As the Miami Heat are dealing with an upcoming make-or-break week with the start of the season home stretch, there is a big update regarding the situation with Terry Rozier. Since this has been an unprecedented situation with the Heat and Rozier, there are many who believe the team should receive compensation, and that’s what happened on Monday.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Charlotte Hornets are giving Miami a second-round pick in 2026 to “resolve a dispute” over the position with Rozier. The Heat traded Kyle Lowry for Rozier in the first round on January 23, 2024, before that season’s trade deadline.

Charania, formerly of the

Although this appears to be the resolution of the dispute, Rozier is still on Miami’s books as his status continues to come to light after being arrested by the federal government due to gambling ties at the beginning of the season. According to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, this would be “more favorable”, considering a second-round pick.

“The 2026 second-round selection the Heat will receive from the Hornets is more favorable to Golden State and Denver’s second-round selections,” Chiang wrote.

No lawsuit from the Heat was ever planned

While there were rumors about the Heat and Rozier as to what the next step would be for the team, there was some speculation about whether the team would file a lawsuit. Mostly, due to the league and Charlotte reportedly not telling Miami about possible gambling connections, the NBA conducted its own investigation of Rozier while he was with Charlotte.

However, Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald would say that “Lawsuit was never an option” and that the second-round pick is “the final development on the case”.

Jackson further stated, “The Hornets never told the Heat that they knew Rozier was under investigation at the time of the trade, but there was no specific NBA rule against it.” “The Heat will send a lottery-protected first-rounder in 2027 to the Hornets. If the Heat miss the playoffs next season, Miami will retain its 2027 first-rounder and send a 2028 first-rounder to Charlotte.”

At any rate, the Heat are focused on extending their five-game winning streak with next Tuesday’s game against the Washington Wizards.

After winning their last game against the Houston Rockets, the Golden State Warriors traveled to Oklahoma City to face the defending champions. However, they have several major injury concerns and face a Thunder team that has won each of its last four games.

Oklahoma City entered Saturday night with a 49-15 record, already knocking on the door of its 50th win of the season, while Golden State is 32-30 and in eighth place in the West.
Mark Daigneault’s side have also won eight of their last 10 games, and have held opponents to 106.5 points per game during that span. Golden State, meanwhile, has struggled for consistency, going 4-6 in its last 10 contests while allowing 116.3 points per game.

These teams have met three times already this season, and the last meeting was a lopsided 131-94 win for the Thunder, fueled by a 30-point performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The following prospects are based on DraftKings’ coverage.

Warriors vs Thunder Odds

Warriors: +9.5

Thunder: -9.5

Overs: 228.5

Under: 228.5

Warriors vs Thunder Major Injuries

Golden State is entering this matchup heavily shorthanded. Stephen Curry is out with a knee injury. Jimmy Butler (ACL) is out for the season while Moses Moody (wrist) and Seth Curry (back) are also sidelined.

Gary Payton II is questionable with an ankle problem. However, the potential return of Kristaps Porzingis gives them some reason for optimism.

The Thunder are relatively healthy. Jalen Williams is out with a hamstring injury, while Isaiah Hartenstein (calf) and Alex Caruso (hip) are both listed as day-to-day. Thomas Sorber is out for the season with a knee injury.

Warriors vs Thunder Betting Trends

Oklahoma City has a 34–9 record against Western Conference opponents. Recent head-to-head results also favor Oklahoma City. The Thunder have taken Golden State to task already this season, including a blowout 37-point victory in January.

With Shai-Gilgeous Alexander fit and effective, this seems pretty straightforward on paper. However, with the stellar Draymond Green leading the way and Porzingis expected to play, the Warriors can always surprise.

Keys to Warriors vs. Thunder matchup

The biggest challenge for Golden State will be finding enough offensive firepower without Stephen Curry. The Warriors have relied heavily on Brandin Podziemski, who is averaging 16.7 points over the last 10 games.

The Thunder averaged 118.9 points per game, while also limiting opponents to 43.6% shooting from the field.
Warriors vs Thunder Predictions and Selections

Golden State’s system still produces efficient offense through ball movement and spacing, but without Curry, the Warriors lack the consistent scoring punch needed to keep up with Oklahoma City’s attack. Given the Warriors’ injuries and this huge blow to the reigning NBA champions, we expect a low-scoring game.

spread pick:Thunder -9.5

Total Selection: under 228.5

Kasparus Jakusionis has been playing a valuable role with the Miami Heat during his rookie season. After a ball-dominant freshman season at Illinois, the No. 20 pick’s dramatic shooting improvement has allowed him to catch up with Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and others.

After shooting 31.8 percent from three with Illinois, Jacusionis is shooting 44.0 percent from three on 7.5 attempts per 100 possessions this season. The 19-year-old leads all rookies in three-point percentage (minimum 30 attempts).

“Kas has really been working on it, and he’s obviously one of our better three-point shooters,” Erik Spoelstra said after Thursday’s win over the Brooklyn Nets. “I don’t know if you can make that case in July. He was a good three-point shooter, but he’s really refined it. His release is sharp. His reps are always at the top of our roster in the gym. And he’s able to do a little bit more going forward now, and it really helps us. We need that differentiation, we need his creativity, we need the things he can do off the dribble, but we look at his shooting, others. He is getting the benefits of playing. And he will get even better.”

“It’s hard to find players that can do both. They can make plays off the ball and move and get into open spaces. He’s also a very good, smart catch-and-go guy. But in his one year at Illinois, he was ball dominant, so he’s one of those guys. It won’t be as much with us right now, but you can see he’ll have a skill set that he can lean on as well.”

Jacusionis’ floor spacing has allowed him to make an immediate impact.

Kasparas Jakusionis getting attention amid shooting improvement with Heat

According to CleaningTheGlass, the Heat score 3.7 more points per 100 possessions with the rookie on the court versus off. This is the fifth-best mark in the NBA among all players under the age of 22.

“He’s not hesitating. He’s not really thinking about it. He’s just catching and just shooting it,” Bam Adebayo said. “When you’re in that kind of rhythm, we want you to just catch and shoot. Don’t overthink it. Because a lot of times that’s going to be the best shot you’re going to get. So for Kass, it’s just keeping it simple for him.”

Jaksionis would play a key role in the Heat’s playoff run in the final 19 games of the regular season. The Lithuanian guard has played 19.8 minutes per game over the past five weeks, eighth-most on the team.

The Heat are struggling to avoid falling in the Eastern Conference Play-in Tournament for the fourth consecutive season. Miami, the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic are separated by half a game for the East’s sixth to eighth seeds.

The 2026 NBA Draft class is expected to be one of the deepest in recent history, with most outlets unanimous in predicting Darin Peterson (Kansas), AJ DiBantsa (BYU) and Carlos Boozer (Duke) as top-3 picks. However, the Arkansas Razorbacks’ Darius Acuff Jr., who recently had a 28-point performance against the Texas Longhorns, is also part of a draft class widely viewed as a lottery pick.

Speaking after his match-winning performance, Texas head coach Sean Miller effectively claimed that Acuff Jr. was the best point-guard he had ever seen in college basketball.

Shawn Miller on Darius Acuff:

“In my 34 years, I’ve never seen a better point guard… He’s a generational player. This No. 1 pick thing, I don’t know why people aren’t talking about him more. I can’t imagine anyone better than him” 👀

(🎥: @pigtrailnation) pic.twitter.com/PdMhWXVyks

– The Field Of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) 5 March 2026

“Normally a guy like Acuff gets a lot of credit or a lot of respect as a young player in college basketball. It can happen sometimes when a guy is overhyped, he certainly has as bright a future beyond college as he does. But in my time, and I’ll go 34 years now, I’ve never seen a better point guard. When people talk about who’s going to be the number one pick in the NBA draft, or the best player in the conference Who. I mean just for perspective, and I think ours is great, he’s averaging 25 points per game,” Miller said, according to a post by The Field of 68.

Miller claimed that he could not imagine a better player, and he did not understand why Acuff Jr. was not talked about more.

“Guys like him, they don’t come around very often in college basketball. He’s a generational player. He’s really, really, really good. It’s the number one choice thing, I don’t know why people aren’t talking about him more. I can’t imagine anyone better than him.”

Acuff’s statistical production this season already places him in elite historical territory. The Arkansas star is averaging 22.2 points and 6.4 assists per game, which ranks ninth nationally in scoring, while maintaining 49.3% shooting from the field and nearly 40-43% shooting from three-point range. He also posts a nearly 3:1 assist-to-turnover ratio, while averaging only two turnovers per game.

The performance against Texas also added a notable scoring streak. Acuff has scored 17 or more points in 24 consecutive games since a win over the Duke Blue Devils in November.
Despite this, Acuff is only viewed as a top-10 lottery pick, not even close to being viewed as the best player of the draft. In addition to the unanimous top-3 prediction, Caleb Wilson is also viewed as a close No. 4 pick.

The Denver Nuggets are considered one of the potential contenders in the Western Conference, with a solid roster with strong depth. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Nuggets added that potential depth this week with the signing of David Roddy to a two-way contract.

According to Michael Scotto of Hoopshype.com, the Nuggets already had all three of their two-way contract roster spots filled, so they waived Tamar Bates to facilitate the signing of David Roddy.

Roddy’s inclusion is interesting for the Nuggets as he has been performing brilliantly with Team USA during the recent FIBA ​​World Cup qualifiers. During last week’s two-match schedule, Roddy was one of the team’s top players.

In Team USA’s first game against the Dominican Republic, he scored eight points with three rebounds, three assists and two steals. He had a breakout game with a team-high 20 points in the win against Mexico. He shot 7 of 10 from the field, and a perfect 2 of 2 from the 3-point line in that win.

Roddy’s opportunity with the Nuggets is not his first go-round in the NBA. Drafted 23rd overall in the 2022 NBA draft, he began his career in the league with the Memphis Grizzlies. After one and a half seasons, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns as part of a multi-team deal that obtained the Suns’ Royce O’Neal.

Following the 2023–24 season, he was traded to the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks waived him during the 2024–25 season, and he spent the remainder of the season playing brief stints with the Philadelphia 76ers and Houston Rockets. He was part of the blockbuster Kevin Durant-to-the Rockets trade involving multiple teams. The deal brought him back to the Hawks, who immediately waived him.

Roddy was playing with Raptors 905 in the G League before getting called up to Team USA and then eventually the Nuggets.

Last year, when the New York Jets decided they would not move forward with Aaron Rodgers, it was clear they needed a new starting quarterback. The Jets decided to take a chance on former first-round pick Justin Fields. He was signed to a two-year, $40 million contract and can now be released after one season.

For the second year in a row, the Jets are in need of a new franchise quarterback. Still, as Jets fans well know, it can be difficult to figure out, especially this year.

One quarterback is widely projected to be a first-round pick (Fernando Mendoza), and barring a shocking surprise, he is expected to be selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the first overall pick. Meanwhile, the Jets have the No. 2 overall pick and a clear need at QB, but have no one eligible for the selection.

However, according to Jets general manager Darren Maugy, New York will “absolutely” try to trade up for the top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, Jets fans shouldn’t get their hopes up by dreaming of drafting Mendoza, because as Maugi said, “I don’t think it’s happening.” Unless, of course, Mendoza took the absurd advice of one of the teams he spoke to at the NFL Scouting Combine.

“Sure, we’ll talk about all those things, but I don’t think that’s what’s happening,” Maugi said.

Maugi and Raiders general manager John Spytek are still friends from their days working together at the Broncos. But just because they’re old friends doesn’t mean Spytek will do the Jets any favors for the upcoming NFL Draft. In other words, the Jets will have to find their next QB elsewhere.

RELATED: New York Jets linked to trade for All-Pro defender

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The Brooklyn Nets sent rookie forward Drake Powell to the G League in the first round on Friday amid a prolonged shooting decline. Powell, the No. 19 pick in the 2025 draft, was a bright spot for Brooklyn for a long time early this season.

The North Carolina product has continued to make a defensive impact at the NBA level using his seven-foot wingspan and elite athleticism. He has also been shown to encourage increasingly aggressive aggressive flashes. Powell averaged 6.4 points on 46.0 percent shooting from the field and 32.4 percent from three in 16.9 minutes per game in his first 30 appearances.

However, lately he has been struggling to find his rhythm offensively.

Nets send Drake Powell to G League, call up Ben Saraf amid extended slump

Powell is averaging 5.2 points on 35.4 percent shooting from the field and 20.9 percent from three in 19.1 minutes per game over his last 17 appearances. The Nets have used the G League to get extended reps from their NBA-record five rookie first-round picks throughout this season.

After struggling during the preseason and his first regular season NBA performance, the Nets sent Nolan Traoré to Long Island for a long time. After impressive performances in the G League, the French floor general re-joined Brooklyn and has since become the team’s full-time starting point guard.

With Powell in Long Island, rookie Ben Saraf could see extended minutes in the Nets’ rotation. Brooklyn called up Saraf on Friday after spending an extended period in the G League. Although he has struggled during his NBA appearances, the Israeli point guard has averaged 15.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists on .423/.373/.759 shooting splits in 15 outings with Long Island.

For the third consecutive offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers do not know who will be their starting quarterback when the next season begins. While all signs point to Aaron Rodgers returning for a second season, especially now that his old Packers head coach, Mike McCarthy, has been hired to lead the Steelers, he is only a short-term fix.

Ultimately, the Steelers need a long-term plan behind their 42-year-old future Hall of Fame quarterback. Reports suggest the Steelers like 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard, but putting his future on hold for the 185th overall pick in the draft isn’t ideal for a team that hopes to never miss the playoffs.

In the meantime, the Steelers are likely to continue evaluating potential future franchise quarterbacks, whether or not Rodgers returns. Now, they are being linked to a former top QB prospect who is set to enter the 2026 NFL Draft.

according to penliveThe Steelers met with Penn State quarterback Drew Allar at the NFL Combine this week. Before the start of last college football season, Elar was being viewed as the potential No. 1 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Still, a difficult year that ended with a season-ending ankle injury after six games has lowered Allar’s draft stock. He is also not seen as someone who can emerge as a fringe player in the first round.

However, the strong-armed QB with legitimate NFL size at 6-foot-5 could emerge quickly during the pre-draft process. Elar is the only quarterback the Steelers have met so far.

RELATED: Aaron Rodgers talks Pittsburgh Steelers after Mike McCarthy hire

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Newcastle United will have a scout ahead of Genk’s Europa League clash with Dinamo Zagreb in Belgium today.

he is According to SporzaJoe says Newcastle will be one of 23 scouts present for the game.

According to his information, ‘dozens of scouts’ from all over Europe will be present for the Europa League match. At least 23 people have registered for the game at Cegaica Arena.

The Premier League has strong representation, with Chelsea, Manchester United, Newcastle, Fulham, Manchester City, Aston Villa and Bournemouth all sending scouts.

The clubs have not made it clear who they are tracking. The obvious candidate would be Kos Karetsas, but he will be out of the match due to injury. Sport Witness covered a report last March detailing Newcastle’s interest in him.

Genk stars on Newcastle United radar

However, Sporza has named a number of options, stating that Zakaria El Ouhadi, Ymir Medina and Mats Smeets have attracted interest from several foreign clubs in recent weeks. It is unclear whether Newcastle is among them.

Another name could be Ibrahima Sori Bangoura. A report in May linked the Magpies with an interest in the midfielder.

On paper, Genk’s journey isn’t so surprising. They are a breeding ground for talent, having developed and sold a growing list of players over the past decade or more. In fact, he has made no less than €169m on transfers in the last five years alone.

The current crop is also earning praise for its performance. Many like Karetsas are already being linked with big money moves this summer.

It wouldn’t be a surprise for Newcastle to be added to the mix. In fact, targeting young players could be a smart strategy for Eddie Howe’s side moving forward while they remain restricted in the transfer window.

For now, it appears all eyes are on Genk and their clash with Zagreb tonight. It will be interesting to see who shines and who doesn’t in the presence of so many scouts.

The New York Giants have had four selections in the top ten of the NFL draft order over the past four years. Claiming the 5th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Giants are ready to add to that total. Before the Giants add another highly touted prospect, general manager Joe Schoen may be preparing to trade one of his recent picks.

Recently, SNY’s Connor Hughes reported that NFL teams are operating under the belief that Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux is available via trade.

This should come as no big surprise to Giants fans, as Thibodaux has been linked to trade rumors since the time Abdul Carter was selected third overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. The 25-year-old is entering the final year of his rookie contract.

Still, after an 11.5-sack season in 2023, a lot of teams will be eager to see if they can get Thibodeaux to consistently produce at a high level. He has recorded a total of eight sacks in the last 22 games.

With the Giants’ commitments to Brian Burns and Carter, they don’t need another high-profile pass-rusher like Thibodeaux. Other teams will definitely give him a chance to compete for the starting role. That opportunity is not currently available in New York.

The Giants have seven selections in the upcoming draft, but with only selections Nos. 5 and 37, they will only add two prospects in the top 100 selections. The Thibodaux trade could help add another valuable contributor to the Giants’ draft class.

RELATED: New York Giants coach John Harbaugh discusses drafting Caleb Downs

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Marvin Bagley’s idea came up in the discourse surrounding the Dallas Mavericks’ trade return for Anthony Davis. However, the former No. 2 pick has impressed the Mavericks during his first game since the blockbuster deal.

Bagley had his most efficient performance of the season during Tuesday’s 123-124 win over the Brooklyn Nets. The 6-foot-10 big man posted a team-high 22 points and five rebounds on 10 of 13 shooting in 20 minutes off the bench.

Jason Kidd said of Bagley’s performance, “He’s a really good player.” Talking to him revealed that he has grown up and understands the NBA game a little. Sometimes it takes time. We all want it to happen overnight. But I think the coaching staff, the media, everybody that’s been on this road trip with him has made him comfortable, and you can see how he’s playing. If it’s not in the post, it’s an offensive rebound, and then playing defense for us. So everyone’s confidence is high, and he’s brand new, and it just shows how talented he is.”

Bagley has not been able to find a home in the NBA since being selected No. 2 by the Sacramento Kings in 2018, ahead of Luka Doncic, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Trae Young.

Mavericks’ Bagley makes headlines during first game with Mavs after Anthony Davis trade

The former Duke star changed teams six times during his eight-year NBA career. After spending his first three seasons with the Kings, he saw stints with the Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards before landing in Dallas at this year’s trade deadline.

While Bagley has had a disappointing career, he is making the most of his new opportunity with the rebuilding Mavericks. With Derek Lively sidelined, the 26-year-old is averaging 13.0 points and 8.2 rebounds on 64.3 percent shooting in five appearances with the team.

“Just keep building,” Bagley said of his mindset after Tuesday’s win. “It’s just continuing to learn each other, at least for me and the new guys. Just continuing to gel with the guys that are here, learning the system, and just doing my best every day and giving it my all. That’s my mentality, and it seems like everyone else here has the same mentality. I love being a part of it, and I’m glad I have teammates like that.”

Bagley’s minimum contract is expiring and he will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

There has been a widespread belief, almost from the moment they amassed the worst record in the league, that the Las Vegas Raiders are set to make Fernando Mendoza the first overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft. Still, that hasn’t been carved in stone yet.

The Raiders had a large contingent in pursuit of Mendoza, including the Heisman-winner’s victory at the College Football National Championship. However, perhaps the Raiders aren’t 100% sold on Mendoza being their next franchise QB.

According to the , the franchise will always consider trade offers for the top selection in the draft.

“I learned a long time ago – always listen,” Spytek said. “I’m always listening. I watched him a few times this season, evaluating him. We’re not allowed to talk to him, so it’s as close as I get to standing on the sidelines before a game.”

If the Raiders are “always listening,” we’d assume that includes offers for Maxx Crosby, despite their best efforts to say they want him back. Whether Crosby feels the same way remains to be seen, but he has tried to convey through back-channels that he would like to play elsewhere.

Still, if the Raiders are actually listening to offers instead of picking and choosing Mendoza, it opens the door to a potential blockbuster offer, just like the Rams did in 2016 when they traded up to take Jared Goff.

RELATED: Aidan Hutchinson discusses ‘dream’ of Detroit Lions trading for Max Crosby

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The Sacramento Kings are signing a former top-10 draft pick amid a historic losing streak. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Killian Hayes has agreed to a 10-day contract with the Kings, who have lost a franchise-record 16 consecutive games.

Hayes, the No. 7 pick in the 2020 NBA draft, spent three seasons with the Detroit Pistons before they released him midway through the 2023-24 campaign. He signed with the Brooklyn Nets last season and spent most of his time with the team’s G League affiliate before a short NBA stint on a 10-day contract.

The 6-foot-5 point guard averaged 9.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists on 42/38/83 shooting splits in 27.0 minutes per game in six appearances with Brooklyn. However, the Nets decided not to re-sign Hayes at the conclusion of a 10-day deal.

Killian Hayes signs 10-day contract with Kings after Cavs G League stint

Hayes turned down interest from the EuroLeague this offseason and signed a contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers before training camp. The Cavaliers waived him and assigned him to their G League affiliate. He impressed during his G League tenure, averaging 22.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 8.4 assists and 1.6 steals on .474/.318/.804 shooting splits in 19 appearances.

Hayes should get a chance to prove his worth with the struggling Kings, who recently signed Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis and De’Andre Hunter out for the season.

With LaVine sidelined, Russell Westbrook has served as Sacramento’s starting point guard in recent games. Devin Carter has filled the point guard minutes on the second unit.

The Kings will travel to face the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday.

The Las Vegas Raiders have been searching for a new franchise quarterback for a long time. Trading for former Pro Bowl QB Geno Smith last offseason backfired. The Raiders now have the No. 1 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, and many believe they are set to select Heisman-winning CFP national champion Fernando Mendoza from Indiana.

However, others do not believe it is a good idea. Some think the Raiders would be better off trading the No. 1 pick for a collection of assets.

Specifically, Fox Sports’ Danny Parkins believes the Raiders would be much better off trading the top pick in April’s NFL Draft.

“Given how many holes the Raiders have, and looking at the comps for Mendoza, it seems like this is a Jared Goff type, who is a little bit quicker with a little bit of a bad arm … who might miss.”

Absolutely. All draft picks can be missed, even the seemingly ‘sure things’ that come up every few years. Still, what’s the alternative in Las Vegas? Running it back with Geno Smith? Trying to bring in someone like Tua Tagovailoa or Kyler Murray?

Who’s to say those reclamation projects are even going on in Vegas? Mendoza would be their least expensive option, and has the highest ceiling, but yes, like any player, there are risks involved. It’s up to the attackers to decide if the risks are worth the potential payoff.

RELATED: Max Crosby’s praise for Caleb Williams sparks NFL rumor

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The Philadelphia 76ers are in a good position in the second half of the season, and they still have a chance to make some headway in the Eastern Conference. The team has played well, but there is no such thing as having too much depth. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the 76ers recently did just that by bringing back a familiar face.

League sources say, “Cam Payne is signing a rest-of-the-season deal to join the 76ers. It has been reported in Europe that the veteran guard is receiving a buyout from Partizan Belgrade in Serbia to return to the NBA,” Steen, formerly of the X, wrote on Twitter.

Payne played with the 76ers during the 2023–24 season, appearing in 31 games and averaging 9.3 points per game. He was an important part of their bench, and he continued to show it the year after when he was with the New York Knicks.

Payne has been able to keep his game sharp while playing overseas, and he should be able to make some type of impact again with the 76ers. When Tyrese Maxey goes to the bench, he can come in and get as many minutes as he needs on offense, as well as his own.

The 76ers also have other guards that Payne will compete with for some minutes, such as VJ Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes. They also traded away Jared McCann, which will give Payne a chance to fill the minutes he has. It will be interesting to see what kind of role he will have when he comes to the team, but overall, it’s good to have another guard in the rotation.

Right now, the 76ers are trying to make the most of the remainder of the season with Paul George suspended for 25 games.

Jalen Brunson remains a central figure to the New York Knicks’ success, both on and off the court. During the recent All-Star Saturday festivities, Brunson led the Knicks trio of Karl-Anthony Towns and Allen Houston to victory in the return of the Shooting Stars competition. Despite the win, the All-Star guard joked that he was not having any fun due to the presence of the team’s “celebrity” passer, his father and assistant coach, Rick Brunson.

The younger Brunson jokingly roasted his father during the trophy presentation, noting that the elder Brunson did his job, but being around him was never a good time.

The momentum comes as the Knicks enter the break with a 35-20 record and the third seed in the Eastern Conference.

These types of interactions often highlight the team’s chemistry, although some teammates test Brunson’s patience more than others.

In a video posted by ClutchPoints via NBA, the Knicks leader revealed his choice for a specific superlative.

“I’m not going to tell his name, but the number 3 [Josh Hart] On the Knicks…he’s the most annoying guy ever,” Brunson joked.

“I’m not going to tell his name, but the number 3 [Josh Hart] On the Knicks…he’s the most annoying guy ever.”

-Jalen Brunson ???

(via @nba)
pic.twitter.com/4re547kgzb

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 15 February 2026

The bond between the former Villanova teammates is well-documented, and this latest comment adds another chapter to their ongoing public banter.

While Hart may be a nuisance in the locker room, his presence has been vital for a Knicks team that has won 8 of their last 10 games.

The surge came after an important players-only meeting called by Brunson following a disappointing loss to the Mavericks.

The star guard has embraced his role as the team’s undisputed leader, emphasizing that his motivation comes from proving to himself that he belongs at the highest level.

Brunson said he is not afraid to fail as he pushes the Knicks toward championship aspirations.

He challenged his teammates to show enough care to put in the effort required, a demand that has clearly resonated as the team prepares for the final stretch of the regular season.