Sports
Three Surprise NBA Trades That Could Go Down at Trade Deadline
Jan 19, 2025; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox (5) drives to the basket against the Washington Wizards during the fourth quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images It’s time to expect the unexpected.
A handful of teams will be trying to add a piece or two at next Thursday’s NBA trade deadline to become serious contenders, while others could opt to part ways with core talent as they attempt to start building something special for the future.
Whatever happens across the league has the chance to make or break some teams’ seasons, and you can almost guarantee that there will be a number of moves that come straight out of left field.
Here are three that could shock you the most:
Kings ship De’Aaron Fox to San Antonio
ESPN reported Tuesday that Sacramento was willing to hear offers for Fox, who has been with the Kings ever since they selected him with the fifth overall pick of the 2017 draft.
Fox, still only 27, has established himself as Sacramento’s No. 2 option behind Domantas Sabonis, and there are even nights where he ends up in the driver’s seat.
With Fox, the Kings were seemingly starting to head in the right direction, ending a 16-year playoff drought with a trip to the postseason during the 2022-23 campaign. They went 46-36 last season and now sit at 24-23—still very much in the mix to at least reach the play-in tournament.
But now it looks like Sacramento wants to change course. Plenty of teams will be getting in touch with the Kings to ask about Fox, who would likely thrive with the Spurs playing alongside Victor Wembanyama. Having Chris Paul as a mentor wouldn’t hurt, either.
Jimmy Butler reunites with the 76ers
Nov 18, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) drives to the basket against Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) and guard Kyle Lowry (7) during the second quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Butler has been miserable down in South Beach.
The Miami Heat have suspended the six-time All-Star three times for conduct detrimental to the team, so it’s not a matter of if Butler gets traded; it’s now all about where he’s headed.
A report from Yahoo Sports indicated that Philadelphia big man Joel Embiid wants to play with Butler again. The two were teammates during the 2018-19 season, when Butler made 55 appearances (all starts) for the Sixers.
Change is needed, desperately, in the City of Brotherly Love, as the 76ers are currently 19-27. They wouldn’t even make the play-in if the season ended today, so if they want to have any chance of making a late push, they can’t mess this deadline up.
Still, things didn’t work out with Butler once, so don’t expect Philadelphia to beg for a second chance with the disgruntled star.
Nikola Vucevic gets a chance to “win now” with Warriors
Dec 5, 2024; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic (9) falls on top of San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) during the first half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images If you watched the Bulls’ 122-100 loss to the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night, you would have seen Vucevic, Chicago’s center, getting torched on back-door cuts, leisurely making his way up and down the floor and riding the bench for the entire fourth quarter.
This guy is checked out. And he hasn’t been shy expressing how he feels about being with the Bulls.
“I’m getting closer to the end of my career,” Vucevic told the Chicago Tribune. “I would like to be somewhere that’s in win-now mode.”
Golden State certainly isn’t the dynasty it once was, but it has a better chance of making a deep playoff run than Chicago does, especially if the Bulls get rid of Zach LaVine at the deadline, too.
Sports
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
Feb 22, 2026; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (37) looks on from inside the dugout against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol received a two-year contract extension through the 2028 season, the team announced Sunday.
Financial terms were not disclosed by the team, which holds an option for the 2029 season.
“As I’ve gotten to know Oli, I’ve seen someone who cares about this organization and knows what has made the Cardinals special over time — and who understands that for us to get where we need to go, we must compete relentlessly to set new standards in everything that we do,” president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said.
“He is invested in the progress of our young core and is unafraid to challenge himself and to help those around him grow. I am energized to continue working with him towards the on-field success that we expect and that our fans deserve.”
Marmol, 39, has guided the Cardinals to a 325-323 record during his four seasons as the skipper. He led St. Louis to the National League Central title in 2022 before the team fell in the wild-card series to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Last season, the Cardinals posted a 78-84 record to finish in fourth place in the NL Central.
Marmol was a coach with St. Louis from 2017-21 under previous managers Mike Shildt and Mike Matheny.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tyler Reif treated for heat exhaustion after Trucks race
Oct 31, 2025; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Truck Series driver Tyler Reif (41) during the NASCAR Truck Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie Tyler Reif was treated for heat exhaustion after Saturday night’s street race in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Reif, 18, was transported to an area medical facility after finishing 16th in the race in the No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet. He was later released.
“Tyler and his family would like to express their gratitude to the NASCAR officials, track medical workers and the local medical facility staff for their care,” Niece Motorsports said in a release.
Reif made his debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series in 2025. Saturday’s race was just his third on the circuit, including a 17th-place finish at Atlanta on Feb. 21.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: RB David Montgomery 'wants out' of Detroit
Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) looks on before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images Lions running back David Montgomery “wants out” of Detroit after three seasons, ESPN reported on Sunday.
Montgomery, however, immediately appeared to refute the report on X, posting: “Damn, Dmo told you that?”
The ESPN report claims the Lions would want “a decent Day 3 pick (possibly a fifth-rounder)” in the 2026 NFL Draft in return for Montgomery, who turns 29 in June and is owed $6 million next season.
The report follows general manager Brad Holmes’ remarks after the season about Montgomery being unhappy with his playing time in 2025. Sharing a backfield with Jahmyr Gibbs, Montgomery rushed for a career-low 716 yards and eight touchdowns in 17 games (no starts).
“Those are conversations that we’re going to have to have because I’ve got a lot of respect for that player,” Holmes said of Montgomery in January. “He deserves to be in a situation where his skillset can be utilized, and so yeah would love for it to be here, but if it can’t be here then you’d just love to see where could work out best for him.”
At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Holmes said the situation with Montgomery is “fluid.” He signed a two-year extension during the 2024 season that runs through the end of the 2027 campaign.
“Yeah, I have been in touch with David’s agent, and his representation,” Holmes revealed. “Obviously, we love David, he’s a great player, we love to have him, you know, kind of want to put last year in the rear view, and just move forward. But, obviously, a player has to want to be at a certain place as well. The conversations are still fluid, but we’ll see how it goes.”
Montgomery has rushed for 2,506 yards and 33 touchdowns in 45 games (28 starts) in three seasons with Detroit (2023-25). He has 76 catches for 650 yards in that span.
He began his career with the NFC North rival Chicago Bears, who drafted him in the third round in 2019. Montgomery rushed for 3,609 yards and 26 scores in 60 games (51 starts) with the Bears (2019-22).
–Field Level Media
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
Tyler Reif treated for heat exhaustion after Trucks race
