NBA TRADES 2026: LAKERS IN ACTIVE TALKS WITH NETS FOR MICHAEL PORTER JR.
The Lakers are linked to Michael Porter Jr. and Nic Claxton. Read our exclusive analysis on how Rob Pelinka plans to land a star.
The Lakers are still aiming to make some noise in the Western Conference this season, even though their weaknesses keep showing up—and, let’s be honest, they don’t look like a real playoff threat right now. Luka Doncic and LeBron James have both been on fire while Austin Reaves has sat out with an injury, but somehow the team still manages to drop games to teams they really should beat.
Matt Moore mentioned that the Lakers have their eyes on two Brooklyn Nets players as the trade deadline gets closer:
“There’s been a lot of Lakers-Nets talk the last couple of years, and with that DFS trade already done, there’s a relationship. Claxton would be a really solid pickup, but they might also swing for MPJ.”
So, both Michael Porter Jr and Nic Claxton are on the Lakers’ radar. Claxton feels like the safer move—he wouldn’t cost as much in terms of future assets, and he’d give them a better centre than DeAndre Ayton. But Porter? He’s the splashier name. He’s probably the most exciting player available this year, especially with how much his game has improved. Lakers fans would be hyped if he landed in L.A.—he’s the kind of player who changes a team’s ceiling.
Why would Michael Porter Jr help the Lakers? Well, he’s finally breaking out with the Nets. He was always a good role guy with Denver, but this year, he’s stepped up as a legit scorer. He’s putting up 25.7 points a game and has a real shot at making the All-Star team for the first time.
The Lakers desperately need a wing who can do a bit of everything. Porter fits. He can step back, let the stars do their thing, or take over when injuries hit and the team needs more from him. His passing and leadership look better this year, too—he’s not just a shooter anymore. The Lakers could use his size and athleticism to shake things up and add some much-needed depth. Plus, with so few stars available on the market, Porter’s value just keeps going up.
Now, about a trade for Porter: The Lakers don’t want to give up Austin Reaves at the deadline—they’d rather lock him up long-term. Brooklyn would jump at the chance to build around Reaves, even without extra draft picks, but the Lakers want to keep him, so they’ll have to get creative.
Brooklyn’s asking price? They want one or two first-rounders in the 2030s, ideally at least one unprotected pick for Porter or Claxton. And the Lakers would have to send out enough players to make the money work. Guys like Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, and Maxi Kleber are all on the table. The Lakers would end up sending three of those guys, plus probably taking back another role player from Brooklyn, to even out salaries. In the end, the big question is whether the Lakers think Porter is worth cashing in those future picks for right now.
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.
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.
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.”