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Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George had high praise for Bronny James and his elite playmaking ability.

"When I see him play, he makes the right plays," George said on Podcast P with Paul George. "He doesn't necessarily go out to be flashy, he can when he has moments he'll show you he's flashy, he'll show you he can pass the s--t out of it, he shows his athleticism, his finishing, but he makes the right play."

Bronny James has shown flashes of what kind of player he can be.

“He makes the right plays ... he can pass the s**t out of it." pic.twitter.com/2UTLKpXfUl

— Podcast P with Paul George (@PodcastPShow) February 3, 2025

In seven games with the South Bay Lakers this season, Bronny has averaged 13.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 36.6 percent from the field.

Averaging just 3.9 minutes per game with he Los Angeles Lakers, Bronny has yet to break out in the professional league alongside his dad which has resulted in a handful of criticism for the 20-year-old out of USC.

31 PTS 💥 3 AST 💥 5 3PM

Bronny James went off for a CAREER-HIGH in scoring and in threes in the @southbaylakers win over the Remix! This was his second 30 point game of the season. pic.twitter.com/AyW4t4uPcD

— NBA G League (@nbagleague) January 25, 2025

The pressure of being a No. 55 overall pick as LeBron's son is certainly a heavy burden to carry.

"Some of it from what I watched when he played us, some of it was a little indecisiveness," George said. "I think he's feeling the pressure that when he's on the floor he has to produce, he has to score, he has to do something."

In Bronny's game against the 76ers last Tuesday, he played 15 minutes, posting three rebounds, one assist and one block with zero points in the 118-104 loss.

Fellow NBA players see the potential in the young star who has been under the spotlight for the majority of his life, dating back to his standout AAU days.

"I've seen him in AAU, he plays the game the right way, attacks when he needs to attack, he makes the swing extra pass. He gets his, its like he knows how to score and do special things but its all of feel for the game," George said. "He can't do that. You're playing on the floor with LeBron James, you have vets in front of you. The balls not really gonna be in your hands."

Despite Bronny's challenges playing alongside his father, it appears the two could be a package deal in the near future, with Bronny needing to learn how to thrive alongside LeBron.

Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus has concocted a perfect trade that could send both LeBron and Bronny to the Golden State Warriors following the blockbuster Luka Dončić and Anthony Davis swap.

Perhaps the two could shine in different colors, with Bronny's abilities developing in another organization.

There was a real possibility of Zach LaVine landing with the Golden State Warriors. However, with Sacramento showing interest in LaVine, the Chicago Bulls "didn't want to wait in order to complete other deals from inquiring teams," ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel reported.

After exploring multiple scenarios late last week, one framework had both LaVine and Nikola Vucevic heading to the Warriors from Chicago, but it fell through, leading the Bulls to join the trade that sent De'Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs and LaVine to the Sacramento Kings, per Siegel.

In addition, Andrew Wiggins, Gary Payton II, Kevon Looney and other assets would have had to be traded to the Bulls and another team for cap reasons, per Siegel. Neither Jonathan Kuminga nor Moses Moody were involved in these trade talks.

During the offseason, there was a scenario that would have sent LaVine to the Warriors for Andrew Wiggins, but they did not feel ready to part ways with Wiggins yet.

The Warriors wanted Dennis Schroder to be included in trade talks as an outgoing $13 million expiring salary. However, he cannot be traded with another player until his restriction is lifted on Feb. 5.

Now, the Golden State Warriors are scrambling for a last minute trade to update their roster. Not for the first time, having been aggressively trying to land Paul George and Lauri Markkanen during the offseason.

After losing fellow splash-brother Klay Thompson in the offseason, it has become evident that the Warriors need to add someone to back up Stephen Curry, who has been frustrated with how the season has gone, currently sitting at 24-24.

"It's not for me to make those decisions. I want to win. So whatever it means to do that," Curry said after the team's 130-105 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Friday. "We have conversations all the time. I want to win. It's not my job. I'm not a coach, I'm not a GM, I'm not an owner. It's pretty clear where I stand, trying to make the necessary adjustments to try to win."

Head coach Steve Kerr has even voiced his frustrations, saying that the team is not good enough to avoid making a move before the trade deadline.

"We're not in a position where we can say, 'Nah, we're good. Let's stand pat,'" Kerr said on Friday. "That's the reality of where we are."

In addition, after the trade that saw Dallas' Luka Dončić, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris head to Los Angeles for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round draft pick, questions began to arise around LeBron James's future and his no-trade clause.

Having wanted to finish his career in Los Angeles, sources say that James' future ideology remains the same after the trade, at least for now, per ESPN's Ramona Shelburne and Tim MacMahon.

However, the Warriors could potentially make another run at James, according to sources with Warriors insight, per Shelburne and MacMahon. Additionally, a Kevin Durant reunion could be a possibility.

After missing out on LaVine, the Warriors will need to make some big moves before the Feb. 6 deadline.

The Golden State Warriors are reportedly interested in adding another scoring option alongside Stephen Curry.

Per Clutch Points' Brett Siegel, the Warriors' front office has "discussed" a trade for New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram, though Golden State is more likely to make "minor moves" that could move it under the luxury tax.

"Unless the Dubs pursue Ingram, which has been a scenario this front office has discussed, league sources have indicated that Golden State will be making minor moves to potentially move out of the tax," Siegel wrote.

Ingram had a good start to the season, putting up 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists in 18 games, but he has not played since Dec. 7 because of a sprained ankle. The Athletic's William Guillory reported on Jan. 23 that Pelicans coach Willie Green said Ingram hasn't yet been cleared for contact drills.

Should the Warriors make a move for Ingram, they would have to do so with the understanding that his injury status is up in the air.

Another risk that comes with trading for Ingram is his impending free agency. The 27-year-old is set to hit the open market this offseason, meaning Golden State could only get him for half a season.

Considering the Warriors are far from being a championship contender, trading for Ingram might not be worth giving up players or picks for what could end up being a rental.

As Siegel noted, the Warriors could pivot to smaller trades that can help them save some money. Golden State is currently $5.987 million over the luxury tax, giving it an estimated tax bill of $15.173, per Spotrac.

It wouldn't take a seismic roster change to get the Warriors out of the tax, so that could be the easiest move for Golden State ahead of the deadline.

Of course, Golden State wants to maximize what will likely be the tail end of Stephen Curry's career in the coming years, and the Warriors can't do that without making a splash ahead of the trade deadline. Whether the Dubs are willing to go further over the luxury tax for a chance to make a run at the playoffs will be revealed in the coming days.

The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly eyeing a pair of Golden State Warriors role players.

According to Clutch Points' Brett Siegel, the Lakers would be interested in Kevon Looney and Gary Payton II if the Warriors were to make them available.

"Los Angeles is said to be paying attention to what the Golden State Warriors have planned, especially if they give up notable secondary players like Kevon Looney and Gary Payton II, sources said," Siegel wrote. "The Lakers would have interest in both players if traded."

The Lakers already made a splash ahead of the deadline by trading Anthony Davis for Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Dončić, but that deal left them without an elite rim protector.

Looney is far from the defensive player that Davis is, but he could at least give Los Angeles another body in the paint as it looks to make a title run. Looney is averaging 5.2 points and 6.7 boards per game this year while coming off the bench in Golden State. He would presumably play behind Jaxson Hayes, who will likely be the Lakers' starting center with Davis gone.

Payton, who had a brief stint with the Lakers during the 2017-18 season, is putting up 5.2 points and 3.1 rebounds while shooting 54.4 percent from the field. He's struggled from deep this season, shooting just 22.2 percent from range after posting averages better than 30 percent for most of his career.

The Lakers have two capable shooting guards in Dalton Knecht and Gabe Vincent, so Payton would likely have to compete with those two for a starting role. Of course, one of Knecht or Vincent could be included in a potential trade, which would give Payton a better chance of seeing the floor in Los Angeles.

The Lakers got through some early-season struggles and are now sitting in fifth place in the Western Conference at 28-19. Things will soon change, however, with Davis joining the Mavs and Dončić suiting up in purple and gold, and only time will tell if the Lakers can keep their current position in the standings.

The Dallas Mavericks reportedly had a chance at a bigger return package from the Los Angeles Lakers than the one they got for star Luka Dončić.

On The Bill Simmons Podcast, The Ringer's Kirk Goldsberry reported that Los Angeles rookie Dalton Knecht and multiple first-round picks were initially potentially part of the deal along with Anthony Davis.

The trade ultimately included just Davis, Max Christie and the Lakers' 2029 first-round pick.

"The deal got whittled down because I think Rob Pelinka was able to convince the Mavs that Luka is a lot of risk," Goldsberry said.

REPORT: The Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade originally included multiple firsts and Dalton Knecht, per @kirkgoldsberry

“A deal got whittled down, and I think Rob Pelinka was able to convince the Mavs that Luka is a lot of risk… His drinking, his weight problem…”

(via Bill… pic.twitter.com/QjmmBWvjpx

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) February 3, 2025

Including Knecht and other first-rounders in the deal to Dallas would have made the trade still surprising but a bit more understandable.

Fred Katz, Joe Vardon and Sam Amick of The Athletic provided additional breakdown of why the Lakers held off on giving the second 1st-round pick:

"The Lakers' logic, according to league sources, was that parting with both of their first-rounders would be too perilous. Dončić's contract can expire in 2026 when they couldn't know his interest in re-signing. And they had no chance to find out before pulling off an exchange that shook the NBA.

[...]

"So without the ability to gauge Dončić's appetite to remain in L.A. long term, the Lakers expressed they couldn't go all the way in for him, league sources said. And the Mavericks acquiesced, eventually agreeing to deal Dončić, along with Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris for Davis, Christie and one first-rounder. For salary-cap reasons, the Jazz also took on Jalen Hood-Schifino and two second-round picks."

Knecht has had a strong rookie year, putting up 9.3 points on 35.5 percent from deep. The No. 17 pick in the draft out of Tennessee has displayed his scoring ability a few times this year, one such instance being a 37-point outing against the Utah Jazz in November.

Having more future first-rounders also would have helped set Dallas up for when Davis, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson move on or retire.

Instead, the Mavericks walked away with a shockingly light haul, and the former face of their franchise is now with the Lake Show.

Ultimately, Dallas believed that moving on from Dončić puts them in the best place to win a championship now.

"I believe that defense wins championships," general manager Nico Harris said, per ESPN's Tim MacMahon. "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."

The Mavericks got an outstanding player in Davis in the trade. He's putting up 25.7 points and 11.9 rebounds per game and is a Defensive Player of the Year candidate year in and year out.

Still, it's going to take a while for the NBA world to understand how the Lakers landed one of the best players in the league for a relatively low price.

As if the past few days in the NBA wasn't wild enough already, the Golden State Warriors are also open for business ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline and are looking to make a major splash.

"The Warriors are legitimately calling about every All-Star player," ESPN's Shams Charania reported Monday during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. "You just name the All-Star player, the Warriors have probably called on them. Paul George, they probably call, they have called. They made calls on every star. And that, of course, includes players like LeBron James, players like Kevin Durant, players like Jimmy Butler. They are making calls. They are dead set on trying to find another star player, superstar player, with Stephen Curry. That is another subplot to this trade deadline as well."

"The Warriors are legitimately calling about every All-Star player..

They've made calls on EVERY star..

That includes Paul George, LeBron James and Kevin Durant" ~ @ShamsCharania #PMSLive https://t.co/kyHvLs6re3

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 3, 2025

The Warriors are also poking around another superstar:

The latest for the Warriors, which shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone:

They want Giannis Antetokounmpo.

— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) February 3, 2025

For the Warriors, the league-wide inquiry makes sense. Stephen Curry is 36 years old and his window won't stay open forever. The Dubs don't have a true star to pair with him, and the result has been a mediocre 24-24 record, which currently has the team just outside of a Play-In Tournament berth.

And with the San Antonio Spurs obtaining De'Aaron Fox, the race for the final postseason and Play-In Tournament seeds just got all the more congested. The Spurs are currently just 21-25, 12th in the West, but Fox should make them instantly better.

Now, whether the Warriors will succeed in landing another star is another matter entirely.

I think the Warriors are cooking something up POWERFUL!!!!

— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) February 3, 2025

Find something you love as much as the Warriors love Seriously Exploring Trade Constructions. https://t.co/Doyof08NSI

— Dan Devine (@YourManDevine) February 3, 2025

Last week, it would have been easy to write that there is absolutely zero chance that the Milwaukee Bucks would even consider trading Giannis Antetokounmpo. That is probably still true, but the Dallas Mavericks trading a franchise cornerstone like Luka Dončić—seemingly without him requesting such a move, or even being aware it was a possibility—has forever altered the boundaries of what feels like a feasible potential trade.

Still, the Greek Freak likely isn't going anywhere.

The Los Angeles Lakers, fresh off the shocking acquisition of Dončić, aren't going to trade James. And they couldn't even do so if they wanted unless he signaled a desire to play for the Warriors, given his no-trade clause.

It also seems unlikely that the Philadelphia 76ers will part ways with George after less than a season together. The Sixers have been saddled with significant injuries throughout the 2024-25 season and haven't really seen how the trio of George, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey will fare when healthy. Philly has been bad this season, but the Sixers still have their own championship window with Embiid to consider going forward.

Durant is a fascinating name to consider for two main reasons. One, his reunion with Curry in Golden State would send the NBA world into a tailspin. Just imagine the memes.

But two, if the Phoenix Suns can't find a pathway to improving the team around Durant and Devin Booker because of Bradley Beal's no-trade clause, moving on from Durant and embracing a soft reset might be their best path forward. The Suns are just 25-23 and the West is loaded—is maintaining the status quo really that beneficial?

Still, it feels more likely the team will look to reinforce around Booker and Durant.

Finally, adding a player like Butler probably would have been the most realistic outcome of the names mentioned above if Butler was willing to sign an extension with the team.

Jimmy Butler has communicated to the Warriors that he’s unwilling to sign an extension there & therefore trade talks with Golden State have ended for now, per @WindhorstESPN pic.twitter.com/4djsIpvJD2

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 3, 2025

That may be a blessing in disguise for the Warriors, however.

Given his questionable fit in Golden State—he and Green are both secondary facilitators who present some floor-spacing concerns on the offensive end—and a history of forcing his way out of franchises in non-amicable manners, he wouldn't have been the best option for the Dubs in their All-Star shopping spree.

If he changes his stance on signing an extension with the team, however, he will be the most realistic option.

The Phoenix Suns reportedly have hoped to include veteran shooting guard Bradley Beal in a deal prior to Thursday's trade deadline, but it sounds like he has no plans of waiving his no-trade clause this season.

According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, "The unrelenting word continues to be that Beal has no desire to bless a trade pretty much anywhere and prefers to remain in Phoenix, where his family has been settling after finally leaving the nation's capital."

Fischer added that Beal's no-trade clause has hindered the Suns' pursuit of Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler, noting that they "still have no path to acquiring" the disgruntled veteran.

It was less than two years ago that Phoenix sent a package that included four first-round pick swaps, six second-round picks and star point guard Chris Paul to the Washington Wizards to acquire Beal. Unfortunately, the three-time All-Star has not lived up to expectations in his new home.

After being limited to 53 games in 2023-24, Beal has played in 35 games with 23 starts for the 25-23 Suns. He was moved to the bench last month in favor and replaced by rookie shooting guard Ryan Dunn. His average of 16.9 points is his lowest since his third season in the NBA in 2013-14.

Beal was expected to form a "Big 3" with Suns stars Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Unfortunately, the trio has struggled to stay on the court together amid constant injury woes, creating chemistry issues that Phoenix has struggled to overcome.

Still, it sounds like the Suns are stuck with their current roster thanks to Beal's unwillingness to relocate to a new team for the second time in less than two years.

Phoenix will be in action on Monday night in a road matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers at 10 p.m. ET.

Luka Dončić, Anthony Davis and De'Aaron Fox may not be the only stars who get dealt ahead of the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline. It's possible that Kevin Durant could be on the move as well.

Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated reported the Suns are "strongly considering Durant deals before the deadline" amid stalled talks for Jimmy Butler.

Mannix added the Golden State Warriors are "serious" about trying to reacquire Durant.

NBA reporter Jake Fischer reported the team was hesitant to make a deal earlier on Monday.

"Phoenix, entering Monday's business, continued to signal that it does not plan to move Durant before the deadline, sources said, but the Suns are believed to be listening at the very least to various teams' pitches for the 35-year-old scoring legend. Durant, meanwhile, is said to be aware of all this," Fischer wrote.

Fischer added that the Suns "are expected to maintain a very high asking price before they ever agree to part ways with him. We're talking serious draft capital and highly rated young talent. The Suns do have a level of interest in Jonathan Kuminga, sources said."

A Durant trade to the Golden State Warriors would be an internet-breaking moment, much as his signing with the team was back in 2016. But Durant chose to depart Golden State after just three seasons—and two titles—in 2019, making the ill-fated decision to join Kyrie Irving on the Brooklyn Nets. Irving would eventually be traded to the Dallas Mavericks, while Durant was ultimately dealt to the Suns.

A Durant reunion would make sense for the Dubs. The Warriors desperately need a second star to pair with Stephen Curry as they look to keep pace in a loaded Western Conference, especially after the San Antonio Spurs just improved dramatically by acquiring Fox. And Durant has plenty of familiarity with Curry, Draymond Green and head coach Steve Kerr, so the adjustment would be minimal.

The Warriors are also poking around the trade market, though nothing substantial has come to fruition just yet.

League sources say that the Warriors did seriously explore trade constructions that would have brought both Zach LaVine and Nikola Vučević to the Bay Area before Golden State opted to focus on other trade pursuits.

More NBA trade coverage from me: https://t.co/KX8IBlV9lI https://t.co/5ix57c3QfC

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 3, 2025

But as ESPN's Shams Charania reported during Monday's episode of The Pat McAfee Show, the Dubs are hoping to reel in a big fish.

"The Warriors are legitimately calling about every All-Star player..

They've made calls on EVERY star..

That includes Paul George, LeBron James and Kevin Durant" ~ @ShamsCharania #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/kyHvLs6re3

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 3, 2025

"The Warriors are legitimately calling about every All-Star player," he said. "You just name the All-Star player, the Warriors have probably called on them. Paul George, they probably called, they have called. They made calls on every star. And that, of course, includes players like LeBron, players like Kevin Durant, players like Jimmy Butler. They are making calls. They are dead set on trying to find another star player, superstar player, with Stephen Curry. That is another subplot to this trade deadline as well."

Durant, 36, remains one of the game's most complete three-level scorers. He's averaging 26.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.3 blocks per game this season while shooting 40.5 percent from three. Injuries remain something of a concern—he's missed 10 games this season—but when healthy, he's an instant dose of offense.

He's also on the same career timeline as Curry (36) at this point. If the goal in Golden State is to maximize whatever years Curry has left, sacrificing a player like Kuminga to obtain Durant or another older All-Star—while hardly the most ideal scenario—would ultimately be justifiable.

The Suns could seek a trade to further bolster the Durant and Devin Booker pairing for this season and beyond, but it seems the squad will at least consider moving in a diferrent direction.

If the Dallas Mavericks are willing to deal Luka Dončić, then no trade idea is too outlandish to become a reality.

To that end, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported Monday that the Golden State Warriors are exploring what he described as the "dreamiest of outcomes": acquiring both LeBron James and Kevin Durant.

"That would require quite the masterstroke," Fischer said. "And while pulling that off currently stands as very unlikely, both from a salary-matching and asset valuation standpoint, this is the sort of big-game hunting that has defined these Warriors."

Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints echoed the reporting Golden State contacted the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers about Durant and James respectively. He said the Warriors were "quickly turned down by the Suns" and that "there were no real trade conversations between the Warriors and Lakers."

Ahead of last year's deadline, the Warriors sounded out James' camp to gauge his interest on a move to the Bay Area, only to be rebuffed. It doesn't appear anything has changed on that front.

NBA insider Chris Haynes and the Los Angeles Times' Dan Woike both reported the general belief is the four-time MVP won't press the issue and remains committed to the Lakers with Thursday's deadline fast approaching.

Fischer said in his report the other half of Golden State's two-star formula "does seem plausible." He wrote the Suns continue to say behind the scenes they aren't trading Durant but may have to amend their stance if they're dead set on getting Jimmy Butler.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported Sunday the Suns are still "fully focused" on the disgruntled Miami Heat star. As long as Bradley Beal intends to utilize his no-trade clause, however, Phoenix will have to give up either Durant or Devin Booker in any trade for Butler.

The Warriors are also involved in the race for the six-time All-Star, though their interest has cooled. ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported Golden State is pausing negotiations "for now" after Butler said he wouldn't sign a contract extension there.

General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. is nothing if not creative. He tried and failed to acquire both Paul George and Lauri Markkanen in the offseason, and now he's leaving no stone unturned as he tries to get the roster to a point where it can contend for a title.

After sending Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks, the Los Angeles Lakers aren't worried that star forward LeBron James could have a change of heart and request a trade, according to the Los Angeles Times' Dan Woike.

"According to people familiar with the Lakers' thinking not authorized to speak publicly, the team has little to no fear that James will want to leave via a trade this season," Woike reported Monday. "He can opt out of his contract that's set to pay him more than $52 million next summer and become an unrestricted free agent, but that's not an immediate concern for the Lakers."

By trading Davis for Luka Dončić, the Lakers might be taking a small step backward despite the fact Dončić is the better of the two players. The 25-year-old is nursing a calf injury, and there will be an adjustment with him and James on the court together once he's healthy.

With this deal, Los Angeles is taking a more long-term view, and that raised the question of whether LeBron would prefer a situation with a more direct path to a championship right now. Per Woike, some executives around the NBA were wondering just that, or pondering if L.A. would execute another big trade with the four-time MVP in mind.

The idea that James might get a little restless makes some sense. He turned 40 in December and may not be around when the Lakers are enjoying the full benefits of having Dončić on the roster.

But LeBron has turned down multiple opportunities to leave Los Angeles as a free agent when the team's outlook was basically the same, or perhaps even worse. He also resisted trade overtures from the Golden State Warriors ahead of the 2024 deadline.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported Sunday that James "dreamed of" playing on the same team as Dončić but basically never thought it would come to fruition.

It's hard to picture why LeBron would reach for an exit door when the Lakers made one of his long-standing wishes a reality.