Warriors Reportedly Targeting MPJ, Murphy, H. Jones
There have been mixed reports about whether the Nets are open to trading Michael Porter Jr. ahead of the February 5 deadline, and one report said the Pelicans are shutting down trade inquiries on Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones, among others. However, those three players currently sit atop the Warriors‘ trade wish list, sources tell Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.
While he doesn’t state it outright, Siegel implies Jonathan Kuminga would be the primary outgoing salary in a deal for Murphy, with Golden State believed to be open to including two first-round picks. Siegel doesn’t include any details on what a potential offer for Jones might look like.
According to Siegel, early indications are the Warriors are reluctant to trade more than one first-rounder for Porter because a deal would include both Kuminga and Moses Moody. Siegel says Golden State is “very open” to moving Moody ahead of the deadline, explaining that front office has been a little disappointed that the 23-year-old hasn’t made more progress in his development.
It’s unclear if Brooklyn would accept such a package — or if the Nets will trade him at all — but Siegel writes that Porter may be the Warriors’ top trade target if they can acquire him for Kuminga, Moody, Buddy Hield and an unspecified first-round pick.
If Golden State is unable to land Porter, Murphy or Jones, Siegel hears the team would likely pivot to other wings and big men on the trade market, listing Naji Marshall, Ayo Dosunmu, Daniel Gafford and Bobby Portis as a few of the players who could be available and wouldn’t cost as much to acquire.
Peyton Watson, Scottie Barnes Named Players Of Week
Nuggets wing Peyton Watson and Raptors forward Scottie Barnes have been named the Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Week, respectively, according to the NBA (Twitter links).
Watson led the depleted Nuggets to a 3-1 record during the week of January 5-11, posting averages of 24.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.8 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game while making 70% of his three-point attempts (14-of-20).
The fourth-year swingman entered Denver’s starting lineup in November due to injuries and is enjoying a career year ahead of his restricted free agency. This is the first Player of the Week award of his career.
The Raptors also had a 3-1 record last week with Barnes averaging 22.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists — he sat out the team’s loss to Boston on Friday due to a right knee sprain, so Toronto was 3-0 when he played.
Barnes’ best game of the week came in an overtime victory over Philadelphia on Sunday — he racked up 31 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds, and was a +15 in a game the Raptors won by a single point.
It’s the second time Barnes has earned Player of the Week honors in his career.
Deni Avdija (Trail Blazers), Devin Booker (Suns), Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder) and Kawhi Leonard (Clippers) were the other Western Conference nominees, while Jalen Brunson (Knicks), Joel Embiid (Sixers), Darius Garland (Cavaliers), Jalen Johnson (Hawks) and Andrew Nembhard (Pacers) were also nominated in the East.
Rudy Gobert Suspended For One Game
1:53pm: The league has confirmed Gobert’s suspension, which he’ll serve on Tuesday (Twitter link).
7:12am: Rudy Gobert will be suspended for one game due to his accumulation of flagrant fouls, reports The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski (Twitter link).
Gobert was assessed a flagrant foul for a reckless closeout on a Victor Wembanyama three-point attempt in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game between the Timberwolves and the Spurs. Wembanyama came down on Gobert’s foot but, after flexing his ankle on the ground, appeared to be uninjured.
The call marked Gobert’s fifth flagrant foul this season, four of which are categorized as Flagrant Foul 1, and one Flagrant Foul 2, which occurred in a game against the Suns. That puts Gobert at six total flagrant foul points, which automatically earns him a one-game suspension.
Gobert figures to serve the suspension on Tuesday against the Bucks.
Bucks Reportedly Interested In Ja Morant
The Bucks are among the teams with interest in Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant, multiple league sources tell Jim Owczarski of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (subscription required).
Morant, a two-time All-Star who has been plagued by injury and off-court woes in recent years, will miss his fifth straight game on Sunday vs. Brooklyn due to a right calf contusion, per the NBA’s official injury report.
This is the first report we’ve seen definitively linking Milwaukee to Morant, who is on the trading block.
In order to match salaries with Morant, who is earning approximately $39.5MM this season and is under contract through 2027/28, an outgoing Bucks package would likely start with Kyle Kuzma ($22.4MM). There are multiple ways to make the money work from there with additional players included.
While Morant makes some sense as a buy-low candidate for the Bucks, who are trying to get back into contention in the Eastern Conference around two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, his on-court fit seems shaky. For starters, Morant has never been a great shooter, and Milwaukee’s two best players this season outside of Antetokounmpo have arguably been point guards (Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr.).
The Bucks also continue to be intrigued by Kings shooting guard Zach LaVine, Owczarski reports. Milwaukee has been connected to multiple players on Sacramento’s roster, though the two teams reportedly weren’t engaged in active trade conversations as of last week.
Dennis Schröder Suspended For Three Games
The NBA has announced a three-game suspension for Kings guard Dennis Schröder for “confronting and attempting to strike another player.”
The incident, which involved Lakers star Luka Doncic, occurred 40 minutes after their December 28 game, according to the league, as Schröder “sought out” Doncic in an arena hallway and “initiated the confrontation.”
Schröder’s suspension will begin with Sunday’s game against Houston. He will also miss Monday’s rematch with the Lakers and Wednesday’s meeting with New York. He will be docked three games’ worth of salary amounting to $291,807, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Twitter link).
Tensions between Schröder and Doncic began with an exchange of words early in the game (YouTube link) and continued throughout the night. Doncic’s comments to Schröder included, “You should’ve signed that contract, baby” (TikTok link), a reference to a reported four-year, $84MM extension offer that Schröder turned down when he was with the Lakers in 2021.
According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Lakers center Deandre Ayton attempted to pull Schröder away from Doncic as security intervened.
The rivalry between the two guards began in Europe and dates back several years, according to Marca. It picked up intensity last fall when Schröder’s German team defeated Doncic’s Slovenia in the EuroBasket quarterfinals. The website states that Schröder has expressed respect for Doncic in the past and suggests that the latest incident may stem from the frustrations of playing for a losing team in Sacramento.
Schröder has been mentioned as a potential trade candidate if the Kings try to unload some of their veterans ahead of the February 5 deadline.
Latest On Ja Morant
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Friday that the Grizzlies are listening to trade offers for Ja Morant, but also said the team is open to keeping him on the roster past the February 5 deadline. John Hollinger of The Athletic, a former high-ranking Grizzlies executive, confirms the team is fielding offers for Morant but is dubious Memphis will retain the 26-year-old beyond Feb. 5.
As Hollinger observes, it’s rare for a team to publicly advertise it’s open to moving one of its top players unless the club already intends to move him. Just a few days after the Hawks were said to be working on a trade with Trae Young, they ended up sending him to Washington. It’s quite possible Memphis already has a deal lined up for Morant and is waiting to see if anyone will top it, according to Hollinger.
Hollinger confirms the Kings and Timberwolves are unlikely to pursue Morant, describing their interest as “lukewarm at best.” While he admits it’s informed speculation, Hollinger points to the Raptors (Immanuel Quickley and other assets) as a team that might be a fit, and calls the Nets a potential “deep dark horse” suitor.
A league source tells The Athletic that Michael Porter Jr. is a “lock” to be traded by Brooklyn ahead of the deadline, with Hollinger suggesting three-team frameworks that send Porter to either the Raptors, Heat or Bucks, Morant to the Nets, and various assets to the Grizzlies.
Here are several more rumors related to Morant:
- There’s a sense around the league that the Grizzlies might be able to get more value for Morant than the Hawks did for Young, according to Sam Vecenie of The Athletic. That could require Memphis to take on long-term money in return, but the team seems more willing to go that route than Atlanta was.
- Still, Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link) hears the Grizzlies don’t have unrealistic expectations about a potential return package. Fischer confirms they’re looking for young players and draft assets, but says Memphis isn’t expecting anything close to what it received for Desmond Bane over the offseason.
- According to Fischer, while Morant may have never formally requested a trade, it seems both sides were in agreement about seeking a change of scenery. Fischer also hears the Grizzlies want to build around Jaren Jackson Jr., but says that won’t stop opposing teams from calling about his availability and trying to determine through back channels whether the former Defensive Player of the Year is open to a possible exit. Hollinger has heard similar rumblings about Jackson, with Fischer wondering if the Raptors or Hawks might pivot to a pursuit of the 26-year-old big man in the wake of Anthony Davis‘ hand injury.
- Although there were some suggestions early in the season about a potential Morant-LaMelo Ball trade between the Grizzlies and Hornets, that scenario appears unlikely now, Fischer writes.
- The Raptors offered Quickley and unspecified draft compensation to the Hawks for Young prior to last year’s deadline, sources tell Fischer, and maintained a level of interest in the four-time All-Star in 2025/26. The Hawks weren’t interested in taking on Quickley’s contract, as they were instead focused on financial flexibility, but perhaps Memphis would feel differently.
- The Heat have had internal discussions about pursuing Morant, Fischer reports. Morant didn’t like playing under the Noah LaRoche‘s offensive system last season with Memphis, Fischer notes, but Miami has a history of expressing interest in star players regardless of their injury or off-court histories.
- Both Hollinger and Vecenie are skeptical about the Bucks pursuing Morant, but the possibility can’t be ruled out entirely. “They’ve thought about everyone,” one rival executive told Fischer.
Timberwolves, Kings Not Expected To Pursue Ja Morant
Although both clubs were linked to Ja Morant in the wake of the news that the Grizzlies are entertaining trade offers for the two-time All-Star, neither the Timberwolves nor the Kings are expected to pursue the 26-year-old point guard, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link).
Fischer reported a few days ago that Minnesota is looking for point guard upgrades but the team is focused on finding players with manageable cap hits. Morant doesn’t fit that bill, as he’s on a maximum-salary contract that runs through 2027/28.
As for Sacramento, Morant doesn’t seem to fit the description of the types of players general manager Scott Perry has publicly said he’s looking to add to the roster over the past several months, Fischer writes. On the court, the Kings are seeking players with positional size, defensive versatility, and physicality, and off the court, Perry has preached “discipline, accountability and professionalism,” Fischer notes.
The Kings also aren’t interested in taking back long-term money in potential in-season trades, Fischer reports. That has limited any momentum in talks with the Raptors involving Domantas Sabonis, sources tell Fischer, as the Kings don’t want to take on the long-term salaries of either Immanuel Quickley or Jakob Poeltl.
Anthony Davis Has Ligament Damage In Hand, Out Indefinitely
5:30 pm: The Mavericks officially confirmed (via Twitter) that Davis has ligament damage in his left hand, which was revealed by an MRI. Davis is seeking multiple opinions for the injury and updates will be provided as appropriate.
4:05 pm: In a full story for ESPN.com, Charania and MacMahon report that Davis is expected to be out at least six weeks if he’s able to avoid surgery. Undergoing a procedure would sideline the one-time NBA champion for “several” months, sources tell ESPN.
3:24 pm: Mavericks big man Anthony Davis has ligament damage in his left hand, according to Shams Charania and Tim MacMahon of ESPN (Twitter link).
Davis is getting a second opinion on his hand and could miss multiple months if surgery is deemed the best course of action to treat the injury, per ESPN’s duo. Either way, it sounds like Davis — one of the top names on trade market — will be out of action beyond the February 5 deadline, tweets Charania.
The 32-year-old forward/center sustained the injury late in the fourth quarter during Thursday’s loss at Utah. His hand appeared to bend back at an odd angle while defending Lauri Markkanen on a drive (YouTube link).
Davis initially signaled to Mavs head coach Jason Kidd that he was OK to stay in the game despite being in noticeable discomfort, but checked out a couple of possessions later after Kidd called a timeout. The 10-time All-Star was doubled over in pain in the tunnel of the arena and did not return.
Davis, who has a lengthy injury history, has been plagued by multiple ailments (adductor, eye, calf, groin) since was traded to Dallas last February in the shocking blockbuster that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers. The Mavs are 10-10 with Davis in the lineup this season but just 4-14 when he’s unavailable.
Not only does Davis’ hand injury decrease the odds of him being dealt before Feb. 5, it may make the Mavs more likely to shut down Kyrie Irving for the 2025/26 campaign as well, notes Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints (via Twitter). Irving is out indefinitely after tearing his ACL last March.
2026 is the last draft which in which the Mavericks control their first-round pick until 2031, observes Marc Stein (Twitter link), so prioritizing a top selection for the remainder of the year seems likely. The offseason may be a different matter, however, given the lack of future draft control.
In 20 games this season, Davis has averaged 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.7 blocks in 31.3 minutes per contest. The former No. 1 overall pick is under contract through 2027/28, with a $62.8MM player option for that final season.
Centers Daniel Gafford, Dwight Powell and Moussa Cisse are candidates for more playing time with Davis out indefinitely.
Pelicans Telling Teams They Won’t Trade Zion, Jones, Murphy
The Pelicans are rebuffing trade inquiries on forwards Zion Williamson, Herbert Jones, and Trey Murphy III, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes (Twitter link), who reports that New Orleans is telling teams that those players will remain in New Orleans through the February 5 trade deadline.
Haynes adds that forward Derik Queen and guard Jeremiah Fears are also considered off-limits, though there was never any expectation that the Pelicans would consider trading either of their promising rookies this season.
The Pelicans underwent a front office overhaul last spring, with head of basketball operations David Griffin replaced by Joe Dumars, who brought in former Pistons general manager Troy Weaver as his top lieutenant. Dumars and Weaver began reshaping the roster during their first summer on the job, trading away CJ McCollum and giving up a 2026 first-rounder in order to draft Queen after using their own lottery pick on Fears.
With New Orleans off to an ugly 8-31 start this season, there had been speculation that more significant roster changes could be on the way in the next few weeks.
While multiple reporters stated that the Pelicans weren’t looking to move Jones or Murphy, there was a sense that they might be more open to listening on that duo than in the past, though the asking price would still have been “extremely” high. Multiple reports also suggested that Williamson appeared increasingly unlikely to be part of the club’s long-term plans.
Based on Haynes’ update today, it doesn’t sound as if any of those three veterans will be going anywhere this season after all. Still, it’s worth noting that we have nearly four weeks until the deadline, so if the Pelicans get an offer that blows them away, there would be nothing stopping them from changing their stance on or before Feb. 5.
Williamson, a two-time All-Star, has battled a series of injuries since being drafted first overall in 2019, playing more than 30 games in a season just twice in his career. However, he has put up big numbers whenever he’s healthy, including averages of 22.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.1 steals in 28.8 minutes per game in 23 outings this season.
The 25-year-old, who was linked to the Bulls this week, is making $39.4MM this season and is owed about $87MM over the next two years, though he has a unique contract structure that ensures his future salaries remain non-guaranteed unless he meets certain weigh-in benchmarks and games-played totals.
Jones, who was named to the league’s All-Defensive first team in 2024, has averaged 9.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.7 steals in 28.3 minutes per game this season while shooting a career-worst 39.4% from the field. The 27-year-old signed an offseason extension that makes him ineligible to be traded until January 14. He has a cap hit of $14MM this season, is owed $58.3MM for the next three years, and has a player option worth $24.2MM for 2029/30.
Jones has been considered a potential target for the Lakers and other teams seeking defensive help on the wing.
Murphy, 25, has developed into a reliable two-way weapon for New Orleans. He’s averaging career highs in points (21.3), rebounds (6.1), assists (3.5), and steals (1.5) per game in the first season of a four-year, $112MM rookie scale extension. His 49.5% mark from the floor and 90.8% rate on free throw attempts are also career bests.
The Warriors, among other teams, have repeatedly been said to have significant interest in Murphy.
Even if the Pelicans stick to their guns and hang onto Williamson, Jones, and Murphy this season, there are a number of other trade candidates on the roster, including Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey, Jose Alvarado, and Kevon Looney.
Grizzlies Open To Trading Ja Morant
The Grizzlies are entertaining trade offers for Ja Morant and will consider moving the star point guard prior to the February 5 trade deadline, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.
According to Charania, multiple teams have interest in Morant and the Grizzlies are weighing possible paths forward, including either keeping the two-time All-Star or trading him in order to build around Jaren Jackson Jr. and their young core. If Memphis does make a deal involving Morant, the goal would be to acquire young players and draft picks in return, Charania adds.
Morant, 26, was the NBA’s Rookie of the Year in 2020 and Most Improved Player in 2022 while making All-Star teams in both ’22 and ’23. However, his ascent to superstardom was derailed by injuries and by his off-court behavior — he was suspended twice by the NBA for brandishing a firearm in videos on social media, and missed most of the 2023/24 season due to a torn labrum in his shoulder.
Health issues have continued to plague Morant, who is currently sidelined due to a calf contusion, since the start of the ’24/25 season. He has appeared in 68 of 119 total games during that time and hasn’t looked as explosive as he once did.
In the past season-and-a-half, the former No. 2 overall pick has still posted solid numbers, including 22.1 points and 7.4 assists per contest, but those averages are well below his previous highs. He has also shot just 44.1% from the floor and 28.7% on three-pointers since the start of last season.
Trade speculation kicked into high gear during the fall after a disagreement between Morant and Grizzlies head coach Tuomas Iisalo about substitution patterns escalated into a locker room confrontation and earned the point guard a team-imposed one-game suspension.
The relationship has appeared to be in a better place in recent weeks, but even if he and Iisalo are on good terms, Morant’s position as a long-term cornerstone in Memphis no longer seems nearly as secure as it once was. His maximum-salary contract, his past off-court conduct, his injury history, and his declining production are all factors that may complicate his place in the Grizzlies’ future.
The Timberwolves and Kings were among the teams said to be monitoring Morant’s situation earlier this season, and both Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints (Twitter link) and Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link) suggest they’re worth keeping an eye on now that the Grizzlies are apparently more open to a deal.
Still, a recent report suggested Minnesota is more inclined to pursue point guards on mid-tier contracts rather than maximum salaries, and it’s unclear if Morant fits Scott Perry‘s vision to build a more defensive-minded roster in Sacramento.
Both Siegel and O’Connor also mention the Heat as a possible suitor for Morant, with Siegel tweeting that Miami was among the clubs to reach out to Memphis in the fall.
The Grizzlies will be gauging the market on Morant shortly after the Hawks moved four-time All-Star point guard Trae Young for a modest return: CJ McCollum, Corey Kispert, and no draft compensation. Morant is earning less than Young ($39.4MM this season) and is on a guaranteed contract for two more years beyond this one, but scouts and executives have expressed skepticism about the trade value of offense-first point guards like Morant.
“Ja, Trae and LaMelo (Ball) don’t have that much value because the game has changed around them,” one scout recently told The Athletic.
The Grizzlies reshaped their roster last summer, sending Desmond Bane to Orlando for a package that featured four first-round picks. While the team is still headlined by veteran stars Morant and Jackson, the front office has done well building a promising young core around them, including Cedric Coward, Zach Edey, and Jaylen Wells.
Despite being open to trading Morant, the Grizzlies apparently aren’t looking to launch a full-fledged rebuild entirely around that younger group — Siegel reports that the club has no interest in discussing potential deals involving Jackson.