It might be Super Bowl week, but the NBA has refused to stay out of the spotlight.
While LeBron James became the league’s all-time leading scorer on Tuesday night, teams have been shoring up for the stretch run before the NBA trade deadline.
And there’s still time for more wheeling and dealing.
There remains plenty of attention on the Phoenix Suns, Toronto Raptors, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, Miami Heat, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Clippers and Utah Jazz.
Will the Jazz continue selling to accelerate their rebuild? Do the Raptors get a haul of first-round picks in return for OG Anunoby? Can the Lakers salvage their season?
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Follow for the latest updates and analysis as the deadline looms.
What time does the NBA trade deadline end?
Teams have until 3 p.m. ET to agree to deals.
Warriors re-acquire guard Gary Payton II
Shortly after picking up forward Kevin Knox from the Pistons in an earlier trade, the Golden State Warriors sent Knox and the five second-round picks they also got for James Wiseman in a package deal to the Portland Trail Blazers for guard Gary Payton II, according to ESPN.
After winning a title with the Warriors last season, Payton left for Portland in free agency. Given the direction of the Warriors’ season and Steph Curry’s injury, they jumped at the opportunity to bring him back.
Lakers’ retooling continues with addition of Mo Bamba
The Los Angeles Lakers acquired center Mo Bamba from the Orlando Magic for veteran Patrick Beverley and a second-round pick, a person familiar with the deal told USA TODAY Sports.
The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly until the trade is official.
The Lakers continue to rework their roster with hopes of making a strong playoff push in the final two months of the season. Bamba had a career-year last season, averaging 10.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 20 double-doubles, but this season, his minutes have declined even though his per-36 minute averages are similar to last season.
Hawks continue dealing with a 2-for-2
The Atlanta Hawks have reached a deal to trade Justin Holiday and Frank Kaminsky to Houston for Garrison Matthews and Bruno Fernando, a person familiar with the move told USA TODAY Sports.
The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly until the trade is official.
Clippers swap Kennard for Gordon; veterans Green, Wall also involved
The Los Angeles Clippers will trade Luke Kennard to the Memphis Grizzlies in a three-team deal that will send Eric Gordon from Houston to the Clippers, a person familiar with the deal told USA TODAY Sports.
The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly until the deal is official.
The Grizzlies will move Danny Green to Houston, and the Rockets also will get John Wall from the Clippers. Both are buyout candidates after the deal is completed.
Warriors deal disappointing center James Wiseman in 3-team trade
The Golden State Warriors are moving on from center James Wiseman, the player they took with the second overall pick in the 2020 draft. In a four-way deal, Golden State is sending Wiseman to the Detroit Pistons. In return, the defending NBA champs receive five second-round draft picks from the Atlanta Hawks, a person with knowledge of the trade tells USA TODAY Sports.
The person requested anonymity because the trade had not yet been completed.
Wiseman has battled injuries and struggled to adapt to the NBA, playing in just 66 games since Golden State selected him second behind Anthony Edwards in the 2020 draft. He just recently returned to action from an ankle injury.
The decision to trade Wiseman could result in a massive luxury tax savings for the Warriors of more than $100 million, according to The Athletic.
Also in the trade, forward Saddiq Bey goes from Detroit to Atlanta.
Bey, in his third season out of Villanova, averaged 14.8 points and 4.7 rebounds for the Pistons this season.
Nuggets acquire backup center Thomas Bryant from Lakers
The Denver Nuggets picked up backup center Thomas Bryant from the Los Angeles Lakers for three second-round draft picks, the Denver Post is reporting.
Bryant, 25, has seen his playing time decline recently in Los Angeles with the return of starter Anthony Davis. However, he is averaging 12.1 points per game on 65.4% shooting from the field.
Nets flip Jae Crowder to Bucks
Less than 12 hours after acquiring Jae Crowder from Phoenix in the Kevin Durant deal, the Brooklyn Nets have made another trade involving the veteran forward. The Nets shipped Crowder to the Milwaukee Bucks for five second-round picks in a deal that also involves Indiana, a person familiar with the deal tells USA TODAY Sports.
The person requested anonymity because the trade had not yet been finalized.
Crowder hasn’t played at all this season as Phoenix had been attempting to trade him. In Milwaukee, he should bolster the Bucks bench with his defense and 3-point shooting.
The Pacers will get Jordan Nwora and two second-round picks and waive Goga Bitadze.
Additionally, ESPN is reporting the Pacers are also getting guard George Hill from the Bucks, while the Athletic reports Serge Ibaka will also go from the Bucks to the Pacers.
Will the Toronto Raptors make a deal that includes trading Fred VanVleet or OG Anunoby? The Raptors have financial decisions to make in the next two offseasons and may be compelled to address those issues now in a trade.
Brooklyn may not be finished making moves. It’s clear now they’re rebuilding, and smart teams will inquire about the availability of Mikal Bridges, who the Nets just acquired from Phoenix in the Kevin Durant deal. Denver and Memphis, the top two teams in the Western Conference, should be looking to strengthen their rosters after the moves Phoenix and Dallas (trading for Kyrie Irving) made.
The Los Angeles Lakers, who reached a deal to acquire D’Angelo Russell on Wednesday, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors and New Orleans Pelicans are other teams searching for roster improvements.
Celtics get Mike Muscala from Thunder
The Boston Celtics have added some depth with the acquisition of center Mike Muscala from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for forward Justin Jackson and two second-round picks, a person familiar with the deal tells USA TODAY Sports.
The person requested anonymity because the deal had not yet been finalized.
Muscala, 31, is in his 10th NBA season and is averaging 6.2 points and 2.4 rebounds for the Thunder. Muscala, who previously played for the Hawks, Lakers and 76ers, is shooting 39.4% on 3-pointers this season, giving Boston a stretch big off the bench.
Jackson, 27, is a six-year veteran, averaging 0.9 points and 0.7 rebounds for the Celtics.
Suns acquire Kevin Durant from Nets
The Nets, who traded guard Kyrie Irving to the Mavericks on Sunday, moved another one of their key players in the early hours Thursday morning.
Kevin Durant will be heading to the Suns along with forward T.J. Warren as Brooklyn pivots to an entirely new franchise paradigm.
Durant, a 13-time All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP, joins a Suns squad that’s barely over the .500 mark (30-26) and fifth in the Western Conference as All-Star Weekend approaches. Phoenix, however, has been a top-two seed in the conference each of the past two seasons, including No. 1 in the West last year.
Who did the Suns give up for Kevin Durant?
Heading back to the Nets for Durant and Warren will be Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and four first-round picks. The Nets and Suns will also make a pick swap in 2028.
Kevin Durant injury update
Durant has been out since Jan. 8 with a sprained MCL.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes recently reported that Durant would not return in time for the All-Star Game. It would be the third consecutive year that Durant would miss the annual event.
Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said on Tuesday that Durant received good news from his doctor but had not been cleared. His timetable is still to be determined.
“I won’t step on, cross that line a little bit, but what I’ll say (is) the days are adding up, and he has progressed,” Vaughn said.
Lakers trade Russell Westbrook, acquire D’Angelo Russell
Feb. 8: In a three-team trade, the Lakers reached a deal to trade guard Russell Westbrook to the Jazz and acquire guard D’Angelo Russell from the Timberwolves in a deal that also includes Utah sending guard Mike Conley to Minnesota. The Lakers will also get Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt from Utah. Minnesota also will receive Nickeil Alexander-Walker and picks, and the Jazz will get Juan Toscano-Anderson and a first-round draft pick from the Lakers.
Spurs trade Jakob Poeltl back to Raptors
Feb. 8: The Toronto Raptors have reached a deal to acquire San Antonio Spurs center Jakob Poeltl for Khem Birch, a protected 2024 first-round draft pick and two second-round picks, according to ESPN. The Raptors drafted Poeltl, 27, with the ninth overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft and he played two seasons with the Raptors before he was traded to the Spurs as part of the deal that sent Kawhi Leonard to Toronto.
Knicks trade Cam Reddish for Josh Hart
Feb. 8: The New York Knicks are trading for shooting guard Josh Hart. In exchange the Knicks are sending small forward Cam Reddish and a protected future first-round draft pick to the Portland Trail Blazers, according to ESPN.
Kings trade for Kessler Edwards
Feb. 7: The Brooklyn Nets acquired the draft rights to David Michineau (39th pick in the 2016 draft) from the Sacramento Kings for forward Kessler Edwards and cash considerations.
Spurs acquire Dewayne Dedmon from Heat
Feb. 7: The Miami Heat traded center Dewayne Dedmon and a 2028 second-round pick to the San Antonio Spurs for cash considerations. This deal gives the Heat additional room under the luxury cap and two open roster spots if they want to make another deal before the deadline.
Rui Hachimura to the Lakers
Jan. 23: The Washington Wizards traded Rui Hachimura to the Los Angeles Lakers for Kendrick Nunn and two second-round draft picks.
Noah Vonleh to the Spurs
Jan. 5: The Boston Celtics traded Noah Vonleh and cash considerations to the San Antonio Spurs for a second-round pick.
Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt
