Sidery reports the Thunder will look to deal Giddey alongside a number of their 13 future first round picks in a bid to land “an impact player who is a cleaner rotation fit.”
Although Giddey may be on the market, the Aussie has made clear his desire to stay and continue growing with an impressive young team in Oklahoma City.
“This is home away from home,” Giddey said when asked about the topic of his future and whether he would like to stay in Oklahoma City.
“I love everything about this place — the city, the fans, the organisation top to bottom is just unbelievable people throughout the building. Getting to come here to work every day is so much fun.
“ … I just love the group of guys we’ve got and I’m excited to keep growing with them. Sam [Presti], Mark [Daigneault], everybody top to bottom has just been unbelievable for me this entire season.”
Giddey endured an up-and-down 2023/24 campaign which finished in a maiden playoffs run which ultimately came to an end in the Western Conference semi finals against the Dallas Mavericks.
The Aussie impressed in the Thunder’s series against the Pelicans where he averaged 12.5 points and 26.5 minutes, but dropped off against the Mavericks.
The 21-year-old was benched for the first time in his NBA career in Game 5 having had his minutes slashed in the four games prior.
The Asian Cup has ended and the Socceroos are back at their clubs – although for some of them, the January transfer window saw them secure major transfers.
Now, Socceroos coach Graham Arnold can turn his full focus to World Cup qualification, with the Aussies resuming their road to the 2026 tournament next month.
Here’s the situation for every Socceroo – and a couple of other guns who are knocking down the door for international selection.
This mega Roo Radar begins with Socceroos who featured in the Asian Cup squad sorted by position, before including a number of other notable names.
The Socceroos skipper recovered from a fractured cheekbone in time to play in all five of the Socceroos’ Asian Cup games and was a calming presence throughout.
With Ryan between the sticks the Socceroos conceded just three goals all tournament long, one of which was a penalty and another an unstoppable free-kick from South Korean star Son Heung-Min.
Ryan kept up his trend of clean sheets in his first game back for AZ Alkmaar as they drew 0-0 with Almere City.
Ryan needed to wear a face mask for some Asian Cup games after surgery on a fractured cheekbone.Source: Getty Images
Joe Gauci
Gauci travelled to Qatar as the clear back-up to Ryan but he did earn a start in the final warm-up match against Bahrain which the Socceroos won 2-0.
Despite not playing, Gauci generated plenty of headlines in Australian football after he completed a switch from Adelaide United to Premier League outfit Aston Villa for up to $2.5m
Emi Martinez, the latest recipient of the Yashin Troph for the best goalkeeper in the world, is Villa’s clear number one as Gauci will compete with Swedish veteran Robin Olsen for the back-up role.
Gauci has already been heavily involved at the Birmingham outfit and was a part of the warm-up drills prior to his new side’s fixture against Manchester United at Villa Park.
The 23-year-old has also been registered in Villa’s squad for the remainder of the Europa Conference League.
Could we see Gauci in the Premier League this season?Source: Getty Images
Lawrence Thomas
Although Thomas didn’t see a single minute of action for the Socceroos, he was thrust straight back into action for the Western Sydney Wanderers.
Thomas was included in the Wanderers’ extended squad for the fixture against Macarthur on February 4 but came on at halftime in place of Daniel Margush.
Unfortunately for Thomas, there was little he could do to prevent Valere Germain’s winner in the 93rd minute as Macarthur sealed a highly controversial 4-3 victory that sparked a furious rant from Wanderers boss Marko Rudan in his post-match press conference.
DEFENDERS
Nathaniel Atkinson
The 24-year-old right back made three Asian Cup appearances for the Socceroos, but faces a tough task to regain his place in the starting XI for Scottish side Heart of Midlothian. Hearts signed 20-year-old Jamaican talent Dexter Lembisika on loan from Premier League side Wolves in mid-January, and he’s impressed in six appearances since the move. Atkinson came off the bench to replace Lembisika in a Cup game on the weekend but will be desperate to earn his place back in the starting side.
Aziz Behich
33-year-old Behich sealed a massive loan move to Saudi club Al-Nassr – joining the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo – after playing every minute of the Socceroos’ five Asian Cup matches at left back. He debuted in an Asian Champions League clash, playing the full 90 minutes, in a promising sign he’ll be in the starting XI for the Saudi giants for the remainder of the season.
Behich in the yellow and blue of Al-Nassr.Source: Getty Images
Jordy Bos
The supremely talented 21-year-old locked down the left wing-back role at Belgian club Westerlo this season after joining from Melbourne City last July (for a fee that was at the time the Australian record). Since returning from the Asian Cup, where he made five appearances (three starts) and scored a goal off the bench against India, he’s immediately regained his starting spot at club level.
Socceroos coach Graham Arnold prefers to use him as a left winger, but Bos has typically been used as a fullback by Westerlo who sit 11th in the Belgian Pro League.
Cameron Burgess
The Scottish-born 28-year-old is right back in English Championship team Ipswich Town’s starting XI after returning from the Asian Cup, where he started one game and came off the bench in the quarter-final defeat.
Ipswich sit fourth in the Championship with a game in hand as they chase promotion to the Premier League, and Burgess looks set to add to his 24 league appearances already this season – remarkably, he has never been substituted in those matches.
He plays alongside Aussie midfielder Massimo Luongo, who turned down an Asian Cup call-up and retired from international duty to focus on the club’s promotion push.
Thomas Deng
The 26-year-old didn’t get onto the field in the Asian Cup – and hasn’t played for the Socceroos since March last year – but he’ll be eagerly anticipating the start of the new J-League season next weekend. The versatile centre-back started most matches for Japanese top-flight club Albirex Niigata last season as they finished tenth, and he’ll hope to retain his role this time around.
Gethin Jones
The 28-year-old is back in the starting line-up at League One club Bolton Wanderers after three starts for the ‘Roos in Qatar – and he’s even worn the captain’s armband in both games since his return. And this week, the right-back scored his first league goal of the season with a looping set-piece header in a 2-1 win for the third-placed side. With games in hand, Bolton are well in contention for automatic promotion that would see Jones reach England’s second tier.
Lewis Miller
The 23-year-old right back played less than 50 minutes across two Asian Cup games, but he’s another Aussie to return straight to the starting line-up at club level. Miller made his 16th start of the Scottish Premiership season (plus one bench appearance) in Hibernian’s 2-1 defeat to heavyweights Celtic, then backed up on the weekend with another start in a cup win.
All up, he’s played 41 times for Hibs since joining in July 2022, and shows plenty of promise as a long-term Socceroos prospect despite struggling in the Asian Cup.
Kye Rowles
Rowles started every single league game for Hearts (in Scotland) before the Asian Cup, and came right back into the side in a cup win on the weekend. The 25-year-old was a standout in the Asian Cup, playing every minute in four of the five matches, and is contracted with Hearts until 2028 – showing just how much they value the cool, calm, and collected centre-back.
Harry Souttar
Souttar is in a dire position at his Championship club Leicester, with the 200cm centre-back in virtual exile. He’s played just four appearances (two starts) this season for a total of 188 minutes. A strong Asian Cup performance put him in the shop window in the January transfer window, with Scottish giants Rangers and Celtic both interested in a loan move – but a deal to join brother John at Rangers fell through on deadline day. Saudi side Al-Nassr were also interested.
Souttar has vowed to fight for minutes at Leicester, but is unlikely to feature unless a starting centre-back is injured.
“I know obviously to continue to be in the national team, I’ve got to be playing club football – but we’ll cross that bridge when it comes,” Souttar told AAP during the Asian Cup.
“He’s got to sort out his club career, he really does,” coach Graham Arnold told AAP. “This can’t go on forever.”
For now, Souttar will be waiting desperately for the season to end and the next transfer window to offer him a way out of his nightmare.
Souttar kept up his incredible scoring record by pitching in at the Asian Cup.Source: Getty Images
MIDFIELDERS
Keanu Baccus
After playing all five matches at the Asian Cup, Baccus returned to Scottish club St Mirren with a half-hour bench appearance before a 90-minute effort against Celtic in the Cup. He’s started most games this season – and come off the bench in the handful where he’s started from the pine – and looks a crucial player in St Mirren’s run home. 25-year-old Baccus is also off-contract at the end of the season, so the next few months will be crucial for his future.
Jackson Irvine
The midfield maestro is back at German second-tier club FC St Pauli, where he wears the captain’s armband – but missed out on playing on the weekend after being “quite sick” and having a “really bad week”. He’s back at training with the team now, who are three points clear at the top of the table despite suffering their first league loss since April 2023. 19-year-old Aljoscha Kemlein (on loan) has been excellent in filling in for Irvine in recent weeks, but the 30-year-old Aussie is nailed-on to get back into the starting team and push for promotion to Germany’s top flight in the next few months.
Irvine was devastated after Australia’s Asian Cup exit.Source: AFP
Riley McGree
McGree started six of the first ten Championship matches for Middlesbrough (and came off the bench in the other four) before suffering a foot injury that ruled him out for two months.
He returned for just a handful of bench appearances before jetting off to the Asian Cup, where he made two starts and three substitute showings. Those handy minutes put him in good stead upon his return to club football, where he came back with a bench appearance before playing the full 90 minutes yesterday – but at attacking midfield rather than his usual left wing role. That’s because Middlesbrough signed 23-year-old talent Finn Azaz from Championship rivals Plymouth Argyle in early January. He had seven goals and five assists before the move, and has nabbed a goal and an assist in five appearances for his new club since then. McGree has a tough battle on his hands to unseat Azaz, but could be
Connor Metcalfe
The 24-year-old has appeared in every match for the Socceroos since the start of 2023, and continued that run with three starts and two sub appearances at the Asian Cup. Since then, he’s returned to FC St Pauli alongside Irvine, and played 28 minutes off the bench upon his return. Overall, he’s made 21 appearances this season with 12 starts and nine substitution efforts – so will be looking to press his case for a locked-down starting berth in the final months of the season.
Aiden O’Neill
The defensive midfielder has been sensational for Belgian club Standard Liege this season, and took things to another level last weekend with a sensational goal in a 1-0 win over OH Leuven.
On the edge of the area, O’Neill chested the ball down before slamming a half-volley into the net, his first goal for the club after joining last July.
“To be honest, there is a bit of luck in this goal,” the Aussie told DH Les Sports+. “I was in a good position and I said to myself ‘why not take my chance?’.
“I had already dreamed of scoring a goal like that but, to succeed in doing it, especially in such an important match, is something else. It means a lot.
“I had already scored goals from outside the box but, yes, I can say that this one is probably the best of my career. And it brings three super important points for the team.”
O’Neill had started six-straight league matches before the Asian Cup and looks to be back in the first team.
Aussie returns from Asian Cup in style | 00:41
FORWARDS
Martin Boyle
Having missed the 2019 Asian Cup and the 2022 World Cup through injury, Boyle finally got to represent the Socceroos at an international tournament.
The 30-year-old winger even got his first tournament goals, scoring a penalty against Uzbekistan and one of Australia’s four against Indonesia.
Boyle has wasted little time in returning to form for club side Hibernian since returning, scoring once and assisting another in the club’s 3-1 win over Inverness CT in the fifth round of the Scottish FA Cup.
He also played the full match as a right winger in a 2-1 defeat to Celtic on February 7 as Hibernian remain in eighth in the Scottish Premiership.
Sammy Silvera
Since moving to Middlesbrough from the Central Coast Mariners last summer, Silvera has largely been used as an impact substitute, coming off the bench 13 times prior to the Asian Cup.
Silvera enjoyed a similar role for the Socceroos in Qatar whenever Arnold sought out a fresh injection of pace and trickery but struggled to find his groove.
The Aussie youngster has once again reprised his role as an impact sub upon returning to Middlesbrough, coming off the bench in Boro’s last three Championship fixtures against Sunderland, Bristol City — where he scored a 91st-minute consolation goal — and Preston North End.
With 15 game left in Middlesbrough’s season, Silvera will hope to earn some regular starts as he looks to prove he belongs at the Championship level.
Bruno Fornaroli
Fornaroli entered the Asian Cup on the back of some scintillating form for Melbourne Victory, scoring 13 goals in 10 games.
A first start in Qatar for Fornaroli didn’t arrive until the Round of 16 clash against Indonesia as a result of Mitchell Duke’s injury-enforced absence, with the Victory man consigned to cameos off the bench in the Socceroos’ other games.
Fornaroli fired a blank in his first game back for Victory (1-0 defeat to Macarthur), when he suffered a fractured hand – but still played the entire game. He has since undergone surgery but could still play this weekend, and it’d be silly to bet against the 36-year-old enjoying another rich vein of scoring form.
After all, he’s still tied first for the golden boot race alongside Newcastle’s Apostolos Stamatelopoulos despite missing five games.
’El Tuna’ may be 36 years old, but he’s in vintage scoring form.Source: Getty Images
Kusini Yengi
Yengi took major strides in staking his claim to be the Socceroos’ next long-term option up front, starting the group stage clash against Uzbekistan in place of an injured Mitchell Duke, with Arnold describing his performance as “outstanding.”
He may not provide the same relentless pressing as Duke does up top, but Yengi’s physicality and ability to hold the ball up certainly caught the eye.
Yengi earned his call-up thanks to a strong debut season for League One promotion hopefuls Portsmouth with seven goals in 17 appearances prior to the Asian Cup.
And the former Western Sydney Wanderers man didn’t need to wait long to make an impact on his return at Fratton Park, scoring the first of Portsmouth’s three in a win over Cambridge United.
Marco Tilio
Having secured a dream move from Melbourne City to Celtic last summer, Tilio’s endured a Glaswegian nightmare.
The 22-year-old had clocked 28 minutes all season long under Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers but was still included in Arnold’s Asian Cup squad due to his ability to “bring that bit of difference as an impact player” and to “get that smile back on his face.”
Tilio appeared just once for the Socceroos in Qatar — five minutes off the bench against Uzbekistan — but has since secured a loan move to Melbourne City for the remainder of the season.
He made his return in the 5-1 humiliation against Brisbane in a 32-minute appearance off the bench and one would imagine it won’t be long before he’s back starting games again.
It is a loan move that must work out for Tilio in a bid to force his way back into Rodgers’ Celtic plans.
Otherwise his time with the Hoops could be over as quickly as it began.
Mitchell Duke
Duke remains Arnold’s first choice at striker, although the two group stage fixtures he played in didn’t exactly play to his main strengths of stretching opposition backlines.
The 33-year-old also had a golden chance to send Australia into the semi-finals against South Korea but flashed his header wide.
Duke is now gearing up for the 2024 J1 League season with Machida Zelvia having helped the team achieve promotion last year.
At his age, it’s likely Duke has just one more World Cup cycle left in him as Arnold must eventually turn to the next generation.
But as long as Duke has plenty of running left in him, he won’t give up his starting spot without a fight.
Craig Goodwin
Goodwin continues to age like a fine wine and richly deserved his spot in the AFC’s Asian Cup 2023 team of the tournament.
However, Goodwin cannot let his performances for club or country dip knowing Jordan Bos is breathing down his neck as his replacement at left wing, even though the latter has made his name predominantly as a left back.
The 32-year-old last featured for Saudi Pro League side Al-Wehda on December 31 before the league took a brief pause, but has started 13 of the 14 league games he’s played in this season.
Goodwin will most certainly have a vital part to play in the Socceroos’ road to qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and will hope to feature at the tournament.
Goodwin’s outstanding performances at the Asian Cup saw him named in the team of the tournament.Source: Getty Images
John Iredale
Iredale represented somewhat of a surprise inclusion in Arnold’s Asian Cup squad, although the Aussie boss revealed the forward was a player he’d “admired for a long time.”
The 24-year-old, who plies his trade with 2. Bundesliga side Wehen Wiesbaden, didn’t see a minute of action in Qatar but earning a call-up is no easy feat.
In his return to action for Wehen Wiesbaden, Iredale came off the bench against FC Nuremberg for a brief cameo.
However, should Iredale start to receive more regular starts, expect him to figure in the conversation for Socceroos inclusions for several more international windows to come.
OTHERS — NON ASIAN CUP
Calem Nieuwenhof
The 22-year-old centre midfielder (well, he turns 23 tomorrow!) was one of the standouts in the last A-League season before moving to Scottish club Hearts in July. Since then, he’s come along in leaps and bounds – so much so that his coach is confident he’ll lace up his boots for the Socceroos soon.
After a slow start to the season, Hearts are third in the league with eight wins in a row in all competitions, and their Aussie foursome of Nieuwenhof, Kye Rowles, Nathaniel Atkinson and fellow young midfielder Cameron Devlin have been crucial to their success.
He’s played 25 times in all competitions, scoring two goals in his last five games and picking up an assist. His most recent goal was an absolute stunner.
Crucial to his rise has been an increased physicality and toughness in the midfield scrap – with the Scottish league the perfect place for the youngster to grow in that regard.
“The character he is, he’s a reserved person and is really chilled out,” coach Steven Naismith told The Scotsman. “That probably went against him in his first few months when he was finding his feet, but in training you can see his quality – his calmness in possession, his understanding of the game, his range of passing, and he is a goal threat as well.
“He’s one of the fittest players at the club. What he brings on and off the ball is really important. He’s consistently improving and becoming more dominant in games, which is why we signed him. We knew he was a good player, he’s a really good player.
“He’s got a desire to get into the international team and I don’t think that’ll be too far away if he continues in the same vein of form.”
Nieuwenhof said his manager was ‘not wrong, for sure’ about being chilled out – but added: “You need to go into every game with that mindset that you are going to have to get stuck in and get involved. Cammy’s great to learn from. He’s a real dog and a really aggressive player. For sure that is something I can take from his game. That’s something I have really learned across the last few months and brought it into my game and just trying to get consistency into that side of my game, the physical aspect.”
For now, he looms as a crucial member of Australia’s Under-23 Olyroos squad who will compete in the U-23 Asian Cup in April-May in a bid to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. But he’s building a compelling case to join the Socceroos’ stacked midfield ranks.
Two-cap Socceroo Cameron Devlin, meanwhile, was ruled out for around six weeks after an ankle injury which cost him a place at the Asian Cup. The 25-year-old has been on the bench for the last two games for Hearts but has not yet played.
Alessandro Circati
Circati’s stock continues to rise with every game for Serie B side Parma and it’s only going to strengthen the case for his inclusions in future Socceroos squads.
The 20-year-old was left out of the team that went to the Asian Cup as Arnold felt it was better for his development to keep playing at club level rather than warm the bench in Qatar.
Since Serie B resumed from the winter break, Circati has started three of the five games, with one draw and two wins in that time with Parma losing one of the games he was benched for.
Circati has plenty of years on his side and, crucially, the benefit of regular game time.
Additionally, Parma are six points clear at the top of Serie B and are no doubt the favourites for promotion, meaning Circati could very easily be lining up in Italy’s top flight next season.
If Parma go up and Circati starts Serie A games, the noise will only grow louder for his inclusion in Socceroos line-ups – and the rumours of Premier League interest will only grow stronger.
Ajdin Hrustic
Hrustic has rapidly fallen from his status as one of the Socceroos’ key creative outlets to the international wilderness, but a January switch could provide the spark needed to get his career back on track.
The midfielder’s move from Frankfurt to Serie A side Hellas Verona has been an unmitigated disaster, failing to even make the bench for any of their league games this season.
But Hrustic sealed a loan switch to Dutch side Heracles Almelo and earned a start in just his second match, helping the club to a 3-2 win over Vitesse. It was his first top-flight start in over a year.
It’s a much-needed move for Hrustic if he is to force himself back into Arnold’s thoughts ahead of World Cup qualification.
Hrustic has not appeared for the Socceroos since a 45-minute showing in the 2-0 friendly defeat to Argentina in China last June.
Given the Socceroos’ struggles when it came to unlocking deep-lying defences at the Asian Cup — a problem the Aussies will encounter throughout the road to the 2026 World Cup — Hrustic’s return would be a welcome one.
Hrustic finally ended a year-long nightmare at Verona.Source: Getty Images
Cristian Volpato
Until Volpato makes his international future clear, there’s still a chance he could be capped for the Socceroos in the not-too-distant future.
Speaking to ESPNprior to the Asian Cup, Arnold revealed he had been in constant communication with Volpato but the talented midfielder “wants to just focus on his club career” for now.
Since moving from Roma to Sassuolo last summer, Volpato has largely been consigned to appearing off the bench and only just made his first start of the season against Bologna.
But Volpato made full use of the opportunity, scoring a stunning goal to give Sassuolo a 2-1 lead in the 34th minute as they went on to record a 4-2 victory.
With the 2026 World Cup cycle about to begin, could Volpato’s interest in international football be piqued?
Nestory Irankunda, Garang Kuol and Awer Mabil
And what of the Socceroos’ attacking trio of Nestory Irankunda, Garang Kuol and Awer Mabil?
Mabil has been a mainstay of the Socceroos set-up and loomed as a likely inclusion for the Asian Cup squad, but he picked up an injury in Grasshopper’s 1-0 win over Basel on December 10 and has not been sighted since.
Prior to the injury, Mabil had been in solid form throughout the season and started eight out of 12 games he appeared in, with four goals and three assists to boot.
At 28 years of age, expect Mabil to be in and around Socceroos squads for the next World Cup cycle.
Popular figure Awer Mabil missed the Asian Cup with injury.Source: Getty Images
On the other end of the age spectrum is Kuol and Irankunda.
Kuol burst onto the scene for the Central Coast Mariners and earned a move to Premier League side Newcastle United, but from there his club journey hasn’t gone as he’d have hoped.
He moved to Eredivisie side FC Volendam on a season-long loan but they sit in 17th place, nine points away from safety.
Kuol himself has struggled to hold down a starting spot as well, clocking just 55 minutes of action since December.
It’s important to remember he is just 19 years of age and there’s plenty of time on his side, but as it stands, he’s behind in the pecking order of Socceroos’ wingers.
Garang Kuol scored his maiden Socceroos goal last March.Source: Getty Images
Then there’s Adelaide United winger Irankunda, who recently turned 18 and is headed for Bayern Munich at the end of the season.
The teenage sensation turned heads with blistering power in his shots and silky runs down the right, breezing past defender with ease.
However, since his move was announced, Irankunda has often cut a frustrated figure on the field and Adelaide coach Carl Veart even said he doesn’t “see enough happiness” from the prodigy.
Irankunda was brought into the Socceroos fold as a train-on player for the friendlies against Ecuador in March last year and has also featured for the Joeys.
Should Irankunda continue his remarkable upward trajectory with Bayern, a full Socceroos call-up is not out of the question and he could loom as a major game-changer for the upcoming World Cup cycle.
The NBA trade deadline is only a few days away and while there have already been some major moves, there are still several contending teams to keep an eye on.
From a glaring issue the Dallas Mavericks need to address to intrigue in Los Angeles, here is the latest trade talk!
HORNETS EYE AUSSIE IF DEAL IS DONE WITH MAVS
Could Australian Josh Green be on the move ahead of the trade deadline?
The Mavericks have been after reinforcements at power forward given Grant Williams’ inconsistent play so far this season and have recently been linked to Washington.
They are not the only team interested in the Hornets forward though, with reports on the weekend that the Los Angeles Clippers have also identified Washington as a potential target.
Which leads us to what Dallas may therefore have to give up in return to land the 25-year-old.
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Could Josh Green be traded? David Berding/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
According to Stein, including Green in the deal seems to be at the top of Charlotte’s wish list.
“The Hornets have designs on pursuing Josh Green from Dallas if P.J. Washington talks with the Mavericks go anywhere,” Stein wrote.
As Stein went to point out, Dallas refused to include Green in a potential trade with Atlanta for Clint Capela and the Hawks’ No. 15 pick that would have also seen the Mavs send their 10th overall pick.
Instead, Dallas signed Green to a three-year, $41 million contract extension in October.
The versatile Australian has flashed his scoring potential in games where either Kyrie Irving or Luka Doncic have been unavailable but otherwise has struggled at times to consistently inject himself into games and be the kind of impact player the Mavs hoped he would develop into.
Kyle Kuzma has also been linked to the Mavericks, who Stein reports are “prioritising power forwards over small forwards in its quest to address the team’s size and defensive shortcomings” ahead of the deadline.
The only problem is they may be limited in the kind of moves they can make and any pressure from James is unlikely to change that according to one ESPN insider.
Speaking on SportsCenter, Brian Windhorst said “we’re about an ‘8’ on the ‘LeBron Passive Aggressive Trade Deadline’ time scale”.
“The Lakers to this point, from what I am told by sources, have not reacted to LeBron’s maneuvers, including wearing the Knicks towel last night, and they have kind of held firm in their talks,” he said.
“The issue with the Lakers is they have only a couple of draft assets left, and they just want to hold onto them.”
Windhorst reported that the Lakers have agreed to make their 2029 first-round pick, which is the only one that they are allowed to trade right now, available before the deadline.
That is a good thing too considering ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski previously reported the Lakers would “almost assuredly” have to include it in a trade for their top target, Hawks guard Dejounte Murray.
Reports initially suggested there was hesitation from Atlanta to take D’Angelo Russell from Los Angeles in a deal, although Russell’s recent run of form could also give the Lakers pause.
Either way, Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports said on KEGL-FM in Dallas-Fort Worth that the Lakers “just don’t have a clear obvious package that’s going to give the Hawks the picks they want”.
“A player who doesn’t have what’s considered to be like bad long-term salary,” Fischer added.
With all that in mind and the fact the Lakers can move up to three first-round picks from the day of the 2024 draft, it may make more sense to target a bigger swing in the summer instead — even if it means driving James away.
“You know they’ve been in discussions with the Atlanta Hawks over Dejounte Murray,” Windhorst said.
“The Hawks have pushed the Lakers to improve the offer and it’s difficult for them do that because they are so limited in what they can offer.
Reaves takes out Celtics in Lakers win | 01:34
“What the Lakers need to get back for this last first-round pick is higher than what another team that might have four, five or six available first-round picks would need and that’s why I think you’re going to see negotiations get all the way down to the trade deadline whether that involves Dejounte Murray or someone else or whether the Lakers, who have got improved play from D’Angelo Russell, stand pat.”
Only complicating matters is the questions over James’ own future beyond this season.
The Lakers superstar has a $51.4 million player option in his contract for next season and has spoken at length of his desire to play with son Bronny, who could potentially enter this year’s draft.
Indonesia was better value than their lowly ranking of 146th in the world, and the scoreline flattered the Australians, who again struggled for fluency in possession and creativity or incisiveness in attack.
The two-goal half-time advantage came from just one shot in the first 45 minutes – the other via an own-goal – before the Socceroos ran over the top of a flagging Indonesia side in the dying stages of the match, the underdog’s plucky resistance fading.
Now they will face either Saudi Arabia or South Korea in Saturday morning’s quarter-final (2.30am AEDT). The two Asian heavyweights face off on Wednesday morning at 3am AEDT, giving the Socceroos a couple of additional days of rest which could prove “crucial”, according to coach Graham Arnold.
“I can’t answer that question on which one I would prefer to play against, but we will go and watch Saudi against South Korea,” he said in his post-match press conference.
“We get a couple of days off now to rest and recover which is crucial but overall, we’re just focused on ourselves, the most important thing is that we get our games right and our brains clear, our brains ready.
“The boys know their jobs and they can go out there and get it done.”
Son Heung-min of South Korea. Picture: Lintao Zhang/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
WHY BRUTAL QUARTER-FINAL TEST LOOMS
But it will not be an easy task. Both teams have aspirations for the title and are well in contention, boasting superstar players like Tottenham attacker Heung-min Son and Bayern Munich centre-back Min-jae Kim for South Korea, or Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal duo of veteran winger Salem Al-Dawsari and impressive wing-back Saud Abdulhamid. They both also boast renowned coaches: Jurgen Klinsmann manages South Korea, Roberto Mancini oversees Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia have been excellent in defence, not conceding in their last 256 minutes of regulation time after an early goal to Oman in their opening game. And Korea boasts a very impressive attack, though they have not yet hit their stride this tournament after arriving as co-favourites alongside Japan.
Regardless of who wins, the Socceroos know they’ll face a brutal test in the quarter-finals, with Arnold acknowledging his team has “got the job done” so far but has plenty of room for improvement across the park.
Roos top group after Uzbekistan draw | 02:14
“We can do better in every aspect,” he said. “We’ll review what we can do better… but again I give great credit to Indonesia for the way that they are coached but also the way that they played. Their style was very good.”
But Arnold did see improvements in his side’s attacking output, having had just one shot on target in both of their previous matches. This time around, they scored twice from open play – an area in which they have particularly struggled so far in the tournament.
“The improvements today were I think the individual belief, and some of the actions the boys were doing, in a lot of ways it was more freedom and more relaxed from them, and that’s what I want,” he said.
“I want them to show their individual qualities. It’s good to have a great system of play and it’s good to have great attacking patterns but I’d rather see these boys relax and show their skills and imagination, I saw that growing today.”
STARTING LINE-UP SQUEEZE
All four of Australia’s goals came from crosses from the right wing, including one from full-back Gethin Jones who suffered a groin injury and was taken immediately to hospital for scans. His participation in the remainder of the tournament is under a cloud, but the Socceroos were boosted by the return of veteran striker Mitch Duke and particularly Craig Goodwin.
The winger delivered a masterful eight-minute cameo, scoring a volley from close range before a set piece cross was headed home by Harry Souttar two minutes later.
No player created more scoring chances or had more passes into the penalty area than Goodwin in the group stage (per Opta), despite missing the final game with a knee injury. His creativity and influence is among the very best in the tournament, and he is particularly dangerous with set-piece deliveries aimed at Harry Souttar (11 goals in 26 games) and the other tall targets.
Jordan Bos of Australia. Picture: Lintao Zhang/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
But rising star Jordy Bos, who normally plays as a left-back at for his Belgian club Westerlo, has been deployed by Arnold as a left-winger in the green and gold.
It means that there’s no space for Goodwin in the starting line-up, with Martin Boyle having locked up the right-wing spot.
Bos, 21, is technically gifted and physically strong, and has plenty of attacking potential. But against Indonesia he lacked end product in the final third – which is exactly what Goodwin regularly provides from both open play and set pieces.
Yet Arnold appears set to stick firm with the youngster, undoubtedly a top long-term prospect for the side, even if it means keeping 32-year-old Goodwin on the bench.
“I know there are people back in Australia asking for or wanting to see where an impact player is off the bench and maybe that’s a good role for Craig Goodwin as well,” Arnold said.
“I thought Jordy Bos did a very, very good job. Jordy’s got that physical power but also with what we’re doing here and where we’re playing him, it’s a different role. He’s just got to get that end product right and we’ve found another really, really good left winger.”
‘THAT ROLE MIGHT SUIT HIM EVEN MORE’
Speaking to Channel 10 immediately after the game, Arnold similarly said: “`Goody’ is getting to the age now where that role might suit him even more.
“I thought Jordy Bos was excellent (against Indonesia). If one of them gives me a good 60 or 70 minutes and then (the other) has that type of impact off the bench, it’s fantastic.”
Goodwin, who has been in strong for Saudi club Al-Wehda, said he was happy to contribute off the bench but does want to regain his starting berth.
Craig Goodwin of Australia celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal against Indonesia. Picture: Lintao Zhang/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
“Of course, I want to start, I want to always want to start games, that’s what every player is striving for, you never sit there and say, I want to be on the bench,” he said.
“If that’s the role that I have to do for now, because Jordy Bos has come in and he’s done really well, whatever Arnie does and whatever role he puts on me that’s what I’ll do to the best of my abilities.
“But of course, I want to start every game and that competition is what’s going to get the best out of us players as well because we’ll go away to the training track and be pushing ourselves and we’ll get better performances from that.”
There is still an opportunity for Arnold to field both players on the left flank by dropping Bos back to a left-back position in place of Aziz Behich.
It would mean – for this tournament anyway – pausing the long-term plan to convert Bos into a full-time winger, but could provide additional firepower if the Socceroos are struggling for creativity.
Arnold rejects Socceroos lack of flair | 01:08
Given the Socceroos will have a couple of additional days of rest compared to their next opponents, they will be hoping to use that physical boost to finish the game strongly – just as they did against Indonesia.
Substitutes could prove decisive in the latter stages, and Goodwin proved he can deliver an immediate impact of the pine.
So far, Arnold has been willing to gamble on a 21-year-old’s potential instead of a tried and tested veteran. What happens next could make or break the Socceroos’ dreams of just a second-ever Asian Cup crown.
The Australian squad features a 36-year-old in Bruno Fornaroli as well as three uncapped players, one of whom was eligible to play for another nation but was poached by the Aussies.
There are a number of key absences, including injured veterans and some surprising omissions, while the team represents a bold mix of youth and experience as Arnold looks to the future and the road to the 2026 World Cup.
And there’s one young gun who is the big winner from a late rule change.
Here are all the major talking points ahead of the tournament opener on January 13.
Fresh off two wins in World Cup qualifying last month, the Socceroos are preparing to chase just a second-ever Asian Cup crown.Source: Getty Images
Drastic squad overhaul as Arnold eyes 2026 World Cup
Graham Arnold has repeatedly made clear that his major focus is the 2026 World Cup – and rightly so.
Arnold said Friday: “I’ve got one eye on the Asian Cup but I’ve got two eyes on the World Cup (2026) and qualifying directly.”
Though the World Cup is the top priority, the Asian Cup stands behind that tournament as the biggest trophy available for the Socceroos.
It’s also the last tournament that Arnold has not experienced success in, having enjoyed a record-breaking 2022 World Cup with the Socceroos and guiding the Olyroos (under 23s) to an impressive showing at the Tokyo Olympics. Only the Asian Cup, where the defending champion Socceroos were dumped out in the quarterfinals in 2019, remains as a mark on his record.
The need to forge a team capable both of immediate success and long-term development on the road to 2026 presents a difficult balancing act for Graham Arnold.
The result is a squad where veterans, like recalled 36-year-old Bruno Fornaroli, have been mixed with young players – almost on a one-to-one basis.
12 of the 26-man squad were part of the World Cup last year – 13 if you count Martin Boyle, who was ruled out of Qatar through injury but remained in the camp for the tournament as ‘Chief Vibes Officer’.
That’s a significant turnover in a 12-month period, which reflects just how aggressively Arnold is approaching the redevelopment of his squad for the long term. 14 of the 26 players in this squad have fewer than ten caps, including three potential debutants – midfielder Patrick Yazbek, right-back Gethin Jones, and striker John Iredale.
It’s not the first time that Arnold has overseen a dramatic rebuild, having done the same thing when he took over the role following the 2018 World Cup. Arnold inherited a very thin squad in terms of depth after losing players like Tim Cahill and Mile Jedinak to retirement.
“It was about really starting again” he says of those early days.
Five years later, and he’s got depth in spades – with the coach revealing he considered “70-75” players for selection.
While Arnold will be desperate to erase the failure of 2019 and win just a second-ever Asian Cup for the Socceroos, the squad shows a refusal to sacrifice long-term development.
It’s not an easy task – but the rewards should come on the long road 2026.
How Arnold pulled off yet another poaching raid
Of the three potential debutants in the 26-man squad, Gethin Jones is perhaps the most intriguing. Jones was born in Perth before moving to England, where he was part of Everton’s Academy before churning through a series of clubs on loan and in permanent transfers. Now 28, the right-back has established himself as a consistent performer at third-tier English League One side Bolton. Having played for Wales up to the under-21 level, Jones is just the latest in a long line of players that were eligible to represent multiple nations but were convinced by Arnold to pledge allegiance to Australia.
The list of recent recruits includes Martin Boyle and Harry Souttar, who have become two key members of the Socceroos unit, as well as Alex Robertson, Alessandro Circati and Jason Cummings (all omitted from this squad). Arnold is also confident that he will eventually win the back-and-forth over the international future of 20-year-old Cristian Volpato, who currently plays for Italy’s under-age teams.
Harry Souttar headlines the list of Socceroos stars that were eligible for multiple nations – but chose Australia.Source: Getty Images
Arnold said of Gethin Jones: “He’s one we’ve had our eye on for the last couple of years. He wasn’t hard to convince but it takes time to get through the FIFA regulations to change his registration.”
“I went and watched him when I was in the UK. Very impressive. Obviously with the Ryan Strain injury it gave us our opportunity.”
He added: “He’s always wanted to play for Australia, he has played for Wales at a junior level.”
Bringing in players at the peak of their careers – like 28-year-old Jones – means they can adapt quicker to the unique pressures of international football compared to a promising teen talent.
Arnold’s ability to convince so many players to don the green and gold is quickly becoming a trademark of the Socceroos coach, and if Jones has half the impact of Souttar or Boyle in the years to come, his recruitment could prove another Arnold masterstroke.
The striker conundrum amid ‘concern’ over veterans
No position sums up the squad overhaul with an eye on 2026 quite as much as the striker role, which Arnold labelled “a concern.”
36-year-old Bruno Fornaroli earned a recall on the back of undeniable form in the A-League Mens competition – 12 goals and an assist in just eight games. Even though the two-cap forward is ageing like a fine wine, the 2026 World Cup looks a step too far. Mitch Duke, the other veteran striker selected, is 32 years old and is a risk for 2026. Jamie Maclaren, who missed out this time, is also 30 years old. Other forwards Mat Leckie, Martin Boyle, and Craig Goodwin are also all 30 or older.
Arnold said: “That’s why I’m searching, that’s why I’m looking. It’s no secret when you look at that squad that we’ve got some older players up front that might not make 2026.”
There are the two youngsters selected this time around – 24-year-old Kusini Yengi who debuted last month and uncapped 24-year-old John Iredale. Iredale plays for Wehen Wiesbaden in Germany’s second tier, and is a strong physical presence coming into his own at the newly-promoted Bundesliga 2 club.
Arnold said that Iredale had been on his radar for many years, and offers versatility since he can play across the frontline and also in a playmaking No. 10 role.
“He’s one I’ve admired for a long time because he’s got that strength and skill and he’s starting to do well in the Bundesliga 2,” Arnold explained.
Kusini Yengi has been excellent for Portsmouth this season.Source: Getty Images
But when it comes to the veterans – including those who missed out this time around – Arnold says that he’s not running a line through their World Cup hopes.
“That’s not my choice, that’s theirs. At the end of the day, the older boys – the (Craig) Goodwins, the Dukes, the Boyles and all these – they’ve got to be performing at their club and fit.
“This is the whole reason, in a way, for Leckie that I’ve left him out. I just want him to get fit and get his body right. He does that, he’ll have a chance – I do believe he’s got a chance of getting to the next World Cup.
“You don’t rule any of those senior players out. It gets down to the club form, it gets down to injuries, match minutes, how much passion they’ve got to get there and how hard they want to work to get there. That’s the biggest thing.”
But he said: “I do plan for the bad scenario or the bad side and make sure we’ve got players ready just in case.”
Leckie has hardly played in the last six months, but Arnold says he’s still a chance of playing in the 2026 World Cup.Source: Getty Images
Olympics balancing act over young guns
When Arnold announced his squad, two players in red-hot form were surprise omissions: Alex Robertson and Alessandro Circati. 20-year-old Robertson is a technically gifted midfielder who plays for third-tier Portsmouth on loan from Manchester City, and made his Socceroos debut in March against Ecuador.
Circati is a 20-year-old centre-back who plays for Italian second-division team Parma, and debuted for the Socceroos in October against New Zealand.
While both were deserving of a call-up based on form, other factors are at play. Both are in teams top of their respective leagues and chasing promotion. Robertson, for example, could miss as many as eight games for Portsmouth if he was selected for the Asian Cup. And the Under-23 Asian Cup is also a key factor in Arnold’s thinking. That tournament takes place in April-May and doubles as qualification for the Olympics in Paris later in the year. Clubs are not required by FIFA to release players for the U23 Asian Cup, so Arnold not selecting those youngsters now increases the chances that their clubs will release them for the Olyroos team in the coming months.
Circati was outstanding on debut in October.Source: Getty Images
Arnold acknowledged there were no guarantees from the clubs around the two players being released for U23 tournaments, but said: “It gives us a better chance. I’ve had great conversations with them and I’ve got to be honest, we’ve got depth in those positions.
“What’s better for the kids at the age of 20? Coming away in a tournament situation and maybe getting a couple of minutes here and there, or staying at their clubs at this age and playing eight competition games and enhancing their future?
“We’ll get rewarded in six months’ time (in Paris).”
But on the other hand, Arnold called up uncapped midfielder Patrick Yazbek, a 21-year-old who has been in incredible form for Viking FK in Norway.
Yazbek racked up two goals and five assists from 28 appearances (all competitions) – but crucially, the Norwegian season just concluded, so Arnold is actually helping the club by giving the youngster high-level training and match minutes.
And when it came to Jordy Bos, Australia’s long-term left back, Arnold simply couldn’t leave the 21-year-old out of the squad.
Bos has been excellent for the Socceroos since debuting in March.Source: News Corp Australia
New Asian Cup rules could revive exiled gun’s career
This week, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) decided to expand squad sizes from the traditional 23 players to 26 for the first time ever. It wasn’t even announced in an official press release (unlike, for example, revealing the official match ball). But it’s an important change – and one Socceroo is the biggest winner.
Versatile 21-year-old forward Marco Tilio moved to Scottish giants Celtic in June for a reported A-Leagues record £1.5 million (A$2.8m), but struggled to adjust to the intensity of the Scottish League and also battled injuries. He has played just twice since the move for a total of 28 minutes. The extra three places available in the Socceroos side means Tilio can train in an environment he is familiar with, having made seven international appearances already, and also hopefully get much-needed match minutes.
“I can be honest here and say that if it stayed at 23 there was probably a good chance that Marco wouldn’t come,” Arnold said.
“But the fact that it got extended to 26, it enables us to have someone completely different that can play at left wing, right wing, number 10.
“He’s got that experience of being at major tournaments with me at the Olympics in 2021 and also the World Cup (last year). Also, I do believe this can help his Celtic career.”
Tilio in action for the Socceroos in March.Source: Getty Images
That could mean Tilio gets his chance to show club coach Brendan Rodgers what he is capable of – or potentially earn him a loan move for the second half of the season. But as Arnold says, it’s also about getting him back in form with the Olympics looming.
Arnold said: “Tilio, I’ve looked at how we can also help that Olympic campaign. Conversations with Brendan Rodgers, at the end of the day Tilio hasn’t played much at Celtic but we know what he can do.
“He can bring that bit of difference as an impact player as well and be with us to get that smile back on his face and get him ready for Celtic, but also available and fresh and fit for the Olympic campaign as well.”
Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson believes the pressure of a home World Cup will amplify his side’s high-energy game plan that will be on full show in Friday’s final warm-up match against France.
A confirmed sellout crowd at Marvel Stadium will be the first taste of what is to come for the Australians, who will play their tournament opener against Ireland in front of more than 80,000 fans next week in Sydney.
Gustavsson said the France clash would mostly unveil his starting XI plans for the opening World Cup clash on July 20 by playing his strongest possible line-up, as well as how he plans to use his substitute options during the early matches with one eye firmly on that clash
He hinted veteran trio Alanna Kennedy, Clare Polkinghorne and Tameka Yallop would play on carefully managed minutes in the final warm-up match, but striker Kyah Simon wasn’t ready to return to the pitch even as a late replacement.
“I think it will be a good indicator of the starting line-up but also finishing line-up,” he said on Thursday.
“The one thing that will be different is because it’s a send-off game and the last before the World Cup, I’m also going to consider any type of niggles and minutes played because it’s all about the Ireland game,” he said.
Matildas head coach Tony Gustavsson and Ellie Carpenter face the media on Thursday. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
“If this was a quarter-final, I’d probably treat game time and players differently, so you will see some adjustment according to that.
“So if you‘re surprised that maybe a player has a phenomenal game tomorrow and I take her off at half-time, it’s going to be different, right?
“We‘re also going to have that approach that we want as many players as possible to get some game minutes.”
Simon’s absence as she continues to recover from an ACL tear clouds her availability for the tournament, with the Matildas allowed to rule out injured players up until 24 hours before the Ireland game.
But Gustavsson said he still had plans for the 32-year-old forward as an impact player off the bench.
“(Simon) is still not ready to play many minutes, but we’re working on an individual plan for her,” he said.
“I would say that we most likely won’t see her tomorrow because she’s on a long-term plan for us, in that sense.”
Sam Kerr and her Matildas will embrace the expectation, their coach says. Picture: William West / AFPSource: AFP
Buzz is building around the Matildas and Gustavsson said the external expectation and atmosphere created by the home fans would be an additional source of fuel for the co-hosts rather than a drag on their confidence and decision-making in the heat of battle.
“I think we look at it as fuel and we look at it as belief. (The big crowds) are a source of strength that this team will embrace, and I think also use when we play this high-octane, pressing, attacking-minded game,” he said.
“Sometimes we’re a bit fatigued and tired in the game – to be carried by the fans, and to be able to put those extra runs in … to be energetic and high intensity, that’s the football we’re always going to play no matter who we play against.
“How much do we bring in the noise from outside? I think (on Friday) we’re going to bring it all in because we want to unite and connect with the fans and really bring it in.”
Matildas star Hayley Raso is confident she can overcome a lack of game time with her club Manchester City to play a key role for Australia at this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Used mainly as an impact player off the bench in the English Women’s Super League, the 28-year-old winger said City’s “really high training environment” ensured she was ready to make a contribution every time she represented the Matildas.
“(As) frustrating as it is in club football not getting as many playing minutes as I’d like, I feel that when I come over to my national team, I’m getting a lot of minutes and doing well,” Raso said from London, where she is preparing for Australia’s clash with Scotland on Friday night at Cherry Red Records Stadium.
“As soon as I put this shirt on to represent my country, I am in good form and ready to go.
“I am a confident player; I feel like I’ve been performing well in our recent games, (and) keeping my training level high every single day.
“It’s nice to have (that ability) to come on and do something or turn a game around.”
Hayley Raso playing with a broken hand in recent weeks. Picture: Marc Atkins / Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Raso said the clash with Scotland and Wednesday morning’s battle with England, also in London, would continue the Matildas’ ideal preparations for the World Cup, which starts in July and is being co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
“Two really good games (against) tough opposition – it’s about preparing for us now, and making sure that we’re getting opponents in who are tough and will prepare us for the World Cup,” she said.
“It’s really good to be coming into form at this point in time because we have the World Cup right around the corner.
“I feel like when the World Cup comes around, we’ll all be ready to go and firing. I hope to be a big player for the team at the World Cup.”
Hayley Raso during the 2023 Cup of Nations Match between Australian Matildas and Spain at CommBank Stadium.Source: Getty Images
Raso played in two of the Matildas’ three matches in February’s Cup of Nations, scoring a brace in Australia’s 4-0 win over the Czech Republic in Gosford.
However, the former Brisbane Roar star broke her hand in Australia’s next game – a 3-2 defeat of Spain – and missed the team’s tournament-concluding 3-0 victory over Jamaica.
“I broke my hand, (but) only missed a couple of games from that. I’m training well, performing well when I’m on the pitch, (and) definitely ready to go,” she said.
The Impact Player rule iis likely to apply only for Indian players n the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League. Last Thursday (December 1), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) introduced the Impact Player concept for the upcoming IPL edition, although the board is yet to provide details on how it will work.
The Impact Player rule will allow a team to name a substitute during an ongoing match. Teams can name four substitute players and can bring in one during the live match in place of any player from the starting eleven.
“From IPL 2023 Season, a tactical/strategic concept will be introduced to add a new dimension to IPL, wherein one substitute player per team will be able to take a more active part in an IPL match.The regulations pertaining to the same will be issued shortly,” BCCI had said in a note on December 1.
As per a Cricbuzz report, all the franchises have been informed by BCCI that an overseas player cannot replace the Indian player and can not come in as a replacement for another overseas player playing in starting eleven. This rule will prevent teams from fielding five overseas players at any given time in the game and will hence conform with exisiting rule of playing a maximum of four overseas players in the match.
However, teams are likely to take advantage of this rule in the upcoming edition as they can introduce a specialist batter in place of a bowler while chasing and can bring in a specialist bowler in place of a batter while defending, which will hamper the credibility and importance of all-rounders.
The BCCI already implemented this rule in the domestic T20 tournament Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy last month, with Delhi all-rounder Hrithik Shokeen becoming the first-ever Impact Player in the tournament during the game against Manipur.
“The concept is to allow one substitute player per team to take a more active part in a match. This would add a new tactical /strategic dimension to the game. A number of team sports allow teams to make tactical substitutes i.e. football, rugby, basketball, baseball. The substitute is allowed to perform or participate like any other regular player,” the BCCI had said.
