LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: The sneakers worn by Robert Baker #27 of the Indiana Pacers during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 18, 2025 at the Pavilion 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 Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Los Angeles, CA, Sunday, March 8, 2026 - Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) shares a laugh with referee Tre Maddox (23) during a break in the action against the New York Knicks at Crypto.com Arena. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
It’s no question that the Lakers made a big gamble this summer.
Gone is not just LeBron James, but the entire starting five for most of the team’s series against the Rockets, which they won in six games. In are not just a lot of fresh faces, but a lot of unexpected names.
The Lakers identified players who can fit around Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves and within head coach JJ Redick’s system. The Lakers have a high floor because of their superstar, but it’s still a risky proposition.
But so risky that they’re set up to be the most disappointing team in the league?
That’s where ESPN has them in their preseason predictions. As part of their preseason predictions, ESPN’s NBA reporters voted on various superlatives, including one titled “Disappointing teams: Which team will take a tumble this season?” The Lakers topped those standings.
Los Angeles Lakers: 32 points
Detroit Pistons: 27 points
Golden State Warriors: 26 points
Miami Heat: 22 points
Boston Celtics: 17 points
This really just feels like a clickbait category, and I guess they got their clicks here. But the question is what are we really ranking here? Because if it’s simply who is going to take a tumble, not mentioning either the Hornets or Clippers, two teams who traded away their superstars after being in the play-in last year, is crazy work.
Given the teams listed, though, it feels more like a vote on who will be disappointing, which feels both silly and apropo with ESPN’s other predictions this summer, too. Earlier in the week, they projected the Lakers to finish with a 45-37 record this year, an eight-win drop from last season. Perhaps they’re just doubling down on their prediction.
You can point all around at who else should be considered a team to take a tumble, but really, the Lakers are the team everyone loves to predict to be worse than they will be, particularly in the last few years. Summers have been full of hearing how they won’t even be the best team in LA only for everyone to begrudgingly acknowledge that the Lakers are good but not that good.
The only difference this year is no one is pretending the Clippers will be good. Outside of that, we’ll see the same pattern and can revisit this in February or March to point and laugh.
Welcome to Inside the Suns, a deep down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team in which the Fantable – a round table of Bright Siders – give their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.
Fantable Questions of the Week
Q1: ESPN recently predicted the Suns to finish 8th in the West this season. What’s your opinion/prediction?
zenzino: I’m not mad. As we learned from previous seasons: expectations are the killer of joy. I think they can certainly do better, though.
As I said in a previous comment, there is a crazy logjam in the middle of the Western Conference and the Suns should be at least in the middle of it this time. Let’s look at who was above the Suns and who was below last season.
The Thunder and Spurs are comfortable at the top and not part of the logjam. The Rockets got better with FVV returning and adding Marcus Smart. I expect them to be following closely behind the top two and out of the reach of the Suns.
The three other teams above the Suns:
Nuggets: Bad offseason. They gave up defense and depth. They are the most vulnerable. If Jokic doesn’t play at least 65-70 games, they could fall the hardest. Gordon’s declining durability is also a concern.
Lakers: Mixed bag. They won some and lost some. Luka finally has the center he wanted. This is a ‘wait-and-see’ team for me. It would be stupid to discount any team with Luka on it.
T-Wolves: Interesting offseason, to say the least. Adding Kuminga definitely helps them in the scoring department. If he and LaMelo can stay healthy (a big if), they will be an exciting team on the offensive side. Defense is iffy.
Threats from rising teams:
Naw. The Jazz are a year away from being a couple of years away. Who knows what the hell the Grizzlies, Pelicans, and Kings are doing. They’ll be fighting to just not be the worst.
That leaves just three more:
Dallas: Kyrie coming back paired with Flagg will make for some watchable highlights. As good as Flagg will be, he’s still a year or two from being able to carry a team, which is what he’d have to do for the Mavs to be in the playoff hunt.
Warriors: Pretty sure they’re the oldest team in the NBA. Still… Steph can carry a team when healthy. Jimmy Buckets coming back mid-season(ish) gives them a wildcard to be a threat in the play-in. Health is critical.
Blazers: More than a threat last season, they knocked the Suns off the 7th seed. This season, not so much. The Shaedon Sharpe injury hurts them. Their new owner also hurts them. I think even with Dame coming back and Ja in the mix, they take a step back this season (how many guards do they have?).
In conclusion, I think the Suns are a bigger threat to 3 of the teams than finished above them than any of the teams that finished below them are to the Suns.
If Bridges gels and they stay relatively healthy, I can definitely see the Suns finishing as the 4th or 5th seed. How awesome would that be?
Ashton: Ah, we finally get to a question that I wanted to predict a few weeks ago. Great leadoff question. Let’s start with this: if ESPN knew what the hell it was talking about in predictions, they would not have employed Stephen A. Smith. Seriously, I want to join a fantasy pool of CBB bracket pool with this guy to take his money. Which leads me to my next point: I decided to dust off my long dormant DraftKings account just to see what the Vegas side is saying these days. The sacrifices I make for you, the viewers, and no, I didn’t place a bet. I am just there for their numbers and the fact that I can’t seem to place my remaining .12-cent bet on ping pong.
Vegas states that the Suns have the third-highest odds to win the Pacific Division, but there is a local site poll on that. That is after the Lakers and GSW, with the Suns ringing in at third highest at +310. This is important. It is your perspective if the Lakers or GSW are being a little too overhyped.
Now for the Western Conference, Vegas (DK) has the Suns with the ninth best odds to win it all at +7000. Above Portland and Houston and certainly above the Lakers. My final analysis is that the preseason analysts do not know what they are talking about, and the same with Vegas analysts. I have always suspected that national analysts base their writings on Vegas odds to not appear that they have no spine, in which case, ESPN actually defied Vegas, barely. Still, a cooperation between the two suggests that AI is the source.
So, look, I am just a blog commentator, but BS (Sorry Johnny CYA’s son, have your Dad explain BS to you, and do not go bull or cow-tipping or with your friends as you get older).
The Suns will not finish eighth (or ninth) in the league with all the turbulence in Portland and LA ownership issues. I literally expect to turn on HGTV and see a show called “Franchise Flipping in LA and Portland hates their owner who may just move the franchise if he doesn’t get what he wants. Vegas anyone? Add in the Jazz infatuation with acquiring picks while not really developing talent, Sacramento’s. New Orleans and Memphis general ineptness, eighth in the Western is a bridge too far for me. Great, sad movie but not for the Suns. Let’s just say sixth in the West
Oh, yeah, take the over that the Suns win 40 games or more. Don’t bet the house on it and try not to overreach but this is a 40-win range team.
OldAz: Here was a time when ESPN was the undisputed “worldwide leader in sports” with anchors and personalities that actually loved, lived, and most importantly watched all the games. Now they are closer to the Sports world’s TMZ mixed with the advertising arm of whichever leagues and teams are paying the bills (sorry SEC football fans, you know it’s true).
To paraphrase a quote from the great football movie “Varsity Blues”: That ESPN (Moxon) ain’t with the Charmin extra soft he wipes his butt with. That being said, this prediction could be perfectly accurate considering it’s right about where they finished last season and the separation between 4th and 10th stayed close all season.
This fits with ESPN’s level of analysis, which is to start where the teams ended last season and then adjust up or down based on how many clicks or views their hot take might get. Might as well search X for videos of the dog bouncing basketballs into labeled wastebaskets for your predictions if you ask me.
My prediction is that they will be better this season, but will still be fighting for the 5-8 seeds most of the season considering how competitive the West always seems to be. (Note: my opinion should not be used for betting purposes as it probably has the same value described in the above movie quote).
Rod: I’ve really gotten to the point where the only reason I go to ESPN’s site is for box scores and/or game schedules. Their opinions/predictions don’t mean much to me but, in this case, I’d say that they have the Suns at the lower end of my own personal projection range. After granting that OKC and San Antonio will be the top two teams in the West in 2026-27, I’d say that the Suns could wind up finishing the season anywhere between 2nd and 8th in the West.
I admit that 3rd-5th is a bit of a stretch, but a lot of the other teams I believe could fall into that range have question marks about them that might turn out badly and/or they could find themselves bitten by the injury bug that seemed to chew away at the Suns more last season. And if that bug stays mostly away from the Suns this year…well, that’s just another plus for Phoenix.
Right now, I’m cautiously predicting the Suns to end up 5th or 6th in the West.
Q2: Last season, for the 1st time since 2017-18, the Suns only had 2 starters averaging more than 30 minutes per game. This team finished with 24 more wins since that one. With their current depth, do you think limiting the starters’ minutes this season will be important?
zenzino: Yes. But not for the sake of limiting minutes.
In 21-23, more than 2 starters averaged over 30 minutes, and that worked out pretty well. That being said, starters playing fewer minutes means more gas in the tank come playoffs (see Knicks 24-25 vs 25-26).
Since ‘the trade’, more starters had to average more minutes because they were the only ones who could be relied on. That’s what happens when you fill your roster with NBA minimum players.
I don’t think Ott should ‘limit minutes’ as much as use the depth on the roster. The result will be the same, but it’s a different mindset. Mindset matters. If more starters average over 30 minutes, that means something has gone wrong with the roster or with the coaching. And I’m not worried about Ott at all. He’s a student of the game, and I expect him to have progressed as a HC as well.
This Suns team is deep. It would be a waste if they didn’t use that depth. I expect the starters to get more runtime for the first part the season to see what the fit is like with Bridges and Green with the rest of the starters. Then we’ll see more of the depth being used in the middle of the season. Then the rotation will tighten up at the end and into the playoffs. Like an upside-down bell curve.
Ashton: Oh, you betcha! I was so tired of the injury minutes or articles related to a player’s performance based on nagging injuries that they were going to play through. Or the BS reports on players’ health. Oh, such and such will be back in two weeks and the like. It was like reading a political script; do not trust it. To me, limiting starter minutes is the way to keep them healthy, and if it limits their chance of being an All-Star and receiving their accolades for further contract reimbursement or their trade value, then it is the right thing to do. Most players want to play past their expiration date, and the Suns should embrace limiting the minutes.
Do Suns fans get the screw on buying tickets to see their favorite player sit? Yup, absolutely. And Silver clearly does not like it with his anti-tanking rules, but hey, pare down the game schedule, and we wouldn’t be talking about rest management or if a player qualifies for an NBA award. This is a mess from the NBA commissioner, the CBA, ownership, and big money from the Networks. The reality is that players need time to recover.
OldAz: I loved that Ott limited the starters’ minutes last season and seemed to make that a concerted effort right up until the last month or so of the season. Comparing those teams’ records is more correlation than causation, however, because the 17-18 roster was built to earn the #1 pick after enduring years of McDoofus’ mismanaging the draft. Last season’s team had far more NBA-level talent, and Ott instilled a culture of effort and intensity to match.
The limiting of starters’ minutes, I believe, was strategic in saving the starters in case a late-season or even postseason run was possible. Unfortunately, I don’t think Ott went far enough because he should have limited Williams even more, or more precisely, made sure that another big was on the floor more often with Williams to keep him from being overextended and taking on too much on the defensive end. Hopefully this year’s roster is better constructed to provide for both of those issues by splitting the center minutes amongst 3 and having a little more length alongside whatever center is on the floor.
Rod: There undoubtedly will be games where many of the starters will have to play excessive minutes, but I do believe that they won’t need to do that often. The fact is that the Suns don’t actually have enough top-end talent in their starting 5 to make it a necessity to play them for a great deal of minutes, so wearing them out, which having so many quality players on the bench would be counterproductive.
The Suns will have a number of players on their bench that could be starting for other teams, so they should utilize that depth to its fullest…and not just to keep the starting 5 rested. With the depth they have, keeping the starters’ minutes down doesn’t have to be something Ott needs to be overly concerned with. His most pressing problem will be giving enough minutes to deserving players outside of the starters.
Q3: If Jordan Ott runs a 10-man player rotation, who (other than the two-way contract players) do you think will start off on the bench, getting DNP-CDs, early in the season?
zenzino: Again, I’m tempted to reject the premise. This ties into the previous question of using the depth. I don’t see Ott running a 10-man rotation. Especially since MW is going to be on injury management and will probably only start 50ish games. Oso will start games MW is unavailable in the beginning, and maybe Man Man takes that over later in the season. They also may limit Mark’s minutes on a per-game basis, so both Oso and Man Man could share extended backup duties.
Starters: Book, Green, Brooks, Bridges, MW/Oso
1st off the bench: CG, Goodie, Sheer, Oso/Man Man, Kennard
That leaves Dunn, Peat, Highsmith, and Bouyea fighting for minutes. Peat is the only one I see that will get consistent DNPs. The rest of the guys will get popped in depending on situation. It might only be 3-5 minutes. Need quicker defense? Dunn gets a few minutes. Need reliable 3-and-D? Highsmith. Need some energy and quick scoring? Bouyea’s got it. Of course, injuries will jumble all of that up.
Yeah… I definitely don’t see a 10-man rotation happening.
Ashton: I still can’t help but laugh at the phrasing of this question. Rod hired a lawyer to write it.
Okay, we (Fantable) can’t answer the two-ways as starting off the bench. And we have no idea what the DNP-CDs will be, which means you read Question 2 and followed the flow of where this ends up.
The DNP-CD’ers are the main question as well as the “I “ word, injuries. I see that mainly in the center position, but with the guards highly circumspect to get the backup start.
I think this question is answered easily by Oso Ighadoro getting the start in favor of Mark Williams (rest management or injured) for the DNP-CD category.
OldAz: What a great question, except I think it might be based on a flawed premise. Through much of the year last season Ott was perfectly comfortable playing 12 or 13 or even 14 players in many games through much of the season. It was only very late in the season when he pulled it way back to an eight-man rotation and the massive shift in playing time philosophy became an obvious topic of discussion. However, for the sake of the column, let’s play out this hypothetical.
You have six “locks,” assuming everyone is healthy in Booker, Green, Brooks, Bridges, Williams, and Gillespie. This is already far more balanced than the top six players on last year’s roster, but it only leaves 4 spots to play with in this 10-man rotation. One of those four, and only one in my opinion if we are limiting it to a 10-man rotation, will be a center. That competition between Oso, whom Ott obviously loves and trusts, and Maluach, who could be better in every single way (except passing) by the end of training camp, will be fascinating. Personally, I would give the edge to Maluach, but this hypothetical still has Jordan Ott making the decision, so this one is a toss-up. Either way, there’s no room in a 10-minute rotation for three centers.
The next two spots go to Fleming and Goodwin based on Ott’s focus on defensive intensity, which leaves Highsmith and Kennard fighting it out for the final spot. Both are similar height and length, but Kennard brings shooting and no defense, while Highsmith is far more balanced. Personally, I would go with Highsmith. I just hope Ott doesn’t go with both Kennard and Highsmith in this scenario along with Oso, and bury the 2 sophomore players on the bench.
Ultimately, I think it is far more likely that Ott starts the season off playing a lot of players and limiting his starters’ minutes as discussed in question #2.
Rod: I really can’t see how Ott could get this roster down to a 10-man rotation. There are just too many players that could be useful off the bench (especially in certain circumstances) to do so and if he decides to actually keep the starters’ minutes low like last season, I believe he’ll have to go more than 10-deep to do it. Maybe a better question would be “which players are likely to be 11th through 15th on the Suns’ depth chart’ at the beginning of the season. That is a little bit easier to answer…but just a little bit.
Out of all the non-two-way contract players, the only two I can really consider as out of a 10-man rotation are Bouyea and Peat…and Peat is there simply because he’s a rookie. Then there’s Dunn and Highsmith. One of them would be out of that rotation, but it’s way too early to say for sure which one. I’d need to see them both play in preseason before making that decision. And Goodie complicates that decision as I don’t know what position he’s going to get his minutes at. If he’s getting most of them at SF, then both of them could be out of a 10-man rotation. If he’s getting most of his minutes at SG, where does Kennard get his minutes? As for the center rotation, Williams is the best bet to be starting, but without getting a look at Oso and Khaman in preseason game…you might as well just flip a coin.
I simply can’t see Ott even trying to play in just a 10-man rotation. I honestly think that the only situation in which a 10-man rotation would make sense would be if the Suns go into a game already down several players due to injuries.
As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!
Suns History/Trivia
On September 3, 1968, the Phoenix Suns opened their first-ever training camp, running mainly conditioning drills at Brophy Prep with camp at the high school lasting for one week. Phoenix also lost another coin flip with the Milwaukee Bucks on this day for the right to first to make a player claim off waivers.
On September 3, 1994, the Suns signed Danny Manning as an unrestricted free agent. A 2-time All-Star, Manning signed a 1-yr, $1 million contract with Phoenix (all their cap situation would allow afford at the time) after making $ 3.5 million the previous year and turning down a 5-year, $35 million contract from Atlanta.
The year before, Manning had made the rare choice of accepting his qualifying offer rather than signing an extension with his previous team (the LA Clippers) and becoming an unrestricted free agent for the 1994/95 season. When questioned about Manning’s decision to sign with the Suns for much less money, his agent replied, “It is not about money. It never has been and never will be with Danny. It is about winning.”
Unfortunately, Manning would tear his ACL during a practice on Feb. 6 and miss the remainder of the season after averaging 17.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 32.8 minutes per night. Up to that point, the Suns were 36-10 and on top of the Western Conference. They were 29-13 for the rest of the season (59-23 overall) and lost 4-3 in the WC semi-finals to the Houston Rockets.
On September 3, 2013, after arranging a buyout, the Suns waived Michael Beasley only one year after signing him to a 3-year, $18 mil contract. This is probably the most underrated (or perhaps just forgotten) move that former GM Ryan McDonough made during his time with the Suns. Beasley was originally signed to his contract by McDonough’s predecessor, Lance Blanks.
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 Oct. 20 – 2026-27 NBA Season Begins 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
May 7, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter attends the game against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Lakers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
With the sports world experiencing an unusual wave of team sales, most notably the Lakers, fans are understandably feeling apprehensive about these sudden shifts.
A few NBA teams have seen recent ownership shake-ups even excluding the Lakers, ranging from the Timberwolves to the Blazers and Celtics. Beyond the NBA, the Seahawks, Padres, and Rays have all also seen ownership changes in the last couple of years.
Everyone knows about the Lakers being sold two times in a short period of time, but let’s take a quick look at the other NBA sales.
In our national SB Nation Reacts survey this week, we asked fans how they’re feeling about the onslaught of new ownerships, and the results were very clear.
Fans are understandably concerned about these changes.
Trail Blazer fans have seen a very concerning side to Dundon and his cheap ways. An article published by The Athletic details many ways he’s earned the label of cheap. One instance saw members of the Blazers traveling party have to check out at 12:30 pm because he refused to pay more for late checkouts. He also didn’t allow two-way players to travel with the team in the playoffs and trimmed down the Blazers support staff. It seems he’s not a particularly fun owner, and that will understandably give fans stress and disgust.
The Wolves had their own controversies with Lore and Rodriguez battling previous owner Taylor for rights to the ownership after the latter had called off the sale. After all that, Lore then sold his stake to Stad. Celtics fans were not happy when the Grousbeck family put the team up for sale, and Chisholm, a private equity executive, bought it.
Billionaires and millionaires come with controversy and endless drama. It’s the name of the game. When fans invest their time and money into these teams, seeing a change in ownership can bring fears of rising costs, staff downsizing and other changes that could affect the organization in a not-so-positive way.
So yes, fans should feel uneasy. You shouldn’t have to feel nervous about the future of your team. But, again, there isn’t much we can do about it other than wait and see how things continue to shake up.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 7: Dalen Terry #7 of the Chicago Bulls dribbles past Will Richard #3 of the Golden State Warriors during the first half at the United Center on December 7, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors only tentatively filled their final roster spots when they signed Georges Niang and Brandon Williams to contracts that were partially and non-guaranteed, respectively. That’s why their Exhibit 10 signing of Dalen Terry may be more than just training camp depth and stocking the roster of the Santa Cruz Warriors.
Dalen Terry is not two-way eligible
On an Exhibit 10 contract he’ll come to training camp with the Warriors, play preseason and most likely will wind up in Santa Cruz
Terry, a 6-6 point guard, turned 24 in July and was the No. 18 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft
Terry was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the 18th pick of the 2022 draft after two years at Arizona, where he was teammates with recent New Orleans Pelicans addition Bennedict Mathurin. He played for the Wildcats two seasons after Williams had his lone season in Tucson and now gets a chance to impress Wildcats legend Steve Kerr.
The Warriors have an affection for Arizona players, from Gilbert Arenas to Andre Iguodala to Luke Walton to Nico Mannion. And don’t forget Richard Jefferson, Jud Buechler, Tom Tolbert, and the immortal Chris Mills, who tried to fight the entire Portland Trail Blazers team and their bus driver in 2002. Terry will need to impress with his play but should also bone up on campus trivia and the Wildcats alumni song.
Terry’s main calling card is his defense, where his 7-foot-1 wingspan allows him to be disruptive on, well, the wings. He’s a decent passer and playmaker, but he never really developed into a part-time lead guard like he was in college. Instead, Terry has struggled as a shooting guard who doesn’t shoot well.
He’s had years where he made threes, like going 41.3% from distance in 2024-25 on 1.3 attempts. But his shooting is inconsistent, he’s been prone to turnovers, and his free throw shooting cratered to 53.3% last season — granted, he only had 30 attempts.
Could the Warriors end up deciding Terry is the best last man on the bench and choose him over Williams or Niang? Possible but unlikely, unless Terry has really improved his shot. He’s ineligible for a two-way deal because he’s played four NBA seasons, so the odds are he will end up in beautiful Santa Cruz, not the worst place to continue a G League career.
Terry is an interesting pickup albeit a longshot. At this point in the summer, adding any 24-year-old who was a first-round pick is a good bit of business, even if the title of “first-round pick” is somewhat tainted by the Chicago Bulls making the pick. Remember Chandler Hutchison? Yeah me neither.
Welcome to San Francisco, Dalen Terry! Let’s hope you packed some board shorts and beach sandals.
When reports leaked of Minnesota reaching an agreement with free agent Jonathan Kuminga — to massive headlines and the excitement of Timberwolves fans — there was one little problem: Minnesota didn't yet have the cap space to pay him. Yet. Minnesota was hard-capped at the second apron and just about $4 million below that number, but it needed more than $6 million in space to give Kuminga the promised taxpayer mid-level exception.
Enter a late Friday night trade: Minnesota is sending wing Josh Green to Utah and in return getting back Cody Williams and John Konchar, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN and confirmed Saturday morning by the teams.
A Green trade was expected, he had come to Minnesota as part of the LaMelo Ball trade, and clearing his $14.7 million contract off the books was the cleanest way for Minnesota to get the room under the apron it needed. Minnesota plans to keep Williams — taking a chance on the No. 10 pick from just two years ago, a 6'8" wing who was inconsistent, shot 21.4% from 3 last season, and never established himself with the Jazz — but will waive-and-stretch Konchar's $6.2 million salary, meaning a cap hit of just $2.1 million.
Once all the moves are completed, that gives the Timberwolves about $10.6 million under the second apron to sign Kuminga and have the breathing room for another move in season, if needed.
Utah lands Green, the six-year veteran who struggled last season in Charlotte after returning from shoulder surgery and averaged 4.3 points per game, but did shoot 42% from beyond the arc. Where Green can earn minutes for Will Hardy in Utah is with his defense, which has always been good and is a point of emphasis for Utah this season. There are minutes for Green to earn off the bench, he will get his chance.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 24: Josh Green #10 of the Charlotte Hornets plays against the Sacramento Kings during their game at Spectrum Center on March 24, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Josh Green and Lauri Markannen never crossed paths at Arizona in their respective one-and-done seasons, but now the former Wildcats will be NBA teammates.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Green was traded on Friday night from the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Utah Jazz. Green and cash went to Utah in exchange for John Konchar and Cody Williams.
It’s the second time this offseason that Green has been dealt. In June he was part of the trade that sent point guard LaMelo Ball to Minnesota from the Charlotte Hornets, where Green had spent the previous two seasons following four years with the Dallas Mavericks.
Green, a 6-foot-6 guard who turns 26 in November, is entering the final year of a 3-year, $41 million contract and is set to earn $14.7 million for the 2026-27 season. He joins a Utah team that had one of the worst records in the NBA last season, despite and drafted Kansas point guard Darryn Peterson with the No. 2 overall pick in June.
The Jazz have missed the playoffs five years in a row, the last four with Markkanen as their leading scorer. The ex-Wildcats averaged 26.7 points per game in 2025-26 and is set to make $46.1 million this season.
Green, who has averaged 6.3 points and 2.5 rebounds in 349 NBA games, was the 18th overall pick by Dallas in the 2020 NBA Draft after one season at Arizona. With the UA he averaged 12 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: Cameron Boozer #27 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on during the game against the Houston Rockets during the 2026 NBA Summer League Semifinals game on July 18, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA season starts in 52 days, and while the Memphis Grizzlies start exhibition play in 37 days, vs. Quin Snyder’s Hawks, regular season play starts in 53 days, on October 21, against the Utah Jazz, featuring former Blue Devil Kyle Filipowski.
There’s a lot of keen interest in how former Duke star Cameron Boozer will do as his NBA career starts up.
At least one GM, anonymously, thinks he’s headed for a Rookie of the Year campaign, saying this: “Boozer is a winner and he’s won things his entire young life. Memphis isn’t going to have a good year, but he’s going to be the bright spot and he’s going to win the award.”
He’s more knowledgeable than we are, but Boozer could be better than people expect. We’re not saying they’ll necessarily make the playoffs, but Boozer will be a solid scorer, rebounder, and he’s a much better passer than people think.
Almost-Blue Devil Cedric Coward should start at one guard, while former Virginia point guard Ty Jerome will take over for Ja Morant.
He’s nowhere near the talent Morant is, obviously, but he’s going to be much more steady, and the chances of getting suspended for doing something idiotic are trivial. As immensely talented as Morant is, he can be his own worst enemy.
The thing that people don’t fully realize about Boozer is that he’s a superb passer. It won’t surprise us in the least if he leads Memphis in assists, covering that weakness as Edey and newly acquired Isaiah Stewart should cover up his perceived defensive weaknesses in the post.
The biggest thing, as the GM observed, is that Boozer is a winner, and he’s a winner because he has mastered the basics of the game at a very early age, and understands it at a level a lot of players never figure out. Whether it’s this year or one or two down the road, he’s going to help turn that team around.
CHENGDU, CHINA - JUNE 27: American professional basketball player Kyrie Irving high-five with a fan in a fan meeting during his China tour on June 27, 2026 in Chengdu, Sichuan Province of China. (Photo by You Fang/VCG via Getty Images) | VCG via Getty Images
We’re under two months away from opening night, and there’s plenty of chatter surrounding the new-look Dallas Mavericks. From draft night in June to trade splashes in July to personnel moves in August, the Mavericks have had a busy summer. They’ll begin the 2026 season with a new president, new coach, and a flurry of new faces. However, one familiar face we’re ready to see on the court again is Kyrie Irving. Several trade rumors have surrounded the nine-time All-Star, but are any true? Here are three reasons why Irving will stay a Maverick this season.
No sample size with Flagg
Arguably the most exciting part of the upcoming season will be watching the Cooper Flagg-Kyrie Irving duo materialize. Coming into the league as an 18-year-old rookie with expectations similar to names like Victor Wembanyama, Zion Williamson, and LeBron James, Cooper Flagg had a lot to carry on his shoulders last season. Despite the heavy load, Flagg averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game, on 46.8% shooting. Among rookies, Flagg had the highest usage rate at 26.9% and played more minutes than any rookie, averaging 33.5 per game — 2,344 total for the season.
Having another on-ball threat will make a huge difference for the Mavericks. The majority of the 2025-2026 season was spent experimenting with guards like D’Angelo Russell, Brandon Williams, and Ryan Nembhard, all of whom have found different teams this summer. Adding in a bona fide star like Irving, even as he comes off an ACL injury, will take some pressure off Flagg. Before the ACL injury, Irving was having one of the best seasons of his career, averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game on 47.3% shooting. Even Irving at 70% will have a huge impact. Coming into his second season next to Irving, Flagg will be able to move more without the ball, enjoy better floor spacing, and play to his strengths. Teams won’t be able to double-team and swarm the 19-year-old as easily if Irving is on the floor too. This duo will be an exciting watch.
Slim pickings at guard
Currently, Dallas has 19 players listed on its roster, which will be reduced to 15 by opening night. Of those 19, only six are guards — Irving, Max Christie, Marcus Sasser, Jett Howard, John Poulakidas, and Vsevolod Ishchenko. There’s a significant drop-off after Kyrie Irving in both shooting and playmaking. The Mavericks need Irving if they want to make any noise in the Western Conference. For the first time since the pre-dynasty Golden State Warriors, the West took a step back this summer. With no incentive to lose, since the Mavericks do not own their first-round picks until 2031, Dallas is looking for a major bounce-back year.
While putting too many eggs in Irving’s basket is risky, trading him doesn’t make sense if the Mavericks want to start winning. The only way he gets moved is if the Mavericks find themselves in the midst of a disastrous season. Even then, the mentorship and skills Irving could impart to Flagg are invaluable. It would likely take an Irving trade request to get this ball rolling.
Cents on the dollar return
The reality of Irving currently is that for all his talent and wizardry on the court, he’s 34 and coming off an ACL tear. With that, the offers for Irving would likely be less than ideal. Until other teams see him on the court, playing like the Irving we know and love, it’s hard to imagine Dallas would get an offer it couldn’t refuse. At bare minimum, Dallas would want a high first-round pick plus a good young piece or two late first-round picks with a salary dump or something similar.
Weighing the pros vs cons, there are more pros to keeping Irving and seeing what the fit looks like before even considering trading him. If Dallas isn’t in the playoff hunt by the trade deadline in February, or if he wants out, then a new destination could be an option. But for now, it makes more sense to keep him and, at bare minimum, see if he can increase his trade value before moving him.
Looking ahead
There will be loads of excitement to see number eleven back on the court opening night on October 21st. Plugging him into a lineup with Flagg is a recipe for basketball poetry. Irving has become the co-face of the Mavericks over the past 18 months, and his presence on the court will be felt from tipoff. Before even thinking about moving him, the Mavericks will want to see what he looks like, how he fits, and if he can bring them back into the playoff picture. Get your popcorn ready. It will be absolute cinema.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 18: Jose Alvarado #5 of the New York Knicks celebrates with the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy during the New York Knicks Championship ticker tape parade and victory rally celebrating winning the 2026 NBA Finals on June 18, 2026 in New York City. The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games to win their first NBA Championship in 53 years. (Photo by Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There are easier (and less surreal) ways to fulfill an NBA dream than the Jose Alvarado route.
Go undrafted and fight your way onto a roster. Develop a reputation as a defensive menace on the court. Spend four and a half seasons in NOLA. Get traded home to New York mid-season. Help your favorite team from childhood win their first championship in more than half a century. Then parade through the streets of the city where you grew up with a few million people screaming at you.
Alvarado sat down with SLAM during his cover shoot for KICKS 29, and the conversation naturally circled back to the improbable route that brought the Brooklyn native here.
Asked to choose one word for the Knicks’ championship run, Alvarado answered: “Believe. That’s one thing you got to do is believe the way we did it.”
That was especially true in Game Four of the Finals, when New York fell 29 points behind San Antonio and somehow dragged itself all the way back, aided by significant contributions from Alvarado. He said his focus during the comeback was simple: “It was more not really overthinking—like, what can I do to make us win the game regardless if it’s making shots or not.”
The championship would have been a massive achievement anywhere. Winning it in New York meant even more for Jose, who grew up in Brooklyn before playing at Georgia Tech and eventually joining the Pelicans.
Pondering Jose’s experience, there is always something weird about getting a desperately wanted thing. For years, the dream existed at a distance, beyond the next practice, the next contract, the doubt expressed by others about your size or talent. Then one afternoon, you’re dancing on a float in Manhattan as an NBA champion with your hometown passing by, block by block.
“I almost cried on the float because . . . obviously going through the city that I was raised . . . I know a lot of people that’s in the crowd,” Alvarado told SLAM.
That’s the part of winning a championship nobody can really prepare for, that transition point when the dream stops being something you’re chasing and becomes something that has happened to you. Sounds surreal. And not to get all Jean-Paul Sartre about it all, but it’s natural to wonder: what’s next?
The answer: Your own sneaker and a new contract with the Knicks, naturally. After declining his $4.5 million player option this summer, Alvarado agreed to a new three-year deal with the Knicks worth roughly $14.4 million, with $12 million guaranteed.
Furthermore, Jose recently signed with the streetball brand AND1 and showed off his personalized player-exclusive shoes during the SLAM shoot. The partnership makes sense. Few NBA players have built an identity more closely connected to playground basketball’s particular mixture of hustle, swagger, annoyance, and joy. Thus, the SLAM team drove Alvarado back to an outdoor New York court, a familiar environment to the 28-year-old who is currently playing for Puerto Rico in FIFA’s Basketball World Cup qualifiers.
In March, I spoke to Jose over Zoom. He was connecting from a hotel room in Utah, grinding out NBA life on the road, still getting acclimated to his new team. What struck me in the conversation was how completely disruptive a mid-season trade is on a player with a young family.
“People don’t understand,” Alvarado told me. “You think, ‘They’ve got millions,’ and don’t get me wrong, the financial security is great. But one day you’re comfortable in your forever home, and overnight you have to go to a different city, leaving your wife and kids behind.”
He explained that even a month after the trade, he hadn’t yet been able to return home to his family in New Orleans. It became clear how much these players—and their families—must sacrifice for an NBA career.
And Jose is not slowing down. Despite the ring, a new contract, and his face on a SLAM cover, Alvarado doesn’t sound particularly interested in staying comfortable.
“The only way to stay in the NBA, or to be in a conversation where I want to be, with my goal, is [I] definitely got to have a chip on my shoulder, no matter what,” he told SLAM.
That chip is mighty durable. Going undrafted didn’t remove it; making an NBA team didn’t shake it; becoming an established rotation player didn’t loosen it; and neither did coming home, getting paid, or getting to pose for glamour shots with the Larry O’Brien trophy.
Asked how he eventually wants people to remember him, Jose went right back to the beginning. “I want them to remember that there was a lot of people that said no to this kid. There was a lot of doubts . . . just remember the doubts and how I overcame all that.”
I can think of worse epitaphs for a basketball career. Congrats, Jose. Knicks in five.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JUNE 13: Fans gather on the concourse prior to Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center on June 13, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last season, Victor Wembanyama introduced American basketball to European football fandom. His brainchild, The Jackals, were designed to make the Frost Bank Center the NBA’s most raucous arena. Wemby held auditions, cast a number of rabid fans who committed to attending the majority of home games, and set them loose. His experiment was a huge success, and the Jackals not only raised the level of excitement in the Forst Bank Center, they made special trips to out of town games. Wemby personally invited many along to attend the NBA Cup when the Spurs upset a number of Western Conference teams to make it all the way to the Emirates Final.
The Jackals are returning for the 2026-2027 season and their numbers are increasing. Auditions are being held for prospective members.
Per a Spurs press release:
“The Spurs Jackals will host auditions on Saturday, Sept. 19 at Frost Bank Center, giving passionate Spurs fans the opportunity to join the supporter section for the 2026-27 season. Auditions will begin at 9 a.m., and fans interested can register here.“
This year the Jackals are adding two new areas — Sections 114 and 115 — allowing space for 100 new members.
Fans auditioning should show up in Spurs gear and come ready to bring the energy. If you are interested in learning more can visit Spurs.com/Jackals or text JACKALS to (210) 444-5940.
Go Spurs Go!
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During the years that Red Auerbach ran the Celtics, the organization was a paragon of stability and tradition. First Red coached the Celtics, and then, often, the players he coached coached the Celtics. The uniforms didn’t change, and banner after banner of the same plain type accumulated in the rafters of the old Boston Garden. One by one, player numbers were retired and raised to the same lofty position above the most storied court in the National Basketball Association. From a basketball perspective, the Celtics were about as solid and stable as the rock of Gibraltar.
But that stability was not reflected in team ownership.
After Walter Brown died unexpectedly in the fall of 1964, the Celtics went through a twenty-year period when ten different ownership groups controlled the team.
In 1983, the Celtics were purchased from Harry Mangurian by a consortium led by Don Gaston. Gaston had been an executive with Gulf+Western when they owned the Knicks, having purchased Madison Square Garden and its tenants in 1977.
Gaston’s consortium included Boston native Paul Dupee, and Alan Cohen, who was an executive with the New Jersey Nets at the time—both were also Gulf+Western alumni. The sale price was reported to be $15 million.
Gaston, a Texas native, had left Gulf+Western in 1982 after assembling a group of investors that purchased Providence Capitol International Insurance Ltd., and Famous Players Realty, Ltd. from Gulf+Western for $350 million.
About three years after purchasing the Celtics, Gaston and his partners decided to share the wealth while creating some wealth for themselves.
They sold 40% of the Boston Celtics on the New York Stock Exchange on December 3, 1986.
This was the first—and so far only—time that a sports franchise has been publicly traded.
It provided an opportunity for any number of Celtics fans, including my dad, to claim an ownership stake in what could in a very real sense now be called ‘their’ team.
It was also an excellent move for the wallets of Boston’s ownership group. Having paid around $15 million for the team in the fall of 1983, they recouped about three times that in an IPO that simultaneously lined their pockets with an estimated $48 million in cash and boosted the valuation of their holdings to about $72 million—not a bad return overall. At the close of the first day of trading, the Celtics were valued at $120 million, give or take. This was an astronomical price for a professional sports team at the time.
For the next sixteen years and change, the Celtics were, partially, a publicly traded entity.
The IPO was the brainchild of Charles Weiss at Smith Barney, an investment banking firm that didn’t survive the 2008 financial crisis. His idea was to create a series of “Master Limited Partnerships” in which sports franchise owners could raise a significant amount of capital by selling a minority stake on the market; master limited partnerships would also ease the tax burden that sports teams would face, as income would be distributed to partners who would pay taxes individually. Gaston and his partners, who were always businessmen first, leaped at the opportunity.
The Celtics IPO was a relatively small float of 2.6 million shares.
Those shares ended up in the hands of about 95,000 investors, meaning the average shareholder was sitting on just over 27 shares. This created an enormous headache whenever dividends came due. It cost the Celtics roughly $1 million per year just to print and mail out the quarterly checks. These quarterly dividends, always under a dollar per share, were quickly turned into an annual distribution which saved considerable money in postage and printing. Adding to the headache was the fact that roughly one out of every ten stockholders failed to deposit those dividend checks.
Celtics fans held onto their shares, too. On any given day, fewer than 2,000 Boston Celtics Limited Partnership shares might change hands on the New York Stock Exchange. Far more stock certificates were likely to be found hanging on the walls of offices and dens, and, in the case of particularly tolerant spouses, perhaps even in living rooms.
In exchange for a sudden influx of cash and a boost to the bottom line, trading on the stock exchange required that the Celtics open their books to public scrutiny in a way that no team before or since has had to. In addition to player contracts, which were generally reported on and public knowledge, salaries of front office personnel were revealed. For example, it turned out that Red Auerbach was making a relatively modest $250,000 per year, an amount that had been guaranteed for Red’s lifetime in a contract with the new owners.
In 1998, a ten-year provision that had kept the favorable tax treatment of income under master limited partnerships in place expired. As a result, the Celtics were reorganized into a byzantine structure in which individuals who held more than 100 shares would be eligible to obtain partner status, while smaller investors would receive a share in the new entity along with $20 in subordinated debt per share: basically, they would be given an IOU from the Celtics guaranteeing payment of 6% annual interest (or $1.20), and, in forty years, repayment of the full $20.
This new structure was arranged in an effort to preserve the pass-through treatment of income that had been in place with the master limited partnership.
Under the new arrangement, the Boston Celtics were owned by a partnership, Celtics Basketball, L.P., which, in turn, was owned by Celtics Basketball Holdings, L.P. 48.3123% of Celtics Basketball Holdings, L.P. was owned by Boston Celtics Limited Partnership II, or “BCLP II,” which was, in fact, the original Boston Celtics Limited Partnership. A new Boston Celtics Limited Partnership, “BCLP,” owned 99% of “BCLP II.” BCLP was the entity with publicly traded shares, while BCLP II was the entity that issued the $20 debentures.
Presumably there were tax advantages to having this many tiers of ownership over the Boston Celtics, and it seems likely that such convoluted arrangements are in place with other teams, now that professional sports have become a big business.
In fact, it could be well argued that the Celtics IPO was the beginning of the ‘big business’ era for sports franchise ownership.
At a swoop, the valuation of the Celtics jumped from $15 million to $120 million. Ownership of a basketball franchise, which had been more or less a hobby for the well-heeled up to this point, suddenly became a realm where serious cash was required to buy into the game. With that cash came expectations regarding revenue growth and profitability.
Available documents from the SEC’s EDGAR online database of filings from 2001 and later show that there were still about 58,000 individual stockholders at the time that Wyc Grousbeck’s ownership group put in an offer for the team.
These individuals, many of whom had likely held onto their shares going back to the initial public offering, or a few months afterwards, were paid $27 for their share, which, along with redemption of the $20 debenture, meant a $47 return on an initial investment, if made around the time of the IPO, of about $18. This was about a 261% gain, not counting dividends.
Interestingly, this reflected an approximately even return on investment compared to what Gaston and company had accrued based on the team’s valuation at the time of the IPO. The net sale price of the Celtics in 2002 was $310 million, which was a 258% increase over the IPO’s valuation of around $120 million.
However, Gaston, Dupee and Cohen had bought the team for just $15 million, and the return on their cash outlay amounted to about 2,067% when the team sold in 2002, not counting the $48 million that they had received from the IPO. Grousbeck’s group paid $360 million for the Celtics, which was a record sum for the NBA at the time, but $50 million was used to retire various debt obligations, including the debentures that had been distributed to shareholders in 1998.
This sale marked the end of an interesting experiment in franchise ownership during a period that saw valuations of professional sports teams skyrocket. This trend has only continued with the record sale of the Celtics in 2025 for $6.1 billion, a sale price that was rapidly eclipsed by two different sales of the Los Angeles Lakers, first for $10 billion and then, less than a year later, $12.5 billion.
The irony is that an IPO that marked the transformation of sports into big business also made it possible for ordinary fans of every stripe to own a piece of their favorite team, at least for a time.
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DENVER, COLORADO - MARCH 27: Cody Williams #5 of the Utah Jazz warms up before a game against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on March 27, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. 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 Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On another inauspicious evening in the NBA offseason, Minnesota Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations, Tim Connelly, was wide awake. As first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, Minnesota traded Josh Green and cash to the Utah Jazz for Cody Williams and John Konchar.
Charania followed up by sharing that Konchar, a 30-year-old wing rebounding specialist, will see his $6.2 million contract waived-and-stretched, incurring roughly $2 million in dead cap space for the next three years. Konchar could’ve been an interesting end-of-bench option, but alas the Wolves are filled to the brim at his position.
Josh Green, who was just on a team-wide outing in France, was the unfortunate salary dump that needed to happen in order to make the Jonathan Kuminga deal legal per salary cap regulations. Despite being a potential Donte DiVincenzo replacement on the roster, Green’s $14.7 million was the only realistic salary that could be moved to make enough room for Kuminga to join via the tax-payer mid-level exception. Many had theorized if there were no takers for Green, Minnesota could have entertained a waive-and-stretch of his contract, incurring a near $5 million cap hit for three years.
Instead they nearly halved that while taking a flyer on a 21-year-old top 10 draft pick, Cody Williams.
Cody is the little brother of the Oklahoma City Thunder All-NBA wing, Jalen Williams. The younger Williams has spent his last two seasons on a tanking Utah organization who have mostly failed to develop any young talent despite multiple lottery picks.
Cody is included in that bunch.
He was billed as a long (seven-foot wingspan), athletic, triple-threat scorer out of college who knocked down over 40% of his triples in his one year at Colorado. Williams, like his brother, was a late riser during the 2024 draft process, impressing scouts with his defensive tenacity and two-way star potential. Instead of following in Jalen’s footsteps on his journey to stardom, he has fallen flat on his face, becoming one of the worst players in the NBA. Respectfully.
But all is not lost yet! Tim Connelly and his front office have always been believers in finding value in what others perceive as broken toys. Aaron Gordon, Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, Bones Hyland, LaMelo Ball, Jonathan Kuminga. These are all players that had less than stellar “reputations” among various NBA circles, yet he’s taken a leap of faith to salvage their careers. And they’ve mostly worked out.
Williams is much less of a risk than those aforementioned names, considering he’s likely not even going to figure to be in the rotation. Hell, he’s not even guaranteed to make the opening night roster. He’s on his final two years of his rookie scale contract (~$6.5 million per year). However, Cody did finally show some promise near the end of his sophomore season.
I also still have some interest in Cody Williams as a flyer. Was always a skinny project coming into the league. Thought he was pretty solid down the stretch in Utah.
Still only 21 years old. Averaged 16/4/4 in his last 20 games this year while Utah was losing. Shot 47/21/77.
According to our SB Nation sister blog, SLC Dunk, they named Cody their second most improved player of the season. They also included this nugget from Zach Lowe:
I think Cody Williams — who looked like an epic bust of a top-10 pick… has shown enough in the last couple of months that I think there’s a world in which he’s a functional eighth to tenth guy on a good Utah Jazz team. His defense is really improved. He’s a solid defender. He knows how to close out on guys short, he knows how to run guys off the arc, he’s extremely well balanced.
The Wolves now have 14 players under contract, and all three two-way spots filled. That leaves one potential spot to be filled, though many teams often leave a spot open for flexibility. If we know anything about Connelly though, things can change on a dime, but this could be what Minnesota’s roster will look like come opening night.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 10: Cody Williams #5 of the Utah Jazz handles the ball during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 10, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Late Friday night, Shams Charania reported that the Jazz and Wolves had completed a trade:
The Minnesota Timberwolves are trading Josh Green and cash to the Utah Jazz for Cody Williams and John Konchar, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/9mZTm4amkH
One of the most persistent questions in Jazzland over the past two years or so looms large: Is Cody Williams a bust? If you are Justin Zanik and/or Austin Ainge, it appears the answer is yes. After being drafted in the lottery, being out-physicaled for most of his rookie year, showing limited progress in his sophomore year, and struggling this summer in most of his Salt Lake and Vegas Summer League runs, Cody has been shipped north(east). This gives Minnesota a young prospect who still has the ability to turn the corner with a scenery change, a solid “glue guy” in John Konchar and, most importantly, some financial relief:
Swapping out Josh Green for Cody Williams/John Konchar puts Minnesota $6.489M below the second apron hard cap.
In return, the Jazz get a 6th-year shooting guard who shoots accurately (career 39% 3PT) but not at high volume. He defends serviceably, posting a career Defensive Rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) of 117. Much like last year’s Colin Sexton/Jusuf Nurkić trade, this may end up being a case of addition by subtraction. There was nothing wrong with Colin Sexton—he is a good basketball player—but he wasn’t a good fit. As a bonus, Nurk turned out to be a fantastic fit. Now the rotations will be even more open for Darryn Peterson, Ace Bailey, and Keyonte George.
The Jazz are not bringing Josh Green in to play 25 minutes per night. He is here a) to make the salaries work and b) to provide a modest boost off the bench as an 8th 0r 9th man. He’s a solid player who knows his role and plays it well:
For their part, Timberwolves fans will point to Cody’s flashes of brilliance over his short career to this point:
Jazz Cody Williams career-high 34 PTS (12-20 FG, 3-7 3P, 7-8 FT), 7 REB, 7 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK vs. Kings
— Role Player Performances (@BenchHighlights) March 16, 2026
We at the Dunk wish Cody and John the best of luck as they each start their new chapters in Minnesota, as so many other Jazz players before them have. Once a Jazzman, always a Jazzman. Despite the unfortunate parting of ways, Utah’s future is brighter than it’s ever been. For now, this trade looks like a “win-win,” something which is rare in the market these days. 53 days remain until we can begin to find out.
