2025-26 NBA Thread

[pwaldo]

Looks like Joker is going to be out at least 4 weeks so he might not even be eligible for the MVP award. So it SGA goes down do we end up with a Cade MVP season?

[WilyWestbrook0]

It's still quite early. The MVP usually goes to the top player on one of the division winning teams.

[WilyWestbrook0]

Now the Thunder are struggling in general. Back to back losses to the Suns and now even the lowly Hornets (though they have a gem in rookie Knueppel). I watched part of the game tonight and OKC looks dead on offense. IHart is out and they are missing his facilitating from the top of the key. But even before he got hurt, they were starting to slide. Crazy how they went from looking like they might break the Warriors record and there were talks about them potentially starting a similar dynasty, and now ever since the Spurs losses, they're looking awfully pedestrian. In fact the Wizards have a better record the past 11-12 games than they do. Time to get a bit concerned. I guess at least SGA is healthy?

[pwaldo]

Now the Thunder are struggling in general. Back to back losses to the Suns and now even the lowly Hornets (though they have a gem in rookie Knueppel). I watched part of the game tonight and OKC looks dead on offense. IHart is out and they are missing his facilitating from the top of the key. But even before he got hurt, they were starting to slide. Crazy how they went from looking like they might break the Warriors record and there were talks about them potentially starting a similar dynasty, and now ever since the Spurs losses, they're looking awfully pedestrian. In fact the Wizards have a better record the past 11-12 games than they do. Time to get a bit concerned. I guess at least SGA is healthy?

I don't think they should be worried but they should probably look for some help at the trading deadline. They went into this season looking like the clear favorites and while they still are I no longer think they are invincible. If you had to take the field or the Thunder it would have to be the field at this point while not that long ago they looked like the easy bet. If their only weakness was the Spurs you could possibly avoid them in the playoffs but if they are susceptible to other teams the path out west isn't easy at all to win a title this year.

[WilyWestbrook0]

All right, further into January, and the Thunder finally beat the Spurs and look back on track, but JDub is hurt again.

Meanwhile the Knicks are totally falling apart. Awful defense and big loss streak. There are so many mid teams in the East right now. Detroit is honestly the one team that has been consistently good all season in that conference. The Celtics have been surprising but of course they still aren't at their best without Tatum. After those teams, it's just meh.

[pwaldo]

All right, further into January, and the Thunder finally beat the Spurs and look back on track, but JDub is hurt again.

Meanwhile the Knicks are totally falling apart. Awful defense and big loss streak. There are so many mid teams in the East right now. Detroit is honestly the one team that has been consistently good all season in that conference. The Celtics have been surprising but of course they still aren't at their best without Tatum. After those teams, it's just meh.

Yeah the panic over the Thunder losing was overblown and now it looks like the Knicks are hitting a bumpy patch. I really can't take the Eastern Conference seriously and with the Celtics without Tatum doing very well. Maybe the Celtics come out of the East this year with his return? Hopefully they don't rush him back for the NBA Finals only for him to suffer an even worse injury by not letting it fully heal. Speaking of injury Jimmy Butler goes down with an ACL injury which pretty much eliminates the Warriors doing any type of damage in the playoffs this year.

[WilyWestbrook0]

Yeah the panic over the Thunder losing was overblown and now it looks like the Knicks are hitting a bumpy patch. I really can't take the Eastern Conference seriously and with the Celtics without Tatum doing very well. Maybe the Celtics come out of the East this year with his return? Hopefully they don't rush him back for the NBA Finals only for him to suffer an even worse injury by not letting it fully heal. Speaking of injury Jimmy Butler goes down with an ACL injury which pretty much eliminates the Warriors doing any type of damage in the playoffs this year.

The Warriors are really over at this point. Their stars are too old and injured and their situation with Kuminga is downright embarrassing. Dunleavy basically revealed publicly that there is supposedly no trade market for him. What a wasted pick

[pwaldo]

Giannis getting moved for real now? You hate to see it

[WilyWestbrook0]

Cavs trade De'Andre Hunter to the Kings for Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder:

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...schroder-ellis

Hunter was having a really bad season and became expendable after the emergence of Jaylon Tyson. Ellis helps their perimeter defense and shooting. Schroder brings attitude, although they already have a lot of shot creators at guard position. I don't think the Cavs are done. Lonzo Ball has to go as well.

As for the Kings, this also is probably the first in a series of moves. I think the plan is to blow everything up there.

[pwaldo]

Two pretty crazy trades so far

James Harden Headed To Cavs; Clippers To Receive Darius Garland, Second-Rounder

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/02/...d-rounder.html

Grizzlies Trade Jaren Jackson Jr. To Jazz

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/02/...r-to-jazz.html

The Grizzlies and Jazz have agreed to a blockbuster trade, according to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link), who reports that former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. is heading to Utah along with wings John Konchar and Vince Williams Jr. and center Jock Landale.

In exchange, Memphis will acquire guard Walter Clayton, swingman Kyle Anderson, forwards Taylor Hendricks and Georges Niang, and three future first-round picks, sources tell Charania.