Back in the summer of 2025, teams around the league were waiting/hoping that the Knicks would make Miles McBride available via trade. Obviously, that never happened.

McBride’s play on Wednesday night showed you exactly why they took that stance.

Playing in the starting lineup, McBride had 16 points, four assists, a steal and a block in New York’s win over the Clippers.

He also defended ball screens well and made things tough for James Harden and other Clippers.

“He’s an extremely good on-ball defender – especially when it comes to the pick-and-roll game,” Mike Brown said of McBride on Wednesday after the Knicks’ win. “He’s strong, he’s powerful, he’s quick and he’s athletic and he’s a little longer than what you think – so when that screen comes, he knows you run towards the ball, (get your) shoulder and hip over that screen at the same time as the ball (to neutralize your opponent’s advantage). He did a fantastic job with that.”

Brown pointed out that McBride – 6-foot-2, 195 pounds – did well defending Harden.

“Obviously, there was a size disadvantage with James, but he did a great job on James. You’re not going to stop him, you just hope he misses some of those shots, and he did just (by McBride trying) to get up underneath him,” Brown said.

McBride’s presence in the starting lineup also spaced the floor for New York.

He hit four of his 11 three-point attempts against the Clippers, forcing Los Angeles to extend its defense whenever he had the ball.

“He has to be guarded,” Brown said. “You watched during the course of the game, they had Kawhi [Leonard] on him and, you know, who would have thunk if OG [Anunoby] and Mikal [Bridges] and some of these other guys (are) on the floor, Kawhi is matched up with Deuce; it’s because he can shoot.”

McBride delivered on an important night for New York, snapping a four-game losing streak.

The Knicks had lost four straight entering the Clippers game. They’re defense was a mess. The offense wasn’t much better. Teams with high expectations can fracture during these stretches.

He also continued a remarkable stretch of shooting.

Since returning from an ankle injury on Dec. 29, McBride has hit 48 percent of his threes (48 attempts). Before the injury, McBride was shooting 43 percent from beyond the arc. McBride’s perimeter shooting and on-ball defense have stood out to opposing team’s evaluators.

“We knew about his shot but it’s the consistency that jumps out,” one opposing scout said. “He’s a threat for them every night.”

McBride is in the second year of a three-year, $13 million extension that runs through next season. He’s going to get a significant raise – whether it’s a new contract with the Knicks or a new deal from another team.

Every dollar counts for the Knicks right now. They are right up against the second apron in team salary. But as long as McBride continues to shoot and defend at a high level, the team will – presumably – do whatever it takes to keep him in New York.

That’s a story for another day, though.

Right now, McBride is showing you why the Knicks had no interest in trading him this past summer.

“He’s become key for everything they do,” the opposing scout says.

Phils set to meet with Bo Bichette as interest intensifies originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Phillies’ reported interest in Bo Bichette is moving forward.

According to Matt Gelb and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the club is set to meet with the free-agent infielder. Jon Heyman of the New York Post, who first reported Philadelphia’s interest last Saturday, added Thursday that the meeting is scheduled for Monday.

The timing is notable. The report comes just days after the Phillies hired Don Mattingly as their bench coach. Mattingly and Bichette formed a strong working relationship in Toronto, and Heyman acknowledges this dynamic as a significant factor in Philadelphia’s pursuit.

Bichette, 27, is one of the top remaining position players on the free-agent market. Heyman reported Thursday that the Florida-native is “thought” to be seeking a deal in the $300 million range, which could get tricky given the current state of the Phillies’ payroll.

Offensively, he’s one of the steadiest infielders in the game. In 2025, Bichette hit .311 with 18 home runs and 94 RBIs, finishing second in the majors with 44 doubles. He missed the final 20 games of the regular season due to a left knee injury but returned in the World Series, where he hit .348 with a home run and six RBIs — including a long homer off Shohei Ohtani in Game 7.

Defensively, the questions remain. Bichette has spent his entire career at shortstop and struggled at the position last season, recording minus-13 Outs Above Average, one of the lowest marks in baseball.

Second base appears to be the most likely fit in Philadelphia. Bichette logged his first career innings at the position during the World Series. That defensive flexibility is central to the club’s interest, especially with Trea Turner entrenched at shortstop.

From a roster standpoint, signing Bichette would force decisions elsewhere. Alec Bohm remains the most obvious trade candidate. The 29-year-old is entering his final year before free agency and will earn $10.2 million (per Gelb). 

A Bryson Stott trade seems unlikely. He brings defensive value and the versatility to move to third base — a position he last played in 2022. Bringing Bichette aboard would also complicate a reunion with free-agent catcher J.T. Realmuto.

The Phillies have not indicated that Bichette is a top priority, but the scheduled meeting signals legitimate interest. With a thin free-agent infielder class and a lineup still seeking right-handed balance, Bichette checks a number of boxes.

Whether the Phillies are willing to reshape the roster to make it work will become clearer after Monday.

The sweet spot of the start of the holiday season, the turn of the new year and the fast lane to the All-Star break is one of my favorite parts of the NBA regular season. This is a stretch that truly tests a team’s identity. The league knows who they are, and they have to find ways to consistently produce. 

For rookies, around this time of year you start to feel the impact of what they’re bringing to their team every single night. And you start to see the pattern of what happens to their teams when they aren’t able to hit that same production level. Also lurking around the corner is that rookie wall, the schedule preparing to knock at your door on any given night. 

As much as it’s about the rookies needing to make adjustments, it’s about trusting the skill sets that earned them their roles in the first place. Let’s take a look at how the top rookies are performing at the start of the new year.

1. Cooper Flagg, Mavericks

Flagg leads the Mavericks in total points, rebounds, assists and steals, and he is the only rookie to be in the the top 3 in those same categories. His game continues to grow, but what stands out most is his consistent confidence in his ability to attack night in and night out.

With every hang dribble or hesitation, Flagg is showcasing a stronger feel on how to get to his spots. It’s not just the vision to read the space defenses are giving him, it’s the confidence to set them up for either a pull-up or drive. A dribble handoff might result in a catch, a hold, a quick glance and an attack while the defense is off-balance. The league hasn’t quite caught up to the strength of his left-hand drive, and he excels getting to it in high pick-and-roll. There’s a reason why the Mavs have handed the wheels over. 

2. Kon Knueppel, Hornets

There are only three players in the NBA who have made 130 or more 3s so far. Donovan Mitchell (133), Stephen Curry (132) and Knueppel (130). Speaking of Curry, Knueppel has already broken Curry’s rookie record for the most games with 20-plus points on 50/40/90 shooting splits (12).

Make no mistake about it, these 3s are not all of the catch-and-shoot variety. Knueppel understands how to create space for himself, will leverage a shot-fake to get to a side-step, or may just pull up regardless of what the defense is doing. Throw in his consistent willingness to drive, and it starts to sink in how he keeps defenses off-balance — and why he’s put together such a strong rookie campaign. 

3. VJ Edgecombe, 76ers

Impact is something that doesn’t always get appreciated when it comes to rookie campaigns. Despite the highs and lows, there is little to doubt with how Edgecombe has helped the Sixers this season. His production was key as the team dealt with injuries, and we’ve arrived at a point where the Sixers are not just dancing with an outright playoff berth but doing so because of what Edgecombe delivers on a nightly basis.

Philadelphia is 8-2 this season when Edgecombe scores 20 or more points and 7-1 when both Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey score 20 or more. His shotmaking returning has helped, but he’s also shown increased comfort and connection with Joel Embiid and Paul George as they have returned to form. Keep an eye on Edgecombe’s growth in pick-and-rolls with Embiid and how the Sixers will use him as a screener for Maxey to open up even more space to attack. 

4. Cedric Coward, Grizzlies

Sometimes in life it comes down to finding a way to contribute and be effective even when you’re not fully at your best. The 3-point shooting dipped once again, going from 30.7% in November (23 of 75) to 27.7% in December (13 of 47). Would you believe me if I told you he shot 50.8% from the field even with that 3-point shooting? (Spoiler alert: He did.)

His adjustment was to attack in transition, find gaps when spaced on the perimeter and drive the basketball in the half-court. The result was shooting 70% from within eight feet (42 of 60). While you’d love to see the full package, problem-solving and self-awareness generally serve young players well in the long run. 

5. Derik Queen, Pelicans

The passing from Queen, who leads all rookies in assists with 153, continues to set the table for his strong campaign. He has been a bright spot for the Pelicans as they navigate this season. But the one thing that continues to stick out to me is Queen’s driving ability.

The Pelicans have mixed in more inverted pick-and-roll, having a guard screen for Queen as he brings the ball up. It’s not so much the speed that you feel on his drives, but the craft: the ball-handling to navigate tight quarters, the ability to take space if there is a gap, the nifty and nimble footwork that serves as a prelude to a shoulder in your chest or a spin move to get you off-balance. Defensively, his primary effort tends to be OK, but it’s the second effort that leaves an area for opportunity. 

6. Dylan Harper, Spurs

The drives from Harper remain a constant; according to the NBA’s tracking data, he was up to 10.5 drives per game in the month of December while delivering on the Spurs’ three-guard attack. The production around those drives is what has taken a hit as 40 of his 58 made field goals in December came in the restricted area, while he shot 18 of 73 from all other zones.

The mentality, mindset and skill remain the same, so this could be a case of needing to see the ball go through the basket. You do want to avoid a world where defenses are helping off you when you’re spaced, daring you to shoot and staying at home on your drives. 

7. Jeremiah Fears, Pelicans

The hallmark of Fears’ rookie campaign had been a (somewhat) surprising string of consistency, but a 21-game streak of scoring 10-plus points has turned into single-digit scoring in seven of his last 15 games. It’s nothing new for a rookie as teams work to adjust, but it can feel different optically when scoring is what brings you to the dance.

The lack of fear has not changed, but teams have been more willing to put size and length against him; mix in unders and switches in pick-and-roll to disrupt his rhythm; show help to take away driving lanes; and work to contest. Fears’ shotmaking hasn’t been there to loosen things up. The good thing about the confidence Fears plays with is it’s safe to assume the microwave will heat back up. 

8. Egor Dёmin, Nets

Dёmin has the second-most made 3-pointers (72) by a rookie this season, and the most through 30 games in Nets franchise history. He is shooting 41.1% from 3 over his past 15 games and has made three or more 3s in five of his last seven games. That has added more confidence to his offensive attack. Teams will still look to pressure him and be physical, but there is not a ton of hesitation to let it fly when given space.

His assist volume hasn’t been high, but the placement and timing of his passing ability has popped on film. The work to improve as a weakside defender within Brooklyn’s context has also stood out to me. 

9. Maxime Raynaud, Kings

In the month of December, Raynaud averaged 15.5 points (fourth-best among rookies), made 80 field goals (tied for second) and averaged 9.3 rebounds per game (first among rookies) with three offensive rebounds per game (first among rookies).

He does a nice job of working around the dunker spot, trying to flash into open areas when defenders help but, more importantly, putting him in a great position to attack the glass. He’s at his best in pick-and-roll when he works to get set, make solid contact and stay in the ball-handler’s vision for a pocket pass. 

10. Caleb Love, Trail Blazers

The shot-making from Love has been elevated during this stretch of basketball. The Blazers guard has knocked down two or more 3-pointers in nine straight games and three or more 3s in six of his last nine. But more important for Portland has been his impact on both ends of the floor.

Love provides energy and effort, always ready to pressure the ball full court and willing to fly around defensively. There’s also a poise and composure in the way he works to change speeds with the ball in is hands. The Blazers are 9-4 when Love plays more than 25 minutes this season. 

Honorable mentions: Ryan Kalkbrenner, Hornets; Tre Johnson, Wizards; Collin Murray-Boyles, Raptors; Ryan Nembhard, Mavericks; Hugo González, Celtics

The sweet spot of the start of the holiday season, the turn of the new year and the fast lane to the All-Star break is one of my favorite parts of the NBA regular season. This is a stretch that truly tests a team’s identity. The league knows who they are, and they have to find ways to consistently produce. 

For rookies, around this time of year you start to feel the impact of what they’re bringing to their team every single night. And you start to see the pattern of what happens to their teams when they aren’t able to hit that same production level. Also lurking around the corner is that rookie wall, the schedule preparing to knock at your door on any given night. 

As much as it’s about the rookies needing to make adjustments, it’s about trusting the skill sets that earned them their roles in the first place. Let’s take a look at how the top rookies are performing at the start of the new year.

1. Cooper Flagg, Mavericks

Flagg leads the Mavericks in total points, rebounds, assists and steals, and he is the only rookie to be in the the top 3 in those same categories. His game continues to grow, but what stands out most is his consistent confidence in his ability to attack night in and night out.

With every hang dribble or hesitation, Flagg is showcasing a stronger feel on how to get to his spots. It’s not just the vision to read the space defenses are giving him, it’s the confidence to set them up for either a pull-up or drive. A dribble handoff might result in a catch, a hold, a quick glance and an attack while the defense is off-balance. The league hasn’t quite caught up to the strength of his left-hand drive, and he excels getting to it in high pick-and-roll. There’s a reason why the Mavs have handed the wheels over. 

2. Kon Knueppel, Hornets

There are only three players in the NBA who have made 130 or more 3s so far. Donovan Mitchell (133), Stephen Curry (132) and Knueppel (130). Speaking of Curry, Knueppel has already broken Curry’s rookie record for the most games with 20-plus points on 50/40/90 shooting splits (12).

Make no mistake about it, these 3s are not all of the catch-and-shoot variety. Knueppel understands how to create space for himself, will leverage a shot-fake to get to a side-step, or may just pull up regardless of what the defense is doing. Throw in his consistent willingness to drive, and it starts to sink in how he keeps defenses off-balance — and why he’s put together such a strong rookie campaign. 

3. VJ Edgecombe, 76ers

Impact is something that doesn’t always get appreciated when it comes to rookie campaigns. Despite the highs and lows, there is little to doubt with how Edgecombe has helped the Sixers this season. His production was key as the team dealt with injuries, and we’ve arrived at a point where the Sixers are not just dancing with an outright playoff berth but doing so because of what Edgecombe delivers on a nightly basis.

Philadelphia is 8-2 this season when Edgecombe scores 20 or more points and 7-1 when both Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey score 20 or more. His shotmaking returning has helped, but he’s also shown increased comfort and connection with Joel Embiid and Paul George as they have returned to form. Keep an eye on Edgecombe’s growth in pick-and-rolls with Embiid and how the Sixers will use him as a screener for Maxey to open up even more space to attack. 

4. Cedric Coward, Grizzlies

Sometimes in life it comes down to finding a way to contribute and be effective even when you’re not fully at your best. The 3-point shooting dipped once again, going from 30.7% in November (23 of 75) to 27.7% in December (13 of 47). Would you believe me if I told you he shot 50.8% from the field even with that 3-point shooting? (Spoiler alert: He did.)

His adjustment was to attack in transition, find gaps when spaced on the perimeter and drive the basketball in the half-court. The result was shooting 70% from within eight feet (42 of 60). While you’d love to see the full package, problem-solving and self-awareness generally serve young players well in the long run. 

5. Derik Queen, Pelicans

The passing from Queen, who leads all rookies in assists with 153, continues to set the table for his strong campaign. He has been a bright spot for the Pelicans as they navigate this season. But the one thing that continues to stick out to me is Queen’s driving ability.

The Pelicans have mixed in more inverted pick-and-roll, having a guard screen for Queen as he brings the ball up. It’s not so much the speed that you feel on his drives, but the craft: the ball-handling to navigate tight quarters, the ability to take space if there is a gap, the nifty and nimble footwork that serves as a prelude to a shoulder in your chest or a spin move to get you off-balance. Defensively, his primary effort tends to be OK, but it’s the second effort that leaves an area for opportunity. 

6. Dylan Harper, Spurs

The drives from Harper remain a constant; according to the NBA’s tracking data, he was up to 10.5 drives per game in the month of December while delivering on the Spurs’ three-guard attack. The production around those drives is what has taken a hit as 40 of his 58 made field goals in December came in the restricted area, while he shot 18 of 73 from all other zones.

The mentality, mindset and skill remain the same, so this could be a case of needing to see the ball go through the basket. You do want to avoid a world where defenses are helping off you when you’re spaced, daring you to shoot and staying at home on your drives. 

7. Jeremiah Fears, Pelicans

The hallmark of Fears’ rookie campaign had been a (somewhat) surprising string of consistency, but a 21-game streak of scoring 10-plus points has turned into single-digit scoring in seven of his last 15 games. It’s nothing new for a rookie as teams work to adjust, but it can feel different optically when scoring is what brings you to the dance.

The lack of fear has not changed, but teams have been more willing to put size and length against him; mix in unders and switches in pick-and-roll to disrupt his rhythm; show help to take away driving lanes; and work to contest. Fears’ shotmaking hasn’t been there to loosen things up. The good thing about the confidence Fears plays with is it’s safe to assume the microwave will heat back up. 

8. Egor Dёmin, Nets

Dёmin has the second-most made 3-pointers (72) by a rookie this season, and the most through 30 games in Nets franchise history. He is shooting 41.1% from 3 over his past 15 games and has made three or more 3s in five of his last seven games. That has added more confidence to his offensive attack. Teams will still look to pressure him and be physical, but there is not a ton of hesitation to let it fly when given space.

His assist volume hasn’t been high, but the placement and timing of his passing ability has popped on film. The work to improve as a weakside defender within Brooklyn’s context has also stood out to me. 

9. Maxime Raynaud, Kings

In the month of December, Raynaud averaged 15.5 points (fourth-best among rookies), made 80 field goals (tied for second) and averaged 9.3 rebounds per game (first among rookies) with three offensive rebounds per game (first among rookies).

He does a nice job of working around the dunker spot, trying to flash into open areas when defenders help but, more importantly, putting him in a great position to attack the glass. He’s at his best in pick-and-roll when he works to get set, make solid contact and stay in the ball-handler’s vision for a pocket pass. 

10. Caleb Love, Trail Blazers

The shot-making from Love has been elevated during this stretch of basketball. The Blazers guard has knocked down two or more 3-pointers in nine straight games and three or more 3s in six of his last nine. But more important for Portland has been his impact on both ends of the floor.

Love provides energy and effort, always ready to pressure the ball full court and willing to fly around defensively. There’s also a poise and composure in the way he works to change speeds with the ball in is hands. The Blazers are 9-4 when Love plays more than 25 minutes this season. 

Honorable mentions: Ryan Kalkbrenner, Hornets; Tre Johnson, Wizards; Collin Murray-Boyles, Raptors; Ryan Nembhard, Mavericks; Hugo González, Celtics

On Tuesday night, Cavs point guard Darius Garland put together his most impressive fourth quarter of the season: 14 points on 7-for-7 shooting, two assists and zero turnovers in a narrow 120-116 road win over Indiana. 

It was a virtuoso showing for Garland. He used his off-ball speed to find gaps in Indiana’s aggressive defensive scheme and trusted his midrange bag time and time again. When the Pacers showed prevent, Garland stepped out and punished them from deep. Bigs Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen did well to create angles via screening, allowing Garland to handle the rest. 

“A great point guard,” Mobley told reporters after the game. “Controlled the pace. Took the easy ones. Played good basketball.”

The significance and timing of Garland’s late-game mastery — he led all players with 29 points — in a season when the veteran guard has struggled with both injury and efficiency, cannot be lost in translation. Yes, the Pacers (6-31) are the worst team in the NBA by a decent enough margin that impressive performances against them could come with caveats. But Cleveland, which was without its water, blood and oxygen supply (otherwise known as Donovan Mitchell) for this game, has been crying out for a change in fortunes. 

Recent results — the Cavs have won four out of five after a lifeless late-December blowout loss in Houston — suggest an uptick in the vibes department, but two related questions remain: Can Cleveland, as currently constructed, find a way to contend in the East? And is the version of Garland we saw on Tuesday an illusion or a sign of things to come? 

Up to this point, as far as the specific question about Garland is concerned, the unfortunate reality is that the aforementioned performance feels like an aberration.

Watch a Cavs game and it doesn’t take long to identify the issue with the Garland-Mitchell pairing. Not necessarily from a height standpoint, although the historical success rate of smaller backcourts isn’t as robust as their larger counterparts. We’re still less than a year removed from Cleveland winning 64 games with the identical partnership. Sure, some moving parts are a factor — the departure of Ty Jerome, the delayed season debut of Max Strus — but Mitchell, by essentially every advanced metric, has gotten even better. So, what is it?

It’s a gravity/efficiency problem.

The absence of the likes of Jerome and Strus — and until Mobley takes another offensive step forward — puts the bulk of shot creation on Mitchell’s shoulders. In a perfect world, Garland would rank second in command in that aspect. But that hasn’t been the case. Opposing defenses react very differently to Mitchell probes and Garland forays. 

When contextualized within the scope of how Cleveland performs in lineups led by Garland or Mitchell, the gap is widened even further. Garland-led units sans Mitchell are scoring just 108.8 points per 100 possessions, a lower rate than the 30th-ranked Sacramento Kings. Flip the scenario, with Mitchell on and Garland off, and the Cavs perform at a top-five clip.

Their “core four” group — Mitchell, Garland, Mobley and Allen — is just their ninth-most frequent pairing, which screams lack of availability and consistency, but all roads lead back to Garland. 

Garland’s meager 110.3 points per 100 shot attempts wedges him between Egor Denim, Bub Carrington, Ryan Nembhard and LaMelo Ball in terms of efficiency among point guards, according to Cleaning the Glass (46th percentile). That’s less-than-ideal company when your organization should be contending in a wide-open Eastern Conference. 

He’s still a high-level creator, part of the upper one-third class in assist rate, but the sliding scale between passes made and shots taken — compared to Mitchell — skews too far in one direction. According to Synergy tracking data, Mitchell’s shot-to-pass ratio on drives is 55% to 26%; Garland’s is 46% to 33%. When teams know you’re more likely to hunt an assist over a self-created bucket, manipulating coverage becomes easier. Garland’s turnover rate has jumped, his effective field-goal percentage has dropped by nearly 10% and, when factoring in his defensive shortcomings, his on/off splits are nothing to scoff at. (Garland has the sixth-worst differential among guards who have played at least 400 minutes this season, per Cleaning the Glass.)

[Get more Cavaliers news: Cleveland team feed]

Compared to last season, Garland’s shot profile hasn’t changed much if at all. But considering his quickness and burst have been his redeeming qualities and his 56% rim success rate has him in the bottom 20% of guards, it’s clear Garland is still battling through toe and back injuries stemming from the offseason. 

“He’s coming off a tough injury,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said last month. “But to me he’s been a soldier. That’s tough to come back from, there’s ups and downs to it. He’s doing everything in his power to come back, but we knew this was going to take time. You don’t just snap your fingers. No offseason, no training camp — but we’re seeing flashes.”

In a perfect world, Cleveland (just half a game ahead of eighth) would evaluate all of their options moving forward with the trade deadline less than a month away — including the prospect of trading Garland. But the Cavs, who are nearly $23 million over the second apron, are financially handicapped. In conversations around the league, Garland’s market — much like the entire point guard market — is muted. Cleveland cannot aggregate salaries in any trade, so any attempts at upgrading at the position are limited to players making comparable money; Tyrese Maxey (no chance), Ja Morant and LaMelo Ball. 

With Strus edging closer to a return, perhaps the Cavs can dangle forward De’Andre Hunter (who has been relegated to the bench) on the open market and seek additional scoring upgrades. Or perhaps Garland can use Tuesday’s heroics as a launching pad for the rest of the season.

Mitchell alone cannot hold up what has been a disappointing campaign thus far, and until the gap between the two is shortened, the Cavs will continue to hover around mediocrity. 

On Tuesday night, Cavs point guard Darius Garland put together his most impressive fourth quarter of the season: 14 points on 7-for-7 shooting, two assists and zero turnovers in a narrow 120-116 road win over Indiana. 

It was a virtuoso showing for Garland. He used his off-ball speed to find gaps in Indiana’s aggressive defensive scheme and trusted his midrange bag time and time again. When the Pacers showed prevent, Garland stepped out and punished them from deep. Bigs Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen did well to create angles via screening, allowing Garland to handle the rest. 

“A great point guard,” Mobley told reporters after the game. “Controlled the pace. Took the easy ones. Played good basketball.”

The significance and timing of Garland’s late-game mastery — he led all players with 29 points — in a season when the veteran guard has struggled with both injury and efficiency, cannot be lost in translation. Yes, the Pacers (6-31) are the worst team in the NBA by a decent enough margin that impressive performances against them could come with caveats. But Cleveland, which was without its water, blood and oxygen supply (otherwise known as Donovan Mitchell) for this game, has been crying out for a change in fortunes. 

Recent results — the Cavs have won four out of five after a lifeless late-December blowout loss in Houston — suggest an uptick in the vibes department, but two related questions remain: Can Cleveland, as currently constructed, find a way to contend in the East? And is the version of Garland we saw on Tuesday an illusion or a sign of things to come? 

Up to this point, as far as the specific question about Garland is concerned, the unfortunate reality is that the aforementioned performance feels like an aberration.

Watch a Cavs game and it doesn’t take long to identify the issue with the Garland-Mitchell pairing. Not necessarily from a height standpoint, although the historical success rate of smaller backcourts isn’t as robust as their larger counterparts. We’re still less than a year removed from Cleveland winning 64 games with the identical partnership. Sure, some moving parts are a factor — the departure of Ty Jerome, the delayed season debut of Max Strus — but Mitchell, by essentially every advanced metric, has gotten even better. So, what is it?

It’s a gravity/efficiency problem.

The absence of the likes of Jerome and Strus — and until Mobley takes another offensive step forward — puts the bulk of shot creation on Mitchell’s shoulders. In a perfect world, Garland would rank second in command in that aspect. But that hasn’t been the case. Opposing defenses react very differently to Mitchell probes and Garland forays. 

When contextualized within the scope of how Cleveland performs in lineups led by Garland or Mitchell, the gap is widened even further. Garland-led units sans Mitchell are scoring just 108.8 points per 100 possessions, a lower rate than the 30th-ranked Sacramento Kings. Flip the scenario, with Mitchell on and Garland off, and the Cavs perform at a top-five clip.

Their “core four” group — Mitchell, Garland, Mobley and Allen — is just their ninth-most frequent pairing, which screams lack of availability and consistency, but all roads lead back to Garland. 

Garland’s meager 110.3 points per 100 shot attempts wedges him between Egor Denim, Bub Carrington, Ryan Nembhard and LaMelo Ball in terms of efficiency among point guards, according to Cleaning the Glass (46th percentile). That’s less-than-ideal company when your organization should be contending in a wide-open Eastern Conference. 

He’s still a high-level creator, part of the upper one-third class in assist rate, but the sliding scale between passes made and shots taken — compared to Mitchell — skews too far in one direction. According to Synergy tracking data, Mitchell’s shot-to-pass ratio on drives is 55% to 26%; Garland’s is 46% to 33%. When teams know you’re more likely to hunt an assist over a self-created bucket, manipulating coverage becomes easier. Garland’s turnover rate has jumped, his effective field-goal percentage has dropped by nearly 10% and, when factoring in his defensive shortcomings, his on/off splits are nothing to scoff at. (Garland has the sixth-worst differential among guards who have played at least 400 minutes this season, per Cleaning the Glass.)

[Get more Cavaliers news: Cleveland team feed]

Compared to last season, Garland’s shot profile hasn’t changed much if at all. But considering his quickness and burst have been his redeeming qualities and his 56% rim success rate has him in the bottom 20% of guards, it’s clear Garland is still battling through toe and back injuries stemming from the offseason. 

“He’s coming off a tough injury,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said last month. “But to me he’s been a soldier. That’s tough to come back from, there’s ups and downs to it. He’s doing everything in his power to come back, but we knew this was going to take time. You don’t just snap your fingers. No offseason, no training camp — but we’re seeing flashes.”

In a perfect world, Cleveland (just half a game ahead of eighth) would evaluate all of their options moving forward with the trade deadline less than a month away — including the prospect of trading Garland. But the Cavs, who are nearly $23 million over the second apron, are financially handicapped. In conversations around the league, Garland’s market — much like the entire point guard market — is muted. Cleveland cannot aggregate salaries in any trade, so any attempts at upgrading at the position are limited to players making comparable money; Tyrese Maxey (no chance), Ja Morant and LaMelo Ball. 

With Strus edging closer to a return, perhaps the Cavs can dangle forward De’Andre Hunter (who has been relegated to the bench) on the open market and seek additional scoring upgrades. Or perhaps Garland can use Tuesday’s heroics as a launching pad for the rest of the season.

Mitchell alone cannot hold up what has been a disappointing campaign thus far, and until the gap between the two is shortened, the Cavs will continue to hover around mediocrity. 

It’s official: Atlanta Hawks PG Trae Young has been traded to the Washington Wizards in exchange for guards CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, becoming the first major domino to fall ahead of what’s shaping up to be a busy NBA trade deadline.

Washington gets a high-usage star to build around amid another lost season, while Atlanta finally breaks away from an era defined by exciting highlights but underwhelming results. For fantasy basketball managers, the ripple effect is just as important — this isn’t just a star changing teams, it’s a sizeable shift in usage, opportunity and value.

Let’s break down the fantasy basketball winners, losers and pickups from the deal:

🏆 Trade winners

Trae Young – Washington Wizards

Washington was the best landing spot for the four-time All-Star. He’ll get his extension, and with no established offensive hierarchy in Washington, he’ll instantly become the primary ball-handler, shot-taker and playmaker. Expect a boost in usage rate, north of 30% (he was down to 28% this season), along with plenty of nights with a high volume of points and assists. There’s second-round, per-game value potential the rest of the way in points leagues. For 9-cat, the turnovers and FG% will still hold him back. Either way, Trae will feast in the nation’s capital — just be aware the Wizards have a protected top-eight pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and it’s of the utmost importance. Expect some rest/maintenance days to ensure that’s never in question.

Jalen Johnson – Atlanta Hawks

With Young gone, Johnson’s already expanding role grows even larger. He continues operating as their point-forward, leading the team in touches, while pushing toward nightly near-triple-double territory. He’s a first-round value across formats for the remainder of the season.

Just look at his on/off numbers with Young over the past two seasons: 

Statmuse

One thing that got cut off in the graphic is that Johnson is a +41 without Young, compared to -7 with him over that same duration. Either way, more counting stats and more W’s are on the way. 

Nickeil Alexander-Walker – Atlanta Hawks

NAW came to the Hawks this summer, hitting the ground running as one of the best acquisitions from free agency. He’s already been a valuable two-way contributor, putting up career-highs in points, rebounds, assists, 3s and steals this season. McCollum will likely eat into some of his minutes, but Alexander-Walker will start and keep a similar workload that he’s seen since Young’s been out of the lineup.

Wednesday’s trade locks in NAW as the Hawks’ secondary scorer and playmaker. He’s available in 49% of leagues, when he should be closer to 100% — especially after this news.

Alex Sarr – Washington Wizards

The player I’m most excited to see play with Young is Alex Sarr. The Wizards haven’t had a point guard capable of getting him easy baskets near the rim or utilizing his athleticism. I expect Young will change that off the rip with plenty of pick-and-roll lobs to the second-year big man. Sarr’s already improved his FG% by 7% this year (thanks to better shot selection), but he could still use some help near the rim.

Cleaning the Glass

Sarr is already top 50 in High Score, top 40 in points and top 30 in 9-cat formats, so while he’s a winner by getting to play with a true PG, he’s already been far exceeding expectations in his sophomore campaign.

📉 Trade losers

CJ McCollum – Atlanta Hawks

McCollum moved from a rebuilding team to a playoff contender instantly. His veteran presence, combined with his playmaking and scoring, will be valuable to the Hawks’ backcourt. However, I don’t expect him to play close to 31 minutes as he did in Washington. The Wizards played him to net a bigger fish, and they did exactly that. McCollum’s greatest asset is his expiring contract, so while he’ll play considerable minutes, fantasy managers can’t bank on him getting 19/3/3 in a reserve capacity. 

With the Hawks clearly pivoting toward a youth movement, his minutes and touches may be inconsistent, especially as the team builds around Johnson, NAW, big man Onyeka Okongwu and two-way guard Dyson Daniels. I’d hold him in 12-team or greater leagues for now, but be ready to drop him if the minutes and production trend south. It feels like a better real-life basketball move that won’t carry the same weight for fantasy hoops.

Bub Carrington – Washington Wizards

Carrington is a schedule-based, injury-replacement streamer at best. His efficiency woes make him hard to trust in 9-cat and while he can rack up counting stats when he actually plays, his rank in the pecking order falls once Young walks through the door. 

He’s too inconsistent to be trusted unless Young gets hurt or sits for a few games for rest purposes.

↔️ Unchanged

Kyshawn George – Washington Wizards

George is still dealing with a hip injury, but his stability with the franchise is rock solid. He’s a foundational piece for Washington, and as he works his way back to the court, having a pure point guard should help him get out in transition and settle into more catch-and-shoot opportunities. 

George has shown a lot of growth initiating the offense this season — especially in pick-and-roll, where he’s playing with more pace, reading defenses and using his physicality to attack and create. Learning from a P-n-R wizard like Young will help, even though it could reduce some of his time as the primary ball-handler. It shouldn’t go away altogether, though. 

George doesn’t have a timetable for his return. If you have space for him on IL, I would pick him up or hold — he’s been too good this season. 

Dyson Daniels – Atlanta Hawks

Daniels remains a versatile source of rebounds, assists and stocks in fantasy. His value ranges from 70-90 depending on the format, and that won’t change with Young gone. Like Johnson, Daniels’ stats are better with Trae off the floor this season, particularly in scoring.

More points, rebounds and assists but the same amount of steals, which are the most significant drivers of his value.

Post-trade pickups

Sharpshooting rookie Tre Johnson is the first name that came to mind because he will absorb a good portion of McCollum’s minutes at SG. A Trae and Tre backcourt sounds cool and the union will likely encourage more open looks for the rookie. 

Put him on the watchlist for points leagues because his game is one-dimensional at the moment. Bilal Coulibaly is another player to watch, especially with Khris Middleton being next out the door.

It’s official: Atlanta Hawks PG Trae Young has been traded to the Washington Wizards in exchange for guards CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, becoming the first major domino to fall ahead of what’s shaping up to be a busy NBA trade deadline.

Washington gets a high-usage star to build around amid another lost season, while Atlanta finally breaks away from an era defined by exciting highlights but underwhelming results. For fantasy basketball managers, the ripple effect is just as important — this isn’t just a star changing teams, it’s a sizeable shift in usage, opportunity and value.

Let’s break down the fantasy basketball winners, losers and pickups from the deal:

🏆 Trade winners

Trae Young – Washington Wizards

Washington was the best landing spot for the four-time All-Star. He’ll get his extension, and with no established offensive hierarchy in Washington, he’ll instantly become the primary ball-handler, shot-taker and playmaker. Expect a boost in usage rate, north of 30% (he was down to 28% this season), along with plenty of nights with a high volume of points and assists. There’s second-round, per-game value potential the rest of the way in points leagues. For 9-cat, the turnovers and FG% will still hold him back. Either way, Trae will feast in the nation’s capital — just be aware the Wizards have a protected top-eight pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and it’s of the utmost importance. Expect some rest/maintenance days to ensure that’s never in question.

Jalen Johnson – Atlanta Hawks

With Young gone, Johnson’s already expanding role grows even larger. He continues operating as their point-forward, leading the team in touches, while pushing toward nightly near-triple-double territory. He’s a first-round value across formats for the remainder of the season.

Just look at his on/off numbers with Young over the past two seasons: 

Statmuse

One thing that got cut off in the graphic is that Johnson is a +41 without Young, compared to -7 with him over that same duration. Either way, more counting stats and more W’s are on the way. 

Nickeil Alexander-Walker – Atlanta Hawks

NAW came to the Hawks this summer, hitting the ground running as one of the best acquisitions from free agency. He’s already been a valuable two-way contributor, putting up career-highs in points, rebounds, assists, 3s and steals this season. McCollum will likely eat into some of his minutes, but Alexander-Walker will start and keep a similar workload that he’s seen since Young’s been out of the lineup.

Wednesday’s trade locks in NAW as the Hawks’ secondary scorer and playmaker. He’s available in 49% of leagues, when he should be closer to 100% — especially after this news.

Alex Sarr – Washington Wizards

The player I’m most excited to see play with Young is Alex Sarr. The Wizards haven’t had a point guard capable of getting him easy baskets near the rim or utilizing his athleticism. I expect Young will change that off the rip with plenty of pick-and-roll lobs to the second-year big man. Sarr’s already improved his FG% by 7% this year (thanks to better shot selection), but he could still use some help near the rim.

Cleaning the Glass

Sarr is already top 50 in High Score, top 40 in points and top 30 in 9-cat formats, so while he’s a winner by getting to play with a true PG, he’s already been far exceeding expectations in his sophomore campaign.

📉 Trade losers

CJ McCollum – Atlanta Hawks

McCollum moved from a rebuilding team to a playoff contender instantly. His veteran presence, combined with his playmaking and scoring, will be valuable to the Hawks’ backcourt. However, I don’t expect him to play close to 31 minutes as he did in Washington. The Wizards played him to net a bigger fish, and they did exactly that. McCollum’s greatest asset is his expiring contract, so while he’ll play considerable minutes, fantasy managers can’t bank on him getting 19/3/3 in a reserve capacity. 

With the Hawks clearly pivoting toward a youth movement, his minutes and touches may be inconsistent, especially as the team builds around Johnson, NAW, big man Onyeka Okongwu and two-way guard Dyson Daniels. I’d hold him in 12-team or greater leagues for now, but be ready to drop him if the minutes and production trend south. It feels like a better real-life basketball move that won’t carry the same weight for fantasy hoops.

Bub Carrington – Washington Wizards

Carrington is a schedule-based, injury-replacement streamer at best. His efficiency woes make him hard to trust in 9-cat and while he can rack up counting stats when he actually plays, his rank in the pecking order falls once Young walks through the door. 

He’s too inconsistent to be trusted unless Young gets hurt or sits for a few games for rest purposes.

↔️ Unchanged

Kyshawn George – Washington Wizards

George is still dealing with a hip injury, but his stability with the franchise is rock solid. He’s a foundational piece for Washington, and as he works his way back to the court, having a pure point guard should help him get out in transition and settle into more catch-and-shoot opportunities. 

George has shown a lot of growth initiating the offense this season — especially in pick-and-roll, where he’s playing with more pace, reading defenses and using his physicality to attack and create. Learning from a P-n-R wizard like Young will help, even though it could reduce some of his time as the primary ball-handler. It shouldn’t go away altogether, though. 

George doesn’t have a timetable for his return. If you have space for him on IL, I would pick him up or hold — he’s been too good this season. 

Dyson Daniels – Atlanta Hawks

Daniels remains a versatile source of rebounds, assists and stocks in fantasy. His value ranges from 70-90 depending on the format, and that won’t change with Young gone. Like Johnson, Daniels’ stats are better with Trae off the floor this season, particularly in scoring.

More points, rebounds and assists but the same amount of steals, which are the most significant drivers of his value.

Post-trade pickups

Sharpshooting rookie Tre Johnson is the first name that came to mind because he will absorb a good portion of McCollum’s minutes at SG. A Trae and Tre backcourt sounds cool and the union will likely encourage more open looks for the rookie. 

Put him on the watchlist for points leagues because his game is one-dimensional at the moment. Bilal Coulibaly is another player to watch, especially with Khris Middleton being next out the door.