NBA News
Latest stories across platforms — updated frequently
Articles are authored by Merlin — the SportsWZRD.
Jan 12, 2026
Warriors Can't Wait to Trade Jonathan Kuminga
Merlin sees the Warriors have hit their limit with Jonathan Kuminga. The Athletic's Tony Jones reports Golden State "can't wait to get him out of the building," noting Kuminga "doesn't want to be a role player" and that "his self-awareness in that sense is nonexistent." Coach Steve Kerr wants him to "attack gaps. Move without the ball. Finish at the rim. Most importantly, defend with energy." Kuminga, 23, is averaging 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists and has not played since Dec. 18 despite being healthy. Merlin smells a messy breakup ahead. Nick Friedell says his trade value is "at an all-time low," so the Warriors may need to accept little in return or wait for a buyer who trusts his upside. If Kuminga reappears and shows the required effort, the story can change fast, but the calendar is not on his side. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Kuminga being traded before the deadline: 30%.
Jaylen Brown Fined $35,000 Over Officiating Rant
Jaylen Brown was hit with a $35,000 fine after publicly ripping the officiating following Boston’s 100-95 loss to San Antonio. Brown said "I'll accept the fine at this point. I thought it was some bulls--t tonight," and even called out crew chief Curtis Blair by name. The gripe follows a game with just four Celtics free throws to the Spurs 20, and a larger pattern: Boston ranks last in free throw attempts per game despite sitting 24-14 without Jayson Tatum. Merlin sees a frustrated champion and a league reminding players to use the right channels. San Antonio’s defense is elite, so some quiet whistles are explainable, yet the consistent lack of calls on Boston is a real edge opponents exploit. The fine cools words but not outcomes. Boston must force contact and adjust strategy if it wants different results. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Jaylen Brown receiving another fine this season: 30%.
Jan 12
LeBron James Lakers Patch Sparks Topps Relic Cards
LeBron James is partnering with Topps on special relic cards as he begins his 23rd NBA season. Topps says James will wear a commemorative patch on his jersey, and some of those patches will be used as inserts. The patch features a silhouette of James "doing his usual pregame chalk toss" and nods to his stops with the Lakers, Cavaliers and Heat. Merlin sees this as another step in the patch-driven collectible era. Topps, owned by Fanatics, already marks rookies with debut patches and awards winners with a gold logoman, so a LeBron season patch is both a branding move and a collector’s lure. Merlin knows a high school fan will spot the drama: a veteran icon plus limited patch supply usually equals market interest. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds these LeBron Topps patch cards become top collectors’ items this season: 70%.
Jan 12
Luka Doncic Leads Votes, LeBron James Ends Streak
Merlin sees the All-Star crown slipping from LeBron James this year. Fan voting, tied to present production, has LeBron eighth in the West and 13th overall with 1,059,855 votes while Luka Dončić leads at 2,229,811. LeBron has played just 18 of 35 games, is being load-managed, and is no longer the Lakers' gravitational center. "Starters should and usually are chosen for what they're doing in real time, not what their basketball obituary will say." Merlin notes the league now favors younger, fresher stars who play heavy minutes and grab attention on League Pass. Names like Dončić, Jokić, Wembanyama, Shai, and Edwards are doing more in the moment. LeBron’s legacy is untouchable and he can still chase rings, but the All-Star Game is a snapshot of now, and the snapshot no longer points to him as a starter. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of LeBron starting the 2026 All-Star Game: 20%.
Jan 12
Ja Morant Trade Value Plummets for Memphis Grizzlies
Merlin sees a storm brewing around Ja Morant. Reports say Memphis is "entertaining offers" and ESPN's Tim MacMahon relayed harsh feedback: "the feedback we got on Ja wasn't any more favorable than the feedback that we got on Trae [Young]." One exec even called him "a pain in the ass, injury prone, not that good any more, and big contract." Morant's scoring has slipped, his 3 point shooting is down, and a heavy $39.5 million salary plus more guaranteed makes any trade complicated. Merlin notes the market for undersized, inefficient ball handlers is chilly and luxury tax rules make teams wary. The Grizzlies can find a taker, but likely for far less draft capital than fans hope. Expect quiet negotiating, tense calls, and potential price cuts as the deadline nears. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Ja Morant being traded before the Feb. 5 deadline: 40%.
Jan 12
Pistons Trade Deadline: Cade Cunningham Eyes Murphy, Michael Porter Jr
Merlin notes the Pistons (28-9) sit atop the East and face a clear choice: stand pat or push chips at the Feb. 5 deadline. The plan lays out three trade blueprints — a Trey Murphy III package, a Michael Porter Jr. swap, and a Bennedict Mathurin deal — each designed to add scoring and spacing around Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren at the cost of Tobias Harris, Jaden Ivey, picks, or cap flexibility. Merlin sees real upside and real risk. Adding a reliable wing would turn Detroit into a true contender, but the moves would spend draft capital, ding short-term payroll rules, and force tough contract decisions. The Pistons have trade exceptions and wiggle room, yet must weigh a one-shot push against preserving the future. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the Pistons make a major trade before Feb. 5: 45%.
Jan 12
Grizzlies Risk Losing Jaren Jackson Jr After Ja Morant Drama
Tim MacMahon suggested the Grizzlies are moving to rebuild "around Jaren Jackson Jr.," but league chatter wonders if Jackson is on the same page. Jackson signed a five-year, $240 million extension this summer despite toe surgery, has appeared in 37 of 39 games, and is averaging a career-low 18.5 points. With Ja Morant limited by injuries and likely to be moved, Memphis faces a real roster pivot. Merlin sees a team at a crossroads. Investing heavily in Jackson gives the Grizzlies a defensive anchor and clear identity if he embraces it. If chemistry or health falter, Memphis may shop pieces before the Feb 5 deadline. The upcoming trip to Berlin vs Orlando will be a small test of which path the club prefers. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Jaren Jackson Jr. stays the Grizzlies’ long-term cornerstone: 40%.
Jan 12
Stephen Curry Rocks Caitlin Clark Kobe 6 Protro
Stephen Curry kept the sneaker carousel alive by wearing Caitlin Clark’s player edition Kobe 6 Protro in Sunday’s 124-111 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. He remains without a shoe deal after parting ways with Under Armour last fall, so every on-court choice reads like a public audition. Merlin sees more than style. Wearing Clark’s PE links Curry to the WNBA’s cultural wave and shows how he can test fit, fan reaction, and branding without a contract. It sends a quiet message to potential partners that Curry controls the narrative while performance and timing will decide the next big shoe move. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Curry signing a new shoe deal this season: 45%.
Jan 12
Anthony Edwards Clutch Floater Beats Victor Wembanyama
Anthony Edwards admitted, "I was like, ah s--t," when 7'4" Victor Wembanyama switched onto him, but Edwards still spun by him and hit the floater that won Minnesota a 104-103 game. Edwards finished with 23 points and is enjoying a career year (29.1 ppg, 50.1 percent FG, 41.3 percent 3). Both teams sit near the top of the West, with San Antonio 27-12 and Minnesota 26-14. Merlin sees more than a highlight reel. Wembanyama (24.1/11.3/2.9) remains a matchup nightmare even with minutes limits, so Edwards proving he can finish through length raises the Wolves’ ceiling. This close game is a true measuring stick: Minnesota needs that killer instinct often, and the Spurs must learn late-game answers with their young giant on the floor. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Minnesota finishes with a top-3 seed in the West: 40%.
Jan 12
Trae Young Trade Sparks Hope for Washington Wizards
Merlin sees Trae Young is now a Washington Wizard after Atlanta sent him to Washington for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. Washington took Young partly because his $48.97 million player option helps them hit the salary floor and adds playmaking, but Marc Stein says the team "openly covets length and size," so Young may not be an ideal fit. There are "rumblings" of a two-year extension, and Young said "We revive each other." Merlin notes Atlanta's unwillingness to extend Young set this move in motion and that the Hawks' 2021 peak now looks like the ceiling. Washington is 10-27 and rebuilding; Young's scoring and playmaking could speed the process if he stays healthy and the front office commits. Expect fits and flashes as both sides evaluate fit and chemistry. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Trae Young remains in Washington beyond the 2026-27 season: 30%.
Jan 11
Knicks Could Trade Guerschon Yabusele Pacome Dadiet Before Deadline
The Knicks are quietly opening the door to small moves before the Feb. 5 trade deadline. Marc Stein reports, "League sources say that Guerschon Yabusele and Pacôme Dadiet are available before the Feb. 5 trade deadline to potentially set the Knicks up to do some minor tweaking." New York is 24-14 but has lost five of six, so short-term adjustments around Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby make sense. Merlin sees these as low-risk maneuvers. Yabusele once averaged 11 points and 5.6 rebounds with Philadelphia but is a 3.3-point role player in New York, while 20-year-old Dadiet remains a developmental project. The Knicks are in win-now mode, so these two are tradeable chips to shore up depth or grab a draft asset. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the Knicks trade one or both role players before Feb. 5: 60%.
Jan 11
Deadline Surprise Michael Porter Jr Staying with Brooklyn Nets
Michael Porter Jr. has been tied to trade chatter, but the Nets may hold him through the rest of the season. Marc Stein says he's "hearing pushback about the Nets' willingness to part ways with Porter before the offseason." Even after Jon Hollinger called Brooklyn a "dark horse" for Ja Morant, a source told Hollinger Porter "is a lack to move by the deadline." Merlin sees the reason. Porter is averaging 25.9 points and 7.4 rebounds since arriving, while Brooklyn sits 13th in the East at 11-24. Shipping him now would bring return but leave the Nets thinner. Brooklyn looks likely to protect its bargaining power and wait until the summer when interest and assets line up more favorably. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Porter being traded before the offseason: 20%.
Jan 11
Bucks Eye Ja Morant To Boost Giannis Antetokounmpo
Merlin sees the Bucks still circling Ja Morant as the Grizzlies "are entertaining offers" ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline. Reporters list Miami, Minnesota, Sacramento and a "deep dark horse" Brooklyn among suitors. Morant has played just 18 games this season, averaging 19.0 points and 7.6 assists, and carries a $39.4 million salary. Milwaukee needs offense around Giannis but has few trade assets, and Atlanta’s light return for Trae Young shows what Memphis might face in value recovery. Merlin senses the fit on the court makes sense: Morant would lift playmaking and scoring pressure from Giannis. Off the court the math is cruel; limited assets and heavy salaries make a realistic offer hard to assemble. Expect trade chatter to intensify, but expect few big moves without a rare package. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of the Bucks landing Ja Morant before Feb. 5: 12%.
Jan 11
Kings Guard Schroder Suspended Three Games After Doncic Confrontation
Dennis Schröder brushed off suggestions he was merely "attempting" to strike another player after Sacramento's Dec. 28 loss to the Lakers, even as the NBA suspended him three games "for confronting and attempting to strike another player." League reports say Schröder "sought out the player in an arena hallway and initiated the confrontation" about 40 minutes after the game. The target was reportedly Luka Dončić, who had told Schröder during a timeout that he "should've signed that contract." Schröder had 11 points and seven assists in the game while Dončić finished with 34. Merlin senses a simmering feud, not a one-night flare. Deandre Ayton tried to pull Schröder away, but the hallway meeting and public suspension cast a longer shadow over the season. The absence reshuffles the Kings' bench and hands the rivalry extra heat when they next meet. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Schröder and Dončić exchange words again on March 1: 70%.
Jan 11
Jaylen Brown Rips Refs After Boston Celtics Loss To Spurs
Jaylen Brown erupted at the officials after Boston’s 100-95 loss to San Antonio, posting "Fine me I'm sick of this s--t" and saying in the press room, "I'll take the f--kin fine... The inconsistency is crazy. Give me the fine." He finished with 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists but had zero free throw attempts while the Spurs took 20 free throws as a team. Victor Wembanyama scored 21 and hit a late midrange jumper to seal the win. Merlin sees a star fed up, not a momentary outburst. Brown is still elite, averaging 29.6 points, but public complaints about officiating tend to draw league attention and a likely fine. If the refs keep calling games that way, Boston’s rhythm and playoff seeding could shift faster than fans expect. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Jaylen Brown is fined for his comments: 80%.
Jan 11
Dennis Schroder Suspended 3 Games After Luka Doncic Confrontation
Merlin sees Dennis Schröder hit with a three-game suspension after the NBA said he "sought out the player" and "initiated the confrontation" with Luka Dončić in a Crypto.com Arena hallway about 40 minutes after the Dec. 28 loss. The ban costs him roughly $291,807 and will bench him for three home games, including the upcoming rematch with the Lakers, while Sacramento sits 8-30. Merlin notes Schröder is averaging 13 points and 5.7 assists as a key bench spark in the first year of a sign-and-trade deal. Losing his play and physical edge tightens rotations, tests a fragile locker room and forces the coach to reshuffle minutes. When Schröder returns, expect him to be more measured and for the team to feel the short-term sting. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of the Kings beating the Lakers in the next meeting without Schröder: 25%.
Jan 10
LeBron Furious After No Call Costs Lakers vs Bucks
LeBron James vented about the officiating after the Lakers’ 105-101 loss to the Bucks, even posting an Instagram photo showing what looked like a missed foul on a late drive that Giannis blocked with 39.2 seconds left. The NBA’s Last Two Minute Report ruled the no-call correct. The game featured a striking free throw gap, 22 for Milwaukee to 14 for L.A., and when asked if officiating affected the team’s rhythm LeBron replied, "Um… I don't know." Merlin sees a good record hiding real warts. At 23-13 the Lakers sit with a No. 17 net rating and a 21st-ranked defense, and a 4-6 slide hints at regression. An easier stretch versus Sacramento, Atlanta and Charlotte gives time to reset. If defense tightens and foul parity returns, the record will hold; if not, late-game luck and calls will keep deciding outcomes. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of the Lakers making the Western Conference playoffs this season: 80%.
Jan 10
Brooklyn Nets Could Flip Michael Porter Jr. for Ja Morant
Merlin sees the Nets as a dark horse to land Ja Morant if Memphis shops him before Feb. 5. John Hollinger reports a league source says Michael Porter Jr. "is a lock to move by the deadline," enabling Brooklyn to "sell high on Porter, buy low on Morant." Shams Charania adds Memphis is "entertaining offers to potentially move" Morant. Porter’s career-high 25.9 points and Morant’s calf issues make packages and three-way deals with teams like Milwaukee, Toronto or Miami plausible. Merlin warns this is a high risk, high reward tale. Morant’s peak is elite but his health and Memphis’s price for draft picks and young players complicate the road. Brooklyn could gain a superstar for a rebuild when they accept short-term pain, yet chemistry and medicals must clear. Watch for Porter’s movement and which suitors can stitch a three-way swap together. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Ja Morant being traded before Feb. 5: 35%.
Jan 10
Rivals Circling Memphis Grizzlies Star Jaren Jackson Jr
Merlin sees multiple teams circling Memphis center Jaren Jackson Jr. as Ja Morant’s future with the Grizzlies hangs in the balance. Opposing front offices are expected to inquire about the 26-year-old, with "numerous rival executives have been whispering about Jackson all season." Memphis has even begun entertaining offers for Morant, while Jackson remains an elite two-way big, averaging 18.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks, and hitting 36.7 percent from three. Merlin intuits a crossroads. Teams like Toronto and Atlanta could be natural fits for Jackson because he is the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year and adds modern spacing. If Memphis opts to rebuild around youth, Jackson becomes the primary trade asset. Expect escalating chatter and targeted calls as the Feb. 5 trade deadline approaches. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Jaren Jackson Jr. being traded before the Feb. 5 deadline: 50%.
Jan 10
Ja Morant Trade to Bucks? Giannis Fit Brewing
Merlin reads the tea leaves: at least one NBA exec thinks Giannis and the Bucks could be a fit for Ja Morant as the Grizzlies are reportedly "entertaining offers to potentially move" him, per Shams Charania. Jake Fischer noted an exec told him "They've thought about everyone." Milwaukee has limited tradable firsts now, some salary room under the luxury tax, and Morant is "quietly" open to a move, so interest looks plausible. Merlin sees the appeal and the hurdles. Morant's speed and Giannis' power could vault the Bucks in the West, but Milwaukee would likely have to surrender draft capital or young pieces it usually guards jealously. Fit, defense, and ball distribution will shape talks, and Memphis' price for picks and cap space could force a multi-team solution. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Ja Morant landing in Milwaukee before the Feb. 5 deadline: 20%.
Jan 10
Can Erik Spoelstra Fix Ja Morant for Miami Heat
Merlin sees Miami rising as a plausible suitor for Ja Morant, with Heat officials mulling "whether the organization could foster a productive environment for Morant to bounce back to his All-Star best." The Grizzlies are "entertaining offers" and want draft picks and young players for the 26-year-old, whose prime years were interrupted by injuries and suspensions. Miami has assets to offer and sits comfortably in the East, making a deal logistically possible. Merlin warns that talent alone does not conjure chemistry. Morant’s scoring and shooting have dipped and the Heat would pay a steep price in youth and picks. Erik Spoelstra’s culture could revive Morant, or it could expose the trade as a cautionary tale. The next move will test Miami’s appetite for risk. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: (Odds of Ja Morant being traded to the Miami Heat before Feb. 5: 22%.)
Jan 10
Anthony Davis Hand Injury Crushes Mavericks Trade Chances
Anthony Davis suffered ligament damage to his left hand and is sidelined while he seeks medical opinions. The Athletic reports "Dallas won't be able to trade Davis before Feb. 5." ESPN says a non-surgical rehab is at least six weeks, while surgery would cost several months. Davis is on the trade block, but his $58.5 million salary and ongoing durability concerns make a February deal unlikely, so a move now looks more realistic this summer. Merlin sees a great player slowed by a fragile body. At 33, Davis averages 20.4 points and 11.1 rebounds but has missed many games with calf and groin issues. He "can be a tremendous asset to a franchise" when healthy, yet teams will demand medical proof before taking on his contract. Expect Dallas to wait, let Davis rehab, and hope a clearer medical picture draws buyers by summer. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Davis being traded before Feb. 5: 5%.
Jan 10
Trae Young Leaves Door Open To Washington Wizards Extension
Trae Young left the door open to staying in Washington after his trade from Atlanta, telling Marc J. Spears, "I'm obviously always where my feet are... My feet are all here right now." He still carries a $49 million player option for 2026-27 and has played just 10 games this season while rehabbing a sprained MCL and quad contusion. The Wizards are 10-27 and hold a top-eight protected 2026 first-round swap with Phoenix, a detail that could limit how much Young sees the floor. Merlin sees a delicate balance. Young’s All-Star resume, 25.2 points and 9.8 assists in Atlanta, remains real, but health, fit and the Wizards’ draft protections will shape any extension talk. If he clicks with the city and stays healthy a long-term deal becomes believable. If not, the player option is a tidy exit. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Trae Young signing an extension with Washington within two seasons: 30%.
Jan 10
Ja Morant Trade Rumors Leave Grizzlies Without a Landing Spot
Merlin sees Memphis quietly testing the market for Ja Morant, but executives warn the fit is unclear. One Western Conference strategist told Jake Fischer, "There's not really an obvious spot for him." Multiple teams have looked, yet Fischer reported the Timberwolves are "really not in the market," the Kings' interest is "lukewarm at best," and Milwaukee "has thought about everyone." Morant is 26, under contract through 2028, averaging 19.0 points while battling injuries and a shooting slump, and the Grizzlies sit 10th in the West. Merlin senses a tricky crossroads. High salary, recent health issues, and style concerns make Morant a high-upside but high-risk trade candidate. Miami appears the most realistic landing spot since "decision-makers have indeed discussed" whether they could handle him. If he shows health and rhythm, offers will spike. If not, Memphis may keep him and hope for a reset. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Ja Morant is traded this season: 30 percent, with Miami the likeliest destination.
Jan 10
Robert Horry Calls Out Luka Doncic Foul Hunting
Merlin sees Robert Horry join the chorus criticizing Luka Dončić for chasing foul calls after the Lakers' 105-101 loss to the Bucks. Horry said Luka "starts hunting" when refs do not give him calls and that "his game is predicated on getting fouls called." Dončić scored 24 points with nine rebounds and nine assists but fouled out with 16 seconds left, and he leads the league with 12.0 free throw attempts per game. For the high school fan, Merlin notes the tradeoff is clear. Hunting fouls pads Luka’s numbers and fuels a 33.3 scoring average, yet it risks key minutes and costly fouls in tight games. With voices like James Worthy criticizing him, expect teams and officials to probe that habit more, while the Lakers tolerate it if it keeps producing wins. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Luka fouls out again in the Lakers' next five games: 20%.
Jan 10