The Toronto Raptors came home from a productive road trip only to fall into a classic letdown spot against the New York Knicks.
They’ll look to get back on track when they head to Orlando to face the Magic. Injuries and uneven play have held Orlando back this season, leaving the Magic just two games over .500 — yet they still enter as slight home favorites.
My Raptors vs. Magic predictions and NBA picks break down why the Raptors will get back to roaring in this Eastern Conference clash, set to tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET at the Kia Center in Orlando.
Raptors vs Magic prediction
Raptors vs Magic best bet: Raptors moneyline (+105)
The Toronto Raptors saw their winning streak snapped by the New York Knicks on Wednesday, but the team has played well overall.
They won the last four games of a West Coast road trip, including a win over the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. They’re eighth in the NBA in defensive rating, and have gone 10-4 ATS as a road underdog this season.
Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic are struggling. They have the sixth-worst net rating in January, and it’s clear they are missing Franz Wagner.
Brandon Ingram and Co. will lock down the Magic and get back in the win column.
Raptors vs Magic same-game parlay
Ingram is having a solid first season with the Raptors, and tonight I want to focus on his playmaking ability. He's averaged 4.2 assists over his last nine games, recording four or more dimes in six of those outings.
Orlando is a strong defensive team, and their game plan figures to involve getting the ball out of Ingram’s hands.
Then there is Jalen Suggs. The Magic guard is just 2-for-16 from three in his three games since his return from injury and now faces a Raptors team that allows the second-lowest opponent 3-point shooting percentage in the NBA.
Raptors vs Magic SGP
Raptors moneyline
Brandon Ingram Over 3.5 assists
Jalen Suggs Under 1.5 threes
Our "from downtown" SGP: Dino Dimes
The Raptors have the sixth-highest assist rate this month, while the Magic rank 19th in opponent assists per possession during the same period.
Raptors vs Magic SGP
Immanuel Quickley Over 5.5 assists
Scottie Barnes Over 4.5 assists
Brandon Ingram Over 3.5 assists
Collin Murray-Boyles Over 2.5 assists
Raptors vs Magic odds
Spread: Raptors +1.5 | Magic -1.5
Moneyline: Raptors +105 | Magic -125
Over/Under: Over 219.5 | Under 219.5
Raptors vs Magic betting trend to know
The Raptors have hit the moneyline in 23 of their last 40 away games (+11.75 Units / 22% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Raptors vs. Magic.
How to watch Raptors vs Magic
Location
Kia Center, Orlando, FL
Date
Friday, January 30, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
TSN, ESPN
Raptors vs Magic latest injuries
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The Detroit Red Wings’ trade priorities recently came into focus after TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that the team is actively searching for a second-line center and a top-four defenseman. With a number of players available at both positions, it will be fascinating to see which path Detroit ultimately chooses.
Detroit could pursue veteran options at each spot, allowing them to part with fewer assets, add short-term help, and avoid blocking future prospects from reaching the NHL. Alternatively, they could package those prospects in a blockbuster deal to land a long-term solution capable of anchoring the second-line center role for years to come.
With that in mind, we’ve identified several potential targets GM Steve Yzerman could explore, breaking down the expected cost, age, and potential impact each player could bring to Detroit.
Nazem Kadri
Recent reports indicate that Nazem Kadri has informed the Calgary Flames he would be open to a trade. The 35-year-old center has often been a driving force on an inconsistent Flames roster, and when deployed full-time in a top-six role, he has consistently delivered. Kadri has settled in as a reliable 60 to 70 point producer with upside that can still reach the 80 point range.
While he is significantly older than many of the other options on the market, Kadri fits the profile of a short-term second-line center Detroit could target. He is a player who can contribute immediately without blocking the path for future prospects and would provide steady production for the next two to three seasons.
Kadri has three years remaining on his contract after this season, carrying a $7 million cap hit. While the rising salary cap may soften that number over time, declining production in later years could still make the deal difficult to justify. As a result, Calgary would likely need to retain salary, or Detroit could look to expand the deal beyond Kadri alone.
With the Red Wings also seeking defensive depth, defenseman Zach Whitecloud stands out as a logical add-on. Acquired by the Flames in the Rasmus Andersson deal, Whitecloud has begun to draw interest around the league. The 29-year-old carries a very team-friendly $2.75 million cap hit for the next three seasons and profiles as a dependable top-four option.
Since joining Calgary, Whitecloud has been logging heavy minutes, averaging between 23 and 25 per game through his first five contests. During that stretch, he has been on the ice for two goals for and three against while recording an assist. Including Whitecloud in a larger Kadri deal would allow Detroit to address two major needs at once and eliminate the need for a secondary move.
Insiders have reported that the Columbus Blue Jackets are receiving significant interest in Charlie Coyle, and for good reason. The 33-year-old veteran center has been a steady presence for 16 NHL seasons, experiencing both highs and lows throughout his career. Coyle established himself as a consistent 45 to 60 point producer during his final seasons with the Boston Bruins before being traded to the Colorado Avalanche.
Now in his first season with Columbus, Coyle has begun to rediscover his form. He has recorded 12 goals and 23 assists for 35 points in 52 games and is on pace to surpass the 55 point mark for just the third time in his career. That level of production could draw strong interest from teams that view him as a legitimate second-line center option.
Unlike a potential Nazem Kadri deal, Coyle is unlikely to be packaged with a defenseman. However, he is slightly younger and is a pending unrestricted free agent carrying a $5.25 million cap hit. That status could make him a riskier but lower cost acquisition, as he could choose to test free agency this July.
One possible solution would be for Detroit to acquire Coyle with an extension already in place, allowing him to serve as the Red Wings’ second-line center this season and next before eventually transitioning into a bottom-six role as the contract progresses.
At the right price point, Coyle could provide Detroit with a longer-term solution negotiated directly with both the player and the team, making him a meaningful addition for years to come.
The primary concern would be avoiding a repeat of the Andrew Copp or J.T. Compher situations, where value and role become misaligned. However, by controlling the terms of Coyle’s next contract, the Red Wings may be able to mitigate that risk.
The biggest and most high-profile option on the board is an obvious one in St. Louis Blues star center Robert Thomas. At just 26 years old, Thomas has firmly established himself as one of the league’s top young centers, producing consistently in the 75 to 80 point range while posting strong two-way numbers and handling heavy minutes on a largely underwhelming Blues roster.
Selected 20th overall by St. Louis in the 2017 NHL Draft, Thomas has not only met expectations but exceeded them. If the Blues were to move him, it would require a significant return. Acquiring a young, near point-per-game center would be extremely costly, but it also represents the clearest path for Detroit to add a true impact player capable of accelerating the team’s push toward contention. It would easily be the most expensive option on this list.
There is also the possibility of St. Louis including a defenseman in a larger deal, as the Blues have explored moving veteran blueliner Justin Faulk. The 33-year-old defenseman brings extensive top-four experience and could serve as a stabilizing presence in a young Red Wings locker room, similar to the role Ben Chiarot has grown into.
A package featuring both Thomas and Faulk would undoubtedly cost Detroit a combination of high draft picks and top prospects. However, among NHL teams, the Red Wings are one of the few organizations with the assets to construct a deal that St. Louis would seriously consider. The remaining question is whether Detroit is willing to be aggressive enough to pull the trigger on a move of this magnitude.
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PITTSBURGH, PA - AUGUST 18: Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Ryder Ryan (72) delivers a pitch during an MLB game against the Seattle Mariners on August 18, 2024 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Dodgers this week signed Ryder Ryan to a minor league contract with a non-roster invitation to spring training, per multiple reports. The pitcher if he makes the majors would earn a salary of $800,000, per both Fabian Ardaya at The Athletic and Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Ryan pitched parts of two seasons in the majors, in 2023 with the Seattle Mariners and in 2024 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, putting up a combined 5.40 ERA in 16 relief appearances, with 19 strikeouts and 10 walks in 21 2/3 innings. In 2025, Ryan had a 4.73 ERA in 42 games for Triple-A Indianapolis, with 61 strikeouts and 38 walks in 72 1/3 innings.
He turns 31 in May.
I buried the lede a little bit here, as Ryan is the older brother River Ryan, who debuted with the Dodgers with four starts in 2024 before undergoing Tommy John surgery. Ryan missed all of the 2025 season, and is part of the Dodgers rotation depth mix heading into 2026.
River Ryan was at Glendale Recreation Center on Thursday in a Dodgers community outing, and talked about his brother’s signing. From Blake Williams at Dodger Blue:
“I’m excited to get out to big league camp and be on the same team again,” River Ryan said. “The last time we were on the same team was in high school, so it’s been a long time. But it’s really cool to be on a team like the Dodgers with your brother.”
When Ryder Ryan made his major league debut in August 2023 with the Mariners, the Dodgers allowed River — then in Double-A Tulsa — to travel to Seattle to see his brother’s debut in person. Eleven months later, the Pirates allowed Ryder to go to Los Angeles to see River’s major league debut at Dodger Stadium, along with several members of the family.
“It was truly a blessing to have all them make it out. Their support has been unbelievable throughout my entire career, starting when I was little,” River Ryan said after his major league debut. “I’m extremely happy they were able to make it here.”
Should the elder Ryan reach the majors with the Dodgers, he still has one option year remaining, having used options in 2023 and 2024.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 17: Martín Pérez #54 of the Chicago White Sox throws a pitch during the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Rate Field on September 17, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well, it’s not really a solution to a perceived need for additional heft in the starting pitching department, but it’s a move anyway:
The Braves and LHP Martin Perez have agreed to a Minor League deal, sources tell @JustBB_Media.
Perez, 35 in April, pitched to a 3.54 ERA in 56 IP with the White Sox in 2025. Owns a career 4.41 ERA over 14 seasons. Was an All Star with the Rangers in 2022.
A 14-year MLB veteran, the Venezuelan left-hander has 17.1 career fWAR across over 1,630 career innings. His career pitching line (ERA-/FIP-/xFIP-) is 100/103/107 — basically a fourth-ish starter over the arc of a decade and a half. That said, Perez had a career year in 2022 (3.9 fWAR on a 74/81/96 line), but has fallen on hard times since. He’s thrown 332 2/3 innings after that season, never exceeding 0.8 fWAR in a season, and with a moribund 104/115/114 line, which is basically fifth starter territory. He’s pitched for four different teams in that span, and missed a bunch of time last season due to a (gulp) shoulder strain.
Given that he’s aging, Perez having the worst xFIP- of his career last season isn’t really surprising. His success generally relies on not getting smashed by HR/FB, but he doesn’t seem to have any propensity for actually limiting homers (groundball pitchers often have high HR/FB rates because the fly balls they allow are crushed at a greater rate). The Braves probably don’t need to be adding additional risk exposure via HR/FB rate given what happened last year, but they’re probably not going to rely on Perez all that much anyway.
On the plus side, Perez is a sinker-changeup-cutter guy who showed good command of the first two last year. If he carries that over and stops relying on his cutter so much (as it has been consistently crushed in 2022), there may be something there. For now, though, this is just pure depth — just amassed in the offseason, as opposed to in a panic a la the Carlos Carrascos and Cal Quantrills of yesteryear.
Friday night is more than alright for NBA player props, with nine games on the slate giving bettors plenty to work with.
I’ve locked in my three favorite plays for tonight, including Brandon Ingram handing out dimes against the Magic and Shaedon Sharpe continuing to be a thorn in the Knicks’ side.
Brandon Ingram is enjoying a solid first season with the Toronto Raptors, averaging 21.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. For tonight’s matchup against the Orlando Magic, the focus shifts to his playmaking.
Ingram has averaged 4.2 assists over his last nine games, recording four or more dimes in six of those outings.
Orlando is a strong defensive team, and their game plan figures to involve getting the ball out of Ingram’s hands. He logged four assists the last time these teams met back in December, and I love him to reach that mark again tonight.
The Blazers guard is averaging 22.9 points while shooting 39.3% from beyond the arc over his last 12 games, and I’m backing Sharpe to deliver another strong showing against the New York Knicks.
New York has been inconsistent all season, due in part to shaky perimeter defense. The Knicks allow the sixth-most 3-pointers per game and surrender the most points per game to opposing guards.
With that in mind, Sharpe is well-positioned to clear this line for the ninth time in his last 13 games.
The Brooklyn Nets appear to have something special in Egor Demin. The BYU rookie is averaging 13.1 points per game while shooting an eye-popping 43.9% from beyond the arc over his last 18 outings.
Demin has knocked down three or more triples in 11 of those games, and there’s little reason to expect that trend to slow against the Utah Jazz.
Utah owns arguably the worst defense in the NBA, ranking dead last in both defensive rating and opponent points per game.
It should come as no surprise that the Jazz's perimeter defense has been just as porous, sitting last in opponent-made threes per game.
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The NBA and the Cleveland Cavaliers are meeting this week to discuss the raised court at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, according to Joe Vardon of The Athletic.
This is the latest chapter in a long-running issue, one that has jumped back into the headlines after Luka Doncic tweaked his ankle while falling off it after a shot this week.
Luka Doncic has gone back to the Lakers locker room after appearing to injure his foot stepping back on this shot attempt:pic.twitter.com/uakOseB1GX
Doncic went to the locker room after the fall but returned and played in that game, though he is questionable for Friday's Lakers game in Washington due to an ankle injury. He, however, got off lucky compared to others, including Dru Smith, who fell off the court and tore his ACL in 2023. There have been multiple injuries and complaints by teams over the years, but the court is in compliance with league rules, a Cavaliers spokesman told The Athletic.
Raised courts are uncommon, usually only seen by fans at the NCAA Final Four (games held in football stadiums). The Cavaliers have the only raised court in the NBA, up about 10 inches — on a rubber mat and then wood blocks on top of that — to prevent condensation from the ice below the playing surface. The Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse is also home to the Cleveland Monsters, the AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The NBA is again involved, but as Vardon explains, the fixes are either partial or expensive, or both. Cleveland could expand the size of the wood flooring so that all the courtside seats would be on top of it and the drop off would be further away from the court. Cleveland could reduce the height or eliminate the wood blocks, then keep the building much colder to prevent any melting or condensation. All of that likely will be discussed, but whether any meaningful action takes place remains to be seen. While the drop-off has been reduced, it is still there and still causing injuries.
Ilya Solovyov appears to be settling in seamlessly with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The former Colorado Avalanche defenseman recorded his first point with his new team Thursday night as the Penguins rolled to a 6–2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks at PPG Paints Arena. After a quiet start, Pittsburgh broke the game open late in the first period, scoring six unanswered goals to take firm control.
Solovyov factored into the fifth of those goals. With the Penguins holding a 4–1 lead and the game slipping further out of reach, Solovyov took a pass from Anthony Mantha and quickly set up Ryan Shea for a blistering one-timer from the right circle that beat Blackhawks goaltender Arvid Söderblom.
Nearly two weeks ago, the Avalanche made their first trade of the season, sending Solovyov to the Penguins in exchange for 26-year-old right winger Valtteri Puustinen and Pittsburgh’s 2026 seventh-round draft pick.
Solovyov was claimed off waivers in October and went on to appear in 16 games for Colorado this season, recording one goal and two assists. Prior to the deal, he served as one of the Avalanche’s six healthy defensemen and most recently saw action in an Avs uniform on January 19 against the Washington Capitals, a game that Colorado won 5-2.
Not that the two are related, but since the Solovyov trade, the Avalanche have managed just one win. Colorado is 1–3–1 over its last five games as the team inches closer to the Olympic break.
Puustinen, 26, last appeared in the NHL during the 2024–25 season, playing in 13 games and recording three points. He posted five goals and 20 points in 52 games the previous season.
This year, Puustinen has seven goals and 26 points in 39 AHL games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Since joining the Colorado Eagles, the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate, he has recorded one point in three games.
The Benefits
If Puustinen earns a call-up to the NHL, he could provide a much-needed boost to what has been a sluggish Avalanche power play this season. The 26-year-old is an elite skater and a standout backchecker, skills that could be a significant asset for Colorado.
The Avalanche currently rank fourth-worst in the league on the man advantage, converting at just 15.7 percent. Only the Calgary Flames (15.5 percent), Philadelphia Flyers (15.5 percent), and Utah Mammoth (15.0 percent) rank lower.
Additionally, Colorado has allowed an NHL-leading nine shorthanded goals this season, with most coming on 2-on-1 rushes — situations that Puustinen is known for breaking up effectively.
From Solovyov’s perspective, the trade to Pittsburgh offers a major benefit: ice time. While he isn’t a bad player, he didn’t stand out enough on a stacked Avalanche roster. On a rebuilding team like the Penguins, he now has the opportunity to develop more fully. In Friday’s game against Chicago, Solovyov logged nearly 17 minutes of ice time, close to his season-high of 17:49, set on January 8 during Colorado’s 8–2 win over the Ottawa Senators. For the season, however, his average ice time with the Avalanche was much lower at 11:34.
Credit: Isaiah J. Downing. When Solovyov scored his first-career NHL goal.
Overall, the trade appears to benefit both teams in different ways. Colorado could eventually see an upgrade on the power play, while Solovyov gains the ice time and responsibility he likely would not have received in Colorado, especially with Devon Toews expected to return from his upper-body injury.
TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 28: Landry Shamet #44, Karl-Anthony Towns #32, Tyler Kolek #13, and Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks celebrate during the game against the Toronto Raptors on January 28, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The pendulum swings back and forth, as the Knicks have now won four games in a row after a brutal start to the new year.
The team’s post-Thibodeau hangover looked real, as Mike Brown hung his hat on the offensive side of things. The strategy worked – until it didn’t. After another brutal loss at home to the Dallas Mavericks, Captain Brunson called a players-only meeting.
This was the state of affairs just 10 days ago. Bleak.
Are tensions rising for the New York Knicks? 🤔 @ramonashelburne gives us an inside look on what happened after their loss against the Mavericks 👀 pic.twitter.com/1MDEIk0pwG
Since then, the tide has truly turned. New York has rattled off four straight, and encouragingly, it’s been New York’s defense leading the charge. The team has held their last four opponents to 66, 109, 87, and 92 points, respectively.
Knicks defensive rating rankings this year:
First 15 games: 18th (114.8 DEF RTG) Next 10 games: 3rd (110.9) Next 16 games: 29th (120.6) Last 6 games: 1st (98.3)
Average offensive rating ranking of their last 6 opponents is 22nd, but still…progress. We know they can do it.
Yes, it’s a small sample size, and yes, the four games weren’t against championship contenders, but the Knicks hadn’t shown the ability to win games this way until now. Defense had been the biggest issue so far this season, but a new identity could be taking shape. They’ve been killing it on the glass. They’ve shown toughness on both sides of the floor. It feels like a relic of seasons prior.
What’s changed? Well, it’s no coincidence that Landry Shamet replacing Jordan Clarkson in the rotation has led to tangible change in the bench unit. Similarly, KAT has been averaging less than 25 minutes a contest across these last four games. And OG Anunoby has been locked back in, averaging three stocks per game across the same stretch.
It’s trade deadline season, and if the new year slide continued, we’d be having much different conversations right now. Yet as a whole, the Knicks’ mindset seems to have shifted. This has been a uniform shift from the bottom to the top, with both players and coaches changing their approach to gameday.
With the Blazers on tap tonight at home, New York is in a good position to stretch their streak to five as they battle for the two seed in the East. Let’s see if they can keep the good vibes going tonight.
Apr 5, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics center Mike Muscala (57) makes the basket against Toronto Raptors forward Precious Achiuwa (5) in the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
Welcome back to the second and final part of Finding the Muscala, where we search for low-cost backup big options in response to the larger trade rumors surrounding the Celtics in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline.
As a refresher, we’re not explicitly in the search for the next Mike Muscala specifically, but rather a trade that reaches high on the Muscala Meter (not real or quantifiable) of being low-cost and significantly lower-risk than, say, any trade involving the contract of Anfernee Simons and a selection of first round picks.
The first part featuring Marvin Bagley, Jalen Smith and Nick Richards, led to some productive and engaging conversations in the comments, so thank you to all the MuscalApologists (working title) for contributing to this short series.
This wasn’t done in the previous Muscala piece, but with today’s three bigs, we’re ordering their contract values in descending order, starting with a higher-priced backup big that might require a slightly bigger deal to acquire.
Let’s jump in and talk backups.
Goga Bitadze
Entering the season on Year 2 of his 3-year, $25 million deal signed with Orlando, Goga Bitadze has been a valued bench piece for the Magic since he signed there in February 2023. The Magic have been stuck in neutral during that time under head coach Jamahl Mosley, and something tells me they’re a smart pick for a roster shakeup during the deadline.
Bitadze, only 26 and in his eighth NBA season, is a hulking 6’10”, 250-pound center that may not impose his will on offense as much as you’d envision from a player of his size and mobility, but he has still carved out a career as a rock solid rim protector and rebounder.
His game isn’t without its caveats though. He’s a non-shooter, a surprisingly unimpactful screener and a non-factor as a playmaker/ball-mover.
Bitadze’s rim protecting ability has held serious weight to his time on the floor these past few seasons for the defensive-minded Magic, but it seems his offensive limitations are factoring into his way out the door.
On Monday and Wednesday this week, he was a coach’s decision DNP, with Orlando instead opting for the recently-returned Mo Wagner’s offensive skillset behind Wendell Carter Jr.
For Boston, while not the perfect fit for his lack of versatility, Bitadze does fill a need and does so on a reasonable contract (though one that gives him significantly more than current starter Neemias Queta).
When it comes to actually considering a hypothetical trade, we had a similar discussion in the last part in regards to Bulls big man Jalen Smith, who has a comparable contract to Bitadze’s that would require a conversation that goes a little further than a package surrounding Xavier Tillman or Chris Boucher’s expiring deals.
To acquire Goga in a two-team deal, it would take giving up Sam Hauser, and that’s a hard sell for a large majority of the fanbase, and probably Brad Stevens, even if it brings in a helpful player at a position of need. For Orlando, a team that is 28th in 3-point shooting efficiency this season, that’d be a pretty major boon for them.
But to add even further to the discussion, that one-for-one swap wouldn’t be possible on Orlando’s end since they are a hard-capped first apron team. They’d need to add a little something extra to get that deal over the hump, something like the rookie-scale contract of second-round French prospect Noah Penda, who has impressed in limited minutes as a capable shooting threat and versatile 6’7” defender.
This would be an interesting proposition for both sides, filling needs for both teams in a mid-sized trade that sends off two talented veterans and one prospect to new homes.
Andre Drummond
Outside of a Jalen Springer-sized trade or a draft day pick swap, would the Philadelphia 76ers really be looking to deal directly with a conference rival concerning their best rebounder?
Probably not, however, according to 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey, they are at least open to the idea of moving their valued backup big. The Sixers are $7 million above the allowable threshold to avoid being taxed and around $1 million away from being a first-apron team according to Pompey, and a move off Drummond’s expiring $5 million contract without a player in return would certain aid in their quest to avoid that tax.
Could the right draft asset cocktail be enough to sway the Sixers? Unlikely, but it’s worth exploring because Drummond’s skillset and extremely favorable expiring contract is about as close to an ideal deadline acquisition as Boston is going to find in its search through the lower-level marketplace.
Drummond is, and has always been, a phenomenal rebounder, and this season has been no different. He’s been the ideal spot starter for Joel Embiid, a very solid backup when Embiid is available, and, surprisingly, a capable 3-point shooter for the first time in his career (36% on 1.3 attempts per game). In 20 minutes a night, Drummond gives Philly 7 points on 50% shooting, 9 rebounds and a block per game.
This season, the data backs up the eye test, Drummond is simply outstanding on the glass, rating near the very top of most rebounding metrics on both ends of the floor
Defensively, Drummond’s strength and size gives the team a primary defender for the game’s more physically imposing interior bullies that Boston has struggled with up to this point in the season.
Drummond is an excellent backup center, and the Sixers know that. Philly currently enlists second-year UCLA product Adem Bona as their third center, meaning they’d be sacrificing some serious depth unless they take a player back or make another move (Kelly Oubre Jr. was also mentioned by Pompey as a possible trade candidate).
Is the tax-evading effort worth it to provide Boston with the exact type of backup big they’d want to add to their frontcourt stable? It’d take some convincing, and some valued second round draft capital, but the fact that Brad Stevens and Daryl Morey have come to an agreement before at least means a conversation is possible, and worth the 406 words it took to discuss it.
Kevin Love
We didn’t use the word “scrounging” in the first Muscala headline just for fun.
We are foraging across the NBA big man marketplace here, and this is the trade equivalent to sticking our hand in the bottom of a Walmart DVD bargain bin. We shouldn’t be surprised to pull out something we may not find sense or value in. But even if it’s some obscure John Wayne western we’ve never heard of, the price tag says $2, so what’s the harm in talking about it?
And I’ll say it, even at the ripe old age of 37, Kevin Love is still a pretty interesting player to watch. And dare I say, a contributor in certain facets.
Love is sort of the NBA equivalent to George Clooney. Once a bankable star, Clooney is rarely seen and hardly mentioned these days, yet you’ll randomly spot him grizzled and gray in a Nespresso Super Bowl commercial and think “Yep, Clooney’s still got it.”
You watch a few current K-Love clips at his best and tell me you don’t see at least a fundamentally sound past-his-prime star that’s career is on the cusp of fading out into a planetary nebula.
Love is spending the season in Utah surrounded by one of the league’s younger rosters embarking on a patient rebuild, yet he is still finding his way into minutes. Consider this, on a team that has modest frontcourt depth despite the early-season loss of Walker Kessler, Love’s 457 minutes on the floor double the minutes of Chris Boucher and Xavier Tillman combined.
So while we’re not talking about a sizable upgrade, we are talking about a 17-year vet that is still finding a spot in an NBA rotation. That’s not nothing.That’s a playable deep bench addition.
Love is at his best when the ball is touching and leaving his hand in one fell swoop. His 40% 3-point catch-and-shoot efficiency on 3.3 attempts per game is his best since the 2017-18 season in Cleveland where he shot 41% on five attempts.
The current version of Love does two things particularly well: he’s a capable movement shooter and a productive rebounder. All other impact areas are either neutral or outright negatives, but in those two areas, he can help an NBA team in some capacity.
We’ve seen Luka Garza take a leap in confidence and efficiency as a pick-and-pop threat, giving Boston one big that can actually stretch the floor. For a team that loves active screeners, Spain pick-and-rolls and flare screens, an additional shooter with size would add some value to the deep bench options at Joe Mazzulla’s disposal, while also adding another energetic fighter on the glass.
Love has implemented himself well into Utah’s roster this season, a far cry from his final days in Cleveland when their Big 3 disbanded, and it seems he’s embraced his veteran role in a way that makes him an unlikely buyout candidate.
It’s funny to think how the 2014 “Summer of Love” set social media ablaze when Love was spotted at a Red Sox game shaking hands with Rajon Rondo, indicating hope of another major star acquisition heading to Boston. That never materialized, but maybe before the Feb. 5 trade deadline, just nine days before Valentine’s Day, the Celtics will finally get their shot at Love.
Miguel Rojas of the Dodgers won't be able to represent his home country, Venezuela, in the World Baseball Classic. Blame insurance. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Rojas, 37, will not represent his native Venezuela because of difficulty obtaining insurance. The versatile World Series star expressed regret that he cannot play in an Instagram story that included a photo of himself with the Venezuelan flag draped over his shoulders.
"Today I am very sad," he wrote in Spanish. "A real pity to not be able to represent my country and wear that flag on my chest. On this occasion, age wasn’t just a number.”
Insurance was required to guarantee his $5.5-million salary in case he missed Dodgers games because of injuries incurred during the WBC, which will take place from March 5-17 in Tokyo, Miami, Houston and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Rojas' situation is similar to that of Clayton Kershaw ahead of the 2023 WBC. The pitcher was disappointed that he couldn't play for Team USA because his injury history made obtaining insurance impossible. The Dodgers declined to waive his insurance requirement and assume financial risk in case Kershaw got hurt during the tournament.
“I’m frustrated,” Kershaw said at the time. “They should make it easy for guys that want to play to play.”
Insurance coverage protects teams from having to pay a player for time missed because of an injury stemming from the WBC, which requires participants to undergo entrance and exit physicals to document injury information.
Players can be deemed uninsurable for several reasons, a source told The Times in 2023. Included are players who finished the previous season on the injured list or spent considerable time on the injured list. Also uninsurable are players diagnosed with a “chronic condition.”
Rojas, who has said this will be his last season major league season as a player, has sustained a succession of lower-body injuries in recent years. The 12-year veteran utility infielder began his career with the Dodgers in 2014 then played for the Miami Marlins for eight years before rejoining the Dodgers in 2023.
He will always be remembered by Dodgers fans for his game-tying home run in the ninth inning of Game 7 of the 2025 World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays. The baseball Rojas struck sold for $156,000 at auction.
This will mark the second WBC in a row that Rojas has missed. He was on Venezuela’s 2023 roster but withdrew after fellow infielder Gavin Lux tore his ACL during spring training, increasing Rojas' role with the Dodgers.
Hernández has elected not to play for the Dominican Republic while Pages and Ibáñez — who signed a one-year, $1.2-million contract with the Dodgers this offseason — won't suit up for Cuba. It is unclear whether insurance concerns were factors in their decisions.
However, Houston Astros stars Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa were forced to withdraw because of their inability to obtain insurance. Altuve would have played for Venezuela and Correa for Puerto Rico.
Dodgers who plan to play in the WBC include World Series heroes Will Smith of Team USA and pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto of Team Japan. Shohei Ohtani announced in November that he would play for Japan, although the two-way superstar has not decided whether he will pitch.
Smith will be a teammate of Kershaw, who because he retired from the Dodgers doesn't need insurance now to participate in the WBC. In fact, he's gone from needing insurance to being insurance.
“I just want to be the insurance policy,” Kershaw told MLB Network. “If anybody needs a breather, or if they need me to pitch back-to-back-to-back, or if they don’t need me to pitch at all, I’m just there to be there. I just want to be a part of this group.
“I learned a long time ago, you just want to be a part of great things.”
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 24: Coby White #0 of the Chicago Bulls celebrates his teams win against the Boston Celtics at the United Center on January 24, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Rockets could use an on-ball facilitating guard. Everybody talks about it.
By all intents and purposes, Rafael Stone and co. are trying to address that need by the trade deadline.
It seems clear that they’ve been working the phones, at the very least. Lately they’ve been engaged in trade talks with the Chicago Bulls for point guard Coby White.
White is an obvious target on the trade market. White becomes an unrestricted free agent in four months and the Bulls tried to extend him last offseason, but made no such progress, as he turned down an $87 million extension.
They’d rather get something for him than see him walk without getting anything in return.
Except they’ve got a specific asking price.
They’re hoping to land a young, rising talent, who is on the same timeline as Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis.
Understandable. Buzelis and Giddey are their future.
Pillars. Cornerstones.
Whatever noun you want to use.
They’re also 21-years-old and 23-years-old, respectively.
Which is an obvious no-go. Houston has neither the guard depth nor wing depth to withstand losing either.
Especially not for White.
Again, he’s going to be a free agent in the summer.
But his $12.8 million salary will be impossible to match if the Hawks are set on a young player to that degree. Even those guys don’t make enough individually.
The obvious salary matching would come by way of Dorian Finney-Smith ($12.7 million) or Steven Adams.
(It’s a cold world sometimes, I know. But Adams’ $14.1 million works mathematically).
But again, if we are to believe Chicago wants a young prospect, neither DFS nor Adams would sway them.
And even if the Rockets and Bulls are able to agree on compensation, would Houston realistically be able to afford White long-term? They’ve got looming deals with Eason and Amen Thompson in consecutive years (the latter of which will be far more costly).
White is a good player. But the situation doesn’t quite align, especially considering what Chicago is seeking in return.
It's a question that many fantasy managers have already been asking themselves: which players are worth targeting for the post-trade deadline portion of the season? By then, the ambitions of most teams will be clear. While the Play-In Tournament has kept some teams from shifting into "tank mode," there are still some that will go all-out to improve their draft lottery odds.
And trades open the door for others to step up, especially if we're talking about a young player whose opportunities increase once a veteran player is moved elsewhere. Below are some players who are worth using a transaction on to stash ahead of the February 5 trade deadline.
PF/C Collin Murray-Boyles, Toronto Raptors
Murray-Boyles is one of the few players on this list playing for teams that still harbor legitimate postseason ambitions. At the time of publishing, the Raptors were 29-20, sitting in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. However, due to the uncertainty surrounding Jakob Poeltl and his lingering back injury, the rookie out of South Carolina has been given a role more critical than many anticipated when training camp opened.
Murray-Boyles, who returned from a left thumb injury in a January 28 loss to the Knicks, has started the last 10 games he's appeared in, averaging 9.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.6 blocks in 30.5 minutes while shooting 56.8 percent from the field. While category-league managers won't get any three-point production from CMB, he does just about everything else. And given the current role, Murray-Boyles is a much safer option than stashing a player with the hope that minutes will be freed up after the trade deadline.
SG/SF Max Christie, Dallas Mavericks
Sure, it has been reported that the Mavericks want to see Cooper Flagg, Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving on the court together at some point this season. But the reality of the situation is this: they trail the scalding hot Clippers by five games in the loss column for the final play-in spot in the Western Conference, and the 2026 first-round pick is the last that Dallas has complete control over until 2031. Adding a promising young talent who would be on Flagg's timeline should be the priority, but we'll see.
Christie, who turns 23 just a few days after the trade deadline, should be safe from having the plug pulled on his season if the Mavericks decide to prioritize their draft lottery odds. And he's been productive when on the floor, averaging 17.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.9 three-pointers in 32.2 minutes since New Year's Day. Age-wise, he's closer to aligning with Flagg's timeline than Davis or Irving, and the same can also be said for Dallas' 2026 draft pick.
C Moussa Diabaté, Charlotte Hornets
Given how well they've played recently, the Hornets have no reason not to try to make a run at a postseason spot. Charlotte has won its last five games and now trails 10th-place Chicago by three games in the loss column. Diabaté, who played well enough last season to earn a standard contract, has been a factor in the middle, holding onto the starting job after rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner returned from a left elbow injury.
Diabaté has started every game that he's been available for since December 23, averaging 9.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.6 steals and 1.2 blocks in 29.6 minutes, shooting 68.8 percent from the field. The energy that he brings to the floor has made a difference for Charlotte, and playing time should not be an issue for Diabaté as the Hornets look to earn a play-in spot.
PG/SG Bub Carrington, SF/PF Justin Champagnie and SG/SF Tre Johnson, Washington Wizards
Given how young the Wizards' roster is, multiple players stand to gain value in the post-deadline portion of the schedule. Of the three listed here, Johnson offers the highest upside for managers seeking scoring. The rookie out of Texas, who sprained his left ankle during a January 29 win over the Bucks, entered that game having averaged 16.1 points and 2.8 three-pointers in his previous ten games.
Carrington's case is an interesting one, in that his fantasy prospects did not look good in the immediate aftermath of Washington acquiring Trae Young from the Hawks. However, Young has yet to appear in a game as he continues to recover from knee and quad injuries, and his playing time may be limited once he's cleared to play. Carrington's production hasn't been the best, but he'll continue to have opportunities to play rotation minutes. Also, he started the second half of that win over Milwaukee following Johnson's ankle injury. As for Champagnie, he has been close to a top-100 player over the past two weeks and can fill multiple roles for the Wizards.
SG/SF/PF Ace Bailey and SF/PF Brice Sensabaugh, Utah Jazz
Like the Wizards, the Jazz are in a position where the clear priority during the post-deadline portion of the season will be to get their young players as much playing time as possible. Bailey has been in the starting lineup since mid-November, with the only two non-starts in his last 32 appearances being games in which his playing time was restricted for injury management reasons. He's averaged 12.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.8 three-pointers during this stretch, shooting 47.5 percent from the field. Hopefully, Bailey will bring more consistent production in categories other than points.
Sensabaugh has been used mainly in a reserve role since mid-January, but that hasn't stopped him from putting up some gaudy numbers. His 43-point outburst in a January 14 loss to the Bulls began a three-game stretch in which he scored 95 points on 61.4 percent shooting. Unfortunately, he would miss the next two games, but the Jazz forward has averaged 19.3 points and 3.0 three-pointers over his last three. Like Bailey, category league managers will want to see more from Sensabaugh in the other categories, but there's no denying that he can put up points and three-pointers.
PG Egor Dëmin, PF/C Noah Clowney and C Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn made its priorities clear before the season began, with team governor Joe Tsai saying in October that the team hoped to get a good pick in the 2026 draft. Of the five players the Nets selected in the first round of the 2025 draft, Dëmin has been the most valuable to fantasy managers and the only one able to lock down a spot in the starting lineup. While back-to-backs are a concern due to the foot injury that limited him during the preseason, the guard out of BYU has averaged 11.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.8 steals and 3.0 three-pointers since the beginning of January.
Clowney had been a fixture in the Nets' starting lineup since the beginning of the season, but he's missed the last three games with a back injury. That said, he's averaging career-highs in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and three-pointers. With there still being plenty of room for Clowney to grow, however, he should be safe from a late-season shutdown. Last but not least is Sharpe, who could benefit immensely if the Nets were to lighten starting center Nic Claxton's workload. He has averaged 9.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals in 21.9 minutes since New Year's Day, shooting nearly 60 percent from the field.
SG/SF Nique Clifford and C Maxime Raynaud, Sacramento Kings
If the Kings were to move a few of their veterans before the deadline, 2025 draft picks Clifford and Raynaud would be first in line to benefit in terms of playing time. With Zach LaVine missing two games with a back injury, Clifford has started the Kings' last three games. While the production hasn't been great, the opportunity is what stands out. As for Raynaud, he's returned to the bench after starting for well over a month as the Kings were without Domantas Sabonis. The 7-foot-1 center recorded six double-doubles as a starter, averaging 11.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 27.2 minutes while shooting 55.2 percent from the field.
SF/PF Saddiq Bey, New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans trail the Clippers by 13 games in the loss column for the final play-in spot; it's not impossible, but it's doubtful the Pelicans get into the mix. Bey, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL, has started every game that he's been available for since November 5. During this stretch, he's averaged 17.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.8 three-pointers in 31.3 minutes, shooting 44.8 percent from the field. And given the pecking order in New Orleans, the team may prioritize lightening the workloads of players like Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy and Herb Jones down the stretch rather than Bey.
SF/PF Jarace Walker, Indiana Pacers
While Walker's first three seasons have been mainly underwhelming, his production and opportunities have increased in recent weeks. A double-digit scorer in four straight and five of his last six appearances, the Pacers' forward has averaged 11.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.1 three-pointers since January 1, shooting 48.7 percent from the field and 5.18 percent from three. Also, Walker has averaged 26.7 minutes per game over his last six appearances, making four starts. Even if Obi Toppin were to return from foot surgery at some point, that should not hurt Walker's opportunities to earn minutes.
Jan 20, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Drew Timme (17) reacts with forward LeBron James (23) in the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
NBA All-Star Weekend is almost here, and Gonzaga has a brief breather before Saturday’s clash with Saint Mary’s, so the pause offers a natural moment to check in on the program’s NBA presence. As of this writing, 12 former Zags sit on active NBA rosters, with a couple more still grinding for call-ups in the G League, a level of representation that continues to place Gonzaga alongside Duke and Kentucky as one of the sport’s most reliable pro pipelines. The season has unfolded unevenly for that group, shaped by injuries, shifting roles, and a few long-awaited opportunities finally breaking through. Some veterans have spent stretches managing their bodies, some younger players have begun earning real minutes, and others are making the most of every window they get. With the NBA drifting towards its midseason break, here’s where some Gonzaga alums stand right now.
At this point, Brandon Clarke’s NBA career reads like a running battle with his own body. After missing the second half of last season with a PCL sprain suffered in March, Clarke clawed his way back in time for the 2025–26 opener, only to log roughly a game and a half before a calf strain shut him down again. He has been sidelined since December 20, extending a frustrating pattern for a player whose impact has consistently outweighed his availability. The latest setback follows a career already interrupted by a torn Achilles, repeated lower-body issues, and a knee synovitis procedure last fall, yet the outlook remains cautiously optimistic, with league sources indicating a likely return roughly a month from now and no long-term concern attached to the current injury
Collins’ season in Chicago has unfolded in fits and starts, with injuries consistently interrupting any chance at continuity. He missed the opening stretch of the year with a broken left wrist, returned in early December, and briefly settled into a rotation role before another setback arrived. Over the 10 games he played in December, Collins averaged 9.7 points and 5.6 rebounds in just under 20 minutes per night, offering efficient interior scoring before a sprained right big toe sidelined him again late in the month. As of late January, he remained in a walking boot, though the Bulls have indicated he is expected to return to practice around the All-Star break, with a game return hoped to follow shortly after.
Rui Hachimura – Los Angeles Lakers
Rui Hachimura passes Magic & Kareem for the 2nd most games in Lakers history with:
Hachimura has settled into a steady role with the Lakers, averaging around 30 minutes per night while bouncing between the starting lineup and a recent move to a sixth-man role. He’s scoring about 12 points per game and knocking down 43.4 percent of his threes, providing reliable spacing and secondary offense. The highs and lows have been visible: a season-high 28 against Portland back in November, followed by a scoreless 18-minute outing on 0-for-7 shooting against Cleveland. Overall, he remains a trusted rotation piece whose minutes and role continue to fluctuate with lineup needs. If rumors are true and what that lineup ultimately needs is a first-round 2026 draft pick instead of Hachimura, we’ll find out in the next week.
Drew Timme – Los Angeles Lakers
DREW TIMME! Los Angeles Lakers two-way contract big man & NCAA legend Drew Timme BALLED OUT in their 132-116 LOSS vs. Portland! 🪣
📊 21 PTS, 2 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL, 9/12 FGM, 3/4 3PM, 29 MIN. LOSS
After getting cut by Brooklyn, Timme once again played his way back onto an NBA roster with a dominant G League stint, this time earning a two-way deal with the Lakers. The NBA production has been modest so far at just over three points per game, though the upside has shown through in flashes, including a 21-point night against Portland. Gonzaga’s all-time leading scorer remains in a tenuous spot on a two-way contract, but his continued G League dominance, paired with public praise from LeBron James, suggests he has done everything within his control to keep the door open.
After spending four and a half seasons as Mr. Reliable on a Washington Wizards team stuck in perpetual rebuilding mode, Corey Kispert was blessedly dealt to Atlanta in November alongside CJ McCollum as part of the Trae Young trade and has stepped directly into the Hawks’ starting lineup. Since arriving, he’s shooting about 33 percent from three and averaging just under nine points per game. Atlanta sits 3rd in the Southeast Division with a season record of 24-26. They’re 4-5 since Kispert’s arrival, but the move has already given him something he rarely had in Washington: meaningful minutes on a team still trying to win games.
Strawther’s third year in Denver has turned into a constant shuffle. His minutes have dropped to around 10 per game after averaging 21 last season, and his place in the rotation has rarely felt secure, tied closely to whether the shot is falling and if the guys ahead of him on the depth chart are healthy. The numbers have been uncharacteristically rough for a guy who made a college career off his three-point shot. He’s just 8-for-37 from three on the season, but the flashes of offensive greatness have occasionally shown through. When injuries ripped through the Nuggets’ lineup, Strawther finally got runway and delivered a season-high 20 points in 27 minutes against Milwaukee, staying on the floor despite a 1-for-6 mark from outside by attacking off the bounce and applying foul pressure. With Denver suddenly thin, a player who looked like trade bait a few weeks ago now sits one bad ankle or hamstring injury away from a starting role, a reminder of how fast things change on a title contender
Olynyk’s latest stop has him in San Antonio, his eighth team in 13 seasons, and very much in a veteran support role. Playing behind Victor Wembanyama (a legit superstar) and fellow journeyman Luke Kornet has pushed his minutes down to a career-low 9.5 per night across 28 games, but the impact still shows up in quieter ways. He steadies lineups, keeps the ball moving, and brings a level of professionalism that young teams tend to lean on, especially one built around a generational centerpiece. At this stage, Olynyk feels closer to the end than the beginning, the kind of long-tenured pro who may bounce once more or may simply have found a final landing spot as a trusted locker-room presence who still knows how to help teams function.
Domantas Sabonis – Sacramento Kings
Some important recent Kings rumors that have come out:
– At least 10 teams have called about Keon Ellis, with the expectation of him being traded before the deadline, per @sam_amick.
– Domantas Sabonis is a legitimate candidate to be a Toronto Raptor by the deadline,… pic.twitter.com/uYNkO0Iq47
It has been a brutal season in Sacramento, with the Kings sitting at 12-37 and buried near the bottom of the Western Conference, a context that has pushed Sabonis back into the center of the trade rumor mill. Miami, Toronto, Phoenix, and Chicago have all surfaced as possible landing spots in recent weeks. Despite missing 27 games earlier in the year with a torn meniscus, Sabonis has been productive when available, averaging 15.4 points and 11.2 rebounds and recording double-doubles in 11 of the 18 games he has played. He has been back on the floor over the past couple weeks, steady as ever, even as the losses pile up. Wherever he lands next, the hope is simple: a roster sturdy enough to let Sabonis amplify winning rather than shoulder it alone.
Injuries have again shaped Suggs’ season, but he has managed to appear in 26 games for Orlando despite missing time with an MCL contusion. When healthy, his role remains substantial, logging around 26 minutes per night while averaging 14.4 points and 4.7 assists. The offense has come back in bursts, but the defensive impact has never wavered, with Suggs continuing to operate as a full-court irritant who changes games with pressure and anticipation. Orlando sits at 24–22, hovering just above .500, and their margin remains thin enough that a fully settled version of Suggs, available and decisive, could meaningfully swing the final months of the season.
Ryan Nembhard – Dallas Mavericks
Ryan Nembhard being this good, this early, makes you wonder what NBA Front offices are looking for when drafting
This is 28 pts, 10 Assists, and 0 Turnovers as Rookie
Undersized and undrafted, Nembhard has carved out real minutes anyway, appearing in 35 games for a young Dallas roster built around the league’s newest cornerstone in Cooper Flagg. Gonzaga’s imprint shows up clearly in his adaptability and poise, traits that have helped him earn trust in a guard rotation that shifts almost nightly. Nembhard is doing what he has always done best, organizing offense and keeping teammates fed, averaging just under five assists in 19 minutes per game while knocking down nearly 38 percent of his threes. The ceiling flashes remain there too, most memorably in a 28-point outburst against Denver on December 1, when he went 12-for-14 from the floor and 5-for-7 from deep. The role remains fluid, but Nembhard continues to justify his place by fitting whatever shape the moment requires.
With Tyrese Haliburton sidelined by a torn Achilles and Myles Turner gone after a failed contract resolution, Indiana’s season has unraveled quickly, but Nembhard has gone the opposite direction. Thrust into the lead guard role full time, he is putting together the best year of his career, averaging 17.4 points, 7.4 assists, and shooting 35.8 percent from three while starting all 38 games he has played. The Pacers no longer resemble the contender they were a year ago, and the burden on Nembhard has grown heavier by the week, reflected in career highs across points, assists, and minutes. Indiana sits well off the pace in the East, and with the trade deadline approaching, the front office is expected to look for backcourt help, ideally an off-ball guard who can ease the load and let Nembhard continue doing what he has proven he can do: run a team.
Chet Holmgren – Oklahoma City Thunder
Chet Holmgren Defense 1/27 vs NOP ~ 8 Points Allowed ~ Held Opponents to 4/11 FG (as primary def) – 5 Blocks – 33 Minutes
Thoughts on his defense last night?
*Not every clip included goes towards the Opp FG%, but I included all relevant clips of his defense from the game* pic.twitter.com/xnimEG0lZz
While nearly everyone else on this list has dealt with injuries or role volatility, Holmgren has been the constant for Oklahoma City all season. The Thunder have shuffled bodies around him, losing time from Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams among others, yet Holmgren’s availability and production have anchored a team sitting at 38–11 alongside reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He has already played 11 more games than he managed all of last season and is averaging nearly 18 points and a career-best 8.6 rebounds while shooting 57 percent from the field and 37.7 percent from three. The efficiency spikes showed early with a 31-point, 11-rebound night against Atlanta in October, but the steadiness has been just as striking. Holmgren has gone the entire month of January without committing more than two turnovers in a game despite playing roughly 34 minutes per night. A fully healthy Thunder roster sits as the odds-on favorite to win another league title, and if Oklahoma City pulls off a repeat, Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren will be at the center of it.
Taken together, this group reflects both the breadth and the staying power of Gonzaga’s NBA presence. There are stars carrying franchises, role players adapting to new contexts, veterans extending long careers through feel and professionalism, and young guards fighting daily for minutes in crowded rotations. The paths look different, the situations change fast, and the margins remain thin, but the through line holds: Gonzaga continues to send players into the league who find ways to matter. As the NBA season turns toward its stretch run and the Zags refocus on Saint Mary’s and March, the program’s imprint at the highest level remains as visible, varied, and resilient as ever.
Sixth in the series.Today we look at the Cubs’veteran shortstop.
Dansby Swanson will turn 32 on February 11. His skills have yet to diminish appreciably but it’s a matter of time until they do. This will be his 11th year in the major leagues, after being drafted first overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2015. The Vanderbilt grad has had a decent career, amassing a lifetime total of 28.4 bWAR (also 28.4 fWAR). His power numbers have trended up since 2021, from roughly 10 homers per season to about 20 — 2021 was his peak at 27. His batting average seems to have suffered from his attempts to put more lift on the ball, as his Cubs numbers cluster around .244, where he had previously averaged around 10 points higher. This could also be due to the fabled ‘Wrigley Field Effect,’ which tends to flatten those numbers, instead of enhancing them, as before climate change’s negative effects.
Swanson is still a superb fielder, and he has four years left on his seven-year deal, which runs through 2029. The Cubs will have to figure out what to do when his decline comes, but he is hopefully good to go this year.
He’s a postseason veteran, though his lifetime .233 average is unimpressive over the ten playoff series he’s been involved in.
Still, he’s seen as a team leader by Cubs players, despite fans’ misgivings, and his contract virtually guarantees that he’ll be in the lineup for a couple of years still. The Cubs could do worse — Swanson’s 2026 slash of .244/.300./.417, with 24 home runs, 2o stolen bases, and 77 RBI isn’t all that bad, and neither is his 4.5 bWAR. It’s just that his paycheck outweighs those numbers.
Brandon Ingram
Shaedon Sharpe
Egor Demin
Eric Samulski
