The Houston Rockets have expressed a tremendous amount of interest in trading for Mikal Bridges, sources tell The Athletic. The Rockets have made an offer of multiple first round picks to the Brooklyn Nets for Bridges in recent weeks.

The Nets have zero interest in trading Bridges, who is part of their core moving forward.

Ime Udoka is driving the Rockets' push to improve the roster to make the playoffs this season.

The NBA has announced that the NBA Draft 2024 presented by State Farm will expand to a two-night format that features the first round on Wednesday, June 26 and the second round on Thursday, June 27. 

The first round will be held at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., home of the Brooklyn Nets. The second round will take place at ESPN’s Seaport District Studios in New York.

ABC, ESPN and the ESPN App will each air the first round, and ESPN and the ESPN App will broadcast the second round.  

Coverage on both nights will begin at 8 p.m. ET.  

ESPN’s presentation of the second round will include a comprehensive review of the first round and in-depth storytelling about the draftees.  

The first round will continue to have five minutes between draft picks.  For the second round, the time between draft picks will increase to four minutes from two minutes.

“Based on feedback about the NBA Draft format from basketball executives around the league and my own experience in draft rooms, we believe that teams will benefit from being able to regroup between rounds and having additional time to make decisions during the second round,” said Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations. “Two nights of primetime coverage will also enhance the viewing experience for our fans and further showcase the draftees.” 

The Golden State Warriors consider it unlikely they will make a major trade ahead of the deadline, sources tell Anthony Slater of The Athletic.

The Warriors remain motivated to win this season, but some believe their chances of competing for a title are remote considering their current level of play and spot in the standings outside the playoffs.

The Warriors' interest in Dejounte Murray is described as "tepid at best."

Golden State has a greater need and desire to upgrade on the wing or at center. Lauri Markkanen is a player who would fit that mold, but he is not believed to be truly available and there are rival teams who could probably beat their offer.

Andrew Wiggins is the most likely player on the Warriors to be moved as he's in Year 1 of a four-year, $109 million deal. They have discussed player-for-player offers and they wouldn't have to attach a draft pick to get off his salary. Wiggins has played better of late, especially alongside Jonathan Kuminga and Draymond Green.

Tyrese Haliburton is trying to get healthy to help the Indiana Pacers win games. Haliburton would also like to be eligible for NBA awards, because he has a significant financial stake in making named to an All-NBA team.

However, Haliburton has also missed 13 games. If he misses five more games this season, Haliburton won't be eligible for NBA awards. That's something he disagrees with.

"I think it’s a stupid rule, like plenty of the guys in the league, but this is what the owners want, so as players, we gotta do our job and play in 65 games if we’re able to," Haliburton said. "So, that’s what I gotta do, take care of my body to be able to play in those games, and I think you’re seeing other players in the league kind of face the same thing. As long as the owners are happy."

Haliburton signed a maximum rookie scale extension this past offseason. That deal will kick in with the 2024-25 season and projects to start at 25% of the salary cap. That now projects to be $35.25 million for 2024-25 and $204.5 million over the five-year deal.

If Haliburton makes an All-NBA team, his deal will bump up to start at 30% of the salary cap. That projects to be $42.3 million in 2024-25 and $245.3 million over five years.

Malcolm Brogdon was happy to join the Portland Trail Blazers via trade this past summer. Part of that was Brogdon not feeling wanted in Boston.

"When I was first traded, I viewed it as an opportunity. I really did," Brogdon said. "You can ask people around me how my energy was in training camp. I was excited to be here. I was excited to be with a championship coach. And I was excited to go from a place where I wasn’t as valued, and go to place where I am very valued."

Brogdon was asked if that meant he didn't feel valued by the Celtics. He expanded a bit, while giving kudos to Chauncey Billups.

"At times. At times," Brogdon said. "I was there for a year, won Sixth Man of the Year, and they shipped me out. So like … I didn’t feel very valued there. Here, I feel valued. Portland has embraced me. And I’ve enjoyed being coached by Chauncey (Billups)."

A trying season for Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams has gotten even more difficult. Williams is going to miss at least two weeks due to a left foot injury.

The fourth-year forward was diagnosed with acute bone edema in his left foot. Williams was injured in the Bulls game on January 25. The two-week timeline will keep Williams out until after the trade deadline on February 8.

The New York Knicks reportedly "covet" Tari Eason, according to David Vertsberger of SNY.

The Knicks have been rumored with several players ahead of the trade deadline, including Bruce Brown and Daniel Gafford. 

Eason has been out since January 1 with a leg injury. 

Saturday night's game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors averaged 3.97 million viewers and a 2.2 rating on ABC.

Outside of Christmas Day and In-Season Tournament games, it was the most-watched regular season game since January 2020.

The game peaked with 5.24 million viewers.

The Nuggets-Sixers game earlier on Saturday averaged 2.62 million viewers, with the Heat-Knicks averaging 1.78 million viewers.

The entire tripleheader averaged 2.92 million viewers. 

Nick Nurse said that Joel Embiid's injury which forced the center to leave the Philadelphia 76ers' loss to the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter was not related to the center's previous knee injury that held him out in recent games. 

Embiid left the game after Jonathan Kuminga landed on his leg. 

Embiid is scheduled for an MRI.

Nurse added that Embiid felt good before the Warriors game, and the medical staff was comfortable clearing him to play. 

Malcolm Brogdon said he was happy and felt valued by the Portland Trail Blazers amid trade rumors.

“I’m happy here. I’m valued here. Valued in this leadership/lead-guard role. And I can’t complain with that. I’m happy in Portland," Brogdon told Jason Quick of The Athletic.

Brogdon has been linked with several teams, including the Knicks.

Brogdon, whose contract runs through next season, added that he hasn't talked to the team about any trades.

“We haven’t really talked about that. Of course, I’m sure they are looking at their options, but for me, it’s all about using every opportunity to play good basketball and help this team win," said Brogdon.