HOUSTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 27: Framber Valdez #59 of the Houston Astros pitches during a game against the Colorado Rockies at Daikin Park on August 27, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s only a motion away.
Could there be an Astros and Framber Valdez reunion? Maybe the odds are better than we previously thought?
Monday night on AREA 45 on Sportsradio 610, I posed the idea of the Astros getting back in on Framber Valdez with a short term, high AAV type deal with opt outs that would allow Framber to pitch in Houston this season, and go back on the market next year to search for his long-term deal without being attached to a Qualifying Offer.
Framber is the highest rated free agent still on the market, and the fact he has not signed yet is puzzling. Framber was easily the best pitcher on the market, and not only the best but most durable. Framber is baseball’s biggest ground ball machine and he eats innings. Framber pitched 192 innings in 2025, and has thrown 767.2 innings the past four seasons.
Five seasons ago was the last time Framber didn’t make at least 28 starts, and that was because of a fractured finger he suffered on a comebacker in Spring Training. He made 22 starts and pitched 134.2 innings.
For his career, Framber has a 3.36 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. His career groundball rate is 61.5%, and the MLB average is 42.4%. In an era of chasing the long ball, Valdez is the antidote.
Several teams have been linked to Valdez, but as the offseason has worn on, many have gone in different directions. There is now a question as to whether the long-term deal Valdez seeks will be available to him this season. Any team signing Valdez this season will also have draft pick forfeiture as a penalty for signing a free agent who rejected the Qualifying Offer. The combination of losing draft pick(s), losing international bonus pool money and paying out a long-term high value contract seems to have weakened teams’ desires to pay Valdez.
Enter the Astros.
Valdez clearly is familiar and comfortable in Houston. The Astros know Valdez’ temperament better than anyone, and know how to get the most from him.
For a team that may be offensively challenged (Houston has several ‘good hitters’ in it’s lineup but only one great hitter in Yordan Alvarez), having an elite rotation would catapult the Astros back into the World Series conversation. Framber is that kind of a difference maker.
A contract similar to the one Blake Snell signed in 2024, two years with a high AAV and an opt out, would make sense for all parties should the long term deal Valdez wants not be available.
Earlier today, Astros GM Dana Brown addressed the media and in his comments left the door open to a possible Framber reunion (Framber question in video at 3:06)
Astros GM Dana Brown made some big news on Framber Valdez and a possible LH bat today — plus what they learned this offseason on how to FIX their INJURY ISSUES.https://t.co/dPjj2HVXV4
Adding Framber Valdez to a rotation that already has Hunter Brown, Tatsuya Imai, Cristian Javier and Mike Burrows would create a lot of competition for the sixth rotation spot and also give the Astros a chance to have two righthanders in the pen who can give multiple innings. Having multi-inning relievers in a short pen due to the longer rotation would be paramount for the club to keep key arms like Josh Hader and Bryan Abreu from being overworked.
It may be a longshot, but before today it seemed like a no shot.
Brown swooped in on Imai late and stole him when few in MLB thought Houston was a real player. Could he do it again with Framber?
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 31: VJ Edgecombe #77 and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers react against the New Orleans Pelicans in the fourth quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 31, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Pelicans 124-114. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Perhaps I have just been stuck in a negative feedback loop when it comes to this franchise for the last half-dozen years, but I am bracing myself for a rather unspectacular NBA trade deadline for the Sixers. I can’t foresee a scenario where the Sixers part with beloved rookie VJ Edgecombe for superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, nor one where an Edgecombe-less package is enough to nab the two-time NBA MVP.
It goes beyond the Antetokounmpo of it all though, even as the Bucks’ franchise player remains the biggest domino to fall before the deadline.
Will the Sixers duck the tax in the hopes of saving the ownership group some dough? Joel Embiid called out the organization over it recently, a rarity for the star big man. The Paul George anti-drug policy suspension likely makes it easier for the team to do so, but the absence of George for 25 games creates a hole in this Sixers lineup that should be addressed if the team has true championship aspirations and wants to climb the Eastern Conference standings. They’re just 2.5 games back of the No. 2 seed entering Tuesday’s evening action. That should scream trade-a-palooza, right? For a fan base that’s seen those big swings like Jimmy Butler, Tobias Harris and James Harden mid-season in the past, I just have a gut feeling that come Thursday, this team is mostly the same.
I’m sure they’ll do something, minor moves that allow the team to convert key contributors Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker to standard contracts, but something earth-shattering that upheaves the playoff picture looks out of the cards a bit.
The Sixers remain stuck between worlds. Embiid is the most-win now player in the league. Who knows how much healthy basketball he has left, but for the time being, he looks as good as ever. He averaged 30-8-5 in January. For all we know, this could be the last ride for Embiid. He certainly wasn’t in this form the previous few springs, if playing at all. Tyrese Maxey is in his prime now as a lighting-quick scorer, but it’s hard to calculate how anyone’s prime, let alone that of an undersized, speedy guard, will last. He’s the present and the future currently. Edgecombe, who the Sixers should be wary of parting with this early in his career, is already good, albeit not someone who can be a dominant playoff player at this point. That’s natural for a 20-year-old, but hard when the team doesn’t know what it’ll be getting from Embiid a year down the line. They’re competitive to a degree now, but also holding their chips for later.
I hope the team does something fun. Doesn’t everyone? The vibes are good and the fan base is energized. As long as they’re not dealing Edgecombe, go wild. This is what Daryl Morey was brought here to do, to be creative in the trade market, not simply to acquire former Rockets, as he’s done. Again, maybe I am just in a protective mode with this team where I don’t want to get my hopes up for anything, but I imagine this team’s going to look pretty similar come the weekend.
If that’s the case, I think it’ll be OK. The Sixers are “fun enough.” I’d like more than that, certainly, but after previous misses on stars and the desire not to move Edgecombe at this point, Sixers fans have roughly 48 hours to learn to be content with what they’re seeing.
The Phoenix Suns are exceeding expectations without Devin Booker, a credit to this retooled roster compared to last year’s superstar-heavy team. Against the Portland Trail Blazers, that roster should prevail.
My Suns vs. Trail Blazers predictions expect Phoenix’s new second banana to continue to shine in the spotlight, amid many NBA picks on Tuesday, February 3.
Suns vs Trail Blazers prediction
Suns vs Trail Blazers best bet: Dillon Brooks Over 23.5 points (-105)
Dillon Brooks has averaged 18.8 shots per game in the last five games, all without Devin Booker.That is a significant uptick from the 16.7 he has averaged when the Phoenix Suns’ cornerstone has been in the lineup this season.
No wonder Brooks has cleared this prop in four of those five games, the exception falling short by only one bucket.
Until Booker is back in the lineup, bet on Dillon Brooks to score 25 points a night, including tonight against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Suns vs Trail Blazers same-game parlay
Portland is on a five-game losing streak, something that should continue even if Dillon Brooks hits two or fewer three-pointers for the fourth time in this six-game stretch without Devin Booker.
Suns vs Trail Blazers SGP
Dillon Brooks Over 23.5 points
Dillon Brooks Under 2.5 three-pointers
Suns moneyline
Our "from downtown" SGP: Suns extinguish Blazers
On this five-game outright losing streak, Portland has gone 1-4 against the spread.
Suns vs Trail Blazers SGP
Dillon Brooks Over 23.5 points
Dillon Brooks Under 2.5 three-pointers
Suns -2.5
Suns vs Trail Blazers odds
Spread: Suns -2.5 | Trail Blazers +2.5
Moneyline: Suns -135 | Trail Blazers +115
Over/Under: Over 218.5 | Under 218.5
Suns vs Trail Blazers betting trend to know
While going 1-4 against the spread in the last two weeks, the Blazers have fallen short of bookmakers’ expectations by an average of 11.3 points, even including the sole ATS win. Find more NBA betting trends for Suns vs. Trail Blazers.
How to watch Suns vs Trail Blazers
Location
Moda Center, Portland, OR
Date
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Tip-off
11:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBC
Suns vs Trail Blazers latest injuries
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TORONTO, ONTARIO - OCTOBER 19: Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners looks on after grounding into a double play during the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in game six of the American League Championship Series at Rogers Centre on October 19, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was very sad, he thought. The things men carried inside. The things men did or felt they had to do. -Tim O’Brien, “The Things They Carried”
There is a powerful Tim O’Brien short story, part of a larger eponymous collection, called “The Things They Carried,” which catalogues the physical weight of the individual items a group of soldiers in Vietnam carried, as a way to interrogate the mental weight of what their assignment demanded they carry.
Baseball is a far cry from the foxholes of war—part of the reason people are consuming sports content especially fervently right now, I think, as an escape from The Horrors—but just as the soldiers in O’Brien’s short story are forever changed by the psychological weight of the things they now carry, so too are the 2025 Mariners altered by the weight of promise fallen short. I was personally taken aback, at a post-season media event held in late October, at how fresh the wounds still felt: I was expecting the team officials in attendance (Jerry Dipoto, Justin Hollander, Dan Wilson) to still be feeling the sting of disappointment but overwhelmingly proud of how far the team came, farther than any other Mariners team ever had. Instead, it was clear the bones of heartbreak hadn’t quite knitted: eyes were wet, mouths were tight, and the hurt hung over the room palpably.
Three months later, that pain hasn’t dissipated, but it has calcified, hardened into a sharp point of purpose. This past weekend, the Mariners held the first Fan Fest the team has sponsored since 2019, and while the overarching theme of the weekend was a joyous riot of excitement, from players and personnel alike there was a distinct sense of a job not done and an acute awareness of the task ahead.
Cal Raleigh, now a (mostly) year-round Seattle resident, was in attendance both days, thrilling fans wherever the should-have-been MVP showed up. He brought fans to their knees as a surprise guest in the photo opp area, oversaw a gender reveal, and generally sent whoever was in his vicinity into transports of delight. But while enjoying the outpouring of love and support, Cal was contemplative about the year that was, focused on the year that will come.
“Obviously last year was great. I’m glad we got to celebrate that, it was definitely a special season,” he said. “But at the same time, you have to be able to turn the page and look forward to a new year and understand that what we’re trying to accomplish here is win a World Series and setting the standard, the bar, the expectations super-high, because that’s where we want to be.
I think everybody’s going to be excited going into camp. It’s going to be hard work, though. It’s not going to be easy. New years bring new challenges.“
From all the Mariners in attendance this weekend, the message was clear: job not finished. But there’s also an understanding of the weight of expectations, the bar that’s now been set. George Kirby delivered his expectations for this upcoming season in typical unflinching Kirby style.
“I feel like I can speak for a lot of the guys, getting to where we did,” said Kirby. “I feel like that’s the floor for us this year. And anything else just kind of doesn’t cut it. So being able to get a taste of that, and then losing and seeing Toronto go on to celebrate all that stuff puts a fire in your stomach.”
Getting so close, but falling just short: the confusing cocktail of should-be pride mixed with with the sharp metallic tang of disappointment. Josh Naylor expressed a similar sentiment, although with a typical Naylor pragmatic twist.
“Yeah, obviously the loss was not easy to take. It sucked, especially knowing that we had them,” said Naylor. “But it is what it is, and it wasn’t meant for us to win it. God has really weird plans for people, and I trust Him. So I’m just gonna go out there every day and try to win ballgames. But having that experience and getting that close, I hope it fuels everyone in the off-season to come back stronger: a little bit bigger, a little bit better, a little bit smarter. It has for me. I’m trying to grow every single day in the off-season, trying to get 1% better in some sort of area. Obviously not every day can be sunshine and roses, but you can pick a little area to grow in.”
If the expectations are heavier than they’ve ever been, there’s a comfort in the fact that those expectations are now matched by experience. Kirby spoke about finding “learning lessons” from specific situations in postseason games and using that as a focus for training, physically and mentally, during the off-season. Emerson Hancock took a broader view on how that post-season experience might shape the course of an entire season.
“I think ultimately it makes you better, the whole experience of being in the postseason, understanding what’s at stake, the pressure, it makes you better,” said Hancock. “It stings. It’s hard. You know, you get to right there and you’re just almost—but it makes you want to get back there even more. And I think the people that were a part of that, now know that we go through the 162 game schedule like, all right: we grind through it, we know what’s at the end of this thing. We know what we want to play for and what we want to do.”
But for all the looking forward, players were also open about the fact that this is the kind of pain that doesn’t ever really go away. It becomes part of your story, part of your elemental self, something that can be managed and transformed into something productive, but can never truly be eliminated.
“That’s something that you carry with you, an experience that you had” said Julio Rodríguez, reflecting on the loss. “That’s something that I will carry with me, the experience that I had in those games, and I feel like it has helped me to become a better player. And bring a little adjusted mentality for this new year.”
The weight of the loss is still palpable when Cal Raleigh reflects on the season: despite the new heights he’s reached in his career, going from a catcher who never made a prospect top 10 list to a household name and narrowly missing out on an MVP award, all his personal accomplishments are wrapped up in a season where the team fell short.
“It was hard,” said Raleigh, sighing heavily. “Part of me is like, I don’t know if you ever really move on. You’re going to be feeling that one for a long time. And it doesn’t matter if you eventually go on to win it or not, you’re still going to look back and be like, that season, it felt like we had a real chance, a real shot. So I think part of me will always feel that.
But at the same time you can’t dwell on it. You have to understand that chapter is closed, and we’re opening a new one. It’s going to be a lot of fun this year, and also very challenging. We’re going to have to do some things and make sure that we’re improving and staying on top of things, and not just being satisfied with where we’re at.“
Maybe no Mariner knows more about closing the book on a painful chapter than skipper Dan Wilson, who understands both the disappointment that is baked into the sport of baseball and the particular experience of a Mariners team falling short. But that experience puts him in a unique position in order to be able to lead this club into a year heady with expectations.
“I think every time you’re eliminated, it’s disappointing. I mean, this one was maybe extra disappointing, because we were so close, but at the same time, I think it’s part of being an athlete, it’s part of being a baseball player. We talk about baseball being that game of failure, and you have to move on in a lot of ways. So yes, it becomes part of your story,” said Wilson. “I think our guys do a really good job of taking that and making it a motivator rather than something that slows them down. And I don’t anticipate that being any different. These guys are determined, as we all are, to get back there and get all the way to where we want to go to, which is that World Series championship.”
For Wilson and his team, the trick will be taking the things they’ve carried over the off-season – the disappointment, the hurt, the desire – and crystallizing that into purpose in 2026.
“Postseason baseball is different. When you experience it, you want to do everything you can to get back there,” said Wilson. “I think that’s where this fire came from with these guys. They want to get back there. They want to be a part of postseason baseball for the foreseeable future. And that’s what Mariner baseball is going to be about.”
“When you get a taste of it, there’s nothing like it.”
When the Cubs signed Jon Berti as a backup infielder before the 2025 season, it seemed like a reasonable thing to do.
Berti had led the National League in stolen bases in 2022 with 41, and the following year posted a .748 OPS in 133 games with the Marlins, with 16 steals and 2.2 bWAR.
Even at age 35, it seemed like Berti would be a suitable infield backup. And, indeed, he started the season pretty well. On May 1 he was batting .306/.370/.347 (15-for-49) in 20 games, with seven stolen bases.
But yikes, after that Berti just stopped hitting. He didn’t play much, either, once Matt Shaw was recalled from Triple-A Iowa. After June 1 Berti started just four times and from May 2 until he was released in August, batted just .118/.151/.118 (6-for-51) with 11 strikeouts.
And so it was that Craig Counsell started using Berti as his mop-up pitcher in blowouts. Berti pitched four times in July:
The ninth inning of an 11-3 win over the Cardinals July 4
The eighth inning of an 8-1 loss to the Twins July 8
The ninth inning of a 12-4 loss to the Royals July 21
The eighth inning of a 12-5 loss at the White Sox July 25
Overall, Berti threw 3.2 innings and allowed four hits and four walks and three runs.
The most interesting of those outings was the one in the blowout win over the Cardinals July 4, the one in which the Cubs set a franchise record with eight home runs.
They led 11-0 going into the ninth so Counsell figured maybe he’d save the bullpen by letting Berti pitch. Whoops, bad idea. Berti got hit hard, allowing two hits and three walks. As noted, the Cardinals scored three times and had two runners on base (both in scoring position) with two out and they were probably one hit away from Counsell having to warm up a real pitcher.
Berti appeared in just four more games for the Cubs after his July 25 pitching outing on the South Side. No one picked him up after the release. It’s safe to assume his career is over — but he’ll always have that one year where he led the NL in steals.
Oh, and he used to absolutely kill the Cubs while with the Marlins. In 15 career games vs. the Cubs, Berti batted .319/.389/.532 (15-for-47) with three home runs, by far his best OPS against any team. Maybe that’s why he couldn’t hit as a North Sider.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JANUARY 30: Head coach Jordan Ott of the Phoenix Suns reacts during the first half of an NBA game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Mortgage Matchup Center on January 30, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Kelsey Grant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After an 11-win month, Phoenix Suns Coach Jordan Ott was named Western Conference Coach of the Month alongside Charlotte Hornets Coach Charles Lee being named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month. Ott is the first Suns coach to snag the honor since Monty Williams back in late 2022, marking the 17th time a leader on the Phoenix sideline has earned the award.
Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott and Charlotte Hornets head coach Charles Lee have been named the NBA Western and Eastern Conference Coaches of the Month, respectively, for games played in January. pic.twitter.com/TuPwbkCiug
Along with the Los Angeles Clippers and Hornets, the Suns were tied for the most wins in January and had three different three-game win streaks during it. The team never lost more than two games in a row, despite Devin Booker and Jalen Green missing significant time, and the team beat the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons in convincing fashion without either in the lineup.
The team was 4-4 on the road, but exceptional at home, going 7-1 and winning their first four home games to start 2026, including a memorable one against the Oklahoma City Thunder, where Devin Booker hit a game-winning three with less than a second remaining.
DEVIN BOOKER HITS THE TRIPLE AND WINS IT FOR THE SUNS 🚨
With 30 wins already, Phoenix is on pace to win 49 games, and has already won more games than many pundits and betting analysts predicted them to do before the year and Ott continues to play a huge part in their surprising success.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 30: Anfernee Simons #4 of the Boston Celtics attempts a shot against the Sacramento Kings during the second half at the TD Garden on January 30, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
DALLAS — The Celtics have traded Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Nikola Vucevic and a second-round pick, ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported on Tuesday afternoon.
The move sheds nearly $5 million in salary for the Celtics, while bolstering a frontcourt that has almost exclusively relied on Neemias Queta and Luka Garza.
Vucevic has averaged 16.9 points, 9 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game for the Bulls this season. The 35-year-old has shot 50.5% from the field and 37.6% from three, and has been one of the league’s premier stretch bigs. A strong defensive rebounder, he should alleviate what at times has been the Celtics’ biggest weakness.
BREAKING: The Chicago Bulls are trading center Nikola Vucevic and a second-round pick to the Boston Celtics for Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/aScaobfZmv
Nikola Vucevic answers the Celtics’ looming frontcourt question — at least for now
The move gives Boston additional center depth alongside Neemias Queta and Luka Garza, both of whom have exceeded expectations this season. The Celtics have not utilized Xavier Tillman nor Chris Boucher in the frontcourt, and have almost exclusively relied on Queta, Garza, and small-ball lineups.
Both Queta (10.1 points, 8.1 rebounds) and Garza (7.7 points, 4.3 rebounds) are having career years, but it has long been understood that the Celtics will need additional frontcourt depth moving forward.
Whether Vucevic is a long-term solution in Boston here remains to be seen; the Montenegrin basketball player is on an expiring deal, but could potentially extend with the Celtics beyond the season, depending on how things go.
At 35, he immediately becomes Boston’s oldest players, though he has been as dependable and available as they come. Vucevic has appeared in 48 of 50 games for Chicago this season, and played in at least 73 games in each of his last four Bulls seasons .
Vucevic has been a starter in the NBA since his rookie season in 2011-2022. He was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2011, spent 9 years with the Orlando Magic, and has played for the Bulls since 2021.
Anfernee Simons leaves the Celtics after a great stint
Anfernee Simons departs the Celtics after being acquired this past summer in the trade that sent Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers. Simons averaged 14.2 points and 2.4 assists per game this season, shooting 44% from the field and 39.5% from three.
Throughout his brief tenure, Simons earned the praise of his teammates and coaches, who often heralded him for his improvement on the defensive end. Simons entered the year with a poor defensive reputation, but transformed into an impactful defender in recent months.
“It was just a matter of learning the system defensively, getting acclimated to the role,” Joe Mazzulla said last month. “Most of his career, there was a lot of knowns — substitution pattern known, minutes known, when the ball is finding you known, play calls known. So I thought he did a great job adapting to the unknowns – sub pattern changes, playcalls may change depending upon the lineups or the coverages, and he does a great job of handling that. The second piece was just getting acclimated to our defensive system, which he’s taken a lot of pride in since he’s been here.”
In December, Simons held the best plus-minus in the entire NBA, and in January, he recorded his best game in green, exploding for 39 points in a comeback win against the Miami Heat. Simons has eclipsed 20 points 9 times this season, showcasing his versatile scoring ability while anchoring the Celtics’ bench.
The Celtics are now out of the first apron
The move has positive financial implications for Boston, getting the Celtics under the first apron for the first time in the Joe Mazzulla era. The Celtics offload Simons’ $27.7 million expiring contract to the Bulls, while taking on Vucevic’s $21.5 million expiring contract.
The Celtics are now $6 million from being under the luxury tax altogether, and immediately reduce their tax penalty from $39.5 million to $17.7 million.
This story will be updated as more information is available.
Clippers guard James Harden could be on the move before the NBA's trade deadline this week, according to multiple media outlets. (Nick Wass / Associated Press)
James Harden has played a key role in helping the Clippers become one of the NBA's hottest teams over the last six weeks despite a disastrous start to their season. He might not be around, however, to see how the rest of the season unfolds.
Multiple media outlets are reporting that Harden and the Clippers working to find a suitable deal that would send him to another team by Thursday's NBA trade deadline.
Many of those reports mention a possible trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers, swapping Harden in exchange for guard Darius Garland. Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated described discussions between the two teams as "advanced."
The Clippers play the Cavaliers in Cleveland on Wednesday.
Harden, 36, had 25 points and nine assists in 34 minutes during the Clippers' 122-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Friday but has not played in the team's two games since. The Clippers have attributed Harden's absence to personal reasons.
After the game, Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard told Joey Linn of Linn Sports media he was surprised by the Harden reports.
"I respect his decision or whoever's decision it is, and that's it," Leonard said. "I mean, he's still gonna be my boy and, you know, I trust the front office."
Clippers forward John Collins called the news "shocking." Asked by Linn if he would be disappointed to see Harden leave at this point in the season, Collins answered, "Hell yeah."
Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reports that Harden initiated the trade talks and "the Clippers were stunned to find out about him wanting out." The two sides have been discussing a possible parting for weeks, according to Siegel.
Harden is an 11-time All-Star who was named the league MVP in 2018. He has played for five teams, including the Clippers since 2023, and is averaging 25.4 points, 8.1 assists and 4.8 rebounds in his 17th NBA season.
Garland is a 26-year-old two-time All Star who has averaged 18.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and 6.7 assists during his seven NBA seasons. His contract expires in the summer of 2028. He has not played since Jan. 14 because of a Grade 1 sprain of his right big toe.
The Clippers were 6-21 after a 122-101 loss to Oklahoma City on Dec. 18. Since then, however, they have won 17 of 22 games to pull into a potential play-in spot (ninth place) in the Western Conference playoff standings.
Lue was asked Monday if Harden was someone he would like to continue to have on the team for a possible playoff run and beyond.
"Who wouldn't want to have James Harden?" Lue said.
It’s just after 3:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday. So we are within 48 hours of the NBA trade deadline and although there have been two trades, only one a blockbuster. That one between the Grizzlies and Jazz starts a tank in Memphis and a move toward contention in Utah.
The two others are more common place at the deadline, one is to fill holes, the other to manage cap space.
None has a direct or short term effect on Brooklyn although the Grizzlies could soon fall deeper in the lottery after dumping Jaren Jackson Jr. Right now, the Grizzlies are in ninth, six games back of the Nets. It’s hard to imagine Memphis getting much closer with the Nets sinking deeper and deeper but Memphis will no doubt pick up more ping pong balls.
Also, over the long term, the Grizzlies now have a significant cache of assets to work with going forward. They have 12 first round picks, compared to the Nets 13, nine tradeable firsts compared to 10 for the Nets. The Nets cache of firsts looks at the least for the moment, the cleaner of the two with fewer protections and swaps. The Grizzlies have eight seconds as well, a compared to as many as 20 for the Nets. Memphis does have a $28.5 million trade exception, the largest in NBA history that won’t expire for a year. .
The other trades revealed so far is a three way deal among the Bulls, Timberwolves and Pistons and salary dump in Boston. The latter would seem to eliminate the long-held rumor the Celtics and Day’Ron Sharpe. Instead they’ve gone with Nikola Vucevic.
Here’s Shams tweets announcing the deals…
BREAKING: The Memphis Grizzlies are trading star forward Jaren Jackson Jr., John Konchar, Jock Landale and Vince Williams Jr. to the Utah Jazz for Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang and three future first-round picks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/ax6oQpZx0S
Just in: Chicago, Minnesota and Detroit have agreed to a multi-team deal that sends Jaden Ivey and Mike Conley Jr. to the Bulls and Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric to the Pistons, sources tell ESPN. Detroit also receives a 2026 first-round protected swap from Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/pgxqr1WT90
BREAKING: The Chicago Bulls are trading center Nikola Vucevic and a second-round pick to the Boston Celtics for Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/aScaobfZmv
We’ll be updating as things go along but when the Nets start getting involved, we will of course post separate stories, analysis, trade grades, the usual.
As of now, there’s little indication that the Nets are much interested in big deals. Their interest in Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t even rise to the level of making calls to Milwaukee, Brian Lewis reported Monday and it appears that the Nets aren’t interested in moving Michael Porter Jr. or Nic Claxton. Instead, word from everyone from Shams Charania to Michael Scotto to Jake Fischer is that Sean Marks & co. hope to parlay a top pick in the 2026 draft into bigger moves and some level of contention in 2026-27.
The trade rumors surrounding Rangers star Artemi Panarin are narrowing down ahead of Wednesday's Olympic roster freeze at 3:00 p.m.
Panarin has been sitting out for "roster management" since Jan. 28 so New York can protect his trade value while the team continues its "retool" process. He last played this season on Jan. 26., and had recorded 57 points (19 goals, 38 assists) over 52 games up to that point.
With the 34-year-old having a no-movement clause in his contract (which he's in the last year of), he has full control of where the Rangers and general manager Chris Drury can trade him.
According to The Athletic's Vince Z. Mercogliano, Panarin's list of potential trade destinations is at six teams. His top choices, if the two sides can agree to a contract extension, are the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning. Mercogliano notes that it may be hard for either the Panthers or Lightning to meet his financial ask on the extension, but the Lightning may be trying to make something work.
The two teams with more salary cap flexibility that would be able to offer Panarin an extension are the Carolina Hurricanes and Los Angeles Kings. Meanwhile, both the San Jose Sharks and Washington Capitals are said to have the "most appealing assets to offer in return" to the Rangers.
Drury announced on Jan. 16 that the team plans to be very active ahead of the trade deadline amid their disappointing season. New York was 20-22-6 at the time of the letter to fans and is currently 22-28-6 (50 points) and in last place in the Metropolitan Division.
The "retool" already started last week with the team sending defenseman Carson Soucy to the Islanders in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick, and it appears that Panarin will be next, ending his seven-year tenure with the franchise.
MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 15: The sneakers worn by Pelle Larsson #9 of the Miami Heat during the game against the Boston Celtics on January 15, 2026 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. 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 Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 1: Deandre Ayton #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the New York Knicks on February 1, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers started a trend in the preseason with poor third quarter play, which has continued into the regular season.
During their current road trip, the Lakers were outscored by 20 to start the second half against the Cavs, en route to a blowout loss. Two games later, they blew a first half lead to the Knicks and lost by double figures.
After the defeat, Deandre Ayton made it clear that the team’s poor play after halftime is a problem and one the team knows about.
“Most definitely got to sharpen up the third quarter,” Ayton said. “We don’t want to make that a habit. I’ll say we confronted it as well after this game. After a big game like this, we definitely pointed that out as one of our things we need to pick up and just come together collectively and be accountable.”
It’s a positive that the Lakers talked about this issue and called it out, but this late into the season, it’s actions over words.
While recent third quarter troubles have been loud, it’s been a season-long trend. The Lakers have a plus-minus of -67 in the period, their worst quarter. The good news is the Lakers have been great in the closing quarter. They are +108, which is the best in the NBA.
If they can fix these third quarter problems, that should set them up for success, leading to more wins. And, in a highly competitive Western Conference, that could be the difference between having homecourt in the opening round or being a play-in team.
So, whether it’s Redick emphasizing focus for the third quarter, Luka Dončić getting players involved right away or a change in the lineup to get an injection of offense, the Lakers have to do whatever needs to be done to go from a good first half to a solid second half start.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 19: Jaden Ivey #23 of the Detroit Pistons handles the ball against the Boston Celtics at Little Caesars Arena on January 19, 2026 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. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Pistons get: Kevin Huerter, Dario Saric, first-round pick swap with Wolves
Wolves get: Tax relief
Minnesota gets out of the first apron with this deal and significantly trims its luxury tax bill. The Bulls get a look at a former top-5 pick in Jaden Ivey before he hits restricted free agency. The Pistons move up in the draft and get a smart offensive decision-maker with shooting potential in Kevin Huerter. Let’s grade this deal for every side.
Bulls trade grade for Jaden Ivey deal
The Bulls love targeting former lottery picks who have fallen out of favor with their current team. It worked out decently well for Chicago with Josh Giddey and Jalen Smith, and now they’re trying it again with Jaden Ivey. Ivey was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2022 draft, but his career took a detour when he broke his fibula during a terrifying play on New Years Day 2025. Ivey was sidelined for until late Nov. and hasn’t looked like himself since coming back, which is understandable after such a serious injury.
Can Ivey get his burst back? He showed elite speed coming out of Purdue and in his early days with the Pistons. He has struggled to beat players off the dribble upon his return this year, and it feels like he needs his top gear back to make this worthwhile for Chicago. It’s absolutely possible that Ivey can return to form with more time, but it’s still a risky bet as he enter restricted free agency this summer. Huerter was actually playing good ball for Chicago despite a shooting slump, and graded out as better than Ivey in advanced metrics like EPM, RAPM, and Darko.
Ivey has looked a little improved as a shooter based on where he was at coming out of Purdue. He made 41 percent of his threes on 8.2 attempts per 100 possessions last season in 30 games before the injury. This year he’s made 37.2 percent of his threes on 9.8 attempts per 100 possessions from three. Ivey’s defensive impact has never been there off the ball, but he’s decent on the ball. He’s never had a season where he’s scored at above league-average efficiency in the NBA, but he’s been close both last year and this year.
The biggest question with Ivey is his health, which makes sense after such a wild injury. He turns 24 years old later this month, and he’s due for a new contract in restricted free agency. Are the Bulls choosing Ivey over Coby White or Ayo Dosunmu? Ivey has never been as good as either player in the NBA yet. It would make sense for the Bulls to sell on one of them if they’re going to resign Ivey. Dosunmu has more trade value, but the team would probably like to keep him around. It would take a pretty big bounce-back for Ivey to be better than the peak version of White, but the Bulls haven’t had the peak version of White this year as he’s battled a calf strain.
Ivey and Josh Giddey are an interesting fit in the backcourt together, but ultimately I’m not super high on it because neither player is a plus defender or plus shooter. Ivey’s speed (if it returns) pairs well with attacking off Giddey’s playmaking theoretically. Ivey will not have White’s volume shooting, or Dosunmu’s defense. I’m skeptical this is a winning backcourt for Chicago long-term, but they didn’t give up too much in this deal. I’d guess the Bulls resign Dosunmu and Ivey, and trade White. Ivey has major scoring potential if he can get back to 100 percent physically, but will the Bulls have the spacing to open up driving lanes for him if he’s sharing the floor with Giddey?
The Bulls feel like they have more moves to make, but this is a fine buy-low gamble for now. Getting Ivey on a team-friendly contract will be essential for Chicago this summer. Something like four years, $50 million would be good for the Bulls, but might be too low. It will be an interesting negotiation, but Chicago has the leverage to match any deal and now gets to see where Ivey is at in a bigger role at the end of this season.
Grade: B
Pistons trade grade for Kevin Huerter deal
The Pistons are cruising at the top the East, and they just threaded the needle of moving up in the draft while adding a player who can help them immediately. Detroit was never going to re-sign Ivey coming off his injury, and they couldn’t afford to let him play his way back into shape after establishing themselves as the best team in the East this season.
Huerter fits in at the end of their rotation as a smart dribble-pass-shoot decision-maker who is a much better three-point shooter than his 31 percent stroke this year would indicate. Right now, the pick swap with Minnesota would have the Pistons moving up seven spots in the first-round of the 2026 draft. That’s nice work in return for Ivey when he wasn’t part of Detroit’s long-term plans.
The Pistons still need another ball handler and probably need another forward to really secure favorite status in the East. Ivey’s value likely wasn’t that high coming off the injury, and this is a solid return for him even if it doesn’t answer all of the Pistons’ questions. The Pistons should think about swinging bigger before the deadline is over, but as a first move, this is a good one for Detroit.
Grade: A
Wolves trade grade for Mike Conley deal
This trade is all about the luxury tax for Minnesota:
Minnesota will see their luxury tax bill drop from $24M to $3.8M.
They are now under the first apron and $3.8M above the tax.
Moving back in the draft to cut the tax bill isn’t the end of the world. Minnesota is rumored to be after Giannis, and this makes another big move more possible.
The Memphis Grizzlies have made a deal to ship one of their stars, but it might not be the one you’re thinking.
The Grizzlies are reportedly sending forward Jaren Jackson Jr., the two-time All-Star and 2018-19 Defensive Player of the Year, John Konchar, Jock Landale and Vince Williams Jr. to the Utah Jazz for three first-round draft picks as well as Walter Clayton, Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks and Georges Niang.
It’s a significant trade, and one that might point to point guard Ja Morant potentially being moved before the NBA trading deadline Thursday, Feb. 5 at 3p.m. ET.
Here are grades for the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade:
Memphis Grizzlies
They’ve been languishing in the West and simply do not look like a team that’s in position to compete. Memphis is 19-29 and has lost 13 of its last 17 games. So if general manager Zach Kleiman and coach Tuomas Iisalo feel it’s time to either rebuild or stash draft capital to try to make a bigger move, it makes complete sense to sell high.
While Clayton is an intriguing rookie, this move is all about the first-round draft picks. Memphis now gets the more favorable 2027 selection (among the Cavaliers, Timberwolves or Jazz), but the Grizzlies are now holding 13 first-round picks over the next seven NBA drafts. That’s a massive stash that the team could leverage into trades for established stars, or for trades up in these drafts to select some of the top available players.
It will also give Memphis plenty of opportunities to select prospects, helping it build a young core for the future.
This move aligns with the team’s previous trade of Desmond Bane to the Magic. In fact, getting seven first-round picks for Jackson and Bane is a stellar haul. Now, the Grizzlies need to put that draft capital to work and they need to hit with those picks.
Grade: A-
Utah Jazz
Was this an overpay? Perhaps, but the first-round picks are pretty much the going rate for established veterans with some star potential. Jackson is only 26 and is a versatile forward who is already in his eighth season in the league and who can also play center. Though his shooting splits and scoring have taken a dip this season, Jackson still averages 19.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.0 steals per game.
Jackson instantly provides an upgrade in the frontcourt and probably means Jusuf Nurkić will take on a smaller role, if he’s not eventually dealt. And, when paired with stretch forward Lauri Markkanen, the Jazz suddenly have a solid duo down low.
And, if the Jazz keep Walker Kessler, who’s out for the season with a torn labrum, that gives Utah a ton of size in the future.
Still, Utah remains a very young team, though the hope is that Jackson can provide some veteran leadership for young players like Keyonte George (22 years old), Cody Williams (21) and Ace Bailey (19).
The Jazz, however, have lost six consecutive games and are just 15-35, which is 13th in the West. This trade probably doesn’t elevate them to the play-in window in a very tough conference. But it may help set them up for future success.
Happy NBA trade deadline week! With this year’s NBA Trade Deadline approaching this Thursday at 2:00 PM central, there’s no shortage of trade rumors going around, and even though a deal seemed to be unlikely, Brett Sigel with ClutchPoints.com reported that the Rockets have had interest in acquiring another center.
“With Steven Adams out for the year due to a severe ankle injury, the Houston Rockets are left with Clint Capela as their only backup big man behind Alperen Sengun. The Rockets, who are $1.2 million away from their first-apron hard cap, have been searching the market for a low-cost, experienced center for extra depth. Keep an eye on Philadelphia’s Andre Drummond for Houston,” said Sigel.
Sigel continues saying “A trade involving Andre Drummond before the deadline appears likely, as the veteran center has fallen behind Adem Bona and small-ball center Dominick Barlow in the Sixers’ rotation. Drummond is making $5 million on an expiring salary and presents the clearest path to moving below the tax. Amid Steven Adams’ season-ending injury, the Houston Rockets are a team league sources indicated have a level of interest in Drummond.” So far this season, Drummond has made 37 appearances. He is averaging 6.8 points and 8.7 boards in 19.6 minutes per game.
Houston has multiple tradeable contracts such as Jae’Sean Tate, Aaron Holiday, Josh Okogie, Steven Adams himself, and even Tari Eason, after neither Tari nor the front office was able to come to terms on an extension, leaving him as an unrestricted free agent this summer. Additonally Houston could sweeten the deal with a first or second round pick. However, personally, I do not see Houston trading Okogie as he has been a huge depth piece for this Rockets team so far.
With all that said, only time will tell to see if Houston will make a move.
The Rockets will be back in action Wednesday at Toyota Center with a 7:00 p.m. tip-off time. As always you can find both post and pre game coverage here at the DreamShake.
