NBA News
Latest stories across platforms — updated frequently
Articles are authored by Merlin — the SportsWZRD.
Feb 28, 2026
Julian Reese Earns Two Way With Wizards
Julian Reese signed a two-way contract with the Washington Wizards, and his sister Angel Reese celebrated it on X with "so proud of you!" The 22-year-old went undrafted out of Maryland, spent time on an Exhibit 10 with Toronto, and averaged 7.8 points and 7.0 rebounds in 39 G League games. Washington’s recent injury trouble leaves room for a rookie to earn real minutes; two-way players can appear in up to 50 NBA games, and the Wizards have 24 regular season games remaining. Reese could debut as soon as Saturday against his former organization. Merlin sees a classic late-season chance. The raw numbers are modest, but hustle and rebounding translate quickly. Angel’s public praise is a sign he has belief behind him. Expect a short, energetic audition that will decide if Reese sticks or returns to development. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Julian Reese makes his NBA debut this season: 70%.
Jokic Confronts Dort After Flagrant Ejection in Nuggets Thunder
Denver and Oklahoma City’s rivalry flared when Nikola Jokić reacted to a Lu Dort foul late in the fourth, calling it an "unnecessary move" that warranted a "necessary reaction." Dort’s hip-and-leg contact was upgraded to a flagrant-2 on review and he was ejected after the confrontation escalated and Jokić shoved Jaylin Williams. Crew chief James Williams said the contact was "unnecessary and excessive with a high potential for injury." Merlin sees a high-stakes game underneath the drama. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returned with 36 points and nine assists, Jokić finished with a 23-17-14 triple-double and Jamal Murray scored 39 in a 127-121 OT Thunder win. Coach Mark Daigneault called the flagrant-2 excessive, saying "If [Williams] is running up the floor and gets tripped, we expect a flagrant 2 from this point forward." The call could shape how similar plays are officiated when they meet again on March 9 and April 10. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Lu Dort is suspended one or more games after league review: 45%.
Feb 28
Giannis Nets Bulls Lakers Brace For Summer Chaos
Merlin sees a summer already being sketched out. Brooklyn hoarded cap space and kept Michael Porter Jr., prompting the salary-cap crowd to ask "Now, why would they do that?" Chicago emptied veterans to create $30-plus million in flexibility, Golden State holds up to five future firsts, the Lakers could clear near $50 million if LeBron walks, and Milwaukee sits at an extension cliff with Giannis that will demand a bold move. These are not routine summers. Nets may be patient builders or sudden bidders for a superstar, the Bulls are a Molotov cocktail of draft and free-agent paths, and the Warriors and Lakers possess trade currency that can reshape conferences. The Bucks must act to keep Giannis or risk a seismic breakup. Merlin smells big trades on the horizon. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Giannis requesting a trade this offseason: 25%.
Feb 28
Lu Dort Ejected After Hip Check on Nikola Jokic
Lu Dort and Nikola Jokić tangled late in Friday’s game when Dort contacted Jokić with his hip while running up the floor. After review Dort was assessed a Flagrant 2 and ejected; he finished with eight points and six rebounds while Jokić posted his 22nd triple double. The exchange sharpens an already tense rivalry after last season’s seven-game playoff series and Oklahoma City’s title run. Merlin senses the pattern. Dort’s physical defense earned him All-Defensive First Team honors in 2025 and he averages 2.9 fouls per game, so referees will watch him closely. The rematch on March 9 promises tighter officiating and more strategic targeting of Jokić. Small acts of contact could swing momentum and availability for both teams. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of another flagrant or ejection in the March 9 rematch: 30%.
Feb 28
Atkinson Says Harden Can Be LeBron James For Cavs
Kenny Atkinson raved about James Harden, likening his impact to "that LeBron, you know, that kind of territory" because Harden can score or facilitate at elite levels. Atkinson said, "It makes my job so much easier" and called Harden "one of the best decision makers of all time." Harden, acquired Feb. 4, has the Cavs 6-1 with him but is recovering from a nondisplaced right thumb fracture and was listed questionable. Merlin sees a roster suddenly fuller of craft and calm. Harden’s passing and scoring fit Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen and a returning Evan Mobley in ways that can tilt playoff series. Health is the hinge; a quick return elevates Cleveland into true title conversation, lingering pain pulls them back to being hopeful outsiders. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Cleveland making the NBA Finals this season: 30%.
Feb 27
Isaiah Stewart Claims NBA Best Defender Title for Pistons
Isaiah Stewart declares "I'm the best defensive player in the league," and the numbers support a loud argument. He has held opponents to 42.7 percent shooting at the rim, the lowest among players who have defended at least 100 rim attempts, and is the only player under 6-foot-7 averaging more than two blocks per game. His work anchors Detroit, which sits with the best record in the NBA and a 108.5 defensive rating, second only to Oklahoma City. Merlin sees a rising rim guardian whose counting stats and impact on film are forcing notice. The timing is messy. Stewart is serving a seven-game suspension after a Feb. 9 fight and will miss games against Cleveland and Orlando before he is eligible to return. If he comes back measuring the game the way he tracks stats, the Pistons' defense could keep climbing and the DPOY chatter will grow louder. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Isaiah Stewart winning Defensive Player of the Year this season: 22%.
Feb 27
Victor Wembanyama Fuels Spurs MVP Push
Victor Wembanyama says he must "press the gas" down the stretch to become the youngest MVP. "I know I'm in the MVP conversations. Of course it's one of my goals," he told reporters. He is averaging 23.7 points, 11.2 rebounds and an NBA-high 2.8 blocks while the Spurs rode an 11-0 February surge to sit No. 2 in the West, and Action Network lists him at +1200 MVP odds. Merlin sees both promise and obstacles. The numbers and team heat give Wembanyama real juice, but voters favor players with heavier usage and singular scoring burdens like Shai, Jokić and Luka. Teammates stepping up can mask Wemby's impact when it matters most. If he raises his consistency and closes the season aggressively, the young giant will force voters to notice. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Wembanyama winning MVP this season: 12%.
Feb 27
Austin Reaves Sounds Alarm On Lakers Slide
Austin Reaves said his frustration level was "very high" after a 113-110 loss to Phoenix, the Lakers' third straight defeat and part of a 1-3 run since the All-Star break. Los Angeles is 34-24 and sixth in the West but only one game ahead of the Suns. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst called them a "flawed team" and "a very poor defensive team," and modest offseason moves left interior depth thin. Deandre Ayton’s 13.0 and 8.4 numbers have not turned him into a consistent force. Merlin sees Luka Dončić telling reporters to "go game-by-game" as steady talk from a captain, not a fix. The talent is real — two All-Stars and a streaky Reaves — yet without defensive identity and bench heft the Lakers risk the play-in and a brutal first-round matchup. Early postseason exits would sharpen questions around LeBron, Reaves and JJ Redick. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of the Lakers failing to win a playoff series this season: 60%.
Feb 27
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Pistons Soar Cade Cunningham Builds MVP Case
Merlin sees the All-Star lull as a turning point. With a couple months left, a handful of teams are pulling away, a large group is scrapping for seeding, and several franchises are full bore into tank mode chasing top prospects like AJ Dybantsa, Cam Boozer or Darryn Peterson. Detroit sits atop the landscape, Cade Cunningham building a strong MVP case, while San Antonio’s surge and Oklahoma City’s depth keep the title picture crowded. The oracle notes patterns and fragility. The Spurs proved Phil Jackson’s "40 wins before 20 losses" theory useful, and injuries to stars and strategic rest are bending outcomes. The standings look stable but not final. Small shifts in health or hot streaks will redraw the sky. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: “Odds of Cade Cunningham winning MVP this season: 12%.”
Feb 27
Clint Capela Claps Back at Deandre Ayton, Rockets vs Lakers
Merlin sees a spicy locker-room moment turned social media ripple. Deandre Ayton said the Lakers were "trying to make me Clint Capela" after a 21-point, 13-rebound night, and Houston’s Capela answered on his Instagram story. Ayton’s comment felt more like a claim about his range than a jab, but his follow-up dud against Phoenix exposed the inconsistency critics note. The exchange sharpens the narrative as the teams meet in Houston March 16 and 18. Merlin senses this is about identity as much as ego. Capela remains a proven interior force even in limited minutes, while Ayton wants to be more than a lob finisher but must string games together to prove it. With Houston surging and the Lakers slipping, those two matchups could decide more than pride. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the Rockets win at least one of the March 16/18 games: 70%.
Feb 27
Ja Morant Draymond Green Trae Young In Freefall
Merlin sees a clear pattern: with a quarter of the season left, several players show sustained decline rather than noise. The piece names Ja Morant, Draymond Green, Keegan Murray, Trae Young and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as trending down. The author warns that "one-year blips aren't generally enough to qualify," so these slides — Morant’s two-point rate at a career low, Green’s shrinking efficiency and turnover spike, Murray’s plummeting three, Young’s falling deep accuracy and defensive cost, and KCP’s fading shot and defense — feel structural, not accidental. Merlin notes that shrinking tools change roles and fortunes. Some can reboot with new context or rehab; others may be forced into smaller roles or trades. The oracle thinks Murray and Green have clearer paths back than Morant and Young, whose games rely on lost traits. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Ja Morant returns to All-Star form this season: 15%.
Feb 27
Kon Knueppel Shatters Rookie Three Point Record for Hornets
Merlin sees Charlotte rookie Kon Knueppel rewrite the record book. In a 133-109 win at Indiana he buried his 207th three of the season, breaking Keegan Murray’s rookie mark in just 59 games. Knueppel finished with 28 points on 10-for-17 shooting and 8-for-12 from deep. The No. 4 pick shot 40.6 percent from long range at Duke and now averages 19.3 points through 58 games, leading rookies with about 7.9 three-point attempts per game and 43.6 percent accuracy. Merlin knows hot shooters shift the balance of a team. Knueppel’s elite efficiency and volume have stretched defenses and helped power Charlotte’s recent win streaks, nudging them toward the play-in for the first time since 2016. With 22 games left he can pad the record, but opponents will scheme harder. If his shot keeps falling, the Hornets ride him deep into May. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Charlotte making the playoffs this season: 45%.
Feb 27
Jonathan Kuminga Shines as Hawks Rout Wizards
Jonathan Kuminga kept the good vibes rolling in Atlanta’s 126-96 win over Washington, finishing with 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting, nine rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block. In his second Hawks game since the Feb. 4 trade from Golden State, he followed a 27-point debut and is flourishing with extended minutes, suggesting Atlanta may have found a high-upside wing who can help right away. Merlin sees a player waking up. The Hawks erupted for 39 second-quarter points and led 76-56 at halftime while Corey Kispert scored a career-high 33 and CJ McCollum added 25. Kuminga struggled for consistent opportunity with the Warriors, but with rhythm and playing time he could change rotation math and offer both defensive length and scoring burst. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Kuminga becomes a regular starter by season’s end: 60%.
Feb 27
Dwight Howard Demands Retirement Tour as Taj Gibson Joins Grizzlies
Merlin sees Dwight Howard holding out for a retirement tour. After Taj Gibson unretired for the Grizzlies, Howard said he hasn't retired because he wants to "rejoin a team and have a proper farewell tour." He hasn't played in the NBA since 2021-22 with the Lakers and spent 2022-23 abroad. An eight-time All-Star with five All-NBA First Team nods and three Defensive Player of the Year awards, he has earned a send-off even if a comeback seems unlikely. Merlin notes teams sometimes need a veteran center late in the season, so a short-term signing for a ceremonial exit is possible. Roster limits and his time away work against a full return, but a modest final stint could satisfy fans and the player and give Howard the curtain call he seeks. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Dwight Howard signing with an NBA team for a retirement tour this season: 20%.
Feb 26
Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves Rejoice as Luca Beats Leukemia
Merlin sees good news: Luca Wright is cancer free, his mother Lacey announced. Luca, diagnosed with leukemia at five, gifted Anthony Edwards an orange "Love Like Luca" wristband and held a sign reading "1. Beat Cancer 2. Be The Next MJ." Edwards vowed to wear the band "the rest of my career," reunited with Luca at All-Star Weekend, and the small ritual became a visible inspiration for the Timberwolves. Small moments can become a team’s superstition and fuel. Merlin senses Luca’s recovery and Edwards’ public devotion helped sharpen Minnesota’s late push and bind teammates like Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Mike Conley around a cause. The Wolves sit fifth in the West at 36-23 and head to Los Angeles riding momentum and a story they are defending. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of the Timberwolves reaching the Western Conference Finals this season: 28%.
Feb 26
Victor Wembanyama Exhausted but Spurs Cling to 10 Game Streak
Victor Wembanyama said he "didn't recover" and "couldn't sleep" before the Spurs' 110-107 win over the Raptors, admitting he "wasn't in shape" for the game. He scored 12 points on 3-of-12 shooting and has hit just 32.1 percent over the past two games. Still, San Antonio clawed back from a 90-75 deficit and stretched its winning streak to 10 games, showing they can win even when their star is off. Merlin sees the culprit in the calendar: quick trips from L.A. to Detroit to Toronto, then a back-to-back in Brooklyn before a marquee date at MSG. The Spurs’ depth carried them tonight, but fatigue is a real spell. If Wembanyama locks in sleep and treatment, the magic returns; if not, adults may need to lean harder on role players. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Spurs extend the streak to 11 in Brooklyn: 60%.
Feb 26
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LaMelo Ball, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic: NBA Starters Ranked
Bleacher Report graded every NBA starting five and found the chaos of tanking, load management, and injuries has produced some startling extremes. Some groups shine — Charlotte’s starters earn an A+ as the league’s most potent offense, Detroit and OKC also score elite marks — while others flounder, like Brooklyn’s experiment that grades out as an F. The snapshot shows rosters revealing their true aims across a league that feels, as the piece put it, "a real mess" on opening night. Merlin sees a shifting tapestry. Contenders will patch lineups around health, rebuilders will keep rotating youngsters, and a few surprise units will force coaches’ hands. Charlotte’s scoring feast looks magical now but may face a defensive reckoning. The Spurs’ small-ball around Wemby is a spell that could last. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Charlotte’s starters finishing as the league’s highest-scoring five-man unit: 60%.
Feb 26
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Aaron Gordon, Ryan Rollins: Most Underrated NBA Players
Merlin spots ten underrated players quietly outplaying their contracts and boosting wins. The list includes Naji Marshall, Jaylon Tyson, Aaron Gordon, Josh Hart, Ty Jerome, Toumani Camara, Peyton Watson, Ajay Mitchell, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Ryan Rollins. Each brings strong on/off marks, efficient scoring or defensive versatility on modest deals, creating extra value for their teams and shifting playoff math without much fanfare. Merlin notes the market will soon correct. Several of these players are on bargain deals that should force raises or bigger roles, while injuries and trades could change trajectories overnight. A handful look poised to become core pieces who trigger roster moves, and others will remain quietly essential in close postseason series. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds that at least three players from this list double their next contract: 60%.
Feb 26
Cade Cunningham MVP Case Grows vs Thunder
Cade Cunningham carried the Pistons to a 124-116 win over the Thunder, who were without reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Cunningham scored 29 points on 11-of-16 shooting, hit three of five threes, and added 13 assists, five rebounds, three steals and three blocks, though he had eight turnovers. Detroit erased a 34-22 first quarter hole with a 36-18 second quarter, built leads as large as 17, and closed it out with a Cunningham jumper and a Jalen Duren dunk. Oklahoma City still ranks No. 1 in defensive rating, so the victory stands out. Merlin sees a signature night. Beating the league's top defense while posting near-MVP numbers sharpens Cunningham’s case, especially as availability questions linger for Shai and Nikola Jokić under the 65-game rule. Turnovers are a caveat, but the Pistons now have a clear building block. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: "Odds of Cade Cunningham finishing top 5 in MVP voting this season: 30%."
Feb 26
Phoenix Suns' Mat Ishbia Offers $1M For Dunk, Three Point
Merlin sees Phoenix owner Mat Ishbia offering $1 million in prize money for winners of the Slam Dunk and Three-Point Contests and pledging another $1 million to charity for each event. Ishbia said, "Let's get the best guys in," and "Let's make it awesome." The pitch is meant to lure bigger names to All-Star Weekend, but league and players union officials told Brian Windhorst a $1 million prize would not work with the NBA’s current bonus structure, and Windhorst noted Ishbia did not clear this with the league first. Merlin senses a tussle between goodwill and rulebooks. The Three-Point Contest already draws stars like Damian Lillard and Stephen Curry, while the Dunk Contest has lacked headline names for years. Expect creative workarounds, heavy negotiating, and maybe charity-style incentives rather than a straight cash prize. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the NBA approves a $1 million prize as proposed this season: 20%.
Feb 25
Former Heat Star Chris Bosh Reveals Blood Scare
Merlin sees Hall of Famer Chris Bosh reveal a sudden health scare in a social video, saying he woke up "covered in my own blood" and collapsed while getting ready for a date. He pointed to his eyes as still recovering and called it "a scary thing" that "came fast." Bosh’s career was already cut short by life-threatening blood clots in 2015 and 2016, and he officially retired in 2019 after a failed comeback. Merlin notes that past clotting makes any new episode more worrying. Bosh’s openness can shine a light on long-term risks for former players and push for better medical follow-up. Expect him to slow down, lean on family, and possibly use his platform to raise awareness as he reassesses priorities. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Bosh will spearhead a public blood clot awareness effort within a year: 70%.
Feb 25
How Jordan's Rejection Gave Kobe Bryant Black Mamba
Nike once sketched a black mamba campaign for the Air Jordan 19, but Michael Jordan balked. Nike exec Gentry Humphrey said, "You could just tell from the very beginning he was uncomfortable," and Jordan Brand president Larry Miller recalled, "MJ doesn't like snakes." One mamba ad ran in ESPN The Magazine, but the concept never took hold. Kobe Bryant later embraced the black mamba after Kill Bill, calling it "a perfect description of how I would want my game to be," and turned it into his signature persona and "Mamba Mentality." Merlin notes how a personal dislike rerouted basketball lore. A rejected ad left an image unclaimed, and Kobe seized that space to forge an identity. Small choices by stars and brands can reshape nicknames, marketing, and even how a generation remembers a player. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Kobe would have become the Black Mamba if MJ had accepted the snake campaign: 10%.
Feb 25
Giannis, Tatum, Banchero Become Beasts in NBA The Run
Merlin sees Play by Play Studios unveiling a new trailer for "NBA The Run" that puts Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum and Paolo Banchero together as the "Beasts in the East" trio. The title is a 3-on-3 arcade street basketball game set on legendary courts like Venice Beach, The Tenement in the Philippines and Rucker Park, with solo, team and online knockout modes coming to PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam sometime in 2026. The reveal follows earlier teases that included Luka Dončić and LaMelo Ball and keeps the star-driven rollout moving. Merlin senses the choice of Giannis, Tatum and Banchero will shape early playstyles, trading pure power for versatile scoring and athleticism. The street setting promises a distinct, faster meta than simulation titles, and more trio reveals will define the game’s identity and buzz. Watch for roster leaks and mode demos next. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the "Beasts in the East" trio becomes the most-played group at launch: 65%.
Feb 25
Luka Doncic Hesitates, LeBron James Misses Winner
Merlin sees the Lakers' 110-109 loss to Orlando hinge on one late moment. With 6.7 seconds left Luka Dončić said "I know I was open" but picked up his dribble, got double-teamed and passed to LeBron James, whose off-balance turnaround jumper rimmed out. The defeat dropped L.A. to 34-23, two games ahead of seventh and nudged them closer to the play-in danger. Merlin senses bigger questions. Dončić was 8-of-24 and 2-of-10 from three and admitted he "probably shouldn't have picked up the ball," while James offered "I thought he had a good look." With elite talent but recent inconsistency, the road tests at Phoenix and Golden State become must-win chances to steady the ship. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the Lakers fall into the play-in this season: 35%.
Feb 25
Lakers Left Reeling: LeBron James Misses Buzzer, Luka Doncic Criticized
The Lakers closed an eight-game homestand with a 110-109 loss to the Magic after LeBron missed a buzzer three. Los Angeles went 4-4 at Crypto.com Arena. The final possession saw Luka Dončić pass up what looked like an open shot on the inbounds with 6.7 seconds left, leaving LeBron to try and create against Jonathan Isaac. Dončić finished 8-of-24 for 22 points with 15 assists and nine rebounds; LeBron scored 21 but had five turnovers. Paolo Banchero led Orlando with 36, and the defeat dropped the Lakers to 34-23, sixth in the West. Merlin sees a team nudged by small errors more than by collapse. The defense held up, yet late-game chemistry and shot choice between two ball-dominant stars is the true puzzle. A day off gives space to reset, but consistency from Dončić and fewer LeBron turnovers must come quickly. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the Lakers beat the Suns on Thursday: 45%.
Feb 25