February 5, 2026
New York Knicks forward
Josh Hart (ankle) is questionable for Friday's matchup with Detroit. The veteran sprained his left ankle during a recent meeting with the Washington Wizards and wasn't available for Wednesday's double-overtime win over the Denver Nuggets.
Jordan Clarkson entered the starting lineup, finishing with 11 points. If Hart remains on the shelf against the Pistons, Clarkson would presumably remain with the first-five, although
Landry Shamet, who is coming off a 16-point effort, has a higher upside for fantasy managers.
--Dennis ClausenSource: NBA Injury Report
February 5, 2026
New York Knicks forward/center
Karl-Anthony Towns (eye) is questionable for Friday's encounter with the Pistons. KAT suffered a laceration above his right eye during the double-overtime win over the Denver Nuggets. It forced him to briefly exit the contest, although he still finished with a 24-point, 12-rebound double-double. Considering the 30-year-old played through the injury on Wednesday, it would be surpising if he didn't suit up. However, if Towns isn't out there,
Mitchell Robinson, averaging 3.7 points, 8.4 boards, and 1.1 blocks in 13 starts, is the favorite to replace him in the rotation. While those aren't the most impressive statistical marks, Robinson could be more productive if
Josh Hart (ankle) and
OG Anunoby (toe) don't play.
--Dennis ClausenSource: NBA Injury Report
February 5, 2026
Sean Highkin of Rip City Radio 620 Portland reports that Portland Trail Blazers guard
Scoot Henderson (hamstring) will finally make his long-awaited season debut against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday. Henderson was out of action due to a torn left hamstring. The 2023 No. 3 overall pick averaged 12.7 points, 5.1 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 26.7 minutes per contest across 66 outings last season. Initially, fantasy managers should expect the 22-year-old to operate under a minutes restriction as he works his way back into game shape. As a result, his immediate fantasy upside will be limited, and
Caleb Love should continue to hold short-term streaming appeal until Henderson is cleared for a full workload.
--Andrew LennoxSource: Sean Highkin
February 5, 2026
According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, the Charlotte Hornets waived veteran point guard
Mike Conley on Thursday. Once he clears waivers, Conley will be free to sign with a team of his choosing, with speculation suggesting a possible return to Minnesota. Regardless of where the 38-year-old lands, his fantasy outlook is unlikely to change. Conley is posting career-low production during the 2025-26 season, averaging just 4.4 points and 2.9 assists per game.
--Andrew LennoxSource: Brett Siegel
February 5, 2026
Memphis Grizzlies guard
Ja Morant (elbow) was not traded at the NBA Trade Deadline and will finish out this season in Memphis. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, multiple teams did have interest based onMorant's talent, but none were willing to make a serious offer. Morant has elite talent when he's healthy and not dealing with off-court issues, but he is currently sidelined by a UCL sprain, which is expected to keep him sidelined through the All-Star break. Morant has been limited to just 20 games this year, averaging 19.5 points, 8.1 assists, and 3.3 rebounds in 28.5 minutes per game.
Ty Jerome and
Cam Spencer will continue to play more minutes until he returns. When he comes back, the crowded backcourt will be tricky to figure out for fantasy purposes, especially with the team likely out of the race for the postseason.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Shams Charania
February 5, 2026
Brooklyn Nets guard
Cam Thomas will be waived after not being traded before Thursday's NBA Trade Deadline, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Thomas was the Nets' first-round pick in 2021 and has played five seasons in Brooklyn, but he'll now become a free agent. He's a score-first guard who has shown a high ceiling when he's the focus of the offense, but didn't seem to fit in the team's current plans. Thomas averaged 24.0 points, 3.8 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.7 three-pointers in 25 games last season, but this year, he only averaged 15.6 points, 3.1 assists, 1.8 rebounds, and 24.3 minutes in his 24 games. Thomas could be an interesting addition to a team needing volume scoring off the free agent market, and his departure opens more minutes for young players like
Drake Powell and
Ben Saraf in Brooklyn's rotation.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Shams Charania
February 5, 2026
New York Knicks guard
Miles McBride (abdominal) will undergo surgery on Friday on a core muscle injury, commonly referred to as a sports hernia, and he could be sidelined until the playoffs, according to reports from Fred Katz and James L. Edwards III. McBride was averaging 28 minutes per game this season for New York, producing 12.9 points, 2.8 assists, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.9 3PM per contest. The Knicks added
Jose Alvarado from the Pelicans to help cover for his absence, while
Tyler Kolek and
Jordan Clarkson will still fill in depth minutes behind
Jalen Brunson as well. The Knicks will hope to get McBride back for the playoffs, but they have the depth to cover until he's back. In most re-draft leagues, better options than McBride are available, so there's no need to hold him in an injury spot.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Fred Katz
February 5, 2026
The New Orleans Pelicans are trading guard
Jose Alvarado to the New York Knicks in exchange for
Dalen Terry, two second-round picks, and cash. The Knicks will get a defense-oriented backup point guard that will give their second unit great energy, especially with the news that
Miles McBride will undergo surgery for a sports hernia and could be out until the playoffs. It will be a homecoming for Alvarado, who is from New York, and should quickly be a fan favorite at Madison Square Garden. The fifth-year guard was averaging 7.9 points, 3.1 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.9 steals in 21.9 minutes per game this season, and with him on the move, rookie
Jeremiah Fears should get more work off the bench for the Pelicans, who continue to go with a starting five that doesn't have a true point guard. Alvarado may not be as prolific a scorer as McBride, but his role off the Knicks' bench could boost his fantasy value slightly.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Shams Charania
February 5, 2026
Milwaukee Bucks forward/center
Giannis Antetokounmpo was the biggest name on the market this year at the NBA Trade Deadline, but it looks like the perennial All-Star will stay in Milwaukee for the rest of the season. ESPN's Shams Charania reports that the Bucks have indicated to teams that they are keeping Giannis Antetokounmpo through the trade deadline. Ultimately, it seems the team is convinced they can get more for their superstar by trading him after the season, when teams have more assets available. Giannis has been sidelined by a calf injury, and he will now be in a tricky situation in which the team would likely rather improve its draft stock by resting him, but he'll be looking to return and compete to raise his offseason value. The Bucks and other teams in talks for Giannis have begun making other deals before the deadline, which indicates the star won't be on the move, at least until this coming offseason, when the rumor mill will get fired back up again.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Shams Charania
February 5, 2026
The Indiana Pacers are trading center
Isaiah Jackson to the Los Angeles Clippers in a deal that includes
Ivica Zubac and
Bennedict Mathurin, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Jackson has spent the first five seasons of his career in Indiana, averaging 7.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in 15 minutes per game. With the Clippers trading Zubac, the center position has opened up with 37-year-old
Brook Lopez and rookie
Yanic Konan Niederhauser. Jackson is likely to come off the bench for the Clippers and is not expected to see his fantasy value improve in this deal.
--Nathan HarveySource: Shams Charania - ESPN
February 5, 2026
Denver Nuggets forward
Peyton Watson (hamstring) was forced to leave Wednesday's game after injuring his hamstring, and the breakout star could miss significant time, depending on the results of an MRI. Watson averaged 21.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 36.1 minutes per game in his 18 games since the start of 2026, and he has helped the Nuggets fill in for multiple injuries.
Nikola Jokic is back, but Watson was still helping to fill in for
Aaron Gordon (hamstring) and
Cameron Johnson (knee). If Watson also misses time,
Bruce Brown and
Tim Hardaway Jr. will have to step into more involved roles. The Nuggets also converted
Spencer Jones' two-way contract into a standard deal, which would allow him to help fill in as well.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Bennett Durando
February 5, 2026
The Indiana Pacers are trading guard
Bennedict Mathurin to the Los Angeles Clippers in a deal that includes center
Ivica Zubac, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Mathurin has spent the first four seasons of his career with the Pacers, averaging 16.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in just under 29 minutes per game. The former sixth-overall pick is heading to Los Angeles, where his offensive production should decrease with
Kawhi Leonard,
Darius Garland, and
John Collins all expected to be key pieces moving forward. With Mathurin out of Indiana,
Johnny Furphy will look to start in his place, while
Andrew Nembhard and
Aaron Nesmith should see slight boosts as well.
--Nathan HarveySource: Shams Charania - ESPN
February 5, 2026
The Los Angeles Clippers are trading center
Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Zubac has spent the past eight seasons with the Clippers and has played his best basketball over the past two seasons, averaging nearly 16 points and 12 rebounds per game. With the Clippers looking to rebuild and shed these expiring contracts, Zubac heads out of Los Angeles for the first time in his career. After the Pacers lost center
Myles Turner in free agency, they've relied on
Jay Huff to start this season, so expect Huff's role to change. For the remainder of the 2025-26 season, Zubac should see his offensive production improve as injuries to
Tyrese Haliburton and
Obi Toppin impact the Pacers lineup. For the Clippers,
Brook Lopez should move into the starting lineup, with
Yanic Konan Niederhauser stepping up as well.
--Nathan HarveySource: Shams Charania - ESPN
February 5, 2026
The Los Angeles Lakers have traded guard
Gabe Vincent and a second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for
Luke Kennard. Vincent has spent the last three seasons with the Lakers, averaging 5.6 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in over 20 minutes per game. He has struggled mightily on offense in 2025-26, scoring on less than 35% of his shot attempts and just over 25% of his 2PA's. Vincent is likely to come off the bench in Atlanta, with guards
Dyson Daniels and C.J. McCollum carrying most of the minutes and shot attempts in this backcourt. The veteran guard hopes to bounce back in Atlanta, but remains outside of fantasy relevance for now.
--Nathan HarveySource: Shams Charania - ESPN
February 5, 2026
The Atlanta Hawks are trading guard
Luke Kennard to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for
Gabe Vincent and a second-round pick. Kennard signed with the Hawks on a one-year deal this past offseason and has averaged 7.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in just over 20 minutes per game. He adds much-needed shooting for the Lakers, as Kennard leads the NBA in three-point percentage at a whopping 49.7%. The Lakers currently rank 20th in three-point percentage and have struggled to find production off the bench this season. While he lacks a fantasy ceiling due to his limited role, Kennard should be a key producer for the Lakers as they chase their 18th NBA title.
--Nathan HarveySource: Shams Charania - ESPN
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