NBA News
Latest stories across platforms — updated frequently
Articles are authored by Merlin — the SportsWZRD.
Feb 3, 2026
Warriors Desperate for Giannis Trade Now
Merlin sees the league on edge as teams push for a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade by the Feb. 5 deadline. The obvious suitors are Golden State, New York, Miami, Minnesota and, suddenly, Portland. The Blazers' late "entering the chat" is notable because they control Milwaukee's 2028, 2029 and 2030 first rounders, so they win whether Giannis stays or goes. Merlin notes the pecking order of urgency. Miami can wait thanks to cap flexibility and free agency plans. Minnesota and New York are close but would need heavy roster surgery to make a competitive offer. Golden State is the most desperate, stuck on Stephen Curry's shrinking window and facing a possible rapid rebuild if they miss. Portland can afford to be patient and still profit if Milwaukee falters. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Giannis is traded by Feb. 5: 60%; most likely landing spot if he moves now: Golden State.
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Shock Trade Sends Jaren Jackson Jr To Utah Jazz
Merlin sees Utah swung a blockbuster for Jaren Jackson Jr., sending multiple picks and pieces to Memphis while getting JJJ, John Konchar, Jock Landale and Vince Williams Jr. The trade flips the Jazz from rebuild posture toward win-now mode, adding a true rim protector next to Walker Kessler and Lauri Markkanen and altering payroll and draft currency in a single move. Merlin notes Memphis walks away with salary relief and draft stock, though the return feels like "selling low" on a franchise cornerstone and "Three first-round picks is a lot" reads better on paper than in upside. Utah gains immediate fit and defense but inherits long-term cost and future pick risk. Expect turbulence before clarity. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Utah making the playoffs next season: 70%.
Feb 3
Miami Heat Eye Giannis or Ja Morant Blockbuster
Merlin sees Miami circling both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ja Morant ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline. Ira Winderman writes Morant "has made it clear he would be amenable to a relocation to the Heat," and Marc Stein reports Giannis prefers Miami or Minnesota. Either blockbuster would remake the Heat but come with huge cost and risk. Merlin notes Miami sits in NBA purgatory, too good for a rebuild but not a bona fide title threat. Giannis would instantly lift their ceiling despite age and price. Morant offers upside but brings injury and fit concerns, plus questions about culture. An NBA source says the Heat could be active on both fronts, and the drama is far from over. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the Heat land Giannis before the deadline: 12%.
Feb 3
Celtics Trade Simons To Bulls For Nikola Vucevic
Merlin sees Boston sending Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick to the Chicago Bulls for veteran center Nikola Vučević, per Shams Charania. Simons has averaged 14.2 points and 2.4 assists off the Celtics’ bench, while Vučević brings 16.9 points and nine rebounds and a floor-stretching touch to a team chasing the Eastern Conference. Boston had earlier picked up Simons in the Jrue Holiday trade but had been shopping him for "roster flexibility," so the swap immediately fills a clear need at center. Merlin senses this calms Boston’s lineup creaks. Vučević will not anchor the defense, but his rebounding and shooting should smooth Boston’s rotations. Chicago gains a high-upside scorer who may start or slide alongside Jaden Ivey, especially if Coby White moves on. Simons still must tighten his defense and make the leap from scorer to star. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: "Odds of Anfernee Simons becoming a Bulls starter this season: 65%."
Feb 3
Bulls Bolster Backcourt with Conley Ivey as Timberwolves Chase Giannis
Merlin sees a three-team trade that sends Mike Conley Jr. and Jaden Ivey to the Bulls, Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric to the Pistons, plus a 2026 first-round protected swap to Detroit. The move "creates significant tax savings and roster space" for Minnesota as it eyes a Milwaukee star, namely Giannis Antetokounmpo. Chicago gains guard depth behind injured backcourt pieces, and Detroit adds spacing around Cade Cunningham with Huerter’s 37.1 percent three-point stroke. Merlin notes the numbers matter as much as names. Minnesota’s luxury tax fell from $24 million to $3.8 million and the Wolves sit under the first apron, positioning them to recruit partners. As Brian Windhorst said, "They're out there recruiting third and fourth teams." Saric’s salary can be flipped since "his salary is going into an exception and not aggregated." 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Minnesota lands Giannis before the deadline: 18%.
Feb 3
Celtics Trade Anfernee Simons to Bulls for Nikola Vucevic
Merlin sees Boston sending Anfernee Simons to Chicago for Nikola Vučević and a 2027 second rounder, trimming $6.2 million in salary and shaving more than $20 million off the Celtics' luxury tax bill. The move drops Boston below the first apron and creates room to sign a buyout or a player above the non-taxpayer mid-level exception. The Celtics gain a veteran stretch five who helps on the defensive glass where they rank poorly, but they lose Simons' shooting. As the article notes, "A lot is on the shoulders of Derrick White and Payton Pritchard now." Chicago keeps hoarding guards and picks, while Boston looks like it may tinker more before the season settles. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Boston signs a meaningful buyout contributor this season: 45%.
Feb 3
Chris Paul Could Revive Mavericks Playoff Hopes
Merlin sees the Mavericks as a sensible landing spot for Chris Paul, echoing Ramona Shelburne that Dallas "make a lot of sense." The Clippers sent Paul home amid a leadership clash and may trade, buy out, or waive him before Thursday’s deadline. Paul, who confirmed 2025-26 will be his final season, has struggled this year but brings 21 seasons of experience and championship-caliber savvy. Merlin notes the connective threads: Paul worked out with rookie Cooper Flagg, shares an agency, and their intense styles could mesh under Jason Kidd. Dallas needs roster moves to clear a spot, yet Paul’s playmaking could kickstart a late push for the 19-30 Mavs while reshaping minutes for younger wings. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Chris Paul lands with the Mavericks this season: 35%.
Feb 3
Jalen Duren to Ignite 2026 Slam Dunk Contest for Pistons
Merlin sees Detroit center Jalen Duren accepted an invitation Tuesday to the 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, joining Jaxson Hayes and rookie Carter Bryant. At 6'10" and an All-Star this season, Duren averages 18.0 points and 10.7 rebounds and ranks fourth in the league with 111 dunks. Marcus McClung said his son "will not try to go for four Slam Dunk Contest titles in a row," leaving a more open field and making Duren one of the top names to watch. Merlin notes the story is not just spectacle. Big men rarely enter and even more rarely win, so Duren’s mix of size, hops and All-Star billing turns the contest into a test of artistry versus power. The fourth entrant and the night’s creativity will decide whether Duren becomes a novelty or a champion. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Jalen Duren winning the 2026 Slam Dunk Contest: 30%.
Feb 3
Giannis Trade Drama: Bucks Likely Wait Until Offseason
Rumors about Giannis Antetokounmpo read like a soap opera, an NBA exec said, calling it "General Hospital." The Bucks have been fielding offers ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline but many rival executives find proposals "so underwhelming" that "everyone is preparing for this to happen in the summer." Miami, Minnesota, Golden State and New York are the leading suitors, and Milwaukee has "submitted counteroffers." The likely price is young players and draft picks, with Golden State able to offer the largest haul. Merlin sees Milwaukee balancing patience and pressure. Giannis is sidelined by a calf injury and was averaging 28 points and 10 rebounds, so his value is high yet fragile. Waiting to June could bring a bigger return, but the Bucks risk losing leverage as his contract and health evolve. This story will keep shifting. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Giannis being traded before Feb. 5: 20%.
Feb 3
Cleveland Cavaliers Linked To Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, James Harden
Merlin sees Cleveland quietly hunting a star. Reports link the Cavs to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis amid "league-wide chatter," and SI’s Chris Mannix says the Cavs and Clippers held "advanced discussions" about a Harden-for-Garland swap. Insiders note teams made "aggressive offers" for Giannis and that talks with Dallas about Davis happened, though Brian Windhorst cautioned it is not "likely" the Cavs land either. Cleveland sits 30-21 and has won eight of 10, so front-office aggression feels urgent. Merlin senses trade chess more than whim. Giannis is the biggest on-court upgrade, but he is injured now and would cost a core player or Jarrett Allen for salary relief. Harden is healthier and more realistic, but Cleveland must weigh instant upside against breaking the roster that is finally trending up. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the Cavs land James Harden before the Feb. 5 deadline: 30%.
Feb 3
Memphis Rebuild: Jaren Jackson Jr Traded, Morant Looms
Memphis appears to be starting a rebuild after trading two-time All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr. to Utah for three first-round picks. That move leaves Ja Morant as the marquee piece most likely to be moved next, though sources "have been skeptical of general manager Zach Kleiman finding a deal." With the Grizzlies 19-29 and slipping from play-in range, the Jan. 15 trade chatter and the 3 p.m. ET deadline could force a decision. Merlin sees Kleiman stacking picks so he can rip off the bandage if needed, and insiders say buyers like Miami want Morant only for a "bargain deal." Fit is a problem too, since Toronto shoots poorly and Morant is just 23.5 percent from three this year, and reports say he "would likely be reluctant to sign a contract extension in Sacramento." Memphis may accept a loss to reset, but keeping Morant while tanking could make the locker room unstable. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Ja Morant being traded by the deadline: 55%.
Feb 3
Mavericks Stand Pat on Anthony Davis, Shop Klay Thompson
Merlin sees the Mavericks shifting course. What was thought to be a likely Anthony Davis trade is now, in team parlance, "it remains unlikely" before Thursday's deadline. Dallas will "listen to offers about" veteran guard Klay Thompson instead. Davis has seen his trade value fall amid another injury-plagued season and ligament damage to his left hand, and league sources fret over a "$62.7 million player option" in 2027-28. At 19-30 with four straight losses, Dallas could still tinker. Merlin senses a pivot toward practicality. If Davis is too risky to move because of health and money, the Mavericks will shop the clearer asset: Thompson, a "knock-down 3-point shooter and a well-respected voice in Dallas' locker room." Trading Klay would tilt Dallas toward youth, draft assets, or cap flexibility. The market for shooting and leadership will tell the tale as Thursday approaches. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Dallas trades Klay Thompson by Thursday: 40%.
Feb 3
Raptors Pursue Domantas Sabonis, Jakob Poeltl Roadblock
Merlin sees Toronto as a "serious suitor" for Sacramento star Domantas Sabonis, but cap math is the dragon in the room. The Raptors would need Jakob Poeltl moved by Feb. 5 to create space, yet the Kings "have made it clear that they aren't willing to take on" Poeltl's long contract. Without Poeltl heading elsewhere, the pursuit will likely wait until the offseason. With Sacramento sitting near the bottom of the West and Zach LaVine "not expected" to be traded, the Kings lack urgency to flip the roster now. Toronto would have to include multiple pieces to match Sabonis' salary, making a midseason swap messy. Merlin senses this as a patient chess match that will probably be decided in summer cap wheels rather than a sudden February splash. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of the Raptors landing Sabonis before the Feb. 5 deadline: 20%.
Feb 3
Bulls Land Mike Conley Jr and Jaden Ivey
Merlin sees a three-team deal that sends Mike Conley Jr. and Jaden Ivey to the Chicago Bulls, while Detroit receives Kevin Huerter, Dario Šarić and a 2026 protected first-round swap from Minnesota. All four players are on expiring contracts, and Šarić can still be moved before Thursday because his salary "is going into an exception and not aggregated." Conley is a 38-year-old veteran with declining production this season, and Ivey, the No. 5 pick in 2022, has struggled after a broken fibula and limited minutes. Merlin senses chess, not chaos. The Bulls gain a steady floor general and a young wing with upside; Conley’s veteran voice could unlock Ivey. The Pistons add shooting and depth to a 36-12 team, while the Wolves clear short-term cost and keep flexibility. Expect further small moves before the deadline. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: ("Odds of Jaden Ivey returning to 17+ PPG next season: 30%.")
Feb 3
Miles Bridges Likely To Remain With Hornets After Trade Deadline
Merlin sees Miles Bridges likely staying in Charlotte through Thursday's deadline despite reported interest from Milwaukee, Golden State and Phoenix. The Hornets are 23-28 and on a seven-game win streak, and Bridges has started all 50 games, averaging 18.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists. A league source said he is "highly likely to remain," and Bridges said, "I feel like everybody else wants everybody to stay together." Merlin senses the Hornets are choosing continuity over a disruptive midseason sell. Keeping Bridges protects the team's chemistry and lets Charlotte keep building its young core rather than reset with a big move. Rival teams will keep trying, but for now the Hornets favor growth over gamble. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Miles Bridges being traded before next season: 25%.
Feb 3
Knicks Still in Giannis Race as Bucks Hold Out
Merlin sees the trade clock closing and the Bucks running out of time to find a home for Giannis before Thursday. Reports name the Knicks among teams "choosing to stay in the hunt," with Golden State, Minnesota and Miami also circling. Rival execs say offers remain underwhelming, and Milwaukee is holding out for "a premier young player(s) and multiple, good draft picks" in return. New York likely lacks those assets and would probably have to move starters like OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges or Karl-Anthony Towns to get close. Merlin senses patience will win the day. With Towns's value drifting and the Knicks reluctant to break their core, the Bucks are set to wait for richer summer packages. Expect this saga to stretch into the offseason, when clearer trade paths and more draft capital could force a decision. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Giannis being traded before Thursday's deadline: 10%.
Feb 3
Clippers Weigh Trading Harden for Garland
Merlin sees the Clippers are "hell-bent" on clearing salary cap room for the 2027 free agent class and are reportedly discussing sending James Harden to Cleveland for Darius Garland. Harden’s $42.3 million player option could fall to $13.3 million if waived by July 11, and L.A. currently has only Ivica Zubac guaranteed for 2027, so cap flexibility is the driving force. Merlin notes the short-term oddity: Harden is still averaging 25.4 points and 8.1 assists while the Clippers climbed from 6-21 to ninth. Garland is younger but locked into a five-year, $197.2 million deal through 2027-28, so the swap would not fully align with the 2027 purge. Sources say talks are "all about a contract extension." The deadline will test whether long-term planning wins out. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of the Clippers trading James Harden before the deadline: 60%.
Feb 3
Giannis Trade Could Send Warriors Star Draymond Green To Bucks
The Warriors are actively exploring a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Draymond Green could be part of the price. Sam Amick says "Green and his camp are well aware that the prospect of him being sent to Milwaukee is very real," and ESPN’s Anthony Slater reports Green's name is in "active" trade talks. Giannis’ $54.1 million salary forces Golden State to move major contracts, and the Bucks prefer a healthy, impactful player like Green over an injured Jimmy Butler. Merlin sees Golden State at a crossroads: honor the Big Three’s twilight or gamble everything for one more title with Curry. Trading Green would strip the team’s defensive backbone but could add an MVP-level star. Green has said he wants to retire with the Warriors, yet "it might be out of his hands." Expect more trade chess and competing suitors in the weeks ahead. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Draymond Green being traded to Milwaukee this offseason: 30%.
Feb 3
Jaren Jackson Jr To Utah Jazz, Grizzlies Nab 3 Picks
Merlin sees the Grizzlies have sent Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz in an eight-player deal that returns three future first-round picks to Memphis, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The move surprised fans and analysts and immediately reshapes plans for both clubs. Merlin senses Utah picks up a versatile rim protector who can alter shots and space the floor, giving the Jazz a clearer identity on defense and offense. Memphis looks like it is shifting toward a reset, gathering draft currency and flexibility. The trade changes the West pecking order and leaves questions about health, fit, and how coaches will deploy Jackson’s rare skill set. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Utah reaching the Western Conference Finals this season: 18%.
Feb 3
Grizzlies Exploring Ja Morant Trade Before NBA Deadline
After dealing Jaren Jackson Jr. to Utah, the Memphis Grizzlies are still stirring the pot. On SportsCenter, Shams Charania said, "The Grizzlies' conversations around Ja Morant and entertaining offers [are] continuing around the league," and "There's multiple teams with interest in Ja Morant." With Thursday's trade deadline approaching, Memphis is actively gauging market interest in its star point guard. Merlin sees a team testing the market and the clock. Moving Morant would accelerate a rebuild and haul assets, while keeping him bets on salvaging continuity. Multiple suitors will up the price as time slips away, so expect sudden moves or a dramatic standstill as teams jockey for position. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Ja Morant is traded before Thursday's deadline: 45%.
Feb 3
Grizzlies Trade Jaren Jackson Jr to Jazz, Morant Drama Looms
The Grizzlies traded Jaren Jackson Jr., Vince Williams Jr., John Konchar and Jock Landale to the Utah Jazz for Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang and three first-round picks, including Utah’s most favorable 2027 pick, the Lakers’ 2027 pick and the Suns’ 2031 pick. The deal creates a $28.8 million trade exception, the largest in NBA history. Jackson is a two-time All-Star and the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year, averaging 19.2 points and 1.5 blocks, and his exit shows Memphis will move core pieces despite earlier reports they were "entertaining offers" for Ja Morant. Merlin sees Memphis choosing leverage over loyalty. Utah gains rim protection and stability, while Memphis collects draft ammo and a rare sorcerer’s tool in that massive trade exception. The move makes a full rebuild more plausible and keeps Morant as the chess piece everyone is still studying. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Memphis trades Ja Morant before the deadline: 40%.
Feb 3
Lonzo Ball to Hornets Could Reunite Brothers
Merlin sees Cleveland and Charlotte held a "preliminary conversation" about sending Lonzo Ball to the Hornets for second-round picks. If moved, he would reunite with brother LaMelo in Charlotte. Cleveland’s moves this season, plus additions Dennis Schröder and Keon Ellis, have made Ball expendable despite his injury history and career-low numbers. Merlin notes Ball is averaging 4.6 points and 3.9 assists on poor shooting, yet he still offers playmaking and defense. Charlotte sits 11th and may prefer to develop youth, so a Lonzo arrival would likely be a short term depth piece with a club option shaping his future. The chatter reads more like a salary and pick maneuver than a major roster overhaul. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Lonzo Ball being traded to the Hornets before the deadline: 35%.
Feb 3
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Hornets Eye Jaren Jackson Jr Trade for Miles Bridges
Charlotte has ripped off a dominant stretch since Jan. 1, sitting top five in winning percentage and first in net rating. Talk has turned to a blockbuster: Miles Bridges and assets to Memphis for Jaren Jackson Jr. That swap would answer a 19th-ranked defense and balance LaMelo, Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel’s playmaking with a two-way anchor, while Bridges is said to be available for "a first (round pick), maybe two." Merlin sees a rare window. Charlotte’s cheap, young core and roster flexibility make a Jackson upgrade tempting as a win-now-and-later move; Jackson, 26, comes with length, switchability and a contract that keeps him under team control for years. Memphis would accelerate a needed rebuild with multiple firsts and youth, but chemistry risk looms for a team finally finding rhythm. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Charlotte lands Jaren Jackson Jr. before the deadline: 30%.
Feb 3
Harden on the Block? Clippers and Cavs Eye Garland
James Harden's push for a longer contract has put him on the trade block, sources told Marc Stein and Jake Fischer. A source said "It's all about a contract extension." The Clippers have explored sending Harden to the Cavaliers for Darius Garland, but talks are not advanced and Cleveland may not promise more than one season. If no suitor offers a multi-year deal, Harden could stay in L.A. and test free agency after his player option. Merlin sees the league weighing title urgency against financial commitment. Harden, 36, still produces at an elite level, so contenders chasing now will keep calling. Expect steady trade chatter until a team willing to both trade assets and guarantee term appears. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Harden is traded before the deadline: 40%.
Feb 3
James Harden Trade Drama: Clippers, Cavs Favored
James Harden has asked the Clippers for another trade and Los Angeles is actively shopping him, with the Cleveland Cavaliers viewed as the early favorite even though talks have "not yet reached an advanced stage." Multiple proposals have circulated — from Minnesota and Phoenix swaps to bigger offers involving Milwaukee, Detroit, or Memphis — all timed to the 3 p.m. trade deadline. Any move would reshape contender timelines, cap space, and a raft of draft assets. Merlin sees Harden as a late-career creator who still moves the needle, but fit will determine value. A Cavs pairing with Darius Garland gives instant offense, Minnesota or Detroit chase playmaking for Anthony Edwards or Cade Cunningham, and Milwaukee could pivot if Giannis chatter continues. Harden must sign off and teams will fret chemistry and contracts, so expect a flurry of offers before the bell. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Harden landing with the Cavaliers by Thursday: 60%.
Feb 3