[Charania] BREAKING: The Los Angeles Clippers are trading James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland and a second-round pick, sources tell ESPN. Prolific swap of the star point guards.
Former San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich visited the team’s practice this morning, spending some one-on-one time chatting with Victor Wembanyama, Julian Champagnie, and Mitch Johnson
[Charania] BREAKING: The Chicago Bulls are trading center Nikola Vucevic and a second-round pick to the Boston Celtics for Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick, sources tell ESPN.
[Charania] BREAKING: The Memphis Grizzlies are trading star forward Jaren Jackson Jr., John Konchar, Jock Landale and Vince Williams Jr. to the Utah Jazz for Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang and three future first-round picks, sources tell ESPN.
[Vorkunov] There are miracles, and there are acts of God, and then there is the Cleveland Cavaliers, a second apron team who can’t combine contracts in a trade and can’t add salary, finding a player to trade for who made just $263,397 less this season than Darius Garland.
[Charania] Just in: Chicago, Minnesota and Detroit have agreed to a multi-team deal that sends Jaden Ivey and Mike Conley Jr. to the Bulls and Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric to the Pistons, sources tell ESPN. Detroit also receives a 2026 first-round protected swap from Minnesota.
[Highlight] Austin Reaves lobs it off the glass to Lebron James
[Charania] LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard has been named by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver as an addition to the U.S. player pool for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game.
[Slater] The Golden State Warriors have involved Draymond Green in active trade conversations in advance of Thursday’s deadline, league sources told ESPN, putting his 14-season run with the franchise in jeopardy.
[Charania] Harden and the Clippers worked through his exit over the last few days – resulting in a beneficial outcome for the sides: A win-now opportunity for Harden playing at a high level at 36 and recent two-time All-Star in Garland at 26 for the Clippers present and future.
[Bam Adebayo and A’ja Wilson] give scouting reports on each other at the Heat Gala: “He likes going left, make him go baseline. If you show him different looks and make him think, you might have a chance… I would say people don’t double her enough. By the time they start doubling, she has 25”
Ja Morant said that the Grizzlies were “fine in the West” on December 21, 2022. Since then they’ve gone 126-138 in the regular season, fired their head coach, and have not won a playoff series
[Stein] Giannis Antetokounmpo has no interest in being traded to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Nikola Vucevic ends his Bulls career as the franchise leader in double-doubles.
[Salt Lake Tribune] A Utah lawmaker wants to allow concealed firearms permit holders to take their guns to Utah Jazz and Utah Mammoth home games, as well as concerts and other events held at the Delta Center and a host of other venues around the state.
The Boston Celtics will also create a massive $27.7M trade exception. They accomplish this by taking Nikola Vucevic into the Kristaps Porzingis trade exception. They’re now under the 1st apron as well.
[Fischer] The Minnesota Timberwolves have the most momentum in making a Giannis Antetokounmpo deal happen. The Bucks prefer the potential packages available by Minnesota and Miami over the potential package by Golden State.
[Afseth] The Memphis Grizzlies internally now view Zach Edey and Cedric Coward as their franchise’s cornerstone players
[Beck] I really think the Wolves are gonna end up pulling a Giannis deal off because Tim Connelly has pretty consistently demonstrated that when he wants something he’s willing to pay an irresponsible price for it
[ESPN] The LA Clippers will host the Cleveland Cavaliers tomorrow at Intuit Dome.
[Haynes] Charlotte Hornets rookie sensation Kon Knueppel has accepted the league’s invitation to participate in the 3-Point Contest at All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, league sources tell me.
[Fischer] The Utah Jazz are trading their most favorable 2027 first-round pick (Cleveland/Minnesota/Utah), the Lakers’ 2027 first-round pick, and Phoenix’s 2031 first-round pick to Memphis, source says, to pry Jaren Jackson Jr. from the Grizzlies.
Cooper Flagg checks out with 36/9/6, the first teenager to ever have three consecutive 30 point games
[Scotto] The Celtics previously proposed Anfernee Simons, a first-round pick, and a future first-round pick swap for Clippers center Ivica Zubac and salary filler, which the Clippers declined, sources said. Boston also inquired on Jaren Jackson Jr. Instead, Boston lands Nikola Vucevic.
De’Aaron Fox on the Spurs only having 1 NBA All-Star when other contenders have 2: “Saw a team with the worst record in the league have an All-Star… When I was traded here, averaging 25, wasn’t an All-Star… I couldn’t care less.”
[Highlight] Luka threads a no-look pass through the double for an easy Ayton finish. Lakers lead 61-29
[Highlight] Isaiah Joe slams it over Banchero
[Haynes] Los Angeles Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers have ramped up conversations on a James Harden, Darius Garland package with both sides motivated to executing a deal relatively soon, league sources tell me.
The Grizzlies have also created a massive $28.8 million trade exception in this deal – the largest ever in the NBA, per @BobbyMarks42.
Nikola Vucevic is now likely to miss his first nba play in game since 2022
[Highlight] Lebron James steal and casual transition dunk
[Charania] Detroit Pistons first time All-Star Jalen Duren has accepted an invitation to participate in the 2026 NBA Slam Dunk contest in Los Angeles, sources tell ESPN. Duren joins Lakers center Jaxson Hayes and Spurs rookie Carter Bryant in the contest field.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić and Boston Celtics forward-guard Jaylen Brown have been named the Kia NBA Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Month, respectively, for games played in January
[Post Game Thread] The Detroit Pistons (37-12) defeat the Denver Nuggets (33-18), 124-121, behind 29 points and 10 assists from Cade Cunningham
[Krawczynski] The Minnesota Timberwolves are still in on Giannis Antetokounmpo and are exploring “other moves for depth.” A lot of moving parts right now.
With their 2 most recent trades, the Chicago Bulls can near pefect salary matching trade for the Antetokounmpos
Bill Simmon: Are we sure Harden asked out? Or… Did LAC actually agree to a Garland/Harden trade, then asked a surprised Harden to waive his 15% trade kicker to make it work cuz of Cleve’s 2nd apron? Then Harden said “Fine, but I want an extension.” Cavs said no. So Harden said, “I’m out!”
[Highlight] Bronny chants loudly erupt at Barclays Center
Micheal Porter Jr on Jamal Murray’s fan perception: “I don’t know if it’s just Serbian fans or fans in general but they’ll call you a Jokić merchant”
The Thunder have scored 50 points before the Magic have scored 20.
[Windhorst] “People I’m talking to believe there is real momentum for this. Darius Garland is getting in his head that he’s gonna be a Clipper. James Harden is getting in his head that he’s gonna be a Cav— He’s going to get taken care of.”
[Haynes] Sources: Veteran guard Mike Conley Jr. isn’t expected to stick with the Chicago Bulls. Both sides will work on proper path to move forward. Conley will be a target for a team in need of point guard depth.
[Charania] Bulls and Pistons have desires met here in a young and veteran guards to Chicago and a sharpshooter goes to Detroit. Minnesota creates significant tax savings and roster space as they pursue a Milwaukee star this week.
The NBA should bring back 20 second timeouts for the last 5 minutes of games
Giannis Antetokounmpo will be coaching Charania at the 2026 NBA Celebrity Game:
6’9 GG Jackson is Grizzlies tallest available player right now
Isaiah Collier in a win over the Pacers: 17/5/22(!) on 6-16 FG, 0-3 3PT, 5-8 FT with three steals and only two turnovers
Austin Reaves on returning from injury: “I’ve been bored for a little over a month now. Sitting on the bench sucks. Think all I did for the month and a half was yell at the refs. That’s no fun. It’s better to yell at them on the court.”