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LUKA DONčIć TAKES OVER: LEBRON JAMES'S AGE SHOWS IN NEW SUPPORTING ROLE

Lakers' decision not to extend LeBron James ($52.6M option) and focus on Luka Dončić ($165M extension) is validated by the team's 16-5 start and LeBron's age-related early-season injury struggles.

Luka Dončić Takes Over: LeBron James's Age Shows in New Supporting Role
Future Is Luka, Not 41-Year-Old LeBron James

It makes sense that the Lakers built their 2025 offseason around Luka Dončić instead of LeBron James. Luka pretty much fell into their laps at the February deadline, changing their plans. The Lakers' top priority was to sign Luka, which they did with a three-year, $165 million extension. They didn't offer LeBron an extension.

LeBron took his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season, putting him on an expiring contract for the first time. Even though not extending him felt wrong since he's LeBron James, it turned out to be the right call, as shown in the first quarter of the season.

He didn't play until Nov. 18 because of an irritated sciatic nerve, missing almost the entire first month. In the six games he's played, the soon-to-be 41-year-old has looked his age. He's not moving great and is a liability on defence, but it's his 23rd season. You can't stop ageing.

The Lakers made the right call not extending LeBron.

Back in 2024, LeBron signed a two-year, $104 million extension with a no-trade clause. His salary this season is the 12th highest in the league, just under Devin Booker, who signed a huge two-year, $145 million extension with the Suns this offseason.

LeBron has earned the right to be one of the highest-paid players ever, but his next contract (assuming he plays beyond this season) won't be as big as he's used to. This will definitely be the case if his body keeps struggling to keep up with the faster pace of the league.

Maybe things will change as the season goes on and LeBron gets his legs back after missing the beginning.

Rob Pelinka has said the Lakers want LeBron to retire with them, whenever that happens. So, not extending him last offseason doesn't mean they don't want him around.

When LeBron picked up his option in the summer, his agent, Rich Paul, said LeBron understood the Lakers were planning for the future, but he wanted a realistic chance of winning it all. It sounded like LeBron was thinking about asking for a trade, but he didn't. Now, he's in a good spot to win another title, even if the Lakers are focused on future financial flexibility. The team is currently second in the West with a 16-5 record.

A lot of people think Los Angeles' offseason looks better now than it did a few months ago.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES TRADE JAREN JACKSON JR. TO UTAH JAZZ IN 8-PLAYER BLOCKBUSTER

The Memphis Grizzlies have traded Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz, creating a record $28.8 million trade exception for 2026.

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Grizzlies finalise Jaren Jackson Jr. deal

The Memphis Grizzlies turned heads on Tuesday, pulling off a blockbuster trade that sent two-time All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr to the Utah Jazz. Along with Jackson, the Grizzlies shipped out Vince Williams Jr, John Konchar, and Jock Landale. Coming back their way: Walter Clayton Jr, Kyle Anderson, Georges Niang, and, maybe the most important part, three future first-round picks.

And honestly, it feels like Memphis isn’t done stirring the pot. Inside the organisation, they see Zach Edey and Cedric Coward as the future. Both went late in the lottery in the past two drafts, and the Grizzlies landed some value in the second round this year, too, grabbing Jaylen Wells and Cam Spencer.

All this movement means Ja Morant’s future in Memphis suddenly looks shaky. He’s been the face of the franchise since they took him No. 2 overall back in 2019. When he’s healthy, he’s electric—no question. But injuries and off-court drama have slowed him down, and now, with the trade deadline closing in, the Grizzlies are openly shopping him. Teams around the league are watching.

There’s another wrinkle here: by dealing Jackson, Memphis created a massive trade exception—$28.8 million, the biggest in NBA history, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks and Shams Charania. It’s a huge chess piece. With that exception, the Grizzlies can absorb big, ugly contracts from other teams in exchange for more draft picks. Think of what the Thunder did a few years back—stockpiling picks by taking on bad deals until they rebuilt into a contender.

Now, you’ve probably heard Giannis Antetokounmpo’s name floating around in trade rumours. He hasn’t officially asked out of Milwaukee, but everyone in the league expects something to happen soon. Teams like the Timberwolves and Knicks are circling. The Grizzlies? They’re not likely to chase Giannis directly. But with that trade exception, they could play a big role as a third team—taking on salary dumps or unwanted contracts, collecting more picks, and helping another franchise pull off the Giannis blockbuster. Memphis just put itself squarely in the middle of the NBA’s hottest rumour.

KLINT KUBIAK SNUBS NFL RIVALS TO LEAD RAIDERS’ NEW ERA UNDER TOM BRADY

The Las Vegas Raiders are zeroing in on Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak as their next head coach, with Tom Brady leading the search.

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Klint Kubiak is set for the Raiders as Seahawks coach faces the New England Patriots

The Las Vegas Raiders are in the middle of a huge shakeup right now. Klint Kubiak, the offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks, is set to become their new head coach—and honestly, he’s nothing like Pete Carroll.

Kubiak’s still in his 30s, calling plays on offence, while Carroll just wrapped up last season as the NFL’s oldest head coach. The Raiders had their eyes on Ben Johnson previous year, but when he decided to take the Bears job, they turned to Carroll instead.

This time, Las Vegas seemed to have that same level of interest in Kubiak, but they had to wait things out because Seattle was still in the playoffs. Tom Brady, who’s a minority owner with the Raiders, clearly played a big part in picking the new coach.

Since nothing’s official until after the Super Bowl, Brady can’t come right out and talk about Kubiak joining the team. Still, he didn’t hold back when it came to sharing what he liked about the guy.

“Klint’s played to his team’s strengths. Last week, he did a ton of good things against a really strong Rams defence,” Brady said on the “Let’s Go!” podcast. “That’s what it took for them to win. The Rams are a tough team. That game in Seattle could’ve gone either way... Seattle really had to play a complete game in all three phases to pull it out, and they’ll need to do the same this weekend in Santa Clara.”

Brady also talked about Fernando Mendoza.

Another big reason the Raiders’ coaching job is so appealing? They’ve got the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Everyone expects them to grab Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

Brady doesn’t have to be secretive about it—nobody’s jumping ahead of them in the draft. He was pretty open about how much he likes Mendoza.

“What do I value most? When I see him, he’s always talking up his teammates. He wins the Heisman, and he’s giving credit to everyone else,” Brady said. “That’s the kind of attitude you want in a leader.”

Kubiak focused on the Super Bowl, not the job switch.

Kubiak’s career is about to take off, but right now, he’s locked in on trying to win his first Super Bowl. So, he isn’t ready to talk about the Raiders just yet.

“I’m coaching the Seahawks in the Super Bowl, and that’s all I’m thinking about,” Kubiak told reporters on Monday. “I’m just excited for this week and this game.”

Not everyone in Seattle is thrilled to see Kubiak go. Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold had nothing but praise after working with him this year.

“He was unbelievable,” Darnold said Monday. “The stuff I picked up from Klint—just with schemes, and then learning from him as a coach and a person—the grit. He’s up before the sun, gets to the facility at 4 or 4:30, and leaves later than anyone. The guy just grinds. He loves football, and he’s always straight with his players. I know I really appreciated that, and so did the rest of the guys.”

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