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The Wednesday morning ESPN story did more than shed further light on the notorious Buss family drama. Or how former Lakers controlling owner and current governor Jeanie Buss has felt about star forward LeBron James in the past.

Buss issued a statement to The Athletic after the story was published, stating she has appreciated James’ contributions to the franchise over the last eight seasons after the story detailed private dissatisfaction she’s had with James, or the narrative surrounding him, especially over the last few seasons. 

But the story also brought back to the forefront what’s been a question within NBA circles for a while, especially since the summer: What will James’ future look like, and what will his future bring beyond the 2025–26 season? 

James’ playing career, and the speculation surrounding it, has been a major talking point these last few years, after he hinted at possible retirement following the 2022–23 season. 

And James’ agent Rich Paul, CEO and founder of Klutch Sports Group, only fueled that fire when he issued a statement saying, in part, that James would be monitoring the Lakers’ offseason moves and whether they would be in the position to contend for a title after James opted into his $52.6 million salary for 2025–26. 

James hasn’t directly addressed how he feels about the Lakers’ roster outside of saying during the Sept. 29 Media Day, “I’m excited about getting to work, and I’m excited to see what we can do.” And he brushed off a question when asked last month about the Lakers’ playoff aspirations.

But with the Lakers entering Wednesday with a 26–16 record and sitting at No. 5 in the Western Conference standings after Tuesday’s road win over the Denver Nuggets, the timing of the ESPN story and the trade deadline two weeks away, James’ future is back in the spotlight.

So it’s time to make one thing clear: James will likely be with the Lakers beyond the Feb. 5 trade deadline. He has a no-trade clause in his contract, meaning he’d have to request and approve a trade to another team.

And even though, at times, James being on the Lakers has felt like a partnership between the two sides, he’s been consistent with reaffirming his desires to stay with the franchise during critical periods. 

And they’re about to enter another crucial moment of truth this offseason. 

Since the summer, many non-Lakers league personnel have spoken on their belief that James won’t be on the Lakers beyond this season, assuming he doesn’t retire (an unlikely scenario). They expect the Lakers to move forward with Luka Dončić as the centerpiece of the franchise; Austin Reaves as the second star after he’s expected to sign a significant contract during the summer; and for the Lakers to capitalize on the “optionality” they could have during the summer. 

But the obvious follow-up question is the one that doesn’t get good-enough answers: if James isn’t on the Lakers next season, where does he go?

The Golden State Warriors? There isn’t a viable trade available to make it work. 

The Dallas Mavericks? It’s clear they’re fully entrenched in the Cooper Flagg era.

Outside of the Lakers, the only other teams floated around are the New York Knicks and a possible third tenure with the Cleveland Cavaliers for James’ retirement tour. 

But when James’ future is brought up in these discussions, there’s also another reality that’s acknowledged: James likely doesn’t know what his future will hold, either. 

And even though many signs point toward the four-time league MVP not wearing the purple and gold beyond 2025–26, his options beyond this season feel more limited than most would think. 

As the Boston Celtics closed out the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night, Sam Hauser showcased a move rarely seen from the veteran sharpshooter.

Hauser used a Neemias Queta screen to cut to the left corner, caught a cross-court inbound from Derrick White, pump-faked, spun right, and sank a mid-range jumper over Indiana’s Pascal Siakam. The oohs and ahhs came pouring in from TD Garden while Hauser played it off cool. Not because he didn’t expect it, but because he’s been expanding his offensive repertoire beyond the 3-point line.

“I know I’m capable of doing other things than shooting a three,” Hauser told reporters, per NBC Sports Boston. “(Shooting) is just what I’m asked to do the most, and that’s how I started to get on the floor in Boston. I tried to run with that and become as great of a shooter as I can each and every day, while also building off of it — because the next phase to a shot is a shot fake and a drive.”

Typically, most of Hauser’s field goal attempts have come from beyond the arc. On Saturday night against the Atlanta Hawks, he set the NBA’s all-time record for most 3-pointers attempted (21) without a single 2-pointer, falling one short of Boston’s franchise record of 11 makes. Eight times this season — including Wednesday night’s 119-104 win over Indiana — Hauser has drained five or more threes, with the Celtics going 7-1 during those performances. But that’s just part of what he’s honed to improve his compatibility with Boston’s offense this season.

To make sure the Celtics can get the most out of him on that end of the floor, Hauser is working to master that “next phase” and increase the difficulty of defending Boston’s movement-heavy offense.

With nine seconds on the shot clock, it’s easy to misread Hauser’s pull-up mid-range jumper as experimental rather than a skill he’s genuinely looking to add. However, he intends to normalize it from time to time, even if it’s antithetical to the typical role for his archetype.

“I know I’m capable of it, and when it presents itself, I try to take advantage,” Hauser told reporters.

Hauser made his 14th start in 42 appearances this season, playing alongside Jaylen Brown, Payton Pritchard, White, and Queta. That combination has logged 21 games together, producing a 129.8 offensive rating and a 109.4 defensive rating — both higher than Boston’s season averages — while shooting 61.2% on effective field goals, which clears the league average.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, even without the numbers in front of him, has taken note of how effectively that rotation has performed and what Hauser adds to it.

“Sam’s ability to play two-way basketball and defend at a high level allows us to spread the floor and play a little offensively,” Mazzulla told reporters, per NBC Sports Boston. “We have to be able to go to a bunch of different lineups, but that one is playing well so far.”

In adapting to the 2025-26 version of Mazzulla’s offense, Hauser has had to bring more to the table. Rather than lingering on the perimeter, he’s constantly in motion — making cuts, navigating off-ball screens, and doing all the little things that usually go unnoticed to hunt the most efficient looks, even when he’s not the one taking the shot.

“It’s not just the shot-making,” Mazzulla told reporters. “It’s the ability to make 2-on-1s, get defenders to overreact, and not leave his body. So the shooting is important, but so are the screening and spacing, which help him and also help the team.”

Hauser’s unexpected choice to pass up the three and pull up for a mid-range jumper over Siakam came directly from Boston’s offensive principles. Five of his six made shots Wednesday night came off space created by either Queta or Luka Garza, and none were traditional pick-and-rolls with Hauser handling the ball. Each shot was assisted by premier playmakers like Brown, White, and Anfernee Simons, who worked off screens while Hauser cut to openings, ready to catch and fire.

It’s a scheme that keeps everyone in constant motion, fully engaged, and contributing even without touching the ball — and Hauser is a critical component.

“It starts with Neemi setting a great screen, and sometimes it’s hard when they’re pressuring like that,” Hauser told reporters. “But we have such dynamic ball-handlers that they’re able to create an advantage even when the screen is not even there, which makes it easier to get on the back-end of the play, get open, and get to space. You just have to adjust and take what the defense gives you in the moment if they’re switching up the coverage.”

The start of the new year has been excellent for Hauser, thanks in large part to his ability to mesh with Boston’s offensive system. Since Jan. 1, he’s shooting 52% from the field and 48.2% from three, averaging 14.5 points and 4.4 rebounds. This version of Hauser may have been born out of necessity, given Boston’s shorthanded roster without Jayson Tatum. Still, it’s an upgrade that has allowed him to flourish and showcase a 2.0 version of his game that wasn’t visible in previous years.

Hauser’s 17 points against the Pacers extended his streak to four consecutive games with 15-plus points.

“Sam has been great,” Brown told reporters, per NBC Sports Boston. “Sam has developed as a basketball player. He’s had a couple of plays this year where he’s run off the line, put the ball on the ground, and get to a mid-range or sneak a layup in. So we just got to keep encouraging that.”

The Miami Heat head to the Pacific Northwest this evening to visit the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center.

Portland is riding a three-game winning streak, and my Heat vs. Trail Blazers predictions will explain why they will extend that unbeaten run to four. 

Read more in my NBA picks for Thursday, January 22. 

Heat vs Trail Blazers prediction

Heat vs Trail Blazers best bet: Trail Blazers moneyline (-120)

The Portland Trail Blazers are exceeding expectations this season, sitting in a Play-In spot with a 22-22 record. 

They’re 8-2 in their last 10 contests, and they’ve notched wins against the Hawks, Lakers, and Kings over the last week. Two of those victories have been at home, and the Blazers own a 12-10 record at the Moda Center. 

The Miami Heat, meanwhile, are just 8-14 on the road, and they’ve gone 4-6 across their previous 10 outings.

Portland is playing like a confident group, and they will get the job done again tonight. 

Heat vs Trail Blazers same-game parlay

Bam Adebayo is having a solid campaign, averaging 17.2 PPG. The Heat big man has been on a different level as of late, though, cashing the Over in points in four of his last five appearances. 

Donovan Clingan leads the Blazers in rebounds with 10.9 per contest. While he’s only cashed the Over once in his last five contests, there’s reason to believe he could have a massive game down low. 

The Heat are considered an easy matchup for opposing centers, allowing over 15 rebounds per contest. They’re also Bottom 5 in the league overall in boards allowed. 

Heat vs Trail Blazers SGP

• Trail Blazers moneyline
• Bam Adebayo Over 18.5 points
• Donovan Clingan Over 12.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: Sharpe is on point

Shaedon Sharpe has drained Over 2.5 triples in back-to-back games, and he’s averaging 2.3 makes at home for a 37% clip. 

Heat vs Trail Blazers SGP

• Trail Blazers moneyline
• Bam Adebayo Over 18.5 points
• Donovan Clingan Over 12.5 rebounds
• Shaedon Sharpe Over 2.5 threes

Heat vs Trail Blazers odds

• Spread: Heat +1.5 | Trail Blazers -1.5
• Moneyline: Heat +100 | Trail Blazers -120
• Over/Under: Over 239.5 | Under 239.5

Heat vs Trail Blazers betting trend to know

The Trail Blazers have hit the Moneyline in 24 of their last 40 games at home (+14.30 Units / 27% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Heat vs. Trail Blazers.

How to watch Heat vs Trail Blazers

Heat vs Trail Blazers latest injuries

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

The Knicks responded to their worst skid in recent memory with a 120-66 victory over Brooklyn, snapping a 2-9 stretch that had their fanbase at DEFCON 1. A Karl-Anthony Towns trades, a head coach firing -- nothing was off the table.

While Wednesday’s win won’t cure all their ailments, it was Exhibit A in the argument for not panicking and blowing up the season with a drastic change. As bad as things have looked, an impulsive move could easily make things much worse than they ever really were.

It would help to diagnose the Knicks during this abysmal month, but nobody has come up with a good answer. Part of the reason is that there’s no singular problem, or even group of them -- the entire team has underperformed dramatically.

This should have given fans more pause before trying to remedy an issue they didn’t understand. Contending teams don’t just collectively fall apart. It would take something that impacted the whole roster. Fatigue and loss of focus post-NBA Cup are likely factors, having impacted previous Cup winners, and judging by the Knicks’ energy in some of these losses.

Many speculated about a chemistry blowup or major disconnect with the coach. Although certain moments looked bleak, the Knicks were without Jalen Brunson for some of these games, and they definitely put in some solid efforts that were in vain.

Even if something was fractured in the locker room, that’s not an unfixable problem. And folks seemed to forget how long the positive bullet points run on this team’s resume in just 11 games of poor play.

They won over 50 games last season and came within two games of the NBA Finals, mounting two major comebacks against the reigning NBA Champions and topping the team that’s now first in the East. Before this fall-off, the Knicks had one of the best point differentials in the league and were handily in the East’s second seed, plus Cup Champions as mentioned.

Even if you didn’t believe in this team's makeup and thought this losing streak meant it was time to blow it up, the potential pivots fans are posing would not turn things around.

One was firing Mike Brown, not a year after firing Tom Thibodeau, which was in itself a controversial move. Not giving his replacement a shot to break through his first adversity with the team would be laughable.

What would the move be then? Conduct a coaching search midseason or run with an unproven interim, and make further system tweaks when these changes supposedly disrupted the team in the first place?

Only four NBA teams have won a championship after switching coaches midseason. It’s not impossible, but it’s certainly not prudent. Neither would be trading Towns.

Yes, he’s in the midst of one of his worst seasons and doesn’t look comfortable. But his value is at a low point right now, and he’s already proven his worth when locked in. We’re not a year removed from Towns saving the Knicks’ playoff run with an all-time clutch Game 4 in Detroit and huge Game 3 in Indiana during a strong postseason for the big man.

Even with that, some can’t get behind a defensive core, including Towns and Brunson, or his up-and-down emotions. So be it. But trading Towns when his production is in the pits and everybody’s maneuverability is stymied, is malpractice when New York can just wait for the offseason to make a decision.

At worst, he continues imploding, and you at least have more suitors in the summer. Or he turns it around, and may end up being a slightly better option than a 35-year-old Jrue Holiday or Jerami Grant.

Even with the rough play of Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, it’s comical coming up with mock trades for them since they’re still easily two of the best 3-and-D wings you could conceivably play next to Brunson.

Ultimately, there’s too much evidence of this being able to work, and so little of it going this terribly wrong to believe the right move here is the biggest, most drastic one. Luckily, it’s Leon Rose in the front office and not the 22-year-old playing him in 2K, as from all indications it looks like cooler heads are prevailing.

The Philadelphia 76ers split their recent home games against the Indiana Pacers and Phoenix Suns. Now, they’ll look to bounce back against one of the tougher opponents on the schedule in the Houston Rockets.

Houston has put together a unique and dynamic roster. They added a marquee name in Kevin Durant, who is putting up some of the best numbers of his career from both a scoring and efficiency standpoint. But the Rockets’ identity goes beyond Durant. They’ve built a frankly massive team across the board.

Amen Thompson has been starting at point guard, standing at 6-foot-7 with a huge frame. The Rockets have rotated starters depending on matchup and availability, but the core usually includes Durant, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., and another big wing such as Tari Eason or Josh Okogie.

Thompson has taken steps as a playmaker, but he’s far from a traditional point guard. And as the starting lineup suggests, this is far from a traditional team. There really hasn’t been a roster constructed quite like this in the modern NBA. Houston has found success overwhelming teams on the glass, creating extra possessions through offensive rebounds and second-chance opportunities. That’s an area where the Sixers could struggle in this matchup.

On the flip side, that same unconventional makeup has also led to issues. The Rockets have dropped games they probably shouldn’t have, and their offense can bog down and become stagnant at times. The size and inconsistent shooting have allowed teams to crowd Sengun, who doesn’t always have the spacing needed to operate comfortably. Reed Sheppard is an important piece for floor spacing, but inconsistencies on both ends and head coach Ime Udoka’s rotations have kept him from having the impact the team likely hoped for in his second year.

As many know, the Sixers are a guard-centric team that typically plays smaller lineups. That makes this matchup a true clash of opposing roster builds. Tyrese Maxey is coming off a rough stretch, shooting 7-of-25 from the field and struggling in the recent games against Cleveland. This figures to be another tough test, as the Rockets have no shortage of long, physical wing defenders capable of making life difficult for him. On top of that, their size and length can bother him around the rim and shrink driving lanes when help arrives.

This matchup will also test Maxey’s running mates, Joel Embiid and Paul George, both of whom are likely to return. For Embiid, Sengun presents a physical matchup as a mobile big who can score and create from the perimeter. For George, he’ll likely see plenty of Durant on the other end, which needs little explanation. It’s also likely that Kelly Oubre Jr. sees extended time matched up against the future Hall of Famer.

For the Sixers, Embiid is listed as probable while managing an ankle issue, while George is questionable with knee injury management. Houston will be without Steven Adams, who is sidelined with an ankle sprain, and Fred VanVleet as he continues his recovery from an ACL tear. Aaron Holiday, who has taken on extra minutes in the backcourt, is also questionable heading into this matchup.

The Rockets are a talented team in a crowded Western Conference, and this won’t come easily. Still, if the Sixers can pull it off, it would mark another important win against a legitimate opponent. Beyond that, they need to start taking care of business at home if they want a comfortable path to the postseason. This game could be a chance to finally get things moving in the right direction.

Game Details

When: Thursday, January 22, 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers