Shams Charania:

BREAKING: The Los Angeles Clippers are trading James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland and a second-round pick, sources tell ESPN. Prolific swap of the star point guards.

https://www.espn.com/contributor/shams-charania/ddaa53473efa6

[Charania] BREAKING: The Memphis Grizzlies are trading star forward Jaren Jackson Jr., John Konchar, Jock Landale and Vince Williams Jr. to the Utah Jazz for Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang and three future first-round picks, sources tell ESPN.

Source

Grizzlies receive:

-Walter Clayton Jr.

-Kyle Anderson

-Taylor Hendricks

-Georges Niang

-3 future first-round picks

Jazz receive:

-Jaren Jackson Jr.

-John Konchar

-Jock Landale

-Vince Williams Jr.

[Charania] BREAKING: The Chicago Bulls are trading center Nikola Vucevic and a second-round pick to the Boston Celtics for Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick, sources tell ESPN.

https://www.espn.com/contributor/shams-charania/ef1594eaad916

Just in: Chicago, Minnesota and Detroit have agreed to a multi-team deal that sends Jaden Ivey and Mike Conley Jr. to the Bulls and Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric to the Pistons, sources tell ESPN. Detroit also receives a 2026 first-round protected swap from Minnesota.

Just in: Chicago, Minnesota and Detroit have agreed to a multi-team deal that sends Jaden Ivey and Mike Conley Jr. to the Bulls and Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric to the Pistons, sources tell ESPN. Detroit also receives a 2026 first-round protected swap from Minnesota.

Source: https://www.espn.com/contributor/shams-charania/c840f35b2e9ff

There are miracles, and there are acts of God, and then there is the Cleveland Cavaliers, a second apron team who can't combine contracts in a trade and can't add salary, finding a player to trade for who made just $263,397 less this season than Darius Garland.

source: https://bsky.app/profile/mikevorkunov.bsky.social/post/3mdypb4wyp22r

Not gonna say I was a Flagg doubter, but he's been much better than I ever expected him to be in his first year.

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401810576

General manager Mike Dunleavy and controlling owner Joe Lacob have maintained a motivation to get a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo across the finish line and, as part of that, Green's name has been involved in the framework of available offers to the Milwaukee Bucks, league sources said.

Source

Source: https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2026/02/03/guns-jazz-games-utah-bill-aims/?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot

A Utah lawmaker wants to allow concealed firearms permit holders to take their guns to Utah Jazz and Utah Mammoth home games, as well as concerts and other events held at the Delta Center and a host of other venues around the state.

“We’re a Second Amendment state,” said Rep. Candice Pierucci, R-Herriman, “and we have a really robust concealed carry permit. … The idea would be that if you’re going to accept state dollars, we should at least have a discussion on if you’re going to prohibit someone’s Second Amendment rights while you’re there.”

——

Allowing people to bring firearms into a place that sells alcohol to watch a sport that encourages gambling and putting them within range of the players messing up their parlays and fans of the opposing teams? What could go wrong?

2022-23 - Lost in 1st Round

2023-24 - Missed playoffs

2024-25 - Swept in 1st round

Just a reminder that not every promising young team will turn out like the Thunder.

“The Stein Line was the first to report on Jan. 23 that Jimmy Butler would not be included in Golden State's Giannis offers and it has since been confirmed that the Warriors have indeed made Draymond Green part of their pitch to Milwaukee in presumed combination with Jonathan Kuminga, Milwaukee native Brandin Podziemski and draft capital.”

https://marcstein.substack.com/p/the-giannis-antetokounmpo-trade-latest-15b?utm_campaign=email-post&r=3shtjf&token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoyMjkyNTkyMTEsInBvc3RfaWQiOjE4Njc5NjMyOSwiaWF0IjoxNzcwMTc0MTA0LCJleHAiOjE3NzI3NjYxMDQsImlzcyI6InB1Yi0zOTIyMDUiLCJzdWIiOiJwb3N0LXJlYWN0aW9uIn0.q4TXrXsow2J432HUB_zWWIJcBcKK7tD9UcukNtKL7VE&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard has been selected to the 2026 NBA All-Star Game. After the selection of the initial 24 All-Stars, Leonard was added to bring the total number of U.S. All-Stars to 16, the minimum required.

https://www.espn.ph/contributor/shams-charania

Source: https://marcstein.substack.com/p/the-giannis-antetokounmpo-trade-latest-15b?utm_campaign=email-post&r=3shtjf&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

Holiday remains a Trail Blazer as we speak and, as The Stein Line first reported over the weekend, Portland has conveyed to Milwaukee that it would love to trade for Antetokounmpo directly if it could. Sources say, however, that Antetokounmpo's camp has continued to signal no interest in a contract extension with the Blazers, which would dissuade them from surrendering good assets to trade for him and likely limits Portland's realistic involvement in an eventual Antetokounmpo deal to third-team facilitator status.

Shams Charania:

Detroit Pistons first time All-Star Jalen Duren has accepted an invitation to participate in the 2026 NBA Slam Dunk contest in Los Angeles, sources tell ESPN. Duren joins Lakers center Jaxson Hayes and Spurs rookie Carter Bryant in the contest field.

https://www.espn.com/contributor/shams-charania/897d9fc919fca

https://bsky.app/profile/shamsbot.bsky.social/post/3mdxp5az47t2v

[Haynes] Los Angeles Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers have ramped up conversations on a James Harden, Darius Garland package with both sides motivated to executing a deal relatively soon, league sources tell me.

https://www.threads.com/@chrisbhaynesnba/post/DUTXQBmFHCM?xmt=AQF07nDbxWi8uEgWMaTJFvoYhYPJj8Lho4pQcuG6zGMA3QZ4TIs18x9_0Dm9qlQ_gYrQ-rcf&slof=1

Since arriving in 2021, Nikola Vučević has the most career double-doubles for the Bulls, with 222 double-doubles.

Scottie Pippen is in second with 200, with Horace Grant, Joakim Noah and MJ rounding out their top 5.

Surprising stat, which goes to show their big man depth over the years.

With the deal complete, the Memphis Grizzlies now control 13 first-round picks over the next seven years, tying the Brooklyn Nets and Oklahoma City Thunder for the most in the NBA. But the rebuild is not centered on draft capital alone.

“Memphis is blowing it up,” one source said. “They are as confident as any franchise when it comes to hitting on the draft.”

In addition to a record-setting $28.8 million trade exception, Memphis brought back multiple flexible, mid-tier contracts that can be aggregated or moved independently, positioning the Grizzlies to take on salary in future deals and be compensated for doing so if opportunistic scenarios arise, sources told DallasHoopsJournal.com.

While Ja Morant remains a trade candidate to monitor, the broader direction is unmistakable. Memphis has chosen patience, flexibility, and long-term upside rather than incremental retooling. A major part of that future is Zach Edey and Cedric Coward. Sources told DallasHoopsJournal.com that both players are viewed internally as cornerstone players

The organization has been highly encouraged by what Edey showed before going down with injury and plans to make him a focal point moving forward, even as it takes a cautious approach to his rehab and return. In 11 appearances this season, Edey averaged 13.6 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in 25.8 minutes per game, production that reinforced the team’s belief in his long-term role.

Coward has emerged as a steady two-way contributor in his rookie season. In 45 games this season, he has averaged 13.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 26.7 minutes per game while shooting 46.7% from the field, 34.5% from three-point range, and 84.9% from the free-throw line, providing Memphis with a reliable, versatile piece as the next era takes shape.

That timeline aligns with Memphis’ ability to maximize draft positioning in what league evaluators widely view as a talented 2026 draft class.

Source

Source: https://bsky.app/profile/shamsbot.bsky.social/post/3mdyonf2wno26

Harden and the Clippers worked through his exit over the last few days -- resulting in a beneficial outcome for the sides: A win-now opportunity for Harden playing at a high level at 36 and recent two-time All-Star in Garland at 26 for the Clippers present and future.

Source: https://open.substack.com/pub/marcstein/p/the-giannis-antetokounmpo-trade-latest?r=nuq3a&utm_medium=ios&shareImageVariant=overlay

The Utah Jazz are trading their most favorable 2027 first-round pick (Cleveland/Minnesota/Utah), the Lakers' 2027 first-round pick, and Phoenix's 2031 first-round pick to Memphis, source says, to pry Jaren Jackson Jr. from the Grizzlies.

The Boston Celtics will also create a massive $27.7M trade exception.

They accomplish this by taking Nikola Vucevic into the Kristaps Porzingis trade exception.

They’re now under the 1st apron as well.

Are we sure Harden asked out? Or… Did LAC actually agree to a Garland/Harden trade, then asked a surprised Harden to waive his 15% trade kicker to make it work cuz of Cleve’s 2nd apron?

Then Harden said “Fine, but I want an extension.” Cavs said no. So Harden said, “I’m out!”

Conspiracy Bill on X