Southwest Notes: Eason, Fox, Bey, Flagg
After he missed 14 games in November and December due to an oblique strain, Tari Eason‘s return has allowed the Rockets to try a new-look starting five. Eason replaced Josh Okogie in Houston’s new, jumbo-sized lineup in the last two games and has made an impact on both ends of the floor in back-to-back wins over the Lakers and Cavaliers, amassing six steals and three blocks while making 3-for-8 three-pointers.
“It was amazing to be out there. [Head coach Ime Udoka] finally trusted me to go out there. I just had to do what I do best,” Eason said, per The Athletic’s Will Guillory (via Twitter). “We had to get back to being dogs defensively, and I knew I could come out there and set the tone.”
Asked if he valued being in the starting lineup after spending the last few years as a reserve, Eason responded, “Yes, I do.”
We have more from around the Southwest Division:
- De’Aaron Fox missed the Spurs‘ game Saturday against the Jazz with left adductor tightness, but the team is optimistic that he won’t be out for long, according to Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News. “Not too many big concerns,” said head coach Mitch Johnson. “Obviously he’s out, so it’s real. But hopefully it will be short-term.” Johnson added that he started Julian Champagnie rather than Dylan Harper in order to keep the No. 2 overall pick in a more consistent role. “It goes a long way for players to expect if they’re going to play, when they’re going to play, when do they come out,” Johnson said. “They are creatures of habit from when they wake up to when they go to bed. I think being able to help provide consistency where you can (is important).” The Spurs have gone 17-5 in games that Fox has played this season.
- Saddiq Bey was something of an afterthought coming into this season for the Pelicans, having not played a game since March 2024, when he tore his ACL. But following a trade from the Wizards to the Pelicans this summer, Bey knew he had been given a second chance to establish himself as a reliable rotation player, writes Rod Walker of NOLA.com. “Just to be wanted at that time after not playing in a year and a half meant a lot to me,” Bey said. “New Orleans was showing that they still believed in me and that meant the world to me.” Bey has responded to the opportunity by averaging 14.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists while starting 24 of the 32 games he played this season. “He’s been incredible all year,” said coach James Borrego. “He’s built for these moments. He doesn’t shy away from it.” Bey said that the experience has given him a new perspective on his career: “I feel like I owe it to the front office, the city and this organization for believing in me. Every single game, I’m literally thanking God for letting me finish that game. Win or lose. I’ll never take another game for granted.”
- Mavericks‘ coach Jason Kidd went back to an early-season strategy in an attempt to grind out a win over the Kings without Anthony Davis: using Cooper Flagg as the de facto point guard, Christian Clark writes for The Athletic. The effort ended up coming in a 113-107 loss, but Flagg was able to help Dallas trim a 15-point halftime deficit to three points before Sacramento pulled away again. He finished with 23 points, six rebounds, and five assists, though he had five turnovers as well. “Once we had to sub, (the Kings’ lead) went back up to 18 (points),” Kidd said. “Just understanding the change — we talked about it at halftime — it gave us an opportunity to get us back in the game.”
Pelicans’ Alvarado, Suns’ Williams Ejected After Fight
Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado and Suns center Mark Williams were both ejected from Saturday’s game in New Orleans after a brief fight late in the third quarter, writes Rashad Milligan of NOLA.com.
Alvarado was whistled for a foul after pushing Williams, who was attempting to set a screen, with two hands (YouTube link). As Alvarado looked to the official to plead his case, Williams returned the favor with his own two-handed shove.
The 6’0″ Alvarado confronted the 7’1″ Williams, who dismissively tried to forearm Alvarado out of the way. Undeterred, Alvarado grabbed Williams’ left arm and jersey and a brief scuffle ensued, with Williams and then Alvarado both throwing right-handed punches that connected.
Williams also punched down at Alvarado with his left hand as the players were being separated, but it’s unclear from the video if it connected. Both players were ejected for the incident.
After the game, which Phoenix won, Suns head coach Jordan Ott said he had not yet reviewed a video of the altercation, per The Associated Press.
“I saw it start, and then all of a sudden everyone jumped in,” Ott said. “Obviously, it happens. It just feels like the lack of sleep the second night of a back-to-back, something always tends to happen. Last night, there were a lot of free throws; tonight there wasn’t as much. They let us play tonight, which is something we enjoy. They got tangled up, and obviously they both got thrown out.”
The NBA tends to be pretty strict when it comes to fights, especially when punches are thrown, so fines and suspensions could be coming for Alvarado and Williams.
Southwest Notes: Zion, Flagg, G. Jackson, Small, Spurs
The Pelicans‘ surprising five-game winning streak came to an end on Tuesday in Cleveland, but the team still got some positive news, as forward Zion Williamson played in both games of a back-to-back set for the first time in 14 months, writes Rod Walker of NOLA.com (subscription required).
Williamson, who last played in a back-to-back in October 2024, logged 21 minutes vs. the Cavaliers after playing 25 minutes against Dallas on Monday. The former No. 1 overall pick has now played five consecutive games since sitting for six in a row due to an adductor strain.
“Z is progressing well,” head coach James Borrego said before Tuesday’s game. “He looks well. He’s getting in better shape every game, every day. His mentality is right. His spirit is right. That’s the biggest thing for me. The mindset is right. The body is coming along every day. Getting better and better.”
Williamson poured in 26 points on 9-of-15 shooting against Cleveland, but the Pelicans struggled defensively in his 21 minutes of action and were outscored by 17 points with the 25-year-old on the court.
We have more from around the Southwest:
- Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg, who celebrated his 19th birthday over the weekend, racked up 33 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists in a victory over Denver on Tuesday. Flagg’s big night earned him high praise from Nuggets star Nikola Jokic, who said the rookie doesn’t look like a first-year NBA player, per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. “I’m going to say the poise that he played with, he doesn’t feel like he’s so young out there,” Jokic said. “He seems like he played meaningful games and he was winning before. That’s my opinion. He looked really mature out there.”
- GG Jackson II‘s contributions have been inconsistent since his breakout rookie season as a second-round pick in 2023/24, but the Grizzlies forward made the most of his first start of the season on Tuesday, writes Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. With Cedric Coward out due to left heel soreness, Jackson scored a season-high 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting while pulling down nine rebounds in a win over Utah. As Cole notes, Jackson looked more decisive on Tuesday after working over the summer on dribbling less when he gets the ball.
- Grizzlies guard Javon Small returned to action on Tuesday from his turf toe injury, suiting up for the first time since November 7, Cole writes in the same story. Cam Spencer has been Memphis’ starting point guard with Ja Morant out, but Smart played 12 minutes off the bench and handed out seven assists.
- San Antonio knocked off the defending champions for the second time in 10 days on Tuesday, but Victor Wembanyama is hesitant to dub Spurs/Thunder a “rivalry,” as Michael C. Wright of ESPN relays. “It feels like saying it’s a rivalry would be a weird thing because it’s something that builds naturally,” Wembanyama explained. “I didn’t say that it’s impossible that it can be (a rivalry) in the future. I hope it will be soon. But we’re definitely getting closer.” The two teams will meet against on Thursday in what could end up being the marquee matchup of the NBA’s Christmas Day schedule.
Trade Rumors: Sexton, Wolves, Pelicans, Hawks, Bagley
Although the Hornets are willing to discuss potential trades, they still hope they can contend for a play-in spot and aren’t looking to simply sell off veterans, writes Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link). According to Fischer, veteran guard Collin Sexton and his expiring $19MM contract looks like Charlotte’s most logical trade candidate.
Minnesota is one team that has done its homework on Sexton, Fischer says, explaining that the Timberwolves appear to be trying to get a sense of their range of options at the point guard spot as they seek an upgrade on their current options. While sources tell Fischer that the Wolves are adamant about not including budding star Jaden McDaniels in any deals, rival executives suspect the back-to-back conference finalists will be more aggressive on the trade market than most other Western contenders.
As Fischer explains, teams like the Thunder, Nuggets, Rockets, and Spurs aren’t considered likely to make in-season splashes, so the only other club currently in the top six of the West that figures to be actively seeking meaningful upgrades is the Lakers. And it remains to be seen whether they’ll be able to acquire the sort of three-and-D player they’d love to add.
Here are a few more NBA trade rumors:
- As coveted as Pelicans forward Herbert Jones and Trey Murphy III are, sources believe they’re unlikely to be moved at the trade deadline, writes Brett Siegel of Clutch Points. Rival scouts view Jose Alvarado, Saddiq Bey, Jordan Hawkins, and Jordan Poole as New Orleans’ more likely trade candidates, in that order, per Siegel.
- Although the Hawks have checked in on Mavericks big man Anthony Davis, there has been no momentum in those talks and there’s a sense that Atlanta is more likely to target a lower-salary replacement if the team builds a deal around Kristaps Porzingis‘ expiring contract ahead of the deadline, says Siegel. One hypothetical proposal put forth by league personnel would see the Hawks target a package like Nikola Vucevic and Coby White from the Bulls, though there’s no indication that the two teams have explored that sort of trade, Siegel clarifies, noting that it’s just an example of the type of move that would likely appeal more to Atlanta than going after someone like Davis.
- Siegel singles out Wizards big man Marvin Bagley III as a player to watch ahead of the deadline, writing that he has begun generating interest from teams looking to fortify their frontcourts.
Pacific Rumors: Warriors, Kuminga, Kings, Monk, McCollum, Clippers
The Warriors have been one of the NBA’s most aggressive teams in scouring the trade market to get a better sense of which players are and aren’t available, multiple sources tell Brett Siegel of Clutch Points.
Golden State is known to be in the market for an “athletic” forward as well as frontcourt help, according to Siegel, who reports that the Warriors would ideally like to add a big man who can rebound and defend the rim, since those aren’t among the strengths of current bigs like Al Horford and Quinten Post.
Although Nets center Nic Claxton has been connected to the Warriors by multiple reporters this month, Siegel says the club would probably prefer to target a player whose contract doesn’t exceed approximately $15MM annually. Siegel adds that Golden State has engaged in trade talks with the Nets, Pelicans, and Bulls, though he doesn’t specify which players those teams have discussed.
Here are a few more rumors from around the Pacific:
- According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link), some rival executives at the G League Winter Showcase in Orlando over the weekend wondered how much more playing time Jonathan Kuminga will see before he becomes trade-eligible on January 15. Kuminga has fallen out of the rotation as of late, and it’s probably in the Warriors‘ best interest to make sure he’s healthy ahead of the trade deadline. For what it’s worth, none of the executives polled by Fischer said their opinions of Kuminga would change based on how he plays (or doesn’t) in the next few weeks.
- Unless a third team gets involved, a deal sending Kuminga to the Kings looks like a long shot, per Siegel, who says the Warriors still aren’t enamored of the assets Sacramento would offer for the fifth-year forward. That includes guard Malik Monk, who has generated very little interest around the NBA due to his contract, says Siegel. Monk, who is said to be available, is still owed nearly $42MM over two years after this season.
- CJ McCollum has been mentioned as a possible trade target for the Clippers, Siegel reports, noting that people around the league believe the Wizards guard could be had for second-round picks. McCollum’s $30.7MM cap hit could complicate a potential trade, but it’s an expiring contract and the Clippers wouldn’t have a problem matching the incoming money if their package starts with John Collins‘ $26.6MM expiring deal. They could also get there by stacking three or more contracts, including Bogdan Bogdanovic‘s, worth $16.2MM this season.
- Sources tell Fischer that the Clippers continue to dismiss the idea that veteran stars Kawhi Leonard and James Harden will land on the trade block this season. Rival teams have reportedly expressed confidence that Harden, at least, will be made available.
Afseth’s Latest: Spurs, Giannis, J. Johnson, Jazz, Bey
The Spurs have flashed tantalizing potential this season with a 21-7 start and a run to the NBA Cup championship game, but league sources who spoke to Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal don’t expect San Antonio to make the sort of significant in-season trade that would compromise the club’s future flexibility.
“They’re not going to sit around being satisfied, but I don’t see them making a move like trading for Giannis (Antetokounmpo),” a source told Afseth. “There are more reasonable options out there. They can be patient and opportunistic.”
According to Afseth, the expectation is that the Spurs will focus on internal growth of their young core this season while preserving their most valuable long-term assets. Still, he says some rival teams have wondered whether San Antonio would be willing to sacrifice some of those assets for another high-level role player who would complement the current group.
“They have the assets to make a trade like Orlando did to add Desmond Bane,” a source said. “It’d have to be someone that fits their timeline. Someone like a Trey Murphy III, for example, could be a strong fit.”
Here are a few more items of interest from Afseth’s latest round-up:
- If Antetokounmpo is made available this season, many of the top suitors for the Bucks star are expected to be Eastern Conference clubs, says Afseth. That group includes the Heat, Knicks, Hawks, and Raptors, though rival executives are skeptical that New York would want to break up its roster during the season and Atlanta isn’t expected to make forward Jalen Johnson available, Afseth notes.
- While both Afseth and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link) say that hanging onto their top-eight protected 2026 first-round pick is a priority for the Jazz, Fischer writes that Utah also wants to “establish a winning environment” sooner rather than later. Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George – along with 2026 restricted free agent Walker Kessler – are viewed as cornerstones for the Jazz, with Kyle Anderson, Jusuf Nurkic, Kevin Love, and Georges Niang considered potential in-season trade candidates, per Afseth. Afseth adds that both management and ownership have confidence that Will Hardy is the right head coach to guide the team out of its rebuilding stage.
- Pelicans forward Saddiq Bey is increasingly piquing the interest of teams in need of help on the wing, according to Afseth, who published a full story on Sunday examining Bey’s return to action this season following a torn ACL. The 26-year-old is averaging 15.0 points and 6.1 rebounds in 29.5 minutes per game through 29 outings (21 starts) for New Orleans.
Knicks May Move Guerschon Yabusele By Trade Deadline
The Knicks are open to trading Guerschon Yabusele before the February 5 deadline, according to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic.
The 30-year-old big man was the team’s top free agency addition over the summer, but he hasn’t been effective in the first two months of the season, averaging 3.0 points and 2.2 rebounds in 9.6 minutes per night while shooting 39.4% from the field and 30.6% from three-point range. His numbers across the board are down sharply from what he posted in Philadelphia last season as he returned to the NBA after five years in Europe.
Yabusele is making $5.5MM this season and holds a $5.7MM player option for 2026/27, and multiple league executives tell Edwards that New York will likely have to give up other assets to get another team to take that contract.
The Knicks have been reaching out to rival teams in their search for another ball-handler and frontcourt player, Edwards hears from league sources. They don’t have a veteran lead guard in place who can play dependable minutes when Jalen Brunson rests. Edwards notes that Tyler Kolek has shown promise, especially during the past week, but there’s no guarantee he’s ready to fill that role.
New York is also looking for another big man, as the options on the current roster are limited behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson. Robinson is having another outstanding rebounding season, pulling down 8.6 boards per game in 18.2 minutes per night, but Edwards states that he’s still on a load management program in hopes of keeping him healthy for the playoffs. Robinson has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, and the Knicks aren’t in position to withstand a long-term absence.
The Knicks face financial limitations as they eye the trade market because of their proximity to the hard cap. They’ve been carrying 14 players on standard contracts all season and can’t fill their roster opening until early April.
With those restrictions in mind, Edwards identifies a few potential trade candidates:
- Ayo Dosunmu — The Bulls guard would provide ball-handling and defense, but his $7.5MM salary means New York would have to send back Landry Shamet ($2.3MM), who was productive before injuring his shoulder, or possibly Pacome Dadiet ($2.9MM) or Kolek ($2.2MM) along with Yabusele or Miles McBride ($4.3MM). Edwards is skeptical about Chicago’s willingness to take Yabusele’s contract, so McBride would likely have to be part of the deal.
- Jose Alvarado — Edwards suggests that the Pelicans guard may be more obtainable than Dosunmu, and his contract ($4.5MM with a $4.5MM player option for next season) would be easier to fit onto the roster. He also points out that the Knicks have multiple second-round picks that could be used to entice New Orleans to part with Alvarado.
- Marvin Bagley III — His defense remains shaky, but he has been scoring and rebounding for the Wizards and his $2.2MM cap hit makes him an inexpensive option as a third center. Edwards believes he might be obtainable for a second-round pick.
Southwest Notes: Irving, Zion, Borrego, Rockets
Brett Siegel of Clutch Points wrote on Friday that it “truly seems” as if Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving will be able to return from his ACL tear at some point in January. However, head coach Jason Kidd said this week that there’s still no specific timeline for Irving as he works his way through the rehab process, writes Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal.
“There’s no schedule still,” Kidd said. “He’s just still doing the things he’s supposed to… He’s in a good place. He’s rehabbing. That’s the only update I can really give you — that he’s in a good place and he’s doing everything he’s supposed to.”
Irving tore his left ACL on March 3 and underwent surgery to repair the injury on March 27. Next weekend will represent the nine-month mark since that procedure, so the window for Irving’s potential return could open in the coming weeks.
Still, it’s not uncommon for an ACL tear to sideline a player for a full year or even longer than that, and the Mavs will certainly take a cautious approach with the 33-year-old — especially since the team currently sits outside the top 10 in the West.
We have more from around the Southwest:
- Pelicans forward Zion Williamson has come off the bench in each of his first two games back from an adductor strain and spent the final 17 minutes of Thursday’s comeback overtime win over Houston on the sidelines. The decision – and the victory – felt significant, according to William Guillory of The Athletic, who suggests it could be interpreted as a sign of the team taking steps toward a future in which Williamson isn’t the top priority.
- With the Pelicans riding a three-game winning streak, Rod Walker of NOLA.com (subscription required) contends that head of basketball operations Joe Dumars should remove the interim tag from head coach James Borrego — or at least place him high on the short list of candidates to coach New Orleans beyond this season. Pelicans swingman Trey Murphy III lauded Borrego for “igniting” the team, while forward Saddiq Bey also had high praise for the interim coach. “He’s made some helluva adjustments,” Bey said. “In the game, scout and when we are going through shootaround. He’s a great mind on both ends of the floor and we really trust him.”
- Tilman Fertitta‘s Rockets ownership group is engaged in “substantive” talks with the Connecticut Sun about the possibility of purchasing and relocating the WNBA, sources tell Alexa Philippou and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN. A group led by Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca previously reached a tentative agreement with the Sun to move the franchise to Boston, but the WNBA effectively blocked that deal, and there’s a belief the league would prefer to see the team move to Houston, per Philippou and Shelburne.
- In a feature story for ESPN.com, Michael C. Wright takes a look at how veteran forward Kevin Durant has meshed with the Rockets‘ young duo of Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson, as well as the ongoing development of the chemistry between Sengun and Thompson.
Siegel’s Latest: Turner, Bucks, Pacers, Nets, Cavs, Alvarado
Multiple reporters have indicated that the Bucks are looking to add win-now help in the coming weeks despite an 11-17 start to the season. Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints has heard similarly, writing that people around the NBA are wondering if Myles Turner could be a trade candidate after signing a four-year, $108.8MM contract with Milwaukee over the summer.
As Siegel explains, the Bucks have a limited number of assets to work with, and Turner would likely draw “significant interest” if he’s made available due to his ability to stretch the floor on offense and protect the rim on defense. The same was true of last season, when Turner was on an expiring contract as a member of the Pacers, per Siegel.
It’s worth pointing out that Turner ($25.3MM) is one of only two Bucks making between $14MM and 54MM in 2025/26, with the other being Kyle Kuzma ($22.4MM). According to Siegel, a trade involving combo forward Kuzma, who is having a modest bounce-back season after a disappointing ’24/25, remains more likely than a potential move including Turner.
While it’s unclear how much interest Kuzma would generate on his own, league sources tell Siegel the Bucks are hopeful they’d be able to deal the 30-year-old because there is currently a dearth of wings available on the market and Kuzma has one additional year left on his contract, which will pay him $20.4MM in ’26/27.
Here are a few more highlights from Siegel’s latest trade rumor round-up:
- The Pacers have shown a willingness to discuss Bennedict Mathurin in trades ahead of his 2026 restricted free agency, according to Siegel, who reports that Indiana appears reluctant to make a lucrative long-term investment in the fourth-year wing. While Siegel calls Mathurin the Pacers’ top asset ahead of the February 5 deadline, he also hears that forwards Jarace Walker and Obi Toppin have popped up in early trade talks as Indiana looks for frontcourt upgrades.
- Forward Michael Porter Jr. and guard Cam Thomas are a couple of names worth monitoring for the Nets, Seigel writes. Porter, who is thriving as Brooklyn’s top offensive option, is expected to draw interest from contenders. Thomas, meanwhile has the ability to veto trades and there doesn’t seem to be much interest in the 24-year-old, who continues to be sidelined with a left hamstring strain that cost him most of last season. Still, Siegel speculates that Brooklyn might be able to receive a second-round pick or two for the high-scoring guard, even if he’s only a rental — Thomas will be an unrestricted free agent next summer.
- Although the 15-13 Cavaliers have been one of the most disappointing teams to open the season, Cleveland has been plagued by injuries in ’25/26 and has thus far shown no willingness to engage in discussions involving Darius Garland or Jarrett Allen, both of whom have drawn interest from multiple teams, sources tell Siegel. The Cavs have been frustrated by their play and there’s a rising sense of urgency around the team after falling into the play-in picture, but they’re optimistic they’ll be able to turn their season through a combination internal improvements and getting players back from injuries, Siegel adds.
- The Hawks are among the teams who have registered interest in fifth-year guard Jose Alvarado, who appears to be the Pelicans player most likely to be moved ahead of the deadline, says Siegel. Indiana and New York have also checked in with New Orleans about Alvarado, Siegel notes.
Evaluators Split On Keon Ellis’ Value
Within a look at potential Lakers trade targets, Dan Woike of The Athletic reports that league sources believe the current asking price for Kings guard Keon Ellis is a protected first-round pick.
Ellis, who will turn 26 next month, has a reputation as a solid defender, is a career 41.8% three-point shooter, and is earning just $2.3MM in 2025/26, making him an appealing option for teams not well positioned from a cap perspective to acquire a player on a larger contract.
However, there’s not a consensus on Ellis’ value, according to Woike.
One league source who spoke to The Athletic referred to the fourth-year guard as “maybe the most divisive player in the league,” pointing out that rival scouts are high on him but neither Mike Brown nor Doug Christie has been comfortable leaning on him consistently in Sacramento. After starting 28 games and averaging 24.4 minutes per game last season, Ellis has made two starts and averaged 17.6 MPG in 2025/26.
As Woike explains, some skeptics believe Ellis’ defensive skill set is more suited to generating turnovers than to actually slowing down opposing offensive offensive players, while others have reservations about his size and ability to hold his own against bigger guards.
It’s also worth noting that Ellis will reach unrestricted free agency in July if he doesn’t sign an extension before then (he’ll become eligible on February 9), so a team acquiring him would risk losing him for nothing during the 2026 offseason.
Still, Woike believes Ellis is one of the possibilities being considered by the Lakers, who could badly use another defensive-minded player in their rotation. Pelicans forward Herbert Jones, Heat forward Andrew Wiggins, Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr., Nets guard Terance Mann, Hornets wing Josh Green, and Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu are among the other potential targets Woike mentions, though he cautions that not all of them will be available, especially for a price the Lakers would be comfortable meeting.
Los Angeles only has one tradable first-round pick (in either 2031 or 2032) and one movable second-rounder (2032). The team could also offer a handful of first-round pick swaps. The trade value of Dalton Knecht, a 2024 first-rounder, has slipped since last season, as he has fallen out of JJ Redick‘s regular rotation this fall.