NBA Announces Weather-Related Time Change For Sunday’s Magic-Spurs Game
February 1: The starting time has been pushed back a second time, to 9:00 pm ET, after the Spurs had travel issues, per the league (Twitter link). As Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News writes, the Spurs’ plane had a “minor equipment issue,” which forced the team to divert to Atlanta and board a new plane.
January 31: The starting time for Sunday’s game between the Magic and Spurs in San Antonio has been moved from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm ET due to weather issues, the NBA announced (via Twitter).
The Spurs played Saturday afternoon in Charlotte in a game that was moved up three hours because of a major winter storm moving through North Carolina. They were expecting to return home after the game, but were stuck on their private plane for two hours before the airport was shut down.
The team spent the night in Charlotte with hopes of flying back to San Antonio in the morning. Further changes may have to be made if conditions haven’t improved by early Sunday.
The Magic arrived in San Antonio late Saturday afternoon, according to Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel (subscription required), and should have a significant rest advantage if the game is able to be played on Sunday.
Two games were postponed last Sunday because of Winter Storm Fern, and two others started early on Monday due to weather conditions. The postponed games — Denver at Memphis and Dallas at Milwaukee — were rescheduled for March, which caused the dates of two other games to be moved.
Spurs Notes: Barnes, Vassell, Sunday’s Game, Fox
The Spurs made a significant change to their starting lineup for Saturday afternoon’s game at Charlotte, Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News writes in a subscriber-only story. Devin Vassell took the place of Harrison Barnes, who had his streak of 775 consecutive starts ended. It marked the first time Barnes has come off the bench since the 2015/16 season when he was with Golden State.
“We all occupy a role and the main focus is winning,” Barnes said. “So it’s just trying to figure out ways to impact the game, to still be vocal, to do my part, to help contribute to winning.”
Orsborn notes that Barnes has been mired in a slump, averaging just 6.8 PPG and shooting 26.7% from beyond the arc during January. Coach Mitch Johnson told reporters the move “isn’t a big deal,” adding that he’s hoping it will help Vassell and that Barnes accepted it well.
“We’ve had a lot of guys in and out of the lineup, so it was just something as much as trying to get Devin back into his (starting) role that he had before and not a lot to it other than that,” Johnson said. “Just felt like Devin the last couple games didn’t quite find his rhythm, thought maybe that just getting him back to that starting lineup could maybe get him back in the fold.”
There’s more on the Spurs:
- Vassell scored 13 points while making his first start since December 29, but he’s not sure how long his new role is going to last, per Orsborn. He also logged a little more than 30 minutes in his third appearance since a 13-game absence caused by a groin injury. “I don’t know if that’s going to continue,” Vassell said. “I think we’re just trying out new stuff to see different lineups, different ways how to space the floor, so we’ll just see what happens with that. But I don’t know if it’s a permanent thing or not.”
- A snowstorm in Charlotte that moved up the starting time of Saturday’s game could also affect Sunday’s contest against the Magic, Orsborn states in a separate story. The Spurs are scheduled to host Orlando at 3 pm CT, but they’ll be spending the night in North Carolina after being unable to fly out. The team sat for two hours on its private plane before the airport was shut down. Orsborn suggests the game could be moved to Sunday night or possibly Monday as both teams have the day off.
- The acquisition of De’Aaron Fox shortly before last year’s trade deadline looks even better now, according to Mike Finger of The San Antonio Express-News. He states that Spurs were able to add a starting point guard in exchange for Tre Jones, Zach Collins and Sidy Cissoko, who weren’t in their long-term plans, along with a package of draft assets that may not include a top-10 pick.
Trade Rumors: Ellis, Hunter, Ball, Bucks, Sochan, Deadline
In addition to the Cavaliers, the Lakers, Pacers, Spurs and Celtics are among the many suitors for Kings guard Keon Ellis, sources tell Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link). The Timberwolves and Knicks have also been mentioned as teams interested in Ellis.
The 26-year-old is an intriguing trade candidate because his $2.3MM expiring contract makes him an attainable piece for just about any NBA team. If he’s dealt, Ellis’ Bird rights would travel with him and he’d become extension-eligible on February 9, just a few days after the trade deadline.
Cleveland has seemed to be in the best position to acquire Ellis over the past 48 hours, Fischer reports (via Twitter), but other teams are still in the mix as well.
According to Stein and Fischer, while the Kings are reluctant to take on long-term money in trades, they’re believed to be open to that possibility if Malik Monk is included the deal. Sacramento has also brought up including DeMar DeRozan in trades involving Ellis.
Here are several more trade rumors from around the NBA:
- Although the Lakers have been mentioned multiple times as a potential suitor for De’Andre Hunter, Stein and Fischer hear Los Angeles’ interest in the Cavaliers forward has been “repeatedly overstated.” As Stein and Fischer explain, Hunter’s $24.9MM salary for next season would inhibit the Lakers’ offseason flexibility, which they prefer to maintain.
- Before Giannis Antetokounmpo became the focus of the trade deadline, the Bucks made offers for Hunter centered around Kyle Kuzma and/or Bobby Portis, Stein and Fischer confirm. Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com reported on Friday that Milwaukee had pitched Cleveland on the idea of a Portis/Hunter trade, but the Cavaliers declined. The Warriors also held a level of interest in Hunter, per Stein and Fischer, but that was before the Bucks began listening to offers for Antetokounmpo and now their focus is on the two-time MVP.
- The Wizards have checked in with the Cavaliers about Lonzo Ball and have let teams know they’re willing to be a salary dumping ground if they receive draft compensation in return, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Cleveland is the only team in the NBA over the second tax apron, and Ball — who is shooting just 26.9% from three-point range — is on pseudo-expiring $10MM contract ($10MM team option for next season).
- While this sort of move would be contingent on what happens with other trade constructs, the Bucks have expressed interest in packaging some of their minimum-salary contracts to acquire higher-priced players, including Nets guard Cam Thomas and Mavericks guard D’Angelo Russell, sources tell Scotto. As Scotto explains, Milwaukee’s goal would be to either take an upside swing (Thomas) or add second-round picks by taking on unwanted money (Russell). Thomas, an unrestricted free agent this summer, holds an implied no-trade clause after signing his qualifying offer last offseason.
- Several teams — including the Suns — have talked to the Spurs about fourth-year forward Jeremy Sochan, according to Scotto. Those discussions, which Scotto describes as exploratory, also involved Phoenix center Nick Richards, but the Suns weren’t interested in that swap because it would have pushed them deeper into the luxury tax, which they’d prefer to dip below.
- We’ve only seen one in-season trade to this point. One veteran NBA executive who spoke to Stein and Fischer is optimistic about that number rising significantly in the coming days. “I still think the avalanche is coming,” said the team official.
Spurs Notes: Hornets Game, Castle, Champagnie, Tatum, Wembanyama
The Spurs’ Saturday game against the Hornets will be played earlier than scheduled. Tipoff will occur shortly after noon ET today due to an impending snowstorm in the Charlotte area, Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News reports.
The Spurs are hoping that the earlier start time will allow them to fly out of Charlotte without a long delay. They’re scheduled to host the Magic on Sunday.
Here’s more on the Spurs:
- Reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle is averaging 16.6 points and 7.0 assists per game, but he believes his greatest contributions come on the defensive side. “I’m trying to hang my hat on that end,” Castle told Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News. “So any challenges the coaches give me on that end, I kind of accepted.” Head coach Mitch Johnson believes Castle can get league-wide recognition on that side of the ball. “He’s an All-NBA defender when he puts his energy and focus into the right areas,” Johnson said.
- Julian Champagnie‘s twin brother Justin Champagnie has carved out a rotation role with the Wizards. The Athletic’s Jared Weiss details how the twins pushed each other to greater success during their youth and still do during their pro careers. Julian Champagnie, a 6’7” forward, is averaging 13.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game this month.
- Injured Celtics star forward Jayson Tatum marvels at Victor Wembanyama‘s skills, Chris Spiering of ClutchPoints relays. “Watching him on a nightly basis when I can and seeing him in person is just ridiculous,” Tatum said. “I don’t even know how else to express it… He’s still figuring himself out… Things he’s able to do, we’ve never seen that.”
And-Ones: Lottery, Combine, Dunk Contest, Hayes, More
The NBA has officially set the dates for this year’s most significant pre-draft events, including the combine and lottery.
According to the league (Twitter link), the G League combine will take place from May 8-10, with the full-fledged combine to follow from May 10-17. Typically, the NBA invites approximately 75 top prospects to the combine, with a group of several dozen less-heralded draft-eligible players taking part in the G League combine. A handful of standouts from the G League event then receive invitations to stick around for the rest of the week.
As for the draft lottery, it will take place on Sunday, May 10, giving lottery teams the opportunity to learn exactly where their picks will land before they evaluate and interview prospects at the combine.
Here are more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Lakers center Jaxson Hayes and Spurs rookie Carter Bryant have accepted invitations to take part in this year’s NBA dunk contest, reports Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link). Both players are first-time participants.
- It’s poised to be an eventful few weeks for Hayes, who is also in the final stages of securing Slovenian citizenship, reports Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews.com. According to Urbonas, Hayes is putting the finishing touches on the paperwork required for a Slovenian passport and would be eligible to play for the national team this summer in World Cup qualifiers if there are no snags. Hayes spoke back in October about his goal of gaining Slovenian citizenship to team up with Lakers teammate Luka Doncic in international play.
- Danny Leroux of The Athletic looks ahead to the 2026 offseason, previewing the spending power for each NBA team, including the ones projected to have cap room. While trades made in the next six days could impact Leroux’s estimates, the Bulls (up to $68MM) and Wizards (up to $50MM) currently project to have the most space, while four teams – the Cavaliers, Thunder, Magic, and Knicks – are on track to operate in second-apron territory.
- The sixth season of the Basketball Africa League will tip off in South Africa on March 27. Marc J. Spears of Andscape has the details on the schedule and the format for the coming season, which will wrap up in late May with an eight-team playoff and a championship game.
And-Ones: NBA Europe, Rising Stars, Blakeney, Draft
Speaking to Sportico (Twitter video link), NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum said one key component of the NBA Europe project is the league’s desire to address the fact that some of the biggest markets across the Atlantic don’t currently have basketball teams that are permanent members of the EuroLeague.
“There’s no top-tier team in the U.K. at all. The U.K’s the biggest market in Europe. There’s no top-tier basketball team there, in London, in Manchester,” Tatum said. “There’s no permanent top-tier in the top league there in Paris, in Berlin, in Rome. So they’re missing the biggest commercial markets.
“… Our idea is to create this league, call it 12 to 16 teams, with the biggest countries having permanent franchises. Call it the U.K., Spain, Germany, Italy, France. Two teams in each one of those markets that we know with certainty will have franchises there. And then we’ll open it up to the rest of the (European) ecosystem.”
Teams based in cities like Barcelona, Madrid, Athens, and Istanbul have become EuroLeague powerhouses, but London doesn’t have a team in the league and has never exactly been a basketball hotbed. As Joe Vardon of The Athletic writes, the NBA believes there’s untapped potential in the market.
“Just walking the streets here and being in the hotels, I hear from people all the time saying, ‘I’m sleep-deprived following your league,'” NBA commissioner Adam Silver told Vardon before this month’s Grizzlies/Magic game in London. “There are more people approaching us and saying, ‘I’d love to have the London franchise,’ and I think it’s not just because it’s such an attractive market, but because there’s no top-tier basketball team right now. So, there’s lots of groups seeing an opportunity to create a new brand here.”
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- After announcing this year’s Rising Stars participants earlier in the week, the NBA announced the rosters and the semifinal matchups on Tuesday evening (Twitter links). Among the notable team-ups? Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg, 2025’s No. 1 overall pick, will play alongside No. 2 pick Dylan Harper and his Spurs teammate Stephon Castle on Carmelo Anthony‘s team.
- Former NBA guard Antonio Blakeney, who played for the Bulls from 2017-19, was accused earlier this month of being one of the ringleaders in an illegal gambling scheme involving U.S. college players and game-fixing in China. ESPN’s Michael Rothstein has the full story on Blakeney, who faces wire fraud charges and could face a lengthy prison sentence if he’s convicted.
- Federal prosecutors investigating illegal gambling are looking at additional NBA games beyond the seven contests cited in an indictment this past fall, says Mike Vorkunnov of The Athletic. That fall indictment was the one that led to the arrest of Terry Rozier and is connected to the case that resulted in Jontay Porter being banned from the NBA.
- Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report has updated his 2026 NBA mock draft, while Sam Vecenie of The Athletic shares some of his draft-related intel. Within his story, Vecenie considers how NIL will impact the 2026 draft class and identifies Arizona’s Brayden Burries and Illinois’ Keaton Wagler as two prospects whose stocks are very much on the rise.
Pelicans Rumors: Draft, Missi, Morant, Murray, Alvarado, More
Acquiring a 2026 first-round pick is a priority for the Pelicans as the trade deadline approaches, Will Guillory of The Athletic writes, confirming reporting from ClutchPoints and The Stein Line. New Orleans would like to continue adding to its young core but no longer controls a ’26 first-rounder after trading its own pick to Atlanta last June for Derik Queen.
With the Pelicans resistant to moving Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, and Herbert Jones, their best bet to acquire that 2026 first-rounder they’re seeking might be making a Yves Missi deal. But it’s not a foregone conclusion that the second-year center will be on the move in the next seven days — Guillory says New Orleans still believe in Missi’s upside and wouldn’t mind experimenting more with a frontcourt that features him playing alongside Queen.
Still, according to Guillory, there have been “whispers” throughout the season about Missi’s desire to be in a situation where he could be a full-time starter. The 21-year-old made 67 starts for New Orleans as a rookie but has primarily come off the bench this season.
Guillory suggests that the Pelicans’ ability to extract a first-round pick for Missi could come into focus within the next week as it becomes clearer which centers around the NBA will and won’t be on the move at the deadline.
Here’s more on the Pelicans:
- A rumor about the Grizzlies sending Ja Morant to New Orleans in a deal centered around Jordan Poole and Dejounte Murray is “completely false,” Guillory says, adding that the Pelicans aren’t likely to pursue Morant since they view Jeremiah Fears as their long-term point guard. Still, Poole and Murray are both considered potential trade candidates and there’s a sense that New Orleans would like to move at least one of them, Guillory notes. He also hears, as ClutchPoints reported on Wednesday, that Murray and his representatives may prefer a change of scenery.
- There’s no shortage of suitors for Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado, says Guillory, adding the Spurs to the list of teams with interest. But sources familiar with Alvarado’s thinking have conveyed to The Athletic that the 27-year-old would prefer to remain in New Orleans.
- Both the Pelicans and Jordan Hawkins would be open to the possibility of finding the former lottery pick a new NBA home, Guillory reports. Hawkins is playing a career-low 14.1 minutes per game off the bench this season and is averaging just 4.3 points per game on .320/.301/.778 shooting.
- The Pelicans are “big believers” in two-way player Bryce McGowens and would like to make room on the 15-man roster to promote him to a multiyear standard contract, Guillory writes. The club currently has a full roster but could open up a spot as a result of its deadline moves.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Rumors: Wolves, Warriors, Heat, More
The Timberwolves are among the most serious suitors for Giannis Antetokounmpo, league sources tell ESPN’s Shams Charania. Charania reported on Wednesday that the Bucks star is “ready for a new home” and that Milwaukee is showing more willingness than ever to listen to offers for the two-time MVP.
While Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly is one of the NBA’s most aggressive front office executives, it’s difficult to envision Minnesota putting together a package that would appeal to the Bucks. The Wolves don’t have any tradable first-round picks, so an offer would would have to be heavy on player value. With Anthony Edwards off the table, a package would probably start with Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, and Donte DiVincenzo.
As talented as those players are, none are All-Stars. Plus, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst (YouTube link) anticipates that the Bucks would be seeking a more draft-heavy return if they end up moving Antetokounmpo.
“They have to prioritize the draft,” Windhorst said. “This year’s draft and their pick situation going forward. Their future is going to be tied to (the) draft.”
Here are several more Giannis-related rumors, a week out from the February 5 deadline:
- The Warriors have contacted the Bucks within the past week to convey their “firm” interest in Antetokounmpo and to make it clear they’re prepared to make a strong offer, reports Anthony Slater of ESPN. While Golden State isn’t actively shopping Jimmy Butler, he would be on the table in a Giannis scenario for salary-matching purposes, according to Slater, who adds that the Bucks have some interest in Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga. Milwaukee native Brandin Podziemski could also be a factor in those trade talks, Slater notes.
- Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel (subscription required) considers what the Heat‘s best deadline for offer for Antetokounmpo might look like, suggesting it would probably consist of Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, Terry Rozier‘s expiring contract, and Miami’s two tradable first-round picks.
- The Rockets are unlikely to get involved in the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said in the latest episode of the Hoop Collective podcast (YouTube link). “I have been told that the Rockets will not be bidders,” MacMahon said. “Now, hey, nobody was under oath, but I’ve been told that repeatedly and I’ll say that they’ve got a pretty good track record of shooting me straight.”
- MacMahon also doesn’t anticipate the Spurs being a player for Antetokounmpo. “I have been told by folks with the Spurs, ‘We’re not a home for Giannis,'” he said on the Hoop Collective podcast (YouTube link). “And there’s been a lot of smoke going back to the summer, but everything in San Antonio is about the (Victor Wembanyama) timeline, and this is a decade past the Wemby timeline when you bring in Giannis at his age.”
- The Thunder have more than enough assets to make a strong offer for Antetokounmpo, but they shouldn’t – and likely won’t – seriously entertain the idea, according to Rylan Stiles of SI.com, who suggests that making a move for a veteran star like Giannis would shorten Oklahoma City’s window of championship contention.
Trade Rumors: Mathurin, Murray, Olynyk, Blazers, Nuggets
Chatter around the NBA suggests the Pacers are engaged in trade talks with multiple teams about fourth-year wing Bennedict Mathurin and appear likely to move him before next Thursday’s deadline, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.
Reporting earlier in the month indicated that the Pacers had spoken to the Pelicans about a possible Mathurin deal, but it sounds like New Orleans isn’t the only team with the former lottery pick on its radar. While a right thumb sprain and turf toe have limited Mathurin to 25 appearances this season, he returned to action on Monday and is averaging 17.7 points in 31.8 minutes per game in the final year of his rookie contract.
If Mathurin remains with the Pacers through the deadline, he’ll be a sign-and-trade candidate this offseason, since Indiana – which already has over $177MM in guaranteed money on its books for next season – isn’t looking to give the 23-year-old a lucrative long-term contract in restricted free agency, Siegel writes.
Here are a few more trade rumors from across the league:
- There’s a sense that Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray and his representatives at Klutch Sports wouldn’t mind a change of scenery, says Siegel. New Orleans’ new front office brought in guards Jordan Poole and Jeremiah Fears last offseason, creating a more crowded backcourt. However, given that Murray continues to recover from an Achilles tear and has yet to make his season debut, it likely won’t be easy to move his three-year, $94MM contract at this point.
- In addition to Jeremy Sochan, big man Kelly Olynyk is also considered a Spurs trade candidate, per Siegel. Packaging those two players together would give San Antonio roughly $20.5MM in expiring salary for matching purposes, which could be useful on the trade market.
- Although Jerami Grant and Jrue Holiday are thought to be available, the Trail Blazers don’t consider themselves sellers and would likely only be open to moving Holiday if they can do so in a deal that “immediately improves their outlook,” Siegel writes.
- The Nuggets are widely expected to make a small trade to duck below the tax line, which they’re currently above by about $400K, says Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link). Denver is confident that can be done without giving up a rotation player, though teams around the NBA are curious about the Nuggets’ plans for Peyton Watson, who may be difficult to retain in restricted free agency this summer. Teams projected to have cap room, including the Lakers, are preparing for the possibility of making a run at Watson in July, sources tell Fischer.
- Front offices around the NBA are expecting several trades completed in the next eight days to require three or four teams, Fischer writes. The Nets, Hornets, and Jazz have made it clear to rival clubs that they’re willing to get involved in multi-team scenarios to take on salary and help grease the wheels on potential deals, sources tell The Stein Line.
Scotto’s Latest: Celtics, Simons, Boucher, Wolves, Knicks, More
Avoiding the luxury tax this season isn’t necessarily a top priority for the Celtics, who have conveyed to rival teams that they’re not looking to attach a first-round pick to Anfernee Simons‘ expiring $27.7MM contract in a cost-cutting move, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
Presumably, the Celtics would remain open to the idea of moving Simons and draft compensation for a meaningful upgrade, but not for a lateral move that simply reduces their tax bill. For instance, Scotto says the Bulls inquired earlier this season about a swap of Simons and a first-round pick for center Nikola Vucevic, which didn’t interest Boston.
On the other hand, the Celtics did kick the tires on the possibility of a deal sending Simons, a first-round pick, and a first-round pick swap to the Clippers in exchange for big man Ivica Zubac and salary filler, but they didn’t gain any momentum on that front, per Scotto. Having won 16 of their past 19 games, the Clippers reportedly aren’t entertaining the idea of a Zubac trade at this point.
Although they’d be open to a deal that upgrades their frontcourt, the Celtics are also weighing the possibility of trading some of their depth in the middle, given that Neemias Queta has played well as the starting five and Luka Garza is handling the backup role. Chris Boucher and Xavier Tillman are possible trade candidates, Scotto writes, citing league sources who say the Hawks, Sixers, and Suns are among the teams to express exploratory interest in Boucher.
Here are a few more of the highlights from Scotto’s latest rumor round-up:
- The Timberwolves have been receiving calls from rival teams about key contributors like Naz Reid, Jaden McDaniels, and Donte DiVincenzo, but they highly value those players and aren’t looking to move any of them, according to Scotto. McDaniels is viewed as borderline untouchable, while Minnesota would likely only seriously consider moving Reid and DiVincenzo for an All-Star caliber player, Scotto adds.
- Although there were some whispers about the possibility of the Spurs and Knicks swapping Jeremy Sochan for Guerschon Yabusele and Pacome Dadiet, San Antonio wasn’t interested in that construction due to Yabusele’s $5.8MM player option for next season, says Scotto.
- As the Knicks consider their trade options, they’re willing to include the Wizards’ top-eight protected 2026 first-round pick to upgrade their roster, per Scotto. That pick almost certainly won’t convey, which means it would instead turn into Washington’s 2026 and 2027 second-round selections, but given where the Wizards are in their rebuild, those second-rounders are still considered valuable.
- As Ayo Dosunmu nears unrestricted free agency, some executives around the NBA believe the Bulls guard will be in line for a contract in the neighborhood of the full mid-level exception or even higher, Scotto writes.