Week 11 of the 2025-26 NBA season is done and dusted so we’re looking into the notable moments with three big takeaways from the chaos.
Another week, another Anthony Davis injury. The Dallas Mavericks forward has ligament damage in his left hand that could yet require surgery and sideline him for several months. Any hope Dallas may have had on trading Davis has all but vanished. In better news, Kyrie Irving is expected to return from his ACL injury before the trade deadline.
Nikola Jokic hasn’t had to spend a lot of time on the sideline throughout his NBA career and is said to be working “around the clock” to return from his injury as soon as possible. He’s only missed four games in which the Denver Nuggets have split 2-2, but he’s the heartbeat of their team and needs to be back out there for the pointy end of the regular season.
With Trae Young already moved and Ja Morant’s name popping up more in discussions, trade season is in full swing. The Golden State Warriors are another team expected to make a move with Jonathan Kuminga available. He’s never quite fit with the Warriors, and while they don’t need to trade him, ESPN’s Anthony Slater reports that the Warriors are “exploring all options.”
The Sacramento Kings (8-30) are the biggest losers in the league this week, riding an NBA-worst seven-game losing streak into the next. In contrast, the Oklahoma City Thunder (33-7) have won three on the bounce to lead the league with their albeit small winning streak. The defending champions are favourites to win it all again at $2.10.
NBA Championship Odds: Nuggets – $8, Spurs – $12, Rockets – $13, Knicks – $13, Pistons – $15, Celtics – $17, Cavaliers – $19, Lakers – $31
In the must-watch game of the week, an under-strength Nuggets not only proved competitive with the Philadelphia 76ers, but claimed an unlikely overtime win.
Young Trae-ded
The NBA Trade Deadline is still a few weeks away, but desperate teams are already making moves to make sure they’re not left empty handed.
If there is ever a trade that felt right from the first moment it was mentioned, it’s Trae Young to the Washington Wizards. A player that can entertain but is unlikely to ever win, to a franchise that at least tries to entertain, but is a long, long way from winning anything.
Trae Young might be the first person to reverse ring chase
I respect it
— Ben Houselog (@benlikessport) January 8, 2026
The Wizards moved CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert for the fifth round pick of the 2018 NBA Draft. It’s an upgrade for Washington as their roster stands right now, but it isn’t without risk.
Young is in the fourth year of a five-year max contract with an player option for $49 million due for next season. The Atlanta Hawks didn’t offer an extension, but Washington is expected to pounce. Young has already alluded to being opening to signing long term despite the Wizards not featuring in the playoffs since 2021 and playing with a 10-27 record right now.
“The city can revive me as much as I can revive it. That’s a big reason why I want to come here. I want to be an impactful person and player everywhere I go. So, as much as I’m going to try to revive the city, I need the city and this team to give me as much as we’re going to give them.”
Young is an all-star caliber player and has led relatively average teams to the playoffs in the past. He will bring buzz to a franchise that hasn’t given fans a lot to cheer for in recent years. Still, your ceiling can only be so high with Young as the No. 1 option. The Wizards are still a long way from relevance this season at $4.60 to win 25+ games.
Win 25+ Games This Season: Mavericks – $1.16, Nets – $2.15, Pelicans – $2.45, Pacers – $6.50, Kings – $8
Morant On The Move?
Ja Morant’s name has become fodder for trade talk since he became more known for his off-court antics than on-court brilliance. However, there seems to be some validity to the latest round with Shams Charania reporting that the Memphis Grizzlies are entertaining trade offers.
Just in: For the first time, the Memphis Grizzlies are entertaining offers to potentially move two-time All-Star Ja Morant ahead of the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/SD0RT9Jhuj
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 9, 2026
General manager Zach Kleiman’s preseason comments add more fuel to the fire:
“As we continue to build this team, to be able to achieve a high-end outcome, we need Ja to be a consistent, All-NBA-caliber player.”
Morant hasn’t produced consistently and the Grizzlies aren’t achieving with high-end outcomes. The 26-year-olds 19 points per game is his lowest mark since his rookie NBA season in 2019-20. His career-low 40% from the field and 21% from beyond the arc paint an accurate picture of his struggles.
There might not be a huge market for Morant, particularly with what Young garnered from the Wizards. He has three years left on his contract which can appeal to potential suitors. However, he’s on track to play fewer than 60 games for a third-consecutive season. His salary is a lot to pay for somebody struggling to get on the court and not producing well enough when on it.
The Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors and Minnesota Timberwolves have been mentioned as possible destinations, but the Milwaukee Bucks might be the most exciting. Milwaukee need to do something to salvage what is expect to be the end of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s time at the franchise, and Morant has the upside to keep him around if he gets back to his best.
Schroeder Suspended
The NBA is the best reality TV show in the world. Forget the on-court product, this league makes its biggest headlines off it with this week adding yet another.
BREAKING: Dennis Schroder was just suspended 3 games without pay by the NBA for trying to fight Luka Doncic outside the locker room last month, per @ChrisBHaynes pic.twitter.com/x6UYpNZzpl
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 11, 2026
Dennis Schroeder declined a whopping $82 million extension with the Los Angeles Lakers not long ago, and Luka Doncic used it to his advantage. He reminded Schroeder of what could have been on the court before things escalated in the tunnel 40 minutes after the final buzzer.
The German International has since been suspended for three games and is set to miss when the Sacramento Kings take on the Los Angeles Lakers as -9.5 underdogs.
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