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The weirdest NBA trade deadline ever: The KOC Show explains everything that did & didn’t happen

On today’s Kevin O’Connor show, we’ve got a trade-deadline special! Kevin O’Connor is joined by Tom Haberstroh to dissect any and all movement in the league before the 3 PM ET buzzer, going through the biggest winners and losers in what may be the weirdest trade deadline in NBA history.

First, the pair discuss the Milwaukee Bucks’ decision to retain Giannis Antetokounmpo, and what that means for the landscape of the NBA–and for the future outlook of the Golden State Warriors, especially after the anticlimactic end of the Jonathan Kuminga saga. Were the Warriors the biggest losers of the trade deadline? Will another team arise in the summer to win the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes?

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Next, they discuss the James Harden trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and if this move can bring the city of Cleveland to the Finals once again.

Then, they muse on what exactly made this deadline so weird: multiple All-Stars being traded to bad NBA teams. They ask: why are bad teams trading for good players? Why are the Utah Jazz putting their top-8 protected first round pick in jeopardy? Why such a paltry return for Anthony Davis, who was traded for Luka Doncic just last year?

Plus, they cover all the bases with the more local trades made, from the Chicago Bulls picking up 9 second round picks to the Boston Celtics acquiring their long-coveted big man in Nikola Vucevic. Plus more questions: why didn’t the Sacramento Kings trade for Ja Morant? Why did the Philadelphia 76ers let go of Jared McCain? All that and much, much more on today’s KOC Show!

(0:16) Trade deadline instant reactions
(4:33) Giannis not traded by Bucks
(10:39) Warriors trade Kuminga to Hawks
(25:49) Cavs get James Harden
(43:34) Wizards acquire Anthony Davis
(48:22) Clippers trade Zubac to Pacers
(55:57) Jazz trade for Jaren Jackson Jr.
(1:02:18) Ja Morant stays in Memphis
(1:07:45) Timberwolves trade recap
(1:10:18) What are the Chicago Bulls up to?
(1:13:05) Celtics trade Simons for Vucevic
(1:19:04) 76ers trade Jared McCain to OKC

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) brings the ball up the court against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry during an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

(Jeff Chiu)

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February 25, 2026
Super Bowl LX MEGA-Preview: Seahawks & Patriots DEEP DIVES & bold predictions

Nate Tice, Matt Harmon & Charles McDonald are LIVE from San Francisco to give their final thoughts and predictions for Super LX as they find the strengths and weaknesses of the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots.

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The trio kick things off with the latest non-Super Bowl news from around the NFL, including Jay Glazer hinting at a potential Maxx Crosby departure on Yahoo Sports Daily and Philadelphia Eagles offensive line guru Jeff Stoutland departing, leaving Philly with major shoes to fill.

Next, the three hosts dive into the Super LX matchup, previewing each side of the ball’s top matchups to watch, key injuries, predictions for the game and more.

Later, Prime Vision’s Sam Schwartzstein joins the group to give his analytical insights on the game before Nate, Matt, Charles and Sam give their final Hail Mary bold predictions for the game.

The show wraps up with conversations with Josh Allen, Jayden Daniels & Bijan Robinson.

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(2:00) – Latest NFL news: Maxx Crosby out? Jeff Stoutland leaves Eagles

(14:10) – Patriots offense vs. Seahawks defense

(27:40) – Seahawks offense vs. Patriots defense

(40:10) – Sam Schwartzstein breaks down Super Bowl LX

(46:40) – Hail Mary bold predictions

(56:00) – Josh Allen, Jayden Daniels & Bijan Robinson interviews.

Sam Darnold & Drake Maye face off in Super LX on Sunday, February 8. (Kevin Sabitus & Kara Durrette/Getty Images)

(Kevin Sabitus & Kara Durrette/Getty Images)

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February 25, 2026
‘Gugu’s World’ Review: A Radiant Queer Coming-of-Age Charmer From Brazil

The Brazilian film “Gugu’s World” starts quite literally true to its title by showing the audience its lead character’s room, full of everything he loves. Director Allan Deberton crams much story and characterization in those opening frames. From Gugu’s soccer trophies to his colorful wardrobe to the glitter on his face, this 11-year-old is revealed fully and economically. A complete portrait in mere minutes. He’s shown dancing around and even wearing a cape. An endearing character to fall in love with instantly, thus setting up this charming film.

“Gugu’s World,” which won the jury prize for the Generation section at the Berlinale, is a generous character study of a queer pre-teen. Gugu (Yuri Gomes) lives with his grandmother Dilma (Teca Pereira), in a small house near the Araújo Lima reservoir. Their bond is strong as he lost his mother, Dilma’s daughter, when he was very young. She accepts him unconditionally and their time together is filled with playful joy. At school, he’s doing well and has two supportive girlfriends. He is also a star soccer player. Of course he has a nemesis: a boy named Francisco who’s not as good at soccer, and who keeps calling Gugu “a sissy” while goading him into confrontations. His father Batista (Lázaro Ramos) eyes him with disappointment and euphemistically calls him “a clown.”

André Araújo’s screenplay manages to flesh out all these interrelationships with sensitivity and nuance. The film finds space to tell the story of Gugu and Dilma’s special bond in scenes that feel natural. A highlight is their love of Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time,” which was a favorite of Gugu’s mother. When Dilma starts becoming frail, Gugu goes to great lengths to take care of her while keeping others from invading their space. Though different, the same tenderness shows in the father and son relationship. There’s hurt and shame standing between them, but also love that might lead to genuine appreciation of each other at any point.

However, above all Araújo splendidly comes up with an unforgettable cinema hero. In crafting Gugu he writes a wholly original character who also immediately feels familiar. The audience gets to know Gugu so well and fall in love with his courage, singularity and determination to protect his grandmother and their oasis of a life together. In Gomes, the filmmakers hit the jackpot. The young actor brings grit, grief and much exuberance to his performance. He is in almost every frame and holds the film together with a grounded and spontaneous performance that has none of the precociousness that mars many a young actor’s performance. Pereira matches him in warmth and their duet is a pleasure to watch.

Visually the film is as colorful as Gugu’s personality. Deberton, working with production designer Dayse Barreto and costume designer Gabriella Marra, fills the frame with vibrant colors — deep pink and blue, purple and yellow, to show the beauty and vivaciousness of Gugu’s world. He might be worried about his grandmother, frustrated with his dad, sometimes uncomfortable among his peers, but it’s clear he likes himself and knows he will persevere.

Therein lies the strength of this film. Not everything goes well, there’s tragedy and sadness but also a sense of infinite hope that permeates the proceedings. The first sentence the character utters at the beginning of the film is that “he’s going to save the world.” By the end of the film that seems entirely plausible, even believable. If Gugu doesn’t save the world, he will at least protect himself and his grandmother and make their life together as wonderful as can be. The film seems destined to play at many festivals, especially queer ones. However “Gugu’s World” is such a crowd pleaser that it deserves to be seen widely by audiences. They’ll be in for a real treat.

February 25, 2026
‘Happy Birthday’ Review: Egypt’s Oscar Submission Is an Accomplished Debut About a Young Cairo Girl’s Difficult Life

From the trifecta of prizes “Happy Birthday” earned during its Tribeca world premiere in 2025 to the multiple audience awards and other kudos it collected on the international festival circuit, plus, its selection as Egypt’s Oscar submission, the poignant drama is surely one of the best and most awarded foreign features still seeking U.S. distribution. Helmed and co-written by Sarah Goher, the first-ever Egyptian chosen as one of Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch, it illuminates disparities of wealth and class in contemporary Cairo through the affecting story of a resourceful 8-year-old maid whose devoted friendship with the daughter of the household she works for is frowned upon by her employers.

Goher, a screenwriter and producer making her feature debut, proves herself to be a director-writer of uncommon sensitivity. She draws a performance of astonishing depth from Doha Ramadan as Toha, the illiterate but street-smart young domestic who doesn’t yet understand her position in Egypt’s complex social hierarchy.

Smart, capable and quick-witted, Toha’s current joy comes from her relationship with Nelly (Khadija Ahmed), the spoiled granddaughter of her employer (Hanan Youssef), a tetchy, elderly diabetic. Toha helps to hide Nelly’s bed-wetting from her soon-to-be divorced mother Laila (Nelly Karim) and covers for her when she’s late or binging on ice cream. Meanwhile, Nelly enjoys having a friend of a similar age right in her own home and ignores her grandmother’s snide comments about Toha being a potential source of lice.

Now that Nelly’s father has left, financial worries cause the women to prepare to leave their modern home in an affluent gated community. Nelly’s ninth birthday celebration looks to be a casualty of the situation until Toha comes up with a clever plan to get Nelly the party of her dreams. But as the day progresses, Toha, who has no idea of when she was born and has never heard of birthday wishes, finds herself learning some hard lessons that leave the audience quietly devastated.

Goher’s carefully calibrated visuals in partnership with Seif El Din Khaled’s intimate cinematography perfectly establish the painful paradox of money and class. In the film’s opening moments, the two young girls in their pajamas and wildly curly hair play happily in a pink tent on the early morning of Nelly’s birthday. Sure, one has slightly darker skin and the other more delicate features, but they seem like equals. Then, after the adults come into the frame and Toha dresses in shapeless clothes and a headscarf, their social position and economic circumstances become much clearer. Nelly goes to school while Toha fetches and carries for the “Madames.”

Despite her menial work, Toha feels lucky. She hates the subsistence fishing that she would have to do if she lived with her family. Although she might not have her own bedroom at Nelly’s house, merely a couch in a living room, at least she has drawers in which to store her things, many of them Nelly’s castoffs. In contrast, at her mother’s ramshackle house the kids sleep where they can and must share all their clothes. No wonder, in her innocence, Toha tells Laila that she hopes she can stay with Laila and Nelly forever.

(Over)-confident in her ability to make things happen, Toha isn’t conscious of the class-prejudice her mismatched designer cast-offs and headscarf incite at the fancy boutique where she accompanies Laila. But the social boundaries she encounters there are also present in her employer’s household as well as at its very gates.

Unbeknownst to Toha, her employer arranges for Toha’s sister (Jomana Ibrahim) to pick her up so that she can’t participate in Nelly’s party, even though Toha believes that Nelly wants her there. As the sisters leave the complex, the gate guard insists on rummaging through the bags of food and clothing Laila has given them, even calling the house to make sure they had the right to take them. Fatme feels humiliated, but Toha is too busy plotting how to return from her rundown village near the Nile.

Ever enterprising, Toha does eventually make her way back to the party, but there, the ultimate dawning of her place outside of Nelly’s circle is heartbreaking. The sheer joy Goher has captured Ramadan experiencing earlier is replaced by confusion, pain and tears. Goher and her charismatic young star understand how to use cinema as a powerful empathy generator.

February 25, 2026
David Ellison to Attend Donald Trump’s State of the Union Address After Paramount Ups Warner Bros. Bid

Paramount Skydance boss David Ellison will be in attendance at Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday night. The news comes hours after his studio upped its bid for the entirety of Warner Bros. Discovery to $31 per share.

Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina posted on X Tuesday afternoon that Ellison will be his guest at Trump’s address.

Reps for Paramount Skydance did not immediately respond to Variety‘s request for comment.

Warner Bros. Discovery said in a press release on Tuesday that the WBD board “had not made a determination” whether or not Paramount’s offer is “superior” to the deal currently in place with Netflix. If Paramount’s new bid is preferable, Netflix will “have four business days after such determination to negotiate with WBD and to propose any revisions to the Netflix transaction.”

Netflix’s deal is around $83 billion for just Warner Bros. studios and HBO Max. Paramount wants all of Warner Bros. Discovery, including its linear assets, for $112 billion. Since Netflix’s agreement is still in effect, the WBD board will continue to recommend the deal with the streaming giant, which will go to a shareholder vote on March 20.

Along with the increased purchasing power of $31 per share, Paramount’s latest offer also includes a ticking fee of 25 cents per quarter starting after Sept. 30, as well as a $7 billion breakup fee if the deal doesn’t clear regulatory scrutiny. Paramount also offered to pay the $2.8 billion fee for Warner Bros. if it terminates its merger with Netflix.

News of the new deal came at the end of a seven day negotaing window, during which Netflix allowed WBD to “seek clarity” on Paramount’s “best and final offer.”

February 25, 2026
The rising Celtics, the falling Wolves, Charlotte looks legit & Caleb Wilson shines for UNC with Dane Moore, Drew Carter & Matt Powers

Kevin O’Connor is joined by Dane Moore to talk Timberwolves on today’s Kevin O’Connor Show. What’s behind the meltdown in Minnesota?

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Next, KOC is joined by Boston Celtics play-by-play announcer Drew Carter to talk all things Celtics—particularly what needs to be done to right the ship after trading for Nikola Vucevic at the trade deadline.

Then, KOC mulls over the question: is this year’s Charlotte Hornets team the new Indiana Pacers? What is the key to their newfound success?

Plus, KOC is joined by Swish Theory’s Matt Powers to chat Draft Class—which draft prospect has improved most in the new year? How does AJ Dybantsa bring BYU out of a 4-game losing streak? That and more on today’s show!

(0:14) Dane Moore talks Timberwolves
(30:40) Drew Carter on Celtics
(1:07:20) Are the Hornets this year’s Pacers?
(1:13:21) Matt Powers joins KOC’s Draft Class

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – MAY 24: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves talks with Julius Randle #30 against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Target Center on May 24, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

(David Berding)

🖥️ Watch this full episode on the Yahoo Sports NBA YouTube channel

Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv

February 25, 2026
How Seattle Won The Super Bowl + What’s Next For Darnold & Drake Maye (ft. Robert Turbin)

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Can Seattle make another run at a Super Bowl? Yahoo Sports’ Andrew Siciliano talks about that possibility with former Seahawks RB and Super Bowl champion Robert Turbin on today’s episode. Later, Ben Fawkes joins the show to break down the big game from the New England Patriots’ side of the ball before closing the show out with their “One More Thing”.

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(1:30) – Robert Turbin on the Seahawks’ Super Bowl LX victory

(22:45) – Super Bowl LX reactions: What’s next for Patriots?

(51:30) – Falcons’ James Pearce Jr. arrested

(58:20) – One More Thing

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Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts

February 25, 2026
Jazz sit their stars, Pistons & Hornets players suspended + trade deadline fallout for Cavs & Bulls

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We have an action-packed episode of The Big Number for you! First, Tom Haberstroh and Dan Devine discuss the controversial way the Utah Jazz are utilizing Jaren Jackson Jr.

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Next, the duo dives into the league-wide tanking concerns and why it is a significant issue in light of the NBA gambling indictments. What solutions can the league establish? Later, Dan and Tom discuss the small numbers, including James Harden’s role in the Cavaliers’ success and why Donovan Mitchell is thriving with Harden.

Also, they break down how many teams will have salary cap space this summer, the number of trades the Bulls have made and whether the Bulls are a hopeless organization.

Plus, they discuss the suspensions following the Detroit Pistons-Charlotte Hornets fight earlier this week. What are the implications of the suspensions for the race in the East? Can the Pistons maintain their top spot?

All that and more on The Big Number! The Big

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Number: 00:00:28
The Little Numbers: 00:26:19
Pistons and Hornets Suspensions: 00:41:46

NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks during the pre-game press conference. Photo: Soeren Stache/dpa (Photo by Soeren Stache/picture alliance via Getty Images)

(Photo by Soeren Stache/picture alliance via Getty Images)

🖥️ Watch this full episode on the Yahoo Sports NBA YouTube channel

Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv

February 25, 2026
Thomas Frank Sacked! Our Replacement Picks + Brandon Vazquez on ACL Recovery & World Cup Pressure

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Tottenham have parted ways with Thomas Frank, and the big question is: was he really the problem? The boys dig into what’s actually happening at Spurs, whether the issues run deeper than the head coach, and which managers could realistically step in to fix things. Is this about tactics, recruitment, ownership — or something bigger?

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Then Austin FC striker Brandon Vazquez joins the show for an honest and revealing conversation. He opens up about recovering from his ACL injury, doing “quick maths” in his head about the World Cup timeline the moment he got hurt, and what it will take to fight his way back into the U.S. Men’s National Team picture. Vazquez also shares what it was really like playing in Liga MX — from nonstop media attention to the intensity of fan culture — and how it compares to MLS. Plus, we get the full origin story of his “Superman” goal celebration (yes, including the capes).

To close it out, the boys react to the 2026 MLS kit reveal and give their unfiltered best and worst picks. Which clubs nailed it? Which designs should’ve stayed in the concept phase? We’re handing out praise, roasting questionable choices, and ranking the fits you’ll be seeing all season long.

Timestamps:

(11:00) – Thomas Frank sacked! What is the issue at Tottenham?

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(20:00) – Discussing possible replacement for Tottenham

(27:15) – Brandon Vazquez joins The Cooligans

(51:30) – Revealing the best 2026 MLS kits

(59:45) – Revealing the worst 2026 MLS kits

TOTTENHAM MANAGER

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Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv

February 25, 2026
NBA All-Star Weekend preview + Jazz & Pacers fined

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We have an action-packed episode of ‘The Dunker Spot’ coming your way!

Steve Jones and Nekias Duncan give you the latest news and updates surrounding the 2026 All-Star Weekend. They dive into their predictions for Team USA vs. World, who will come out victorious in the skills competitions and what to expect with the new format.

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Next, they dive into the news of the NBA fining the Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers hefty amounts for tanking. Does the league have a tanking problem? What are possible solutions?

Plus, Angel Reese is back in Unrivaled! They give their takeaways, recap the 1v1 tournament and preview the latest matchups.

All that and more!

1:03 Rising Stars showcase preview
9:29 3-point contest preview
14:35 Shooting Stars competition preview
18:07 Dunk contest preview
22:14 New format expectations
27:26 All-Star replacements
32:16 Lineup predictions
35:26 Key players to watch
38:25 Team USA vs. World predictions
39:02 Jazz & Pacers fined
47:40 Unrivaled takeaways & thoughts

Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots the ball during the 2025 KIA Skills Challenge as part of the State Farm All-Star Saturday Night at Chase Center on February 15, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

🖥️ Watch this full episode on the Yahoo Sports NBA YouTube channel

Check out all episodes of The Dunker Spot and the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv

February 25, 2026