New York Notes: Knicks’ Mentality, Bitadze, Towns, Demin
The Knicks are embracing a “bunker mentality” as the trade deadline approaches, coach Mike Brown said. New York has been mentioned prominently as a possible destination for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“We understand that we have no control over the noise out there, so we have to have a bunker mentality. Not just at the trade deadline but all the time because there is a lot of noise out there,” Brown said, per Ian Begley of SNY. “We’re all human and you try not to listen to it – you just try to stay together. You keep moving forward, trying to get better as the days go along and I think that’s what this group is trying to do.”
We have more on the New York teams:
- Goga Bitadze could be a potential trade target for the Knicks as a backup big, according to Begley. Bitadze has fallen out of the Magic’s rotation and New York had strong interest in Bitadze last offseason, Begley notes. The Pelicans’ second-year center Yves Missi could be another consideration.
- Karl-Anthony Towns , one of the players who might be on the move if the Knicks make a blockbuster trade, has done his best to block out the noise. He has pulled down 20-plus rebounds in back-to-back games. The Knicks blew out Portland for their fifth straight victory. “To me, that’s what great players do,” Brown said. “They impact the game in a lot of different ways and for him to have 22 against Toronto, and 20 tonight, double-double, it was huge. Six of those were offensive rebounds and we beat them 20-9 (on the offensive glass) and they’re a very, very good offensive rebounding team.” Jalen Brunson appreciates KAT’s hard work. “The rebounding, what he’s been doing these past couple of games has been great,” he said, per Jared Schwartz of the New York Post. “We need that from him, that’s what he brings to the table. Offensively, when the ball’s not going in as much as it should be, he finds a way to impact the game. I think that’s really important for us. Big-time performance for him.”
- The Nets went with a very young lineup on Friday and it paid off. Egor Demin, who attended BYU. recorded 25 points and 10 rebounds, his first double-double, as the Nets snapped a seven-game losing streak by defeating the Jazz. “It means a lot,” Dëmin said in an on-court interview, per Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “It’s the first second game of a back-to-back we’ve won, the first [win] without Mike. He’s a big, big, big part of our team, but we’ve got to be able to function without him, too. So that win means a lot, especially for me being back home I can say so. It’s pretty fun.” Fellow rookies Nolan Traore and Danny Wolf were also in the starting five.
Keyonte George Could Miss Time With Left Ankle Sprain
Jazz guard Keyonte George suffered a left ankle sprain late in the fourth quarter of Friday’s loss to Brooklyn, per Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune (Twitter links).
While X-rays on George’s ankle came back negative, he had a noticeable limp in the locker room and was being attended to by training staff, according to Larsen, who thinks the 22-year-old could miss time due to the injury.
George is having a breakout third season for Utah, averaging 24.1 points, 6.6 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.1 steals on .454/.378/.899 shooting through 46 games (34.4 minutes per contest). He finished Friday’s game with 26 points (on 9-of-11 shooting), seven assists and three rebounds in 32 minutes.
If George is forced to miss some games, second-year guard Isaiah Collier and rookie Walter Clayton Jr. are among the candidates who could receive more playing time for the Jazz, who fell to 15-34 following Friday’s loss.
Elijah Harkless, who is on a two-way contract with Utah, is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury. He told Larsen on Friday that he expects to be ready to return in a couple weeks (Twitter link). Harkless was named the G League’s Player of the Month for December.
Southeast Notes: Banchero, Mosley, Isaac, Heat, Young, Sarr
On Wednesday’s Hoop Collective podcast, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said there has been a lot of chatter around the NBA that Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley and forward Paolo Banchero “might not be seeing eye-to-eye,” according to Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel.
Beede asked both Mosley and Banchero about MacMahon’s remarks.
“I don’t really have reactions to that,” Mosley said prior to Wednesday’s game. “That’s outside opinion which is the case and everybody’s fair to have their opinion on that. What me and Paolo have is a constant level of competitiveness that wants to find a way to get a win. No one’s happy when you’re on a losing streak. And there shouldn’t be happiness on a losing streak.
“So, I don’t give too much to those versus what’s going on in our locker room as our guys have that edge that wants to find a way to get a win.”
While Mosley didn’t exactly address the rumor, Beede writes that Banchero denied it pretty strongly after Wednesday’s victory, which snapped a four-game losing streak.
“We have a lot of open communication,” Banchero said about his relationship with Mosley. “Whatever those reports are, I wouldn’t say those are true, in my opinion. One thing I know about myself and one thing that I know about him is that we’re both fierce competitors. So, when you’re losing a lot of games and stuff’s not going well, people are upset. Me and him haven’t had any blowups or arguments, going back and forth. Me and him are pretty aligned with when we talk to each other trying to figure stuff out.
“Now that’s not saying when we lose four or five in a row that I’m not pissed off, he’s not pissed off,” Banchero added. “But in terms of our relationship, it’s been good since I’ve gotten here. Obviously as a team we need to keep improving and I’ve been vocal about that. He understands that, we all understand that. I don’t think anything that I’ve said or he’s said isn’t already known in terms of the team and the organization. So, those reports, I don’t know where that’s coming from. … So, it is what it is, but I think winning cures all. The more we win, the more quiet those reports will get.”
Here’s more from around the Southeast:
- Magic big man Jonathan Isaac has been a healthy scratch three times this month and was averaging a career-low 10.1 minutes per game entering Friday (he played 13 minutes in the win over Toronto). He said he’s not frustrated by his lack of playing time, Beede writes for The Orlando Sentinel. “I know that they’re trying to figure things out [and] Coach is trying to figure out what works, what doesn’t work,” Isaac said Wednesday. “So I just try to be myself every time I get in there. My job is to work really hard, try to make it easier on the players around me and be a disruptor on defense. Anytime he puts me in the game, that’s what I’m going to give.”
- If the Heat are unable to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, they should pivot to selling off assets to avoid the “hamster wheel of mediocrity” they’ve been stuck on the past couple seasons, argues Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald.
- In a feature story for ESPN.com, Ramona Shelburne says the Wizards are hoping Trae Young can help unlock the potential of second-year center Alex Sarr. “You see a lot of the potential that he has in his game,” Young said. “He’s very smart, especially on the defensive end. Being smart and athletic and that type of size is very uncommon in the league. He was the No. 2 pick for a reason — he’s got a lot of talent and potential and I want to be part of the process to kind of bring it out.”
Pacific Notes: LeBron, Sabonis, Suns, Clippers
Lakers star LeBron James was moved to tears watching a tribute video during the first quarter of Wednesday’s blowout loss in Cleveland, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPN. The video showed highlights of James’ performance with the Cavaliers during Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference finals, when he scored 48 points — including the team’s final 25 — in a double overtime victory.
“I think it just comes from just being present. I was just more present today than I’ve been [in past trips to Cleveland],” James said. “[It] definitely got to me a little bit, for sure.”
After the defeat, James admitted he wasn’t sure whether or not it was final game in Cleveland, McMenamin notes.
“I’m just trying to take everything in, not take the moments for granted,” James said. “Because it could be [my last season]. I obviously haven’t made a decision on the future, but it very well could be.”
We have more from around the Pacific:
- Kings big man Domantas Sabonis knows his name has popped up in trade rumors again this season, but he tells Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee he’s doing his best to tune out the speculation. “There’s nothing you can do,” Sabonis said. “You just try to ignore it. I’m here right now, and we’re just trying to go out there and play as well as we can.” The three-time All-Star conceded the rumors feels “different” now that he’s married with three children and owns a home in the Napa Valley, along with a wine brand. “It’s definitely different this time,” Sabonis said. “I’ve got kids, so you’ve got to think about that, but on the court it’s the same thing. I forget everything once I’m in between those lines and the goal is just to help your team win.”
- The Suns aren’t expected to make major roster changes ahead of the February 5 trade deadline, as they reportedly “love” the chemistry they’ve established this season under first-year head coach Jordan Ott. “We have people in place in leadership to take care of a lot of that stuff,” Ott said earlier this week, per Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. “We know it’s right around the corner, but we love our group. We love our group. We continue to say that. Our group is growing internally. Our big piece we’re going to get back is Jalen Green and that’s what we’re excited about.” Green returned to action on Friday against Cleveland after missing three games due to hamstring tightness.
- Law Murray of The Athletic examines the Clippers‘ deadline approach, writing that L.A. could use a play-making combo guard who can get in the paint, make shots and push the ball in transition while being passable on defense. If the Clippers look for significant roster upgrades rather than just clearing roster spots to promote Jordan Miller and Kobe Sanders, Brook Lopez, Derrick Jones Jr., Bogdan Bogdanovic and Cam Christie could be trade candidates, Murray writes.
Warriors Notes: Giannis, Front Office, Kerr, More
The Warriors are reportedly among the most serious suitors for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Owner Joe Lacob is a huge fan of the 10-time All-Star, according to Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area, who hears from sources that Golden State is “ready to give up a whole lot” to acquire Antetokounmpo.
The Warriors are “aligned” in their belief that Giannis is the type of player worth going all-in for, Poole adds.
“If we’re talking about trading draft picks that will be going out when Steph (Curry) isn’t here,” Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. said last week, “it’s going to have to be a player that we think we’ll be getting back that is going to be here when those picks are going out. And that player’s going to have to be pretty impactful.
“It would take a good amount, positionally, play style, archetype, all that. I would leave it pretty broad and open. But if there’s a great player to be had, we’ve got everything in the war chest that we would be willing to use.”
Appearing on NBA Countdown on Friday (YouTube link), ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said he thinks the Warriors might have the best current trade package among the group of teams pursuing Antetokounmpo. However, that may not be the case in the offseason, when other suitors will have additional assets to include in offers.
“I think (the Warriors) have to be very aggressive,” Windhorst said. “They understand it — they are in the eye of this storm. Because if they are going to make this move, they’re going to have to close, I really believe, by next Thursday. Their offer cannot really improve by the summer.”
Here are a few more notes on the Warriors:
- If Golden State does trade for Antetokounmpo, the decision will have lasting implications for years to come, writes Nick Friedell of The Athletic. Organizational mainstays Curry and Draymond Green say they aren’t the type of players to push for deals, but they’re generally kept in the loop when moves are being considered. “We’ve got a great team in this locker room,” Green said. “If a move is made, a move is made. But that’s not our job, that’s not our place to sit and wait or worry about if a move is gonna be made. … We’re not chasing anything but greatness. And you don’t chase greatness by whining about a roster. You chase greatness by embracing the roster that you have, getting the best out of every single guy, and that’s what we’ve done for years and that’s what we’re gonna continue to do.”
- Head coach Steve Kerr doesn’t expect any deals to be completed until closer to the February 5 deadline, as Eden Collier of NBC Sports Bay Area relays. “I talk to Mike (Dunleavy) pretty much every day, and he keeps me up to speed,” Kerr said on 95.7 The Game’s Steiny and Guru show. “But honestly, what he told me the other day was that everything’s going to go ’til the last second. There literally hasn’t been a single thing where he’s called me and said, ‘So-and-so offered this or that.’ Not one thing. … It’s all speculation at this point. It’s going to go down to the wire.”
- Multiple Warriors executives, including Dunleavy and assistant GM Larry Harris, were in New Zealand on Friday scouting NBL prospects Karim Lopez and Dash Daniels, tweets Olgun Uluc of ESPN. Both players are considered potential first-round picks.
- Kerr is on an expiring contact and he’s undecided on whether he’ll return to coach Golden State for a 13th season, he tells Anthony Slater of ESPN. “Let’s wait until the end of the year and see if everybody’s aligned,” Kerr said. “If we are, then we’ll keep going. If not, then we won’t. (It’ll depend) how the season ends, what the future looks like, all of that factors in. And they, meaning Joe and management, they’ve got a lot to think about. It’s a really interesting time for the organization.”
Eastern Notes: Raptors, MPJ, Nuggets, J. Smith, Enaruna
While the Raptors have primarily been linked to centers on the trade market, Eric Koreen of The Athletic believes they could use additional shooting around Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram more than a big man.
As Koreen writes, Toronto has looked particularly overmatched this season against New York, which has multiple wing defenders capable of slowing down Ingram and Barnes. The Raptors went just 7-of-26 from three-point range in Wednesday’s loss to the Knicks, and are currently 24th in the NBA in three-point attempts and makes per game and 27th in three-point percentage (34.2%).
“We took only one three in that (third) quarter, and that’s not sustainable,” head coach Darko Rajakovic said. “You cannot play against great teams and win (like that).”
Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:
- Michael Porter Jr. views the summer trade that sent him from Denver to Brooklyn as a win-win for both the Nuggets and the Nets, tweets Bennett Durando of The Denver Post. “I would say it’s a very unique situation where I think both organizations and both teams kind of benefited from the trade,” Porter said. “I don’t look back at it with any saltiness toward the (Nuggets) organization or anything. I think they got a lot of trading me. They got not only Cam (Johnson), but (Jonas) Valanciunas, Bruce (Brown), Tim Hardaway Jr., who’s playing amazing. … I think it’s cool. … So it probably is one of those unique trades where it kind of worked out for everybody.” The 6’10” forward made those comments on Thursday ahead of his first game in Denver as an opposing player, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Porter finished with 38 points, 10 rebounds and two steals, but he was disappointed that Brooklyn’s comeback bid came up short. “There was a little motivation,” Porter said. “We should’ve pulled it out, though. I felt like I missed a couple shots I should’ve made down the stretch.”
- Bulls big man Jalen Smith experienced tightness in his right calf during Thursday’s loss to Miami, per Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic (Twitter link). Smith, who has been starting recently, was ruled out after just 15 minutes of action. However, the injury doesn’t appear serious — he’s listed as questionable for Saturday’s rematch with the Heat.
- The two-way contract Tristan Enaruna signed with the Cavaliers this week covers two seasons, according to Keith Smith of Spotrac (Twitter link). The Dutch forward has been a key contributor at the G League level this season for Cleveland’s affiliate team, the Charge.
Former Hornet Amari Bailey Seeking NCAA Return
Amari Bailey, who was selected 41st overall in the 2023 draft and appeared in 10 games on a two-way contract with the Hornets in 2023/24, is trying to become the first player to return to college after playing in NBA games, reports Dan Murphy of ESPN.com.
Still just 21 years old, Bailey played one season at UCLA prior to being drafted. The 6’3″ guard has hired an agent and a lawyer in an attempt to be granted one more season of college eligibility, Murphy writes.
“Right now I’d be a senior in college,” Bailey told ESPN. “I’m not trying to be 27 years old playing college athletics. No shade to the guys that do; that’s their journey. But I went to go play professionally and learned a lot, went through a lot. So like, why not me?”
Big man Charles Bediako, who spent a couple months with the Spurs on a two-way deal but didn’t appear in any NBA games, has sued the NCAA for an additional year of college eligibility. He was recently granted a temporary restraining order, allowing him to participate in activities and games for Alabama while he awaits a hearing on a preliminary injunction regarding his eligibility.
That injunction hearing was delayed earlier this week due to weather, and Bediako’s temporary restraining order was extended for 10 more days, per Jeff Borzelo of ESPN. The judge, an Alabama booster, has recused himself from the case after the NCAA filed a motion asking him to do so, according to Matt Stahl of AL.com.
“The NCAA has not and will not grant eligibility to any players who have signed an NBA contract,” NCAA senior vice president of external affairs Tim Buckley said when asked about Bailey’s plan to return. “Congress can strengthen NCAA rules so professional athletes cannot sue their way back to competing against college students.”
Bailey spent last season in the G League with the Long Island Nets and the Iowa Wolves, averaging 13.1 points, 4.6 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.0 steal on .434/.325/.714 shooting in 25 games (26.2 MPG). He tells Murphy he has been training at his home in California and hopes to land with a school that gives him a chance to make the Final Four in 2026/27.
“It’s not a stunt,” Bailey said. “I’m really serious about going back. I just want to improve my game, change the perception of me and just show that I can win.”
Doncic Available, Reaves Out Friday For Lakers
January 30: Doncic has been upgraded to available, while Reaves has been ruled out, head coach JJ Redick told reporters, including Dan Woike of The Athletic (Twitter links).
“[Austin] continues to progress. He hasn’t had any setbacks,” Redick said, per Khobi Price of The California Post (Twitter link). “Yesterday was five weeks from the injury. He’s right on schedule, if not a little bit ahead of schedule. So it’s just him being fully confident in his body. And he continues to get great work on the court.”
January 29: Fifth-year guard Austin Reaves has been upgraded to questionable for Friday’s contest at Washington, the Lakers announced on their injury report (Twitter link via Brad Turner of The Los Angeles Times).
Reaves, who is expected to become a free agent this summer, has been out since December 25 after sustaining a Grade 2 left gastrocnemius strain. The gastrocnemius is the largest and most powerful muscle in the calf.
In 23 appearances this season (35.3 minutes per game), Reaves has averaged 26.6 points, 6.3 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 1.0 steal on .502/.365/.873 shooting. He has missed the Lakers’ last 17 games (23 overall).
Reaves suffered a mild left calf strain on December 8 and returned to action on December 23. He experienced soreness in his calf in his second game back, with an MRI later confirming the second strain. While they seem likely to be connected, Reaves’ initial strain was reportedly to a different part of his calf, which is also comprised of the soleus and plantaris muscles.
Head coach JJ Redick announced a couple weeks ago that Reaves was “progressing well” from his injury and on track to return at some point on the Lakers’ eight-game road trip.
Los Angeles has gone 15-8 with Reaves in the lineup this season, vs. a 13-10 mark without him. The 27-year-old has some of the best on/off figures on the Lakers, though it’s a fairly small sample size since he’s missed half of the team’s games.
Star guard Luka Doncic, who slipped off the sidelines of the Cavaliers’ raised court in Wednesday’s blowout loss in Cleveland, is also questionable Friday due to left ankle soreness.
Cavs Rumors: Giannis, Hunter, Ball, Lakers, Ellis, More
While there have been no indications to this point that the Cavaliers are considering making an offer for Giannis Antetokounmpo, the possibility can’t be ruled out, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (subscriber link).
“It’s Giannis,” a rival NBA executive told Fedor. “Nothing more needs to be said.”
As Fedor writes, the Cleveland’s pathway to a potential deal for the Bucks superstar would be very complicated and would require a significant reduction in payroll — as a second-apron team, the Cavaliers can’t currently aggregate salaries for matching purposes and can’t take in more money than they send out. So in that sense, a Giannis trade is a long shot.
On the other hand, sources tell Fedor that the Cavs have been aggressively looking for roster upgrades ahead of the deadline, and they also have one of the top players who could theoretically be dangled in talks for Antetokounmpo — Evan Mobley, last year’s Defensive Player of the Year. On the Hoop Collective podcast (YouTube link), ESPN’s Brian Windhorst also pointed to Mobley as a centerpiece to a potential Cavs offer.
The Cavaliers, who have dealt with several injuries in 2025/26, have underachieved this season and are facing pressure to contend for championships. No individual player they could theoretically acquire would be remotely as impactful as Antetokounmpo, who has finished top four in MVP voting each of the past seven years.
Still, Cleveland is on the upswing, Fedor notes, having won five straight games and seven of the past eight. The front office has also yet to show any desire to make that sort of drastic mid-season overhaul, with blockbuster moves viewed as more likely to occur in the offseason, depending on what happens in the playoffs.
Here are a few more highlights from Fedor’s report:
- Fedor continues to hear De’Andre Hunter and Lonzo Ball are the most likely Cavs to be headed out of Cleveland in the coming days. Confirming reporting from Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, Fedor says the Cavaliers have discussed a trade framework with the Lakers that would send Hunter to Los Angeles in exchange for Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht. Sources tell Fedor the Lakers have also countered by offering the expiring contracts of Gabe Vincent and Maxi Kleber. Those talks have involved a third team as well — Fedor doesn’t specify which club it is, but Siegel said it was the Nets.
- Before they reportedly started listening to offers for Giannis, the Bucks explored the possibility of acquiring Hunter using a package built around Bobby Portis. The Cavs declined that proposal, sources tell Fedor.
- Fedor confirms the Cavs are one of many suitors for Kings guard Keon Ellis, noting that Malik Monk could be included as well if Hunter is sent to Sacramento.
- Reiterating a point he previously made, Fedor says the Cavs are eyeing Mavericks forward Naji Marshall. The framework would involve Ball and unspecified draft assets being sent to Dallas, though Fedor points out that Marshall has drawn interest from multiple teams. It’s also unclear if the Cavs would be willing to part with their lone tradable first-round pick (either 2031 or 2032) for a role player, even a quality one like Marshall.
- Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu, Pelicans forward Saddiq Bey and Wizards forward Justin Champagnie are among the other players who might interest the Cavs, Fedor writes.
Suns’ Jalen Green Expected To Return Friday
Fifth-year guard Jalen Green, who has missed the Suns‘ last three games after experiencing tightness in his right hamstring last week, is set to return for Friday’s contest in Cleveland, per Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic.
Green has been limited to just four appearances this season after repeatedly aggravating a right hamstring strain he initially suffered in training camp. He isn’t listed on the injury report for tonight’s game, Rankin writes.
A former No. 2 overall pick, Green underwent an MRI over the weekend, which didn’t reveal a new injury. He missed the first eight games of the season due to the right hamstring strain, then was sidelined for 33 consecutive contests after re-injuring it on November 8.
Green just returned to action on Jan. 20 following that lengthy absence. He experienced the tightness in his second game back.
The 23-year-old averaged 20.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists on .422/.343/.799 shooting in 307 games across his first four seasons, all of which were spent with Houston (32.7 minutes per contest). Green, who was sent to Phoenix last summer as part of the Kevin Durant blockbuster, has averaged 11.8 PPG, 1.8 RPG and 2.0 APG on .432/.421/.778 shooting in just 13.5 MPG this season.