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Updated Friday, February 7, 2025 at 12:30 a.m. ET

LeBron James was the first pick of the new-look 2025 NBA All-Star draft Thursday night and was soon joined by a now former teammate -- Anthony Davis. James and Davis were among the big names selected by Shaquille O'Neal as the "Inside the NBA" crew picked three of the four All-Star teams on TNT. Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Jayson Tatum also will be part of a veteran Team Shaq squad filled with championship talent. Charles Barkley's team is filled with international stars, including former MVPs Nikola Jokic (Serbia) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece), current MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada) and San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama (France). - ESPN.com

Luka Doncic is targeting Monday for his Los Angeles Lakers debut when L.A. hosts the Utah Jazz, a source familiar with Doncic's plans confirmed to ESPN on Thursday. Doncic, who was sidelined for the Dallas Mavericks since Christmas Day with a left calf strain, participated in a 5-on-5 scrimmage after Lakers practice Wednesday with L.A.'s "stay ready" group comprised of end-of-the-bench players and coaches. "It went well," Lakers coach JJ Redick said of the scrimmage before they hosted the Golden State Warriors. "I think [his first game will be] probably, more likely, Monday. Again, no commitment made or anything, but probably trending more towards Monday." - ESPN.com

Free agent forward Torrey Craig has agreed to a deal with the Boston Celtics, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports told ESPN's Shams Charania on Thursday. - ESPN.com


ADDITIONAL NBA RUMORS STORIES

The Los Angeles Lakers continued what was already one of the most consequential weeks in franchise history by acquiring center Mark Williams in a trade with the Charlotte Hornets, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania on Wednesday night. L.A. agreed to send rookie Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2031 unprotected first-round pick and a 2030 pick swap to the Hornets for Williams, sources told Charania, landing the big man that vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka admitted the team was lacking heading into Thursday's trade deadline. Williams, listed at 7-0, 240 pounds, fits the profile of the mobile big man and lob threat that new Lakers star Luka Doncic prefers to play alongside. Doncic met with Lakers brass Monday and impressed upon them his desire to have that type of center on the roster, sources said, believing a big man who provides vertical spacing at the rim gives him another option when making his offensive reads. - ESPN.com

The New Orleans Pelicans have traded star forward Brandon Ingram to the Toronto Raptors for Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, one first-round pick and one second-rounder, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania on Wednesday. Ingram has been out since early December with a significant lower left ankle sprain, one of several injuries that has derailed the Pelicans' season. Ingram has dealt with nagging injury issues throughout his career; this season is the third time he has missed at least 30 games. - ESPN.com

The Chicago Bulls and guard Lonzo Ball agreed to a two-year, $20 million contract extension, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania, after several trade suitors emerged for Ball in recent days. The second year of the deal is a team option, according to sources. Ball this season made an unprecedented return from three arthroscopic knee surgeries, appearing in his first NBA game in over 1,000 days. - ESPN.com

The Jimmy Butler saga with the Miami Heat ended Wednesday night when he was traded to the Golden State Warriors as part of a multiteam megadeal, sources told ESPN. The Warriors closed the deal for Butler after negotiations to acquire Kevin Durant ended when the Phoenix Suns star informed the team that he did not want to return to Golden State, sources said. The Warriors, Heat and Suns had been nearing an agreement on a trade that would have landed Butler in Phoenix and Durant back where he won championships in 2017 and 2018. - ESPN.com

As part of the agreement, Butler will decline his $52 million player option for next season and is planning to sign a new two-year, $111 million deal that carries through the 2026-27 season, sources said. The Warriors will send forwards Andrew Wiggins and Kyle Anderson plus a top-10-protected 2025 first-round pick to the Heat, sources said. Also, guard Dennis Schroder, acquired by the Warriors in December, will be sent to the Utah Jazz. Utah will ship forward P.J. Tucker, who played with the Heat in 2021-22, to Miami. Guard Lindy Waters III will go from Golden State to the Detroit Pistons, and Josh Richardson will go from Miami to Detroit. - ESPN.com

The Bucks have traded Khris Middleton to the Wizards, ending his tenure as one of their franchise cornerstones in a multiplayer deal that sends Kyle Kuzma to Milwaukee, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania. The Bucks also sent rookie guard AJ Johnson, their first-round draft selection last year, and a pick swap to Washington, which dealt forward Patrick Baldwin Jr. and second-round draft compensation to Milwaukee, sources told Charania. Middleton, 33, spent the past 11-plus seasons in Milwaukee and was one of the foundational players on the Bucks' championship team in 2021. - ESPN.com

It's now uncertain whether Durant has played his final game for the Suns, as sources told ESPN that Phoenix has been willing to listen to offers for him in recent days. The Warriors are among the teams with interest, sources told ESPN's Brian Windhorst. Suns owner Mat Ishbia, who pulled off a blockbuster deal to acquire Durant from the Brooklyn Nets hours after his purchase of the franchise became official in February 2023, has publicly declared that he has no intention to trade the star forward. - ESPN.com

The Dallas Mavericks traded guard Quentin Grimes to the Philadelphia 76ers for forward Caleb Martin, it was announced on Tuesday. Philadelphia is also receiving a second-round pick -- the 76ers' own pick in 2025 -- in the deal. Martin, 29, is averaging 9.1 points and 4.4 rebounds primarily as a starter during the first season of a four-year, $35 million contract that includes a player option for 2027-28. He is a versatile wing who is a proven playoff performer, averaging 9.1 points while shooting 40.1% from 3-point range in 45 career postseason games, including the Miami Heat's run to the 2023 NBA Finals. - ESPN.com

The Sacramento Kings are finalizing a trade to send De'Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs and acquire Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine as part of a three-team trade involving multiple players and draft picks, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania on Sunday. The move gives San Antonio an All-Star guard to pair with young phenom Victor Wembanyama after Fox, who has one more year left on his deal after this season, had not shown a willingness to commit long term to Sacramento, leading to the Kings opening up trade talks for the franchise star in the past week. - ESPN.com

In exchange for Fox, the Kings receive LaVine, in the midst of a career season at age 29; Spurs guard Sidy Cissoko; three first-round picks (Charlotte's in 2025, San Antonio's in 2027 and Minnesota's in 2031); and three second-round picks (Chicago's in 2025, Denver's in 2028 and a return of their own 2028 pick from Chicago). The Bulls regained their 2025 first-round pick from San Antonio as well as three players: Zach Collins and Tre Jones from the Spurs, and Sacramento's Kevin Huerter. In addition to Fox, the Spurs receive Jordan McLaughlin, who averaged 1.9 points in 28 games for the Kings. - ESPN.com

In a blockbuster trade that figures to impact the Western Conference balance of power for years to come, the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks and Utah Jazz agreed to a three-team deal that will swap Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania late Saturday. L.A. will receive Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris from the Mavericks, sources said. Dallas will receive Davis, Max Christie and the Lakers' 2029 first-round pick. The Jazz will receive Jalen Hood-Schifino, the LA Clippers' 2025 second-round pick and the Mavs' 2025 second-round selection. - ESPN.com

Mavericks trading Luka Doncic to Lakers for Anthony Davis

"I believe that defense wins championships," Mavs general manager Nico Harrison told ESPN's Tim MacMahon, explaining his motivation to deal Doncic for Davis. "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." - ESPN.com

Victor Wembanyama was named to his first All-Star team Thursday night, one of 14 reserves selected to this year's midseason showcase in San Francisco on Feb. 16. Wembanyama, who turned 21 earlier this month, is averaging 24.4 points and 10.8 rebounds for the San Antonio Spurs in his second NBA season and is leading the league in blocks for a second straight year. - ESPN.com

Joining Wembanyama from the Western Conference were Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis, LA Clippers guard James Harden, Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr., Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams. - ESPN.com

The Eastern Conference reserves consisted of Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown, Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland and forward Evan Mobley, Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard and Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro. - ESPN.com

Lakers coach JJ Redick second-guessed his decision to insert rookie Bronny James into his rotation in Los Angeles' 118-104 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday. "Maybe put him in a tough spot," Redick said after James went 0-for-5 with three turnovers in 15 minutes. "Flying up yesterday, nationally televised game in Philly and all that stuff. He didn't play well, but he's been playing great in the stay-ready games, and he's been playing great in the G [League]." James was on assignment with the South Bay Lakers, L.A.'s G League affiliate, when the Lakers recalled him Monday to join them in the middle of their five-game road trip. - ESPN.com

Isaiah Thomas showed he is still a potent scorer, pouring in 40 points Tuesday night in his return to the NBA G League. A two-time NBA All-Star, Thomas was activated by the Salt Lake City Stars on Tuesday and shot 13-for-28 from the field and had eight assists in their 122-115 loss to the Valley Suns. - AP via ESPN.com

The Miami Heat have suspended forward Jimmy Butler without pay for an indefinite period of time after the disgruntled star walked out of practice Monday, the team announced. It's the third time Butler has been suspended by the Heat in recent weeks, and it comes as he was expected to return from his second suspension Monday night against the Orlando Magic. The Heat said the latest suspension will last at least five games, which will take it through the NBA's trade deadline Feb. 6. The Heat were planning to replace Butler in the starting lineup with Haywood Highsmith beginning with Monday's game against Orlando, sources said, but he responded to the news by walking out of the morning shootaround. - ESPN.com

Amen Thompson hit a game-winning floater with 0.7 seconds left and finished with 33 points to lead the Houston Rockets to a 114-112 victory over the Boston Celtics on Monday night. Dillon Brooks shot 10-of-15 from 3-point range and led Houston with 36 points. The Rockets won for the ninth time in 11 games. Jaylen Brown had 28 points for the Celtics, and Jayson Tatum added 19 after a scoreless first half. Luke Kornet had 18, and Kristaps Porzingis scored 17 to go with eight rebounds. - ESPN.com

New York Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns gifted actor Timothée Chalamet his game-worn jersey on Monday night. Towns dropped 24 points and 11 rebounds in an emphatic 143-106 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. It was Towns' 36th double-double of the season. - ESPN.com

Unhappy with his status with the Phoenix Suns, center Jusuf Nurkic said he hasn't spoken with coach Mike Budenholzer in two months, going so far as to say the two "don't have a relationship." Nurkic, who started 23 games this season before being moved to the bench earlier this month, has not played since Jan. 7. He said Budenholzer didn't tell him he would sit out a Jan. 9 game against the Atlanta Hawks, and Saturday's 119-109 win over the Washington Wizards marked the ninth consecutive game he has missed. "We don't have a relationship," Nurkic said of Budenholzer, according to the Arizona Republic. "So, it's fine. For me, just be a pro and do the best I can. Work and stay ready for whatever might be, but there is no chaos or bringing that to this team. They already have plenty of it. Trying to be as professional as I can and work my ass off for something else." - ESPN.com

Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry acknowledged his injured right thumb bothered him but said it wasn't the reason why he matched the worst shooting half of his career, missing all eight of his second-half shots in a 118-108 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night at Chase Center. Curry shot 4-for-17, including 2-for-9 on 3-pointers, to finish with 13 points and nine assists. While he keeps getting his shooting thumb banged up, Curry would not use the injury as an excuse. "It sucks, but it's not an excuse for anything," Curry said. - ESPN.com

Despite being grounded in New Orleans all week by a historic winter storm, which postponed one game and prevented the Bucks from even being able to practice, they arrived in Milwaukee a little more than two hours before they were set to play Thursday night. And despite the unusual travel day, the Bucks rallied from a 15-point first-quarter deficit to dominate the Miami Heat in a 125-96 victory, Milwaukee's fifth win in a row to cap off one of the more difficult travel experiences of the NBA season. "Just a strange, long couple of days," Bucks coach Doc Rivers said Thursday night. - ESPN.com


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