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HOUSTON — Distance from devastation granted Fred VanVleet not just a surgically repaired knee but new clarity. One year removed from tearing his ACL and on the eve of the NBA season, the Houston Rockets point guard appreciates the everyday tasks he once considered minute and mundane. Hell, he joked, he even enjoys media day now.
“I have a whole newfound perspective on this thing that we do here that we call a job and also just life in general,” VanVleet said this month. “I’m just really grateful and excited to be able to get back out there on the court.”
The Rockets bring back their seven main rotation players from last season – including the team’s three top scorers in Kevin Durant, Alperen Şengün and Amen Thompson – plus offseason signings Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic. But Houston’s most important additions might actually be the re-addition of VanVleet and backup center Steven Adams.
Following months of recovery and rehabilitation, VanVleet and Adams are primed to return to the court when the Rockets tip off the 2026-27 NBA season in October.
Rockets head athletic trainer Jason Biles told USA TODAY Sports that both players approached the rehab process the same way they approach playing a game.
“Aggressive, steady, consistent. They’re competitive guys. and it really showed in the process,” Biles said. “They want to be back out here. Some guys may have taken even longer time, but they worked really hard to put themselves in this position, and they’re also team guys. They don’t want to let the team down. They want to be a part of it and fulfill their responsibilities.”
How Rockets kept their injured stars 'integrated and connected'
Whenever a player is facing long-term injury rehabilitation, Biles and the Rockets’ team doctors sit down with the player’s personal team and map out a plan. They progress from pain management to restoring mobility and stability, followed by adding strength and, finally, back to basketball.
Early on after his injury, VanVleet rehabbed at the Rockets’ training facility almost every day. During the NBA season, Adams rehabbed with team staff in Houston and with his personal physical therapist in Washington, D.C.
Injured players can feel isolated and unempowered. Biles said the Rockets worked to make sure that Adams and VanVleet, two of Houston’s vital locker room leaders, were around the rest of the team as much as possible during their recoveries.
“I always want them to be integrated and connected,” Biles said. “There are some instances where a guy is going to need some time one-on-one with me that may be separate from the team, but as a general rule, we’re all in this together, and we love for everybody to be around. It offers, especially with those two guys, great teaching points for young guys, and it’s good for them, too. It keeps them feeling like they’re a part of something.”
VanVleet’s case was unique because it was his first long-term injury recovery, and a grueling one. Biles said that ACL rehabilitation has shifted from time-based to performance-based, meaning there’s no concrete timeline for a return. In basketball specifically, it’s important that the injured knee regains as much strength as possible so that both sides of the body are symmetrical.
“The hardest challenge, probably, in ACL rehab is the time that it takes,” Biles said. “It’s just a grind, mentally, because you can imagine having to bring it for 12 months, you expend a lot of mental energy doing that.”
Biles got creative with ways to keep VanVleet engaged in his rehab. He played energizing music during sessions, alternated between indoor and outdoor settings and asked coaches to come up with interesting shooting games. Sometimes, they tried to make shots with a football – whatever kept the vibe fun and light.
Adams’ physical recovery was complicated because problems with the ankle can affect the knees, hips and lower back. But Adams said the key to his process was a mental adjustment.
“You have to kind of redefine what a win looks like,” Adams said. “Usually, when you play basketball, you’re kind of like, ‘Did I do my job well? Did I guard this person correctly? Did I do this many pick-and-roll coverages?’ Blah blah. But for rehab, it’s like, ‘Oh, did I achieve more dorsiflexion today? Was I able to do this many reps of toe movements?’ You know, real boring stuff. But you have to kind of just use those as wins because it’s pretty easy to slip off and feel sorry about yourself.”
Adams said his previous knee injury helped him feel better equipped to tackle the recovery process for his ankle and to be a source of comfort for VanVleet, in his own way.
“My love language is sending like really inappropriate reels or memes,” Adams said. “So I sent him some real rough stuff, but it’s all love.”
Rockets returnees propel expectations
After Houston was eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers from the first round of the 2026 playoffs with VanVleet, Adams and an injured Durant watching from the sidelines, the Rockets are hoping that getting their key players back will make the team whole again.
Their absences last season provided what Rockets general manager Rafael Stone described as a silver lining, forcing young players like Thompson, Şengün, Reed Sheppard and Jabari Smith Jr. to develop new skills and shoulder increased responsibilities. Their returns will allow every player to slide back to his natural position.
“This team was constructed to have me and Steven on the floor, not on the bench, and not in street clothes,” VanVleet said.
VanVleet is a vocal leader and on-ball operator who greases the wheels of the Rockets’ offense. Adams’ screening and offensive rebounding are central to Houston’s physical, glass-gobbling identity – which coach Ime Udoka said the team intends to “quadruple down” on this season.
“When you get Fred and Steven back, two of our more experienced, high-IQ guys, vocal guys, the communication and everything goes up on both ends of the floor,” Udoka said. “We’re all excited. Seeing everybody in the gym playing five-on-five and you can kind of see the new pieces, as well as guys coming back. Steven and Fred looking good out there gives us a lot of optimism.”
The final hurdle of the rehab process is a battery of return-to-play tests. Biles said the tests look different for each player but generally measure balance, range of motion and how well they can jump, land and cut.
VanVleet has been fully cleared, while Adams had not yet taken his final return-to-play tests as of Sept. 25, according to Biles.
Udoka said the Rockets will probably not allow Adams or VanVleet to play in back-to-back games to start the season, adding that minute restrictions for both players will be determined by how they progress through training camp.
“I’m sure what you guys see won’t be the finished product, but I’m in a really good spot,” VanVleet said. “Being able to play some five-on-five over the last couple weeks, build some strength and some conditioning and things like that. But yeah, considering 12 months ago I wasn’t able to walk at this point in the year, I’d say I’m doing pretty good right now.”
Adams added, “Pretty confident in the position right now, but still got to just take your time with it because there’s one thing getting back from the injury, but then getting to an NBA level, it’s a different ask.”
Biles said he preaches patience to athletes who are returning from a long layoff.
“Give yourself some grace,” he said. “I’ll let them know to be patient but also encourage them to get them to have confidence in the work they’ve already put in, and to trust that process. You keep stacking days and it’s really all about habit formation and bringing it every day. And then next thing you know, the end is in sight and then you’re back to who you want to be on the court.”
VanVleet and Adams return with great expectations placed upon them, but VanVleet doesn’t feel pressure to suddenly fix all the Rockets’ problems.
“I like pressure, so I’m not running from that. It’s not that simple, quite frankly,” he said. “But I think that we will look like a different group and my identity is not tied to the result, but I’m confident that it’ll look better.”
Basketball: NBA Playoffs: Cincinnati Royals Oscar Robertson (14) in action, pass vs Boston Celtics Bill Russell (6) and Tom Sanders (16) at Cincinnati Gardens. Game 4. Cincinnati, OH 3/30/1966 CREDIT: Walter Iooss Jr. (Photo by Walter Iooss Jr. /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X11537 )
It’s (mostly) in amazing condition, and, aside from the various great Celtics like Bill Russell, John Havlicek, Sam Jones, K.C. Jones, and Satch Sanders, you also get to see vintage Oscar Robertson and Jerry Lucas. Jack Twyman was also on the team, as was Wayne Embry, who would later become a really talented general manager with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
He put together a roster with Brad Daugherty, Mark Price, Craig Ehlo, and others, that was talented enough to give Michael Jordan and the Bulls some trouble.
The Royals, now the Sacramento Kings after a befuddling stop as the Kansas City-Omaha Kings (then just the Kansas City Kings), were always undersized, and Russell-led Boston won this game, to tie the series 2-2.
It was a five-game series, and Boston would ultimately go on to win its eighth straight championship, knocking off the Los Angeles Lakers, 4-3 in the finals.
Sep 24, 2026; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka speaks to a media after a press conference at UCLA Health Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
While the Lakers have spoken about expanding the front office, only announcing the major moves leaves it unclear how much is happening behind the scenes.
President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka offered a peek behind the curtain of the hirings the franchise has made this offseason while speaking to the media on Thursday.
“Super appreciative of the support of Jeanie [Buss] and ownership to build out and we’ve added over 15 people in the front office to various positions,” Pelinka said. “[We’ve] really built out our strategy and analytics department, have hired two assistant general managers. [We] have more to do and we’re actually continuing to do that.
“Then in terms of player services, as JJ said, we’ve really rebuilt our entire sort of player experience and player development arm. And with that comes new equipment and new recovery and modalities, and we’ve worked with our training department to do that.”
The franchise also hired Rohan Ramadas and Eric Amsler as new assistant general managers. The former will focus on the analytics and strategy side, which Pelinka alluded to, while Amsler comes over from the Heat after being the vice president of player personnel in Miami.
After clearing house of its scouting department last year, the Lakers are planning on building it out more now under Amsler’s guidance.
“I think you guys saw we hired Eric Amsler, who was two decades with the Heat, to kind of see over our player personnel, our draft scouting, our G-League scouting, and NBA scouting,” Pelinka said. “So, we’re going to be adding more scouts in those departments. That’s just one example of a sort of a vertical that will continue to build.”
The catch is that it’s unlikely any of these hirings will be made public. So, again, we’ll have to assume the Lakers are doing the work and, hopefully, see the results in improved scouting in the months to come.
PHOENIX, AZ - SEPTEMBER 24: Devin Booker #1, Jalen Green #4 and Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns poses for a portrait during Media Day on September 24, 2025 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Suns basketball is finally back…almost. With Media Day tomorrow, it’s the first edition of Bright Side Wonders for the 2026-27 NBA season, a series where YOU get to be the analysts and share with us writers your fiery Phoenix Suns takes. A weekly series, Bright Side Wonders will publish every Monday (outside of this edition) and is your chance to sound off with your Suns takes to the community!
So without further ado, here are the three main questions we want your thoughts on with media day tomorrow:
Who do you want to hear from most?
A summer full of retaining most of the key players from the team’s surprising 2025-2026 campaign, which Sun or member of the organization are you most interested in hearing from on Media Day tomorrow? While we heard from a few of the younger players during summer league and from Brian Gregory and Miles Bridges during the Summer, who are you most looking forward to hearing from with the offseason coming to a close?
Starting lineup clarity
Before Mark Williams went down, it appeared the Suns starting lineup was going to be Devin Booker and Jalen Green at the guard spots, Dillon Brooks and Miles Bridges at the forward positions, and Williams at center. With Williams now expected to be out for a majority of the season because of a recent shoulder injury, the door is open for Khaman Maluach, the 20-year-old 2025 lottery pick from Duke, to have a major development opportunity and replace him at the five spot. While he didn’t play much last season, in July he made the All-Summer League Second Team after averaging 20 points and 13 rebounds per game and is considered the team’s best young prospect.
While he’s likely to start with Oso Ighodaro playing as his backup, what would it mean to you and your belief in Maluach if the Suns come out and declare him the team’s starting five tomorrow?
Alignment was last year; what’s this year’s phrase or theme?
Last offseason it became a meme how much the organization talked about having franchise alignment/ Whether it was funny or not, it seemed to work. The team overachieved and added some much-needed continuity after constant roster and coaching turnover in the previous seasons. Now a year removed, what phrase or theme do you want to define the 2026-2027 Phoenix Suns? Continued alignment? Intensity? Grittiness?
On the Suns’ Plate This Week
The team’s media day is tomorrow, Monday, September 28th, where Bright Side will be present and provide live coverage, and then they will begin training camp the following day in preparation for their first preseason game, which will be on October 5th against the Detroit Pistons. Make sure to follow along on Bright Side for the latest updates and sounds from media day tomorrow.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JULY 06: Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens speaks during a media availability at The Auerbach Center on July 06, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sometimes the sponge of my brain becomes oversaturated but none of the thoughts are developed enough for a full article. So I sop them up with a rag and wring them out into a bucket called “scattered thoughts” for the blog. Hope you enjoy.
I need to squeeze in this Jaylen Brown trade thought before I turn the page. I’m not looking to re-litigate the trade or anything like that. I just still find it disconcerting that I spent several years and lots of blog space defending the “fit” between Tatum and Brown only to find out that ultimately Brad Stevens agreed with the folks that said they needed to be broken up. I still don’t think those of us defending the pair were wrong, after all they did deliver a banner. Perhaps it is more than a binary argument. Perhaps it worked for a while, but wasn’t expected to continue working within the structure of the greater NBA going forward. I still don’t know how I feel about all that but we’ll see how things go.
This isn’t a unique thought, but it will certainly be interesting to see what the team eventually does with all the “optionality” that they obtained this summer. That might mean flipping Paul George and draft capital for another star (which would be somewhat head scratching) or it might mean breaking his contract up into smaller pieces and helpful role players. Or if George fits in well enough, he could be convinced to decline his option and sign a longer term deal for lower annual dollars.
Everyone is (correctly) describing the Celtics as a regular season wins machine. Which of course is actually just a backhanded compliment that points out that the postseason flame-outs have been concerning. That 2024 title puts them in a different category than teams like the Cavs, but this team is too talented to keep getting bounced early in the playoffs.
To make that long run, the team needs as close to full health as possible in the Spring. You kind of have to build in rest and games missed for guys like Paul George, Mitchell Robinson, and perhaps even Jayson Tatum (if he lets them). To get through the year, they’ll need to lean on their youth and depth players. I have been assuming rookie Chris Cenac wouldn’t play a lot, but I could see him getting occasional starts to fill in for Paul George without disrupting the rotations too much.
Derrick White is another X factor this year. Like many fans, I’m optimistic that his shooting will bounce back playing alongside Jayson Tatum and perhaps in a role more suited to his strengths. However, even if that line on the graph points upward, there’s another theoretical line sloping downward that tracks footspeed as players age. Don’t get me wrong, I think he’ll be highly useful on both sides of the ball for years to come. I’m just flagging this as something to consider going forward.
I’m on at least year 2 of wondering if there’s going to be a Sam Hauser trade at some point. Perhaps not until the trade deadline, and only if they get back value for him. I just see him as the most easily moved player with value at a position of strength and depth. I think that’s also an option they can turn to if/when the team sees any rotation players miss time with injuries and they need more depth options.
Pritchard deserves to start if he really wants to, but I’m in the camp that thinks his best role would be off the bench as 6th man initiator. We’ll see if Joe agrees.
I’m excited for year 2 of Hugo.
That’s all I’ve got for now. I’m sure Media Day will bring lots more thoughts to the front of my cerebral cortex. Your turn, share your own scattered thoughts below.
The offseason ends Sunday. Monday is Media Day, the beginning of pre-season. Hurrah!
A week later, after six practice sessions at HSS Training Center, the 20 players — 15 on standard deals, three on two-ways and as of now two on Exhibit 10s — will fly to Charlotte for their first pre-season game vs. the Hornets on October 8, a week. Three more preseason games, starting with a home game vs. the 76ers at Barclays Center two days later on October 8, will follow, giving fans their first look at the Nets newest era.
The regular season starts October 21 in Brooklyn, also vs. Charlotte, in the friendly confines of Barclays Center. Then, it’s really on through Sunday, April 11, vs. the Raptors. Hopefully, it will mean something.
So, the wait is over, the truth will soon be told. Here comes both the excitement of a new season with its new hope … and more than a little anxiety, too.
The offseason was a disappointment for some fans who had hoped the Nets would make a big move or two, using all that cap space, all those draft picks to move beyond the hurt of the tank. What made it worse was the first event of the off-season, the NBA Draft Lottery in Chicago. The Nets’ whole rationale for losing all but 46 games the last two years: getting top lottery picks, didn’t work out the way they planned. After finishing with the sixth worst record and winding up with the eighth pick in 2025, they dropped again last June, picking at No. 6 in what was then seen as a four-star draft. The Nets had hoped that by finishing with 20 wins, third worst in the league, they’d finish higher. Didn’t the basketball gods understand they were owed?!?
Instead of making incremental moves, Sean Marks & co. stuck to their mantra that the team would not expend all those precious assets for anything less that a player who would “absolutely and automatically change the trajectory of the franchise”, aka a superstar. Call it the Marks Doctrine if you want. Just before the Draft, as he does virtually every year Marks made what was the biggest move of the off-season: acquiring Julius Randle, a power forward — emphasis on the power — and another first round pick at No. 28 in return for Nic Claxton who by every analysis had run out his time in Brooklyn plus a second rounder.
Randle may have made three All-Star teams and been honored with two All-NBA draws; may have averaged 21.7 points and 8.9 boards over 551 games the last eight seasons, may have played 79 games last season. But no one thinks he is the man who will “change the trajectory of the team.” But getting a player with that resume’ in a salary dump — putting aside his baggage — is pretty, pretty good as one Brooklyn native might say. Even if he could wind up a rental — he has a player option in July and will soon turn 32 — the deal has to be seen at worst as intriguing, at best a lot more than that. (If you think we believe that trade is under appreciated, you’re right. Despite everything, he wants to be here! Even Michael Porter Jr. later admitted he initially hated the idea of moving from a title contender to a rebuild.)
The night of the Draft held one mystery. Would the Nets get a player they wanted at No. 6? They absolutely loved Caleb Wilson but none of the top four teams were entertaining offers. After that, there was Mikel Brown Jr., who they loved almost as much. The Clippers had the fifth pick and it looked liked they would take Keaton Wagler, but ya never know until Adam Silver walks to the podium. And walk he did to announce LAC would take the Illinois sharpshooter. There was cheering in the War Room and it was not perfunctory. They wanted ‘Kel and he wanted Brooklyn.
At No. 28, the other piece in the Randle/Claxton trade, they took Joshua Jefferson. While everyone was celebrating Brown Jr., the scouts also liked Jefferson a lot. Marks publicly said Brooklyn had followed him from early in the season. The scouts saw and still see the 22-year-old as a steal, a player who if he had been two years younger might have been a lottery pick. It is not an exaggeration — at all — to say the Nets wanted that exchange of picks — No. 28 for No. 33 — out of the Randle/Claxton trade specifically so they could take the 6’9” in the first round. Marks hinted at it on Draft Night and another insider confirmed it to ND.
After the Draft, the off-season was a series of small to medium signings — some like Day’Ron Sharpe and Josh Minott solid young adds, others like Keon Ellis and Moe Wagner promising rotation players and veterans as well. There are intriguing players among the two-ways as well. Grant Nelson, the athletic 7-footer, Chaney Johnson, who looks a bit like Bruce Brown-lite from a couple of years back and Tyler Bilodeau, the 6’9” 3-point specialist taken at No 43 in the draft, will spend time in Brooklyn.
Grading the off-season at this point in the process though seems silly. The games are about to begin and rankings, ratings and grades will all be forgotten, be irrelevant. We’ve seen grades from D- to A+ with most marks closer to the latter than the former.
We’ll hear more about how BBOps and players feel about things Monday but Tsai, Marks and Fernandez appear satisfied with their progress, even if slow and steady.
In his interview with David Rubenstein for “Inside the Owner’s Box,” Tsai even congratulated Nets fans on their patience, enlisting them in his long march.
“The Brooklyn Nets have a sophisticated fan base,” he said. “They have very strong opinions. You think the fan base is always about ‘win now, get the best players pay the highest price.’ Right now, they’re saying, unanimously, that we should be going through a multi-year rebuilding process. we need to be patient, We need to build through the Draft. It’s a very knowledgeable fan base.” Emphasis added.
(Memo to Tsai who said he derived his sense of the fan base through Twitter: The Nets fan base, “knowledgeable” or not, is not unanimous about anything!)
Bottom line of the off-season: the tank is over, but the rebuild is far from it. Despite their bad luck in the lottery the last two years, they’re very happy with Demin and Brown Jr. who sure looked like the point guard of the future in limited minutes. Demin didn’t just bulk up physically after going down with an episode of plantar fasciitis in March. He looked more confident in Summer League, more willing to drive the lane, giving Fernandez more options. Moreover, the two worked well together in Sacramento and Las Vegas. Also, the team’s marketing apparatus seized on them as the face of the franchise, present and future.
There were other positives in off-season as well as some negatives — Ben Saraf looked marginally better in Summer League play, particularly on defense but he, Drake Powell and Danny Wolf didn’t give anyone goose bumps on offense. Nolan Traore has bulked up, maybe even added an inch in height, but he didn’t play in either Sumer League after getting his knee scoped. He’s expected to be in training camp. Bilodeau showed sparks in Sacramento and Las Vegas as well as did Jefferson, but their minutes were limited.
Still, as Tsai preached, the “build” will be “multi-year.” Fourteen of their 18 players are under 25. They have the youngest team in the league — again — and with eight guys on rookie contracts they’ll top the NBA — again — in that category. Plus, they added a couple of 20-point scores to tide things over. Scout, draft, develop, repeat till Mr. Absolute Automatic arrives on a white horse. However, one cavalier is already suited up.
Over and over, you hear, that finally, after two years, Fernandez will be unleashed. They’re extremely happy with him and his staff, rewarding all 10 of them with contract extensions and raises (one of the more under appreciated moves of the summer in that it showed great confidence in the future.) They’ve also added an assistant to the head coach to the basketball operations staff. Reports from inside 168 39th Street in Sunset Park indicate he is raring to go, believing he has a team that can surprise all those nasty pundits and reward all those forsaken fans.
And who can forget flexibility!?! (What’s the over/under for the number of times Marks uses the word Monday?) To recap, Brooklyn still has $4.9 million in cap space, the $9.4 million room exception, the full $8.5 million in cash considerations plus 32 draft picks. You know the math … or should by now! 13 firsts, 10 of which can be traded, and 19 seconds, all of which can be traded. And at the moment, no Nets player has a contract that extends beyond 2027-28. That could change with MPJ getting an extension but don’t hold your breath. The smart heads who track these sorts of things keep noting that Brooklyn can move in a number of different ways. The fans are less analytical. They are less interested in counting draft picks than wins.
There’s been a big turnover. A number of players left the team since last year this time, some of them seen as key pieces at one point or another. Cam Thomas and Dariq Whitehead were first rounders in 2021 and 2023. Both are currently out of the league. Jalen Wilson was a fan favorite and he wound up on a two-way with the Hawks. There was divided feeling on Ziaire Williams now making the vets minimum — less than half what he earned in Brooklyn — with his hometown Lakers. There was no market for any of them which should tell you something, actually a number of things. Tyrese Martin is playing in Spain, E.J. Liddell in Greece, Tyson Etienne in France, Tre Scott in Germany. Ochai Agbaji is just across the river, but on an Exhibit 10 fighting for a deal to keep him out of the international market. Based on all that, you’d have to say this year’s roster is better, a lot better.
There will be as Brian Lewis notes Sunday, a number of interesting battles that will play out in training camp. At the two forward spots, Randle and MPJ hold sway but behind them, who will get minutes among Noah Clowney, Wolf, Jefferson and the versatile Josh Minott? Of course, “forward” is not a hard designation. Clowney, given best case scenario, may be able to get minutes at the both power forward, small forward and even small ball center. And he should be motivated. He’ll be a restricted free agent in July. Wolf and Jefferson should be able to play point forward and small ball center in a pinch.
Lewis also wonders how much youth must be served at the “guard” spot. With the two 20-year-olds, Demin and Brown Jr., seeming set at Nos. 1 and 2, does Fernandez rely on Terance Mann and Ellis or “force feed” Saraf and Powell even if they’re struggling?
Those questions may be a bit conventional side. The Nets have prioritized positional size, versatility and athleticism as well as character (which includes coachability) the last couple of years. Is Demin a point guard, shooting guard, small forward or point forward? How about a lineup featuring Brown Jr., Demin and Traore? Could Minott spend time at the 2? Wagner at the 4? What is Wolf’s natural position? Same with Jefferson, assuming he doesn’t spent a lot of time on Long Island? How many minutes, particularly late in games will we Randle pounding the ball down in the blocks as a traditional 5? Who gets minutes based on their defense? Who doesn’t?
And everyone has a lot to prove. We mentioned how Clowney and Porter Jr. will be free agents next July. Randle has a player option then, too. Mentioned that as well. Sharpe and Minott have team options. Wagner and Ellis have “mutual” options. It will be a busy off-season next year as well.
Yeah, they’re a work in progress. That, along with their youth and versatility, should make them intriguing to watch. “Intriguing” will hopefully wind up being the word people will use in describing their identity. It’s a lot better than the conventional wisdom.
Final Note
There’s more, of course, but again it won’t matter starting Monday when Sean Marks and Jordi Fernandez walk in the door at HSS Training Center, greet the mics, video and still cameras, reporters’ notepads and writers (including us) hungry for news. Hopefully, Marks won’t open things with bad news like he did last year when he announced the Egor Demin had undergone a procedure for plantar fasciitis over the summer. Surprise! There’s no need for that!
For those who can sneak a look without getting an email from HR, YES Network will have live coverage between 11: a.m. and 1:00 p.m. in front of the practice court which is in front of the Great Window which will likely be covered with rain drops. The Nets official site will not carry things live, but the team’s internal video team will no doubt be posting highly produced clips for days!
So thanks for reading. Over the years, we published about 500 of these. Whenever we write the first one of the off-season, we dread the routine but as things wear on, it gets more interesting, more fun. We hope you feel the same way.
There’s an under-talked about variable for the Lakers.
It’s hard to measure. It won’t appear in box scores. It’s invisible yet omnipresent.
It’s leadership — and not from who you may think.
While the Lakers are unequivocally Luka Doncic’s team, someone else’s voice needs to boom in the locker room in order for them to be successful.
Austin Reaves’ most important contribution next season won’t be his dagger 3s or his crafty pick-and-roll playmaking, though those are deeply necessary too.
Austin Reaves drives down court as Patty Mills and James Johnson of the Brooklyn Nets give chase during a game at Barclays Center on Jan. 25, 2022. Charles Wenzelberg/NY Post
The thing about Reaves is he’s deeply likable. After the Lakers signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2021, he immediately won over reporters at media day by joking about his nickname “Hillbilly Kobe.”
As soon as he entered the Lakers locker room, he won over LeBron James.
Reaves would make bleating noises whenever James spoke to the media to imitate a goat (because James is considered one of the greatest players of all-time). James would shoot him a look and laugh.
A similar thing happened after the Mavericks stunned the basketball world by trading Doncic to the Lakers in February 2025. Reaves and Doncic started lovingly teasing each other, interrupting one another during their on-camera interviews and trash-talking each other.
The Lakers went on to sign Reaves to a four-year, $180 million deal, the richest contract ever for a player who went undrafted.
Reaves is a human chemistry creator. His teammates respect him for his palpable competitiveness, but they also love him for the levity he brings.
It’s striking.
So much so that Warriors coach Steve Kerr brought up Reaves, unprovoked, when asked last season what characteristics he values most in a player.
“I coached him in the World Cup,” Kerr said of Reaves in April. “I watch the Lakers. You can tell that everybody loves playing with him. He’s a competitor. He loves the game. Hard to find those qualities all the time, frankly, especially for somebody who has a lot of skill. Steph [Curry] you can find that.”
Austin Reaves goes up for a shot as Brooklyn Nets’ Day’ron Sharpe defends him during a game on Feb. 3, 2026. Corey Sipkin / NY Post
Reaves took major leaps on the court last season. In October, he had back-to-back 51-point and 41-point performances. In a game against Denver in March, he purposely missed a free throw, caught his own rebound and then made a buzzer-beating floater, helping spark what would end up being a 15-2 run that month.
Reaves averaged a career-high 23.3 points on 49% shooting (36% from deep), 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game last season.
This season, his biggest focus needs to be growing his leadership the same way he has grown his game.
See, Doncic is the type of guy who leads by example. He pours his heart out on the court. But he’s not exactly a talker.
Reaves needs to assume that role.
He has had plenty of time to study for it. Reaves played alongside James for five seasons. He saw how he managed a team.
Now it’s up to him to become a vocal leader. Apparently, he has already begun assuming that role.
Austin Reaves dribbles against Alex Caruso of the Oklahoma City Thunder on May 11, 2026. Getty Images
“Since the guys have been back, Austin has been the leader in the gym every single day,” Lakers general manager and president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka said Thursday.
It’s a good sign.
Because the Lakers’ success is going to hinge on so much more than Doncic’s offensive production or Walker Kessler’s ability to get stops.
The Lakers have so many new players. They lost James. They’re going through a major transition.
And Reaves is going to need to lead them through it.
Not only does he need to play like a borderline All-Star for the Lakers to be competitive, but he needs to morph into their glue guy.
He has the likability aspect down cold.
Now he needs to use it to motivate guys during a marathon season.
He’s needs to make his superpower translate into wins.
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 28: Kyshawn George #18 of the Washington Wizards celebrates with Alexandre Sarr #20 and Bilal Coulibaly #0 during the game against the New York Knicks at Capital One Arena on December 28, 2024 in Washington, DC. 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 G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards announced their 2026-27 training camp roster on Sunday.
Guard: Trae Young, Tre Johnson, Bub Carrington, Tre Mann Wing: AJ Dybantsa, Kyshawn George, Bilal Coulibaly, Will Riley Forward: Anthony Davis, Justin Champagnie, Khris Middleton, Anthony Gill Center: Alex Sarr, Deandre Ayton, Tristan Vukcevic
Two-way: Jamir Watkins, Felix Okpara Exhibit 10: Chris Livingston, Trevor Keels, Reece Beekman, Steve Settle III
Media Day is scheduled for Monday. Brian Keefe and 10 Wizards players will speak with the media.
The team’s five-day training camp begins Tuesday and ends Saturday. Washington opens preseason play at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 8 against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Footage has emerged of Isaiah Stewart, then of the Detroit Pistons, punching Drew Eubanks prior to a Feb. 14, 2024 game between Detroit and the Phoenix Suns.
Stewart was arrested for assault at the arena in Phoenix hours before the game. He was issued a citation and released, while Eubanks played in the game, which was won by Phoenix.
The video, obtained by Fox 10 in Phoenix, shows Stewart walking through a hall in the arena, while Eubanks waits for him.
Video has surfaced of a 2024 altercation between Isaiah Stewart and Drew Eubanks, now a Knick. Eubanks said Stewart “sucker-punched” him. Stewart was arrested for assault and suspended 3 games.
Eubanks then puts his shoulder into Stewart’s chest and the two appear to have words before Stewart punches Eubanks.
Stewart follows by pushing Eubanks, who comes back at Stewart.
Stewart looks ready to hit Eubanks again before the two are separated and walk away from each other.
“The attack on Drew Eubanks was unprovoked, and acts of violence such as this are unacceptable,” the Suns said in a 2024 statement after the incident. “We unequivocally support Drew, and will continue to work with local law enforcement and the NBA.”
Detroit Pistons’ Isaiah Stewart and Phoenix Suns’ Drew Eubanks confront each other before a game on Wednesday, February 14, 2024. Stewart threw a punch that connected near Eubanks’ mouth, resulting in minor injuries. FOXDetroit Pistons’ Isaiah Stewart and Phoenix Suns’ Drew Eubanks confront each other hours before a game on Feb. 14, 2024. Stewart threw a punch that connected near Eubanks’ mouth, causing minor injuries before security intervened. FOX
Monty Williams, the head coach of the Pistons at the time — who had previously coached the Suns — disapproved of Phoenix’s statement.
“The thing is to get all of the information,’’ Williams said. “The NBA will do an investigation. For me to come here and make a statement would be a bit irresponsible. I know the Suns said it was unprovoked; I think that is irresponsible for sure. You really don’t know.’’
Detroit Pistons’ Isaiah Stewart celebrates a 3-pointer against the Chicago Bulls during the second half of a game at the United Center in Chicago, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. Getty ImagesPhoenix Suns’ Drew Eubanks (14) reacts to a 3-point shot during an NBA game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023. The Suns defeated the Timberwolves 133-115. Getty Images
He was sent to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of a six-team trade in July.
The 6-foot-10 Eubanks was signed to a non-guaranteed contract by the Knicks this offseason. He figures to be in a roster battle with fellow veteran players Bruce Brown, John Konchar, James Wiseman and Ochai Agbaji.
Eubanks has played for six teams in his eight-year NBA career after going undrafted out of Oregon State.
He played 42 games with the Sacramento Kings last season and averaged 5.2 points and 3 rebounds per game. Eubanks has also played for the San Antonio Spurs, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Clippers.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 10: Kennedy Chandler #0 of the Chicago Bulls dribbles the ball during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2026 NBA Las Vegas Summer League on July 10, 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 Brian Choi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With training camp beginning this week, the Phoenix Suns are filling out their roster, which can carry a maximum of 21 players during camp. That number will need to be trimmed to 15 standard roster spots before the regular season, but the expanded roster allows Phoenix to create competition for the remaining spots.
We already knew Duop Reath would be making an appearance, as it was reported earlier this month that he would be joining the team on a training camp invitation. He’ll have an opportunity to compete for a spot on the regular season roster or potentially secure one of the team’s two-way contracts.
Today, the Suns made his signing official while also announcing the addition of Kennedy Chandler.
OFFICIAL: The Phoenix Suns have announced the signings of center Duop Reath and guard Kennedy Chandler.
Chandler (6’-0”, 170 pounds) appeared in 11 games with the Utah Jazz last season, averaging 15.0 points, 6.7 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.0 steals. He scored a career-high 31 points on April 7 at New Orleans and posted his first career double-double with 26 points and 10 assists vs. Memphis on April 10. Holding two years of NBA experience, Chandler also appeared in 36 games with the Grizzlies during the 2022-23 season. Originally the 38th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft out of the University of Tennessee, Chandler has totaled 153 career appearances over four seasons in the NBA G League, averaging 14.7 points and 6.1 assists.
The signings bring the Suns to 21 players under contract heading into training camp, as Spotrac also lists second-year power forward Philip Wheeler on the roster. That totals 15 guaranteed contracts (although Heywood Highsmith and Jamaree Bouyea are not officially guaranteed until January 2027), three two-way contracts, and 3 Exhibit 10 training camp invites.
Phoenix Suns Media Day is tomorrow, and training camp begins the following day.
Last up: Will this be the season Joel Embiid breaks through in the playoffs?
Embiid is accustomed to being at the center of the Sixers’ universe.
That won’t be the case at media day Monday. The Sixers’ other projected starters are now three All-Stars (James, Brown and Tyrese Maxey) along with last year’s Rising Stars MVP (Edgecombe).
Physical problems continued to plague Embiid in Round 2 and the Sixers were swept by the Knicks. Embiid has 66 playoff games, six second-round eliminations and two first-round exits in his career. The Sixers haven’t reached the conference finals since 2001. There’s a vast list of reasons for that, many of which are strange and unfortunate. The bottom line is Embiid wants better and the 2026-27 Sixers will plan to push for a championship.
What will the Sixers need from Embiid?
Improved health is first and foremost. Embiid has played just 96 regular-season games over the last three years. However, he ended last season believing that he was trending up.
“I came into this year not knowing where I was going to be, how long I was going to play, if I was even going to play based on how the knee was the last two years,” Embiid said at his exit interview in May. “I came in just hoping for the best and I feel like we’re in a position where we’ve figured out the knee. It hasn’t been an issue. If it weren’t for the oblique or some of the other stuff I had, it could’ve been different as far as how many games I would’ve played.
“We came into this season thinking there was not much left based on the last two years. Now I’m sitting here not even worried about my knee even after all the stuff that’s happened, people falling on me. You’re obviously going to have setbacks as you go along, but those setbacks have been so much different than in the past.
“So I hate losing, but … I thought I was done. That’s the best way to put it. And then we found something as a group … to figure out how we’re quite frankly in a better position next year to play a lot of games.”
We’ll see whether Embiid’s body cooperates with those intentions. If he hits some speed bumps throughout the season, the Sixers’ hope would be that none are too serious, he’s able to build chemistry with his new star teammates, and all is relatively well for the playoffs.
“I remember when I got the job, I went over there and he was like, ‘I want to have a great year. I want to play a lot of games. I want to be All-NBA Joel.’ He’s talked the talk and now he’s walking the walk,” Gansey said. “He’s lost some weight; you saw the pictures. He’s been in the gym. He’s doing all the right things and he’s super motivated.”
Though the Sixers are now brimming with offensive talent, it’s hard to imagine Embiid becoming peripheral. He should often be valuable as a post-up force, mid-range shooter, and intelligent partner in a variety of two-man actions with his fellow stars.
A return to his peak beyond the arc also wouldn’t hurt, especially since Embiid may turn to his three-point shot a bit more as he ages and his game becomes less about physical dominance. He shot a career-high 4.2 threes per game last season and hit 33.3 percent. Embiid’s best mark was 38.8 percent back in the 2023-24 season.
The Sixers shouldn’t require Embiid to play brilliant, nimble defense every game, but it would be a massive help if he could do solid work in the pick-and-roll, deter drives all the way to the rim, and grab a good chunk of rebounds in his area.
Across the board, head coach Nick Nurse will ask his stars to commit to all the ways they can contribute outside of scoring.
Embiid will surely be happy with any brand of basketball that leads to the Sixers playing deep in the postseason. Perhaps this will be the year.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 02: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Paycom Center on April 2, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s been discussed all offseason, but a transformative era for the Los Angeles Lakers finally starts this week with training camp.
Head coach JJ Redick and President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka brought in the Luka Dončić era with a joint press conference on Thursday and answered many of the questions we’ve grappled with all summer. This week, though, we get to hear from the players, ask them questions and see the effects of a transitional offseason bear out on the court.
With that in mind, questions remain before preseason play commences in Sacramento on Oct. 5. Let’s hash a few out.
Just how complementary is this roster to Luka?
Pelinka laid out his plan ahead of the offseason, keying in on three pillars of what success in building a team around Dončić looked like to him and Redick once it became evident that LeBron James was not returning, saying, “Re-signing Austin, putting together a trade to acquire Walker Kessler and then building out our team with young players that could dribble pass, shoot and have brought the average age of our roster to around 26 or 27, which lines up so perfectly with Luka and building a team around Luka Dončić.”
Archetypally, he did it. Pelinka ensured Dončić had a dynamic shot creator in Reaves and a defensive stalwart in Kessler alongside him and surrounded the three with athleticism, defense, (some) shooting and youth. But are they talented enough?
The 2023-24 Dallas Mavericks not only laid out the blueprint of a Luka-led Finals team, but they also formed a roster loaded with talent through to the bench. It was a process that hadn’t been idealized until they traded for Daniel Gafford ahead of the season’s trade deadline.
BOSTON, MA – JUNE 17: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks handles the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics during Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals on June 17, 2024 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers still don’t have a fifth starter. Perhaps a similar midseason trade will jolt the team to the next level. But for now, we have to see if the pieces Dončić has around him are complementary enough to warrant that.
Is Redick’s shift to drop coverage exclusive to Kessler-featured lineups?
Los Angeles has been one of the league’smost switch-dependent teams through Redick’s tenure. In turn, the Lakers have sat around the bottom of the league in rim defense. Though up until now, given his personnel, Redick hasn’t had much of a choice.
Kessler changes that.
“I know that we have switched a lot, one through five, over the last two years,” Redick said. “That has been by necessity. We look at him as someone we want close to the basket, protecting the rim. … You guys watched the playoffs, you probably have a basic idea of how San Antonio used [Victor Wembanyama] and kept him low and kept him by the basket.”
Is this schematic shift exclusive to Kessler? Which other centers on the roster are capable of protecting the rim to his degree?
As it stands, Kevon Looney is slated to back up Kessler, but I’d expect Sandro Mamukelashvili to split time at the four and the five to limit the extent in which the Lakers have to rely on a degraded Looney down low.
Although the 6-foot-9 Mamukelashvili spent over 40% of last season guarding centers with Toronto, according to BBall Index, he was below average in rim protection (43rd percentile) and among the worst in the league in rim disruption (15th percentile) and rim deterrence (21st percentile).
A savvy way Redick could counteract this is by playing Mamukelashvili alongside Jarred Vanderbilt, who has shown a propensity to guard centers at an effective rate, but only if Redick trusts him enough to give him some burn.
Will the off-court chemistry translate on the court?
Dončić blessed fans with an inside look of the team’s five-day trip to Slovenia over the summer in a vlog posted to his YouTube channel — something Lakers fans haven’t really had since Javale McGee’s vlogs throughout the 2019-20 season and in the bubble (those were some good times).
My biggest takeaway from the video: the type of dynamic shown throughout the roster perhaps would not have been the same had there been a subset of players who were much older than the rest of the group. I mean, could you imagine Marcus Smart trying to engage in the type of Gen-Z banter being tossed around the entire trip? What are the odds LeBron ever had an inside joke with Adou Thiero or Dalton Knecht?
What the Slovenia trip really did was set the standard for the kind of connectivity the team will need moving forward. Anything less shines a bigger spotlight on the fact that, on paper, this Lakers roster isn’t as talented as the behemoths that run the West. That’s why chemistry is so important. And that’s why we all need to see if it’ll translate to a more connected team on the court.
Which role player is more inclined to pop?
Redick tossed out a few names that have stood out unprovoked during his presser, namely Ziaire Williams, Matisse Thybulle and Adou Thiero, each of whom is in contention for the fifth starting spot. He also mentioned in passing that everyone is competing for playing time in training camp.
The Lakers are a deeper team than they were entering the offseason. That Thiero and Cameron Carr have the same opportunity for real rotational minutes as the likes of Collin Sexton, Williams and Thybulle is a testament to that depth. But who has the best chance to pop?
Thiero and Carr come in the prospect of Los Angeles being a significantly better team if even one of them pops. Quentin Grimes, Mamukelasvili and (to an extent) Sexton come in with the comfort of substantial contracts. Williams, Thybulle and Kevon Looney come in trying to prove they’re worth more than a minimum deal. Jake LaRavia, Vanderbilt and Knecht come in with at least a season of experience in Redick’s system.
There are plenty of options, and the Lakers can benefit greatly from a few of their role players outperforming their projections.
How much does the ownership debacle trickle down?
In retrospect, it’s ironic that Pelinka and Redick preached continuity when the franchise is in the middle of one of the messiest sales in recent sports history. Pelinka, acknowledging multiple times that he’s not at liberty to discuss many aspects of the sale, did mention that there have been initial meetings with the group led by Bob Iger and Josh Kushner.
With all the dysfunction at the top of the brand, how does it not trickle down to the roster? Is it even as important to the actual play? We’ve already seen cases where the Buss family infighting found its way to LeBron in the middle of last season. Will it be any different with Jeanie Buss being dragged out as the last link to the family and the franchise?
Redick mentioned that some of the league’s most successful teams are the ones most connected. It’s not delusional as a fan to believe that also includes ownership.
A great deal of the Luka-era Lakers’ future rides both on the outcome of the pending sale and how functional the team can perform during and on the other side of it. Players can save face throughout training camp by saying the situation doesn’t affect them (which isn’t a difficult conclusion to come to). But the Lakers have historically been a franchise with steady ownership. It’s been a core foundation of the exceptionalism.
Soon there will be answers to all these questions. But in the meantime, it’s time to get the season officially started with Monday’s media day.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 14: Reece Beekman #26 of the Washington Wizards handles the ball during the game against the Chicago Bulls on July 14, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Tom O'Connor/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards have signed four players to Exhibit 10 contracts, the team announced Sunday.
Reece Beekman
Trevor Keels
Chris Livingston
Steve Settle III
The Washington Wizards have signed G Reece Beekman, G Trevor Keels, F Chris Livingston, and F Steve Settle III to Exhibit 10 contracts.
In a related move, the team has waived F KeShawn Murphy.
The team also announced it waived KeShawn Murphy, who recently signed an Exhibit 10 deal. He’s a candidate to sign back with the Capital City Go-Go.
Beekman, 24, spent four seasons at Virginia before going undrafted in 2024. He spent his rookie season with the Golden State Warriors and later the Brooklyn Nets. The 6-foot-3 guard played last season with the Osceola Magic — the Orlando Magic’s G League affiliate. He averaged 8.8 points, 4.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game.
Beekman and Livingston excelled with Washington’s Summer League team in July. Beekman capped his showing with a 13-point, 15-assist performance against the Atlanta Hawks’ Summer League squad.
Keels, 23, will spend training camp with the Wizards and likely join the Capital City Go-Go following the preseason. It’s a homecoming for the Duke product, who is from Clinton, Maryland, and played high school basketball at Paul VI Catholic.
The 6-foot-3 guard averaged 15.6 PPG on 40.4% 3PT in the G League last year. His best showing was a 46-point outburst in which he made all 12 of his 3-point attempts with the Sioux Falls Skyforce — the Miami Heat’s G-League affiliate.
Settle played five collegiate seasons, his first three at Howard before transferring to Temple for the final two. He spent last season in the G League with the Skyforce, averaging 8.2 points across 14 games.
Teams can offer an ~$85k bonus to players who sign an Exhibit-10 contract and spend at least 60 days with their G League affiliate. It’s essentially an incentive for the players to sign with the Go-Go, which these players could likely do following training camp and preseason.
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