Jazz coach does not even hide the fact his team is tanking
Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy did not even try to play coy Monday about his team’s tank operation.
The Jazz conspicuously sat their two All-Star players, Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr., in the fourth quarter of their close game against the Miami Heat. Despite the pair of star forwards not playing down the stretch, the Jazz still won the road contest 115-111 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Fla.
During his postgame press conference, Hardy was asked about the decision to keep Markkanen and Jackson on the bench late.
Reporter: “How close were you to putting Jaren or Lauri back in the game in the fourth quarter?”
Hardy: “I wasn’t.”
Asked Jazz coach Will Hardy how close he was to putting Lauri Markkanen or Jaren Jackson Jr. in the game in the fourth quarter.
— Five Reasons Sports 🏀🏈⚾️🏒⚽️ (@5ReasonsSports) February 10, 2026
“I wasn’t.” pic.twitter.com/bZcEkCo8WA
Hardy didn’t even try to sugarcoat the decision with some lame excuse about injuries. The Jazz coach admitted that he intentionally kept out his two best players in a game they still ultimately ended up winning.
Markkanen tallied 17 points and 8 rebounds, while Jackson led the team with 22 points across their three quarters of play. The victory improved the Jazz’s record to 17-37, keeping them a full game outside of the bottom-5 teams chasing the best lottery odds.
Fans may recall that Jazz president Austin Ainge guaranteed last June that the team was done chasing ping pong balls. Monday’s result and subsequent comments from Hardy ran counterintuitive to that promise.
Duncan Robinson wanted absolutely no part of Pistons-Hornets brawl
Duncan Robinson was not in a fighting mood Monday when it felt like all of his Detroit Pistons teammates were during their game against the Charlotte Hornets.
A couple of brawls broke out in the third quarter of the contest at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. The wild fracas began when Hornets center Moussa Diabate and Jalen Duren got into it midway through the period.
Duren pressed his palm on Diabate’s face, which enraged the latter. The two had to be separated as Diabate repeatedly tried to charge Duren for the disrespectful move.
Hornets forward Miles Bridges threw a punch at Duren moments later, leading Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart to come running from the bench to join the fight. Stewert put Bridges in a headlock and threw a punch as if they were in a UFC octagon.
Robinson, however, was unmoved by it all. The frustration was written all over his face as he walked away from the scrum like a disappointed father.
Duncan Robinson wanted no part of the fight 😭 pic.twitter.com/3wigDtZEXX
— 𝙃𝙀𝘼𝙏 𝙉𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 (@HeatvsHaters) February 10, 2026
Duncan Robinson casually heading to his table in the no smoke section. pic.twitter.com/wRJU9ietsY
— Justin Rogers | Detroit Football Network (@Justin_Rogers) February 10, 2026
Diabate, Bridges, Duren, and Stewart were all ejected from the contest. Suspensions for all four players are sure to follow.
Despite the Pistons being down their two best centers, Detroit was able to hold on for a 110-104 victory. Robinson let his play do the talking in Monday’s contest rather than his fists. He finished with 18 points on a stellar 8/10 shooting clip.
Another brawl breaks out during Timberwolves-Hawks game
Two players were ejected Monday after a brawl broke out during an interconference game between the Atlanta Hawks and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Fireworks went off to begin the fourth quarter at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn. Timberwolves center Naz Reid and Hawks center Mouhamed Gueye got tangled up in the period’s opening possession.
Gueye shoved Reid to the floor as the latter was setting a screen for Jaden McDaniels. Reid took exception to the push and got up into Gueye’s face. The altercation escalated from a heated exchange to some serious grappling as players from both sides tried to keep the two big men apart.
And we got another brawl tonight!
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) February 10, 2026
Naz Reid and Mo Gueye getting into it with Julius Randle coming to Naz's defense. Reid and Gueye are both ejected. pic.twitter.com/CS6tOcJVIT
Reid and Gueye were both ejected from the contest following the tussle. The Timberwolves were already up 19 points when the incident took place. Minnesota cruised to a 138-116 victory without Reid on the floor.
Brawls were breaking out left and right on Monday across the NBA slate. A wild melee also occurred during the Detroit Pistons-Charlotte Hornets game that saw several punches being thrown.
Fans are roasting ‘pathetic’ Darryn Peterson for sitting out against No. 1 Arizona
More fans started to turn on Darryn Peterson on Monday for sitting out Kansas’ biggest game of the year.
The Jayhawks star was not in the lineup for his team’s clash against the Wildcats at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan. The 18-year-old was reportedly experiencing flu-like symptoms that kept him out of the game.
Missing a game due to an illness wouldn’t be much of an issue for any college hooper other than Peterson, who has been questioned on his desire to play at all this season. Several fans piled on Peterson for letting a flu keep him out of his team’s most significant home game of the season.
i’m sorry but darryn peterson is pathetic. unserious basketball player. cam boozer would never
— david (@dpottzzz) February 10, 2026
Yeah I wouldn’t pick Darryn Peterson if I had the 1st pick bro misses to many games. You missing the game against the #1 team in the country because of flu like symptoms?? Don’t compare him to Kobe no more please
— the real dot 💎 (@dotbainga) February 10, 2026
Darryn Peterson should at least do us the dignity of faking a hamstring thing again
— WBR (@W_B_Rick) February 10, 2026
“Flu-like symptoms” is just insulting
Peterson, who is projected to be the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA draft, had some fans starting to doubt him over his propensity for missing games.
Darryn Peterson is so good but I’m starting to worry about him. I understand not playing if you are hurt but not playing in the biggest game of the season at home against the #1 team in the country is kinda crazy.
— Ricky Dunnavan (@BRGD314) February 10, 2026
Darryn Peterson resume so far:
— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) February 10, 2026
* Missed half of Kansas' games
* Sat out 2nd half against your biggest competition for No. 1 pick (AJ Dybantsa)
* Sat out vs. No. 1 team in the country
I know this will be unpopular on Twitter – but no way I'm drafting him No. 1 overall pic.twitter.com/rU7y2ab9EB
What makes assessing Peterson so difficult is the otherworldly talent he showcases when he does play. The Kansas star completely outclassed fellow top prospect AJ Dybantsa in the first half of their matchup last month, then proceeded to sit out most of the second half due to cramps.
Peterson looks like a man among boys when he takes the floor for Kansas. Only time will tell whether his supposed disinterest fades once he gets to the next level or if he ends up becoming the next Ben Simmons.
New details emerge on the shooting of 49ers’ Keion White
Some positive news is emerging after San Francisco 49ers defensive end Keion White was shot this week.
The 49ers announced on Monday that White sustained a bullet wound to his ankle while attending an event earlier that morning in San Francisco, Calif. White was shot during an altercation at the event but was not believed to have himself been involved in the altercation (read the full details here).
Later in the day on Monday, ESPN’s Nick Wagoner shared some new details about the shooting. Wagoner reports that White’s injury is not considered to be career-threatening. He also cited a statement from the San Francisco Police Department saying that a verbal altercation occurred between two groups inside of a store.
The identity of the suspect who fired the shots is still unknown, and no arrests have been made by the SFPD amid their ongoing investigation into the incident. You can read Wagoner’s full report on the situation here.
White, 27, was acquired by the 49ers in a trade with the New England Patriots last October. A former second-round draft pick, White appeared in 11 total games for San Francisco this season (regular season and playoffs).
Overall on the year, White logged 16 combined tackles, 2.5 sacks, and one fumble recovery for the 49ers. The Georgia Tech product is under contract with San Francisco for the 2026 season at a total cap hit of $1.8 million.
Nikola Jokic under fire for allegedly snubbing Serbian performers
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is catching some heat for allegedly snubbing some of his countrymen.
The Chicago Bulls hosted Serbian Heritage Night on Saturday, with the Nuggets paying a visit to the United Center in Chicago, Ill. As part of the festivities, a Serbian folklore group from Indiana named Tromedja performed Serbian dances before tipoff and during breaks in the action.
The performers were in full costume as they danced around the Bulls’ logo throughout the night, in large part to honor their Serbian idol in Jokic.
However, Jokic reportedly snubbed the performers after the game. According to Antonije Kovačević of the Serbian Times, “around fifty girls and boys, young women and young men” waited in costume for Jokic to come meet them after the game.
Per the report, Jokic passed by the group without stopping for photos or even a brief hello. He supposedly mustered just a quick wave without even looking at the group, as if he were making a no-look pass to Jamal Murray.
It’s reportedly not the first time that Jokic has snubbed his Serbian fans during his visits to Chicago. Per Kovačević, Jokic pulled something similar during the Bulls’ Serbian Heritage Night last year when 300 Serbian kids were hoping to meet and greet the three-time MVP. Then-Bulls center Nikola Vucevic, who is Montenegrin, came out instead and spent some time with the group.
While Jokic has been arguably the best player in the NBA for quite some time now, the Nuggets star has never been a people person. The man has been vocal about dreaming of living in complete anonymity once he retires.
Jokic at least put on a show for his countrymen on the court. He recorded a 22-14-17 triple-double in a 136-120 Nuggets win.
Isaiah Stewart punched Miles Bridges from a headlock during wild melee
Isaiah Stewart played the role of Nolan Ryan to Miles Bridges’ Robin Ventura during Monday’s game.
Stewart’s Detroit Pistons and Bridges’ Charlotte Hornets played each other at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. on Monday. A wild skirmish broke out in the third quarter after Detroit’s Jalen Duren shoved Charlotte’s Moussa Diabate in the face after a foul (see the video here).
At one point during the altercation, the Hornets forward Bridges went after Duren and threw a punch at him. That led to Stewart seeing red and charging in from the bench to attack Bridges.
Video showed that Stewart managed to get Bridges in a headlock and began raining down multiple blows on Bridges’ head with a closed fist. Take a look.
ISAIAH STEWART PUNCHED MILES BRIDGES pic.twitter.com/11CBWH2SHd
— NBACentel (@TheNBACentel) February 10, 2026
Stewart, Bridges, Duren, and Diabate were all ejected from the contest over their respective roles in the chaotic brawl. Suspensions will obviously be coming from the NBA, but Stewart’s punishment could be especially harsh given the fact that he was the only player who was not in the game and also given his status as a repeat offender.
The 24-year-old Stewart is known as one of the most confrontational players in the league and has well-earned that reputation. Among his other unsightly incidents over the years, Stewart once attempted to fight LeBron James and was later even arrested and cited after punching a different NBA opponent in an arena tunnel before a game.
Jalen Duren, Moussa Diabate spark a wild brawl during Hornets-Pistons game
A real brouhaha broke out during Monday night’s game between the Charlotte Hornets and the Detroit Pistons.
The two teams met on Monday for a matchup at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. During the third quarter of the contest, Pistons big man Jalen Duren was going up for a shot attempt in the paint when he was fouled by Hornets counterpart Moussa Diabate.
Duren was not a fan of the contact and got into Diabate’s face, taking a swipe at his neck. An incensed Diabate then charged after Duren and attempted to take a swipe at him as well. Diabate then managed to break free and go after Duren again, resulting in a free-for-all.
At one point, Hornets forward Miles Bridges pursued Duren and threw a punch at him (as Duren responded with a punch of his own). Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart then charged at Bridges from the Detroit bench and threw several punches at Bridges as well.
PISTONS VS. HORNETS FIGHT.
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) February 10, 2026
pic.twitter.com/clY6otVAsb
JALEN DUREN – MILES BRIDGES – ISAIAH STEWART
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) February 10, 2026
PUNCHES THROWN.
pic.twitter.com/xmRASFi2qF https://t.co/sPmONSbB23
When the dust had settled, Duren, Diabate, Bridges, and Stewart were all ejected from the game. At the time, the Pistons were ahead 70-62 (with Detroit big man Paul Reed then entering the game to take the free throws for the ejected Duren).
The two teams had previously met on Dec. 20 in Detroit (with the Pistons winning by a convincing 112-86 final). But things really got ugly during Monday’s rematch, especially once Stewart, a player who is notorious for fights, ran in from the bench.
Seahawks found a ‘tell’ that doomed Patriots in Super Bowl
The Seattle Seahawks exploited a “tell” from the New England Patriots’ offensive line that helped them dominate Super Bowl 60.
The Seahawks’ defense was the most impactful unit on the field by far in their 29-13 win at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. While Seattle’s defense has several standouts, they apparently got a huge boost from head coach Mike Macdonald and his defensive staff.
During his postgame interview, cornerback Devon Witherspoon shared that Macdonald identified a “tell” among the Patriots’ guards and tackles.
“They asked a lot of questions before this game. And I told them I can’t lay the game plan out to the media, but I kind of knew what was going on,” Witherspoon said.
“We had a good tell on what they like to do, how they like to play, and how they were going to attack us. You’re talking about a coach who put us in the best position to win, that’s our coach right there, and that’s why we always have his back.
“We had a tell on their guards and their tackles, how they like to set. They go’n overset on certain rushes, they’re go’n fall for certain moves.”
Macdonald became the first head coach to call defensive plays for a Super Bowl winner. The man clearly did a lot of his work before the game even kicked off.
The Patriots’ offensive line got roasted Sunday for crumbling on the Super Bowl stage. It’s hard to say whether Witherspoon’s reveal should make them feel better or worse.
Browns Pro Bowler announces he will not be returning to the team
One of the Cleveland Browns’ longest-tenured players is ready to move on.
Browns tight end David Njoku announced in a post to his Instagram page on Monday that he will be leaving the team this offseason. Njoku issued a number of thank-yous and notably stated that “the time for me to find a new home has come.”
You can read his full post here.
Njoku was originally a Browns’ first-round draft pick in 2017 (No. 29 overall) and had spent his entire nine-season NFL career with them since. He peaked in the 2023 campaign with 81 catches for 882 yards and six touchdowns, numbers that were good enough for Njoku to earn an NFL Pro Bowl selection.
But Njoku’s production had been steadily declining ever since then. He only caught 33 passes for 293 yards and four touchdowns with Cleveland in 2025. The 6-foot-4 Njoku was also limited to 12 games played due to a knee injury and lost a significant amount of work thanks to the emergence of Browns rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr.
Njoku’s contract with the Browns is set to be voided upon the start of the new league year in March. Still only 29 years old, Njoku (who also made headlines for an infamous burn incident in 2023) should be able to find a good amount of suitors in free agency from here.
Notable update emerges about Rob Pelinka’s job status
Rob Pelinka may be fighting for his job over the next few months.
The Los Angeles Lakers general manager Pelinka could be fired if the team does not make a deep playoff run this season, Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports reported on Monday. Deveney cited an NBA source who said that Pelinka’s job will likely be on “life support” with an early postseason exit.
“Unless [the Lakers] catch fire in the second half of the year, unless they really come on and make a run in the playoffs, it’s got to be on life support,” the source was quoted as saying of Pelinka’s job status. “It is going to be tough to see how he survives.”
Pelinka, the former agent of the late Kobe Bryant, was hired by the Lakers as their general manager in 2017. Under Pelinka’s watch, the Lakers signed LeBron James as a free agent, traded for Anthony Davis, and then won the 2020 championship during the NBA bubble in Orlando, Fla.
The 56-year-old Pelinka also earned a fresh batch of praise over the franchise-altering trade for superstar Luka Doncic in Feb. 2025. Months after swinging that blockbuster move, Pelinka was given a contract extension by the Lakers and also promoted to president of basketball operations along with his GM title.
But ever since then, the Lakers were sold to a new ownership group led by billionaire Mark Walter in late 2025. Reports have since emerged claiming that the new owners would like to model the team’s front office after MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers, potentially resulting in a new leadership structure featuring plenty of fresh hires.
Pelinka was originally the choice of Jeanie Buss, who remains the Lakers’ governor but is now no longer the team’s controlling owner. The Lakers did not do much at the trade deadline this year (other than flipping Gabe Vincent and a second-round pick for Luke Kennard), and the unflattering tales that have emerged about Pelinka in recent months might not help his cause much either.
49ers DE Keion White is shot in San Francisco
The San Francisco 49ers are sharing some concerning news this week about defensive end Keion White.
In an official statement on Monday, the 49ers revealed that White was the victim of a shooting that occurred earlier that morning in San Francisco, Calif. The 49ers said White sustained a bullet wound to his ankle and is currently undergoing surgery at a local hospital.
Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports that White was shot during an event in San Francisco. An altercation reportedly broke out at the event on Mission Street, but White is not believed to have been involved in the altercation.
White, 27, is a three-year NFL veteran. He was a second-round draft pick by the New England Patriots in 2023 (No. 46 overall) and got acquired by the 49ers via an Oct. 2025 trade.
This season for San Francisco, White appeared in nine total games. A former All-ACC selection at Georgia Tech, White recorded 12 combined tackles, 1.5 sacks, and one fumble recovery. White also appeared in both playoff games for the 49ers, picking up four more combined tackles and one more sack.
For the 49ers, the White shooting is sure to bring back some bad memories. Just one-and-a-half years ago, San Francisco wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was also shot during an attempted robbery in the Union Square area of SF.
Ole Miss making last-ditch effort on Trinidad Chambliss eligibility case
As it stands, there is a good chance that the Ole Miss Rebels have a different starting quarterback in 2026.
Trinidad Chambliss filed a lawsuit against the NCAA after it denied him an extra year of eligibility. The NCAA then upheld the ruling in February, denying him an extra year once again due to “indefensible” evidence.
Now, Ole Miss is making one more attempt to have Chambliss back in Oxford in 2026. According to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports, Ole Miss filed a “reconsideration” against the ruling.
The reconsideration process is used if schools have new evidence related to the case.
Ole Miss today filed to the NCAA a *reconsideration* over the denial of QB Trinidad Chambliss’ eligibility waiver and appeal, sources tell @YahooSports.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) February 9, 2026
The reconsideration method is available for schools and players who have new information or evidence related to the case.
According to Dellenger, Ole Miss is now using evidence from Chambliss’s 2022 season while he was at Ferris State.
Dellenger adds that Chambliss believes he was “entitled to a medical redshirt related to a severe case of tonsillitis.”
Chambliss played at Division II Ferris State from 2021 through 2024 before transferring to Ole Miss in 2025. Chambliss began the year as the backup for the Rebels before taking over the starting job.
In the College Football Playoff, he made himself a national name and even skyrocketed up NFL Draft boards with his impressive play. However, Chambliss was hoping to play one more season at Ole Miss, making some NIL money, and improve his chances with eyes set on the 2026 NFL Draft.
So, for now, Chambliss and the Rebels are holding out hope one final time in an attempt to have the star quarterback return to Oxford for the 2026 campaign.
Lindsey Vonn reveals official injury diagnosis in heartfelt post
The 2026 Winter Games in Milan-Cortina did not end well for American skiing legend Lindsey Vonn.
Vonn suffered a torn ACL days before her Olympic run, but somehow still managed to compete in the Olympics. During the women’s downhill event, Vonn suffered a scary crash just 14 seconds into her run that saw her get airlifted off the course.
On Monday, Vonn took to Instagram to give an update, and she revealed the injury diagnosis.
Vonn described the injury as a “complex tibia fracture” and added that her “ACL and past injuries had nothing to do with my crash whatsoever.”
The crash took place at the Olympia delle Tofane course in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, and reports immediately came out that she underwent “orthopedic surgery to stabilize the fracture she sustained in her left leg.”
The left leg was the same one where Vonn tore her ACL just days prior, so it’s been a rough turn of events for the American legend.
“Yesterday my Olympic dream did not finish the way I dreamt it would,” Vonn wrote on Instagram. “It wasn’t a story book ending or a fairy tail, it was just life. I dared to dream and had worked so hard to achieve it. Because in downhill ski racing the difference between a strategic line and a catastrophic injury can be as small as 5 inches.”
Vonn came out of retirement to compete in this year’s games, and she has three gold medals in her career.
Former G League player no longer eligible to play for Alabama
Charles Bediako’s time with the Alabama Crimson Tide basketball team might be coming to an end.
On Monday, a Tuscaloosa judge denied the preliminary injunction to allow Bediako to continue playing with the Crimson Tide, per a report from Nick Kelly of AL.com.
BREAKING: A Tuscaloosa judge has *denied* Charles Bediako’s motion for a preliminary injunction to allow him to continue playing for Alabama, per court docs @aldotcom obtained.
— Nick Kelly (@_NickKelly) February 9, 2026
Bediako spent two seasons at Alabama previously and went pro in 2023 after going undrafted. Bediako spent time in the NBA’s G League, playing in a total of 45 games between the Austin Spurs, Grand Rapids Gold, and Motor City Cruise.
Bediako even signed a two-way deal with the San Antonio Spurs, but he has never appeared in an NBA game as of now.
Bediako then decided to return to college, and he played for Alabama, even receiving chants in a game where fans said, “G League dropout.”
Earlier in January, a Tuscaloosa judge granted Bediako temporary eligibility, but it was revealed that the judge was a booster for the Crimson Tide team, so it’s been a roller coaster of events for Bediako and Alabama.
Since the temporary restraining order is no longer in place, Bediako is not eligible to play for the Crimson Tide, barring a change of events.
Bediako played in five games this season, averaging 10 points with 4.6 rebounds.
Celtics announce major Jayson Tatum injury update
The Boston Celtics were hoping to make another NBA Finals run last postseason before Jayson Tatum suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon.
Then, the Celtics fell short of the Eastern Conference Finals, and they have been without Tatum for the entire 2025-26 NBA season thus far. On Monday, another big update dropped regarding Tayum’s status.
“Jayson Tatum will be assigned to participate in portions of the @MaineCeltics practice at the Auerbach Center this afternoon. Following this practice, Tatum will be immediately recalled to the Boston Celtics, where he will continue his rehab process,” the Celtics posted on X.
The Tatum torn Achilles (video shown here) was expected to sideline him anywhere from 10 months to a year, with most estimating the Celtics star would not return until the 2026-27 NBA season.
At the end of January, a report emerged stating that Tatum could slow down his recovery and sit out the entire season, but no decision had been made just yet.
The Celtics still have not given a firm return timeline for Tatum, and that likely won’t be released until they see how he responds to the practice session.
As of Monday, the Celtics have a 34-19 record, which has them at third in the Eastern Conference, so there isn’t a rush to get Tatum back on the floor.
Nonetheless, this is a surprising development, and it will be worth monitoring to see how Tatum responds.
Report: Mark Cuban linked to potential purchase of Mavericks
In 2023, Mark Cuban sold his large stake in the Dallas Mavericks for a staggering $3.5 billion price tag.
Now, not even three years later, Cuban could be involved in getting the franchise back. An “unidentified” Dallas investor group is interested in partnering with Cuban to purchase the Mavericks, per a report from NBA insider Marc Stein in his latest Substack.
More coverage to come via @TheSteinLine here: https://t.co/A9dyXfQEuB https://t.co/mv7eFqK6FN
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 9, 2026
The Adelson family purchased nearly 73% of the team in December 2023, but Cuban reportedly still owned 27.7% of the franchise after the sale.
Miriam Adelson, the majority owner of Las Vegas Sands, and Sivan and Patrick Dumont, the son and daughter-in-law of Adelson, were the group that purchased the large chunk in 2023, and Patrick Dumont has been the team’s Governor since then.
One source told Stein that they remain “excited about the future of the franchise” with Cooper Flagg in town.
The Mavs did land the No. 1 pick in 2025 after winning the draft lottery, and Flagg coming to Dallas is a key reason why the Dumont family is excited about the future.
Since the sale, the Mavericks made an NBA Finals appearance but lost to the Boston Celtics. Then, Dallas traded away superstar Luka Doncic in a shocking move and wound up trading away Anthony Davis at the most recent NBA trade deadline.
The big question is whether or not the Dumont family wants to sell a share of the franchise.
Kawhi Leonard likely to be a trade target in offseason
Kawhi Leonard is a coveted asset once again, and the Los Angeles Clippers appear likely to be fielding calls on him this summer.
The Clippers received “multiple” trade inquiries for Leonard right up to the trade deadline on Thursday, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line. The calls intensified after the Clippers traded Ivica Zubac to Indiana, suggesting that the team was open for business on established veterans.
Stein added that teams will likely continue to monitor the Leonard situation into the offseason and may once again try to test the Clippers with trade offers.
Leonard will be entering the final season of his contract next year, which had already launched speculation about his future. The 34-year-old is eligible for an extension, but also has a lengthy injury history and will require a lot of money to keep around.
On the other hand, Leonard is in one of the best stretches of his career right now. He is averaging 28 points per game and has led the Clippers back into the playoff race after their 6-21 start to the season.
Seahawks player referenced Tyrese Haliburton’s famous post after Super Bowl win
One Seattle Seahawks player was feeling like Tyrese Haliburton after his team won Super Bowl LX.
Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs, who played in just one game for Seattle this season, made light of his lack of contributions after the team’s 29-13 win Sunday. Diggs shared a screenshot of Haliburton’s X post after Haliburton won gold with the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
YEAH THIS ME!!!! pic.twitter.com/DMYIVYGAUD
— Nino (@qdiggs6) February 9, 2026
“YEAH THIS ME!!!!” Diggs wrote.
Haliburton only played 26 minutes during those Olympics and was a barely-used substitute. He still got a gold medal at the end, though, and made light of it by comparing himself to a student who gets an A on a group project after everyone else did all the work. Diggs is perfectly content to put himself in the same category.
Diggs joined the Seahawks midseason after being let go by the Tennessee Titans. It was his second stint with the team, having previously played in Seattle from 2019 to 2023. He wound up being little more than depth for the rest of the season, but he can still say he was a part of the Super Bowl champions.
James Pearce Jr. allegedly hit a WNBA player’s car during chase
Atlanta Falcons rookie James Pearce Jr. allegedly crashed his car into WNBA player Rickea Jackson’s vehicle multiple times while chasing after her.
In a criminal complaint obtained by Marc Raimondi of ESPN, Pearce is accused of following Jackson’s vehicle in his SUV on Saturday in Miami-Dade County, Fla. At one point, Jackson’s car was stopped at a red light, and Pearce got out of his vehicle to try to open her car door.
Jackson made an attempt to drive toward the nearest police department, but Pearce intentionally rear-ended her. Later, he attempted to cut off her car, then collided with it head-on, as she approached the police station. The report stated that photos of Jackson’s vehicle taken by police showed damage consistent with her account.
When police responded to the scene, Pearce allegedly got back in his car and drove off. That sparked a police chase that ended with his capture.
Jackson, who plays for the Los Angeles Sparks, said she and Pearce had dated for roughly three years but recently ended the relationship. Pearce continued attempting to contact her, but she blocked his number and tried to cut off communication.
Pearce was eventually released from the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on Sunday night after posting a $20,500 bond.
The Falcons selected Pearce 25th overall in last year’s draft. The Tennessee product finished third in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting after recording 10.5 sacks in his first NFL season.
