LeBron James is scheduled to make his return for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Los Angeles Clippers tonight.

James was upgraded to doubtful for the game.

He has missed the previous 17 games with a groin injury. The Lakers are 6-11 in that span. 

Jason Kidd is in the discussion to be the next coach of the Los Angeles Lakers if they decide to move on from Luke Walton, according to Ric Bucher.

"Another development that I’m hearing is gaining momentum, and that’s the possibility of Jason Kidd returning to the coaching ranks by succeeding Luke Walton with the Lakers...now sources are saying that the Lakers have actually gotten back to him and that this has gone to the next level. And that if the Lakers do make a move on Luke – which, based on all of the rumblings, could happen sooner rather than later – Kidd appears to be very much in the mix and possibly is even the favorite," said Ric Bucher on his podcast.

Kidd has a career coaching record of 183 wins and 190 losses in 4.5 seasons with the Nets and Bucks. 

Listen to "NYK/DAL Trade; Predicting Most/Least Likely to Deal, AD Destination, plus NW Div Deadline Outlook" on Spreaker.

Click to subscribe via RSS feed or iTunes.

Discussing the NYK/DAL trade, and why Nate really likes it for the Knicks. Then, recorded a little earlier today, we go through the Northwest Division to discuss their teams’ outlook at the trade deadline, in order: Denver, OKC, Portland, Utah, and Minnesota. Then we predict our 5 teams most and least likely to do a deal, how many trades will take place between now and the deadline, and finally where and when Anthony Davis will be traded.

With host Nate Duncan (@NateDuncanNBA).  And if you like this pod, please donate to support Nate and Danny at Patreon.com/DuncanLeroux.  Merchandise available at NateDuncanNBA.com.

Nikola Jokic and Anthony Davis headline the 2019 NBA All-Star Game reserves for the Western Conference.

Davis is joined on the team by LaMarcus Aldridge, Damian Lillard, Klay Thompson, Karl-Anthony Towns and Russell Westbrook.

The Eastern Conference reserves have been announced, headlined by Ben Simmons.

Joining Simmons on the squad are Bradley Beal, Blake Griffin, Kyle Lowry, Khris Middleton, Victor Oladipo and Nikola Vucevic.

Oladipo will be replaced by another player due to his season ending injury.

Kevin Love is close to making his return to the Cleveland Cavaliers lineup after participating in a 5-on-5, full contact scrimmage.

"He actually did pretty well. Moved around really well. Got a little winded, which is expected. It's the first time he's really been in a contact situation where we actually went up and down and there was actual contact. I thought he moved really well, shot the basketball well," said Larry Drew.

Love has been out since undergoing foot surgery in late October.

Kristaps Porzingis is planning to sign a one-year qualifying offer in restricted free agency with the Dallas Mavericks this summer.

Porzingis, along with Tim Hardaway Jr. and Courtney Lee, was traded to the Mavs for Dennis Smith Jr., Wesley Matthews, and DeAndre Jordan.

If Porzingis were to sign the qualifying offer, he would then become an unrestricted free agent at the end of next season.

The Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks have agreed to a trade involving Kristaps Porzingis.

The Knicks would receive Dennis Smith Jr., DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Matthews, and a first-round pick according to Mark Stein. 

The Mavs would also take on the contracts of Tim Hardaway Jr. and Courtney Lee.

The trade comes on the heels of a tense meeting between Porzingis and Knicks management this morning. 

The trade gives the Knicks enough salary cap space for two max contracts this summer.

Kristaps Porzingis expressed his concern over the state of the New York Knicks franchise in a meeting on Thursday. The building tension between both sides could lead the Knicks to pursue a trade before the deadline or over the summer, according to sources. 

Porzingis and his brother Janis, who's also his agent, met with the Knicks front office to discuss their frustration over the franchise's dysfunction, losing, and lack of a sustainable, long-term plan.

Porzingis can become a restricted free agent this summer. Multiple teams around the league have looked into acquiring the 23-year-old.

Porzingis, who is recovering from an ACL tear, recently had a 45-minute workout with a Knicks coach. Knicks medical staff confirmed that his knee is healing well. 

Washington Wizards owner Ted Leonsis called the idea of tanking "offensive" and said that the Wizards are focused on making the playoffs this year.

"You have to go to the players, the coach, the staff and say, 'Do we have enough to make the playoffs?' And to a person, I was told, 'Yes we do,'" said Leonsis.

Leonsis said the Wizards would not tank the season. 

"I was asked point blank, 'Are you going to tank? That's an offensive question. You can't go to your organization, to your players, to your coach and say, 'Let's plan to lose.'"

Leonsis added that the team will not trade Bradley Beal, John Wall, or Otto Porter Jr.