Basketball: NBA Finals: Closeup of Los Angeles Lakers Shaquille O'Neal (34) bobblehead on court before game vs New Jersey Nets at Staples Center. Game 2. Los Angeles, CA 6/7/2002 CREDIT: John W. McDonough (Photo by John W. McDonough /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X66056 TK2 R14 F25 )
You’re not truly in the dog days of the summer until you start ranking promotional night giveaways.
The Lakers haven’t typically had many giveaway nights during the season, which makes this upcoming season different. Specifically, they’ll be giving away five different bobbleheads throughout the year, including three for former players, along with a couple of other giveaways.
There are a handful of other nights mixed in as well, including Phil Jackson’s statue unveiling at the end of the season as well as LGBTQ+ Pride Night (though I wish they wouldn’t continuously host it during the preseason) and Mental Health Awareness Night.
However, we’re here to rank the goodie giveaways, so let’s look at the seven nights fans can walk away with a freebie.
7. Norm Nixon Bobblehead, Dec.14
The Lakers will have a series of nights this season honoring figures of the franchise’s past, starting with Norm Nixon. He’s an oft-forgotten part of Lakers history, coming just before the Showtime Era. Still, he was a key piece of title-winning teams.
6. Paul Westhead Bobblehead, Jan. 14
The guy before the guy, Westhead, like Nixon, came just before one of the defining eras of the franchise’s history. And like Nixon, it’s nice that the franchise is honoring him.
5. Kurt Rambis Bobblehead, March 17
While Rambis has sort of sullied his reputation with the franchise for some with his role in the front office over the last decade or so, you can’t tell me that a bobblehead with those goggles won’t look extremely funny. It only would have been funnier if they did it in the game against Boston, considering that is the most iconic moment of his career.
In fact, I’ve even heard a former leader of this website is already camped out at Crypto.com Arena waiting to purchase tickets for this game.
4. Lakers x Dodgers Baseball-style Jersey, Nov. 17
Over/under 0.5 of these teams Mark Walter still owns by the time this game rolls around.
3. Austin Reaves Bobblehead, Dec. 27
Are Austin and Luka going to have a debate over whose bobblehead is cooler? Hopefully neither of them is sporting the awful new Nike jerseys for this season.
2. Luka Dončić Scoring Champion Bobblehead, Nov. 1
It’s cool that the team is honoring Luka winning the scoring title last season, but hopefully next year’s bobblehead is for him winning the MVP this season. A small part of me hoped these were being given away when the team played the Mavs, but that would have felt particularly cruel.
1. Lakers 2020 Championship Ring Replica, Jan. 24
I’m already a big fan of replica ring giveaways. I still have one from the 2008-09 team that I found on eBay years and years ago.
But it’s also an incredibly cool touch that they’re doing this the night Anthony Davis — assuming he doesn’t get traded — comes back to Crypto.com Arena. And yes, I’m still sad that team never got a parade.
With ownership of the team still in limbo, the Lakers announced two front office additions Friday, hiring former Miami Heat executive Eric Amsler as assistant general manager, player personnel, while bolstering their sports performance staff with Keith D’Amelio as director of integrated performance systems.
Boosting the team’s behind-the-scenes infrastructure was one of Mark Walter’s major initiatives when the Dodgers’ owner bought the Lakers in 2025. After the season, Lakers president and general manager Rob Pelinka said Walter and the ownership group were working to create two assistant GM positions and upgrade treatment, physical therapy and sports science facilities to mirror the success of the Dodgers.
But the status of such investments came into question when Walter unexpectedly sold his majority stake in the Lakers to Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner last month. The transaction that valued the Lakers at a record $12.5 billion still needs to be approved by the NBA board of governors, which next meets Sept. 14-15, according to ESPN, but approval for the Lakers ownership change will likely not be on the docket.
“Continuing to invest in and strengthen our basketball operations group is a top priority as we build for the long-term success of our team and players,” Pelinka said in a statement. “Eric and Keith bring a wealth of experience that will add valuable expertise across our organization.”
Amsler spent the previous 22 seasons with the Heat, most recently serving as vice president of player personnel and the general manager of G League affiliate Sioux Falls Skyforce. He oversaw the Heat’s scouting department and evaluation of draft, professional and G League prospects.
Amsler joins former New Orleans Pelicans executive Rohan Ramadas as assistant general managers hired this offseason. While Ramadas, who joined the team in May, will be involved in managing the salary cap, analytics and data for the Lakers, Amsler’s responsibilities will mirror the scouting and player development responsibilities he held in Miami.
D’Amelio most recently served as chief innovation officer for the New York Liberty, where he worked across basketball operations, health and performance, analytics and applied sciences. His previous NBA experience includes stints with the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics. He also worked with Stanford men’s basketball and Nike.
This is a real blow to Phoenix, which was so impressed with center Mark Williams last season that it gave him a new three-year, $38 million contract and planned to have him as its starting center.
Williams underwent surgery on Thursday to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania. While there is no timeline, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 (maybe the most plugged-in Suns reporter) says to expect at least five months, which would mean a return around the All-Star break at the earliest.
In his first three seasons in Charlotte, Williams showed real promise but never played more than 44 games in a season due to a variety of injuries (foot, ankle, thumb, and back). Last season, that changed as he played 60 games for the Suns, averaging 11.7 points and eight rebounds a game, and was a solid defender in the paint. Now the Suns will be without him for more than half the season.
Look for second-year center Khaman Maluach to get a lot more run, he showed potential last season and then made his case at Summer League, averaging 19.5 points and 12.8 rebounds a game (in four games). Also expect to see more of third-year big Oso Ighodaro, who was solid last season, playing in all 82 games and averaging 6.5 points and 5.1 rebounds a night.
For the second time in our five-part series, we have a performance in the postseason from Joel Embiid that came against Nick Nurse. It started with Game 3 against Toronto in 2019, which took place in Philadelphia, and continues with Game 3 versus the Raptors in 2022 in Toronto.
By this point in Embiid’s career, pressure was beginning to mount on both Embiid and the franchise. The honeymoon between the Sixers and their fans after winning a round in each of the first two postseasons Embiid was a part of in 2018 and 2019 was over. The team got whitewashed by the rival Celtics in the COVID bubble in 2020 and had one of the more embarrassing choke jobs in Philadelphia sports postseason history against Atlanta in 2021.
There was still plenty of talent on the roster, as the Sixers won 51 games in 2021-22, with only Miami’s 53 wins being greater than that, and the headache that was Ben Simmons gone. But this series against the Raptors was one in which the Sixers could really do themselves no favors with the fans regardless of the outcome. It was a Toronto team that was struggling to remain relevant in league circles after winning a championship in 2019. Everyone knew the Raptors weren’t going to win another title any time soon and they would be rebuilding soon enough. Essentially, there wasn’t much to gain for the Sixers when it came to quelling the growing perception that they were a team of choke artists.
To no one’s surprise, Philly won the first two games of the series easily, blowing Toronto out by 20 in Game 1 and coasting to a 15-point victory in Game 2. But, as you often see in a playoff series with one team’s talent being vastly superior to the other’s, the underdog came out packing its biggest punch back on its home floor in Game 3 down 2-0. The Raptors led by 10 in Game 3 both at the end of the first quarter and at halftime. The Sixers were sleepwalking during the first 24 minutes as Embiid had just five points, only attempted five field goals in the first half and turned the ball over four times in the opening two quarters.
But Philadelphia decided to fight in the second half rather than pack it in and get ready for Game 4 still holding a lead in the series. Embiid had 18 points in the third quarter alone and looked much more aggressive going 6-of-9 from the field in the quarter, one that he played all 12 minutes of. Suddenly a 10-point halftime deficit was down to just one heading into the fourth.
So often in recent postseason history for this franchise, the Sixers have been the team that might look good early in a game but would get caught blinking and get tight in the second half and find a way to lose. This game was a rare occurrence in which Philadelphia appeared to smell blood in the water, knew it was the superior team and the Raptors were the team whose hot start dissipated and struggled to execute in the guts of the game.
The Sixers trimmed off the final point of the 10-point halftime deficit in the fourth quarter and pushed the game to overtime. Whether it was nerves from both teams or fatigue, it was apparent that the two teams were limping to the finish line as the fourth quarter was the lowest-scoring quarter of regulation and the two teams combined for just 15 points in the five-minute overtime.
But it was the final three points that became particularly memorable. Having engineered the comeback in the second half, Embiid got a chance to put the icing on the cake and give the Sixers a stranglehold on the opening round series. He did just that.
Joel Embiid’s buzzer beater vs. the Raptors to take 3-0 series lead in the first-round of the playoffs. Embiid finished the game with 33 points pic.twitter.com/W6dxLJladi
It wasn’t quite a buzzer beater, but it might as well have been and Philly took a 3-0 series lead. In typical Sixers fashion, they found a way to make it interesting, losing Game 4 in Toronto and then getting thoroughly outplayed in Game 5 at home before going back to Canada to close the series out in six.
Sixers fans, how do you feel about this game and moment for Embiid now? As we discussed, this was a Raptors team that everyone knew was coming out of a contention window and no longer viewed as a viable threat to win an NBA championship. Other than Embiid’s shot to win Game 3, there really wasn’t anything in this series, or in the next series against Miami, that stands out as a notable postseason memory for the franchise. But the Sixers did trail by double digits at halftime against the same team that eliminated them in heartbreaking fashion three years earlier. They came back to win the game and stick a dagger in the hearts of the Raptors and their fans thanks to a shot that will forever be remembered as one of Embiid’s greatest. That’s got to be worth something, right?
• The latest offer from the Pistons is in the five-year, $190 million total "range." It's worth noting that we don't know what player or team options are attached to that contract, which impacts its value. Did the Pistons up their offer from the five-year, $175 million ESPN reported about a week ago, or is this more semantics (the final figure depending on incentives or how the deal is structured)?
• The Houston Rockets just gave their young star Amen Thompson a five-year, $208 million extension. Thompson, a rising star due for a breakout, is close to a Duren comp, although Duren's camp would quickly point out that Thompson has yet to be an All-Star or All-NBA player, and Duren is both. Houston gave center Alperen Sengun a five-year, $185 million extension last summer.
What Duren and his camp have made clear from the start is that they expect $200 million — $40 million a season average salary — in this deal. The Pistons have been unwilling to go there. So far. The Pistons do not want to enter the luxury tax and are currently $46 million below that line for next season, although an Ausar Thompson extension is looming and Detroit is looking ahead to how to afford him, Duren and Cade Cunningham.
Duren's ultimate leverage is taking the $9.6 million qualifying offer, which makes him an unrestricted free agent after this season and gives him veto power over any trade the Pistons try to make.
That is a massive risk, however. There's money left on the table: Even the Pistons' $190 million offer is guaranteed generational wealth. Beyond that, injury or a rough season for whatever reason could damage his value on future contracts. A max offer next summer is not guaranteed.
What gives Duren confidence he'll make the money back is that three "serious suitors" for him, according to The Athletic. That means those teams likely would pay him the max. We know one of those is the Sacramento Kings, which would want to pair Duren with just-drafted Darius Acuff Jr. as the foundation for their future (the Kings tried to talk sign-and-trade with the Pistons, but Detroit has shut all such inquiries down).
On top of that is the bad blood built up in these negotiations, with league sources telling NBC Sports the negotiations were "noxious." Duren and the Pistons couldn't reach terms on an extension last summer, then he had a breakout season and his price went up. While he unquestionably struggled in the playoffs, this is still an elite 22-year-old center who is a force on both ends of the court, and those guys are hard to come by. He is a foundation of what the Pistons are building and they can't let him just walk out the door (if he plays for the qualifying offer, Detroit has to look to trade him at the deadline or before).
Plus, all of this can spill over into a locker room that was tight a year ago when the team won 60 games.
Things will get interesting in a few weeks when Pistons training camp opens. Will the sides reach an extension by then? If not, will Duren be there and talk to the media? The qualifying offer deadline is Oct. 1, although the Pistons can push that back to March 1.
However this is ultimately resolved, it's going to leave scars. All of which seemingly could have been avoided.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 10: Jonathan Kuminga #24 of the Minnesota Timberwolves is introduced to the media by President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly and radio play-by-play announcer Alan Horton on September 10, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Editor’s Note: I want to take this moment to introduce Brandon Mullen, who is joining the staff here at Canis. This is certainly (hopefully) the first of many pieces you’ll be seeing from Brandon, so please join me in welcoming him to the site.
The Minnesota Timberwolves formally introduced recently acquired forward Jonathan Kuminga on Wednesday alongside President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly. The full press conference can be found here or embedded below.
Each presser is going to be filled with PR mumbo jumbo, but there is always truth to be found in the weeds of topics. Here are some things that stood out:
FIT-IN, not FIT-OUT
A recurring theme in the presser was about how Kuminga understood what the Wolves had built before his arrival, and how he wanted to be a part of what was already happening in the Land of 10,000 Lakes rather than repeat a LeBron James / Kevin Love situation:
My game, my mentality, pretty much everything fits well with this group… they can put me wherever. Run the floor, screen, defend, play fast, whatever it is… I think including myself with those guys, we have a chance… just me bringing my mentality and what they have already, I think we can do a great job out here.
When asked later about Minnesota’s defensive identity, Kuminga shared his focus, and his logic for joining Minnesota’s squad:
Being around one of the best defenders in the league, people like Jaden [McDaniels], I think I could learn so much more. I think Ant is a good defender. And then we got Rudy. Watching those guys, they could help me in so many ways… just being around those types of guys pretty much every day… that’s going to help me learn some things I didn’t even know about defense before… trying to include myself with them, they’re the kind of group that are going to push me and help me every single day, and if we have a great defense the offense will come in time and will make the offense easier. It’s going to be fun.
Connelly agreed, saying, “I think collectively, his addition to our group is perfect.”
It’s encouraging that this bell was rung not once, not twice, but multiple times throughout the press conference by both Kuminga and Connelly in response to multiple questions. It suggests that finding a way to fit in with an already competitive team wasn’t an afterthought, but was a primary focus of conversations before Kuminga’s arrival, and is likely a sincerely desired outcome for all parties.
Relationships Matter
As with most jobs, the NBA is about relationships. Sometimes it’s what you know, but often it’s who you know. The Wolves having a pre-existing relationship with Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, certainly helped smooth the process.
Connelly hit the topic with clarity:
You want to sell, but you don’t want to recruit… his agent’s a guy we’ve known forever and we’ve had a bunch of players with, so that was super helpful. Aaron [Turner] was great. And then just sitting down with them… we hung out with these guys and said what we thought we could do together.
Turner also represents Josh Minott, who played in Minnesota from 2022-25, Daishen Nix, a leader of the bench mob in 2023-25, and Tristen Newton, who lasted only a year in 2025.
Kuminga also talked about how the way Timberwolves players and executives treated him and connected with him made a difference in the decision to come to Minnesota:
I think me and Melo and Ant spoke every single day, especially Ant. He called me, he checked up on me. He’s a very genuine person… that just shows how much he wants to bring me over here. And you got these two guys, Tim [Connelly] and Alonzo [Gee, Wolves basketball operations assistant] coming to Miami to check up on me and have some great conversations, and it wasn’t just about basketball. It was about kids. Life… them wanting me to be here felt real… making a decision felt very easy after talking to Alonzo and the team and the rest of the guys.
With such a familiarity already surrounding him, with his agent’s trust with the organization greasing the wheels, it makes sense why Kuminga chose Minnesota. Quite simply, the Lakers would do what was best for them, extracting what they could from the young forward.
The Wolves wanted a mutually beneficial outcome.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – MAY 14: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shakes hands with Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors after winning Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Target Center on May 14, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 Ellen Schmidt/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Kuminga Sees Himself as a Winner
When asked about Minnesota’s team culture, Kuminga praised what the Wolves have built and noted that their core is still “a young group of guys.” He also argued that his experience winning in Golden State could help Minnesota…
They just have that mentality, they want to win. I have a couple years [in the NBA] now. I know what winning is. I know what it takes to win…
…and when asked later about what he wanted to show in his Wolves tenure, he added this:
Being a winner. Try to contribute every single day… as long as I come here in every single day, I’m a winner, I’m a good teammate, I’m a good person, everything will take care of itself… just trying to win, and that’s about it.
Jonathan Kuminga on giving up more money to play with the Wolves:
"I just wanted to go to like a winning culture, and I think this was one of the best winning culture I could've chosen out of all the options" pic.twitter.com/Kn129w3EIH
While Kuminga won a chip in Golden State and played meaningful regular-season minutes, he was more limited in two of their three playoff runs during his tenure. This includes their title-winning season in 2022.
To be fair, he was a rookie and rotations get short in the postseason, but he still went from 17 minutes a game in the regular season to just 8.6 minutes in the playoffs, then logged just eight total minutes over four Finals games (he did not play in Games 4 and 6).
Even if Kuminga’s postseason role was limited, he spent five seasons with one of the NBA’s winningest franchises of the era and saw firsthand what a championship team looks like:
“[Kuminga] brings championship DNA,” Connelly later said. “He’s seen it. He’s done things we’re [aspiring] to do.”
The Wolves will hope to add a ring to Kuminga’s cabinet this year.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 14: Mark Williams #15 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 14, 2026 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. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It looks like the Phoenix Suns have their first injury of the season just weeks before the start of training camp. Starting center Mark Williams suffered a torn labrum in his left shoulder and is slated to miss “an extended period of time,” according to ESPN NBA Insider Shams Charania.
Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams underwent surgery Thursday to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder and will miss an extended period of time, sources tell ESPN. Williams suffered the injury in an offseason workout. pic.twitter.com/iXVlVVItv4
In a statement from the Suns, Williams underwent successful surgery on Thursday and a timetable will be set at a later time.
Williams, 24 is coming off the healthiest season of his four-year career playing in 60 games and starting in 55 contests. He missed all of the team’s playoff run after suffering a foot injury against the Portland Trailblazers in the Western Conference 7/8 play-in game. This offseason, the team inked him to a three-year $38 million contract this offseason after averaging 12 points, eight rebounds and a block per game in his first year in Phoenix.
The injury came from an offseason workout and does not appear to have any connection to the various injuries he suffered last year. Since being drafted in the first round by the Charlotte Hornets in 2022, he’s appeared in 166 of 328 possible regular-season games, 51% of all total contests.
With the Suns’ regular season starting in a little over a month, if Williams is out for the beginning of it, expect second-year forward to start in his place, and third-year big Oso Ighodaro’s minutes to also increase.
Coming off a dominant Summer League where he averaged 20 points, 13 rebounds, and two blocks per game and was part of the All-Summer League team, Maluach is primed for a larger role this season and is considered by many the prospect with the highest potential on the team.
Before Williams’ injury, there was also discourse about Maluach’s role increasing this season and the team’s latest injury will likely only increase it.
The Suns’ training camp starts on September 29th and will likely be without one of their main starters from a season ago.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - APRIL 07: Kevon Looney #55 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts during the second half of the game at Smoothie King Center on April 07, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to our Lakers Season Preview Series! For the next several weeks, we’ll be writing columns every weekday breaking down the biggest questions we have about every player the Lakers added this offseason. Today, we look at Kevon Looney.
Regardless if you agree or disagree with the Lakers’ offseason moves, all of their additions at least make sense when viewed through the lens of a new roster ideology. Well, at least, most of them.
As each signing became official, it became clear the team prioritized getting more versatile, athletic and younger this summer.
Excluding their rookies and two-way players, the Lakers added seven new players to the roster. Six of the seven have a collective age of 26.3, which better aligns with their 27-year-old superstar, Luka Dončić.
The sole outlier in the group in both age and physical makeup is Kevon Looney.
While 30 is far from old in human years, Looney immediately is the elder statesman on the team. He has already played in 11 seasons and has more mileage on his odometer than his peers given how many postseason minutes he’s logged with the Golden State Warriors throughout his career.
In a vacuum, Looney would be a harmless add on most benches around the league. But on a team that has invested heavily in Walker Kessler remaining healthy and productive, combined with the departure of Jaxson Hayes, the Lakers actually need Looney to contribute rather than just be a veteran presence.
Whether or not he can could be one of the more underrated storylines of the upcoming season.
What is his best-case scenario?
How much optimism you have in the Looney signing paying off likely depends on how much of last season you think could be written off.
In his first season away from the Bay, Looney appeared in just 21 games with the New Orleans Pelicans due to a combination of injuries and the team shifting toward a younger rotation.
And when he was on the floor, Looney also looked noticeably limited. Was this due to the veteran lacking motivation on an aimless team? Or further evidence that he is on a steep decline?
If the answer for his drop-off proves to be the former, there’s a chance Looney can shore up the team’s backup center void.
Despite appearing antithetical to the team’s aforementioned ethos shift, Looney does still offer a helpful skillset and background.
For one, he is extremely nuanced operating within a 5-out, free-flowing offense thanks to his time with the Warriors. It’s an alignment that head coach JJ Redick has utilized in the past.
Looney is also an excellent screener, a skill that could open up driving lanes and space for the team’s star backcourt. When he does touch the ball, he remains a good connecting passer and elite offensive rebounder (83rd percentile or better in his last five seasons).
While his stat sheet will never turn heads, Looney has made a career out of impacting the games on the margins.
If he can return to doing the things that made him an underrated part of the Warriors’ run, there is still a path toward him adding value.
What is his worst-case scenario?
If Looney’s short time with the Pelicans was a precursor to this stage of his career rather than a blip, there is a chance he falls out of the rotation completely.
For as good of an intangibles player he’s been, there should still remain question marks about how he fits on the roster tangibly.
On offense, Looney is nowhere near the lob threat or finisher that Doncic craves from his bigs.
The veteran has converted just 63.5% of his shots at the rim over the last two seasons. It’s a woefully low number, and in comparison to Jaxson Hayes (who never shot worse than 79% at the rim during his tenure with the Lakers), the stylistic drop-off could end up being severe.
Beyond his limitations in the half court, there should also be concerns about how he fares athletically within a league that is only getting faster.
Can he still hold up as a drop big? Perhaps. But if he’s caught on the perimeter or forced to get back in transition, he may not have enough left in the tank to hold down the fort while Kessler sits.
On that note, there is no guarantee Kessler is able to play the majority of the year. If he misses any time, whether due to foul trouble or injury, having to rely on Looney to play significant minutes could prove costly.
What is his most likely role on the team?
In an ideal world, Looney is able to turn back the clock and become the playoff-caliber member of the rotation the Lakers need.
However, that’s likely an unrealistic outcome and expectation for Looney at this stage of his career.
Instead, a more practical outcome is that Looney is used only situationally. Whether that’s in the form of defending the post, setting a bone-crushing screen, or helping grease the wheels of the offense, his lasting impact may boil down to his veteran leadership.
As a result, the Lakers will likely have to hope Sandro Mamukelashvili can allow them to go small in the minutes Kessler is off the floor. And if not, they will be forced to find someone who can effectively fill the role Looney was expected to.
All stats courtesy of Cleaning the Glass unless otherwise stated. You can follow Alex on Bluesky at @alexregla.bsky.social.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MARCH 31: Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons looks on and smiles against the Toronto Raptors at Little Caesars Arena on March 31, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’ve reached the inevitable almost-conclusion of the standoff between Jalen Duren and the Detroit Pistons as the young center looks to secure a lucrative long-term contract. The latest is a threat that has been levied before — Jalen Duren is seriously considering signing the $9.6 million qualifying offer so he can be an unrestricted free agent next season.
The threat might not be new, but it is being treated with more urgency because we truly are running out of time for a resolution to the JD situation. The deadline for him to take his qualifying offer is Oct. 1. That means one of the following is going to happen:
Jalen Duren signs his qualifying offer, plays out the season in Detroit, and leaves in the offseason.
Jalen Duren signs his qualifying offer, plays some of the season in Detroit, and is traded for a marginal return to a team that wants to re-sign Duren in the offseason using their cap space.
The Pistons believe so deeply that Jalen Duren is going to sign his qualifying offer that they organize a sign-and-trade now to get a bit of a better return instead of losing him for nothing.
The Pistons sign Jalen Duren to a new multi-year deal.
Which is the most likely? I have no reason to believe that it is still not No. 4, especially in light of the standoff being quantified with alleged contract numbers.
The Athletic reports that the Pistons’ offer to Duren stands at five years and $190 million for an average annual value of $38 million. Duren’s camp wants a contract at or beyond $200 million. That would be an AAV of $40 million. So we’re arguing over something that could be as little as $2 million per year.
However, the Athletic story goes a bit further in contextualizing what might make Duren’s willingness to sign the QO more realistic. The story notes that Duren opted out of a minicamp Cade Cunningham organized. On the one hand, you don’t want to run afoul of a franchise cornerstone. On the other hand, Cade knows Duren’s just trying to handle his business.
Perhaps more significantly, the Athletic reports that the Kings are interested in signing Duren to a max contract next offseason. The story also alleges two more unnamed suitors willing to go to the max. But a max from Detroit and a max from another team are entirely different animals. A max in Detroit might be $287 million, and it’s true the Pistons are offering way under that. But after he signs a qualifying offer, the max he can get from another team is $187 million over four years. Add the $9.6 million from Detroit to play out this season, and it would be $196 million over five years.
I’m sorry, I just can’t believe Duren is willing to risk the security of Detroit’s $190 million offer for an extra $6 million at the end of the deal. He’s not only risking the potential for an injury to blow up his ability to secure a future long-term deal, but he’s also banking on the dynamics of the NBA staying consistent to the point that the three alleged max offers on the table today will still be there a year from now. I don’t buy it.
This is what it always has been — a staring contest over $10-$15 million between a team and a player. There is zero downside for either side to take these negotiations down to the 11th hour. If you’re the one who blinks, you lose. There is nothing to gain by saying yes today as compared to saying yes on September 24th.
Duren is going to play the only card he has left to play — the threat of taking the qualifying offer. Is it legit? Anything is possible when pride is involved, I suppose. But I still think this ends with Duren and Detroit coming to terms on a new long-term deal for less than $200 million.
(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
It started with yelling about toilets. Steve Ballmer was so serious about turning the Los Angeles Clippers into a serious franchise for the first time in their existence that he wanted to make sure no fan ever waited in a long line to use the bathroom when the team opened its new arena. Ballmer’s drive to win eventually led the Clippers to courting Kawhi Leonard in free agency, fresh off leading the Toronto Raptors to a 2019 NBA championship. Leonard wanted to live in Los Angeles, yes, but he also wanted Paul George as his running mate, so the Clippers shipped out a boatload of draft picks and future two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to get him.
Leonard’s people also made it known that their client wanted the type of big endorsement deals his off-putting, robotic personality couldn’t land legitimately. Leonard’s now infamous Uncle Dennis Robertson never tried to be subtle about his desire to secure similar off-court bags to the ones Kawhi’s contemporaries like LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant were landing on their own accord, and leaks of his demands circulated as soon as Leonard hit free agency.
The Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation into the Clippers, according to the New York Times, and it’s already issued one subpoena. While the scope of the investigation is unclear for now, the fact that the feds are watching the Clippers for under-the-table dealings potentially makes this a much bigger deal than simply breaking NBA rules.
How does breaking NBA rules amount to a federal crime by the Clippers? While there’s a lot left to come out, the main idea is that the Clippers committed some level of fraud. Daktronics was a publicly traded company, the only one of the four tied up in the Leonard scandal to fit that description, while Aspiration, Lockton Insurance, and Boingo Wireless were not. Publicly traded companies have a fiduciary duty to their shareholders to disclose big investments, and it sure feels like that never happened when dealing with Leonard.
There’s all types of potential avenues for a federal investigation. It could be securities fraud and misleading investors. It could be tax fraud in some capacity. It could be wire fraud, or labor racketeering. The feds are just poking around for now, but there are numerous ways their investigation could go.
Torre said that he was anticipating the federal investigation into the Clippers with the DOJ previously looking into Aspiration, as well as SEC probes into Aspiration and Daktronics. Watch Torre’s video here:
A federal criminal investigation into the Clippers and Kawhi Leonard is reportedly underway.@PabloTorre reacts: "There is a lot more." pic.twitter.com/uKi9gFBC2S
There could be on-court ramifications from this, too. Leonard was traded to the Toronto Raptors before the NBA issued its penalty. That trade was put on hold, and it’s still on hold at the moment because everyone running the Clippers has been suspended. Will Kawhi actually play for the Raptors this year? Toronto looks like a fringe title contender with him, and the Clippers sure need the draft picks they got back in the deal if they’re ever going to build a good team again.
The NBA dropping the hammer on the Clippers felt like an exclamation mark to end this story. Apparently, there’s so much that could still be to come. The Clippers scandal was always a bombshell, and it keeps getting bigger.
While we're still a few weeks away from NBA training camps opening, it's never too early to begin the fantasy draft process. With that in mind, we'll be taking a weekly look at some of the changes to the average draft position (ADP) of players. The data used comes from Yahoo! Sports, and we'll kick things off with players whose draft positions have increased over the last seven days.
ADP Risers
G Davion Mitchell, Miami Heat (+15)
A look at the projected Heat depth chart helps explain why Mitchell has moved up draft boards over the last week. The trade that sent Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami required the franchise to give up Jaime Jaquez Jr., Tyler Herro and Kasparas Jakučionis, players who ranked second, third and seventh on the team in assists last season. That leaves Mitchell and Dru Smith, who averaged 16.3 minutes per game last season, as the point guards on the Heat roster. It's possible that Miami looks to get another low-cost veteran to add depth to the position, but Mitchell may need to play more than the 28.6 minutes he averaged in 2025-26. Also, playing in a lineup that includes Giannis and Bam Adebayo could boost Mitchell's defensive value.
G/F Cason Wallace, Oklahoma City Thunder (+13)
Like Mitchell, Wallace's ADP has been impacted by roster changes. This offseason, the Thunder bid farewell to starter Luguentz Dort (Atlanta) and reserves Isaiah Joe (Detroit) and Aaron Wiggins. That leaves Wallace, who started 58 games last season, and Ajay Mitchell to absorb many of those minutes. Given how many games he's started over the last two years (101), Wallace is the likely fifth starter, thus raising his fantasy ceiling.
G Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers (+8)
Players coming off of significant injuries are always worth keeping an eye on during the early stages of draft season. Haliburton did not play at all in 2025-26 after rupturing his Achilles during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, robbing the league of an exciting player and fantasy managers of someone who could offer consistent first-round value. Haliburton has a clean bill of health, and despite any potential early-season injury management, he's worth investing in heavily.
G Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves (+8)
To create a new backcourt partnership, the Timberwolves had to give up some key pieces this offseason. LaMelo Ball was acquired from the Hornets, while Naz Reid (Charlotte) and Julius Randle (Brooklyn) were moved via trade. Even with Ball's strengths, Reid and Randle's departures mean Minnesota will need even more from Edwards. Also, Ball's injury history may be affecting Ant-Man's ADP. LaMelo appeared in 65 games or more just twice in his first six seasons, playing 72 in 2025-26. The need to account for a potential extended absence for Ball at some point boosts Edwards' fantasy value.
C Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers (+4)
The Trail Blazers have a lot of bodies on the perimeter, but Jrue Holiday and Toumani Camara may be the lone "plus" defenders of the group. As a result, more may be required of their rim protectors, most notably Clingan, in 2026-27. He's averaged 1.7 blocks per game through two seasons, and Clingan led the NBA in offensive rebounds per game in 2025-26 (4.5). With guys like Damian Lillard, Ja Morant and Deni Avdija dominating the ball, Clingan (8.9 FGA per game last season) will likely need that rebounding prowess to keep his scoring up, and he's capable.
While Kalkbrenner had a solid rookie season overall, his production and playing time decreased after the All-Star break. Moussa Diabaté making the starting center job his own played a big role, but changes to the Hornets roster may also be affecting Kalkbrenner's early ADP. Charlotte acquired Naz Reid as part of the LaMelo Ball trade and used one of their first-round picks on former Washington center Hannes Steinbach, the best rebounder in the incoming rookie class. Kalkbrenner's shot-blocking and field-goal percentage will keep him in the conversation, but the fantasy ceiling has been lowered.
F Julian Champagnie, San Antonio Spurs (-7)
A major topic of conversation after the Spurs' run to the NBA Finals was Dylan Harper's role, and how it may expand in the years to come. De'Aaron Fox, who struggled during the Finals, is on a max deal, and Stephon Castle has quickly established himself as one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA. So, if the Spurs are to get Harper more minutes, who may pay the price? Champagnie, who started 68 games last season, could see his opportunities decrease after averaging 27.6 minutes per game. Another factor is the Spurs' signing of Tobias Harris, which gives the team another option at forward.
G/F Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers (-6)
Avdija is coming off the best season of his NBA career, having established new highs in points, assists and three-pointers. However, fantasy managers have to consider that Portland did not have Damian Lillard (Achilles) at all, and Scoot Henderson (hamstring) did not make his season debut until early February. Add in the offseason acquisition of Ja Morant, and there will be at least three on-ball playmakers for new head coach Micah Nori to account for. Shaedon Sharpe's knee injury frees up perimeter minutes, but Avdija's usage will likely take a hit, and his ADP may reflect that anticipation.
G Tyler Herro, Milwaukee Bucks (-5)
This is an interesting one. While Herro is a proven scorer, he's coming off a season in which he played 33 games and is joining a new team after spending his first seven years in Miami. With no Giannis Antetokounmpo, this could be a spot where Herro gets to establish himself as a franchise cornerstone in the final year of his contract. However, the Bucks welcome back Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr. and Gary Trent Jr., and they used one of their two lottery picks on Arizona guard Brayden Burries. That may explain why Herro's ADP has decreased over the last week.
C Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons* (-3)
The asterisk is next to Duren because he and the Pistons still haven't agreed to a new deal. Recent reports say the center is more open to signing his $9.6 million qualifying offer, which would make him an unrestricted free agent next summer, but that comes with significant risk. And if the two sides do agree to an extension, will the hard feelings linger? Fantasy-wise, Duren was excellent last season, and the path to maintain that level of production (top-50 value in eight- and nine-cat formats, as well as points leagues) is certainly there. But uncertainty around Duren makes him challenging for some fantasy managers to evaluate right now.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 13: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant /NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Defending a championship changes the vibe during regular-season play. When the goal is to repeat a championship in June, Tuesday night games in February can feel like a formality. Nobody wants to overexert a key player in a meaningless game on the off chance that he’ll blow a hammy. However, Mike Brown’s offense, built for another deep playoff run, can’t help but generate eye-popping stats all season long.
Between the exploding scoreboards, higher possession counts, and New York’s elite playmakers and scorers, several Knicks records are suddenly at risk. Some of these benchmarks have survived nearly 40 years, while the ink for others is still wet in the books. A closer look at the roster and statistics suggests five specific franchise records could realistically fall this season. Let’s dive in.
Single-Season 30-Point Games
Current Record: 36 games – Richie Guerin (1961-1962), Patrick Ewing (1989-90), Jalen Brunson (2023-24)
2026-27 Season Target: 37 games
The current franchise mark for the most 30-point contest in a regular season is a three-way tie spanning three distinct eras of Knicks basketball. Richie Guerin established the benchmark during the fast-break pace of the early 1960s. Patrick Ewing matched it during his prime, dominating the post game-in and game-out while carrying the team on his broad shoulders and aching knees. Captain Jalen Brunson joined the two Hall of Famers two seasons ago during his rise to All-NBA status.
Of every record on this list, this one is the most wobbly. Brunson remains the undisputed engine of New York’s half-court offense, combining incredible footwork with elite basketball smarts.
In Mike Brown’s five-out system, defenses can no longer load up in the paint without leaving deadly perimeter shooters uncovered. Having Karl-Anthony Towns at center pulls defensive anchors 25 feet away from the basket, giving Brunson wider driving lanes, fewer double-teams, and access to his mid-range spots. Assuming he’ll be healthy all season (knock on wood and cross yourself), Brunson claiming sole possession of this record with 37-plus 30-point games feels more like a matter of when, not if.
Single-Game Scoring Record
Current Record: 62 points – Carmelo Anthony (January 24, 2014 vs. Charlotte Bobcats)
2026-27 Season Target: 63 points
First, a moment of silence for the Charlotte Bobcats. . . . Okay, we’re good to go.
Carmelo Anthony’s 62-point masterclass against Charlotte has stood untouched for 13 years. In a legendary isolation clinic, Melo shot 23-of-35 from the floor without recording a single assist or turnover. Surpassing a single-game point total like that requires the blend of crazy shot volume, incredible efficiency, (no small degree of selfishness,) and a game that’s competitive enough to keep starters on the floor late into the fourth quarter.
New York’s current roster is different because it features two distinct creators who can completely go off in a single game. Brunson already came within a single point of the record, dropping 61 points on 47 shot attempts against the Spurs in March 2024. Meanwhile, Towns brings a personal career-high of 62 points from his time in Minnesota, with an outside stroke that can cause box score chaos. If Towns hits six or seven early threes while dominating the glass, or if Brunson takes over a high-paced track meet, Carmelo’s iconic record could melt like a stick of butter on a sunny afternoon.
Single Season Team 3-Pointers
Current Record: 1,168 made three-pointers (2025-26)
2026-27 Season Target: 1,169 made three-pointers
New York set a new record last season, draining 1,168 three-pointers. And Mike Brown’s Knicks are just getting started.
Brown’s scheme relies heavily on five-out principles that are designed to distort perimeter coverage. With movement shooters on the bench (Shamet, McBride, and occasionally Alvarado and Clarkson), the sheer volume of perimeter attempts is bound to increase. Averaging roughly 14 made threes a game across a full schedule, and thereby breaking their own team record for a second straight season, seems like the natural trajectory for this squad.
Individual Single Season 3-Pointers
Current Record: 283 made three-pointers – Donte DiVincenzo (2023-24 season)
2026-27 Season Target: 284 made three-pointers
When Donte DiVincenzo poured in 283 three-pointers during his lone full season with the Knicks, he shattered Evan Fournier’s previous mark of 241, setting an incredible bar for perimeter volume. Reaching that total requires a player to average roughly 3.5 made threes per game while appearing in almost every matchup.
DiVincenzo and Fournier are long gone, but the team has redistributed the heavy perimeter workload across its primary offensive tools. Both Towns and Brunson shoot near 40% from beyond the arc and often get the green light in Brown’s system. If KAT maintains a high-volume, trailing-center role in transition, or if Cap takes even more off-dribble pull-up jumpers, DiVo’s record could easily be squashed before the season’s end.
Single Season Point Total
Current Record: 2,347 points – Patrick Ewing (1989-90 season)
2026-27 Season Target: 2,348 points
Ewing’s 1989-90 campaign remains the ultimate test of single-season scoring in franchise history. Piling up 2,347 total points, Ewing averaged 28.6 points per contest and played all 82 games. Obviously, the big fella served as the team’s primary generator and carried most of the load that year.
Surpassing Ewing’s record is hands-down the most grueling challenge on this list of beatable benchmarks. Per-game averages mean little if a player misses games due to load management or minor injury, so any absence from the floor will interrupt the scoring pace needed to top Patrick.
Across 77 appearances in 2023-24, Brunson recorded 2,212 points, which put him within spitting distance of the record. To beat out Ewing, Jalen would need to maintain a scoring average north of 28 points per game, while playing in at least 80 contests. Requiring a combination of elite offensive production and availability, the 2,348 points in a season is the hardest to crack, and as Jalen enters his thirties, Coach Brown is likely to play Jalen for shorter stints in unimportant games, to preserve him for the offseason. Still, it is mathematically within reach.
Some franchise records are so incredible that they’re unlikely to be toppled, given the changes in play-style, rules, and rosters over time. However, Mike Brown’s team, based on a high-volume, high-efficiency attack, is not your father’s Knicks. In the 1995-96 season, the ‘Bockers averaged 97.2 points per game and attempted 1,285 three-pointers; thirty years later, they averaged 116.5 PPG and took 3,133 threes. And that’s not even top-five in the league! (The Warriors tried 3,616.) With the firepower currently employed at MSG, some of these historical benchmarks are truly at risk.
Which records do you think will fall this year? Talk about it below!
DALLAS, TEXAS - JUNE 29: New Dallas Mavericks head coach Dusty May is introduced during a press conference at American Airlines Center on June 29, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A winning culture comes before actually winning. Good coaches and winning players know this, and new Dallas Mavericks head coach Dusty May just made sure to emphasize how that’s exactly what they are building in Dallas right now.
Looking at the current NBA Champions, the New York Knicks, we see one of the greatest examples of the power of a winning culture in recent history. The Knicks don’t have superstars. They don’t have an NBA MVP or the scoring leader. The Knicks have a well-built team, a strong leader in Jalen Brunson, who was brought up in the team-oriented culture of Villanova. He knows how to make a team work together and take the lead when needed, and a team with a very firm winning culture.
The interesting part of this, with Dallas glasses on, is that this specific mental aspect of basketball, which is just as important as individual skillset – a winning culture – has clearly been a priority by Dallas Mavericks president and GM Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz since they took over.
We see that in who they drafted this summer, who they acquired, and who they kept on the roster.
Here’s Dusty May again:
“Sass (Marcus Sasser) coming from the Houston program out of college and the Pistons last year, coming from a winning organization. He’s used to winning.”
May highlights the new players as more than capable of helping to (re)establish that culture in Dallas.
“That’s the majority of our roster, especially the newly acquired players. You look at Tarik (Biberovic), going to the EuroLeague finals. Morez (Johnson Jr.) winning a championship.”
IOWA CITY, IA – MARCH 5: Forward Morez Johnson Jr. #21 of the Michigan Wolverines shares a moment with head coach Dusty May following the match-up against the Iowa Hawkeyes on March 5, 2026 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) | Getty Images
“Zacch (Risacher) with an Atlanta Hawks team that had the Knicks down in the playoffs, before the Knicks caught fire and figured some things out,” he said, making a point to note how building a winning culture may be a top priority as the pre-season begins.
“We have a lot of guys who know what winning requires,” May said and repeated that they don’t have to teach all these young guys what it takes. They already know.
And may I add Sergio De Larrea? Coming fresh off a Spanish championship win with Valencia over Spanish powerhouse Barcelona, he also won Best Young Player 2026 in the Spanish ACB league. He knows how to win, as well.
Creating a winning culture, which we probably saw in Dallas the last time in 2024 during the Finals run, also takes veterans and leaders on and off the court setting the tone.
Here, Dusty May mentioned two players especially, two names which probably won’t be a big surprise to anyone. The first one had him “blown away” after watching him practice.
“We all know how talented Kyrie (Irving) is with a ball in his hand, not in his hands. But to see his preparation, attention to detail and IQ, it’s something that I’ve never seen at the level he works.”
You expect a player like Kyrie Irving to be over the hill right now, when you think about his long and successful career, to be a locker room presence and vet. But the impressive part about Kyrie, May pointed out, is that he is still one of the best players in the league when healthy – as well.
“For someone to still be able to impact the day to day like he does, and also be able to have the leadership role, it’s gonna prove invaluable,” May said.
The second player is Cooper Flagg, of course. The young number one draft pick, who’s entering his second season, and in some way managed to live up to all the hype. A guy who struggled losing as much as Dallas did last season and – or but – still carries that special winning player competitive spirit to everything he does.
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 11: Kyrie Irving #11 and Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks pose for a picture during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2026 NBA Summer League game on July 11, 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 Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
“To be 19 years old and to have everything thrown at him as he has,” the Dallas Mavericks head coach said, “it’s a real testament to his maturity and to the people around him to keep him grounded, because he is just a normal guy.”
And to Dusty May, being his coach comes with a special obligation.
“There’s a real responsibility that he becomes the absolute best he can be.”
“At every level of basketball, he’s affected winning. So that’s what we expect of him. It’s going to be fun to be part of his journey,” Dusty May said and once again, we’re back at the topic at hand.
Because this seems to be the general point Dusty May and the Mavs want to push and put out there. ‘We’re building a winning culture here. Through the players we acquire, through the players we retain, through the way we build the team and how we communicate’.
For something like this to work, however, it is important that everyone involved, including the fanbase, understands that it is not a quick fix. It’s a long process of building a roster and a culture around a guy, who they feel – and rightfully so – that they have a responsibility to help fulfill his potential.
So if the Knicks win last season serves to prove a point here; about how a team can be better than the sum of its parts when trust, connection and leadership are on point and a roster is made to work together – then this new Dallas Mavericks leadership may just be on to something.
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 05: b99during the round 20 NBL match between New Zealand Breakers and Illawarra Hawks at Spark Arena, on February 05, 2025, in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Sixers are bringing in four players on Exhibit 10 contracts: Dillon Jones, Saint Thomas, Jameer Nelson, Jr. and, easily the most recognizable of all, Tacko Fall.
As a refresher, an Exhibit 10 contract is essentially a camp invite where the signee is financially incentivized by the signing team to join its G League affiliate. It’s not the norm for a player to parlay this type of contract into a roster spot, but it’s far from impossible.
Let’s break down all four players and rank them as far as intrigue to earn a spot with the Sixers.
Saint Thomas
Thomas is a Swiss Army knife wing with great size at 6-foot-7 and 235 pounds. He finished his college career at USC after two seasons at Loyola and one at Northern Colorado. He spent last season with the Delaware Blue Coats after going undrafted in 2025. He was also with the Sixers in the Vegas summer league.
There’s nothing that really jumps out about Thomas’ raw numbers. He stuffs the stat sheet, posting above-average rebounding and assist numbers for a big wing. Like most big wings, shooting is the swing skill. He shot 33.1% from deep in 36 G League games last season.
Barring a serious shooting improvement that he flashes at camp, Thomas is the most likely of this bunch to spend the year in Delaware. He’s interesting enough that it makes sense to keep him in the pipeline.
Jameer Nelson, Jr.
Like his dad, Jameer Nelson, Jr. is trying to make it in the NBA as an undersized guard. After two years each at George Washington and Delaware, Nelson finished his collegiate career at TCU. He’s spent the last two seasons playing in the G League and leagues in Canada, Puerto Rico and China.
The odds are against him at 6-foot-1, but the younger Nelson has clear skills, including the ability to create his own shot. He led the CAA in scoring his final year with the Blue Hens and was second on the Horned Frogs in his lone season there. He’s also displayed quick hands, notching over two steals a game throughout his NCAA career.
The chances of Nelson cracking the Sixers’ roster feel low, especially when you factor in depth at guard. But like Thomas, Nelson is an interesting guy to keep around who can help keep the Blue Coats competitive and guide the players on the team.
Dillon Jones
Jones comes with the best pedigree of any of the four players. He starred all four years at Weber State — he won the conference’s ROY as a freshman and POY as a senior. Despite his bulky frame (6-foot-5, 235 pounds), Jones was an outstanding playmaker with an impressive bag throughout his college career. He was a first-round pick (26th overall) of the Washington Wizards and was eventually traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
He saw action in 55 games as a rookie, but wasn’t a consistent part of the Thunder’s loaded rotation. He was traded back to the Wizards the following season, was subsequently waived, and then picked up by the New York Knicks on a two-way deal. That means Jones has won a championship in each of his first two NBA seasons. Here’s hoping for a third!
It’s been a weird NBA road for Jones, but there’s talent here. He was used as an offensive hub in college, a role he won’t be afforded at the NBA level, but his passing and ability to create shots are intriguing at his size. He’s also an outstanding rebounder. The concerns with Jones are a lack of elite athletic ability to guard on the wing and below average shooting at the NBA level.
Despite the Sixers fortifying their depth at the four, Jones should still be a candidate for that final two-way slot. He’s a versatile player, and his passing and rebounding could be nice traits for this current roster.
Tacko Fall
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re aware of Tacko Fall. The 7-foot-6 Senegalese big man enjoyed a four-year career at UCF, famously playing a hard-fought game against Duke in the second round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament. He finished with 15 points, six rebounds and three blocks before fouling out.
Fall went undrafted, but signed — you guessed it — an Exhibit 10 contract with the Boston Celtics, which was converted to a two-way spot. After two seasons in Boston, Fall signed a two-way deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He didn’t get much NBA time, appearing in only 37 contests across three seasons. He’s spent most of his time since playing in China, save for an 18-game stint in Australia.
Fall’s strengths and weaknesses are obvious. His size makes him an elite rim protector and rebounder, but he’s also extremely limited offensively. He’ll finish everything around the rim, but has no other real offensive skill. He’s also still a rough free throw shooter.
I have him as the most intriguing because backup center is the biggest question mark on a deep Sixers roster. Is Fall better than Ariel Hukporti or Adem Bona? Probably not — there’s a reason he’s been in China — but having a guy like Fall as an extra option on a two-way wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. He has experience, he’ll rebound, block shots and finish lobs. That might be enough to get the Sixers through a Tuesday night against the Kings.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 9: Pat Spencer #61 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 9, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Every day, we’ll take a closer look at another member of the 2026-27 Phoenix Suns, examining what they bring to the roster and what their role could mean for the season ahead as we count down to training camp and the preseason.
Pat Spencer
Point guard, 6’2”, 205 pounds, 30 years old, 3rd season
Wanted: a player considered one of the greatest college lacrosse players of all time, who somehow turned 1 year of college basketball into an NBA career. Must possess grit, toughness, tenacity, and the willingness to make every possession feel like a bar fight. Oh, and one hell of a savage mustache.
That’s right, Pat Spencer is who the Phoenix Suns signed this offseason when they brought him in on a two-way contract. He’s somebody who set the NCAA men’s lacrosse record for career assists before ultimately making his way to the NBA. Spencer originally attended Loyola University Maryland, where he played lacrosse. But after graduating, he still had a year of basketball eligibility, so he transferred to Northwestern for the 2019–20 season.
Since then, he’s worked his way through the G League, spending time with the Capital City Go-Go and Santa Cruz Warriors before earning meaningful minutes with Golden State last season. It was enough to catch the attention of the Suns.
Spencer may not be someone who regularly impacts the NBA roster, but he can be a foundational piece for the Valley Suns. He can set the table for others, bring toughness and organization to the floor, and help reinforce the identity Phoenix wants throughout the entire organization.
Last Season
GP
MIN
PPG
RPG
APG
STL
FG%
3PT%
FT%
OFFRTG
DEFRTG
+/- (TOTAL)
66
18.6
7.2
2.4
3.5
0.7
42.7%
35.7%
77.2%
112.1
115.6
-95
The Golden State Warriors were riddled with injuries last season, with their players missing a combined 330 games, the eighth most in the NBA. And when injuries happen, opportunity follows. That’s where Pat Spencer’s story really began.
He played 10 games in November without making a start. Then, on December 6, he made his first NBA start of his career. By February, Spencer appeared in 10 games and started seven of them, eventually forcing Golden State to convert his two-way contract into a standard deal out of necessity. All told, Spencer played 66 games for the Warriors last season, starting 14 and averaging 18.6 minutes per game. He finished seventh on the team in total minutes and third in assists with 232.
His best game of the season? On February 5, Spencer went 6-of-10 from beyond the arc, scored 20 points, grabbed six rebounds, and added four assists in a 101–97 victory. The opponent? The Phoenix Suns.
Contract and Roster Context
Spencer signed a two-way contract with Phoenix and will become an unrestricted free agent next summer, with the Suns not retaining his Bird rights.
What He Brings
Pat Spencer is the type of player every organization should want in its system. He proved last season that, when called upon, he can step in and provide productive basketball. He isn’t elite in any one area, but the collection of skills he brings can serve as a positive foundation for an organization that doesn’t need to rely on him every night to be successful.
It’s kind of like building a house. You have the foundation, the frame, the electricity, the piping, and the aesthetics. Spencer is like the piping. Absolutely necessary, rarely noticed, and built to hold up over time.
He brings energy, a touch of playmaking, a smidgen of shooting, and reliability in the areas that don’t always show up in a box score. Those intangibles matter. And he’s the type of player you want in your system because he helps reinforce the larger vision of the organization.
For the Phoenix Suns, that identity is built around toughness, tenacity, playing hard on both ends of the floor, and refusing to quit. That is where Pat Spencer shines. He may not have great size, elite athleticism, or a particularly high ceiling as a player. But he has that dog in him, and that can benefit both Spencer and the organization at the G League level, and whenever he is called upon with the big club.
What Needs to Improve
Pat Spencer is limited, and that is the primary reason he can’t be counted on for a larger role. He isn’t a big guard. And while we’ve seen throughout NBA history, and even on this current roster, that size can sometimes matter more in the heart than on a physical attribute sheet, it’s still nice to have a little bit of it.
Spencer has limitations as an isolation scorer against elite length and athleticism. Put a quality point of attack defender on him while he’s trying to facilitate, and you can jam him up rather quickly. That forces him to rely more on basketball IQ, angles, and opportunities rather than on breaking down defenders one-on-one.
He also isn’t a great shooter. Spencer is a career 33.9% three-point shooter, though that comes on only 65-of-192 from deep, so the volume isn’t massive. Defensively, there is no doubt he plays aggressively and with a chip on his shoulder. But he can still struggle with rotational instincts and off-ball awareness.
There are multiple areas of his game that can improve, from finishing to shooting consistency to defensive rotations.
Prediction
I don’t think we’ll see much from Pat Spencer this season, and ultimately, that could be a good thing. It would mean the Suns stayed relatively healthy and didn’t have to reach into their G League treasure chest and pull out Pat “The Pipe” Spencer. Yeah, I just made that nickname up. And I like it!
If he does get an opportunity, I expect his role to look somewhat similar to Jamaree Bouyea’s a year ago, although Spencer may not be as effective offensively right away. What he does bring is a different layer, and that could become something worth watching as the season moves along. Bouyea’s contract isn’t guaranteed beyond January, which could eventually create competition for that final roster spot. If the Suns like what they see from Spencer in the G League, and if he performs well in spot opportunities with the big club, Phoenix could eventually have a decision to make: Do you stick with Bouyea? Or do you go with Pat Spencer?
When you look at the three two-way spots, I think this represents an upgrade for the Phoenix Suns. For an organization that didn’t make a ton of moves this offseason, swapping Pat Spencer into the Isaiah Livers spot makes sense. The Suns now have three two-way players who bring three distinct skill sets, and Spencer might be the clearest embodiment of what this organization wants to be: tough, competitive, smart, and willing to do the dirty work.
You build an organization by selecting players who represent what you want to become, and Spencer fits that mold. He may not have a large role with the Suns, but he should have a meaningful one with the Valley Suns. And if his NBA career has taught us anything, it’s that you probably shouldn’t bet against a guy who went from being one of the greatest lacrosse players in college history to earning a spot in the NBA. He’s going to give a shit every single day, and sometimes that’s exactly the kind of player you want in your organization.
Raphielle Johnson
