The NBA trade deadline is at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, and we have you covered on all the buzz around the league as the 2025-26 season heats up.
Trae Young‘s move from the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards on Jan. 7 kicked off trade season, but there should be more drama ahead of the deadline. Giannis Antetokounmpo could be the next star on the move, as he has informed the Milwaukee Bucks that he believes the moment has come to part ways after 12-plus years together, making a trade increasingly possible
What could happen in the days before the deadline? Will the Memphis Grizzlies move on from Ja Morant after they’ve started to entertain offers? Might there be a surprise deal (or two)?
Check back here for all the trade buzz, news and reactions from our ESPN NBA insiders, with the latest info at the top:
Quick links:
Trade guide for all 30 teams
Trade tracker | Grading every deal
Trade machine | Depth charts
More trade deadline coverage
Feb. 1
The Atlanta Hawks are trading guard Vit Krejci to the Portland Trail Blazers for Duop Reath and two future second-round picks, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Sunday.
The Hawks now have seven future second-rounders at their disposal, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. The move allows them to create roster space if they decide to waive Reath as well.
Jan. 31
The Cleveland Cavaliers are trading De’Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings for Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The three-team deal also includes the Chicago Bulls acquiring Kings forward Dario Saric and two future second-round picks, sources said.
The financial impact of Paul George’s suspension
Paul George‘s 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy has on-court and financial ramifications for the Philadelphia 76ers. Because this is a suspension at the league level and not from the team, Philadelphia will receive a $5.8 million credit that applies toward salary counting against the luxury tax. The 50% credit is equal to the $11.7 million salary George will forfeit with the suspension. The 76ers are now a projected as $1.26 million above the luxury tax.
Prior to the suspension, star Joel Embiid was adamant that the 76ers should not make a cost-cutting trade to drop below the tax.
“We’ve been ducking the tax the last couple of years,” Embiid told reporters Thursday night. “So hopefully we keep the same team. I love all of the guys that are here. I think we got a shot. I don’t know what [the front office is] going to do. But I hope that we get a chance to go out there and compete because we got a good group of guys in this locker room, and the vibes are great. Hopefully we think about improving because we have a chance.”
If the 76ers were to get under the luxury tax, they would receive nearly $14 million in luxury tax distribution from the NBA after the season. George will be moved from the active to suspended list after their game against the Phoenix Suns on Feb. 7. With George on the suspended list, Philadelphia would then be allowed to sign a player. — Bobby Marks
Jan. 30
Teams are playing the waiting game, plus a player to watch
Multiple team executives echoed the same three words when speaking with ESPN about the stalled trade market: “Waiting on Milwaukee.” With the Bucks now taking calls on Giannis Antetokounmpo, the majority of teams remain in a holding pattern until there is a resolution. In the past two seasons, there have been twelve trades made before Feb. 1. This season, there has been only one.
As for other names to watch, look out for the Sacramento Kings‘ Keon Ellis leading up to Thursday. Teams value not only what Ellis can bring defensively, but the upcoming free agent is eligible to be extended for up to three years, $52 million starting on Feb. 9.
One team to monitor is the Cleveland Cavaliers. While they are restricted from taking back more salary and aggregating contracts because of the second apron, Cleveland has De’Andre Hunter‘s sizable $24 million salary to pursue trades. Jaylon Tyson‘s emergence in Year 2 has made Hunter more expendable. Tyson is averaging 18.3 points per game in Cleveland’s past 10 games. — Bobby Marks
Warriors making ‘alternative plans’ if pursuit of Giannis fails
ESPN’s Anthony Slater reported on “NBA Today” that while Golden State Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy is “making a ton of calls” in his pursuit of Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, he’s also “making alternative plans.”
“They may use this 2026 draft pick.”
Will Brooklyn trade or keep Porter?
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, appearing on “NBA Today,” discussed the market for Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline:
“I know that everybody thinks that Porter is available — that would be news to me. I have not heard that he is available. … [The Nets] could offer him, but they haven’t, to my knowledge,” Windhorst said.
Porter, who scored 38 points Thursday night in his first game in Denver since the Nuggets traded him in the offseason, is having a career year in Brooklyn. But plenty of trade speculation has surrounded the 27-year-old Porter amid the Nets’ rebuild.
What Jokic’s return means for Nuggets, West
The Denver Nuggets have exceeded all reasonable expectations since Nikola Jokic suffered a knee injury in late December, going 10-6 in games without the three-time MVP. And now they’re getting the big guy back: According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Jokic will return Friday against the LA Clippers.
Jokic’s return carries three main implications for the Nuggets — and the rest of the Western Conference.
First, it likely cements Denver’s top-six seed. Upon Jokic’s injury last month, the Western standings were so tightly packed — even now, the gap between second place and seventh place is just 3½ games — that there was a realistic concern that the Nuggets could fall into play-in territory. But because they successfully trod water without their best player and are now getting him back in the lineup, it seems highly unlikely that the Nuggets, who enter Friday’s game in third place with a 32-16 record, could end up falling that far.
Denver has played admirably in Jokic’s absence but is still a far more dominant team with him in the lineup: Jokic’s on/off differential this season is plus-16.1 points per 100 possessions, per Cleaning the Glass. Among players with at least 600 minutes, only Giannis Antetokounmpo and Lauri Markkanen have higher marks.
That connects to the second key takeaway from Jokic’s return: Instead of worrying about the play-in, the Nuggets can now set their sights on the top of the conference. The Nuggets are only half a game back of the West’s No. 2 seed (currently the San Antonio Spurs), which would bring home-court advantage through the first two rounds of the playoffs. And it’s now even in the realm of possibility that Denver could chase down the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, who are 5½ games up, given the Thunder’s relative slump over the past six weeks and the fact that the two powerhouses still have four meetings left on the schedule, including one this Sunday in Denver.
Finally, Jokic’s timely return means he’s still eligible for postseason honors and awards. Jokic has missed 16 games this season, meaning he has one more absence to spare before becoming ineligible. Whether he’ll actually reach the 65-game minimum remains to be seen, especially because the Nuggets still have seven back-to-backs on their schedule. But at least for the moment, Jokic retains the chance to win his fourth MVP award and appear on his eighth consecutive All-NBA team. — Zach Kram
Windhorst’s front-runner to land Giannis
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst went on “First Take” to discuss which teams are at the forefront of Giannis Antetokounmpo trade discussions ahead of next Thursday’s deadline:
“If there is a deal that’s going to be done before the deadline, in my belief, Golden State is the team to make that deal,” he said.
After speaking with league insiders throughout the week, Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst’s latest trip around the NBA features an East reset. What lies ahead for the Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and other contenders? What are the cases for and against each as the true conference favorite? And how could those franchises — and the Milwaukee Bucks — attack Thursday’s trade deadline?
Brian and Tim also have this update on the Giannis Antetokounmpo situation:
Three sources said they expect the trade drama in Milwaukee to stretch into the summer.
“I’m just not sure why it wouldn’t make sense to wait,” an East scout said. “They can see where the draft [lottery] is and survey their options then.”
ESPN senior reporter Ramona Shelburne went deep on the Clippers’ 16-3 stretch, trying to figure out how LA became the NBA’s hottest team. The biggest reason? Kawhi Leonard’s massive uptick in perimeter shooting.
Jan. 29
On Thursday’s edition of the “Warriors Stock Report” podcast, ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Anthony Slater break down a potential trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo and how Jonathan Kuminga fits into the Golden State Warriors‘ plans ahead of the deadline. They then cover the Warriors’ playoff outlook this season.
On Thursday’s edition of the “Howdy Partners” podcast, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon and Michael C. Wright discuss where Giannis Antetokounmpo might end up, the recent game between the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs, as well as how the Dallas Mavericks might approach Anthony Davis‘ injury and a potential return window for Kyrie Irving.
“This is about building around Victor Wembanyama, not fast-forwarding the timeline a decade,” MacMahon said about the Spurs potentially adding Antetokounmpo.
“I just I I don’t see the Spurs budging off of that. And it’s the same thing, honestly, with the Houston Rockets.”
Senior NBA reporter Tim Bontemps participated in an AMA on Reddit on Thursday afternoon. A quick excerpt:
In response to a question about Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr.’s future in Memphis, Bontemps said he believes a deal is “more likely to happen later than now.”
“But if Memphis can find a home for Ja Morant, then I think the chances of [a deal] happening increases,” Bontemps commented.
Read the full AMA here.
Don’t expect big moves from the Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs aren’t inclined to join the sweepstakes for Giannis Antetokounmpo. They made that clear last summer when Antetokounmpo’s potential availability in a trade became a topic of conversation around the league. They didn’t have any conversations with Milwaukee then, and it’s likely the club’s stance hasn’t changed now that the young Spurs are ascending into a playoff-level team.
San Antonio’s assets include seven first-round picks over the next seven years, but just three of those picks are tradable now. And the club isn’t moving talented young guards Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper in any deal. So, if the Spurs make any moves at the trade deadline, expect them to add along the periphery with a potential shooter off the bench.
Fourth-year forward Jeremy Sochan could be on the move, as he’s in the final year of his rookie deal making $7.1 million and will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. He has fallen out of the rotation, with rookie Carter Bryant taking his place.
“[He’s] a professional,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said of Sochan, when asked about the team potentially trading the forward. “When he’s got opportunities to play, he’s made the most of them. Jeremy has been here now for four years and has built a lot of equity and relationships in this organization. I’ve appreciated his approach.” — Michael C. Wright
ESPN reporter Anthony Slater wrote a story on Thursday evaluating the Golden State Warriors‘ options ahead of next week’s trade deadline. Among the revelations: Their prime target is Giannis Antetokounmpo. Here’s an excerpt from the story.
“League sources told ESPN that the Warriors have contacted the Bucks in the past week and expressed their firm interest in Antetokounmpo and their willingness to put a substantial offer on the table regardless of his calf strain and undetermined return timetable.”
Houston has a center problem, but a trade isn’t easy
The Houston Rockets are stacked with assets, including nine tradeable first-round picks (five now, but more can be moved on draft night), and given the recent announcement that reserve center Steven Adams underwent season-ending surgery on his left ankle, the Rockets could be on the hunt for help in the frontcourt. Their two-deep at center is Alperen Sengun and Clint Capela, but they can also slide Jabari Smith Jr. into that spot in some of their smaller lineups.
Houston won’t be jumping into the battle to land Giannis Antetokounmpo because it wants to remain patient in developing its young, talented squad that is poised to make a deep run in the playoffs. Kevin Durant was the Rockets’ big addition last summer, but it’s important to note that they didn’t overspend to add their go-to engine on offense.
With Adams out for the season, Houston loses some of its hardnosed identity, not to mention one of the NBA’s best screeners and offensive rebounders. The organization knows it won’t be able to bring in an exact replacement ahead of the trade deadline, but at least it can try to bolster depth at center. One problem: The Rockets are hard-capped at the first apron, so they likely would have to trade players they like to be able to add a center capable of contributing. — Michael C. Wright
ESPN senior writer Ramona Shelburne went inside the Washington Wizards‘ past, present and future Thursday for a look at their plan to get back to the playoffs. Though most of the story focuses on their belief in Alex Sarr as a budding star, there are also several notes on Trae Young, who was acquired earlier this month but hasn’t yet played for the team.
“Young holds a player option for $49 million for next season, and both sides are open to an extension, sources told ESPN. But there’s also the possibility that Young simply picks up his player option and uses next season as an evaluation period with the Wizards as well.”
Jan. 28
MacMahon: Spurs not a landing spot for Giannis
The San Antonio Spurs are not an expected team for Giannis Antetokounmpo ahead of the deadline, per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.
“I’ve been told by folks from the Spurs, “We’re not a home for Giannis,’” MacMahon said on the Hoop Collective podcast.
Windhorst: Warriors have the best package for Giannis
The Golden State Warriors have the most attractive package to offer the Milwaukee Bucks for two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
“The Golden State Warriors are a team that immediately rises to the top of the list,” Windhorst said on “NBA Today.” “As far as the teams that can make a straight up trade with the Bucks … the Warriors hold all their future draft assets, they can trade all of them.”
Golden State sits in eighth place in the Western Conference.
“They have immediate need for a star player,” Windhorst said. “This is where the discussion begins, with Golden State. Everybody else will have to try to beat a strong Golden State offer.”
What Steven Adams’ surgery means for the Rockets
Houston Rockets center Steven Adams has undergone surgery on his left ankle and will miss the rest of the season, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Adams reportedly suffered a severe sprain while defending a shot against the New Orleans Pelicans on Jan. 18.
Adams joins fellow Rockets veteran Fred VanVleet in being lost for the season. Adams’ absence will be a huge blow to a championship contender, as his impact extends far beyond his middling individual statistics (5.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game). Houston has a plus-11.8 net rating with the burly center on the floor this season — the best mark on the team. And Adams’ unique talents have powered the Rockets’ greatest strength: offensive rebounding, as they’ve grabbed 44% of their misses with him on the floor, per Cleaning the Glass. Overall, they have the highest offensive rebounding rate for any team in the 21st century, according to Stathead.
That historic performance is the reason that the Rockets — who rank just 25th in 3-pointers and 26th in turnovers — are fourth in offensive rating. Double-big lineups with Adams and Alperen Sengun were particularly potent, presenting a throwback challenge for modern defenses.
Now, though, the Rockets won’t be able to turn to that unorthodox approach in the postseason. They’ll rely more on Sengun as a lone big, as well as third-string center Clint Capela, a former starter whose playing time (11.5 minutes per game) and production (3.6 points per game) plummeted in the first half of the season. Double-big lineups with Sengun and Capela have been outscored in a small sample of 88 minutes. — Zach Kram
Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is ready for a new home ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline as several teams have made aggressive offers to the Milwaukee Bucks, who are starting to listen, league sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Wednesday.
Multiple teams have received a sense that the Bucks are more open than ever to Antetokounmpo offers between now and the deadline, league sources said.
How teams can turn one pick into multiples
A strategy teams continue to examine leading up to the Feb. 5 deadline is turning their lone tradable first-round pick into multiple first-round picks. Just last January, the Phoenix Suns traded their unprotected 2031 first-round pick to the Utah Jazz for picks in 2025, 2027 and 2029. The bet for the Jazz was that Phoenix’s distant pick would be more valuable than the three picks they were trading, which were the least favorable of Utah’s own, Cleveland’s and Minnesota’s. The Suns used one of the three picks they acquired to bring Mark Williams from Charlotte to Phoenix.
The Thunder pulled off a similar move two years ago, sending the least favorable of their own, the Clippers’ and the Rockets’ 2024 first-round pick to Dallas in exchange for the right to swap picks with the Mavericks in 2028. The Mavericks would then send the 2024 first to Washington for Daniel Gafford, helping them reach the Finals that season.
As one team executive told ESPN, trading one unprotected first for picks of lesser value is comparable to taking out an interest free loan, but paying a higher premium in the future. The teams that have one tradable first in the future include the Cavs, Lakers, Bucks and Magic. There are currently seven teams (Brooklyn, Charlotte, Memphis, Oklahoma City, Sacramento, Utah and Washington) that control 50% of the tradable firsts in the next seven years. — Bobby Marks
Sources: Cavaliers would be open to a LeBron reunion
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin wrote a story on Wednesday that explores LeBron James‘ final season in Cleveland in 2018, and how James believes that despite the internal chaos within the organization, he views it as the best season of his career. Amid James’ uncertain future in Los Angeles — he’s a free agent at the end of this season — McMenamin reports the Cavaliers would be open to a third stint with their hometown star.
“Multiple team and league sources told ESPN the Cavaliers would gladly welcome James back this summer if he wanted to return to Cleveland for his 24th NBA season and third stint with the team,” McMenamin wrote.
Jan. 27
Doc: Milwaukee is ‘rumor central’ amid deadline drama
Speaking to reporters Tuesday ahead of a game at the Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers admitted to some fatigue over the ongoing drama surrounding superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“I can’t wait until all the deadlines and stuff pass, because we’re rumor central,” Rivers said. “It’s unbelievable. Some true, some not true. I don’t know what half of it is true, but it’s a distraction, at times, for sure.”
There are nine days until the league’s trade deadline, which to this point has seen just one deal. But when social media updates the basketball world on every twist and turn of trade season, Rivers said it can wear on a team.
“It’s so much different than years ago where you just had beat writers, you didn’t have all the different stuff. [The players] know more,” Rivers said. “Hell, they know about trades quicker than us half the time now. So, it’s just different. But at the end of the day, you still got to focus on the game today, and that’s what you try to keep ’em on.”
It won’t get any easier for the Bucks without the injured Antetokounmpo, who is out with a right calf strain until after the All-Star break. The team entered Tuesday just 3-11 this season without its leader and 15-15 with him available, a far cry from the perennial championship contender Milwaukee has been for nearly a decade. That’s one of several reasons the league will continue to monitor the Bucks’ next move, whether it’s dealing away their two-time MVP, making a deal to build around him or waiting until the summer to restart the saga.
In many ways, the drama around Antetokounmpo is reminiscent of the “Dwightmare” during the 2011-12 season, when Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic were in limbo until the eve of the trade deadline, only for the center to announce he was opting into his deal and staying with the franchise. A few months later, Howard was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. — Tim Bontemps
Jokic to be reevaluated in a week
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Denver Nuggets‘ Nikola Jokic will be reevaluated “in about a week.”
“He is making great progress, he’s in the ramp-up phase of his return to play process,” Charania said on “NBA Today.” “They’re partnering and working together on weighing the team’s long-term health and success over the course of the entire season more than just him being available for postseason awards, including MVP and All-NBA.
The Nuggets are 9-5 without Jokic this season.
Bulls could have intriguing approach to trade deadline
The Chicago Bulls don’t have any superstars available at the trade deadline, but they rank among the more intriguing potential deal makers nonetheless. Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Nikola Vucevic and Kevin Huerter are unrestricted free agents after this season with varying levels of interest around the NBA, and guard Tre Jones (who’s currently out for a few weeks due to a hamstring strain) and big Jalen Smith could also be upgrades for contenders.
Yet at this point, it remains unclear how the 23-23 Bulls plan to approach the deadline. Team sources say they still have flexibility and multiple avenues they could pursue at the deadline, and they’re encouraged by their squad’s recent play in the meantime. Before a loss against the Lakers on Monday, the Bulls had won four games in a row — including over the Celtics, Timberwolves and surging Clippers — and they’re now closer to a top-six seed in the East (1.5 games back) than they are to falling out of the play-in bracket (four games ahead of 11th place).
That position means the Bulls’ results over the next week could be crucial in determining their path at the deadline — and in determining whether prospective acquirers who want the likes of White and Dosunmu will need to turn elsewhere instead. Chicago travels to Indiana on Wednesday before facing the Heat in a rare tripleheader from Thursday to Sunday, and then the Giannis Antetokounmpo-less Bucks in its final game before Feb. 5. — Zach Kram
Giannis’ outlook in Milwaukee
Regardless of whether the Milwaukee Bucks trade Giannis Antetokounmpo or keep him past next week’s trade deadline, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said Milwaukee’s focus for the remainder of the season should be improving their draft positioning. The Bucks will have the worse of their pick and the New Orleans Pelicans‘ pick in June’s draft.
“Forget about this season for the Bucks,” Windhorst said. “The tank is now on the table for them, and the tank plus Giannis is what they’re looking at.”
Could the Lakers made a deal ahead of their playoff push?
The Los Angeles Lakers are in a precarious spot as the trade deadline approaches. They’re fifth in the West and 11 games over .500 past the midway point of the season, yet they have a point differential of a measly plus-0.1 per game (meanwhile, the defending-champion Oklahoma City Thunder are in another stratosphere, hovering around plus-13).
The Lakers’ star trio of LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are all offensive maestros, yet they’ve only shared the court together for eight games this season because of cascading injuries. There hasn’t been much runway to try out L.A.’s role players around them to see which ones fit best, which ones don’t and exactly where the holes in the lineup are.
It would stand to reason for the Lakers to make moves on the margins around those three, but there has to be at least some consideration to the fact that James and Reaves are both impending free agents. Holding on to their current most coveted asset — either their 2031 or 2032 first-round pick — could be needed to use it as part of a bigger deal when the NBA business calendar turns over this summer and they’ll have more picks available to put in a package, possibly to replace part of their core.
And then there’s the great unknown of just how Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka will approach his first deadline since Mark Walter’s purchase of the team became official. For the most part, one of Pelinka’s strengths has been a willingness to complete bold deals — none bolder than the Doncic acquisition last February — but that was when there was no Walter in the picture.
In the past month, league sources told ESPN the Lakers have canvassed teams to see whether they could find a deal to send out their 2031 or 2032 first-round pick in order to get multiple firsts back for it. Being armed with more tradable picks would give L.A. more options this trade season, beyond the expiring contracts of Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent and Maxi Kleber.
A completely inactive trade deadline for a franchise that brands itself as singularly focused on championships would seem like a major miss. — Dave McMenamin
Latest on a potential Jonathan Kuminga trade
Part of the emerging problem in the NBA’s slow-developing trade market is a rash of injuries to a few players known to be available in deals. That includes Golden State Warriors wing Jonathan Kuminga, perhaps the player who most publicly wants out of his current location.
Kuminga hyperextended his left knee on a drive in Dallas on Thursday, which led to a minor bone bruise and some swelling. The Warriors sent Kuminga off their road trip back to San Francisco for treatment. Team sources said there’s some optimism he could return prior to the trade deadline and get rotation minutes before a decision is made about his future.
While the Sacramento Kings have long been Kuminga’s most interested suitor, league sources said there have been no recent traction in those talks. The Warriors have maintained no desire to absorb Malik Monk‘s or DeMar DeRozan‘s multiyear contracts in the deal, messaging to the Kings that they’d prefer an expiring contract back in a smaller-scale maneuver.
Multiple team sources have described it as less likely Kuminga is moved following Jimmy Butler‘s right ACL tear. Prior to that injury, Kuminga was a $22.5 million wing rotting on the bench, having not seen the floor for 16 straight games. Without Butler, he’s back in the mix, scoring 30 points in 30 bench minutes before the injury. There’s internal conversation that he’d get another crack at minutes post-deadline — if he’s still around. That has yet to be determined, though.
Kuminga’s salary is still very much available on the market and could be a needed puzzle piece if a larger-scale trade materializes. His desire for a fresh start is known, but so is general manager Mike Dunleavy’s unwillingness to make what he views as a bad value deal just to acquiesce to Kuminga’s wishes. — Anthony Slater
ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks on Tuesday wrote a big primer of next week’s deadline, going in depth on every team. The piece includes numerous interesting tidbits, including this part about the Boston Celtics‘ surprising season and why they could make a move soon:
“The Celtics shed over $300 million in payroll last offseason and can continue the process next week, starting with the $27.7 million expiring contract of Anfernee Simons. The guard has been a valuable reserve, averaging 13.6 points per game, shooting 40.3% from 3 and scoring a season-high 39 points in a recent win.
Rather than a cost-cutting move, Boston could also view the deadline as a chance to strengthen their roster for whenever Tatum returns.
The Celtics are over the first apron and are not allowed to use more than 100% of the traded player exception. They are allowed to use their three trade exceptions ($22.5M, $8.2M, $4.7M) because they were created after July 1.”
Jan. 26
Brian Windhorst is joined by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to go over Luka Doncic‘s performance against the Dallas Mavericks and whether the Los Angeles Lakers can make a playoff run in the Western Conference. They then move on to the New York Knicks steadying their ship despite roster concerns and whether the Philadelphia 76ers‘ Joel Embiid is an All-Star this season. They close on why Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s latest injury could be a better result for the Milwaukee Bucks this season and an update on Jonathan Kuminga‘s future with the Golden State Warriors.
ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks wrote a piece Monday on the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo and what the Milwaukee Bucks could do if they decide to solicit trade offers for the superstar forward. The piece includes a look at 10 teams that have the best assets to entice the Bucks, including the New York Knicks, to whom Antetokounmpo has been linked. Here’s what Marks wrote about the Knicks’ potential offer:
“New York’s one tradable pick likely won’t convey, so any Antetokounmpo offer will require a star.
“Like the Wolves, the Knicks are light on draft assets and heavily into the apron and its financial limitations. The Knicks’ lone non-swap first-round asset is a 2026 top-eight-protected pick that will likely stay with the Wizards in June.
“And because it is over the first apron, New York is not allowed to take on more salary than it sends out in a trade. That would leave the front office with the option of swapping Karl-Anthony Towns straight up or packaging a combination of OG Anunoby, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges. (Note: Bridges cannot be traded until Feb. 1.)”
Jan. 24
Why the 76ers must make a roster move before Monday’s game
The Philadelphia 76ers have a decision to make with their roster. Because of an obscure rule in the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, two-way players Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker are currently not allowed to play in another game this season despite each having been on the active list for 50 or fewer games, the maximum allowed.
The rule will be enforced starting Monday at Charlotte. The “Under-Fifteen Game” rule states that for teams carrying fewer than 15 players on standard contracts, two-way players can be active for a total of only 90 games. Barlow, Walker and recently waived Hunter Saliss have played a combined 90 games for the 76ers this season. The 76ers can get around this rule by using their open roster spot to convert Barlow or Walker to a standard contract or by signing a player to a 10-day contract to get their roster to 15.
Barlow has started 30 games this season, averaging 8.2 PPG and 5.1 RPG. He had a career-high 21 points on Dec. 20 against Dallas and has grabbed at least seven rebounds in 11 games. Walker, who was a second-round pick by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2022, is averaging 3.9 PPG in 40 games, including six starts. — Bobby Marks
Note: The 76ers signed Charles Bassey to a 10-day contract on Saturday night.
Ripple effects from the Antetokounmpo, Morant injuries
An already slow trade market might have taken another massive hit over the past 24 hours with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ja Morant both being sidelined with injuries through the Feb. 5 deadline.
We should find out this weekend exactly how long Antetokounmpo will be out after suffering a calf strain in Friday night’s loss to Denver, while the Grizzlies announced Saturday that Morant has a sprained elbow and will be reevaluated in three weeks.
Has Morant played his final game in a Grizzlies uniform? It’s no guarantee. The market for him has been tepid, in part because of his lack of availability; he has played in just 20 games this season and 79 total since the start of the 2023-24 season. It’s unclear if his new injury will actually impact his market, given how limited it already was.
The situation with Antetokounmpo is far different. The loss to Denver might have been rock-bottom for the Bucks, as the Nuggets entered the game without six of their top seven players and the other — Aaron Gordon — exiting at halftime. Denver dominated before a futile Milwaukee comeback at the end.
It was a lifeless performance, leading several sources monitoring it in real time to wonder what might happen as a result. To this point, Antetokounmpo has refused to publicly seek a trade from Milwaukee, and the injury could potentially remove a pressure point of him being on the court as the team loses games. And if he does miss the next several weeks, it’s easy to see the Bucks’ season already being a lost cause by then, given they are 2.5 games out of the play-in.
That could allow the Bucks to both plummet to the bottom of the standings, improving their 2026 draft pick, while putting off any potential trade discussions until the offseason — when they can see whether Antetokounmpo will be willing to commit to another extension, or seek to become a free agent in 2027.
The biggest winner from the Bucks’ continual decline might be the Hawks. Why? Atlanta will get the better of either New Orleans’ or Milwaukee’s 2026 first-round pick as part of the trade the Hawks made with the Pelicans during last year’s draft. The Pelicans are 11-36, and ESPN’s Basketball Power Index projects them to finish with the league’s second-worst record (24-58). Given the talent at the top of this draft, that could lead to a gold mine for Atlanta.
For Milwaukee, which will get the lesser of the two picks, it could also mean a top-five selection to either kick off a rebuild or give Antetokounmpo, 31, a long-term prospect to play alongside.
It makes for yet another fascinating wrinkle to monitor in Milwaukee — and is yet another factor in this potentially historically quiet trade deadline. — Tim Bontemps
After the Bucks lost the Denver Nuggets on Friday night, a game in which the team nearly overcame a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit, Giannis Antetokounmpo, the subject of weekslong trade rumors, announced he has a right calf strain and expects to miss four to six weeks.
An MRI is scheduled for Saturday.
Jan. 23
Shams: LeBron’s time in Los Angeles nearing an end
ESPN’s Shams Charania went on “The Pat McAfee Show” and discussed LeBron James‘ future with the Los Angeles Lakers.
“The reality of what we have right here is the end of a relationship in terms of LeBron James and the Lakers,” Charania said. “Whether that comes at the end of this season if LeBron James decides as a free agent to sign somewhere else or he decides to retire or he decides to come back for one more year and decide he wants to retire as a Laker … the end is near however you wanna slice it.”
Why haven’t there been many trades yet?
It is easy to blame the NBA’s apron rules for why there has so far been only one trade during the regular season. But in talking to team executives, there are four main reasons for the lack of dealmaking.
No. 1: Teams are in a holding pattern waiting to see if Giannis Antetokounmpo will ask to be traded from the Bucks, or whether the Bucks will start exploring the market for deals for Antetokounmpo. He is the best player who could potentially get traded.
No. 2: Teams that might have been expected to move off contracts at the deadline — including Boston, Philadelphia and Phoenix — are contending for home-court advantage in the playoffs. Unlike last season, when Philadelphia was sitting in the bottom of the standings and made multiple trades to drop below the luxury tax, that option is unlikely to play out this season. Phoenix, Denver and Toronto, for instance, could make minor trades to move out of the tax and not impact their roster. The three teams are less than $1 million over.
No. 3: Teams such as Dallas and Memphis are almost certainly better off waiting until the offseason to explore deals for Anthony Davis and Ja Morant, whose respective values are low right now. Davis is out indefinitely with a hand injury, and Morant returned from a calf injury on Jan. 11.
No. 4: Teams are more inclined to hold on to their expiring contracts and preserve financial flexibility in the offseason. The Bulls, Lakers and Jazz have 21 potential free agents on their rosters.
One thing to keep in mind, however, based on recent history: Teams are more aggressive the week of the trade deadline. In the past two regular seasons, 77% of the trades made occurred during the final week. — Bobby Marks
Brian is joined by ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill and Anthony Slater to break down what the Golden State Warriors do after the season-ending injury to Jimmy Butler and the future of the franchise moving forward. They then move on to discuss the state of Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, including whether it’s in the franchise’s best interest to trade him ahead of the deadline. The podcast closes with former NBA All-Star Joakim Noah joining Brian to talk about his life after retirement and his time with the Chicago Bulls.
ESPN senior writer Tim Bontemps reveals the biggest lesson each NBA team has learned over the first half of the season, including an underrated player in Golden State, real concern with a former No. 1 pick and two teams with major problems on defense.
“The Lakers have gone 13-1 in clutch-time games this season. But while that is the best win percentage in the league, that late-game success has also allowed Los Angeles to punch above its weight. Not only are the Lakers being outscored on the season, their defense is 25th in the league, ahead of cellar dwellers in Brooklyn, New Orleans, Sacramento, Washington and Utah. That’s simply not good enough to be considered a fringe contender, let alone contending for home court in the playoffs, which is why sources expect the Lakers to focus on perimeter help between now and the trade deadline.”
Read the full story.
Jan. 22
Little interest in Morant?
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst says trade interest in Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant is, for now, cold. “Between me and my ESPN colleagues, we’ve canvassed some people in the league, talked to some teams that have been linked to him, common sense-wise … we’ve not been able to identify a team that is actively pursuing him.
“That doesn’t mean there isn’t one. I don’t have all the phone logs on the Grizzlies’ books … Ja’s saying he wants to be a Grizzly. I think part of the reason he’s saying that is because he understands the marketplace right now too.”
On Thursday’s edition of “Howdy Partners,” ESPN’s Tim MacMahon and Michael C. Wright discussed the standout rookie players (Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper) this season, Reed Sheppard‘s progress, and Houston’s lack of options at the trade deadline. They then close on Anthony Davis‘ future with the Dallas Mavericks and whether a trade is possible.
“Ime [Udoka] told me they are not going to get a point guard at the deadline,” Wright said. “They said ‘Hey, the second apron is what it is’ and you didn’t have much money anyway to work with. So, there’s no help coming to get better unless it’s Fred VanVleet back for the playoffs, which we’ve talked about. It’s a goal, certainly, not a guarantee.”
Where do the Warriors stand with Kuminga?
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon went on “SportsCenter” to discuss where the Golden State Warriors stand on their trade talks for Jonathan Kuminga two weeks before the Feb. 5 deadline:
“The Warriors are going to continue aggressively trying to trade Jonathan Kuminga, but Golden State would rather make no trade than a bad trade. In other words, they’re not trying to take back salary they don’t want moving forward.”
The Lakers need help on the perimeter — can they find it before Feb. 5?
With the Los Angeles Lakers struggling to find their groove in a loaded Western Conference, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin breaks down on “SportsCenter” where the Lakers could potentially look next to help boost their standings:
“[The Lakers] need help on the perimeter. … A guy like Jonathan Kuminga, maybe he could be someone the Lakers could pursue. Maybe you could look at Andrew Wiggins down in Miami. Someone like Keon Ellis in Sacramento, De’Andre Hunter, Peyton Watson, the list goes on and on.”
Where trade talks stand with AD and the Mavs
As trade talks start to heat up around Anthony Davis and the Dallas Mavericks, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon breaks down where the All-Star, Dallas and Rich Paul stand on “SportsCenter”:
“Rich Paul, who represents Anthony Davis, has made it clear he wants his client to be traded. He believes that’s in his best interest. I don’t get the sense that AD is pounding on the door of the front office and saying, ‘Get me out of here.’ The Mavericks are exploring the market. They’re being aggressive. They’re having those conversations but they’re not acting with a sense of urgency. They don’t feel like they have to trade AD by the deadline. They don’t feel like they have to trade him this summer. If Anthony Davis is on the Mavericks’ roster to open camp next season, I don’t think anybody in Dallas sees that as a major problem.”
ESPN senior writer Tim MacMahon has a story Thursday on the first half-season of Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg‘s career, which includes this tidbit on Kyrie Irving, who tore the ACL in his left knee last March and hasn’t played this season:
“The return date of Kyrie Irving, the co-star on the Mavs’ 2024-25 NBA Finals team, as he recovers from a torn ACL suffered in early March remains to be determined. He has yet to be cleared to practice, and while Irving has made it clear that he hopes to play this season, sources anticipate that, considering the Mavs’ place in the standings, there will be discussions about postponing his comeback until next season.”
Read the full story.
Giannis’ status in Milwaukee ahead of the deadline
Following a 20-point home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder and critical postgame comments from Giannis Antetokounmpo, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst went on “First Take” to discuss Antetokounmpo’s future with the Milwaukee Bucks:
“Giannis is hard on the record, very firmly on the record that he will not ask for a trade. I got that. I understand the Bucks are on the record. Doc Rivers has said ‘We are not trading him.’ Those things are out there. I am not disputing those statements. I am not calling them not true. But I’m telling you, the entire NBA is circled around them right now. And if it’s not teams who want to trade for Giannis in the next two weeks — the deadline is two weeks from today — it’s teams that know if there’s a Giannis trade that there’s going to be offshoots of it. And that’s just the truth, Stephen A. Teams believe that this is going to end in a divorce, and probably sooner rather than later.”
The Bucks are 18-25 and sit 1.5 games outside the play-in in the Eastern Conference. How quickly could this progress?
“More likely by the hour,” Windhorst said. “Honestly, more likely by the hour. And I think really what this kind of is. Nobody wants to be the bad guy, but everybody wants the best terms.”
Jan. 21
On Wednesday’s episode of the Warriors Stock Report, ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Anthony Slater discuss Jimmy Butler‘s recent season-ending injury, Jonathan Kuminga‘s return to the Golden State lineup, and where his trade demand stands. They also cover the future of the Warriors’ lineup, potential deals and whether their window has closed.
“A name I continue to hear that has been has long been and remains of interest to them is Trey Murphy in New Orleans,” Slater said. “I think you probably know as well as I do, the Pelicans are very much signaling they don’t want to move Trey Murphy. He’s under a very good contract that they don’t have to make a decision on him now or [in] the summer. And, obviously [the Pelicans] have a hope to continue to build with with the core that isn’t succeeding there. … So, he’d have to be made available.”
Brian is joined by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to cover the impact of Jimmy Butler’s torn ACL on both his career and the future of the Warriors. They then move on to discuss the rising concerns for the New York Knicks, including the defensive struggles and overall dysfunction, before closing on the Detroit Pistons‘ season outlook and how the Toronto Raptors will approach the trade deadline.
ESPN senior writer Baxter Holmes has a story Wednesday on the dysfunction inside the Buss family, who purchased the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979 and won 10 NBA titles before the franchise was sold last summer. The story includes details on the fractured relationship between Jeanie Buss, the team’s governor since her father, Jerry Buss, died in 2013, and star LeBron James:
“Jeanie privately grumbled, people close to the team say, about what she felt was James’ outsized ego and the overt control that he and Klutch Sports, which represents both James and Anthony Davis, exerted over the organization at times.
She didn’t like that James was considered a savior for a foundering franchise when he arrived in 2018 and that it was he who chose the Lakers rather than the team’s leadership receiving praise for landing him. Team sources have been adamant for years that James’ camp informed the Lakers as early as 2017 that he was coming to join them when he became a free agent the following year.
The distance between Jeanie and James widened after the Lakers traded for Russell Westbrook in July 2021, people close to the team said. The team had made the trade in an effort to appease James, but the acquisition backfired in catastrophic fashion. L.A. went 33-49 and missed the playoffs, and James seemed to wash his hands of his role in the acquisition.
Jeanie privately bristled about what she felt was his lack of accountability and the way James would shift blame onto others after the Westbrook trade, the people said.
In 2022, in the aftermath of the Westbrook trade, multiple people said Jeanie privately mused about not giving James a contract extension and, later that year, even about trading James, with the LA Clippers floated as a possibility.”
Read the full story.
Jan. 20
Butler’s injury opens door for Kuminga return
The season-ending right ACL injury to Jimmy Butler will give Jonathan Kuminga a chance to return to the Golden State Warriors‘ lineup, sources told ESPN’s Anthony Slater.
“I’ve already been given indications that today they are exploring the idea of restarting the engines, entering Jonathan Kuminga potentially back into the rotation,” Slater said on NBA Today. “I’ve also been told that [Kuminga] will be ready if called upon, and we’ll get another chapter of this.”
Following a hard foul against center Karl-Anthony Towns during Thursday’s game, New York Knicks coach Mike Brown’s hug with Golden State Warriors Draymond Green did not “land well” with the Knicks’ locker room, sources told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
“That hug did not land well with a lot of folks in New York,” Shelburne said on NBA Today. “In that locker room, in that organization — while you can understand he might have a bond with Draymond Green — I don’t think that landed well.”
The Knicks are currently on a four-game losing streak and called a players-only meeting on Monday night.
“What I have heard is they got to make this work,” Shelburne added. “You can’t come in the season expecting Finals and have this kind of run.”
What the Butler injury means for Kuminga and Golden State?
Monday night’s confirmation that Golden State Warriors All-Star Jimmy Butler III suffered a torn ACL against his former team (the Miami Heat) made Jonathan Kuminga perhaps the most interesting question to watch leading up to the trade deadline.
As ESPN’s Bobby Marks noted, losing the 6-foot-6 Butler could make it more important for the Warriors to keep the 6-7 Kuminga, one of Steve Kerr’s few other rotation options with legitimate forward size. After all, Kerr’s explanation for Kuminga falling out of the rotation has always been his questionable fit after last season’s deal to add Butler.
At the same time, it’s worth remembering Golden State was mired below-.500 leading up to the Butler trade before the deadline last season in large part because of a problem Kuminga hasn’t proven capable of solving by himself: keeping the Warriors’ offense afloat without Stephen Curry on the court.
During 2024-25, Golden State lineups featuring Kuminga but neither Butler nor Curry ranked in the second percentile league-wide offensively and were outscored by 7.5 points per 100 possessions, according to Cleaning the Glass analysis. Butler lifted Curry-less lineups to league average offensively and a robust plus-12.6 net rating after the trade.
Butler’s absence creates two needs for the Warriors: replacing his size on the wing and his ability to generate offense when Curry rests. That might point toward trading Kuminga, perhaps along with little-used guard Buddy Hield, as a solution that allows Golden State to fill both holes.
On the plus side, the Warriors have a three-game cushion over the Portland Trail Blazers for the No. 8 spot in the play-in standings. Staying eighth or higher is crucial because it gives Golden State a chance to claim the No. 7 seed and avoid facing the juggernaut Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs.
The downside is the Warriors woke up Monday hoping to make a run up the standings — Golden State ended the day just 2.5 games back of the Minnesota Timberwolves for fourth in the West. Avoiding the play-in and potentially claiming home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs was the Warriors’ best hope of a long playoff run. Without Butler, that seems like a long shot. — Kevin Pelton
What now for Golden State after Jimmy Butler’s injury?
The news of Jimmy Butler tearing his right ACL on Monday night will not bring roster relief to the Golden State Warriors. While Butler will be lost for the regular season and playoffs, the deadline for a team to apply for the disabled player exception was Jan. 15.
If the injury had occurred before that date, Golden State would have been allowed to apply for a $14.1 million exception. The exception would have allowed the franchise to sign or trade for a player with one year left on his contract. An open roster spot and remaining below the second apron, however, is required. The Warriors have the league maximum 15 players and are $264,000 below the second apron hard cap.
With Butler out, will Golden State prioritize retaining Jonathan Kuminga, who recently requested a trade? In 152 possessions this season when Kuminga shared the court with Draymond Green and Butler was not in the game, the Warriors are minus-9.4 points per 100 possessions. In the 23-point win against Miami, Kuminga did not play even with Butler injured in the third quarter. He hasn’t played since Dec. 18.
The Warriors could also replace Butler with rookie second-round pick Will Richard. In the most recent game Butler did not play, Golden State started Richard, Green, Stephen Curry, Moses Moody and Quinten Post. — Bobby Marks
Jan. 19
Brian is joined by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to look at the Ja Morant trade market, including Morant’s recent comment that he wants to stay in Memphis. They then move on to why a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade is holding up the rest of the action ahead of the trade deadline. The guys close on the major injuries around the league, LeBron James‘ All-Star outlook and a crucial road trip ahead for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Jan. 16
ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst broke down the 10 teams to follow ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline in their weekly intel file, including big questions around Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee, Jonathan Kuminga demanding a trade out of Golden State and Anthony Davis‘ trade market in Dallas. A few excerpts:
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Antetokounmpo and the Bucks: “Milwaukee still has a first-round pick they can trade, and they’re $14 million under the luxury tax,” an Eastern Conference executive said. “I’ve seen teams make chicken salad with less.”
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The Kuminga-Warriors situation: “For a while there was an uncertainty of what it would take to get [Kuminga] under contract, and now there’s clarity there for next season,” a Western Conference executive said. “The negative is neither the team or the player have done a good job of increasing his value.”
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The Lakers’ potential deadline decisions: “They’re going to be looking for bargain deals, and they might be able to find one if they’re willing to take on long-term money,” one West general manager said. “But they probably need to make sure that player is a good fit with Luka to justify it.”
Other teams include the Toronto Raptors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies, Brooklyn Nets, Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics.
Brian is joined by ESPN’s Vince Goodwill and Bobby Marks to break down the likeliest resolution to the Jonathan Kuminga trade demand before discussing the New York Knicks‘ recent struggles and some chaotic, unheard NBA stories. They close the show on the Denver Nuggets‘ position in the Western Conference as Nikola Jokic eyes a return date.
Jan. 15
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon and Michael C. Wright discuss the Anthony Davis trade market in Dallas, his injury recovery and Cooper Flagg‘s recent injury. They then shift to Ime Udoka’s comments on Kevin Durant before closing on the San Antonio Spurs and their recent loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, including whehterh there is a weakness in Victor Wembanyama‘s game.
Following a frustrating start to the season, Golden State Warriors center Jonathan Kuminga has officially demanded a trade from the franchise, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania and Anthony Slater.
“I’m disappointed for him that things didn’t continue to go the way they did the first couple of weeks,” Kerr said recently.
Kuminga couldn’t be traded until Jan. 15 because of the contract he previously signed. The trade deadline is Feb. 5.
From Lonzo Ball to Kristaps Porzingis to Ja Morant to Michael Porter Jr., ESPN’s Bobby Marks and Kevin Pelton reveal one player on each team who could be in play as the trade landscape heats up — and how a deal could reshape each team.
Jan. 14
Warriors-Kuminga saga barrels toward a major step
Nearly three months after signing a two-year, $46.5 million contract with the Golden State Warriors, forward Jonathan Kuminga will become trade-eligible Thursday. After he started the first 12 games of the season, Kuminga’s box scores have been riddled with DNPs since — he last played 10 minutes Dec. 18 against the LA Clippers.
Kuminga waived his one-year Bird rights at the time of the signing, allowing Golden State to trade him without his approval. He has a $22.5 million salary this season and a $24.3 million team option for 2026-27. In any deal — involving Kuminga or other players — the Warriors can trade up to four first-round picks but cannot take back more salary because they are over the first apron.
Kuminga joins Sam Merrill, Davion Mitchell, Paul Reed, Ryan Rollins, Isaiah Jackson, Tre Mann, Naz Reid, Quentin Grimes, Santi Aldama and Josh Giddey as players who will become eligible to trade Thursday. Players in this group are ineligible because they signed for more than 120% of their previous contract with their own team. — Bobby Marks
Trae Young to be reevaluated post All-Star weekend
New Washington Wizards guard Trae Young is still dealing with injuries to his MCL and quad on the same leg and will be reevaluated in mid-February after the All-Star break, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Brian is joined by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to cover the Oklahoma City Thunder finally getting a win over the San Antonio Spurs this season and reestablishing control of the Western Conference. Then, following the recent Anthony Davis injury news, the crew discusses what his trade market looks like in Dallas. To close the podcast, the guys go over who is deserving of the starting spots in the All-Star Game and what to make of Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s future in Milwaukee.
Jan. 13
What we know about a potential Anthony Davis trade
The Dallas Mavericks do not feel pressure to trade Anthony Davis before the Feb. 5 deadline, multiple team sources told ESPN on Tuesday.
There is an acknowledgment that Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, who represents the 10-time All-Star, has pushed for the Mavs to trade Davis to a team with a willingness to sign him to a contract extension this summer.
However, Mavs sources are adamant that Paul’s preference is not the team’s priority as interim co-general managers Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley continue to aggressively explore the market for Davis, who is out for at least six weeks because of ligament damage in his left hand.
“Patrick [Dumont, the Mavs’ governor] is not going to sign off on a deal just to do a deal,” one source told ESPN. “Ownership doesn’t feel any pressure to do an AD deal.”
The Mavs are seeking a combination of financial relief, promising young talent and draft compensation from interested teams. Dallas’ other options include restarting trade discussions in the summer, as the Phoenix Suns did after shopping Kevin Durant before last season’s deadline, or opening next season with Davis still on the roster. Davis has a player option for the 2027-28 season.
“Patrick has no problem going into next year with a healthy AD and a healthy Kyrie [Irving] with Cooper Flagg and seeing what it looks like,” another source said. — Tim MacMahon
Is there still a market for AD?
ESPN talked to multiple teams, and there is still a belief that Davis, even with the injury, could be moved before the Feb. 5 trade deadline. Similar to the Brandon Ingram trade to the Toronto Raptors last February, teams are using the window leading up to the deadline to build out their roster for the next season. We saw this approach again when the Washington Wizards acquired Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks last week.
Davis is under contract for two more seasons, including a player option for 2027-28. Starting Aug. 6, he can sign up to a four-year, $275 million extension.
With Davis on the roster, Dallas is projected to be over the second apron next year. After the 2026 draft, the Mavericks don’t control their own first-round pick until 2031. — Bobby Marks
Multiple teams interested in Ja Morant
Both the Miami Heat and Sacramento Kings, as well as “multiple other teams,” have a level of interest in pursuing Ja Morant ahead of the trade deadline, sources told ESPN’s Sham Charania.
“Rival executives have told me the Grizzlies are seeking young players and draft picks for any potential deal that involves Ja Morant,” Charania said on “NBA Today.”
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst added on “NBA Today” that executives have told him that Morant’s value is currently not high in the league and that teams would be “buying low.”
Jan. 12
Brian is joined by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to review the state of tanking in the NBA and what measures teams are taking as well as what the league can do to fix the issues. They then move on to the trade market of Memphis point guard Ja Morant and discuss Jaylen Brown‘s fine request before closing on other key headlines around the league.
Jan. 9
Dallas Mavericks star Anthony Davis has ligament damage in his left hand that could require surgery that would sideline him for several months, sources told ESPN.
An MRI on Friday revealed the damage sustained while Davis was defending Lauri Markkanen on a drive to the basket late in Thursday’s road loss to the Utah Jazz. Sources said Davis will get second opinions to determine whether surgery is necessary.
If Davis and the Mavs choose a nonsurgical route, he is expected to miss at least six weeks, sources said.
The Memphis Grizzlies are entertaining trade offers to move on from two-time All-Star point guard Ja Morant, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania. Morant has spent his first seven seasons with the Grizzlies, but he is averaging a career-low 19 points per game this season while shooting a career-low 47% on 2-pointers and 20.8% on 3s.
Morant, who earlier this year voiced his displeasure with the team’s new coach, Tuomas Iisalo, and his substitution strategy, has struggled with injuries and off-the-floor issues over the past three seasons.
The Grizzlies are 16-21 and sit in 10th place in the Western Conference.
Brian is joined by ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill and Anthony Slater to discuss the recent Trae Young trade and the details for the Atlanta Hawks and Washington Wizards. The guys then break down the current state of the Golden State Warriors and whether this could be Steve Kerr’s last season as the franchise’s dynasty comes to an end. Finally, the trio talks about the Sacramento Kings‘ plan going forward and potential ideas for the draft lottery.
ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst examined the Atlanta Hawks‘ recent trade of Trae Young to the Washington Wizards in this week’s NBA intel file, including why each team did it, how the rest of the league is reacting to the deal and what’s next for both teams. A small excerpt:
The prevailing opinion from sources around the league was that Atlanta did well to move away from a player in Young who is both extremely expensive and plays a position, point guard, that might be the NBA’s deepest.
“I know from a value proposition why you look at it,” an East scout said. “But if I’m the Wizards, just keep being bad, and stuff will figure itself out. I’m not sure why they felt the need to do this.”
They close the intel report with potential trade options for the Dallas Mavericks‘ Anthony Davis and the Milwaukee Bucks‘ Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Jan. 8
Updates on Kyrie Irving’s return, plus AD trade destinations
On ESPN’s “Howdy Partners” podcast, Tim MacMahon and Michael C. Wright discuss their latest reporting on the Dallas Mavericks and what they’re hearing about the team’s two veteran stars. Irving, who tore an ACL in March, might be out of the lineup for at least another month, MacMahon said.
“Based on what I’m hearing, Kyrie’s not coming back before the trade deadline,” he said, before adding that he’s not sure whether Irving will play again this season.
“I know he wants to,” MacMahon said. “We’ll see if that’s in his best interest, and we’ll see if that’s in the franchise’s best interest. Those are things that need to be sorted out.”
Before the team makes any major moves, though, owner Patrick Dumont would prefer to see the core of Irving, Davis and rookie Cooper Flagg together, MacMahon said.
Still, Dallas has aggressively looked to trade the big man.
“The two primary potential destinations that have come up to this point are the Atlanta Hawks and the Toronto Raptors,” MacMahon said.
Will the Trae Young trade set the stage for Atlanta to pursue Anthony Davis?
Trading Young for CJ McCollum‘s expiring contract gives the Atlanta Hawks a financial runway to take on significant salary in future years. They have $125 million in committed salary for next season and are well below the luxury tax ($6.8 million from the threshold) and apron. They could have cap space in the summer if they elect not to re-sign Kristaps Porzingis.
If the Hawks pursue Davis in talks with the Dallas Mavericks, they have the $30.7 million expiring contract of Porzingis and would need to include an additional $22 million in money to match Davis’ $54.1 million salary and still remain below the luxury tax. They are not allowed to aggregate the $14 million salary of Corey Kispert because he was recently acquired, but they do have Luke Kennard‘s expiring $11 million salary.
A major sticking point in a potential trade could be the financial burden of extending Davis to a long-term contract. Davis, who turns 33 in March, is eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million extension on Aug. 6. The last season of an extension would pay him $76.1 million — when he will be 37. For the fifth time in six seasons, Davis is projected to play fewer than 60 games. He has played only 28 since the Mavericks acquired him last February. — Bobby Marks
Yes, the Atlanta Hawks dealing four-time All-Star guard Trae Young to the Washington Wizards has officially kick-started trade season. But will it spark more moves as the league inches closer to the Feb. 5 deadline?
As we await the second trade of the season, what else could get done? ESPN’s Zach Kram and Kevin Pelton mapped out six moves that could bolster contenders and alter the race to the postseason, and NBA front office insider Bobby Marks examines how the deals would impact each franchise’s future.
Jan. 7
The Atlanta Hawks are trading four-time All-Star Trae Young to the Washington Wizards for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, sources tell ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The trade ends Young’s stint as the face of the Hawks franchise after seven-plus seasons and sends the 27-year-old to his preferred destination in the nation’s capital to be the lead guard for the Wizards.
Why did the Hawks and the Wizards do this deal?
The Hawks found themselves in a difficult position with Young. They had three hurdles to clear to get a deal done:
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Young’s contract — $45 million this season, with a $49 million player option next season — is in the range that’s extremely difficult to move before the deadline.
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There are few teams that need a point guard, let alone could trade for a contract of Young’s size.
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Many teams have little wiggle room around the luxury tax aprons to do trades in the new collective bargaining agreement.
And yet, in the end, the Hawks were able to pull off the first trade of the season Wednesday night, agreeing to send Young to Washington.
While the lack of draft picks involved might come as a surprise — either for Atlanta not getting one or two for trading for Young or for Washington not getting one or two to take on Young’s $49 million contract next season — it’s a deal that makes sense for both sides.
For Atlanta, the situation with Young had clearly reached a point of no return, hence his absence with a quad contusion over the past couple of weeks. The team is 1-8 in games Young has finished this season and is more than 13 points per 100 possessions better on defense when Young doesn’t play. Now, the Hawks can move forward with a young core built around likely first-time All-Star Jalen Johnson.
For Washington, Young presents a franchise still in the nascent stages of a rebuild with an All-Star-caliber player and one who was acquired in an affordable deal. The Wizards also are one of the few teams that could take on Young’s contract — they had only around $85 million in salary on their books for next season — and had a need for a point guard. Now, they’ll get a big-name player to bring some buzz to a team sorely lacking in that department.
The big questions now: Will this trade kick off more deals? Or will Young wind up as the biggest name moved between now and the Feb. 5 deadline?
We learned with the Luka Doncic deal last year to expect the unexpected moving forward in the NBA at this time of year, but as of now, it feels like Young very well might be the biggest headline of trade season. — Tim Bontemps
The Golden State Warriors are “exploring all options” with forward Jonathan Kuminga ahead of the deadline, per ESPN’s Anthony Slater.
“The Warriors are at least voicing to me that they don’t have to trade him,” Slater said on “NBA Today.” “They’re exploring all options. They’re canvasing the league. My educated guess at this point would be he is traded by the deadline. But if he’s not, it’s because the value is dwindling. I think there would be many upset figures in this whole situation if he’s still here.”
Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young has said his preferred trade destination is the Washington Wizards, according to ESPN’s Sham Charania.
The franchise and Young’s agents continue to have talks about moving the All-Star ahead of the deadline, sources told Charania.
Young has a $49 million player option in the offseason that would make him an expiring contract. He could also opt out in the offseason and leave as a free agent.
Here’s a tidbit from ESPN reporter Anthony Slater’s story on the Sacramento Kings‘ past, present and future that published Monday:
“The Kings do not have interest in Hawks scoring guard Trae Young, league sources said, despite his availability.”
Slater also has a note on the Kings’ interest in Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, who met with Sacramento general manager Scott Perry over the summer when he was a restricted free agent:
“The Warriors, league sources said, are exploring the deadline landscape, and have been posturing in recent days that they would be willing to keep Kuminga past the deadline if nothing appealing materializes. But Kuminga will be available, and Perry checked in with Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy last week, sources said.
“Perry has expressed reservations about offering the same 2030 protected first-round pick that was on the table for Kuminga this past summer. The Warriors don’t want to take on a multiyear contract they view as negative value, which has made [Malik] Monk a nonstarter in these talks.”
Read the rest of the story here.
Brian is joined by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to discuss Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks‘ options as they work together on a potential trade, including the best landing spots for the All-Star. They then move on to breakdown the New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder‘s recent struggles as well as owner James Dolan’s recent comments on the Knicks. The crew closes on Kevin Durant‘s recent comments after his clutch shot and the latest round of All-Star voting.
Jan. 6
Jokic eyeing late January return
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is “working around the clock” to return as soon as possible this season, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
“I am told he has started spot shooting on the court,” Charania said on NBA Today. “The Nuggets won’t be rushing Jokic back, he’s still weeks away from a potential return. You’re looking at the end of the month as a window for [his return].”
The Nuggets are 2-2 without Jokic since the injury.
Young, Hawks looking for trade deal
The Atlanta Hawks and Trae Young are in agreement that the point guard “just doesn’t fit with the current team anymore,” per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
“Trae Young’s Hawks’ tenure is coming to an end,” Charania said on NBA Today. “He appears to be in his final days or weeks after seven-plus seasons together as the face of that franchise. … Both sides are now collaborating on trade talks out of Atlanta, turning the page, seeing where Trae Young can land to be the lead guard of a franchise elsewhere.”
Young will look for a team that will offer him an extension, per Charania.
Why Wednesday is a crucial day on the NBA calendar
Tomorrow is an important day across the league, as 18 teams have until 5 p.m. ET Wednesday to decide the fate of 31 players on partially guaranteed contracts. If a player is not waived by then, his contract for this season becomes guaranteed.
Indiana was the first team to make a move, as it opened up a roster spot by waiving Tony Bradley on Monday. Teams have prioritized roster flexibility, and these decisions could play a role in the Feb. 5 trade deadline. The open roster spot could also be important for teams converting a player on a two-way contract. For example, Detroit does not have an open roster spot to convert Daniss Jenkins and would need to waive forward Isaac Jones or make a trade to clear a spot. Jenkins and 89 players on two-way deals have the same guaranteed date as a player on a standard contract.
Not all players are on the cut bubble, however. Here are the players who are likely safe: Vit Krejci (Atlanta), Keaton Wallace (Atlanta), Mouhamed Gueye (Atlanta), Jordan Walsh (Boston), Moussa Diabate (Charlotte), Craig Porter Jr. (Cleveland), Dean Wade (Cleveland), Brandon Williams (Dallas), Javonte Green (Detroit), Trayce Jackson-Davis (Golden State), Gui Santos (Golden State), Bones Hyland (Minnesota), Mohamed Diawara (New York), Ariel Hukporti (New York), Landry Shamet (New York), Jordan Goodwin (Phoenix), Russell Westbrook (Sacramento), Keon Ellis (Sacramento) and Justin Champagnie (Washington). The $2 million contract for N’Faly Dante (Atlanta) is guaranteed even if he is waived; he suffered a season-ending injury in December.
One name not on the list is Terry Rozier (Miami), who is on unpaid leave while facing charges he helped gamblers placing bets on his performance in NBA games. As ESPN reported last month, it is unclear if the Heat will be allowed to trade Rozier’s $26.6 million contract at the deadline. If he were waived, the team would gain $1.7 million in salary relief. Miami would then be allowed to sign two players — it already has an open roster spot — and still remain under the luxury tax. — Bobby Marks
The trade deadline is a month away, and though a deal is yet to be made this season, teams are checking on players around the league with the hopes of making the right move to go on a title run.
Our insiders break down what each contender needs ahead of the deadline and plausible moves they could make.
Jan. 5
Atlanta Hawks four-time All-Star Trae Young and his agent, Aaron Mintz, are working with the franchise on a trade, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Young’s reps and Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh have started positive and collaborative talks over the past week on finding a resolution, sources said.
Davis’ preference is to stay in Dallas
Ahead of the trade deadline, Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis would prefer to stay in Dallas, per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon on NBA Today.
“[Davis’] preference would be to stay in Dallas and to get that extension this summer,” MacMahon said. “The Mavericks are trying to generate a good trade market for Anthony Davis. That is difficult because of the durability issues, and I think more so the dollars. In a situation like this, [agent] Rich Paul is going to be involved. They are going to want AD traded somewhere that is willing to give him a long, lucrative extension.”
Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young is open to a potential move ahead of this season’s Feb. 5 trade deadline, per Andscape’s Marc J. Spears. Young has only played in 10 games this season and is averaging 19.3 points and 8.9 assists per game.
“I don’t think he’s asking for a trade, but I don’t think he’s telling them not to trade him,” Spears said on NBA Today. “He’s open-minded to being moved.”
Teams can sign players to 10-day contracts beginning today
Monday marks the first day teams with an open roster spot can sign a player to a 10-day contract. The contract covers 10 days or three games, whichever is longest, and teams are not allowed to sign a player more than twice.
There are thirteen teams with available roster spots: Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland, Denver, Houston, LA Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami, Minnesota, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia and Phoenix. The Hawks and Heat are the only teams not over the luxury tax. Thirty-seven players signed 10-day contracts last season. — Bobby Marks
Brian is joined by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to discuss the Phoenix Suns exceeding expectations this season, including their latest win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night. The crew then debates if the Thunder’s chance to reach 70 wins is actually plausible this season after their recent losses before they talk about the Boston Celtics as a threat in the East and if the Philadelphia 76ers should be getting more recognition this season. Finally, MacMahon closes on his Clutch Player of the Month award.
Jan. 4
Dallas is feeling the pressure of the Luka trade in AD talks
On ESPN’s “Howdy Partners” podcast, Tim MacMahon and Michael C. Wright examine the latest in the Mavericks’ Anthony Davis trade talks — and how the team doesn’t want to extend the negative return from last February’s Luka Doncic trade.
“You’ve got this black cloud of what you gave up to get Anthony Davis,” MacMahon said, “and I’m just telling you, they’re not going to make a trade that’s going to look good on paper, when you say, ‘The Mavericks traded Luka, and a year later here’s what they ended up with.
“It’s a difficult thing when there’s this pressure to not make the worst trade in NBA history look that bad, when AD just doesn’t have that kind of value because of the durability issues and the money he makes and the money he’s going to expect on an extension this summer.
“He just doesn’t have the kind of value where you’re going to be able to get a rising young player and a package of picks,” MacMahon continued. “Honestly I’m skeptical at this point that they’re going to get an Anthony Davis trade done before this deadline.”
Jan. 2
Brian is joined by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to hand out their annual best player of the year award, the Baller d’Or. They then talk about some trade possibilities, including the potential for a slow deadline, why Giannis Antetokounmpo is the biggest trade domino and the difficulties of trading for a max contract player in the modern NBA. They close out the episode by announcing the podcast player of the year.
Dec. 31
Brian is joined by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to discuss Nikola Jokic‘s recent injury and how it will impact the MVP race this season. They then move on to potential rule changes when it comes to regular season awards and the recent first round of All-Star voting, including LeBron James‘ chances to make the All-Star team this season. The group ends on a preview of the upcoming New York Knicks–San Antonio Spurs game, a rematch of the NBA Cup final.
Dec. 30
Ripple effects of Joker’s knee injury
The Denver Nuggets will be without Nikola Jokic for at least four weeks with a hyperextended left knee, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday.
It’s nearly impossible to overstate Jokic’s importance to Denver. Even by his lofty standards, the three-time NBA MVP was in the middle of an extraordinary season: 29.9 points, 12.4 rebounds and 11.1 assists per game averages that place him in the league’s top five in points and first in rebounds and assists. When Jokic has been on the court this season, the Nuggets are plus-12.3 points per 100 possessions, per NBA.com/stats. When their center sits, the Nuggets are minus-6.3, with an offense that would rank 27th in the league.
2:39
Do the Knicks need Giannis to win a ring?
Monica McNutt and Vincent Goodwill debate whether trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo would make the Knicks strong enough to win a championship.
Denver can slide in summer acquisition Jonas Valanciunas, but he’s not a starting-quality center at this point in his career. There isn’t much depth behind him. The Nuggets, meanwhile, had already entered Monday’s game missing three starters, with Christian Braun (ankle), Aaron Gordon (hamstring) and Cameron Johnson (knee) all sidelined. Nuggets coach David Adelman told reporters before Monday’s loss that Braun and Gordon could return during Denver’s current seven-game road trip, while Johnson is out for at least another three weeks.
Beyond the immediate impact on Denver’s lineup, there are more ripple effects from Jokic’s injury:
MVP and award races: Jokic has finished first or second in MVP voting each of the past five years. This injury virtually guarantees that streak will end. If Jokic is reevaluated in four weeks, he will have missed about 16 games, which means he could miss only one across the rest of the season to meet the 65-game threshold for end-of-season awards. Jokic joins a list of stars in danger of missing out on — or already ineligible for — MVP, All-NBA and Defensive Player of the Year consideration, including LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Victor Wembanyama and Anthony Davis.
Denver’s trade deadline: Don’t count on the Nuggets swinging deals to bolster their roster in Jokic’s absence. Denver is without any first-round picks, or even much salary, to use in a trade. They will likely have to ride this out until their superstar returns.
West playoff race: For the rest of the West — particularly the teams at the top — Jokic’s injury could have a massive impact. Monday’s loss left Denver tied with the Houston Rockets for third in the West but just three losses ahead of the Phoenix Suns in seventh. Across the past four seasons, Denver is 13-23 without Jokic. It’s hard to expect much better than that 36% clip, especially with the other injury issues facing the Nuggets. All of that could upend the West playoff picture, particularly if Denver tumbles into the play-in. (How does an Oklahoma City Thunder-Nuggets first-round matchup sound?) — Tim Bontemps
ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Anthony Slater discuss the Golden State Warriors recent road trip, the future of Jonathan Kuminga and Steve Kerr’s most recent comments. The duo finishes the podcast going over potential trades for the Warriors.
Dec. 29
What are Cleveland’s options ahead of the deadline?
Cleveland Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman is not naive about the financial hurdles facing his roster.
“The question will come for us,” Altman told ESPN’s Brian Windhorst before the season. “How do you navigate this collective bargaining agreement and the restrictions that we have? For us, we’ve set ourselves up to have a runway with the guys we have.”
The Cavs could face their first road block in the 2027 offseason, when Donovan Mitchell can become a free agent if he forgoes signing an extension this summer and then declines his $53.8 million player option for the 2027-28 season.
But in the immediate future, what are Cleveland’s options to improve a roster that is currently one game above .500 after leading the Eastern Conference last season with 64 wins?
Factoring in the $394 million price tag in salary and luxury tax penalties, Altman and his front office have two options leading up to the Feb. 5 deadline.
Cleveland can choose to remain patient and hope for improved health. After using just 23 different starting lineups last season, Cleveland is already at 17 through the season’s first 33 games.
The second and more challenging path is exploring a trade. Cleveland is the only team over the second apron this season, leaving obstacles in its way. Cleveland is not allowed to take back more salary, aggregate contracts or send out cash in trades and cannot sign a waived player making $14.1 million or more.
Last season’s trade for De’Andre Hunter left the Cavs with no control of their 2026 first-round pick (the Atlanta Hawks can swap, leaving Cleveland with the San Antonio Spurs‘ selection). Their next available first-rounder to trade is in either 2031 or 2032. Because the Cavs will likely finish over the second apron this season, their 2033 first-rounder will become frozen. Cleveland does have four second-round picks available to trade.
With the Boston Celtics‘ series of moves this summer as a reminder, there are severe consequences when second apron teams are not championship-caliber. For Cleveland, the clock is ticking. — Bobby Marks
Brian is joined by Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to discuss the Atlanta Hawks recent struggles and if they should move on from Trae Young. They also talk about the potential trade market for Young and the Dallas Mavericks‘ Anthony Davis.
“The Mavericks would like to work out a deal to send Anthony Davis to Atlanta but Trae Young is not going to be part of that,” MacMahon said on the podcast.
The trio broke down why the trade market is so difficult this season before ending on Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s future in Milwaukee.
“I suspect the Bucks are going to improve their roster, and they’re going to trade the remaining drafts stuff they have and salary,” Bontemps said. “Go try to get better, because that’s the only thing they’ve done year after year after year now for five, six, seven years.”
Who could the Bucks target in a trade?
Here’s an excerpt from ESPN reporter Jamal Collier’s story on Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks that published Monday:
Multiple team and league sources say the team has been active in pursuing the trade market, engaging in internal conversations about, among others, Sacramento’s Zach LaVine, whom they have had interest in and chances to acquire in the past, and Malik Monk, as well as Portland’s Jerami Grant.
However, Horst finds himself with fewer resources to execute another blockbuster than ever before.
The Bucks have only one first-round pick, in either 2031 or 2032, available to trade. The Bucks have not made that pick available in trade discussions for the past year, and team and league sources do not believe they would do so now unless it was for a significant star.
Read the rest of the story here.
Dec. 26
On ESPN’s “Howdy Partners” podcast, Tim MacMahon and Michael C. Wright discuss the Spurs’ ongoing eight-game winning streak, which included three wins over Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder, and how it’s being fueled in large point by the defense.
“I had somebody with the Spurs point out to me that everybody’s talking about Stephon Castle as a defender, and for good reason. He’s an All-Defense-caliber guy. A lot of people are talking about how Dylan Harper as a rookie really gets up on people,” Wright said. “But De’Aaron Fox is playing the best defense of his career, and they’re having him start out against primary guys like Jalen Williams.”
The duo then pivots to the latest on Dallas Mavericks star Anthony Davis, who has already missed 16 games this season and on Christmas Day suffered a minor groin strain and will miss a few more, sources told ESPN.
“It just reinforces, unfortunately, that AD is not a guy you can rely on,” MacMahon said. “This does not help the trade market for him, obviously, because it’s just a blatant reminder to the rest of the league as well.
“We’ve got, what, about five weeks or so until the trade deadline and, [for Dallas] it might come down to … Do we take a deal that’s less value than we’d like to or do we wait until the summer? The idea of extending AD this summer, Mavericks people will tell you, ‘Oh, you know, we haven’t ruled that out.’ I’m like, ‘OK , you probably should.’ I understand why you’re saying that, but I don’t believe you.”
Brian is joined by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to react to another huge win for the San Antonio Spurs over the Oklahoma City Thunder. The guys discuss if San Antonio’s 3-0 record against the defending champs shows that the Spurs need to be taken seriously as contenders, and if this highlights any issues for OKC. Plus, they break down how concerned we should be about the Los Angeles Lakers‘ defense and talk about two role players starring for the New York Knicks and a very strange week for the Golden State Warriors.
Dec. 25
Can the Nuggets make a move to help deal with their injury issues?
The Nuggets are now down three starters, with Cameron Johnson joining Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun on the injured list. Johnson suffered a right knee injury on Tuesday and will be reevaluated in four to six weeks, sources told Shams Charania. The injuries will test the resolve of the Nuggets’ rookie front office, which is led by Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace.
For short-term relief, Denver has an open roster spot to sign a player or could wait until Jan. 5, the first date a team can sign a player to a 10-day contract. The Nuggets also have two trade exceptions ($6.9 million and $5.4 million) available to use in a trade. Because the exceptions were created after July 1, they are allowed to use either exception and still exceed the first apron.
Denver is $402,000 above the luxury tax, and signing a player or using the exception further will put it over. For a fourth straight season, the Nuggets are projected to pay a luxury tax penalty. The one thing they do not have available is draft capital. They sent their last available first-round pick to Brooklyn to acquire Johnson in June and have only two second-rounders. — Bobby Marks
Dec. 24
Brian is joined by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to discuss the NBA’s ideas to combat tanking before they talk about if the Boston Celtics current position in the East could lead to Jayson Tatum‘s return before the playoffs. They then cover the New Orleans Pelicans recent rise, the Christmas NBA slate and the latest drama between Draymond Green and Steve Kerr.
Dec. 22
Bucks are looking to add ahead of the trade deadline
The Milwaukee Bucks have lost three in a row and are three games out for the final play-in spot in the East. Despite their struggles in the first quarter of the season and speculation around the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee is looking to add players ahead of the trade deadline. Multiple teams at the G-League showcase in Orlando confirmed to ESPN that the Bucks have been canvassing the league looking at trades that can improve their roster.
Milwaukee has one first-round pick available to trade, either in 2031 or 2032. It has a 2026 second-rounder from Utah, but that pick is unlikely to convey because it is protected Nos. 31-55.
The Bucks’ roster is top heavy in salary with Antetokounmpo, Myles Turner, Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis earning 77% of their active salary. Turner and Portis signed four- and three-year contracts, respectively, over the offseason. Kuzma has two years ($22.1 million and $20.3 million) left on his contract. Even with the $20.1 million in stretched money from the Damian Lillard move last summer, Milwaukee is $19.5 million below the first apron and can take back salary in a trade. The Bucks are 2-10 when Antetokounmpo has not played this season. — Bobby Marks
Brian is joined by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to discuss the early season struggles for the Cleveland Cavaliers and what, if anything, they can do to turn their season around. They then talk about the current state of refereeing and the Minnesota Timberwolves recent win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Dec. 19
Brian is joined by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to discuss Bontemps’ first MVP straw poll of the season, including Victor Wembanyama‘s potential in the MVP race, the newcomers on the list and the historic race between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic at the top of the poll.
Dec. 18
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo told reporters that he’s “locked in” on the Bucks and that any trade conversation is between his agent and the franchise.
“If my agent is talking to the Bucks about it, he’s his own person. He can have any conversation he wants,” Antetokounmpo told reporters prior to Thursday’s game against the Toronto Raptors.
“At the end of the day, I personally have not had the conversation with the Bucks. I’m still locked in, locked in on my teammates, most importantly locked in on me getting back healthy.”
The Bucks are 1-3 since Antetokounmpo’s right calf strain on Dec. 3.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that the Cleveland Cavaliers have been getting “a ton of incoming calls from on their players” as the team’s struggles have continued.
“When I talk to rival teams, Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley are really the two untouchable players on this roster,” Charania said on NBA Today.
The next month will influence how aggressive Cleveland is ahead of the trade deadline, per Charania.
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon and Michael C. Wright cover the recent NBA news across the state of Texas, including the San Antonio Spurs‘ recent win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Cup semifinals and the comparability of the Spurs and Houston Rockets. The hosts also discuss the consistently historic performances of Cooper Flagg and his case for the best season from an 18-year-old in NBA history.
Dec. 17
Brian is joined by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to discuss the New York Knicks winning the NBA Cup over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night. They also break down what the Spurs showed the rest of the league during their run to the Cup final before moving on to big updates from NBA commissioner Adam Silver on NBA expansion, the potential future of the NBA Cup and the Terry Rozier investigation. They close on the recent impressive play of Cooper Flagg.
Important deadline rule goes by without a deal
The Dec. 16 deadline for teams to trade for a player and then aggregate his contract prior to the Feb. 5 deadline came without any transactions.
Unlike last December, when Brooklyn traded Dennis Schroder to Golden State, there were no trades. Because the Warriors acquired Schroder prior to the deadline, they were allowed to trade him again without any restrictions. Schroder was sent to Detroit as part of the Jimmy Butler blockbuster. Going forward, players are not allowed to be combined with additional salary in a second trade. — Bobby Marks
Dec. 16
What moves lie ahead for Cup finalists?
The two remaining teams in the NBA Cup, the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs, are a contrast in roster building. The Knicks have added starters Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns in four separate trades. San Antonio has built through the draft, with starters Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell and reserves Dylan Harper, Jeremy Sochan, Keldon Johnson and Carter Bryant. And while the Spurs traded four first-round picks in February for guard De’Aaron Fox, they remain well-equipped with draft assets.
San Antonio has the right to swap first-round picks with the Atlanta Hawks in June’s draft and has an unprotected first-rounder from the Hawks in 2027. The Spurs can also swap with the Boston Celtics‘ first-rounder in 2028 (if 2-30), swap with the more favorable first-rounder between the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves in 2030 (if 2-30) and swap with the Sacramento Kings‘ first-rounder in 2031.
The Knicks’ only tradeable first-rounder is from the Washington Wizards in 2026, but only if the pick falls outside the top 8. (The pick will become second-rounders in 2026 and 2027 if not conveyed.) — Bobby Marks
From Ramona Shelburne: The Clippers and Chris Paul went into their reunion with good intentions: an opinionated future Hall of Fame player at the end of his career hoping for one final ride with his former team; that team, which is near the end of its largely disappointing, hugely pressurized Kawhi Leonard experiment — which has resulted in exactly one conference finals appearance in six seasons — hoping their former front man could address a leadership vacuum it has struggled to fill.
But endings are rarely clean or painless in the NBA. And this one — for both player and team — was born out of the most flammable combination in sports: misconceptions and dysfunction.
The reunion was more than simply doomed from almost the beginning; it might also serve as foreshadowing of a future for the Clippers even more challenging than their present.
Dec. 15
Will the Dallas Mavericks look to trade Anthony Davis? What will it take to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo if the Milwaukee Bucks open trade talks for the two-time MVP? Those are two of the many questions NBA front offices will need to discuss leading up to the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
And with Monday marking the unofficial start of trade season — nearly 90% of the players are eligible to be moved — those questions will begin to be answered.
Along with identifying the trade season focus for all 30 teams, Bobby Marks breaks down the important information — the apron status, trade exceptions to watch, most valuable first-round picks and big expiring contracts — that could help define which direction each franchise takes in the coming months.
Brian is joined by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to discuss the NBA Cup semifinals following the New York Knicks‘ win over the Orlando Magic and the San Antonio Spurs‘ victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. The trio talk about the Spurs’ impressive performance against the Thunder and debate whether it is proof they’ll end up in the top four in the Western Conference.
The three then discuss the Knicks as elite contenders in the East as well as the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers before Brian details his travels last week.
Dec. 12
The trade season expanding on Dec. 15 was a primary topic on Brian Windhorst’s The Hoop Collective podcast on Friday. Will there be any action in December?
“I don’t think there’s going to be trades happening next week,” Windhorst said. “But it coincides with the point in the season where teams start to make some decisions about the ineptitude or … some of the weaknesses of their rosters. And that’s when things start to get going.”
ESPN’s Bobby Marks shared Windhorst’s sentiment.
“Eighty-two players starting on Monday are eligible. December is relatively somewhat of a quiet month, tradewise,” Marks said. “Certainly we start hearing more rumors, but we had a trade last year on the first day players were eligible and Dennis Schroder was traded from Brooklyn to Golden State.
“And I think going into Monday we’ll have eyes on Chris Paul as far as to figure out … if it eventually gets resolved here. But I think the total number is 90% of the NBA is trade-eligible as of Monday.”
Dec. 10
Dereck Lively II, Dallas’ starting center, will undergo season-ending surgery to address lingering discomfort in his right foot, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday. The news comes after Lively had surgery in July to clean out bone spurs in the same foot.
He played in only seven games this season.
Several teams are expected to be interested in trading for Anthony Davis, including the Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Dallas is open to exploring trades for Davis as well as veteran guards Klay Thompson and D’Angelo Russell, per sources.
The Mavericks are currently 10-16 and holding on to the last play-in spot in the Western Conference.
The Warriors will be open to discussing trades for Jonathan Kuminga when he is eligible to be moved on Jan. 15, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania. Golden State hopes to improve the roster and Kuminga’s $22.5 million salary could lead to a larger trade haul.
Sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania that the Pacers are in the market for a center after losing Myles Turner to the Milwaukee Bucks during the offseason.
The Kings and first-year general manager Scott Perry are open to trade talks throughout the roster, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania. Teams around the league are keeping their eyes on veterans Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, as well as 25-year-old guard Keon Ellis.
Dec. 5
On the Hoop Collective podcast, host Brian Windhorst described the difficult trade landscape for Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.
“What I’m telling you is that when I talk to executives and these executives are not in trade talks with the Bucks or another for a star player right now, the mood in the NBA right now is not to give up four first-round picks for anybody,” Windhorst said. “This is how teams are thinking right now. They’re a little freaked about the aprons. There ain’t going to be no five first-round pick trades. I know that we saw those for a while. That’s just not going to happen.”
The trade market has dried up compared to former seasons, according to Windhorst.
“I can hear somebody out there listening to this podcast saying, ‘What are you talking about? This is Giannis. Giannis will go for two star players and six firsts,” Windhorst added. Maybe that will happen. I am just telling you, I talk to the guys who make these trades every day, all day long, and the appetite is just different.
“Everybody is feeling a certain way. I’m just telling you I could end up being wrong. I’m just reporting back.”
Dec. 3
Sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania that Giannis Antetokounmpo and his agent Alex Saratsis are discussing whether Antetokounmpo’s best fit is still with the Bucks or elsewhere.
“I know that he asked for a trade and then said I’m going to be a Buck this year,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on ESPN Cleveland on Wednesday. “I know a lot of people in the league think he won’t be a Buck next year.”
A resolution is expected in the coming weeks in how Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee approach the Feb. 5 trade deadline. The Bucks are 10-13.
Antetokounmpo is averaging 28.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game on 64% shooting.
Paul, a 12-time All-Star, announced Wednesday that he was sent home ahead of the Clippers’ game in Atlanta against the Hawks. The 40-year-old veteran signed a one-year deal with the franchise during the offseason, but ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that he and coach Ty Lue had not been on speaking terms for several weeks.
The point guard started all 82 games last season for the San Antonio Spurs but was averaging 14.3 minutes and 2.9 points per game this season in L.A. The Clippers can’t officially trade Paul until Dec. 15.
Trae Young, LaMelo Ball and Ja Morant have all had turbulent starts to the 2025-26 season and one league source told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon that the trio “might all have negative value” ahead of this season’s trade deadline.
Young’s defensive limitations have hurt his ceiling as a franchise’s centerpiece, with one East scout saying: “He’s just small and doesn’t play any defense.”
As for Ball, it’s his in-game decision-making that has left some scouts and front offices wanting more. “Can I trust LaMelo in the playoffs and games that matter late in the season?” an East executive said. “We just don’t know.”
The off-court issues for Morant remain the biggest concern about his future with Memphis or potentially beyond. “The combination of pain in the ass, injury-prone, not that good anymore, and big contract is a bad one,” said an East executive.
Dec. 1
The Chicago Bulls have started the season 9-11 and currently sit in 10th in the Eastern Conference. The early season struggles have led to the front office to explore the idea of adding a difference-maker, including the Dallas Mavericks‘ Anthony Davis, per ESPN’s Jamal Collier.
The franchise does remain committed to keeping its young core — Josh Giddey, Coby White and Matas Buzelis — and wouldn’t trade any of those players to get a deal done, per Collier.
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