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The New York Rangers have been mired in a horrible season. This resulted in Chris Drury sending a letter to fans, preparing them for a re-tool. Part of that retool may be the future of Artemi Panarin. It had been previously rumored that the Rangers would not be extending Panarin. Now, head coach Mike Sullivan has explained why. “It boils down to, I think, big picture decision making. I think this is obviously a discussion that probably predated me…As far as looking at the core group and where they’re at and where potentially they’re going to go moving forward, every organization goes through those decisions. I don’t think you make those decisions on a whim. There’s a lot of smart people in this league and so those conversations are had, they’re ongoing conversations. Big picture… There’s always a big picture that has to be kept in mind when making organizational-type decisions, and I think that this was one of them,” Sullivan said to the media, according to Mollie Walker of the New York Post. It was a bombshell when it came out that the Rangers would be letting Panarin walk. He has found the back of the net 18 times, while having a team-leading 36 assists. That is good for a team-high 54 points. The Breadman joined the NHL out of the KHL in 2015-16 with the Chicago Blackhawks. He spent two seasons there before two years with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Panarin is now in his seventh season with the Rangers, placing him in the final year of his seven-year contract. With the realization that the Rangers have been public about the fact that they will not be bringing back Panarin, he will be a hot commodity at the trade deadline. His value could be determined by whether the star forward can have a contract extension in place. Bringing him in for a rental will be expensive, but the price will go up if the future of Panarin is secured with his new team. The Rangers are now 21-22-6 on the season, which places them in last place in the Eastern Conference. They return to the ice, currently with Panarin, on Monday night, visiting the Anaheim Ducks. The post Rangers’ Mike Sullivan gives ‘big picture’ answer to Artemi Panarin contract question appeared first on ClutchPoints.

In the modern NBA, the trade deadline and the weeks leading up to it are filled with tons of moves, both big and small. If a player hears his name pop up in trade rumors, it is incredibly likely that he will, in fact, be dealt. Take Trae Young, for example. The point guard was already dealt to the Washington Wizards, even though deadline day is still weeks away. Many of the other big-name players on the trading block will be moved before February 5 at 3 p.m. ET, too. These days, the biggest question surrounding the best trade candidates is not whether they will or won’t be traded, but where they will be traded to. The hope is to answer that question below. Here are the best landing spots for the best NBA trade candidates who already have one foot out the door. Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies Best landing spot: Miami Heat Ja Morant’s days with the Memphis Grizzlies are numbered, and a trade is likely right around the corner. Memphis has been growing tired of the point guard’s antics for years now. He has been suspended on multiple occasions, and the last straw may have been his recent argument with Vince Williams, in which he clearly stated his displeasure with the Grizzlies. The Miami Heat seem like a logical home for Morant to turn his career back around. Not long ago, Morant was a two-time All-Star who was viewed as one of the future faces of the league. He was regularly leading the Grizzlies to high seeds in the Western Conference because of his incredible aerial ability. It is obvious that Morant is still a superstar talent, even if he is having a down year and has disappointed in recent seasons. Perhaps the Heat culture can shape him up and allow him to reach the potential he showed earlier in his career. The Heat have desired another star since Jimmy Butler requested a trade out of town. Point guard happens to be Miami’s biggest need, too. With Terry Rozier on indefinite leave, Davion Mitchell has taken on most of the point guard minutes. Mitchell is a pesky defender, but the Heat need more creation ability from their lead guard. The one thing preventing a Morant-to-Miami deal is the Heat’s hesitancy to ruin a potential trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Best landing spot: Sacramento Kings Jonathan Kuminga officially requested a trade on the first day he became trade-eligible on January 15. That doesn’t come as much of a surprise, as he has had a rocky relationship with the Golden State Warriors for quite some time now. Kuminga didn’t return to the Warriors until late in the offseason. When he was searching for new homes in free agency, the G-League Ignite product was commonly linked to the Sacramento Kings. Sacramento still seems like the best fit for Kuminga. With the team poised to rebuild and trade veteran players such as Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and DeMar DeRozan, adding a young and athletic building block for the future would make sense. Kuminga still has the talent to give so much more than he was ever able to show with the Warriors. If he were traded to the Kings, and if the team did blow the rest of the roster up, he’d have a chance to prove himself as a featured player. Michael Porter Jr., Brooklyn Nets Best landing spot: Detroit Pistons Opinions are mixed on whether the Brooklyn Nets should or shouldn’t trade Michael Porter Jr. The team added him and a future first-round pick in a trade with the Denver Nuggets in the offseason. In his first year with the Nets, Porter has been given a bigger role than he ever had in Denver. The sharpshooter from Missouri has capitalized by becoming a 25.8 points per game scorer, proving that he can be a legitimate first or second scoring option. Despite this star leap, reports suggest the Nets may still flip him for even more draft capital. After all, they are rebuilding and a ways away from contention. The Nets are playing five rookie first-round picks this year. While Porter could fit the Nets timeline, the…

A lot of basketball fans will claim that the annual NBA All-Star Weekend is getting more and more stale, despite the cast of superstars. In the past few seasons, basketball fanatics have criticized the event, calling for something new. Just recently, the league is teasing the idea of organizing a 1v1 tournament to inject some excitement. Check out the gallery to see the 10 best NBA superstars for a potential 1v1 tournament at the All-Star Weekend. 10. LeBron James Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images LeBron James is regarded by many as the G.O.A.T. of basketball. After all, he is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, coupled with four NBA championships, Finals MVPs, and league MVPs. James is still one of the best players in the league, despite hitting 40 years old. As a result, his all-around play, size, and athleticism make him a key superstar who can still thrive in one-on-one situations. However, his declining defense might be a cause for concern. 9. Stephen Curry Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images In any kind of basketball game, outside shooting is always a key arsenal. As a result, even in one-on-one situations, Stephen Curry should easily dominate. Widely known as the best shooter in the world, Curry can punish his opponents with his elite outside shooting. Combine that with his deep bag of moves with the ball in his hands, and his defender will easily have his hands full on defense. But on the other hand, defensively, Curry might be a step slower compared to quicker and younger guards in the NBA. 8. Victor Wembanyama Petre Thomas-Imagn Images Standing at 7-foot-3 with a polished skillset, it’s easy to see why Victor Wembanyama is expected to be the next big thing in the NBA. The 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year easily towers over majority of the players in the league. And with his versatility, it’s nearly impossible to see anyone try to shut him down one-on-one. Furthermore, any offensive player would have a long night trying to score around the rim over Wemby’s rim protection. 7. Giannis Antetokounmpo Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Giannis Antetokounmpo is easily one of the best superstars in the NBA. After all, he has won two straight NBA MVPs, an NBA championship, and a Finals MVP. The Greek Freak is a nightmare to stop one-on-one, thanks to his brute strength and out-of-this-world athleticism for his size. Giannis also has the right size and skill to just about overpower anyone in front of him. 6. Nikola Jokic Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images There’s no doubt that Nikola Jokic has cemented himself as the best center in the NBA with three MVPs, an NBA title, and a Finals MVP to his name. The Serbian superstar possesses a deep bag of tricks that contains a mix of high IQ, skill, and strength. Jokic isn’t one of the most athletic players, nor is he fast, but for a skilled center who’s great at breaking down defenses, expect the Serbian star pull out some unorthodox moves to own the game. 5. Kyrie Irving Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Equipped with arguably the best handles in the league, Kyrie Irving should easily thrive in one-on-one situations. His killer crossovers would instantly create several highlight reels. Furthermore, Irving does have multiple ways of scoring over his opponents. And with his defenders not enjoying any help, expect Irving to easily dominate the competition in near streetball fashion. 4. Luka Doncic Jerome Miron-Imagn Images It’s safe to say that Luka Doncic is one of the best European superstars in the NBA today. And with Luka Magic, the Slovenian superstar should be an easy favorite in the potential 1v1 tournament. Luka is one of the best in isolation plays, thanks to his unstoppable step back. Furthermore, he’s a dangerous scorer who has the tools to punish his opponents inside or outside, especially with his deceptive speed. 3. Anthony Edwards Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images Anthony Edwards is currently the face of the Minnesota Timberwolves. His athletic plays and expressive personality make him an instant fan favorite.…

The Carolina Hurricanes keep on rolling. On Sunday, they extended their winning streak to three games after taking care of business at Lenovo Center in Raleigh against the visiting Buffalo Sabres. Thanks in large part to the incredible performance between the pipes of goalie Brandon Bussi, the ‘Canes came away with a 2-1 victory. Bussi has been excellent for the Hurricanes in the 2025-26 NHL regular season, and he proved once again that he’s among the best in front of the net this campaign with the way he shut down Buffalo’s attack. He turned away 17 of 18 shots he faced against the Sabres, and one of the saves he made in the contest seems like a strong contender for the goal of the year. In the second quarter, Sabres star Tage Thompson got control of the puck inside the Hurricanes’ zone and immediately rushed toward the net. He made a quick pass before getting the puck back, looking primed to score a tie-breaking goal. But Bussi denied Thompson with a highlight glove save. You can watch it all here: SAVE OF THE YEAR ENTRY BRANDON BUSSIIIIIIIIII pic.twitter.com/Bcsa01IZvU — Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) January 19, 2026 That save got people buzzing on the internet. “ insane,” a fan commented. “Close enough, 2006 Cam Ward, welcome back to the Canes!,” a social media user on X, formerly Twitter, shared. “BUSSI NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED DURING THE SECOND INTERMISSION,” commented a fan. “Pick the highlight save of the year,” a different post read. “Insane save from Bussi #CarolinaCulture,” said another commenter. “THE WHEELS ON THE BUS GO ROUND AND ROUND,” one shared. Bussi also made an incredible stand in front of the net amid the desperate Buffalo attack in the final seconds of the contest. bussi bussed us down. he was in a flow state. you tip your cap then absolutely demolish whichever preds goalie goes tomorrow (please not Saros) pic.twitter.com/7E50UH3ExZ — Conor Hurley (@CHurls13) January 19, 2026 On the season, the history-making 27-year-old Bussi is 18-3-1 with a 2.25 goals against average and a .906 save percentage through 22 starts for the Hurricanes, who improved to 31-15-4 following their takedown of Buffalo. The post Hurricanes’ Brandon Bussi may have made the save of the year on Sabres’ Tage Thompson appeared first on ClutchPoints.