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Once Evan Mobley put together an All-NBA and Defensive Player of the Year season for the Cleveland Cavaliers, the standard was set. Teammates, coaches, fans and the media were talking about the seven-foot-tall player all summer long and tossing his name into MVP conversations without hesitation. So, in turn, any lack of meeting those expectations is considered a failure by some, and perhaps, based on how steadfast the praise was at last year’s All-Star Game and Mobley’s own words, that’s justified.

Now that Darius Garland is in Los Angeles, it appears the microscope has zoomed in a lot on the 24-year-old forward. People crank that dial when the Cavs lose, and especially on national television.

Although he had a catch-and-drive dunk and a jump hook, Mobley missed a few threes in the final 3:20 of the game when his team was still within striking distance. And despite holding Chet Holmgren to an average scoring game, OKC’s power forward grabbed 15 rebounds compared to Cleveland’s two. They weren’t face-to-face every minute of the game, but that’s a worrying discrepancy.

The Oklahoma City Thunder had all 13 offensive rebounds from Sunday.

Where do you think the fault lies? pic.twitter.com/eXb19FU7GD

-RealCavsFans.com (@realcavsfans) 23 February 2026

Mobley deserves criticism for that part of the contest. Even if he’s out of position on most Cavs possessions due to the switch-heavy scheme defensively, recording two total rebounds at that size is absolutely unacceptable. Track the ball and catch it. When you have it in your hand, be strong with it, hold it high, and don’t let the opponent take it away from you.

Should he really be to blame for most of the Thunder’s extra chances? No, there were three examples, maybe fourWhere Mobley could have done a better job on the defensive glass was unrelated to the back-iron misses that found OKC’s perimeter players away from the paint.

• At 7:26 of the second quarter, he hung up on Jaylin Williams to make sure he didn’t miss a three; However, when Jared McCann’s floater went haywire, he waited too long to mingle with his teammates, who should have done so themselves due to the 3-on-2 advantage.
• Similarly, at 9:19 of the fourth, Mobley did not want to let a red-hot Cason Wallace get a free look in the left corner, so he tried to set up a contest time on Holmgren through the middle while driving; This forced a miss that rolled off the rim, but neither he nor Donovan Mitchell came up with it.
• Although with a strong position, Mobley was outclassed by Hartenstein at the 2:30 mark of the final frame, allowing Lou Dort to push him back to the top of the floor.

Evan Mobley’s frequently changing Cavs responsibilities

Let’s step away from the rebounding thing for just a minute and turn to Mobley’s extensive offensive game. The Cavs put the ball in his hands early in a point-forward type role in the first few weeks of the year. It was experimental because that’s what you do in the regular season. He was bringing it up and getting started, and when he didn’t have it, he was pulling up the floor. It was more dribble drives, separation, self-composition and kicking out than off-ball work.

Then, as the campaign progressed, Cleveland wanted to put Mobley in a better position to succeed with less management, as in 2024–25. That meant using him as a mid-floor hub, putting him in screens-and-slips, and getting him close to the bucket. Mobley burst onto the scene in early December and recorded four consecutive double-double performances before going down with a left calf injury. He was sidelined for five short games, then returned at Christmas.

After finding his footing again, Mobley enjoyed a solid month of January, including his best game of the season. He scored 29 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 blocks in 35 minutes against the Sacramento Kings. He did not turn it over even once and walked out of the field after scoring 13 runs out of 24. Unfortunately, after another solid performance in Game 2 of the home-and-home series with the Orlando Magic, Mobley experienced more pain in the same calf. He missed the entire season through January 28 during the NBA All-Star break.

Returning to a very different team, James Harden is now their point guard, which changes the calculus for what Mobley needs to do. At best, on this team, he is the third scoring option. It was different a few months ago, so there needs to be an adjustment on his (and Harden’s) part.

Jarrett Allen is already the quintessential pick-and-roll partner for Harden, so where does that leave Mobley? Well, for one, Cleveland needs to get him into the dunker spot right this very moment. He should have plenty of opportunities to capitalize on the seriousness he possesses as both a ball-handler and roller. In particular, alley-oops from Harden or Allen should be common.

Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson noted that Mobley’s popping could also be used as a weapon. They sure as heck aren’t shooting the three well right now, which may be due to a lack of lift from the shin, but he’s still a confidently capable mid-range shooter. If opportunities arise, he will have to take them. Atkinson also sees opportunities to quickly find mismatches at small forwards and guards in double-big lineups. When that happens, Harden can be counted on to feed him.

We’ll also see Mobley without Harden and Allen on the floor with Mitchell. The staggering choice allows for optionality in terms of style of play. Both of them had a lot of success last year and a good chemistry has been established between them, which will give both of them a chance to be as successful as ever. Adding Schroder to that mix also helps as his downhill nature forces defenses to stop the ball.

painting the whole picture

Many people are casually leaving out Mobley’s defensive skills when evaluating his game. Being a top-tier tackler who shuts down driving lanes, runs to the corners to compete, and replaces all shots in a single possession doesn’t make a highlight reel unless you’re a coach. It’s a tough business to be in, as in that department, Mobley is one of them. Find another player his size who covers as much ground, switches seamlessly, and recovers just like him.

Sadly, making lots of money also comes with noise. Mobley has had a poor offensive season, and it shows in his season-long production numbers. Does this mean that he has performed well as a basketball player? no way. He will turn 25 in mid-June. Given Cleveland’s push and pull with his offensive responsibilities, a troublesome calf that kept him out twice, and readjusting to life with a new floor general, it’s understandable that Mobley doesn’t have everything figured out at this point.

However, the Cavs have exaggerated the timeline. He was originally crowned after an undefeated extension of the trade-deadline. Garland, his old core four two-man-game partner, has moved to the West Coast. The Giants are in the building now, hardening the locker room significantly so the team can really prepare for the playoffs.

Expectations are sky-high for this fresh-wine-and-gold group, so anything less than greatness will receive a scathing response, whether that’s warranted long-term or a momentary reaction in the heat of battle. That means Mobley will have to quickly adapt to what is being asked of him and take on a role that has once again changed.

Whether that’s fair or not, that’s just the reality of the situation.

The Atlanta Hawks are still figuring out what exactly they are after reshaping their roster, but the early returns since acquiring CJ McCollum show that Quin Snyder’s developed offensive hierarchy is starting to yield results. The Jalen Johnson-led team has won two of its first three games following the NBA All-Star break and is on a relatively improving schedule. From February 23 to March 30, the Hawks play only five road games. Of the 14 domestic contests during that span, seven rivals are already focused on improving their NBA Draft Lottery odds.

Winning the Eastern Conference’s sixth seed and avoiding the NBA Play-In Tournament altogether after trading Trae Young is still a long shot. Still, a new starting lineup of Dyson Daniels, Nickell Alexander-Walker, CJ McCollum, Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu has provided offensive balance without sacrificing too much defense. McCollum is the only real goal-pointer, but the other four are doing a good job of protecting the rim and keeping opponents out of the paint. For example, the ninth-ranked Hawks (28-31) have shown improvement in points allowed in the paint over their last five games.

This shows that this team is still playing with pride and commitment to improvement. Given the schedule, the win is a must. Snyder really believes they can pull off some postseason upsets, especially if McCollum performs well in some key games.

“We’re in a little bit of a battle. We’ve played without a point guard this season, and we’ve played without a pure center this season. So the influx of a guy like C.J. who gives us another ball handler, another pick and roll player can be really valuable to everybody,” Snyder explained. “We’re going through the process of integrating those guys, and we’ll keep grinding.”

Although the offensive hierarchy is still a work in progress, Snyder is measuring success beyond the win column.

“I’m really more focused on how we’re playing, how we’re growing and how we’re coming together,” Snyder said. “We want to win every game, but to a certain extent. Whenever your team changes you have to face some difficult situations. Hopefully, we will play in such a way that we can repeat it and be successful.”

The Hawks, no longer employing Young, are operating without a single traditional floor general. Instead, Snyder has distributed playmaking duties throughout the roster, a change he described as born out of circumstance. What has emerged is a multi-lead approach to playmaking that distributes creation across the roster rather than routing everything through a single lead guard.

CJ McCollum helps Hawks

A 22-year-old Australian has been the most visible example of that development. Originally acquired for his defense, Dyson Daniels has become the primary ball handler due to circumstance and according to Snyder, he has embraced the challenge.

Snyder said, “Necessity can be the mother of invention.” “Dyson has really grown into that (point guard) role, which has been great to see him progress. He’s making plays for other guys, handling the ball and guarding that position. (Daniels) has really taken on that role for us and grown as a player.”

Johnson has been allowed to stick to what’s comfortable, with great success. Thankfully, the Hawks already have their own young face of the franchise, share a clear development plan, and now know how to best utilize future MVP-caliber talent.

“Jalen, again, is unique in his ability to pass and handle the ball, especially in the open court. (Johnson) isn’t in a position where we’re asking him to run the team, but there’s a lot of things we do where he’s the starter with the ball,” Snyder admitted. “We’ve put him in pick-and-rolls like any other player. That’s a big key for us. That versatility with multiple players and multiple playmakers is something we really value for us and we try to take advantage of that. Jalen is at the top of that list.”

The result is a crime without rigid hierarchy. Daniels organizes the attack, Johnson initiates the action from the frontcourt, and McCallum provides the scoring punch. Nichelle Alexander-Walker paints a picture of playmaking as an unconventional but effective contributor. Snyder has encouraged the 26-year-old guard to be more aggressive over the next few months.

“As far as playmaking, you know (Alexander-Walker) can get into the lane,” Snyder said. “He’s not your typical playmaker, but I think he’s unselfish and he’s willing to get off the ball when he’s blocked… We’ve tried to encourage him to be really aggressive in shooting. Even some contested shots from three.”

With McCollum adding another reliable pick-and-roll operator and an experienced scoring option from the wing, Snyder’s rotation is generating enough offense to remain competitive, even as the roster is holding its own. With a softer schedule ahead and a newly formed offensive identity, the Hawks are betting that need-driven invention leads to the NBA Playoffs. That test will show the front office what it takes to chase a top-four seed next season.

One of the moves made by the New York Knicks at the NBA trade deadline was to send Guerschon Yabusele to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Dellen Terry. The Knicks then sent Terry to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Jose Alvarado. It’s been a few weeks since the trade, but Guershon Yabusele still has love for his former Knicks teammates.

After the Knicks game against the Bulls on Sunday, Gershon Yabusele met with some of his Knicks teammates like Josh Hart, Ariel Huckporty, Jordan Clarkson, Mikal Bridges and Mohamed Diawara and Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson.

Yabusele reposted the video shared with his former teammates on social media with the words ‘my brothers’ and a pair of emojis.

Yabusele was widely touted as a great free agent signing by the Knicks in the offseason, but he was never able to find consistent minutes in the rotation this season, and a trade was always a possibility.

Since the agreement, he has seen an increase in his playing time and role with the Bulls. He has appeared in seven games, including five starts, with just over 25 minutes per game. He averaged 10.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists with splits of 42.4 percent shooting from the field, 43.2 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 72.7 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Drafted 16th overall in the 2016 NBA draft, Yabusele began his NBA career with the Boston Celtics. He played two seasons with the Celtics before moving overseas. He will return to the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2024–25 season.

Last year, just before the season started, the Dallas Cowboys surprised everyone by selling the face of their franchise, Micah Parsons. The Cowboys received Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round picks in the Parsons trade. Now they may be ready to trade one of their top assets again this offseason.

Recently, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones revealed that the team is “open-minded” to trading one of its two first-round selections in the 2026 NFL Draft.

“It’s hard to project, but we’re definitely open-minded,” Jones said. “If the right guy fits, if he’s a perfect fit, we’ll definitely look at it.”

The Cowboys have the 12th and 20th picks in the first round, the latter of which stems from the Parsons trade with the Packers. Dallas acquired two star defensive tackles last season, and now they are switching to a multiple defense with a 3-4 base scheme.

It’s possible they’ll use some of their draft compensation and cap space to acquire another proven edge rusher to help offset the loss of Parsons. Either way, with Pro Bowl receiver George Pickens set for free agency, the Cowboys will have some big decisions this offseason, and trading a first-round pick could certainly be part of the equation.

RELATED: 5 Best Mike Evans Free Agency Landing Spots

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

When a superstar of Ja Morant’s caliber is reported to be interested in a trade, much of the NBA community usually shuts up and takes notice. However, recent conversations suggest that the Memphis Grizzlies never had a strong trade market for the superstar, despite the fact that the franchise actively explored trade options before the deadline.

According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, the Grizzlies may have to wait for teams like the Milwaukee Bucks in the summer to get an attractive return.

“Sources say Sacramento has shown only modest interest. I’m told Miami also inquired about Morant only with the idea of ​​acquiring him in a deal similar to Washington’s asset-light acquisition of Trae Young. And sources say the Heat were not actively pursuing Morant in the days before the deadline because Antetokounmpo had become their primary target,” he wrote.

Stein reports that multiple teams believe the Bucks’ interest in Morant is genuine, whether it’s to pair him with Giannis Antetokounmpo or as a potential successor.

“Many teams came out of the deadline believing that the Bucks’ interest in Morant was genuine … whether it was to establish him as Antetokounmpo’s eventual successor as the Face of the Franchise or because they believe they can truly create a Giannis-and-Ja pairing,” he wrote.

Memphis openly explored deals as part of a broader rebuild, having already traded forward Desmond Benn and Jaren Jackson Jr. for three first-round picks and young rotation pieces.

Despite Morant being a two-time All-Star and former franchise centerpiece after Memphis’ 56-win season and Western Conference Semifinal run, the interest hasn’t been pressing.
Sacramento’s involvement never progressed beyond exploratory dialogue, especially with Morant reportedly unwilling to play there. Miami showed interest and was widely believed to be Morant’s preferred destination, yet the Heat prioritized Giannis Antetokounmpo as their primary target.

Of course, Morant’s diminished value stems from availability and efficiency concerns. The 26-year-old has appeared in only 20 games this season, averaging 19.5 points and 8.1 assists, but recorded career lows in efficiency (41% FG, 23.5% from three).

Memphis is also just 7-13 in games played, and barring a quick return to form, the situation appears grim as far as genuine interest and an attractive trade package is concerned.

The Milwaukee Bucks recently disappointed the NBA world by not trading Giannis Antetokounmpo at the deadline, despite heavy noise from league reporters that a deal was on the horizon. Antetokounmpo is currently out of the lineup due to injury, and the team has fallen down in the Eastern Conference playoff standings as a result.

Despite holding firm at the deadline, not everyone is convinced that Milwaukee will be Antetokounmpo’s home for the long term.

Recently, NBA insider Jake Fisher detailed his belief that the Bucks will end up trading the Greek Freak in the summer, noting that it is “undeniably true that the Bucks are going to get more attractive offers in the offseason than they do this month,” according to Mark Stein of Substack.

Fisher also reported that he is “hearing rival teams talking loudly about Brooklyn emerging as a credible destination, as the Nets have a large amount of draft capital to package with Michael Porter Jr.” And one of the Western Conference teams that inevitably disappoints in this year’s playoffs could be interested in Antetokounmpo after the fact.

Antetokounmpo and the Bucks have won only one playoff series since their NBA championship in 2021, and injury concerns have become a big issue for the star over the past few seasons, especially in regards to his calf, which is often seen as a precursor to a potentially much more devastating Achilles injury.

Meanwhile, it remains to be seen if the Bucks will bring back Antetokounmpo this year, as keeping him out would increase their chances of securing a good selection in the 2026 NBA Draft, although they would have to settle for their own selection and the New Orleans Pelicans’ lower selection.

In any case, it looks like NBA fans can expect the exhausting Antetokounmpo trade saga to heat up once again in the summer.

On Saturday, Kevin Huerter returned to Chicago as part of the Detroit Pistons against the Bulls. This was his first comeback with his former team after Was part of a three-team deal Includes the Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves. A deal that would send Jaden Ivey from the Pistons to the Bulls.

Before the game, Huerter said for the first time According to Casey Johnson of Chicago Sports Network, about the impact of seven trades made by the Bulls.

“We’ve been sitting at .500 all year,” Huerter said. “It could have gone either way. As players, you have to expect everything. But in seven trades, I don’t know if I expected this.”

In the subsequent quote, Huerter described the change Experiencing its second consecutive mid-season trade.

“Change is always hard. But coming to a team that is No. 1 in the East and competes hard, it definitely makes the job easier on the court.”

Huerter came to Chicago last season As part of another three-way trade That sent Jack LaVine to the Sacramento Kings. Additionally, the Bulls received Huerter and Trey Jones from the San Antonio Spurs and Zach Collins from the Kings.

This year, Huerter is averaging 10.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. So far, he has played four games for the Pistons and is averaging 4.3 points per game. Meanwhile, he is out due to back stiffness.

The Pistons entered Saturday with a 41-13 record, the best record in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the Bulls are 24-32 and on a seven-game losing streak.

With the Golden State Warriors trading Jonathan Kuminga to the Atlanta Hawks at the trade deadline, it cannot be denied that it has been a up and down road for the player and the franchise. As fans were expecting the Warriors to trade Kuminga, owner Joe Lacob broke his silence to talk about the deal.

In the trade, Golden State also traded Buddy Hield and received Kristaps Porzingis in return, marking the team’s largest trade as they hope to advance in the playoffs. Lacob Kuminga will speak on the experiment, as his perspective is interesting as he is known to be a big supporter of young players, saying it was “not difficult” to agree to deal with the 23-year-old.

According to The San Francisco Standard, Lacob said, “Everyone believes a lot about it.” “Look, I like him as a player, I like him as a person. … And at times, he showed a lot of potential for us. Just never really worked out to his full potential. And he got injured at an inopportune time.”

Kuminga added, “I think we all knew we had to do something. But we couldn’t just leave it.” “Because he’s a talent, and a lot of people think so. It worked out – we found something we thought was worth doing. Otherwise, we would have kept him.”

Warriors’ Joe Lacob experiment on Jonathan Kuminga isn’t working

While the Warriors were also in Giannis Antetokounmpo talks, the trade with Kuminga and Porzingis was their main deal of the deadline. Kuminga had been with Golden State for five seasons, as Lacob explained how the relationship “didn’t work out.”

“I liked him. I like all of our players. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have gotten them if we didn’t all like them. But you know, it didn’t work out. It looked like it was going to work out. It was going to be that way for a long time,” Lacob said.

The Warriors are looking to improve as their record is 29-27, which will move them into eighth place in the West heading into their next game against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday.

As Los Angeles Clippers newcomer Darius Garland struggled with a toe injury, he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers at the deadline in a deal that also included star James Harden. While fans wait for Garland’s debut in a Clippers uniform, he’ll talk about why this happened to him and what his injuries probably had to do with it.

Garland’s name was in the flood of rumors for a trade to the Cavaliers at the deadline, including the winner of the Los Angeles sweepstakes. Speaking with Endscape, Garland would speak on how a trade away from Cleveland was inevitable and that the current toe injury “was a factor in it.”

“It was going to happen at any time, in any situation [trade] deadline or this summer. [My agent] Rich [Paul] I had that conversation with him last summer,” Garland said. “They didn’t know if I was going to be healthy for this season, which I will be. But he thought James had something I didn’t, I believe. He still has playoff experience and All-Star numbers today, even though he wasn’t an All-Star this year. But yes, they want to win right now. He also has a group. And I guess I wasn’t really part of the plan.

Darius Garland calls the Clippers a “really good situation”

With Garland expected to better compete for the Clippers this season and beyond, there is no denying his talent as a star point guard in the NBA. Garland has not played a game with the Cavaliers since January 14, as he explains how excited he is to be with Los Angeles, calling it a “really good situation.”

“But now, I’m in a really good position here. I have the ball in my hands, where I can do a little more. I have another superstar. [Leonard] Next to me. I might as well go get it,” Garland said.

Garland wants to return soon and help the Clippers improve as the team’s record is 27-28, which is ninth in the West.

Early in the NFL offseason, the Miami Dolphins made a lot of noise after firing head coach Mike McDaniels, replacing him with former Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, and conducting a recent roster breakdown to free up cap space for free agency.

Their decision to waive star receiver Tyreek Hill garnered a lot of attention, but a new report claims they are on the verge of moving on from another key member of their roster. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, “The Dolphins have had trade talks with teams regarding five-time Pro Bowl S Minkah Fitzpatrick.”

Miami traded Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers a year ago to acquire a 2018 first-round pick. However, they would clearly like to move on from the $15 million the 29-year-old will make in 2026.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at five teams that should target a star safety, including the Las Vegas Raiders.

cincinnati bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals’ defense was a mess this offseason and is close to losing top star Trey Hendrickson. They will certainly make some notable additions on that side of the ball through the NFL Draft. However, they still need meaningful veterans who can lead those youngsters and make plays on the field. Targeting a Fitzpatrick trade could be on Cincy’s radar this offseason if they can free up more cap space.

Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears could lose both Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard in NFL free agency this spring. If that worst-case scenario happened, or if they only lost one, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they looked at a Fitzpatrick trade. It seems like Chicago is a few touches away from becoming a serious Super Bowl contender in 2026. The five-time Pro Bowler could be one of those pieces.

Washington Commanders

The Washington Commanders defense was very poor last season. That’s why improving their pass rush will be a top priority this offseason. However, achieving that kind of high-value-add is not easy. Since they struggled to prevent big plays last season, it makes sense to target proven talent in the secondary as well. Fitzpatrick is one of the most versatile safeties in the game and could be a useful weapon for head coach Dan Quinn.

las vegas raiders

Even with Max Crosby on the field, the Las Vegas Raiders defense struggled last season. After the end of 3-14 they need help in many places. They also need more proven veterans on both sides of the ball who can make an immediate impact. Because Fitzpatrick can bring so much to the defense, and since Las Vegas will have a lot of cap space available, they should consider a trade for the Dolphins’ safety.

tennessee titans

2025 was a difficult year for the Tennessee Titans and finished with a disappointing 3-14 record. A major reason for this was that the defense was the worst in the NFL. They need to add some big-name talent to the unit and will have a bunch of cap space to do so this offseason. The duo of Minkah Fitzpatrick and Amani Hooker could give Tennessee one of the best safety duos in the game next season.

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

Ochai Agbaji is getting a fresh start with the Brooklyn Nets. Traded by the Toronto Raptors at the deadline, the former lottery pick has an opportunity to regain his form in Brooklyn during the second half of the season.

Agbaji took a step in the right direction during his first extended action in net. The 25-year-old was one of Brooklyn’s only bright spots during Thursday’s 112-84 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He posted 13 points, three rebounds, three assists and one block on 5 of 8 shooting from the field and 3 of 6 from three.

Agbaji finished with a team-best minus-four in 28 minutes.

“[Ochai] Very good job,” Jordi Fernandez said after the game. “He was ready to shoot. He still has to get used to the spacing, the rules, certain plays and defensive concepts. But I think he was great. He was ready; he fought. Physically and mentally, he was ready to go. Nice to see this.”

Agbaji had the best season of his career in 2024–25, averaging 10.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists on 50/40/71 shooting splits in 64 appearances. However, he fell out of the Raptors’ rotation this year due to a career-worst shooting slump (12 of 65 from three in 42 games with Toronto).

Ochai Agbaji struggling to secure long-term role after trade with Nets

While the Nets received a second-round pick in exchange for Agbaji’s contract, Fernandez praised the guard’s skills upon his arrival. With a 6-foot-5 wingspan, a 6-foot-10 frame and above-average athleticism, the former Kansas star has the tools to be an impact guard.

that athleticism was on display On Thursday.

Agbaji got Uttar Pradesh for this rejection

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– Yes Network (@YESNetwork) 20 February 2026

His ability to put together a positive shooting night will go a long way in earning an expanded role.

“It felt good. It felt good to see the ball go in and get some rhythm with my guys and score some runs,” Agbaji said after the game. “Obviously, that was one game before the All-Star break, but [it was] Little minutes here and there. Saw this for the first time [extended] A few minutes to really get my form and go with them, and I’m excited. I’m excited about what we can do. The style we play is very unselfish and I’m that type of player. So I fit in.”

Agbaji will be a free agent when his rookie contract expires this summer. He is one of several players — including Ziaire Williams, Jalen Wilson and Josh Minott — fighting to secure a new deal on the back-end of Brooklyn’s roster.

Speculation regarding Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers is beginning to resonate in familiar territory as the franchise approaches a pivotal offseason.

In the latest episode of Clutch Scoops, ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel drew a comparison between Leonard’s current situation and the circumstances that led to him being traded from the San Antonio Spurs to the Toronto Raptors in 2018.

Siegel said, “I think if he’s still on the Clippers roster in the summer and his contract isn’t voided. He’ll be in the last year of his deal.” “I believe it’s worth $50.3 million dollars and no matter how old he is, as long as he’s healthy, it will be looked at like another scenario from when the Spurs traded him to the Toronto Raptors. He’s in the final year of his contract. He can still be a big part of a championship team.”

The 34-year-old Leonard has averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.1 steals per game in 41 games this season. He is shooting 49.1 percent from the field, 38.3 percent from three-point range and a career-high 91.2 percent from the free-throw line in 32.8 minutes per contest.

The Clippers were active at the trade deadline as they recalibrated their roster around Leonard. Los Angeles traded Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Benedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, a protected 2026 first-round pick, an unprotected 2029 first-round pick and a future second-round selection.

. @TomerAzarly And @BrettSiegelNBA Live to talk NBA All-Stars, tanking problems + some early NBA offseason intel! https://t.co/duIKN4TFxL

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 19 February 2026

Clippers reshape roster at deadline as Kawhi Leonard’s offseason future is in jeopardy

In a separate move earlier in the trade cycle, the Clippers dealt James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Darius Garland, signaling a broader shift toward reshaping their core while maintaining offensive firepower.

Siegel said that from a front office perspective, exploring a Leonard trade this summer could more closely align with the Clippers’ long-term vision.

“From a front office standpoint and if you’re looking at it through the lens of the Clippers’ future, it probably makes more sense to trade him in the offseason,” Siegel said.

Los Angeles entered Thursday at 26-28, tied for 10th in the Western Conference after bouncing back from a 6-21 start. The Clippers return to action following All-Star festivities when they host the Denver Nuggets at 7:30 pm PT.

With Leonard potentially entering the final year of his deal this summer, league observers will be monitoring whether the Clippers follow a similar path to the Spurs’ 2018 decision — a move that ultimately reshaped the championship landscape.

The 2025-26 season was supposed to be a watershed moment of sorts for the Denver Nuggets, as they added some new pieces to their core four of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, and Christian Braun, and this new depth was going to make them unbeatable, especially in the postseason.

However, this campaign has been particularly unforgiving for the Nuggets on the injury front, with players like Jokic, Gordon, Braun, new addition Cam Johnson and now breakout star Peyton Watson missing significant time with significant innings. Of course, the goal for the Nuggets is simply to complete the rigors of the regular season together, and given their situation at present, even that is not certain.

Whatever the case, the Nuggets have called on some unlikely contributors to step up, and credit to them. But the Nuggets front office knows time is ticking. Their salary cap obligations are about to increase significantly, as Watson is set for a new big contract. To retain Watson, the Nuggets will have to dive into the luxury tax if they choose to keep their current roster together for the next few seasons.

This prompted them to pull off a salary dump trade before the deadline, sending former second-round pick Hunter Tyson along with a 2032 second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets just to avoid the luxury tax. They were $1.8 million under the luxury tax before the move was made to comply with the 14-roster size requirement following the Tyson trade.

Spencer Jones’ Nuggets future is secure…for now

In an ideal world, the Nuggets would have unlimited resources, and they could put their core together without being overly cautious of the punitive nature of the luxury tax under the current CBA. Alas, the Nuggets are not living in an ideal world.

Paying luxury tax is not really a problem when a person is careless. Of course, this plays a factor, as owners are at least very adamant about not wasting money, but the roster move restrictions that come with being in the first or even second apron make roster construction much more difficult.

The Nuggets wanted to get into the tax bracket to reset their timer for at least this season, because their hand will be forced very soon. Nonetheless, they finalized the facilitated transaction of converting Spencer Jones’ contract to a standard contract, making him eligible for the postseason.

Jones is one of the players the Nuggets have relied on to help their injured starters. In fact, the 24-year-old sophomore has made 34 starts for the Nuggets this season, which is nothing short of a huge developmental win for a team that needs some cost-effective but productive players to fill out the roster.

Jones plays unselfishly and he shoots efficiently, and considering how important he has been this season, it was no easy task for the Nuggets to turn his deal into a standard one. His impact doesn’t go beyond the stat sheet, but as a 6’7″ wing who can shoot and defend at multiple positions, he is invaluable to a team with contending aspirations.

However, the problem is that the Nuggets were able to convert his contract to a prorated minimum deal for the remainder of the season instead of signing him to a multi-year contract, which would keep him in the Mile High City on an affordable arrangement for the next few seasons.

With this agreement, Jones will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer, and if he makes seven more starts for the Nuggets, he will be eligible for a qualifying offer of $5.9 million – further reducing the Nuggets flexibility amid their current troubles clearing the salary cap.

At least, the Nuggets now have Johnson and Braun healthy, and they’ve been riding the hot hand of Julian Strother lately, reducing their need to rely on Jones to fill in as the starter. It was going to be difficult for the Nuggets to keep Jones out of the starting lineup as his situation has not improved on the injury front, but now, they have a legitimate reason to bring him off the bench.

But it seems that the hard part is just beginning for the Nuggets.

Denver’s bill is coming due

The Nuggets were absolutely impressed by Braun’s 2024-25 campaign, as he made the move after Kentavious Caldwell-Pope left in free agency. Braun signed a five-year, $125 million contract extension – a significant commitment for the Nuggets knowing their cap obligations at the time.

Braun has struggled this season with 36 missed games, a huge decline from last season. And the Nuggets have since seen Watson take the next step in his development, blossoming into a legitimate shot creator on the wing and a far more well-rounded two-way threat than Braun.

Watson is set to enter restricted free agency in the summer, and the Nuggets will have to pay more than $20 million per season to retain Watson. Denver has some tough decisions to make moving forward, and that’s without considering what it would take to keep Jones on a long-term contract.

Cutting Zeke Nnaji’s salary is a way for the Nuggets to make room, and so is moving Johnson out. However, the Nuggets hardly have any assets left to sweeten salary-dump trades, and losing Johnson would be costly, as he’s shooting over 43 percent from deep this season and is on an affordable contract anyway.

Will the Nuggets let Braun go to make room for Watson? This seems like a possible route Denver could take. But his best bet for maintaining his status as a title-contender during Jockey’s prime is to endure the tax hit for at least a year before making a change if he really has to.

Winning fixes everything. And for a Nuggets team that is about to be financially ruined, all the blood they shed will be worth it if they hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy in June.

Is it really over for the Golden State Warriors? It hasn’t been for lack of trying, but the Warriors no longer look like they have a chance to compete for a title. Jimmy Butler’s injury at the end of the season practically sealed the Dubs’ fate: whatever slim chances they had of competing for a championship vanished when Butler aggravated his knee and tore his ACL on an errant pass from Brandin Podziemski.

The Warriors’ two-timeline ploy didn’t work. James Wiseman was a failure. Jonathan Kuminga has not lived up to expectations. Moses Moody is a role player, a quality player, but not a star who can take over the team. Jordan Poole flared up and upset one of the pillars of the franchise in Draymond Green. And now, the Dubs are stuck with a mediocre and aging roster that is going to have their work cut out for them in a Western Conference challenge.

Credit should go where credit is due; The warriors are still not giving up. They traded for Kristaps Porzingis in a deal that sent Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks, taking the risk that Porzingis’ talent is worth the gamble despite his season-long battle against POTS.

This trade created a roster spot for the Warriors, although they had already filled one of their open roster spots by converting Pat Spencer’s contract to a standard deal, a move that made sense considering how instrumental Spencer has been in covering the team’s injury problems.

The Dubs created another roster spot when they traded Tracy Jackson-Davis to the Toronto Raptors for a second-round pick. With that in mind, the Warriors may have one more move left to make to prepare for the stretch run ahead.

Will the Warriors raid the buyout market?

Before diving into the potential targets the Warriors may set their sights on filling their open roster spot, their financial situation should be taken into consideration. Currently, the Warriors have a total of $205.2 million allocated for their player payroll, which puts them above the tax apron. They are a repeat tax-paying team, which will only serve to make their luxury tax penalty more punitive.

This also reduces their flexibility in the buyout market. The Warriors cannot sign any players in the buyout market whose contract was worth at least $14.1 million (equivalent to non-taxpayer MLE) this season because they were above the first apron. Not many buyout candidates are making that much money anyway, so it’s not like it’ll be a huge factor for the Dubs moving forward.

The Dubs don’t need help at the guard positions. In addition to Stephen Curry, the Warriors have the following playing minutes at the one and two: Podziemski, De’Anthony Melton, Spencer, Gary Payton II and Will Richard. Seth Curry could also be a factor after returning from injury.

Whatever happens, the Warriors need help on the wing. Butler’s injury and Kuminga’s departure have further depleted the Dubs’ depth at the position, pushing Gui Santos into the starting role. Santos has been very much solid and seems like he has established himself as at least a quality role player, but their depth on the wing leaves a lot to be desired.

The Warriors were rumored to be interested in Lonzo Ball, but Ball has looked bad all season, and although he can play one position, he doesn’t necessarily provide anything different than the likes of Payton or Melton. He can be a play initiator, and his court vision is still top-notch, but it might be best for the Dubs to reserve their open roster spot for someone else.

The current buyout market does not inspire much confidence. Of those who have already been forgiven, someone like Chris Boucher matters the most. Boucher is also a former Warriors player, so that could make some sense.

Still, Boucher hasn’t played well enough to earn minutes for the Boston Celtics despite the battle for the wide-open position at center, and it’s not like the Dubs need help at the big man spots, considering they have Green, Al Horford, Quinton Post and now Porzingis to fill all the minutes at five.

Of the players who could potentially be acquired, someone like Kyle Anderson or Nicolas Batum would make the most sense for the Dubs, although it’s not at all clear if those two will get a nod of departure from their teams.

Dubs could bring back a familiar face

Batum is unlikely to leave the Los Angeles Clippers. The veteran credited the team for saving his career in 2020, and he clearly loves the franchise. Furthermore, the Clippers value him as a veteran presence, and rumor has it that he will hang up his sneakers after the season. LA has already let him go once, and they’re not doing it again.

This brings the Warriors into a possible reunion with a familiar face in Anderson. Slo-Mo signed with the Dubs ahead of the 2024-25 season, and he was traded to the Miami Heat in the deal that brought Butler to the Bay. He played in 36 games for the Warriors and started three games, playing 15.0 minutes a night.

Anderson is the kind of cerebral veteran that Kerr relies on, and his playmaking, defending and feel for the game make him an easy piece to integrate for the Dubs.

He’s not going to be a very impactful veteran for the Warriors, but he should at least give the team additional insurance at the forward position. The Memphis Grizzlies are also betting on the 2025-26 campaign, meaning Anderson could very well be bought out, paving the way for a return to the Bay.

However, it’s unclear whether the Warriors have any desire to fill their open roster spot. This will only increase their luxury tax bill. But if they do, bringing in Anderson wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world.

The Los Angeles Lakers remained mostly quiet at the NBA trade deadline, making a small move by sending Gabe Vincent and a pick to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Luke Kennard. While Kennard has performed well in his first few games in Los Angeles, he is unlikely to significantly change the course of the Lakers’ 2025-26 season.

After an early playoff exit, which many anticipate will be in a matter of months, the Lakers will have more flexibility to remodel a sensible roster around Luka Doncic, and recently, ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel broke down a name Los Angeles could pursue to add to their frontcourt depth.

“One team we reported on last year that had interest in Yves Missy is the Los Angeles Lakers. They’re hitting the market looking for a center, and maybe they can get Missy at a cheap price for a first-round pick,” Seagal said on Clutch Scoops, according to Ax, formerly of ClutchPoints on Twitter.

The New Orleans Pelicans tossed Messi’s name around in trade rumors leading up to the deadline, notably having talks with the Chicago Bulls, but ultimately made no move regarding their 2024 first-round draft selection.

Meanwhile, the Lakers have been linked to dating Missy since last summer.

Missy would certainly provide an upgrade over Deandre Ayton and Jackson Hayes in the Lakers’ frontcourt, as he checks a lot of the same boxes that Derek Lively II and Daniel Gafford did as Doncic’s partners with the Dallas Mavericks.

Aside from the trade market, the Lakers should have plenty of room for free agency signings in the offseason when LeBron James is either off the books or back on a significantly reduced contract. Currently, the Lakers have not been able to build a real contender around Doncic, because he and James are receiving huge salaries.

In any case, the Lakers will next be at home against the crosstown rival Los Angeles Clippers on Friday evening.

Amid trade talks across the league, the Milwaukee Bucks, with All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo in mind, have reportedly inquired about trading with the Los Angeles Clippers for Kawhi Leonard. In the final hours before the trade deadline, the Bucks were a last-minute contender for Leonard. The Clippers ultimately retained Kawhi for the remainder of the season, but his future beyond 2025–26 remains uncertain.

According to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, a Clippers offseason trade for Leonard could still be on the horizon.

“There were two teams in particular that were pursuing Giannis that called the Clippers about Kawhi Leonard and checked on his availability,” Siegel said. “If he’s still on the Clippers roster in the summer and his contract isn’t voided, he’s going to be entering the last year of his deal, I believe it’s something like $50.3 million.

“Regardless of how old he is, as long as he’s healthy, it will be looked at like another scenario from when the Spurs traded him to the Toronto Raptors. This is the last year of his contract. He can still be a big part on a championship team, even if years later. We saw what Kawhi Leonard can do.”

No one expected James Harden’s trade request in the midst of the team’s most successful regular season run. Then, the Clippers’ trade with the Indiana Pacers for Ivica Zubac prompted other teams to call about Leonard.

Could Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard return to Raptors?

Clippers veteran Kawhi Leonard was the subject of trade rumors before the deadline, and is expected to be the case once again during the offseason, as noted by ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel.

Siegel said, “It was then that the Toronto Raptors traded for Leonard, without knowing what the future held for him in free agency. That move led Toronto to their first NBA championship.”

“Something similar could happen with Leonard this upcoming offseason. Maybe, just maybe, the Raptors’ return to competing for another championship is a scenario we could see play out.”

Perhaps trade talks will resume in the offseason between the Raptors, who were reportedly interested in Ivica Zubac over the summer, or perhaps there will be a call from the Bucks.

As many predicted, the San Francisco 49ers bounced back and returned to the playoffs this season. Still, as general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan know, nothing is guaranteed from year to year.

The changes are sure to impact the 49ers again. They could also trade a Pro Bowl player who contributed heavily to their success in 2025.

While offseason discussions so far indicate that the 49ers do not want to trade Mac Jones, who led the team to a 5-3 record this season. That mindset can change.

according to athletic“Stars may align” for 49ers to trade Matt Barrows, Jones.

“Still, circumstances are shaping up to make it an offer that may be hard to refuse.”

Several teams may be interested in taking a gamble on Jones becoming the starting quarterback. It helps that Jones has spent a season mastering Kyle Shanahan’s playbook, and many teams run a similar offense.

Barrows estimates that teams that might be interested in trading for the former first-round pick include the Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings.

The Cardinals just hired Mike LaFleur, who spent four seasons coaching under Shanahan in San Francisco. Dolphins offensive coordinator Bobby Slovic spent six seasons coaching under Shanahan. Meanwhile, the Vikings use concepts in Shanahan’s offense that Kevin O’Connell has adopted over the years.

Any of the three teams would make sense if the price is right this offseason. But the 49ers also have to be willing to listen.

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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.

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The biggest story in the NBA has been the immediate future of Giannis Antetokounmpo, as it appears he is nearing the end of his tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks. The potential trade of Giannis Antetokounmpo caused an uproar across the league, even prompting teams to make a trade to see if the two-time MVP was available to acquire.

In the days leading up to the trade deadline, one team picked up steam as a prime destination for Giannis Antetokounmpo’s services: the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Timberwolves, led by charismatic star Anthony Edwards, have made runs to the Western Conference Finals the past two seasons, but it appears they don’t have enough runs to overcome this loss. So, the Timberwolves aggressively pursued Antetokounmpo, and it appeared that playing with Edwards was uppermost in the Bucks star’s mind.

This conversation between the Greek Freak and Ant-Man at All-Star Weekend:

Giannis Antetokounmpo: “We’re gonna go viral again, man.”

Anthony Edwards: “We’re always going to go viral, take you and me together. We’re going to go viral.”

(via @timberwolves)pic.twitter.com/DFnmFXHKc1

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 19 February 2026

Ultimately, negotiations failed as Milwaukee chose to keep Antetokounmpo through the remainder of the season and explore his future in the off-season. At the All-Star break, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Edwards fueled trade rumors.

In a video posted by the Timberwolves, the two All-Stars were seen chatting in the tunnel at the Intuit Dome and mentioned how they knew their video together would go viral.

“We’re gonna go viral again, man,” Antetokounmpo said.

Edwards replied, “We’re always going to go viral, you get me and you together. We’re going to go viral.”

These interactions between players in the All-Star Game are always seen as potential precursors to future team-ups. During the 2019 All-Star Game, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant were caught on video talking privately with each other, which many speculated at the time as possibly being the reason they were teaming up to play each other. And the speculations appeared to be true.

Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving last night 👀

(@jpizzy15 sent me the video) pic.twitter.com/xKXT8MPnwm

– Ben Stinar (@BenStinar) 18 February 2019

On Kevin Durant’s Podcast ETC with Kevin Durant In September 2020, Durant indicated that the conversation solidified their intention to play with each other, although he did not know which team he would be joining.

“The All-Star Game video where they caught us in the hallway. That’s when it cemented that we were going somewhere. They didn’t really know where it was, but it was somewhere.”

Durant said the conversation at All-Star Weekend was not the first time they discussed his future.

“Like we’ll have these types of [basketball related] Conversation all day, every day. And it evolved from there. It just grew from there, it was organic, you know what I’m saying? And it wasn’t something you could point to and say, this was the moment. That’s it, that’s it.”

It’s unknown whether Edwards and Antetokounmpo were having the same conversation, and they certainly weren’t doing so in that video. But, there is a possibility that we may see two All-Stars team up together in the future.

Both the Bucks and Timberwolves are back in action on Friday night. Minnesota will host Dallas at 7:30 p.m. The game will air on ESPN. Meanwhile, the Bucks will travel to New Orleans for tip-off at 8 p.m.

The Atlanta Hawks made several moves at the trade deadline and in one of those moves, they were able to acquire Jonathan Kuminga from the Golden State Warriors. He did not see much time on the field with the Warriors this season, and although it was mostly due to rotations, he was also injured.

Kuminga has yet to take the field for the Hawks due to his bone bruise and knee hyperextension, and he recently offered an update on his condition.

“Forward Jonathan Kuminga, who suffered a left kneecap injury while playing for Golden State in Dallas on Jan. 22, is progressing in his rehabilitation. He will be reevaluated in approximately a week and an update will be provided at that time,” the Hawks wrote.

Just because Kuminga will be reevaluated in a week doesn’t mean he’ll be back in that time period. There will probably be more standards he needs to overcome before he can get back on the floor, but the good news is that he’s making progress.

When Kuminga is ready to play, he should be a nice addition to the Hawks’ rotation, as he showed during his time with the Warriors that he can use his athleticism to get anywhere on the floor. Unfortunately, his role with the Warriors wasn’t very clear, and it seemed like there was growing tension between the two sides over the past few seasons.

With the Hawks, the hope is that Kuminga can find a consistent role for the remainder of the season, and if he plays well, they may accept his team option and keep him for the future.

There’s a good chance he’ll play behind Jalen Johnson, but there could be some scenarios where head coach Quin Snyder decides to put them on the field together.

There’s a new decision-maker in town, and new Miami Dolphins general manager John-Eric Sullivan has been busy cutting costs this week. They’ve already said goodbye to four players, including a pair of Pro Bowl players in Tyreke Hill and Bradley Chubb.

Now, the Dolphins are preparing to cut bait with another star talent, even if he is a three-time All-Pro. Only, this time, instead of releasing him from the roster, the Dolphins are trying to get some trade compensation in return.

According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Dolphins are now fielding a trade offer for five-time Pro Bowl safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Although Schultz didn’t say it, if the Dolphins don’t get a trade offer to their liking, there’s always a possibility they decide to release Fitzpatrick as well. However, they naturally want to utilize any and all trading opportunities first.

Although the Dolphins will face a $12.9 million dead cap charge if they cut Fitzpatrick before June 1, they are hoping they find a trade partner for the 29-year-old New Jersey native. Releasing him now would only save a maximum of $5.8 million.

Thus, with the Dolphins putting the put-for-sale sign on one of their best defenders now, they have a better chance of getting some value in return than letting him leave for nothing.

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Max Crosby and the Las Vegas Raiders are coming off another challenging season in which they set their franchise record for most losses in a season with 14. The Raiders have since made several changes, most notably firing Pete Carroll and hiring Clint Kubiak as their head coach.

Now that the Raiders’ brand-new coaching staff is in place, it’s time to address the elephant in the room: Crosby’s future with the team. He is under contract with Las Vegas through the 2029 season, but some believe the five-time Pro Bowl pass-rusher is tired of being part of a losing effort.

Others doubt the Raiders would even consider trading their best defenseman. Recently, ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that the Raiders don’t actually want to trade Crosby. But if they do consider offers, it would involve a trade package like Micah Parsons, two first-round picks and a player.

“I was told the Raiders didn’t want to trade him and even if they considered it, it would have to take a Micah Parsons-type package,” Schefter said. “That’s what I was told. Do I think they’re getting two players and one player? No. Do I think they’ll want to trade him? No. Do I think he’ll be traded? … It’ll change by the week, but it’s definitely possible.”

Crosby is already 28 years old. Meanwhile, Parsons was only 26 years old at the time of his trade to the Cowboys. Crosby has only 4.5 more sacks than Parsons in his career, and has played two more seasons. In other words, Parsons was the more attractive trade chip.

In other words, it may be difficult for the Raiders to get their reported asking price, but if they are willing to drop the price, a deal could be done. Still, based on his initial request, the Raiders likely won’t trade their prized pass-rusher for anything less than a first-round selection.

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Throughout almost his entire career, it seems as if LeBron James has been chasing the ghost that has been haunting his career in Michael Jordan. And perhaps the Los Angeles Lakers star is on his way to taking a page out of Jordan’s playbook by ending his career there with the Washington Wizards.

Now, this may be an exaggeration, and there are certainly no concrete indications that James is even considering a move to the Wizards. She is well settled in LA, as she and her family are living comfortably in the city. It is unlikely that James will move away from home at the end of his career.

Nonetheless, James gave a glowing review of the Wizards after their trade deadline, including acquiring his good friend Anthony Davis, which could be the first step toward an unexpected move to the nation’s capital.

“I’m interested to see what they do and how it all comes together. Obviously with AD we know the talent level is out of this world. And Trae, his ability to play the pick and roll game, his ability to shoot the ball, with his lob threat,” James said on the latest episode of the Mind the Game podcast.

“They have some pieces and I think for the first time in a few years we can say Washington has grabbed some pieces. So it will be interesting to see what happens.”

LeBron James showers love on Wizards’ youngsters

There really is something going on in the nation’s capital, and James is right that the time to invest in Wizards shares might be now.

“I love the young kid from France that’s on their team too, Sarr. We just played with him two weeks ago. Great touch, great feel for the game. Love the kid George, too. Young kid, um, very good player. And then also the rookie kid they got from Texas, Johnson, Trey Johnson,” James said.

Giannis Antetokounmpo said he is still committed to the Milwaukee Bucks, a sentiment that could potentially change when it comes to the offseason. As the Bucks retain Antetokounmpo ahead of the trade deadline on February 5, the star will be asked about his mindset regarding an integral decision regarding his future with the franchise.

In an interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews, Antetokounmpo said he would not want to stay in Milwaukee and would never have the feeling of winning a championship. Continuing to say that he wants to win a title with the franchise, he would consider it if “it’s not on the table or in the plans.”

“The most important thing is I want to win a championship with the Milwaukee Bucks and if it’s not on the table or in the plans, that’s when you’re like, ‘Okay, maybe I have to move on,’ because I really want to win,” Antetokounmpo said.

“The most important thing is I want to win a championship with the Milwaukee Bucks and if that’s not on the table or in the plans, then only if you’re OK, maybe I’ve got to pivot because I really want to win.”

– Giannis Antetokounmpo 👀
pic.twitter.com/c6qcd5CNNc

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 17 February 2026

In the same interview, Antetokounmpo talked about how “committed” he is to the Bucks and how “extremely loyal” he is as a person.

“To this day, I’m committed to the Milwaukee Bucks, I’m committed to the people I work with, my teammates, the coaching staff, Coach Doc [Rivers]and john [Horst] In the front office…you’ll never hear me say I don’t want to be a Milwaukee Buck. I’m a winner, and I’m extremely loyal,” Antetokounmpo said.

Giannis:

“As of today I’m committed to the Milwaukee Bucks, I’m committed to the people I work with, my teammates, the coaching staff, Coach Doc and John in the front office… You’ll never hear me say I don’t want to be a Milwaukee Buck. I’m a winner and I’m extremely… pic.twitter.com/ihRNC7zw3q

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 15 February 2026

At any rate, it remains to be seen what happens with Antetokounmpo and his future with Milwaukee, as there will be a number of teams that pursue the team in the offseason. Meanwhile, Antetokounmpo looks to help the Bucks as the team is currently 23-20, placing them in 12th place in the Eastern Conference as they face the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday.

The Los Angeles Clippers may look like a completely different team than they did before the trade deadline, but Brian Shaw believes that’s a good thing.

Shaw is best known for his long playing career, which included winning three championships with the Los Angeles Lakers led by Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. The 59-year-old player has enjoyed a successful coaching career since retiring and has served as a Lakers assistant on two separate occasions. He has been an assistant for the Clippers since 2021.

The Clippers have clearly had difficulty enjoying postseason success in recent years despite being loaded with star power. In earlier years, they had the Kawhi Leonard-Paul George duo and more recently they had James Harden and Russell Westbrook. However, they have not been able to progress beyond the first round since Shaw’s arrival.

Los Angeles made a big move at the trade deadline, landing Harden, a 36-year-old star guard, for 26-year-old guard Darius Garland in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Clippers entered the season with the oldest roster in the NBA at 30.7 years. Although they are much younger now, Shaw believes this will benefit the team as they look to advance to the postseason.

Los Angeles currently sits in 10th place in the Western Conference and are playing for a play-in spot. Shaw talked about what Garland brings to the table.

“Darius can guess who you know. I coached Darius at the Nike Hoop Academy when he was in high school and just his agility, his basketball IQ, he’s a great passer, and he can score. There are players on our team that will benefit from him, being able to set the table for them, but also add to the youth and the agility that we have overall.

Shaw continued, “We started this season as the oldest team in NBA history.” “When you look at the fact that we started with Chris Paul and James Harden, we had a pretty old team. We were pretty slow, so now we feel like we can compete with these younger, faster, more athletic teams that are out there.”

Garland is one of the better, more established young guards in the league. The former fifth overall pick is a two-time All-Star selection and is averaging 18.0 points and 6.9 assists per game this season.

The 26-year-old player is still recovering from a right foot sprain injury and has not yet made his debut for the Clippers. That being said, Garland – along with Leonard – has a chance to lead the Clippers back to the playoffs. They have been a much stronger team recently, with Los Angeles going 20-6 since December 20.

The Los Angeles Lakers recently endured a turbulent trade deadline, during which forward Rui Hachimura was frequently mentioned in league-wide discussions. Reports from ClutchPoints and other insiders indicate that the Lakers are engaged in direct talks with the Cleveland Cavaliers regarding a potential trade for De’Andre Hunter. Hachimura was reportedly a key part in these negotiations, as his expiring contract and high-level on-court production made him a valuable asset to teams seeking wing depth.

Despite being made available in these discussions, the Lakers’ front office maintained a firm stance: they would only move the veteran if it meant significantly upgrading the roster, refusing to part with him merely for salary relief. This strategic discipline ensured that Hachimura remained in Los Angeles as a key contributor to the team’s championship aspirations.

Addressing the continued speculation surrounding the franchise, Hachimura provided a candid assessment of the situation. “With the Lakers, we get a lot of rumors,” he told ESPN. “But a lot of times, those rumors are bullshit. Now we have a time where it can be said, ‘Okay, this is our group now.’ Because we know this now. So we are ready to move forward.”

His comments reflect a sense of relief and focus within the locker room now that the deadline has passed, allowing the team to move forward with its established core.

Hachimura’s importance to the Lakers has become clear since his return from a calf injury. He has found a distinctive rhythm recently, serving as the driving force in several key wins, including a remarkable 23-point performance against the Chicago Bulls, where he shot an impressive 9-11 from the field.

This season, he has emerged as one of the league’s premier catch-and-shoot threats, averaging a 43.9% three-point shooting percentage. By retaining Hachimura, the Lakers have kept a versatile wing who not only understands the team’s system but also actively improves their spacing and offensive efficiency.

As the team turns its attention to the playoffs, Hachimura’s presence provides the stability needed to ignore distractions and achieve another championship win.

The trade deadline has come and gone and Giannis Antetokounmpo is still a member of the Milwaukee Bucks after much trouble. It certainly seemed as if Antetokounmpo’s eyes were wandering, and for the first time, a trade out of Cream City seemed more realistic than ever. But in the end, the Bucks didn’t pull the trigger – a refusal that echoed loudly throughout the association.

The Bucks organization has been in decline over the past few years, and their big offseason move smacked of desperation. Instead of taking 2026 as a gap year, they decided to waive and extend Damian Lillard’s contract while he recovers from a torn Achilles so they can bring in Myles Turner. Suffice to say, bringing in Turner isn’t enough to make Milwaukee a playoff team, let alone a contender in even the weak Eastern Conference.

Now, the Bucks are in a tough position moving forward, although they can always revisit Antetokounmpo trade talks in the offseason. Their long-term approach hasn’t changed, though it’s still debatable whether they did the right thing by moving these trade talks into the offseason rather than cashing out before the deadline.

Bucks did not receive any substantial Giannis Antetokounmpo trade offer

The Antetokounmpo trade saga became the most anticipated announcement of the pre-deadline season. Every NBA fan was refreshing their feeds on social media, waiting for the next tweet from renowned NBA insider Shams Charania and anxiously awaiting the next update regarding trade talks involving the Bucks.

Finally, Charania teased fans with constant breadcrumbs and non-updates, until he revealed that the Bucks were actually going to hold on to Antetokounmpo, causing trade talks to drag into the offseason.

It’s never going to be easy parting ways with a franchise cornerstone, especially one who has done so much for the Bucks like Antetokounmpo has. The city of Milwaukee has also adopted Antetokounmpo as one of their own; He has been there since 2013 and under his tutelage he has become one of the greatest superstars in the league.

So try as the Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, or Golden State Warriors might have done, it will always be a godfather proposition for the Bucks to consider trading the greatest player in franchise history. Antetokounmpo may have said it’s hard for him not to be upset considering how the team has fallen apart around him, but he clearly hasn’t given the order by demanding he be fired.

Since Antetokounmpo hasn’t pushed the issue at all, it’s hard to criticize the Bucks for not trading Giannis away yet. Giannis has long expressed his desire to be a one-team player for the rest of his career, but he also wants to compete for championships. Perhaps there’s a possibility, no matter how slim, that a competitive team could still thrive in Milwaukee while it’s still in its prime.

But in all likelihood the Bucks will continue to struggle over the next few seasons, and if Antetokounmpo’s desire to win another championship outweighs his desire to stay in Milwaukee, the team will have no choice but to trade him in the final year of his contract.

One could argue that even if Antetokounmpo had pushed the issue regarding a potential trade, the Bucks would have been best served by doing what they did and waiting until the offseason. The Warriors’ choice looked very attractive, but gambling on huge returns in exchange for the greatest player in franchise history is a risky game.

The Heat do not have any blue-chip prospects they could trade to include future first-round picks; Predictably, any realistic Heat trade proposal for Giannis would revolve around Bam Adebayo, and trading Adebayo for Antetokounmpo instead of adding them together seems counterproductive for a team with championship aspirations.

As for the Timberwolves, try as they might, they couldn’t raise enough draft capital to convince the Bucks to trade Antetokounmpo to the northernmost part of the United States. Minnesota may be willing to trade Jaden McDaniels, but they were unable to acquire enough first-round picks for some of their key players, including Julius Randle, to make a deal.

Limiting themselves to contenders before the deadline doesn’t serve the Bucks in any shape or form; He should receive similar offers in the offseason, although being in the offseason opens up more opportunities for other bidders to get involved in the Giannis sweepstakes, which should benefit Milwaukee in the long run.

At the end of the day, the Bucks have to prioritize getting the best package available in any potential Giannis trade.

Perhaps the Houston Rockets become more open to trading someone like Alperen Sengun or Amen Thompson if they make an early exit in the playoffs. The Oklahoma City Thunder might have put Jalen Williams on the table if they don’t repeat as champions. Or perhaps the Spurs reconsider a potential Giannis pursuit and try to get over the hump if they fall short in the postseason.

The Bucks at least have the luxury of waiting, although they don’t have much time to wait considering Giannis will hit the open market in 2027.

Milwaukee made some buy-less moves

The Bucks settled for a few buyout-less moves before the deadline, bringing in former Thunder prospect Ousmane Dieng and giving Cam Thomas a chance after being let go by the Brooklyn Nets.

Thomas is still only 24 and a proven rookie, so there’s probably still some untapped potential there. Meanwhile, Dieng is showcasing two-way ability, as evidenced by his 19-point, 11-rebound, four-block night against the Thunder in their last game before the All-Star break.

For a team with a serious lack of assets like the Bucks, this is the best thing to do: take a risk on players who may have lost their spark but may still have some untapped potential.

Bucks trade deadline grade: B

It’s very difficult to convey the Chicago Bulls’ NBA trade deadline deal in so few words. But the way the Bulls maneuvered before the deadline left more fans scratching their heads than any other team in the league. It certainly seemed like Chicago was ready for a fire sale, considering some of their established players were in the final year of their contracts. But some of the deals he has accepted are so complicated that it is difficult to believe them.

Over the past few seasons, the Bulls have been part of an honorary four-team, play-in tournament club that includes the Miami Heat, Atlanta Hawks, and Orlando Magic. They don’t have the young prospects that can lead the team to their next competitive run, and their veteran players aren’t good enough to lead a deep playoff run.

However, as is the case with the Bulls, they couldn’t pull the trigger when they needed to and as a result, their roster is now a mix of players who don’t look like they have any long-term future in the Windy City.

Finally, here is a review of how the Bulls performed before the trade deadline and what grade they deserve for their maneuvers.

Bulls trade their guards to bring in more guards, Hydra style

The oxen were at a crossroads; They had a lot of players on expiring deals that they could get some value from instead of letting them leave in free agency for nothing. And it’s not like those players won’t make any kind of impact on winning teams. But again, the problem was that the Bulls have waited too long and been content to remain as an average team for too long, limiting their returns on the trade market.

Chicago made such moves before the trade deadline that it wasn’t exactly clear what the ultimate goal was for their front office. For starters, they brought a lot of guards. And this is not being exaggerated to any extent. They actually traded for so many combo guards that it’s hard to imagine most of them remaining on the roster for next season.

To start, the Bulls finally traded Nikola Vucevic in a deal that was honestly a long time coming. It was always going to hurt that the Bulls gave up Wendell Carter Jr., another starting-caliber big man in the NBA, and Franz Wagner to take Vucevic in the first round, but there was no reason for Chicago to hold on to Vucevic for too long.

For Vucevic, the Bulls received Anfernee Simmons and a 2026 second-round pick from the Boston Celtics. As it was, it would have been a great comeback. But Chicago made it even worse for themselves by attaching a 2027 second-round pick to Vucevic.

Chicago also kept Coby White for a very long time. All the Bulls could do was trade for White for a package from the Charlotte Hornets headlined by Collin Sexton, another guard, Ousmane Dieng and three second-round picks. Due to White’s failed medical, which showed some severity of the calf injury he is currently experiencing, the Bulls had to settle for a lower selection in the second round.

Rather than trade White during the offseason if his value was high, the Bulls had to settle for that return for one of their best players.

And then Chicago made it even worse for itself; Due to their critical big man situation, they had to flip 22-year-old big man Dieng to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Nick Richards, who could show promise. Dieng has shined so far in his brief time with the Bucks, while Richards is a hot commodity – he’s a backup big man who can only be used as a starter in an emergency situation.

The Bulls’ guard wheeling and dealing didn’t stop there. They shipped Kevin Huerter, who was on an expiring contract, to the Detroit Pistons for the return of Jaden Ivy. While it’s hard to attack the Bulls for betting on another former lottery pick, especially considering that Ivy has shown promise in the past, he is yet another guard who adds to the team’s logjam at positions where he should play.

Ivey also continues the Bulls’ trend of gambling on former lottery players who have lost their luster; Chicago has brought in Ivey, Isaac Okoro and Jalen Smith in recent years, and yet their original teams passed on them for reasons that were all too obvious.

Speaking of gambling on former lottery picks, Rob Dillingham was somehow the primary piece the Bulls got in exchange for Ayo Dosunmu, whose speed, shooting and ballhandling would be such a boon to a contending team.

Sure, Chicago traded four picks in the second round for Dosunmu, who himself was drafted in the second round in the past, but Dillingham has further complicated the sticky web that is the Bulls’ backcourt picture.

For those not counting at home, the Bulls now have the following players who need minutes at the guard position: Josh Giddy, Simmons, Sexton, Ivey, Dillingham, and Tre Jones. Things are fine at the moment as Giddy and Jones are improving, but when those players return, head coach Billy Donovan will have his work cut out for them.

The swap for Guershon Yabusele for Delon Terry at least appears to be working out in the Bulls’ favor, with Yabusele hell-bent on reviving his career in the Windy City.

Chicago got a total of eight picks in the second round, which is nothing to scoff at. This should at least help them grease the wheels for future trading.

But the fact that they failed to get at least a first-round pick for players like Vucevic, White and Dosunmu is a complete failure. Chicago will have to pay Ivey big money for his next contract. Simmons and Sexton’s contracts are expiring. Patrick Williams’ deal is still on their books.

The Bulls front office may have been cooking before the trade deadline, but sadly, the dish they came up with is going straight into the trash can.

Bulls Trade Deadline Grade: D

The Toronto Raptors moved from a position of relevance to the 2026 NBA trade deadline. Not just play-in relevance, but legitimate home-court playoff position in a loaded Eastern Conference. That context matters when evaluating their viewpoint. Rival contenders began aggressive roster swings. However, Toronto’s front office opted for fiscal discipline and a change in surgical depth rather than headline-grabbing moves. outcome? Two trades that quietly reshaped their margins without touching their core. Was that an example of strategic intelligence or competitive hesitation?

From reconstruction to bracket danger

The Raptors have emerged as one of the Eastern Conference’s most pleasant surprises. They headed into the All-Star break with a 32–23 record, sitting solidly in 5th place. After a disappointing 30-win campaign last year, the “new-look” Raptors have flourished under coach Darko Rajakovic’s fluid offensive system. As a result, it currently ranks third in the league in assists per game (29.3). The uptick in performance has been largely attributed to the health and chemistry of their core trio. First up is Scotty Barnes, who is playing at an All-NBA level with a 19/8/5 stat line. Next up is Brandon Ingram, whose scoring gravity (21.8 ppg) has revitalized the half-court offense. Last up is Immanuel Quickley, who continues to provide elite spacing and playmaking.

Toronto’s offensive identity has developed in constant motion. Barnes starts, Ingram bends the defense from mid-post, and Quickey stretches pick-and-roll coverages beyond his comfort zone. This has made the Raptors much less predictable than last season. It has also transformed them from a transition-heavy outfit into a balanced scoring machine.

Despite the strong record, the season was not without setbacks. The frontcourt has become a revolving door due to Jakob Poeltl’s lingering back injury. This has forced Colin Murray-Boyles into crucial minutes sooner than expected. Yes, this young player has immense defensive ability. As noted, the lack of experienced players led to mid-season inconsistency and some big losses against an elite frontcourt.

However, Poeltl’s recent return has stabilized the rotation. Toronto is now top 10 defensively. Thus, the Raptors have established themselves as a dangerous “bracket-buster” threat capable of upsetting higher seeds. That competitive base framed every decision they made at the deadline.

Here’s what the Raptors did and didn’t do at the trade deadline.

Deal 1: Salary dump and future plans

The first transaction was less about basketball and more about the balance sheet.

Toronto received:Chris Paul
brooklyn received: Ochai Agbaji, 2032 second-round pick (via TOR), cash
LA Clippers received:Draft rights to Vanja Marinkovic

It was a purely financial maneuver. By extending Agbaji’s contract and absorbing Paul, the Raptors slipped below the luxury tax limit. Paul had fallen away from the Clippers and was already hinting at retirement. It’s no surprise that he never suited up for Toronto. Instead, CP3 was waived on February 12 and formally announced his retirement the next day.

From a roster standpoint, nothing changed. However, everything went well financially. Eliminating the tax preserved future flexibility and mid-tier exception access. Toronto also avoided repeater-tax implications that could have hampered their roster construction for years.

In short, the Raptors paid a modest second-round pick to reset their financial runway.

Deal 2: Frontcourt Insurance Policy

The second step addressed the Court’s actual need.

Toronto received: Tracy Jackson-Davis
received the golden state: 2026 second round pick

Poeltl’s health remained uncertain and Murray-Boyles carried heavier loads than planned. In that context, GM Bobby Webster targeted cost-controlled rotational bigs rather than chasing blockbuster names.

Jackson-Davis brings vertical spacing, rim running and defensive energy. Those attributes should complement Toronto’s ball-movement system. His contract structure, including a minor team option next season, adds value beyond this playoff push.

Most importantly, the Raptors avoided overpaying. He kept an eye on high-profile large companies across the market but refused to surrender premium draft capital for short-term upgrades. It wasn’t the big star-sized splash that many fans were expecting. Instead, it was a profound acquisition.

Resilience vs Firepower

Toronto’s dual-track approach reflects fiscal discipline and incremental depth. This signals a front office confident in its internal development curve.

The core of Barnes, Ingram and Quickley (add RJ Barrett as well) remains untouched. His developmental arc was prioritized over disruptive roster swings. By staying within the tax bracket and preserving first-round picks, the Raptors positioned themselves for big offseason moves if necessary.

Jackson-Davis, meanwhile, represents the type of invaluable rotation piece that playoff teams rely on when injuries inevitably arise. From a risk-management perspective, Toronto had a clean performance. On the other hand, championship races are rarely won on caution alone.

Stand firm even as rivals increase

Context shapes perception, and the context of the Eastern Conference was offensive. Cleveland strengthened its roster with star power. Boston reinforced its frontcourt. Other claimants took steps that clearly indicated the urgency of the title.

Toronto, in contrast, chose conservation over growth.

The question becomes inevitable: Did they miss any windows?

With an abundance of tradable first-round picks, the Raptors had the ammunition to pursue a major upgrade. This was especially true in the frontcourt. Giving more opportunities shows the front office views this season as competitive but perhaps not championship-ready yet.

It’s a defensive stance, but one that risks leaving modest playoff gains on the table.

practical but inactive

Grade: C+

Toronto’s deadline wasn’t bad. It was simply measured and, of course, boring.

The positives look good on the balance sheet. They avoided the taxpayer label, preserved financial flexibility, and added a large functional rotation at minimal cost. The Raptors protected their young core and retained draft capital for future blockbuster moves.

That said, the downsides and opportunity costs remain. Toronto’s restraints could potentially limit his range. Raptors look a little darker but not necessarily more dangerous. Their playoff fate still depends on health, internal development and matchup variation rather than reinforced star power.

Ultimately, the Raptors chose stability over urgency. That kind of patience could prove either wise or painfully conservative. The upcoming playoffs will decide.