LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9:Keyonte George #3, Isaiah Collier #8, Brice Sensabaugh #28 and Jaren Jackson Jr. #20 of the Utah Jazz attend the game between the Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards during the 2026 NBA Las Vegas Summer League on July 9, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Utah Jazz have had an incredible offseason by all accounts. Whether it was the luck of winning the lottery and getting Darryn Peterson with the second pick, or getting an incredible haul for Walker Kessler in a trade that took advantage of a desperate Lakers squad. With the recent ownership drama with the Lakers, it’s feeling like a better trade every single day. It’s starting to feel like the Jazz were not only taking advantage of Luka Doncic wanting them to trade for Kessler, but likely ownership trying to set the team up long-term for the massive sale as well.
It looks like the Jazz are not done as well. According to Tim MacMahon, the Jazz will be looking to fill the void left by Walker Kessler leaving.
From MacMahon:
Finding a long-term solution at center will be a priority for the front office, but it will probably require some patience. The Jazz will keep an eye on the trade market, and at some point, they’ll likely use some of the draft capital acquired in the Kessler sign-and-trade to target his replacement
Losing Kessler will obviously cost the Jazz some wins in the short term, but Utah can then find a replacement that fits better with their roster. At some point this season, Utah may find an opportunity to find a “long-term” solution. There could be a team out there that needs to offload assets and Utah will have the ability to take advantage. The biggest weapon for Utah is that they don’t have to rush things. Not being under pressure will allow them to wait for the best possible option.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Peyton Watson is heading from Denver to Cleveland as part of a four-team trade that will also have the Cavaliers sending Max Strus to the Los Angeles Clippers.
A person familiar with the trade said Wednesday night that Watson, a restricted free agent who spent his first four NBA seasons with the Nuggets, will sign a four-year contract with the Cavaliers worth $88 million that includes a player option and trade kicker.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade had not been announced.
Cleveland will send to Denver an unprotected 2031 first-round pick and a 2032 second-round selection from the Sacramento Kings that it got after making a trade in June’s NBA draft. The Nuggets will also acquire Julian Reese from Washington.
The Cavaliers are getting a 2027 second-round pick from the Clippers, but that will be sent to the Wizards.
The 23-year-old Watson started a career-high 40 games last season and averaged career bests in points (14.6), rebounds (4.9) and assists (2.1). He gives the Cavaliers the wing player they were looking for after LeBron James signed with Philadelphia instead of returning to Cleveland for a third stint.
Besides Watson, the Cavaliers were also looking at free agents DeMar DeRozan and Jonathan Kuminga.
Strus and Dean Wade were the primary starters at small forward last season. Wade signed with Philadelphia during free agency.
Strus missed the first 67 games last season due to a broken left foot, but had some big baskets and steals during the playoffs as Cleveland reached the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2018. The Cavaliers were swept in that series by the New York Knicks.
Cleveland laid the groundwork for a move last week when it traded Dennis Schroder to Charlotte for Tre Mann to gain salary cap space. Mann’s time in Cleveland won’t last long; he’s headed to Washington for Cam Whitmore.
DENVER , CO - FEBRUARY 1: Peyton Watson (8) of the Denver Nuggets celebrates making a three pointer against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Sunday, February 1, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post) | Denver Post via Getty Images
While the rest of the Eastern Conference was improving, the Cavs were mostly sitting idle. That changed this past week as Cleveland sent Dennis Schroder to the Charlotte Hornets to free up cap space, and then traded Max Strus, an unprotected 2031 first-round pick, and a second-rounder for Peyton Watson and Cam Whitmore.
After a month and a half of waiting, the Cavs have finally made their big move — one that could vault them back into the title conversation.
First, we’ll start with what the Cavs gave up.
The 2031 first-rounder is valuable both as a trade chip and as a useable asset.
The lottery reform starting next season doesn’t reward tanking as it has for the past several decades. Instead, simply missing the playoffs — as long as you weren’t a play-in team — gives you a better chance of landing the first overall pick than having the worst record in the league. Additionally, all lottery picks will be drawn instead of just the top four. We don’t know where the Cavs will be in 2031, but there’s a chance that could be a valuable top-five pick even if they don’t bottom out.
More than that, there’s an opportunity cost with this move. The 2031 pick was the first one they could trade away, considering the 2027 and 2029 picks are still owed to the Utah Jazz from the Donovan Mitchell trade. Now, the only first the Cavs can move for the next two seasons is their 2033 selection. And considering how far into the future that is, and how their team is aging, it’d be unwise to do so. That 2031 first was essentially the last first-rounder Cleveland could trade away to help boost this core.
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There’s an on-court cost to this as well.
Losing Strus will hurt. His shooting and ability to play with and without the ball opened up the offense.
There’s more to spacing than just raw shooting ability. Strus knows when to cut, when to come off screens, and when to act as a decoy. That intuition — even more than the shot — is what made him so valuable to Cleveland’s offense alongside his ability to run second-side actions as a ball handler. Those are things the Cavs will desperately miss.
That said, Strus wasn’t necessarily an ideal fit for this team due to his size and contract.
At 6’5”, he didn’t have the necessary height and strength to cover larger opposing wings. That wouldn’t necessarily be an issue on most teams, but it was in Cleveland.
The Cavs have long had too many shooting guards and not enough small forwards or point guards. Strus is squarely a shooting guard. His expiring $16.6 million deal is $7.5 million more than Sam Merrill’s, who largely fills the same role on offense. For those reasons, moving Strus makes sense. Whether Watson was the player to trade him for remains to be seen.
Both iterations of Cleveland’s core four have desperately needed a wing to connect the dynamic backcourt and two-center frontcourt. De’Andre Hunter was thought to be the answer in 2025, but came up short, resulting in him being dealt before the last trade deadline. Watson fits that same archetype, but there’s reasons to be hopeful that he’ll succeed where Hunter didn’t.
Watson has shown to be an incredibly efficient outside shooter. He connected on 41% of his three-point looks last season, putting him in the 84th percentile for wings. This included knocking down 52% of his outside looks from the corner (97th percentile).
That skill set should be useful on a Cavaliers team that we assume will rely heavily on high pick-and-rolls. Having someone who is that efficient from the corner should keep opposing defenses honest, opening up room to attack the basket.
Despite the impressive shooting efficiency, Watson isn’t the high-volume three-point shooter someone like Strus is. Watson took just 3.6 outside shots per game last season, landing him in the 9th percentile for three-point volume from a wing. For context, that was less than half a shot more than Evan Mobley attempted last season (3.2), which isn’t ideal.
There are legitimate questions about what kind of offensive player Watson is outside of his three-point shot.
Watson mostly relied on his teammates — mainly Nikola Jokic — to create clean looks for him as a scorer. Nearly three-fourths of his field-goal makes were assisted. That suggests that he is comfortable fitting into an offense, but also isn’t a shot creator.
Creating for others isn’t exactly his specialty either. Watson was in the 11th percentile in assist-to-usage rate (0.48), 35th percentile in assist percentage (9.4%), and in the 30th percentile for turnover rate (13.1%) last season. While there are signs that point to Watson growing into a more well-rounded scorer — mainly his impressive free-throw rate — there isn’t much to suggest that he has untapped potential here.
Not being a proven offensive initiator is a concern. Shooting and playmaking are shortcomings for any lineup that includes two traditional centers. Watson fills one of those holes, but the playmaking responsibility will still be primarily on the guards. The ideal starting small forward for this group would be one that could provide a bit of both.
Defensively is where Watson fits best. He offers the size, strength, and athleticism that should pair well with Jarrett Allen and Mobley.
Watson is 6’8” and plays defense like he is. He’s a good rebounder for his position, can comfortably switch one through four, and has been in the 98th to 100th percentile for block percentage throughout his career.
Those defensive skills allowed him to split his time between the three and four last year. This makes him the ideal Wade replacement as he’s perfectly suited to slot into the starting lineup at small forward, and shift up to power forward when either Allen or Mobley are out of the game. This is what differentiates him most from Hunter, who struggled defensively and wasn’t an ideal option at power forward.
The Cavs were never going to find the perfect starting three for this group without ginoving up a member of the core four. As such, any move that they made would need to be a gamble of some kind.
You can quibble about Watson’s fit with this group. There’s certainly reasons to be skeptical, and he most certainly isn’t an A+ match. But considering the cap space and draft capital the Cavs had available, you’d be hard-pressed to do better.
Watson is the perfect type of player to roll the dice on. He has the size, athleticism, and shooting that this group desperately needs. And he also has upside to grow into a more complete offensive player. Whether or not he does will determine if Watson is a long-term solution at small forward.
Koby Altman came into this summer with his hands tied behind his back considering the cap situation. Not only has he gotten the Cavs under the first apron, but he’s also addressed one of the team’s biggest weaknesses. We’ll see if it’s enough to make the Cavs true title contenders. At the very least, they’re in a far better position now than they were at the start of the offseason.
And on Wednesday, the Cavaliers seemingly took themselves out of contention by instead acquiring Peyton Watson in a three-team trade with the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets.
Jonathan Kuminga is running out of options in free agency, giving the Lakers a better chance of signing the forward. Getty Images
The Lakers have always been the most logical fit for Kuminga, but the two parties haven’t been able to reach an agreement all summer long. The Lakers initially offered the forward a deal for around $10 million annually under the framing that he’d be starting alongside Luka Doncic in Hollywood.
But Kuminga and his camp wanted double that amount, which has since created an ongoing stalemate between the 23-year-old and the Lakers.
Another possible outcome is a sign-and-trade with the Atlanta Hawks to bring Kuminga to LA.
There’s even a chance the Lakers acquire Kuminga on a cheaper deal because the other contender in the mix, Minnesota, can only offer him a $6 million taxpayer mid-exception.
The forward has spent a majority of the summer weighing his options, and now one of Kuminga’s best alternatives in the Cavaliers pivoted and landed Watson.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka was aggressive throughout the first few days of free agency. Getty Images
The Lakers still need a versatile wing defender.
A few days into free agency, general manager Rob Pelinka had already spent a majority of the team’s cap space on free agent additions like Walker Kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Collin Sexton and Quentin Grimes.
That left the Lakers with little money to spend on a backup center and a versatile wing defender.
Jonathan Kuminga was traded from the Warriors to Atlanta last season. NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers already took care of the former by signing Kevon Looney, but the squad is still missing a key piece of its roster with less than two weeks before September.
Kuminga would solve that problem for the Lakers, and it’s clear his market is quickly shrinking.
The Peyton Watson saga has reached its conclusion.
The Denver Nuggets are trading the 23-year-old wing to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a multi-team deal that sends Max Strus to the Los Angeles Clippers, and a 2031 Cleveland first-round pick and 2032 Kings second-rounder back to Denver, two people with direct knowledge of the transaction confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.
The people spoke under the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss terms of the deal.
Watson, a restricted free agent, will sign a four-year, $88 million contract with the Cavs.
The Clippers are also sending a 2027 second-round pick to Cleveland, acquiring Strus via a trade exception. The Cavaliers are then flipping that second rounder and Tre Mann, who they acquired via trade last week for Dennis Schröder, to the Washington Wizards for Cam Whitmore while Julian Reese heads to the Nuggets. The Schröder deal will also be part of this transaction, per ESPN.
Watson is coming off a breakout season in 2024-25 in which he started 40 games in the prolonged absences of Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon. Already known for his defense, the Long Beach Poly High School alum emerged as a versatile, athletic wing on the offensive end of the floor as he averaged 14.6 points, shooting 49.1% from the floor and 41.1% from long range, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 0.9 steals − all career-highs − and 1.1 blocks per game.
The trade puts an end to months of speculation regarding Watson's future with the Nuggets as he was heavily linked to teams with cap space in need of length and athleticism, such as the Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks and Portland Trail Blazers, among others.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 29: Peyton Watson #8 of the Denver Nuggets dribbles the ball during the first half against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center on November 29, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Nuggets defeated the Suns 130-112. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers have finally made their big move of the offseason. After a month and a half of speculation, the Cavs now have an answer at small forward: Peyton Watson.
The soon-to-be 24-year-old, 6’8” wing is coming off the best season of his career with the Denver Nuggets. Watson averaged 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game in 54 contests. Those 14.6 points per game were six and a half more than he averaged the year before. That jump is mostly due to his growth as a shooter.
Watson connected on 41.1% of his 3.6 three-point attempts last regular season and 36.8% of them in the playoffs. This included converting 52% of his three-point looks from the corner (97th percentile).
That three-point shooting is coupled with being an outstanding defender for his position. Watson does a great job of using his size and athleticism to effectively guard one through four. This should make him an incredibly good fit in a frontcourt anchored by Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.
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The Cavs had to pay a premium for getting Watson to come to Cleveland.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that the Cavs will be sending out Max Strus, an unprotected 2031 first-round pick, Tre Mann, cash, and a second-round pick to complete the deal. This will end up being a three-team deal with the first-rounder going to Denver and Strus reuniting with Darius Garland on the Los Angeles Clippers.
Watson is also signing for a four-year, $88 million deal in Cleveland, which includes a player option.
Strus spent three years with the Cavs and was a starting small forward for most of that time. He played a large role both on and off the court. Strus averaged 11 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 132 games with the Cavs over the last three seasons.
Cleveland doesn’t own their 2027, 2029, and now 2031 first-round picks. They also still owe a pick swap for their 2028 first as part of the Donovan Mitchell trade with the Utah Jazz.
The Cavs have been looking for a permanent answer at starting forward for years. They thought they had something with De’Andre Hunter when they traded for him in 2025, before dealing him the following season. We’ll see if Watson ends up being the long-term solution.
CHARLOTTE, NC - APRIL 2: Tre Mann #23 of the Charlotte Hornets dribbles the ball during the game against the Phoenix Suns on April 2, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards are acquiring Tre Mann, a 2027 second-rounder from the Clippers and cash for Cam Whitmore, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
As part of the deal, the Cavaliers are sending Tre Mann, the 2027 second-rounder from the Clippers and cash to the Washington Wizards for Cam Whitmore, sources said. The Wizards also are sending Julian Reese to the Nuggets, who will waive Reese off his two-way deal.
The Wizards also are sending Julian Reese to the Nuggets, who will waive Reese off his two-way deal, according to ESPN’s report.
The Athletic’s Joshua Robbins reported the following regarding the 2027 second-round pick that Washington acquired:
The terms on the Wizards' incoming 2027 second-round pick via the Clippers are convoluted. The Wizards' will receive the second-most favorable of the following second-round picks: (a) the more favorable of Golden State and Phoenix, (b) the most favorable of Houston, Indiana,…
The Wizards now own three second-round picks in the 2027 NBA Draft:
• More Favorable: BKN/DAL
• Less Favorable: GSW/PHX
• 2nd Most Favorable: (a) the more favorable of GSW/PHX, (b) the most favorable of HOU, IND, MIA, and OKC and (c) PHI.
Mann is a 25-year-old shooting guard who averaged 5.5 points on 32.3% 3PT with Charlotte last season. The 6-foot-4 guard is owed $8 million during the 2026-27 season and then has an $8M team option for 2027-28.
Wizards general manager Will Dawkins was the Oklahoma City Thunder’s vice president of basketball operations when they selected Mann with the No. 18 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
This trade gives the Wizards another depth guard option behind Trae Young, Tre Johnson and Bub Carrington.
Whitmore missed most of last season with deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder. Washington acquired the 22-year-old forward from the Houston Rockets in July 2025 for two second-round picks.
Reese spent last season on a two-way contract. The Maryland product started 10 games for Washington in a brief stint that included a 26-point, 17-rebound showing against the Utah Jazz.
The Wizards’ roster remains at 14 standard contracts — NBA teams can have a maximum of 15 standard deals by opening night — but now has an open two-way spot after this deal.
G: Young | Johnson | Carrington | Mann W: Dybantsa | George | Coulibaly | Riley F: Davis | Champagnie | Middleton C: Sarr | Ayton | Vukcevic
Two-way: Watkins | Okpara
Washington is sending out Whitmore’s $5.5 million salary for Mann’s $8 million salary, which brings in an additional $2.5 million against the cap in 2026-27. The Wizards are now $8.4 million below the luxury tax with one more roster spot to fill.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 9: Keyonte George #3 of the Utah Jazz celebrates during the game against the Golden State Warriors on March 9, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Alex Goodlett/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Goodness gracious, talk about a schedule. With a slew of opponents that will likely compete for lottery balls instead of wins, and two challenging opponents who can provide a measuring stick for an upstart roster.
The Utah Jazz open the 2026-27 regular season in the same way I open the front door to the local Taco Bell establishment. My eyes wide, determined, focused. Mouth agape and salivating.
The Jazz open their season in October against the Memphis Grizzlies — a plastic cup overflowing with ice-cold Mountain Dew Baja Blast.
The home opener against the New Orleans Pelicans — a Doritos Locos Taco, nacho cheese.
A revenge game against Walker Kessler and the Los Angeles Lakers — the immortal Crunchwrap Supreme.
Another refreshing meeting with our old friend Memphis — take a refill and bask in the Blast.
Along strides the big one. The reigning Western Conference champions and keepers of the beast, Victor Wembanyama. If I weren’t doing a Taco Bell theme, I’d call this matchup the whole enchilada; the ultimate test to determine whether Utah’s young core has the chest hair to compete with the band of killers who assassinated Oklahoma City last spring. Seeing as this is a measuring-stick game with little expectation of victory, San Antonio takes the shape of the Build-Your-Own Cravings Box — enjoy as you see fit.
I’ll divide these matchups into two categories: the sure-thing wins and the aptitude tests.
The sure-thing opponents (Memphis, New Orleans) offer Utah’s youngsters (Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, Darryn Peterson) adequate space to get their sea legs beneath them while simultaneously building chemistry with the stabilizing veterans (e.g., Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., Jusuf Nurkic).
A first impression is everything for a team like Utah. Young players need a confident foundation, and these early games against lottery teams should provide that in spades if the Jazz are, in fact, the team we expect them to be in ‘26-’27.
Then you have the aptitude tests. The early assessments (or pre-tests, if you will) of Utah’s ability to play with the best teams in the league. And though Los Angeles is far from even being the best team in the Western Conference, they should be fired up at the chance to host Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and the man I still see gracing Utah’s public transportation in the form of a UCCU advertisement, Walker Kessler.
For the reasons I’ve already shared, San Antonio is the ultimate measure of where the Utah Jazz stand at the beginning of the year.
Now fully healthy (knock on wood) and loaded with a chamber full of Darryn Peterson-shaped slugs, the Utah Jazz have rediscovered their appetite for winning basketball games, and the schedule-drafting elves have tailored an ideal path for this young, hungry roster. Momentum is everything in the game of basketball, and pumping your young core full of optimism at the dawn of the season would be absolutely ideal for Will Hardy’s squad.
Despite numerous reasons to believe the Utah Jazz could disrupt the status quo at the top of the NBA standings, this is a team rather unfamiliar with competing for wins. By nature, this team is an unknown commodity — a question mark that sparks optimism but poses uncertainty.
The regular season is not defined by its first five games, of course. The Utah Jazz will have to play a full 82-game season, and will certainly face stretches of tribulation in equal measure to their streaks of triumph. But it never hurts to open the year on a hot streak, and Utah’s early schedule provides the perfect kindling to spark a spicy wildfire.
Live Más, Los Jazz.
Calvin Barrett is the Associate Editor for SLC Dunk. Originally from Springville, Utah, he currently lives in Japan and has covered the NBA and college athletics since 2024.
The Los Angeles Clippers are adding a new face to a roster still stuck in NBA limbo — and Charles Barkley will presumably approve of the aesthetics.
The Clippers acquired veteran small forward Max Strus from the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday as part of a sprawling three-team trade centered around restricted free agent Peyton Watson, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Watson will head from the Denver Nuggets to Cleveland and sign a four-year, $88 million contract that includes a player option and trade kicker. Denver receives an unprotected 2031 Cavaliers first-round pick and a 2032 Sacramento Kings second-rounder in the deal.
The Clippers, meanwhile, are sending a 2027 second-round pick previously acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers to Cleveland and absorbing Strus’ $16.6 million salary for the upcoming season through a trade exception. Cleveland will subsequently send Tre Mann and that 2027 second-rounder to the Washington Wizards.
Cleveland Cavaliers’ Max Strus plays in Game 3 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series on Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Cleveland. AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki
For Los Angeles, Strus brings proven shooting, postseason experience and, apparently, the Charles Barkley seal of approval.
During the NBA Playoffs, Barkley memorably called Strus “a pretty man” on “Inside the NBA,” joking that he couldn’t look the Cavaliers wing directly in the eye because he was too attractive.
Now Strus is bringing those movie-star looks to Hollywood.
Strus gives the Clippers an established perimeter threat capable of stretching defenses and playing off the ball. Strus shot 40.2% from 3-point range during the regular season averaging over 11 points per game. More importantly, Los Angeles was willing to take on a salary Denver wanted no part of as the Nuggets navigated Watson’s restricted free agency.
Watson emerged as one of the most coveted players remaining on the market after a breakout 2025-26 season. The 23-year-old posted career highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals while shooting 41% from 3-point range. He also erupted for four 30-point games after failing to record one during his first three NBA seasons.
Denver Nuggets guard Peyton Watson (8) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Denver. AP
His defensive résumé may be even more intriguing. Since entering the NBA in 2022-23, Watson ranks second in field-goal percentage allowed as the contesting defender among players who have challenged at least 2,000 shots.
That combination attracted interest from several teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers and Clippers. But Denver maintained leverage because Watson was a restricted free agent and could match any offer sheet.
Instead, the Nuggets turned Watson into a future unprotected first-round pick rather than commit $88 million to retain him.
After reaching the Eastern Conference finals last season before being swept by the New York Knicks, the Cavaliers have continued reshaping their roster around Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and James Harden. Cleveland coveted a reunion with LeBron James earlier this offseason, but the NBA’s all-time leading scorer ultimately signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Watson became the next swing.
To make it work financially, Cleveland needed to shed salary, making Strus expendable and opening the door for the Clippers.
Strus arrives in Los Angeles at one of the strangest moments in franchise history.
The NBA’s investigation into whether the Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer circumvented salary-cap rules by allegedly funneling money through team sponsors to Kawhi Leonard is entering its 11th month. Leonard was traded to the Toronto Raptors on June 30 in a blockbuster package that would send Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, a pick swap and two second-rounders to Los Angeles.
That deal, however, remains on hold pending the completion of the league’s investigation into Ballmer, Leonard and the Clippers.
So while the Clippers wait for the NBA to determine the fate of one blockbuster, they managed to complete another piece of business Wednesday.
They got Max Strus.
A reliable shooter. A playoff-tested veteran. And, if Barkley is to be believed, perhaps the prettiest trade acquisition of the NBA offseason.
After the Lakers owner died in 2013, there has been acerbic in-fighting between his children, most recently culminating in Jeanie Buss’ five siblings voting to sell the family’s remaining 17.8% share of the franchise, while she contests the sale so she can remain governor.
Jeanie Buss and Jerry Buss have been part of the Lakers’ legacy for decades. FilmMagic
At this point, it’s time for Jeanie to just let go.
Sure, Jerry wanted the Lakers to remain in the family. But he wouldn’t have wanted this madness. There’s so much undercutting. Backstabbing. Drama.
He wouldn’t have wanted a franchise that won 10 championships under his reign to be dragged through his family’s mud for a decade.
He wouldn’t have wanted the greatest show in the league to devolve into a melodrama with his surname surrounded by bright lights.
This isn’t an indictment of Jeanie’s reign as governor, which included her acquiring LeBron James and helping guide the team to its first championship in 10 years in 2020.
There’s no doubt that she has so much institutional knowledge. She became the first female majority owner to win an NBA title. She’s a trailblazer.
But there’s grace in knowing when to drop the rope.
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They’ve gotten ugly again. The five Buss family siblings intended to use a tag-along provision to sell their remaining stake in the Lakers. They issued a statement to ESPN on Monday, saying, “It is time to use this opportunity to move on and exit gracefully while we still can.”
Yes, the deal was for her to remain governor through 2030, an arrangement new owners Bob Iger and Josh Kushner intended to honor after buying the team from Walter last week for $12.5 billion. Getty Images
Jeanie, who was the only sibling who didn’t vote for the sale, dug her feet into the ground.
Through her lawyer, Adam Streisand, Jeanie is contending that a court ruled in 2017 that the team can’t be sold without approval by the co-trustees, who are Jeanie, Janie and Joey Buss.
Now everything is going to be up to lawyers and courtrooms.
The losers of all of this? The Lakers, who will be paralyzed until this resolves, unless Iger and Kushner decide to cut ties with Jeanie.
This is nuanced.
Jeanie is the face of the Lakers. It made sense for Walter to keep her as governor after buying the team. Iger and Kushner were right to respect that. She provides a sense of continuity. Of oversight. Of comfort amid chaos.
But if there’s a war raging in the background, that detracts from any good she could do. If her family drama is a distraction, that’s going to hurt the Lakers more than she could help them.
Jeanie fired her brother, Jim Buss, as the executive vice president of basketball operations in 2017 after the Lakers were heading toward their fourth straight losing season. Getty Images
The Buss family has overseen the Lakers for 47 years, turning it into the second-most successful NBA franchise with 17 championships. Under Jerry, the Lakers acquired superstars Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. He created the Laker Girls. He’s widely considered one of the greatest owners in sports.
Jeanie carried on his legacy. She’s respected. She’s beloved.
But her reign has always come with an ugly underbelly.
Jeanie fired her brother, Jim Buss, as the executive vice president of basketball operations in 2017 after the Lakers were heading toward their fourth straight losing season.
Things got even uglier.
Jim and Johnny Buss attempted a boardroom coup to oust Jeanie as the team’s controlling owner in 2017. She obtained a restraining order and filed a lawsuit against her brothers, with the siblings ultimately reaching a settlement that strengthened her power.
Jeanie fired her brother, Jim Buss, as the executive vice president of basketball operations in 2017 after the Lakers were heading toward their fourth straight losing season. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
The drama didn’t stop there.
Under Jeanie’s governorship after the Lakers were sold to Walter, Joey and Jesse Buss were dismissed from their basketball operations positions in November 2025. Jeanie’s sister, Janie Buss, was also removed as the team’s longtime charitable services director.
A few months later, an ESPN story came out that undercut Jeanie’s relationship with James.
The story alleged that Jeanie resented James’ “outsized ego,” adding that she even “privately mused” about trading the megastar to the Clippers in 2022 and that she “begrudgingly” gave him a contract extension in 2024 because she feared the public backlash if she didn’t.
In a statement to The Athletic, Jeanie said, “It’s really not right, given all the great things LeBron has done for the Lakers, that he has to be pulled into my family drama.”
James left the Lakers in free agency this summer after eight seasons with the franchise.
Now, the drama is raging once again.
Her siblings have banded together. And she’s refusing to wave the white flag.
But at this point, is that what’s best for the Lakers?
Jeanie agreed to sell the team. The Lakers deserve a fresh start. The Buss family drama would get in the way of that.
The Buss family was the greatest thing to happen to the Lakers.
ESPN’s Joshua Kushner and Disney’s CEO Bob Iger watch as Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays against Taylor Fritz of the USA during the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, in Queen, New York. (JASON SZENES) JASON SZENES/ NY POST
Not so fast.
Lakers Governor Jeanie Buss is opposing her siblings’ vote to sell the family’s share of the Lakers, according to a letter from her lawyer, Adam Streisand. The letter, obtained by the California Post on Monday, argued her siblings can’t legally execute a sale without her approval and that any vote of the Buss family selling would be “void.”
Her siblings who are part of the Buss family trust (Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse Buss) fired back at Jeanie on Tuesday, making it clear they intend to go through with the sale.
But how did the Lakers, and the Buss family get here? And what exactly are the two sides arguing?
Jeanie Buss is seen during the statue unveiling for former Lakers coach Pat Riley in Star Plaza in front of Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 22, 2026. Riley won four championships as Lakers head coach. (MediaNews Group RM) MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Court order details
At the heart of Buss opposing her siblings’ vote to sell their share of the Lakers is a 2017 court order, with Streisand saying that no sale could happen “without approval by the co-trustees, i.e. Jeanie, Janie and Joey Buss.”
Jeanie didn’t vote to sell the family’s ownership stake in the Lakers, while the other five siblings in the trust did.
The court document from 2017 stated that the co-trustees of the Buss family trust are instructed to take all “actions reasonably available to them, including voting the Trust’s shares” to ensure that Jeanie was elected as the Director of the Board of the Lakers on an annual basis during her lifetime.
The document goes on to state “absent a further order of this Court modifying the Trust based upon proof of circumstances justifying modification under applicable law.”
The document also added that the co-trustees of the family trust are “instructed to take all actions [reasonably] available to them, including voting the Trust’s shares” to ensure that Jeanie is elected as the controlling owner of the Lakers on an annual basis during her lifetime.
Executive Vice President of Player Personnel Jim Buss of the Los Angeles Lakers watches the game against the Denver Nuggets at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Tuesday, October 8, 2013, in Ontario, California. (NBAE) NBAE via Getty Images
One of the main problems of the Buss family attempting to sell their share of the Lakers: It would result in Jeanie no longer being the team’s Governor, since she would no longer have the qualifying 15% ownership stake in the franchise required to hold that position.
She has been the team’s Governor since 2013 after Dr. Jerry Buss’ death.
When Walter purchased the majority ownership of the Lakers from the Buss family, the league announced that Buss would remain the team’s Governor for a period of at least five years (through 2030).
And based off of the last couple of days, it appears Jeanie wants to remain Governor of the Lakers.
Streisand wrote in the letter to the Buss siblings’ attorneys: “No sale of the JAB Trust’s 17.8% ownership interest in the Los Angeles Lakers, Inc. can be effectuated without approval by the current co-trustees, i.e., Jeanie, Janie and Joey Buss.
Johnny Buss, the eldest son of Dr. Jerry Buss, speaks during a memorial service for Los Angeles Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Thursday, February 21, 2013, in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Buss died at the age of 80 on Monday following an 18-month battle with cancer. (Getty Images North America) Getty Images
“Pursuant to the JAB Trust and the attached Court Order, the co-trustees are bound to vote the Los Angeles Lakers, Inc. shares to ensure that the minimum 15% ownership requirement is maintained in order to ensure that Jeanie Buss may remain Controlling Owner. Any attempt by the co-trustees to do otherwise, and any attempt to aid or abet the co-trustees as such, would constitute a breach of trust, breach of fiduciary duty and be in contempt of court.”
The Buss siblings’ side
Jeanie’s siblings believe they have the right to sell the family’s shares of the Lakers via a “tag-along” provision that was included when the Buss family sold the Lakers to Walter in June 2025.
The siblings believe that the family trust, which includes six of Jerry Buss’ children — Johnny (69), Jim (66), Jeanie (64), Janie (62), Joey (41) and Jesse (37) — needed a majority vote (four out of six) to allow the trustees to sell the family’s shares.
What happens next is unknown, with the potential of this dispute having to be resolved through a legal process growing unless the side can come to an agreement without litigation.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 29: Lakers' Jeanie Buss watches the game from the sidelines during the second quarter of game five of a Western Conference NBA playoff game against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Once again, we have a whole host of news, rumors and updates around the Buss family’s feud, Mark Walter and even a cameo from Shams Charania to defend himself against a claim from Jeanie Buss.
Could there be a way for the rest of the siblings to sell and Jeanie to remain as governor? That would require her finding a way to still own at least 15 percent of the shares, but it is possible. Per a league source, Jeanie would be open to exploring that scenario.
The first reaction to this is ‘Duh, of course Jeanie is open to it.’ The second reaction is that it feels like there is no chance the family is interested in selling those shares to Jeanie.
That said, we don’t know the siblings’ intentions. Perhaps they just want to cash out it doesn’t matter whether Jeanie gives them that money or Bob Iger and Josh Kushner do. Does Jeanie even have enough money to do that, though?
While this option is on the table, it doesn’t feel particularly likely.
The contract to keep Jeanie as governor
Another aspect of this is whether Iger and Kushner have an interest in even keeping Jeanie as governor. However, it might not be under their control.
In the same piece for The Athletic, Woike and Amick reported that the contract she signed with Mark Walter to remain governor for at least five years might be part of the deal for Iger and Kushner.
It’s fair to wonder how Iger and Kushner see this situation, with some wondering whether they’d want to choose a different governor simply because of the messiness of it all. But Walter’s choice to have Jeanie serve as governor for the next four years is known to be part of the contractual agreement from the sale 14 months ago, and a league source close to the situation indicated that it is now considered part of the deal with Iger and Kushner. In essence, if that proves to be the case, Iger and Kushner would be assuming Walter’s ownership role and the governor that comes with it.
If so, it makes sense why Jeanie is fighting so hard to maintain that 15% ownership stake. If she believes she’ll remain the governor no matter who owns the team, then her stance makes more sense.
It doesn’t make it any less desperate or annoying to watch as fans on the outside looking in, but at least there’s a little bit of logic to it.
Shams Charania fires back at Jeanie
One of the wilder strays of the letter from Jeanie’s lawyer was directed at Shams Charania of ESPN and his report on Monday morning that the Buss family would be selling their stake.
As you know, this afternoon, Shams Charania of ESPN falsely reported that the six Buss siblings voted to sell the 17.8% ownership stake in the Lakers to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, and that my client, Jeanie Buss, is “out” as controlling owner. This is just the latest instance of a years-long pattern whereby Joey and Jesse Buss leak false, defamatory and pernicious “information” to Mr. Charania for the malicious purpose of doing harm to the Los Angeles Lakers so long as Dr. Buss’s chosen successor, Jeanie Buss, carries out her father’s wishes.
That felt pretty far out of left field, but clearly there was some pent-up anger from Jeanie in this situation. On Tuesday, Charania appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show” and defended his reporting on the matter.
Look, Shams’ method of reporting deserves criticism and I’m not going to be defending him. But I also think Jeanie throwing shots his way in this situation felt out of place, mean-spirited and just odd.
Mark Walter tried to take loans out against Lakers’ stake
Lastly, we have our daily “What crazy way did Mark Walter try to get money” update, this time being one that feels like it was serious.
Mark Walter held discussions with private investment giant Apollo Global Management about a multibillion-dollar loan against his Los Angeles Lakers stake, in a sign of the billionaire’s rush to raise cash this year.
The talks took place throughout the summer and continued until former Disney chief executive Bob Iger and venture capitalist Josh Kushner offered to buy Walter’s stake in the Lakers, according to people familiar with the matter.
The more we learn about Walter, the more it feels like the sale, when it came, was one of the better options on the table.
Draymond Green has spent 14 NBA seasons standing his ground against some of the most imposing athletes in the world.
A giant goose apparently presents a different challenge.
The Golden State Warriors star was caught completely off guard when a fan approached him from behind with a lion-head goose during his offseason tour of China.
Draymond Green jumped from his seat when a giant lion-head goose surprised him from behind during the Warriors star’s offseason tour of China.
Green was seated outdoors at a table covered with local dishes while a large crowd gathered around the NBA star. He turned around to find the enormous bird suddenly inches away from him.
“Oh s–t! No! No!” Green shouted as he jumped out of his seat and scrambled away from the table.
The crowd erupted in laughter as Green attempted to create distance between himself and the fowl visitor. Once the initial shock passed, the four-time NBA champion smiled and laughed off the unexpected encounter.
In fairness to Green, this was not an ordinary goose.
Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green shares words with Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown during the second quarter of Game 2 of the NBA Finals in San Francisco on Sunday, June 5, 2022. (ONLINE_YES) AP
The lion-head goose, also known as the Shitou goose, is native to the Chaoshan region of China’s Guangdong province. The breed can weigh between 20 and 26 pounds, making it the largest cultivated variety in China and one of the largest in the world.
The breed gets its name from the prominent knob above its bill and the loose skin beneath its throat, which combine to create an appearance resembling a lion’s mane. Lion-head geese are also known for being loud and territorial.
Draymond Green jumped from his seat when a giant lion-head goose surprised him from behind during the Warriors star’s offseason tour of China.
Green was visiting Shantou, where the breed is a prominent part of the region’s culture and cuisine. The Warriors forward has spent his tour of China meeting supporters, filming content and sampling regional food.
The 6-foot-6 forward has challenged opponents, officials and occasionally the league itself without much hesitation.
All it took to send him flying out of his seat was a fan, a sneak attack and approximately 25 pounds of goose.
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 14: Tim Thomas, Patrick Ewing, Walt Fraizer, Bill Bradley, Stephon Marbury, Wilson Chandler, John Starks, Latrell Sprewell, Allan Houston, Kyle O'Quinn, Larry Johnson and Carmelo Anthony pose for a photo during the game between the Indiana Pacers and /ny. during Round 2 Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on May 14, 2024 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
August brings the dog days of baseball, doubly so in New York these days. Whether the Yankees win the World Series or lose every game left, Aaron Boone will be back in 2027 and likely 2037, job security even Clarence Thomas envies. Meanwhile, David Stearns’ golden sombrero of an offseason last winter won’t stop Steve Cohen from handing him the keys to another hot stove league — Stearns has yet to sexually harass someone or be found by police black-out drunk behind the wheel of his running car, so he’s still the best hire Cohen’s made (other than Buck Showalter, fired by . . . Stearns).
August also means the dog days of NBA coverage. Free agency is over and done with, unless you’re a restricted free agent, in which case *makes the sign of the cross*. It’s too early to know what training camp injury will significantly alter the league landspace. Wanna taste hate and spiteful joy rise up in your throat at the same time? Tyrese Haliburton can’t believe the NBA isn’t treating his return to action like when Magic Johnson came out of retirement. Or Michael Jordan. Or Michael Jordan again.
In honor of this month’s mailbag invite — acknowledging as always that all questions are welcome — I’d specifically like to get some questions from y’all about lists or rankings, inspired by the one and only instance I ever had of an editor at P&T telling me “no” on something.
P&T Hall of Famer Joe Flynn once put the kibosh on a f***/marry/kill question someone submitted to a mailbag. He was right to. I know there’s a lot of annoyance whenever the comment section isn’t left to grow wild and free as some metaphor for freedom of speech, but sir, this is a Wendy’s. An infinitude of more meaningful fights are out there, waiting for you to join the cause. The only thing that sucks about this job besides the criminal wages care of SB NationVoxRupert Murdoch Penske Media is comment section moderation.
Since I’m asking for rankings and lists, I’ll get the ball rolling and give you one of my own. I realized recently that after the Knicks won the title my all-time Knick starting five — players I’ve actually seen play — has changed in one position and is unresolved at another. Patrick Ewing is the constant. Jalen Brunson made it a few years ago. Carmelo Anthony is the small forward. My power forward had been Julius Randle, but I realized Karl-Anthony Towns is about to enter his third season with the Knicks. Randle played four-plus seasons in New York; between KAT’s central role in last year’s playoff orgasm and him nearing Randle in length of tenure (fingers crossed), I’m cool putting him there.
The only tough pick for me is the two-guard. John Starks was a fingertip away from making the title-winning shot, a well-rounded player who could drain, drive, dish and defend at an All-NBA level. Allan Houston was the most complete offensive player I ever saw in blue and orange until Melo, and made what was the most famous shot in pre-OG history. Latrell Sprewell joined the Knicks after a decade of smashmouth basketball and brought all of that intensity but with actual athleticism, more multi-faceted than Houston, more consistent than Starks.
Who would you go with, if you saw them all play? If you didn’t, sit and be silent, child. You might learn something from your elders. On the other hand, there was a lotta lead and asbestos back in the day. Odds are some of your elders are real fruit loops, and best left alone.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 11: Maddy Westbeld #21 celebrates hitting a three pointer with her teammate Rachel Banham #24 of the Chicago Sky during the second half against the New York Liberty at Wintrust Arena on September 11, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Hirschuber/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s been an up-and-down couple of years for Maddy Westbeld, who began her WNBA career in the Chicago Sky’s rotation last year but has seen more limited opportunities this season as a developmental contract player.
Now, Westbeld has signed a rest-of-season contract with the Phoenix Mercury, meaning that a greater on-court role could be looming.
Westbeld was drafted 16th overall by the Sky in 2025 and averaged 13.6 minutes per game in her rookie season in Chicago. She averaged 4.1 points and 2.4 rebounds per game, while shooting 39.5% from beyond the arc. But this year, Westbeld was waived and later signed to a developmental contract. After appearing in 26 games in her rookie season, she played just 3 games for the Sky in 2026.
Before her pro career, Westbeld was a standout at Notre Dame, having averaged 12.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals across five seasons, while shooting 34.9% from beyond the arc. The 6’3 forward was a three-time member of the All-ACC team.
Maddy Westbeld could see a more significant opportunity with the Phoenix Mercury
Now, Westbeld will see an increased opportunity playing on a rest-of-season contract with the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury, who are 13-23, have had a difficult season on the heels of a finals appearance.
Phoenix traded Monique Akoa Makani and future draft compensation for Kelsey Plum ahead of the midseason trade deadline, but despite the upgrade at guard, they’re unlikely to make the playoffs. The Mercury are currently 7 games behind the Dallas Wings, who currently hold onto the 8th and final playoff spot.
As such, the rest of the season will likely center around player development — of which Westbeld could be a major part — and convincing Plum to re-sign with the team in free agency.
