Magic’s Jalen Suggs Returning From Low Back Strain
Jalen Suggs will return to the court tonight against Detroit after missing the past 10 games with a low back strain, the Magic announced (via Twitter).
Orlando went 2-8 with Suggs sidelined and enters tonight on a five-game losing streak. After a strong start to the season, the Magic have fallen into seventh place in the East at 23-23.
Suggs, who last played on January 3, was in the midst of a career-best season before getting hurt. Through 34 games, the 23-year-old guard was averaging career highs with 16.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks per night. He’s a vital part of the team’s defense, earning an All-Defensive Second Team nod and finishing 10th in the Defensive Player of the Year voting last season.
The Magic are starting to get healthier after a long string of injuries that sidetracked their season. Paolo Banchero returned from a torn oblique two weeks ago, and Franz Wagner was back in the lineup Thursday for the first time since suffering the same injury.
Suggs will start tonight alongside Banchero, Wagner, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Wendell Carter Jr., tweets Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel, who notes that it’s the first time Orlando’s opening-night starting lineup has been together since October 30.
“Just the familiarity of being around each other,” coach Jamahl Mosley said of the benefit of having his preferred starters back together (Twitter video link). “And I’ll start by saying it’s not going to be the same as opening night. These guys haven’t been together. There’s minutes that these guys have to hold. But we do expect the standard of play of the continuity, the togetherness, the toughness, the defensive focus that we’ve constantly talked about. Us being who we are, you can expect that from this group tonight.”
And-Ones: Dybantsa, Holiday, LeBron, Bronny, TNT, Carmelo
A.J. Dybantsa, who is widely considered the favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft, was in Paris this week for the NBA’s Global Games and got a first-hand look at 2023’s top pick, Victor Wembanyama. According to Brian Windhorst of ESPN, Dybantsa expressed a desire to team up with Wembanyama with the Spurs when he reaches the NBA.
“I think Victor is just ridiculous; the things he does are just crazy,” said Dybantsa, who has committed to play his college ball next season at BYU. “I just think we would’ve been a crazy duo. Now the odds of that happening are very slim. But I mean, it was just a thought that came up in my mind when he got drafted. But you never know.”
As Dybantsa acknowledges, the odds are against him ending up in San Antonio. The Spurs control their own first-round pick in 2026 and have the right to swap first-rounders with the Hawks, so they technically have two shots at the No. 1 overall pick. But both San Antonio and Atlanta appear to be on an upward trajectory and seem unlikely to be among the NBA’s very worst teams in 2025/26.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Veteran NBA wing Justin Holiday will audition for the Italian club Virtus Bologna over the next several days, head coach Duško Ivanović confirmed (story via Eurohoops). The expectation is that Virtus Bologna will decide next week whether or not to sign Holiday to a contract. The 35-year-old swingman, who has appeared in 680 career regular season games in the NBA, spend last season with the Nuggets but has been a free agent since July.
- LeBron James and Bronny James of the Lakers turned down an invitation from the NBA to take part in the skills challenge at All-Star weekend as a father/son duo, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes (Twitter video link). Haynes adds that Bronny also declined an opportunity to be among the G League players competing in the Rising Stars event.
- Alexander Sherman of CNBC checks in on the NBA’s media landscape, writing that Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal are on the verge of signing new multiyear contracts with TNT Sports, while both Amazon and NBC have spoken to Carmelo Anthony about the possibility of having him join their studio shows for the 2025/26 season.
Suns Notes: Nurkic, Beal, Richards, Durant, Dunn
Two veteran Suns whose names have frequently come up in trade rumors in recent weeks appear on track to return to action on Saturday vs. Washington. Guard Bradley Beal, who has missed three of the team’s past four games due to a left ankle sprain, is listed as probable to play, while center Jusuf Nurkic isn’t on the injury report after being inactive for six consecutive games due to an illness and return-to-play reconditioning.
Of course, while Beal figures to play a prominent role as long as he’s active, Nurkic was a DNP-CD for two games prior to his illness and faces even more competition for playing time up front now that Nick Richards is a Sun, writes Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic.
Asked about Nurkic’s role, head coach Mike Budenholzer suggested that all of the Suns’ centers, including Mason Plumlee and Oso Ighodaro, will have to show in games and practices that they deserve regular minutes.
“That’s the message to not just Nurk, but to Nick, to Mason, to Oso,” Budenholzer said. “All those guys have played for us and are capable. They’ve all got to earn their minutes.”
Here’s more on the Suns:
- Richards has averaged a double-double (11.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG) in his first three games as a Sun, serving as the team’s starting center on Monday and Wednesday. His 15 rebounds in Wednesday’s victory over Brooklyn were a personal season high. “Everybody has been telling me to just be myself and I’ve been telling myself (that) since I got here,” Richards said of adjusting to his new team, per Rankin. “I’m playing with some of the best guys in the world. Just trying to play through them. Trying to get to know everybody. Trying to build that chemistry with every single player on the team.”
- As a result of being named an All-Star starter, Kevin Durant locked in a $1.3MM bonus that’s part of his contract, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Twitter link). That bonus had already been considered “likely” to be earned since Durant was an All-Star last season, so it doesn’t impact his cap hit or Phoenix’s projected tax bill, Marks adds.
- Ryan Dunn, the No. 28 pick in this year’s draft, has already started 23 games for the Suns, taking on an unexpectedly prominent role for a rookie on a veteran team with the league’s highest payroll. Speaking to Spencer Davies of RG.org, Dunn expressed gratitude for the confidence the Suns have shown in him. “It means a lot,” Dunn said. “I think they have a lot of trust in me, and I just try to come out and do my job every night. I’m not trying to be perfect in any aspect. I’m trying to just play hard and compete, and I think that’s gotten me a lot more minutes on the floor. I’m forever grateful for this staff and this team believing in me. I’m just trying to do the best to help our team win.”
- Dunn also spoke to Davies about several other topics, including how much he appreciates being able to learn from stars like Durant, Beal, and Devin Booker. “They have their own little regimens themselves, and I’ve been trying to watch that from afar,” Dunn said. “Just trying to pick up on stuff – how they watch film, how they workout, how they get up and down on the floor. Just taking that routine and taking other stuff into my game and trying to figure out ways to have a long career like that.”
Trade Rumors: Turner, Heat, Brown, Raptors, Clippers
Asked on a live stream on Friday whether the Pacers might be open to trading center Myles Turner, who is on an expiring contract, Jovan Buha of The Athletic (YouTube link) said he has heard a “little bit of chatter” about that possibility.
However, based on his wording, it sounds like Buha is just referring to speculation from rival executives who are curious about whether Indiana will be able to pay Turner in free agency this summer, rather than any concrete signs the club is considering making him available. The 28-year-old won’t become eligible for an extension before reaching unrestricted free agency in July, so if Indiana isn’t confident about its ability to re-sign him, hanging onto him would carry the risk of losing him for nothing in the summer.
I’d be very surprised if the Pacers entertain the idea of trading Turner by February 6, given that he’s the starting center on a team that has played its best basketball of the season in recent weeks (9-2 in January).
Still, it’s worth noting that Indiana’s front office showed a year ago that it’s willing to trade a regular contributor if the team doesn’t expect to be able to sign him beyond the current season. After he turned down an extension offer from the Pacers, Buddy Hield was shipped to Philadelphia at last season’s deadline, despite the fact that he was averaging 25.7 minutes per game and had started 28 of 52 contests for Indiana.
Here are a few more trade-related notes and rumors from around the NBA:
- Within his latest dispatch at The Stein Line (Substack link), Jake Fischer explores what the Heat are looking for in a Jimmy Butler trade, reiterating a few points that have been reported elsewhere, including the fact that Miami is prioritizing cap flexibility and short-term contracts, as well as players who can help the team make the playoffs this season.
- To that end, Fischer cites sources who say that the Heat have registered some interest in Raptors wing Bruce Brown, who is on a $23MM expiring contract, and confirms that Toronto is widely viewed as a team interested in facilitating a larger deal. “They want to get involved in any Jimmy Butler trade,” one rival general manager told Fischer. Wizards guard Malcolm Brogdon, who is on an expiring $22.5MM contract, is another example of the type of proven veteran on a favorable contract who might appeal to Miami, Fischer adds.
- After creating some cap flexibility last offseason when they let Paul George walk in free agency, the Clippers remain “keen on keeping their books clean,” according to Fischer, who says the team has conveyed to rivals that it’s not eager to take on long-term salary in pre-deadline trades.
- The Athletic’s NBA writers take a closer look at all 30 teams, considering whether the best approach to the deadline for each of those clubs is to buy, sell, or stand pat.
Stein: Optimism Mavs’ Doncic Will Return Before ASG
There’s optimism in Dallas that star Mavericks guard Luka Doncic will be able to return to action prior to next month’s All-Star Game, reports NBA insider Marc Stein (Twitter link).
Doncic sustained a left calf strain on Christmas Day vs. Minnesota, with subsequent reports indicating that he was expected to miss at least a month. The Mavs confirmed that they intended to reevaluate the five-time All-Star in approximately one month, so a formal update from the team could be around the corner.
Beginning with Saturday’s NBA Finals rematch vs. the defending champion Celtics, the Mavericks have 11 more games before All-Star weekend (Feb. 14-16). Doncic has already missed the club’s past 15 games as a result of his calf strain. Dallas is 5-10 during that stretch, with a handful of key players battling injuries.
[RELATED: Dereck Lively Has Fracture In Ankle, Expected To Miss 2-3 Months]
While the Mavericks will obviously be inclined to play it safe with Doncic, who has dealt with multiple calf injuries over the course of his career, it would provide a huge lift if they can get him back on the court in the coming weeks.
The Mavs’ recent slump has dropped them into play-in territory in the Western Conference — the club currently holds the No. 7 seed, with a 24-21 record, and is just a single game ahead of the No. 10 Suns.
Prior to his injury, Doncic was averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and a career-high 2.0 steals in 35.7 minutes per game across 22 outings, with a shooting line of .464/.354/.767. As a result of this lengthy absence, he won’t be eligible for any end-of-season awards, since he’ll fall short of the 65-game requirement. He had made the All-NBA First Team five consecutive times entering 2024/25.
Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal previously reported that Doncic was on track to get healthy prior to the All-Star break.
How Pistons Could Use Cap Room At Trade Deadline
The Pistons are the only NBA team that currently has any cap room. While that has been true for the better part of six months, it will be more important than ever during the next 12 days, since that cap space will give Detroit significant flexibility to make deadline deals that could help the team in the present and/or future.
Entering the fall, it seemed likely that the Pistons, coming off a franchise-worst 14-68 season, would remain deep in rebuilding mode in 2024/25, but that hasn't been the case through the first half of the season. A resurgent Detroit team has gotten off to a 23-21 start and currently holds the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference. If the season ended today, the Pistons would control a guaranteed playoff spot.
If the Pistons were clearly lottery-bound again, it would make sense to use their cap room to take on teams' unwanted contracts with assets (draft picks, cash, and/or prospects) attached. But given their spot in the standings, there has been speculation that the front office will instead look to acquire a player (or players) who could help the team right away.
Since Jaden Ivey, the Pistons' starting shooting guard and primary backup point guard, went down on New Year's Day with a broken fibula, that speculation has centered around the idea of Detroit adding another ball-handler and play-maker. But many of the options linked to the team don't make a lot of sense to me.
Pricey veteran stars like Bradley Beal or Zach LaVine, for instance, would be more logical fits if they were on expiring contracts, but I can't imagine the Pistons want to take on their oversized deals for two seasons beyond this one, especially since they'd likely have to send out multiple rotation players to make the money work. Their $14MM in cap room can't accommodate a maximum-salary player without that outgoing salary.
Ivey hasn't even been ruled out for the rest of this season and certainly should be back on the court by the fall -- having a player like Beal or LaVine on next year's roster alongside Ivey and Cade Cunningham doesn't strike me as the best move for the duo's development together, which was trending in such a good direction prior to Ivey's injury.
A smaller deal to upgrade the backcourt might make sense. Bulls guard Coby White stands out to me as a better fit than those max-salary stars, given his cap hit ($12MM), his shorter-term deal (he's an unrestricted free agent in 2026), and the fact that he's gotten accustomed to playing both backcourt positions in Chicago.
But the Bulls would presumably seek at least a first-round pick for White, and the Pistons already owe their 2025 first-rounder to Minnesota. It's not like Detroit is one player away from legitimate contention, so it's still too early in the rebuilding process to be parting with another first-rounder unless it's in a deal that nets the team a star.
In my view, the logical path for the Pistons at this season's deadline is a more conservative approach that sees them continue to stockpile assets while also maintaining cap flexibility beyond this season and acquiring a player or two who could help fill the hole created by Ivey's injury for the rest of 2024/25.
Here's my suggestion for how the Pistons should use their cap room at the deadline:
Atlantic Notes: Simmons, Celtics, Tatum, Barnes
The back surgery Nets forward Ben Simmons underwent last spring caused him to question whether he’d be able to continue playing in the NBA, as Julia Stumbaugh of Bleacher Report relays.
“There were times, last summer, when I was like, ‘I don’t know if I can do this. I might have to stop playing,” Simmons said on The Young Man and The Three podcast in discussing the challenges of recovering from multiple procedures on his back (YouTube link). “I had to bring that up in conversation, and think about it, just because physically it’s tough, but mentally it’s just so hard to return from an injury like that, and go through the process of rehabbing a second summer in a row.”
Simmons is playing well this season from a facilitation standpoint, averaging his most assists per game (7.1) since 2019/20. While his shot attempts and overall scoring are still down from his Philadelphia years, it’s been somewhat of a comeback year for Simmons, who has started 24 of his 30 appearances and appeared in 30 of Brooklyn’s 45 games so far. His pace of 55 games played would be his best since his last All-Star season.
We have more from the Atlantic Division:
- Consistency and scoring depth continue to be issues for the Celtics during their recent poor offensive stretch, Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe writes (subscriber link). Boston has scored under 100 points five times this month; on Thursday, Jaden Springer was the only player to score in double figures off the bench. The Celtics are still only one of three teams to reach at least 30 wins entering Saturday and boast the third-best record in the league. As Chris Mannix of SI opines, it isn’t time to panic yet, but efficiency among their key players needs to be higher to regain championship form.
- The Lakers passing on Jayson Tatum in the 2017 draft is one factor that has helped fuel the ongoing rivalry between the Lakers and Celtics in the 2020s, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin writes. “It doesn’t feel like it’s at a peak or anything, but it’s always a fun game and it’s always great,” Boston assistant GM Austin Ainge said of matchups between the two storied franchises. “… And it’s 18 championships to 12 championships. You don’t think the citizens of L.A. care about Minneapolis, do you?“
- Fresh off his first All-Star appearance last season and the trade of Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes is the face of the Raptors in his fourth season in the league. In an interview with Alex Wong of Toronto Life, Barnes opened up on what that means to him, his upbringing, and what it takes a leader takes. “One thing I tell people often is that, in the NBA, you mature pretty quick,” Barnes said. “A lot of people who know me and hang around me, they can see how much I’ve grown in just the first three years. With everything that’s thrown at you, you really have no choice.“
Southeast Notes: Okongwu, Young, Johnson, Poole, Smith Jr.
In the three games leading up to his promotion to the starting lineup, Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu averaged 18.3 points and 15.7 rebounds. According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, his call-up to the opening five was a reward for his strong play and an opportunity to see what he could do as a starter.
Okongwu is seen as part of Atlanta’s young core headlined by Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels and Zaccharie Risacher, who are all under the age of 23. The big man in the first year of a four-year, $61.98MM contract.
We have more from the Southeast Division:
- The Hawks are establishing an identity this season as they fight for a spot in the playoffs. According to The Athletic’s Jared Weiss, that’s been partially fueled by head coach Quin Snyder working with star guard Trae Young to adjust his place in the offense to be more synergetic with Johnson’s emergence as a play-maker. “We’ve been intentional about that. It’s not just kind of a dream,” Snyder said. “[Young] can’t do this by himself and he knows that. No player can frankly. So figuring out the ways he can be efficient has been the idea, and he’s been the one looking at that and thinking about it and making those plays.“
- Johnson injured his shoulder on Thursday against the Raptors, leaving in the second and quarter and not returning. He’s listed as out for Saturday’s game against Toronto, according to the Hawks (Twitter link). Being without Johnson for an extended period of time would make life worse for Atlanta for obvious reasons, but they’re also facing a tough upcoming schedule, Lauren L. Williams of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes.
- Jordan Poole is averaging career highs in points per game (21.4), three-point percentage (39.9%) and assists per game (4.8) for the Wizards. In an interview with Sportskeeda’s Mark Medina, the former Warrior talked about his best individual season. “I definitely think that I’m an All-Star,” Poole said. “I play at an All-Star level. A lot of it can be political and situational. But performance-wise, I think that I’m an All-Star.“
- Second-year guard Nick Smith Jr. might be earning himself an extended stay in the Hornets‘ starting lineup, Shane Connuck of The Charlotte Observer writes. Smith is earning more minutes due to Brandon Miller‘s season-ending injury. “[Smith] is more than a scorer,” coach Charles Lee said. “He’s a player. He’s a great play-maker, and we’re just seeing it.” The 27th pick in the 2023 draft is averaging 11.8 points in his last eight games (four starts) after registering 3.1 PPG in his first 15 outings.
Northwest Notes: Jokic, Wallace, Conley, Clingan
Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic helped bolster his MVP case with a monster performance on Thursday against the Kings, recording 35 points along with season highs of 22 rebounds and 17 assists. His 22 rebounds matched a career high while his 17 assists were one shy of tying his best-ever mark. Everything seemed to be going right for the three-time MVP in Thursday’s game, which included him making a full-court heave, writes The Denver Post’s Bennett Durando.
“I think this is the best basketball of my life, that I have ever played. I’m feeling good out there,” Jokic said. “I’m in shape. The ball is going in. I’m feeling good. I think I can influence the game on different levels.”
The Nuggets have won 10 of their last 11 games and Jokic has put up a triple-double in each of his last five appearances. He’s now averaging a triple-double on the season, putting up 30.2 points, 13.4 rebounds and 10.1 assists per game on a .564/.479/.814 shooting line.
“If no one’s ever done it … I’m just gonna say ‘historical,’” coach Michael Malone said, per The Sacramento Bee’s David Caraccio. “You think about his 10 years here, you think about the three MVPs, you think about the championship, the finals MVP — and this is the best season he’s ever had. And that’s saying a lot.”
We have more from the Northwest Division:
- Thunder second-year guard Cason Wallace is known for his tremendous defensive intensity, but as Rylan Stiles of Thunder on SI writes, he has a second elite trait. Wallace is an effective cutter, ranking in the 94th percentile in the league while shooting 63% at the rim. “He has done a great job of embracing the system,” head coach Mark Daigneault said. “Early on it was a pretty narrow role offensively, it was dunker work, it was rolling, it was cutting. Now he is starting to find a little bit more with the ball in his hands.“
- The Timberwolves haven’t hit the same highs as last season after trading Karl-Anthony Towns in exchange for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo in the fall. In an interview with HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, point guard Mike Conley spoke about the team’s budding chemistry and what it might take for Minnesota to turn it around, among other topics. “I think it took them probably a better part of half a season to figure out KAT and [Rudy Gobert] before I got here,” Conley said. “They went through growing pains, and we’re in that same scenario now with adding new people into our lineups. It takes a minute. It doesn’t happen overnight. We added Julius and Donte literally in training camp. It led to a lot of ripples through who we are, offensively and defensively. I think we’re making a lot of progress.“
- Trail Blazers rookie center Donovan Clingan made his return to the lineup on Friday against Charlotte (originally announced via the team on Twitter) after missing five games with an ankle sprain. He recorded four points, 13 rebounds, four assists, and four blocks in his return.
Heat Notes: Ware, Larsson, Rozier, Butler, Rivers
Heat first-year center Kel’el Ware is quietly moving up the rookie rankings and is now seen as a favorite for the Rookie of the Year award. He started the second half of a blowout win against the Spurs on Jan. 19, scoring 25 points, and has since been promoted to the starting lineup alongside Bam Adebayo, allowing the latter to slide down to the four spot.
“It was working,” coach Erik Spoelstra said of starting the pair together, per ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst (Insider link). “There’s a lot of complex decisions that we’re trying to make. If there’s something that’s obvious, and it’s working in a big way, let’s do it.”
In his three games getting extended looks next to Adebayo, Ware is averaging 22.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per night while shooting 52.9% from the field and launching 6.0 three-point attempts per game. Really, his improvement’s been on display since the start of the month. In 13 games in January, he’s averaging 13.6 PPG and 7.0 RPG. It’s a remarkable turnaround for a player who didn’t often see many minutes in 2024.
“There’s not a better organization for him to have gone to than that one,” a Western Conference scout told ESPN.
We have more from the Heat:
- Another Heat rookie got a chance to stand out as Pelle Larsson was elevated to the starting lineup on Thursday against the Bucks, as observed by the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson (Twitter link). Larsson took over Jimmy Butler‘s starting position with the six-time All-Star suspended by the team, supplanting Jaime Jaquez Jr., who had claimed that spot during Butler’s previous suspension. Larsson quickly got into foul trouble, however, and only played 14 minutes. He’s averaging 4.3 points in 27 games this year.
- Terry Rozier is a “strong believer” that his and the Heat’s play will turn around during the second half of the season, according to HoopsHype’s Cyro Asseo de Choch. Rozier admitted that it has been a challenge adjusting his style of play this year. “When we look at last year, I probably got 8-10 ball screens a game. Now I probably don’t get more than one to two ball screens,” Rozier said. “And it’s not a knock on anybody. We obviously have players who we’re mainly worried about. And we’re trying to get active and we’re trying to get going. So I’m just trying to find my ways, find my rhythm. And it’s been kind of, it’s been kind of tough this season. But I think right now where I’m at, my headspace and everything, I kind of know what I want to do and how I can help this team go forward.”
- There’s a myriad of potential outcomes for the Heat’s standoff with Butler, Ira Winderman of South Florida’s Sun Sentinel writes. It would be a win for Butler if he ends up in his preferred destination, Phoenix, while the Heat would come away victorious if they obtained their ideal trade package by moving him. Rolling suspensions, paying him not to play, and a messy summer could all come into play if Butler isn’t moved at the deadline, Winderman writes.
- Bucks head coach Doc Rivers offered some sympathies to Spoelstra in regard to the Butler dilemma on Thursday before the two teams squared off. “I just hope they find a way through it,” Rivers said, per Winderman (Twitter link). “I feel terrible for Spo. There’s no winning for Spo.” As Winderman relays, Rivers noted that he dealt with a similar situation with Ben Simmons in Philadelphia.