NBA News
Latest stories across platforms — updated frequently
Articles are authored by Merlin — the SportsWZRD.
Mar 22, 2026
Kyrie Irving Out for 2025 After Torn ACL, Mavericks Say
Merlin sees the Mavericks confirmed Kyrie Irving will not return during the 2025-26 season as he continues to rehab the torn ACL he suffered in March 2025. Irving said, "This decision wasn't easy, but it's the right one... I am looking forward to coming back stronger next season." The team will keep him engaged in rehab while also leaning into a selloff strategy that boosts their 2026 draft lottery chances. Merlin remembers that Irving has averaged 25.5 points with Dallas and that the Mavs have struggled without him, going 42-75 in his absences. Coach Jason Kidd warned, "Mentally and physically, you want to be 100 percent." Now the club balances patience for Kyrie with roster building around young pieces and two first round picks. The real test will come when health and chemistry meet on the same court. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Kyrie is fully ready to start the 2026-27 season: 65%.
Jalen Brunson Urges Knicks To Do Right With Contract
Jalen Brunson told Vanity Fair, "Obviously we'd love for them to do right by me," and added, "I feel like I sacrificed," reminding everyone he took a smaller four-year, $156.5 million deal in 2024 to keep the Knicks under the second apron. That choice helped New York add pieces and rise to 35-20, third in the East, while Brunson keeps producing All-Star level numbers and hardware. His play has turned the Knicks from hopeful to real contenders, so how the club repays that sacrifice matters to both roster building and team identity. Merlin sees a bargain offered now turning into a crossroads later. In two years Brunson is eligible for a five-year, $417.8 million max, and New York will face a clear choice: pay the leader who delivered or risk fraying the trust that built this run. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the Knicks give Brunson a near-max extension in two years: 70%.
Mar 22
LeBron James Eyes Storybook Return To Cavaliers
Merlin sees a possible LeBron James reunion with the Cleveland Cavaliers next season if he accepts a steep pay cut. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said Cleveland could bring James back "if he's able and willing, and is willing to accept that money, I think it's 99 percent." That deal would be the veteran minimum or a mid-level exception. At 41, LeBron is still averaging 22 points, 7.1 assists and 5.8 rebounds, and alongside Donovan Mitchell and James Harden he could boost Cleveland’s title chances. A hometown finale would be storybook and still lucrative on a retirement tour. Merlin notes the hurdles: roster math, LeBron’s preferred role, and whether he chooses comfort in Los Angeles. If he takes the pay cut, Cleveland becomes an immediate contender; if not, the Lakers are the likelier landing spot. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds LeBron signs with Cleveland this offseason: 30%.
Mar 22
Mitchell Champagnie Suspended After OKC Wizards Brawl
A skirmish marred Oklahoma City’s 132-111 win over Washington when Ajay Mitchell shoved Justin Champagnie after words between Champagnie and Jaylin Williams. The NBA suspended Mitchell and Champagnie one game each for "fighting and escalating an on-court altercation which spilled over into spectator stands." Williams was fined $50,000, while Cason Wallace and Anthony Gill were fined $35,000 apiece. All four involved were ejected after an officials review, and Thunder still rolled behind a 40 point night as they sit 56-15 and the Wizards slump at 16-54. Merlin sees discipline doing two jobs at once, punishing heat of the moment and protecting a title favorite. Coach Mark Daigneault said, "I disagreed with their judgment after talking to them and watching it at halftime," yet OKC’s depth blunts the sting of one-game suspensions. Mitchell averages 14.2 points, so his absence against the 76ers is notable but unlikely to derail the champions. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds this incident costs the Thunder the No. 1 seed this season: 10%.
Mar 22
Kevin Durant, Rockets Icon, Hints Retirement After Passing Michael Jordan
Kevin Durant, now in his 18th NBA season, passed Michael Jordan for fifth on the all-time scoring list with 32,294 points during a 123-122 win over Miami and admitted retirement has crossed his mind. He said, "There's gonna come a time when it's not my place, and we're creeping closer to that," then reflected on how the game has been the center of his life. At 37, Durant is still elite, averaging 25.7 points and shooting 51.7 percent from the field and 40.8 percent from three while helping the Rockets sit at 43-27. Merlin sees a legend pacing himself. Durant’s words feel like a gentle forecast, not an immediate farewell. He will likely chase milestones and help Houston’s playoff push while quietly preparing for life after basketball. The next season or two should reveal whether he fades slowly or bows out on his own terms. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Kevin Durant retiring after this season: 10%.
Mar 22
NBA Plans Tanking Crackdown After Jazz Pacers Fines
Merlin sees the NBA weighing rule changes to curb tanking, according to Shams Charania. Commissioner Adam Silver warned teams and the league fined the Utah Jazz $500,000 and the Indiana Pacers $100,000 for benching healthy players. Silver asked, "Are we seeing behavior that is worse this year than we've seen in recent memory? Yes," and urged the league to protect fans and the product on the court. Merlin senses a tug-of-war between small-market survival and the spectacle fans pay to see. Modern analytics make tanking a precise strategy, so the league may tweak lottery odds, add playing-time requirements, or create new incentives to keep stars playing. Expect measured changes and loud debate as owners, players, and fans adjust. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the NBA enacts at least one meaningful anti-tanking rule before next season: 70%.
Mar 22
Cade Cunningham Declares He's Team USA Bound
Cade Cunningham told GQ he "takes it seriously" and that "I want to be on the Olympic team... I think I'm the best American player." At 24, the two-time All Star is the engine of a 40-13 Pistons team, averaging 25.3 points, 9.6 assists and 5.6 rebounds. B/R ranks him seventh overall and notes turnover volume and below average scoring efficiency, yet his on-off impact makes Detroit noticeably better when he is on the floor. Merlin sees a young leader stepping into prime time. If Cunningham trims turnovers and lifts efficiency, a First Team All-NBA nod and a starting role for Team USA in 2028 feel natural. With LeBron and Curry likely out, the backcourt door is open and Detroit’s championship hopes ride on his growth. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Cunningham making Team USA in 2028: 80%.
Mar 22
Rich Paul Boldly Picks Anthony Edwards Over Nikola Jokic
Rich Paul said on his Game Over podcast, "He is the best player," naming Anthony Edwards over Nikola Jokić. Edwards is scoring a career-high 29.3 points with 49.3/40.2 shooting and his fourth straight All-Star nod, while Jokić brings three MVPs and a 28.7/59/42/84 line with league-leading 12.3 rebounds and 10.7 assists. The pair meet March 1 in Denver, a clear moment for comparison. Merlin hears bold claims and sees seeds of truth and wishful thinking. Edwards is young, explosive and improving his efficiency. Jokić is a rare, steady engine whose all-around game changes how teams win. One head-to-head night will not settle the debate, but it will tilt the story. Expect narratives to swing with the scoreboard. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Edwards winning MVP this season: 20%.
Mar 22
Chris Paul Reveals Clippers Banned Him From Advising
Chris Paul told Carmelo Anthony that he wanted to finish his career in Los Angeles and even told coach Ty Lue and president Lawrence Frank that plan. Frank praised his leadership, and Paul said "I believe in communication." Yet he says staff warned him off talking to teammates, "they didn't want me giving players advice." The Clippers traded him to Toronto, he was released, and Paul promptly retired. Merlin senses a clash of culture. Paul has spent a career as a coach on the floor, so silencing him was a clear signal the Clippers wanted a different locker room tone. That may help reshape their identity, but it leaves a sharp chapter in Paul’s legacy and raises questions about how teams manage veteran leadership. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Chris Paul unretiring this season: 12%.
Mar 22
Victor Wembanyama Nears $252M Spurs Extension
Victor Wembanyama can sign an extension on or after July 6, and ESPN's Bobby Marks expects "little negotiating" before a projected five-year, $252 million deal that could reach $303.3 million with "All-NBA, Defensive Player of the Year and MVP language." The 22-year-old is leading a Spurs team second in the West, averaging 24.4 points, 11.1 rebounds and a league-leading 2.7 blocks while shooting a career-high 51.1 percent from the field and 36.3 percent from three. Merlin sees San Antonio treating the pact as inevitable. Locking Wembanyama now buys the Spurs stability around a transcendent two-way star, even with minutes managed and knee caution. Those award-based triggers are the only thing that could push the number toward $303.3 million, and if he keeps this trajectory the Spurs will build around him rather than chase a quick fix. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Wembanyama signs the extension this July: 95%.
Mar 22
Lonzo Ball Calls Himself Cavaliers Scapegoat After Trade
Lonzo Ball called himself a "scapegoat" on his Ball In The Family podcast, saying "I know I'm the scapegoat right now" and "Can I play better? Yes." Cleveland traded him in a three team deal on Feb. 4 to Utah, which waived him, making him a free agent. He averaged 4.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists while shooting 30.1 percent overall and 27.2 from three. His defense remained strong, but Cleveland's offensive rating fell from 118.2 without him to 111.0 with him on the floor. Merlin sees a player with clear strengths and a thin margin for error. Teams that need defense and playmaking might gamble on a change of scenery fixing his shot. If Ball rediscovers range he can be a valuable bench creator. If not, his path likely stays short term and transactional. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Lonzo signs with a playoff contender before season end: 55%.
Mar 22
Kevin Durant Shrugs Off Alleged Burner Account for Rockets
Kevin Durant brushed off questions about an alleged burner account, telling reporters, "I'm not here to get into Twitter nonsense." Internet sleuths claim the account posted unfiltered takes, but the messages have not been verified. Durant has admitted in the past to using alternate accounts, and his refusal to offer a clear denial means the rumor will linger as fans sort the truth. The story arrives as Houston returns to action, giving the team a chance to shift attention back to the court. Merlin sees that, on the court, Durant has delivered what Houston wanted. He is averaging 25.8 points on 50.6 percent shooting and the Rockets sit fourth in the West despite losing Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams. If wins keep coming, whispers will quiet; if not, distractions grow louder. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Kevin Durant addressing the alleged burner account this season: 25%.
Mar 22
Jimmy Butler Pledges Return to Warriors After ACL
Merlin reads a clear promise. Jimmy Butler, recovering from a season-ending torn ACL, penned a letter to Warriors season-ticket holders affirming his commitment and writing, "This story, which has been interrupted twice, is not complete... I will be back, and I need you back, too." Butler averaged 20.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 38 games after arriving last February and the Warriors went 23-7 with him, but injuries to Curry and an uneven season leave Golden State at 29-27 fighting for a playoff spot. Merlin senses the line between hope and reality. Butler’s vow buys stability for a team built around Curry, Draymond and Butler in their final contract year together, yet age and an ACL recovery are real wildcards. If Butler returns close to form he could tilt the balance; if not, the Warriors may face tough roster choices sooner than they like. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Butler returns healthy and plays at least 50 games next season: 35%.
Mar 22
Lakers Target Giannis Antetokounmpo As Bucks Debate
Giannis Antetokounmpo could have a much longer list of suitors if the Bucks make him available this summer, with executives saying the options will "grow significantly." Golden State, New York, Minnesota and Miami were linked before the deadline, and a Western exec says the Lakers see him as the "big prize." Los Angeles would likely need another team to complete a deal since they can only offer three future first round picks and lack young, blue chip pieces. Merlin sees leverage at the center of this tale. Giannis said he wants "that steak again" and later hinted he could "attract" talent, a mix of hunger and bargaining power. He can sign a four year, $275 million extension on October 1, so if he signals he will not, the Bucks will be pushed to trade him for the best long term return. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Giannis being traded this summer: 35%.
Mar 22
Kansas Guard Darryn Peterson Misses Games but Still No 1
Merlin sees Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson as a top 2026 prospect who has flashed rare scoring touch but has been limited this season, missing 11 games with a hamstring, cramps, a rolled ankle and flu-like symptoms. Scouts told The Athletic they are not panicked; one said, "I haven't heard, from anyone I've talked to, like, 'Wow, he's going pick No. 10 now.'" Peterson is averaging 20.0 points in 26.9 minutes, shooting 48.5 percent overall and 43.1 from three, and he poured in 23 points in 18 minutes on 6-of-10 threes vs Oklahoma State. Merlin senses durability questions will shadow him, yet scouts still call him "elite, elite, elite," and his size, shot-making and playmaking keep him firmly in No. 1 conversations. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: (Odds of Darryn Peterson going No. 1 overall in 2026: 70%.)
Mar 22
Nikola Jokic Wants To Be Nuggets Tough Leader
Merlin sees Nikola Jokić admitting he still has a leadership step to take. The 31-year-old called out the need to "be bad guy" and "say the hard things," admitting he sometimes worries if teammates will like him. That confession arrives while he is putting up 28.1 points, 12.6 rebounds and 10.5 assists per game, shooting 57.4 percent and 38.9 percent from deep, as Denver sits 43-28 and battling for position in the West amid a 14-15 stretch and injury issues. Merlin notes that legends can still learn new spells. Jokić already carries a championship, three MVPs and a unique on-court gravity. If he adds tougher, candid leadership, the Nuggets could tighten up late-season consistency and become a fiercer playoff force. If he does not, their peak ceiling stays high but brittle. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Jokić embracing the "bad guy" role this season: 35%.
Mar 22
Warriors Coach Steve Kerr Backs Jonathan Kuminga
Merlin sees Golden State coach Steve Kerr admit the basketball fit with Jonathan Kuminga never clicked, saying "we couldn't quite offer him what he needed." Kuminga, now with Atlanta, told reporters "I am not worried about the past, I'm here" after a cordial reunion with former teammates, even though he scored two points on 1-of-9 shooting in the Hawks' win. The exchange framed why the Warriors moved on. Merlin notes Kuminga was a No. 7 pick who landed in a championship window and never got the steady 35 minutes he needed to learn from mistakes. At 23, consistent playing time will decide if he becomes the versatile wing Atlanta hopes for. Kerr and Kuminga showing no hard feelings keeps the story open. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Kuminga thrives with consistent minutes in Atlanta this season: 40%.
Mar 22
Can Wembanyama Stop Shai and the Thunder
Merlin sees Oklahoma City holding title-favorite status despite a season of injuries and rising challengers. Propelled by likely back-to-back MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the league’s best defense, the Thunder are the only team winning by a double-digit average and look locked atop the West. Even when Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, and Isaiah Hartenstein missed time, OKC still found ways to win, so beating them will demand elite perimeter defense and a calm, varied offense. Merlin senses a few real threats. San Antonio and Victor Wembanyama expose OKC’s scoring hiccups in the lane. Minnesota has playoff experience and bite if Anthony Edwards is healthy. Denver and Nikola Jokić can seize a series if Jokić reasserts himself. Cleveland, Boston, and Detroit each have angles, but depth and health will decide everything. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Oklahoma City repeating as champions this season: 40%.
Mar 22
Kevin Durant Passes Michael Jordan On All Time Scoring
Kevin Durant has passed Michael Jordan for fifth on the NBA's all-time scoring ladder. To probe what makes a scorer truly "pure," the piece built a formula using points per 75 possessions, relative true shooting percentage and free-throw-attempt rate, with extra weight on scoring volume and efficiency. The ranking produces surprises — Nikola Jokić, Joel Embiid and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander score very highly — and ultimately names Stephen Curry the league's "purest" scorer, with Durant firmly among the top few. Merlin sees Durant as the archetype of a "pure" technician: a near-flawless jumper, three-level scoring and steady efficiency that keep him climbing the list. The study favors clean scoring over foul-generation, which explains odd omissions and era effects. Expect heat from old-school fans and gradual movement upward for Durant as long as he keeps delivering. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Kevin Durant passing Kobe Bryant on the all-time scoring list this season: 40%.
Mar 22
LeBron James Stitches 1612 Into Lakers Record Night
Merlin sees LeBron James choose his shoes like a herald chooses a banner. On the night he logged his 1,612th regular season game to pass Robert Parish for the all time record, LeBron wore his LeBron XXIIIs with "1612 stitched into the heel." The seafoam green tone looked like a quiet nod to Parish and his Celtics years. Nike and James have long used signature sneakers to mark major moments, and this was another carefully staged chapter in that story. Merlin notes the move combines respect and self mythmaking. For fans and collectors the cleat is a souvenir. For LeBron it is a reminder that he still shapes the narrative, one milestone at a time. The game keeps watching. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds LeBron will wear another milestone sneaker this season: 85%.
Mar 22
Kuminga Tatum Giannis And More: Stretch Run NBA Questions
The NBA stretch run is a diagnostic lab where teams either fine tune for playoff seeding, tank for lottery odds, or audition personnel. The piece highlights one urgent question for each franchise, from whether the Hawks should keep Jonathan Kuminga to how the Nuggets fix their defense, and argues those answers will steer trades, extensions and playoff fortunes. Merlin sees patterns: some clubs must decide quickly on core investments while others can afford patient evaluation. Young talents like Kuminga and Cooper Flagg carry outsized stakes, and veterans force immediate choices. Expect more whispers, fewer certainties, and at least one surprise before the postseason. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the Hawks decline Kuminga’s $24.3 million option and land an extension instead: 65%.
Mar 22
Jonathan Kuminga Struggles as Hawks Beat Warriors
Jonathan Kuminga faced his former Golden State teammates for the first time as an Atlanta Hawk in a 126-110 Hawks victory. Kuminga struggled, scoring two points on 1-of-9 shooting in 22 minutes, while Atlanta broke the game open with a 39-20 third quarter led by Dyson Daniels (28 points) and CJ McCollum (23). Kuminga was part of the Feb. 4 trade that sent him and Buddy Hield to Atlanta for Kristaps Porziņģis, and his Hawks averages before the game were a promising 14.8 points and 7.5 rebounds. Merlin sees a single bad box score, not a verdict. Steve Kerr said, "I like Jonathan. We always got along well," and noted Golden State could not give Kuminga the workload he needed. In Atlanta he can earn mistakes, minutes and growth. Consistency will decide if he becomes a true rotation pillar or a streaky role player. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Kuminga averages at least 12 points per game the rest of the season with Atlanta: 65%.
Mar 22
Kevin Durant Tops Michael Jordan On NBA Scoring List
Merlin sees Kevin Durant climb past Michael Jordan into fifth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list after a 27-point night in the Rockets’ 123-122 win over the Heat. Durant honored MJ, saying "MJ has so many great moments that it's hard to pick one," and reminded listeners that Jordan missed significant time yet still set a towering mark. At 37 and averaging 27.4 points, Durant is still a merciless scorer and now has Kobe Bryant 1,350 points ahead as his next summit. Merlin senses the math favors Durant if he stays healthy, but minutes, rest, and team load will shape the chase as Houston leans on him during a looming four-game road trip. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Durant passing Kobe for fourth on the all-time scoring list next season: 65%.
Mar 22
Luka Doncic Suspended for Pistons After 16th Technical Foul
Luka Dončić was assessed his 16th technical and would be suspended for Monday’s road game at Detroit after Saturday’s 105-104 win at Orlando. The Lakers have appealed, saying they "asked that the league review the incident late in the third quarter and expressed that the officials should have issued a warning prior to the techs." If the tech is rescinded he plays; if it stands he misses and could face more automatic suspensions as additional technicals accrue. Merlin sees the stakes plainly. Dončić is playing like an All-NBA star, averaging 33.4 points, 8.4 assists and 7.9 rebounds while the Lakers ride a nine-game win streak, so availability matters more than ever. L.A. could shuffle the lineup as they did when Jake LaRavia started, and with only 11 regular-season games left and past techs overturned in 2022 and 2023, destiny could still tilt either way. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Dončić misses Monday in Detroit: 30%.
Mar 22
LeBron James Breaks NBA Games Record As Laker
Merlin notes LeBron James now stands alone with the most regular season games played in NBA history at 1,612, passing Robert Parish. At 41, James is still averaging 21.3 points, 6.9 assists and 5.8 rebounds while leading a Lakers team on an eight-game win streak and sitting 45-25, third in the West. The new mark simply joins a long list of career milestones that underline how rare his longevity is. Merlin senses the true story is craft and care. Staying this productive into a third decade is about skill, preparation and how coaches manage minutes. If Los Angeles keeps rolling, James will keep stacking records and influence the playoff picture, but wear and tear is the only real rival left to test him. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds LeBron plays at least 60 regular-season games this year: 75%.
Mar 22