SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- With their season over, the San Francisco 49ers and quarterback Brock Purdy are, for the first time in his young career, eligible to discuss a lucrative long-term contract extension.

And while those talks haven't begun just yet, Niners general manager John Lynch, coach Kyle Shanahan and Purdy have made it clear that they intend to reach an agreement with the hope that it will be done sooner than later.

"I think what we know about Brock is that he's our guy," Lynch said Wednesday. "We have interest in Brock being around here for a long, long time. He's done so much for our organization; he's won big games and had a little tougher task as we all did this year with some of the things that happened throughout the course of the year. We just never could string games where we were all together and through that, he continued to lead, he continued to play at a high level, so we have every interest in him being around.

"We'll have some time here in the coming weeks to sit together and put our whole plan together. That's obviously a priority, that position, and we'll give it that attention."

"I plan on being with Brock here the whole time I'm here. Brock's been a stud. He's a guy I've got a lot of confidence in just as a human, but it starts with what he's done on the field these last two and a half years. We're capable of winning the Super Bowl with him. He just almost did, and I know he's capable of getting the Niners a Super Bowl in the future."

Kyle Shanahan, on Brock Purdy

As the last pick in the 2022 NFL draft, Purdy played his first three years on one of the cheapest contracts in the NFL, a four-year rookie deal worth an average annual value of $934,253. He has one year left on that pact and is slated to count $1.119 million against the cap in 2025.

That number is all but certain to rise this offseason as the Niners are prepared to pay him in line with some of the top-paid passers in the league, though it remains to be seen just how high they're willing to go. The Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott is the current highest-paid quarterback in terms of average annual value at $60 million per season.

Monday, Purdy said he's "not really sure" whether topping that number is of importance to him, but he did make it clear that he wants to get something done as fast as possible so he can be in the fold when the Niners begin organized team activities in April.

"More than anything for me, I want to be able to handle business the right way and do it in a respectable manner and get back to my team as fast as I can to get going," Purdy said. "That's my mindset, my focus. And obviously I want to help the team across the board with all the other guys who need to get their deals done, but everybody will handle it the right way and how they need to."

Following a 2023 campaign in which he earned Pro Bowl honors and finished fourth in Most Valuable Player voting, Purdy's statistical production dipped in 2024 as injuries ravaged his supporting cast. Despite missing running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles, knee) and receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) for most of the season and playing without left tackle Trent Williams, tight end George Kittle and receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. for other, shorter stretches, Purdy finished seventh in the NFL in QBR (68.0), 10th in passing yards (3,864) and third in yards per attempt (8.5) in his 15 games.

But Purdy also struggled in a handful of bad weather games and was unable to lead fourth-quarter comebacks in some close and late situations as the Niners tumbled to 6-11. His 1.7 touchdowns per interception was tied for 23rd in the NFL and a significant drop-off from the 2.8 he posted in 2023.

Still, Shanahan's belief in Purdy only increased as he watched Purdy grow into a larger leadership role and continue battling despite the difficult situation around him.

"Brock is the leader of our team," Shanahan said. "I've loved these three years with Brock. I plan on being with Brock here the whole time I'm here. Brock's been a stud. He's a guy I've got a lot of confidence in just as a human, but it starts with what he's done on the field these last two and a half years. We're capable of winning the Super Bowl with him. He just almost did, and I know he's capable of getting the Niners a Super Bowl in the future."

Lynch and Shanahan spent the past couple of days doing exit meetings and going through player and coaching staff evaluations, which is why any Purdy extension talks have yet to begin in earnest.

While the 49ers have a history of allowing important contract talks to linger deep into August and even September, as they did with Aiyuk and Williams last offseason, the approach at quarterback figures to be a bit different.

For one, Purdy's contract will involve such a significant raise that it will play a role in how much money the team is able to spend to add to the roster and/or keeping some of its current players. It would behoove the Niners to get a deal done quickly as other top quarterbacks could renegotiate or sign contracts that could alter the market. Also, the 49ers would prefer not to have any spring or training camp practice time without the starting quarterback.

How fast might a deal get done? Well, Shanahan and Lynch do have at least some experience negotiating with a quarterback signing a market-setting deal. In 2018, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo signed a five-year, $137.5 million deal on Feb. 8.

That negotiation was a bit different because Garoppolo was going to become a free agent in March while Purdy is under contract, but it's instructive in the urgency all sides feel to get something done.

"I want to be in San Francisco and play my football career here," Purdy said. "I love it here and I want to do whatever it takes to be here. ... I'm not really sure what it all is going to look like or entail, but I know that I'm the guy for this organization and that I can do what it takes to help lead us where we want to go."

UConn defensive lineman Pryce Yates signed with North Carolina on Tuesday, sources told ESPN, joining the Tar Heels' growing transfer portal class under new coach Bill Belichick.

Yates will play for the Tar Heels next season after shining against them in the Fenway Bowl, recording a sack and three tackles for loss to earn defensive MVP honors after UConn's 27-14 victory. Now he's switching sides to finish his career in the ACC.

Yates, a redshirt junior from San Antonio, initially entered the portal Dec. 13 before withdrawing eight days later and announcing on social media he intended to return for the 2025 season. Following his bowl game performance, Yates reentered the portal Dec. 30.

Hours before Yates put his name back in the portal, UConn coach Jim Mora posted on X that he planned to "pursue all avenues" against teams that tamper with his players and recruit them off the Huskies' roster.

"A simple note to the schools and coaches that have blatantly broken @NCAAFootball rules by tampering with our players in the last 24 hours," Mora wrote on X. "We do know who you are, we will pursue all avenues to hold you accountable. We are excited that we've built a program where coaches have to cheat to beat us and we will protect that program. Think hard before you tamper with our players."

Mora later added that he doesn't know how to fix the tampering issue in college football, but that "we will expose any program and coach that violates" NCAA rules. He added: "I'm 100 percent against grown men cheating the rules and teaching players horrible life lessons."

Yates appeared in seven games due to injury but recorded 21 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks for the Huskies during a 9-4 season, the program's most wins since 2007.

North Carolina has picked up commitments from 13 transfers since the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach took over the program Dec. 11.

LOS ANGELES -- As wildfires continue to devastate several areas across Los Angeles, causing thousands to evacuate and impacting air quality, the NFL said it is monitoring the situation's potential impact on Monday night's wild-card playoff game between the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium and has a contingency plan that involves moving the game to Arizona should the need arise.

Three major blazes were burning in the Los Angeles metropolitan area Wednesday, from the Pacific Coast inland to Pasadena, home of the famed Rose Parade. More than 130,000 people are under evacuation orders in the metropolitan area, from the Pacific Coast inland to Pasadena, a number that continues to shift as new fires erupt.

In a statement Wednesday evening, the NFL said it continues to prepare for the game to be played at SoFi Stadium, but if it had to be moved, it would take place Monday night at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, the home of the Arizona Cardinals.

"As with all games, there are contingency plans in the event a change in location is needed," the league said in its statement.

In 2003, the league moved a Monday night regular-season game between the Miami Dolphins and San Diego Chargers to Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona, due to wildfires.

The Rams, who had a scheduled off day Wednesday and are slated to resume practice Thursday, also are monitoring the situation, a team official said.

The Rams said no players or staff members had been affected by the fires. The team is headquartered in Woodland Hills, a neighborhood located about 13 miles north of fire-ravaged Pacific Palisades but separated by the Santa Monica Mountains.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the fires," Rams star receiver Cooper Kupp wrote on social media. "Thank you to the firefighters, first responders, and everyone else doing their best in unfathomable circumstances."

The Los Angeles Chargers, who will visit the Texans on Saturday in a wild-card playoff game in Houston, altered their practice schedule Wednesday to limit players' time outdoors, a team official said.

The air quality index in the area varied Wednesday from 150 to well above 300, depending on specific locations, with smoke and ash blanketing the region. A rating of 150 is considered "very unhealthy," according to the system used to measure air pollution. The air quality in Inglewood, California -- where SoFi Stadium is located -- was 281 Wednesday afternoon.

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh had the offensive and defensive units practice separately to limit their time on the field. Still, quarterback Justin Herbert and the rest of the quarterbacks were throwing passes to coaches during the defensive portion of practice. Chargers owner Dean Spanos, who typically isn't out on the field at practice, was there watching with general manager Joe Hortiz during the defensive period open to media.

The air quality index at the team's facility in El Segundo ranged from 170 to 200.

"We're trying to keep everybody safe and healthy as much as possible and also at the same time get our preparation done for the game," defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said.

Wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal lives in Calabasas, which is one of the areas affected by the wildfires. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman said Lal had "an intense night" with his family dealing with power outages.

The Chargers announced they will provide $200,000 in targeted funding to the American Red Cross, LA Fire Department Foundation, Team Rubicon and pet rescue organizations sheltering animals displaced by the fires.

With thousands of firefighters already attacking the flames, the Los Angeles Fire Department put out a plea for off-duty firefighters to help.

At least five people have been killed in the fires, according to officials, with many others injured.

California's wildfire season typically begins in June or July and runs through October, according to the Western Fire Chiefs Association, but January wildfires are not unprecedented. There was one in 2022 and 10 in 2021, according to Cal Fire.

The season is beginning earlier and ending later because of rising temperatures and decreased rainfall tied to climate change, according to recent data. Rains that usually end fire season are often delayed, meaning fires can burn through the winter months, the association said.

ESPN's Kris Rhim and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal and his agent have had no talks about waiving his no-trade clause and his only focus is helping the team climb out of its recent slump, agent Mark Bartelstein told ESPN.

The Suns have been linked to Jimmy Butler after the Miami Heat suspended him and announced they would seek trade options last week. That led to speculation and reports that Beal could be involved.

The situation drew more attention Monday when Suns coach Mike Budenholzer, in an unexpected change, decided to move Beal to the bench to jump-start the team after it had lost 17 of its past 24 games.

"There have been no discussions about trades with the Suns or any other team," Bartelstein said. "Bradley's total focus is on helping the Suns turn things around."

Beal said after Monday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers, his first game in a reserve role in nine years, that he had not heard anything from the team about a trade, adding "I hold the cards" if the Suns were to seek one.

Bartelstein said Beal, who has two years and $110 million left on his contract after this season, would never give up the no-trade clause he got when he signed a five-year, $251 million contract with the Washington Wizards in 2022.

Because of trade restrictions for being a second apron team because of its $216 million payroll, Phoenix would have no functional way to acquire Butler unless it used Beal as part of the trade.

Bartelstein did not rule out possibly of waiving the clause for an approved deal, as Beal did in 2023 when he was traded to the Suns, if a "perfect" situation came up. But that action is not currently under consideration, Bartelstein reiterated.

Beal played 31 minutes off the bench Tuesday, scoring 10 points with five assists in a 115-104 loss in Charlotte to drop the Suns to 16-19 on the season. He scored 25 points off the bench Monday in the win in Philadelphia. He is averaging 17.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.

Beal and the Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James are the only players in the NBA with no-trade clauses in their contracts.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton will come off the bench Wednesday night against the San Antonio Spurs, a move Bucks coach Doc Rivers said has more to do with his health and a minutes restriction after he had bilateral ankle surgeries over the summer than his production on the court.

"It's just not improving to the place he wants it or we want it, so we just got to monitor," Rivers said about Middleton's health. "We're cutting his minutes back a little bit and just trying to make sure he gets through this."

Middleton, 33, missed the first 21 games of the season after offseason surgery on both ankles. He has played in 12 games, making his season debut in early December, but had been in the starting lineup in his past seven games before missing Monday's game in Toronto due to ankle tendinitis.

Taurean Prince will take Middleton's place in the starting lineup. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and Andre Jackson Jr. will all be available after being listed on the injury report heading into the game.

Middleton is averaging 12.7 points, 5.0 assists and 4.4 rebounds in 23.8 minutes this season, but the Bucks have not found a consistent rhythm with him on the floor. Milwaukee is just 3-4 this season in games where Middleton has started.

However, Rivers said he has had too small of a sample to judge Middleton yet, especially while he's juggling limited playing time.

"The bottom line is just not moving every night the way you like to," Rivers said. "One night you see, moving great. One night, he's not. Minutes go up and down.

"It's just -- it's a tough go for him."

Magic star Paolo Banchero is expected to return to action in one of Orlando's back-to-back home games Thursday against Minnesota or Friday against Milwaukee, sources told ESPN.

Banchero has been out since Oct. 30 due to a torn oblique after a monster start to the season. The Magic officially upgraded him to questionable on the league's injury report after he participated fully in Wednesday's practice.

Banchero's 29-point average ranked seventh in the league before his injury, and he was also averaging 8.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists.

Banchero scored a career-high 50 points in an Oct. 28 win over the Indiana Pacers, when he became the second-youngest player in NBA history to record at least 50 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in a game behind LeBron James, who accomplished the feat in 2005 against the Toronto Raptors.

The Magic (22-16) are in fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings despite losing both Banchero and Franz Wagner to torn oblique injuries. Wagner -- headed toward an All-Star season in his own right -- has been sidelined since Dec. 6.

Clippers star Kawhi Leonard left the team and flew to Los Angeles to be with family that was evacuated because of the wildfires that have devastated the area, coach Tyronn Lue said Wednesday.

The Clippers played at the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night.

"You definitely have to take care of home. ... Totally had my support 100%," Lue told reporters. "Going back, checking on his family and kids, making sure they're well. And he got back, and they're doing OK, so just happy and thankful for that."

Tens of thousands have been evacuated because of the Palisades Fire, with more than 11,800 acres having burned in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in Los Angeles, according to ABC News. More than 1,000 structures are estimated to have been destroyed in the fire.

Leonard, who bought a house in the Pacific Palisades in 2021, was set to play in his third game of the season against Denver. The Clippers star made his season debut against Atlanta on Jan. 4 after missing the start of the season with inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee.

He is averaging 10 points in 20 minutes per game.

CLEVELAND -- Jarrett Allen scored 25 points, Evan Mobley added 21 and the Cleveland Cavaliers ended Oklahoma City's 15-game winning streak by beating the Thunder 129-122 on Wednesday night in a marquee meeting between the NBA's top two teams.

The Cavs extended their winning streak to 11, improved the league's best record to 32-4 -- 11-0 against the West -- and moved to 19-1 at home. They did it on an off night for leading scorer Donovan Mitchell, who had just 11 points on 3-of-16 shooting.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points and Jalen Williams had 25 for the Thunder in their first loss since Dec. 1.

While it's only January and there's a lot of basketball ahead, the game's intensity had the all vibes of a Finals matchup in June. There were 30 lead changes and neither team led by more than nine.

The matchup was only the third in history between teams riding double-digit winning streaks. The last time it happened was on Jan. 26, 1995, when Seattle and Utah entered their game each on 10-game winning streaks.

Gilgeous-Alexander is the team's undisputed star, but Oklahoma City has some nice pieces. Center Isaiah Hartenstein finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists.

Cleveland showed its balance, depth and that it can get by when Mitchell isn't on. Mobley and Allen combined for 22 rebounds and 13 assists.

With Cleveland up 125-122, Mitchell was called for a loose ball foul 1:19. The Cavs challenged and the call was reversed by replay review. Mobley then hit a 10-footer in the lane to put Cleveland up by five.

Only four teams have posted a better record through 36 games than Cleveland: Golden State (34-2) in 2015-16, Philadelphia (33-3) in 1966-67, the Los Angeles Lakers (33-3) in 1971-72 and Chicago (33-3) in 1995-96.