Wembanyama, Thompson Named Defensive Players Of The Month
Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama has been named the Western Conference’s Defensive Player of the Month for January, the NBA announced today (via Twitter).
After missing a pair of games to open the month, Wembanyama suited up for San Antonio’s next 13 contests and averaged 8.2 defensive rebounds and 2.2 blocks per night — both of those figures ranked second in the Western Conference for January, per the league. While the Spurs posted a modest 7-6 record during those 13 games, their defensive rating during that stretch was 107.5, which ranked first among Western Conference teams.
The strong month has firmly placed Wembanyama back in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year, though he can’t afford to miss many more games if he wants to remain award-eligible. He has appeared in 35 of the Spurs’ first 49 games and must play in 30 of the last 33 to qualify for DPOY and other end-of-season honors.
Wembanyama was selected for the Defensive Player of the Month award over fellow Western Conference nominees Kris Dunn and Kawhi Leonard of the Clippers, Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, Suns guard Jordan Goodwin, Thunder big man Chet Holmgren, and Rockets guard Amen Thompson (Twitter link).
Amen’s brother Ausar Thompson of the Pistons has been recognized as the Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month for January, according to the league.
While he’s not a rim protector like Wembanyama, the Pistons wing wreaked havoc on the defensive end of the court last month by averaging a league-leading 2.4 steals per game, along with 4.2 deflections per game across 14 starts. Detroit went 10-4 in January and ranked first in the NBA with a 104.8 defensive rating.
The other Eastern Conference nominees for Defensive Player of the Month were Knicks forward OG Anunoby, Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley, Warriors center Alex Sarr, and Thompson’s teammate Isaiah Stewart, who won the award in December.
This is only the second season that the Defensive Player of the Month award has existed, but Wembanyama is a two-time winner, having also earned recognition for his defense in November 2024. It’s the first time Thompson claimed the honor.
Luka Doncic, Jaylen Brown Named Players Of The Month
Lakers guard Luka Doncic has been named the NBA’s Player of the Month for the Western Conference, while Celtics wing Jaylen Brown has won the award in the East, the league announced today (Twitter link).
The Lakers were 9-6 in games Doncic played in January, and the All-Star guard increased his league-leading scoring average by racking up 34.0 points per game in those 15 outings. He posted a shooting line of .506/.392/.747 for the month while also contributing 9.1 assists, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per night.
Doncic had four 30-point triple-doubles in January, capped by a 37-point, 13-assist, 11-rebound outing in Washington to wrap up the month last Friday. It’s the sixth Player of the Month award of his career and his first since he became a Laker almost exactly one year ago.
Brown’s career year continued in January as he led the Celtics to a 9-5 record in the 14 games he played, averaging 29.2 PPG, 7.9 RPG, and 4.6 APG. The 29-year-old matched a career high by scoring 50 points in a win over the Clippers on January 3, then had a 27-point triple-double in a double-overtime victory in Brooklyn on Jan. 23.
While his teammate Jayson Tatum has racked up five Player of the Month awards over the course of his career, this is the first time Brown has earned the honor.
Brown beat out fellow nominees Bam Adebayo and Norman Powell of the Heat, Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, Sixers center Joel Embiid, Hornets forward Brandon Miller, Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, and Pacers forward Pascal Siakam for the January award, per the NBA (Twitter link).
The other Western Conference nominees were Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija, Rockets forward Kevin Durant, Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg, Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, and Nuggets guard Jamal Murray.
Pacific Notes: Harden, Clips, Luka, Kuminga, Suns
Several members of the Clippers expressed surprise after Monday’s loss to Philadelphia that Los Angeles native James Harden is looking to find a new team, writes Tony Jones of The Athletic. The Cavaliers are reportedly interested in Harden and have discussed a trade that would send Darius Garland to the Clippers, but only if they receive draft compensation in return.
“Of course I’m surprised to hear the news,” Kawhi Leonard said. “But he’s got to do what is best for him. I respect his decision, or whoever’s decision it was, and that’s it. At the end of the day, he’s still going to be my boy. He’s still going to be my brother.”
While Harden is certainly no stranger to trade requests, having asked out of Houston, Brooklyn, Philadelphia and now L.A. over the past five years, these circumstances feel different, according to Jones, since the Clippers have been on a roll lately, going 17-4 over their past 21 games even after dropping Monday’s contest.
On the other hand, Harden reportedly wants to sign a new two-year contract in the summer and the Clippers have long been rumored to be focused on preserving their cap flexibility for the 2027 offseason. So the matter may not be very complicated, even if it caught his teammates off guard.
“It was shocking,” John Collins said (Twitter video link via Joey Linn). “Hell yeah [it would be disappointing to see him traded]. It would be a shock for me and for the team. And what we’ve been able to do. Our season turned around. Definitely something different, something out of left field.”
“We have to go out and be professionals and do our jobs,” head coach Tyronn Lue said, per Jones. “James means a lot to our team. You guys have seen it for the last three years. He means a lot.”
We have more from around the Pacific:
- Luka Doncic expressed confidence in the Lakers‘ direction following Sunday’s loss at New York, according to Dan Woike of The Athletic. “I think we’re in a good spot,” the superstar guard said. “Obviously, got some work to do. But I think today we obviously missed a lot of good looks, but I think we have a great group.” Sunday marked the one-year anniversary of the stunning blockbuster trade that sent Doncic from Dallas to L.A. Although the Lakers have been linked to some members of the Mavericks this season, sources who spoke to Woike were extremely skeptical about the two teams engaging in discussions that would make the Lakers better after all the backlash the Mavs have received in the last year.
- Assuming he’s still on the team past Thursday’s trade deadline, Jonathan Kuminga will be part of the Warriors‘ rotation once he recovers from his left knee bone bruise, head coach Steve Kerr said Monday on 95.7 The Game’s “Willard and Dibs” show (hat tip to Lauren Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area). “We’ve always gotten along well, and there’s never been any issues on that front. It’s really been more about playing time and the door is wide open for him with these injuries,” Kerr said of Kuminga. “I hope we get him back and I hope he can continue to play like he did in those couple games when he got back in the rotation, he was really good.”
- Michael Scotto of HoopsHype recently spoke to Suns center Mark Williams, an impending restricted free agent, and guard Collin Gillespie, who will be an unrestricted free agent. “I don’t really think about it that much,” Gillespie said of his contract situation. “I try not to think about it. Obviously, I love where I’m at. I love this team and the organization. We’ll see what happens at the end of the year, but I just try to go out there and play my best basketball and play winning basketball to do whatever helps the team win.” Some executives predicted that Gillespie’s market in free agency could be in the range of $10-15MM per year, according to Scotto, who said Phoenix wants to retain the former Villanova standout.
Rival Teams Skeptical Bucks Will Trade Giannis This Week
A two-time Most Valuable Player could be on the move this week, with the Bucks listening to offers on Giannis Antetokounmpo and several clubs believed to be in pursuit of the superstar forward. However, teams around the NBA aren’t convinced that Milwaukee will actually pull the trigger on a deal involving Antetokounmpo within the next 50 hours or so.
According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, as of Monday evening, the offers on the table for Antetokounmpo were said to be “underwhelming” enough that most agents and rival executives he spoke to believe the saga will carry over into the offseason.
Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic (Twitter link) also cites a “healthy skepticism” across the league that the Bucks will move their longtime this week, while ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps share a similar sentiment.
“Everyone is preparing for this to happen in the summer,” one Western Conference executive told ESPN.
As Windhorst and Bontemps explain, a team like the Warriors – who can offer virtually all of their future first-round picks and swaps at this time – could put a similar pick-heavy offer on the table in the offseason. Meanwhile, some suitors who have a shortage of tradable first-rounders due to the Stepien and seven-year rules will have more flexibility to offer picks at this year’s draft when restrictions lift on certain selections, meaning they could improve their offers at that point.
The Bucks would also have clarity following the draft lottery about where their own first-round pick – and every other 2026 selection – will actually land. That would give them a better sense of the value of any 2026 first-rounders included in offers for Giannis, as well as an idea of what sort of potential cornerstone they could land with their own selection.
Additionally, Bontemps notes, there may be teams who expect to make a deep playoff run this spring and instead get bounced from the postseason early, prompting them to either enter the Giannis sweepstakes or to get more aggressive in terms of what they’re willing to offer for him.
Still, plenty of teams with interest in Antetokounmpo appear motivated to try to get a deal done now. The Warriors, Heat, Timberwolves, and Knicks have been the suitors cited most frequently, but they aren’t necessarily the only clubs in the mix. Windhorst said today during an ESPN Cleveland appearance (Twitter video link) that the Cavaliers are among the teams to call Milwaukee about Antetokounmpo too, and that they’ve also inquired on Mavericks big man Anthony Davis.
The Cavs aren’t permitted to aggregate two or more player salaries as long as they’re operating over the second tax apron, and both Giannis and AD have higher cap hits ($54MM+) than anyone on Cleveland’s roster, so the team would need to shed significant salary in order to realistically make a play for either star. The Cavs are currently operating about $14MM over the second apron.
While the Cavs may not end up making a blockbuster deal, it certainly sounds as if they’re more open than ever to discussing players who had previously been viewed as off limits, such as Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen, according to Windhorst (Twitter video link), who suggested that concerns about the current group’s championship upside and Donovan Mitchell‘s willingness to sign an extension in the offseason are likely driving Cleveland’s approach to the deadline.
The Bucks are believed to be prioritizing impact players in their Giannis trade discussions, says Amick, which could improve the Cavs’ chances for Antetokounmpo if they can figure out a way to make the money work. At this point, Cleveland only has one first-round pick to offer (either 2031 or 2032).
The Cavs don’t necessarily have to get below the second apron to make a significant shake-up though. They’re reportedly in talks with the Clippers about a possible deal involving Garland and James Harden, with NBA insider Chris Haynes (Twitter link) reporting within the past hour that the two teams have ramped up those conversations as they try to reach an agreement before Thursday’s deadline.
Heat Notes: Rozier, Ware, Young Players, Powell, Herro
Terry Rozier won a salary dispute against the NBA on Monday when an arbitrator ruled in favor of the Heat guard, reports David Purdum of ESPN.com. Rozier was placed on unpaid leave by the league at the end of October, six days after he was arrested on federal charges related to a gambling investigation.
The 31-year-old pleaded not guilty conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering in December.
Rozier is on an expiring $26.6MM contract. His full salary will be released after the arbitrator found the NBA violated the Collective Bargaining Agreement, as only players who are involved in cases of domestic or child abuse can be placed on unpaid leave, sources familiar with the ruling tell Purdum.
The National Basketball Players Association, which appealed the ruling on Rozier’s behalf, released the following statement to ESPN:
“We are pleased with the arbitrator’s ruling and remain committed to ensuring Terry’s due process rights are protected and that he is afforded the presumption of innocence throughout this process.”
Here’s more on the Heat:
- Kel’el Ware is reportedly expected to be included in the offer the Heat make for Giannis Antetokounmpo. The second-year center admits he’s heard those rumors, according to Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. “Of course, I’ve seen it,” Ware said Saturday. “My people have told me. But at the end of the day, if they make that decision, they make that decision. If not, then I’m just going to continue to go out here and play regardless.” As Chiang writes, Ware played a season-low three minutes in Saturday’s loss to Chicago, continuing a downward trend — he has averaged just 13.2 minutes per game over his past 10 appearances, well below his mark for the season (22.6 MPG). Head coach Erik Spoelstra said the decision to limit Ware’s playing time was because the game was “so fast” and the Bulls’ advantages were due to their “speed and quickness.” “I can’t control it,” Ware said. “I mean, it is what it is. I mean, whatever he feels like that he perceives or feels like playing.”
- As Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald observes (Twitter links), if the Heat are trying to acquire Giannis, Spoelstra isn’t exactly doing a great job of painting Ware as the blue-chip prospect Milwaukee is seeking. Spoelstra was critical of Ware a few weeks ago – though he walked back those comments the next day – and suggesting the 21-year-old center struggles against fast, small-ball lineups and limiting his playing time is “really puzzling,” Jackson writes. For what it’s worth, Ware scored 17 points in 18 minutes during Miami’s blowout Sunday victory over Chicago.
- After Sunday’s game, Spoelstra opened his media session by making unprompted comments about Ware and his overall handling of the team’s young players, saying he wants to do a better job of finding the right balance of holding that group accountable while also aiding their development and boosting their confidence, per Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel. “Since one of you guys will probably ask about Kel’el,” Spoelstra said. “Kel’el gave us really solid minutes tonight. I was encouraged by his defensive activity. He’s part of that young-gun crew, as well. And offensively he moved the ball when he needed to, he gave us the vertical spacing when he needed to. He shot the three when he needed to. So those things I think we can build on.”
- Veteran wing Norman Powell was named to his first All-Star team on Sunday evening, but he was away from the team for the second straight game due to personal reasons, Winderman notes. “My peers around the league after games and things like that are telling me that I’m an All-Star and that I should be there,” he said. “But I do believe that I am an All-Star. I’ve always seen myself as that, and something that I’ve always wanted to work towards.”
- Tyler Herro, who has been limited to just 11 appearances this season due to injuries, including missing 10 straight contests with a rib issue, will not defend his three-point title at All-Star weekend, Winderman adds in another story. The 26-year-old guard, who made his first All-Star appearance last season, is focused on getting healthy, Winderman writes.
Darko Rajakovic To Coach World Team At All-Star Game
Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic has been named the coach of the World team for this year’s All-Star event, the NBA announced today (via Twitter).
Typically, the two All-Star coaches come from the teams with the best record in each conference as of February 1, as long as they didn’t coach in the game the previous year. J.B. Bickerstaff of the Pistons and Mitch Johnson of the Spurs fit that criteria this season and have already been named All-Star coaches.
However, the NBA tweaked the format of its All-Star game this year — instead of being a matchup between two 12-player teams, the event will be made up of three teams of eight players apiece competing in multiple shorter games. Two of those teams will consist of U.S. players, while the third will be a “World” team featuring international stars.
As a result of the format change, a third head coach was required, so Rajakovic will join Bickerstaff and Johnson for the festivities in Los Angeles later this month.
Rajakovic’s Raptors have a 30-21 record and currently hold the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference. One of the only current NBA head coaches born outside of the U.S., Rajkovic is a native of Serbia who has previously coached teams in both Spain and Serbia, making him an obvious fit to lead the World team.
Trade Rumors: AD, Mavs, Bridges, Sabonis, Pistons, More
In their initial trade discussions with teams earlier this season about big man Anthony Davis, the Mavericks were seeking multiple first-round picks or an impact player, sources tell ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. However, there were no takers at that price, even prior to Davis’ most recent injury, a hand issue that will keep him sidelined through the deadline.
While a pre-deadline Davis deal is no longer considered likely, it’s not impossible, Windhorst writes — but it would almost certainly require Dallas to drop its asking price and settle for perhaps one solid asset, plus matching salary. With no urgency to make a move right now, it probably makes more sense for the Mavs to wait until the offseason to make a decision on the 32-year-old.
Rival teams anticipate that Dallas will pursue trades involving other players in an effort to reduce their team salary for 2026/27, Tim Bontemps of ESPN says within the same story. Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford, and D’Angelo Russell are among the Mavs’ trade candidates who have guaranteed salaries or (in Russell’s case) a player option for next season. Turning any of them into a player – or players – with expiring salary could help the Mavs manage their cap situation for next season, reducing the need to move off Davis’ maximum-salary contract, Bontemps observes.
Here are a few more of the latest trade rumors from around the NBA:
- Hornets forward Miles Bridges likely won’t be moved at the trade deadline, writes Sam Amick of The Athletic. Amick reported in January that Bridges was drawing legitimate trade interest from a handful of teams, but Charlotte has been in a roll since then, registering seven consecutive wins and moving within one game of a play-in spot. A league source tells The Athletic that the forward – for whom the Hornets were reportedly seeking at least one first-round pick – is “highly likely” to remain in Charlotte.
- In their discussions about Domantas Sabonis, the Kings have explored three-for-one or four-for-one frameworks with the Raptors, according to James Ham of The Kings Beat, who suggests such a package would start with forward RJ Barrett and may include players like Ochai Agbaji and Gradey Dick. Sacramento would also want rookie Collin Murray-Boyles, but he’s someone Toronto would “fight to hold onto,” Ham adds. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter video link) has also heard that Barrett and Agbaji have come up in the Sabonis talks between the Raptors and Kings.
- Checking in on the Pistons‘ approach to the trade deadline, Hunter Patterson of the Athletic suggests the team seems unlikely to make any major moves and hasn’t engaged in discussions involving veteran forward Tobias Harris, whom head coach J.B. Bickerstaff refers to as his “security blanket.” Detroit will be opportunistic if a favorable deal arises and still has a $14MM trade exception available, but that exception doesn’t expire until July 7, so the team could end up hanging onto it until the offseason, Patterson writes.
- Following up on a HoopsHype report that suggested the Sixers were among the team to express exploratory interest in Celtics forward/center Chris Boucher, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (subscription required) says a source downplayed Philadelphia’s interest, despite Boucher’s connection to 76ers head coach Nick Nurse.
Injury Notes: Braun, Durant, Henderson, Spurs, Washington
Nuggets guard Christian Braun appears to be on the verge of returning to action. He has been upgraded to questionable for Denver’s game in Detroit on Tuesday, as Vinny Benedetto of The Denver Gazette tweets.
A left ankle sprain has been a problem for Braun for much of the season. The 24-year-old initially injured the ankle on November 12 and returned on January 4, but suited up for just three games before heading back to the Nuggets’ injured list for several more weeks. He has been limited to just 14 total appearances in 2025/26.
Although Braun is trending toward returning either Tuesday or Wednesday, Denver’s starting lineup will still be far from whole. Cameron Johnson (right knee bone bruise) and Aaron Gordon (right hamstring strain) remain on the shelf for the team.
Here are several more injury updates from around the NBA:
- Rockets forward Kevin Durant missed his third game of the season on Sunday due to a left ankle sprain, but head coach Ime Udoka is hopeful the former MVP’s absence won’t extend beyond that contest, tweets Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star. Houston picked up a win in Indiana on Sunday with Reed Sheppard starting in place of Durant.
- Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson has been listed as doubtful for Tuesday’s matchup with Phoenix. While his season debut may not happen tonight, Henderson said on Sunday that he feels “amazing” and “ready” to play after missing Portland’s first 50 games this season due to a hamstring tear, per Joe Freeman of The Oregonian.
- Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama was initially listed as questionable on Sunday due to left calf soreness, while guard Stephon Castle missed the contest as a result of left adductor tightness, but neither ailment is viewed as serious, writes Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News (subscription required). “It’s just been something that’s been a little tight,” head coach Mitch Johnson said of Castle’s injury. “Don’t foresee it being anything major or long-term. The (back-to-back) circumstances we were coming out of only added to it. We felt like it was the best decision for him (to sit out one game).”
- Mavericks forward P.J. Washington has entered the NBA’s concussion protocol and will miss at least Tuesday’s game vs. Boston, tweets Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News. Washington will have to work his way through the protocol before being cleared to return to action.
Kings Rumors: Sabonis, Hunter, Kuminga, Morant, LaVine
The Kings haven’t ruled out the possibility of trading Domantas Sabonis this week, per Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link), and the Raptors‘ interest in the veteran center is very real, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic. Most sources with knowledge of the situation view Toronto as the most viable Sabonis suitor at this time, Fischer writes.
While Fischer gets the sense that Keon Ellis no longer be in play shouldn’t have any material impact on talks between the Raptors and Kings, he acknowledges that Toronto is also looking elsewhere for frontcourt upgrades. Daniel Gafford of the Mavericks and Day’Ron Sharpe of the Nets continue to be possibilities, and some members of Anthony Davis‘ camp still think the Raptors will pursue the 10-time All-Star, Fischer writes.
However, Jakob Poeltl and his long-term contract (he’s owed nearly $104MM over four seasons after this one) will complicate any Raptors deal for Sabonis. Team and league sources who spoke to Amick think Toronto would need to find a new home for Poeltl in order to acquire Sabonis, and Sacramento is known to have no interest in taking him back.
Given the potential roadblocks, Amick suggests he wouldn’t be surprised if nothing happens with Sabonis this week and the two teams renew their discussions in the offseason.
Here’s more on the Kings:
- Although Hunter fills a roster need, the trade the Kings made with Cleveland and Chicago shows a lack of foresight and vision from the front office, contends John Hollinger of The Athletic. Trading for Dario Saric in a cost-cutting move and then using the extra breathing room under the tax to sign Dennis Schröder to a three-year deal were two of the first moves general manager Scott Perry made on the job last summer, and he essentially sold both players at a loss just seven months later. Hunter’s 2026/27 salary also pushes the Kings over the projected luxury tax line for next season, Hollinger notes.
- While the trade sending Ellis to Cleveland and Hunter to Sacramento shouldn’t have an impact on the Raptors’ talks for Sabonis, that deal probably reduces the odds of Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga being dealt to the Kings, Fischer writes. Ellis was a potential target for Golden State, and Sacramento’s desire to add a forward has presumably lessened after its acquisition of Hunter.
- Perry has expressed a desire to build the Kings’ roster around players who can impact the game on both ends of the court — Hunter fits that bill, but Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant doesn’t, according to Fischer, who says he’s skeptical Sacramento will pursue Morant in the coming days. Fischer has heard that Morant would be reluctant to sign a contract extension with the Kings and that Sacramento is aware of that fact.
- A league source tells Sam Amick of The Athletic that Zach LaVine is expected to pick up the $49MM player option on his contract for 2026/27. That comes as no surprise, given that LaVine would almost certainly have to accept a significant pay cut if he were to opt out in favor of free agency. That $49MM cap hit for next season is the primary reason why the Kings appear unlikely to find a taker for the high-scoring guard this week.
Cavs Rumors: Garland, Harden, Allen, Ball
Monday’s initial reports that the Cavaliers and Clippers are exploring the possibility of a trade involving James Harden and Darius Garland have since been confirmed by several outlets, though discussions between the two teams have yet to reach an “advanced stage,” according to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link).
The Cavaliers’ interest in Harden is contingent on the possibility of acquiring draft compensation from the Clippers as part of the swap of the two point guards, per Tony Jones, Dan Woike, Sam Amick, and Law Murray of The Athletic. That echoes reporting from Chris Mannix of SI.com, who said on Monday that L.A. has resisted Cleveland’s request for at least one first-round pick or swap.
Before De’Andre Hunter was dealt to Sacramento on Sunday, the Clippers engaged in talks with the Cavs about John Collins, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Hunter, according to Stein and Fischer. While those discussions didn’t result in a deal, L.A. views Cleveland as a viable landing spot for Harden — sources tell Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com that the Clippers have had interest in Garland for several years.
Still, while Harden and the Clippers are working together on a potential trade, both sides recognize that one might not materialize by Thursday’s deadline, Stein and Fischer write.
Outside of Cleveland, Harden has been intrigued by Atlanta and Minnesota as potential destinations at various times this season, sources tell The Stein Line, but neither the Hawks nor the Timberwolves are considered likely to seriously pursue the former MVP at this point. The Wolves are focused on Giannis Antetokounmpo, while the Hawks no longer seem to be looking to make aggressive moves at the deadline after having sent Trae Young to Washington last month, per Stein and Fischer.
One source familiar with the situation told Stein and Fischer that Harden’s apparent desire for a change of scenery is “all about a contract extension.” While Harden isn’t technically extension-eligible this season, reporting on Monday suggested that he hopes to sign a new two-year deal as a free agent this summer, whereas the Clippers are believed to be looking to maximize their 2027 cap room.
Here’s more on the Cavaliers:
- Although the Cavs have been signaling for most of the season that they intend to hang onto Garland, who has been limited to 26 games due to toe issues, there’s a growing belief around the NBA that the two-time All-Star could be on the trade block this offseason if he’s not moved for Harden this week, report Stein and Fischer. Sam Amick of The Athletic has also heard “league-wide chatter” about Garland potentially being available in the summer.
- League sources tell Amick that the Cavaliers have explored the idea of trading veteran center Jarrett Allen, whose three-year, $90.7MM extension will begin in 2026/27. Amick suggests that moving Allen might be a way of “unlocking much bigger possibilities” in Cleveland, which suggests the club’s goal would probably be to move below the second tax apron. Even after reducing their team salary in Sunday’s Hunter trade, the Cavs are still operating roughly $14MM above that second apron this season.
- Sources with knowledge of the Cavs’ thinking have insisted for days that Lonzo Ball – not Garland, Allen, or Max Strus – is the team’s primary trade candidate this week, according to Stein and Fischer, who report that Cleveland has had some preliminary talks with the Hornets about the possibility of uniting Lonzo with his brother LaMelo Ball. Along with Charlotte, the Nets and Jazz are among the teams that have conveyed interest in taking on unwanted salary along with draft compensation. The Cavs would presumably attach second-round draft capital to Lonzo if they agree to a deal that sends him to Charlotte, per The Stein Line.
- The Cavaliers could’ve acquired Malik Monk from the Kings in the Hunter trade instead of Dennis Schröder, but Schröder’s performances with the German national team and his familiarity with head coach Kenny Atkinson from their time together in Atlanta appealed to Cleveland, says Fischer (Substack link).