標籤: monster

Recent reports are clearing the way for a monster trade that has Kevin Durant returning to the Golden State Warriors and Jimmy Butler returning to the Houston Rockets.

On Friday night, the Rockets saw their promising season come to a very disappointing end with a Game 6 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs. What made their elimination more troubling is that they could not beat a Lakers team that was without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves for most of the series.

Still, this shouldn’t come as a complete shock. Something was going wrong with the Rockets team for several months. And it seemed like it all started with All-Star Weekend drama amid speculation that Durant had a Burner X account where he mocked his Houston teammates.

Most believed it was a foolish situation that would be quickly forgotten in the locker room. However, a new report from The Athletic’s William Guillory and Sam Amick adds to the debate that the All-Star Game allegations were a problem in the locker room and worsened because they were never formally addressed by the future Hall of Famer.

“Multiple league sources with close ties to Rockets players indicated that the social media situation was a significant distraction that was never resolved internally,” the report reveals. “…Privately, league sources said [Durant’s] The teammates agreed to keep the matter at home while they focused on basketball. It is unclear whether Durant ever made it clear to his associates whether the account was his or not.

Should the Houston Rockets consider trading Kevin Durant this summer?

All of this begs the question: Should the Rockets trade Durant this summer because he seems like a bad mix on a team that was on a massive upward trend before he arrived a year ago? The Guillory and Amick report provides reasons why this is unlikely. They gave him a waiver on the extension and opted to come to Houston. Plus, when Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams suffered season-ending injuries, the Rockets probably always had a ceiling.

Still, there have been major body language problems with this group for several months, and they’ve never come close to reaching the potential expected by most basketball pundits. Before things get worse, it may be wise to seek divorce instead of withdrawing. But where could the Rockets send Durant, and what could they get back?

Why trading Jimmy Butler for Kevin Durant makes sense

The danger in moving Durant is that Houston gave up a lot to get him. Can they really get the same value to chase the title in 2026-27? This limits the options significantly, but leaves an interesting idea. Trading Durant to the Warriors for Jimmy Butler.

It’s well established that the Warriors are eager to reunite with Durant after the 16-time All-Star helped lead them to three consecutive Finals trips – two wins – during his three seasons in California. The team has been searching for a superstar for the last two years and bringing back the devil they know, not the devil they don’t know.

Plus, while Butler was good in Golden State, we know for a fact that Durant is a better fit there. Especially if coach Steve Kerr returns next season. Additionally, a case can be made that Butler would be a better fit in Houston under Ime Udoka. A defensive-minded coach like Erik Spoelstra and Butler were fantastic with him in Miami.

The biggest issue is that the soon-to-be 37-year-old is trying to bounce back from a torn ACL. It would be understandable if the Rockets weren’t interested in two veterans potentially coming off ACL tears (VanVleet) next season. But matching the money in a trade in a Durant for Butler swap is far easier than most potential deals.

If Golden State is willing to give up a future first-round pick to sweeten the pot, it would be an offer Houston should seriously consider. A lineup of Kristaps Porzingis, Draymond Green, Durant, Stephen Curry and Brandin Podziemski, and Alpern Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Butler, Amen Thompson and VanVleet looks very good for the Warriors.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Spurs rookie Dylan Harper is not enjoying the best statistical season by an NBA rookie. not by a long shot. But, thanks in part to Stephen Cassel and De’Aaron Fox – as well as Victor Wembanyama – he is enjoying one of the most successful seasons by any standout rookie. By a long shot.

Harper shared, “With three dynamic guards, we’re hard to figure out. I think when Fox and Steph start playing, we’ve got the two best guards in the NBA.” “And I think when I come off the bench, I think it’s another weapon that we have. So, I think it opens up the door for everybody, including Vick. And I think when Vick has that much pressure and two guys go at him, it opens up the world for us.”

Harper is seventh on the team in scoring with 11 points per game. Playing 22 minutes per night, the second overall pick of last summer’s draft is seeing the floor significantly less than Cassel and Fox. The reigning Rookie of the Year is averaging 16.6 points in 29.7 minutes, while Fox, a two-time NBA All-Star, is scoring 19 points per night in a team-leading 31.6 minutes of action.

Harper praised his other teammates, saying, “I think we can all score from everywhere. That’s the beauty of this team. We can all dribble the ball.”

Harper added, “We have a group of ball handlers and a group of scorers. So, every night is going to be a big night.” “As a collective group, just coming forward and helping as much as we can, it’s great for us.”

Victor Wembanyama praises Stephen Cassel

Although all are dynamic offensively, Harper, Castle and Fox each have an aspect of their game that they do better than the other two. Fox is the best scorer of the three. Harper may be the best at getting to the rim. And Castle is easily the best defender of the group.

“He has understood his role very well,” Wembanyama said. “The level he’s playing at is really unseen for a second-year player and how it fits into our game plan.”

Nicknamed “Area 51” as an allusion to their jersey numbers and Wembanyama’s ‘alien’ nickname, Wembanyama and Cassel are one of the most lethal defensive combinations in the NBA.

“I know we make it difficult, we make it uncomfortable for people to play against us,” Wembanyama said. “That’s the goal because a guy has to dribble around one of the best on-ball defenders and then make a shot against some of the best rim protectors; it’s very tough.”

Dylan Harper overwhelmed by Spurs success

While Cooper Flagg and Kohn Knueppel lead the Rookie of the Year discussion, Harper will likely be playing even if he doesn’t play this spring.

“It feels great,” Harper said of the Spurs’ success. “I think this is the most wins I’ve had in a long time. So, to have this win streak and keep it going and not take teams for granted, I think, is huge for us.”

Thanks to former Rutgers stars, Fox and Cassel, the Spurs are currently seeded second in the West. Their position at the top is much closer to the Oklahoma City Thunder than the teams behind them.

Jack Hughes almost didn’t get the chance to become an American hero.

Sitting in the penalty box late in the third period of Sunday’s 1-1 gold-medal game against Canada, the superstar New Jersey Devils forward was more likely to lose the game to the United States than win the game for his country.

“I took my picture on a barstool [Sports] Like America hates that guy because Canada scores on the power play,” Hughes said after the game. “I was saying ‘Oh my God, it’s here.’

“I’m glad we got out of the pickle I got us into.”

Still, when Hughes’ teammates picked him up, he made sure to return the favor by capping a big turnover at both ends of the rink with the game-winning goal at 1:39 of overtime in the United States’ 2–1 overtime win over Canada at the Milan Santagiuliano Arena, sealing the USA’s first gold medal since 1980.

Most Devils fans who were “done” with Jack Hughes before the tournament may need to placate them with a “sorry Jack” chant given the Lindy Ruff treatment during the 2022-23 season, especially if he uses his first Olympics as a springboard for the rest of this season and beyond.

Hughes finished with four goals and seven points and led the Americans in both categories. He tied with Nathan MacKinnon (Canada) and Juraj Slafkowski of Slovakia for the second-most goals among all players.

“I think Jack had a great tournament,” USA coach Mike Sullivan said after the game. “The goals he scored were big-time goals. … I think Jack was at the center of a lot of good things that happened for our team. He’s a high-risk player. He played at his best when the stakes were highest.”

Hughes proved his coach’s point by scripting two elite plays that saved the Americans and allowed himself to cement his legacy in USA Hockey history.

defense on conor mcdavid

Hughes did not start overtime on the ice, but he left for the Americans’ third shift of the extra session.

His first overtime job? Playing defense against the best player in the world.

That’s Connor McDavid attacking Hughes and the US net with gusto. He took the puck from his linemate and broke free to Canadian star Maclin Celebrini at his own blue line.

“I came right off the bench,” Hughes said, before addressing Sullivan, “You were probably liking it, right Sully?” McDavid is coming at me.

McDavid eats up even elite-level NHL defensemen in this kind of rush every night. He has 96 points in 58 games this season and is averaging 1.5 points per game for his decade-plus in the NHL and was named MVP of the tournament after leading the entire Olympic field with 13 points.

And in this game he’s being defended by a 5-11, 175-pound forward.

“When the best player in the world — maybe ever — comes at you in overtime in the gold-medal game and you’re on the forward, my first thought was ‘I’ve got to gap up,'” Hughes said, “and I was like ‘I can’t gap up, he’ll come right at me.’

Still, Hughes did what he needed to do to slow down McDavid and disrupt any potential scoring opportunities.

“He did a great job,” Sullivan said. “He recognized that he had no opportunity to pay attention to it. He just absorbed it. I think he did a great job defending her.”

“I just dunked and hopefully he couldn’t get around me because there wasn’t enough space between me and the net,” Hughes said. “Honestly that’s what happened.”

poke check on black makar

Hughes’ second defensive play may be lost compared to McDavid’s body and the golden goal. But his help in getting out of the defensive zone was no less important.

Hughes deflected the puck away from McDavid and took it into the back of the net before hitting the puck past USA defenseman Zach Werenski. But the forechecking McDavid put pressure on Werenski and he delivered a soft backhand pass to Hughes on the way out of the zone.

Still, the dark caper at the blue line – the defenseman’s Connor McDavid – was in sight. Makar was named one of two defenders on the All-Olympic team, along with Jack’s brother Quinn Hughes, as he had six points in six games and Canada’s only goal in the gold medal game.

Werenski was breaking out of the USA defensive zone to make offensive plays. So if Makar intercepts the pass — or even makes a strong tip of it — McDavid is all alone on goalie Connor Hellebuyck and scores the OT winner for the second time in as many best-on-best tournaments.

Nevertheless, it was Hughes who managed to beat Makar and Werenski to create a three-on-one that ultimately led to his goal.

Finding and scoring cool ice

The puck went all the way into the USA offensive zone, where Werenski won the puck battle from Nathan MacKinnon. Dylan Larkin went to back up Werenski, while McDavid defended, and Hughes made a layup to get into prime scoring territory.

With Makar trailing in the game, Werenski found Hughes. Hughes beat Binnington with a snip between the pads, which certainly reminded Devils fans of what has made them one of the NHL’s elite 3-on-3 overtime teams over the past three seasons.

Hughes’ goal would change his life. Still, after scoring possibly the greatest goal in American hockey history, he was more focused on fulfilling a dream and doing the same with his USA Hockey brethren.

“We’re a great team,” Hughes said. “We wanted to go through Canada and beat them, and it could have gone either way tonight, but it’s an incredible win for the Americans.”

Pat Pickens is an award-winning sports writer and author who has covered the NHL since 2013. He reveals more about Pat Pickens.

Kon Knuppel made a splash with his performance in the Charlotte Hornets’ matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.

Knueppel is halfway through his rookie year in the NBA with the Hornets. He has made remarkable progress as one of the best-performing newcomers from the 2025 draft class, becoming a contender for Rookie of the Year.

The star rookie proved himself with another excellent performance against Cleveland. In 37 minutes of action, Knueppel had a stat line of 33 points, six rebounds, two assists and one steal. He made 11 of 20 shots from the field, including 7 of 15 from beyond the arc and 4 of 5 from the free-throw line.

Kon Knuppel in the Hornets’ loss to the Cavs tonight 🐝

33 points 11-of-20 FG
6 rebounds 7-of-15 3pts
0 turnover pic.twitter.com/hhvqBDhVu3

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 21 February 2026

It didn’t take long for fans to react to her performance, expressing their amazement at the newbie’s star talent. Here are some of their reactions.

One fan said, “Kon Nuppel kid is gonna be a problem. So good 💫.”

“This is a big night for Kon Knueppel – 33 points on 11/20 shooting and 7/15 from three is excellent efficiency – especially in 37 minutes. This kind of perimeter shooting shows confidence and ability to make serious shots,” another commented.

One commented, “Kon Knueppel dropped 33 points on 7 of 15 from three in the same night Donovan Mitchell scored 32 and the Cavs are showing they have a lot of ways to beat you. Knueppel is no longer a rookie, he’s a weapon.”

“33 in 37 minutes…that’s the real production 🔥,” one replied.

One fan said, “No need for that kind of “adjustment” from day one. It would be a travesty if he wasn’t rotten.”

Kon Nueppel, how the Hornets played against the Cavaliers

Despite notable efforts from Kon Knueppel, it was not enough as the Hornets lost to the Cavaliers 118–113.

Five players scored in double figures for Charlotte in the loss, including Knueppel. LaMelo Ball was next with 18 points and six assists, Brandon Miller had 18 points and four assists, Ryan Kalkbrenner added 12 points and 13 rebounds, while Josh Green added 11 points and two assists.

Charlotte finished the season with a 26–31 record and 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls, while trailing the Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat.

The Hornets will look to bounce back in their next match while on the road. They will face the Washington Wizards on February 22, tip-off at 6 PM ET.

The Philadelphia 76ers were widely expected to make a cost-cutting move before the trade deadline, as that is how their front office has operated over the past few seasons. He has shown an aversion to paying the luxury tax, and for better or worse, he has ensured that he does not stray above the tax apron.

However, the 76ers found the tax savings they were looking for in an unexpected place. They traded their 2024 first-round pick, Jared McCann, who had shown so much promise before tearing his meniscus, to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a 2026 first-round pick (from the Houston Rockets) and three second-round picks.

Now, McCain is turning his attention to the defending champion. On Friday night, he scored 21 points on 7-12 shooting from the field in the Thunder’s 105–86 win over the Brooklyn Nets. He starred for an OKC team that was missing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, and McCann’s emergence has given OKC more room to rest those key guys — much to the dismay of 76ers fans.

76ers fans crying over Jared McCann loss after big night for OKC

The 76ers’ decision to trade McCain was a surprising development, as it looked like he was going to be part of the team’s core for the near future, given how well he played in his rookie season.

Now, McCann is playing well for the Thunder, and 76ers fans are heartbroken that the guy they picked is working for a different team in his second year campaign.

Sixers fan RN after trade of Jared McCain https://t.co/50ysWG7DFf pic.twitter.com/QM3mv0TSnt

– Chilinwari (@chilinwari) 21 February 2026

“Jared McCann playing so well shows just how bad Nick Nurse is on this roster,” wrote X user @Youdownwith_LNV.

@TimeoutSPORTS3 said, “The Sixers gave Jared McCain practically nothing. Non-serious organization.”

@Glenjr1988 added, “I was right about Jared McCain. I mean Sam Presti traded for him.”

76ers president Daryl Morey said they were “highly sold” on McCann. Only time will tell whether this is actually the case or not. However, everything is not looking good for Philly at the moment.