Stein’s Latest: Morant, Young, Knicks, Gafford, More
Ja Morant has become the name to watch in NBA trade circles following reports that the Grizzlies were open to listening to offers for their star point guard.
In his latest article for The Stein Line (subscriber link), Marc Stein notes that, due to their alleged interest in trade targets like Trae Young, Anthony Davis, and Domantas Sabonis, there is a belief around the league that the Raptors may be dealing with internal win-now pressure, which could lead to them making a play for Morant.
Stein also states that, despite rumors that the Kings would not be interested in making a move for the often-injured point guard, he has heard rumors that Sacramento’s interest could be piqued if the Grizzlies would consider a return built around DeMar DeRozan, Devin Carter, and draft assets.
Carter was the 13th pick in the 2024 draft but has struggled to carve out a role with the Kings, averaging just 8.4 minutes this season.
Morant has played 18 games this season and is averaging 19.0 points and 7.6 assists on .401/.208/.900 shooting splits.
We have more from Stein’s latest newsletter:
- One of the lingering questions following the Wizards‘ trade for Trae Young revolves around whether Washington would extend its newly acquired guard. Stein notes that the Hawks’ refusal to extend Young was one of the early impetuses that led to their ultimate separation, and writes that there is noise that the four-time All-Star will ultimately land a two-year extension. He adds that when it comes to the matter of how much Young plays this season, he expects Washington to point to Toronto’s mid-season deal for Brandon Ingram last year as precedent. Ingram didn’t suit up for the Raptors last season and then quickly signed a new deal once the offseason began.
- The Knicks have struggled to regain their footing after winning the NBA Cup, winning just one of their last six games. While it’s unlikely that they will part with any of their core players, Stein writes that Guerschon Yabusele and second-year wing Pacome Dadiet are both available as New York attempts to tinker around their margins. Yabusele, after a breakout return to the NBA with the Sixers last season, has struggled to find a rhythm or role in coach Mike Brown‘s system, leading to him being in and out of the rotation. Dadiet, the 25th pick in the 2024 Draft, has seemingly been overtaken in the rotation by players like Mohamed Diawara and Kevin McCullar Jr., playing just 44 minutes in 14 games.
- While the Hawks‘ interest in Davis is well-documented, Stein writes that they also have some level of interest in another Mavericks big man: Daniel Gafford. While Gafford offers less upside than Davis, such a deal would help the Hawks keep Zaccharie Risacher out of trade talks. Stein adds that the Pacers and Celtics are also interested in pursuing the 27-year-old center.
- Spencer Dinwiddie is now eligible to sign with an NBA team after parting ways with Bayern Munich, but Stein reports that he could need some time to deal with the personal matters that led to his leaving the EuroLeague club.
- The Mavericks are holding out on waiving Dante Exum to make room to convert Ryan Nembhard, which Stein says is due to the hope that they can use Exum’s $3.3MM salary in a trade instead. That desire is the reason that decisions on converting two-way players like Nembhard, Spencer Jones (Denver), Daniss Jenkins (Detroit), and Pat Spencer (Golden State) will likely hold off until after the trade deadline.
Grizzlies Notes: Jackson, Morant, Brooks, Edey, Konchar
In an interview with Mark Medina of EssentiallySports, Grizzlies forward/center Jaren Jackson Jr. discusses adjusting to Tuomas Iisalo‘s offensive system, signing a lucrative long-term extension last offseason, playing with Ja Morant, and more. Rookie forward Cedric Coward has credited Jackson with being a veteran mentor, according to Medina.
“I just tell him what I see and what I’ve seen over the years,” Jackson said of Coward. “I tell him not to be hard on himself. If you just put in the work, it’s going to show. If you just stay with it, stay consistent and don’t get too high or low, that’s things that I’ve learned from other people. I tell him a lot of stuff.”
Jackson also reacted to the news that Morant is on the trading block following Friday’s one-point loss to Oklahoma City, tweets Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal.
“I feel for him. That’s my brother. … No matter what, he changed my life coming here,” Jackson said of Morant.
Here’s more from Memphis:
- Iisalo says Morant’s recent absences aren’t related to trade rumors, according to Cole (Twitter link). The 26-year-old point guard will miss his fifth straight game on Sunday due to a right calf contusion. “Strictly based on the injury,” Iisalo said of Morant.
- Suns forward Dillon Brooks returned to Memphis on Wednesday for his latest rematch against his former team. After Phoenix cruised to a lopsided victory, the 30-year-old wing said the Grizzlies made a mistake by moving on from some of their former starters, Cole writes for The Memphis Commercial Appeal. “I just think they moved too fast,” he said. “Especially when I was there and Des(mond Bane) was there and (Steven Adams) was there. I think (the Grizzlies) moved too fast, trying to be (inventive) too fast and it kind of bit them in the butt a little bit.”
- Second-year center Zach Edey, who is recovering from a stress reaction in his left ankle, has been away from the team in recent days consulting with medical specialists, but he’ll be traveling with the team for the upcoming trip to Europe, per Iisalo (Twitter link via Chris Herrington of The Daily Memphian). Iisalo added that the team would provide an update on Edey soon, though he didn’t know exactly when. The Grizzlies face the Magic in Berlin, Germany on Thursday and play them again next Sunday in London, England.
- Veteran wing John Konchar, who has been out since December 7 due to a thumb injury which required surgery, was upgraded to available for Sunday’s contest vs. Brooklyn, the Grizzlies announced (via Twitter).
Jrue Holiday Will Return Sunday For Trail Blazers
3:35 pm: Both Holiday and Williams will be active for Sunday’s game, according to Highkin (Twitter link). Holiday will be on a minutes restriction in his first game in two months.
12:51 pm: Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday has been upgraded from questionable to probable for Sunday’s matchup against New York, tweets Joe Freeman of The Oregonian.
The two-time champion was off to a solid start in his first season with Portland, averaging 16.7 points, 8.3 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 1.6 steals on .446/.365/.840 shooting in 12 games (33.4 minutes per contest). However, he sustained a right calf strain on November 14 and has missed the past 27 games due to the injury.
Holiday’s return appearing imminent is obviously welcome news for Portland, which has been hit hard by injuries in 2025/26. Despite missing several key members of the rotation for multiple weeks, the Trail Blazers have been resilient, winning five straight games — and seven of their past eight — to improve to 19-20 on the season.
Backup center Robert Williams III, who exited Friday’s win over Houston with knee soreness, has also been upgraded from questionable to probable, notes Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report (via Twitter).
The 28-year-old big man is viewed as a trade candidate in part because he’s playing on a $13.3MM expiring contract. A former All-Defensive member, Williams has averaged 5.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG and 1.2 BPG in 26 appearances this season (15.7 MPG).
Spurs Notes: Wemby, Champagnie, K. Johnson, Sochan, Bryant
Victor Wembanyama helped lead the Spurs to a victory on Saturday in Boston, writes Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News. The star big man scored 16 of his 21 points in the second half and hit a couple of key jump shots late in the game to seal the victory.
“My mindset was just we have to close out that game,” Wembanyama said. “I think too often, I mean it’s easier said than done, but too often we do lots of efforts and let it go to waste one way or the other. So, I felt like not letting that happen.”
Wembanyama has come off the bench for the past three games since a knee injury caused him to miss two consecutive contests. The 22-year-old center indicated that he’s close to returning to the starting lineup, Orsborn notes.
“The goal is to start soon and to keep it that way for the rest of the season,” Wembanyama said.
Here’s more on the Spurs:
- Wembanyama praised Julian Champagnie following Saturday’s victory, Orsborn adds. Champagnie has been starting in place of Devin Vassell, who is out with a left adductor strain. The 24-year-old wing delivered his fifth double-double (12 points, 13 rebounds) on Saturday and blocked a Derrick White three-point attempt in the closing seconds. “We trust him,” Wembanyama said of Champagnie. “The front office, the coaching staff, everybody believes in him and he’s just capitalizing on that. It’s like we can’t do without him now. He’s part of this. He’s indispensable.”
- Keldon Johnson has become one of the top bench players in the NBA, but it’s a role he was initially reluctant to accept after once being a full-time starter, per Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News. “If I was to say it’s easy, I would be lying,” Johnson said. “As a young player, you have some success early on, you score a lot of points in the NBA, it takes a lot to sit back and take your ego away from it and say, ‘OK what do I need to do to be able to contribute to this team now?’” Johnson, who had 18 points and 10 rebounds on Saturday, is having the most efficient offensive season of his career. “It would be hard for him not to at least be in the (Sixth Man of the Year) conversation,” head coach Mitch Johnson said. “He’s been phenomenal and he’s been consistent. He’s been a mainstay. It’s every night with that guy.”
- Fourth-year forward Jeremy Sochan downplayed a postgame incident on Wednesday in which Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt poked him in the face, as Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com relays. “I must’ve said something to him during the game, and maybe it wasn’t very nice,” Sochan said. “He must have taken it in the wrong way and told me to see him after the game. So, I did. And we just had a polite exchange. I was, I think, intact and very joyful and the other person wasn’t. Yeah, he just wasn’t emotionally stable in that moment. So, it’s something he has to work on. It’s just life.”
- Late lottery pick Carter Bryant was assigned to the G League on Friday and played 28 minutes with the Austin Spurs, recording 15 points, five rebounds and two blocks in 28 minutes, prior to being recalled on Saturday. According to Orsborn, coach Johnson said the rookie forward won’t be sent down on a regular basis. “That was the most minutes I have played since my senior year at high school, so it was a great opportunity for me to get some live reps, to see the ball go through basket a little bit,” said Bryant. “That’s the biggest thing in the game of basketball. If your confidence is lacking, it’s going to be hard for you to play no matter how good you are.”
Trail Blazers’ Kris Murray (Back) Out Indefinitely
Shortly after upgrading Jrue Holiday to probable for Sunday’s game vs. New York, the Trail Blazers announced (via Twitter) that third-year wing Kris Murray has been diagnosed with a lumbar strain in his lower back.
No return timeline was provided for Murray’s injury, with the Trail Blazers simply saying that additional updates will be provided “as appropriate.” In other words, Murray is out indefinitely.
Murray sustained the injury in Monday’s game vs. Utah. He was evaluated after the win it was determined that he has a lumbar strain, per the team.
Murray, the No. 23 pick in the 2023 draft, has been a rotation regular for Portland in 2025/26, averaging 6.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 34 games, including 11 starts (25.7 minutes per contest). His shooting slash line is .446/.256/.738.
A 6’8″ small forward, Murray has missed the past two games with the back injury and will miss his third consecutive contest on Sunday. The 25-year-old is earning $3.1MM in the third year of his rookie scale contract and will make $5.3MM next season.
Sidy Cissoko, Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert are among the Blazers who could receive more playing time with Murray out.
Five Potential Sellers Who Could Shape The Trade Deadline
Several teams who currently sit well below .500 - including the Bucks, Clippers, and Pacers - are viewed as unlikely to sell off veterans at the February 5 trade deadline due either to a belief they can still make a run this season or a desire to preserve their core for next season.
Certain other teams projected to end up in the lottery - like the Jazz and Wizards - have few appealing veterans to sell off to begin with, since their rosters are heavy on young players and veteran cornerstones they're reportedly not looking to move, such as Lauri Markkanen in Utah and Trae Young in Washington.
With 20 playoff or play-in spots up for grabs and several of those bottom 10 teams not preparing to hold fire sales, the door could be open for a handful of would-be sellers to fill the void and conduct some favorable business in the coming weeks.
We're looking today at five teams well positioned to cash in on several trade chips -- if they choose to go that route.
Let's dive in...
Atlantic Notes: Poeltl, Raptors, Agbaji, Brown, MPJ, Thomas
Starting Raptors center Jakob Poeltl has made one brief appearance since mid-December due to a lower back strain and will miss his 10th straight game on Sunday. While the Austrian big man has been cleared for contact work and has been ramping up his activity, he’s still experiencing discomfort during workouts, sources tell Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca.
In another story for Sportsnet, Grange reports that Poeltl’s recovery progress has “stalled.” The 30-year-old told Grange his workout in Boston on Thursday was “so-so” and Grange hears Friday’s session wasn’t much better.
Poeltl’s ongoing back issue is partly why the Raptors are actively looking for help in the middle, Grange writes. Goga Bitadze is one player Toronto is monitoring, according to Grange, who points out that Moritz Wagner‘s return and Orlando’s future cap situation could make the Magic center expendable.
We have more from the Atlantic Division:
- Raptors guard/forward Ochai Agbaji received a DNP-CD on Friday at Boston even though the team was playing without Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram. Agbaji has been involved in trade rumors due to his $6.4MM expiring contract and declining play, and he acknowledges several young wings on the roster have struggled to find consistency this season. “It’s obviously been tough. Some guys are trying to fall into that role and find their rhythm too,” Agbaji told Grange. “… We kind of see that and everyone in the room sees that too, and how valuable we are to the team and what we can bring to the team, so it’s just a matter of knowing your role and trying to be the best at it. (But) I feel like our bench – our total team – yes, we play our good basketball, but I feel like there’s so much more to us, individually and as a team collectively, that we just haven’t shown in one game or over a span of, like, a week, or anything like that.”
- Celtics star Jaylen Brown ripped the officials, including calling out crew chief Curtis Blair by name, following Saturday’s loss to San Antonio, writes Tim Bontemps of ESPN. The Spurs attempted 20 free throws, compared to four for the Celtics. “If we can’t get to the free throw line and teams are allowed to be physical and bump us off our spots, etc., then it’s hard to win games like that,” Brown said. “We shot four free throws tonight and lost the game by four. Not to say that’s the whole game, the whole story. We got to be better in spots. I got to be better in spots. But goddamn. I’m driving to the basket. I’m physical. I don’t flop. I don’t shy away from contact. I go up strong. I’m athletic. And nothing. Zero free throws tonight. The inconsistency is f—ing crazy. Give me the fine.”
- Nets forward Michael Porter Jr., who is being held out of Sunday’s game at Memphis for rest purposes, is having a career year for Brooklyn and his head coach believes he deserves to be recognized for his strong play, according to C.J. Holmes of The New York Daily News. “I mean, he’s an All-Star,” Jordi Fernandez said. “He’s played like an All-Star, you just got to watch him play, and how much better he’s gotten.”
- Cam Thomas has been coming off the bench for the Nets since he returned from a hamstring strain and Fernandez has been pleased with the fifth-year guard’s recent performances, as Andrew Crane of The New York Post relays. “I’m very happy with the second group,” Fernandez said after the Nets lost 121-105 to the Clippers on Friday. “They’re trying to play the right way. I’m happy and trying to focus more on [Thomas] because that’s the superpower that he has, and defenses have to focus on him. And then he’ll figure it out when he scores and takes the shot, when he passes the ball.”
Eastern Notes: Dosunmu, Collins, Penda, Snyder
Fifth-year guard Ayo Dosunmu is one of 11 Bulls who could be a free agent this summer. Dosunmu, who turns 26 years old on Saturday, is earning $7.5MM this season and is eligible for a veteran extension through June 30.
The former second-round pick (38th overall in 2021) is boosting his value in a contract year, averaging 14.5 points, 3.5 assists and 2.7 rebounds on .515/.450/.867 shooting in 32 games (26.2 minutes per contest). Dosunmu tells Kyle Williams of The Chicago Sun-Times he’s well aware of the impending trade deadline, but his preference would be to stay with his hometown team.
“For sure,” Dosunmu said of wanting to remain in Chicago. “They took a chance on me. I definitely know I love it here. But then you know, free agency’s coming up, and the business side of it, you always understand everything that comes with it. But besides that, these are the guys who helped me become a better player, the staff that helped me become a better player. I take one game at a time. But of course, I love Chicago.”
Here are a few more notes from around the Eastern Conference:
- Bulls big man Zach Collins continues to experience discomfort in his sprained right big toe and remains out indefinitely, writes Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune. According to head coach Billy Donovan, Collins’ injury is similar to turf toe, which often results in a lengthy absence. The 28-year-old center will meet with a doctor on Wednesday and the goal is to establish a recovery plan and return timeline at that point, Poe adds.
- Rookie Noah Penda received his first career start in Friday’s loss to Philadelphia amid multiple Magic injuries, per Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel. Known as a strong defender, the French forward is averaging 9.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.0 SPG and 1.7 BPG over his last three appearances (29.3 MPG).
- Appearing on 92.9 FM The Game with Chris Thomas (Twitter link), Lauren L. Williams of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said she hasn’t heard any rumblings about head coach Quin Snyder potentially being on the hot seat with the Hawks off to a relatively disappointing start to the season. The Hawks are currently 19-21, the No. 9 seed in the East.
Knicks Notes: Hart, Trade Deadline, Shamet, Towns
The Knicks capably withstood injury absences to other players this season, but Josh Hart showed how valuable he was to the team when it was forced to play without him over the past eight games, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post.
Hart, who is questionable to return to action on Sunday at Portland, has been recovering from a right ankle sprain he sustained on December 25. In addition to Hart’s defense, rebounding, pace of play and secondary ball-handling, the Knicks have also missed the 30-year-old wing’s ability to get into the paint and make plays.
“He’s the heart and soul of the team from an energy perspective,” Miles McBride said. “I bring a lot of energy, we got a lot of guys that do. But he’s been doing it for so long and we’ve all been able to use him as the nucleus.”
Here’s more from New York:
- Will Hart’s imminent return be enough to switch the team’s downward momentum? Steve Popper of Newsday (subscriber link) explores that question, writing that the Knicks have certainly missed Hart’s physicality in dropping five of their past six games. One way or another, they’ll have to improve their toughness for the playoffs, according to Popper, and they have less than four weeks to decide what moves to make ahead of the February 5 trade deadline.
- Veteran wing Landry Shamet, who is on the mend from a right shoulder injury, has been cleared for contact work and has already been taking controlled contact, head coach Mike Brown said on Saturday (Twitter link via Bondy). Shamet will be out again Sunday, but the update is a positive sign that his return isn’t far off.
- Big man Karl-Anthony Towns continues to produce inconsistent offensive results in his first season playing in Brown’s system, notes Kristian Winfield of The New York Daily News. The five-time All-Star only attempted 11 shots in Friday’s loss in Phoenix two games after putting up just four shots in a blowout loss at Detroit. Towns’ numbers are down across the board and the Knicks need more from their highest-paid player, per Winfield.
Bucks Reportedly Interested In Ja Morant
The Bucks are among the teams with interest in Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant, multiple league sources tell Jim Owczarski of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (subscription required).
Morant, a two-time All-Star who has been plagued by injury and off-court woes in recent years, will miss his fifth straight game on Sunday vs. Brooklyn due to a right calf contusion, per the NBA’s official injury report.
This is the first report we’ve seen definitively linking Milwaukee to Morant, who is on the trading block.
In order to match salaries with Morant, who is earning approximately $39.5MM this season and is under contract through 2027/28, an outgoing Bucks package would likely start with Kyle Kuzma ($22.4MM). There are multiple ways to make the money work from there with additional players added.
While Morant makes some sense as a buy-low candidate for the Bucks, who are trying to get back into contention in the Eastern Conference around two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, his on-court fit seems shaky. For starters, Morant has never been a great shooter, and Milwaukee’s two best players this season outside of Antetokounmpo have been point guards Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr.
The Bucks also continue to be intrigued by Kings shooting guard Zach LaVine, Owczarski reports. Milwaukee has been connected to multiple players on Sacramento’s roster, though the two teams reportedly weren’t engaged in active trade conversations as of last week.