Nicolas Batum announced his retirement from the NBA after 18 seasons on Monday, Sept. 21.
In a nearly 10-minute-long video posted to his Instagram account, the 37-year-old wing walked into Gym Even in Pont-l'Évêque, France – the same one where he started playing basketball exactly 35 years ago to the day on Sept. 21, 1991, when he was two-and a half years old, by his account. This time, Batum brought his son, Ayden, with him.
"You don't want me to retire?" Batum asked Ayden as they sat on the wooden bleachers.
"No," Ayden replied.
"Should I keep playing basketball?"
"Yes."
"No," Batum said with a sense of finality. "It's over."
The Frenchman's stat sheet won't make anyone's eyes pop. He was never an All-Star, let alone a star. But Batum had an undeniable respect from his peers in every locker room he stepped foot in.
He spaced the floor well with his shooting ability and his tendency to get the ball to his teammates and on the defensive side of the ball, Batum's 6-7 frame and 7-1 wingspan gave him the versatility to defend multiple positions. He was a crucial role player in his early years with a Portland Trail Blazers squad that made the playoffs in six of his seven seasons. Batum was traded to the Charlotte Hornets in 2015, where he spent the next five years before signing with the Los Angeles Clippers in December 2020 on the minimum.
That's where Batum spent the remaining six years of his career – well, five and some change. He was briefly traded to the Philadelphia 76ers five games into the 2023-24 season as part of the James Harden trade and returned to L.A. the following summer on a two-year, $9.6 million deal.
In that time, Batum shot 40.3% from three, opening up the floor for star teammates such as Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Harden. He was also part of the Clippers' historic playoff run 2020-21 in which they reached the Western Conference Finals for the first and only time in franchise history.
His leadership was on display in its most public form in the Netflix documentary, "Court of Gold," chronicling the 2024 Paris Olympics basketball tournament. Batum, the captain for Les Bleus in his final Olympics, was featured prominently as he and the rest of team France attempted to dethrone the United States and win gold in their home country. He served as the heartbeat of the team, delivering fiery halftime speeches and advice to Victor Wembanyama.
As he explained in the video, Batum is ready for what's next. He's done sacrificing, he's done missing out on moments in Ayden's life. For the last 25 years, he chose the game. Now, he's choosing his life outside of that.
"When you've played as much basketball as I have, you have to know when to stop," Batum told his son. "... You spend 20, 25 years playing basketball, that's what you know yourself as. Right now, you practice all the time. That was my life, too. I practiced all the time. That's probably what I'll miss; the competition, the games. It's the life you've known for 25 years.
"I'll miss it, but that's not what I'm looking for anymore."
MILAN, ITALY - 2026/02/03: Khalifa Diop #18 of Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz seen in action during Turkish Airlines EuroLeague 2025/26 Regular Season Round 26 game between EA7 Emporio Armani Milano and Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz at Allianz Cloud. Final score EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 109 : 89 Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz. (Photo by Fabrizio Carabelli/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Four years after being drafted, Khalifa Diop is gearing up for his rookie season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Diop has spent the last few years as a stashed prospect overseas, but will finally make his debut in the 2026 season.
What should we expect?
Diop is a mobile 6’11” big who can block shots and run the floor. He is a hulking presence with broad shoulders that can clear space for rebounds — while also being agile enough to soar above the rim for highlight plays on either side of the action.
His athletic profile, alone, makes Diop an interesting prospect.
Khalifa Diop is excellent as a lob finisher, which is one of his biggest strengths as a P&R roll man. Dynamic aerial threat with long arms and plus athleticism; he can finish above the rim in traffic consistently pic.twitter.com/azg3nQunyx
The floor for players like this is much higher than other archetypes. He simply has more to work with than some of his peers. But piecing the full puzzle together has always been key.
Diop’s game is still raw.
He’s limited outside the paint and isn’t a threat to dribble or create for himself. He hasn’t notably improved either part of that overseas.
Diop’s defensive impact isn’t consistent, either. He’s often a step behind the play — and is still working to establish the core fundamentals that separate good athletes from good basketball players.
His averages of 3.5 points and 4.3 rebounds last season reflect this. Diop is too gifted athletically to be scoring fewer than two baskets a game.
There’s an art to running the pick-and-roll, and the details are what’s holding him back.
Finishing a lob pass is great, but there’s just as much reward in catching in the short-roll and nailing a jump-hook. Not as flashy, but worth the same amount of points. Diop can make a big difference by becoming a more well-rounded finisher who can convert in multiple scenarios.
Other aspects of Diop’s game that need polishing include defensive positioning and timing.
He isn’t always great at containing the ball or executing the correct rotation. Again, the simplicity of deterring a shot is just as valuable as rejecting one off the backboard. Diop can benefit from consistently sealing off the paint more so than making the recovery to block shots.
Cleveland won’t expect Diop to achieve this overnight. He’ll spend his rookie season developing behind the scenes, both in practice and potentially with the Charge. This will allow Diop to work on his game without being needlessly thrown into the fire.
When on the court, Diop should keep things simple.
The Cavs won’t ask him to anchor their defense or create for himself. Instead, his job will be to hustle, grab rebounds, and try to be a force in the paint. Those are things Diop can bring on paper. And if he does, he’ll be a fan favorite in Cleveland.
Diop’s raw ability to run the floor and play above the rim could translate well to the NBA. The league thrives on energy guys like him. Diop might be able to exceed expectations if he embraces the junkyard dog mentality that Cleveland originally wanted to mold this team around.
He can learn behind two elite bigs in Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Diop should also soak up as much insight from James Harden’s PNR mastery as possible. Even just watching those guys from afar will give Diop the blueprint he needs.
Meanwhile, Diop joins an organization that has numerous developmental success stories under its belt. Prospects like Craig Porter, Sam Merrill, and Nae’Qwan Tomlin are recent examples. Diop will look to join that group this season.
Still, I’d practice patience.
The Cavs can give Diop a quality path towards improvement, but I wouldn’t expect him to play meaningful minutes in his rookie season. Most of his development will happen behind closed doors, where Cleveland will be able to place the building blocks right in front of him.
The Sacramento Kings enter the 2026-27 season as a team with plenty of room for improvement. The Kings snapped a 16-year long playoff drought in 2023 and haven't been back to the postseason since as a lot has unfolded, including a new general manager, head coach and face of the franchise.
The Kings finished their most recent campaign with a 22-60 record, the second-worst in franchise history since moving to Sacramento. It was the first full season for head coach Doug Christie, who initially went from assistant to interim coach when Mike Brown was fired in December 2024. The interim was tag removed last season under new general manager Scott Perry, whose focus has been set on rebuilding the team infrastructure and identity.
Perry has been able to begin the retooling process largely through the draft. In the 2025 NBA Draft he selected Nique Clifford and Maxime Raynaud and signed Dylan Cardwell as an undrafted rookie. All found their way into the rotation last season after the roster faced multiple injuries. They proved to be potential cornerstone pieces to a new era brewing in Sacramento. Perry followed that draft performance by selecting Darius Acuff Jr. with the No. 7 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, later selecting Alex Karaban and Emanuel Sharp to round out the event.
Sacramento will be an interesting case study in the league as the franchise attempts to field a competitive team and improve on their previous record while navigating the development its young players and monitoring potential trade offers vets like Sabonis and LaVine.
Here's a breakdown of the Sacramento Kings' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:
G Darius Acuff Jr. (No. 7 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft)
F Alex Karaban (No. 29 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, trade with Cleveland)
G Emanuel Sharp (No. 45 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft)
Key roster losses
G Russell Westbrook (retirement)
G DeMar DeRozan (free agent)
C Dario Saric (international)
F Doug McDermott (free agent)
Biggest question entering training camp
How will the Kings' mix of veterans and young players mesh together?
Last season, the Kings' draft picks Nique Clifford, Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell earned minutes through development and injuries to Domantas Sabonis, who played just 19 games, Keegan Murray who played 23 games, and Zach LaVine who played 39 games. With incoming highly touted draft picks Darius Acuff Jr., Emanuel Sharp and Alex Karaban, it'll be interesting to see how everyone fits and minutes are divided. The Kings also added Ben Simmons, who's looking to have a resurgent season after sitting out last year with a back injury. Head coach Doug Christie is going to have his work cut out for him figuring that out.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Darius Acuff Jr.
G Zach LaVine
F De'Andre Hunter
F Keegan Murray
C Domantas Sabonis
Rotation players
G Malik Monk
G Ben Simmons
G Nique Clifford
G Emanuel Sharp
G Adam Flagler
F Precious Achiuwa
F Daeqwon Plowden
F Alex Karaban
F Jonathan Mogbo
C Maxime Raynaud
C Dylan Cardwell
What to expect in 2026-27 season
The Kings have a fun team. No one is predicting they will win a bunch of games, but expect the Kings to play hard. Sacramento will be exciting, energetic and to some extent entertaining. Monitor the gradual development of their future core, it could very-well influence the trade market. Overall, the growing pains will continue in California's capital. Anticipate struggle and expect lots of ugly games with the Kings – that's the price of development. Growth is coming. Try to appreciate the process and brace yourself for the ride.
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LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 14: Isaiah Crawford #27 of the Houston Rockets handles the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on July 14, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Julian Phillips
Phillips is a 6’6” small forward who signed with the Rockets in the offseason after going to the Chicago Bulls in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft. He spent two and a half seasons with the Bulls before being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves at last year’s deadline. He then joineed the Rockets as a free agent this past summer. In case you’re noticing a trend, Phillips is the type of defense-first forward that Ime Udoka loves, as he has the length an athleticism to be NBA-ready on defense. However, the 22-year-old struggles offensively, shooting just 43.5 percent from the field for his career and 32 percent from deep. He also struggles creating offensively, but if the Rockets need another long, lanky wing defender to throw at teams, Phillips is your guy. He only averages 3.6 points in 11 minutes per night over his career, but we all know it’s your defense that could get you on the floor for Udoka.
Isaiah Crawford
Crawford is another 6’6” small forward, but this one played for the team last year after first spending his rookie year with the Sacramento Kings. He originally went undrafted in 2024 after earning Conference USA Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year for Louisiana Tech. Crawford is another Udoka defensive specialist, and though he hasn’t gotten much run with the big boys, he had a pretty good line in Rio Grande Valley last year, going for 18.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4 assists and 2.2 steals per game on 53.4 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from deep. Crawford is 24, so I’m not sure how much ceiling he has left, but the Rockets have a baller in tow in case they need to break glass in case of emergency. I don’t expect much run this year barring injury, but Crawford is another guy that’s a good fit for what Udoka wants to do.
After years of irrelevance and rebuilding, after a season spent tanking, the Jazz have an unproven but talented roster in place. So, now, expectations are elevating in kind.
After years of rebuilding, can this Jazz team finally compete in the West?
Across the last four seasons, the Jazz have won 107 of a possible 328 games (.326). Across the last two, they’ve won only 39 of 164 (.237). They’ve missed the postseason each of those four seasons, as the team was in a full rebuild after it traded away franchise cornerstones Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. Now, the roster has a solid balance of young players — Keyonte George, Darryn Peterson and Ace Bailey — and veterans — Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., Jusuf Nurkić — in place to compete. There might be some growing pains along the way, but there’s so much raw talent on the roster now — especially among the top eight players in the rotation — that the time for excuses is gone. These Jazz need to take a jump.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Keyonte George
G Darryn Peterson
F Ace Bailey
F Lauri Markkanen
C Jaren Jackson Jr.
Rotation players
C Jusuf Nurkić
G Isaiah Collier
F Kyle Filipowski
F Brice Sensabaugh
C Jaxson Hayes
G Josh Okogie
G Josh Green
C Mo Bamba
G Trey Alexander
F Svi Mykhailiuk
What to expect in 2026-27 season
A team that is much better than it has been the last four seasons. The Jazz are a young and talented team, and there are some questions that need to be answered, but they could fly under the radar and emerge as a playoff contender. As to the questions: does coach Will Hardy, who is normally patient and deliberate with rookies, break his rule and start No. 2 overall rookie Darryn Peterson right away? Does Hardy opt to start Jusuf Nurkić at center, instead of Jaren Jackson Jr., who has expressed a desire to play power forward? And, in a related question, what then happens to Ace Bailey, the 20-year-old No. 5 overall selection from the 2025 draft? These are good problems to have, and they signal a team that is on the rise.
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Arguably no team has undergone more change over the course of the year than the Portland Trail Blazers.
They’ve seen their head coach at the start of the 2025-26 season charged in an alleged illegal gambling ring. They surprised and broke through in the NBA Play-In Tournament to make the playoffs as the No. 7 seed. Their interim coach was not retained, despite the success, and their new owner, Tom Dundon, has floated relocation in negotiations to upgrade the Moda Center, the Trail Blazers' home venue.
Can the Trail Blazers find some semblance of stability?
This was a surprise playoff team, one that had to deal with chaos just days into the 2025-26 regular season, when former head coach Chauncey Billups was charged for his role in an alleged illegal gambling ring. But, after righting the ship and getting the most out of the young Trail Blazer roster, former coach Tiago Splitter was not retained. In comes in first-time coach Micah Nori, who was an excellent assistant with the Minnesota Timberwolves. But Nori was signed to a one-year deal, which is wildly unconventional. It also points to more potential changes in the future, as Portland could theoretically have four different head coaches in four seasons, if Nori is not retained next season. When players cycle between different offensive and defensive philosophies and coaching styles, it can create a whiplash and can stymie the development of younger players. There’s decent talent on this roster, but ownership does these players a disservice by not sticking to a long-term plan.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Ja Morant
G Damien Lillard
F Deni Avdija
F Toumani Camara
C Donovan Clingan
Rotation players
G Scoot Henderson
G Jrue Holiday
C Robert Williams III
G Vit Krejci
F Sidy Cissoko
F Jeremy Sochan
C Micah Potter
G Blake Wesley
C Yang Hansen
What to expect in 2026-27 season
Honestly, it’s a little difficult to project. This team has a blend of young and veteran talent. Damian Lillard’s return should provide plenty of perimeter shooting, and Ja Morant could eventually become a low-cost upgrade, if he can return to form and stay healthy. Deni Avdija was a first-time All-Star last season. But, given the tumult in the coaching staff, and given that Micah Nori is a first-time head coach, the Trail Blazers could be a candidate for regression. Whether that comes true or not will hinge on Morant’s ability to assimilate and operate Portland’s offense and whether Lillard has more left in the tank.
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The Washington Wizards had an interesting way of building toward this season.
Trae Young played just 15 games last season, a career low, and only five of them for Washington. He called it "a blessing in disguise," the deal that sent him out of Atlanta after the Hawks never offered him an extension. The Wizards then gave him four years and $212.8 million – the most any team could have offered him – and agreed to it the day before they used the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA on AJ Dybantsa.
Nobody was actually bidding against them though.
The Wizards had already landed Young and Anthony Davis in midseason trades, then won the lottery after losing 26 of their final 27 games. Dybantsa led the nation in scoring as a BYU freshman.
Young is 27, Davis is 33, Middleton is 35. Dybantsa is 19, Alex Sarr is 21, Tre Johnson is 20. Keefe has to get all of them shots without stalling any of the development that got him a fourth season in the first place. His record so far is 43-160. Then there is Davis, who wants a max extension. If Washington declines, a trade request is the logical next move, and it would land in the middle of the season the Wizards have spent two years setting up.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Trae Young
G Kyshawn George
F AJ Dybantsa
F Anthony Davis
C Alex Sarr
Rotation players
G Tre Johnson
G Bub Carrington
G Tre Mann
F Bilal Coulibaly
F Khris Middleton
C Deandre Ayton
What to expect in 2026-27 season
Thirty wins would be progress. Washington finished 30th in defensive rating at 122.7 and 30th in net rating at minus-11.8, and it has finished last in net rating in back-to-back seasons. Young and Davis alone should move both numbers several points, and Davis, Dybantsa and Sarr give Young three pick-and-roll partners who can all finish, easily the best supporting cast of his career.
The defense will still be a problem. So will the East, which is no longer anybody's soft landing.
Washington opens at home against the Milwaukee Bucks on Oct. 21. General manager Will Dawkins, asked in April whether the coach who went 17-65 would be back, did not hesitate. "Yeah, I anticipate Brian Keefe to be here," he said.
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The Chicago Bulls underwent drastic changes this offseason, adding three new starters, a new front office leader and a new coach. This makes better days easier to envision even though the Bulls once again appear positioned as neither a legitimate Eastern conference contender nor a doormat entering the 2026-27 NBA season.
After years of holding on to a core that was only good enough to be a play-in team, the Bulls have finally turned the page while retaining potential foundational players in Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey. If Wilson has an immediate impact, Chicago can suddenly look forward to one of the East's most intriguing young trios.
Here's a breakdown of the Chicago Bulls' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:
Is Caleb Wilson the franchise cornerstone the Bulls have been searching for since Derrick Rose?
Wilson was widely regarded as one of four elite prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft, and he's the most likely to emerge as a star from the Bulls' rebuilding pivot. The success of Chicago's new direction will largely depend on Wilson's development over the next several seasons and a productive rookie campaign is especially important for this new regime after 2025 first-round pick Noa Essengue struggled to gain traction last year.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Josh Giddey
G Norman Powell
F Matas Buzelis
F Caleb Wilson
C Nic Claxton
Rotation players
G Tre Jones
G Isaac Okoro
F Dailyn Swain
F Patrick Williams
F Noa Essengue
F/C Jalen Smith
What to expect in 2026-27 season
It's been more than a decade since the Bulls won a playoff series and that's unlikely to change this season. But the franchise has more optimism than recent years with the arrivals of Wilson and Powell to help Buzelis and Giddey. Expect this group to hover closer to .500 than last year, with the chance to push for one of the East's last playoff spots if the new pieces come together quickly.
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The Pacers should nonetheless be in the playoff mix again, with much of the core that won the Eastern Conference finals less than 16 months ago still intact. If Haliburton is healthy enough to once again be one of the NBA's best playmakers, Indiana will quickly re-emerge as a title threat.
Here's a breakdown of the Indiana Pacers' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:
Haliburton missed the entire 2025-26 season rehabbing from an Achilles injury and also dealt with a frustrating case of shingles that slowed his recovery. He appeared to be at the peak of his powers before getting hurt, hitting game-winning shots and orchestrating Indiana's high-powered offense throughout its run to the 2025 NBA Finals. Advances in Achilles rehabilitation and Haliburton's diverse skill set provide reasons for optimism, but last season only reinforced that the Pacers are counting on him to remain a franchise star. Indiana's roster is built around Haliburton's ability to create shots for himself, and his ability to bounce back from injury will determine this team's outlook.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Tyrese Haliburton
G Andrew Nembhard
F Aaron Nesmith
F Pascal Siakam
C Ivica Zubac
Rotation players
G T.J. McConnell
G Ben Sheppard
F Kelly Oubre Jr.
F Jarace Walker
F Obi Tobbin
F Larry Nance Jr.
C Jay Huff
What to expect in 2026-27 season
Nobody in the NBA should improve their record more than the Pacers this season, even if Haliburton isn't quite what he once was in his first year coming back from a major Achilles injury. That's how strong the combination of Pascal Siakam and Zubac could be in the frontcourt and how much the team's record suffered while tanking in Haliburton's absence. But Haliburton's re-emergence as a star is the key to this group separating itself from the other Eastern Conference contenders trying to challenge the Knicks this season.
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LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 14: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Utah Jazz poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on July 14, 2026 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Zach Barron/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s clear that a lot of the NBA is starting to figure out that the Utah Jazz might be on the verge of a special season. But they’re not getting just how good it might be.
But they’re missing the biggest point of all of this. Utah has a team that would have been a playoff team last year if they’d pushed as hard as they could. That core, which added a former DPOY/All-Star in Jaren Jackson Jr., is adding a player who could be a top-ten player in the NBA. If anything, it’s very likely.
Darryn Peterson is not getting enough buzz for how good he’s going to be this upcoming season. You name it with Peterson, and he’s able to do it at a high level. Even the numbers that aren’t as high as you’d like have context that shows a chance to improve once he steps on the floor with Utah.
For example, everything that Peterson did in college has to be viewed with the understanding that Peterson was the #1 option with an extremely high usage percentage of 30.9. You also have to remember that Peterson was dealing with documented cramping issues, an ankle sprain, and a hamstring pull. All those injuries had him playing tentatively for multiple games. When he did play, opposing offenses focused on him, and he still managed to put up awesome efficiency.
For the college season, Peterson shot 38.2% from three. That was off the bounce and off the catch. It’s the stat that has to make Jazz fans as excited as anything. That ability to shoot the ball regardless of pressure will only get better. It’s safe to assume that Darryn Peterson will be one of the best shooters in the NBA.
Some numbers show a player with the potential to develop into one of the elite three-level scorers in the league. Peterson shot 48.7% from two. It’s a slightly above-average number, but it’s nothing to sniff at. Also, Peterson shot 59.7% at the rim. That’s also above average, but not necessarily elite. As I mentioned, Peterson was dealing with cramping, an ankle, and a hamstring, and still put up solid numbers at the rim and on 2PT shots. What happens when Peterson is on the floor with elite talent around him? Utah has the potential to have 5-out lineups with shooters all over the floor. At Kansas, Peterson was playing with multiple non-shooting bigs. The paint was almost never open. When it was, Peterson would take advantage. And even with a clogged paint in the stifling college basketball setting, he still put up good numbers. The pull-up two was good for him, and he finished at a good percentage.
Again, what happens when he has NBA spacing with elite talent around him? What you’re going to have is a season that will shock the NBA. There’s a lot of attention being given to Cam Boozer, and he’s leading in the odds at FanDuel to be the ROY, with Peterson not too far behind. But that’s a mistake. Darryn Peterson is going into a winning situation, and he’s not going to put up empty stats. His stats are going to be high-level, and they’ll be the type of stats that lead to winning. Those stats should also improve. Don’t be surprised if Peterson not only has a ROY season, but an all-star caliber season as well.
Yes, I’m about as positive as they come, but the numbers paint a picture of a potentially incredible season. If Peterson is as locked in as he appears, Jazz fans are in for a fun ride.
BROOKLYN, NY - APRIL 9: Malachi Smith #18 of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles the ball during the game against the Indiana Pacers on April 9, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After spending the tail end of the 2025-26 season with the Brooklyn Nets, shooting guard Malachi Smith now finds himself in the country of Canada with the Toronto Raptors.
The 26-year-old had his non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 training camp contract altered into a two-way deal, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto. Smith will split his time between the big club and their G League affiliate, the Raptors 905.
The Toronto Raptors are converting Malachi Smith to a two-way contract, league sources told @hoopshype. Smith averaged 8.3 points on 48.5% shooting from the field and 43.5% shooting from 3-point range, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 15 games for the Brooklyn Nets last season. pic.twitter.com/AeRZCLX3yh
Across 15 games with Brooklyn, four of which were starts, the 6-4 Smith averaged 8.3 points on a shooting split of 48.5 percent from the field/43.5 percent on three-pointers/100.0 percent at the free-throw line, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per contest. He was waived back on July 10 after the organization exercised his minimum salary team option on June 30, in order to make salary cap space.
Toronto’s training camp will begin on Sept. 29.
Joining Smith on a two-way deal is forward/center Graham Ike with the Golden State Warriors. As of right now, 12 Gonzaga alums will be in the NBA at the start of the 2026-27 season.
Forward/center Drew Timme, who was on a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers this past season, wasn’t picked for the open roster spot before the 2026 NBA Playoffs. He’s still searching for his next professional destination as Los Angeles has all three of their two-way spots filled.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
Doc Rivers on the red carpet prior to the 2026 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony.
Doc Rivers’ time on an NBA bench is over for good, he said on Monday, as he moves into the next chapter of his life.
NBC announced that the former NBA player and coach would be joining its coverage of the league as an analyst during games on NBC, Peacock and NBCSN, while also possibly doing studio work.
Rivers’ coaching career spanned nine seasons with the Celtics, who he led to an NBA title in 2008, along with time coaching the Clippers, Sixers and Bucks.
Doc Rivers on the red carpet prior to the 2026 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
“I honestly can say I’m absolutely retired,” Rivers told the Associated Press in an interview. “I had a long run. It ended up in the [Naismith] Hall of Fame [earlier this year] and I am so thankful that I was able to coach and played as long as I did. For the first time, I can focus on giving TV my 100 percent attention, which I’m really looking forward to.
“I think I’ve always been pretty honest. I’ve always celebrated the game in general, but told the truth. I don’t think anyone has ever had a problem with honesty and the way you tell the truth. There are always times where you offend people because of the truth, but I’ve never really worried about that.”
Rivers has had plenty of broadcast experience, having spent three years as part of Turner Sports’ coverage from 1996-1999 and then later did two stints with ESPN/ABC in the 2000s and was part of NBC’s Olympic coverage in 2012 as a studio analyst.
Rivers will also join his son, Austin, at the new gig since the younger Rivers is already an analyst for NBC Sports.
Doc Rivers of the Milwaukee Bucks instructs his players from the sideline during the first half of an NBA game against the Los Angeles Clippers on March 23, 2026 at the Intuit Dome Getty Images
And the network already employs six former players Rivers coached during their careers, including Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, Brian Scalabrine and Jamal Crawford.
DETROIT, MI - APRIL 8: Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons drives to the basket during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 8, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Bucks have shown serious interest in All-Star center Jalen Duren, per The Athletic. Duren is deadlocked with the Detroit Pistons over a long-term contract extension and could switch teams this offseason or in 2027 if they can’t reach an agreement.
Still, Duren’s confidence is born out of the fact that his market for next summer looks quite robust. As The Athletic previously reported, the Sacramento Kings have signaled a willingness to pay him a max-salary deal next summer. That alone has aided his leverage, but there are at least two other teams—including the Milwaukee Bucks—that are known to have serious interest in Duren (both now and, potentially, next summer).
Duren averaged 19.5 PPG and 10.5 RPG while shooting 65% from the field last season. However, those averages slumped during the postseason in the face of physical coverage and frequent double-teams. Duren averaged just 10.2 PPG as Detroit bowed out in the conference semifinals.
ESPN recently reported that Detroit offered Duren a fully guaranteed, five-year, $200m contract to stay in the Motor City, but the two sides are still far away from concluding their contract saga. Duren reportedly felt disrespected by the Pistons’ negotiation tactics and spent most of the offseason away from the Pistons.
Although outlets cite the Sacramento Kings as the most enthusiastic suitor for Duren’s services next year, the Bucks are also reportedly vying for the 22-year-old’s services.
The roadblock preventing Duren and Detroit from agreeing to an extension is their valuation of the center. Duren reportedly wanted to sign with Detroit on a supermax deal. Duren is eligible to sign for a five-year, $287m contract, but due to Duren’s playoff drop-offs, Detroit has consistently offered Duren a much lower figure. To beat Sacramento for Duren’s signature, Milwaukee would need to offer Duren a supermax—or a very close figure—as well as a clear plan toward contention in the East.
The Bucks’ apparent interest in the All-NBA center clearly means that Milwaukee likely doesn’t see a long-term future with Myles Turner, which makes a lot of sense given his age profile. Turner slumped after signing a four-year, $109m contract with Milwaukee last July, averaging about 12 points and five rebounds last season. Especially as the Bucks grow younger and look to ease into their rebuild, the 30-year-old is no longer an essential part of Milwaukee’s future.
In theory, the Bucks could execute a sign-and-trade for Duren this summer, but it appears practically impossible. The Bucks would probably have to give up key pieces of their burgeoning young core—including Ryan Rollins and draft capital—to meet the Pistons’ price. Additionally, despite their contract saga, Detroit leadership still sees Duren as a foundational piece of their roster as they continue to compete for a championship.
With Detroit and Duren still going back and forth on a potential new contract, Milwaukee can only wait and watch to see whether Duren enters unrestricted free agency in 2027. It should be noted that, given Detroit’s spacing concerns, a stretch five like Myles Turner would theoretically fit quite well offensively.
New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown reacts on the baseline during the first quarter of Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, Saturday, June 13, 2026, at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas.
The Knicks have a new replay maestro.
Ed Flynn, a video coordinator with the Pelicans for the past three seasons, will serve as Mike Brown’s “challenge guy,” The Post has learned.
It’s a pressurized role defined by split-second decisions to recommend a challenge or pass, depending on real-time replays on his iPad. More than most positions on the Knicks staff, Flynn’s successes and failures can be quantified and directly impact a game’s result.
Jordan Brink held that job for the Knicks the past two seasons, challenging at an impressive success rate while helping win Game 2 of the NBA Finals with a momentum-shifting challenge.
Brink’s challenge recommendation changed a Knicks turnover into three OG Anunoby free throws with 2:37 remaining in New York’s 105-104 victory over the Spurs. He will get a championship ring and an assistant position with the Chicago Bulls under new coach Tiago Splitter.
New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown reacts on the baseline during the first quarter of Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, Saturday, June 13, 2026, at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Brink’s contract with the Knicks expired, and the Bulls gig represented a promotion, league sources said.
Before Brink, Scott King and Darren Erman were the “challenge guys.” Now, Flynn will monitor the important iPad. His official title is assistant coach/special situations, a league source said.
According to Flynn’s online bios, he’s tall (6-foot-10) and played for Williams College in Massachusetts. He served as a graduate assistant at the University of Miami, then as a video intern and coordinator with the Charlotte Hornets.
In 2023, Flynn joined the Pelicans and left as their head video coordinator. The Pelicans had significant staff turnover after hiring head coach Jamahl Mosley in May.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) warms up with assistant coach Carson Shanks before Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
The Knicks coaching staff remains mostly the same from last season. Top assistants Chris Jent, Rick Brunson, Brendan O’Connor and Erman are all returning, sources said.
Kwadzo Ahelegbe and Peter Patton, who have earned high praise from players for their individual development work, also return.
SAN ANTONIO - JANUARY 14: Derek Fisher #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers talks with head coach Phil Jackson during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on January 14, 2009 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs won 112-111. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Are you surprised by the Villain Bracket Final results?
Marilyn Dubinski: I am. I wholly expected Kawhi Leonard to be in the Finals (along with Zaza Pachulia) since he has very clearly been public enemy no.1 in San Antonio for the last eight years, and the fact that he wasn’t there shocked me. It leads me to wonder how much the Clippers’ Aspiration scandal and the punishment, which was much harsher on Uncle Dennis than Kawhi, coming out during the tournament played a role in influencing the outcome of the last few rounds. Clearly, fans decided that Uncle Dennis was more responsible for influencing Kawhi than Kawhi was for going along with it, but that’s why we did this! It wouldn’t have been any fun without surprises, and there were none in the other three brackets.
Mark Barrington: Like Marilyn, I certainly expected Kawhi to be in the finals, and the eventual winner. However, both finalists are inexplicably entwined in the Leonard saga: Zaza as the brigand who intentionally injured the already tender ankle of the Spurs’ best player, ending their 2017 playoff run, and uncle Dennis, who engineered Kawhi’s messy exit from the Spurs and the franchise-crushing salary cap circumvention fiasco (with Ballmer’s complicity). Once again, Kawhi is at the center of a hurricane of misdeeds and calamity, but he doesn’t face the consequences, traded to the Raptors to finish out his career at one of the teams he left in his wake years ago. He’s had quite the villain’s journey, and maybe the final chapter will be redemption. But don’t count on it.
Bill Huan: Like Marilyn and Mark, I wholly expected Kawhi to be in the finals, but I think the fans got it right by having Uncle Dennis usurp his nephew. I fully admit that recency bias is likely affecting my judgment, but all the recent reports regarding the Kawhi-Aspiration scandal indicate that Uncle Dennis was the mastermind behind everything. That doesn’t mean Kawhi was going to stay in San Antonio forever if he was more in control of his camp, but I do think it’s possible he could’ve stayed a few more seasons and departed in the 2019 offseason rather than forcing the team’s hand to trade him in 2018. Perhaps the Spurs could’ve had a few more seasons as a title contender with him leading the way, so I agree with Uncle Dennis making the final over his nephew.
Devon Birdsong: I mean, not really. With the Clippers scandal going down, I expected that Uncle Dennis and Kawhi were going deep in the bracket. Those two and Zaza are the most recent faces of Spurs fandom villainy, and they all made the Final Four. However, I expected that Dennis was going to take the brunt. There are still some Kawhi apologists in the fanbase, and he did physically help the Spurs win a championship, whereas his Uncle has no such buffer. I was more shocked that Ray Allen didn’t make it past Derek Fisher in the Elite Eight, though I’m realizing that’s probably the result of the 2014 Championship taking the edge off of his shot. Still, I rarely see the .4 seconds clip anymore, and the NBA at-large loves to play Allen’s shot on a loop every postseason (or, at least, that’s how it feels), so my animus for (and reaction to) Fisher’s shot is greatly lessened.
Jeje Gomez: I’m shocked Uncle Dennis made the Finals. Current-day UD is a certified NBA villain, but back in the day he was just someone who engineered Kawhi’s exit. Any other manager or agent could have done the same. I absolutely understand why he’s there, considering recent news, but I thought Kawhi himself would be the one to win the whole thing.
Other than that, there weren’t major surprises. Zaza earned the villain title. The guys in the semis did as well. Overall, I think this exercise showed that, with one possible exception, the fan base is united in who they dislike the most.
Is there anyone you think should have advanced further than they did, and why? Was there an upset you weren’t expecting?
Dubinski: I was shocked that neither Phil Jackson nor David Stern advanced past the second round of the Haters bracket, which may be an indicator that a lot of our PtR audience is younger than me. (And I’m “only” 40! You guys are making me feel old!) Back in the early-to-mid 2000’s, when public figures could get away with more controversial statements without worldwide pushback on social media, Jackson’s asterisk comment reeked of jealousy and was used by Lakers fans and other haters to discredit the Spurs even at the height of their dynasty, and frankly Stern’s comments that the Spurs being in the Finals was bad for the league, and if he had his way, every Finals would be Celtics-Lakers, were right up there with Restgate, but maybe not everyone went through or remembers all that.
Barrington: Except for Kawhi’s failure to advance to the Finals [mentioned above], I think things played out about as I thought they would. I would have thought that the Knicks might have gone further than they did, because of Spurs being unhappy about the outcome of the Finals, but I think that voters correctly assessed that the Knicks aren’t villains; they are simply a team that played with a lot of heart and poise and outcompeted the inexperienced Silver and Black. Sure, their fans were insufferable, but that’s not the team, and frankly, if the Spurs had won, I’d be insufferable too.
Huan: I personally think that Richard Jefferson (4-seed) was placed way too high on the Former Spurs’ side of the bracket, and Dennis Rodman (7-seed) was too low. Sure, RJ struggled in his three seasons in San Antonio, but he has never blamed the organization the way Rodman did. RJ was never a locker room distraction like Rodman and didn’t bash his former teammates on the way out, so why was he ranked so high? I think it would’ve made more sense to swap the two.
Birdsong: I was a little surprised that Stephen Jackson beat out Robert Horry in the Sweet 16 as well. It definitely felt like a near-even match, but Jackson is at least complimentary about Tim and Pop, whereas it feels like Horry has taken potshot after potshot over the years, and is just generally resentful of his time in San Antonio overall, and that would maybe be the difference (it was for me). I guess one huge shot bought him enough goodwill, but Jackson had quite a few against Dallas (alongside Steve Kerr) in 2003, so what do I know? I also feel like Marcus Morris and Hakeem The Dream would have made it further if they didn’t end up facing Kawhi and Ray Allen so early in the bracket.
Gomez: The 2025/26 Knicks talked a lot of smack about the Spurs and Wembanyama, to the point where I thought recency bias might propel them through a couple of rounds. But the real answer is Phil Jackson. During the mid-2000’s rivalry, the guy was downplaying most Spurs achievements. I completely understand that it’s been a long time since then and the 2014 title changed things, but I was expecting more vitriol to come his way.
Five years from now, who do you think would win a Villain Bracket?
Dubinski: Beyond wondering if Kawhi would have beaten out Uncle Dennis in any other year, I feel like there’s going to be someone who does something to Wemby that outdoes Zaza or Karl Malone and shoots them up our Dirty Players bracket. Also, the Spurs’ rise to new prominence is inevitably going to create or renew rivalries. It will be interesting to see if someone on OKC triggers our hate more than Lu Dort. (Will Chet Holmgren figure things out and really get that rivalry with Wemby going in the playoffs? Will SGA keep getting away with foul baiting to the point that they beat the Spurs with it?) It’s also inevitable that a former Spur will be able to replace Marcus Morris in that bracket, although I’m not sure it will be anyone among the current players. (We were a bit limited in that bracket by sticking to basketball and not looking into players’ off-court troubles.)
Barrington: Speaking of Marcus Morris, I’m kind of wondering how Cam Payne didn’t make the list. He was traded to the Spurs in 2023 and never reported, finally waived so he could sign with another team. Maybe that’s because nobody remembers who he is. I think if the Spurs end up meeting again with the Knicks in the finals, there could be some sports hate brewing between the two teams. Conventional wisdom is that they had a pretty brief window due to salary cap concerns, but with Brunson setting the example by taking a discount, I wouldn’t count them out as a long-term contender in the Eastern Conference, and if the Spurs can’t get past them if they meet again, they will be worthy nemeses. My hope is that the Spurs have a 2014-style redemption tour the next time they meet in the playoffs, but history is yet to be written.
I was noticing in the SBNation thread about Most Hated Teams that some people are mentioning the Spurs. In my opinion, that’s a sign of respect. As the Spurs become more successful, I suspect that they will become more hated, and if there were a villains tournament open to fans of all fans in the entire league, Wemby could end up near the top, unless he and the team can find some more creative ways to deal with the constant mugging he gets from opposing defenders.
Huan: Five years is not much time at all, but if I had to crown a new winner, it must be a player who does something dirty to Wemby. The recency bias alone would be a huge advantage for them, not to mention potentially injuring the best player in the league. I mean, Zaza’s in the Finals for injuring another top-three villain in the tournament; can you imagine how much hate a player would receive for injuring the face of the franchise and fan favorite Wemby??
Birdsong: If anyone injures Wemby (especially in the postseason), I suspect Zaza’s reign on that front will finally end. I think making it to the Finals this season has already taken some of the sting out of that for a lot of fans. Sure, he’s hated, but not in the way he was when the Spurs were mired in multiple double-digit losing streaks. Another championship or two will probably reduce that even further. Additionally, if the Spurs were to (knock on wood) lose to the Knicks in the Finals again, they’ll probably become Enemy #1 for the fanbase in a manner we’ve never seen before. I don’t see that happening for a multitude of team-building + James Dolan-related reasons, but that would be an all-timer. I’m willing to bet the Miami Heat would’ve swept the entire bracket if the Spurs had lost to them again in 2014.
Gomez: Anyone who hurts Wemby is the right answer, but I’ll offer another perspective: If the Spurs don’t win a title in the next five years, I could see Brian Wright becoming a villain. Wright will be the face of a lot of likely unpopular moves to keep the team under the tax line and second apron, so if San Antonio falls short, he’ll be the perfect scapegoat as to why a group with elite young talent underperformed and how so many good years were wasted. The narrative writes itself.
If we are talking about a dark horse, it could be one of the young guards. Restricted free agency practically ensures that they’ll sign a second contract, and both seem happy now, but both seem good enough to potentially be the biggest star on their own team, and the Spurs’ are clearly Wemby’s. If there’s enough success, there should be no issues, but it’s hard to forget what happened the last time a team with this much elite young talent had to pay everyone and figure out a pecking order, so hopefully neither Castle nor Harper pulls off a 2012 James Harden and becomes a villain.
