The Celtics now have one available two-way slot that could be utilized to sign second-round draft pick Amari Williams. The Celtics previously signed fellow second-round pick Max Shulga to a two-way deal, and combined with a recent trade that delivered two-way forward RJ Luis Jr. from Utah, Boston was facing a temporary two-way log jam.
Boston signed Norris in March, and he appeared in three regular-season games. The 25-year-old forward brought an intriguing blend of size (6-foot-10) and shooting ability, but the Celtics were forced to trim after acquiring Luis Jr. from the Jazz as part of the Georges Niang deal last week.
The Celtics selected 6-foot-11 Williams with the 46th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The 23-year-old big man showed some intriguing potential at NBA Summer League with his blend of playmaking and shot-blocking. Williams must show he can improve as a finisher around the basket at the pro level.
Shulga was the 57th pick in this year’s draft. Luis Jr., the Big East Player of the Year out of St. John’s, went undrafted in June but latched on with the Jazz in the aftermath.
Two-way slots are important as Boston looks to develop young, cost-efficient talent for the back end of the roster. The Celtics have utilized 2-way deals in the past to mold current roster players like Sam Hauser and Neemias Queta, both of whom could see big minutes during the 2025-26 season.
With all the departures this offseason, the Celtics could have ample opportunity for younger players to show their potential. Williams, especially with a thinned frontcourt, seems particularly important for depth purposes.
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Connecticut Sun (5-25, 3-8 Eastern Conference) at Golden State Valkyries (15-15, 7-10 Western Conference) San Francisco; Monday, 10 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Valkyries -9; over/under is 157.5 BOTTOM LINE: Connecticut Sun visits the Golden State Valkyries after Marina Mabrey scored 22 points in the Sun's 94-86 loss to the Las Vegas Aces. The Valkyries are 9-5 in home games.
The charges against former NBA player Marcus Morris Sr. for fraud involving outstanding debts to two Las Vegas casinos have been dropped after the markers were paid off, according to court documents reviewed by KLAS television 8 in Las Vegas.
Morris was arrested in Florida late last month on what were officially fraud charges related to insufficient funds to cover a total of $265,000 in lines of credit to gamble at the Wynn Las Vegas Hotel and Casino and the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, with these issues dating back to 2024. The casinos simply wanted their money back, and once the lines of credit were repaid, the charges were dismissed.
"Don't ever put my name with nothing but fraud. This is not fraud activity. I have never wrote a check to no casinos in exchange for money that I can put in my pocket. I wrote exchange for credit thinking that you know the source of the income and you know what I've done in the past years to pay it back plus put the money back that I chose to take from y'all to gamble with. So you know I want to just clear that up and then you could take it how you want."
This case is now in the past. Morris played 13 seasons in the NBA for the Rockets, Suns, Pistons, Celtics, Knicks, Clippers, 76ers and most recently, the Cavaliers. Morris did not play in the league last season and does not have a contract for the upcoming season.
Atlanta was aggressive this offseason in retooling its roster. They traded for Kristaps Porzingis, who brings much-needed shot blocking to Atlanta. The Hawks sign-and-traded for Nickeil Alexander-Walker to add shooting and more defense on the wing. The Hawks went out and got Luke Kennard. Add in Jalen Johnson's return to health, along with the potential of a Zaccharie Risacher leap in his second season, and the Hawks look like a potential top-four team in the East.
The one area Atlanta was not aggressive this summer: Talking contract extension with Trae Young. While that may leave Young frustrated, both sides appear resigned to the idea of Young playing out this season on his current contract and figuring out the future next summer, reports Jake Fischer at The Stein Line.
"Yet league sources tell me there are no plans for Young and the Hawks to engage in extension talks this summer. This, though, does not necessarily come as a surprise... Sources say Young's side has actually been resigned for some time to the prospect of seeing out the final guaranteed year on his current contract rather than securing an extension, like his current contract, worth in excess of $200 million. He'd then have to make a decision about his $49 million player option for 2026-27."
To be clear, Young isn't looking to leave the Hawks and they aren't looking to trade him.
This is a matter of the Atlanta organization wanting to play this season out with this improved roster, see what things look like and how it all meshes, and then make financial commitments next summer, when Porzingis will be a free agent and Young can opt out of the $48.9 million final year of his contract and hit the market as well. The risk for the Hawks is that Young opts out and signs elsewhere, and they lose him for nothing. However, considering how tight the free agent market has been in the apron era, Atlanta may be willing to take that risk.
Next June, the Hawks also have the Pelicans' first-round pick unprotected (part of New Orleans trading up in this year's draft to get Derik Queen). If New Orleans struggles this season — a genuine possibility — this could end up being a high draft pick in a deep draft at the top, which could have Atlanta tweaking its vision for the future.
For Young, he can turn his frustration into an opportunity — if the four-time All-Star can spark the Hawks' offense and lead this team to a high seed and a playoff run, his value goes up heading into the next round of negotiations (with the threat of him becoming a free agent and just walking away looming). However it plays out, it looks more and more like Young will not be joining Luka Doncic, De'Aaron Fox and other stars who signed extensions this summer.
Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan was in Poland training with the nation's national team when he suffered a calf injury that will keep him out of EuroBasket, the Polish Basketball Federation announced.
"I am very disappointed, but due to a calf muscle injury, unfortunately, I will not be able to play for Poland at this year's EuroBasket," Sochan said in a statement accompanying the announcement. "I've been working hard for this over the last few months, and the time I trained and played with the national team was amazing. It's a special group and I really enjoyed being a part of this team. Fortunately, the doctors predict that I will be fully healthy by the time the start of the preparation camp before the upcoming NBA season. I want to thank my teammates, coaches and the whole staff, especially the fans in Poland, for their support. I appreciate it very much and know that although I will not be able to be with you, I will support Poland with all my heart."
Sochan is headed back to San Antonio to continue his recovery, which, as he said, is not expected to keep him out of training camp.
"In the face of injury, Jeremy received professional help in Poland," Spurs GM Brian Wright said in the statement. "Cooperation with the staff and management of KoszKadry has always been exemplary. In this situation, however, the best option is to return to San Antonio."
Sochan's mother is from Poland, which led to his connection with their national team. Sochan was the only full-time NBA player on the Polish roster, but they also have Igor Milicic, who played last season at Tennessee and is set to be in the Philadelphia 76ers training camp on an Exhibit 10 contract.
Sochan, 22, averaged 11.4 points and 6.5 rebounds a game for the Spurs last season and is extension eligible before the season starts (if no deal is reached, the former No. 9 pick will hit restricted free agency next summer).
Indiana basketball player Lamar Wilkerson spoke with the media on Saturday night following Indiana’s 93-71 win over Mega Superbet in Game 2 of the Hoosiers’ Puerto Rico trip. He finished with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting and 4-of-7 from three. Check out his entire Q&A below. Watch on Youtube! Hit that Subscribe button! Not yet a […]
Indiana basketball head coach Darian DeVries spoke with the media on Wednesday night following Indiana’s 93-71 win over Mega Superbet in Game 2 of the Hoosiers’ Puerto Rico trip. Check out his entire Q&A below. Watch on Youtube! Hit that Subscribe button! Not yet a member of TheHoosier? Join our community for Just $1 for your first week […]
Kevin Durant in Houston feels like a hand-in-glove fit. The Rockets wanted Durant, and Houston was on his short list of places he wanted to be traded. When asked about the organization, Durant praised the Rockets. He fills the need for a half-court scoring threat that will open up their offense.
The only question is the money on Durant's contract extension.
Durant is in the final year of his current contract at $57.4 million. The Rockets can offer him a max two-year, $122.1 million extension (no team can offer Durant more than two years because of the over 38 rule). There was always an expectation that Durant would take a bit of a haircut off that max number, but that cut may be deeper than just a haircut, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon and Brian Windhorst on the Hoop Collective podcast (hat tip Hoopshype).
MacMahon: "By all appearances and by what I've heard, they're not going all in on an extension for Kevin Durant. Now, doesn't mean it won't happen, but there've been rumblings of KD not going to push for the full max. I don't know that the Rockets are going to put anything on the table that's close to the max."
Windhorst: "I think the Rockets are like it's not ideal, but I don't think they would panic if they go into the season with Kevin Durant just on the contract that he's on just on the on the expiring deal... I'll say this, Rafael Stone, since he's been the GM of the of the Rockets, he's signed quite a few giant contracts, but a lot most of them have been short."
The contract has to be short in this case, but what is a fair number for the future Hall of Famer? One source who spoke to NBC Sports during Summer League suggested KD might dip to about the $100 million mark for two years, around $10 million a season below the max but still $50 million a season. However, maybe that number is too high. Maybe Durant will take less — he has the right to make whatever choice he thinks is best for him, his legacy and his family.
Maybe everyone is comfortable going into the season without an extension and seeing how things play out. That said, we are more than a month out from the start of training camps, and a lot of deals get done right around the beginning of camp. This is all just something to watch.
The offseason appears all but wrapped up for the Knicks, coming off some housekeeping items in filling out their coaching staff and signing Mikal Bridges to an extension.
They still don’t have a full roster, however, with an open spot to sign one of their second-round picks and another to add a veteran on a minimum deal. The latter has been cause for speculation, with a few intriguing targets available and multiple needs the Knicks could potentially address.
Here are their options for the last veteran’s minimum spot and who might be the most valuable this season...
Ben Simmons
According to ClutchPoints’s Brett Siegel, the Knicks are favorites to land Simmons, the former first overall pick, Rookie of the Year and perennial All-NBA Defensive First Team selection.
Unfortunately, fans expecting that level of production are likely to be disappointed, as Simmons hasn’t been the same since his back issues and holdout season.
In fact, he hasn’t been a fraction of his former effectiveness. In his three seasons since, Simmons hasn’t eclipsed 51 games played or seven points per game in those games, totaling twice as many turnovers as free throws.
Simmons can still push the ball off a defensive rebound and bring it up in the half-court, but has lost all aggressiveness on offense. He rarely looks to drive and when he does, it’s rare he actually attacks the rim with any real intent to score or draw in the defense.
He can screen and make connective plays from there, a tantalizing prospect under Mike Brown’s Domantas Sabonis playbook -- but this and some decent defense won’t make him anything more than a spot minutes specialist.
Even his defense has slid off a cliff, lacking the foot speed to stay with quicker guards and the verticality and imposition around the rim to protect it. There’s a reason his playoff minutes quickly descended to multiple DNP’s as the Clippers learned of his decline the hard way.
That said, none of the available options are the swing piece between the Knicks winning a championship and falling short, and Simmons represents the highest upside and biggest frame of the bunch, which makes his case viable.
Malcolm Brogdon
New York beefed up its guard position with the addition of Jordan Clarkson, rounding out their rotation of Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride and Tyler Kolek. Kolek looked the part as a break-glass-in-emergency point guard last season, and is in line to fill that role as the team’s fourth guard this year.
If the Knicks have any reservations, signing Brogdon would be a nice insurance policy on their backcourt options. Like Simmons, he’s likely past his prime but can provide some reliable playmaking.
Unlike Simmons, he’s only two years removed from winning Sixth Man of the Year and currently has some more credible NBA skills. Brogdon is a career 38.8 percent shooter from three and has evolved into more of a distributor in his last few seasons.
His numbers have been otherwise unimpressive as of late, but he’s spent two years mired in unclear roles in rebuilding situations. Putting him in position to help more sporadically for a championship chaser may be just the thing he needs to have a strong year.
This minimum contract may be better utilized at a position of more value or need, as the Knicks can always lean on Kolek or their non-guards to facilitate. If they’re dead-set on a guard, Brogdon isn’t their only option.
May 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4) runs down the court after a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half during game one of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. / Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Russell Westbrook
Westbrook looks like a long shot, given rumors don’t tie him to New York and there’s no clear path to consistent minutes in this rotation. With that being said, he’s proven much more impactful than Brogdon or Simmons in recent years, and would be an absolute firecracker of an add if the Knicks pulled it off.
What Westbrook’s lost in athleticism and scoring efficiency, he’s learned to make up for with his defensive tenacity and high-motor play. He does not take a play, let alone a game, off, and is always full tempo when he’s on the court.
These are valuable things to bring off your bench, especially in a limited role on a small deal, it’s just unlikely Westbrook takes one with three guards ahead of him on the depth chart. Fun to think about, especially in the context of a slower Knicks team, but not much else to consider here.
Thomas Bryant
One position the Knicks may want to heavily consider using this spot for is the center spot. Their current rotation is made up of Karl-Anthony Towns, Mitchell Robinson and Ariel Hukporti, and if they start the double-big lineup, this essentially leaves them one backup five to start the year.
They have interesting alternative options at the center like sliding newly-signed Guerschon Yabusele down a position or playing OG Anunoby there, and can always move Robinson back to the bench. However, signing a depth piece at the position like Thomas Bryant gives them more security in case injuries hit.
Fans will remember Bryant from his timely threes against the Knicks in the conference finals. He’s now bounced between five teams in his eight-year NBA career, but can step in in a pinch with some offensive rebounding and rim deterrence.
A report from Kevin Martorano of Sportando stated that Bryant may be packing his bags for Greece, in which case the Knicks may need to turn to another center option. Other names they can target are Bol Bol and Bismack Biyombo.
Landry Shamet
Another thing this roster could use is some pure shooting, as their two offensive hubs are also their best shooters, and their role players could sometimes be iffy from range. Their two bench pickups this offseason are reliable, but nothing extraordinary from there either.
Enter Shamet, who was one of New York’s best bench pieces in 2024-25.
If he’s interested in returning on a veteran’s minimum without assured playing time, the Knicks would happily welcome back his career 38.5 percent clip from deep.
Unlike some of these other options, Shamet has some positional flexibility, with the ability to play and guard one through three. He was clutch in last year’s Eastern Conference Finals, shooting 7-15 from three in the series and playing some stifling defense after not playing for essentially the entire postseason.
There’s also Delon Wright, who’s still a free agent after giving the Knicks dependable spot minutes in last year’s regular season and playoffs. He’d be another worthwhile signing if they’re looking to go smaller and more defensive.
Lakers guard Luka Doncic, right, is congratulated by forward LeBron James after scoring against the Clippers during a game last season. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
It's good to see that Luka Doncic was rewarded with an extension for working hard to attain a better game-playing weight. Next he must work to get better at playing defense so the Lakers will be rewarded with more victories.
Mark Sherwin Los Angeles
Laker nation stop and take a deep breath. Lakers fans love, and are extremely happy, to have Luka Doncic wearing the purple and gold.
However, let’s not forget LeBron James, a bona fide NBA MVP championship player on the team sporting four championship rings on his fingers and four MVPs.
James’ leadership on the floor in 2025-2026 is the only way the Lakers can challenge for, and be expected to win, another NBA championship. Every player on the team knows that. So do we, the fans.
Donald Peppars Pomona
Move Mookie
We all love Mookie Betts. But right now, he is a liability batting in the top of the order. You have to move him down until he figures it out. Hopefully soon.
R.D. McCall Fallbrook
Mookie's loss of power is understandable what with the weight loss and other injuries. In the absence of power, he can help the team by being a patient hitter, getting on base, moving runners, etc. In time his power might come back but even if it doesn't, he can still be a valuable offensive presence.
D.G. Artis Woodland Hills
I know that Mookie Betts has tried everything physically possible to get out of his slump. But, as a retired optometrist, I would like to recommend a complete eye examination to find his mojo again. It has worked for Max Muncy and Kiké Hernández. Four eyes are always better than two eyes.
Of course Mathew Stafford has a bad back. He has four small children!
George Metalsky Redondo Beach
Conflict of interest
The NFL’s acquisition of an equity stake in ESPN raises conflict-of-interest questions. Can ESPN be trusted to investigate issues like CTE in former NFL players or whether owners are engaged in collusion?
This deal might assure ESPN of playing Johnny Pearson’s “Heavy Action” Monday Night Football theme for years to come. But anyone who takes sports journalism seriously should view it with grave concern.
Stephen A. Silver San Francisco
Officially concerned
Thanks for the great Sunday article by Ira Gorawara (and photos) about the current state of affairs regarding officiating in the WNBA.
What is going on with refereeing in the WNBA and why leave so much talent sitting on the bench due to injuries? Let's support and train the refs like the NBA and let the women play basketball (Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Plum, Cameron Brink and many others).
The fans want to watch the game, not the refs. Who is controlling the whistle?
Joan C. Fingon Ventura
Kudos and criticism
I’m nominating Eric Sondheimer for the high school sports reporting Nobel prize.
Gary Wilson Murrieta
We need more Houston Mitchell! I love his style and insight in his Dodgers Dugout newsletter. He is always a great read.
Lance Oedekerk Upland
Instead of writing about parking lot rate increases and sex toys, how about more sports news.
The Los Angeles Times welcomes expressions of all views. Letters should be brief and become the property of The Times. They may be edited and republished in any format. Each must include a valid mailing address and telephone number. Pseudonyms will not be used.
Players from the 1983 national champs sought "reasonable compensation" for the NCAA's use of the players and their names in videos and images promoting college basketball and the NCAA tournament.
Next week, the 2025-26 NBA schedule will come out, but some of the highlights always tend to leak out first.
One of those is Christmas Day — a showcase day that has always featured the biggest names and best teams in the NBA. This Christmas will be no different, if the schedule reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania is correct (and it almost certainly is):
• Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks • San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder • Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers • Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors • Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets
Here are a few quick thoughts on that list:
• Once again the NBA has leaned into its older generation of stars — LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant — but it has done a better job of making sure the up-and-coming generation is in the spotlight, too. We are getting Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Edwards, Cooper Flagg, Amen Thompson, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams and Darius Garland. It's better than past years, certainly better than recycling Giannis Antetokounmpo and a Bucks team with a lot of question marks just for the star power.
• There are only two Eastern Conference teams on that list, the opening game of the day between the Knicks and Cavaliers. What that speaks to is the perceived gap heading into this season between the deep West and the East in a season where Boston's Jayson Tatum and Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton will not be playing on Christmas Day as they recover from torn Achilles (if those guys had been healthy and those teams didn't try to save money by trading away or letting key players walk, the Celtics and Pacers would have been busy on Christmas).
• That Cavaliers vs. Knicks game might be the best game of the day.
• During last season's NBA Finals, both the Thunder and Pacers cited not being invited to play on Christmas Day as motivation for them during the season. Which team could be that squad this year? Keep an eye on young star Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic, they should have been on the bubble for making it to this day. Cade Cunningham and Detroit, as well as Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks, could also use this as fuel.
• Did the NBA miss an opportunity by having Luka Doncic's current and former teams both playing on Christmas but not facing each other?
• Wembanyama and the Spurs against the defending champion Thunder could be the NBA's best rivalry for the rest of this decade, putting in a prime slot on Christmas Day speaks to how the league office sees it that way.
Knicks coach Mike Brown has found his guy to help lead his new team.
New York is finalizing a deal with Charlotte Hornets assistant Chris Jent to become the Knicks' associate head coach, sources tell SNY's Ian Begley.
Jent, 55, was on Brown's staff with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Jent was an assistant coach with the 76ers, Magic, Cavaliers, Kings, Hawks, Lakers and Hornets from 2003 to 2025. He was the interim head coach for the Magic during the 2004-05 season, where he went 5-13.
Recently, Jent led the Hornets to the Las Vegas summer league championship in July.
Jent was also a player and won a title with the Rockets in 1994 and played for the Knicks during the 1996-97 season.
The Jent hiring comes after the Timberwolves' Pablo Prigioni and Pacers' Matt Weinar pulled their names from consideration. Brown also hired Clippers assistant Brendan O'Connor this offseason to be the top defensive assistant in New York.
Veteran NBA superstars LeBron James, left, and Stephen Curry will renew their rivalry on Oct. 21 in a nationally televised game on opening night of the season. (Michael Wyke; José Luis Villegas / Associated Press)
Lakers and NBA fans in general will get a quick view of two of the league’s longtime greats when LeBron James and the Lakers open the regular season against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 21 at Crypto.com Arena, people not authorized to speak publicly on the matter told The Times on Friday.
The game will be nationally televised on NBC and it will give Lakers fans a chance to see Luka Doncic’s new and trimmed body.
According to those people, the Lakers will play the Houston Rockets and newly acquired Kevin Durant on Christmas Day at home, one of five games on the holiday. That will give fans another chance to see the league’s veteran superstars go at it again.
The NBA will release the full schedule soon.
The Lakers will start training camp Sept. 29 and will play six preseason games.
The first preseason game is against the Suns at Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs on Oct. 3. The rest of the preseason game are: at Golden State on Oct. 5; against the Warriors at Crypto.com Arena on Oct. 12; against the Suns in Phoenix on Oct. 14; against the Dallas Mavericks at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Oct. 15; against the Sacramento Kings at home on Oct. 17.
