[Charania] Free agent guard Mike Conley Jr. plans to return to the Minnesota Timberwolves, sources tell ESPN. The sides are working on timing of him re-signing. Conley was traded twice this week – to Chicago, then to Charlotte –before being released and allowed to rejoin the Wolves.
[Windhorst] When I say [Ja Morant] has no value, I don’t even think that’s accurate. I think he has what they call in the league, negative value. Meaning teams weren’t willing to take Ja Morant unless the Grizzlies also added draft compensation
Nikola Vucevic will be playing against the Miami Heat tonight for the 4th time this week
Michael Porter Jr. talks about when he accidentally leaked Adam Silver’s number on Snapchat as a rookie: “I’m thinking I’m getting kicked out the league… They had me walk up there in front of all these guys and apologize. That was the most embarrassing time of my life.”
[Ellis] Kevin Durant shows his respect for Hawks rookie Asa Newell after betting that Newell wouldn’t hit a three
[Highlight] Chaotic ending between Warriors vs Suns game.
In a close game between the Jazz & Hawks Lauri Markkanen got subbed off with 17 minutes left on the game and never got back to the court
Raptors GM Bobby Webster on CP3: “I don’t know what he’s going to do. Chris Paul’s probably one of my favorite players ever… it’s a weird thing to trade for him… he’s at this point in his career… we’ll waive him here at the appropriate time.”
Amongst the 32 qualified players averaging 20 PPG: Alperen Şengün currently has the worst TS% amongst them. (55.0%)
Jock Landale drove 5.5 hours to score 26 points in his Hawks debut
Cooper Flagg over the last 4 games: 37.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists on 64.1% True Shooting percentage
James Harden had interest in getting traded back to Houston, but they showed little interest, per @ramonashelburne
Tyrese gets emotional about the McCain trade: “He was a little brother to me dawg, like the first real rookie-vet to me. I hope he succeeds and he has a fan and brother in me for life. I woke up this morning and realized damn I’m not gonna see JMac downstairs anymore”
[Highlight] Reaves plays perfect defense to avoid Embiid’s rip-through attempts and forces a turnover
[Post Game Thread] The Charlotte Hornets (24-28) defeat the Houston Rockets (31-19), 109-99 to win their 8th straight game.
Cooper Flagg against the Spurs: 32/6/4 on 14-27 FG, 2-5 3PT, 2-2 FT with two steals and three blocks–this makes him the first teenager with 30+ points in four consecutive games, passing Cooper Flagg’s record of three
Jock Landale on opting to drive to Atlanta from Memphis rather than fly: “I kind of said, if I’m looking to play that next night, I want to get there as soon as possible. So I loaded up the truck and hit the road.”
KD says he doesn’t want wear Thunder or Warriors Jersey at Hall of Fame induction
De’Anthony Melton leads the NBA in plus/minus since Christmas despite being 179th in minutes played. The Warriors are +211 with him on the floor and -149 with him on the bench during that stretch.
[Post Game Thread] The Los Angeles Lakers (31-19) defeat the Philadelphia 76ers (31-22), 119-115 behind an Austin Reaves masterclass 35/6/2 on 87% ts in 25 minutes!
[OptaSTATS] Austin Reaves is only the 4th player in NBA history to average 25/5/5 on 50% FG & 2.5+ 3PM. Only 3 others in NBA history have done that in a season: Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and LeBron James.
[Smith] The fact that Boston went from miles over the second apron to completely under the luxury tax in two transactions windows (offseason and trade deadline) AND have maintained being a playoff team is remarkable. Incredible work on the part of everyone involved. Gap Year Schmap Year.
[Highlight] Lebron With A POWER Slam in transition!
The Charlotte Hornets beat the 31-18 Rockets, bringing their win streak to 8, which is their largest win streak since 1999
[Highlight] LeBron shows off his bag
[Charania] BREAKING: The Los Angeles Clippers are trading Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers, sources tell ESPN.
[Spence] Anthony Davis will wear No. 23 for the Washington Wizards, according to the Monumental Sports broadcast. 23 years ago, Michael Jordan was the last player to wear 23 for the Wizards. Look at how the stars aligned.
[Jones] BREAKING: Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson has suffered a grade 2 left hamstring strain and is expected to miss extended time, League Sources tell The Athletic. Watson had been a breakout star for the Nuggets. This adds to their injury misfortune.
Giannis Antetokounmpo after the end of the trade deadline on Instagram: “Legends don’t chase. They attract 💯😎
[Charania] Free agent guard Jevon Carter has agreed to a deal with the Orlando Magic for the rest of the season, Mark Bartelstein and Reggie Brown of @PrioritySports tell ESPN.
KIA MVP Ladder (Feb. 6 Update) — 1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 2. Luka Dončić, 3. Nikola Jokić, 4. Cade Cunningham, 5. Victor Wembanyama, 6. Jaylen Brown, 7. Donovan Mitchell, 8. Anthony Edwards, 9. Jalen Brunson, 10. Tyrese Maxey
[Highlight] Austin Reaves takes the grenade from Kleber and sinks the deep 3 to beat the clock
[Charania] The Brooklyn Nets are waiving Cam Thomas, allowing the scoring guard to enter free agency, sources tell ESPN. The Nets made the decision to allow Thomas to find a new home.
[Post Game Thread] The Washington Wizards tanksquad (14-36) defeat the Detroit Pistons (37-13), 126-117.
The Amen Thompson at PG experiment for Houston should end and will limit how far the Rockets go.
[Toporek] Daryl Morey says the Sixers tried to use the picks they acquired for Jared McCain to add to the team for this year, but nothing materialized.
[Highlight] Final minute of Warriors/Suns: Melton with an acrobatic layup to tie the game, Moody blocks Gillespie, Santos lays it in in transition to give the Warriors the lead, Brooks bricks a potential game-winner, and the Warriors get a layup at the buzzer after a mad scramble for the rebound
[Haynes] Memphis Grizzlies have waived guard Eric Gordon after acquiring him from the Philadelphia 76ers.
[Post Game Thread] The Golden State Warriors (28-24) come back to defeat the Phoenix Suns (31-21), 101-97.
Victor Wembanyama shares new ad for his signature Nike shoe as part of Nike’s “Warning Label” campaign
[Highlight] With seemingly no space, Reaves creates space with his shoulder to launch an audacious heat check
Nikola Vucevic says that he will come off the bench tonight in the Celtics’ game against the Heat. Mazzulla also told him, “it’s flexible.” per Bobby Krivitsky
[Charania] The Pacers are sending Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks and one second-round pick to the Clippers for Zubac and Kobe Brown, sources tell ESPN.
So the Sixers actually did just trade McCain to get under the tax
[Charania] Just in: The New Orleans Pelicans are trading Jose Alvarado to the New York Knicks, sources tell ESPN. Homecoming for the Pelicans guard.
[Charania] The Los Angeles Lakers are trading Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks for Luke Kennard, sources tell ESPN.
[Highlight] Edgecombe makes an absolutely ridiculous inbound steal and instant 3 pointer to cut the lead to 3 with 33 seconds left
[Charania] The Milwaukee Bucks have indicated to teams that they are keeping Giannis Antetokounmpo through the trade deadline and will start making other trades, sources tell ESPN.