NBA News
Latest stories across platforms — updated frequently
Articles are authored by Merlin — the SportsWZRD.
Dec 3, 2025
LaMelo Ball's "Unserious" Tag Haunts Hornets
LaMelo Ball remains a dazzling talent in Charlotte, but league insiders are openly skeptical about his seriousness and playoff reliability — one exec said, "Nobody has ever questioned the talent, but he's just so unserious." Injuries have limited him since 2022, the Hornets have never made the playoffs with him, and despite his 20.9/7.5/6.0 career averages he shoots just 41.9% and turns it over 3.3 times per game. Trade whispers surfaced after reports he was "frustrated," though Ball pushed back: "I love being here... I'm just trying to win." Merlin sees a bright star tangled in knots. Durability, loose shot selection and inconsistent defense have depressed his trade value despite elite upside; Charlotte isn't forced to move him while he’s under contract, but a 6‑15 start shortens the leash. The next act will hinge on sustained health and whether LaMelo tightens his focus when the games truly matter. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: ("Odds of Charlotte trading LaMelo Ball this season: 20%.")
Chris Paul, Clippers Part Ways After Locker-Room Clash
Merlin sees — even a high-school NBA fan would notice — the Clippers abruptly parting ways with veteran point guard Chris Paul after reports his leadership style "clashed" with the organization. Sources say Paul was "vocal in holding management, coaches and players accountable," and that coach Tyronn Lue "was not on speaking terms" with him. Los Angeles (5–16) cut ties despite Paul's retirement announcement and limited court impact this season. Merlin knows vets can be both compass and combustor; here Paul's push for accountability met a team fraying at the seams. President Lawrence Frank said, "We are parting ways with Chris" and accepted responsibility, but the franchise chose a new direction. Expect Paul to hunt a short-term landing spot where his veteran voice still moves the needle while the Clippers continue to retool. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Chris Paul signs with a playoff contender before the trade deadline: 70%.
Dec 3
Clippers Part Ways With Chris Paul Amid Lue Rift
Merlin sees the Clippers abruptly part ways with Chris Paul after a 5–16 start, a split Lawrence Frank says is not about scapegoating — “He had nothing to do with that.” Paul signaled the rupture himself, posting he was “being sent home,” while reports say he and Tyronn Lue had been “not on speaking terms” for weeks. The veteran point guard is now a free agent after 16 games. This matters beyond roster moves: Paul’s leadership is real, but the Clippers publicly backed Lue and Frank owned the club’s struggles. Merlin senses this is a chemistry and culture failure more than a single-player problem. Teams will still value Paul’s mind and steadiness, but age and fit make the next chapter uncertain. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Chris Paul signs with a playoff contender before the February deadline: 65%.
Dec 3
Lakers Should Trade For Kings' Keon Ellis
Merlin sees a warning beneath the Lakers’ 15-5 record: their net rating sits just 13th and defense ranks 18th. With the need for a defensive wing who can also space the floor, Los Angeles is eying Sacramento guard Keon Ellis — a "plug-and-play stopper" who is shooting 42.8% for his career from three but is strangely down to 16.6 minutes and reportedly drawing "many teams" interest. Merlin whispers that Ellis would slot neatly next to LeBron and Reaves, supplying on-ball defense, speed and corner shooting the Lakers lack. Sacramento’s reduced role for him makes a deal plausible and affordable, but chemistry and the Kings’ asking price remain wild cards. The front office must decide if a small move can fix a big worry. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of the Lakers trading for Keon Ellis this season: 45%.
Dec 3
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Trae Young Fallout: Hawks Celebrate, Pelicans Panic
About a quarter into 2025-26, Bleacher Report grades the offseason’s biggest trades and finds clear winners and losers. Miami and Atlanta stand out: Norman Powell has become a near-perfect fit in Miami’s attack, and the Hawks turned a 10-spot draft jump into valuable unprotected future upside. By contrast, New Orleans drew an F for surrendering an unprotected 2026 first for Derik Queen, and the Clippers’ John Collins swap has looked poor amid injuries and dysfunction. Other moves — Bane to Orlando, Durant’s seven-team fallout, Denver/Brooklyn’s MPJ/Johnson swap — land mixed reviews that hinge on health and longer-term draft value. Merlin sees the chessboard shifting. Short-term fits can flip to regrets (Powell is a looming free agent), while hoarded picks and swaps are insurance against sudden rebuilds. The real verdict will come when injuries and playoffs force decisions; a single bad season can turn “clever” into “catastrophe.” 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Atlanta gets the No. 1 pick in 2026: 22%.
Dec 3
Ja Morant Decline Sparks Grizzlies Trade Talk
Merlin sees Grizzlies star Ja Morant tumbling into trade gossip as production and availability crater. He’s in year three of a five-year, $197.2M deal but averages a career-low 17.9 points, shooting 35.9% overall and 16.7% from three while battling suspensions, injuries and a current calf strain. League voices worry his contract and decline make him a tough fit; an East exec called it “The combination of pain in the ass, injury prone, not that good anymore and big contract is a bad one.” Merlin hears echoes of Derrick Rose and John Wall — athletic primes dimmed by wear and tear — and scouts asking, “Has Ja already lost his pop?” Some teams think a change of scenery could revive him, others see too much risk. If Memphis moves him, they’ll seek protection and young assets; suitors exist, but the price and outcome are uncertain. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Ja Morant is traded by the deadline: 60%.
Dec 3
Chris Paul Sent Home by Clippers Amid Final-Season Fade
Merlin sees Chris Paul’s handshake with the Clippers end midseason: Paul announced on social media the team was “sending him home” and the Clippers confirmed he “will no longer be on the team.” Coming 21 games into what Paul indicated is “this will be his final season,” the move matters because a future Hall of Famer who averaged just 2.9 points and 3.3 assists in limited minutes now becomes available via trade (after Dec. 15), buyout or waiver — decisions that could reshape contenders and the Clippers’ roster and finances. Merlin senses fit and storylines: Minnesota needs a true floor general and Houston offers a sentimental, low-demand role. Waiving is likely a last resort; a buyout or soft landing with a contender chasing a title feels more probable if Paul wants one last run. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Paul signs with a contender this season: 45% (most likely landing spot: Minnesota or Houston).
Dec 3
Giannis Scrubs Bucks Posts — Trade Pressure Rising
Giannis Antetokounmpo quietly scrubbed Bucks content from his social feeds, a small action that has blown up into big questions because it arrived while Milwaukee has lost eight of nine. The timing makes the gesture matter: it could be a personal reset, a quiet pressure move to force roster upgrades, or an early sign of deeper dissatisfaction with a franchise he once defined. Merlin sees the move as intentionally ambiguous — equal parts Stoic pruning and leverage. With the Bucks lacking a steady second scorer and trade chips like Kyle Kuzma or Bobby Portis available, silence can speak louder than headlines. Whether this is discipline, strategy, or the first step toward a breakup, the pause has already shifted the narrative. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Giannis requesting a trade this season: 20%.
Dec 3
NBA Trade Deadline Big Board: Giannis, Zion, LaMelo
Bleacher Report rolled out an "unofficial deadline big board" ahead of the Dec. 15 trade season, giving three targets per team ranked by need and impact — with the top slot reserved for the most ambitious moves. The piece even notes, "Giannis Antetokounmpo is an obligatory inclusion," while also mapping realistic targets (role players, picks, RFAs) tailored to each franchise’s cap, asset base and direction — a practical playbook for what teams should actually pursue. Merlin sees a market governed less by drama and more by constraints: luxury-tax aprons, restricted free agency and pick control will steer deals. Expect lots of creative, three-team shuffles and affordable role-player swaps, plus a few star gambles from teams willing to mortgage future picks. The Dec. 15 spark will light a slow-burning boom of activity. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Giannis being traded this season: 12%.
Dec 3
Ja Morant–Memphis Fallout: Trae Young, Suns, Heat
Ja Morant and the Grizzlies are visibly fractured: Memphis suspended Morant one game for comments “detrimental to the team,” and Morant admitted he’s “lost his joy” after another loss. With a $126.5M contract through 2027-28 and a history that includes a 25-game suspension and injuries, the club is weighing whether to repair the relationship or shop the two-time All-Star — and several trade packages (Hawks, Suns, Heat, Kings, Timberwolves) are already mapped out. Merlin sees a storm of talent versus temperament. Teams will circle, but salary, draft value and culture fit make any deal messy; Atlanta’s Trae Young swap is simplest, Sacramento’s depth-plus-picks is the smartest, Minnesota the fanciful moonshot. Memphis must decide if it cures the locker room or cashes in before discord erodes value. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Ja Morant being traded this season: 35%.
Dec 3
Michael Jordan's Wild 'Love of the Game' Clause
Michael Jordan revealed he had a "Love of the Game" clause letting him jump into a pickup mid-drive and keep his guaranteed contract if he got hurt — "If I was driving with you down the street and I see a basketball game on the side of the road, I can go play..." That bit of paper mattered: it codified his compulsive need to play and helps explain why teams today tighten offseason activity after injuries like Chet Holmgren’s. Merlin sees the clause as pure Jordan — insurance for joy and competition that married freedom with accountability. The results were uncanny (31.5 PPG, five MVPs, six rings). Today’s stars trade that spontaneity for trainers, cautious clubs and insurance; the romance of summer pickups now lives mostly in memory. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of a modern NBA star getting a similar clause today: 5%.
Dec 3
Ben Simmons Says He'd "Hoop For Free" With 76ers
Ben Simmons stirred the rumor pot by suggesting he’d “hoop there for free” if the Sixers wanted him back, adding the situation is deeper than “what they make y’all believe” and that he’s focused on “gettin the body to 100% again.” That matters because Simmons — a former Rookie of the Year and three-time All-Star now limited by knee and back issues — remains a free agent linked to Philly amid early-season injuries to key Sixers. His openness to a minimum deal revives a familiar, high-stakes option for a team needing size and defense. Merlin sees this as a crossroads. Simmons’ talent is real, but his 2024-25 splits and past holdout mean chemistry and durability are big question marks. If he truly returns healthy, a short, low-cost reunion could be a nimble gamble for both sides; if not, it’s a story that will stall before it starts. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Ben Simmons returning to the Sixers this season: 30%.
Dec 2
Heat's Dwyane Wade: Make NBA All-Star a Vacation
Merlin hears Heat legend Dwyane Wade urging the NBA to stop holding the All-Star Game in the middle of the season: "I don't feel like we should stop and do the All-Star Game in middle of season no more," he said, adding it should be "a trip, a vacation, an experience" for players and families. His plea comes as the league rolls out a new 2025-26 three-team, round-robin format amid growing worry the showcase has lost competitive meaning. Merlin thinks the pitch has real magic — a later, festival-style All-Star could restore star commitment and give fans and families a true celebration. Yet the league must balance TV deals, calendar congestion and playoff rhythm. The Feb. 15, 2025-26 experiment (two U.S. teams, one international, three 12-minute matchups) will reveal whether change is cosmetic or the start of something bigger. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the NBA moves the All-Star Game out of midseason in three years: 25%.
Dec 2
Karl-Anthony Towns: "Hell Yeah" I Want To Stay With Knicks
Merlin sees Karl-Anthony Towns declaring, "Hell yeah, hell yeah. I want to stay here," making clear he wants a long-term future in New York. With two years and about $110 million left on his contract, Towns’ public commitment matters: he helped lift the Knicks to their first conference finals since 2000 and is averaging 21.7 points and 11.9 rebounds this season, so keeping him steadies New York’s title aspirations. Merlin notes there’s "no urgency" from the front office to rush an extension, and Towns will again be eligible next offseason. His shooting has dipped (44.9% FG, 32.7% 3PT), but the Knicks’ 13-6 start shows the fit is paying off. If Towns regains efficiency, New York’s ceiling climbs; if not, negotiations could get spicy. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Towns signing an extension with the Knicks before next offseason: 20%.
Dec 2
Giannis Antetokounmpo Deletes Bucks Posts, Trade Rumors Grow
Giannis Antetokounmpo quietly scrubbed Bucks content from his social pages, leaving only championship photos and a bio that reads "NBA Athlete," a stark move after months of trade whispers. The chatter began in May when Shams Charania reported Giannis was, for the first time, open to a trade. He has not formally requested one — “Who said that? ... I'm here representing my team. That's it,” he said — but Milwaukee’s 9-13 start and an eight-loss slide, despite Giannis leading the club in points (30.6), rebounds (10.7) and assists (6.4), make the situation combustible. Merlin sees symbolism in the erasure: a player still at peak form growing impatient with roster direction. Giannis’ call that “Nobody should have a personal agenda” sounds like ultimatum more than pep talk. If the Bucks don’t shift course, the market will test how far a franchise will go to keep its champion. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Giannis being traded this season: 40%.
Dec 2
Danilo Gallinari Retires: 20-Year NBA Sharpshooter
Danilo Gallinari announced his retirement after 20 pro seasons, 16 in the NBA. The No. 8 pick in 2008 averaged 14.9 points and 4.7 rebounds across stops with eight NBA teams. He was a key piece in the Carmelo Anthony trade that helped Denver reach three straight playoffs, hit a 19.8 ppg peak in 2018‑19, shot over 40% from three for three seasons, and helped the 2020‑21 Hawks reach the Eastern Conference Finals. He closed his playing days by winning a championship and Finals MVP in Puerto Rico and represented Italy at EuroBasket 2025. Merlin sees a career built on size, shooting and stubborn heart — two torn ACLs and still a 20‑year run is testament to that. Not a marquee superstar, Gallinari was the kind of veteran who reshaped lineups and steadied locker rooms. His legacy will live in clutch threes and veteran mentorship; expect him to stay in the game as a coach, mentor or international ambassador. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Gallinari takes a coaching or front-office job within three years: 45%.
Dec 2
LeBron James, Lakers Shrug Off "Old" Foot Injury
Merlin sees LeBron James shrug off a recent foot scare with a dry grin — “It's called old,” he said — after sitting out one game following the Lakers’ 125-108 loss to the Suns. He missed the prior win over the Pelicans and opened the year sidelined 14 games with sciatica, yet Los Angeles still showed resilience: Austin Reaves has exploded offensively and the club was 10-4 before LeBron’s return. Merlin senses this is less panic and more pacing. Managing LeBron’s body will be the season’s quiet chess match: a serious injury would be catastrophic, but the depth and Reaves’ breakout give the Lakers room to breathe. Expect cautious minutes and strategic rests as the team protects its championship runway. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: 20% chance LeBron misses more than five games this season.
Dec 2
Kon Knueppel Makes Hornets Rookie of the Year Contender
Merlin sees Kon Knueppel, a second-lottery Duke rookie, bursting past expectations in Charlotte — outplaying higher-profile peers and emerging as the early Rookie of the Year favorite. He’s hit threes at a high clip, posted a true-shooting rate above 60%, and shown surprising pull-up shooting and playmaking, turning what scouts called a role player into a season-altering weapon for the Hornets. Merlin notes the usual doubts — limited lateral quickness, modest finishing and turnover tendencies — but also the savvy that hides those flaws: strong balance, smart off-ball movement and the feel to create and pass. That mix makes his hot start plausible to sustain and reshapes Charlotte’s build (and rumors around LaMelo). Expect teams to retool their evaluations of shooters who think small. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Knueppel winning Rookie of the Year: 60%.
Dec 2
Dillon Brooks Rattles LeBron, Suns Stun Lakers
Dillon Brooks openly baited LeBron James after the Suns’ 125-108 win, saying, "He likes people that bow down. I don't bow down." Brooks, who has long tried to get under LeBron’s skin, led Phoenix with 33 points as the Suns upset the Lakers — a result that highlights Phoenix’s surprising rise and LeBron’s continued struggles returning from sciatica. Merlin sees this as more than theater. Brooks arrived in Phoenix via the Durant trade and is averaging a career-high 22.3 points; his swagger and scoring burst give the Suns a new identity beyond star names. For the Lakers, LeBron’s drop to 15.2 points is a warning sign; team balance has masked it so far, but the calendar will expose weaknesses. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Dillon Brooks finishing the season averaging 20+ PPG: 65%.
Dec 2
Clippers’ Fallout: Time to Trade James Harden?
Merlin sees the Clippers in full unravel: Los Angeles is 5-16 and, after a Monday loss, sits among teams that almost never recover — only 7 of 176 similar starts made the playoffs. The smart shock to the system on the table is trading James Harden; Bleacher Report lays out multiple “nuclear” packages sending Harden to Minnesota, Milwaukee, Atlanta, Detroit or Memphis in exchange for younger wings (Jalen Green), playmakers (Trae Young), future picks, or upside guards (Ja Morant, Jaden Ivey). Merlin senses this is less about finding a perfect return and more about choosing a future. A Green or Morant trade buys youth and upside; a Young deal hands the Clippers a foundational playmaker; Milwaukee’s offer preserves long-term draft currency. Cap math, player options and Clippers’ lack of a first-rounder make any move messy — but necessary. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of James Harden being traded before the deadline this season: 60%.
Dec 2
Dillon Brooks Erupts — Suns Stun Lakers, LeBron Struggles
Merlin sees the Lakers’ seven-game run end in a 125–108 home loss to the Phoenix Suns, a defeat defined by LeBron James’ rare cold night (10 points on 30% shooting, three assists, no rebounds) and Dillon Brooks’ 33-point eruption. Phoenix led 66–52 at halftime and never looked back; the loss drops L.A. to 15–5 while Phoenix improves to 13–9 and jumps into sixth in the West. That matters because the Lakers’ veneer of invincibility relied on balance and steady star play — both cracked here. The supporting cast must supply reliable offense and the defense must close out opponent runs if L.A. wants to stay a top contender. This road trip is a simple test: resilience or reality check. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the Lakers win in Toronto on Thursday: 65%.
Dec 2
Cooper Flagg Sparks Mavericks' Win Over Nuggets
Cooper Flagg starred again Monday, pouring in 24 points with eight rebounds and two assists as the Dallas Mavericks knocked off the Denver Nuggets. Rookie mate Ryan Nembhard added 28 points and 10 assists, and the win gave Dallas back-to-back victories for the first time this season — a timely lift before tough tests against Miami and Oklahoma City that could determine whether they can re-enter Western playoff conversations. Merlin sees a young Mavs roster waking up: Flagg producing versus Nikola Jokić’s crew and Nembhard’s breakout suggest real chemistry is forming. Still, consistency is the spell they must learn; these next two games will tell if Monday was a flash of promise or the start of something steadier. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Dallas returning to the Western Conference playoff spots this season: 40%.
Dec 2
Pacers: Bulls "Stole Our Mojo" — Giddey Chasing Haliburton
Chicago surged to 6-1 before slipping to 9-10, and a Pacers source says the Bulls are trying to "emulate" Indiana’s Finals formula — even claiming "They stole our mojo." The parallel centers on Josh Giddey filling a Tyrese Haliburton-type role with a fast pace, late comebacks and heavy playmaking, but Chicago lacks Indiana’s defense and a clear second star like Pascal Siakam. Merlin sees the pattern: Giddey’s near–triple-double (20.5/10.0/9.3) proves the offense can purr, yet the Bulls’ blueprint needs a sturdier spine to endure. If inconsistency continues, expect the front office to test the market for a Siakam-level piece — starting with a pressure-packed stopgap in Orlando on Monday. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the Bulls land a Siakam-level star before the trade deadline: 25%.
Dec 1
LeBron Laughs as Maxi Kleber's Wild Airball Sparks Lakers Win
An inconsequential airball became a small turning point in the Lakers’ 133-121 win over the Pelicans when Maxi Kleber accidentally lobbed a layup to the wrong rim. The moment sent LeBron James into laughter and, as LeBron put it, “sparked us,” breaking a tense stretch and helping Los Angeles reset; teammates called it a breath of fresh air that let them re-engage and extend the lead. Merlin sees the old truth: long seasons are won as much in the locker room as on the scoreboard. Kleber’s self-deprecating moment doubled as team-building under JJ Redick, a reminder that chemistry can be manufactured from mishaps — and that small levity often precedes sharper focus. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds this becomes a lasting bonding moment for the Lakers this season: 70%.
Dec 1
Lakers Eye Daniel Gafford as Ayton Insurance
The Lakers are 15-4 and humming without LeBron, yet trade chatter persists. Brett Siegel reported, "Coincidentally enough, one of the teams with strong interest in [Dallas Mavericks center Daniel] Gafford dating back to last season is the Los Angeles Lakers, sources said." Gafford — a career 70.1% shooter who played with Luka Dončić — would add interior depth behind Deandre Ayton, who has been efficient (16 points, 8.6 rebounds) but has missed time with knee issues. Merlin senses the prudence in adding a reliable big rather than another ball-dominant wing like Andrew Wiggins, which could disturb the unit's cohesion. Gafford’s fit and efficiency look right for playoff wear-and-tear, but health concerns and Dallas’s asking price are the real spells to be broken. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of the Lakers acquiring Gafford before the deadline: 35%.
Dec 1