In perhaps the most injury-riddled playoff matchup of the season last spring, the Los Angeles Lakers dispatched the Houston Rockets in six games. Luka Dončić, Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams did not log a single minute.

Kevin Durant only played one game. Austin Reaves missed the first four games of the series. That’s a lot of pivotal names missing in action.

It was a series defined by understandably erratic, ugly stretches of offense and key players from each side often reduced to fumes by the third or fourth quarter. Twice, the Rockets and Lakers both failed to crack the century mark. The Rockets did so four times overall in the series while the Lakers did so thrice.

The most famous game — or, infamous, depending on one’s perspective — was Game 3, when Los Angeles mounted a late comeback to force overtime and ultimately take a 3-0 series lead, all but sealing Houston’s 2025-26 fate. In that contest, the Rockets held possession and a 101-95 lead with 34 seconds remaining before committing consecutive turnovers, fouling Marcus Smart on a 3-point attempt and conceding a Luke Kennard game-tying triple.

It was a calamity of errors from Houston, typifying its lack of poise and execution down the stretch of games. According to NBA.com, the Lakers won two of the three “clutch” games in the series and outscored the Rockets by eight points during those 15 “clutch” minutes.

That sort of disparity defined the series and was Alperen Şengün’s takeaway from the matchup when he told reporters during Houston’s media day on Tuesday.

“We played six games. Unfortunately, we only had KD for one game. That was another time for us to grow. Jabari [Smith Jr.], me, Amen [Thompson] taking the leadership because we were the ones playing and having to play against the Lakers, who had a lot of experience,” Şengün said. “LeBron [James], Marcus, Rui [Hachimura], like all of those players have been there and they know, they understand it better. We gave them a really hard time. We beat them in every stat. Just the experience beat us, I would say. They knew what to do. They were calm in the clutch times. That’s what we learned.”

It’s undeniable clutch-time performance helped propel Los Angeles past Houston. And the Rockets did give the Lakers “a really hard time.” Many of those games were close and tense.

Şengün is spot on in those evaluations. The Rockets posted a lower turnover rate and higher offensive rebounding rate than Los Angeles, according to Cleaning the Glass. But they were done in by abysmal shot-making and scoring output, numbers also tracked in the stats department. For instance, the Lakers’ effective field goal percentage was 8.2 percent higher (54.9 vs. 46.7) while their free-throw rate was four points higher (25.5 vs. 21.5).

Late-game blunders helped sink Houston’s ship, yet it did not win “every stat” of that series. To progress its rebuild beyond the first round, it must become a more efficient offense, an aspect not entirely tied to experience and something the Lakers, led by Dončić and Reaves, are hoping they can ride to success out West this season.

You can follow Jackson on Twitter at @jackfrank_jjf.

The Milwaukee Bucks were already set to endure some rough years after finally trading Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat over the summer. A new NBA investigation into potential cap circumvention to re-sign a role player from the late stages of the Antetokounmpo era threatens to make Milwaukee’s rebuild even more difficult.

The NBA quietly announced it was investigating the Bucks for cap circumvention over the summer tied to re-signing Gary Trent Jr. to a four-year, $64 million deal. The contract immediately raised eyebrows for multiple reasons: Trent was coming off arguably the worst season of his NBA career, cap space around the league had already dried up by the time the deal was announced on July 11, and no one in their right mind would have thought he was a $16 million per year player in this market.

After the initial shock of the deal wore off, it was easy to connect the dots on what (probably) happened. A new story by The Athletic on Wednesday provides new information on the Bucks’ investigation in the wake of commissioner Adam Silver dropping the hammer on the Los Angeles Clippers earlier this month for circumventing the salary cap to sign Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers were stripped of five future first-round picks, and The Athletic says the Bucks’ punishment “could be equally severe, if not worse.”

The Bucks signed Trent to a minimum contract in the summer of 2024 when he was coming off a strong year with the Toronto Raptors where he averaged 13.7 points per game while knocking down 39.3 percent of his three-pointers on 6.4 attempts per game from deep. It felt like a very team-friendly signing at the time for a player who had just started 41 games, but it was also a nice opportunity for Trent to boost his standing league-wide playing for a Bucks team that was supposed to be very good with Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard.

Trent was just okay for the Bucks in his first season with the team, and then got a modest pay increase up to $3.7 million for last season with Milwaukee still capped out. He had an even worse season last year, averaging 8.1 points with 36 percent shooting from three. Somehow, he landed a $64 million deal over the summer.

The most alarming thing about this signing is that Milwaukee has absolutely no need for Trent this season after trading Giannis. The Bucks have plenty of young guards they should want to feature ahead of Trent, including Ryan Rollins, Brayden Burries, and Kasparas Jakucionis. Milwaukee also has Tyler Herro, who should be slated for big minutes, and Kevin Porter Jr., who was better than Trent for the team last year.

That’s five guards who should play before Trent. He’s the fourth highest paid player on the team this year!

Trent has always been a bit of a one-trick pony as a shooter. He doesn’t rebound, doesn’t force turnovers defensively, doesn’t get to the rim, and doesn’t playmake for others. The arrow has been trending down on his career since he signed with Milwaukee, and he was never even an average player to begin with. This graph tracking his overall play is via the Darko app.

The Bucks already have a huge anchor on their cap sheet for the next four years after waiving-and-stretching Damian Lillard to sign Myles Turner last year. Lillard’s deal takes up $22.5 million worth of cap room the next four seasons. Now Trent is on the books for $16 million per year even though Milwaukee has no use for him. This is absolutely no way to start a rebuild, when the Bucks could have been using their cap space to take on bad contracts in exchange for future draft picks. Instead, they gave Trent a bad contract for no reason.

Well, there is one reason, probably. Trent’s market value was likely above contracts he signed with the Bucks the previous two seasons when they couldn’t offer him more. It sure seems like there was a wink-wink agreement to give him the deal he thought he deserved once they had his bird rights and the available cap space. It came home to roost this summer.

Trent’s agent is Rich Paul and Klutch Sports. There is no greater proof that Paul is the best agent in the NBA today, if not all of sports. Paul somehow got Brandon Ingram $40 million per year when it seemed like he didn’t have much of a market, and now he forced the Bucks into giving Trent this deal. Milwaukee probably did it because they didn’t want to damage their business relationship with Paul in the future. That was stupid!

By the letter of the law, the Bucks probably deserve to be punished here. Cap circumvention needs to be discouraged for other owners in the second-apron era, even when it obviously doesn’t work in Trent’s case. There’s one key difference between this case and Leonard’s with the Clippers, though. Fans and media truly believed the Clippers were guilty and deserving of punishment. Silver was going to seem soft as hell if he left them off the hook. The Bucks’ situation is already depressing enough after the Giannis trade. Stripping future first-round picks from Milwaukee now would feel like an impossible situation to come back from. Having Trent making $16 million per year for the next four years is enough punishment by itself.

Maybe I’m the one going soft now, but it would be pretty sad to see the Bucks get hammered over this — and I say this as someone who grew up as a Bulls fan, a Central Division rival of Milwaukee. Bucks fans are going to suffer enough in the coming years either way. After seeing the Clippers ruling, though, Milwaukee supporters should be very afraid of what Silver’s investigation finds.

Even setting aside the two major blockbuster additions in Philadelphia, Mike Gansey was lauded for what he did in his first offseason for the Sixers due to the improved depth pieces he brought into the fold.

Signing Dean Wade to a reasonable long-term deal was a nice bit of roster work, but something many people anticipated might happen due to their shared Cleveland connection. Signing Anfernee Simons to a two-year, $12.3 million deal (second year player option), though, was an unexpected, but strong piece of free agency business.

After a few years of putting up numbers for a rebuilding Portland franchise, Simons found himself in a much different situation upon arriving in Boston as part of the Jrue Holiday trade prior to last season. He went from starting every game he appeared in across the prior three seasons for the Trail Blazers, to coming off the bench across all 49 appearances for the Celtics. The role seemed to suit him well, however, as his per-36 scoring average was only a shade under his numbers in Portland, and his 39.5 percent mark from three on 6.7 attempts per game was above his 38.1 percent career average. However, in a move that was partially motivated by the difference in contract values enabling the Celtics to dip under the first apron, Simons was then shipped to Chicago in February in exchange for Nikola Vucevic. Vucevic played poorly during his time with the Celtics, and his slow feet defensively were a huge on-court liability in the first-round series loss to the Sixers. Meanwhile, Simons only played a handful of games before aggravating a wrist fracture and missing the rest of the season. It’s hard to know how much of the absence was a case of Bulls tank-itis.

Now in Philadelphia, the Sixers will hope for Simons to reprieve his role from Boston as a lethal bench scorer. His presence as an effective, high-volume outside shooter is a sorely needed dimension for the team. His 39.5 percent three-point shooting mark while in Boston last season would have led all Sixers regulars, and his 6.7 attempts per game were more than all but Tyrese Maxey (8.6) and Paul George (6.9), who obviously played a lot more minutes. With stars like Maxey, LeBron James, Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid drawing a ton of opposing defensive attention, Simons should see a plethora of open looks this season and he won’t hesitate to let them fly. By next summer, I won’t be surprised to see a lot of the Sixers’ best offensive five-man lineup combinations have included Simons in them.

The flip side of the coin and part of the reason he was available on such an affordable deal is that Simons is a dreadful defender. He showed improved effort on that end while with Boston, but there are size and strength disadvantages that are tough to overcome. Still, there won’t be any other perimeter defenders he shares the floor with who aren’t at least average (Labaron Philon is a bit of an unknown, but I’m optimistic), so Simons can usually take on the easiest assignment. The Sixers also aren’t typically going to be relying on him in crunch-time lineups so that area of his game shouldn’t be exposed as often. Just let him outshoot the one-dimensional players on the other team’s bench during those minutes.

Simons isn’t a perfect player, but he was kind of a perfect acquisition for the Sixers with what his high-volume shooting brings to them. In a normal offseason that might not go down as the best in franchise history, his signing could have been viewed as the best bit of business for the summer. As it stands, Simons represents another terrific puzzle piece for Nick Nurse to work with on what should be an improved bench unit behind the Sixers’ star-studded starting five.

This summer, the Lakers were expected to make roster changes, but few expected the overhaul that followed.

Austin Reaves was the only free agent the Lakers re-signed, instead opting to completely remake the roster around Luka Dončić. The team used nearly every asset available, trading draft picks for center Walker Kessler and using cap space to make a host of long-term signings.

The result is a roster that hardly resembles last season’s. With LeBron James among this summer’s departures, it’s an entirely new era for the Lakers.

As a reminder, teams can carry up to 20 players, not counting two-ways, in the preseason, but only 15 once the regular season starts. Presently, the Lakers have 16 guaranteed contracts with at least one move, either in the form of a trade or waiving a player, required before the start of the season.

Let’s take a look, then, at the Lakers’ roster breakdown

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Guaranteed contracts

• Luka Dončić
• Austin Reaves
• Walker Kessler
• Quentin Grimes
• Sandro Mamukelashvili
• Jarred Vanderbilt
• Collin Sexton
• Jaden Hardy
• Jake LaRavia
• Dalton Knecht
• Cameron Carr
• Kevon Looney
• Matisse Thybulle
• Ziaire Williams
• Bronny James
• Adou Thiero

Two-way contracts

• Arthur Kaluma
• Chris Mañon
• AK Okereke

Exhibit-10 contracts

• Anton Watson
• Robbie Avila
• Williams Kyle III
• Robert McCray
• Chase Ross
• Meechie Johnson

As things stand, it’s not entirely clear which players are under Exhibit-10 deals right now. The team has handed them out throughout the offseason, dating back to the start of Summer League, as a way to help build out their G League team. We know Anton Watson was waived in one of their most recent transactions and, at the same time, Chase Ross and Meechie Johnson are both under deals…for now.

During training camp, the Lakers can have up to 20 players under contract.

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Clearly, the Lakers will have to make a move before the season begins. Do you think it’ll be a trade or waiving a player? Let us know what you’d do down below!

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

Every day, we’ll take a closer look at another member of the 2026-27 Phoenix Suns, examining what they bring to the roster and what their role could mean for the season ahead as we count down to training camp and the preseason.

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Collin Gillespie

Point Guard, 6’1”, 195 pounds, 27 years old, 4th season

Collin Gillespie has been a diamond in the rough for the Phoenix Suns, as they have found someone who went from a two-way player to a record-setter in just two years. He has transformed his NBA image through sheer tenacity and determination never to give up. This upcoming year, he looks to build on that image as a potential starting guard alongside Devin Booker.

After a big offseason payday, Gillespie needs to keep stamping his name in the franchise record books like he did last year. That is when he set the franchise record for most threes in a season with 232, and this season looks like a chance to build on it. With two of the better three-point scorers gone, Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale, it is likely that Gillespie can continue the hot streak from last year.

Last Season

GP	MIN	PPG	RPG	APG	STL	FG%	3PT%	FT%	OFFRTG	DEFRTG	+/- (TOTAL)
80	28.5	12.7	4.1	4.6	1.2	41.8%	40.1%	87.4%	113.7	110.0	+200

Last year, Gillespie set out to make an imprint on the Suns’ rotation early, and he did. After an impressive second half on his two-way contract, he earned a full deal and returned for a prove-it season. Last season was key, and he stayed healthy for most of it, playing in 80 games. He did start on the bench; however, playing alongside big men Oso Ighodaro and Mark Williams, he showed off his playmaking skills and true knack for setting up teammates. The bench unit’s simple pick-and-roll plays, with him at the helm, brought early success to this underdog unit.

As he continued to show he could be a solid bench point guard, the Suns realized they should get him in the starting lineup. With Jalen Green dealing with his hamstring injuries, Gillespie then saw himself inserted to replace him. Alongside Booker, he looked solid and had some big moments in his newfound role. One I remember was in December against the Wolves: with no Devin Booker, he and Dillon Brooks went out on the road and pulled off a sneaky win, to the fans’ dismay.

Gillespie, who had 19 points in this one, came up huge as the lead guard with no Booker or Green, and it showed he can truly live up to his potential. Not only that, but he got the nickname “Villain Jr.” given to him by Dillon Brooks, who was the new culture setter in the post-KD Suns world. His connection with Brooks ultimately brought out that true competitor in Gillespie, something he’s had since his Villanova days. At the end of the season, he did slow down offensively, but for a guy who went from a two-way deal to starter in two seasons, he paved his own path to success in the Valley.

Contract and Roster Context

Collin Gillespie just inked a new deal with the Suns after spending the past summer as a free agent. He signed a whopping four-year, $48 million deal that was definitely well worth the investment. With early-bird rights, the team could offer Gillespie more money than rival teams in free agency, and he was the first free agent to re-sign with the team this offseason.

What He Brings

I think the question is: what does Gillespie not bring to the team? Honestly, though, he is solid on both ends, and his hustle is unmatched. He has always been the underdog, and coming to Phoenix was the same scenario as in high school or after the draft. He had to fight for his spot and show he could be the game changer, and he has. Yes, he may be a little undersized at the guard position, so he may get picked on defense, but with his heart and hustle, he forces turnovers when opponents least expect it.

On the offensive end, he’s also a solid playmaker who can set up his teammates whether it’s a three-point attempt with an extra pass, a lob throw for an impressive dunk, or even a simple pass for two points in a pick-and-roll situation. He is also lights out from three-point range and set the franchise record for most threes in a game. With Ott prioritizing that style of offense as well in run-and-gun threes, it fits the skill set he succeeds in most. Not to mention, he can score at the basket and attack bigger defenders; he’s not afraid of any opposition.

What Needs to Improve

I think he needs to be in better shape than last season to improve. Coming off a solid two-way stint, he expected a bigger role, but with Allen as a solid three-point scorer and Green coming in via trade, he probably didn’t expect a starting spot, especially so early. That leaves him being forced to play more minutes and take up more shots per game, which is good but can take a toll on the body. After going from very low playing time to now almost 30 minutes a night, also for 80 out of the 82 nights, it is not easy.

As I said earlier, as the season went on, the three-point percentage started to dip. He went into a bit of a slump, and I ultimately think it was just fatigue at that point. So for Gillespie to get this contract now shows he’s expected to play a larger role in Phoenix, and he should make sure his body is ready so he can keep getting more opportunities in the rotation.

Prediction

I think Gillespie will have a season to remember here in the Valley. With Green and Booker ready to go, he will be more of a bench contributor this season, but that also brings the spotlight as one of the NBA’s best bench guards. His numbers continue to soar, and he will be in the early Six Man of the Year conversations.

Stat Prediction: 78 Games, 15.3 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 6.0 APG, 43/38/88 shooting splits

Final Word

Gillespie’s most important goal is to prove this payday was not a mistake. They found him as a talent and brought him into the spotlight, and now he must show he can build on it. I have no fear that he can be someone to be a staple of this bench core for now and the future, but the question remains whether he can find his way to leap into that starting role by the end of the season, as that truly will have not just Suns fans but NBA fans knowing how impactful he can be.

The New York Knicks have yet to sign rookie Tyler Nickel, but the expectation around the league is that the two sides will ultimately reach an agreement.

Nickel joined the Knicks organization after New York used the No. 47 overall pick on the former Vanderbilt standout, but there were questions about whether or not the sharpshooter would eventually join the NBA roster.

On Wednesday, The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III reported that while Nickel’s status remains unresolved ahead of training camp, it’s likely he ends up sitting on the Knicks’ bench and getting minutes this season after eventually inking a deal in the next few days or weeks.

“From everything I’ve heard from talking to people throughout the league, Nickel and the Knicks are expected to reach some kind of contract agreement,” Edwards wrote.

New York Knicks training camp starts this time next week.

Here is my preseason preview with storylines I’m watching, roster thoughts and more:https://t.co/7OvHa95Eh2

— James L. Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) September 23, 2026

What kind of contract Nickel receives, however, is less certain. Edwards noted that Nickel could make more through NIL by returning to college than on a two-way contract with New York, with early-summer reports of a possible $1-to-$1.4 million NIL deal waiting for him if he returns. A federal court ruling granted Nickel and a few other young men a fifth year of eligibility, so that door is wide open.

The situation could potentially explain New York’s roster construction to date, with open spots and a bunch of players in tryout deals heading into preseason. All we know is that New York is expected to add one more player on a standard contract before the season while surely avoiding the second apron.

“Could the Knicks be trying to make a trade to open up a roster spot to give Nickel a standard deal?” Edwards wrote. “The way this situation has played out, it sort of feels that way.”

Edwards identified Pacôme Dadiet and Miles McBride as logical trade possibilities if New York chooses that route, although he is skeptical McBride would be moved before the season.

While Nickel remains unsigned, Edwards’ reporting makes it very clear the expectation is that the Knicks and their second-round pick eventually reach an agreement. For now, we wait.

Brian Lewis takes a stab at who on the Brooklyn Nets roster — and in the front office — has the most to prove as 2026-27 approaches. As you’d imagine with a team so young and so inexperienced, the list is long.

Things will get going soon. Sean Marks & co. have until October 31 to make decisions on the future of the Flatbush 5. The Nets must decide by then whether to extend all of them for a third year on their four-year deals, the first two years being guaranteed. Egor Demin is a n0-brainer. He had a solid rookie year and looked even better in Summer League. The four others taken at Nos. 19, 22, 26 and 27 are highly likely to get another year, but as Lewis points out, it is the NBA and nothing is truly guaranteed.

[Nolan] Traoré was the next-highest drafted of the lot behind Dëmin, but missed this year’s summer league due to injury. He has bulked up, but must stay healthy and learn to finish. [Drake] Powell struggled mightily in both Sacramento and Las Vegas, shooting horribly. [Ben] Saraf and [Danny] Wolf also need to space the floor better.

It seems unlikely that any of that quartet — even Powell — wouldn’t get their options picked up. But it should be pointed out that two years ago, the Nets exercised their third-year option on 2023 first-round pick Dariq Whitehead, but after a poor season, he was waived the next October…

To paraphrase a great Yankee, it gets late early in the NBA.

The player taken before Whitehead in the 2023 NBA Draft also has a deadline. The Nets have until October 19 to decide on whether to give Noah Clowney a multi-year extension which at this point seems unlikely meaning the 22-year-old will become a restricted free agent next July. Clowney didn’t have bad season last year, averaging 12.3 points on 40/33/80 shooting to go along with 4.1 rebounds in 66 games, 60 of them starts. Clowney has down flashes of his potential, recording games of seven 3-pointers and seven blocks in the past two seasons and getting to the line more often too, but the team would like to have seen more progress. Now, he’ll have competition.

With the arrival of [Julius] Randle, Clowney is almost certainly going to lose his starting power forward job. But he stands to lose far more — a chance at a big restricted free-agent payday — if he doesn’t show growth as a rebounder, shooter or shot-blocker, three areas where the Nets in dire need.

It’s entirely possible that with improved 3-point shooting and rim protection, he could get opportunities at all three front court positions. On the other hand, if he doesn’t, he’ll not only have competition for minutes from Randle who is an ironman, having played 79 games last season, but also Josh Minott who’s similarly versatile and only 16 months older.

Michael Porter Jr. and Randle are, of course, not among the 10 players under 25 on the roster. MPJ is 28 and in his eighth year, Randle nearly 32 and in his 13th. They also have a list of NBA accomplishments. As Lewis notes,

The Nets’ best players — veterans Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle — have one championship ring, three All-Stars berths, two All-NBA selections and about $350 million in career earnings between them. They’re both essentially guaranteed of being on huge contracts next season — but just how huge? And where?

Both are likely playing for the future whether with Brooklyn or elsewhere. Porter Jr. of course is on a $40.8 million expiring deal and is looking for an extension. Randle is making $35.8 million and has a player option for 2027-28 which likely means he’ll be looking for an extension himself come next July. Both seem happy to be in New York and both have predicted big things from their young teammates, MPJ suggesting 50 wins, Randle saying the team could “shock the world.” However, do they fit the Nets time-line, particularly Randle?

A hot start will be both expected and needed in Brooklyn. It remains to be seen whether the Nets will look to flip him at the trade deadline. If so, Randle would benefit by changing the narrative of his exit from Minnesota and exhibiting leadership to go along with his scoring and bullyball game.

Indeed, they have all the motivation in the world to have big years … something that seems lost on most pundits predicting doom-and-gloom.

Could Marks flip one or even both? They may carry baggage, but both are bucket-getters and contending teams could use one or the other after the February deadline. Moreover, if the Nets don’t see them as long-term pieces on bit deals, they’d better get something for them before they hit the open market at the end of this season. What might the Nets want? More picks? They already lead the league in total picks, first rounders and second rounders over the next seven years. Younger players?

Lewis also includes the man who will make the decision on both in his assessments: GM Sean Marks.

How the youngsters — Dëmin, rookie lottery pick Mikel Brown Jr. and even newly promoted starter Day’Ron Sharpe — develop will be key.

But preserving assets for the next star that becomes available — along with the patience that Nets owner Joe Tsai has shown in him — means Marks will be under the microscope.

At Media Day, Marks will have a chance to lay out what the team will be looking for this season, How much will he and Jordi Fernandez expect? Joe Tsai doesn’t make an appearance at Media Day but he’s been resolute in pursuing the team’s long-term plan. He recently told author Michael Rubenstein that while the Nets need to “win championships”, he also said he believes in a “multi-year rebuilding process” and “build through the draft.” So, Tsai too knows he needs to prove something.

• The Nets with the most on the line this season — and the potential fallout ($) – Brian Lewis – New York Post

Per The Athletic’s Joe Vardon, the NBA’s investigation into a potential cap-circumvention violation by the Bucks and Gary Trent Jr.—who signed a four-year, $64m deal this offseason—remains ongoing. Per Vardon, the league hired national investigations law firm Hecker Fink to conduct the probe.

An NBA spokesman said the league’s investigation into Trent’s contract is ongoing and declined to answer further questions. The Bucks and Klutch Sports Group—Trent’s representing agency—have declined comment, but two sources with direct knowledge of the interviews taking place as part of the investigation said both the Bucks and Klutch are cooperating.

Most of you know the circumstances behind why the deal is fishy by now, but for those who don’t, Trent inked consecutive (basically) minimum deals with the Bucks over the last two offseasons—even though he presumably would have had the chance to earn more elsewhere—which allowed him to accrue early Bird rights and be eligible for a massive payday this offseason. He then cashed in a four-year deal worth $64m, which raised eyebrows, given that GT had just come off what was probably the worst season of his career.

The NBA needs to learn if the Bucks and Trent purposefully agreed to enter into smaller, cheaper contracts with a plan to reward Trent in a future deal–which is a violation of the league’s salary rules.

Now, when comparing this situation to the recent Kawhi Leonard saga or even the infamous Joe Smith deal 27 years ago—where, almost identical to Trent and the Bucks (allegedly), Minnesota player Joe Smith and the Wolves front office agreed that Smith would sign consecutive minimum deals to obtain Bird rights and then ink a massive contract down the line—the key difference is that incriminating documentary evidence was found in both of those cases. At least so far, no such evidence appears to exist in the Trent case, and reportedly, the Bucks have not deviated from their story that they acted properly and within the rules.

The Bucks, meanwhile, have maintained to their rivals that they believed Trent’s market value to be the contract they ultimately awarded him, and those same rival executives said Milwaukee maintained projections of likely free-agent contracts that prove it always believed Trent would be a $15 million-per-year player on the open market.

As I mentioned in Trent’s Ranking the Roster piece, the league doesn’t actually need “documentary evidence” that the Bucks and Trent agreed to an illegal deal to issue a punishment. All they need is to deduce that no other reasonable explanation exists for the Bucks signing Trent to the contract besides agreeing to an illegal deal.

We shall see how far the word “reasonable” can be stretched by Horst and Co.

Having a good feel for each player’s value on the trade market is an exercise NBA front offices would routinely perform. For this week’s Reacts, we wanted to see where the Brew Hoop community landed on who leads the team in trade value. In this article, I expanded on that exercise by ranking the entire team and even separating the players into tiers. Tiers mean you can make a reasonable case for any player within a tier to be ranked above or below another player within that same tier.

Crucially, these rankings are completely subjective and—unlike Rick Berry’s DOPE Index—I wasn’t working off some quantitative formula. However, I did find myself considering four main factors when constructing these rankings, and they were:

• Raw ability
• Age
• Contract size (how much money do they make annually?)
• Contract status (what is the length of their contract, and where are they in that contract?)

Remember, this is all relative to each player. For example, just because a player doesn’t have the potential to yield a first-round pick, that doesn’t mean that guy must be ranked below another player who does. Also, none of this means that the Bucks will or should trade any player; it’s merely a thought exercise. Anyway, without further ado, here’s how I ranked the squad.

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Tier 1

1. Ryan Rollins

At first, I thought the top spot was close between Rollins and Burries, but after thinking it through, Rollins clearly takes that spot. The 24-year-old has blossomed into a legit two-way lead guard—who helps you win basketball games in so many ways—on a $4m (!) contract. You rarely find guys that impactful to winning while making that little money. If the Bucks put Rollins on the trade block right now, they would undoubtedly get a good first-round pick, and maybe even two “bad” first-round picks. Now, I feel quite confident that if the Bucks pay up to retain Rollins next summer, he will be displaced from the top spot (almost regardless of how he plays). For now, though, this is a no-brainer selection at one.

2. Brayden Burries

That leaves Brayden Burries at two, an easy choice. Right this second, coming off an All-Summer League First Team performance, Brayden Burries’ value is through the roof. Now, no team would entertain trading their lottery pick—having not yet registered a single NBA minute—regardless of how they played in Summer League, but yes, for this exercise, Burries has the second-most trade value on the Bucks.

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Tier 2

3. Kel’el Ware

Kel’el Ware being in this spot is interesting because he benefits from what I like to call the “mystery box bump.” Ware is only entering the third year of his rookie deal, and there is still major intrigue as to what his ceiling is. He could develop into a unicorn-like centre who’s a matchup nightmare for opposing bigs, or he could completely peter out into an empty-calories guy with attitudinal problems. Ware is a mystery box, but right at this moment, he would fetch a decent first-round pick if traded. A team would bet on the raw talent, for sure. He may be worth two first-round picks in a year, or he may only be worth some seconds.

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Tier 3

4. Kasparas Jakucionis

Another player who falls somewhat into the aforementioned mystery box bump group, Kasparas Jakucionis edges out Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez by the slimmest of margins because he benefits from being largely untested. He’s coming off a rookie year with the Heat in which he played decently in the opportunities he got, but those were few and far between. So on the one hand, he’s got runs on the board as a 19-year-old rookie in the NBA—which puts him above Nate Ament, for example—but on the other hand, he hasn’t necessarily wowed in those chances. Additionally, Jakucionis is entering the second year of his rookie contract, which naturally gives him high trade value. Granted, KJ’s trade value definitely took a hit following his disappointing Summer League performance, but you can rationalise that by him having played for Lithuania just a week prior, having to deal with the chaos of being traded, etc.

5. Tyler Herro

Next is Tyler Herro. Obviously, Herro is the most accomplished player on this list and would be the most “sure thing” in a trade (maybe except for Rollins). If a team were to trade for Herro, they’d know what they are getting; it’s way less of a stab in the dark than it would be going for Ware or Jakucionis. Herro is a good NBA player. Sure, he’s bad on defence and has some quirks that rub people the wrong way, but this is a career 20-PPG scorer who shoots nearly 40% from three on volume. His contract is palatable right now at about $30m per season, but of course, he’s in the final year of that deal and will want a contract that will probably age poorly, which naturally makes it hard to have him much higher than fifth.

6. Jaime Jaquez Jr.

I was very close to putting Jaime Jaquez Jr. above Tyler Herro, but at the end of the day, he just doesn’t have the runs on the board as Herro does. Coming into the league as an older rookie after spending four years at UCLA, Jaquez has much less mystery box appeal. However, it’s inarguable that he’s reached a level where you’re almost certain that he’ll be a solid NBA player at the very least. I should note that Jaquez is in the last year of his rookie deal, so any team trading for him would need to be prepared to pay him next summer. This feels like the right spot.

7. Nate Ament

Nate Ament is another player who benefits from the mystery box bump. Being a “boom-or-bust prospect,” Ament has an extremely wide range of outcomes. At this point, that puts him right about here on the rankings. Like Ware, we could re-rank this in two years, and Ament could be way down the bottom or way up the top. For now, coming off a so-so Summer League but considering the bigger picture, seventh feels about right. I am confident that even after Vegas, a rival team would give up something of relatively high value to get the Virginia native if the Bucks explored trading him.

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Tier 4

8. Ousmane Dieng

OK, so relative to the value Dieng held when the Bucks picked him up, his stock has increased significantly. Ous has a lot going for him. First, he’s a former lottery pick and still just 23; teams love taking chances on young guys with pedigree. Second, he just put together a solid season in the first real chance he got to actually play consistently, which, at the very least, is enticing. And finally, his contract is solid at just under $6m per year for three years with a team option for the final season. I reckon a good number of rebuilding teams would happily part with some decent assets to get a longer look at Dieng on that deal. Props, Jon Horst.

9. AJ Green

Green has become a solid NBA role player who will check into the game and do his job: nail three-pointers—both off the catch and on the move—and be passable on defence. There isn’t much more upward mobility other than that, but lots of NBA teams need guys with this skill set. You can see how Green’s dynamism as a shooter separates him from a guy like Taurean Prince, who can really only shoot while stationary. On top of that, Green is on a totally palatable contract with an average annual salary of a tick over $11m.

10. Myles Turner

Here we get to Myles Turner. Look, this contract didn’t look great after last season—and it still doesn’t look all that good—but considering what some centres got paid in free agency this summer, ~$27m AAV doesn’t look as bad as it once did. Still, ESPN’s Ben Golliver recently reported that the Bucks have been trying to shop Turner this summer but haven’t found a suitor willing to take on his contract, validating his spot at 10 (for now). Crucially, I want to make clear that if MT performs at the level he is capable of in a new system, I could see him yielding a late first-round pick at the deadline. I don’t see AJ or Ous having that potential, but I also don’t consider either of their contracts to have negative value like I do Turner’s right now—still three years left to run.

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Tier 5

11. Jericho Sims

It might come as a shock that I have Jericho Sims this high—and I realise that I’m probably an outlier—but I reckon that if Sims starts the season well, he’ll have positive trade value at the deadline. In contrast, the two blokes below, in my mind, would have even or negative value. This means I think a team might trade a second-round pick in the, say, 35-45 range for Sims in exchange for half a season with him making the minimum. Crucially, Sims on the minimum makes trading for him much easier than trading for Kuzma or LeVert, increasing his value. Our friends over at the Silver Screen and Roll wrote about reports of the LA Lakers’ potential interest in the 27-year-old.

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Tier 6

12. Caris LeVert

The case for LeVert over Kuzma in this spot is simple: they’re both wings on expiring contracts and not in the Bucks’ plans, but LeVert makes about $5m less ($14.5m compared to $19.4m). There’s not a whole lot more you need to say, really. Neither player will be highly coveted by the team trading for them, but LeVert is easier to deal.

13. Kyle Kuzma

Read above, LOL. No, well, you could make the case that Kuzma has more trade value than LeVert because if the Bucks need to get up to a certain number to make a trade legal, Kuz’s contract is obviously more useful. In general, though, a ~$15m contract is more tradeable.

14. Kevin Porter Jr.

Eh, while Porter can certainly help the Bucks win games—if that is all they care about this season—he’s probably not in their long-term plans, considering the slew of guards acquired over the offseason. Other teams will know this and hold leverage over the Bucks, which will lower his trade value. Of course, something else that will lower that value is KPJ’s off-court history, like it or not. Look, Porter might fetch you a second-round pick if an experienced team needs a guy who can come in and immediately offer them some juice, but I wouldn’t bet on it.

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Tier 7

15. Bogoljub Markovic

Maybe you can convince yourself Bogi has some trade value if you rely on priors, since many draft analysts ranked him higher than where he ended up being taken—including our very own Finn Kuehl. Ultimately, though, he’s proven nothing of substance yet at the NBA level (and obviously it’s very early). If anything, Bogi’s stock has decreased since he was drafted. Now, I’m not saying the Bucks would even be interested in trading Markovic at just 21 years old, but if they were, they wouldn’t get much at this moment in time.

16. Pete Nance

Look, Pete Nance is a good player—and he happens to possess a skill set that has been sorely needed on this Bucks team—but at the end of the day, he’s a 26-year-old journeyman. I don’t doubt Nance is an NBA player, and teams would jump at the chance to sign him if the Bucks cut ties, but no franchise is going to give up assets for Nance. But hey, maybe that changes a year from now if he can really cement himself in Milwaukee’s rotation. I personally don’t see where the minutes are, but it’s not implausible.

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Tier 8

17. Gary Trent Jr.

Self-explanatory. This contract became one of the league’s worst the moment the ink dried, and absolutely everyone—including Jon Horst—knew it would be. We all understand what happened here; there’s no point belabouring it. Anyway, the Bucks might need to attach Brayden Burries and one of those Heat picks to incentivise another team to take this contract (I’m kidding… I think). Gary, get used to those Milwaukee winters, brother; you’ll be here a while… if your contract isn’t voided, that is.

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Alright, now that I’ve done my rankings, give me yours. Or just let me know where you agree or disagree. The players I was most unsure of were Jericho Sims, Kevin Porter Jr., Ousmane Dieng, and Myles Turner. I might make this an annual thing—we’ll see.

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Dean Wade started his offseason as a pretty big deal for the Sixers. For a team that needed more forward depth, defense, and a touch of extra shooting, he delivered. As a free agent signing on a good value four-year, $39 million deal, Wade was a pretty ideal addition for many fans.

Then LeBron James made his decision.

But the absolute shock and joy of LeBron’s signing shouldn’t completely overshadow Wade.

Even though Wade’s role has clearly changed with LeBron’s arrival, there’s still loads to like about what Wade has to offer. What he can do for the team on a nightly basis, how he can step up when others miss time, and the versatility he’ll help create.

Wade’s basic numbers for the Cavaliers weren’t flashy last season. In 22.3 minutes per game (with 38 starts), he averaged 5.8 points on a 58.0 true shooting percentage, 4.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.4 blocks.

Offensively, he brings enough shooting to keep defenses honest. His drawback as a scorer is that he isn’t very aggressive, either when attacking the basket (mainly against closeouts) or when firing from three. He’s averaged a modest 5.8 attempts per 36 minutes for his career and 3.3 per game last season, so his volume isn’t too high to scare defenses. His efficiency is solid enough, though, with a 36.2 three-point percentage last season and 36.7 percent for his career. Essentially, he’s a good enough shooter when he’s alongside a ton of other talent that defenses are always going to be more worried about anyway. Wade’s a solid ball mover as well. He’ll make smart extra passes and not force reads, which bodes well for him being a reliable connector alongside the Sixers’ many higher usage stars.

It’s defense where Wade will shine for the Sixers. He’s such a versatile forward, possessing not just great size at 6-foot-9 with length and solid strength, but the quickness to switch onto tough guard assignments. Regularly guarding 1 through 4 is no problem. Wade uses his range to bother forwards, contest drives to the rim, generate a solid 3.1 deflections per 36 minutes, and provide a touch of help at the rim with smart timing, help rotations and general awareness. He’s proactive in finding opportunities to break up plays as well with how he digs against drivers and cutters, and attacks the ball as a help defender.

Those same qualities translate to how he covers guards as well. He has the lateral quickness to cover shiftier players on the ball, and the timing and length to bother drivers and deter shots at the rim when guards do take him on downhill. Nick Nurse should love having the option of using Wade in matchups where the smaller Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe or Anfernee Simons may struggle.

Wade’s usage in the playoffs this year was a prime example. He started the first round spending a lot of his time effectively defending Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes, and finished helping guard the craftier Jalen Brunson in the Eastern Conference Finals. Wade’s range is clear.

That versatility and impactful team defense is exactly what the Sixers need from role players who can seamlessly fit in and maximize star-heavy lineups.

Of course, now that LeBron is in town, Wade’s playing time won’t be quite as high as it was expected to be when he signed. That said, Wade averaging similar minutes to last season in Cleveland (22.3 a game) or even higher for some stretches of the year shouldn’t come as a surprise.

On a team with so many stars who can create and lead the offense, having a player like Wade who can plug in and play in any kind of lineup is hugely valuable. He can slot in and guard almost anyone as needed, and keep the offenese ticking with enough spot-up threes and reliable extra ball movement. He can let the Sixers upsize with forward-heavy lineups thanks to his ability to cover guards, or take on the toughest forward assignments when needed. Especially if the Sixers go smaller with two or three of Maxey, Edgecombe and Simons. It’s safe to say Wade will boost Nurse’s creativity and lineup options.

Wade is an excellent example of a player who does the little things well and is happy thriving on defense while others dominate touches offensively. That’s what these Sixers need, and Wade should start showing that from day one.

ESPN analyst Chris Spatola, 47, unexpectedly died on Monday, Sept. 21, leaving the college basketball world heartbroken.

Spatola, who ranks 10th on Army's all-time scoring list, deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2002-07 following his four-year playing career. He returned to college basketball as a staff member at Duke under his father-in-law Mike Krzyzewski, one of the sport's greatest coaches, from 2007-12 before becoming a broadcaster.

REQUIRED READING: Chris Spatola, ESPN personality and son-in-law of Mike Krzyzewski, suddenly dies at 47

"Chris Spatola brought a unique perspective to ESPN's college basketball coverage, shaped by his experiences as a student-athlete, Army veteran, coach and broadcaster," ESPN said in a statement. "He was thoughtful, prepared and passionate about the sport, earning the respect of colleagues, coaches, players and fans alike. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his loved ones during this difficult time."

It's clear Spatola meant a lot to numerous people in the industry. Those who knew him called him "kind," "egoless" and "an all-time dude" in tributes on social media.

Here are some of those tributes to Spatola:

College basketball, media world mourn Chris Spatola's death

Steve Kornacki, known for election day coverage for NBC, offered interesting perspective on Spatola's path to broadcasting. He said he hadn't seen him in years, but was always touched by what Spatola accomplished.

"This is just shocking," Kornacki wrote. "I grew up with Chris and while I hadn’t seen him in a very long time, I was so impressed over the years watching all that he became and achieved in life. He had to be the best basketball player to come through our small town and it was obvious back then he was going places. The kid I remember was friendly and warm and funny and great to talk to and also unusually smart and ambitious. And he put it all together in life.

"Just a huge, total success story who I know made a lot of people from his Groton-Dunstable Middle School days proud. RIP to him and deepest sympathies to his loved ones and many friends."

ESPN play-by-play broadcaster Mike Monaco worked college basketball games with Spatola over the years, saying he was lucky to know him.

"Shocked and devastated to hear the news about Chris," Monaco wrote. "Just keep staring at the screen. Simply a damn good human being. Smart, witty, curious, principled, and kind. And man did he love his family. Praying hard for his family & all those lucky enough to know him."

Numerous tributes noted Spatola's love for his family, including Baylor coach Scott Drew, who called him a "great friend."

"Chris was a friend and someone I really respected," Drew said. "So many Great Memories of Baylor Games he announced. He often talked about his family and I know how much he loved them. Praying for the Spatola Family."

Here are some of the other best tributes to Spatola:

Getting the phone call today on this one stung hard

Chris was an exceptional man, husband, and father.

As an Army officer, he served his country proudly in support of OIF.

As a basketball player, he is Army’s 5th all time leading scorer and more importantly was a great… https://t.co/2l0Nj9V7Rs

— Cons (@CaptainCons) September 23, 2026

I could not possibly come up with the words to describe how shocked and devastated I am to learn of Chris Spatola’s untimely passing. It will never make sense or seem real. Chris was one of the all time great dudes. A terrific broadcaster but most of all a treasured friend who…

— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) September 23, 2026

Devastated to hear the news of the loss of Chris Spatola. Brilliant, funny, dedicated to his family, hoops and his crafts of coaching and broadcasting. My prayers are with his beautiful family. I’ll remember him like this-coming out of practice-fired up for a game. pic.twitter.com/RulD7vK1Wm

— Rece Davis (@ReceDavis) September 23, 2026

Chris Spatola was an incredible human being, caring for everybody around him and showcasing his rich passion for basketball with the manner in which he called games. The sport was better because Chris was a part of it. Beyond the hardwood, Chris was a family man who graduated…

— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) September 23, 2026

Heartbroken and devastated to learn of Chris Spatola’s passing. Chris was a major part of my basketball journey and someone I truly looked up to. I’ll always be grateful he got to see me become a head coach and call several of my games on ESPN. More than anything, Chris was an…

— Bryan Hodgson (@CoachBHodgson) September 23, 2026

The news of Chris Spatolas passing is as brutal as it gets. A loving family man who gave a lot 2 a lot of people including this country. He was as prepared a broadcaster as I’ve ever been around. I can’t tell you how many times he called me about teams I had seen. RIP gut punch.

— Steve Lappas (@stlappas) September 23, 2026

It’s been an extremely difficult day since I heard about Chris Spatola this morning. None of us is guaranteed another day on this earth. Tell your family every chance you can that you love them. Chris will be missed. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) September 23, 2026

Just devastating news. So many of us in the sport worked with Chris at various media outlets. He was a great teammate on every broadcast. May his memory be a blessing to all who knew and loved Chris. https://t.co/ZiZ85xad2O

— Andy Katz (@TheAndyKatz) September 23, 2026

Chris and his wife Jamie have been two of the most supportive people since I started at WRAL. Chris has come through in a pinch time after time when I needed someone to analyze basketball for me on WRAL. He reached out three weeks ago to tell me he’s proud of me. RIP Chris. https://t.co/zBYhWNqzT5pic.twitter.com/vTvAeTHMi0

— Chris Lea - Sportscaster (@ChrisLeaTV) September 23, 2026

My first salute.
My plebe.
My little brother.

Love you Chris Spatola little bro be thou at peace.

#24 pic.twitter.com/COFHs0NnQz

— Captain Coach Kwas (@BabeKwas) September 23, 2026

This is how I will choose to remember @Chris_Spatola.
Called countless games with him. Bonded over Stern and Sopranos and old school rap.
Tough-minded. Honest. Loved his wife and kids. My thoughts and prayers to his family. pic.twitter.com/H2nAFO6Wyg

— Rich Hollenberg (@RichHollenberg) September 23, 2026

Chris Spatola was so smart. So knowledgeable on so many things. When you were around Chris you knew you were around someone that cared. Was committed to excellence. He held himself to such a high standard . His family deserves our prayers and needs to know our admiration for him.

— Tom Crean (@TomCrean) September 23, 2026

So many happy, memorable moments spent working with Chris. From the Big 12 Tournament to long College Basketball Saturdays at ESPN.
Chris was always prepared & always delivered.
May God bless a great family man, a veteran and friend to so many. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/GMGtHSTImX

— Kevin Connors (@kevconnorsespn) September 23, 2026

With heavy hearts this morning, we mourn the passing of Army Basketball alum Chris Spatola ‘02.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends. Be Thou at Peace. pic.twitter.com/UIN40YNDgT

— Army Men's Basketball (@ArmyWP_MBB) September 23, 2026

This is gut wrenching news.

Prayers to Chris’ family.

Every day is indeed a gift.

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 https://t.co/ZkpmVjeFT3

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) September 23, 2026

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College basketball world mourns Chris Spatola's death: 'All-time great dudes'

So much of the coming season is uncertain for the Minnesota Timberwolves. They restructured their whole core and brought in a new star point guard in LaMelo Ball, and jettisoned cornerstones of the team’s past identity in Julius Randle, Naz Reid, and Mike Conley Jr. They even switched owners.

Within that restructuring, there are many new roles being created for different players. It seems like only Anthony Edwards will slot back in where he was last year.

Jaden McDaniels will suddenly be a featured shot creator. Jaylen Clark will be expected to be a rotation piece. And notably, Joan Beringer will have to make good on his potential, considering he is basically the only remaining piece of the return for Karl-Anthony Towns.

However, hidden in all of this is a recent first-round pick that the Timberwolves will have to work with more closely and with more finesse.

T.J. Shannon Jr. came out of Illinois as a terror in transition. Since he entered the league, Shannon has struggled to find regular rotation minutes, despite his clear strengths in one of the most important single skills in the league: attacking the basket.

This difficulty comes largely from how he does what he is so good at on paper. Shannon requires the ball in his hands nearly at all times to be effective. After an exciting rookie season in which he was the X-factor against the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder, Shannon found himself out of the rotation as a sophomore player.

Part of this has to do with his injury history, but the larger reason is that he simply could not fit into a team that had so many different egos and creators constantly battling and bouncing off each other. He failed to be a complementary piece when that was all the team needed.

That, however, changed in the playoffs. Shannon was a real difference-maker against both the Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs in the first and second rounds, functioning as a shot creator when the team lost scorer after scorer to injury or emotions and lacked anyone to take over possessions.

Now, with that new role established as necessary, but the opportunity to make it happen no less nebulous, Shannon seems to be setting up for a make-or-break season. So much of this Timberwolves season relies on him, and so much of his career relies on this single campaign, and yet it’s hard not to look at what he is doing and what he has done, and to think that both he and the team would be better served doing something else.

No, it’s not his three-point shooting that needs to move forward to help the Timberwolves, nor would a leap in defensive ability really do much to solidify him going forward.

The best way T.J. Shannon could help the Minnesota Timberwolves win a championship would be as an asset equivalent to a first-round pick that the front office can use to find a real difference-maker that they don’t need to work around as heavily as they need to for Shannon.

Let me explain.

T.J. Shannon spent much of last season wallowing on the bench. Between injury and a lack of role, there was no real reason to play a wing who could neither shoot from distance nor defend at an elite level.

Shannon’s strength comes in the pressure he applies to the rim. It was what made him so effective against Nikola Jokic, who does not defend the rim at all, and Victor Wembanyama, who has conditioning issues that prevent him from being the excellent rim protector he is when tested too often throughout the course of the game.

It was as if Shannon had completely overloaded Wembanyama in that first game of the series against the San Antonio Spurs by simply attacking the rim time after time after time. He broke the reigning defensive player of the year with sheer rim volume. That deserves both recognition and mention.

“He gonna have to block it every time, I ain’t gonna stop going downhill. I told him that when he said a little something…

He gonna have to block it every time, man. I know he ain’t gonna block it every single time. I’m gonna dunk on him”

– TJ Shannon on Victor Wembanyama pic.twitter.com/LUxYgEADCw

— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) May 5, 2026

However, not every team has Nikola Jokic or Victor Wembanyama. Not every team lacks a capable backup the way either of those two teams does for their best players. Not every team will expect their center to be the only capable rim protector, leaving Shannon to exert his will against them.

No, the more common situation is what we saw happening during the regular season. Shannon will come in for spurts, will attack in transition, and will find himself a few layups with his strong left hand. However, as his minutes wear on, he will become less and less helpful to the team, as his shots don’t drop, as he fails to defend beyond tipping away passes, and while Chris Finch continues to get more and more upset at his effort from the sideline.

The situation was perfect for Shannon in that playoff run, as it was for the guest star appearance that happened against the OKC Thunder just a year prior.

Ironically, it is Shannon’s ability to get to the rim, draw fouls, and make opposing teams’ defenses’ lives hell that makes him both so valuable in the postseason and so much less useful during the regular season, when depth is playable, and teams can overcome foul problems to their best players in a vacuum.

Just that ability to force a foul differential seems so much stronger than it is. No, when it comes down to it, Shannon struggles to be an impact player when he is not in the perfect situation to succeed.

That makes him the definition of a specialist. There’s nothing wrong with being a specialist; however, it means that his value is capped at being a decent situational bench piece who explodes against specific types of opposition.

What it also means is that Shannon will be far less useful than the other players vying for his playing time at the backup forward position in Jaylen Clark, Ayo Dosunmu, and whoever else joins the fray, due to his lack of versatility.

In many ways, Shannon’s season has been put in a far worse situation by the signing of Jonathan Kuminga, which pushes Shannon from being a suitable small-ball four, with similar athletic traits and measurables to Miles Bridges, to being a tweener forced to come off the bench, who needs the ball in his hands and will have to rely on LaMelo Ball to make him play at his best when he gets minutes with the starters.

This to me would indicate that it’d be TJ Shannon. 6-6, 220 and is physical and athletic enough to defend and rebound. Leaning into getting him as many reps as possible is great with me https://t.co/UbU1XPQmcr

— Jack Borman (@JackBorman) July 15, 2026

Instead of trying to thread this needle, it may behoove both the player and the team to find somewhere else. The Timberwolves are still searching for meaningful depth pieces. They lack the draft capital to make a deal to find that after moving their 2033 first-round pick for LaMelo Ball.

Maybe it is Shannon that can be that extra young player slash pick capital that the Wolves need to find the final piece for their puzzle. In that situation, Shannon would be able to get more touches and minutes. He would have to fit in less, and maybe that could come with a large payday or a larger role for the older-than-you-would-expect young player.

For the Wolves, it comes as a very easy opportunity to get a playable rotation player.

Some would argue that the worst thing to do when entering a presumed spat of contention is to trade off young players with promise for veterans. However, it seems impossible that Shannon’s breakout will come on a Wolves team that can no longer help him reach those heights and needs him to be someone he is not.

With the Wolves so close to contending, and Shannon so far from being the player that the team needs, a mutual parting of ways is likely the best path forward.

Jericho Sims had the best year of his career over the 2025-26 campaign, playing as the Bucks’ backup center. Averaging 5.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 1.6 APG, Sims was the gritty, athletic rim-runner who put in the dirty work. He earned himself increased playing time by showing his willingness to hustle and fight for boards on one of the league’s worst rebounding teams. Especially as starting center Myles Turner struggled to convert in Milwaukee’s choppy offense, Sims got more first-team reps and started nine of Milwaukee’s final 12 games.

Sims is one of the league’s best rim finishers, with world-class athleticism, great strength, a huge wingspan, and a tireless motor. Despite being relatively small for an NBA center at 6’10,” he scored on 83.4% of his attempts at the rim. Sims was also used heavily for his plus rebounding, especially on the offensive end, where he hauled in 2.2 offensive rebounds per contest. Crucially, he’s also agile enough to switch onto smaller wings and guards when covering the pick-and-roll.

Having said all of this, Sims struggled heavily in several other facets of the game. He has virtually no offensive game outside of the paint and shot just 62% from the line. He was also pretty turnover-prone, averaging 1.1 giveaways per contest despite his extremely low usage. Sims also struggled with foul trouble much of the time and got called for a crazy number of illegal screens.

This season, the 27-year-old will find it much harder to get first-team reps following the arrival of Kel’el Ware. Ware is younger, has a perimeter game, is a better defender, and is a more willing rebounder, meaning there isn’t a real argument for Sims to get more minutes than Ware.

Although he opted into a $2.8m player option this summer, Sims is also reportedly a trade option for the Bucks as they look to clear cap space and accumulate even more draft capital. The Lakers and Knicks have shown interest in acquiring him as a high-energy, versatile backup. His salary would make it very easy for buyers to pick up, and, with Milwaukee managing a crowded big man rotation, he could be on the chopping block come February.

Sims’ athleticism and high work rate helped him log career highs and work his way into the Bucks rotation throughout last season, but it’s his small, expiring contract that could make him especially useful to general manager Jon Horst and the Bucks front office.

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Who’s next in our Ranking the Roster series?