Siegel’s Latest: Sabonis, Raptors, Bucks, Warriors, Nets, White, Lakers
After buying low on Brandon Ingram at last season’s trade deadline, could the Raptors seek out a similar move this February? According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, Kings center Domantas Sabonis is one name that has been continually linked to Toronto. The Raptors’ interest in Sabonis was first reported in December by Jake Fischer and has since been corroborated by several other outlets.
Malik Monk is another player who has intrigued Toronto in the past, Siegel writes, noting that Kings general manager Scott Perry drafted current Raptors veterans RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley when he was in New York’s front office. While there’s no indication that the two teams have seriously discussed such a deal involving those four players, Siegel suggests that sort of framework could be worth keeping an eye on.
If Toronto does end up moving Barrett in that sort of bigger move, he’d likely draw interest from several teams besides Sacramento, Siegel writes, given the lack of high-level wing talent on the trade market. The Bucks, for example, expressed interest in Barrett last season, per Siegel.
Here’s more from Siegel’s latest NBA rumor round-up:
- The Warriors have internally discussed many possible center trade targets, including Myles Turner and Bobby Portis of the Bucks, per Siegel. A number of teams around the NBA are curious about Milwaukee’s plans for Portis, Siegel continues, with the Hornets and Suns also considered possible suitors, perhaps in multi-team scenarios.
- Suns guard Jalen Green is among the players the Bucks have inquired on, but Phoenix isn’t interested in moving him at this point, says Siegel. Given that Green has only played two games this season due to hamstring issues, the Suns view him as a sort of trade-deadline addition themselves, Siegel explains.
- Although the Nets are fielding inquiries on players like Michael Porter Jr. and Nic Claxton, they aren’t actively looking to move them. In order for Brooklyn to consider a deal involving either player, the starting point for a package would have to be a “true” unprotected first-round pick, Siegel writes.
- The Mavericks and the Clippers are among the teams with interest in Bulls guard Coby White, sources tell Siegel, who reiterates that the Timberwolves also remain interested and notes that some league insiders have speculated that the Hawks could be a destination for White in the event of a Trae Young trade.
- With higher-level options like Herbert Jones potentially out of reach, players like Bulls forward Isaac Okoro, Kings guard Keon Ellis, and Nets wing Haywood Highsmith are considered more realistic possibilities for a Lakers team seeking defensive help, according to Siegel. Mavericks forward Naji Marshall is another possible trade candidate to add to that group if Dallas commits to becoming a seller.
Southwest Notes: Davis, Murray, Jones, Wemby
As trade rumors continue to swirl around Anthony Davis, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said during an appearance on NBA Today on Monday that the Mavericks big man isn’t actively seeking a trade out of Dallas despite the team’s struggles in the past year.
“AD’s preference would be to stay in Dallas and to get that extension this summer,” MacMahon said (Twitter video link). “Now, does that make sense for a team trying to build around a teenage prodigy (Cooper Flagg)? I think you can answer that question on your own.”
Davis’ maximum-salary contract pays him $54.1MM this season and $58.5MM in 2026/27, with a $62.8MM player option for ’27/28. While that number is manageable for now, an extension would likely overlap with Flagg’s second NBA contract — it would also begin when Davis, who has a lengthy injury history, is in his mid-30s. That’s a risky proposition not just for the Mavs but for any team entertaining the idea of pursuing a trade for the 10-time All-Star.
“The Mavericks are trying to generate a good trade market for Anthony Davis,” MacMahon said. “That is difficult because of the durability issues, and I think more so the dollars. In a situation like this, (agent) Rich Paul is going to be involved (and is) going to want AD traded somewhere that is willing to give him a long, lucrative extension. I just think mid-season it’s going to be very difficult to make all those pieces fit.”
We have more from around the Southwest:
- Asked over the weekend whether he expects guard Dejounte Murray to play this season, Pelicans head coach James Borrego told reporters – including Rod Walker of NOLA.com – that he “can’t say for sure.” However, Borrego suggested there should be an update on Murray, who is making his way back from an Achilles tear, in the coming weeks. “He’s making a lot of progress,” Borrego said. “We hope to get him back in our building here soon. He’s doing a lot of work getting ready to get back here. I say in the next month we’ll have a little bit more clarity on where he’s at. But he’s made a lot of progress. Significant progress.”
- Pelicans forward Herbert Jones has a chance to return to action on Tuesday vs. the Lakers after missing the past seven games with a right ankle sprain. Jones is listed as questionable, according to the team. He has been limited to 22 outings so far this season due to injuries, including a calf strain that cost him eight games in the fall.
- Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama is also on the verge of making his return. He’s listed as questionable for Tuesday’s game vs. Memphis after participating in 5-on-5 work on Monday, tweets Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News. Wembanyama, who has been out for the past two games due to a left knee bone bruise, will be reevaluated ahead of Tuesday’s game, which is the first of a back-to-back set. If Wembanyama doesn’t end up playing on Tuesday, he could be activated on Wednesday against the Lakers.
Southwest Notes: Pelicans, Jones, Sengun, Wemby, K. Johnson
Zion Williamson scored a season-high 35 points on Friday against Portland but the shorthanded Pelicans dropped their sixth straight game, writes Lee East of NOLA.com.
“He looks great,” head coach James Borrego said of Williamson, who has notched 30-plus points in three straight contests, matching a career high. “His spirit is right. His mind is right. He’s fresh, he’s aggressive. He’s really confident right now. It’s as well as I think he’s played in a while. I’ve seen this before, but in the recent history this is probably the best. Mentally and physically he looks really strong.”
The Pelicans were down four key rotation players, with Herbert Jones (right ankle sprain), Trey Murphy III (lower back soreness), Derik Queen (left quad contusion) and Saddiq Bey (right hip flexor strain) all sidelined.
Jones will miss his seventh straight game Sunday in Miami, per the league’s official injury report, while Bey will be out for the second time in a row. Both Murphy – whose injury designation has changed to low back spasms – and Queen are questionable to suit up against the Heat.
New Orleans’ losing streak directly correlates to Jones’ absence and that’s not a coincidence, according to Rod Walker of NOLA.com. Since Borrego took over as interim head coach, the Pelicans are 5-5 with Jones in the lineup and 1-13 when their top defensive player has been unavailable, Walker notes.
“One guy left the lineup, Herb Jones,” Borrego said. “He’s incredible. But that doesn’t excuse our defense. If we’ve got to get Herb back to hold people under 130, that’s unacceptable.”
Here’s more from around the Southwest:
- Rockets center Alperen Sengun suffered a lateral right ankle sprain just over a minute into Saturday’s game at Dallas and was ruled out for the remainder of the eventual loss, as Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com relays. The Turkish big man, who made his first All-Star appearance last season, recently returned from a left soleus (calf) strain. Backup center Steven Adams was also out for a second consecutive game due to his own right ankle sprain, MacMahon adds.
- While Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (hyperextended left knee) missed his second straight game Saturday vs. Portland, head coach Mitch Johnson expects the star big man to travel to Memphis for Tuesday’s matchup with the Grizzlies, tweets Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News. That doesn’t necessarily mean Wembanyama will play Tuesday, but it’s certainly an encouraging sign. “[He’s] looking really good,” Johnson said, per Orsborn.
- Spurs forward Keldon Johnson is beloved for the levity he brings to the locker room and the contagious energy he provides when he’s cheering on his teammates, as Jared Weiss details for The Athletic. Johnson is the standard-bearer of San Antonio’s culture. “We got a lot of big personalities, and we got a face of the franchise,” coach Mitch Johnson said, “but that guy’s the heart and soul of the team.”
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.
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.
Stein’s Latest: Mavs, Davis, Bulls, Kuminga, CP3, Pelicans
Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont has begun gathering information on possible candidates to run the team’s front office on a permanent basis following last month’s ouster of Nico Harrison, reports Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link).
However, according to Stein, Dumont is in no rush to complete that search process and is content with the idea of taking a committee approach for the rest of the regular season. While Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi are the team’s co-interim general managers, minority owner Mark Cuban, head coach Jason Kidd, and Dumont himself are also providing input on front office decisions, with Dumont having become “far more involved” since Harrison’s dismissal, per Stein.
One major decision facing that committee prior to this season’s trade deadline is whether or not to trade star big man Anthony Davis. Stein hears from sources that a Davis deal isn’t a foregone conclusion by any means. As Stein explains, the Mavs recognize that last season’s Luka Doncic blockbuster can’t be undone, so the team doesn’t want to just accept the best offer on the table for Davis. Accepting a subpar return for him would risk simply “compounding mistakes already made,” Stein writes.
Here’s more from Stein’s latest NBA round-up:
- The Bulls don’t appear to have any real interest in Davis, but they remain a team to watch for Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, Stein says. As Stein notes, Chicago has conveyed some interest in Kuminga in the past, bringing him in past discussions involving Alex Caruso and other players.
- The Hornets were among the teams with interest in Chris Paul during the offseason, but the veteran point guard wasn’t interested in playing so far away from his family in Los Angeles. According to Stein, Charlotte is no longer expected to pursue Paul at this time, but CP3 is believed to be more open-minded about destinations further removed from L.A. Paul, who remains under contract with the Clippers for now, will become trade-eligible on Monday.
- Rookies Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears are now viewed as the most untouchable players on the Pelicans‘ roster, Stein writes. That designation used to belong to Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones — while New Orleans may be more open to listen on those players now, the team’s asking price for Murphy and Jones is still “extremely” high, according to Stein, who notes that the Pelicans are essentially discouraging inquiries based on the return they’re seeking.
Lakers Notes: Jones, Defense, LeBron, Smart
Pelicans wing Herbert Jones is the player most frequently mentioned by rival scouts and executives as a potential in-season trade target for the Lakers, according to Dan Woike of The Athletic.
However, despite rumors that New Orleans is more open to fielding calls on Jones than in the past, sources tell Woike that New Orleans isn’t particularly interested in moving the defensive ace, who will become trade-eligible on January 14. As Woike points out, the Lakers would have a hard time putting together a viable package for Jones even if the Pelicans were open to a deal, since Los Angeles can only trade one future first-round pick.
That tradable first-rounder – which would be for either the 2031 or 2032 draft – isn’t considered as valuable by rival teams as it once was, according to Woike. Last season’s trade for Luka Doncic, as well as Mark Walter‘s purchase of the team, make it less likely that the Lakers will bottom out in the coming years, which limits the upside of even a far-out draft pick.
Here are a few more items of interest on the Lakers:
- The reason the Lakers would be so interested in Jones is that he would provide the team with a much-needed defensive stopper. After giving up 132 points to San Antonio on Wednesday, L.A. now ranks 21st in the NBA in defensive rating (116.7). LeBron James expressed confidence that the Lakers will “continue to get better” on that end of the court, per Woike, but both James and head coach JJ Redick stressed the importance of establishing the right habits. “Our second half against Philly (on Sunday) was the most physical we’ve been, particularly off-ball,” Redick said, according to Law Murray of The Athletic. “But the physicality, and the shifts, and then the closeouts, that’s the essence of our defense. So if we’re not doing those things well, it’s hard for us to guard.”
- James’ longtime agent Rich Paul expressed during the first episode of the ‘Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul’ podcast for The Ringer (YouTube link) that he doesn’t think the Lakers “have enough” to get to the Western Conference Finals this season. Asked on Wednesday about the Lakers’ postseason upside, LeBron himself said it’s still too early to speculate. “What I can say is that the habits that we build throughout the regular season each month [are what is important],” James said, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “If we are in a position to make it to the postseason and be able to get to that point, well, we have to build it now. But as far as talking about what type of damage we’re going to do in the postseason in December, that’s not right for the basketball gods, not for me.”
- Marcus Smart‘s return to action from a back injury was a bright spot in an disappointing NBA Cup quarterfinal loss on Wednesday, writes Thuc Nhi Nguyen of The Los Angeles Times. Smart scored 26 points and was a +2 in 28 minutes of action off the bench. Spurs players also made just 3-of-11 shots when the veteran guard was the primary defender. “When he guards, when he talks to us, we listen,” Doncic said. “Just got to be a little bit more of what he’s doing.”
Pelicans Notes: Queen, Jones, Murphy, Poole, Zion
Two of the league’s most promising rookies had the best games of their respective NBA careers on Monday in New Orleans. The Spurs and Dylan Harper, who scored 22 points and handed out six assists in 26 minutes off the bench, ultimately came out on top, with a three-point win over the Pelicans and Derik Queen.
Still, it was a memorable night for Queen, who became the first rookie center to ever record a 30-point triple-double, per ESPN’s Michael C. Wright, with 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. The big man also blocked four shots and was a +14 in 33 minutes.
“Special night for him,” Pelicans interim head coach James Borrego said of his standout rookie. “He was great. He did a really good job defensively on the boards, controlled the offense. We ran a lot of our stuff through him. He was fantastic.”
Although Monday’s loss dropped the Pelicans to a league-worst 3-22 on the season, Queen’s ongoing emergence is one reason for optimism, according to Rod Walker of NOLA.com (subscription required). Walker adds that the rookie’s strong play may help turn down the heat on head of basketball operations Joe Dumars, who faced loud criticism for his decision to trade an unprotected 2026 pick to move up 10 spots for Queen in June.
Those critics are unlikely to go away if the pick Dumars sent to Atlanta in that deal lands in the top three next June, especially since there will always be questions about whether the Pelicans could’ve moved up from No. 23 to No. 13 in this year’s draft without giving up quite such a valuable asset. However, if Queen – who will turn 21 later this month – continues to turn in performance like Monday’s, the deal could turn into a win-win for the Pelicans and Hawks.
Here’s more from out of New Orleans:
- William Guillory of The Athletic considers what sort of in-season trades to expect from the Pelicans, writing that he views Herbert Jones as more likely to be moved than Trey Murphy III, though there’s no guarantee New Orleans will seriously consider dealing either player. Guillory notes that a move involving Zion Williamson would be easier to complete in the offseason than before the trade deadline, and adds that high-priced guards Jordan Poole and Dejounte Murray and role players Saddiq Bey and Kevon Looney could also emerge as trade candidates.
- Although there’s still skepticism around the league that the Pelicans will trade either Jones or Murphy this season, Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link) says he spoke to five separate rival teams last week that said New Orleans isn’t shutting down inquiries on those players like the front office has in the past.
- Poole, who has been sidelined since November 4 due to a quad strain, participated in some parts of Tuesday’s practice, according to Borrego, who said the plan is for Poole to go through a full practice on Wednesday (Twitter link via Guillory).
- In a subscriber-only column for NOLA.com, Walker takes a look at the latest disappointing turn of events in the Williamson saga. This was supposed to be a “get-right” season for the former No. 1 overall pick, Walker writes, but hamstring and adductor strains have limited the two-time All-Star to just 10 appearances, and the Pelicans haven’t played well with or without him.
Injury Notes: Wembanyama, Smart, H. Jones, Sheppard
It’s unclear if he’ll be available to play, but star center Victor Wembanyama will travel with the Spurs to Los Angeles for Wednesday’s NBA Cup quarterfinal against the Lakers, head coach Mitch Johnson told Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News and other media members (Twitter link).
Wembanyama was a full practice participant on Sunday. He was out again Monday — his 11th straight absence — due to a left calf strain he sustained on November 15.
Through 12 appearances this season, Wembanyama has averaged 26.0 points, 12.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 3.6 blocks in 34.7 minutes per game. The 7’4″ big man was the first overall pick of the 2023 draft.
Here are a few more injury updates from around the NBA:
- The Lakers are hoping to have former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart back for Wednesday’s matchup vs. San Antonio, writes Khobi Price of The Southern California News Group. The 12th-year guard has missed the past six games due to a back issue — his injury designation has changed multiple times, with the latest being left lumbar muscle strain, Price notes. Smart went through an on-court workout on Sunday in Philadelphia. “Over the last couple days, he’s [gotten] closer,” head coach JJ Redick said before Sunday’s game. “We were hoping he’s back Wednesday, but still day-to-day.”
- After missing eight games with a right calf strain, Pelicans defensive ace Herbert Jones returned to action on Monday against San Antonio, the team announced (via Twitter). Jones, whose name has popped up in some trade rumors with New Orleans off to a disastrous 3-22 start, had a strong outing in his first game since Nov. 11, recording 17 points (on 6-of-10 shooting), six rebounds, four assists (zero turnovers), four steals and one block in 26 minutes.
- Pacers guard Ben Sheppard has a Grade 1 left calf strain and will be out at least 10 more days, head coach Rick Carlisle said on Monday (Twitter links via Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star). The former Belmont star has been sidelined for the past two games with the injury and will be out at least three more, with Dec. 20 at New Orleans likely being his earliest possible return date.
Pelicans Rumors: Zion, Jones, Murphy, Fears, Queen
Chris Dodson of ClutchPoints reported on Thursday that Zion Williamson is increasingly unlikely to be in the Pelicans‘ long-term plans, but the team has yet to have any meaningful trade talks regarding the oft-injured star forward, who is currently out with an adductor strain.
Williamson, who is on an unusual maximum-salary contract that features weigh-in checkpoints and guarantees based on games played, likely has minimal trade value due to his extensive injury history.
During Thursday’s live stream for Bleacher Report (YouTube link), NBA insider Jake Fischer said there’s an expectation that New Orleans will entertain offers for the former No. 1 overall pick — and he’s not the only Pelicans player that will apply to.
“You can rest assured that the Pelicans are going to be listening to trade offers for (Williamson),” Fischer said (hat tip to RealGM). “And there are definitely teams that believe, that have told me as recently as today, that New Orleans is now starting to listen and at least show some type of willingness to listen on guys like Herbert Jones and Trey Murphy III as well.
“(Jones and Murphy) are going to have a lot of interest around the league. They’re both on very strong, long-term contracts that are considered relatively team-friendly. Under $30 million in average annual value, which is a big threshold in this current market.
“… But the Pelicans are going to hold a high asking price. And they are going to need multiple first-round picks to move on from either of those guys. That’s my understanding as of now. But right now, it is pretty clear that the Pelicans, with interim head coach James Borrego, are moving in a direction of a team built around Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen, their two lottery picks from this draft.”
Dodson’s ClutchPoints colleague Brett Siegel wrote on Friday that the odds of a deal involving Jones have grown “exponentially” in recent months amid the Pelicans’ disastrous 3-20 start to the season. After signing a contract extension in July, Jones isn’t currently eligible to be traded, but that will restriction will lift on January 14, a few weeks before this season’s deadline.
Fischer is the first reporter we’ve seen state that New Orleans may be open to the possibility of moving Murphy — Dodson suggested the team views the 25-year-old wing as part of the team’s core rather than a trade chip. Murphy is in the first season of a four-year, $112MM rookie scale extension.
In the wake of multiple rumors surrounding the struggling Pelicans, Will Guillory of The Athletic hears from several sources that the team has not had any trade talks involving Murphy, Jones or Williamson (Twitter link). Obviously that stance could change down the line, but it’s worth noting nonetheless.