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The Spurs’ team for the 2026/27 season is mostly set. San Antonio extended Julian Champagnie’s contract, brought back Harrison Barnes, signed Tobias Harris in free agency, and added two rookie big men from the draft. All those moves got them close to the tax line and filled up 13 of the 15 roster spots available.

With the big transactions out of the way, all that’s left is deciding what to do with those two last roster spots. The Spurs could go in different directions there, so let’s take a look at some of their options.

The continuity path: Jordan McLaughlin and Bismack Biyombo

Arguably the least exciting path, but we are talking about the fringes of the roster, so there’s nothing wrong with making choices that focus on stability instead of upside

McLaughlin arrived in the De’Aaron Fox trade and impressed the Spurs enough that they brought them back on a minimum contract for the 2025/26 season. He suited up for 44 games, mostly in garbage time, but on the opportunities he got, he showed he can be a good deep bench guy who provides solid game management and steady spot-up shooting. The 30-year-old is a finished product, but he can play and fits San Antonio’s culture.

Unlike J-Mack, Biyombo shouldn’t really see the floor unless a game is decided at this point in his career. His athleticism is gone, and he was never known for his skill. What he brought to the table last season was leadership, as he was clearly respected by everyone in the locker room, including Victor Wembanyama. With how many big bodies the Spurs have, he could continue to be more of a coach than a player.

McLaughlin would likely command a guaranteed minimum deal, like last season, while Biyombo could likely be had for a partially guaranteed or non-guaranteed minimum.

The maximum depth path: sign the best veterans available

Signing the best talent available might seem like the obvious best choice, but the Spurs don’t really have a lot of minutes to offer, so the expectations of anyone coming in should be managed to avoid any potential locker room issues. Guys like McLaughlin know how things work in San Antonio. A talented veteran who is trying to get his career back on track or end it on a high note might want a bigger role than Mitch Johnson can offer them. But if Johnson is open to having everyone but the core guys earn their minutes through competition, it could work.

Now, we are talking about players who would take the minimum or close to it, since that’s all the Spurs can offer, which rules out any big names. But guys like Bruce Brown, Jordan Clarkson, or Cole Anthony, among others, could be in play. They would probably prefer a destination where minutes are readily available, but if they are assured they will have a chance to earn them, they could be interested in being in a contender.

Those guys could carve out small roles for themselves, but could also be unhappy if they don’t end up doing so. There is some risk attached to them, but they could help in case of an emergency.

The youth and upside path: no one over 25 allowed

Essentially, the opposite of the continuity path. The Spurs have their main guys, and with Barnes back and the Harris addition, they have their veterans. Why not use the last roster spots to try to find the next Champagnie?

A simple way to do it would be to canvas the undrafted free agent and G League talent pools. Summe League is perfect for it. While most teams would likely only offer Exhibit 10 (training camp) contracts, the Spurs could be more aggressive and offer a non-guaranteed or partially guaranteed standard contract to someone who shines. At this point, it’s hard to come up with a lot of names, but there are always standouts. San Antonio has a lot of youth already on the main roster, but they have a good developmental system in Austin that they can always rely on.

The issue with this direction is that it both hurts the overall reliable depth of the team, as by nature the signings would be somewhat risky and target players who could develop into but are not currently NBA talents, while also costing money and flexibility. And most projects don’t turn into Champagnie. Still, if the Spurs think they can get the veterans they are interested in to wait until after Summer League is over, they could be patient before making their signings and potentially use one or both of their spots on young players with potential.

The savings and flexibility path: keeping a roster spot open

Teams are allowed to carry just 14 players on their roster, so there’s no need for the Spurs to sign two more guys. They could simply elect to add someone and keep an open spot heading into the season, something they’ve done in the past.

The reason for doing that is to maintain some roster flexibility. They don’t have much room under the tax to take on money for assets, but they could do a two-for-one deal or eventually convert a two-way contract into a standard one without having to waive anyone. They could also have a spot in case someone they’re interested in gets waived. Essentially, they’d save up some money that otherwise would be going to someone unlikely to contribute until they feel they can find the right use for the spot.

The downside is the Spurs wouldn’t be able to add depth at two positions in this scenario. They would have their two-way guys to help in case of emergency, so anything other than major absences shouldn’t present a major problem, but there’s a case to be made for having a set roster that can work together and develop chemistry heading into the season. It would also be unwise to use the one roster spot with someone like Biyombo, who only provides leadership, instead of likely focusing more on potential productivity.

What path do you think the Spurs should pick? Could they mix and match, going for a veteran and a young player? What are some names you would like to see them pursue? Let us know in the comments.

The Hawks may have declined Jonathan Kuminga’s team option, making him an unrestricted free agent, but they might still factor into his next destination.

With Kuminga being a five-year player with a high upside, multiple teams, including the Lakers, are interested in the wing.

The Lakers have reportedly offered him a two-year, $20 million deal, but it wasn’t enough to entice him to sign.

Perhaps if another team can get involved, everyone can benefit and get what they want. That’s where Atlanta comes in.

On Wednesday, Khobi Price wrote a piece for the California Post detailing that the Hawks would be willing to execute a sign-and-trade, sending Kuminga to Los Angeles.

A source told the Post the Hawks are willing to execute a sign-and-trade with the Lakers around the framework of Kuminga going to L.A. and the Hawks receiving Jarred Vanderbilt and the Lakers’ 2032 first-round pick swap – the lone option the Lakers have of trading a first-round pick this summer.

Obviously, this is something the Hawks would like. They avoided paying Kuminga by declining his option, and now they are being rewarded with picks and a defensive player in Jarred Vanderbilt if the Lakers agree to this.

If the numbers work, Kuminga could get a better deal than what LA originally offered. The Lakers could acquire him, and the Hawks would gain the assets they want.

Price also reported later in the piece that the Lakers are open to moving Vando or other players in a trade.

“The Lakers have been willing to trade Vanderbilt, according to multiple sources who spoke with the Post who were granted anonymity so they could speak freely, as well as other players on the roster in order to create more roster-building optionality.”

The key here is that just because the Lakers are willing to move certain players doesn’t mean they will do so if the deal doesn’t make sense.

A bad move just to land a wing is even worse than not acquiring one at all. The Lakers don’t have much money or roster spots left, so they have to figure out how to maximize this opportunity.

Also, with the Lakers trading for Walker Kessler, they have very little draft capital left. A pick swap with the Hawks could be a bad long-term decision if Kuminga doesn’t improve with the Lakers.

Still, the Hawks’ willingness to facilitate this is a positive. The goal for Lakers President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka at this point should be to structure a deal that benefits the Lakers as well.

Even though Kuminga’s value isn’t very high right now, he’s still a solid player. Last year, he averaged 12.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 33.3% from 3-point range.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

It feels like déjà vu. We've been here before. To be exact, it was 16 years ago.

A then-25-year-old LeBron James stopped the sports world as he sat down with longtime reporter and Emmy Award-winning journalist Jim Gray as he announced which team he would sign with as a free agent in a 75 minute-long special broadcast on ESPN titled "The Decision."

It was the birth of a infamous phrase uttered by James when he announced as a free agent in 2010 that he would sign with the Miami Heat.

"In this fall, man, this is very tough, in this fall I'm going to take my talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat," James said in 2010.

That fateful day rocked the entire Cleveland, actually, Ohio fanbase. Tears were shed and No. 23 jerseys were lit to flames.

It wasn't so much the decision announcement, and where, but rather how it was orchestrated that really ticked some people off. Some called it a waste of time, others said it was attention-seeking and self-centered, despite the Boys and Girls Club in Greenwich, Connecticut, being the benefactor of $2.5 million that the show raised.

Now 16 years later, at age 41, James faces another free agency decision.

For those keeping record, it's like the fourth decision, not counting the one to skip college and go straight to the league.

So, "The Decision" was a TV special on ESPN in 2010.

Years later in 2014, he went to print. He informed the sports landscape that he'd leave Miami and go back to Cleveland in quest of bringing an NBA title to the city by penning a first person essay titled "I'm Coming Home" published by Sports Illustrated on July 11. But for sequential purposes, we'll call it "The Decision: Part II."

Another four years passed and in 2018, James would leave Cleveland for Los Angeles to play for the Lakers. This decision surprised everyone as it came on the first day of free agency. It was a different route from the usual stalling, anticipation tactics fans that were expected in previous years. He informed everyone, taking a page from Michael Jordan's book with a simple press release statement through his agency, Klutch Sports Group. It's unofficially "The Decision: Part III."

After eight seasons with the Lakers, James is set to make another decision yet again, "The Decision: Part IV," as he decides which team he'll play for next season and potentially, the remainder of his career, whenever that'll be.

It's not really a matter of when but moreso, how? We've got a TV special, a sports magazine excerpt and a press release statement. We've got some ideas for how the fourth could even be better. So LeBron or Rich Paul, if you're reading this, consider these options:

If you grew up on Suns basketball, this one hits different.

Jerry Colangelo, the man who built this franchise from a 1968 coin flip loss into a Western Conference institution, is officially back in the NBA ownership game at 86 years old.

The Las Vegas Jacks unveiled their leadership group Wednesday, headlined by Colangelo, former NBA player and head coach Vinny Del Negro, media executive David Levy, finance chairman Scott Colangelo, CEO Jonathan Thomas, and former NBA player Jay Williams.

Full release can be read here:Las Vegas Jacks Ownership Group Assembles World Class Leadership Team to Pursue NBA Expansion Franchise

“Basketball has become a global sport to levels never seen before,” said Jerry Colangelo. “With the five top MVP vote-getters being all internationally born, the game is reaching unparalleled heights. My excitement for this project and for our Jack’s vision is right up there in terms of my career. We are all committed and working as hard as we can to bring the league, owners, and the fans the best proposal and end product possible to Las Vegas.”

The money is real. The group has set an asset target of $12.5 billion to $13 billion, with $5 billion already committed and another $3 billion formally indicated, and Levy says they plan to pay the expansion fee in cash. In the short term, they would play at T-Mobile Arena while developing a basketball-centric venue.

The competition is stacked. Magic Johnson’s MAGI group, Golden Knights owner Bill Foley, and former Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry are all in the mix, and Adam Silver hopes to have an expansion answer by the end of the year.

Are you all ready for Phoenix’s newest rival to be built just 4 hours and 30 minutes (by car) down the road?

On the 16th anniversary of The Decision, yet another one faces LeBron James.

The NBA's all-time leading scorer is looking for a new home after informing the Los Angeles Lakers he would be playing his 24th season elsewhere, and he has no shortage of options to choose from. Some of the more notable teams who have reported interest include the Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves, though ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Tuesday that the top three teams in the running are Cleveland, Miami and Philadelphia.

But wherever he ends up, don't expect a decision to come any time soon.

"What we do know is that LeBron James wants to be in a competitive, competing environment," Charania said on NBA Today on Wednesday, July 8. "He wants to play meaningful basketball, I'm told. But as far as a timeline, there is no timetable. LeBron James does not appear to be in a rush."

.@ShamsCharania says LeBron's top three teams appear to be the Cavs, Heat and Sixers 👀 pic.twitter.com/D0WUDY3N1h

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 8, 2026

It's a marked departure from James' previous stints as a free agent where he wrapped up his process relatively quickly, most notably signing with the Lakers less than 24 hours into the official start of free agency on July 1, 2018. This time, however, he's taken more time to spend with his family and close friends and play golf, with ESPN's Brian Windhorst reporting that teams have mostly had one-way communication with James and Rich Paul up to this point.

Here's the latest on LeBron's potential landing spots:

More: LeBron James did the NBA one last solid before retiring. He saved free agency.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Celtics fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

After weeks of drama, President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens seemed pretty satisfied with the makeup of the Celtics roster heading into this weekend’s Summer League and training camp in September.

“I don’t anticipate anything in the very near term,” Stevens said of the roster as it stands on July 6th. “I think that we do like the team we have, we might be able to add to it, but at the end of the day, we like the group we have.”

The significant change is obviously Paul George replacing Jaylen Brown. The front office also added Mike Conley Jr. to shore up their ball handing in the second unit and Mitchell Robinson to add even more depth to their center room focused on offensive rebounding and rim protection.

Despite knee jerk reactions on social media and the talking heads, analytic prognosticators like Sporting News’ Steph Noh predict Boston to win 50-plus games and continue to compete at the top of the Eastern Conference.

The ingredients have been bought. Now, it’s time for Joe Mazzulla to cook.

There are some givens. You can pretty much set in stone that Jayson Tatum and Derrick White will be starters. After that, things get interesting.

When Tatum returned last season, Mazzulla opted to move Payton Pritchard back to the bench to reprise his 6th Man of the Year role after starting 50 games in the regular season. The added minutes and responsibilities didn’t seem to affect his efficiency, so he could be permanently promoted for 2026-2027.

Conventional wisdom would suggest that George will slot in as a starter, but the 36-year-old could benefit from the Al Horford Plan. He played just 41 and 37 games in consecutive seasons in Philadelphia. On one hand, that could suggest that he’s ready for a heavier load in Year 17, not unlike the 28 games that Horford played in his sabbatical year with the Thunder. On the other hand, Boston could slow boat George just like they did with Big Al and play him in only 60ish games and hold him out in back-to-backs.

Finally, what happens at center? Despite a rocky performance against Joel Embiid in Boston’s first round exit, Neemias Queta proved that he’s a quality starter in this league. The Celtics rewarded him with a four-year, $56 million contract. And they also signed Mitchell Robinson. There’s also Luka Garza who also had a revelatory year last season. Considering Robinson’s ability to defend opposing starting centers and inability to shoot (free throws), it makes sense to make him a starter with Queta and Garza shifting the energy with the second unit.

What do you think happens to start next season?

Jamal Crawford has been a guy Kentucky Basketball fans have had their minds fixated on this summer. The possibility of the three-time NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year joining Mark Pope’s coaching staff in Kentucky has been enticing, and he would join former NBA All-Star Mo Williams to form an elite coaching staff consisting of former players.

Crawford, though, is currently under contract with NBC Sports as a game analyst, working with fellow analyst Reggie Miller and play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico on NBC’s lead NBA team. In their first season together, the network’s return to broadcasting the NBA after 23 seasons, Crawford, Miller, and Tirico called a terrific Western Conference Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder, a series the Spurs won in seven games with a road win in OKC in the decisive Game 7.

Crawford is also an assistant coach at Rainer Beach High School in Seattle, where he coaches his son, J.J. Crawford, one of the top prospects in the class of 2029.

So, could Crawford still be a potential addition to Mark Pope’s coaching staff? During an appearance with KSR’s Matt Jones on KSR’s radio show Wednesday morning, Pope didn’t sound like he’s expected Crawford to leave his current gig.

“Jamal’s still got two years left on his NBC contract,” Pope said. “I’m good friends with Jamal. We’ve been friends for a long time. There might be a time where it’s good for him to jump into coaching. It’s something that he would like to do. He’s one of those guys that’s cut from a little bit of a similar cloth, like Mo Williams is. It’s hard to run an AAU program. There are a lot of guys that fund an AAU program, but Mo was running an AAU program. Jamal is running and coaching an AAU program.

“We find guys like that with their background — he could have a great future in college, he could go get a job, maybe in the exact right space, as a head coach in the NBA, maybe. I think there’s a good chance coaching is in his future, but he’s got a sweet deal right now, and he’s got a couple of years left.”

This reminds me a lot of the Memphis Tigers when Penny Hardaway took over as their head coach in 2018. Hardaway had former NBA Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year, as well as a two-time NBA Champion, Mike Miller, on his coaching staff for two seasons. Talk about an experienced coaching staff.

With changes having already come to Kentucky’s coaching staff, it remains to be seen if the Wildcats will add another member to it.

“I’m engaged in conversations about staff every day, even when our staff is full,” Pope said. “I’m still talking to people, and kind of seeing where it goes. If we hire someone, it’s going to be the right person that’s going to be exactly the right fit for what we do — but we’re working at a really high level right now.”

It also remains to be seen who the Cats will fill their 15th roster spot with, but there is still time for that and a potential addition to the coaching staff.

The Cats will open the season on Tuesday, November 3rd, against Manhattan at Rupp Arena.