When announcing a $500,000 fine last week for Utah after the Jazz sat star players Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. in the fourth quarter of a loss to Orlando, Silver said the league “would respond accordingly to any further actions that compromise the integrity of our games.”
The sharpest comments from Cuban amounted to a response to Silver's strong words.
“The worst that the NBA dishes out is that if you don’t lie to your fans about what you are doing, even though it’s obvious to them, you get fined,” Cuban wrote. “And (they) threaten you with losing picks.”
Indiana president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard, whose Pacers were fined $100,000 at the same time as the Jazz over roster management decisions, asked his fans in a post if they agreed with Cuban. Most did.
The Pacers reached the NBA Finals last season, losing to Oklahoma City. Their best player, Tyrese Haliburton, tore an Achilles tendon in Game 7, and the expectation was he would miss the entire 2025-26 season. Indiana lost 12 of its first 13 games and had a 13-game losing streak to drop to 6-31, but has a .500 record since then.
The Mavericks are in a similar situation a year after trading generational superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for a package centered around oft-injured big man Anthony Davis, just nine months after Dallas reached the NBA Finals.
Davis missed more games than he played for the Mavs before getting sent to Washington in a trade deadline deal this year. It was the final step in moving on from an ill-fated trade. The first was the November firing of general manager Nico Harrison, who orchestrated the Doncic deal.
Dallas converted just a 1.8% chance in the lottery for the rights to draft former Duke star Cooper Flagg first overall this past summer.
Flagg is now the future of the franchise, and the Mavs have to decide, presumably soon, whether Kyrie Irving will play at all this season. The nine-time All-Star tore an ACL last March, and the Mavs entered the All-Star break on a nine-game losing streak, their longest in 28 years.
While Cuban is no longer in a decision-making role after selling majority ownership of the Mavs, he was fined $600,000 by the league when he was still in charge late in the 2022-23 season for admitting Dallas was tanking to try to protect a first-round pick. The Mavs ended up getting center Dereck Lively II, a promising talent who has been plagued by injuries.
With tanking a hot topic again, Cuban started his post with “Why the NBA should embrace tanking,” and went on to say fans don't mind tanking because they want to have hope that the team can improve.
“Few can remember the score from the last game they saw or went to,” Cuban wrote. “They can’t remember the dunks or shots. What they remember is who they were with. Their family, friends, a date. That’s what makes the experience special.”
With that in mind, Cuban said, the league should focus more on affordability than the integrity issue that is at the heart of tanking.
“The NBA should worry more about fan experience than tanking,” he wrote. “It should worry more about pricing fans out of games than tanking.”
Though the Mavericks weren't accused of tanking in 2017-18, Cuban essentially wrote in his post that they did. Dallas finished with its worst record in 30 years at 24-58, but didn't get lucky in the lottery like this past year. The Mavs ended up with the fifth pick and had to trade up two spots to get Doncic.
“We didn't tank often,” wrote Cuban, who also noted that current salary cap rules have made productive rookies even more valuable for winning rosters. “Only a few times over 23 years, but when we did, our fans appreciated it. And it got us to where we could improve, trade up to get Luka and improve our team.”
LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior accused an opponent of racially insulting him during Tuesday's Champions League game against Benfica, leading to the game being halted for nearly 10 minutes amid angry scenes at the Stadium of Light.
Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold called the incident “a disgrace to football” while Benfica manager Jose Mourinho said Vinícius had incited his players and fans by the way he celebrated his goal in the 1-0 win for Madrid.
Vinícius had just curled in a shot into the top corner when French referee François Letexier had to stop the match in the 52nd minute, making a signal with his arms to show that an accusation of racism had been made.
Benfica fans had reacted angrily to Vinícius celebrating his goal by dancing by the corner flag, throwing bottles and other objects toward the Madrid players. Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni then confronted Vinícius and said something while covering his mouth with his jersey.
The Brazil forward then suddenly pointed to his Argentine opponent and ran toward the referee.
Cameras picked up Vinícius telling Letexier that Prestianni called him “monkey.”
After the match, Vinícius posted a photo on Instagram of him celebrating by the Benfica corner flag. He wrote: “Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to cover their mouths with their shirts to show how they are weak. ... Nothing that happened today is new to me in my life and in my family’s life. I was shown a yellow card for celebrating a goal. I still don’t know why.”
When Vinícius made his complaint, the referee immediately stopped the match and crossed his arms above his head to start the anti-racism protocol. Vinícius, who is Black and has been repeatedly subjected to racist abuse in Spain, went to the sideline and sat in the dugout while play was stopped. Some of his teammates also started to walk toward the sideline.
Mbappé and midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni said the team considered leaving the field but eventually decided to continue playing. Mbappé said he asked Vinícius to see what he wanted to do.
“What’s happened tonight is a disgrace to football,” Alexander-Arnold said after the game. “It’s overshadowed the performance, especially after such an amazing goal. Vini has been subjected to this a few times throughout his career, and for it to happen tonight and ruin the night for us as a team is a disgrace. There’s no place for it in football or society. It’s disgusting.”
The 20-year-old Prestianni just looked on from afar as Vinícius talked to the referee.
“The players who were near said that (Prestianni) said something ugly, that shouldn’t be said,” Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde said. “If you cover your mouth to say something it’s because you are saying something that is not nice. I’m proud of my teammates who defended Vini and of Vini.”
Benfica players said Prestianni told them that he provoked Vinícius but never used any racist insult.
“I asked him and he said it was a normal provocation between players during a match,” Benfica midfielder Leandro Barreiro said. “He said it was nothing racist.”
Both coaches, Benfica's Mourinho and Madrid's Álvaro Arbeloa, talked to Vinícius near the benches.
Mourinho said he did not want to say he believed one player over the other after talking to both, but criticized Vinícius for celebrating near the fans.
“Unfortunately he was not just happy to score that astonishing goal,” Mourinho told Amazon Prime. “When you score a goal like that, you celebrate in a respectful way.”
Mourinho said he told Vinícius that the greatest player in Benfica's history — Eusébio — was black, but seemed to question why the Real Madrid player is so frequently targeted by racist abuse.
“There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium,” Mourinho said. “The stadium where Vinicius played something happened. Always.”
The referee appeared to show that he did not hear anything and gestured that Prestianni had the shirt over his mouth.
The Argentine player was not shown a yellow card and continued playing. He was substituted in the 81st and was applauded by Benfica fans.
The game restarted in the 60th and Vinícius was jeered loudly by the home crowd during the rest of the match.
He was hit by the bottle in the final minutes while near the sidelines in front of Benfica fans. The referee asked for an announcement to be made through the stadium's loudspeakers to warn fans not to through objects onto the field.
Mbappé, who was defending Vinícius while Benfica players confronted his teammate, was also jeered by Benfica supporters. Cameras also showed Mbappé apparently telling Prestianni that he was a racist, along with expletives.
“We can't accept that a player who plays in Europe's top competition behaves like that,” Mbappé said. “He shouldn't keep playing in the competition. Let's see what happens now.”
The Brazilian soccer confederation showed solidarity with Vinícius, saying in an X post that he was “not alone” and that “racism is a crime" and has “no place in soccer anywhere.” It called Vinícius' decision to complain to the referee ”an example of courage and dignity. We are proud of you."
Mourinho sent off
Mourinho, a former Madrid coach, was shown a red card in the 86th for complaining to the referee.
He said the he referee was not awarding yellow cards to the Madrid players as he should have, hinting that it was because they would miss the next game because of an accumulation of cards.
LeBron James’ start to the Lakers’ season was not sweet — in more ways than one.
The Los Angeles superstar revealed on this week’s episode of “Mind the Game” that while he was out for the Lakers’ first 14 games of 2025 while dealing with sciatica, he gave up eating his beloved chocolate chip cookies.
LeBron James revealed he gave up cookies and wine at the start of the Lakers’ season. Getty Images
“I wasn’t playing obviously as the season started,” he told Steve Nash on the show. “So I needed to give up something. I gotta sacrifice something. And I actually did two things that I very love. And that is drinking wine and my chocolate chip cookies for dessert. I completely took it out.”
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James’ love for the classic cookies is well documented — just last year, he said his infatuation with the dessert actually caused some strife between he and Pat Riley when he was a member of the Heat.
LeBron James missed the Lakers’ first 14 games of the season due to sciatica. NBAE via Getty Images
And, when he told Nash about the sugar abstinence, it wasn’t hard to see just how difficult it was for the 41-year-old to give up.
James said he initially implemented the cookie and alcohol ban for November, as he tried to get his body in top shape for its return from his back ailment.
He added that he decided to continue it all the way through December as well.
“I kept going,” James said. “I didn’t have my first drink and my first piece of dessert until New Year’s. New Year’s Day. So I ended up going basically two months.”
James initially said giving up the cookies was the hardest, though he went on to say losing wine wasn’t a thrill either.
After giving up his two vices, LeBron James made his 22nd straight All-Star Game. Getty Images
“Not playing, being a little stressed, I maybe wanted a glass here. A glass there,” James said. “But it was good to give my body a break.”
James made his season debut for the Lakers on Nov. 18, and he went on to play in 36 total games for the Lakers befpre this weekend’s All-Star break.
He averaged 22 points, 7.1 assists and 5.8 rebounds per contest, and earned his 22nd consecutive All-Star nod.
DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 19: The sneakers worn by Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons during the game against the Boston Celtics on January 19, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEB 14: Stephen Curry of USA Stripes Team of 2026 NBA All Star Game speaks during the Media Day event at Intuit Dome, Inglewood, Los Angeles, California, United States on February 14, 2026. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
Stephen Curry isn’t buying into the idea that tanking is a major problem in today’s NBA.
When asked what the league should do to reduce teams intentionally losing for draft position, the Golden State Warriors star pushed back on the premise itself, pointing to the level of competition across the league.
Steph Curry was asked what he thinks the NBA should do to reduce tanking:
“Is it really that big of a problem? I’m asking. We feel like there’s obviously a lot of competition. It’s something I’m sure every year the NBA wants to address, why the Play-in Tournament exists. Things… pic.twitter.com/tMVMb1VaNK
Curry also noted that the regular season still carries real weight through seeding battles and the playoff chase, adding that if there’s an issue worth more attention, it might be the length of the schedule rather than tanking.
“There still is relevancy regular season-wise of the seeding and playoff chase,” Curry said. “I know there’s a conversation around how many games we’re playing. That’s probably where I would focus more of the attention.”
The tanking conversation has picked up this season in part for several reasons. The upcoming draft class is widely viewed as a strong one, giving struggling teams or teams who have traded protected picks added incentive to prioritize lottery positioning. At the same time, the NBA’s current collective bargaining agreement has placed a premium on young players on rookie-scale deals, making cheap, controllable talent more valuable than ever for teams trying to manage the cap and avoid harsh luxury-tax penalties.
Even with those pressures, Curry’s message was clear: the big picture focus on the game itself still matters.
“Let’s not forget the league is in a great place overall in terms of the attention, the skill level, the global reach, all of that stuff,” Curry said.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Tuesday, February 17th:
If Porziņģis’ two-month tryout with the Warriors goes well, they can try and find a way to re-sign him, something general manager Mike Dunleavy acknowledged as a possibility during his post-deadline news conference. It also allows for the possibility that Porziņģis’ new deal could be used as a sign-and-trade for a bigger star over the summer. Either way, the Warriors are banking on Porziņģis finding his form because it’s in the best interest of the player and the organization. Whether Porziņģis stays with Golden State or not, he has to prove to the rest of the league that he can stay on the floor and produce.
“Every time you do something cool, it’s like, ‘Oh, you’re the oldest to do such and such’ or ‘You’re the oldest point guard to fill in the blank,’ ” Curry told PEOPLE. “So I wear all of those things like a badge of honor, because I know how much work goes into it— to play this game that I love.”
“When I got into the nba, they thought they were in the basketball business. They aren’t. They are in the business of creating experiences for fans,” he said.
To Cuban, a good fan experience also includes affordability.
“You know who cares the least about tanking , a parent who cant afford to bring their 3 kids to a game and buy their kids a jersey of their fave player,” he wrote. “[The NBA] should worry more about pricing fans out of games than tanking.”
The first NBA All-Star Game presented by NBC Sports since 2002 delivered the largest NBA All-Star Game audience since 2011, according to preliminary Nielsen data and digital data from Adobe Analytics.
Being 27 years old, Williams is a bit on the older side but does have a bit of experience as an NBA contributor. However, it remains unlikely that he will see actual rotation minutes outside of garbage time situations this season.
Follow@unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
EL SEGUNDO, CA - September 20: Tim Harris, Los Angeles Lakers President of business operations, appears as the Lakers host a 2021-2022 season kick-off event to unveil and announce a new global marketing partnership with Bibigo, which will appear on the Lakers jersey at the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Now, according to Dan Woike of The Athletic, Tim Harris, the Lakers President of Business Operations, will not return next year.
Lakers president of business operations Tim Harris informed staff Tuesday that this will be his final season with the organization per sources. Harris, who was the driving force between the massive local TV rights deal with Spectrum SportsNet, has been with the Lakers/The Forum…
Harris is widely considered responsible for the Lakers’ local TV rights deal with Spectrum SportsNet, which is incredibly good. That deal has brought in billions of dollars to the franchise over the years, helping the Buss family run the organization.
Considering that Harris has been with the Lakers for over 35 years, this is a major shake-up. It’s unknown at this time why this is happening, or whether Harris had been contemplating it for a while, or if the change in ownership influenced his decision.
Another thing that is all but guaranteed is that this won’t be the last person to leave the Lakers in the near future. A new owner often means changes are on the way.
And even if the perception is that Walter allows his employees to do their work and can be a bit hands-off, he didn’t hire the current people working for LA.
So, expect change to be a constant for the purple and gold. And even people like Harris, who have been with the franchise for decades, will be exiting as Walter fully takes over and starts making more decisions.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah Jazz forward Jaren Jackson Jr. underwent surgery on Tuesday to remove a growth in his left knee.
The Jazz said Jackson will begin rehabilitation and be re-evaluated in four weeks to determine his recovery status. Dr. Travis Maak performed the procedure in Salt Lake City.
The 26-year-old was drafted by the Grizzlies with the No. 4 pick in the 2018 draft. He was a two-time All-Star in Memphis and the 2023 NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
Jackson, who played in three games for Utah, has averaged 19.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.4 blocks in 48 games this season.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - FEBRUARY 10: Kingston Flemings #4 of the Houston Cougars drives while being defended by Terrence Brown #2 of the Utah Utes during a college basketball game between the Houston Cougars and the Utah Utes on February 10, 2026 at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, UT. (Photo by Aaron Baker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
As the college basketball season pushes deeper into the winter stretch, the picture surrounding the 2026 NBA draft class is continuing to evolve.
In the newest installment of The Long Forecast on NetsDaily, we take a closer look at the latest risers, fallers, and the latest in the NCAA as we continue to inch closer to June.
Where do the Nets’ picks sit?
The Nets lost their lone game after last week’s column, falling to the Indiana Pacers, 115-110, at home.
They currently hold the NBA’s fifth-worst record at 15-38, while their second-round selections currently sit at Nos. 35 and 41 overall.
Christian Anderson has taken a meaningful sophomore leap at Texas A&M this season.
In 24 games, he averages 19.1 points and 7.7 assists, shooting 43.5% from 3-point range across 38.8 minutes per contest.
Against the No. 1-ranked Arizona Wildcats on Saturday, Anderson erupted for 19 points and eight assists while knocking down 40% of his 3-point attempts, leading the Red Raiders to an overtime road victory.
Texas Tech's Christian Anderson put on a passing clinic in a win at Arizona.
19 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, 6-15 from three.
Works so well out of the high pick and roll. Makes some ridiculous passes. Confident enough to pull up on a dime.
This has absolutely nothing to do with performance.
Caleb Wilson had been putting together a tremendous freshman campaign, flashing his two-way versatility and high defensive upside that made him one of the most intriguing prospects in this year’s draft class.
However, a broken hand halted that momentum. Wilson is still only a freshman, but he will need to get back on the court, re-establish his rhythm, and show scouts he can produce at the same level post-injury.
If he returns healthy and looks like himself, the long-term outlook won’t change, but in the short term, the injury will inevitably raise questions about his draft stock.
Kingston Flemings has been one of the most productive guards in the country at Houston this season, averaging 16.4 points and 5.3 assists while shooting 49.2% from the field in 31.1 minutes per game.
Beyond that, his poise has stood out while operating the Cougars’ offense as a freshman.
Speaking on the “Locked on Nets podcast,” with Erik Slater of Clutch Points, No Ceilings’ Corey Tulaba said that the Nets have expressed interest in the 19-year-old.
“Kingston Flemings is a name that I’ve heard the Nets are interested in.”@CoreyTulaba on the top draft prospect outside the top four that Nets fans should be watching. pic.twitter.com/ZqhJgGbRi9
Standing at 6’4” and 190 pounds, Flemings is highly athletic, can score at all three levels, and is making a case as the top point guard in this year’s draft class. Finally, the kid can play defeense.
If Milwaukee is ready to part ways with Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason, the Lakers reportedly have big interest in being at the forefront of trade talks.
At least one Western Conference executive believes if the Bucks intend to shop their nine-time All-Star following the end of the 2025-26 season, the Lakers view him as the “big prize,” according to ESPN.
The Lakers would reportedly have big interest in trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo if he’s made available this offseason. Getty Images
And, the outlet added, Lakers sources believe they’d be “on a very short list” of teams Antetokounmpo would like to be sent to if he is indeed getting moved this summer.
Of course, whether or not Antetokounmpo is available is a big if.
The Lakers stood relatively pat at the trade deadline earlier this month. NBAE via Getty Images
He’s been with the Bucks for all 13 of his NBA seasons, and while there’s been loud chatter recently that he’d prefer to play for a team in serious championship contention, Milwaukee could always find a way this offseason to retool around him and keep him on the roster.
A Lakers potential offer of three future first-round picks, though, could help sway things, ESPN reported.
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Los Angeles chose to stand relatively pat at the trade deadline earlier this month, making just one minor move for guard Luke Kennard — which does set them up for bigger possible acquistions at the conclusion of the season.
Luka Doncic could be paired up with Giannis Antetokounmpo if the Lakers make a deal with Milwaukee this summer. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
LeBron James’ future with the team will certainly impact any moves the team makes.
The future Hall of Famer and the Lakers were reportedly headed for divorce, but ESPN claimed Tuesday the Lakers would welcome him back if he wanted to return in 2026-27.
There are still plenty of games left for the Lakers this year, but barring a huge playoff run, the real fireworks for the Lakers in 2026 might not begin until the summer.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 16: Mike Conley #10 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on January 16, 2026 in Houston, Texas. User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was all but official about two weeks ago at the NBA trade deadline.
Now, it’s official.
As reported by numerous sources, Mike Conley is returning to the Minnesota Timberwolves. For those of you curious about the timeline and why this signing is just happening now, here’s a general breakdown.
February 3 @ 1:24 pm: Mike Conley traded to the Chicago Bulls as part of a salary dump for the Wolves to get under the first apron.
February 4 @ 1:56 pm: Conley traded to the Charlotte Hornets as part of the Coby White transaction.
February 5 @ 8:55 am: Wolves trade for Ayo Dosunmu.
February 5 @ 2:15 pm: Conley waived by the Hornets.
February 6 @ 10:15 am: Conley reported to re-sign with the Wolves after buyout.
February 17 @ 11:52 am: Officially signed with the Wolves.
Why was there an 11-day delay in Conley coming back to rejoin his team? Essentially, it was a simple dollars and cents situation. The Wolves waited to re-sign him after the All-Star break because his prorated veteran minimum rate now affords Minnesota to sign another minimum player in addition to Conley. Had they signed him back on February 6th, the Wolves likely would have been capped at 14 players instead of the option of adding a 15th due to their cap situation.
Something like that.
On to basketball. Though the veteran has seen his play spiral downwards this season, but what he brings to Minnesota goes much beyond what happens on the hardwood. The former NBA All-Star (2021) and All-Defensive Team (2013) point guard has been a cliché “locker room presence” that has helped guide Minnesota to two straight Western Conference Finals. Players like Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert have openly talked about wanting the 38-year-old back.
It will be interesting to see how Wolves Head Coach Chris Finch handles his return. It’s no secret that Finch would trust Conley with his life. However, the addition of two-way dynamo Ayo Dosunmu, increased consistency from Bones Hyland, and the imminent return of Terrence Shannon will likely interfere with Finch’s desire to run Conley onto the court.
Someone will have to sacrifice.
In this current season, Conley has averaged the seventh most minutes (18.5) on the team despite being 11th in Win Shares per 48 minutes. He’s suffering career lows across the board. Conley’s 32.1% mark from beyond the arc is his worst ever, despite a career-high in three-point rate. A once undeniably reliable float game is now unrecognizable, shooting a horrendous 32.6% from two-point range on a not nice 6.9% mark within three feet of the hoop.
In the meantime, almost everyone is happy to see Conley back in a Wolves uniform despite his flaws on the court. Let’s turn those tears of sadness into tears of happiness. As Ricky Rubio once said, “Change this face, be happy!”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 12: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during a game against the Dallas Mavericks at Crypto.com Arena on February 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Wally Skalij/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The union between LeBron James and the Lakers has been a long and prosperous one, but with no contract for next season and retirement questions swirling, what happens next is a mystery.
LeBron will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and he can either retire as a Laker, go to another team, or return to LA for another season.
Retirement will be entirely up to LeBron, and so far, he hasn’t decided whether that’s the route he wants to take. If James wants to play for other teams, he will most certainly find a franchise that will take him. The Cavs, for example, would reportedly “gladly welcome” LeBron back.
When it comes to the Lakers, his desire to return is clear. LA has been his home for eight years, and his son plays for the team. If the Lakers make the right trades this summer, it could be the best place for him to pursue his fifth title.
If James wants to play a 24th season, he would be welcomed back in L.A., sources told ESPN.
Pelinka declared before the start of this season that he would love it if James retired a Laker, and, sources told ESPN, that sentiment was meant to reflect a 2026 retirement or a 2027 retirement, if James intends to extend his career.
While rumors swirl, the Lakers have consistently said they’d welcome LeBron back if that’s what he wants.
LeBron is in a rare position where he truly has all the options available and can pick whichever one is best for him. The Lakers are known for treating their stars right and making an effort to ensure things end on good terms.
LA signed Kobe Bryant to a two-year, $48.5-million contract extension back in the summer of 2013 when few thought that was the right financial decision. However, it mattered to the franchise that Bryant remain in LA and also for him to be the highest-paid player.
While LeBron’s scenario is different, it is similar. James is a legend in his own right, helped LA win a championship and has been the face of the franchise during most of his tenure.
Whether his career concludes this season, next season, or in a couple of years, the Lakers ideally want it to be a happy ending. And, if LeBron wants one more dance in LA, the Lakers will gladly oblige.
SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 22: AJ Green #20, Gary Trent Jr. #5 and Kevin Porter Jr. #3 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 22, 2025 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In the Bucks’ third preseason game, not only did Giannis make his preseason debut, but so did the starting lineup of Kevin Porter Jr., AJ Green, Gary Trent Jr., and Myles Turner around the two-time MVP. Playing these three guards together is curious, and a bit unconventional: Trent and Green have (or at least had, last year) overlapping skillsets, and neither was big enough to be a true three. But a similar small-ball “death lineup” with the three guards was so effective late last year that it became the talk of the offseason: Marques Johnson called the guard trio “the triumverate” in his appearance on our podcast Deer Diaries, as well as on his own, Hear District.
After Damian Lillard went down with deep vein thrombosis late in the year and missed the last fourteen games, the lineup of Porter, Green, Trent, Giannis, and Bobby Portis in Brook Lopez’s stead became an increasingly key part of victories, particularly during their season-ending eight-game win streak. It never started a game, but was the closing lineup for several important wins, notably against Minnesota and Detroit. We didn’t actually see that much of those five—after all, Porter didn’t join the team until February—but by the numbers, it was perhaps their most successful group, according to two sources:
Cleaning The Glass: 88 possessions, 151.1 offensive rating, 96.6 defensive rating, +54.6 net rating
NBA.com ranked KPJ/Green/Trent/Giannis/Portis eighth in the entire league among lineups that played at least 30 minutes. CTG ranks it 100th percentile in net rating and offensive rating, and 95th in defensive rating. Compare these numbers with every lineup that played more minutes than them:
Lineup
Poss.
Net
%tile
ORtg
%tile
DRtg
%tile
Lillard/Jackson/Prince/Giannis/Lopez
653
-2.2
34th
110.9
27th
113.0
52nd
Lillard/Prince/Kuzma/Giannis/Lopez
428
+6.7
57th
116.4
45th
109.6
64th
Lillard/Trent/Prince/Giannis/Lopez
388
+1.3
44th
122.4
68th
121.1
22nd
Rollins/Prince/Kuzma/Giannis/Lopez
294
+13.0
73rd
130.3
89th
117.2
34th
Lillard/Green/Trent/Portis/Lopez
250
+20.4
86th
122.8
70th
102.4
87th
Lillard/Green/Prince/Giannis/Lopez
225
+16.9
80th
115.0
40th
89.2
93rd
Lillard/Trent/Prince/Portis/Lopez
167
+3.7
51st
120.4
63rd
116.7
37th
Lillard/Trent/Middleton/Giannis/Portis
112
+34.1
98th
141.1
99th
107.0
74th
Lillard/Green/Trent/Giannis/Lopez
108
+17.7
82nd
125.9
78th
108.3
70th
Lillard/Jackson/Middleton/Giannis/Lopez
96
-4.5
30th
107.3
18th
111.8
56th
Porter/Green/Trent/Kuzma/Sims
96
+4.2
51st
106.3
17th
102.0
88th
Lillard/Green/Trent/Kuzma/Sims
92
-27.2
3rd
101.1
8th
128.3
8th
If Doc had given them more run, they’d still probably be elite, even with some regression. Among groups with at least 100 possessions, the league’s best was the Clippers’ James Harden, Kris Dunn, Norm Powell, Amir Coffey (lol), and Ivica Zubac at +47.7 in 121 possessions. Hell, with the minimum set to 88 possessions, the Portis group was still tops—the only higher net belonged to one also broken up last offseason: Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Dillon Brooks, Tari Eason, and Alperen Sengun in Houston. No other lineup came very close to these Bucks and Rockets “death lineups,” unless you lowered the threshold even further to find ones like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Isaiah Joe, Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins, and Jalen Williams in OKC at +63.0 in 73 possessions.
Of course, Lopez left this offseason, and Turner assumed his mantle. The logic went that slotting Turner alongside Giannis and the guards, rather than Portis or Lopez, would work. Ergo, if you ask most Bucks fans online last offseason which five players they wanted Doc Rivers to play from the jump this year, their answer was Porter/Green/Trent/Giannis/Turner. That’s indeed what they got, as we saw in the season opener against Washington. But we haven’t seen it at a tipoff since, thanks in part to KPJ’s and Giannis’ injuries, plus Ryan Rollins’ emergence. In fact, since Porter sprained his ankle on opening night, that fivesome has played just 10 more minutes in only two games.
It’s been exceptional in the little time we’ve seen it: Cleaning The Glass, which filters out heaves and garbage time, has their net rating at +43.2 in 37 possessions, with a 154.1 offensive rating (both rank in the 100th percentile leaguewide) and a 110.8 defensive rating (85th). NBA.com has them at +48.9 in 17 total minutes this year, with an offensive rating of 156.8 and a defensive rating of 107.9. When asked how Porter, Green, and Trent were gelling so far in the preseason, here was Doc from his comments on October 12th, when we first saw them start with Giannis and Turner:
“They like it… They gotta keep moving to ball… there’ll be nights where we can’t go with three guards. When we go with [Kyle Kuzma] or [Amir Coffey] or [Taurean Prince]. But for the most part, we think we can do it. Our guards got a lot of toughness about them, so we think we can do it.”
Well, it turns out there were a lot of those nights, but Doc isn’t necessarily wrong. In all lineups where the three guards have played together, CTG gives them a +3.8 net in 129 possessions, though that’s based on defense: their defensive rating is 105.5, in the 97th percentile. Perhaps because of Trent’s decline, their offensive rating is a putrid, way down in 11th. That’s still a good lineup, but of course, these stats are buoyed by the opening-night starting five that includes Giannis. Remove that lineup from the equation, and you have eight with even stinkier offense—a 91.3 offensive rating (oth)—and elite defense—a 103.3 defensive rating (99th). That results in a -12.0 net over 92 possessions (8th). None of those eight other lineups include Giannis, meaning he’s barely played alongside these three guards this year.
Milwaukee has used last year’s +54.6 net “death lineup” (featuring Portis only once this year), not even for a full minute. That’s not too surprising because of injuries to two of its key members, so what about its effectiveness with Turner? Given his similar scoring ability and vastly superior defense to those of Portis, it’s easy to infer that swapping Turner in would work swimmingly. Similar formula: three guards with three-and-D capability, a big who also has an outside shot, and two ballhandlers, one of whom is freaking Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Nevertheless, I’m probably not the only one who both wanted the KPJ/Green/Trent/Giannis/Turner quintet on opening night, but also wondered if the success with Portis—and by extension, starting three guards—was a mirage. So I decided to do a little exercise comparing lineups from one year to the next around the league and see how they fared. But I had some parameters to set, given how relatively little the Portis group actually played. Even though they use minutes instead of possessions and don’t filter out garbage time, here I used NBA.com’s stats because I could set my minimum to 30 minutes.
Given the amount of annual roster turnover in the NBA, it’s not easy to find lineups that succeeded significant action in their first year and kept it up with a similar or larger minute load the following season. Trickier yet was to find a killer group that went from much more limited exposure—like our Portis example—to a modestly featured group. Or from under 100 minutes to a starting lineup that played most of the season. It would be even more cumbersome to go back years and years using these parameters. For now, let’s stick to 2023–24 and 2024–25, so we have full-season data. How did groups translate their success in limited playing time to the next league year? Here’s what I found:
Lineup
Team
MP
23–24 Net
MP
24–25 Net
Diff.
Mitchell/Allen/Strus/Garland/Wade
CLE
55
19.8
48
8.3
-11.5
LeVert/Niang/Mitchell/Struss/Mobley
CLE
42
10.4
72
-18.5
-28.9
SGA/Dort/Joe/Holmgren/J. Williams
OKC
101
16.0
53
4.7
-11.3
SGA/Dort/Wiggins/Holmgren/J. Williams
OKC
34
20.2
31
8.6
-11.6
SGA/Dort/Joe/Wallace/J. Williams
OKC
32
31.1
58
33.2
+2.1
Horford/White/Pritchard/Hauser/Tatum
BOS
31
50.8
38
-9.6
-60.4
Horford/White/Porzingis/Brown/Tatum
BOS
118
16.2
36
-9.4
-25.6
Horford/Holiday/Porzingis/Brown/Tatum
BOS
55
13.6
36
10.1
-3.5
Horford/Holiday/Porzingis/Brown/White
BOS
56
17.2
77
11.4
-5.8
Horford/Holiday/Porzingis/Tatum/White
BOS
87
13.0
56
8.0
-5.0
Horford/Holiday/Pritchard/Tatum/Hauser
BOS
105
16.8
31
10.2
-6.6
Holiday/Tatum/Kornet/Pritchard/Hauser
BOS
96
33.7
38
38.8
+5.1
Brown/White/Kornet/Pritchard/Hauser
BOS
34
20.9
39
7.8
-13.1
Holiday/Porzingis/Brown/Tatum/White
BOS
623
11.0
357
0.0
-11.0
Turner/Nembhard/Toppin/Haliburton/Nesmith
IND
36
19.3
47
26.7
+7.4
Turner/Siakam/Nembhard/Haliburton/Mathurin
IND
104
0.2
435
11.9
+11.7
Gordon/Jokic/Murray/Porter/Braun
DEN
28
8.6
426
10.6
+2.0
VanVleet/Brooks/Green/Sengun/Thompson
HOU
27
17.9
323
-7.6
-25.5
I threw in a weaker example from 2023–24—the +0.2 net Pacers group with Siakam—because of all the lineups I found that stayed together over both seasons, that one improved the most, from net-neutral to solidly above average. Granted, a few of these were only moderately successful in the first place, though it comes as little surprise that the best teams are generally keeping these groups together—it’s why those teams are good, after all. On the surface, the stats aren’t very encouraging; only five of the 18 lineups improved. And on average, their net dropped by 10.6 points per 100 possessions.
The good news is that 12 of these 18 lineups were at least productive (for reference, CTG says any lineup with a net of +10 or better was at least in the 64th percentile last year). And all these teams had at least one in 2023–24 that was really good, at +15.1 or better in at least 100 possessions, the top 20% of the league. Only three of those lineups improved in 2024–25, but the really elite groups—+31 or better, 95th percentile on up—stayed elite, except for the Boston example with Pritchard.
It’s worth pointing out that several more of the best 2023–24 lineups were broken up by player movement, most notably with Julius Randle and Isaiah Hartenstein leaving the Knicks, plus Josh Giddey leaving the Thunder. But much like the Bucks did with Turner, those teams replaced those guys with serious talent, so let’s see if any of the best 2023–24 lineups benefited from a personnel upgrade the following season. This will be a bit inexact (New York was especially tricky because of the Mikal Bridges acquisition), but I sought out successful 2023–24 lineups from teams that incorporated a high-profile offseason acquisition into similar 2024–25 lineups, or at least lineups that featured prominent returning players. I considered some other moves, like Paul George to Philadelphia, but there was too much turnover on these teams’ rosters between seasons to find similar-enough lineups. Anyway, onto the numbers, with offseason additions in bold (for the Knicks’ purposes, we’ll treat Quentin Grimes for Cam Payne as a wash):
Lineup
Team
MP
23–24 Net
MP
24–25 Net
Diff.
Anunoby/Hart/McBride/Grimes/Achiuwa
NYK
41
20.9
Anunoby/Hart/McBride/Payne/Towns
NYK
39
10.6
-10.3
Anunoby/Hart/Brunson/Grimes/Achiuwa
NYK
41
45.5
Anunoby/Hart/Brunson/McBride/Towns
NYK
84
34.4
-11.1
Randle/Grimes/Robinson/Hart/Brunson
NYK
109
-12.2
Towns/Anunoby/Payne/Hart/Brunson
NYK
98
25.7
+37.9
Randle/Anunoby/Hartenstein/Hart/Brunson
NYK
41
60.2
Towns/Anunoby/Payne/Hart/Brunson
NYK
98
25.7
-34.5
SGA/Wallace/Joe/J. Williams/K. Williams
OKC
55
35.6
SGA/Wallace/Joe/J. Williams/Hartenstein
OKC
38
-24.1
-59.7
SGA/Dort/Joe/Wallace/J. Williams
OKC
32
31.1
SGA/Dort/Hartenstein/Wallace/J. Williams
OKC
316
15.9
-15.2
SGA/Dort/Giddey/Wallace/J. Williams
OKC
35
-3.4
SGA/Dort/Hartenstein/Wallace/J. Williams
OKC
316
15.9
+19.3
SGA/Dort/Joe/J. Williams/Holmgren
OKC
101
16.0
SGA/Dort/Hartenstein/J. Williams/Holmgren
OKC
167
15.0
-1.0
SGA/Dort/Giddey/J. Williams/Holmgren
OKC
799
10.2
SGA/Dort/Hartenstein/J. Williams/Holmgren
OKC
167
15.0
+4.8
SGA/Wallace/Joe/Wiggins/J. Williams
OKC
42
5.8
SGA/Wallace/Hartenstein/Wiggins/J. Williams
OKC
30
-1.9
-7.7
Conley/Gobert/Towns/Edwards/McDaniels
MIN
641
7.9
Conley/Gobert/Randle/Edwards/McDaniels
MIN
714
3.2
-4.7
Conley/Gobert/Towns/Edwards/Alexander-Walker
MIN
124
7.6
Conley/Gobert/Randle/Edwards/Alexander-Walker
MIN
45
31.2
+23.6
Alexander-Walker/Gobert/Towns/Edwards/McDaniels
MIN
106
6.4
Alexander-Walker/Gobert/Randle/Edwards/McDaniels
MIN
146
8.0
+1.6
Alexander-Walker/Reid/Towns/Edwards/McDaniels
MIN
44
44.5
Alexander-Walker/Reid/Randle/Edwards/McDaniels
MIN
78
-3.5
-48.0
Coincidentally, these examples are all teams that added a new big man. These lineups’ net dropped by an average of 7.5 points per 100—better, but still not good. Again, most of the new lineups were great overall, though: eight of the 14 were at least +15.0. And ones that were excellent in small sample sizes were generally still great with more playing time. As before, these are some of the league’s teams, adding to groupings that already proved effective.
You might think I’ve strayed from the premise of this article a bit, but there were plenty of three-guard lineups above in OKC and New York. In part two, we’ll figure out whether three guards is still a look Milwaukee should use, with or without Turner. Spoiler alert: Gary Trent Jr. is exactly not part of the answer. And we’ll see if these patterns still hold when other teams add a prominent big man to their lineups, much like the Bucks did this offseason.
ATHENS, GA - JANUARY 31: Guard Blue Cain #0 of the Georgia Bulldogs looks to pass the ball during the college basketball game between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Georgia Bulldogs on January 31, 2026, at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, GA. (Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Second round draft picks move around a lot and are usually not valued very highly. But, as things currently stand, it looks like the Washington Wizards will be selecting two or three players in the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft.
Players drafted in the second round rarely end up factoring into a team’s long term plans. Nikola Jokic (No. 41, 2014), Manu Ginobili (No. 57, 1999), Draymond Green (No. 35, 2012) and Jalen Brunson (No. 33, 2018) are the exceptions, not the rule, and more often than not second round picks end up fizzling out after a few seasons of toiling between the G-League and the NBA.
Despite the relatively low chances of success, there is still legitimate talent after the first 30 picks. From this year’s Rising Stars Game, Memphis Grizzlies guards Cam Spencer (No. 53, 2024) and Jaylen Wells (No. 39, 2024) were both taken in the second round.
For second round prospects, I generally look at guys who I think have a specific skillset that would allow them to play a small role in a rotation rather than more “boom or bust” players.
Here are a few sleepers the Wizards could target in this year’s second round that could make a real impact on their NBA roster:
Motiejus Krivas, 7’2” Junior Center from Arizona
TUCSON, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 14: Motiejus Krivas #13 of the Arizona Wildcats posts up on JT Toppin #15 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the second half at McKale Center at ALKEME Arena on February 14, 2026 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Motiejus Krivas has flown a bit under the radar this season for No. 4 Arizona, who were undefeated before two recent back-to-back losses to Kansas and Texas Tech. The freshman duo of forward Koa Peat and guard Brayden Burries have gotten most of the headlines, but Krivas has arguably been the Wildcats’ most important player, anchoring their defense as one of the country’s best rim protectors.
The Lithuanian native, who played in the Lithuanian second division before making his way to the United States college basketball and has lots of experience at the international level, is averaging 11.1 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting 59.4% from the field and 79.2% from the free throw line. Krivas is the exact type of high floor, low ceiling type of player teams should be targeting in the second round. A player with that combination of size, shot-blocking and touch around the rim should be able to stick around as a backup center for almost any NBA team.
Arizona's Motiejus Krivas is quickly becoming the poster boy for an incredibly valuable intersection of length and offensive rebounding
over his first 9 games of the season Krivas has logged an 18.1% offensive rebounding rate, good for 6th among all high major players
Jan 28, 2026; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs guard Blue Cain (0) dribbles against Tennessee Volunteers guard Amari Evans (1) at Stegeman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Georgia basketball often takes a back seat to the football team down in Athens, but the Bulldogs have put together a solid season and are currently projected to be a 10 seed in ESPN’s Joe Lunardi’s latest bracketology. Blue Cain is one of the biggest reasons why. Cain has elite athleticism, can pour in points and is truly elite at finishing around the rim, averaging 13.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.4 steals per game.
The biggest knock on Cain is his three point shooting. This season, Cain is shooting 27.9% from three but is making up for it with an impressive 62.1% two-point field goal percentage. There is hope that Cain could develop a three though. He shot 34.1% and 35.0% from three the past two seasons and is an 89.4% shooter from the free throw line. If Cain bulks up a bit and his shot becomes more consistent, it is easy to envision his role as a microwave scorer off the bench, similar to a Donte DiVincenzo or an early-career Immanuel Quickley.
Blue Cain is such a fun offensive operator.
An aggressive bucket-getter who’s really stepped up his offensive production in recent games. Plays with great pace and control, putting pressure on defenses downhill — just needs to steady that three-point consistency to take another… pic.twitter.com/qKDL9j5Ig6
Kashie Natt, 6’3” senior guard from Sam Houston State
I am not going to lie, this is a bit of an outside-the-box prospect. Low-major college players like Kashie Natt who spent three seasons at a junior college are rarely, if ever considered potential NBA players. Natt’s highlights recently came across my Twitter timeline, and I have not been able to stop thinking about his defensive potential. Despite his non-traditional background, Natt has one of the most fascinating skillsets in all of college basketball and could carve himself out a role in the NBA if he is given the chance.
At 6’3”, 190 pounds, Natt is averaging 2.1 steals, 0.6 blocks and 7.4 rebounds in just 24.9 minutes per game. He has a ridiculous 4.7% steal rate and 2.9% block rate. Natt can also hold his own on the offensive side of the ball, averaging 10.7 points per game while shooting 41.8% from three. Natt’s defensive instincts and on-ball prowess are tantalizing, and even if he is not able to be a league-average shooter, should be enough to earn him a spot on most NBA rosters. Natt is certainly a risk, but it may be worth taking a shot for someone with his defensive potential in the second round.
Sam Houston State's 6'3 Kashie Natt has been an absurd defensive catalyst at the MM level this season.
He's averaging 10.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG (which ranks second in D1 for anyone shorter than 6'5) 2.3 APG, 2.9 stocks per game on 45/44/77 splits
Jan 27, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; NC State Wolfpack guard Jr. Paul McNeil (2) dribbles the ball during the first half of the game against the Syracuse Orange at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images | Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images
I have had my eye on Paul McNeil ever since I was on the broadcast of the 2024 Capital Classic high school All-Star game and saw him hit a buzzer-beater three to give his team the victory. After a disappointing freshman season at N.C. State that saw him struggle to carve out his spot in the rotation, McNeil has thrived this year under new head coach Will Wade. The best part of McNeil’s game is his shooting, and that usually translates well to the next level. He can create his own shot off of the dribble and uses a high release to be able to get his shot off through traffic and above taller defenders.
McNeil is averaging 13.6 points per game while shooting an ACC-best 43.5% from three on 7.2 attempts per game. He can be a bit of a streaky scorer though. McNeil’s best game of the season came in December when he scored 47 points on 11-17 shooting from three and was a perfect 12-12 from the free throw line against Texas Southern. On the flip side, he has also had multiple zero point performances this season. His perimeter shotmaking should be enough to get him looks during the second round this year despite some of those consistency issues and concerns about his slight frame and defensive deficiencies.
paul mcneil jr. has a strong case as the 2026 draft's best 3pt shooting prospect; he's authoring one of the best wing shooting seasons in recent history, currently making 42.9% of his 15.2 3pa/100 and 80.2% at the line (32.4 FTr)
Jeff Teague believes Ron Harper was out of line for throwing shade at LeBron James during NBA All-Star Weekend.
Teague, 10-year NBA vet, went after the Bulls legend on the “Club 520 Podcast” this week, after Harper insinuated during a chat with reporters that James forced his two sons, Bronny and Bryce, to follow in his basketball footsteps.
Jeff Teague talking about Ron Harper comments about LeBron
“I swear to God I can’t wait for the moment LeBron have a moment like me. Bro be act like Bronny and them didn’t want to hoop. I’m protecting LeBron today. Fu*k that. I know everybody always be I done fouled him and did… https://t.co/4xYi00ghXbpic.twitter.com/9VYeYkyAie
“The last people who needed to hoop was Bronny and Bryce,” Teague, a former NBA champion, said. “They could be just chillin’, bro, if they wanted to, bro. They probably just like basketball.
Ron Harper took a dig at LeBron James during NBA All-Star Weekend in Inglewood, Calif. NBAE via Getty Images
“Respect to Ron Harper, because he’s a legend. But, come on, bro. Leave ‘Bron out of there, bro. Leave ‘Bron out of that.”
Harper threw his barb James’ way following a question about if he had a “vision” of seeing his sons, NBA players Dylan and Ron Jr., play in All-Star festivities.
Ron Harper on if he expected his sons to follow his footsteps & play in the NBA:
“I’m not LeBron James I’m not going to tell my kids what they have do.”
“I’m not LeBron James,” Harper said. “I’m not going to tell my kids what they have do.”
Teague went on for over a minute about why he felt the remarks were petty.
LeBron James’ son, Bronny, plays on the Lakers. His other son, Bryce, is a freshman at Arizona. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“He act like Bronny and them didn’t want to hoop,” Teague said. “I’m protecting LeBron today. F—k that.
“He’s the last n—a whose kids got to do anything.”
Both Bronny and Bryce began their basketball careers as toddlers. Bronny, of course, went on to play at USC before joining his dad on the Lakers in 2024. Bryce, meanwhile, is in the middle of his redshirting his freshman season at Arizona.
None of the Jameses have addressed Harper’s jab, though Harper’s kids certainly seemed displeased with the comments, as they both gave stunned reactions after the words left their famous father’s lips.
