A potential Harden swap would net the Clippers Darius Garland in return, the outlet added.
The Clippers are reportedly in talks with the Cavaliers about sending James Harden to Cleveland. NBAE via Getty Images
Harden did not play in Los Angeles’ home game against the Sixers on Monday night after head coach Ty Lue said the point guard was “home in Phoenix” due to “personal reasons.”
James Harden has missed the Clippers’ last two games, including Monday night’s matchup with the 76ers. NBAE via Getty Images
Harden also missed the Clippers’ Sunday matchup against the Suns.
The 11-time All-Star joined the Clippers in 2023 in a trade from the 76ers.
In his two-plus seasons with the team, he’s averaged 21.1 points, 8.5 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game.
Harden’s played for five total teams — the Thunder, Rockets, Nets, Sixers and Clippers — in his 17 years in the NBA.
Cavaliers guard Darius Garland has missed time this season because of a toe injury. NBAE via Getty Images
Garland, meanwhile, has played his entire career in Cleveland after he was taken with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.
He’s made two All-Star teams.
He, though, has been limited to 26 games this season while dealing with a toe injury.
Drake Maye attempts a throw for the Patriots during their AFC Championship game against the Broncos on Jan. 25.
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Drake Maye didn’t stiff-arm questions about his shoulder.
Maye — who completed just 10 of his 21 passes when the Patriots won the snowy AFC Championship game — was a limited participant in practices last week because of a shoulder injury and an undisclosed illness.
A starting quarterback with a shoulder injury is about as big as the football news gets at the sideshow-filled Super Bowl, but Maye said he thinks that he turned a corner in his recovery Sunday.
He put it to the test Monday.
“I feel good. I’ll be just fine. I threw a good bit,” Maye said of his workout before appearing at Super Bowl LX Opening Night. “I threw as much as I would in a normal practice, and it felt great.”
Does offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels have any concerns about limitations on his MVP candidate come Monday?
“Nope,” McDaniels said succinctly.
Drake Maye attempts a throw for the Patriots during their AFC Championship game against the Broncos on Jan. 25. Getty Images
Much ado about nothing?
“I really had no doubt being 100 percent for the game — this is the Super Bowl,” Maye said. “We get two weeks to prepare for it and do whatever we have to do to get it right. I have confidence.”
The last time the Patriots were a Super Bowl underdog was February 2002.
That’s six championships and nine Super Bowl appearances ago.
Mike Vrabel was a linebacker for those Patriots, who cherished proving doubters wrong as 14-point underdogs to the Rams.
He’s head coach now and his team is a 4.5-point underdog.
“Somebody has to [be],” Vrabel said. “We don’t dislike it.”
Goodell handed out the punishment (a maximum $500,000 fine to Belichick and the loss of a first-round draft pick) for the 2007 Spygate scandal that allegedly played a role in some voters keeping Belichick out of the Hall of Fame on the first ballot.
“Second-winningest coach in NFL history, six Super Bowls as a head coach and two as a defensive coordinator, that’s a Hall of Fame career,” Goodell said Monday during his annual Super Bowl week news conference. “But there’s a decision-making process.”
Roger Goodell addresses reporters during his Feb. 2 press conference. Imagn Images
Goodell took special exception to the idea that he sits on a board of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, specifying that his role (and the unaffiliated NFL’s) is only to approve the 50 media-member voters.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft — Belichick’s former partner in a dynasty turned archnemesis — sat in the front row as Goodell spoke. Kraft also is nominated for the 2026 Hall of Fame class.
“Bill Belichick’s record goes without saying — same with the Patriots and Robert Kraft,” Goodell said. “They’re spectacular. They’ve contributed so much to this game and I believe they’ll be Hall of Famers.”
Super Bowl LX halftime performer Bad Bunny made an anti-ICE statement Sunday at the Grammy Awards, which only added to speculation that he could use his bigger platform at the Super Bowl for political messaging.
Goodell called the Puerto Rican rapper, who sings most of his lyrics in Spanish, “one of the greatest artists of the world.”
“He understood the platform he was on,” Goodell said. “This platform is used to unite people and to be able to bring people together with their creativity, with their talent, and to be able to use this moment to do that. I think artists in the past have done that. I think Bad Bunny understands that, and I think he’ll have a great performance.”
All the speculation that the NFL is bound to expand the schedule to 18 games might be premature, Goodell said in a slightly less optimistic stance than he has taken in the past.
“It is something that we want to talk about with the union,” Goodell said. “It is not a given.”
Goodell’s plan is to push the schedule to 16 international games — there will be nine in 2026 — and have every team participate in one per season.
Only one of the NFL’s 10 head coach vacancies went to a minority (Robert Saleh).
Only two offensive coordinators (Mike McDaniel and Eric Bieniemy) hired so far are minorities.
But Goodell is not “resigned” to accepting that the Rooney Rule is not having the desired impact.
“We still have more to do,” Goodell said. “We’re in a competitive league. Teams are trying to get the coach they think could win.”
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald was asked at least three different times what play he would call if his team trailed by four points with the ball at the 1-yard line and 30 seconds remaining — a callback to Russell Wilson’s interception in Super Bowl 49 when offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell opted not to hand off to Marshawn Lynch.
The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks will compete for the Super Bowl title on 8 February (23:30 GMT).
Whatever the outcome it will be one of the biggest sporting events of the year. But how much do you know about it?
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The Cavaliers and Kings were involved in a three-team trade Saturday night.
The Cavaliers acquired some depth ahead of what they envision being another chance at a postseason run.
They traded De’Andre Hunter to the Kings — the last-place team in the Western Conference — on Saturday in exchange for guards Dennis Schröder and Keon Ellis, with the Bulls also joining the deal as a third team who ended up with a pair of second-round picks and forward Dario Saric, according to ESPN.
The move also reportedly freed up around $50 million in salary and luxury tax space, while also allowing them to get under the second apron next season, the outlet added.
De’Andre Hunter goes up for a dunk during Cavaliers’ blowout win over the Lakers on Jan. 28, 2026. AP
Ellis, a 26-year-old, has averaged 5.6 points per game this season while also carving out a key role defensively for the Kings.
Schröder, a former Net for 52 games who will play for his 11th different team when he officially suits up for the Cavaliers, has contributed 12.8 points and 5.3 assists per game in Sacramento this season.
He also has logged 74 postseason appearances throughout his career — including last year, when he and a pesky Pistons team took the Knicks to six games.
During that first-round showdown, Schröder averaged 12.5 points while playing over 27 minutes per game.
Dennis Schröder drives to the basket during the Kings’ blowout road loss to Jan. 30, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Those additions cost the Cavaliers the presence of Hunter, who started 23 of the 43 games he logged for them while averaging 14.0 points per game — down from the 17.0 he averaged with the Hawks and Cleveland last year en route to finishing fourth in voting for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award.
Though this deal didn’t serve as a blockbuster by any means, it still served as a domino to fall ahead of the NBA’s trade deadline Feb. 5.
Keon Ellis attempts a 3-pointer during the Kings’ blowout road loss to the Pistons on Jan. 25, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
The Cavaliers sit in fifth place in the Eastern Conference and are tied with the fourth-place Raptors in winning percentage, with the path to the NBA Finals still wide open in a year that hasn’t featured the Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton and the Celtics’ Jayson Tatum as they recover from torn Achilles.
Another major domino that could fall before the deadline features Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, who reportedly indicated that he’s ready for a trade from the only team he has ever played for.
The Knicks are expected to make a bid for Antetokounmpo and serve as one of his preferred destinations, according to The Post’s Stefan Bondy — but it’s unclear if they possess enough to out-bid other teams and win the sweepstakes.
For now, though, the smaller deals will continue to happen.
The Seahawks are expected to lose their most important assistant coach after the Super Bowl. The only question is which team will make offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak its next head coach.
Kubiak reportedly interviewed with both the Raiders and the Cardinals on Saturday. It was his second time interviewing with both teams.
If Kubiak is the first choice of both teams, which he appears to be, he's in a great position to negotiate for a great contract. He can't officially take a head-coaching job until after Super Bowl LX, but he can agree to terms with either the Raiders or the Cardinals at any time.
The 38-year-old Kubiak, son of former NFL player and coach Gary Kubiak, was hired a year ago as offensive coordinator in Seattle and has been praised for the work he has done with Sam Darnold and the Seahawks' offense. He has previously been an offensive coordinator for the Saints and the Vikings and a passing game coordinator for the 49ers and Broncos.
JACKSONVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 21: CEO Jed York of the San Francisco 49ers congratulates General Manager John Lynch in the locker room after the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on November 21, 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida. The 49ers defeated the Jaguars 30-10. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The projected increase represents a substantial jump from the 2025 salary cap of $279.2 million.” 49ers address key future need in NFL.com 2026 mock draft
“He’s not a physically dominant blocker, but [Utah OT Caleb] Lomu has the strong technique and good balance to be a starting left or right tackle,” Edholm wrote. “The 49ers won’t have Trent Williams forever.”
According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Lomu allowed eight pressures and zero sacks across 383 pass-blocking snaps during the 2025 season. His 82.1 pass-blocking grade marked a career high, though his 62.0 run-blocking grade represented a noticeable drop from his 70.1 mark in 2024.
The 49ers place a premium on run blocking, giving Lomu ample opportunity to improve an area that PFF identified as a weakness in his play in 2025. He also profiles as a natural long-term replacement at left tackle, having logged 1,570 snaps at the position over the past two seasons.
Even if Lomu—listed at 6-foot-6 and 308 pounds—isn’t ready to start immediately, he would benefit from developing behind a future Hall of Fame offensive lineman in Williams, who remains one of the NFL’s most dominant and reliable forces in the trenches.”
Who will be the 49ers’ next defensive coordinator? “An internal hire like Bradley could also buy San Francisco more time to continue developing someone else, such as K.J. Wright, the defensive quality control coach, to eventually take over the role.
Bradley’s résumé as a defensive coordinator is a bit of a mixed bag with plenty of early success and not as much in his more recent turns. In 2011 and 2012 in Seattle, Bradley coordinated defenses that finished seventh and first in the NFL in scoring defense, respectively. His 2017 unit with the Chargers finished third.
But Bradley’s most recent opportunity in Indianapolis came with less success; the Colts finished 28th, 28th and 24th in scoring defense from 2022 to 2024, though that group was 18th in defensive expected points added in that time.
For the 49ers in 2025, Bradley was a sounding board for Saleh and became a player favorite for his pregame motivational speeches.“
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 14: Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs plays defense during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on March 14, 2025 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Not even a blizzard can stop NBA basketball. The San Antonio Spurs are traveling to Charlotte for a game against the Hornets, with record snowfall expected to hit the city. For that reason, the game was pushed up to 11 a.m. CT to avoid the snow. Luckily, the game is played indoors, and the weather won’t impact the play on the court (that’s a shot at the NFL).
The Spurs will face the Hornets after a big comeback win against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. Don’t let their record fool you, the Hornets are just as tough as one of San Antonio’s Western Conference rivals. Charlotte has won five straight games and has the 6th-best offensive rating in the NBA. The Hornets have run teams off the court with their scoring, and blownout teams by 30+ this season. San Antonio has an elite defensive team, and they’ll need their defense to show up on Saturday.
The Spurs are tied with the Denver Nuggets for second place in the West. They’ll need to keep winning to hold their position at the top of the conference. Meanwhile, Charlotte is 2.5 games out of 10th in the East and gaining ground fast on the Chicago Bulls for a play-in spot. With both teams playing good basketball right now, fans who trudge through the snow should have a good game awaiting them at the Spectrum Center.
Spurs Injuries: Harrison Ingram – Out (G League), Stanley Umude – Out (G League), David Jones-Garcia – Out (G League), Jeremy Sochan – Out (quad)
Hornets Injuries: Josh Green – Probable (achilles), PJ Hall – Out (G League), Liam McNeeley – Out (G League), Mason Plumlee – Out (groin), Antonio Reeves – Out (G League), KJ Simpson – Out (G League)
What to watch for:
Running Charlotte off the line
The Hornets are a great three-point shooting team. They are hitting 15.3 deep balls a game at a 37.3% clip, good enough for 5th in the NBA in both categories. With sharpshooters like Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel, and LaMelo Ball, the Hornets have multiple players who can hurt you from deep. Things get a bit more mixed when Charlotte is inside the restricted area. They are shooting 46.4% from the field this season, 19th in the league. The Spurs can mitigate the Hornets’ strength by running shooters off the line and funneling them to Victor Wembanyama, who can force them into tough shots in the paint.
Forcing turnovers
Charlotte is also prone to coughing the ball up. The Hornets turn the ball over 15.7 times per game, third most in the NBA. They aren’t great at creating turnovers on the other end to mitigate this issue. The Spurs can cause havoc defensively when they play the passing lanes. Ball pressure from Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox will be crucial to helping San Antonio slow down the Hornets’ offensive attack.
San Antonio’s guard trio
The Spurs played a lineup featuring all three of their core guards against the Rockets on Wednesday. Dylan Harper, Castle and Fox shared the floor alongside Wembanyama and Devin Vassell, and then Keldon Johnson. This lineup was solid defensively and gave San Antonio plenty of playmaking on the offensive end. The glimpse at the lineup was brief, but enticing. Charlotte is a big team, but given their turnover issues and three-point shooting, having more aggressive, quick defenders on the floor at the same time could prove advantageous. It would be fun to get another look at the 3-guard lineup on Saturday.
