The Chicago Bulls keep making moves, this time dealing a player they should have traded well over a year ago in order to actually get something of value.
That player is Coby White, whose contract status has been thoroughly covered on this site. The TL;DR version is this: The Bulls just traded him to the Charlotte Hornets at his lowest possible value, which has been a theme of theirs when dealing away players.
On Wednesday, the Oklahoma City Thunder shipped out Ousmane Dieng to the Hornets for Mason Plumlee. Dieng was then re-routed to Chicago, leading to this total trade:
Coby White and Mike Conley Jr. went to Charlotte for Collin Sexton, Dieng, and three second-round selections.
Let’s get into the trade-grade game.
Charlotte Hornets: B+
This up-and-coming team just got a heavy upgrade in White, who is especially solid moving off the ball, and it did so without relinquishing much.
The acquisition of White is Charlotte’s pre-agency play, as it can now enter the summer with the hope of re-signing the high-scoring guard, who now returns to his home state.
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White can start or come off the bench, providing the team with scoring, some playmaking and improved defense. He’s essentially a better version of Sexton, which has to be considered a win.
Chicago Bulls: C
Look, we can talk about how the Bulls at least got something out of this deal, and that’s all fine and well. But when you consider White had enormous value a year ago and the Bulls failed to pull the trigger, this is what happens.
The Bulls simply waited too long, again, which is underlined thoroughly by this post from Stephen Noh:
(Bluesky screenshot)
We shouldn’t celebrate that the Bulls finally got off their butts to act on the Coby White situation, when they should have done it so long ago.
For the most part, NBA observers expected the Washington Wizards to spend the 2026 NBA trade deadline operating as they’ve been for the past couple of years: renting out their cap space in exchange for young prospects and future draft picks, continuing their years-long “deconstruction” following the stunted John Wall/Bradley Beal era in pursuit of raw materials with which to build the franchise’s next competitive team.
There was, however, a slight whisper of a zag — one given voice last month by Josh Robbins of The Athletic: “Several league sources who have watched the Wizards’ dealings from afar think the Wizards would consider making an additional opportunistic move […] to add another so-called ‘distressed asset.’”
“I’m told this deal ‘came out of left field,’” Robbins wrote Wednesday afternoon. (I’m guessing AD didn’t see it coming, either.)
The price tag: what could be about $40.5 million in expiring contracts (Khris Middleton, restricted free-agent-to-be Malaki Branham, reserve center Marvin Bagley III), just-turned-21-year-old guard AJ Johnson, two first-round picks — Oklahoma City’s 2026 selection (likely to land at the bottom of the first round) and a top-20-protected 2030 Golden State first (from 2023’s Jordan Poole deal) — and second-round picks in 2026 (Phoenix), 2027 (Chicago) and 2029 (Houston).
If you find yourself thinking, “Wow, that sure isn’t much of a return for the guy you got for trading Luka Dončić” … well, you’re not alone. But the prospect of getting anything approaching commensurate value for AD never really existed, and it effectively evaporated when he suffered yet another long-term injury the month before the trade deadline. Given the desultory state of affairs, it’s reasonable that Dallas’ post-Nico braintrust decided that the best play was just getting out of the Davis business altogether as quickly as possible — even if the package of picks and players coming back isn’t exactly worth writing home about.
You know who is worth writing home about, though? Cooper Flagg. And with Wednesday’s move — which saved the Mavs about $57 million this season, got them out of the luxury tax and under the first apron, created a $20.8 million trade exception, and increased their total cache of available draft picks from just three to eight — Dallas took a significant first step in the process of building its roster around Flagg. That’s not much, but it’s also not nothing.
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(It’s also worth wondering whether the Mavs — who now have more flexibility to conduct even more business ahead of Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET buzzer, with vets like Daniel Gafford, PJ Washington, Klay Thompson and [whispers] Kyrie Irving still on the roster — are done dealing.)
Anthony Davis’ fit with the Wizards
Over in D.C., where the Wizards essentially made their version of the “pre-agency swing for a star-level big man” that the Utah Jazz pulled off with Jaren Jackson Jr. on Tuesday, the on-court case for AD seems pretty clean.
While the Wizards have been terrible since moving Beal largely by design, the straightest path to respectability and decency in the NBA is by fielding a defense worth a damn. In theory, a frontcourt of Davis and Sarr should immediately improve Washington’s rim protection in the half court; among 152 players to defend at least 100 shots at the basket this season, Davis ranks 11th in field-goal percentage allowed, according to Second Spectrum, and Sarr ranks 15th. That tandem paired with Bilal Coulibaly (6-foot-7 with a 7-2 wingspan) and Kyshawn George (6-8 with a 6-10 wingspan) would give head coach Brian Keefe enough length, activity and block/steal/deflection-creating capacity to potentially spark a rise up the defensive rankings — even with the diminutive and forever vulnerable Young on the ball.
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Quarters might get a little tight on the other end of the court, where Sarr has shot just 31.4% from 3-point range over his first two pro seasons and we’ve got more than enough evidence now that Davis won’t space the floor; his jumper has all but deserted him since the bubble, when its appearance made him look like the best player on the planet for a second there. AD’s still an efficient scorer, though, averaging more than 20 points on 50% shooting during his curtailed minutes this season in Dallas, and Sarr has taken a significant step forward on that end in his second season, improving his finishing in the paint and above the break while also both getting to the free-throw line and making his freebies more often.
You can envision Young-Davis and Young-Sarr pick-and-rolls providing a fruitful basis for consistent offense, with Trae using his gifts for getting into the paint, winning the cat-and-mouse game with a retreating big in drop coverage, and threatening a floater to open up lobs and pocket passes to teammates rolling off the screen or lurking in the dunker spot, or sprays out to waiting shooters like George (42% on catch-and-shoot 3s this season), Bub Carrington (40.8% from deep off the catch) and rookie marksman Tre Johnson (37.5% on catch-and-shoot looks).
That’s all dependent, of course, on Davis actually staying on the court — something he hasn’t been able to do all that consistently for the last half-decade — and Keefe and his coaching staff being able to find the right balance to get the most out of the incoming vets without stalling the development of Washington’s young core. If they can do that, though — and if you squint pretty hard — you can see a team that’s got a chance at being significantly more consistent and competitive on a nightly basis next year than it’s been in a decade.
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The question, of course, is whether “being roughly half-decent” is enough juice for the squeeze here. Five picks, salary relief and a scratch-off ticket in the super-athletic Johnson isn’t quite as paltry a price as the CJ McCollum-Corey Kispert package that landed Young. It’s also not all that much in the scheme of things for a Wizards team that didn’t need to include any of its top prospects — Sarr, George, Johnson, Coulibaly, Carrington, Will Riley — and that still controls eight first-round picks and 13 second-rounders in the next seven drafts.
That includes all of the Wizards’ own first-round picks besides this year’s, which is slated to go to the New York Knicks if it doesn’t fall within the top eight of the draft lottery. (If it doesn’t convey this season, the Knicks will wind up with Washington’s 2026 and 2027 second-round picks instead.) The Wizards enter Wednesday’s action at 13-36, tied for the NBA’s fourth-worst record, giving them a 99.3% odds of keeping that pick, according to Tankathon.
Given the importance of hanging on to that mid-to-high lottery pick in what’s reportedly one of the most talent-rich draft classes in recent memory, it seems reasonable to wonder whether either of the Wizards’ new “distressed asset” All-Stars will play much, or at all, for the balance of this season. What comes after this season, though, ought to prove interesting.
Davis, who turns 33 next month and has played more than 56 games just once since winning the 2020 NBA championship in the bubble with the Lakers six years ago, is set to make $58.5 million next season, holds a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28, and is eligible for a contract extension this summer. Young, 27, holds a $49 million player option for next season, and is reportedly open to an extension of his own.
What sort of dollar figures — and, perhaps even more crucially, what sort of years — the two incoming stars work out with Wizards president Michael Winger and general manager Will Dawkins will go a long way toward determining whether we wind up viewing these trades as low-cost, opportunistic additions capable of putting Washington on a path toward legitimate, sustained success … or, potentially, as just the next round of millstones dragging down the Wizards’ balance sheet, hopes and vibes. (Something the Mavs have learned a little bit about over the past year.)
Could Josh McDaniels be an NFL head coach again? Yahoo Sports’ Jason Fitz, Frank Schwab and Ben Fawkes look at that possibility as well as other coaching news across the league. Plus, the guys at Cooper Kupp’s full-circle moment getting back to the Super Bowl as a Seattle Seahawk after being cut by the Los Angeles Rams. Hear about that and more on today’s episode!
The Pittsburgh Steelers hired former Minnesota Vikings passing-game coordinator and tight ends coach Brian Angelichio as their next offensive coordinator, the team announced Wednesday.
Angelichio, 53, joined the Vikings staff under Kevin O’Connell in 2022, with prior stops with the Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers. The Vikings ranked in the top six in the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns in three of his four seasons with the team.
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McCarthy confirmed in his introductory news conference that he would call the plays and “obviously will run the offense,” though Angelichio will hold the official title of offensive coordinator.
There are plenty of questions regarding what that offense may look like, however. As veteran Aaron Rodgers hits free agency in the coming month, questions at the quarterback position continue to loom over the franchise, though there is still the possibility he could return in 2026. Rodgers and McCarthy have a long-standing relationship, having been together with the Green Bay Packers from 2006-18.
While the quarterback position remains up in the air, the Steelers will have several weapons returning on offense this year, including veteran wideout DK Metcalf, who was acquired in a trade with the Seahawks last season, as well as tight ends Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington, and running back Jaylen Warren. The team has also made a concerted effort to rebuild its offensive line in recent years.
Travis Kelce has a future in the golf world in retirement if he wants it.
The Kansas City Chiefs legend, who has still not yet announced whether he’ll be returning to the franchise next season or calling it a career, threw an absolute dart on the iconic par-3 16th at TPC Scottsdale in the WM Phoenix Open Pro-Am on Wednesday afternoon.
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Kelce stuck his tee shot just a few feet from the cup on the stadium hole, which led to a big celebration on the tee box. Kelce even won the WM gold chain after sinking the birdie.
Kelce was one of the biggest names participating in the Pro-Am on Wednesday ahead of the annual PGA Tour stop. He joined former Arizona Cardinals 11-time Pro Bowler Larry Fitzgerald, Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith and Olympic swimming icon Michael Phelps in the event, among others.
Kelce had 851 receiving yards and five touchdowns this past season with the Chiefs, his 13th with the organization after they selected him in the 2013 draft. Kelce has been a major part in the team’s three Super Bowl championships in recent years, but the Chiefs failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2014 this past season.
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Since the season ended, there has been plenty of speculation that Kelce would retire. The 36-year-old and future Hall of Famer is undoubtedly approaching the end of his career. He had an emotional potential final home game with the Chiefs at the end of the regular season, too, with his mom, Donna, and his fiancée, pop star Taylor Swift, in attendance at Arrowhead Stadium.
“Who knows?” Kelce said of his future plans. “Either it hits me quick or I’ve got to take some time. Last year was a little bit easier. I think I knew right away I wanted to kind of give this one a shot. So I dunno. We’ll see.”
If Kelce wants to return for a 14th NFL season, however, the Chiefs would happily have him.
“Well, as an organization, we certainly hope that he will come back,” Chiefs owner Clark Hunt said last month. “He had another great year, maybe not on par with where he was four or five years ago, but still had over 800 yards, and was really one of the leaders on the offensive side of the ball for us. So there’s no doubt in my mind that he can still play. We’re trying to be respectful and let him have the time that he needs to make a decision.
“He has sort of a busy offseason coming up with his engagement and marriage, so we want to be respectful and give him the time he needs to make a decision. But we certainly hope that he’ll be back.”
The WM Phoenix Open will offially tee off on Thursday.
James Harden’s time with the Los Angeles Clippers is officially over.
The Clippers sent Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Darius Garland and a second-round pick, they announced on Wednesday afternoon.
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Conjecture of a potential trade for Harden gained steam just ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, as Yahoo Sports’ Kelly Iko reported late Monday evening the Clippers and Cavs were engaged in discussions surrounding the veteran All-Star. Now the two teams have swapped All-Star guards.
“We are trying to get younger while continuing to win, and Darius allows us to do both,” Clippers president Lawrence Frank said in a statement. “He is a two-time All-Star who just turned 26 and a highly skilled point guard with excellent feel … We are excited to win with him and grow with him.”
Harden, assuming all goes well in the coming days, will likely make his debut with the Cavaliers on Saturday in their matchup with the Sacramento Kings, according to Amazon’s Chris Haynes.
The 36-year-old Harden is in the second year of a two-year, $81.5 million deal he signed last June when he declined his player option. Because of the structure of his contract, he could have declined any trade.
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Harden does have a $42.3 million player option for 2026-27, but only $13 million of it is guaranteed. Per ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Harden will have to waive his one-year Bird restriction that functions as a no-trade clause in order to facilitate the trade.
Harden is in his 17th NBA season, and the Cavaliers will be his sixth team since he was drafted third overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2009. He has spent the past three seasons with the Clippers, averaging 21.1 points, 8.5 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game.
This season, Harden has played 44 games and averaged 25.4 points per game, his highest since the 2019-20 season. Despite a strong case for his 12th All-Star selection this season, he was left off the roster.
“I can’t overstate what James has meant to our organization in the past two-and-a-half years,” Frank said. “He exceeded every expectation and met every challenge. He put us on his back for long stretches, doing whatever was necessary to win. He’s an all-time great who delivers on a nightly basis. We benefited from his talent, his durability, his competitiveness and his leadership. We’ll always consider him a Clipper.”
What trade means for Cavaliers
The exchange of the two All-Stars offers a fresh start for both players and a reset for both teams as they seek to improve their standing in their respective conference playoff races.
Harden joins a Cavaliers team that entered Tuesday in fifth place in the East at 30-21. The Cavaliers are contenders in the East, but have taken a step back from last season’s 64-18 campaign that produced the best record in the conference.
Various injuries to Garland have played a role in Cleveland’s struggle to repeat last season’s success as he missed 25 of Cleveland’s first 51 games. Even when healthy, there were concerns in Cleveland that Garland’s skill set overlapped that of All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell in the backcourt.
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The addition of a high-scoring playmaking guard in Harden doesn’t exactly alleviate those concerns. But the Cavaliers are certainly hoping the addition of Harden will propel them back into the conversation among championship contenders from an Eastern Conference that remains wide open. Harden and Mitchell will combine to produce one of the most potent backcourts in basketball.
What trade means for Clippers
The Clippers, meanwhile, get a two-time All-Star point guard in Garland who, when healthy, could provide an ideal complement to All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard. Garland’s a strong scorer and distributor who averaged 20.6 points and 6.7 assists last season while shooting 40.1% from 3 en route to his second career All-Star selection.
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A toe injury sidelined him during Cleveland’s run to the second round of the playoffs. It required offseason surgery and lingered into this season, and Garland has since sustained a toe injury on his opposite foot. He missed Cleveland’s previous nine games with the latest injury prior to Tuesday’s news of the trade. It’s not clear when he’ll be able to make his Clippers debut.
The Clippers got off to a 6-21 start, but have since recovered to a 23-26 record as of Tuesday to get back into the Western Conference playoff race. They’re hoping Garland can help propel them toward the postseason when he’s ready to return to the court.
It was just one year ago Luka Dončić was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in one of the most shocking moves in NBA history. Here’s a timeline of the painful chapter in Dallas Mavericks history — including the firing of Nico Harrison and the offloading of Anthony Davis — after making it to the NBA Finals only 20 months ago.
May 30, 2024: Mavericks advance to the NBA Finals
Dallas advanced to face the Boston Celtics in its first trip to the NBA Finals since winning it all in 2011, defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games. Dončić, who finished Game 5 of the West finals with 36 points on 14-of-22 shooting with 10 rebounds, five assists and two steals, was named MVP of the series after averaging 32.4 points across five games.
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The Mavericks would fall to the Celtics in the Finals in five games.
July 2: Mavericks sign Klay Thompson to three-year deal
Klay Thompson, a key contributor to the Golden State Warriors’ dynasty, agreed to a three-year, $50 million deal with the Mavericks, who sent two second-round draft picks, one in 2025 and another in 2031, to Golden State as part of the sign-and-trade deal. The 35-year-old was moved to the bench during the 2025-26 season after a slow start.
Dec. 25: Luka Dončić gets hurt
The Mavericks star left the team’s 105-99 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first half on Christmas Day due to a left calf injury — an injury that would sideline Dončić for more than a month.
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Feb. 2, 2025: Mavericks trade Luka Dončić
In perhaps the most shocking trade in NBA history, Dallas sent Dončić, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a first-round draft pick in a three-team deal that also included the Jazz.
Following the news of the trade, which broke after midnight on the East Coast, Mavs GM Nico Harrison told ESPN: “I believe that defense wins championships. I believe that getting an All-Defensive center and an All-NBA player with a defensive mindset gives us a better chance. We’re built to win now and in the future.”
Dončić, who still looked stunned two days after the trade, said he would “take the high road” in response to comments made about him from the Mavericks after the trade was made.
Feb. 8: Fans protest outside of Mavericks’ arena
Ahead of Dallas’ first home game after the trade, Mavericks fans protested outside of American Airlines Center. Some signs called for Nico Harrison to be fired. Other fans called for the team to be sold.
Feb. 8: Anthony Davis makes his Dallas debut, gets hurt
In his first game with the Mavericks, Davis was impressive, totaling 26 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks in only 31 minutes. But, in the third quarter, he exited the game with a lower-body injury. After the game, Davis told reporters that it was “nothing serious.” But the next day it was reported that Davis had suffered an adductor strain and would miss weeks.
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Feb. 9: Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont explains the trade
In his first public comments about the trade in an interview with The Dallas Morning News, Dumont cited “character” and “culture” as reasons for the trade. Dumont also said, “If you look at the greats in the league, the people you and I grew up with — [Michael] Jordan, [Larry] Bird, Kobe, Shaq [O’Neal] — they worked really hard, every day, with a singular focus to win. And if you don’t have that, it doesn’t work. And if you don’t have that, you shouldn’t be part of the Dallas Mavericks.”
Feb. 10: Luka makes his Lakers debut
Dončić made his Lakers debut against the Jazz, draining his first points with the Lakers on a 3-pointer from the top of the key just a few minutes into the contest. Dončić finished with 14 points in a 132-113 win. He added five rebounds and four assists in what was his first game back after the calf injury he suffered on Christmas.
Luka Dončić recorded a triple-double against his former team. (AP Foto/Mark J. Terrill)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Feb. 11: Fans thrown out in Dallas
During a home game against the Sacramento Kings, Mavericks fans were ejected from their seats at American Airlines Center after calling for the firing of general manager Nico Harrison. A fan drew the attention of the video board’s producers during a karaoke segment. But instead of singing along, he appeared to mouth the words “Fire Nico.” Another video showed what appeared to be the same fan and his neighbor holding up signs that distinctly read: “Fire Nico.” They were escorted out of the arena by security.
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Feb. 15: ‘Craziest trade I’ve seen’
At the NBA’s All-Star Weekend, the trade was still the talk of the league, even among the stars. “Two weeks later, it’s still the craziest trade I’ve ever seen,” said the San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama.
At Adam Silver’s news conference, the commissioner also addressed the trade and concern about the Mavericks’ future in Dallas. “Whether or not history will judge this as a smart trade, they did what they thought was in the best interest of the organization,” said Silver. “I have absolutely no knowledge or belief that there were any ulterior motives. There is no doubt in my mind that the Dumont and Adelson families bought that team to keep it in Dallas. I have no doubt whatsoever that they are committed to the long-term future there.”
Feb. 21: Dirk shares his first reaction to the trade
During an appearance at 96.7 The Ticket’s Ticketstock event, Mavs legend Dirk Nowitzki shared his reaction upon first hearing that Dončić had been traded. He also discussed what it was like seeing Luka in a Lakers uniform: “I’ll never be a Lakers fan, but I must always be a Luka fan.”
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Feb. 25: Luka faces Mavericks for the first time
Dončić reunited with the Mavericks and recorded his first triple-double as a member of the Lakers in a 107-99 win against his old team. He finished with 19 points on 6-of-17 shooting with 15 rebounds, 11 assists, three steals and two blocks. After the game, Doncic said: “I am just glad it’s over.”
March 3: Mavericks raise ticket prices
The team announced it was raising ticket prices for next season, citing “ongoing investments in the team.” The price hike resulted in an average overall price increase of 8.61%, WFAA reported. As expected, season ticket-holders were not happy about the increase.
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March 4: Mavericks lose Kyrie Irving for the season
Mavericks star Kyrie Irving missed the rest of the season after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee. Irving went down early in the team’s 122-98 loss to the Sacramento Kings. Irving was driving to the hoop late in the first quarter at American Airlines Center when his left knee bent awkwardly as he attempted a layup.
March 13: Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont said trade was ‘about the future’
At a speaking engagement a month earlier, Dumont explained the Luka Dončić trade was about the “future” and creating the “most competitive team.”
Dončić both cried and conquered in his return to Dallas, beginning the game with remnants of tears in his eyes before leading his new team to a 112-97 win.
Dončić had 31 points at halftime before stepping off the gas a bit, eventually finishing with 45 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals. The win officially clinched a playoff spot for Los Angeles.
The Mavericks would eventually be eliminated in the play-in tournament.
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May 12: Mavs win draft lottery
The Mavericks overcame the fourth-longest odds of 14 lottery participants and a 1.8% chance to secure the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft. The long-shot win capped a tumultuous season in which the Mavericks’ fan base turned on its beloved franchise after Harrison orchestrated the Dončić deal that’s been widely lambasted as one of the worst in the history of sports.
June 24: Kyrie Irving stays with Mavs on new deal
Irving declined his $43 million player option for 2025-26 with the intention of signing a new three-year, $119 million deal with the franchise. Irving, who underwent surgery in March for his torn left ACL, has not yet played in ’25-26.
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June 26: Mavs select Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 pick
The Mavericks took Flagg with the No. 1 pick. “It’s really amazing,” Flagg told ESPN after being drafted. “It’s a dream come true, to be honest. I wouldn’t want to share it with anybody else.”
At Flagg’s introductory news conference, Harrison famously said: “I think the fans can finally start to see the vision.”
June 30: Mavs sign D’Angelo Russell
The Mavericks struck a two-year, $13 million deal with Russell, as a temporary replacement for Irving. Russell, who has bounced around a lot in recent years, is averaging just 19 minutes per game during the 2025-26 season.
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Oct. 22: Flagg, Mavs lose season opener
The No. 1 overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft posted 10 points on 4-of-13 shooting with 10 rebounds and three turnovers against the San Antonio Spurs in his first true taste of NBA action.
Flagg got out to a slow start this season, as he was forced to play point guard to open the season. The experiment didn’t work. The Mavericks posted one of the worst offenses in the game, and Flagg was quickly moved off the position to play into his strengths.
Oct. 29: Anthony Davis injured again
Davis left Dallas’ game against the Indiana Pacers with what the team described as “left lower leg soreness” and did not return. He would miss 14 games.
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Davis is currently sidelined with a left-hand injury that he suffered on Jan. 8. He is expected to miss around six weeks.
Nov. 10: Mavericks lose to Bucks amid ‘Fire Nico’ chants
Mavericks fans had had it. Monday night marked a new low in the Nico Harrison saga as fans in Dallas revived the “Fire Nico” chant during a home game the Mavericks still had a chance to win.
With 1.2 seconds remaining against the Milwaukee Bucks, Mavericks forward P.J. Washington was fouled on a 3-point shot as Milwaukee held a 116-113 lead. When he got to the line with a chance to tie the game with three free throws, Mavericks fans focused their energy not on the outcome of the game, but on their disdain for the Dallas general manager who traded Dončić.
The Utah Jazz are expected to waive Lonzo Ball after acquiring the guard in a three-team trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers, meaning Ball is poised to become a free agent, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday.
In addition to the 28-year-old Ball, the Cavaliers are also sending their 2028 and 2032 second-round picks to the Jazz, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer.
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As part of the trade, the Jazz are shipping center Jock Landale off to the Atlanta Hawks for cash considerations, per multiplereports.
This past summer, Ball landed with the Cavs, then his fourth team since going No. 2 overall out of UCLA in the 2017 NBA Draft. He had previously played for the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans and Chicago Bulls, the last of whom traded him to Cleveland for wing Isaac Okoro.
At the time, Cleveland was looking to reinforce its backcourt following the free-agency departure of Ty Jerome. However, Ball hasn’t made the impact the Cavaliers imagined.
He’s shooting a meager 30.1% from the field this season, including a ghastly 27.2% from deep. His 4.6 points per game are, by far, a career low.
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Plus, Ball is averaging just 3.9 assists per game, his second fewest since reaching the league. He played 20.8 minutes per contest in his 35 outings with the Cavs.
The 2026 Winter Olympics had some major infrastructure questions in the past weeks and months. The first five minutes of competition in Italy didn’t provide much reason for confidence in that regard.
While the Opening Ceremony isn’t scheduled until Friday, the first event of the Milan Cortina Games was held Wednesday with a set of mixed doubles curling matches. Roughly five minutes into the action, a partial darkness fell due to a partial outage.
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With clocks and scoreboards also down, play was immediately halted. Per The Athletic, the lights stayed out for about three minutes and the total delay lasted about five minutes, during which the athletes mostly joked around and played air guitar with their brooms.
The local organizing committee later released a statement alluding to an energy issue, with no further details:
“There was a brief interruption to competition at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium due to an energy-related issue,” the organizing committee said in a statement provided to The Athletic. “The interruption lasted approximately three minutes. Power was restored immediately, and competition has since resumed and is ongoing as planned.” The committee did not clarify what caused the issue.
Structural issues at the Olympics aren’t a surprise to anyone who has been following the preparations in Italy over the past couple months, though the curling arena — the Stadio Olimpico del Ghiaccio — wasn’t thought to be an issue. That venue hosted the Opening Ceremony and figure skating in the 1956 Olympics and previously hosted the 2010 curling world championships.
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Instead, it’s the hockey and sliding arenas that have become a headache for organizers.
A power outage at curling might only be the start of the issues for 2026 Olympics organizers over the next couple weeks. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
(Carmen Mandato via Getty Images)
The Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena remains an active construction site in which construction crews were frantically finishing projects on Wednesday, 24 hours before its first game is scheduled. The ice surface itself is also three feet shorter than NHL standard, which goes against the agreement between the NHL, NHL Players’ Association, IOC and International Ice Hockey Federation. There was also a hole in the ice during a test event.
Construction of the arena was scheduled to begin in 2022, but an unsuccessful lawsuit filed by an order of Roman-Catholic nuns led to a delay lasting roughly a year.
Tom Haberstroh and Dan Devine recap the out-of-nowhere James Harden-Darius Garland swap between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Cleveland Cavaliers and discuss the implications for both teams, as well as an impatient Donovan Mitchell.
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First, Tom live reacts to the biggest trade deadline shock yet: Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards? What were the motivations behind this trade? Winners and losers? Is this all that Luka Doncic was ultimately worth?
Later, the pair make the rounds for the rest of the big headlines before deadline day: Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz, and the de facto love letter Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered to the city of Milwaukee via local media.
Plus, why are the Jazz making a win-now move with all the incentives in the world to tank? Is Giannis Antetokounmpo really going to be moved? Will James Harden have a shot at a championship with his fourth team in six years? All that and more, today!
00:00 Welcome 00:05 Anthony Davis traded 11:44 Big number: 179.7 – James Harden career win shares 34:42 Little number: 112.4 – Cavs’ offensive rating without Donovan Mitchell 41:20 Little number: 161- minutes the Cavs’ “core four” players have played 45:13 Little number: 53,817,156 — amount Donovan Mitchell is owed on the player option he holds for the 2027-28 season 55:21 Giannis watch 1:03:27 Jaren Jackson Jr. traded to Jazz
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 22: LA Clippers guard James Harden (1) sprints down court during the Los Angeles Lakers vs LA Clippers NBA game on January 22, 2026, at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, CA. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
