Category: Basketball

The NBA has discussed its "vision" for a proposed European basketball league with Real Madrid and other Spanish clubs, says commissioner Adam Silver.

Initial plans for 'NBA Europe', starting in 2027, are for 10 to 12 set franchises that would stay in the league on an annual basis.

Silver said the idea would be to mix established European teams with new ones, with the league initially being funded by the selected member clubs.

The 63-year-old was speaking before the NBA's first regular season game in Berlin, Germany on Thursday, which the Orlando Magic won 118-111 against the Memphis Grizzlies.

The two sides face each again at The O2 arena in London on Sunday.

• Why do NBA's Europe plans divide opinion?

A league of potentially 16 teams is also being looked at, combining the regular 10 to 12 franchises with open spots that teams will be able to qualify for.

With the rise in popularity of basketball and the NBA in Europe, the American league is holding six games in four different European cities across the next three seasons, with London, Manchester, Berlin and Paris hosting games between 2026 and 2028.

Silver said talks with Real Madrid, who play in the EuroLeague and are regarded as one of the greatest basketball clubs in Europe, were "more in the category of fact-finding", but he confirmed discussions had taken place with another EuroLeague side, Alba Berlin, whose Uber Arena hosted the NBA game.

"We're trying to find the best combination of the old and the new; the tradition and the innovation," said Silver.

Alba Berlin, he said, was "the model of the type of club that we would like to see in a potential European league".

Reports say the existing EuroLeague has concerns about the new venture, threatening legal action against the NBA should clubs break existing agreements to take part in the new competition.

But Silver said he does not think the two leagues would clash, adding: "There's plenty of room for competition".

Steph Curry, Warriors stars adamant Jonathan Kuminga saga is ‘not a distraction' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Day 200 of the Jonathan Kuminga Chronicles is upon us, and it likely won’t be much different than the previous 199, except for the expansion of his bank account on Day 92 and the fact that Day 199 dragged him onto the trade market. The polarizing chatter will continue for the Warriors, their fans and anyone following this tediously extended epilogue.

The noise, however, will not have any effect on the Warriors. That’s what they say, emphatically so, and their statements are credible.

“It’s not a distraction at all,” Stephen Curry said Thursday night, after scoring 27 points in a win over the New York Knicks while Kuminga sat idle on the bench for the 13th consecutive game. “It’s a very unique situation, but our job is to just keep playing. Keep winning. It’ll resolve itself one way or the other.”

Curry believes that this will not shake the Warriors because of their history. As the longest-tenured player on the roster, he has seen potential distractions come and fade like waves at the ocean shore.

“(If) you’ve been around for the last three, four years, we’ve done it this whole time,” Curry continued. “We’re sort of very, very well trained in this area to just play basketball.”

Curry’s comments echoed those of coach Steve Kerr, said to be Kuminga’s most fervent antagonist. So much so that some outsiders suspect personal motives.

“There won’t be a distraction,” Kerr said two hours before tipoff against the Knicks. “Jonathan’s a great young guy. His teammates like him. He’s handling himself well. There won’t be a distraction.”

Yet Curry’s words carry more weight. He was a Warrior before Kerr arrived. Curry had early-career obstacles, one being the presence of Monta Ellis and the other being the odd and brief belief among the coaching staff that Acie Law should start at point guard.

Steph has been there, done that, and seen it many times. He is several weeks removed from watching his closest teammate, Draymond Green, walk into the locker room amid a furious quarrel with coach Steve Kerr. There was the up-close deterioration of the relationship between Klay Thompson and the franchise. There were the indefinite absences of Andrew Wiggins, the shock of Draymond punching Jordan Poole during a practice and, oh yes, Kevin Durant’s gloomy final season as a Warrior.

Kuminga is neither Klay nor KD, established All-Stars and essential components in the daily operation of the team.

Kuminga is a young man with a good heart who is making $22.5 million to be a spectator. He is stuck on the Warriors, despite the obvious incompatibility; they drafted him and spent four years resisting thoughts of trading him.

Jimmy Butler III brushed aside any thought that Kuminga’s status – visible but isolated from the games – was a source of turbulence.

“Oh, hell no,” he said Thursday night. “Hell no. That has nothing to do with us. We love JK in this locker room, that’s not going to change. If he happens to not to be here, we still rock with JK. I speak for everybody. I don’t care. I speak for everybody. We love the guy. I wish him the best here. I wish him the best forever. Doesn’t change.

“We don’t listen to the noise. I hope he don’t listen to the noise. He keeps coming in here with a smile, doing what he’s supposed to do, and being the ultimate pro.”

There is enough maturity in this locker room – Curry, Butler, Green and Al Horford – to repel any creeping dissension related to Kuminga’s ongoing disuse. The vets are built to keep the focus on the greater collective goal of lifting the Warriors from mediocrity, which through the first half of the season had a very stubborn grip.

There have been games when it appeared Kuminga could have been helpful on the floor. The last time he was slated to play, Jan. 2 against Oklahoma City, he was a late scratch due to very sudden “back soreness.”

Yet Kuminga, by all accounts, remains popular and has not been a frequent source of irritation – at all. There is a primary reason why Kuminga is not, and will not be, a distraction to the Warriors, according to Green.

“Because he’s not a distraction,” Green said, pointing toward Kuminga’s vacant cubicle. “How he handles it is everything. If he handled it a certain way, it becomes a distraction. But it doesn’t have to be. And the way he’s handled himself, the way he’s dealt with things not going his way, says a lot about his character.

“Everyone around here can confidently say it won’t be a distraction, because he’s not a distraction.”

Green and Butler have done their part to mentor Kuminga on the ways of life in the NBA. Nearly every young player entering the league has “a vet,” someone who assumes a big brotherly role. Kuminga has two.

They both wish Kuminga well, wherever he lands, as does everyone in the locker room. He senses that, which is one more reason, trade “demand” notwithstanding, that he won’t crater this squad.

JK is not built to do that. And, moreover, he hasn’t earned the status.

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In a back-and-forth high-scoring affair Thursday night, the Lakers led by 13 points in the second quarter before the Charlotte Hornets rallied to build a 15-point lead in the third quarter.

In the end, the Hornets kept the momentum they stole from the Lakers, rolling to a 135-117 win at Crypto.com Arena.

The Lakers’ defense couldn’t slow down LaMelo Ball in the second half and it was unable to stop the Hornets from scoring 20 three-pointers.

As a result, the Lakers (24-15) lost for the fourth time in five games.

Read more:Lakers' JJ Redick defends LeBron James amid 'unfortunate' criticism

“I mean, it doesn't matter who it is. Doesn’t matter the team, doesn't matter the player," Marcus Smart said. “If they were shooting 20% [before], they’re shooting 50%. And it's unfortunate, but that's part of the game. It's tough. We got to figure it out. We got to play with a little bit more urgency on that end, especially, and kind of impose our will.

“It's not easy. Especially when you play for the Lakers, you always are the hunted— no matter what."

The Hornets (15-26) shot 53% from the field 54% percent from three-point range in the second half. Ball had 27 of his 30 points in the second half. After the Lakers closed to within 10 points with 2 minutes and 30 seconds left in the fourth, Ball's back-to-back three-pointers essentially closed out the game.

“He had some crazy shots, but that's what he do," said Luka Doncic, who scored 39 points. “He was shooting a lot of threes off the dribble ... so he got really hot. So it's kind of hard to stop."

Even with all of the Lakers’ starters scoring in double figures, it wasn't enough. LeBron James, who didn’t speak to reporters after the game, had 29 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Jake LaRavia had 18 points, Deandre Ayton scored 12 points and Smart had 10.

The start of the game was so different for the Lakers.

Doncic blew a kiss to the crowd and threw his hands in the air after drilling a first-quarter three. Doncic smiled at the Lakers’ bench after shooting another three-pointer a short time later.

During those moments, Doncic epitomized the kind of joy Lakers coach JJ Redick wants to see his team exhibit.

The rest of the Lakers followed Doncic’s lead as the team built a 48-55 lead in the second quarter.

Doncic led the Lakers in the first quarter, scoring 19 points on seven-for-12 shooting, which included a trio of threes. The Lakers had 14 three-pointers in the game, but it wasn’t enough to stop a more consistent Charlotte attack.

The Lakers were outscored 34-16 in the second quarter, 40-38 in the third and 31-24 in the fourth.

“We all knew that they got our full respect and attention pregame and I thought we fought,” Redick said. “Just another team that has a hot shooting night.”

Etc.

Redick said backup center Jaxson Hayes had an MRI scan that revealed hamstring tendinopathy in his left leg. Hayes, who is averaging 6.3 points per game, has missed two games because of the injury. "It's hopefully a short-term thing and hopefully he'll be back at some point this weekend,” Redick said. The Lakers play at Portland on Saturday before facing the Toronto Raptors at home on Sunday.

Read more:Luka Doncic plays and scores 27 points as the Lakers rout the Hawks

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

The Knicks were defeated by the Golden State Warriors 126-113 on Thursday night at the Chase Center. 

Here are some takeaways...

- The Knicks were without Jalen Brunson due to an ankle injury, but they did receive a nice boost, as Landry Shamet was finally deemed ready to return after missing the last 25 games with a dislocated shoulder. Shamet didn't jump back into the starting lineup, though, as it was Miles McBride who slid in in Brunson's place. 

- New York was able to get off to a much better start coming off one of their worst offensive performances of the season on Wednesday in Sacramento. Every starter recorded a bucket and they knocked down six of their first seven shots from behind the arc to open a quick double-digit advantage (15-5). 

Shamet was the first man off the bench halfway through the first, and he immediately knocked down his first shot. 

- The Knicks pushed the lead out to as many as 17 points, but Karl-Anthony Towns was forced to the bench after picking up a pair of early fouls, and Golden State was able to flip the momentum. The home team used a 13-2 run to cut the deficit all the way back down to five at the end of the opening quarter (35-30). 

- Towns had five points and a game-high six rebounds in the first before being forced to the bench. The big man continued his domination into the second, picking up four more boards and a pair of putback buckets to help keep the slim lead midway through a back-and-forth middle quarter (46-44). 

- The Warriors took their first lead minutes later, and they were able to keep it at three heading into the break (62-59). Jimmy Butler led the way with 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting, KAT racked up a first-half double-double, and Mikal Bridges led the Knicks with 12 points. 

- Steph Curry didn't make a three during the first half (0-for-5), but it didn't take long for him to snap that skid in the third. The All-Star sharpshooter knocked down his first two coming out of the break as part of a Golden State 13-2 barrage, helping them quickly push the lead out to 11 points (78-67).

Moses Moody added two more triples, giving him seven on the night and a season-high 21 points. 

- Each time it looked like the Knicks were ready to take back some of the momentum, the Warriors responded right back. New York simply could not get consecutive stops when they needed them the most, and they found themselves trailing by 12 points heading into the final frame. 

- Curry's big second half continued into the fourth, but the Knicks refused to go away, and they used a 10-2 run to get the deficit back down to nine points with just over four minutes remaining. Golden State's hot shooting couldn't be slowed down the stretch, though, and they held on for the victory. 

The Warriors shot 54 percent from the field and 44 percent from behind the arc in the game. 

- McBride took advantage of the start with 25 points, Anunoby had 25 as well, Bridges had 21, and Towns had 17 and 20 boards. Shamet knocked down just two of his seven shots in his return and Jordan Clarkson chipped in 11 points, but the rest of the bench combined for just one point. 

Butler led all scorers with 32 points, Curry had 27, Moody finished with 21 and Brandin Podziemski had 17 off the bench. 

Game MVP: Steph Curry

Curry got hot after a slow start, making big shots to put this one away late. 

Highlights

KAT 👌 pic.twitter.com/eQNzt8fXJE

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 16, 2026

Welcome back Landry Shamet! pic.twitter.com/6e05v7nXIi

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 16, 2026

What's next

The Knicks return home to MSG to host the Phoenix Suns on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Nets coach Jordi Fernàndez hinted that he is considering making rotation changes after his rebuilding team suffered its fifth straight defeat Wednesday night in New Orleans.

One significant alteration Fernàndez already had executed on Brooklyn’s road trip this week, however, was the insertion of rookie Drake Powell into the starting lineup in each of the past two games.

Powell — the third of the Nets’ league-record five first-round picks in 2025 (22nd overall) — has totaled 26 points over 49 minutes in the two starts, including 16 with five rebounds and two made 3-pointers in their 116-113 loss to the Pelicans.

“We have high expectations for him,” Fernàndez said after the game about Powell, whose rights were obtained from the Hawks on draft night. “We can see a player that not just can develop and play on both ends of the floor, but can be pretty good, so it’s time to see how he does in that situation.

“I’m very happy with the way he’s played. Does that mean he’s gonna be there the whole time? There’s no guarantees here. If he keeps playing hard, we want to see that growth, same as everybody else. That goes for the rookies, that goes for everybody. Keep working, keep getting better. The opportunity is there, and you gotta take advantage of it.”

Wednesday’s game marked the first time the North Carolina product started in the Brooklyn backcourt with No. 8 overall pick Egor Dëmin, who missed Monday’s loss in Dallas due to injury management.

The 20-year-old Powell got off to a slow start due to an ankle injury suffered on opening night in October, missing the following four games. The 6-foot-5 wing has averaged 5.8 points in 17.8 minutes per game over 25 appearances off the bench as a rookie, and 11.3 points in 25.0 minutes in three games as a starter, also including his first NBA start Jan. 1 against the Rockets.

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“Just want to stay aggressive on both ends of the floor,” Powell told YES Network after Monday’s game in Dallas. “That’s what Jordi told me to do leading up to the game, and I ultimately trust myself and trust my teammates.

“I think I have a great circle back home that keeps my head on straight, and, like I said, just trust my teammates, trust my coaches, and then just from there, at the end of the day, it’s just basketball.”

Powell is shooting just 31.3 percent from 3-point range, but he believes his defensive game has steadily improved, with just two personal fouls committed in the past two games.

“It’s a lot different from college, you gotta show your hands a lot, and that’s something I’ll continue to grow at, to be a good defender in this league,” Powell said. “With the more film that I watch and the more games that I play, it’ll just build over time.”

Dëmin has made the most starts among the Nets’ rookie crop with 27, followed by guard Ben Saraf (26th overall) with five and Powell and forward Danny Wolf (27th) with three apiece.

French guard Nolan Traore (19th) has made all of his 18 appearances off the bench entering Friday’s home game against the Bulls, including five points in 19 minutes in New Orleans.

Veteran guard Terance Mann moved into a reserve role Wednesday night, and Fernàndez indicated more rotation changes could be coming after the Nets (11-27) allowed 33 second-chance points and lost for the eighth time in nine games following an encouraging 7-3 stretch in December.

“I know our guys care about doing the right things,” Fernàndez said. “The problem is, right now our focus and our intentions are not there. And that’s something that I’ve got to help them better. And there’s different ways you can do it, obviously. So I’m going to try to do my best to find 10 guys in the rotation that care about rebounding, that care about ball pressure, that care about doing the right things.

“And then if you make mistakes, we can live with it. But the intentions and the effort, it’s a priority for us. I trust the group. They’ve always shown a reaction, and work. I trust the coaches, they always come back with answers and positive energy. And that’s how we’re gonna do it here.”

Minnesota Timberwolves at Houston Rockets
Date: January 16th, 2026
Time: 8:30 PM CST
Location: Toyota Center
Television Coverage: ESPN
Radio Coverage: KFAN FM, Wolves App, iHeart Radio

Texas Two-Step: Wolves Hit Houston With the Season’s Biggest Weekend in Front of Them

The Minnesota Timberwolves are about to take a Texas two-step that could define the mid-point of their season.

Friday night in Houston.
Saturday night, a rematch with San Antonio.

Two games. Two Western Conference heavyweights. Two chances to either cement what the Wolves have been building since January 1, or remind everyone how thin the margin still is in a brutal West.

Minnesota storms into this weekend playing some of the best basketball this franchise has ever seen. The identity is clear now. Defense first. Physicality second. Relentless effort third. The Wolves are shutting down the paint, swarming ball handlers, closing out on shooters, and playing with an edge that simply did not exist during the December slog. Offensively, it hasn’t always been pretty, but when it clicks, it goes nuclear — the kind of avalanche offense that breaks teams before the fourth quarter even arrives.

The latest proof came in Milwaukee, where Minnesota walked into Giannis Antetokounmpo’s house without Rudy Gobert or Anthony Edwards and somehow delivered one of the most dominant road wins of the season. No Defensive Player of the Year candidate. No franchise superstar. No excuses. Just collective toughness. Julius Randle played dominant bully ball. Naz Reid produced highly efficient offense. Donte DiVincenzo was true from deep. Bones Hyland had a coming out party. Everyone stepped up.

That win mattered. It pushed Minnesota within a half-game of San Antonio and one game of Denver in the race for the two and three seeds. And now the Wolves get the opportunity every contender waits for: grab momentum and turn it into separation.

First obstacle? Houston.

Last season, Wolves-Rockets games were borderline cage matches. Physical. Emotional. Often decided in the final minutes. This year’s Rockets are different. Kevin Durant in a Houston uniform changes the equation entirely. For all the off-season smoke and mirrors, it appears that Minnesota never seriously pursued KD, and Durant never seriously considered Minnesota. Fine. Friday night offers a chance to make that decision sting just a little.

With a nationally televised game on ESPN and an even bigger showdown looming Saturday, the Wolves have to treat Houston like what they are: the gatekeeper to something real.

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Keys to the Game

#1 – Come out on fire and test Houston’s legs early.
The Wolves smelled blood in Milwaukee and pounced. The Bucks looked like a team that wanted no part of the night, while Minnesota looked energized, aggressive, and prepared to dictate terms. Houston enters Friday coming off what should be a high-intensity game against Oklahoma City in the first leg of a back-to-back. That matters. NBA games are as much mental as physical, and tired legs usually mean slow rotations, late closeouts, and lazy decisions. Minnesota has to seize that advantage immediately. Push the pace. Crash the glass. Force Houston to work on every possession. If the Wolves bring that January intensity from the opening tip, they can put the Rockets in survival mode before halftime.

#2 – Win the battle of the bigs.
Houston has size, skill, and one of the league’s most quietly effective centers in Alperen Sengun. Last season, Sengun had moments where he got the better of Gobert, but this version of Rudy Gobert is different. He’s rested, reinvigorated, and playing like a Defensive Player of the Year again. Rudy has to own the paint, deny Sengun easy looks, control the glass, and set the tone defensively. Julius Randle must continue his physical play, and Naz Reid’s recent defensive uptick has to carry over. Minnesota cannot afford to lose the rebounding battle or allow Houston to feast inside. This game starts at the rim.

#3 – Don’t give up easy ones.
The Wolves’ defensive leap since January hasn’t been about highlights. It’s been about discipline. No straight-line drives. No lazy closeouts. No wide-open threes off broken rotations. Houston has scorers everywhere, but they become far more manageable when forced into contested looks. That responsibility falls heavily on Minnesota’s wings. If the Wolves stay connected, rotate with purpose, and take away Houston’s first and second options, the Rockets’ offense becomes far less dangerous.

#4 – Put Kevin Durant in a straightjacket — again.
Minnesota has a recent history of bothering Durant. The 2024 playoff sweep. The regular-season matchups with Phoenix last season. Jaden McDaniels has the length and discipline to match Durant physically, and Anthony Edwards has shown he relishes the challenge of guarding his former idol. With Fred VanVleet sidelined, Houston lacks the secondary offensive engine to consistently punish Minnesota if Durant is contained. KD will get his points — that’s inevitable — but the Wolves must make every bucket hard-earned. No rhythm. No comfort. No takeover stretch.

#5: Anthony Edwards has to elevate — again.
If Edwards plays, and all signs point toward him being ready, this is his stage. He loves these games. He loves playing Durant. He loves moments where the stakes are obvious. With fresh legs after resting his left foot, Ant has to set the tone offensively by attacking the rim, collapsing Houston’s defense, creating clean looks for teammates, and picking his spots from deep. His gravity is what unlocks Minnesota’s offense. As the season flips to its second half, this is the kind of performance that defines leadership and separates stars from superstars.

(UPDATE: Anthony Edwards will be out again with continued “Right foot injury management.”)

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The Finish

The Wolves haven’t consitently shown up against the West’s elite this season. That’s been the knock. This weekend is a chance to flip that narrative in real time.

Friday in Houston is about setting the tone by grabbing the early series lead, creating real space in the standings, and sending a message that Minnesota is done hovering. Saturday against San Antonio is about something bigger, where the Wolves can find themselves potentially flipping positions with the Spurs and grabbing hold of the three seed.

These are not “nice wins.”
These are not “confidence builders.”

These are statement games.

If Minnesota handles its business over the next 48 hours, the conversation changes. Not about whether the Wolves belong, but about how high they can climb.

What we learned as Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler carve up Knicks in Warriors' win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

SAN FRANCISCO – The Warriors knew what they were getting Thursday night when the New York Knicks came into Chase Center without their best player and following a loss to the lowly Kings in Sacramento 21 hours earlier.

The Knicks would be angry and surely knew they had to compensate for Jalen Brunson’s absence.

The Warriors shook off a slow start and a pesky outing by the Knicks by riding a superb game from Jimmy Butler III to come away with a 126-113 victory that put Golden State (23-19) four games over .500 for the first time this season.

Butler poured in a game-high 32 points, with Stephen Curry scoring 27, Moses Moody finishing with 21 and Brandin Podziemski adding 19. This was the eighth time this season that at least three Warriors scored at least 20 points.

Jimmy's reaction to this 3 🤣pic.twitter.com/pgyxBPJC6d

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 16, 2026

Here are three observations from a win over the skidding Knicks:

The Jimmy-Steph tag team

When the Warriors endured another slow start, falling behind 33-19 with 3:33 left in the first quarter, Curry went to the bench a few seconds later, putting the non-Steph minutes under the microscope. 

When Curry exits, that means Butler enters. With his scoring and orchestration, the Warriors closed the quarter on an 11-2 run to pull within five.

That shifted the momentum ever so slightly, as Golden State won the second quarter by eight, taking a 62-59 lead into halftime. Butler scored 15 points in 15 first-half minutes.

When the Knicks opened the third quarter with a surge, it was Curry who lit a fire under the Warriors. After missing all five of his 3-point attempts in the first half, he drained back-to-back triples, pushing the lead to eight, and then snagged a steal that led to a Moody triple that pushed it to 11.

Curry scored 10 points in nine third-quarter minutes, shooting 4-of-4 from the field, including 2-of-2 from distance.

Steph does it AGAIN 💦pic.twitter.com/RDyz8HsXLd

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 16, 2026

The Knicks spent the fourth quarter chasing the Warriors in vain.

Batman and Robin, folks, combining for 59 points.

Mo Buckets 2.0 drills Knicks

When Moody shot 30.1 percent from deep over a 15-game span from Dec. 12 to Jan. 11, it was fair to wonder if his wayward stroke would cost him his place in the starting lineup.

Coach Steve Kerr stayed with him, and his patience appears to be paying off.

Moody scored 12 first-half points, all on triples, without a miss. His game total of 21 points came on 7-of-10 shooting from the field, including 7-of-9 from deep.

With this game following an encouraging performance Tuesday night against Portland, when Moody scored 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field, including 4-of-8 from distance, it seems he has at least temporarily fixed his shot.

Moody is 7 for 8 from deep tonight ☔️pic.twitter.com/TLnCqQ9sSI

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 16, 2026

The Warriors will take it. Moody’s role is to provide point-of-attack defense on one end and be the designated catch-and-shoot wing on the other. His defense has been mostly satisfactory, but the offense gains another dimension when his deep shot is falling.

Podz comes through

After his slow start to this season, Podziemski became a lightning rod for criticism from Dub Nation. Some of it was warranted, some of it was subjective.

But the third-year pro put together a strong December, averaging 12.7 points per game while shooting 51.7 percent from the field, including 44.4 percent from deep.

Though Podziemski’s overall play has leveled off this month, he’s still productive and came off the bench to submit an excellent performance against the Knicks.

Sneaky Podz beat them down the floor 😈pic.twitter.com/XpCyyYD7Qq

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 16, 2026

Podziemski’s 19 points came on 8-of-9 shooting from the field, including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. He added five rebounds, two assists and two steals, playing 26 minutes and finishing a team-best plus-22.

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Steve Kerr confident Jonathan Kuminga's trade demand won't distract the Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga became trade eligible Thursday, and to state the obvious, he wants a new NBA team to call home.

The fifth-year pro has demanded a trade, league sources confirmed Thursday to NBC Sports Bay Area. Kuminga was in attendance for a rare home shootaround at Chase Center before the Warriors play the New York Knicks. Once reporters were allowed in, a smiling Kuminga sprinted off the court without comment. 

About six hours later, Warriors coach Steve Kerr, during his pregame press conference, was asked about the latest chapter in the Kuminga era that could end in the next three weeks by the Feb. 5 trade deadline. 

Kerr first reiterated his statement that he and Kuminga are on cordial terms. 

“Our relationship is fine,” he said. 

Aside from that, Kerr didn’t dive much deeper into the specifics of Kuminga’s hope for a fresh start. 

“There’s not a whole lot I can say about the other stuff,” Kerr continued. “It is what it is. Difficult situation for everybody. Part of this league, part of this job. We just keep moving forward. But it’s a tough situation and I don’t really have much to add.” 

Since being a healthy DNP-CD (Did Not Play, Coach’s Decision) on Dec. 7 in a blowout win against the Chicago Bulls, Kuminga has played in only one of the Warriors’ last 17 games. He played nine and half minutes in a one-point loss to the Phoenix Suns on Dec. 18. Kuminga hasn’t taken his black warmup shirt off and gotten off the bench to enter a game at all in the 13 games since.

In 12 of the Warriors’ 13 games during that span, Kuminga has continued to be a healthy DNP-CP. Kerr said on 95.7 The Game the morning of the Warriors’ eventual 37-point blowout loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Jan. 2 that Kuminga was in his plans to play. But Kuminga was a late addition to the Warriors’ injury report with lower back soreness and did not dress in a game Golden State also was without Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green.

While the outside noise continues to become louder, Kerr says none of this is a hindrance to who Warriors are and won’t cause problems. 

“It won’t be a distraction,” Kerr said. “Jonathan’s a great young guy. His teammates like him. He’s handling himself well. There won’t be a distraction.” 

Kuminga signed a two-year, $48.5 million contract with a team option on the second season two days into training camp. The start of the season was seamless with Kuminga scoring 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting, having nine rebounds and six assists in an opening-night win against the Los Angeles Lakers. Kuminga started the first 12 games of the season, averaging 14.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.l assists per game. 

The Warriors went 6-6 in those first 12 games. They’ve gone 16-13 after moving Kuminga out of the starting lineup two months ago. Kuminga has played in just six of those games, starting once, and averaging 16.5 minutes, 5.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists.

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The Knicks have hit a bit of a midseason rough patch, now 2-6 in their last eight games, missing Jalen Brunson, and in danger of falling out of the second seed. 

With the season at a pivotal juncture, fans and even management may not be satisfied only making a modest upgrade at the incoming trade deadline. 

New York’s cap, asset, and tradable talent limitations have left the rumor mill and fan base’s potential outcomes resigned to acquiring Jose Alvarado or Jeremy Sochan.

But if the losing continues and the Knicks get desperate, here are three bold trade ideas they can consider instead...

Knicks get: Cam Thomas
Nets get: Guerschon Yabusele and Tyler Kolek

What the Knicks lack in maneuverability they can make up for in pure, unadulterated risk-taking with this move. Thomas' value seemingly can’t be lower after a no-bid free agency followed by the Nets finding competence in his absence, which makes him an attractive candidate for an asymmetric trade.

New York would be risking a couple of reserve bodies, including Kolek, who remains a promising bench guard. This deal comes with a price if Thomas blows up across the river as well. 

But if this trade can set Thomas right and get him to buy into a contender, the Knicks would get more than just another reliable ball-handler. He’s one of the most gifted young scorers in the league, a three-level threat who would be far more dangerous in a pointed role off the bench.

Yes, this trade is the basketball equivalent of your friend pitching you on the unheard-of stock trading at $0.12 that he swears is going to the moon. But the Knicks don’t have much more than $0.12 to spend, and need to find a rocket fast.

Knicks get: Ivica Zubac
Clippers get: Mitchell Robinson, Yabusele, 2026 Wizards protected first round pick, 2032 Knicks first round pick

If Thomas is the penny stock, Zubac is the giant real estate development your well-off grandfather helped funnel your savings into. The Knicks take a swing on a real upgrade at center in talent and reliability without gutting their rotation.

Zubac is coming off a career-year in which he averaged 16.8 points, 12.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks on 63 percent shooting from the field, made All-Defensive Second Team, and had a case to be an All-Star. He started off slower this year but is back at cruising altitude. While he isn’t the offensive rebounding freak Robinson is, he brings much more to the table overall.

Brunson would get his first real dynamic roll threat since Isaiah Hartenstein, someone who can screen hard, dive, and read the defense to make the right read. His low-post scoring is a major threat, too, offensive options that are largely off the table when Robinson’s playing. 

The price might look steep, but the market appears hot for Zubac’s services and the Clippers have little incentive to move him unless they’re getting a nice return. Even this package might not be enough, but if Los Angeles is willing to hear it out, New York has to consider a move like this. 

Knicks get: Jaren Jackson Jr.
Grizzlies get: Josh Hart, Robinson, Pacome Dadiet, 2026 Wizards protected first round pick, 2030 Knicks first round pick swap, 2032 Knicks first round pick, up to five second-round picks

Something short of a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, but in the same vein of one last all-in push to make the Finals. This would absolutely decimate New York’s asset pile, but land them an All-Star two-way player that solves a few of their problems at once.

That would require Jackson returning to some of his past glory, as this season has been a down one for him. If he can tap into the player who won Defensive Player of the Year in 2022-23, or averaged 22 points on 38 percent shooting from three last season, the Knicks could make real noise with him.

Losing Hart, a core piece of the team’s identity and best friend of the team’s best player, won’t be an easy pill to swallow. But he has his flaws -- size and how defenses treat him from behind the arc. Same goes for Robinson, who is limited offensively and can’t make free throws.

Jackson isn’t perfect, but he can be a defensive upgrade at the four, make up for some of New York’s lack of size, somewhat spread the floor, and slide down to the five at times if needed. He also happens to be a former client of Leon Rose, making him a more realistic target than one would think.

The price is the price, especially with the return Memphis got for Desmond Bane. But if the Knicks feel their backs approaching the wall, and this is the trade that’s available to them, why wouldn’t they at least consider it?

Forsberg: Why Ivica Zubac would be ‘perfect' trade target for Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics have exceeded expectations this season thanks to some MVP-level play from Jaylen Brown and encouraging contributions from young wings like Jordan Walsh and Hugo Gonzalez.

But if the Celtics are serious about making a postseason run — and if they believe superstar Jayson Tatum will contribute to that run — they could use reinforcements in the frontcourt. Boston has just two players taller than 6-foot-9 on its NBA roster (not counting two-way rookie Amari Williams), and while Neemias Queta and Luka Garza have both been excellent relative to expectations, the C’s absolutely would benefit from a third big man with a proven track record.

Could Los Angeles Clippers big man Ivica Zubac help fill that void?

On a special Mailbag edition of the Celtics Talk Podcast, Celtics Insider Chris Forsberg pondered Zubac’s potential fit in Boston if the Clippers were to make him available ahead of the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline.

“I think he’s the one guy I would be willing to splurge on a little bit,” Forsberg said. “His contract is so desirable. He checks a lot of boxes. (He’s) always in the top 20 in defensive rebounds. I think he led the NBA in defensive rebounds last year. He shores up your biggest need immediately. The defensive potential is obvious.”

Zubac averaged career highs in points (16.8) and rebounds (12.6) last season while finishing sixth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. And while he’s missed six of Los Angeles’ last 12 games due to an ankle injury, he’s still averaging a double-double (14.8 points and 10.7 rebounds per game).

Zubac is on a favorable contract, as well: The 29-year-old is in the first year of a three-year, $58.7 million contract that will pay him an average of $19.5 million through the 2027-28 season.

Acquiring Zubac would be easier said than done: The Clippers have rebounded from a disastrous start and are just a half-game out of a spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament, so it’s still unclear whether they’ll be sellers. And if they make Zubac available, they’d likely have a high asking price; Michael Scotto of HoopsHype recently reported the Clippers would seek “at least” two first-round picks in a potential deal.

But if the Celtics are in the market for a big man, Forsberg views Zubac as among the best options.

“For me, it comes down to plug-and-play,” Forsberg added. “He fits this team. He’s kind of the perfect guy for this team.

” … I just think Zubac checks a lot of the boxes. (He’s making) $18 million this season, which would actually allow you to potentially cut money. You could tread two tracks.

“I don’t think the Celtics are overly worried about getting below the tax this year, but it does give you a little bit more flexibility long-term and potentially think about resetting the repeater penalties, which would help make a big splurge further down the road.”

Also in this episode:

• What roster changes might the Celtics make? 
• What would it take to get Jaren Jackson Jr.? 
• When will Jayson Tatum return?