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With all of the movement that was made ahead of the NBA’s 3 p.m. trade deadline on Thursday, it can be hard to keep track of who went where and why, so we’re going to sort through the transactions by playing a self-explanatory game called, “Did they get better?”

The point of a trade, you might think, is to get better, though “most of the stuff is cap cleanup and draft-choice grabs to extend your time on the job,” one league insider said.

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[NBA Power Rankings: Trade deadline edition]

So, let us separate the wheat from the chaff. (And what is the chaff, you wonder? It is an inedible husk around the edible part of the grain. See: We’ve already learned something.)

By the way, this is the Contenders Only: Edition of, “Did they get better?” We are only talking about teams that can win the championship this season. (The rest of the teams? They’re just chaff. See: We can already use our new vocabulary word in a sentence.) Apologies to fans of the Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards, who respectively acquired Jaren Jackson Jr. and Anthony Davis, and who remain outside our title portrait … for now.

What they’ve done: The Cavs traded 26-year-old two-time All-Star guard Darius Garland and their 2026 second-round draft pick to the Los Angeles Clippers for 36-year-old future Hall of Famer James Harden. In a separate deal that did not include draft picks, they sent De’Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings for Keon Ellis and Dennis Schröder. Cleveland also traded a pair of second-round picks and Lonzo Ball to Utah, where he will be waived.

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Did they get better? That is up for debate. In the aggregate, they probably did. Slightly.

Big picture: The Cavaliers swapped a young star (Garland) for an old one (Harden), and used a small asset (their second-round pick in June) to do so, which is never a good idea.

However, in this case, the young star is having trouble staying on the floor. Garland has missed half the season, including the last nine games, to a series of toe injuries, which is a big deal for a ball-handler whose sharp drives and cuts are key to his game. The toe injuries have lingered since the end of last season, when he enjoyed a bounce-back campaign.

Garland does not turn 27 until January 2027. He has made All-Star teams as a 22-year-old driver of a 44-win team, averaging 21.7 points and 8.6 assists per game, and as a 25-year-old sidekick to Donovan Mitchell on a 64-win contender. In between, he missed more time.

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On the other hand, the old star has been a workhorse, at least since poor conditioning and a series of quadriceps injuries threatened the end of his stardom in his earlier 30s. We are, of course, talking about Harden, who has missed only a handful of games in each of his past three seasons, including last season, when he made the All-Star team for an 11th time.

Harden, once a top-three MVP candidate in four straight seasons, averaged 25.4 points and 8.1 assists across 44 games for the underperforming Clippers this year. He and Kawhi Leonard were the engines of a team in L.A. that began the season with a 6-21 record, only to bounce back with a 16-3 stretch, featuring top-five outfits on both ends of the court.

It is that stretch that must have sold the Cavaliers on Harden. Why, exactly, is a bit of mystery, beyond his availability. Neither Garland nor Harden is a defensive stopper. In fact, both are defensive liabilities in the playoffs, and each will continue to be attacked until either proves the strategy ineffective. In Harden’s case, we have 17 years of evidence.

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Those 17 seasons also include a ton of high usage. Harden is accustomed to having the ball in his hands, prodding the defense, either in isolation or attacking the pick-and-roll, and Mitchell is used to doing the same. Meshing them together may take longer than the 31 games that are left in this season, and if that is the case, then this is a disaster of a deal, because Harden can opt out of his contract at the end of June, and he wants more money.

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And giving more money, or anything more than a massive pay cut, to Harden is a mistake. And he was not shopping for a massive pay cut when he sought his exit from the Clippers.

You see, even at his peak, Harden’s playing style — the high-usage ball dominance and the porous defense — never was able to carry his team beyond a Western Conference finals.

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Was it worth the second-round pick? If Harden is more available than Garland this season, and if he leads the Cavaliers to the Eastern Conference finals or beyond, then, probably, yes, it was worth the squeeze. But those are some pretty big ifs. One could argue it is just as likely, if not more so, that Harden limits them to the same second-round playoff ceiling.

Maybe the Cavaliers just did not want to assume the injury risk of carrying Garland’s $40 million salary through the end of the 2027-28 season. That brings us to the Hunter trade, which also saved them considerable luxury tax and increased their salary cap flexibility.

It additionally brought in two useful players, Ellis and Schröder, who made Lonzo Ball’s $10 million salary expendable. It reportedly took a pair of second-round draft picks to unload Ball’s contract on the Utah Jazz. By doing so, Cleveland created the kind of roster flexibility required to pursue Giannis Antetokounmpo, the deadline’s real difference-maker.

In the end, though, Antetokounmpo remained a Milwaukee Buck through the deadline.

What they’ve done: The Celtics reportedly traded 26-year-old reserve guard Anfernee Simons and their 2026 second-round draft pick to the Chicago Bulls for Nikola Vučević.

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Did they get better? They got … different?

Simons was a helpful player off the bench for Boston, delivering consistently superb shotmaking, along with improved defense, as one of a handful of players who have made the Celtics better than we thought they were going to be. They will miss him, though his absence will sting a lot less, or not at all, if and when Jayson Tatum returns to the lineup.

Vučević joins a crowded (though not great) frontcourt rotation that includes Neemias Queta, Luka Garza, Amari Williams and Chris Boucher. The 35-year-old two-time All-Star is better than all of them but Queta, their starter, who has been a rim-running force for the league’s second-rated offense and a rim-protecting presence for its 11th-rated defense.

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Vučević, meanwhile, was the anchor in Chicago of the NBA’s 24th-rated defense. He does space the floor offensively, shooting 39.1% on 4.5 3-point attempts per game over the past two seasons, and he is a double-double machine, averaging 17.2 points and 10.4 rebounds over a 15-year career. He is one of 28 players ever to log 15,000 points and 10,000 rebounds.

Vučević is hardly the center of their future, not like Jaren Jackson Jr. might have been if Utah Jazz executive Danny Ainge had not swooped in to score the 26-year-old two-time All-Star and 2023 Defensive Player of the Year. Now that would have made them better.

Instead, the Celtics saved nearly $30 million in salary and luxury taxes and upgraded their reserve center position in the process. If Tatum returns, Boston is a contender. If not, they are not. Plain and simple. Whether Vučević helps move that needle is now up for debate.

He is probably more helpful than Garza in a first-round playoff series, especially as a shooting threat. He must be respected. He has never played in a conference semifinals. Best of luck as he tries to defend more talented bigs in Detroit, New York and Cleveland.

What they’ve done: In a three-team deal with the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves, the Pistons swapped Jaden Ivey for Kevin Huerter and Dario Šarić.

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Did they get better? They got a little deeper. Maybe.

Ivey, the NBA’s No. 5 overall pick in 2022, has not lived up to that billing. He has averaged as many as 17.6 points, 5.2 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game, but for the past two seasons he has not been able to stay consistently healthy. He is also owed a contract at season’s end, which surely is why Detroit moved on from him. They did not want to invest in his future.

Ivey, who will turn 24 years old on Feb. 13, is a worthwhile investment for a Bulls team that has been searching for youth and places to spend its salary cap space over the summer.

The Pistons will instead receive the expiring contracts of Huerter and Šarić. The latter is unlikely to see the floor much in a frontcourt rotation that includes All-Star center Jalen Duren and Sixth Man of the Year candidate Isaiah Stewart. Huerter will join Duncan Robinson on the wing, allowing the Pistons to employ a full 48 minutes of floor-spacing.

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Not that either Huerter or Robinson — or Tobias Harris, for that matter — is the sort of wing we should expect on a team that projects as a contender. Then again, with only Robinson as their sharpshooter, the Pistons have taken a 5.5-game lead on the Eastern Conference.

What they’ve done: The Thunder reportedly traded the Houston Rockets’ 2026 first-round pick and three second-round picks to the Philadelphia 76ers for Jared McCain.

Did they get better? Sure, why not.

The Thunder already own the NBA’s best record (40-11), so why not add another 21-year-old guard who showed promise as a rookie, averaging 15.3 points per game last season, before a left lateral meniscus tear required knee surgery. That injury — and the development of a Sixers roster around him — limited McCain’s minutes (and impact) in Philadelphia this year.

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McCain is reserve guard insurance for the injured Ajay Mitchell, another promising young player, who has lost the last six games to a right hip contusion. Worse news for Oklahoma City on Wednesday: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander suffered an abdomen strain and will not be reevaluated until after the All-Star break. McCain can only help, though Cason Wallace, Lu Dort and Alex Caruso already form the basis of the NBA’s most talented guard rotation.

What they’ve done: The Wolves used their 2026 first-round draft pick to shed Mike Conley’s $10.8 million expiring contract, which gave them the flexibility to package Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller and four second-round picks for 26-year-old Ayo Dosunmu.

Did they get better? Yes, for certain.

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Dosunmu is good. He shot 45.1% on 4.3 3-point attempts per game for the Bulls this season, and he works his tail off on defense. He knows how to play a role, as he found one even as Chicago tried to steer its usage toward other players. In the process of trying to develop Josh Giddey and Coby White, the Bulls may have forgotten about a role player.

Minnesota was smart to identify Dosunmu, because it does not need anyone to take usage from Anthony Edwards. They need someone to complement him, and Dosunmu does that, converting catch-and-shoot 3s, attacking close-outs and cutting off the ball.

Does Dosunmu meaningfully alter the playoff race? In the absence of a larger upgrade at point guard, where Ja Morant was once thought to be possible, he is as good a role player as Minnesota could find. And the Wolves were already prepared to give OKC a series.

What they’ve done: The Lakers traded veteran two-way guard Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round draft pick to the Hawks for sharpshooting 29-year-old guard Luke Kennard.

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Did they get better? Not really.

The Lakers were a fringe contender anyhow, even with Luka Dončić, LeBron James and Austin Reaves on the roster, because they own the NBA’s 24th-rated defense (116.9 points allowed per 100 possessions), which in turn has left them with a negative net rating (-0.1) that belies their record (30-19, only percentage points up on a play-in tournament berth).

Kennard, who is shooting a league-leading 49.7% on 3.2 3-point attempts per game, does not help the Lakers’ defense, though he may elevate their offensive abilities even further. Vincent, with Marcus Smart, was one of few two-way contributors on Los Angeles’ roster.

What they’ve done: The Knicks reportedly traded forward Guerschon Yabusele to the Chicago Bulls for Jalen Terry, and then flipped Terry, along with a pair of second-round draft picks, to the New Orleans Pelicans for 27-year-old reserve guard Jose Alvarado.

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Did they get better? For sure, marginally.

Alvarado is a solid backup point guard, averaging a 13-5-5 per 36 minutes off the bench for the terrible Pelicans. He will be a spark plug in Madison Square Garden, igniting the crowd with his energy as, really, (and I mean this in the nicest way possible) a pest on both ends.

Alvarado deepens a backcourt that already includes Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride (who will reportedly undergo surgery for a core muscle injury and could miss the rest of the regular season) and Jordan Clarkson, among others, as ball-handlers. Add them to the wing group of Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, and bigs Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson, and the Knicks are as talented as any team in the Eastern Conference … offensively.

Whether that talent extends to the defensive end of the floor remains a serious question. Alvarado’s peskiness will only help in limited minutes, but the big-picture problem persists.

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Will injuries hurt either the Seattle Seahawks or New England Patriots in Sunday’s Super Bowl LX matchup? Yahoo Sports’ Jason Fitz, Charles Robinson and Ben Fawkes break down the latest intel from both sides and give their game predictions. Plus, the guys explore the possibility that Matthew Stafford wins MVP and retires. What would that mean for the Los Angeles Rams? Hear about that and more on today’s huge preview episode!

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(1:20) – Injury updates ahead of Super Bowl LX

(12:15) – Rams and 49ers to play in Australia in 2026

(18:09) – Eagles part ways with OL coach Jeff Stoutland

(22:30) – Could Matthew Stafford retire?

(32:23) – Tom Brady have issues getting into the HOF?

(38:37) – Super Bowl Preview & Predictions

(50:20) – One More Thing

🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube

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

The Milano Ice Skating Arena will host the first official figure skating events of the Winter Games this Friday when the team event, consisting of rhythm dance and the women’s singles and pairs short programs take place. The short program is the first of two segments of competitions (the long program, also known as the free skate, will happen on Sunday) and is designed for skaters to show off seven of the required elements in their routine, including double or triple axels, and a series of other jumps and spin combinations. The women’s short program will be the first chance viewers will have of seeing Americans Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levito. Pairs teams Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea and Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe will also compete, as will ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates, Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik, and Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko.

For a complete schedule of every figure skating event at this year’s games, a rundown of who is on Team USA, and how to watch, keep scrolling. And if you want to learn even more about every event at this year’s Winter Games, here’s a guide to everything you need to know about the Milan Cortina Games.

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How to watch the Olympics Figure Skating Short Program

Dates: Friday, Feb. 6

Time: 4 a.m., 5:35 a.m., 7:35 a.m., 12 p.m., 12:30 p.m., 1 p.m. ET

Location: Milano Ice Skating Arena

TV channels: NBC, USA

Streaming: Peacock, DirecTV, and more

Where can I stream Team USA Figure Skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics?

Peacock will be streaming the entire Team Event on Friday, starting at 4 a.m. ET, with events continuing throughout the day until 1 p.m.

What is the daily schedule for the Figure Skating Short Program?

Friday, February 6

• Team Event: 4 a.m. (Peacock)

• Rhythm Dance: 4 a.m. (USA, Peacock)

• Pairs Short: 5:35 a.m. (USA, Peacock)

• Women’s Short: 7:35 a.m. (USA, Peacock)

• Rhythm Dance: 12 p.m. (NBC, Peacock)

• Pairs Short: 12:30 p.m. (NBC, Peacock)

• Women’s Short: 1 p.m. (NBC, Peacock)

Where to watch the Figure Skating Short Program on TV:

Olympic Figure Skating coverage for the women’s and pairs short programs will be split between NBC and USA, which you can stream on DirecTV, Hulu + Live TV and more. You can start watching on USA from 4 a.m. until 7:35 a.m., and coverage will switch to NBC where the short programs will re-air starting at 12 p.m.

While most MLB teams spend the offseason attempting to address the most glaring needs on their rosters, many still arrive at spring training with a few unsettled spots. Competitions for these roles in camp — whether on the backfields under the watchful eyes of front-office officials and coaches or in front of fans in Cactus and Grapefruit League action — are often some of the most compelling storylines in the weeks leading up to Opening Day.

Here’s a look at eight position groups that promise to be highly scrutinized as they’re sorted out in spring training:

Boston Red Sox: Second base and third base

Last year’s Opening Day Red Sox lineup featured marquee free-agent signing Alex Bregman at third base, the major-league debut of top prospect Kristian Campbell at second base and the beginning of Rafael Devers’ short-lived tenure as Boston’s designated hitter. In the chaotic year since, Campbell flourished then floundered, Devers was traded in stunning fashion, and Bregman helped lead Boston to the postseason before departing in free agency. Whew.

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With Bregman and Devers gone, trade acquisition Willson Contreras at first and Campbell looking to restore his value while focusing on playing the outfield, second and third base are in flux for the Red Sox. Recent reported signing Isiah Kiner-Falefa provides some versatile infield depth, but his lackluster bat leaves him better suited for a bench role. Among the candidates for the starting infield jobs, 23-year-old Marcelo Mayer is the most exciting, having been among the hyped trio of hitting prospects who debuted last season, along with Campbell and budding superstar Roman Anthony. Wrist surgery ended Mayer’s rookie campaign prematurely; is he ready to take on an every-day role, or would Boston prefer to platoon him if his struggles against southpaws persist?

The most straightforward alignment would seem to be Mayer at third and the right-handed Romy Gonzalez — who crushes southpaws — at second. But if Boston prioritizes favorable matchups and/or defense, Kiner-Falefa (RHH), speedy second baseman David Hamilton (LHH), Nate Eaton (RHH) and Nick Sogard (switch-hitter) could factor into these two spots on a rotating basis. There won’t be room for all of them on the roster, so how camp unfolds — and if another addition is made before Opening Day — will play a big role in determining Alex Cora’s infield strategy.

Houston Astros: Corner outfield

Manager Joe Espada wants Yordan Alvarez to DH as much as possible, a reasonable preference but also one that exacerbates the current logjam of corner infielders; Houston is still trying to solve how to give regular at-bats to Isaac Paredes and Christian Walker with Carlos Correa entrenched at third base. Meanwhile, uncertainty abounds in the outfield.

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The Jose Altuve outfield experiment appears to be over. Alvarez’s days in the grass will be limited moving forward. Several others who have appeared in Houston’s outfield recently — Mauricio Dubón, Chas McCormick, Jacob Melton, Cooper Hummel — are no longer in the organization. Jake Meyers, an elite defender in center field, is still in the fold, despite trade rumors swirling around him. But who will flank Meyers in the corners?

Lefty slugger Jesús Sánchez arrived from Miami via trade in July but didn’t do much slugging with Houston; can he redeem his acquisition after a lackluster introductory stint? Cam Smith was the prize in the trade return for Kyle Tucker, but he faded hard in the second half of his rookie season and has a lot to prove this spring. Two homegrown hitters named Zach — Cole (LHH) and Dezenzo (RHH) — have tantalizing power but big swing-and-miss issues. Former top prospect Taylor Trammell remains on the depth chart as a more seasoned, if still unproven option. Each corner outfield candidate offers hints of optimism and a healthy dose of concerns. If the Astros want to return to October, at least one of these hitters will need to step up.

San Diego Padres: First base and second base

The Padres made one of the more interesting additions of the winter when they gave 29-year-old Korean infielder Sung-Mun Song a four-year, $15 million deal. An unremarkable role player for the first eight years of his career with the Kiwoom Heroes, Song’s 144 wRC+ ranked seventh in the KBO over the past two seasons, and his defensive acumen at multiple infield spots helped fuel his market as a major-league free agent. That versatility appealed to San Diego as it sought to backfill the void in the lineup and infield left by Luis Arraez and Ryan O’Hearn, who both departed in free agency. But Song’s exact fit remains unclear.

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Primarily a third baseman in Korea, Song also has experience at first and second. And with Manny Machado still manning the hot corner in San Diego, Song’s primary role will come on the right side of the infield. The other main character in that dynamic is Jake Cronenworth, who also can handle first and second base and is coming off a sneaky stellar season. Defensively, that gives new manager Craig Stammen flexibility to deploy Song and Cronenworth however he sees fit on the right side.

But Song’s bat is a much bigger question as he adjusts to major-league pitching. If struggles at the plate demote him to more of a bench role, the Padres don’t have any proven internal options to pick up the slack; other infielders pushing for roster spots include Will Wagner, Mason McCoy, Samad Taylor and Pablo Reyes. That puts real pressure on Song to make an impact right away if San Diego’s position-player group is going to stack up in the ultra-competitive NL West.

Toronto Blue Jays: Corner outfield

The Blue Jays were plenty busy making moves this offseason, but their highest profile pursuit — of outfielder Kyle Tucker — fell short. Chasing Tucker wasn’t about a pressing present need as much as it was seeking a long-term anchor in the outfield, as George Springer and Daulton Varsho are both slated to hit free agency after this season. And even with Varsho and Springer still in the fold, the Blue Jays have some things to sort out in the outfield in the short-term. Varsho’s big power and fantastic glove provide a strong starting point in center, but what happens at the two corner spots will depend on myriad factors.

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First and foremost: Can Anthony Santander — owed nearly $70 million over the next four seasons — bounce back after an injury-riddled first season as a Blue Jay? Restoring his bat is paramount, but his ability to play competent defense in left or right field will also be important if Toronto wants to keep the 36-year-old Springer at DH. Addison Barger flashed legitimate star power on both sides of the ball during Toronto’s pennant run, but both he and the late-blooming Nathan Lukes — another key cog in October — have a lot to prove against left-handed pitching if they’re going to sustain regular roles. Davis Schneider and Myles Straw also remain as useful right-handed complements. There aren’t any top prospects on the doorstep of the majors, but keep an eye on Yohendrick Pinango and RJ Schreck, upper-level bats who could make some noise in camp.

Can this group of familiar faces — plus new Japanese slugger Kazuma Okamoto, who projects to primarily handle third base but could factor into the left field mix — backfill the void left in the lineup by departed mainstay Bo Bichette? That’s the biggest question facing Toronto’s position-player group. A lot is clearly riding on Okamoto, but there’s ample pressure on the holdovers to step up, too, especially in the outfield.

Milwaukee Brewers: Fourth and fifth starting pitchers

Milwaukee executed its traditional gambit of trading away a franchise favorite before he reached free agency, dealing Freddy Peralta to the Mets in exchange for top prospects Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat. Brandon Woodruff, the longest-tenured Brewer, remains atop the rotation after accepting the qualifying offer, but the rest of Milwaukee’s starting staff is filled with relatively new names. Two of those pitchers — breakout fireballer Jacob Misiorowski and effective trade acquisition Quinn Priester — should have firm grips on rotation roles behind Woodruff. But the two other spots look to be up for grabs, setting up a competition in camp to determine the Opening Day rotation.

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Three arms will be at the forefront of the conversation. The most experienced is Chad Patrick, who emerged as an unlikely rookie contributor in the rotation during the regular season but transitioned to the bullpen for the stretch run and shined as a reliever in October. It’s tempting to watch Patrick in relief — throwing markedly harder than he did as a starter — and wonder if the bullpen is where he could make the greatest impact. But Milwaukee is flush with bullpen options, making it more likely that Patrick stays stretched out and vies for a rotation job.

He’ll be competing with two rookie-eligible right-handers, Brandon Sproat and Logan Henderson. Both pitchers showed flashes of potential in their brief major-league stints last season, and each appears in the back half of most of the recently released Top 100 prospect lists. How Sproat adjusts to his new organization and how Henderson returns from the flexor strain that ended his 2025 campaign in August will help clarify who is prepared to seize a rotation spot to open the season.

Another name worth mentioning is Robert Gasser, who had a strong initial cameo in 2024 before undergoing Tommy John surgery. He returned to the mound at the end of 2025 and will be looking to rediscover his pre-surgery form in 2026. He could provide a lefty alternative for a rotation depth chart loaded with right-handers.

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L.A. Dodgers: Fifth, sixth (and seventh?) starting pitchers

It’s no secret that the reigning champs have amassed a spectacular amount of starting pitching talent. That was already true a year ago, and since then, the unit has only elevated further, with Shohei Ohtani’s return to the mound and Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s legendary October heroics. Clayton Kershaw’s retirement removed one accomplished arm from the rotation, but Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow remain as unquestioned frontline pitchers.

But while that quartet is as formidable as any starting staff in the world, the depth chart beyond it is also crucial. If we’ve learned anything in recent years, it’s that it takes a whole lot more than five starters to make it through a 162-game season, plus a deep playoff run, and the Dodgers know that as well as any team. Fortunately, there’s a huge group of talented hurlers beyond Los Angeles’ top four who will be jockeying for roles as big-league starters at Camelback Ranch.

Roki Sasaki begins an utterly fascinating sophomore campaign after faltering badly as a rookie in the regular season before shining in relief in October. The Dodgers are intent on returning him to the rotation, but can he make the adjustments to succeed as a starter and stay healthy while doing so? Conversely, Emmet Sheehan looked terrific as a starter in the regular season before a more uneven showing in relief during the postseason. He looks to have surpassed Sasaki on the depth chart, but he’ll need to reinforce that this spring. Several others with big-league experience — Justin Wrobleski, Ben Casparius, Kyle Hurt, Landon Knack — continue to straddle the starter/reliever line. Then there’s a couple of key injury returners in right-handers Gavin Stone and River Ryan, each looking to regain their impressive pre-surgery form. Bobby Miller is still around, too.

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On paper, it’s an embarrassment of riches, but these arms also represent pivotal depth for when injuries inevitably happen. Some portion of these pitchers are bound to contribute to Los Angeles’ effort to three-peat; exactly which ones remains to be seen.

Philadelphia Phillies: Outfield

It’s rare to see a team be blatantly transparent about its intention to put a yet-to-debut prospect on the Opening Day roster. But the Phillies have not been shy whatsoever about how much they are counting on 22-year-old Justin Crawford to be their center fielder in 2026. The son of four-time All-Star outfielder Carl, Justin spent all of 2025 at Triple-A and showed an exciting blend of speed and contact resembling that of his father’s prime. Now Philadelphia appears ready to lean on him to add a youthful component to a lineup loaded with grizzled veterans.

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The Phillies’ willingness to hand Crawford the starting center-field job is refreshing in an era when so many teams are overly cautious and/or prioritizing service-time considerations. But Crawford isn’t a consensus top prospect whom evaluators regard as a slam-dunk to contribute right away, let alone blossom into an impact player. That puts some pressure on Philadelphia’s confidence in Crawford to be validated quickly, especially within the context of an outfield that features uncertainty in the corners, with Brandon Marsh’s ongoing platoon challenges and the addition of Adolis Garcia coming off two wretched campaigns.

Starting a rookie in center field on Opening Day would be one thing if he were flanked by two rock-solid contributors, but that’s not the case here. There’s upside with this unit, but Crawford and Garcia will need to perform well in a hurry as the only two new faces in a lineup that has otherwise stayed the same.

New York Mets: Starting rotation

As Peralta leaves behind a Brewers rotation filled with younger pitchers, he joins a Mets staff with a wealth of veteran rotation candidates, all of whom come with major questions. While Peralta and budding ace Nolan McLean are locks to occupy the top two rotation spots in Queens, you can make a case for about six other pitchers to fill out the remaining three jobs as things stand.

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Clay Holmes looks like the safest bet of this group — an unexpected sentiment, given his career trajectory — but also the one with the lowest demonstrated upside. Lefty David Peterson was fantastic in the first half of 2025, earning an All-Star nod, but awful down the stretch, posting a 6.34 ERA after the break. Sean Manaea is by far the highest-paid of the bunch, but his second season in Queens was marred by injuries, making it difficult to forecast his contributions. Kodai Senga is enigmatic from both durability and performance standpoints, and his name has floated in trade rumors all winter. If that quartet of veterans fails to produce enough reliable starters, 22-year-old Jonah Tong looms as an exciting rookie candidate. There’s also 26-year-old Christian Scott, who will be looking to make a mark in camp after missing all of 2025 following Tommy John surgery.

New York’s dramatic offseason makeover of its offense has been astonishing to watch, but recall that the team’s second-half collapse last year was largely fueled by disarray on the mound. Peralta will help, but a lot will depend on the rest of the pitchers in-house to up their games if the Mets are going to get back on track, and that should be a big focus in Port St. Lucie this spring.

The Memphis Grizzlies will apparently not be moving Ja Morant ahead of the NBA trade deadline, despite reports of a potential trade.

Memphis had reportedly shopped the 26-year-old point guard but did not find a suitable match. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that, despite some intrigue, no teams were “willing to make a serious offer.”

Yahoo Sports Kevin O’Connor reported on Wednesday that the Sacramento Kings were the most connected with Morant, with Miami Heat being engaged as well.

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Yahoo Sports Kelly Iko reported that Morant and his camp were not interested in the Kings and preferred the Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves as top destinations. Iko also reported that despite Morant’s lack of interest the team will do what is best for the franchise.

Morant is under contract with the Grizzlies through the 2027–28 season, currently in the third year of a five-year, $197 million designated rookie extension. He will be eligible to sign a three-year, $178 million extension this summer.

After a promising start to his career as the 2019-20 NBA Rookie of the Year, Morant’s biggest issue has been staying on the court. This season, he has played in just 20 games, missing time with calf and ankle injuries and serving a one-game suspension.

Morant has not played more than 65 games in a season since his rookie year. During the 2023–24 season, Morant appeared in just nine games after serving a 25-game suspension to start the year and later suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.

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This year, Morant is averaging fewer than 20 points per game for the first time since his second NBA season, while averaging a career-low 3.3 rebounds per game.

News that the Grizzlies would be keeping Morant comes just two days after the team traded away Jaren Jackson Jr. in a stunning eight-player swap with the Utah Jazz. The 2023 Defensive Player of the Year was sent to the Jazz, along with John Konchar, Vince Williams Jr. and Jock Landale.

In return, the Grizzlies received Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks and Georges Niang — along with three future first-round draft picks.

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Morant now remains a fixture in what’s become an obvious rebuild for Memphis, amid a series of significant changes for the franchise over the past year.

Last season, the Grizzlies fired head coach Taylor Jenkins and promoted assistant coach Tuomas Iisalo just nine games before the playoffs. Jenkins spent six seasons with the franchise before the two sides parted ways.

In the offseason, the team traded Desmond Bane to the Magic in exchange for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round picks and a future pick swap after Bane signed a max rookie extension with the team in 2023. Bane had spent his first five seasons with the Grizzlies.

If there’s one thing you should always expect the best pitcher in the world to do, it’s win. And for Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, his win Thursday was arguably the biggest one he has earned in his career. Skubal won his arbitration hearing against the Tigers and was awarded an arbitration-record $32 million contract for 2026 before he becomes a free agent at season’s end.

Players become arbitration-eligible after accruing three years of MLB service time, and a player is arb-eligible for three seasons before reaching free agency. Before each of those seasons, the team and player each propose a salary figure. The two sides can then negotiate and agree on a one-year or multiyear deal to avoid an arbitration hearing. If they cannot come to terms, they present their cases to an independent panel, which decides the player’s salary. In his final year of arbitration, Skubal, who is represented by baseball mega-agent Scott Boras, filed at $32 million. The Tigers filed at $19 million.

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Skubal’s arbitration win is a massive victory for several reasons. First and foremost, for the player himself, who gets rewarded for being the best pitcher on the planet the past two seasons. The Tigers’ ace is coming off back-to-back Cy Young Awards and a 2025 season that saw him go 13-6 with a 2.21 ERA and 241 strikeouts.

He now becomes the highest-paid player ever through the arbitration system, breaking New York Mets superstar Juan Soto’s record of $31 million with the Yankees in 2024 and David Price’s pitcher record of $19.75 million set in 2015 with the Tigers. Prior to Thursday’s result, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s $19.9 million salary with the Blue Jays in 2024 was the largest ever awarded via arbitration hearing.

Secondly, going into CBA negotiations after the upcoming MLB season, Skubal’s win gives significant momentum to players, especially the upper echelon of young players who have yet to reach free agency. While no one knows the future of the current arbitration system, many in the industry already wonder if the person to shatter Skubal’s new record will be Pirates ace Paul Skenes. Skenes is already on a historic run to begin his career, with a Rookie of the Year Award and NL Cy Young Award in his first two MLB seasons, and his value continues to skyrocket.

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Last but certainly not least, Skubal’s arbitration victory is a huge win for Boras, putting a capper on an impressive offseason that saw the superagent’s clients pull in close to $1 billion dollars in free agency. Boras took a big swing with a $32 million filing that had the potential to break all the arbitration records, and it paid off.

Maybe Thursday’s result will be a lesson for teams under the current system. Just because the system allows you to low-ball some of the best players in the sport — in this case, the best pitcher in baseball — doesn’t mean you should or will get away with it. But as is the case with service-time manipulation, all it takes to change this process is a tweak in the CBA. A lot of topics will be on the table in the upcoming negotiations, but expect the MLB Players Association to be looking to adjust the current arbitration system.

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Now that Skubal vs. the Tigers is settled, where do the two sides go from here?

While they lost the hearing, this is still a great week for the Tigers, who landed free-agent left-hander Framber Valdez on a three-year, $115 million deal on Wednesday. Valdez, who was the best remaining free agent available, gives Detroit a bona fide No. 2 behind Skubal and one of the best 1-2 punches in the American League. To this point, it had been a very quiet offseason for Detroit, with the roster looking incredibly similar to the one that was knocked out of the ALDS by the Seattle Mariners. But the addition of Valdez is huge for the Tigers, who improved their rotation in a big way and can now go toe-to-toe with any team’s frontline starters.

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For Skubal, he goes into his final season before free agency as a much wealthier man. What’s more, the addition of Valdez is likely a sign that Detroit has no intention of moving its superstar ace this season, unless things go horribly wrong in the first half. With the rotation reinforced and the team’s outlook for 2026 improved, Skubal and Valdez look like a duo that could get Detroit over the hump and back to the ALCS.

What Skubal has done over the past 24 months is downright remarkable. As he goes into what might be his final season in Motown, the baseball world will be watching to see what else he has up his sleeve.

Portland Trail Blazers third-year point guard Scoot Henderson is set to make his season debut Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies after recovering from a hamstring injury he suffered in September.

Henderson’s return couldn’t come at a better time or the surprising Blazers, who are currently in 10th place in the Western Conference, hanging on to the final play-in tournament spot. Portland is 23-28, having lost six in a row after Tuesday’s loss to the Phoenix Suns 130-125. Getting Henderson on the court for the first time this season could provide a spark the Blazers need to stay in the hunt for a play-in spot in the west.

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In 66 games last season, Henderson averaged 12.7 points, 5.1 assists, 3 rebounds and 1 steal per game. If Henderson can come back with the same explosiveness he’s had, it could help Portland continue to compete in the Western Conference. The Blazers won a total of 36 games last season and are only 13 wins away from matching that with 31 games remaining. During Henderson’s rookie year of 2023-24, the Blazers won only 21 games and they’ve already surpassed that total this year.

Given how the past few seasons have gone and the Chauncey Billups alleged illegal gambling ring situation, any form of good news is welcomed in Portland. The Blazers missed out on the play-in tournament by three games last season, finishing 36-46. Portland hasn’t made the NBA playoffs since former head coach Terry Stotts’ final year of 2020-21.

Henderson’s debut is set for Friday at 10 p.m. ET, when the Blazers and Grizzlies battle at Moda Center in Portland.

A monthslong saga surrounding Jonathan Kuminga and his future finally came to an end Wednesday when the Golden State Warriors traded him to the Atlanta Hawks as part of a deal that landed the Warriors big man Kristaps Porziņģis.

Kuminga, 23, spent four-plus seasons with Golden State after he played for the NBA G League Ignite and then was taken No. 7 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft.

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Consistency has been hard for Kuminga to find early in his NBA career. He’s had an especially up-and-down 2025-26 campaign that saw him temporarily ousted from the Warriors rotation and then request a trade.

Longtime Warriors head coach Steve Kerr told ESPN that Kuminga was “just a tough fit” dating back to when he came into the league.

“I think it was a tough situation for everybody, given how raw he was when he got here and given we were still playing for championships,” Kerr said, per Anthony Slater.

“He needed the runway to make more mistakes. He needed the experience of being in the NBA and understanding what it was about. For him, it was very tough not being allowed to make those mistakes. For us as a staff, it was tricky trying to develop him while we were trying to win. I think it’s as simple as that.

“Everybody liked him. I liked him. He’s a really good guy. Very personable. Well-liked in the locker room. Just a tough fit.”

[Get more Warriors news: Golden State team feed]

During his rookie season, Kuminga played a role in the Warriors’ journey to their fourth NBA title under Kerr. He even chipped in three 17-plus-point performances during the 2022 playoffs.

Over the next four seasons, though, Kuminga didn’t unlock his potential. While he showed glimpses, he was criticized for his defensive lapses, and he wasn’t a mainstay in a starting five for a Warriors team desperately trying to add one more banner in the final years of Stephen Curry’s legendary career.

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Before this season, Kuminga signed a two-year deal reportedly worth $48.5 million to return to the Warriors. He repaid Golden State with a strong start.

Across the first nine games, all of which Kuminga started, he averaged 17.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists while shooting 51.4% from the field and 41.4% from 3-point land.

But he struggled the next three outings and lost his spot in the starting lineup ahead of a Nov. 12 win over the San Antonio Spurs.

Then Kuminga missed seven straight games because of a knee injury. When he returned, his dip in performance continued. Soon enough, he was relegated to the bench.

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Jimmy Butler III’s ACL tear opened the door for Kuminga to play again, despite his recent trade request. Kuminga went for 20 points in 21 minutes during a loss to the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 20 and then, before suffering a bone bruise in his knee, had 10 points in nine minutes in a defeat to the Dallas Mavericks on Jan. 22.

Unfortunately for Golden State, its pursuit of another championship has fallen short so far, and its short-term roster fixes in the twilight of Curry’s career sidelined the development of a player like Kuminga.

Fortunately for Kuminga, he’ll get a fresh start in Atlanta.

During the last 48 hours leading up to the trade deadline, the Milwaukee Bucks increasingly signaled to rival teams their intentions to keep superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and revisit discussions in the offseason, sources told Yahoo Sports. The franchise, despite fielding aggressive offers and canvassing the league for weeks, never truly felt any pressure to pull the trigger and part ways with Antetokounmpo now.

All things being considered, deciding to kick the can down the road by a few months would buy both parties some much-needed time — in what has very evidently been an emotional rollercoaster.

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Antetokounmpo recently gave interviews to The Athletic’s Eric Nehm and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Jim Owczarski, detailing the deep roots he has to the city and the only NBA franchise he’s ever known in his 13-year career. Public comments made this week by Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam also painted the picture of a relationship that isn’t ready to undergo divorce proceedings just yet.

“I just don’t think they ever really wanted to trade him,” one executive said. “They were just forced to look into it.”

For what it’s worth, whenever the topic of Antetokounmpo’s future has come up in conversations with league officials, there are typically two schools of thought.

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There’s one that suggests that the Bucks’ brass still believes their contention window isn’t fully closed yet and plans to offer Giannis a lucrative four-year, $275 million extension at the earliest window (in October). This line of thinking assumes that Milwaukee will try at least one more time to present a pathway to productivity, cobbling together its draft capital and whatever else it can to attempt to lure in legitimate help. (Good luck with that!)

[NBA trade deadline winners and losers]

Then, there’s the other line of thinking that realizes names like Myles Turner, Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis don’t move the needle for Antetokounmpo, and neither does an incoming lottery pick; that sees the 20-29 Bucks, who sit two games outside of the play-in and project to have a few more barren weeks with Antetokounmpo still out with a right calf injury; and that wonders if the offers that may come in during the summer are less stellar than the ones that were previously on the table, given Antetokounmpo’s impending 2027 free agency — making him a Hall of Fame-worthy expiring contract at that time.

Regardless of where you stand, it’s hard to find fault with how Milwaukee is operating. The relationship between a front office and a generational talent can be a tricky one, especially as the years go by and an organization finds itself further and further away from the glory days of old. Give credit to the Bucks for at least making Giannis available, giving teams the opportunity to put real offers on the table and do their due diligence. If they felt there wasn’t a deal that was suitable for arguably the greatest Buck of all time, there’s no reason to jump the gun.

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How Milwaukee operates within the confines of the market in the interim, especially prior to the All-Star break, could be pivotal. I’m no general manager, but if a player like Cam Thomas is available on the cheap — which he is, having been waived by Brooklyn as of Thursday afternoon — why not make the call? Nehm reported that Antetokounmpo plans to return to the floor once he’s cleared, not wanting to be shut down in hopes of improving the Bucks’ lottery potential. And that makes a ton of sense; Milwaukee’s offense has produced at an elite rate when Giannis has been present, scoring 121.7 points per 100 possessions, which would give them the No. 1 offense in the NBA, according to Cleaning the Glass. Thomas isn’t leading the efficiency march — he’s a few notches down below average in points per shot attempt — but at his best he’s a microwave scorer capable of carrying an offense in bunches.

The Bucks also have the continued development of Ryan Rollins, a serious candidate for Most Improved Player. Rollins is averaging nearly 17 points and six assists per game, all while shooting over 40% from deep on high volume. He’s become a trusted source of creation, control and poise.

Milwaukee could trot out some funky in-game lineups featuring Rollins, Thomas and Kevin Porter Jr. in the backcourt, giving the Bucks a plethora of scoring options while maintaining defensive integrity with Antetokounmpo and Myles Turner. I’m not saying Thomas is the end-all, be-all to getting Giannis to commit to his long-term future, but it’s indicative of a proactive move to get the Bucks back in the thick of things, even if it’s via the play-in. This is essentially a gap year after all.

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And hey, what happens if maybe, just maybe, Milwaukee lands the No. 1 pick in June’s draft? Or the second overall? AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Petersen are NBA-ready right now and, according to Tankathon, the Bucks have a 23% chance of landing a top-four pick and a 5% chance of winning it all. If history tells us anything, there’s always a surprise on lottery night. Let’s imagine a world where Milwaukee lands one of these slots — does that make it easier to stomach a Giannis departure or could that be used as a facilitator for an aggressive upgrade?

There are a plethora of possibilities that exist for both Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee today, after both parties decided it was best to stand pat at the deadline. We’ll see what that means for teams that have been circling the organization like vultures. But one of the league’s most heartwarming partnerships gets to keep the lights on a little while longer. 

The 2026 NBA trade deadline has come and gone, with multiple former All-Stars changing uniforms. While the biggest star of them all — Giannis Antetokounmpo — wasn’t moved, we can take solace in the fact that Ochai Agbaji was.

In all seriousness, while the final day before the deadline was a bit of a snoozefest, we did see a plethora of trades in the days leading up to it, further establishing that the trade deadline has, in many ways, replaced free agency.

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So, to wrap up, let’s take a look at some grades for each team.

2026 NBA trade tracker: Deal details, grades, analysis

Key additions: Jonathan Kuminga, CJ McCollum

Key losses: Trae Young, Kristaps Porziņģis

Atlanta is retooling and building around Jalen Johnson, which was always the right call. While it’s understandable they didn’t get more for Trae Young, the overall return lacks that final bit of pizzazz to get a huge grade.

Key addition: Nikola Vučević

Key loss: Anfernee Simons

The Celtics made a cost-cutting trade, and upgraded their center position at the same time. That’s a good bit of business there, even if financially motivated trades are generally uninteresting to fans. They also moved Josh Minott and Xavier Tillman to get under the luxury tax.

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Key addition: Ochai Agbaji

Key losses: None of significance

The Nets did what everyone expected them to: They took on money and were awarded for doing so in receiving some second-round draft picks. They kept to the plan, and that’s solid.

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Key additions: Coby White, Tyus Jones

Key loss: Collin Sexton

The Hornets shuffled around some pieces and picked up White in the process. He’s going to need to be re-signed in the summer, but he represents a major upgrade for their bench. Overall, the Hornets took advantage of the market.

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Key additions: Anfernee Simons, Collin Sexton, Jaden Ivey, a whole lot of second-round picks

Key losses: Coby White, Nikola Vučević, Ayo Dosunmu

Chicago has seemingly embraced tanking — a concept they should have embraced long ago. They’ve cornered the market on pending free-agent guards, and that’s a huge boost to their books as they enter the 2026 summer armed with money and flexibility. Now the question becomes: Do they understand how to utilize all of this, or will they squander it like usual?

Key additions: James Harden, Keon Ellis, Dennis Schröder

Key losses: Darius Garland, Lonzo Ball

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The Cavs relinquished the best long-term player in the deal and opted for short-term success, which means there is now no place to hide. By acquiring 36-year-old James Harden and presumably paying him this summer, the Cavs are in it to win it — and soon.

Key addition: Khris Middleton

Key losses: Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell

How did the Mavericks succeed in moving on from a player literally no team should have had interest in?! Dumping Davis clears their books and allows Cooper Flagg to take full control of the future. That’s not a bad few days.

Key additions: None

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Key loss: Hunter Tyson

The Nuggets are good when healthy, yet rarely are. That’s likely not something changed by a trade, especially if the injuries are tied to their primary core. For them to stay somewhat silent is not necessarily a bad thing.

Key additions: Kevin Huerter, draft equity

Key loss: Jaden Ivey

Detroit added a floor-spacing element in Huerter, and even received a protected 2026 first-round pick swap from Minnesota in a deep draft. It did cost them a pretty penny, but seeing as Ivey never really got a chance in Detroit, this seemed inevitable.

Key addition: Kristaps Porziņģis

Key loss: Jonathan Kuminga

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Porziņģis is a free agent this summer, so there is some hope that he’ll re-sign with the organization and offer them a consistent floor-spacing presence throughout next season and perhaps beyond with Butler back in action. All in all, this deal is worth it if he stays healthy and is open to staying with the Warriors.

Key additions: None

Key losses: None

I was expecting the Rockets to make a play for a guard, but they didn’t. That’s odd given that Fred VanVleet is out for the year, and they’re playing well with a motivated Kevin Durant. But I would have liked to see them get more involved for late-season reinforcements.

Key addition: Ivica Zubac

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Key loss: Bennedict Mathurin

Zubac is a tremendous player and a rock-solid fit with Tyrese Haliburton, but the idea of shipping out Mathurin, a 2026 first (with Nos. 1-4 and 10-30 protections) and a 2029 unprotected is extremely steep — too steep if you ask me.

Key additions: Darius Garland, Bennedict Mathurin

Key losses: James Harden, Ivica Zubac

The Clippers just acquired an All-Star-level point guard who is 10 years younger than their former one, and there’s just no way that isn’t a good, smart, long-term play, even at the potential cost of this season. Plus, getting out of the James Harden business is never really a bad thing. Furthermore, they took the Pacers to the cleaners in the Zubac trade. Great deadline for the Clippers.

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Key addition: Luke Kennard

Key loss: Gabe Vincent

Moving a non-needle-mover in Vincent for one of the league’s most pure shooters is a huge win for the Lakers, especially in regard to their second unit. Solid bit of business for Los Angeles here.

Key additions: Picks

Key loss: Jaren Jackson Jr.

Surprised at this grade? You’ll understand my perspective if you read this. It’s rebuild time in Memphis and this was a good start.

Key additions: None

Key losses: None

The Heat stayed silent, likely saving their ammo for a summer run at Giannis Antetokounmpo. Who can blame them?

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Key addition: Nick Richards

Key loss: Cole Anthony

This is a big ol’ meh-burger, especially when you consider who from this team was rumored to be going. But, no Giannis trade gears up the Bucks for the summer.

Key addition: Ayo Dosunmu

Key loss: Rob Dillingham

The Wolves found a starting point guard! One who even defends! This is a rock-solid move by Minnesota, which will have to re-sign Dosunmu this summer. But given the theoretical fit with Anthony Edwards, the former Bull should be open to that idea.

Key addition: Dalen Terry

Key loss: Jose Alvarado

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The Pelicans got a couple of second-round picks for Alvarado, which is fine, albeit uninspiring. But at least they acknowledged they were going nowhere and acted accordingly.

Key addition: Jose Alvarado

Key loss: Guerschon Yabusele

The Knicks made some small swaps, ultimately sending out Yabusele in one deal and getting back Alvarado in another. Alvarado is such a Knicks player, it’s not even funny, so this is intriguing business by NY.

Key addition: Jared McCain

Key losses: None

As usual, the Thunder played it smart. They took full advantage of the Sixers, who wished to get under the tax line and squeezed them for McCain, who is an excellent shooter.

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Key additions: None

Key loss: Tyus Jones

The Magic realized Tyus Jones wasn’t the upgrade they had hoped for and decided to sacrifice his presence in order to get under the luxury tax. It’s fine, although that does leave them short on guards.

Key additions: None

Key loss: Jared McCain

I’m giving the Sixers a solid grade because they achieved what they hoped to achieve in getting under the tax, but do note it’s a pity grade. Losing talent like McCain, just to save a buck, has become a horrible trend in the league, and it only hurts the fan experience.

Key additions: None

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Key losses: None

The Suns felt comfortable with their roster, which is understandable. They also didn’t have much to offer, so instead of digging into future assets, they stayed silent, which specifically for them is probably a keen move.

Key addition: Vít Krejčí

Key loss: Duop Reath

Krejčí is highly underrated, and one heck of a dynamic shooter when he’s on. That’s a strong get for Portland, especially for a bench guy who can flip a game in the playoffs — if it makes it that far.

Key addition: De’Andre Hunter

Key losses: Keon Ellis, Dennis Schröder

As usual, the Kings are all over the place and their direction aimless. That didn’t change this deadline, and now the fan base has yet another headache regarding its team’s unclear plans for the future.

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Key addition: None

Key loss: None

The Spurs are ready to win now, so not making a big splash at the deadline is simply a weird move, which deserves some level of criticism.

Key addition: None

Key loss: Ochai Agbaji

The Raptors saved money by getting under the luxury tax after moving Agbaji. Usually, financially motivated deals are boring, but since Agbaji hadn’t played well this season, this wasn’t a major loss.

Key addition: Jaren Jackson Jr

Key losses: Mostly picks

Jackson is good, but flawed. He’s a big man who doesn’t rebound, and he turns into dust, Infinity War-style, when the postseason rolls around. Furthermore, he’s extremely costly. This was a steep price to pay for the two-time All-Star, so this move better work.

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Key additions: Trae Young, Anthony Davis

Key losses: CJ McCollum, Khris Middleton

The Young acquisition was brilliant … the Davis trade, less so. Why relinquish assets for a guy who’s older, oft-injured, on the decline and enormously expensive? If anything, Dallas should have given up assets to get off that deal.