The Magic Will Face Some Difficult Decisions This Summer
The Magic have been one of the more disappointing teams in the NBA this season. Health issues -- including Wednesday's update that Franz Wagner will be out indefinitely due to his high left ankle sprain -- have certainly played a part in the team's mediocre 29-25 record. But it would be disingenuous to act as though injuries have been Orlando's only problem in 2025/26.
Even after Thursday's blowout victory over the Kings, who have now lost 15 straight games, the Magic's defensive rating has plummeted to No. 14 in the league after they ranked second and third in that category in the previous two seasons. And despite making a major offseason trade for an elite shooter in Desmond Bane, the team still ranks just 24th in three-pointers made, 23rd in three-point attempts, and 27th in three-point percentage.
Aside from injuries, the most concerning trend in Orlando may be the fact that this is the fourth consecutive season in which the Magic have been better when Paolo Banchero is off the court than when he's playing. That could be brushed aside for a young player -- he's only 23 -- but Orlando signed the former No. 1 overall pick to a rookie scale max extension last offseason. That deal is one reason why Orlando's payroll will become very expensive on July 1, when the new league year begins.
Blazers’ Thybulle, Murray Nearing Returns; Sharpe Still Out
Trail Blazers wings Matisse Thybulle and Kris Murray were both full participants in practices on Wednesday and Thursday, writes Joe Freeman of The Oregonian.
“They’ve had two intense days here,” interim head coach Tiago Splitter said Thursday at the Blazers’ practice facility in Tualatin. “We’ll see how (they feel) tomorrow.”
Both players are officially questionable for Friday’s contest against Denver (Twitter link).
A two-time All-Defensive selection, Thybulle has been plagued by injuries the past two seasons. He was limited to just 15 appearances in 2024/25 due to knee and ankle issues, and has only played four games thus far in ’25/26, last suiting up on October 29.
The 28-year-old guard/forward underwent thumb surgery on Oct. 31, which was expected to sideline him for at least four-to-six weeks. After that injury healed, he has been plagued by right knee tendinopathy.
Largely due to his limited availability, there has been speculation that Thybulle could be a buyout candidate, but that seems fairly unlikely now that he’s healthy.
Third-year forward Murray, meanwhile, has missed Portland’s last 19 games due to a lumbar strain in his lower back. He last played on Jan. 5.
As Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report tweets, the Blazers have relied heavily on Sidy Cissoko, who is no longer eligible to play after reaching his 50-game active limit, and Caleb Love, who has five games left. While it’s possible one or both of those two-way standouts could be promoted before the season ends, the team likely doesn’t feel any urgency to do so now with Thybulle and Murray on the verge of returning, Highkin notes.
Although Portland’s roster is as healthy as it has been in months, starting shooting guard Shaedon Sharpe remains out with a left calf strain and his return doesn’t appear imminent, per Freeman. The team’s second-leading scorer suffered the injury on Feb. 6 and missed the final four games before the All-Star break.
“He didn’t practice,” Splitter said. “We’re still evaluating how long he’s going to be out, but for the near future, he’s going to be out for a little bit.”
Silver Tells GMs NBA Intends To Enact Anti-Tanking Rules
Commissioner Adam Silver told all 30 of the NBA’s general managers on Thursday that the league intends to enact rule changes to combat tanking ahead of the 2026/27 season, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.
According to Charania, Silver was said to be “forceful” about his desire to resolve the issue, which he addressed at his All-Star press conference. Silver said during that media session that the league is considering “every possibly remedy” to reduce the practice of tanking.
Sam Amick of The Athletic confirms Charania’s report, and hears from a person with knowledge of the meeting that a consensus among those involved — Silver, members of the league office and the GMs — was reached that tanking “threatens the integrity and long-term viability” of the NBA. The GMs also agreed that changes to the current system need to be made.
“We’re all to blame,” one GM said, per Amick.
Mike Krzyzewski, who is now a member of the league office (his title is special adviser to basketball operations), praised the GMs for “acknowledging the issue and attacking it,” according to Amick, who notes that the former Duke head coach is often present for GM and competition committee meetings. Charania hears Krzyzewski also told the GMs to prepare for the rule changes, which will reportedly be in place for next season.
The league already flattened the draft lottery odds in 2019, Amick observes, but that hasn’t prevented teams from trying to jockey for position at the bottom of the standings, particularly when there’s a draft class that’s viewed as particularly strong (like this year).
According to Charania, the league and its teams have discussed the following possible rule changes during January’s competition committee meeting and Thursday’s GM call:
- Restricting teams from including protections between top-four and top-14-plus on traded first-round picks.
- Prohibiting teams from having top-four picks in consecutive years and/or after consecutive bottom-three finishes.
- Barring teams from selecting in the top four if they make the conference finals the previous year.
- Freezing lottery odds at the trade deadline or an unspecified “later date.”
- Flattened odds for all lottery teams.
- Lottery odds being allocated based on two-year records.
- Lottery extended to include all eight play-in teams (instead of the four who don’t make the playoffs).
Sam Quinn of CBS Sports explains (via Twitter) why he thinks all of those proposed changes are flawed.
Stephen Curry Out At Least Five More Games Due To Knee Injury
Superstar guard Stephen Curry underwent an MRI on Wednesday night, which confirmed he has patellofemoral pain syndrome in his right knee and revealed no structural damage, according to the Warriors (Twitter link).
Curry will miss at least five more games, as he will be reevaluated in 10 days, per the team.
The injury update on Curry, who has been sidelined for Golden State’s last five games due to the right knee issue, was first reported by Anthony Slater and Shams Charania of ESPN.
Head coach Steve Kerr said yesterday that Curry was unable to scrimmage on Wednesday as he continues to deal with pain in his right knee. According to Slater and Charania, Curry’s knee has been bothering him after individual workouts.
“It’s just lingering soreness.” Kerr said before Thursday’s game against the Boston Celtics. “We were hoping he’d be ready for tonight, but it wasn’t the case. He just needs more time.”
As Law Murray of The Athletic tweets, the two-time MVP will be ineligible for major postseason awards due to the nagging injury, which is also known as runner’s knee. Curry has already missed 15 games this season and his continued absence will put him up to at least 20 — players can only miss 17 games to remain eligible for All-NBA and other honors.
Curry, who made 11 All-NBA teams in the 12 years leading up to this season, would have been a strong contender for that distinction again. The four-time champion remains highly productive at age 37 (he turns 38 next month), averaging 27.2 PPG, 4.8 APG, 3.5 RPG and 1.1 SPG on .468/.391/.931 shooting in 39 games (31.3 MPG).
In other Warriors news, trade acquisition Kristaps Porzingis is expected to make his debut for Golden State on Thursday, Slater tweets. The 30-year-old big man will be on a restriction of approximately 15-to-20 minutes and will come off the bench.
Porzingis went through Wednesday’s practice and impressed his former Celtics teammate.
“Looked great,” Al Horford said (Twitter video link via Slater). “Thought his timing was good, overall energy.”
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Finger Surgery) Out For Season
Veteran wing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will miss the remainder of the 2025/26 season after undergoing surgery on Thursday to address a misalignment of his right pinky finger, the Grizzlies announced (via Twitter).
The news doesn’t come as a surprise, as Memphis revealed on Wednesday that Caldwell-Pope would have the procedure. The shooting guard is expected to make a full recovery before next season begins, per the team.
Caldwell-Pope, who was acquired from Orlando last summer in the Desmond Bane trade, made 51 appearances in ’25/26 for the Grizzlies, averaging 8.4 points, 2.7 assists and 2.5 rebounds in 21.3 minutes per game. His shooting line was .410/.316/.913.
The 33-year-old was a quality three-and-D contributor for several years, winning a pair of championships (with the Lakers in 2020 and the Nuggets in 2023) as a key role player. However, his production has fallen off the past seasons, particularly from behind the arc — he shot 38.9% from three-point range in the seven seasons leading up to 2024/25, but has converted just 33.3% of his outside looks since.
Caldwell-Pope has been remarkably durable throughout his career, never missing more than eight games in a season until now. He holds a $21.6MM player option for ’26/27 that he’s essentially a lock to exercise.
The Grizzlies, who have been hit hard by injuries all season long, will likely only have nine players active for Friday’s game at Utah (Twitter link).
Caldwell-Pope, Ja Morant (left elbow UCL sprain), Santi Aldama (right knee injury management), Brandon Clarke (right calf strain), Zach Edey (left ankle stress reaction), Cedric Coward (hyperextended right knee), Ty Jerome (right calf injury management) and Scotty Pippen Jr. (left great toe injury management) are all out, while rookie guard Walter Clayton is doubtful to suit up due to a right calf contusion.
As Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal writes (subscriber link), head coach Tuomas Iisaslo provided injury updates on Coward and Aldama on Wednesday. Neither player was able to practice yesterday, and while Coward is said to be making progress, the prognosis for Aldama — who missed eight of the team’s last nine games leading up to the All-Star break — is murky.
“We want to get it to a baseline,” Iisalo said of Aldama’s right knee issue. “We spent those few games trying to go a little bit back and forth and it flared up every time.”
SGA, Mitchell, J-Dub Remain Out For Thunder
Superstar guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is still recovering from his abdominal strain, the Thunder announced on Thursday.
According to the team, the NBA’s reigning Most Valuable Player will be checked out again in about a week, which means he’s likely to be sidelined for at least four more games. Gilgeous-Alexander sustained the injury on February 3 and missed Oklahoma City’s final five contests before the All-Star break.
2024 second-round pick Ajay Mitchell, who is having a breakout second season for the Thunder, will also be reexamined in one week, per the team. The 23-year-old guard last played on Jan. 21, having missed 11 consecutive games due to an abdominal strain and left ankle sprain.
Star forward Jalen Williams, who aggravated his right hamstring strain in a Feb. 11 victory at Phoenix, is out at least two more weeks, the Thunder added. The 24-year-old wing missed 10 games because of his initial hamstring strain and, returned to action just before the break, then re-injured the strain in his second game back.
Williams, whose 2025/26 debut was delayed due to a pair of surgeries on his right wrist, will be out at least eight more games. He also missed the team’s final contest before the break.
After a remarkable 24-1 start to the season, the defending champion Thunder have looked a little more mortal over the past several weeks, going 18-13 over their past 31 games. They’re currently 42-14, which is the top record in the Western Conference and the second-best mark in the NBA (the Pistons are 40-13).
Wizards Announce Injury Updates On Trae Young, Anthony Davis
Point guard Trae Young, who has missed extended time this season due to a right knee MCL sprain and quad contusion, was recently reevaluated, the Wizards announced today in a press release (Twitter link).
According to the team, the four-time All-Star is making positive progress in his recovery and will ramp up his on-court activities. Another update on Young will come in one week.
The Wizards also provided an injury update on forward/center Anthony Davis, who is sidelined due to ligament damage in his left hand. The 10-time All-Star was checked out over the break and is “progressing as expected.”
However, Davis has not been cleared for basketball activities and is out at least two more weeks, which is the next time he’ll be reexamined, per the team.
Young has been limited to 10 games played this season due to his right leg issues, while Davis has appeared in just 20 contests due to a variety of ailments, including the hand injury.
Washington acquired Young in a trade with Atlanta and Davis in a deal with Dallas, but neither player has made his Wizards debut yet. Based on today’s update, it certainly sounds like Young is closer to returning than Davis.
The Wizards are currently 14-39, the second-worst record in the NBA.
Suns Sign Haywood Highsmith
FEBRUARY 18: The Highsmith signing is official, relays Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic (Twitter link).
FEBRUARY 14: The Suns are signing free agent forward Haywood Highsmith to a multiyear contract, agent Jerry Dianis tells Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
According to Charania, “multiple playoff teams” were pursuing Highsmith before he decided to join Phoenix. The Lakers and Sixers were linked to Highsmith over the past week.
A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Highsmith has yet to play a game this season after he underwent surgery to address a torn meniscus in his right knee in August and experienced a setback in his rehab in October. However, Dianis recently told Michael Scotto of HoopsHype his client is healthy and had been targeting February 11 for his 2025/26 debut prior to being waived by the Nets.
A 6’5″ combo forward, Highsmith averaged 6.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.9 steals in 22.7 minutes per game across 140 appearances from 2023/24 and 2024/25. He spent four seasons with Miami, which traded him to Brooklyn in the offseason.
Highsmith is known as a strong, versatile defender and he has improved his outside shot over the years as well. The 29-year-old converted 38.8% of his three-point looks over the past two seasons.
John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 confirms the news and says the second year of Highsmith’s contract isn’t fully guaranteed (Twitter link).
The Suns had an opening on their 15-man standard roster, which means no corresponding move will be necessary to sign Highsmith.
Northwest Notes: Holmgren, SGA, CP3, Murray, Lillard
Rockets star Kevin Durant has grown close to Thunder big man Chet Holmgren over the years because they share a similar mindset, writes Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman (subscriber link).
“He wants to be great,” Durant told The Oklahoman. “It’s that simple. A lot of people don’t want to be great. They don’t want to leave their mark and have their name etched in stone with some of the greats in this league. He wants that. Every time he approaches his work, it’s that mentality. … His mindset is really what stood out to me.”
Holmgren, who will make his first All-Star appearance on Sunday, has always been ambitious but has learned to put individual statistics to the side in support of the team.
“I’ve played long enough and I have an understanding that when you try to force your way to things that aren’t a win, one, it usually hurts your team,” Holmgren said. “And two, a lot of times you don’t end up winning. … I still think I have to be aggressive, but it has to be within making the right play.”
We have have more from around the Northwest:
- At his media session on Saturday, Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander discussed the impact Chris Paul had on his career (Twitter links courtesy of Martinez). The legendary point guard, who played one year with Gilgeous-Alexander in Oklahoma City, announced his retirement on Friday after he was waived by Toronto. “Chris was special for my career,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Off the court, he was the first person that I was around to really take care of their body and show me the importance of the weight room. … He was the first point guard that I studied. … He was the standard for a point guard. And obviously, fast forward a couple of years, he’s one of my closest friends. … Honestly, it’s sad the way it’s happened. I thought he would get his flowers a little bit differently, but that’ll never change what he’s done for this game. I’m proud of him. He’s been special. Hopefully I can get to that level of mastering the game of basketball.”
- Nuggets legends Alex English and Dan Issel think Jamal Murray‘s first All-Star appearance was long overdue, per Bennett Durando of The Denver Post. “He should have been an All-Star before now, but I think part of the explanation is that he’s playing with the greatest player on the planet,” Issel said. “And I think that usurps, sometimes, what a great player he is. But when he needs to, he also steps up. … I don’t know that they’d be a championship-caliber team — it would depend who else was with Jamal — but I think he would be very successful if he was on a team where he was the No. 1 scoring option.”
- For his part, Nuggets star Nikola Jokic hopes to play with Murray for the rest of his career, Durando adds. “I would love it,” Jokic said, “just because it’s so good when you know who you’re playing with. He cannot really surprise me. I know what he can do. So the experience of playing probably 10 years definitely helps. But I don’t want to change him, if they ask me.”
- Damian Lillard‘s victory at the three-point contest — his third title in four years — doesn’t mean he’ll attempt to come back from his torn Achilles this season, according to Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report (Substack link). “I think if this was five years ago, I probably would have won this competition and been like, ‘I think I can get out there and go,’” the Trail Blazers guard said. “But I think I’m also at an age and time of my life where I recognize those emotions are not in my best interest. That’s kind of where it’s at.”
Timberwolves Notes: Randle, DiVincenzo, Dosunmu, McDaniels
Julius Randle was among several Timberwolves players involved in trade rumors leading up to the deadline, and the speculation — combined with the disappointment of not making the All-Star team — seemed to weigh on him in recent weeks, writes Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.
“Julius is a guy who plays with his heart on his sleeve,” head coach Chris Finch said. “He was kind of not himself recently. … He’s so important for us in so many ways. We just need him to come back to the pack, if you will.”
The veteran power forward had a triple double (18 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists) in Monday’s victory over Atlanta and followed that up with what Krawczynski calls his best performance of the season in Wednesday’s win over Portland, finishing with 41 points (23 in the fourth quarter) and seven rebounds while being locked in on defense. Randle’s teammates know they need the forward to be at his best to make another deep playoff run.
“It gets everybody going. He can get as many triple-doubles as anybody,” Naz Reid said. “He plays fast, plays strong, spaces the floor, he gets everybody else involved. I think that’s the key to winning, as well, just being super aggressive while also making sure everybody around you comes with you.”
Here’s more on the Wolves:
- While Ayo Dosunmu has quickly made a strong impression with the team’s fans, Krawczynski expects Donte DiVincenzo to remain in Minnesota’s starting lineup. As Krawczynski writes, DiVincenzo isn’t a traditional point guard, but he brings consistent effort, energy and competitiveness, and has been a key member of a starting unit which ranks among the best in the league. The 29-year-old also has outstanding on/off numbers this season, Krawczynski notes.
- Dosunmu has helped unlock transition offense opportunities for Jaden McDaniels by constantly pushing the pace, Krawczynski adds. Finch wants McDaniels to attempt at least 10 shots per game, which has been an issue at times, but Dosunmu could help change that. “It’s been pretty good. He’s coming from Chicago, which plays super fast,” McDaniels said. “I know that some plays, he’s outrunning all of us. He’s helping us run, he’s helping us get better. I just like the energy he brings and the effort.”
- There has been a “collective weight” on the Timberwolves this season that wasn’t present in years past, according to Chris Hine of The Star Tribune, who wonders how far the team will need to advance in the postseason to alleviate that pressure.