NBA News
Latest stories across platforms — updated frequently
Articles are authored by Merlin — the SportsWZRD.
Feb 27, 2026
Cole Anthony Waived by Phoenix Suns After Trade Spree
The Phoenix Suns waived guard Cole Anthony, who never appeared in a game after being included in the Feb. 5 three-team trade from Milwaukee. The 25-year-old averaged 6.7 points, 3.5 assists and 2.5 rebounds in 35 games with the Bucks this season, and once produced a 16.3-5.7-5.4 season in Orlando. Anthony has been traded and waived multiple times and could be on his fifth team in about nine months. Merlin sees a still dangerous scorer hiding in plain sight. Anthony has flashed big outings, like 23 points and seven assists in 26 minutes, so teams needing instant offense will take a chance. Consistency and fit explain the churn, but fringe rosters often sign a guard who can create shots off the bench. Expect a short-term or two-way deal before long. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Cole Anthony signing with another NBA team this month: 70%.
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
Spurs Sign Mason Plumlee To Back Up Wembanyama
San Antonio signed veteran center Mason Plumlee to a rest-of-season deal after a 10-day stint in which he did not play. The 35-year-old, soon to turn 36, brings 13 seasons of experience and a skill set built on rebounding and passing. His production has dipped recently, but he gives the Spurs reliable depth behind Victor Wembanyama. Merlin senses this is practical insurance as the Spurs pace the West. Plumlee likely will not see heavy minutes, but he can spell starters, steady the glass, and serve as a veteran sounding board for Wemby. In a title chase the Spurs value availability and experience more than box score flashes. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Plumlee appears in at least one regular-season game for San Antonio before the playoffs: 75%.
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
Taj Gibson Signs With Memphis Grizzlies, Eyes 40
Merlin sees veteran big Taj Gibson has signed with the Memphis Grizzlies, a move that could make him the 35th player to suit up after turning 40. Entering his 17th season after 37 games with the Hornets (2.9 points, 3.2 rebounds in 11.1 minutes), Gibson brings 71 playoff games and steady defense to a Grizzlies club sitting 21-36 and fresh off a Kyle Anderson buyout. Merlin senses this is less about box score magic and more about apprenticeship. Gibson’s career toughness and rim knowledge can steady young frontcourt pieces like GG Jackson (21), Taylor Hendricks (22) and Santi Aldama (25). Expect spot minutes, veterans’ counsel, and cleaner rotations more than scoring outbursts. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Taj Gibson appears in a regular season game for Memphis this year: 70%.
Feb 26
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
Hawks vs Orlando: TI Performs, Lemon Pepper Wings
Merlin sees the Hawks turning a March 16 game into more than basketball. Atlanta announced a "Magic City" promo night against the Orlando Magic with a T.I. performance and lemon pepper chicken wings on the concession menu, highlighting Magic City as an "iconic cultural institution." The push is built to give fans a True to Atlanta experience and lift the arena atmosphere. Merlin senses this is smart theater and brand work, not just a promotion. As Hawks executive Melissa Proctor put it, "From the food to the music and the exclusive merchandise, we are excited to team up with Magic City to create an authentic, True to Atlanta-inspired game experience." Expect strong local buzz, higher ticket demand, and other teams taking notes. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the Hawks sell out March 16: 65%.
Feb 26
Cuban and Suns Governor Eye Million Dollar All Star Prizes
Merlin sees Phoenix governor Mat Ishbia offering $1 million prizes for the winners of the 2027 Slam Dunk and 3-Point contests, with matching $1 million charity gifts, and Dallas owner Mark Cuban saying he "offered the same thing years ago" but was told it would be tampering. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst warned it "would run into some red tape" because the current CBA pays far less—dunk winner $100,000, 3-point champ $60,000—so big cash incentives would require league and union changes. Big money could pull more stars into All-Star Weekend and change how players view exhibition events. Merlin senses equal parts showmanship and paperwork. Owners want spectacle, yet the CBA and tampering rules are real. Expect proposals framed as charity guarantees, league-approved appearance fees, or negotiated CBA tweaks. Ishbia’s "Done. Let's get the best guys in it. Let's make it awesome" is an invitation; whether the league answers will reveal how far owners can stretch the rules. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of $1M prizes happening as proposed next year: 20%.
Feb 26
NBA Skips Independent Check on Lauri Markkanen MRI
Merlin sees the NBA will not send an independent doctor to sit in on Lauri Markkanen’s upcoming MRI. The league will instead have access to the test results "as stipulated by the CBA and its Player Participation Policy." Markkanen is being checked for a right ankle and right hip issue, and initial confusion over on-site medical personnel was clarified by reports that the NBA will simply review results. The move unfolds while the league tightens its stance on tanking after fining the Jazz $500,000 for late-game scratches. Merlin senses a careful balance. The NBA is following standard procedure but is watching patterns closely, especially with Utah at 18-40 and a tempting draft class looming. Adam Silver warned, "Are we seeing behavior that is worse this year than we've seen in recent memory? Yes." Quiet reviews can still become loud investigations if timing or records look convenient. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the league escalates action over Markkanen’s MRI this season: 25%.
Feb 26
Anthony Edwards Fined $25K for Timberwolves Halftime Ball Toss
The NBA fined Anthony Edwards $25,000 after he threw the game ball into the stands at halftime of Minnesota’s 124-121 win over Portland. Merlin notes Edwards still finished with 34 points and a career-high 29.6 scoring average, even as he has racked up nine technicals and roughly $430,000 in fines during the 2024-25 campaign. Minnesota sits fifth in the West at 36-23 and remains a title threat despite the distractions. Merlin sees a familiar pattern: flashes of brilliance wrapped in combustible emotion. The phrase "throwing the ball into the crowd" is another notch on a ledger that has cost cash but not efficiency. Adidas turned the moment into content, reminding fans that marketability and missteps often travel together. If Edwards cools down, the Wolves’ ceiling stays high; if not, league discipline could become a real sideline. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Edwards is fined again before the playoffs: 75%.
Feb 26
Timberwolves Reunite With Kyle Anderson After Buyout
"Kyle Anderson is returning to the Minnesota Timberwolves," ESPN's Shams Charania reported after Anderson reached a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies. The move updates Minnesota's depth chart by adding a veteran playmaker and defensive wing who can handle the ball, space the floor enough to pass, and guard multiple positions. For a Wolves team that prizes versatility, Anderson is a fit who can stabilize the second unit. Merlin sees a steadying hand more than a headline scorer. Anderson's value will be calming tempo, creating for others, and offering matchup flexibility in playoff lineups. He will have to earn minutes in a crowded rotation, but his basketball IQ and size make him the kind of veteran that can tip close games in Minnesota's favor. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Anderson earning regular rotation minutes this season: 65%.
Feb 26
Lakers' Deandre Ayton Rejects Being Clint Capela
A familiar critique has resurfaced around Deandre Ayton as the Lakers sputter through four losses in six games. A Western scout told ESPN Ayton has "mostly underachieved" and "picks and chooses when he wants to lock in and play." Ayton, after a 21 and 13, was overheard saying "I'm not no Clint Capela." Once a frontline piece in Phoenix, Ayton is now averaging 13.2 points and 8.5 rebounds and ranks low in VORP for Los Angeles. Merlin sees a clear pattern: big games sandwiched by quiet ones and offcourt friction that followed him from Phoenix to Portland. Pairing with Luka offered a map to better play but the route has not been followed. The Lakers need dependable center play; Ayton must decide whether to become steady or yield minutes and leverage. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Ayton becomes a consistent 16-and-10 starter for the Lakers this season: 20%.
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
Dejounte Murray Denies Trade Rumors, Season Debut For Pelicans
Dejounte Murray pushed back on trade chatter, posting that he was "locked in to come back" from a ruptured Achilles and never asked to be moved at the deadline. Reports suggested his camp preferred a new destination, but he stayed with New Orleans and made his season debut Tuesday, scoring 13 points in the Pelicans' 113-109 win. After the game he said, "I've been through a lot. I keep my chest out, chin up, smiling." Merlin senses the real story is fit and health, not headlines. Murray averaged 17.5/7.4/6.5/2.0 last year and the Pelicans, 17-42, will use the rest of the season to test him alongside rookies Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen. If he stays healthy and finds a defined role, the trade whispers will fade. If not, those whispers will return louder. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Dejounte Murray requesting a trade this season: 15%.
Feb 25