is sidelined indefinitely after abdominal surgery. But even on a fully healthy roster, Alvarado is a beautiful fit. The native New Yorker is tough and gritty, with a high motor and a flair for the dramatic: in other words, the perfect Knick.

Minnesota Timberwolves. In the summer of 2019, the Los Angeles Lakers struck out on the belle of the free agency ball, Kawhi Leonard. While they were the butt of preseason jokes for missing out on Leonard’s services in favor of the neighboring Clippers, it ended up being the best thing that could have happened to them. They were forced, by necessity, to redirect their attention to assembling depth on the fly, and the result was an NBA championship the ensuing season. I predict a potentially similar fate for the 2026 Timberwolves, who, at least for now, struck out on their pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Minnesota made preemptive cap space for the move in the form of a Mike Conley salary dump, but wound up snagging Ayo Dosunmu from the Chicago Bulls to fill a dire need at the guard spot instead. Dosunmu is a sneaky-great get for this Minnesota roster, which is already a bona fide contender. They were served well by not blowing it up.

Honorable mention: Indiana Pacers. It was a cruel twist of fate that separated two potential Pacers timelines: in one, they’re champions after one of the most remarkable Cinderella runs in NBA history. In the other, the one we’re living in, Tyrese Haliburton ruptures his achilles in the first quarter of Game 7 of the NBA finals, and the devastating loss sends them headfirst off a cliff into the tanking abyss. They’re handling that reality about as well as possible, though: they’ve executed a flawless tank in preparation for one of the most talented draft classes in recent memory. While they lost center Myles Turner to the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency, they replaced him at this deadline with stellar center and rebound machine Ivica Zubac, who made the All-Defensive second team just last year. In the trade for Zubac, the Pacers did send the Clippers their aforementioned very valuable first-round pick this coming year, which is a little risky, but they only ship it to Los Angeles if it lands in spots No 5 to No 9. They also parted ways with Bennedict Mathurin and one other future first. Assuming this year’s pick stays in their hands, Indiana could enter next season with a fully healthy Haliburton, a nicely retooled roster, and a blue chip prospect. Not too shabby.

Related: Giannis Antetokounmpo boos own fans during Bucks’ dismal loss to Timberwolves

Honorable mention: Los Angeles Clippers. Self awareness is an incredibly valuable, and yet all too rare, front office trait in the NBA. It can be difficult to take a clear-eyed look in the mirror and be honest with yourself about who you really are, and it’s worth commending the Clippers front office for doing that at this trade deadline. The hole they dug themselves to start the season was going to be too big to climb out of, and any aspirations of contention were fool’s gold. They allegedly didn’t know James Harden was going to ask for a trade until quite recently, but as soon as he did, they were willing to pivot, and did a commendable job. While Darius Garland’s nagging foot injury is worrisome, he’s a decade younger than Harden and has serious upside. And in the haul they got for Zubac, they may end up with a 2026 first-round pick in an absolutely stacked draft.

Losers

New Orleans Pelicans. To be fair, the Pelicans sealed their fate as a loser this year way back in the summer when they inexplicably sent an unprotected 2026 first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks for the rights to *checks notes* move up 10 spots in the 2025 draft. The absolutely incomprehensible miscalculation of their own status in the league and likelihood to be anything more than a bottom-dweller this year proved to be, predictably, too much to overcome. The Pelicans are 14th in the Western Conference, but instead of surrendering to their fate and having a firesale of their hottest commodities – the likes of Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones – they whimpered out of the deadline only having made one move: sending Alvarado to the Knicks for Dalen Terry and two second-round picks. The Pelicans need a long, hard look in the mirror: they’re going nowhere fast.

Everyone invested in the Giannis sweepstakes. We all have that one friend who talks about how they need to break up with their spouse every time you see them. But, inevitably, if given an exit route from their relationship, this same friend always responds the same way: “Well, I love him, my family is close with his family, we have two years left on our lease …” This is the story of Antetokounmpo and the Bucks. It’s really, really time for them to break up, and for this reason, we all foolishly believed they would. Instead, they pumpfaked, and the Greek Freak is still a Buck. Among the teams left in smouldering ash in the wake of the fake-out: the Golden State Warriors, who had to settle for oft-injured Kristaps Porzingis, and the Miami Heat, who thought they were frontrunners for Antetokounmpo and ended up empty-handed at the deadline. The reward for the roundtable prognostication we collectively endured that resulted in absolutely nothing? Four more months of that, at minimum. We are all losers here.

Honorable mention: 2026 Los Angeles Clippers fans. Their fans, on the other hand? They have my sympathies. They had one good month of happiness and cheer, and it was gone just as quickly as it came. Hang in there, Clippers fans: you still have the NBA’s foremost arborist.

The Milwaukee Bucks welcome the Indiana Pacers to Fiserv Forum this evening, with tip-off set for 8:00 p.m. ET.

Gary Trent Jr. is making his presence felt offensively right now, and I’m eyeing him to hit double digits in scoring in my Pacers vs. Bucks predictions. 

Read more in my NBA picks for Friday, February 6. 

Pacers vs Bucks prediction

Pacers vs Bucks best bet: Gary Trent Jr. Over 9.5 points (+100)

Gary Trent Jr. has been a nice piece for the struggling Milwaukee Bucks this season. He’s averaging 8.5 ppg off the bench, and the veteran has been on a roll lately.

He’s cashed the Over in points in three of his last five games, including back-to-back appearances. 

Trent Jr. poured in 13 points on Wednesday in a nail-biter victory over the Pelicans, and he also dropped another 15 points on Tuesday against the Bulls. The 27-year-old is averaging exactly 8.5 ppg at home, but these last two games in which he played well were both at Fiserv Forum. 

While Trent is averaging just 8 ppg across two meetings with the Indiana Pacers in 2025-26, I’ll ride his hot hand to do his part in the second unit tonight. Expect another 10+ point performance from Trent Jr. 

Pacers vs Bucks same-game parlay

Pascal Siakam is on fire lately, and with Giannis Antetokounmpo still out for the Bucks, I’m eyeing him to ball out tonight. 

Siakam has cashed the Over in points in three of his last four outings. He showed out for 27 in Monday’s loss to the Rockets, and he also scored 25 on Saturday evening against the Hawks. 

Kevin Porter Jr. has been one of the Bucks’ top playmakers this season alongside Antetokounmpo. He’s averaging 7.5 assists, a career-high for the guard. Porter Jr. has hit the Over in dimes in four of his last five as well. 

Pacers vs Bucks SGP

• Gary Trent Jr. Over 9.5 points
• Pascal Siakam Over 24.5 points
• Kevin Porter Jr. Over 6.5 assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: Aaron's not erring from deep

Aaron Nesmith has been red-hot from deep lately, cashing the Over in triples in five straight. He’s drained three treys in each of those games. 

Pacers vs Bucks SGP

• Gary Trent Jr. Over 9.5 points
• Pascal Siakam Over 24.5 points
• Kevin Porter Jr. Over 6.5 assists
• Aaron Nesmith Over 2.5 threes

Pacers vs Bucks odds

• Spread: Pacers -1.5 | Bucks +1.5
• Moneyline: Pacers -115 | Bucks -105
• Over/Under: Over 223.5 | Under 223.5

Pacers vs Bucks betting trend to know

The Bucks have hit the Under in 23 of their last 35 games (+9.80 Units / 25% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Pacers vs. Bucks.

How to watch Pacers vs Bucks

Pacers vs Bucks latest injuries

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

In basketball and narrative terms, the Wizards’ 126-117 win over the first place Detroit Pistons was fun. Entertaining game with extended runs for both teams, great plays from guys on both teams, and drama about the outcome to the very end.

In terms of what the win means for the Wizards…not as much fun. I’ll come back to that.

The game followed the pattern of Washington’s last win — two games ago against the Sacramento Kings. The Wizards shot well and played decently on defense while Detroit missed everything. In the first quarter, the Pistons shot 6-21 from the floor and 1-9 from deep. That’s sub-30% overall and 11.1% on threes.

Detroit mostly righted the shooting ship (so to speak) over the final three periods — 52.2% on twos and 33.3% on threes — but the damage was done. Washington ended the first with a 13-point advantage.

It would be inaccurate to say Washington clung to their lead because the Pistons roared back in the second, going on a 17-0 run (which grew to 21-2) to slice a 20-point Wizards lead to as little as one.

Washington re-opened the lead in the third quarter — going up by as much as 19 before the Pistons came back yet again. In the end, Detroit didn’t have enough to pull out a win.

Like the Sacramento victory, head coach Brian Keefe went with the deep bench mob for virtually the entire fourth quarter. The Wizards played just six guys in the final period: — Bilal Coulibaly, Sharife Cooper, Anthony Gill, and Jamir Watkins played all 12 minutes. Tristan Vukcevich played the first minute, and Will Riley went the rest of the way. How’d that work?

• Riley — 9 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal in the final period
• Coulibaly — 8 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover
• Cooper — 7 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
• Gill — 4 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
• Vukcevich — 3 points
• Watkins — 1 rebound, defense and good vibes

Watching the diminutive Cooper compete with Cade Cunningham and more ballyhooed Pistons was fun. On consecutive possessions late in the game, he knocked down a three and then made slithery lefty drive and finish in traffic.

The Wizard were helped by the perennial Sixth Man of the Year — luck. I’m not talking about Detroit shooting 27.3% on threes. I’m referring to stuff like Coulibaly’s late shot clock heave with about three minutes left in the fourth quarter that somehow went in. Or Watkins banking in a three earlier in the game. Definitely luck. Also, they count.

As for what the win means…there’s a push-pull. The push is that it complicates The Tank a bit. Washington now has the league’s fifth worst winning percentage, which means they’re most likely to land the sixth or seventh pick in this year’s draft. The Wizards aren’t in danger of losing the pick. Yet. It’s top eight protected, so even at fifth worst, they’re safe. But that margin for safety is getting smaller.

The pull is that the factor complicating The Tank is young guys playing well. And the Wizards pretty much have to play the young guys, because there’s basically no one else left. Trae Young won’t be available for at least a couple more weeks. Anthony Davis might not play this season.

Perhaps D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum, who came in the Davis trade, could help lose games. If the Wizards don’t just buy them out or release them. At 23-years-old, Jaden Hardy, who was also part of the Davis deal, also qualifies as one of the young guys.

Thoughts & Observations

• I watched the Wizards broadcast because Detroit’s is pretty doggone awful. I was hoping to hear improvement. My hopes were not met.
• Note to someone running League Pass — stop cutting off the national anthem and timeout entertainment.
• The most repeated entry in my notes from this game were about Ausar Thompson’s defense. Coulibaly is a very good defender. Thompson is among the very best defensive players I’ve seen this season. Washington’s first offensive possession is a good example — Sarr got a paint touch and kicked to Justin Champagnie for what looked like a routine wide open three. Thompson blocked it.
• A few minutes later, Champagnie accelerated his shot motion in a similar play to make a three over a Thompson closeout.
• Champagnie played 16 highly productive minutes — 14 points, 7 rebounds (4 offensive) and a block. The Wizards were +16 on the scoreboard with him in the game.
• Riley played his fourth straight very good game. Last night, he scored a career-high 20 points to go with tying his career high in rebounds (6), 5 assists, and 2 steals. He showed patience and craft on the offensive end. Right now, he’s still surprising opponents because there’s no way he’s on scouting reports. That will change (probably after the All-Star break), and it will be fascinating to see how he adapts.
• I don’t know if Cooper has an NBA future beyond “fifth guard in a three-guard rotation,” but it’s fun watching him play. He’s quick, skilled, and competitive. Last night: 18 points (on 8-12 shooting), 3 rebounds and 5 assists. Also 5 turnovers, at least a couple of which looked to be of the needs experience variety.
• Riley and Cooper did combine for one unacceptable play. In the first quarter, they were positioned at half court for a teammate free throw attempt. The miss got back-tapped, and Detroit’s Marcus Sasser outran both to a) get the ball, and b) get to the rim for a layup.
• Early second quarter, I enjoyed seeing Gill drain a no-dip three.
• Funniest play of the game was when Riley threw a lob for Gill, who does not have that kind of verticality. Gill somehow tipped it in and got fouled for an and-one.
• I probably need to watch more Pistons games. People I respect keep talking about how great Cunningham is, and I do think he’s very good. But when I do see Detroit play, I’m always left with the impression that he’s a bit overrated.

Four Factors

Below are the four factors that decide wins and losses in basketball — shooting (efg), rebounding (offensive rebounds), ball handling (turnovers), fouling (free throws made).

The four factors are measured by:

• eFG% (effective field goal percentage, which accounts for the three-point shot)
• OREB% (offensive rebound percentage)
• TOV% (turnover percentage — turnovers divided by possessions)
• FTM/FGA (free throws made divided by field goal attempts)

FOUR FACTORS	WIZARDS	PISTONS	LGAVG
eFG%	63.7%	51.7%	54.3%
OREB%	25.0%	33.3%	26.1%
TOV%	15.7%	14.7%	12.7%
FTM/FGA	0.110	0.295	0.208
PACE	102		99.5
ORTG	123	115	115.5

Stats & Metrics

PPA is my overall production metric, which credits players for things they do that help a team win (scoring, rebounding, playmaking, defending) and dings them for things that hurt (missed shots, turnovers, bad defense, fouls).

PPA is a per possession metric designed for larger data sets. In small sample sizes, the numbers can get weird. In PPA, 100 is average, higher is better and replacement level is 45. For a single game, replacement level isn’t much use, and I reiterate the caution about small samples sometimes producing weird results.

POSS is the number of possessions each player was on the floor in this game.

ORTG = offensive rating, which is points produced per individual possessions x 100. League average so far this season is listed in the Four Factors table above. Points produced is not the same as points scored. It includes the value of assists and offensive rebounds, as well as sharing credit when receiving an assist.

USG = offensive usage rate. Average is 20%.

ORTG and USG are versions of stats created by former Wizards assistant coach Dean Oliver and modified by me. ORTG is an efficiency measure that accounts for the value of shooting, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers. USG includes shooting from the floor and free throw line, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers.

+PTS = “Plus Points” is a measure of the points gained or lost by each player based on their efficiency in this game compared to league average efficiency on the same number of possessions. A player with an offensive rating (points produced per possession x 100) of 100 who uses 20 possessions would produce 20 points. If the league average efficiency is 115, the league — on average — would produced 23.0 points in the same 20 possessions. So, the player in this hypothetical would have a +PTS score of -3.0.

Players are sorted by total production in the game.

WIZARDS	MIN	POSS	ORTG	USG	+PTS	PPA	+/-
Will Riley	29	62	145	21.2%	3.9	212	13
Justin Champagnie	15	33	156	27.8%	3.7	315	16
Tristan Vukcevich	11	24	138	39.7%	2.1	279	3
Anthony Gill	30	63	141	11.5%	1.9	88	7
Sharife Cooper	34	73	114	21.1%	-0.2	74	-3
Bub Carrington	22	47	120	22.2%	0.4	110	1
Alex Sarr	18	38	116	25.2%	0.0	119	2
Kyshawn George	18	38	136	17.6%	1.4	107	-1
Jamir Watkins	26	55	107	11.5%	-0.5	56	8
Bilal Coulibaly	36	77	84	18.8%	-4.6	-2	-1

PISTONS	MIN	POSS	ORTG	USG	+PTS	PPA	+/-
Ausur Thompson	33	70	132	16.1%	1.9	172	-5
Cade Cunningham	38	80	115	34.3%	-0.2	116	-16
Ronald Holland II	25	53	131	18.6%	1.5	169	3
Duncan Robinson	30	64	141	19.7%	3.2	134	-7
Marcus Sasser	14	30	129	20.6%	0.8	171	2
Caris LeVert	16	34	122	19.0%	0.4	101	-4
Javonte Green	18	39	82	21.6%	-2.9	88	-2
Paul Reed	13	28	128	18.7%	0.7	105	0
Wendell Moore Jr.	6	12	222	13.2%	1.7	219	9
Kevin Huerter	6	13	36	13.4%	-1.3	-19	-7
Isaiah Stewart	29	61	71	8.2%	-2.3	-31	-3
Jalen Duren	13	27	47	23.6%	-4.3	-97	-15

As you all know by now, it was an underwhelming trade deadline for the Sixers.

They traded second-year guard Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder for draft capital and veteran guard Eric Gordon to the Memphis Grizzlies in what amounts to a salary dump. The positive is Dominick Barlow was rewarded for his strong play with a standard contract. They did some roster housekeeping, with some more surely coming.

Here’s a summary of where things stand for the team after the NBA trade deadline:

The picks and players the Sixers acquired:

• Luxury tax savings
• 2026 first-round pick (HOU)
• 2027 second-round pick (most favorable OKC, HOU, IND, MIA)
• 2028 second-round pick (OKC)
• 2028 second-round pick (MIL)
• Converted Dominick Barlow to standard deal
• Draft rights to Justinian Jessup
• Signed Charles Bassey (10-day)
• Signed Patrick Baldwin (10-day)

The picks and players the Sixers sent out:

• Jared McCain
• Eric Gordon
• 2032 second-round pick swap

The new, full Sixers roster

1. Tyrese Maxey
2. Joel Embiid
3. Paul George
4. VJ Edgecombe
5. Kelly Oubre Jr.
6. Quentin Grimes
7. Andre Drummond
8. Dominick Barlow
9. Trendon Watford
10. Adem Bona
11. Justin Edwards
12. Kyle Lowry
13. Johni Broome
14. Charles Bassey (10-day)
15. Patrick Baldwin (10-day)
16. Jabari Walker (two-way)
17. MarJon Beauchamp (two-way)

Sixers draft picks remaining

First rounders:

• 2026 own (protected 1-4)
• 2026 HOU
• 2027 own
• 2028 own (if 1-8 or if 2026 first-round pick is 1-4)
• 2028 LAC (fully unprotected)
• 2029 own (rights to pick swap with LAC)
• 2030 own
• 2031 own
• 2032 own

Second-rounders:

• 2027 own
• 2027 GSW/PHX (more favorable)
• 2027 OKC/HOU/IND/MIA (more favorable)
• 2028 own
• 2028 DET (protected 31-55)
• 2028 GSW
• 2028 MIL
• 2028 OKC
• 2029 PHI
• 2030 PHX/POR (more favorable)
• 2030 WAS
• 2031 PHI
• 2032 PHI/MEM (least favorable)

While ducking the tax doesn’t help all that much with team building, the draft capital the team received for McCain could be very useful as the team looks to build long-term around Maxey and Edgecombe. Overall, the Sixers have a decent amount of draft assets while having a good amount of talent already in place. Again, that does little for the 2025-26 Sixers, but could help Daryl Morey and company take big swings in the future.

What are your thoughts on the deadline? Who would you like to see the team target on the buyout market? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

Pencils down, everyone.

Through Monday night, this was an exceptionally boring trade deadline, but the action heavily increased to a feverish pace beginning on Tuesday morning and through the Thursday afternoon deadline, seeing several all-stars and several intriguing role players change hands, along with a small army of draft picks.

As we know, the Knicks were able to effectively flip Guerschon Yabusele and two second-round picks for Jose Alvarado by using the Chicago Bulls as an intermediary, sending Dalen Terry to New Orleans. The move, while not only adding a rotation player, allows the Knicks to participate in the buyout market immediately.

And, yes, a lot of the action this week involved Western Conference teams, but plenty of moves were made by teams in the East as well. We’ll be checking in on all of the teams in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, plus one or two more that could be relevant for one reason or another.

Detroit Pistons

Added: Kevin Huerter, Dario Saric

Subtracted: Jaden Ivey

Jaden Ivey, at one point a white whale for the Knicks’ front office in the 2022 draft, is in the final year of his rookie contract, and the Pistons did not want to pay him with the several major injuries he’s suffered in the last two seasons. He’s shown flashes, but he was shipped to Chicago in a three-team trade.

What they do add is shooting. With Malik Beasley currently trying to stay out of jail and Tim Hardaway Jr. in Denver, they’ve needed shooting, and they get it with one-time Knick killer Kevin Huerter. The 27-year-old is shooting a career-low from three, but is over 37% for his career. It’s a casual deadline for the East’s top dog.

Boston Celtics

Added: Nikola Vucevic

Subtracted: Anfernee Simons, Chris Boucher, Josh Minott, Xavier Tillman Jr.

The surprisingly stout Bostonians made a big 1-for-1 move with the Bulls, finally replacing Kristaps Porzingis (and Al Horford) by adding a pure stretch five in Vucevic, who should’ve been dealt years ago. Simons was kind of redundant with all the guard talent, and Boston needed an upgrade over Luka Garza and Neemias Queta. If the 35-year-old from Montenegro can show up anywhere, it’s in the Mazzulla system.

Boucher, Minott, and Tillman Jr. were salary dumped to three different teams to duck the luxury tax. Since the offseason, Brad Stevens has saved his new bosses a staggering $350 million in luxury tax penalties and has built a Celtics team that, if Jayson Tatum returns, could come out of the East in a gap year.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Added: James Harden, Keon Ellis, Dennis Schroder

Subtracted: Darius Garland, De’Andre Hunter, Lonzo Ball

The Cavs have steadied the ship after hovering around .500 into January and have solidified themselves in the East’s top six, but they still sit several games behind the Knicks and Celtics, who are tied for the No. 2 seed. The stagnation, especially after flaming out early last year, has caused them to take a sledgehammer to the “Core Four”.

Garland is gone, freeing up future cap flexibility for the NBA’s lone second apron team. In comes future Hall of Famer James Harden, who remains one of the league’s premier scoring threats even past his 36th birthday. Can he and Spida co-exist? Can the Cavs avoid another flameout that will cause Spida to look elsewhere?

They also banished Hunter to Sacramento, accepting defeat from a disappointing trade last February, and Ball to Utah in a pure salary dump. Keon Ellis was a highly coveted pesky guard, and Schroder will play for his *checks notes* 11th team. It’s his 10th different team in eight seasons. They’re absolutely deeper at guard now, but does this move the needle?

Philadelphia 76ers

Added: Some draft picks

Subtracted: Jared McCain, Eric Gordon

For a team with an aging, injury-prone superstar, the Sixers really didn’t have any urgency to go for it this year, even with Paul George on the shelf due to a PED suspension.

They ducked the luxury tax thanks to a tax credit from the suspension and trading away McCain and Gordon. Trading away the second-year guard who showed so much promise as a rookie is baffling to me. Players always play worse right off a severe knee injury. What’s with the impatience? Was the package of three seconds and a late 2026 first-rounder too enticing?

Toronto Raptors

Added: Chris Paul (will be waived), Trayce Jackson-Davis

Subtracted: Ochai Agbaji

The Raptors were very public about wanting an upgrade at center, fishing in the Domantas Sabonis and Anthony Davis markets. They settle for an undersized TJD, but he’s at least a rotation-caliber big in a rotation that is giving center minutes to Collin Murray-Boyles and Sandro Mamukelashvili.

Chris Paul still has never played a game in the East and will likely not do so for the Raptors. This will be the second time he is shipped to an Eastern Conference team and immediately redirected or waived.

Orlando Magic

Added: cap relief

Subtracted: Tyus Jones

It’s not a good look when, in a year where you pushed all your chips to the center of the table, you’re not only a likely play-in team, but you’re only deadline move is a salary dump. They attached two second-round picks to get Jones off their books.

They’ll be players in the buyout market, but they’re going to have a hard time getting on track with the injuries, inconsistent shooting, and regression on defense. This was a year where they had to show some progress, because it’s their last before the bill comes due. As of right now, they’re projected to be a second apron team in 2026-27 with two open roster spots and a quickly dwindling asset pool. It’s bleak in Orlando.

Miami Heat

Crickets

Pat Riley… wake up…

Pat? Are you there?

Despite being in on a star every single offseason and trade deadline, the Heat continue to do nothing. They reportedly wanted Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ja Morant; they got neither. Here is every single player the Heat have traded for since bringing in Jimmy Butler in July 2019:

• Jae Crowder, Solomon Hill, Andre Iguodala (February 2020)
• Trevor Ariza (March 2021)
• Victor Oladipo, Nemanja Bjelica (March 2021)
• Kyle Lowry (August 2021)
• Terry Rozier (January 2024)
• Pelle Larsson (June 2024, draft rights)
• Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, Davion Mitchell (February 2025)
• Simone Fontecchio, Norman Powell (July 2025)

He went 2 and a half years without trading for a single player. While there are multiple flashy names on here, aside from Powell, who’s seriously contributed? Complacency and continuity mean something when you’re competing for titles, but the Heat just aren’t anymore, and I don’t understand why every deadline looks like this.

Atlanta Hawks

Added: CJ McCollum, Corey Kispert, Jock Landale, Jonathan Kuminga, Buddy Hield, Gabe Vincent, Duop Reath (waived)

Subtracted: Trae Young, Vit Krejci, Luke Kennard, Kristaps Porzingis

The Hawks are finally conceding. After years of mediocrity and attempts to retool around Trae Young, they’re finally committing to something a bit bigger. They’re not totally bottoming out (mostly because they can’t), but they’ve changed timelines. Jalen Johnson is the future now and they’re going to build around him and whoever they get from the Pelicans’ pick.

Trae and Tingus Pingus are out the door. They get some veteran fliers in McCollum, Hield, and Landale (who had the game of his life Thursday) and some young talent. Can they unlock Kuminga? What about Kispert? One criticism I have of their deadline is getting essentially no draft compensation, but hey, beggars can’t be choosers.

Charlotte Hornets

Added: Coby White, Malaki Branham, Xavier Tillman Sr., Mike Conley (may be waived)

Subtracted: Mason Plumlee, Collin Sexton

What on earth are you doing here?

The Hornets have won eight in a row and are currently in the play-in. After years of what-ifs, they’re finally realizing their potential. They, though, smartly approached this deadline.

Would I have fielded calls for people like Grant Williams? Sure, but they didn’t have to. They also got Coby White for three seconds, which can be an absolute steal if they extend him. They also picked up some seconds along the way, scooping up one from OKC to eventually ship Ousmane Dieng to Chicago (who then went to Milwaukee), while doing something similar with Tyus Jones in redirecting him to Charlotte.

It’s startling how hot they are. How high can they climb?

Chicago Bulls

Added: Anfernee Simons, Jaden Ivey, Collin Sexton, Guerschon Yabusele, Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller, Nick Richards

Subtracted: Nikola Vucevic, Ayo Dosunmu, Kevin Huerter, Coby White, Dalen Terry, Julian Phillips

Well, it’s three years too late, but the Bulls finally accepted they need to tank. Sure, they got off DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine last year, but they still held onto hope for no real reason.

They have a lot of guards now, so that’ll be interesting. There’s potential in Ivey and Simons, both expiring contracts that now get a 30-game audition. Yabusele is now a pure rental, too, after waiving his player option. They also picked up eight second-round picks, only trading away a pick swap.

Milwaukee Bucks

Added: Nigel Hayes-Davis, Ousmane Dieng

Subtracted: Cole Anthony, Amir Coffey

Giannis is still in Milwaukee, which is the wise move for the Bucks. No matter what the Warriors, Wolves, or Heat offer you now, you will definitely get more in June. Just tell your social media team to stop being delusional for a sec, okay?

As for what they did… essentially nothing. They got no picks, neither player they got moves the needle, and it just felt like they wanted to say they did something.

Washington Wizards

Added: Anthony Davis, Trae Young, Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell, Dante Exum

Subtracted: CJ McCollum, Corey Kispert, Khris Middleton, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, AJ Johnson

Is this a MyLeague rebuild? Why the hell are the Wizards acquiring two all-stars at the deadline?

Neither Davis nor Young will play a game for the rest of the season, but as long as they keep their pick (please keep winning, we’d appreciate it), they have an interesting foundation.

Trae Young, Anthony Davis, Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George, Bub Carrington, a top-five pick.

Just saying, maybe they’re a sleeper next year.

Brooklyn Nets

Added: Josh Minott, Hunter Tyson, Ochai Agbaji

Subtracted: A singular second-round pick

You had one job: selling off Michael Porter Jr. after an all-star caliber first 50 games. You failed.

Maybe one of these three can shine with the opportunity down the stretch. I doubt it. At least you rid yourself of Cam Thomas?

Indiana Pacers

Added: Ivica Zubac, Kobe Brown

Subtracted: Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, potentially a top-10 pick

I really like this move for Indiana, on one condition.

Zubac is a great big man and will feast when Tyrese Haliburton is healthy next season. They’re shaping up to contend for another Finals berth next year with him, and all it cost them was two firsts and an expiring Mathurin, who will get an opportunity out west.

Here’s the thing. They traded their 2026 first-round pick, but heavily protected. If the pick falls between 5 and 9 only, it goes to the Clippers. Even if the Pacers lost out, they’d have only a 52% chance of keeping the pick. Their best odds of keeping the pick would actually involve trying to win down the stretch to get the 10th-best odds, but it would heavily lower their odds of getting a potentially game-breaking talent that the top of this loaded draft class provides.

Is all of this worth potentially losing a top-10 pick in a loaded draft? That’s up to them to decide.