The sides have spent extensive time discussing a potential extension during the offseason, but there has been no movement lately in negotiations, sources said, as the Knicks stand to go for a repeat following their first NBA title in 53 years.
Towns is a championship center and now a New York legend, not to mention an All-Star and All-NBA big man at the peak of his game. He is extension eligible for up to four years and $276 million. Towns is under contract this season for $57 million and has a $61 million player option for 2027-28.
Towns wants an extension and the Knicks want to extend him, but reality is hitting New York hard: 2028-29 is when a Jalen Brunson extension would kick in — he took a discount last time but is eligible for and deserves a supermax deal now — plus a Josh Hart extension also would begin. That on top of an OG Anunoby extension that could, and likely would, begin that year. Remember, Knicks owner James Dolan said it would be "suicidal" for a team to be in the second apron and he didn't want to do it (and that echoes what other owners have said).
What New York wants is Towns to take less per year — maybe $55 million a season? Maybe less? — for more guaranteed money across multiple years. Towns may not be interested in that steep a discount, as much as he loves New York and wants to finish his career there.
This is what NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and the owners want: Congratulations on winning a championship, now break up that team. He covets NFL-style parity over all. Silver proudly touts the fact that the league has had eight different champions in the past eight years and said of the second apron, "It's certainly not an unintended consequence" that teams are broken up. So we get Boston deciding it has to trade Jaylen Brown away — coming off a season when he was sixth in MVP voting — because they see it as the best path to building a contender around Jayson Tatum. We get Oklahoma City losing key role players — Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins — so they can keep the young stars they have together (with more cuts coming and key players lost the next couple of years). People around the league are already talking about how San Antonio will have to trade De'Aaron Fox at some point for financial reasons.
Fans hate seeing players like Brown, Dort and others that their team drafted and developed have to be traded (or, in the case of the Knicks, a team cleverly built through trades and free agency). Silver may think the system is working, but angering a generation of core fans for financial reasons is not a good business strategy. There is more of it to come, and it's going to hit the Knicks hard. The aprons are going to be a sticking point come the next CBA negotiations — the players and fans hate them.
But for now, the Knicks are stuck trying to extend Towns and keep a championship roster together.
That's how ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas remembers Chris Spatola.
Spatola, who died unexpectedly Sept. 21 at age 47, built a remarkable life that stretched far beyond the basketball court. He was an Army standout, a U.S. Army veteran, a respected broadcaster for ESPN and SiriusXM, and the son-in-law of legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski.
News of his death has left the college basketball world reeling. Friends, colleagues and former teammates have flooded social media with stories of his generosity, humility and competitive spirit.
Bilas counts himself among them.
"Devastated and heartbroken," he said, mourning the loss of "a treasured friend."
"Chris was the most solid guy that you could ever meet," Bilas told USA TODAY Sports. "High character, thoughtful and he was selfless. He wasn't the first to speak, but when he spoke, it was always thoughtful and measured."
That's how Army basketball teammates remembered Spatola, too.
"You wouldn't hear him speak unless he had something really important to say,'' George Tatum recalled of his backcourt mate Spatola, three years his junior. "To see Chris come out of his shell and be such a great commentator and a star on TV, it really warmed my heart to see him finally coming into his own with that profession.''
Rick Schultz was the Army radio play-by-play announcer for two seasons, including Spatola's freshman year. Five years ago in Syracuse, the pair ran into one another at a hotel, and Schultz asked him: Did you ever imagine you would be on the broadcasting side? Spatola shook his head no and said, "I never had any idea."
"It's such a tragedy," said Pat Harris, who coached Spatola at West Point for four seasons but knew him years earlier as a Duke camper. "I still haven't wrapped my arms around the loss of Chris. It still hasn't set in. It's almost like you think it's a hoax."
Harris wasn't the coach who recruited Spatola, a product of Babylon, Long Island, to the U.S. Military Prep School for the 1997-98 season (it was previous coach Dino Gaudio) but he certainly benefited from the 6-1, gangly kid who led with determination and possessed a great shooting touch. He had a great feel for the game and a tremendous basketball IQ, noted former teammate Babe Kwasniak, also three years Spatola's elder.
Spatola started as a freshman, played 111 games and scored 1,543 points, ranking No. 5 all-time at the Academy. He was fast, a 90% free-throw shooter his final two seasons and a deft passer. "I can't really say that Chris ever truly took a bad shot," his coach said.
West Point remains a military academy where seniors can still look down on lowly freshmen — or plebes, as they are called — in the pecking order, but that dynamic changes when it comes to the "fields of friendly strife" and becoming teammates. Kwasniak recalled a young Spatola helping him clean his barracks room, and also presenting the Firstie (a senior) his first salute.
"I think when it came to (playing basketball), that was like breathing to him," Kwasniak said. "It just came very, very natural." That endeared him to his teammates, whether at West Point or on the All-U.S. Army team, when his squad didn't care about his 1,500 collegiate points or ties to Coach K.
Bilas had known Spatola since 2004, when Spatola married Krzyzewski's daughter, Jamie. Over the next two decades, their paths remained intertwined. Spatola served on Duke's staff from 2007 to 2012, connecting him to Bilas' alma mater, and later the two became colleagues at ESPN.
Yet for all the basketball ties that linked their careers, it was rarely the subject of their conversations.
Instead, Bilas said Spatola always focused on the people around him, whether it was the players and coaches he covered, the fans who followed the sport or, most importantly, his family. That selflessness only deepened Bilas' admiration for a man who had already accomplished so much, including serving in the U.S. Army during Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2002 to 2007.
Despite an impressive résumé that included military service, coaching and broadcasting, Spatola never made himself the center of attention. That's one of the many qualities Bilas found remarkable.
"Chris was all-American in every way as a human being," Bilas said. "I would sit there and sort of see Chris and go, 'You realize he's done things tougher than we could ever imagine, right? Like, do you guys have any idea what he's accomplished?' And he would never tell you that.
"You would have to pry it out of him, all the accomplishments that he had as a vet, and and when he would talk about it, it would usually be something on Veterans Day when he was putting attention on others, not on himself. That was the kind of guy he was."
That's why Bilas will always remember him as "a selfless human being that was a total badass."
"Chris was a person that I loved, but also admired," he added. "He'll always be a part of of everyone that was fortunate enough to know him."
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MAY 01: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Houston Rockets during the fourth quarter in Game Six of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Toyota Center on May 01, 2026 in Houston, 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 Kenneth Richmond/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 Austin Reaves.
Last year was a bit of a convergence season for Austin Reaves and the Lakers, where his pursuit of a new contract, his ever-expanding role and his continued upward development were all on a collision course to determine what his future on the only franchise he’d ever known would be.
The fact that Reaves thrived when he was available to play and was ultimately rewarded handsomely with a lucrative new contract that pays him (essentially) his maximum allowable salary, should not be a surprise. The Lakers see Reaves as one of their true success stories: a player plucked from the world of undrafted free agents and developed into a high level contributor. There’s institutional value that comes from that beyond what he produces on the court.
But it is that tangible improvement he’s shown every season and is baked into the story of Reaves’ NBA life that the Lakers are also paying for. Reaves went from a converted two-way contract as a rookie who only saw the court because of his hustle, connective instincts and competitive nature on defense to, in every ensuing season, adding more responsibility and production offensively to the point that, this past year, he was slotted above LeBron James in the pecking order.
MIAMI, FLORIDA – MARCH 19: Austin Reaves #15 and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers speak during the fourth quarter against the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center on March 19, 2026 in Miami, Florida. 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 Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
That Reaves has done all this while never completely losing sight of his role-player roots is what makes him a cultural touchstone for head coach JJ Redick and a leader as the now longest tenured Laker on the roster. That his talent, particularly on offense, has placed him as the second banana to Luka Dončić is why he’s ultimately paid what he is. But it’s the complete picture of him as a player and presence off the court that made the Lakers decision to go all the way up in salary the way they did this past summer such an easy decision.
Make no mistake, though, the deal Reaves is on now is not just about the player he is, but the one the Lakers project him to be. Reaves just turned 28 and may be squarely in his prime, but the team is paying him to continue to improve, to continue to refine and smooth out the edges of his game and build on the foundation he laid down last season as someone who is able to scale up in usage and responsibility to increase his production while maintaining efficiency.
It may sound reductive, but at least part of Reaves’ job now is justifying the investment the Lakers made in him. If he does, the team will be better off and (very likely) win as a result. If he doesn’t, not only will the opposite be true, but Reaves will find himself in the crosshairs in a way that he never has been before.
That’s the reality of being on the contract he is now. The Lakers hope, though, it won’t come to that. And history says they have reason to be confident.
What is his best-case scenario?
In October and November of last season, Austin Reaves played in 16 of the Lakers’ 19 games and averaged 28.8 points, 6.8 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game while shooting 52.2% from the field, 36.1% from behind the arc and 87.9% from the foul line on 7.4 attempts per night.
Of the 16 games that Austin appeared in, Luka Dončić played in 13 of them while LeBron James played in only four. That said, the Lakers went 13-3 in those contests and Reaves looked like one of the better players in the entire NBA while being discussed as an early All-Star and All-NBA candidate.
If looking for a best-case outcome for what Reaves can be this upcoming season, one only look at this stretch of the year where, without LeBron for most of the games and without Luka for a few more, Austin was clearly the team’s second option and was part of a team where every other player on the roster was put in a position to support the strengths of him and Luka.
Said another way, this stretch was about as close to the role Reaves will be asked to fill this season. Yes, the supporting cast has changed and there’s been a bit of an uptick in the usage of some of the role players with Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Collin Sexton all capable of being on-ball creators who can absorb possessions when needed. But, the fact remains that Austin will still be clearly slotted into the second shot creator role and will not have a third star like last season who he will not only split duties with but, based on their history as partners, will sometimes defer to in ways that minimize his own role.
So, while I can go on and on about a projection of how Reaves’ game can translate to what he’ll be asked to do this season and project the highest end of what that can be, it’s much easier to go back and watch clips from when he was put into this exact situation and looked like one of the top shot creating guards in the league.
What is his worst-case scenario?
Any worst-case outcome for Reaves almost certainly involves his health not cooperating and him missing significant chunks of the season. Which, if we’re being honest, should be at least a slight concern for the Lakers.
Last season, I do not think it’s a coincidence that in the campaign when he was asked to carry the biggest shot-creation burden of his career, he suffered two soft tissue injuries, first a calf strain in December and then an oblique strain in April. Maybe it was just bad luck, but playing the style and minutes he did last season was simply a much heavier load on his body and I think it’s only fair to wonder, when projecting him into a similar workload this year, those same rigors could end up costing him time.
And if injuries did crop back in, it’s not just that Austin’s availability would be impacted, but it’s all the ways that an injury and missing time impact a player’s rhythm, with ramp-ups and getting back into game shape or the right physical condition shaving away at your overall effectiveness on any given night. Something that would only be exacerbated without that third high-level shot creator no longer there to lean on or burden share with.
Beyond the injuries, however, there’s a chance Austin’s growth and development stagnates or, in some ways, even goes backward. Or, if that feels too strong, where certain parts of his game just do not work to the same degree they did last season. Austin is a very talented player, of course, but because he’s not an overwhelming athlete, he often needs all facets of his game to be working in unison to give him access to all the counters and misdirection that can make his game truly sing.
There’s a world, then, where multiple small things combine to lessen his game in what end up being significant ways. Let’s say he doesn’t shoot the three ball as well, especially off the dribble. Or maybe he doesn’t get as favorable a whistle. Or that his mid-range jumper doesn’t fall to the same degree it has in the past. Or maybe he doesn’t find the right chemistry in the pick and roll with Walker Kessler and their timing doesn’t quite sync up in the same ways it has with other players in the past.
If even two of these things happen for any extended stretch during the year, maybe he has a harder time getting to the rim. And when he does get there, he draws fewer fouls and it all sort of cascades to turn him into a lower-volume scorer who isn’t as efficient as he typically is. Combine this with a bigger bullseye on him and more expectations and there’s a scenario where Reaves is suddenly looked at as not the player the Lakers believed him to be, but on a huge max-level deal that is underwater in the trade market.
Now, do I envision this being likely? No, I don’t. But I also don’t think any of these things are totally out of the realm of possibility either.
What is his most likely role on the team?
There’s no question that with LeBron now gone and a remade roster to begin this new era of Lakers basketball, Reaves will take his place as the second most important player behind Dončić, both as an on-court talent whose production is needed for the team to play at its best and as a leader within the organization whose steadiness, general competitiveness, and approach to the work will serve as a standard bearer within the organization.
Further, there’s a strong likelihood that for half his minutes this year (and maybe more), he’ll be the best Laker on the court and will carry a burden and responsibility of shot creation and stewardship of the team’s entire offense that mirrors what Luka provides whenever he’s in the game. And while Austin did some of that this past season, after that first stretch of the year and a few games in March, he always had LeBron there as a release valve and someone to burden share with when Luka was not in the game.
Whether Reaves is up for this sort of challenge, particularly in the playoffs, remains to be seen. But the Lakers are betting on him being ready — and betting big. And if Austin delivers, it will simply be more proof that he’s exactly the player who they’ve continued to give more and more responsibility to since he entered the league. And to be fair to both sides, he has not let them down yet.
The Houston Rockets kicked off their 2026-2027 NBA season on Tuesday with their annual Media Day. Every season, it gives NBA fans and media a chance to see what players have improved this summer, what they’ve rehabbed from injuries, and what they expect for the upcoming season.
For the Rockets, the top topic was Fred VanVleet’s health. VanVleet missed the entire 2025-2026 season, which played a major role in the Rockets’ struggles. SB Nation asked Ime Udoka about VanVleet’s health, and the coach said he doesn’t expect the veteran point guard to play back-to-backs but is making good progress.
Media Day also gave me a chance to speak with Rocket players from last season, like Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun, as well as the new additions, like Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic. Media day kicks off the new season and gives everyone a chance to see the players for the first time in several months, but the more important start is training camp.
Training camp kicked off a week earlier than normal for the Rockets, as they will start their season in China with two games against the Dallas Mavericks starting October 7, with the preseason on October 15th and the Rockets’ one home preseason game on October 15. The Rockets began their training camp Wednesday at their training facility in Houston. SB Nation was out at Wednesday practice as Ime Udoka, Fred VanVleet, and Marcus Smart all spoke to the media afterward.
Houston Rockets Training Camp Day 1
The Houston Rockets kicked off day one of training camp with a full workout with all players participating. That included the player most Rockets fans were looking forward to seeing on the court: Fred VanVleet. VanVleet spoke during media day on Tuesday and also after practice Wednesday.
VanVleet spoke about being back on the court, whether he thinks he will play back-to-backs, and what he saw from the bench last season. SB Nation asked VanVleet how both he and Kevin Durant, as veterans, will help them hit the ground running despite not playing together last season.
I asked Fred even though him and Kevin did not play together last season will both of them being vets will make it a lot easier to hit the ground running this season.
“Kevin is probably maybe the greatest plug and play guy y’all find He can play in any system any court any team… pic.twitter.com/5HXMXuAiup
VanVleet also said he doesn’t see each game as a “being back” moment, since it will remain a process all season. Udoka also spoke with the media after practice about the team’s day-one emphasis, what Marcus Smart brings to the Rockets, and how having VanVleet will change their offense.
SB Nation asked Udoka about the change in offense with their veteran point guard back on the court.
“Definitely want to move Kevin around. If teams are going to try and take him out, they can pretty much do that anywhere on the court, but you can put him in some better spots to take advantage of that and avoid some blitzes.”
I asked Ime Udoka with Fred back will we be seeing less Alperen and KD at the top of the key having to initiate the offense.
“Definitely want to move Kevin around if teams are going to try and take him out they can pretty much do that anywhere on the court but you can put him in… pic.twitter.com/rEe7Gn20xZ
Marcus Smart was the last Rocket to speak after day one of training camp, and he talked about working with VanVleet, what the culture is like for the Rockets, and how he fits into that culture.
Here Marcus Smart was asked what he has noticed about the Rockets culture since joining the team.
“Perfect fit it’s a perfect fit.”
BTW Marcus is going to be an interview all star this season In the first two days he has been great. pic.twitter.com/7UjOhUYEgE
The Rockets will practice Thursday again as they continue to ramp up in preparations for their preseason opener on October 9 in Macao, China, against the Dallas Mavericks.
TORONTO, CANADA. - MAY 8: Kiki Iriafen #44 of the Washington Mystics drives to the basket during the game against the Toronto Tempo on May 8, 2026 at Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Canada. 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 Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images CHICAGO, IL – SEPTEMBER 17: Kiki Iriafen #44 of the Washington Mystics shoots a free throw during the game against the Chicago Sky on September 17, 2026 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL. 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 Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Game Info
When: Thursday, September 24th at 7:30 p.m. ET
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
Injury Report
Sky: DiJonai Carrington – Out (Foot), Skylar Diggins – Out (Knee), Rickea Jackson – Out (Knee), Azura Stevens – Out (Knee)
Mystics: No Injuries Reported
Pregame notes
And it comes down to this. The final game of the season is upon us, as the Mystics are looking to continue the momentum they have built since coming back from the FIBA Tournament. Winners of three straight games, the Mystics’ win over the Sun on Tuesday night marked the franchise mark for most wins in a season, at 27 wins. Don’t let that get in the way of what should be an interesting night in the “W”.
At stake for Thursday’s game is the potential to move up as far as the 5th playoff spot, and lock in a 1st round matchup against the Atlanta Dream, but the Mystics will need some help. A combination of beating the Chicago Sky and the Minnesota Lynx beating the Indiana Fever, will allow the Mystics to move up to the 5th playoff spot.
On the other side, Chicago has been dealing with a great deal of injuries. This game is an opportunity for their team to play spoiler and stop the Mystics’ momentum going into the playoffs.
Bottom line, the Mystics need to put the Sky away early and focus on resting their key players so that they can go into the playoffs, not only with momentum, but also with a healthy roster. This game will be at Capital One Arena, which has been undergoing significant renovation over the summer, so that should add a little more excitement to an already important game.
Extension talks with Karl-Anthony Towns have stalled as Knicks training camp nears, but the sides haven’t given up on an agreement.
Towns has been eligible for an extension since early August and the Knicks, as The Post reported earlier this month, are asking him to take a discount from his max of four years, $272 million.
It’s part of the front office’s attempt to keep the championship core together amid James Dolan’s mandate of staying below the second apron. With Jalen Brunson eligible for a big extension next year (four years, $257 million), the Knicks are watching their spending now and Towns — a multi-time All-Star — is in the middle.
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) lifts the Larry O’Brien trophy after defeating the San Antonio Spurs to win the NBA championship during Game 5 of the NBA Finals on June 13, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
New York’s exact offer to Towns is unclear but ESPN reported Wednesday that “a deal before training camp is considered unlikely.” It’s relevant because the story will now hang over camp and beyond.
But the sides also have all season to negotiate.
“There’s been plenty of conversations with KAT, all cordial, all positive,” a league source told The Post. “We want KAT to be here for a long time.
“And just because a deal isn’t done now doesn’t mean it can’t get done.”
Towns was also eligible for an extension before last season and didn’t come close to an agreement. He expressed a desire to stay with the Knicks and was key to the championship run, transforming into a playmaking force at the elbow while elevating his defense in the playoffs.
Both Towns and the Knicks can feel they have leverage in these negotiations. With the Knicks, there’s time to assess since contract eligibility extends through the season. For Towns, who visibly dropped weight in the offseason, there’s the threat of leaving in free agency in 2027 while armed with the security of a player option. If Towns is injured this season or underwhelms, he can pick up the option and be paid $61 million for the 2027-28 campaign.
The Knicks already sacrificed one player to stay below the second apron, allowing Mitchell Robinson to leave in free agency this summer and sign with the Celtics. Towns, who was either the Knicks’ second or third best player during the playoffs, is obviously more important.
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns and his wife Jordyn Woods pose for a photo during a David Yurman event at the Willaim F. Passannante Ballfield on West Houston and MacDougal Street, Thursday, September 17, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Josh Hart and Miles McBride are also eligible for extensions. Hart has a team option in his contract but McBride would become a free agent next summer with no deal.
The Knicks will host Media Day on Monday at their Tarrytown facility, where Towns will undoubtedly be asked about his extension negotiations. It’s worth noting that he has a longtime relationship with team president Leon Rose, who once served as Towns’ agent.
Last season, Towns was asked by The Post about not agreeing to an extension and said, “Hell yeah I want to stay here. Obviously get a chance to be home, see my family. It means more than the money, you know. So just to be able to be here with the fans, be with the family. It means a lot. I would like it to continue.”
There is a pretty simple question surrounding Collin Murray-Boyles entering his second NBA season: how high can his ceiling actually be?
Selected ninth overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, Murray-Boyles entered Toronto with plenty of intrigue. At 6-foot-7 and 245 pounds, he is undersized for a traditional center, but his strength, physicality and instincts allow him to play much bigger than his frame suggests.
After an encouraging rookie season, the Raptors now have a better idea of what they have in their young forward.
What Did He Do Last Year?
Murray-Boyles averaged 8.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists while shooting 57.9 percent from the field in 57 games. He also averaged 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks in 21.9 minutes per game.
The numbers do not tell the whole story. Murray-Boyles quickly became one of Toronto’s more physical defenders and reliable rebounders, using his strength to battle bigger players and his instincts to make plays around the basket.
That impact became even more noticeable in the playoffs. He averaged 14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks in 27.3 minutes per game while shooting 65.6 percent from the field.
He had 15 points and 10 rebounds in Game 4 against Cleveland before scoring 17 points in Game 6 to help Toronto force a deciding Game 7. For a rookie, it was an encouraging way to finish the season.
Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Collin Murray-Boyles (12) tries to get to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
What Should We Expect This Year?
The biggest change should simply be opportunity.
Murray-Boyles is no longer trying to figure out where he fits. He now has a full NBA season and playoff experience under his belt, and Toronto should give him more responsibility.
A reasonable expectation is for him to become a consistent rotation player and potentially start at times. He does not need to become a 20-point scorer. Instead, his development should focus on passing, cutting, screening and attacking mismatches.
The biggest question is his shooting. Murray-Boyles shot 34.0 percent from three as a rookie. If he can become a more reliable perimeter threat, his offensive fit becomes much easier to envision.
Can He Be the Raptors’ Long-Term Center?
This is where things get interesting.
Yes, but probably as a modern small-ball centre rather than a traditional one.
Murray-Boyles has already shown he can survive at centre because of his strength and mobility. He can switch onto smaller players, battle bigger forwards and provide help around the rim, giving Toronto defensive flexibility that a traditional big may not.
The obvious concern is size. There will be nights when a 6-foot-7 center struggles against a legitimate 7-footer, particularly on the glass or in the post.
That is why it is too early to declare him the long-term answer. But it is also too early to rule him out. Toronto still has Jakob Poeltl if it needs a traditional centre, allowing the Raptors to continue experimenting with Murray-Boyles without forcing him into a role he is not ready for.
What Needs to Improve?
Murray-Boyles’ three-point shooting is the biggest swing skill. Even becoming a high-30s shooter would change how defenses approach him.
His foul discipline also needs to improve. His physicality is a strength, but learning when to challenge and when to stay vertical will become increasingly important.
Finally, he needs to become more comfortable creating advantages offensively rather than simply finishing plays.
Apr 3, 2026; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Toronto Raptors forward Collin Murray-Boyles (12) dunks during the third quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
The Verdict
It is too early to call Collin Murray-Boyles the answer to the Raptors’ long-term needs at centre.
It is not too early to say he could become one.
His rookie season showed that his physicality, defensive versatility and instincts translate to the NBA. If his shooting and offensive game continue to develop, Toronto could eventually have a centre who does not look like a traditional centre at all.
Contract extension talks between the Knicks and Karl-Anthony Towns have been ongoing this offseason after Towns played a huge role in helping New York capture its first championship in 53 years.
According to SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley, there's been plenty of dialogue between the two sides, and those conversations have been positive, with the Knicks making it known they think highly of the big man and want him in New York for a long time.
As far as numbers go, during negotiations the Knicks have discussed extensions starting between $45-$50 million a year. Obviously, no deal has come to fruition yet. ESPN reported earlier Wednesday that the Knicks and Towns had hit a snag in negotiations.
Towns will earn $57 million this season and has a player option worth $61 million next year. The Knicks have until June 30 to extend Towns. Josh Hart and Miles McBride are also eligible for extensions.
Jalen Brunson will presumably be getting a new contract in the 2028 offseason. So if Hart and Towns extend, the Knicks' starting five will command a significant percentage of the salary cap.
New York will not spend beyond the NBA’s second apron ($221.6 million) in team salary this season, according to owner James Dolan. If the club takes that stance in future seasons, it will be challenging to extend Towns and Hart while also extending McBride. McBride is set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Training camp for the defending champs opens next week.
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 12: Danny Wolf #2 of the Brooklyn Nets shoots a free throw during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on March 12, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s the last week of September! That means we’re just a few days away from training camp and media day. Ladies and gentlemen — make no mistake about it — Brooklyn basketball will return to your lives soon.
Our own Jordan Greene is here to help us get PUMPED for it! We’ll talk through the season projections that recently came out, reflect on some of our goofier takes from last year, look at the upcoming ‘eras’ celebration, and more!
In Episode 46 of The Brooklyn with Pooch & Collin, we touch on:
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 7: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers, Joel Embiid #21 and Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game on December 7, 2025 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jim Poorten/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With NBA training camps right around the corner, ESPN is rolling out the latest edition of its annual NBA Rank exercise, which ranks players “based on predicted contributions—quality and quantity—for the 2026-27 regular season.“
Unsurprisingly, the Sixers’ starting five was well-represented. Here’s where they checked in this year:
72. VJ Edgecombe (unranked last year)
41. Joel Embiid (47th last year)
18. LeBron James (eighth last year)
14. Jaylen Brown (19th last year)
11. Tyrese Maxey (28th last year)
No other Sixers players made the list.
Before getting too bent out of shape about where any of the Sixers landed here—Embiid in particular—it’s again worth emphasizing that ESPN’s panel factored in “quality and quantity” of predicted contributions this coming season when building these rankings. Vince Goodwill specifically brought that up in Embiid’s writeup.
“When Embiid plays, he’s productive and must be accounted for on every scouting report—a shoo-in for 27 points and eight boards and a matchup nightmare with his ability to score at all three levels,” Goodwill wrote. “But ‘when he plays’ is still an issue, the biggest question mark for whether this talent-laden 76ers experiment can lead to a run through May. Since winning MVP in 2023, he has played in a possible 96 of 246 games.”
For context, Embiid landed directly ahead of Rudy Gobert, De’Aaron Fox, Trae Young, Franz Wagner and Brandon Miller and right behind Anthony Davis (a fellow walking injury risk), Kyire Irving, Stephon Castle, Austin Reaves and Paolo Banchero.
No one in their right mind would argue that Banchero is a better player than Embiid at this stage of their respective careers, but it’s fair to bet on Banchero playing significantly more minutes than Embiid this season. The Sixers haven’t outright proclaimed that Embiid won’t be playing in back-to-backs this year like they did ahead of their ill-fated 2024-25 campaign, but it’s safe to assume that he’s going to miss 20-plus games.
What ESPN’s NBA Rank got wrong
If nothing else, this exercise makes you appreciate just how stacked the NBA is these days. Zion Williamson fell outside of the top 50, although much like Embiid, availability concerns largely fueled that. Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Trey Murphy III were all in the 50s as well.
With that said, there’s a non-zero chance that Edgecombe’s spot at No. 72 will look laughably low in retrospect.
Perhaps he will get lost in the mix as the Sixers’ fifth option behind Embiid, Maxey, LeBron and Brown this season. Thanks to their offseason additions, the Sixers should be able to keep his playing time more in check this year after he averaged 35.0 minutes per game as a rookie. (That ranked 11th in the NBA. Canadian Thibs strikes again.)
Then again, with Embiid and James likely to miss 10-plus games during the regular season, there’s a chance that the Sixers wind up riding Edgecombe’s young legs yet again.
We’ve been fooled by Offseason Workout Video SZN one too many times in Philly, but Edgecombe appears to have vastly improved both his shooting stroke and handle. Thanks to the Sixers’ wealth of talent, he should also be able to conserve more energy on offense and devote more attention to being a defensive menace this season.
Putting Edgecombe behind post-Achilles-tear Damian Lillard (69th), the oft-injured Paul George (67th) and the-lights-were-too-bright Jarrett Allen (63rd) might be a major mistake.
ESPN is unveiling the top 10 of its rankings on Thursday, but for perspective, here’s what 11-20 looks like:
11. Tyrese Maxey 12. Stephen Curry 13. Kevin Durant 14. Jaylen Brown 15. Kawhi Leonard 16. Karl-Anthony Towns 17. Scottie Barnes 18. LeBron James 19. Tyrese Haliburton 20. Devin Booker
Indiana Pacers fans should feel rightfully aggrieved about Tyrese Haliburton’s place on that list, even though he’s somewhat of a mystery box after missing the entire 2025-26 season due to an Achilles injury. But having Maxey right above Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant? Brown above Kawhi Leonard? If anything, ESPN’s panel might have been overly aggressive with where some of the Sixers rank based on the “predicted contributions” criteria. After all, the Sixers have a lot of mouths to feed this season.
But after Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment president Bob Myers bemoaned the Sixers’ lack of identity earlier this offseason, it’s now clear where their bread will be buttered. Their starting five should be an elite offensive unit.
This is LeBron’s first time ever falling outside of the top 10 in ESPN’s NBA Rank, but the man is turning 42 in December. His f–kery really won’t go on forever… right? After all, he played a career-low 33.2 minutes per game last season and tied his career low with only 20.9 points per game. Given the Sixers’ wealth of talent, they shouldn’t need him to average 25-plus points like he did throughout most of his Hall of Fame career.
Brown landing at 14th—one spot ahead of Kawhi Leonard—might raise some eyebrows, especially after all of the insufferable analytics discourse this offseason. However, ESPN’s voting panel is not suggesting that Brown is a better basketball player than Leonard. It weighed availability as part of its criteria as well. With that in mind, there’s a real case to be made that Brown will outproduce Leonard during the regular season.
Nikola Jokić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Dončić, Jalen Brunson, Anthony Edwards, Donovan Mitchell, Cade Cunningham and Jayson Tatum will comprise ESPN’s top 10 in some order. If you want to argue that Maxey belongs in there ahead of Mitchell, go right ahead. But again, the Sixers having so many mouths to feed could bring down all of their individual production.
If nothing else, at least ESPN’s panel didn’t leave Embiid out of the top 100 entirely… unlike some other ragebait platform did last year.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 17: The sneakers worn by Christian Koloko #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the game against the Boston Celtics during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 17, 2025 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Dec 7, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) controls the ball against Miami Heat forward Haywood Highsmith (24) during the first half at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Yesterday, we learned that Dillon Brooks had made quite the jump in ESPN’s preseason player rankings, going from unranked a season ago to No. 76 overall. Today, ESPN released players 11 through 50, which means we finally learned where Devin Booker landed.
Booker is the only other member of the Phoenix Suns to crack ESPN’s top 100, and after entering last season ranked 16th overall, he has fallen four spots. His final ranking? 20th. I was so close, guessing he would land at 18th in the comment section yesterday.
Devin Booker enters the season ranked No. 20 in ESPN’s Top 100, down 4 spots from last year
Given the shooting struggles, late-game issues, & how much Phoenix asked him to carry, the drop isn’t shocking
What are ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill’s observations of Booker?
Booker is one of the most malleable stars as the Suns have assembled various teams around him in recent years and yet, he continues to thrive. From teaming with Chris Paul to playing alongside Kevin Durant to now, having Dillon Brooks as a running mate. Pencil him in for 26 points and 6 assists, the ability to play both guard positions and playing through nicks and bruises. His 11 years in the league have been in the Valley, and he’s signed through 2029-30 — a rare one-team star. — Goodwill
Signature stat: Booker was one of five players with at least 1,000 drives last season and was one of eight players to score 1,000 points when he drove (min. 500 drives), per Genius IQ tracking.
Fantasy projection: 26.5 PTS, 6.7 AST, 4.2 REB
There shouldn’t be anything overly surprising about the drop for anybody who watched Suns basketball last season. Booker is a player who has had plenty placed upon his shoulders throughout his career, and last season was another year in which much of that weight fell directly on him. He no longer had Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, or Chris Paul alongside him to shoulder some of the scoring or playmaking responsibilities. No, much of it fell upon Booker, and there were struggles along the way.
He shot 33% from beyond the arc, his worst three point shooting season since 2018–19. His 45.6% shooting from the field was his worst since 2017–18. And while he did make the All Star team, he struggled in late game and clutch situations down the stretch.
There wasn’t much of a release valve around him, and at times, Booker fell into those old patterns of struggling through double teams. Some of that was scheme. Some of it was execution. All of it serves as a reminder that, by all accounts, last season was an adjustment year for Booker.
That doesn’t mean it has to become a trend line. Last season was the adjustment. This season will be the adjustment to the adjustment. Hopefully, better health from Jalen Green and the addition of Miles Bridges will alleviate some of the pressure on Booker purely through the gravity they create.
Still, falling four spots in ESPN’s rankings is indicative of a season that was underwhelming in totality. There’s also some understandable movement around him. Tyrese Haliburton jumped ahead after not being ranked last year because of injury. LeBron James remains ahead of him. Scottie Barnes is where I scratch my head a little bit. Perhaps youth played a role in Barnes climbing this high after ranking 30th a season ago. Either way, Booker now finds himself sitting at No. 20.
Maybe that gives him a little extra fuel for the fire. Not that he’s likely paying much attention to ESPN rankings in September.
Mar 23, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers play-by-play announcer Bill Macdonald (left) and analyst Stu Lantz during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
In some of the biggest news of the offseason for the Lakers, Stu Lantz will be returning to broadcasts for the 2026-27 Lakers’ season.
On Wednesdays, Spectrum SportsNet announced its team for games this season, including the return of Billy Macdonald and Stu Lantz. After missing the back end of last season, Lantz will return for his 41st season with the team to call home games.
Lantz has long become one of the mainstays of Lakers games and his absence was felt at the end of last season. The news of him returning this year should be met with pretty unanimous excitement across the fanbase.
Danny Green, who stepped in for multiple games last year, will call road games in Stu’s place. While clearly new to the role, Green was a good substitute last season and it’s nice to see him get the chance to call more games this season.
Mike Trudell will also return as the team’s sideline reporter and will share the duties with newcomer Roqui Theus.
Roqui Theus is the daughter of former NBA coach, All-Star and broadcaster Reggie Theus.
Roqui Theus played college hoops at UC Irvine before starting her broadcasting career. https://t.co/nDXnoNOwmW
In the studio, Sasha Vujacic will also be a new addition, joining the regulars of host Chris McGee and fellow analysts James Worthy, Robert Horry, Derek Fisher and Green. Mike Bresnahan and Allie Clifton will also contribute in-studio as well.
Backstage: Lakers will also return for its 15th season with the first episode premiering on Oct. 23 after the team’s second game of the season against the Clippers.
It sounds like fans will have to wait a while longer. But that doesn’t mean there should be concern that two sides will reach a deal.
“I don’t want there to be no drama. No talking points. This team should be competitive and go win,” Curry said about his unsettled contract extension situation, per ESPN’s Anthony Slater.
Stephen Curry lights the Empire State Building in New York City. The event was held in honor of KPMG Leadership Development Day, in partnership with the Underrated Golf Tour presented by KPMG. Flint / SplashNews.com
Curry can sign a two-year, $136.7 million extension that would keep him with Golden State through the 2028-29 season. He’s slated to make $62.5 million this season, in what’s the final season of the 4-year, $215.35 million maximum veteran extension he signed in August 2021.
“It’s going to happen at the right time, once I have all the information I need to make the decision that is right,” Curry added of his contract. “The team’s been great having that conversation back and forth. If I don’t sign, it won’t affect me in terms of my play or carrying that weight. But I’ll make the decision when I’m ready.”
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry reacts on the court during the second half of a game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. Robert Sabo for NY Post
“We’re in a very interesting situation. All the different salary cap conditions of whether I sign for a max or less or whatever it is, I want to be on a competitive team. I want to have an opportunity to have some flexibility because we haven’t had that in years past, the recent past,” Curry added.
“This team should have flexibility to make necessary moves if things happen. Those are always just the considerations. For me, information and patience is key. It’s just a very unique situation all the way around based on where we’ve been the last four years, where I’m at in my career, what our team looks like this year and the absolute desperation to win. Trying to balance all that.”
Curry is making it very clear that he wants to play for a winner, and sounds like he’s willing to take less money to make that a reality.
Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors reacts on the bench during the second half of a game against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Robert Sabo for NY Post
It raised a few eyebrows when Lonzo Ball went on the Gilbert Arenas Tells All podcast this week and talked about his career in the past tense.
"I felt like I never shortchanged the game. Like I felt like I gave everything I had to hoop, and I felt everything I got in my life is because of hoop," the eldest Ball sibling said. "So I'm grateful to even make it to the league and even be able to play for nine years...
"You see where you're supposed to be, and then you physically can't get there. So it's just like, I don't know. You gotta be comfortable with yourself, to be honest with you, like that's how I am. I feel like, to be honest, I don't think I ever got to my peak."
That may sound like a guy who doesn't expect to play in the NBA again, which became a rumor that suddenly picked up a life of its own on social media, with some accounts saying Ball had retired. Ball quickly pushed back on that — he would love to play again.
I retired? News to me lol cuz I’m still waiting for a call… NBA season long ♂️
Ball, 28, started last season with Cleveland and had the chance to step into a backup point guard role, and through 35 games averaged 4.6 points, 4 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game, shooting 27.2% from 3. With the Cavaliers trading for James Harden near last season's deadline, they traded him to the Utah Jazz, who waived him.
He has not been picked up on an NBA contract since. That doesn't mean he's not open to one.
Ball, the No. 2 pick of the Lakers in 2017, played a couple of seasons in Los Angeles before being traded to New Orleans as part of the Anthony Davis deal. He spent a couple of years with the Pelicans before a sign-and-trade to Chicago, where he looked like a great fit with DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine on a team that started 24-10 — and then the knee injuries hit. It started with a torn meniscus, but that surgery didn't solve the problem and Ball missed all of the next two seasons undergoing a series of surgeries, and eventually underwent a cartilage transplant surgery in 2023 to help fix a "bone-on-bone" knee at that point.
Ball played for Chicago and last season with Cleveland after that major surgery, but he did not stick. He may not get another shot in the NBA, and he sounds good with where he is in life, but that doesn't mean he's giving up entirely.
