We are saddened by the passing of Cozell McQueen, who proudly wore the Red and White from 1981-85 and was a member of our unforgettable 1983 National Championship team.⁰
— NC State Men's Basketball (@PackMensBball) August 6, 2026
McQueen was a sophomore backup center on the Wolfpack team that later spawned the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary, "Survive and Advance." In 36 games that season, he averaged 3.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game on 43.1% shooting from the field.
He shot 7-of-18 from the field and 4-of-6 from the free throw line during the Wolfpack's NCAA tournament run. His best game came in the Final Four against Georgia, against whom he scored eight points on 4-of-5 shooting while securing 13 rebounds. In the NCAA championship game against heavily favored Houston, McQueen — defending Hakeem Olajuwon — scored four points while bringing in 12 rebounds.
He started 66 games over his junior and senior seasons, averaging 7.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game over his four-year career in Raleigh. He went on to become a fourth-round pick (91st overall) in the 1985 NBA Draft to the Milwaukee Bucks. He played three games in the NBA in 1986-87 for the Detroit Pistons.
SACRAMENTO, CA - FEBRUARY 4: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #3 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on February 4, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, 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 the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Philadelphia 76ers traded Johni Broome to the Los Angeles Clippers last week in order to create enough cap space under the first apron to sign Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a veteran’s minimum deal. Yesterday, that signing was made official.
Per Sixers Public Relations:
“Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey announced today that the team has signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
In 51 appearances (14 starts) with Memphis last season, Caldwell-Pope averaged 8.4 points on 41.0-percent shooting (91.3% FT), 2.7 assists, and 2.5 rebounds in 21.3 minutes. He recorded a season-high 20 points on 4-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc on Jan. 2 against the Lakers.
Since entering the league in 2013, the University of Georgia product has shot at least 38.3-percent from deep in six of his 13 seasons, including a career-high 42.3-percent from three in 2022-23.
A two-time NBA champion with the Lakers in 2020 and Nuggets in 2023, Caldwell-Pope has appeared in 67 career postseason games, averaging 9.7 points on 35.8-percent shooting from deep, 2.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.2 steals in 32.4 minutes.
Caldwell-Pope has appeared in 11 NBA Finals games (all starts), averaging 10.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.2 steals in 32.5 minutes. He poured in 17 points in Los Angeles’ Game 6 series-clinching win against Miami on Oct. 11, 2020.
Originally selected by Detroit in the first round (8th overall) of the 2013 NBA Draft, Caldwell-Pope has produced career averages of 11.0 points (42.7% FG, 36.5% 3FG, 82.6% FT), 2.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.1 steals in 963 games (784 starts) with the Detroit Pistons (2013-17), Los Angeles Lakers (2017-21), Washington Wizards (2021-22), Denver Nuggets (2022-24), Orlando Magic (2024-25), and the Memphis Grizzlies (2025-26).
Caldwell-Pope will wear No. 1 with the 76ers.“
The new piece of information was Caldwell-Pope wearing No. 1, last donned by Andre Drummond, with James Harden also being a recent Uno, and the longest-tenured Sixer to wear the number being Slammin’ Sammy Dalembert. We’ll see how much Caldwell-Pope can positively contribute coming off a couple down years in Orlando and Memphis. Undeniably, though, he has more left in the tank than a couple other veterans whom the Sixers have used to occupy end-of-roster spots in recent years. Plus, if it makes LeBron happy, we’re all happy.
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 16: Trae Young #3 of the Washington Wizards handles the ball against the Golden State Warriors at Capital One Arena on March 16, 2026 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 best thing about the parity era of the NBA is that almost every team believes they are one or two moves away from contention. It can also be something of a double-edged sword when teams get desperate and make shortsighted deals that could negatively affect their chances for years to come if they don’t go right.
Big risks can equal big rewards in the NBA, but some of the decisions this summer already seem destined to age poorly. Here’s my list of the worst moves of the NBA offseason thus far.
7. Lakers break the bank for Walker Kessler
Of all the moves on this list, this one has the chance to come back and bite me. I’m pretty high on the Lakers entering the season. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves needed a defensive-minded center behind them, and Kessler was the best one available on the market. I don’t even really have a problem with Kessler’s contract, a four-year, $130 million deal, which seems fine for a solid starting center. My issue is what the Lakers gave up to get him, sending two unprotected first-round picks and two swaps to Utah for the right to pay him. That’s a superstar haul for a player who has never come close to being an All-Star before, and I doubt he’ll ever achieve that status. The deal also means the Lakers don’t have a first-round pick to trade for the next seven years. Los Angeles might have the worst forward room in the league at the moment, and they have no way to upgrade the roster after overpaying for Kessler. This could work out if Luka looks like the best player in the world and Kessler looks like prime Rudy Gobert, but it’s just way too risky for a player who has accomplished very little in his NBA career thus far.
6. Knicks letting Mitchell Robinson walk
I understand that no team wants to be in the second apron right now, but I think it could have been worth it for the Knicks to re-sign Mitchell Robinson. I understand the logic of letting him walk to the Boston Celtics: he’s often injured, and his miserable free throw shooting makes him a liability late in games. Still, Robinson’s force on the offensive glass and ability to protect the rim made New York both a better team, and a huge pain in the ass to go against. His offensive rebound late in Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals helped the Knicks win their first championship since 1973. This team could absolutely repeat this year, but they lost a key piece because they didn’t want to go into the second apron to retain him. Andre Drummond is a pretty big downgrade for a team with ambitions of going back-to-back.
5. Bulls take on Nic Claxton without assets
The Bulls entered the summer with the most salary cap space in the league, but they immediately blew a huge chunk of it by taking back Nic Claxton from the Nets in a three-team trade. The Bulls didn’t give up anything to get him, but Claxton’s play has fallen off so much in recent years that Chicago should have received assets just to take on his contract ($44 million owed over the next two years). If you’re going to be a total non-shooter at center like Claxton, you better be able to rebound well. Claxton is very weak on the glass, finishing in the 27th percentile of defensive rebound rate last year. Unless that perks up, this won’t be a good move for the Bulls, and he’ll be an anchor on their cap sheet next season, too. Claxton was pretty good a few years ago when he was patrolling the backline next to Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving, but a back injury has slowed him down and made him look like a shell of himself in what should be his prime years. I actually think Claxton might be the third best center on the team this year behind Jalen Smith and Zach Collins. The Bulls should have waited to see what else was out there on the market before immediately wasting so much money on Claxton.
4. The Pelicans doing absolutely nothing
The Pelicans only made one move this offseason, and it was a super confusing one, re-signing DeAndre Jordan to a two-year, $8 million deal with both seasons guaranteed. Does New Orleans realize it finished 26-56 last year? Does it know basically everyone else in the West improved? The Pelicans have some talent on the roster with Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, Derik Queen, and Jeremiah Fears, but they can’t possibly think the status quo from last season is good enough. They would have been wise to sell high on Murphy, but they reportedly rejected some strong offers for him. Everyone blasted the Pelicans a year ago for getting too aggressive in their draft night move for Queen, and it apparently paralyzed them into inactivity this summer. Most teams will at least throw a few ideas at the wall. The Pelicans just sat in silence.
3. Suns trading for Miles Bridges
Future first-round picks are at a premium in this era of the NBA, and Suns gave away a super valuable one by sending an unprotected 2033 pick to Charlotte for Miles Bridges. That’s not all Phoenix gave up in the deal: they also parted with two solid role players in Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale. A team should be able to land an impact player when trading that type of package, and I just don’t think Bridges is good enough to fit the bill. He’s a spacey off-ball defender who ranks near the bottom of the league in steals and deflections, and it’s no coincidence that Charlotte’s defense was much better with him off the floor, going from a 117.1 defensive rating when he was on to a 112 defensive rating when he was off. Bridges also still isn’t a reliable outside shooter after only hitting 32.3% of his triples across the last two seasons combined. The skeptic in me says the Suns only made this move because of Bridges’ Michigan State connections, and they were willing to overlook his horrifying history of domestic violence to do it. I like a lot of the Suns’ other moves this summer, but this one just wasn’t worth it.
2. Wizards give Trae Young a max contract
It’s rare that a contract becomes the worst deal in the league from the second it’s signed, but that’s exactly what happened when the Wizards decided to give Trae Young a four-year max extension worth $212 million. No one else in the league would have given Young that contract, which makes me think the two sides had a handshake agreement when Washington made the trade deadline deal for the former Hawks star in February. Young hasn’t played like a max player since he led the Hawks to the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals, and that series was so long ago that Ben Simmons was a focal point in it. Washington is clearly sick of being in the NBA cellar, but I’m skeptical of the fit between Young and newly drafted No. 1 overall pick A.J. Dybantsa. Both players like the ball in their hands and are somewhat shaky as floor spacers. Young is of course still one of the very worst defenders in the NBA. If Young can finally embrace movement shooting and setting screens, there’s a chance his excellent playmaking does help elevate the Wizards’ young core. This just felt like a massive overpay from the second it was signed for a team that still needs a lot more help.
1. Gary Trent Jr.’s $64M deal from the Bucks
Trent made a combined $5.8 million over the last two seasons. He’s coming off arguably the worst season of his career, yet he just cashed in with a massive $64 million deal from the Milwaukee Bucks. This contract reeks of cap circumvention. It sure feels like there was an agreement behind closed doors for the Bucks to eventually give Trent a big day after he signed two small deals, and they ended up rewarding him even though he didn’t earn it. Trent was legitimately one of the worst players in the NBA last year, ranking in the eighth percentile of EPM and the third percentile of estimated wins. He’s a complete zero defensively who can’t do much on offense other than hit some spot-up threes. The NBA is reportedly investigating the deal, but there’s no punishment for Milwaukee that would be worse than actually paying out this contract. The Bucks have plenty of young guards that need playing time, and now one of their highest paid players will be someone they have literally no use for. There’s just no way to defend this deal, even if everyone knows exactly how it came to be.
Welcome to Inside the Suns, your weekly deep-down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team. Each week, the Fantable — a round table of Bright Siders — gives their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.
Fantable Questions of the Week
Q1: The Suns finished last season 10th in defensive rating. Do you believe they will be better, worse, or about the same defensively in 2026-27?
GuarGuar: I think overall we will be around the same defensively, maybe slightly better overall with our rating. 10th is pretty good overall, so it’s not really a big problem if we finish the same. However, we were really streaky defensively last year, and I’d rather we be consistently around 10 all year than 6 for half the season and 18ish for the other half…as was the case last season. More minutes for Fleming and Maluach should help us defensively, and I expect Ott to play fewer small-ball lineups this season.
zenzino: I knew this set of questions was coming when grey_hound asked, “What happened to defense? All the answers seemed focused on offense,” and Keratosis concurred, saying many were guilty of that. In another part, Rod said he’d been going easy on us. I said, “Bring it!” And it’s been brought.
I can’t speak for anyone else, but my lineup ideas took defense into account. The reason it “seems” like the focus is on offense is that I’m not worried about defense. The grit and tenacity that last season’s Suns built their reputation on were largely about playing defense for 48 minutes. The foundation this coaching staff preaches is getting more offensive possessions on the defensive side of the ball.
I believe the Suns will be a little better on defense this year. Whether that translates to them moving up in the ranking or not depends on other teams.
Because of injuries and other factors, the Suns slid a little in the second half of the season. If they stay healthy, I don’t see that slide happening again.
This is also where the continuity comes in. Team defense, way more than offense, takes time and chemistry to develop. This is why (in addition to players wanting to show out) you don’t see any team defense in All-Star games and not much in Summer League. It takes time to learn those defensive schemes and learn the strengths and habits (good and bad) of your teammates.
I don’t think the Bridges trade necessarily made them better on defense, but it didn’t make them worse, either. Sheer and Man Man getting more experience will give them additional defensive length as well.
So, yeah…I definitely expect them to be in the top 10 and maybe move closer to 5 than 10.
Ashton: Well, shame on me for not realizing that the Suns finished 10th out of thirty teams. That isn’t bad. Also, I am just not a huge fan of defensive metrics, but a few commentators got up in arms about the lack of defense articles. So, what does Rod do? Dump the whole thing on the Fantable.
To me, defensive ratings are complicated and not the first stat I run to after the game. This is the formula.
Defensive Player Rating = (Players Steals*Blocks) + Opponents Differential= 1/5 of possessions – Times blown by + Deflections * OAPDW (Official Adjusted Players Defensive Withstand)
Yeah, screw that. That formula has been in place for over 20 years! I am not doing the math on that, as other factors come in. Such as, is the player a defensive pest? Can they smash-talk while switching? Are they going to get T’ed up and spend time on the bench? We know Brooks will take a seat. Booker will whine at the refs and take a seat. My guess is Bridges will be an enforcer based on his past history and probably have to take a seat. And I am not running the numbers on what losing RO and GA meant for the defense, but GA was decent. Also, I like watching defense based on the eye-test metric, but I can only watch one side of the court at a time. I would also add if the player stayed at a Holiday Inn the night before as a metric.
Another weird item is that I randomly ran into articles taking a skeptical view of both NBA and PFF (Pro Football Focus) analytic metrics over the course of putting this response together. Do not get me started on AI; it is a glorified data scraper that doesn’t like to play nicely in the “sandbox”. PFF was created by some British guy (shout-out to British Suns Fan) to better understand the game using hand-charted stats, and it was revolutionary for its time. But I tended to be on the side with the skeptical point of view. If the analytics were spot on, then we would all be rich on player prop bets or “Kashi market predictions”. Use the eye test and realize that analytics are helpful but not the end-all, be-all for capturing the nuances of mindset and play.
I still have to answer this question, and I think ranked 10th in defensive metrics is a pretty high bar to clear. Credit to Coach Ott, but I think the Suns regress from the mean. Call it closer to 15th in the league.
Rod: Overall, I see the Suns being at least as good, and likely better, defensively in 2026-27. A lot of that will depend on Ott, his lineups, and his player rotation schemes. I believe many of the Suns’ best defensive players will likely start games on the bench, and the more court time they get, the better the team’s overall defensive rating will be. There’s so much depth on this team; Ott needs to be the anti-D’Antoni coach and use that depth instead of running his starters ragged. I hope to see none of our starters playing more than 30-32 minutes a night because of that depth.
Q2: Which players would you put on the court as your Suns “All-Defensive Team” in 2026-27?
GuarGuar: My All D team for this season would be:
Goodwin Brooks Dunn Fleming Maluach
All those guys are dawgs on defense and get after it.
zenzino: Ok, let’s go.
Starting with the backcourt: Booker and Goodwin.
Yeah, I said Book. Deal with it. He’s a big, strong guard who doesn’t shy away from physicality. Olympic Book was a defensive stopper and he brings some of that to his NBA game. Is he always the best defender? No. Defense takes a lot of energy and he’s asked to do a lot of different things on this team. But, when he needs to be, he’s the best defensive guard on this team (yeah, I said that, too).
Goodie is a pest. He’s active, tenacious, and physical with good size and strength. His defensive rebounding ends opposing teams’ offensive plays.
Frontcourt starting with small forward: has to be Dillon Brooks.
He sets the tone. Physical and annoying, he gets under players’ skin. I really don’t think there’s any better option at SF.
The power forward position is the toughest one for me. The obvious answer is Miles Bridges. And while I can’t say I am well-versed in the ins and outs of his game, scouting reports say he is an able defender who often loses interest in defense. This could be my ignorance, but I’m going to go out on a limb and say Rasheer Fleming.
The question says ’26-’27 and not ‘to start 26-27’. So I am projecting that, for next season as a whole, Sheer will be the best defender at the power forward position. As I said in the SL Fantable, while Fleming didn’t show out, he quietly showed improvement in footwork and positioning, and the ability to guard 1-5.
Center is a tough one. I could do the same thing I did with the power forward position and project out but, I don’t think I’m going to do that. Man Man showed great improvement in SL, but he still has defensive areas that need significant improvement. While Oso can do certain things better than the other two (ball-handling, passing) I still have to give the edge to Mark Williams in rim protection and overall defense.
I think it’s interesting that so many people think MW is disposable at this point. His injury was a key reason the Suns’ defense declined towards the end of the season. Obviously, his health is always an issue. But he’s only 24 and will also get better if he can stay mostly healthy. He’s been in the league twice as long as Oso but has only played 26 more games.
So, to sum up, my All-Defensive Suns team is:
Booker Goodwin Brooks Fleming Williams
Ashton: If you made it through my rant on Q1 on analytics, I am still ready to rant. Analytics do not predict the future. But we only have current analytics from the 2025 and 2026 seasons to answer this question. What remains are at least three players. Booker, Brooks, and CG. Okay, pencil them in. Oh yeah, you have to pencil in Oso as well. Now, what to do with the forward position? I know! Let’s play everyone’s favorite subject. Small Ball!
CG (PG) Booker (SG) Dunn (SF) Brooks (PF) Oso (C)
I still think Brooks and Dunn are interchangeable at the forward position. Dunn needs to be brought in for what he was meant to be, a defensive wizard.
Rod: First off, I’m not considering offense as part of this equation. I’m looking at this strictly from the point of view of who put on the court if all you’re concerned with is getting a defensive stop and getting the ball out of the opponent’s hands. With that in mind…
We’ve got to have Goodie on this team. All hustle, all the time, and 13th in steals last season make him a no-brainer choice here.
After Goodie, the choices become a little more subjective as I think there are more than just 4 other players you could select for this team. Depending upon the matchups with the opponent’s lineup, you could tailor the defense to them specifically…but for now I’ll just go with a kind of “generic best” that I think would defend well in almost any situation.
At SG and SF, who do I choose? Brooks comes to mind first in this group, but then we’ve also got Highsmith and Dunn…plus Fleming at SF if we really want to go big on D. Oh, isn’t it good to have so many choices!?!
For the PF slot, we’ve got Fleming and perhaps Oso to consider. Fleming has the better physical tools, but Oso’s BBIQ and versatility can’t be dismissed easily.
And at center, Williams or Maluach? Mark actually had the best defensive rating on the team last year, but I love the way Khaman challenges people at the rim. Intimidation also plays a part in defense, and if Khaman develops a rep as a shot-blocker early on, that could push him into the top center spot for this team.
It’s certainly still mostly pure guesswork on this question, but, for now, my All-Defensive lineup would be Goodie, Dunn, Brooks, Fleming, and Maluach.
Q3: Which Suns player do you believe has the best mix of offensive and defensive talent?
GuarGuar: I’d probably say Dillon has the best mix of offensive and defensive talent. He’s really improved these past couple of seasons offensively, and we know the impact on D he brings on a nightly basis. He might be slightly overrated as a defender, but his energy on that end is very much real and contagious.
zenzino: I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of disagreement on this from the Book haters, but Devin Booker is the best two-way player on the team.
Obviously, he’s the best offensive player on the team with his ability to create shots for himself and for his teammates. His mid-range is money, he can drive to the basket, and while he shouldn’t be a volume 3-point shooter, he can hit them at a decent clip when he’s allowed to pick & choose when he shoots them. He has a lot of gravity and is top 10 in the league at getting blitzed for a reason: everyone in the league respects his ability to score. In his ‘down’ year last season, he still averaged almost 26 points and 6 assists per game.
Granted, he’s not the best defender on the team. But he’s much better than most give him credit for on BrightSide. As I said in the last question, as a guard, he plays with size and physicality. We saw him be a lockdown defender during the Olympics. We’ve seen it in key moments for the Suns.
Some might say, Dillon Brooks. While Brooks is a better defender and his offense was huge for the Suns last season, we don’t know if he can keep that up now that opposing teams know that side of his game. He can create his own shot, but he went to the ‘Kobe Bryant School of Passing,’ so we know when he wants to score, he’ll take the shot whether he should or not, and is not good at setting up his teammates. His 3-point percentage also went down from 39% to 34% last season because his strength is catch-and-shoot 3s.
Yup, I’m pretty comfortable saying Booker is the best two-way player on the team.
Ashton: It is clearly Booker with the best offensive and defensive skill set. All the metrics align, and he is the one I would want on the court in any crunch.
Rod: I pretty much have to go with Brooks on this one. He plays hard on both ends, keeps the rest of the teams pumped up to play D, and, in general, gets under the opposing teams’ skin. He doesn’t always make the best decisions on the court, but he has the confidence to make one and go with it rather than hesitate. On D, he also doesn’t back down from anyone. The Suns have a few better offensive and defensive players, but I don’t believe any other player on the roster has a better two-way skill set than Brooks.
As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!
Suns Trivia/History
On August 5, 1999, the Suns traded Pat Garrity, Danny Manning, a 2001 1st-round draft pick, and a 2002 1st-round draft pick to the Orlando Magic for Anfernee Hardaway. Two years later, as part of a three-team trade, the Magic would trade that same 2002 first-round pick back to the Suns along with Bo Outlaw in exchange for Jud Buechler in order to shed salary and create cap space. The 2002 1st-round pick that was traded away and later reacquired by the Suns was ultimately used by the Suns to draft Amar’e Stoudemire. If not for the Suns’ second trade with Orlando, Amar’e Stoudemire would have likely never been a Phoenix Sun.
On August 8, 2000, Kevin Johnson retired from the Phoenix Suns for the second and final time after being called back into service during the regular season after Jason Kidd broke his ankle. Although Johnson had not played in an NBA game since April of 1998, he stepped right back into the Suns’ starting lineup almost 2 years later to start in six of the Suns’ final 10 regular-season games and came off the bench to play in all nine of the Suns’ playoff games before the team was eliminated in the 2nd round by the Lakers. After his 2nd retirement, KJ went to the NBA on NBC studios to call games during the 2000-01 regular season.
Important Future Dates
Sept. 28 – Media Day Sept. 29 – Training Camp opens Oct. 5 – Suns @ Pistons (preseason) 4:00 PM Oct. 7 – Suns @ Bulls (preseason) 5:00 PM Oct. 10 – Suns vs. Spurs (preseason) 7:00 PM Oct. 14 – Suns @ Spurs (preseason) 5:00 PM Oct. 16 – Suns vs. Jazz (preseason) 7:00 PM Dec. 15 – Most players signed to new contracts can be traded Jan. 5 – 10-day contracts may now be signed Jan. 10 – All NBA contracts are guaranteed for the remainder of the season Jan. 15 – All players signed to new contracts can be traded Feb. 11 – Trade Deadline Feb. 19-21 – NBA All-Star 2027
Over the past few years, the Houston Rockets have assembled one of the most talented young teams in the NBA. A large portion of such trade value is retained.
If another superstar enters the trade market, Bleacher Report thinks Houston has two of the most valuable players in the league to offer.
Grant Hughes of B/R ranked Amen Thompson at number five and Reed Sheppard at number 10 in his July 31 assessment of the NBA’s top ten trade assets, and Houston was the only team with two players on the list. However, we all know the Rockets are very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very unlikely to trade Amen Thompson, so for the purposes of today’s discussion, let’s focus on Reed Sheppard.
Sheppard, who is ranked No. 10, gives Houston another young talent who might draw a lot of attention.
Despite having a little role early in his career, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft has continued to be a fascinating member of Houston’s backcourt. However, even with all that, I am unsure if I would keep Reed Sheppard. Reed Sheppard’s main strong suit was shooting, which he was good at as he shot 39% from three, but it feels that’s his only calling card offensively.
After Sheppard made 39.4% of his 3-point attempts the previous season, Hughes emphasized his shooting. The Bleacher Report writer also mentioned Sheppard’s career statistics of 18.6 points, 4.6 assists, and 2.0 steals per 36 minutes. “If he develops as a playmaker and figures out how to survive being a target of the opposing offense,” Hughes wrote, “Sheppard has legitimate star potential.”
Houston has more trade weapons than just their two young guards. The Phoenix Suns’ 2029 first-round pick, which will ultimately belong to either Houston or the Brooklyn Nets, was named by Bleacher Report as the NBA’s third-best trade asset. Hughes listed the Rockets’ hold over Phoenix’s 2027 first-round choice as one of the league’s most valuable future assets. Houston has a lot of versatility because of that collection.
Without making another significant trade, the Rockets can keep developing around Sheppard, Thompson, Alperen Sengun, and Kevin Durant. But Houston has the youthful skill and draft money to make a strong offer if a player who could change the franchise becomes available.
PHILADELPHIA,PA - MARCH 3 : Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on March 3, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Over the past few weeks, both the point guard and shooting guard Mt. Rushmore have sparked a lot of great conversation and insight. Shifting our attention to the small forwards, I expect this rendition of the mountain to do the same.
For the Knicks, the three-spot is not just another position. It is a goldmine of pure scorers, gritty enforcers, and players who seamlessly match New York City’s energy. The top two spots on this rock were quite simple to chisel in. They are franchise legends, making significant impacts on their era of basketball. Spots three and four, on the other hand, provided a bit more of a challenge.
Let’s head back to the mountain and get this all settled.
Carmelo Anthony
Okay haters, let’s get the counterargument out of the way. Yes, his overall playoff resume during his Knicks tenure is far from perfect. But Carmelo Anthony took New York basketball out of the dungeon and made it matter again. After years of inhabiting the NBA’s desert, one of basketball’s greatest scorers willingly took on the pressure of Madison Square Garden to get the Knicks back to relevance.
A complete offensive force, Anthony possessed the physical strength to punish smaller defenders in the post and combined it with a soft shooting touch from the perimeter. He was the focal point of 2012-2013’s 54-win season, capturing the scoring title by scoring 28.7 points per game. Whether it was his 62-point explosion or the clutch threes on Easter Sunday, Melo delivered moments that defined a generation of Knicks basketball. Earning seven All-Star selections as a Knick, he sits at seventh on the franchise’s all-time scoring list despite only playing six and a half seasons in New York. There is no denying that Carmelo Anthony’s face belongs on the mountain.
If we are talking about peak performance, Bernard King might have had the highest ceiling of any Knicks player. Before a devastating knee injury changed his career trajectory, King was arguably the most unstoppable player in the NBA not named Magic Johnson or Larry Bird.
An expert of the mid-range and one-person fast break, King completely overwhelmed defenders with speed, power, and an unblockable release. Capturing the 1984-85 scoring title, he averaged a mind-boggling 32.9 points per game. On Christmas Day against the Nets, he dropped 60 points, the highest single-game total on Christmas. During the 1984 playoffs, King put the team on his back, averaging close to 35 points per contest against the Pistons and Celtics.
No one has scored more points on Christmas than Bernard King!
To put it simply, one cannot tell the story of the New York Knicks without showing Bernard King the love he deserves. Like Melo, King is a total lock to make our Mt. Rushmore.
Bill Bradley
You cannot carve an accurate mountain without honoring the figures that helped bring home the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Starting at small forward for both the 1970 and 1973 championship teams, Bill Bradley was the epitome of a team-first basketball player. A perfect contrast to the isolation play of Anthony and King, Bradley was not flashy or the primary offensive engine. Instead, he was an incredibly intelligent, unselfish player capable of executing Red Holzman’s system perfectly. Understanding spacing better than most, he moved without the ball flawlessly. He consistently hit open jump shots, serving as the perfect connector alongside Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, and Earl Monroe.
Not possessing the scoring titles, Bradley is still a two-time champion and Hall of Famer whose number 24 hangs in the Garden rafters. That is enough to put him as the third face on our small forward Mt. Rushmore.
Latrell Sprewell
With the first three spots of the mountain inhabited by Melo, King, and Bradley, spot number four needed a specific brand of energy to round out the group. Latrell Sprewell provided that exact energy.
The 1999 NBA Finals run is sacred ground for Knicks fans. New York was an eighth seed with absolutely no business competing for a title. Yet, Sprewell put the franchise on his back and willed the Knicks forward. Not just a productive player, he was a cultural phenomenon, perfectly capturing the gritty, underdog mentality of the city. When the offense completely shut off in the postseason, Spree served as the engine keeping the team alive. Completely carrying the offensive load against the Spurs in the ’99 Finals, Sprewell thrived under pressure and made fans in the Garden roar like no other.
He was the ultimate wildcard. For that, he takes our final spot.
The Snubs
Before we officially close the book on this debate, we have to give a shoutout to the players that missed the cut. Though they fell on the wrong end of the selection, we cannot ignore how much these players meant and continue to mean to the franchise.
Fully understanding the recency bias, leaving OG Anunoby off the mountain hurts. The definitive perimeter of our championship team, we also do not win the title without him dismantling the opposition’s best wing every game. Of course, his “Hand of God” tip-in sits as one of the greatest moments in NBA history. However, when comparing his relatively short tenure to the massive footprint left by Sprewell in the late 90s, Spree edges him slightly, for now.
Then there is Anthony Mason. Mase served as the heart, soul, and muscle of Knicks basketball in the 90s. Playing point-forward, he was completely ahead of his time. But because he split so much of his time playing power forward, it felt right to leave him off the pure small forward list.
Finally, we need to show respect to Larry Johnson and RJ Barrett. Providing unmatched leadership, LJ gave us the legendary 4-point play. On the other hand, RJ was the polarizing prodigy that helped rebuild New York’s broken culture and serve as the bridge to the current championship era.
Okay, so the rock is set. The official New York Knicks Small Forward Mt. Rushmore features Carmelo Anthony, Bernard King, Bill Bradley, and Latrell Sprewell. We get two of the greatest scorers in franchise history, the historic glue guy of the 70s championships, and the chaotic energy of the 1999 Finals run.
Now, it’s your turn. Where did I go wrong? Who did I disrespect? Am I completely out of my mind for leaving Anunoby off after this title run? Let me know who makes you mountain below.
Oct 27, 2024; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) defends Atlanta Hawks guard Keaton Wallace (2) during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
The roster for the Hawks in 2026-27 continues to take shape even as the Jonathan Kuminga saga drags on. This week has brought us the news that two players from last year’s team won’t be back — the two having signed contracts with two different teams in Israel.
First, former two-way player Jacob Toppin didn’t quite have the big summer league performance he was looking for in a return to live basketball for the first time in months after a labrum injury ended his 2025-26 season. He’s now decided to sign with the basketball division of Hapoel Tel Aviv:
The team plays in the largest city of Israel in the Israeli Basketball Premier League. Their crosstown rival in the same league also made a recent move for a Hawk.
Keaton Wallace just yesterday was reported to sign a deal with Maccabi Tel Aviv:
Wallace was on a two-way deal with the Hawks in 2024-25, but he earned a full contract ahead of last season. He appeared in 53 games for the team last season, although for a total of just 536 minutes.
Last week, Spurs CEO R. C. Buford stated that 8-10 members of the Spurs roster were joining Victor Wembanyama in Paris to work out. A few of the photos released on social media show Kelly Olynyk as part of the squad.
Spurs just posted this video, but you mary have missed this detail…
Kelly Olynyk was on the Spurs roster for the 2025–26 season after San Antonio acquired him from the Washington Wizards in July 2025.
Olynyk was acquired by the Spurs last summer in exchange for Malaki Branham, Blake Wesley, and a 2026 second-round draft pick. Although he played sparingly during the season, Olynyk offered a vet presence to the chemistry of the fledgling core.
Since free agency began, there have been no official reports of Olynyk signing for the 2026-2027 season. In the meantime, it seems he has continued to bond with the members of the Silver & Black. He is in the photo of the team at the Louvre seated in front of the Mona Lisa.
A week of hoops, art and camaraderie.
Vic treated the guys to a tour at the Louvre while together in Paris 🖼️🇫🇷
If Olynyk signs a contract, this will be his fourteenth NBA season. At 35, he might not be quite ready to hang it up. He could also be scouting a post-playing career. The Spurs have helped many players transition into coaching, front office, and scouting by utilizing their off court basketball talents. Only time will tell where Olynyk will be come October.
For now, he’s in Paris with a group of guys ready to make another Finals run.
On an unrelated note, happy belated birthday to Tarris Reed, Jr. who celebrated his 23rd birthday yesterday. His first since being drafted by the Spurs.
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NBA history spans 80 seasons, and as CelticsBlog readers well know, the Boston Celtics have won a league-high 18 championships. This month, we are recapping each of those title years.
Elite Three-Peat
The Boston Celtics reached an elite milestone by winning the NBA Finals in 1961, adding to their 1959 and 1960 banners. They became just the second franchise to collect a trio of consecutive titles. The first was the Minneapolis Lakers from 1952 to 1954.
Since then, the Chicago Bulls won three straight championships from 1991 to 1993, and a second time, 1996 to 1998, and the Los Angeles Lakers won from 2000 to 2002. No team has won more than three straight years except the Celtics, who went for eight in a row. as we know.
<p>Bill Russell received many MVP trophies in his career. Here’s one with congratulations from NBA president Maurice Podoloff. (Photo by Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)</p>
The MVP
A large factor in Boston’s success, literally, was 6-foot-10 center Bill Russell, who in five seasons changed the Celtics from a pretty good team to a dynasty with four titles. Russell was awarded Most Valuable Player of the 1960-61 season in a vote by players, which was the process then. Oddly, Russell was chosen to only second team All-NBA, behind Wilt Chamberlain, but that vote was by sportswriters. (Insert pondering-face emoji.)
This was Russell’s second MVP (1957-58 was the first). He would win five in his career because of his defense, rebounding, passing and intellect. To this day, he is universally known as the best defensive player of all time. In fact, as calculated by basketball-reference.com, he has the highest Regular Season Defensive Win Share, the highest Playoff DWS and the highest Total DWS of anyone who’s ever played in the NBA or ABA. By far.
Unfortunately, the Defensive Player of the Year award was created more than a decade after Russell retired.
The regular season
In 1960-61, NBA conventional wisdom was that the Celtics had gotten too good for the rest of the league. The results supported that theory, as both the regular season and postseason were nearly drama-free for the two-time defending champs.
The season began with an adjusted schedule, going from 75 games per team to 79. The Celtics’ final record was 57-22, which was 11 games ahead of the Eastern second-place Philadelphia Warriors and six games better than the West-leading St. Louis Hawks. Boston was third in scoring at 119.4 points per game while allowing a league-low 114.1. The Celtics also easily won the season series against all of the other teams, the only one close being St. Louis (6-4).
The blueprint to success
The rest of the league had to be wondering when they would ever beat Boston again. But as the saying goes, there were levels to this, and head coach and general manager Red Auerbach knew it.
First, the Celtics were fortunate that free agency was not yet a factor in building a roster. There were no expiring contracts that would allow players to change teams at will.
Succession plans were vital, as well. Careers were generally shorter in the early NBA than today, first because players stayed in college for four years, and later because their bodies wore down more quickly than today’s athletes. Modern training methods and medical treatments were still in the future, and travel was done on commercial airlines, trains and even buses, not in the comfort of private jets we see today. Scheduling quirks such as three games in three nights — with load management not yet invented — also had an adverse effect.
In Boston, MVP Russell and leading scorer Tommy Heinsohn were both entering their prime at age 26. Star guards Bob Cousy (age 32) and Bill Sharman (34), were aging but still highly effective, and Red Auerbach had developed supremely talented shooter Sam Jones (27) and defensive ace K.C. Jones (28) to step into their roles and not miss a beat when the time came.
Hard-nosed rebounder and defender Jim Loscutoff had turned 30, but 6-6 forward Tom Sanders from NYU was the eighth pick in the 1960 Draft. The man known as Satch would soon be ready to succeed the legendary “Loscy.”
By all indications, Auerbach had all that figured out before the rest of the league caught on, and the proof was in the results.
Eastern playoffs
The postseason was as stress-free as the regular season. The Celtics had a first-round bye while the Syracuse Nationals swept the Philadelphia Warriors, 3-0. Wilt Chamberlain averaged 37 points and 23 rebounds for naught, and Boston would not have to contend with him.
The Celtics handled Syracuse with ease, 4-1, with a 19-point average margin of victory. They won Game 1 at home by 13 points, lost game 2 away by 17, then finished off the series with three straight routs. Russell was the leading rebounder in each contest and topped the Celtics in all three main stat categories: 20.6 points, 31 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game. It’s a shame that blocked shots weren’t tracked until well after Russell’s career ended.
NBA Finals
Not even the St. Louis Hawks could slow down the Celtics juggernaut in 1961. Meeting for the fourth time in five years, the Hawks had twice taken Boston to seven games. Not this time. Celtics in five.
Game 1 in Boston went to the home team, 129-95, and they also won Game 2 on the parquet, 116-108. After the Hawks squeaked out a four-point win at home, the Celtics seized control by winning Game 4, 119-104. Back in Boston, Russell dominated Game 5 with an MVP performance of 30 points and 38 boards. The Celtics took the lead with a 37-23 third quarter, then held the Hawks at arm’s length to claim Banner #4.
Turning point
Bob Pettit dropped 40 points in the Hawks’ must-win Game 4, yet the Celtics ran away in the second half to win by 15.
It was over when…
Pettit and Cliff Hagan combined to average nearly 58 points per game, but Boston more than offset that with six players averaging between 12 and 22 points. Boston also demolished the Hawks in total rebounds, 369-304, thanks mostly to Russell’s 28.8 per game.
Tommy Heinsohn again led Boston in Finals scoring, averaging 22.0 points per game.
Bill Sharman retired after this season, and a few years later began a successful coaching career. He led the Utah Stars to the 1971 championship of the American Basketball Association (ABA). The very next year, he coached the LA Lakers to their first ever NBA championship. His assistant coach was K.C. Jones.
After playing them in the NBA Finals four times in five years, the Celtics and Hawks did not meet again in the playoffs until 1972, when Atlanta had moved to the Eastern Conference. Boston is now 11-2 in playoff series vs. the Hawks. 1958 remains the only championship year in Hawks’ history.
Notable changes elsewhere
1961 brought a few major changes across the NBA that would make a significant impact.
The Lakers moved from Minneapolis to Los Angeles.
Oscar Robertson (who won Rookie of the Year) was drafted No. 1 overall by the Cincinnati Royals, and Jerry West was selected no. 2 by the Lakers. Both would dominate statistically, be named to double-digit All-NBA teams and All-Star Games, win one championship, and when their careers ended would be widely considered the two best guards in NBA history. Both also had numerous playoff battles with the Celtics (spoiler alert: all unsuccessful).
Lenny Wilkens also entered the league as the sixth overall pick by the Hawks, becoming a nine-time All-Star. He went on to coach the Seattle SuperSonics to the 1979 crown, and his 1,332 coaching wins ranks third all-time. He’s been inducted into the Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach. Wilkens would’ve been a perfect fit for the Auerbach Celtics.
Banner Years continues tomorrow with a review of the 1961-62 season and the road to winning Banner #5.
July is annual moving month in the NBA, 31 days of recruitment and negotiations, with many deals discussed and a few consummated. Except for the Warriors, who approached July 2026 with barely a whisper and nothing close to a roar.
It is profoundly disappointing. To their credit, though, they indicated 46 days earlier that this could be the case.
General manager Mike Dunleavy put Dub Nation on alert on May 15. Golden State’s offseason priority, he said, was to curb its maddening habit of self-destructive turnovers. To be less reckless. Smarter with the basketball.
“The top priority is to take care of the ball, limit turnovers,” Dunleavy said on the afternoon it was announced that Steve Kerr would be returning as head coach.
“And then after that, we’ll try and get better in every which way.”
As if that alone would be enough for the Warriors to make a full recovery from a 37-45 season that ended with an NBA play-in tournament dud. It was difficult to believe such a soft vision would suffice under CEO Joe Lacob, whose ambition is unlimited. Dunleavy surely was underplaying his hand. They would bait hooks, chase stars and peer under stones to improve the roster.
Wouldn’t the Warriors respond to such a disappointing season by scouring the trade market? Even if it meant parting with some future draft capital. While window-shopping around the league, however, Dunleavy & Co. quickly discovered potential trade partners were unimpressed with the available options on the roster.
The bulk of the roster consists mostly of replaceable talent. The Warriors needed a couple younger but established veterans to support the aging core. They needed, one would think, to address the acute shortage of elite athleticism.
“In the grand scheme of things, not a lot about the roster,” Dunleavy said of last season. “This just isn’t about the roster, frankly. I don’t think we came up short because of the talent on the roster. It was injuries and things we could control.”
Injuries brought an abrupt halt to the momentum generated while winning nine of 12 as the calendar flipped to 2026. Jimmy Butler III sustained a season-ending torn right ACL on Jan 19. Stephen Curry was sidelined 11 days later with runner’s knee. Moses Moody missed the final 10 games after sustaining a torn patellar tendon on March 23.
Golden State opened the 2025-26 NBA season with two elite talents, Curry and Butler, on its roster. The surrounding talent was, on its own, barely competitive. The Warriors were 12-26 – 11th in the Western Conference standings – after Butler went down. They were 9-18 without Curry and 3-7 over the final 10 games without Moody. Kerr spent the second half of the season coaching a bottom-five NBA roster, getting sporadic appearances from Kristaps Porziņģis and rare glimpses of Al Horford.
But Golden State, it must be said, spent the first three months dancing on the edge of mediocrity – before the injuries struck. The Warriors were 25-19, eighth in the West, before Butler left the lineup. A play-in tournament team.
Which is why the front office took measures to improve the roster, most notably a tepid effort to recruit LeBron James.
“Do we need to get better roster-wise? I think so,” the GM acknowledged in May. “But we didn’t get to a point where we played a team where the roster is better than ours. For that reason, we were more focused on the stuff that we can control.
“We’ll always look to be better, talent-wise, roster-wise, all that. But . . . the discussions weren’t really about that. It was more with the team that we have. How can we be better? And what are the things we need to do to build on for long-term success?”
Dub Nation had been warned. The priority was internal development rather than external additions. Do not expect gifts in July.
And none came.
The Warriors were instead content to bring back Porziņģis and Horford, hoping their bodies allow them to suit up for 50-60 games each. They brought back De’Anthony Melton, hoping his first healthy summer in three years can launch him toward 70 games, which also is a reasonable goal for Curry. They brought back Gary Payton II because he has a unique set of skills and is great for the culture.
The only new face with a chance to immediately improve the roster is forward Yaxel Lendeborg. He brings the spirit of a veteran, but it’s best to remember that he is a rookie.
The Warriors anticipate evaluating the first half of the season while awaiting the midseason returns of Butler and Moody. Meanwhile, Dunleavy & Co. still have some latitude with the roster. But it’s hard to fathom striking gold in August or September.
Dub Nation had been warned that 2026-27 was lining up as a “gap year.” The offseason focus would be on internal development rather than external additions. Do not expect gifts in July. None came.
Austerity always is disappointing, as it lays a welcome mat for ennui.
Phoenix felt Dillon Brooks was a catalyst in changing the franchise's culture last season, and it didn't hurt that he added a career-best 20.2 points per game.
Because of all that, the Suns wanted to extend Brooks and keep him in the Valley of the Sun, and that came together Wednesday night. Brooks and Phoenix have agreed to a three-year, $73 million extension, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. This contract is fully guaranteed with no options on either side, reports the well-connected John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7.
This had been expected, the only question was the number. Brooks is set to make just under $20 million this season, and the first season of the extension pays him $22 million.
Brooks' offensive spark last season — 20.2 points per game, but on a slightly below-league-average 54 true shooting percentage — was a bonus. When he came over from the Rockets in the Kevin Durant trade, he was seen more as a physical defense player and a guy who got under the other team's skin. That toughness rubbed off on his teammates last season, he was considered one of the leaders in the Phoenix locker room, and the off-the-court impact was what the Suns felt they could not let go.
Brooks becomes the latest Suns player to sign an extension with the team, joining Collin Gillespie, Mark Williams and Jordan Goodwin.
Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns reacts after a made basket during the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Dillon Brooks has agreed to a three-year, $73 million contract extension with the Suns that will keep him in Phoenix through the 2029-30 season, according to multiple reports.
The first year of the deal will pay Brooks $22 million.
Dillon Brooks of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball while being defended by Ajay Mitchell of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half in Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center on April 19, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Getty Images
The 30-year-old Suns star is coming off a season in which he averaged a career-high 20.2 points per game and helped the team reach the postseason after missing out the previous season, a team that had Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal all on the roster.
Brooks had arrived in the desert last offseason after the Rockets included him as part of a deal to acquire Kevin Durant from Phoenix.
Brooks, who is going into his 10th season in the NBA, averaged a team-high 26 points during the postseason while shooting 43.8 percent from 3-point range. The Suns’ run in the playoffs was brief and ended in a 4-0 series sweep by the Thunder.
A former standout at Oregon, Brooks began his career with the Grizzlies after he was drafted in the second round of the 2017 NBA Draft by the Rockets and then traded to Memphis on draft night.
He went on to play six seasons in Memphis before ending up in Houston once again as part of a five-team trade in 2023.
Brooks played two seasons before being moved to Phoenix.
Dillon Brooks of the Phoenix Suns reacts after a made basket during the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Getty Images
He has a reputation for being a bit of a pest in the league with his hard-nosed play.
Brooks even went as far as to sit courtside at a game during the Lakers series against the Thunder to troll LeBron James.
Dillon Brooks will be bothering the NBA on behalf of the Phoenix Suns for years to come.
The veteran has signed a contract extension with the Suns, he confirmed to the Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network, on Wednesday, Aug. 5. The Republic confirmed Brooks' deal is a three-year, $73 million extension that ties him to Phoenix through the 2029-30 season.
"Villain is here to stay," Brooks told The Republic. "Championship is all on my mind."
Brooks played in 56 games last season for the Suns, averaging a career-high 20.2 points with 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 steals per outing. Phoenix was swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
The former Oregon standout was drafted by the Rockets in the second round of the 2017 draft. He was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies on draft night, where he spent six seasons.
Brooks landed back in Houston in 2023 as part of a five-team trade. He played two seasons there.
Brooks has developed a reputation as an antagonist in the NBA because of his gritty style of play and bold expression of his competitive nature. During the Thunder's playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers in May, he sat courtside to troll LeBron James.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 07: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns reacts during the second half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 07, 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
The Phoenix Suns acquired Dillon Brooks as part of the Kevin Durant trade, and on the surface, many of us viewed him primarily as salary filler. Then we witnessed the profound effect he had on the culture and direction of the team last season.
With Brooks entering the final year of his contract, it became important for the Suns to work with him on an extension and ensure that he remained part of what they are building. That extension officially came through Wednesday evening, as Phoenix agreed to a three-year, $73 million deal with Brooks, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks has agreed to a three-year, $73 million contract extension through 2029-30, Mike George of Klutch Sports tells ESPN. Brooks has become a key part of the Suns two-way, hard-nosed culture under Jordan Ott and lands a new guaranteed long-term deal. pic.twitter.com/loV1DWs2z5
He will now remain with the Suns through 2030, allowing the organization to retain one of the pillars of its culture moving forward.
This is a fantastic deal for both Dillon Brooks and the Phoenix Suns. The 30-year-old Brooks was eligible for a much larger veteran extension, one that could begin at 140% of his current salary and include 8% annual raises. That placed the maximum value at approximately $125 million over four years, with an average annual value of $31.3 million. Instead, the Suns retained him on a far more manageable and team-friendly contract, one that carries an average annual value of roughly $24.3 million.
Two weeks ago, I wrote that the ideal contract for Dillon Brooks would be three years and $75 million. The Suns did even better than that.
It’s also a great signing because Phoenix has several young wing players developing within the organization, and they’ll now have Brooks as one of the veterans guiding them in the locker room. That kind of influence is nearly impossible to quantify. These young players possess size and physicality, and now they’ll learn from one of the NBA’s best irritants about how to become more effective on the defensive end. We saw Jordan Goodwin and Collin Gillespie elevate their games while playing alongside Brooks last season. The same opportunity now exists for Rasheer Fleming and Koa Peat, who are waiting in the wings.
This extension is about far more than keeping a productive rotation player. It’s a bet on identity. The Suns have spent the past year trying to establish a culture built on toughness, accountability, and competitiveness, and Brooks has been at the center of that effort. The contract preserves flexibility, rewards one of the team’s emotional leaders, and keeps an important veteran in place as the next generation develops. If Phoenix is serious about building something sustainable, this deal checks every box.
There's a chance that four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson sees his time with the Dallas Mavericks come to an end after two seasons.
Thompson, 36, joined the team in July 2024 as a result of a six-team trade, signing a three-year, $50 million contract after spending the first 13 seasons of his career with the Golden State Warriors.
Last season, Thompson appeared in 69 games for the Mavericks and started eight. He averaged career-lows in multiple statistical categories including points (11.7), field goal percentage (39.3%), 3-point percentage (38.3%), free throw percentage (76.6%), rebounds (2.1), assists (1.4) and minutes played (21.7).
If indeed the 2026 season was Thompson's final season in Dallas, the aging sharpshooter and his agent will soon field calls from teams around the league ready for his services. He has one year left on his contract and the Mavericks owe him $17.5 million.
They could opt to put Thompson in trade negotiations, but given the season of career-lows he's coming off of, some could view it as a risk to trade for the 36-year-old and likely give up assets. The other option would be via buyout clause in which Thompson would become a free agent and choose his destination.
Thompson began his career with the Warriors when he was drafted in 2011. He helped them to become one of the league's dynasties, while he became a five-time All-Star, Olympic gold medalist and recognized as one of the best shooters in NBA history.
He and Stephen Curry formed the dynamic, sharp-shooting backcourt duo nicknamed the "Splash Brothers." And with Draymond Green as an enforcer, the big three would be back together again, albeit a lot older than their initial stint together. A reunion amongst them would be the full-circle moment that many want to see, maybe with the exception of rival opponents.
As Reyes wrote, "there would be no fit better for Thompson than Golden State. Coach Steve Kerr is still there. Stephen Curry is still there. Thompson knows the system intimately and the Warriors — who tied for 17th last season in 3-point percentage (35.6%) — could definitely use a shooter like him."
The Warriors might not be a championship contending team leaning on Curry and company. Adding Thompson may not move the needle in wins but nostalgia itself will provide enough energy to make due with however things played out.
Klay Thompson plays for the same franchise as his dad
The other possible landing spot for Thompson is another familiar place in La-La Land. The Lakers could be an intriguing destination if Thompson became available for multiple reasons.
The most obvious one is that Thompson was born in Los Angeles, has ties to the area and his dad, Mychal Thompson, played four seasons with the Lakers, helping them win back-to-back titles in 1987 and 1988. Before Thompson signed with the Mavericks in 2024, his pops was very vocal in his desire for his son to play for the same legendary franchise as him. And even voiced his disappointment when his son didn't choose the Lakers. If bought out, this could be a second chance to make things right and go back to the place he once called home growing up.
He'd also join a team with ball-dominant guards that command defensive attention in Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. The spacing on the floor that they would create would fair well for Thompson who would be the ultimate catch-and-shoot player.
Additionally, Reyes wrote, "Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves will dominate ball-handling duties, and Thompson excels at slipping past defenders without the ball in his hands. Coach JJ Redick, who was a sharpshooter in his own right, also knows how to maximize a talented sniper like Thompson."
Reyes added that when Thompson signed with the Mavericks in July 2024, one of the main reasons he chose Dallas over his hometown LA was to play alongside Dončić.
Things in Dallas changed for Thompson once Doncic was traded to the Lakers in February 2025, now he has a chance to rejoin the Slovenian superstar. If Doncic needs another shooter, Thompson is the guy.
