RealGM Basketball Wiretap

13 February 2026

• Damian Lillard 'Can Do A Lot' But Won't Rush Return To Play

  Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard is gearing up to compete in the Three-Point Shootout at NBA All-Star Weekend. Lillard is doing so, in part, because he needs to feel competition again.

  "I need some competition," Lillard said. "I've just been working out, not playing, so I need some type of competition. I just need a bump."

  Lillard competing at All-Star Weekend is part of a recovery that the Blazers star termed as "progressive".

  "I can do a lot, that's where I'll put it," Lillard said, while emphasizing that he's on his own timeline and not focused on where Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics or Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers are in their recoveries from their own Achilles' tears.

  "I'm running my own race," Lillard said. "If I was 23, 24, 25, I probably would be more (competitive) about who is doing what, but I know where I am physically. I can feel it. I'm on the court every day, and to me, it's not about what (Tatum, who joined the Celtics G League team for practice this week) is doing. After the season, I'm going into a full summer to get ready for next season, and I want to make sure that I'm 1,000 percent and that I can play every year for the rest of my career as the best version of myself. So, I'm not in a hurry, especially knowing that I've got time. That's the game I'm playing."

• Cavaliers, Blazers Have Shown Interest In Trading For Giannis Antetokounmpo

  The odds of a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade continue to decrease as we approach the trade deadline as both the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves have executed alternative deals. The Warriors, Wolves and Miami Heat have been the most aggressive, while the New York Knicks have also been linked with trading for Antetokounmpo.

  This could leave a dark horse team if something will unexpectedly be completed by Jon Horst and the Milwaukee Bucks by the trade deadline with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Portland Trail Blazers also on the fringes of the conversations. The Cavaliers have perhaps the best young player to potentially offer in a trade for Antetokounmpo in Evan Mobley, while the Blazers are in the unique position of being able to offer some of Milwaukee's own picks back to them.

  "Yeah, we're pretty much-I've been at 51-49 against a trade," said Brian Windhorst on Get Up on Thursday morning. "I'm now sort of moving more towards 60-40 against a trade. Minnesota is still out there, but I'm going to be honest with you, I don't think Minnesota's offer was as good as Golden State's. And if Golden State's offer is not good enough and Minnesota can't do a trade to improve their offer, I don't think Minnesota is realistic.

  "That, in my mind, leaves Miami. Miami is making a sort of player-and-sort-of-semi-draft-pick offer. It's a decent offer. I don't think it's something that you would stop everything for-for Giannis.

  "There's a couple of other teams out there that have shown interest. Cleveland has shown some interest in Giannis, but they are in a position with James Harden now where they've sort of picked the lane. Portland has sniffed around Giannis. They have the Bucks' draft picks and draft assets from the Damian Lillard trade, but these are not compelling things. So unless there's a secret thing going on, I'm not feeling Giannis moving right now. And Giannis has not forced the issue, and that is probably going to be a factor."

  Windhorst later said on First Take that the Cavaliers are less likely to be in the mix for Antetokounmpo following their trade of Darius Garland for James Harden.

• Giannis Antetokounmpo Camp Signals No Interest In Signing Extension With Blazers

  Giannis Antetokoumpo's camp has signaled to the Portland Trail Blazers that they have no interest in signing a contract extension with the team should they trade for the 31-year-old, sources told Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

  Antetokounmpo has a player option for the 2027-28 season.

  The Blazers emerged as a trade candidate for Antetokounmpo earlier this week, though it was revealed then that Antetokounmpo does not want to go to Portland.

  The Blazers could still help facilitate a deal involving Antetkounmpo as a third team in a trade.

• How to watch Portland Trail Blazers vs Phoenix Suns NBA game: Tip-off time, cable channels, livestream providers, international coverage

  As the league approaches its mid-season showcase in Los Angeles, the February 3 encounter between the Phoenix Suns and the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center stands as a definitive case study in roster resilience and coaching innovation. This matchup, featured as the high-profile nightcap of the NBA Coast 2 Coast Tuesday on NBC and Peacock, represents more than a regional rivalry; it is also a battle for playoff positioning in the tightly contest Western Conference. For the Phoenix Suns, the contest offers a chance to validate their standing as a top-tier defensive unit under first-year head coach Jordan Ott. For the Portland Trail Blazers, the evening is a desperate attempt to arrest a five-game losing slide and maintain their precarious hold on a play-in spot amidst a looming ownership change.

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  The Suns enter the February 3 matchup with a record of 30-20, currently positioning them as the seventh seed in a West. Their performances have exceeded preseason expectations so far, which looked turbulent to say the least following the departures of Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal in the previous year. Under Ott's leadership, the Suns have undergone a profound identity shift, transitioning from a star-heavy offensive model to a disciplined, defensive-first system that prioritizes turnovers and transition opportunities.

  The Trail Blazers on the other hand, are currently sitting at 23-27 and occupying the tenth position in the Western Conference. After a resurgent start to the month of January 2026, when they posted a 9-2 record and appeared to be a rising force in the conference, the Blazers have entered a significant downturn. They are currently "reeling" from a five-game losing streak, characterized by inconsistent offense and an inability to contain opponents' scoring runs. The centerpiece of Portland's season has been the historic breakout of Deni Avdija. The 25-year-old forward was recently named an All-Star reserve, making him the first Israeli player in NBA history to earn the honor.

  How to watch Portland Trail Blazers vs Phoenix Suns internationally

  If you are outside of the USA, the NBA game between Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns should be available to livestream with an NBA League Pass.

  Please be aware that livestream rights vary by country and depend on local broadcast deals. NBA games that aren't shown live on NBA League Pass are usually later made available on-demand.

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  How to watch anywhere with VPN

  If you are abroad, you may need to use a virtual private network (VPN) in order to watch games using your usual streaming service. A VPN, such as ExpressVPN, allows you to establish a secure connection online when streaming.

  Expected Starting Lineups

  The projected starting lineup for the Phoenix Suns includes Collin Gillespie at point guard, who leads all active players on the team with 13.5 points and 3.0 made three-pointers per game. Grayson Allen starts at shooting guard following a balanced 23-point, 8-assist performance against the Clippers, while Dillon Brooks serves as the small forward hub after winning Western Conference Player of the Week honors. The frontcourt features veteran floor-spacer Royce O'Neale at power forward and Mark Williams at center, who anchors the unit with team-leading averages of 8.0 rebounds and 1.0 block per contest.

  The Portland Trail Blazers are expected to start Caleb Love at point guard following his team-high 21-point outing against Cleveland, paired with Shaedon Sharpe at shooting guard, who has served as the primary scoring engine averaging 22.9 points over his last ten games. Toumani Camara will likely start at small forward, contributing a consistent 2.5 made three-pointers per game. The frontcourt is bolstered by the presence of veteran Jerami Grant at power forward and rookie Donovan Clingan at center, who currently ranks third in the NBA with 11.1 rebounds per game.

  Head-to-Head Encounters

  In their most recent matchup on November 18, 2025, at the Moda Center, the Phoenix Suns defeated the Trail Blazers 127-110, covering as a 1.5-point favorite in a game that exceeded the point total. Earlier in the 2024-25 season, the teams split a high-scoring series in Portland; on February 3, 2025, the Blazers secured a 121-119 overtime victory as 5-point underdogs, which followed a 127-108 Portland win on February 1 where they also covered a 5-point spread.

  Phoenix found more success at the Footprint Center late in 2024, recording a 116-109 victory on December 15 and a 103-97 win on November 2, though the Blazers covered double-digit spreads in both of those contests.

• Blazers Trying To Trade For Giannis Antetokounmpo

  The Portland Trail Blazers have emerged with interest in trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo, sources tell Jake Fischer. Because the Blazers control the first round picks of the Milwaukee Bucks in 2028, 2029 and 2030 due to the Damian Lillard trade, they have long been rumored to potentially get involved in any trade of Antetokounmpo. If the Bucks enter an extended rebuild, they would be incentivized to try to reacquire those first round picks.

  Instead of being facilitators, however, the Blazers would like to acquire Antetokounmpo for themselves. Portland is considered to be right behind the frequently cited Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves of the teams with the strongest trade deadline interest in Antetokounmpo.

  "I've heard it from various sources," said Fischer on a Monday livestream. "We reported it on Saturday morning as well that the Blazers themselves are trying to get into the mix to bring Giannis Antetokounmpo to Portland, to play alongside his former teammate Damian Lillard, who of course has been someone who's been trying to make this happen behind the scenes."

  The Blazers have matching salary for Antetokounmpo built around Jerami Grant and can offer Scoot Henderson as a potential second draft candidate for the Bucks. Antetokounmpo could also reunite with Jrue Holiday, but he does not appear to have interest in the Blazers' scenario.

  "We've been told also pretty categorically that Giannis does not want to go to Portland," added Fischer.

• Scoot Henderson Close To Making Season Debut

  Portland Trail Blazers point guard Scoot Henderson is closing in on making his season debut. Portland head coach Tiago Splitter said that Henderson is "very, very close" to returning to the lineup.

  The third-year guard has missed the entire season to date after suffering a left hamstring tear in the leadup to the season. The Trail Blazers have not put a specific timeline on Henderson's return, but recently said Henderson was in the final stages of his recovery from the injury.

  Portland has put themselves into contention for a spot in the Play-In Tournament despite having several injuries at the guard position. Jrue Holiday has played in only 21 of 49 games, while Henderson and Damian Lillard have missed the entire season. Henderson's return, combined with Holiday being available, should bring stability to the lead guard spot.

• NBA All-Star Reserves Include LeBron James, Six First-Time All-Stars

  The NBA named the 2026 All-Star reserves as voted on by the NBA coaches.

  Eastern Conference

  • Scottie Barnes - Toronto Raptors
  • Jalen Duren - Detroit Pistons
  • Jalen Johnson - Atlanta Hawks
  • Donovan Mitchell - Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Norman Powell - Miami Heat
  • Pascal Siakam - Indiana Pacers
  • Karl-Anthony Towns - New York Knicks

  Western Conference

  • Deni Avdija - Portland Trail Blazers
  • Devin Booker - Phoenix Suns
  • Kevin Durant - Houston Rockets
  • Anthony Edwards - Minnesota Timberwolves
  • Chet Holmgren - Oklahoma City Thunder
  • LeBron James - Los Angeles Lakers
  • Jamal Murray - Denver Nuggets

  Avdija, Duren, Holmgren, Johnson, Murray and Powell are all first-time All-Stars. LeBron James was selected to a record 22nd All-Star team.

• Hawks Trade Vit Krejci To Blazers For Duop Reath, Two Second Round Picks

  The Atlanta Hawks are trading wing Vit Krejci to the Portland Trail Blazers for center Duop Reath and two second-round picks. Atlanta will receive their own 2027 second-round pick back in the deal, as well as a 2030 New York Knicks second-round pick.

  Krejci's role in the Hawks rotation changed after the team acquired Corey Kispert in the deal that saw them also receive C.J. McCollum for Trae Young. On the season, Krejci has averaged a career-high 9.0 points pre game this season. He's shot 46.4% from the field, including 42.3% on 5.2 three-point attempts per game.

  Reath is out for the season following surgery to address a stress fracture in his foot. Atlanta may waive Reath to open a roster spot, potentially to convert Christian Koloko from his two-way contract.

• Blazers Interested In Acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo Vs Only Helping To Facilitate Trade

  The Portland Trail Blazers have been linked as a potential facilitator in Giannis Antetokounmpo trade talks. However, Portland as let the Milwaukee Bucks know that they have some interest in acquiring Antetokounmpo themselves.

  Portland has both Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday on their roster, who the Bucks star enjoyed playing with in Milwaukee. The Blazers also have control of future Bucks first-round picks and swaps from 2028 through 2030.

  It's the draft capital that has had Portland linked to trades where Antetokounmpo lands elsewhere. In those constructions, the Trail Blazers would receive a player or two themselves, while routing the draft capital to the Bucks for a team that doesn't have sufficient draft assets of their own to offer.

• Duop Reath Out For Season Due To Stress Fracture In Right Foot

  Portland Trail Blazers center Duop Reath will miss the remainder of the season after a surgery to repair a stress fracture in his right foot. Reath is in the final year of his contract with the Trail Blazers and could be a restricted free agent this summer.

  Reath became a rotation regular for Portland as a rookie, appearing in 68 games with 20 starts. His role has been lessened over the last two seasons, as the Blazers have added young center Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen. This season Reath has appeared in 32 games and played just 8.1 minutes per contest.