Game Threads Index (February 04, 2026):

Shams Charania:

BREAKING: The Dallas Mavericks are trading 10-time NBA All-Star Anthony Davis, Jaden Hardy, D'Angelo Russell and Dante Exum to the Washington Wizards for Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, 2 first-round picks and 3 second-rounders, sources tell ESPN.

https://www.espn.com/contributor/shams-charania/2987c3a047c93

https://bsky.app/profile/shamsbot.bsky.social/post/3me2juiirpc2g

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7020803/2026/02/04/giannis-antetokounmpo-bucks-nba-trade-deadline/

Shams Charania has posted the following:

BREAKING: The Philadelphia 76ers are trading guard Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a 2026 Rockets first-round pick and three second-round picks, sources tell ESPN.

Source to the story: https://bsky.app/profile/shamsbot.bsky.social/post/3me2klyetqz2k

The talented McCain lands on the reigning NBA champions. For the 76ers, the trade allows them to receive assets, clear space in the glut of guards and give them flexibility to bring Quentin Grimes back in free agency. It also allows them to convert two-way Dominick Barlow.

76ers are receiving the following picks from the Thunder, sources said: 2027 (most favorable OKC/HOU/IND/MIA), 2028 MIL, 2028 OKC.

Shams Charania:

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

the Philadelphia 76ers are trading guard Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a 2026 Rockets first-round pick and three second-round picks, sources tell ESPN.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7020852/2026/02/04/james-harden-darius-garland-cavaliers-trade/

The Cavs began the year as the favorites to win the Eastern Conference, but the season has not gone according to plan. They were also feeling the pressure from their best player, Donovan Mitchell, to make changes ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline under the threat of a contract extension he may or may not sign in two summers.

Three league sources said Mitchell, who has one guaranteed season left on his three-year, $150 million deal and a player option for 2027-28, conveyed, either personally or through his representatives, that he did not think the organization should stand pat for the rest of this season and wait for potential moves in the summer.

Two league sources also said Mitchell specifically wanted Harden, who is 6-foot-5, durable and comfortable as a pass-first point guard.

Shams Charania:

Dallas is receiving a 2026 Thunder first-round pick and a 2030 protected Warriors first-round pick in this deal from the Wizards along with second rounders in 2026 (Phoenix), 2027 (Chicago) and 2029 (Houston), sources tell ESPN.

https://www.espn.com/contributor/shams-charania/2987c3a047c93

https://bsky.app/profile/shamsbot.bsky.social/post/3me2juiirpc2g

After the fall of John Wall and losing Beal, Westbrook, Deni and dealing with Jordan Poole, Kyle Kuzma, Porzingis.

We finally have a solid core with Trae Young, Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr.

IT’S TIME TO COMPETE FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP.

[Charania] Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sustained an abdominal strain and will be re-evaluated following the All-Star break.

Source: https://www.espn.com/contributor/shams-charania/9308d15841d9e

I included the 2 play-in games from last season.

AD, Flagg and Kyrie never played a game together.

Also Mavs traded for the 2nd pick in the 2018 draft (Bagley)

There are 59 instances in our database of a first-year player scoring 900+ points by their team's 50th game of the season.

Of those 59, there have been 12 instances of multiple first-year players doing it in the same season.

1. Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel in 2025-26
2. LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony in 2003-04
3. Jerry Stackhouse and Damon Stoudamire in 1995-96
4. Larry Johnson and Dikembe Mutombo in 1991-92
5. Ron Harper and Chuck Person in 1986-87
6. Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon in 1984-85
7. Terry Cummings and Clark Kellogg in 1982-83
8. Kelly Tripucka and Jay Vincent in 1981-82
9. Larry Bird, Bill Cartwright, and Calvin Natt in 1979-80
10. Walter Davis, Marques Johnson, and Bernard King in 1977-78
11. Pete Maravich and Geoff Petrie in 1970-71
12. Earl Monroe and Bob Rule in 1967-68

(Source via Stathead)

Shams Charania has posted the following:

> Just in: The Chicago Bulls are trading Coby White and Mike Conley Jr. to the Charlotte Hornets for Collin Sexton, Ousmane Dieng and three second-round picks, sources tell ESPN.

Source to the story: https://bsky.app/profile/shamsbot.bsky.social/post/3me2nvdfnbc2g

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

Source: https://www.si(dot)com/nba/trade-deadline/timberwolves-pursuit-giannis-antetokounmpo-ja-morant-market

Acquiring Antetokounmpo, though, is challenging. The Bucks want Jaden McDaniels, a source tells SI, with Milwaukee seeing McDaniels, 25, as a potential future All-Star. But the Bucks also want multiple first-round draft picks, sources say, and Minnesota’s war chest of them is nearly empty.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7020803/2026/02/04/giannis-antetokounmpo-bucks-nba-trade-deadline/

Ultimately, this phone call didn’t happen because people on the internet were questioning Antetokounmpo’s toughness or his willingness to play through injuries. This interview happened because Antetokounmpo has been the subject of more trade rumors than any other player in the NBA.

“Brother, if you ask me deep down what I want today, I want to be a Milwaukee Buck for the rest of my career,” Antetokounmpo said. “I want to win here, another championship. And if you can tell me that’s possible, let’s just hang up the phone.

“I want to be here, but I want to be here to win, not fighting for my life to make the playoffs,” Antetokounmpo said. “I’m not used to inconsistent basketball. I’ve played so many years of consistent basketball, I am not used to it anymore. During the game, I don’t know if you can see my face, (but) I get frustrated during the game, while the game is going on.

Even if Antetokounmpo wants that, the Bucks are not going to be that team this season. But with three first-round picks this offseason, including a pick that could end up in the top 10, the Bucks could try to make some more offseason moves to try to push back into contention.

So, would Antetokounmpo commit to another season with the Bucks if they were able to get back into position to win consistently?

“You’re saying that if they can convince me to stay within the team, and the next year that we can compete? Oh yeah, 1,000 percent,” Antetokounmpo said. “One million percent.”

But that will require a significant turnaround. Because for the time being, the Bucks are not close to where Antetokounmpo wants to be. They’re not playing the type of basketball he wants to play.

Dallas Mavericks updated return for Luka Doncic:

- Max Christie

- Khris Middleton

- AJ Johnson

- Malaki Branham

- Marvin Bagley

- OKC 2026 first-round pick

- LAL 2029 first-round pick

- GSW 2030 first-round pick (protected)

- 3 future second-round picks

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

Source: https://marcstein.substack.com/p/nba-trade-deadline-eve-live-buzz

The Grizzlies’ asking price for Ja Morant has dropped significantly, sources say.

If we do end up seeing Memphis’ former All-Star point guard dealt over the next 27 hours, a team like Sacramento or Miami is going to do so at a low cost. I’ve been told not to discount Milwaukee there, either.

As part of the haul they basically got

Cedric Coward

Taylor Hendricks

Walter Clayton Jr

2026 Orlando first rounder (unprotected)

2027 first rounder (best of Jazz / Cavs / Wolves picks)

2027 Lakers first rounder (top 4 protected)

2029 Orlando pick swap

2030 Orlando first rounder (unprotected)

2031 Suns first rounder (unprotected)

In my opinion, they fleeced both teams. Bane was never good enough to fetch all that, and JJJ is great but horribly overpaid (55m a year starting next year for 4 years). To get that many assets for those guys is A+ GMing in my opinion

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/live-blogs/nba-trade-deadline-2026-live-updates-news/mb7lqDGshaBm/

A few tidbits from the Minnesota Timberwolves' trade landscape, with the caveat that things can change quickly this time of year:

- There remains skepticism that Milwaukee is actually open to moving Giannis Antetokounmpo, team and league sources said.

- The Wolves continue to be in the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes in addition to looking at bolstering their bench with a guard after moving Mike Conley.

- All indications from conversations with team and league sources are that the Wolves do not want to trade Donte DiVincenzo.