Dan Titus examines how some of the latest NBA headlines will impact the fantasy basketball landscape.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Future talks heat up as Bucks slide — calf injury raises new question

The Giannis Antetokounmpo situation escalated before Wednesday’s game, when he and his agent, Alex Saratsis, reportedly began discussing his long-term future with the Bucks — conversations that could determine whether the superstar is available ahead of the Feb. 5 NBA Trade Deadline. Nothing is imminent and Antetokounmpo hasn’t asked out, but Milwaukee’s 10-13 start (10th in the Eastern Conference) and rising frustration across the organization have accelerated the urgency around his evaluation window. 

Last night, however, the basketball world got another scare as Antetokounmpo slipped on the floor early in the first quarter against the Pistons, favoring his right leg. He was able to walk off under his own power, but did not return to the game. Fortunately, it appears Giannis dodged a serious injury, as Antetokounmpo will be out 2-4 weeks with a calf strain. 

Bobby Portis becomes a must-add player once again, he’s available in over 70% of Yahoo leagues. In deeper leagues, Kyle Kuzma (21% rostered) is an option while Giannis recovers from his calf injury.

Zion Williamson

3 weeks out and trade buzz is brewing

Zion Williamson’s outlook is a bit more concerning. He’s set to miss at least three weeks with an adductor injury, and the rumblings around his future in New Orleans are getting louder. Multiple reports suggest the Pelicans could be open to trade conversations, which isn’t surprising given he’s played in just 55% of career games and the team is trending toward the bottom of the standings again. 

For fantasy managers, it’s beyond frustrating having to deal with another multi-week injury with uncertain vibes on the back end. Saddiq Bey (37% rostered) should be started everywhere — his scoring and rebounding have held steady — and Derik Queen (44%) is a strong add thanks to his efficient per-minute production when thrust into a larger role. In shallow leagues like High Score, Zion becomes a realistic drop if your IL spots are crowded. For example, I’m down bad with Trae Young and Paolo Banchero already occupying my injury slots on one High Score team and with decent players on waivers, it doesn’t make sense to wait on a return that doesn’t feel close.

Joel Embiid

Trending down for Thursday, a weekend return looks sketchy

Joel Embiid remains a constant tightrope walk for fantasy managers. He’s listed as doubtful for Thursday’s game, and at this point, there’s no indication he’ll suit up Friday against the Bucks or Sunday versus the Lakers. He’s experiencing issues with his right knee (not the one surgically repaired in the offseason), but the fact is, it just feels like the off-and-on appearances are his new norm. 

The Sixers being fined $100,000 for failing to comply with injury-reporting standards only underscores how unpredictable his availability remains. Managers knew the risk on draft day, but it’s becoming harder to justify riding these week-to-week injury waves. If an opportunity presents itself, moving Embiid — like Zion — may save you from future DNPs that could come at the worst possible times.

Ryan Nembhard

The rookie breakout you need to add everywhere

And now, the fun part: Nembhard is officially the rookie breakout of the week, and maybe the season’s next must-roster guard. His first double-double was a historic one — 28 points, 10 assists, zero turnovers, and 12-of-14 shooting for a perfect 100% true shooting, a stat line no undrafted rookie had ever produced. That performance set the tone, and he followed it up with another double-double on Wednesday, proving it wasn’t a fluke. 

The Mavs experimented enough with Cooper Flagg and D’Angelo Russell at point guard long enough and it’s clear the offense runs more smoothly with Nembhard steering the ship. He’s averaging 34.5 minutes in his last two games, a strong indicator that his role won’t be going away. Nembhard looks like one of the top waiver adds across all formats, and this is the moment to grab him (he’s rostered in 24% of leagues) if the rest of your league is asleep at the wheel.

Los Angeles Clippers stars Kawhi Leonard and James Harden claim they were shocked upon hearing that former teammate Chris Paul had been dismissed and sent home on Wednesday. Paul broke the news, posting to his Instagram story around 3 a.m. that he’d been sent home following a late-night conversation with Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank. Not long after Paul’s post, Frank sent a text statement to ESPN confirming that Paul would not be continuing with the team. 

To say the basketball world was stunned by this news would be an understatement, and apparently, Leonard and Harden are in the same boat as everyone else.

“It was shocking to me,” Leonard said. “I guess they had a conversation, and front office made a decision.”

Harden also voiced how he felt upon seeing the news come across his phone and used the word “confused” to describe the moment.

“I’m just as confused and shocked as you guys, the world,” Harden said Wednesday night following the Clippers’ 115-92 win over the Atlanta Hawks. “Definitely surprised me. But not just Chris, it’s a lot that we were dealing with. But that is out of my hands. I got to focus on what I got to focus on and what I can control. I guess the front office felt that was the best decision for the organization.” 

[Get more Clippers news: Los Angeles team feed]

Another layer to this story came when ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Paul had not been on speaking terms with Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue for several weeks. Apparently, Paul’s leadership style clashed with the way Lue runs his ship, as CP3 had become quite vocal in holding everyone accountable, including players, coaches, and management, according to Charania. 

“We are parting ways with Chris and he will no longer be with the team,” Frank said. “We will work with him on the next step of his career.

“Chris is a legendary Clipper who has had a historic career. I want to make one thing very clear. No one is blaming Chris for our underperformance. I accept responsibility for the record we have right now. There are a lot of reasons why we’ve struggled. We’re grateful for the impact Chris has made on the franchise.”

In his 21st NBA season, Paul’s second stint with the Clippers is now over before it really got started. Paul’s reunion in L.A. marked his third team in as many years. He’s worn jerseys for seven different franchises in all and will likely be a no-brainer first-ballot Hall of Fame selection when the time comes. A 12-time All-Star selection, 11-time All-NBA selection, 9-time All-Defensive selection, 6-time steals leader, 5-time assists leader, and a member of the NBA 75th anniversary team, there aren’t many who can match Paul’s résumé. 

The Clippers snapped a five-game losing streak by beating the Hawks on Wednesday night, and it was just the team’s sixth win of the season. Harden, Leonard, and the Clippers will look to keep that going on Friday when they travel to Memphis for a showdown with the Grizzlies.

Los Angeles Clippers stars Kawhi Leonard and James Harden claim they were shocked upon hearing that former teammate Chris Paul had been dismissed and sent home on Wednesday. Paul broke the news, posting to his Instagram story around 3 a.m. that he’d been sent home following a late-night conversation with Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank. Not long after Paul’s post, Frank sent a text statement to ESPN confirming that Paul would not be continuing with the team. 

To say the basketball world was stunned by this news would be an understatement, and apparently, Leonard and Harden are in the same boat as everyone else.

“It was shocking to me,” Leonard said. “I guess they had a conversation, and front office made a decision.”

Harden also voiced how he felt upon seeing the news come across his phone and used the word “confused” to describe the moment.

“I’m just as confused and shocked as you guys, the world,” Harden said Wednesday night following the Clippers’ 115-92 win over the Atlanta Hawks. “Definitely surprised me. But not just Chris, it’s a lot that we were dealing with. But that is out of my hands. I got to focus on what I got to focus on and what I can control. I guess the front office felt that was the best decision for the organization.” 

[Get more Clippers news: Los Angeles team feed]

Another layer to this story came when ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Paul had not been on speaking terms with Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue for several weeks. Apparently, Paul’s leadership style clashed with the way Lue runs his ship, as CP3 had become quite vocal in holding everyone accountable, including players, coaches, and management, according to Charania. 

“We are parting ways with Chris and he will no longer be with the team,” Frank said. “We will work with him on the next step of his career.

“Chris is a legendary Clipper who has had a historic career. I want to make one thing very clear. No one is blaming Chris for our underperformance. I accept responsibility for the record we have right now. There are a lot of reasons why we’ve struggled. We’re grateful for the impact Chris has made on the franchise.”

In his 21st NBA season, Paul’s second stint with the Clippers is now over before it really got started. Paul’s reunion in L.A. marked his third team in as many years. He’s worn jerseys for seven different franchises in all and will likely be a no-brainer first-ballot Hall of Fame selection when the time comes. A 12-time All-Star selection, 11-time All-NBA selection, 9-time All-Defensive selection, 6-time steals leader, 5-time assists leader, and a member of the NBA 75th anniversary team, there aren’t many who can match Paul’s résumé. 

The Clippers snapped a five-game losing streak by beating the Hawks on Wednesday night, and it was just the team’s sixth win of the season. Harden, Leonard, and the Clippers will look to keep that going on Friday when they travel to Memphis for a showdown with the Grizzlies.

The great Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the even greater Oklahoma City Thunder are 21-1 — and they don’t look like a team ready to lose much in the near future.

But below them, the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers refuse to go away, continuing to pile up wins in a tough Western Conference. Still, questions about each of these contenders remain. So what’s keeping this second tier of title challengers from usurping the Thunder, who lie so elegantly upon their throne? Let’s examine one area of concern for each.

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Rockets stuck in the clutch

By most metrics, the Rockets are every bit of a contender. Entering Thursday, they’re owners of the No. 2 offense and No. 3 defense, and are second in point differential. They’re the NBA’s most efficient offensive rebounding team in a league predicated on winning the possession battle. And they’ve turned one of their biggest weaknesses — half-court offense — into a strength, ranking just outside the top 10 in points per 100 plays and second in 3-point percentage.

Isn’t there supposed to be a problem listed here at some point?

The Rockets’ issues haven’t been exacerbated in games in which they’ve dominated their opponent (which to be fair, has been most of them in a relatively tough schedule). Their problems come in close games. According to NBA.com tracking data, all five of the Rockets’ losses this season occurred during “crunch time,” when the game is within five points in the final five minutes of regulation or overtime.

The legitimacy of the clutch phenomenon has long been debated, but most players and coaches will tell you that the game slows down. For the Rockets, however, it speeds up. Houston is the fourth-slowest team on the season, fueled by the patient probing of Kevin Durant and Alperen Şengün and how head coach Ime Udoka staggers his best players. In crunch time, however, their pace jumps 10 spots. As a result, their 123.7 offensive rating plummets to just 114.4, equivalent to the 8-13 Portland Trail Blazers (21st in offensive rating).

“It’s been OK,” Udoka said of Houston’s crunch-time execution. “We let a few games early in the season slip away, those stand out. Fouls, missed free throws, giving up offensive rebounds and turning the ball over bit us in those [games]. We’d like to be better in those endgame situations.”

Last season’s Rockets played in 44 clutch games, winning 26 of them — not an elite rate, but it’s clear that a young team benefited greatly from Fred VanVleet’s steady hand, decision-making and overall poise in the closing moments. Some of that responsibility has shifted naturally to Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard, who need to be put in these high-pressure situations on a routine basis.

[Get more Rockets news: Houston team feed]

Fortunately, there’s a tangible solution. Remember that guy Houston traded for this summer? You know, the future Hall of Famer who’s eighth on the all-time scoring list, a two-time champion and one of the game’s greatest closers? As in, the guy who was brought in for that very reason, finishing games? Let’s try that.

Durant is just fourth on the team in clutch-time usage rate, despite a walloping 67.6 true shooting percentage. Şengün and Thompson are first and second in usage, which is understandable given their talent, but neither is the three-level threat Durant is, nor does either possess the experience a two-decade career allows. Give it to 35. I mean, 7.

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Denver’s decimated defense

If surrendering 131 points over the weekend to one of the worst-ranked offenses in the past decade (Dallas!) wasn’t enough of a red flag, the Nuggets have a consistency (and injury) problem.

Let’s get the obvious out of the way: Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun, both of whom will miss the next few weeks with hamstring and ankle injuries, respectively, are sorely missed. You could make the argument they are the Nuggets’ best defenders, combining physicality, versatility and IQ. It’s no surprise Denver’s defense with both in the lineup has held opponents to just 107.2 points per 100 possessions. For context, the Pistons allow 110.2 points per 100 possessions, which ranks right behind the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

Their absence, which is clearly felt despite the otherworldly production of Nikola Jokić, becomes a multi-faceted issue. For one, a major rotational shift occurs once two of your most consistent performers are missing in action (Denver’s most-used five-man unit still ranks fourth in the NBA in total minutes played, despite not having both players for nearly two weeks.) This results in elevated roles for players like Spencer Jones and Peyton Watson, who, um, aren’t exactly like-for-like replacements. According to Cleaning the Glass, Jones and Watson are in the 12th and 9th percentile in defensive efficiency. No, they’re not good defenders.

This becomes an even bigger problem contextualized within the overall Nuggets defensive scheme. Denver is one of the league’s most help-friendly teams, whether by stunting, trapping or walling up in the paint. It’s also one of the bigger utilizers of zone defense, a top-half team, according to Synergy tracking data.

Such an approach is viable when players like Gordon and Braun are hunting opponents down for 48 minutes. When the focus shifts to newcomers like Cameron Johnson and Bruce Brown, two veterans who made a name for themselves defensively but have regressed in the last few years, complications arise. Since both Gordon and Braun last played, the Nuggets are first in offensive rating (hello, Jokić) and 30th in defensive rating. As in, dead last.

[Get more Nuggets news: Denver team feed]

A few weeks ago, Nuggets head coach David Adelman hinted at tweaks to account for their injuries, one of which involves more reliance on reserve center Jonas Valančiūnas. 

“Other guys will fill in, do their thing and we’ll look a little bit different,” Adelman said in late November. “We’ll play a different way, but we’ll still have our constants.”

Denver likes to start second quarters with Valančiūnas flanked by a combination of Johnson, Brown, Zeke Nnaji and Tim Hardaway Jr. Their three most-used lineups featuring Valančiūnas at center are giving up 126.7, 122.9 and 120.0 points per 100 possessions. That’s just not sustainable, no matter how many flamethrowers Jamal Murray throws into the stratosphere.

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Lakers’ lack of shooting

Losing to the Phoenix Suns in a game where Devin Booker played 10 minutes is … bad. But that’s not the strangest thing about the 15-5 second-place Lakers.

Through the first 20 games of the season, Los Angeles ranks in the bottom third in 3-point rate and conversion rate, per Cleaning the Glass, despite possessing the NBA’s No. 1 rim and midrange field-goal percentage. The Suns made 17 of their 39 attempts from downtown compared to the Lakers’ 13, which doesn’t seem like much of a difference in a vacuum, but extrapolated to an entire season, it becomes a domino analytics effect.

And it’s not so much the disparity between the three levels of offense that’s alarming. It’s the Lakers’ seeming unwillingness to let it fly, which has historical implications that contenders should be concerned about. As of today, the Lakers are 24th in both 3-point attempts and makes, and 18th in 3-point percentage.

A brief recent championship history lesson, if you will:

• 2025 Thunder: 10th in 3-point attempts

• 2024 Celtics: 1st

• 2023 Nuggets: 25th (4th in 3P%)

• 2022 Warriors: 3rd

• 2021 Bucks: 8th

I could go on, but the math is simple. The champions have typically been proficient 3-point chuckers. If you buck the trend, like the Nuggets did in ’23, you better believe they’re converting the ones they do take at a high clip.

[Get more Lakers news: Los Angeles team feed]

A big part of Lakers head coach JJ Redick’s on-court calculus is establishing a hierarchy behind Luka Dončić. From the looks of it, it seems to have sorted itself out, with Austin Reaves serving as Dončić’s second fiddle and LeBron James occupying the third role — which one could argue is an optimal spot for the greatest player of this generation.

But Redick’s job entails much more than just that. Finding a happy medium between creation for his superstars and getting role players in a rhythm is just as important. Starting forward Rui Hachimura finished the month of November shooting an eye-popping 48.1% from deep on around five attempts per game. If Hachimura — who’s shooting 46.1% on the year — is the Lakers’ best shooter, there shouldn’t be a seven-attempt margin between him and Dončić, who is converting slightly less than 35 percent of his treys.

Between Hachimura, Dalton Knecht, Gabe Vincent and Jake LaRavia, Los Angeles certainly has the floor spacers on the roster to let it fly. Getting back an aggressive point-of-attack defender in Marcus Smart, who is also known to launch, helps too. 

The Lakers are also well-positioned to enter the trade market for shooting upgrades in less than two weeks, and a name like CJ McCollum could make sense as a potential target.

Milwaukee Bucks fans held their collective breath Wednesday after superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo dropped to the floor with a non-contact injury in the first quarter. Antetokounmpo limped to the team’s locker room and was eventually ruled out due to a calf strain.

After hours of uncertainty, those fans finally know how long Antetokounmpo will be out. The Bucks star will reportedly miss two-to-four weeks due to a right calf strain, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

While Antetokounmpo will miss time, the issue could have been worse. Had Antetokounmpo injured his Achilles, he could have faced a season-ending surgery.

Despite losing Antetokounmpo early, the shorthanded Bucks rallied to pick up a 113-109 win over the Detroit Pistons.

[Get more Bucks news: Milwaukee team feed]

Antetokounmpo’s injury comes at the worst possible time for the Bucks. Early Wednesday, a report emerged suggesting Antetokounmpo and the Bucks started conversations focused on the star’s future with the franchise. While Antetokounmpo has remained loyal to the Bucks over his career, he’s also been open about wanting to compete for more championships. 

Antetokounmpo had a decision to make about his future during the offseason, but ultimately decided to see if the retooled Bucks could make some noise in the East. But that dream may already be over with the team out to a 10-13 start, causing both Antetokounmpo and the Bucks to reevaluate his situation.

Wednesday’s injury still leaves open the possibility of an Antetokounmpo trade this season. The NBA trade deadline doesn’t take place until February, meaning Antetokounmpo should be back on the court as long as he doesn’t suffer any setbacks.

That’s far from a guarantee, as calf injuries have proven to be pretty worrisome in the NBA. Last season, both Damian Lillard and Tyrese Haliburton experienced calf injuries before rupturing their Achilles tendons. Jayson Tatum also reportedly was dealing with a calf issue prior to rupturing his Achilles tendon during a game. 

The timeline of those injuries has caused NBA teams to take extreme caution with calf issues this season. The San Antonio Spurs shut down star Victor Wembanyama longer than expected when it was discovered he was battling a calf issue.

Through 17 games, the 30-year-old Antetokounmpo was still producing at a high level. He’s averaging 28.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists. After inking a three-year extension with Milwaukee in 2023, Antetokounmpo still has a year-and-a-half remaining on his current deal before he can opt out. 

As long as he can return from his calf injury in a timely manner, Antetokounmpo can still make a major impact on the 2025-26 NBA season. Whether that comes with the Bucks or a different franchise, however, all depends on how the next couple weeks play out.

We gave you : Flagg • Klay Thompson • PJ Washington • Anthony Davis • Dereck Lively (+2 in 24 minutes)

Worst loss: vs. Washington, 117-107 (lost as 9-point favorites)

Against .500+ teams: 2-9 • Against losing teams: 6-6

Comments: Hey, maybe don’t trade Luka Dončić. … Cooper Flagg, despite being played out of position to begin his career, has developed nicely in Dallas. This should be his team. … Anthony Davis is back. For now. And he had a monster night in a win over the Nuggets. A good sign for any team eyeing a trade for him. … Why, again, did the Mavs sign D’Angelo Russell? Is it a coincidence they have the worst offense in the league? Who could have seen this coming? … Dallas needs a playmaker. A healthy Kyrie Irving would do wonders. He cannot elevate them into contention. But he would change the complexion of this team.

Grade: F

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Denver Nuggets (15-6)

• 1Q MVP: Nikola Jokić (29-13-11 on 62/43/86)

• Best lineup: Jokić • Jamal Murray • Christian Braun • Cam Johnson • Aaron Gordon (+42 in 159 minutes)

• Worst loss: vs. Dallas, 131-121 (lost as 11.5-point favorites)

• Against .500+ teams: 7-2 • Against losing teams: 8-4

Comments: Nikola Jokić is incredible. He is averaging another 30-point triple-double and doing it easily, better than he has ever been. The Nuggets have the best offense in the league because he is the best offensive player of a generation. … Their core lineup — the one with Cam Johnson in place of Michael Porter Jr. now — is still a bear. They will be a monster once everyone is healthy. … The defense is a concern, though. Denver cannot be this mediocre there and expect to compete with Oklahoma City. … How do we get Jamal Murray on an All-Star team? It is hard in the West, but he is quietly enjoying the best start of his career.

Grade: B

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Golden State Warriors (11-11)

• 1Q MVP: Stephen Curry (28-4-4 on 47/39/92)

• Best lineup: Curry • Brandin Podziemski • Jimmy Butler • Jonathan Kuminga • Draymond Green (+25 in 65 minutes)

• Worst loss: at Indiana, 114-109 (lost as 11-point favorites)

• Against .500+ teams: 5-6 • Against losing teams: 6-5

Comments: The Warriors looked at the start of the season like I thought they would, which is to say good. Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Al Horford, though old in the NBA sense, have experienced enough winning to figure this out, so long as they can stay healthy. … But they look old, even as they present a top-10 defense. … Youth has not filled the gaps, and Jonathan Kuminga might be the most available player in the league. … The Warriors, who usually beat up on bad competition, have a lot of bad losses. They are not a good team, or even a relevant team, by Stephen Curry’s own definition.

Grade: D

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Houston Rockets (14-5)

• 1Q MVP: Alperen Şengün (23-9-7 on 51/39/74)

• Best lineup: Şengün • Amen Thompson • Josh Okogie • Kevin Durant • Jabari Smith Jr. (+31 in 141 minutes)

• Worst loss: at Utah, 133-125 (lost as 11.5-point favorites)

• Against .500+ teams: 6-4 • Against losing teams: 8-1

Comments: I had questions about how Houston’s offense could perform in the absence of Fred VanVleet, and the Rockets have answered them with flying colors. They didn’t even need a point guard, so long as they could continue bludgeoning opponents on the offensive glass. … And now Reed Sheppard is coming along. His confidence is growing by the outing. … Kevin Durant was the perfect antidote to what ailed the Rockets’ isolation offense. … Alperen Şengün is amazing at basketball. The Baby Jokić nickname is earned. … Amen Thompson, what else can you say? The Rockets are stacked with talent.

Grade: A

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Los Angeles Clippers (6-16)

• 1Q MVP: James Harden (27-6-8 on 44/37/91)

• Best lineup: Harden • Kris Dunn • Kobe Sanders • John Collins • Ivica Zubac (+10 in 66 minutes)

• Worst loss: at Utah, 129-108 (lost as 9.5-point favorites)

• Against .500+ teams: 1-13 • Against losing teams: 5-3

Comments: We’ve been over this. The Clippers are old, bad, expensive, and they owe their first-round draft pick to the Thunder. It is about as dire as it gets, even for the Clippers. … So long, Chris Paul. … James Harden has been good, at least statistically. Same goes for Kawhi Leonard when he has been in the lineup. Neither impacts winning in the manner he once did. … Ivica Zubac has not been the player he was. … The Clippers are the kings of bad losses. … Is it possible the alleged Aspiration scandal is impacting the Clippers more than we thought possible? What other explanation is there for this team being this bad?

Grade: F

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Los Angeles Lakers (15-5)

• 1Q MVP: Luka Dončić (35-9-9 on 48/34/81)

• Best lineup: Dončić • Austin Reaves • Marcus Smart • Rui Hachimura • Deandre Ayton (+27 in 76 minutes)

• Worst loss: at Atlanta, 122-102 (lost as 5.5-point favorites)

• Against .500+ teams: 4-4 • Against losing teams: 11-1

Comments: The Lakers were good, added LeBron James, and got even better, which makes sense, since James is one of the greatest basketball players to ever live. … Luka Dončić is as good as advertised in Men’s Health. Which we should have known. He, too, is on his way to the pantheon. … He and Austin Reaves might be the most dangerous offensive duo in the game. And then they have LeBron. It is quite the embarrassment of riches. … On offense. … The defense still sets a sub-championship ceiling on this team, but the Lakers are closer to serious title contention than I thought possible. Thanks, Nico Harrison.

Grade: A

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Memphis Grizzlies (9-13)

• 1Q MVP: Jaren Jackson Jr. (18-5-2 on 47/35/80)

• Best lineup: Jackson • Cedric Coward • Jaylen Wells • Vince Williams Jr. • Zach Edey (+32 in 84 minutes)

• Worst loss: vs. Miami, 146-114 (lost as 3-point favorites)

• Against .500+ teams: 1-13 • Against losing teams: 8-0

Comments: You know what isn’t helpful? When your best player, in this case Ja Morant, publicly makes clear he is in a quarrel with the coaching staff. It does not appear Morant is long for the Grizzlies. … You know what is helpful? The Grizz are outscoring opponents by 20.7 points per 100 possessions whenever Zach Edey is on the floor. … Cedric Coward seems to be a good draft pick, too. It is what the Grizzlies do best. … Underneath the Morant drama, Jaren Jackson Jr. is just kind of floating out there as a really good player who is gettable for another team. What might it take from Boston to get Jackson out of Memphis?

Grade: D

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Minnesota Timberwolves (13-8)

• 1Q MVP: Anthony Edwards (30-5-4 on 49/41/82)

• Best lineup: Edwards • Donte DiVincenzo • Jaden McDaniels • Julius Randle • Rudy Gobert (+71 in 213 minutes)

• Worst loss: at Sacramento, 117-112 (lost as 10.5-point favorites)

• Against .500+ teams: 2-7 • Against losing teams: 11-1

Comments: Beat a good team, will you, Minnesota? … Anthony Edwards is an incredible offensive player. He is solving everything opposing defenses are throwing at him and doing so at career-best efficiency. It is hard to dominate defensively for sustained stretches at the same time, but he is only 24 years old. … Julius Randle and Jaden McDaniels are having themselves a year, too. … Seems like they should be better than they are. … They could use a point guard. Though Mike Conley is giving them everything he has got, what he has got at 38 years old is not the answer. Nor is Rob Dillingham. How might they get Coby White? 

Grade: C

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New Orleans Pelicans (3-19)

• 1Q MVP: Trey Murphy III (20-7-3 on 47/38/94)

• Best lineup: Murphy • Jeremiah Fears • Herb Jones • Zion Williamson • Yves Missi (+16 in 34 minutes)

• Worst loss: vs. Boston, 122-90 (lost as 4.5-point underdogs)

• Against .500+ teams: 0-14 • Against losing teams: 3-5

Comments: The Pelicans traded their unprotected 2026 first-round draft pick to the Hawks for the right to draft Derik Queen, somehow believing they might make the playoffs this season. … Queen is good. It is too bad he has to live with the weight of that trade — and the possibility that New Orleans could deliver a top pick in a loaded draft to Atlanta — on his shoulders. … Jeremiah Fears looks like a good pick, too. … Trey Murphy III, what a player he would be elsewhere. A perfect wing for a team in need of one, and lots of teams are in need of one. … Tell me again how Joe Dumars thought this was going to be a good team.

Grade: F

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Oklahoma City Thunder (21-1)

• 1Q MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (33-5-7 on 55/43/88)

• Best lineup: Gilgeous-Alexander • Cason Wallace • Lu Dort • Chet Holmgren • Isaiah Hartenstein (+42 in 112 minutes)

• Worst loss: at Portland, 121-119 (lost as 3.5-point favorites)

• Against .500+ teams: 7-0 • Against losing teams: 14-1

Comments: You know one reason why the Thunder have the easiest schedule? Because they do not have to play the 21-1 Oklahoma City Thunder, the best team in the league — by far. … How did they do most of this without Jalen Williams, the league’s best co-star? … Chet Holmgren is better, and that is the thing about these Thunder. They are young, and they keep getting better. … And they have a great coach. Mark Daigneault is a great motivator, though he will tell you his players have all the motivation they need. … Can you imagine if Oklahoma City gets a high-end draft pick from the Clippers? Dynasty here we come.

Grade: A

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Phoenix Suns (13-9)

• 1Q MVP: Devin Booker (25-4-7 on 46/32/87)

• Best lineup: Booker • Grayson Allen • Ryan Dunn • Royce O’Neale • Mark Williams (+25 in 71 minutes)

• Worst loss: at L.A. Clippers, 129-102 (lost as 10-point underdogs)

• Against .500+ teams: 4-6 • Against losing teams: 9-3

Comments: If the Suns can keep shooting like this, they could be in the play-in tournament hunt for good. I have my doubts. … News of Devin Booker’s hamstring strain, which could have been worse, still does not bode well. He was back to earning his reputation as a winning player. … Speaking of which, Dillon Brooks is a culture-setter. Not everyone outside of that culture is going to love how he does it. But he tries, and his teammates try for him, and that goes a long way in this league. … It will be fascinating to see how well Jalen Green reintegrates with these Suns, as he will have to try, too, to contribute to wins.

Grade: A

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Portland Trail Blazers (9-13)

• 1Q MVP: Deni Avdija (26-7-6 on 47/37/81)

• Best lineup: Avdija • Jrue Holiday • Shaedon Sharpe • Toumani Camara • Jerami Grant (+17 in 44 minutes)

• Worst loss: vs. Phoenix, 127-110 (lost as 2.5-point favorites)

• Against .500+ teams: 6-10 • Against losing teams: 3-3

Comments: Well, their coach, Chauncey Billups, a Hall of Fame player, was arrested for his alleged involvement in a gambling scandal, so things did not start out great for the Blazers. … Deni Avdija, man. Heck of a ballplayer. And Bub Carrington was the only cost of doing that business with the Wizards. What a steal. … When Donovan Clingan is on the floor, the Blazers allow 112.9 points per 100 possessions, equivalent to a top-10 defense. Unfortunately, they are also only scoring 111.9 points per 100 possessions themselves, equivalent to a bottom-10 offense. I would like Clingan to connect at a higher efficiency clip on that end.

Grade: C

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Sacramento Kings (5-17)

• 1Q MVP: DeMar DeRozan (18-3-3 on 50/38/91)

• Best lineup: DeRozan • Russell Westbrook • Zach LaVine • Keegan Murray • Precious Achiuwa (+14 in 20 minutes)

• Worst loss: vs. Atlanta, 133-100 (lost as 4.5-point underdogs)

• Against .500+ teams: 3-13 • Against losing teams: 2-4

Comments: The poor, poor Kings. Can’t they have anything nice? The Light the Beam team seems like just yesterday and forever ago at the same time. … This is a roster that once had De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton and is now in desperate need of a point guard. Russell Westbrook and Dennis Schröder have not, shockingly, been the answers. … Give DeMar DeRozan all the grief you want for not being able to carry a team, but he is a midrange maestro. He could play for my team any day, even at 36 years old. … What do you even do with this roster? Fire sale? But for what? It is not like Zach LaVine has any takers.

Grade: F

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San Antonio Spurs (15-6)

• 1Q MVP: Victor Wembanyama (26-13-4 on 50/35/86)

• Best lineup: Wembanyama • Stephon Castle • Julian Champagnie • Harrison Barnes • Devin Vassell (+33 in 110 minutes)

• Worst loss: at Phoenix, 130-118 (lost as 5-point favorites)

• Against .500+ teams: 6-6 • Against losing teams: 9-0

Comments: When Victor Wembanyama is on the floor, the Spurs allow 105.5 points per 100 possessions, better than any defense but the Thunder’s. When he is off the court, that rating jumps to 117.3, a bottom-10 figure. He is a walking top-five defense. To state the obvious: They need him back from his calf strain in short order. But not too soon. … In the meantime, the Spurs have held up nicely, thanks to the return of De’Aaron Fox. Can’t wait to see the Fox-Wembanyama pairing. … Dylan Harper was a great pick. So was Stephon Castle. Would have to give up one or both to get Giannis Antetokounmpo, and it still might be worth it.

Grade: B

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Utah Jazz (7-13)

• 1Q MVP: Lauri Markkanen (28-6-2 on 47/36/90)

• Best lineup: Markkanen • Keyonte George • Ace Bailey • Svi Mykhailiuk • Walker Kessler (+34 in 51 minutes)

• Worst loss: at Charlotte, 126-103 (lost as 1.5-point favorites)

• Against .500+ teams: 3-10 • Against losing teams: 4-3

Comments: The Walker Kessler injury, in retrospect, is an even bigger bummer than it already was. The Jazz sure could use his rim protection. … This team plays hard; they just don’t know how to close games. Part of having a 22-year-old Keyonte George at the helm, I guess. … He has a lot of potential, as do most of Utah’s recent draft picks. One of them needs to pop. … Could it be Ace Bailey? Some recent signs of life from him. … What to do with Markkanen. Make the Pistons pay a king’s ransom. That is what to do.

Grade: B

Here’s the latest Yankees free agency and trade buzz during the 2025-26 MLB offseason…

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Dec. 4, 11:42 a.m.

While other suitors are certainly in the mix, Cody Bellinger remains the Yankees’ No. 1 target, and the club is making a “big effort” to bring him back, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

Heyman lists the Mets, Phillies, Angels, and Dodgers as other possibilities. 

ESPN’s Jeff Passan has previously reported that signing Bellinger would be a “multipart move” for the Yankees, as the club would almost certainly need to move one of their other outfield pieces –potentially Jasson Dominguez or up-and-coming prospect Spencer Jones. 

With Trent Grisham accepting the qualifying offer, the Yanks would have a surplus of outfielders if Bellinger was to re-sign.

Dec. 3, 8:22 p.m.

The high-stakes bidding war for Kyle Tucker officiallyincludes one of the Yankees’ division rivals, as the superstar outfielder visited the Blue Jays’ facility in Florida on Wednesday, according to a report from Robert Murray of FanSided.

It’s no surprise the reigning AL champions are big-game hunting for a new bat. The club signed free-agent starter Dylan Cease to a massive seven-year, $210 million deal and right-hander Cody Ponce to a three-year, $30 million contract in the last week.

Murray reports the Blue Jays are also interested in retaining shortstop Bo Bichette, who could garner an average annual value above $20 million.

Tucker would make the Blue Jays’ lineup even more imposing. In his lone season with the Cubs, the 28-year-old slashed .266/.377/.464 with 22 home runs and 25 steals. His seven-year run with the Astros was far more impressive, though — he hit .274 with 125 homers and 417 RBI.

Only time will tell if the Yankees make a legitimate run at Tucker’s services. His contract demands seem too rich for their blood, and the Yankees have stated they’re focused on re-signing Cody Bellinger, who’d come at a much lower price.

Dec. 1, 9:19 a.m.

The Yankees re-signing Cody Bellinger would be a “multipart move,” reports Jeff Passan of ESPN.

Per Passan, the Yanks are unlikely to enter the season with Bellinger, Aaron Judge, Trent Grisham, Jasson Dominguez, and Spencer Jones all on the team.

Things got tight player-wise and payroll-wise for New York when Grisham accepted the one-year qualifying offer.

Another factor when it comes to Bellinger or other large signings/trades for the Yanks this offseason is that with Grisham now in tow, New York’s payroll for 2026 is already roughly $278 million.

Pair the above with owner Hal Steinbrenner‘s recent comments that it would be “ideal” to lower payroll for this coming season — and his repeated statements about not wanting to carry a payroll above $300 million — and it’s fair to wonder how much wiggle room there will be to retain Bellinger and address other needs. 

Nov. 20, 9:37 a.m.

The Yankees and Devin Williams‘ representatives recently discussed the possibility of the reliever returning to the Bronx, per Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic.

In addition to the Yanks, Williams has reportedly drawn interest from the Mets, Dodgers, and Blue Jays, among others, this offseason.

The Yankees recently re-signed left-hander Ryan Yarbrough, but their ‘pen is still in need of serious reinforcements.

In addition to Williams, Luke Weaver is also a free agent. 

Nov. 13, 11:09 a.m.

The Red Sox are among the teams with interest in Devin Williams, reports Will Sammon of The Athletic, who also lists the Dodgers and Reds among teams that have expressed interest.

Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic also reported on Los Angeles and Williams, saying there appears to be mutual interest.

Los Angeles was one of the teams exploring the possibility of dealing for Williams last offseason before he was traded to the Yankees.

Williams, 31, struggled last season for the Yanks, posting a 4.79 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 62.0 innings.

While Williams was not his regular elite self, his stuff still played up as he had a strikeout rate of 13.1 per nine.

In addition to Williams, Luke Weaver is also a free agent, leaving the back end of New York’s bullpen in an uncertain spot.

Nov. 12, 11:33 a.m.

A source told Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News that the Yankees have checked in on left-hander Ryan Yarbrough, and the club is “expected to be suitors” for the 33-year-old.

After signing with the Yanks last spring, Yarbrough ended up being a valuable and versatile piece for Aaron Boone‘s pitching staff. He started eight games and appeared in 19 games in total, pitching to a 4.36 ERA while holding opposing lefties to a .198 batting average. 

Yarbrough did miss a significant chunk of the season, though, as an oblique injury kept him out from mid-June to early September. As a result, he was left off the Yankees’ postseason roster.

Nov. 11, 3:45 p.m.

Historically, the Yankees have been among the highest-spending teams in baseball, but owner Hal Steinbrenner and GM Brian Cashman have reiterated multiple times over the past couple of years that having a payroll over $300 million is “simply not sustainable for us, financially,” as Cashman put it.

“It wouldn’t be sustainable for the vast majority of ownership [groups], given the luxury tax we have to pay,” Cashman said last May. “I’ve been a broken record [on this topic]: I don’t believe I should have a $300 million payroll to win a championship.”

So how does that line of thinking impact what the Yankees will do this offseason?

Appearing on “Pinstripe Post,” Joel Sherman of the New York Post laid out how he believes the Yankees can thread the needle to retain a key free agent like Cody Bellinger, whom he referred to as “the key to their offseason,” while lowering their payroll beneath the $300 million number.

“I think the goal this offseason is to try to get under $300 million, luxury tax money. I think within that they’d like to re-sign Cody Bellinger, add another reliever who can pitch in the final six outs of the game… I think they’d like to find a complementary starting pitcher to help them through some injuries early in the season. I think they’d love to flip J.C. Escarra for a righty version of J.C. Escarra… and I think they’d like to find a complementary right-handed bat, and maybe plus Amed Rosario, who they liked a lot and tried in previous years to get.

“That all told, I think the Yankees would feel, if they got the versions of the players they wanted to, they would feel that’s a 90+ win team, and they’d have a shot to line it up, and that they could do that in the high ($200 millions).”

The Yankees ended last season with a payroll of $323.7 million, for luxury tax purposes. Factoring in projections for arbitration eligible players and other players in their pre-arbitration years who are still under team control, the Yankees currently have a payroll of roughly $244 million.

Can the Yankees fit in a player like Bellinger, who is projected to make somewhere around $27 million per season, and still make other needed moves while staying under the $304 million luxury tax threshold? 

If that is indeed the goal, while it does appear possible, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of wiggle room.

The Mets‘ best avenue when it comes to adding a top of the rotation starter this offseason could be the trade market, where Twins ace Joe Ryan and Brewers ace Freddy Peralta are among those who could be available.

And per Jon Heyman of The New York Post, the Mets have interest in dealing for Ryan.

Heyman notes that Minnesota is believed to like Jonah Tong.

With Ryan having two years of team control remaining and being set to make just $6 million or so via arbitration in 2026, the cost to acquire him would almost certainly be Tong (or another top prospect) plus a lot more.

Ryan, who is entering his age-30 season, had a 3.42 ERA (3.74 FIP) and 1.03 WHIP with 194 strikeouts in a career-high 171 innings for the Twins in 2025. He was similarly impressive in 2024, posting a 3.60 ERA (3.44 FIP) and 0.98 WHIP with 147 strikeouts in 135 innings.

Ryan relies heavily on a four-seam fastball (he threw it 51 percent of the time in 2025) that graded out as one of the best pitches in baseball last season. He also utilizes a sweeper, splitter, sinker, slider, and curve. 

The Twins are in the midst of a rebuild after having a fire sale at the 2025 trade deadline as they traded 10 players from the big league roster.

That included Carlos Correa, Griffin Jax, and elite closer Jhoan Duran, who — like Ryan — has two more years of arbitration remaining and will be wildly inexpensive in 2026 (he made just $1.3 million this past season).

Along with Ryan, it’s possible the Twins entertain the possibility of trading center fielder Byron Buxton. The 31-year-old would be a fit for the Mets, but has a full no-trade clause.

As far as Ryan, he would be a great add atop a Mets rotation that is expected to include Nolan McLean, Sean Manaea, Clay Holmes, and David Peterson.