The Dallas Mavericks are expected to receive competition in signing Goran Dragic should he become a free agent after the trade deadline.

Marc Stein writes that "sources say that multiple teams are expected to pursue Dragic."

The Toronto Raptors have expressed confidence that they will be able to trade Dragic by the deadline. Dragic and his $19.4 million expiring contract could be bought out by the team that trade for him.

The Raptors acquired Dragic as part of the Kyle Lowry sign-and-trade with the Miami Heat.

The Denver Nuggets have been granted a $2.7 million disabled player exception for the loss of Michael Porter Jr.

The deadline to use the DPE is March 10th.

There have been reports that Porter could possibly return before the end of the season.

The Oklahoma City Thunder has signed forward Mamadi Diakite to a 10-day contract.
 
Diakite (6-9, 218) has appeared in eight games for the Thunder this season and averaged 3.0 points and 3.3 rebounds in 11.6 minutes per game.

The Miami Heat have re-signed Chris Silva on a 10-day hardship contract.

Silva is on his fourth 10-day contract with the Heat.

Silva has appeared in seven games with the Heat this season, averaging 3.4 points and 3.7 rebounds in 9.0 minutes per game.

Jalen Brunson will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason and retaining him may prove difficult for the Dallas Mavericks.

"The Brunson flight risk is real, sources say," writes Zach Lowe. "The Mavs have no cap space to replace them."

Brunson is averaging 15.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game this season for the Mavericks. The Mavericks turned around their season after moving Brunson into the starting five.

The Mavericks also have the unrestricted free agency of Dorian Finney-Smith to contend with.

The Utah Jazz will sign Danuel House to a second standard 10-day contract, sources tell The Athletic.

House is with the Jazz on their current road trip and is expected to be available on Friday.

House has made a strong impression for the Jazz on his 10-day deals.

House was waived by the Houston Rockets in December and then played for the New York Knicks on a 10-day. 

Despite recent reporting that the Brooklyn Nets won't entertain a James Harden trade before next month's deadline, speculation continues that Harden will join the Philadelphia 76ers as soon as this offseason. And the reasons for that are starting to stray into tampering and collusion territory.

Harden is known to be close friends with Sixers co-owner Michael Rubin. Rival front offices believe that the two have been talking about Harden joining Philadelphia as a free agent this offseason. And those teams are prepared to ask the NBA to look into possible tampering and collusion on the part of Harden, Rubin and the 76ers.

Harden's future in Brooklyn has been under question since he did not sign an extension earlier this past offseason. With a player option for the 2022-23 season, Harden has a great deal of flexibility with his next contract. He could opt in and sign an extension with the Nets, or he could opt out and sign a new five-year contract with Brooklyn. Harden could also opt out and look for a sign-and-trade to a new team, including Philadelphia.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been granted a disabled player exception worth $8.9 million for the season-ending injury to Ricky Rubio.

The Cavaliers will have until March 10th to use the DPE.

Rubio tore his ACL in December.

Stanley Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to a two-year deal.

Johnson's final 10-day contract with the Lakers expires on Wednesday. Johnson has averaged 6.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 21.2 minutes over 14 games with the Lakers.

Johnson's deal will be guaranteed for the rest of the season.

The Washington Wizards blew a 35-point lead to lose 116-115 to the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday.

“I have no words besides ‘embarrassing,’” Bradley Beal said.

The Wizards raised their expectations for the season after a 10-3 start. Since Nov. 16, they have a 13-22 record.

The Wizards want to retain Beal no matter what, but their struggles could put his future in question.

“I have a lot of conversations with Tommy [Sheppard],” Beal said Tuesday night. “We’re very transparent with what we want to do and what my future looks like. And yeah, the (trade) deadline is coming up, and I’m very well aware of how we’re playing and how other teams are playing and what my interests are. Granted, I’m giving this organization an opportunity to prove that and show that, and obviously I’m a big factor in that, too, in producing and playing well and performing. But I want to win, and we all know that. It’s just a matter of us doing it. We’ve got the pieces, we have the assets, we’ve got the depth — everything that we bragged about at the beginning of the year. Now let’s put it together and make it work. Speculations are going to be what they are. I can’t control that. But I know what comes out of my mouth, and I know where my heart is, and everyone will know.”