Lakers trade Deandre Ayton to Wizards

The Washington Wizards announced today they acquired center Deandre Ayton in a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers for guard Jaden Hardy and two future second-round picks.

Ayton (7-0, 252) has played 470 career games (463 starts) in his eight-year NBA career with the Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, and Los Angeles Lakers. He holds career averages of 15.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.0 block per game, while shooting .599 from the field – which currently ranks as the eighth-best field goal percentage in league history. In 72 games with the Lakers last season, he averaged 12.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.0 block per game on a career-high .671 clip from the field.

The first overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Ayton earned first-team All-Rookie honors after averaging a double-double and shooting .585 from the field, the fourth-best mark by a rookie in league history. The Arizona product has averaged a double-double in seven of eight seasons, one of six players in the league to have at least seven such seasons since 2018.

Hardy was acquired in a trade with the Dallas Mavericks on Feb. 5, 2026. He appeared in 23 games for Washington, averaging 12.6 points per game.

Wizards announce assistant coaching staff

The Washington Wizards announced today the following coaching staff updates:

Adam Caporn, Wizards lead assistant
Patrick Ewing, Wizards assistant coach
Cody Toppert, Wizards assistant coach
Steve Clifford, Wizards coaching advisor
Tevon Saddler, Capital City Go-Go head coach/Wizards assistant coach
T.J. Sorrentine, Las Vegas Summer League head coach

Caporn moves to lead assistant on Keefe’s bench as he enters his third season with the team. The Baldivis, Australia, native was named head coach of the Australian Men’s National Team in March 2025, and has served over 10 years with Australia Basketball as an assistant coach with the National Team (2017-present) and as head coach of the U19 National Team (2014-16). Caporn spent three seasons in the Brooklyn Nets organization as an assistant coach (2022-24) and the head coach of the Long Island Nets (2021-22).

Ewing joins Keefe’s staff as an assistant coach after most recently serving as the head coach of Georgetown from 2017-2023. Following an illustrious NBA career, which saw him voted to 11 All-Star games and seven All-NBA teams as a member of the New York Knicks, Ewing began his coaching career as an assistant with the Wizards in 2002. After serving in assistant roles with the Houston Rockets (2003-07), Orlando Magic (2007-12), and Charlotte Bobcats (2013-17), Ewing was named the head coach of his alma mater Georgetown in 2017. The Kingston, Jamaica, native was named to the NBA’s 50th Anniversary Team in 1996 and the 75th Anniversary Team in 2022.

Toppert joins Keefe’s bench in a full-time role after spending the previous three seasons as the head coach of the Capital City Go-Go. Toppert amassed an 85-65 (.567) record in his tenure with Capital City, leading the team to three-consecutive playoff appearances and two G League Showcases. He led Capital City to a franchise-record 31 wins in 2024-25 and coached 13 different players to NBA call-ups.

Clifford served as a coaching advisor with the Phoenix Suns in 2025-26 and comes to Washington with over 40 years of coaching experience. After nearly 20 years at the high school and collegiate level, Clifford took his first NBA coaching role as an assistant with the New York Knicks from 2001-03. The Newport, Vermont, native served as an assistant with the Houston Rockets (2003-07), Orlando Magic (2007-12), and Los Angeles Lakers (2012-13), before taking his first head coaching job with the Charlotte Bobcats (later Hornets) from 2013-18. Clifford spent three seasons as head coach of the Magic (2018-21) before returning to Charlotte from 2022-24.

Saddler becomes the fifth head coach in Go-Go history, coming to Capital City after spending the last three seasons as the head coach of Nicholls State University. At the time of his hiring in 2023, Saddler was the youngest active Division I head coach in the country. He was named a 2024 Joe B. Hall National Coach of the Year Finalist (top 1st-year head coach) after leading Nicholls State to 20 wins, the most by a first-year coach in school history. Saddler led the Colonels to their first back-to-back 20-win seasons in program history and accumulated an overall record of 54-46 (.540) in his tenure.

Sorrentine has spent the previous two seasons as an assistant coach on Brian Keefe’s staff and will be the head coach at NBA Summer League for the first time in his career. He spent 16 seasons on the Brown University coaching staff as an assistant coach and served as the associate head coach from 2011 until joining Washington in 2024. A member of the New England Basketball Hall of Fame and the University of Vermont Hall of Fame, Sorrentine played professionally for three seasons in Slovenia, Portugal, Italy, and the then NBA D-League.

David Vanterpool transitions to a basketball operations role in the front office after serving as a Wizards assistant coach the past three seasons.

Clippers sign Rui Hachimura

The LA Clippers have signed forward Rui Hachimura, it was announced by Lawrence Frank, President of Basketball Operations.

“Rui is an elite three-point shooter and an efficient mid-range scorer who uses his size to exploit mismatches,” said Frank. “He will strengthen our frontcourt with his one-on-one defense and ability to space the floor. Rui is also a well-liked and respected teammate who continues to grow his game. We’re excited to add him.”

Hachimura, 28, averaged 11.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 28.3 minutes in 68 games (41 starts) last season with the Lakers. He shot 51.4% (307-597) from the field and 44.3% (116-262) from three-point range, which ranked fifth highest in the NBA. Hachimura scored in double figures 42 times, including seven 20-point performances. Across 10 postseason contests, Hachimura averaged 17.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 38.6 minutes.

A native of Toyama, Japan, Hachimura holds career averages of 12.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 27.8 minutes in 405 games (264 starts) with the Wizards and Lakers.

Thunder re-sign Isaiah Hartenstein

The Oklahoma City Thunder has signed center Isaiah Hartenstein to a multi-year contract, it was announced by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Hartenstein has appeared in 104 games (99 starts) in his first two seasons in Oklahoma City and averaged 10.3 points on 59.7% shooting, 10.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 26.2 minutes per contest. In his eight NBA seasons, he has appeared in 426 games (160 starts) and owns career averages of 7.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 20.0 minutes per game.

Since joining the Thunder on July 6, 2024, Hartenstein has helped the Thunder to consecutive seasons as the number one seed in the Western Conference and a 132-32 overall record, best in the NBA during that span. The Eugene, Oregon native has also helped the Thunder to consecutive seasons with the top defensive rating in the NBA. This past season, opponents made just 43.3% of their two-point shots when Hartenstein was contesting (1st among players who defended at least 350 shots).

Thunder sign Kenrich Williams

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed guard/forward Kenrich Williams, it was announced by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Williams has appeared in 362 games (33 starts) for Oklahoma City and averaged 6.7 points on 49.2% shooting, including 38.7% from three-point range, 3.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 18.6 minutes per game. The Waco, Texas native has appeared in 447 career games (80 starts) over eight seasons and owns career averages of 6.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 19.3 minutes per contest.

Sixers sign Ariel Hukporti

Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey announced today that the team has signed Ariel Hukporti.

In 54 games for the New York Knicks last season, Hukporti, 24, averaged 2.2 points on 56.3-percent shooting and 2.9 rebounds in 9.2 minutes.

The 7-0 center notched career highs in rebounds (16), assists (4), and blocked shots (4), to go along with eight points against Atlanta on Jan. 2, 2026. Hukporti registered a career-high 12 points and added nine boards and two blocks against Washington on Feb. 3, 2026.

Hukporti appeared in 10 playoff games for New York during its championship run, averaging 1.7 points and 3.2 rebounds in 7.6 minutes.

Heat sign Tim Hardaway Jr

The Miami HEAT have signed guard Tim Hardaway Jr.

“Hardaway is obviously a great name around here,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “Tim Jr. is one of the most explosive shooters in the league and a player we have long coveted. We are thrilled to finally be able to bring him home.”

Hardaway Jr., who finished third in Sixth Man of the Year voting, appeared in 80 games (six starts) with Denver last season and averaged 13.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 26.6 minutes while shooting 44.7 percent from the field, a career-high 40.7 percent from three-point range and 81.1 percent from the foul line. He made 224 three-point field goals, the second-most during a single season in Nuggets franchise history. He scored in double-figures 57 times, including 17 20-point games and one 30-point performance. He led the team in steals 10 times, in blocks on four occasions and in points once. Hardaway Jr. connected on multiple three-point field goals 57 times, including 13 contests with at least five made. Additionally, he made at least seven treys while playing under 28 minutes a career best three times last season, now doing so on eight occasions in his career, helping his teams to a perfect 8-0 record over that span.

Heat sign Andrew Wiggins to contract extension

The Miami HEAT have signed forward Andrew Wiggins to a contract extension.

“Andrew Wiggins has proven to us that he is the quintessential small forward who fits perfectly with this roster,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “We feel he will be a critical part of what we’re trying to achieve with this team going forward and we feel fortunate that we were able to extend him.”

Wiggins started in all 68 games he appeared in last season with the HEAT and averaged 15.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.12 steals, 1.01 blocks and 30.3 minutes, becoming the only Miami player last season to average at least each of those totals. He shot 47.5 percent from the field, 41.4 percent from three-point range and a career-high 78.4 percent from the foul line. He scored in double-figures 60 times, including 14 20-point games and one 30-point performance. He led the team in scoring seven times, plus/minus six times, rebounds three times and assists twice. Additionally, he hit the game-winning basket on November 10 vs. Cleveland, his third career game-winner, and scored the 15,000th point of his career on February 21.

Nets sign Keon Ellis

The Brooklyn Nets have signed guard Keon Ellis to a multi-year contract.

Ellis (6’4”, 175) has appeared in 225 career games (60 starts) across four seasons with the Sacramento Kings and Cleveland Cavaliers, holding career averages of 6.6 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.2 steals in 19.9 minutes per contest. Undrafted out of Alabama in 2022, Ellis signed a two-way contract with Sacramento ahead of the 2022-23 season and was traded to Cleveland at the 2026 trade deadline. The Eustis, Fla., native shot over 40.0 percent from 3-point distance in each of his first three seasons, holding career shooting marks of 46.5 percent from the floor, 40.7 percent from deep and 77.8 percent from the free throw line. In 29 games with the Cavaliers to end last season, Ellis averaged career-highs of 8.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and a 49.1 percent rate from the floor.

Spurs sign Tobias Harris

The San Antonio Spurs have signed Tobias Harris.

Harris, 6-8/230, appeared in 63 games (all starts) for the Detroit Pistons last season and averaged 13.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 0.92 steals in 27.7 minutes per game. Over the course of the season, he scored 20+ points 10 times and 15+ points 24 times and posted three double doubles. Harris helped lead the Pistons back to the postseason and win their first playoff series since 2008, averaging 18.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.50 steals in 34.6 minutes during the Pistons run.