NBA Rumors: Lakers-Knicks trade that fell through, Kings sign No. 1 pick, Paul George’s excuse.
Los Angeles nearly acquired a Knicks big man who ended up elsewhere.
The last few weeks in the NBA have been filled with drama — injuries, major trades, and surprise roster changes have kept fans on edge. As the playoff race intensifies, every team is seeking an advantage. Let’s dive into three of the most significant stories from around the league.
Lakers-Knicks trade that almost went through Heading into the trade deadline, the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks had different objectives — the Knicks aimed to strengthen their bench, while L.A. was looking for a dependable big man to stabilize its frontcourt. Surprisingly, they almost met each other’s needs in a trade that never happened.
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the Lakers considered acquiring Knicks center Jericho Sims before New York traded him to Milwaukee. With Mitchell Robinson injured, the Knicks were shopping Sims, leading many to wonder what the Lakers would have given up in exchange.
For the Lakers, the trade made perfect sense. Their center rotation had been weak, with Jaxson Hayes and Alex Len failing to impress. Sims, while not a game-changer, would have at least brought athleticism and rim protection.
However, since joining Milwaukee, Sims has yet to make an impact, logging no minutes under Doc Rivers. Meanwhile, the Knicks await Robinson’s return (expected March 1st), leaving the Lakers to depend on Len.
Will this missed chance come back to haunt L.A.? Only time will reveal the answer.
Kings sign former No. 1 Pick Markelle Fultz The Sacramento Kings made a low-risk, high-reward move this week, signing former No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz, according to Shams Charania.
Fultz, 26, was a free agent throughout the season due to injury concerns. He last played for the Orlando Magic, where he averaged 7.8 points, 2.8 assists, and 1.0 steals in 21.2 minutes.
For Sacramento, this deal makes sense. After trading De’Aaron Fox, they’ve relied on Malik Monk as their primary ball-handler — a role he’s not used to. While the team is currently riding a three-game win streak, Fultz provides depth and size as they prepare for a playoff push.
Although his injury history raises concerns, if Fultz can remain healthy, he could be a valuable addition to a Kings team striving to secure a postseason spot.
Paul George’s excuse for struggles isn’t convincing The Philadelphia 76ers’ season has gone off course. With Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and Joel Embiid all dealing with injuries, the Sixers find themselves in 11th place in the East — a shocking fall for a team with championship aspirations. Maxey has been excellent when healthy, but Embiid’s ongoing injury issues and George’s poor performance have left fans frustrated.
George hit a new low in the Sixers’ loss to the Brooklyn Nets, scoring just two points on 1-of-7 shooting in 37 minutes. When asked about playing without Embiid, his answer wasn’t exactly comforting:
“It’s still a work in progress. Still learning, figuring him out, figuring out spacing. I’m optimistic we’ll get it.”
The stats tell a different story. In his last five games, George is averaging only 10.2 points on 39.6 percent shooting — unacceptable for a player on a four-year, $212 million contract.
To make matters worse, George is now blaming an extensor tendon injury in his left pinky finger for his struggles, claiming it’s impacting his shooting and ball-handling. If this is truly the cause, the Sixers might be better off shutting both George and Embiid down — because right now, this “process”appears more broken than ever.