Warriors, Heat Have Discussed Andrew Wiggins
The Warriors and Heat have had conversations about the possibility of a trade that would send forward Andrew Wiggins back to Golden State, according to reports from Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link) and Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.
Wiggins was initially dealt from the Warriors to the Heat in the Jimmy Butler blockbuster at last season’s trade deadline. However, with Butler recovering from an ACL tear and Kuminga’s days in Golden State seemingly numbered, the Warriors’ search for help on the wing has led them back to the former No. 1 overall pick, who is still highly regarded within the organization, sources tell Siegel.
A Golden State offer for Wiggins would almost certainly start with Kuminga, and Miami has shown some interest in acquiring the fifth-year forward, according to Siegel. Still, there are several factors which could complicate talks between the two clubs.
For one, chatter around the NBA indicates the Heat have been seeking at least one first-round pick in exchange for Wiggins, per Siegel. It’s unclear whether the Warriors have conveyed a willingness to put a first-rounder on the table.
Golden State is also operating right up against a second-apron hard cap and would need to add more salary beyond Kuminga’s $22.5MM cap hit to take back Wiggins, who is earning $28.2MM this season, with a $30.2MM player option for 2026/27. Adding Moses Moody ($11.6MM) or Buddy Hield ($9.2MM) would make it a legal trade for the Warriors, but the Heat would have their own reservations about taking on much additional money, since they’re operating just $1.6MM below the luxury tax line.
Finally, if they do part with Wiggins, the Heat would prefer to use his salary to bring back a star-level player, Fischer writes. Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is one such player, and the fact that both Miami and Golden State reportedly covet the two-time MVP would presumably make it more difficult for the two teams to work out a separate trade that could impact their chances of making a play for Giannis.
The Bucks have “long coveted” Wiggins, according to Fischer, though he points out that Milwaukee’s interest in the 30-year-old has been framed as part of the team’s efforts to upgrade its roster around Antetokounmpo. It remains to be seen whether Wiggins would still appeal to the Bucks as part of a package for Giannis.
In 43 games (all starts) for the Heat this season, Wiggins has averaged 15.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.2 steals in 31.3 minutes per night, with a shooting line of .470/.390/.789.
Bulls More Likely To Trade White Than Dosunmu
Bulls guards Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, and Tre Jones have all drawn interest from potential trade partners leading up to next Thursday’s deadline, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link). However, one of those players appears more likely to be dealt than the others.
Fischer identifies White as the Bulls guard who is the best bet to be on the move in the next eight days, while Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times agrees that White is the player the team is discussing most frequently. Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints confirms that there are indications Chicago would prefer to keep and extend Dosunmu rather than White.
As Fischer outlines, both White and Dosunmu will be eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer, but White – who previously passed on negotiating an extension that would’ve maxed out at about $87MM over four years – is expected to be seeking the larger payday of the two.
While the Bulls – with a relatively clean cap sheet and White’s Bird rights in hand – could accommodate a deal that exceeds $87MM over four years, it’s getting more difficult to envision them going too high for White after signing Josh Giddey to a four-year, $100MM contract last summer, Fischer writes. As Fischer explains, Dosunmu has proven capable of being a more complementary backcourt piece alongside Giddey, whereas White is at his best when he has the ball in his hands more frequently.
That makes Dosunmu a better fit going forward, and it helps that he’s a Chicago native, which the franchise has historically valued. Fischer also hears from sources that Dosunmu has “found good alignment” with the Bulls’ coaching staff.
As for which teams are in the mix for White, Fischer says the Timberwolves continue to be mentioned as a suitor. The Wolves are in need of a backcourt upgrade and their head of basketball operations, Tim Connelly, worked with Bulls executive VP of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas in Denver.
However, Minnesota would have some reservations about giving up much of value for White if there’s a good chance he might just be a rest-of-season rental, Fischer writes. With over $194MM in guaranteed money on their books for next season, the Wolves aren’t currently in a great position to sign White to a lucrative new contract in the offseason.
Fischer also hears that the Wolves aren’t necessarily eager to move on from respected veteran point guard Mike Conley, despite the fact that his expiring $10.8MM looks like an obvious salary-matching piece in a move for a player like White ($12.9MM). Minnesota appears more willing to deal 2024 lottery pick Rob Dillingham, Fischer adds.
Besides Minnesota, the Rockets are also in the mix for White, according to both Cowley and Siegel. Cowley suggests players like Reed Sheppard and Tari Eason have been “floated in some capacity.”
It certainly makes sense that Chicago would inquire on those youngsters, but I’m skeptical Houston would be willing to include either one in an offer for White, given his contract situation. Sheppard has emerged as a quality rotation player in his second NBA season, while one recent report suggested Eason is considered off limits in trade talks.
Siegel identifies the Clippers as another team with interest in White, though both he and Cowley suggest there are more teams beyond those three in play for the Bulls guard.
Cavs Sign Tristan Enaruna To Two-Way Contract
One day after waiving Chris Livingston, the Cavaliers have filled their newly created two-way opening, announcing today in a press release that they’ve signed forward Tristan Enaruna to a two-way contract.
Enaruna, 24, went undrafted out of Cleveland State out of 2024 and has signed non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contracts in each of his first two professional seasons, joining the Celtics for training camp in 2024 and the Cavs for camp in 2025. In each case, he was waived in October and reported to his team’s G League affiliate.
Enaruna appeared in 46 games for the Maine Celtics last season and has seen action in 23 contests for the Cleveland Charge so far in 2025/26. The 6’7″ forward has taken a significant step forward in his second year in the G League, averaging 19.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 30.8 minutes per game on .533/.355/.750 shooting. His shooting line in ’24/25 was just .466/.294/.588.
While Livingston didn’t suit up much for Cleveland, the team has still used 69 of 90 “under-15” games for its two-way players — a team carrying fewer than 15 players on its standard roster can only have its two-way players active for up to 90 combined games.
Enaruna will be eligible to be active for up to 22 games if he spends the rest of the season with the Cavs, but the club will need to fill its 15th roster spot at some point to take full advantage of that limit. Nae’Qwan Tomlin (who has been active for 44 games) and Luke Travers (19 active games) are Cleveland’s other two-way players.
Giannis Reportedly ‘Ready For New Home’; Bucks Listening To Offers
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is “ready for a new home,” either at next week’s trade deadline or this offseason, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania.
According to Charania, multiple teams have made “aggressive” trade offers for Antetokounmpo and the Bucks have begun listening to those pitches. While rival clubs have gotten the sense that Milwaukee is more open than ever to weighing offers on or before February 5, the Bucks have conveyed that they’re willing to wait until the summer to address the forward’s future if their asking price isn’t met, Charania writes.
Sources tell ESPN that the Bucks are believed to be seeking “blue-chip young talent” and several draft picks in any deal involving the two-time MVP. Waiting until after the 2026 draft lottery to make a deal could give Milwaukee a clearer sense of exactly which picks teams are prepared to offer for Antetokounmpo, Charania notes.
Antetokounmpo told The Athletic earlier this month that he’ll “never” come out and say he wants a trade, and that it’s not in his nature to make such a request. However, Charania hears that Giannis and the Bucks have had “honest and open conversations” about the future and that the 31-year-old has suggested to the team “for months” that he thinks it may be time to part ways.
The Knicks reportedly spoke to the Bucks about a possible Antetokounmpo trade last offseason after Giannis identified New York as a preferred landing spot. Those talks didn’t go anywhere, but Ian Begley of SNY.tv tweets that the Knicks will be among the teams aggressively pursuing Giannis now that Milwaukee is apparently prepared to open up the bidding to a larger group of suitors.
The Heat will also be in pursuit of Antetokounmpo, tweets Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. As we relayed earlier today, a Marc Stein report named Miami as a possible frontrunner for the Greek star, with Stein citing a “vibe of confidence” coming from the Heat.
Although the Knicks and Heat will be among the teams trying to land Antetokounmpo, neither club is loaded with the type of draft assets that the Bucks would presumably be seeking in a blockbuster of this magnitude. The Knicks don’t currently have any tradable first-round picks, while Miami can offer just two first-rounders as a result of a protected 2027 pick owed to Charlotte that creates Stepien rule complications.
As Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron points out (via Twitter), both teams would be better equipped to pursue Giannis in the offseason, when the Heat could offer up to four first-round picks (one would be conditional) and the Knicks could offer two.
The Warriors are also considered a likely suitor for Antetokounmpo, with Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints referring to him as Joe Lacob‘s “dream” trade target. Golden State has indicated it would be willing to offer a package that includes Jimmy Butler (who recently suffered an ACL tear), Jonathan Kuminga, and multiple draft picks, sources tell Chris Mannix of SI.com.
The Warriors have traded their 2030 first-round pick with top-20 protection, but could still offer first-rounders in 2026, 2028, and 2032, and could even include that ’30 pick in a package by attaching 21-30 protection.
The Raptors are another club with legitimate interest in Giannis, Siegel adds. Toronto controls all of its future first-round selections.
Trade speculation has swirled around Antetokounmpo for years and has gained steam since last spring, when the Bucks were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for a third straight year as star point guard Damian Lillard suffered an Achilles tear.
Milwaukee’s front office aggressively reshaped the roster around Giannis in the offseason, waiving and stretching the final two years of Lillard’s maximum-salary contract in order to bring in center Myles Turner, one of the top free agents on the market. But those moves haven’t paid dividends for the Bucks, who fell to 18-27 on the season on Tuesday and are three-and-a-half games out of a play-in spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Bucks have scoured the trade market during the season and made players like Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis available as they look to improve their roster, but they haven’t gained traction on any deal they like. Charania suggests Antetokounmpo’s uncertain future and Milwaukee’s lack of appealing trade assets have complicated that search for roster upgrades.
Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported over the weekend that rival teams believed the prospect of an Antetokounmpo trade was becoming more realistic. Reiterating that point today, Fischer says (via Twitter) multiple sources viewed last Wednesday’s loss to Oklahoma City – and Giannis’ comments after the game – as a point of no return for the Bucks and their longtime star.
Charania reported last week that Antetokounmpo’s frustration level was at an “all-time high” and writes within his latest story that the uncertainty around the forward’s future has resulted in some unease and tension in the Bucks’ locker room.
Antetokounmpo is currently sidelined by a calf strain and appears unlikely to suit up again before next Thursday’s trade deadline. The Bucks haven’t provided a projected timeline for his recovery, but Giannis predicted after sustaining the injury last Friday that he’d be out for four-to-six weeks.
With Milwaukee struggling to win games and Antetokounmpo not expected to play anytime soon, the team could be incentivized to pivot to tanking mode – with or without a Giannis trade – during the second half of the season in order to secure a favorable pick in the 2026 draft. The Bucks don’t control their own selection, but they’ll have the last favorable of the Pelicans’ first-rounder and their own — given that New Orleans holds a 12-37 pick, even the lesser of those two picks should end up firmly in the lottery.
Antetokounmpo is earning $54.1MM this season, with a guaranteed $58.5MM salary for 2026/27 and a $62.8MM player option for ’27/28. He’ll be eligible to sign a new maximum-salary extension as of this October.
Kings Rumors: Ellis, Poeltl, Kuminga, DeRozan, LaVine
A “ton” of teams have called the Kings to inquire about Keon Ellis, according to James Ham of Locked On Kings (YouTube link), who identifies the Timberwolves, Pacers, Celtics, and Knicks as a few of the clubs his sources suggest are worth monitoring as suitors for the fourth-year guard.
“From what I have heard, (they) have all called on Keon Ellis,” Ham said.
Ellis is an intriguing trade candidate because his $2.3MM expiring contract makes him an attainable piece for just about any NBA team, including clubs like Minnesota, Boston, and New York, who are operating above the first tax apron. If he’s dealt, Ellis’ Bird rights would travel with him and he’d become extension-eligible on February 9, just a few days after the trade deadline.
One weekend report suggested Ellis is among the players most likely to be moved at the deadline, with the Kings said to be seeking a late first-round pick.
Here’s more on the Kings:
- Discussing the possibility of the Raptors making a play for center Domantas Sabonis, Ham said the Kings have “zero interest” in acquiring big man Jakob Poeltl, who has battled back issues this season and is under contract through 2029/30 (YouTube link). “‘We’re not getting into the Jakob Poeltl business’ is what I was told,” Ham said, though he observed that the same source didn’t say anything about the Kings not getting into the “RJ Barrett business.” Barrett was drafted by the Knicks when current Kings general manager Scott Perry was in New York’s front office.
- Responding to speculation that the Raptors would seek Ellis along with Sabonis in a trade with the Kings, Ham says a source told him “unequivocally” that Toronto and Sacramento haven’t discussed Ellis to this point.
- The Kings are no longer willing to include any draft picks in a trade offer Jonathan Kuminga, but they remain interested in the Warriors forward, Ham confirms (YouTube link). “I do know for a fact that the Sacramento Kings have offered, in the past, DeMar DeRozan straight up for Jonathan Kuminga,” Ham said. Golden State would need to include one more player in that hypothetical deal in order to stay below its hard cap, but it doesn’t sound like the Warriors have real interest in DeRozan anyway.
- Zach LaVine would “absolutely love to move on from Sacramento,” according to Ham (YouTube link), though his maximum-salary contract will be a major impediment. Ham suggests there was a “ray of hope” about a potential deal with the Bucks involving Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis, but that outcome seems less likely as a result of Milwaukee’s recent struggles and Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s latest calf strain.
Evan Mobley Expected To Miss 1-3 Weeks With Calf Strain
Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley, who experienced tightness in his left calf during Monday’s win over Orlando, underwent an MRI on Tuesday and has been diagnosed with a strain, the team announced today (via Twitter).
According to the Cavs, Mobley will begin undergoing treatment and is expected to be sidelined for between one and three weeks.
The injury bug has been a major issue for the Cavaliers this season. Even the relatively healthy players like Mobley, Donovan Mitchell, and second-year standout Jaylon Tyson have missed at least a few games due to injuries, and a few key contributors have been on the shelf for significant chunks of the season.
That group includes star point guard Darius Garland (22 missed games), starting center Jarrett Allen (11), top reserve Sam Merrill (24), and starting small forward Max Strus, who has yet to make his season debut as he recovers from foot surgery.
A one-week absence would only cost Mobley three games, putting him in line to return prior to next Thursday’s trade deadline, whereas a three-week recovery timeline would keep him out until after the All-Star break, costing him at least seven contests.
The Cavaliers have had an up-and-down season but have been on a roll as of late, winning four straight games and six of their past seven. They’ll have to try to keep that streak going without Mobley, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and their third-leading scorer. Cleveland has a +5.5 net rating with the big man on the court this season and a -1.3 mark when he isn’t playing.
Latest On Nikola Jokic’s Injury Recovery
Nuggets star Nikola Jokic, who has been out since December 29 due to a hyperextended left knee and bone bruise, will be reevaluated in about one week, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Tuesday’s episode of NBA Today (Twitter video link).
Charania suggested a couple weeks ago that the Nuggets were optimistic about Jokic’s odds of returning to action before the end of the month. While it no longer sounds like that will happen, the veteran center hasn’t experienced any sort of setback, according to Charania, who says Jokic is making “great progress” and is in the “ramp-up phase of his return-to-play process.”
Given Jokic’s outsized impact, there was some concern in Denver about the team’s ability to maintain its position in the playoff race after Jokic went down — especially after the Nuggets lost second-string center Jonas Valanciunas to a calf strain in his first game as a starter. Last season, Denver went 4-8 in games Jokic missed.
However, the club has performed admirably without its MVP this season, going 9-5 since Jokic suffered his knee injury. Denver’s 31-15 record is tied for the second-best mark in the Western Conference.
As a result of the Nuggets’ strong play without Jokic and their desire to prioritize his long-term health, there’s little urgency to pursue an aggressive return timeline. The only downside of taking a little extra time to get Jokic ready is that it could cost him his award eligibility.
If Jokic doesn’t return to action by this Sunday (Feb. 1) vs. Oklahoma City, he’ll fall short of the 65-game minimum require to qualify for end-of-season honors. However, Charania suggests that’s a trade-off Jokic and the Nuggets are willing to make to ensure he’s 100% healthy and to reduce the risk of him aggravating this injury.
Jokic was putting up MVP-caliber numbers prior to the injury, averaging a career-high 29.6 points per game while leading the NBA with 12.2 rebounds and 11.0 assists per contest. His shooting line is an incredible .605/.435/.853.
Wizards GM Dawkins Talks Trae, Sarr, Coulibaly, Whitmore
Speaking to Mark Medina of EssentiallySports, Wizards general manager Will Dawkins confirmed that newly acquired point guard Trae Young will remain on the shelf through the All-Star break, but stressed that the team isn’t shutting him down for the season. According to Dawkins, it’s “important” to the team to see how Young meshes with the Wizards’ young players.
“It’s important because Trae has a decision to make,” Dawkins explained. “He’s got the power of choice as a free agent. So you want to make sure that he’s comfortable playing with the young guys, to have the opportunity to play with Alex (Sarr) and to play with Bilal (Coulibaly) and see when they move and how they fit positionally. We have a lot of questions on our team and how we play moving forward. So you want to see that before you make that decision in July.”
Young holds a player option worth nearly $49MM for the 2026/27 season. Given that he has been limited to 10 games this season due to injuries, the four-time All-Star seems more likely to pick up that option than to turn it down in search of a more lucrative free agent contract. However, that’s not a lock, especially if he returns in the second half and plays well down the stretch.
The Wizards would likely look to negotiate a new deal with Young if he opts out this summer. Even if he opts in, he’d be extension-eligible, meaning Washington’s front office could attempt to tack on additional years to his current contract. Dawkins says those conversations haven’t happened yet, but the groundwork has been laid for those talks.
“Yeah, we have good relationships with his reps,” he told Medina. “So we’ve had communication on what it would look like to be a Wizard because he really wanted to be here, and that was important to us. And we want to make sure everybody feels comfortable and builds that partnership and relationship until we have any real conversations.”
Dawkins had more to say about Young and about many other aspects of the Wizards’ roster and rebuilding plan in his discussion with Medina, which is worth checking out in full. Here are a few more highlights from Washington’s GM:
On how he envisions Sarr and Coulibaly complementing Young:
“Very well, to be honest with you. Both of those guys have an opportunity to be high-level defenders individually, but within a team concept as well. They can have a huge impact individually with shutting their man down and making life difficult. But they’re also smart players who can read the game and can play in a defensive system as well. I think their length, their size, their versatility, and their ability to switch is always a positive. They’re always getting bigger, getting better, and getting stronger. So you can imagine what they look like two, three, four, or five years from now in their prime.”
On Sarr’s improvement this season and whether he has a case for All-Star consideration:
“He’s a talented basketball player. We knew he would be able to figure it out earlier on defense. He’s shown that just with his timing, his physicality, and the growth he made this summer. He’s protecting the paint. I would also say he’s living at the rim on both ends. He’s guarding the most shots at the rim, but he’s also blocking the most shots. He’s putting a fear on players. At the same time, he’s more active. He’s changed his shot diet. He’s rolling. He’s at the rim. He’s comfortable finishing through contact with his left hand and right hand. He’s using more physicality to get to the free throw line as well.
“… I think (he’s) pretty close (to being All-Star worthy). When you put him statistically with most centers in the league, especially the centers in the East, if you put a blindfold on it and didn’t have the picture and the name, I think his stats would speak volumes. He would be really considerable.”
On Cam Whitmore‘s productive meeting earlier this season with head coach Brian Keefe:
“(Keefe) basically sat him down and asked him what type of player he wants to be known as and what type of career he wants to have, and who those types of players are. So let’s work on the habits that those players have and basically emulate how they’re playing. I think he bought in, and I’m looking forward toward getting him healthy and back on the floor.”
On whether he expects the Wizards to be a playoff team in 2026/27:
“Next season, I wouldn’t put the ‘playoff’ word out there. We want to get incrementally better every day. I think if we keep up with the work that the guys have put in and continue to develop as players, they’ll rise to the occasion when they’re ready. I know we have a competitive group. So they’ll want to do that sooner rather than later.
“We won’t hold them back. We’ll let them compete and get after it. But I don’t think we’re at the point where we’re ready to push the button, rev the engine, and say it’s a ‘full go.’ We’ll let these young guys develop on their own time. That’s what I’ve done in my past. That’s what (team president) Michael (Winger) has done in his past. We’ll continue along that route.”
Kings’ DeRozan Discusses Trade Rumors, Desire To Contend
When DeMar DeRozan joined the Kings in the summer of 2024, the team was coming off 48- and 46-win seasons and was looking to take another step toward contention. Instead, the team endured a difficult 2024/25 season that included a head coaching change, a De’Aaron Fox trade, and a sub-.500 record. This season has been even worse, with Sacramento off to 12-35 start and not close to a playoff spot.
While DeRozan isn’t pushing for a change of scenery, the 36-year-old made it clear in a conversation with Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee that he’d like to be playing more meaningful games, especially since he’s not sure how many more seasons he has left in the NBA.
“For me, it’s not like I’m playing another 10 years, so you definitely want to maximize your time and give everything you’ve got left to playing for something,” DeRozan said. “I don’t think that part of it is a secret, whether it’s here or wherever.”
DeRozan has changed teams three times in his NBA career, twice in a sign-and-trade and once in a standard trade. However, he has never been involved in a mid-season deal. That’s a real possibility this season, with the Kings looking ahead to the future and reportedly open to inquiries on most of their veterans, including DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Malik Monk.
“When things ain’t going right, that’s what happens,” DeRozan said of the trade rumors. “When you’re not winning, that’s what happens. It just comes with the game. You’ve still got to go out there, do your job and compete. We’ve still got to separate that part of it, still have a love for the game and still go out there and compete.”
DeRozan continues to be a valuable offensive weapon in his 17th NBA season, having averaged 18.8 points per game on .506/.351/.870 shooting. Those shooting percentages are all well above his career rates. His contract is also relatively team-friendly — he’s earning $24.6MM this season and his 2026/27 salary isn’t fully guaranteed.
Still, there have always been questions about DeRozan’s defense, and his deal does include a $10MM partial guarantee for ’26/27, which would compromise a team’s flexibility to some extent. Those factors could work against the Kings getting a trade offer they like for the veteran wing.
While he waits to see if he’ll be on the move on or before February 5, DeRozan says he’s committed to doing what he can to help Sacramento turn things around.
“I think everybody understands you want to have an opportunity to compete, an opportunity to win, but you have to go about the situation the right way,” he told Anderson. “Granted, it’s tough right now. Nobody wishes to have this record we have, but I’ve always been the one to stick through the hard times. It’s always easy to say you want to be in a better situation, but you’ve got to deal with the cards that are dealt and make the best out of them.”
And-Ones: Thibodeau, Dunk Contest, McClung, Buzelis, More
Tom Thibodeau isn’t coaching anywhere this season after being let go by the Knicks during the offseason, but the 68-year-old isn’t planning to transition into retirement. Appearing on SiriusXM NBA Radio on Monday, Thibodeau told Frank Isola of The Starting Lineup that he’d like to coach again.
“I love the game,” Thibodeau said (Twitter link via Steve Popper of Newsday). “Obviously I’m preparing for the next opportunity. So hopefully I’ll be ready for it.”
This is only the third season since 2010 that Thibodeau hasn’t been the head coach of an NBA team. He coached the Bulls from 2010-15, sat out the 2015/16 season, coached the Timberwolves from 2017-19, and sat out in ’19/20 before being hired by the Knicks in 2020. That pattern suggests he’ll be on the lookout for a new head coaching job this spring.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Three-time slam dunk contest champion Mac McClung won’t be returning to defend his crown in 2026, his father Marcus McClung confirmed to Anthony Olivieri of ESPN. “Not going to be four in a row,” Marcus said in a text message. “Not one reason that I could say that was the main reason. In my opinion it is more like a bunch of reasons that just pointed to him not doing it.” The 27-year-old guard, who is playing for the Windy City Bulls this season, tweeted, “But since we prepared for it…I’ll be releasing the dunks we came up with after the contest.”
- Bulls forward Matas Buzelis was invited back to the dunk contest after taking part last season, but turned down the invitation, according to Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. “They did ask me, but unfortunately I’m going to decline this year,” Buzelis said. “I’m trying to listen to my body and this stretch of games coming up is going to be very important for us. Hopefully I get invited another year because I would love to do it. … It’s a lot of work to prepare for the dunk contest and I didn’t even prepare as well as I should have last year. Probably had two practices to practice my dunks. It takes a toll on your body.”
- Keith Smith of Spotrac previews the trade deadline for the 15 teams in the Eastern Conference, laying out each club’s position relative to the cap, tax, and apron levels, its notable trade exceptions and tradable draft picks, a potential deadline strategy, and the most likely player to be moved.
- John Hollinger of The Athletic takes a closer look at Illinois guard Keaton Wagler, writing that a breakout freshman year has turned Wagler from an unheralded recruit into a surefire 2026 lottery pick.