I really don't understand the Timberwolves.

That was a very good win for the Celtics. West coast trip to start the stretch run is off to a good start. Now Phoenix and Denver on a tricky back-to-back before heading back home.

We've got NBA games all day today, starting at 1 PM ET! Best of all: Celtics vs Lakers at 6:30 PM ET. Best rivalry in the NBA!

Jose Alvarado is going to piss off so many opposing fanbases in the playoffs. He's such an incredible pain in the ass, which is a compliment of the highest order.

What a crazy comeback from the Knicks! Rockets offense is falling apart and Jose Alvarado is making a mess of every Houston possession.

Lawson Lovering's 10 Day contract with the Memphis Grizzlies has expired. Lovering can sign a second 10 Day deal with Memphis. Following that, the Grizzlies would have to sign Lovering for the remainder of the season to keep him on the roster.

Kadary Richmond's 10 Day contract with the Washington Wizards has expired. Richmond can sign a second 10 Day deal with Washington. Following that, the Wizards would have to sign Richmond for the remainder of the season to keep him on the roster.

Only in MVP debates do fans actively talk down the rest of the roster they root for. Every other debate, they’ll tell you their 12th man would start for 29 teams. In MVP debates, they’ll tell you how their second All-Star “really isn’t that good and (MVP candidate) carries him.”

The Cavs are playing some really good ball right now. Maybe this is the year it all finally comes together for them? Hornets are close. Just need a little more experience and more frontcourt depth. The last couple of nights, they clearly missed their size up front.

Really happy to see Darius Brown land a two-way deal with the Cavs. He's been terrific at the G League level this season. He was one of the players on my list to watch for callups a couple of months ago. Several guys have already landed NBA deals: www.spotrac.com/news/_/id/31...

Really happy for Bryce McGowens. Well-earned promotion to a standard deal. He's given the Pelicans some good minutes this season.

Starting NOW! www.youtube.com/live/W_H4RRv...

Rayan Rupert was waived to create the roster spot for Sidy Cissoko. Portland is still at 15 players on standard contracts, but now has an open two-way spot.

The Blazers will need to waive a player to create the open roster spot to sign Sidy Cissoko.

LIVE @frontofficeshow.bsky.social Friday will start at around 1 PM ET today! Join me to talk all things NBA as we hit the stretch run of the regular season. See you there! Link to come when show is live.

If Zion Williamson plays as he is expected to tonight (Friday), that will be his 41st game played this season. That will trigger a $16.8M contract guarantee for the 2026-27 season. If Williamson meets various weight conditions, he can trigger an additional $8.4M in guarantees. 1/2

Got a little messy late, but the Celtics get the west coast trip off to a great start. Jaylen Brown: 23/15/13 Derrick White: 10/5/8, 4 blocks! Payton Pritchard: 26/6/7 Really good all-around effort led by the Celtics stars.

The Celtics put it into cruise control way too early and now are having trouble getting back up to speed against this Warriors pressure. Once they break it, they get good looks. But the Golden State press has caused Boston some problems.

Jaylen Brown has the sixth triple-double of his career tonight. This is Brown's third triple-double this season.

Hugo Gonzalez with the nifty dribble-drive move to the lefty finish. He's showing more and more as the season goes along.

Much better second quarter for the Magic on offense. Defense fell off a bit, but offense more than covered for it.

Joe Mazzulla enjoyed that overturned call on the challenge. He even smiled in-game!

All 10 Celtics who have played have already scored. Each player has between three and eight points. Boston's offense came back from the break dialed in.

Vooch...you gotta stay on your feet when closing out to Draymond!

I hope it's just that the Magic need to find rhythm coming back from the break, but 18 points on 5-for-24 shooting vs this version of the Kings is pathetic.

Really good patience from Jaylen Brown. Held the ball for an extra dribble to let Nikola Vucevic roll and pull in the corner defender. Then Brown zipped it to Jordan Walsh for wide-open corner triple. Good play design and execution.

Turn the lights down low, slip into something comfortable, grab your favorite beverage and get cozy. It's time for Celtics After Dark.

One issue the Knicks have had against the Pistons is giving too many easy switches when defending Cade Cunningham. They need to fight harder to keep Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart or OG Anunoby on Cunningham. He doesn't even see the smaller defenders. Shoots or passes right over them.

Sean Pedulla's two-way contract with the LA Clippers is for two seasons, a league source told @spotrac.com.

I'm not against Dean Wade starting, but man, it felt like Jaylon Tyson has earned that spot.

I am so glad we have games back again! Everyone needs actual basketball to focus on.

I get that tanking is seen as really bad. I get that the league is going to do what they can to fix it. Saying tanking is worse that gambling scandals is about 20 bridges too far. Waving away gambling scandals like that is insanity.

I hate the idea of banning a team from having a top four pick the year after making the conference finals. That feels like an overreaction with unintended consequences. What if you have another “LeBron leaves the Cavs” situation, which sets off a full rebuild?

Alex Morales' two-way contract with the Orlando Magic is for two seasons, a league source told @spotrac.com.

Jabari Walker's contract with the Philadelphia 76ers is a two-year veteran minimum deal, a league source told @spotrac.com. Walker's deal covers the remainder of this season, and is partially guaranteed for $250K for the 2026-27 season.

Riley Minix's two-way contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers is for two seasons, a league source told @spotrac.com.

Boston is going to sign another player to a 10 Day deal today, to meet the 14-player roster minimum rules. After that, expect another period with a short roster, as Boston tries to squeeze as many days as possible, while staying under the tax, before filling out the roster to 15.

The Boston Celtics are signing Dalano Banton to a 10 Day contract, according to @mikeascotto.bsky.social. Broke down in depth how Boston is going to handle the remainder of the season for their roster with @johnkaralis.com on Locked On Celtics last night! youtu.be/42SQuk5-1hI?...

The season started with so much promise for the Magic and has turned into a complete mess.

The Hawks will have to waive a player to create a roster spot to convert Caleb Houstan to a standard deal.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have officially re-signed Mike Conley. The Golden State Warriors have officially signed Nate Williams Jr.

Deadlines for NBA teams to get back to 14 players on standard contracts: Today, February 17: MIN must sign 1 player Thursday, February 19: BOS must sign 2 players Thursday, February 19: DEN must sign 1 player Teams can only carry <14 players for up to 14 days at a time and 28 total days per season.

Since it's bound to come up, because he was mentioned as a possible target for the Lakers by ESPN: Tari Eason is a restricted free agent this summer.

As we reset coming out of the All-Star break, here are the reported agreements we are waiting on to go official: 🏀Mike Conley - MIN 🏀Haywood Highsmith - PHX 🏀Tyrese Martin - PHI - Two-Way 🏀Cameron Payne - PHI 🏀Jabari Walker - PHI 🏀Nate Williams Jr. - GSW - Two-Way

Dalano Banton's 10 Day contract with the LA Clippers has expired. Banton can sign a second 10 Day deal with LA. Following that, to keep Banton on the roster, the Clippers would need to sign him for the remainder of the season.

The Dunk and Egg show is the best Game of Thrones we’ve had since the early seasons of the original series. I enjoy House of the Dragon, but this is better.

The Sixers have enough room under the luxury tax to fill both of their openings with rest-of-season signings for the prorated veteran minimum.

Reports from Europe this morning that Cameron Payne is exercising an NBA out to come back stateside to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers. Makes sense as Philadelphia is this at point guard after trading Jared McCain. Payne could see regular minutes behind Tyrese Maxey.

Keshon Gilbert's 10 Day contract with the Washington Wizards has expired. Gilbert can sign a second 10 Day with the Wizards. Following that, to keep him on the roster, Washington would have to sign Gilbert for the remainder of the season.

Over the weekend, 10 Day contracts with the Philadelphia 76ers for Patrick Baldwin Jr. and Charles Bassey expired. Baldwin can sign another 10 Day with the Sixers. This was Bassey's second 10 Day deal. To keep Bassey on the roster, Philadelphia would have to sign him for the remainder of the season.