Category: Basketball

As we’ve gone through the SunsRank exercise, I think one thing has become clear. This team has depth, at least on paper. Much of that depth is rooted in young players who still have to live up to their potential. If they do, that depth becomes real. The goal is to keep developing and avoid plateauing, because if you don’t, it doesn’t take much to start slipping down the rankings.

Ryan Dunn is a perfect example. At the end of last season, after the Suns were swept out of the playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder, the consensus between the community and the writers had Dunn ranked 10th overall in SunsRank. Now, after one summer without any real basketball being played outside of Las Vegas, he has fallen to 13th in both the community and writers rankings.

#	2025-26 SunRank	Community SunsRank	Writers SunsRank
9	Royce O’Neale	Khaman Maluach	Oso Ighodaro
10	Ryan Dunn	Rasheer Fleming	Khaman Maluach
11	Rasheer Fleming	Luke Kennard	Rasheer Fleming
12	Khaman Maluach	Haywood Highsmith	Koa Peat
13	Haywood Highsmith	Koa Peat	Ryan Dunn
14	Jamaree Bouyea	Ryan Dunn	Haywood Highsmith
15	Koby Brea	Pat Spencer	Jamaree Bouyea
16	Amir Coffey	Jamaree Bouyea	Pat Spencer
17	Isaiah Livers	CJ Huntley	CJ Huntley
18	CJ Huntley	Koby Brea	Koby Brea

There are a multitude of reasons why this can happen. First and foremost, the Suns made changes this offseason, and some of the players they acquired are being ranked ahead of those who were already here. But when we use the subjective term “best” and ask who is actually better than Ryan Dunn on this roster, the movement starts to make a little more sense. Ahead of him are Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, and Koa Peat, all players drafted after Dunn in 2024. We’ve seen Dunn for two seasons now, and we believe we have a better idea of what his ceiling might be. So it’s on him to climb back up the rankings through performance and progression rather than plateauing like he did last season.

Now we turn our attention to The Pillars, the reliable rotation players who will provide stability and help hold this roster together. They might not be the stars, but the Suns need them to consistently do their jobs if this team wants to reach the goals set before the season begins. Within this tier, you’ll find three players who returned to Phoenix on free agent deals that are widely viewed as below market value. You’ll find one player who arrived via trade, and another who certainly makes an impact, even if it isn’t always pretty.

Here are your SunsRank Pillars.

The Pillars

Collin Gillespie

GP	MIN	PPG	RPG	APG	STL	FG%	3PT%	FT%	OFFRTG	DEFRTG	+/- (TOTAL)
80	28.5	12.7	4.1	4.6	1.2	41.8%	40.1%	87.4%	113.7	110.0	+200

Gillespie got paid this offseason, with the Suns re-signing him to a four-year, $48 million contract. He’s a shining example of internal development for Brian Gregory and his staff. Gillespie arrived in Phoenix on a two-way contract in July 2024, earned a full NBA deal in July 2025, and now enters the 2026–27 season making $10.7 million.

It’s a feel-good story. And the opportunity is there for that story to continue, as Gillespie figures to be one of the primary players leading the second unit this season.

Jordan Goodwin

GP	MIN	PPG	RPG	APG	STL	FG%	3PT%	FT%	OFFRTG	DEFRTG	+/- (TOTAL)
70	22.5	8.7	4.9	2.2	1.5	41.3%	37.1%	69.6%	113.4	110.1	+93

The feel-good stories don’t stop with Gillespie, as Jordan Goodwin is another player who worked his way into a multi-year contract. He signed a three-year, $19 million deal with the Suns this offseason, with the final year coming in at $6.8 million on a player option. He controls his destiny.

Goodwin may be listed at only 6’3”, but he plays far above that. He was second on the team in offensive rebounds per game last season and remains a tenacious defender who helps reinforce the Suns’ identity with the second unit. He has another opportunity ahead of him this season to build on what he started last year.

Every team needs a Jordan Goodwin. The Suns have theirs, and it just so happens that his name is Jordan Goodwin.

Mark Williams

GP	MIN	PPG	RPG	APG	BLK	FG%	3PT%	FT%	OFFRTG	DEFRTG	+/- (TOTAL)
60	23.6	11.7	8.0	1.0	0.9	64.4%	1.000%	77.1%	111.3	113.3	-42

You want another player who signed a new contract with the Suns this offseason? Let me introduce you to Mark Williams, who agreed to a three-year, $38 million deal after putting together the healthiest season of his career in his first year with Phoenix. Williams played 60 games last season, 15 more than he ever appeared in during any of his three seasons with the Charlotte Hornets.

He’s one of the more interesting storylines heading into this season for a couple of reasons. First, you have Khaman Maluach waiting in the wings, which creates a delicate balance between developing the future and trying to win now. Second, Williams is likely the fifth option offensively for the Suns. So how does he balance that role while remaining effective on the defensive end?

We saw him handle it well last season. The hope is that he can do it again.

Miles Bridges

GP	MIN	PPG	RPG	APG	STL	FG%	3PT%	FT%	OFFRTG	DEFRTG	+/- (TOTAL)
77	31.0	17.1	5.8	3.2	0.6	46.0%	33.3%	82.2%	118.3	114.8	+147

Miles Bridges comes to Phoenix as one of the most scrutinized players on the roster, both on and off the court. The justified public scrutiny surrounding his acquisition, following his legal troubles in the past, is going to keep a spotlight on him. And given what the Suns gave up to acquire him, most notably a 2033 first-round pick, there will be plenty of scrutiny on his performance as well.

The court of public opinion can be harsh. Combine that with poor performance on the basketball court, and it becomes even harsher. Can Bridges overcome all of that and put together a productive season in Phoenix?

Oso Ighodaro

GP	MIN	PPG	RPG	APG	STL	FG%	3PT%	FT%	OFFRTG	DEFRTG	+/- (TOTAL)
82	22.0	6.5	5.1	2.3	0.9	65.3%	0.0%	45.3%	114.8	109.7	+161

And then there’s Oso, the analytics darling who seems to raise all ships offensively whenever he’s on the court. There’s still plenty of room for growth, especially as a rebounder, rim protector, and someone who can impact the game more consistently on the defensive end. Oh, and did I mention shooting? Yeah, that ship has probably sailed. But Oso brings enough ancillary skills to affect the game in other ways. Much like Mitchell Robinson, he doesn’t need to shoot to make an impact

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And now? Time to SunsRank!

The NBA’s parity era lived to see another year in 2026 when the New York Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs for the championship. The Knicks’ triumph marked the ninth straight year the NBA has had a different champion, and it’s not just a no repeat streak. It’s true that no team has won back-to-back championships since Kevin Durant’s Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018, but it’s even more remarkable that no franchise has multiple titles over the current nine-year stretch of unique champions. Will both runs continue as the league enters the 2026-2027 season?

It’s easy to feel resigned that one of the top teams is destined to win the 2027 championship, but that simply isn’t the way it’s worked out in recent years. I only had the Knicks at No. 5 when I wrote up the list of teams that could win the championship last year, and the Spurs were nowhere to be found. There could be more surprises in store this season as salary cap casualties and the risk of injury from a physicality demanding style of play continue to hang over the league.

I see nine teams that can actually win the championship entering this new season. Let’s rank them by their chances of winning it all.

9. Boston Celtics

I’m higher on Boston as a regular season team than a playoff team. The Celtics have an ingrained identity under Joe Mazzulla that has produced an average of 59.5 wins per season during his four years as head coach, an astounding number. Boston is widely expected to take a step back after the Jaylen Brown trade this year, but I’m not so sure. They will be getting a full year of Jayson Tatum this season, and they’re also adding Paul George and Mitchell Robinson to the roster. I think Payton Pritchard and Derrick White could be better without Brown hogging the ball, and I wouldn’t be surprised if young players like Hugo Gonzalez and Baylor Scheierman can show improvement from last year. It’s possible Boston will miss Brown during the playoffs, but they also lost in the first round last season with him as their best player. The biggest concern for the Celtics to me is if Tatum can still be a First-Team All-NBA caliber player after an Achilles tear. I also still don’t really trust the Neemias Queta and Robinson center pairing to stay healthy and effective throughout a playoff run. Ultimately, Boston is really good every year, and I don’t expect that to change. If they catch a couple lucky breaks during their playoff run, I still think this team has some title equity.

8. Houston Rockets

The Rockets’ season ended in disappointing fashion last year with a first-round playoff loss to a Lakers team that was missing Luka Doncic. I think Houston can be better this year because of the return of Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams from injury, plus internal development from their talented young core. VanVleet’s preseason ACL tear was devastating for a team that lacked reliable ball handlers behind him, and Adams’ ensuing season-ending ankle injury was almost as bad because it took away Houston’s greatest strength (offensive rebounding). VanVleet and Adams should be ready for opening night, giving the Rockets two veterans that help solidify their identity and take some pressure off the young guns. Houston’s ceiling will be determined by if Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith Jr., and Tari Eason have another leap in them, and I think that’s totally possible. Sengun is good for 20 points per game every season at this point, and as he enters his age-24 campaign, I could see him as either a three-point shooter or free throw magnet. Thompson just feels too athletic to fail even if the jump shot never really improves, and it’s possible he turns into an even better mid-range scorer. Sheppard can go as far as head coach Ime Udoka will allow him to go even with some obvious holes in his game. We haven’t even mentioned Kevin Durant yet, who feels perfectly suited to be a hyper-efficient complementary volume scorer this year. The Rockets will have a very good defense and generate tons of extra possessions. I expect this to be a high floor team that also has a high ceiling if a few things go right.

7. Los Angeles Lakers

I could make an argument for the Lakers to be as high as fourth on this list, and it’s all because of Luka Doncic. NBA championships are won with S-Tier superstars, and Doncic is very much in that group. We’ve seen him drag a team to the NBA Finals before when he has another high-level offensive creator next to him with a dominant rim protector behind him, and he again has that set up this year in Los Angeles. Austin Reaves is really good and could be primed for an All-Star campaign. I thought the Lakers gave up way too much for Walker Kessler, but there’s no doubt he fills their biggest need as a defensive paint protector. The real question for the Lakers is the forward spots. I like some of the buy-low fliers on this roster with Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams, Adou Thiero, and Chris Manon, and it’s essentially that one or two of them pop this season for this team to actually be championship caliber. The Lakers can also count on having a very good coach who will push all the right buttons in JJ Redick. The path is harrowing in the Western Conference, but the Lakers have the pieces to potentially put together a title run this year, even if it’s a bit of a long-shot.

6. Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers were crowned offseason champs after trading for Jaylen Brown and signing LeBron James in free agency, but hanging an actual banner will be far more difficult. The Sixers have some obvious questions heading into the year. How healthy can Joel Embiid be without a quality backup center behind him? Can this be a championship-level defense? Is Brown willing to take a step back as a volume scorer and improve as a spot-up shooter? For all of the issues this team could have, the raw talent level is overwhelming if they can stay in one piece. LeBron is one of the great problem solvers in league history, and he could be the connective tissue this team needs at both ends come playoff time. The Sixers will be uniquely suited to attack mismatches in the postseason, especially if Embiid can be on the floor. Head coach Nick Nurse can run some really interesting pick-and-roll combinations, and there’s just no way to account for Brown’s bulldozing drives or Maxey’s elite speed in certain actions. I also sort of like the bench here, with Dean Wade being a perfect glue guy and Anfernee Simons being an overqualified seventh man. If Philly’s stars are willing to sacrifice, there’s a chance they’re a huge pain to deal with come playoff time.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves

The Wolves have consistently made deep playoff runs with Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert, but their failure to fully break through in the Western Conference led to the franchise making some huge changes this summer. LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga are in, while Julius Randle and Naz Reid are out. This version of Minnesota will be faster and more creative with the ball in their hands, and that should lead to a higher offensive ceiling. The pairing of Edwards and Ball in the backcourt will be must-see TV. Edwards was overtasked as a lead decision-maker, so now he can fully slide to the two next to one of the league’s best passers in Ball. Both players are great pull-up three-point shooters, and that could level the playing field against OKC and San Antonio deep in the playoffs. There’s a lot of pressure on Gobert and Jaden McDaniels to hold together the defense. Kuminga will also need to buy into his role as a defensive stopper and rebounder and give up some of his isolation scoring dreams. The bench, led by Ayo Dosunmu, could be pretty solid, especially if Jaylen Clark and Joan Beringer break out. I like the risks Minnesota took this summer, but it could all come crashing down if Ball keeps getting injured or Gobert starts to decline with age. For now, I’m optimistic on the Wolves, and I’m buying that their new style could add some much needed variance to their playoff performance that could help them get over the hump.

4. Toronto Raptors

The Kawhi Leonard cap circumvention scandal is finally resolved, the Clippers have been crushed, and it clears the way for his return to the Raptors. Leonard was a top-5 player in the league last season with the Clippers, and he should have all the motivation he needs to continue his dominance this year assuming he eventually lands in Toronto. The Raptors badly needed someone to score in the halfcourt against set defenses in the playoffs, and Leonard remains among the best alive in that regard with his unstoppable mid-range scoring. He’ll once again have an elite co-star in Toronto in Scottie Barnes, who played like a mad man in the playoffs last season and could be in line for All-NBA honors if he does it again this year. Barnes is one of the league’s best defenders, and he keeps growing as an offensive player. The Raptors got nothing out of Immanuel Quickley in the playoffs last season, and I feel like he could be another key piece for making a run in the East. Collin Murray-Boyles should be primed for a big leap in year two, while rookie Allen Graves could also be an instant impact player. I really like what’s brewing in Toronto as long as Kawhi is there when it counts.

3. New York Knicks

The Knicks looked like nothing special in the regular season last year, and it felt like they were on the verge of disaster when the Hawks took a 2-1 series lead over them in the first-round of the playoffs. Everything changed from that point on, with the Knicks unlocking a level of greatness reserved for only the best championship runs in league history. New York crushed everything in its path on the way to the NBA Finals, and then mounted multiple all-time comebacks to win their first championship since 1973. Almost every key piece is back for this year save for Mitchell Robinson (now in Boston), and while the East is again improved, the Knicks are setting the bar everyone else is trying to measure up to. It’s hard to come up with reasons for why New York would fall off this year. Jalen Brunson should have at least one more season at his apex predator level, Karl-Anthony Towns finally found the perfect role and a coach who trusts him, and OG Anunoby is the epitome of a star in his role. I really think the Knicks can go back-to-back if things break the right way again. Nothing about last season’s championship was a fluke. So why are the Knicks at No. 3? I just feel like the two teams ahead of them have more margin for error.

2. San Antonio Spurs

Victor Wembanyama might be the best player in the world entering this season at 22 years old, but the scary thing is how much room he still has to get better offensively. Wemby didn’t really have a mid-range game he could fall back on, and it hurt him late in the playoffs. If he shows any improvement in that area, the Spurs will be an even tougher team to defend when it matters most. I think San Antonio should have a better supporting cast around their franchise player this year. Dylan Harper could take a big leap in year two if he gets enough usage. De’Aaron Fox can’t be any worse in terms of shot-making than he was in the playoffs last year, and some positive regression to the mean there could make a big difference. Tobias Harris was an overlooked addition that could prove valuable. Stephon Castle is still improving as he enters this third season, and hopefully he can cut back on the turnovers and show a little shooting improvement. The thing left unsaid here is that Wembanyama’s defense is good enough to lift San Antonio to title contention by itself as long as the rest of the pieces can fit in around him. If he continues to make strides offensively, the Spurs should be making deep playoff runs for the foreseeable future.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

I thought the Thunder looked like a potential dynasty at this time last year. It may have been proven true if the team’s second and third best creators, Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell, didn’t both get hurt at the worst possible time late in the playoffs. Chet Holmgren’s disappearance against Wembanyama in the Western Conference Finals might have been an even bigger issue for OKC, considering they will probably have to go through the Spurs every year. I really thought Holmgren looked like a borderline top-15 most valuable player in the world before his crash out against Wemby, and I want to believe he can overcome the mental hurdles in that matchup. Williams is a different story, and he seems like an even better bet to bounce-back from the hamstring injury that dogged him throughout the second half of last year. Add in Mitchell’s ascension and a bigger role for Cason Wallace, and I still think the Thunder are the team to beat even if I don’t feel as confident about it as I did a year ago. It will be fascinating to see if any of young bench players can take a leap between Nikola Topic, Aday Mara, Thomas Sorber, and Bennett Stirtz. The Thunder really do need some reinforcements after losing Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, and Lu Dort as cap casualties, but it’s a lot to ask for those aforementioned youngsters to be ready for the fire of playoff basketball. Ultimately, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s impossibly great one-on-one scoring plus an elite defense is enough to give the Thunder the top spot in these rankings. No one will be anointing OKC with a preseason championship this year, but they still have all the pieces to win a second ring.

Payton Pritchard has come a long way in his career, and has earned the right to be a starter in the NBA. He is almost certainly one of Boston’s top-5 players coming into the 2026-27 season. Is there a chance that the former sixth-man of the year is best utilized off the bench, though?

Nate and Nirav debate:

Nate says starter

I feel very comfortable saying that starting Payton Pritchard is the right option. The numbers and fit make it an easy call to make.

He’s taken a leap in each of the last three seasons, and is now one of most balanced scoring guards in the NBA. That’s not an exaggeration, there’s almost no level of the floor where he’s not highly efficient. Among guards, Pritchard ranked in the 84th percentile at the rim, the 97th percentile in the short mid-range, and the 91st percentile at the line. With the 5th most 3PA per game at his position, he knocked down a solid 37.7% from distance.

This kind of shot profile is underutilized coming off the bench. The production is great, but the value is heightened when it’s built into the Celtics’ best lineup from the opening tip. With Pritchard as a starter, you’re focusing on getting off to a strong start, instead of needing a lift or change of pace from the bench.

An understandable question to address is that if Pritchard was so effective off the bench, why not allow that to continue. The answer for me is about fit and lineup optimization.

As the team’s two most effective creators, Pritchard and Brown had some play style overlaps that benefited from both of them having an opportunity to lead their respective units. Pritchard’s output skyrocketed in every single category with Brown on the bench, and his role was muted when they shared the floor.

The net rating further supported the need to give them room to create. With both players on the floor, they had a respectable +6.6 net rating. With Brown and no Pritchard, it rose modestly to +7.0. With Pritchard and no Brown, it nearly doubled to +13.7.

The historical data paints the same picture, as the numbers hold very true across their last five seasons together.

The team benefited from the strategy of using them as separate forces. With Brown out of the picture, and Tatum in the mix to start the year, that idea is no longer necessary. In fact, it’s far more beneficial to maximize Pritchard and Tatum’s playing time together.

Take that same five year sample. While Payton and Jaylen always remained positive together, they fared even better apart. For Pritchard and Tatum, their relationship is on the complete opposite side of the spectrum. Across 2,884 minutes, they have an elite +13.1 net rating together. Though still solid, it dips noticeably when they play without each other.

This is a pairing that unlocks the best parts of their games. For Tatum, it’s a ridiculous advantage to have a guard with a lightning fast trigger that spots up and spaces the floor from 30+ feet. It makes double teams and help defense significantly harder with Payton one pass away. Both of them can also work as the screener in actions, which lets Boston flip who’s creating and who’s spacing, and forces defenses into tough decisions.

You also can’t leave him open for a second so help defense is unpleasant and miscommunications are a death sentence pic.twitter.com/3eICIqQVdB

— Pull up shoot (@NElGHT_) August 25, 2026

For Pritchard it does mean a downtick in responsibility, but with much easier looks as a trade off.

To make up for that, you can scale up Pritchard’s role and maintain his influence on bench scoring by staggering him effectively. He can either start the game with a longer stint and lead the first bench unit, or he can sit early and then come back eventually when it’s Tatum’s turn for rest. 

They also have a new resource in Paul George. With George, Pritchard, White, and Tatum you can easily stagger any of them to lead a bench unit. You’re not left needing one bench spark plug to make the difference.

For as synergistic as his fit with Tatum is, the same has been equally true alongside both White and Queta. The three of them had a +15.2 net rating in 853 minutes last season. Ensuring that those three and Tatum have as much time together as possible is a recipe for success. With his combination of spacing and creation, I have no doubts George can slide right in with that group as well.

Starting Pritchard is how the Celtics put the best group together, and take advantage of their strongest partnerships. For me, this one is a no-brainer.

Nirav says sixth-man

Every so often, we come across players like Lou Williams and Jamal Crawford who have all the skills they need to be great, but for some reason, they just excel in that sixth man role. Pritchard may just fall into that category as well.

Payton has primarily come off the bench in his career, with the exception of the last season in which he started for 50 of his 79 games played. He had an outstanding year with the increased opportunity, but he did struggle with his shot early on.

It wasn’t long after the mid-way point of the season where Joe Mazzulla decided to put Pritchard back into the sixth-man role, and Payton immediately saw a huge explosion in his production, scoring at least 24 points in six out of the next seven games.

From that point, Pritchard only started in two more games for the rest of the season, one of which both Jaylen Brown and Derrick White were inactive. Now, even with that offensive explosion, Payton’s season averages coming off of the bench don’t appear to be clearly better than his numbers as a starter – that is, with the important exception of his efficiency.

Pritchard saw a small decrease in his minutes and attempts, in part due to the return of Jayson Tatum just 13 games after PP went back to the bench. Despite that, he saw his field goal percentage rise from 45.6% to 47.7%, his three-point percentage from 34.8% to 42.9%, and his free-throw percentage from 86.7% to 94.7%. This came in a year where if Payton’s season averages as a starter were to hold, it would have been his lowest FG% since the 22-23 season, and the lowest 3P% of his career.

Another thing to consider with sending Payton to the bench, someone else has to step into the starting role. Currently, it’s safe to assume that Derrick, Jayson, and one of Neemias Queta or Mitchell Robinson are locked in. Paul George will likely get the nod as well, though I wouldn’t rule out a bench role for him just yet. If George does end up starting, Sam Hauser would be the perfect fit to round out the lineup.

White and Tatum are the offensive engines that primarily handle the ball and create shots. Even PG has the ability to do both, though at this stage he may be utilized as more of a spot up shooter. Having another creator would be a luxury, but having another catch-and-shoot threat like Hauser makes the lineup more complete.

They would be deadly from every spot on the floor. Even without Queta/Robinson being outside threats, defenses would have a tough time finding a weak link, especially with the screen-setting ability of the bigs. Having PG and Hauser to kick it out to would make them think twice about doubling. Tatum and White’s ability to read the floor while attacking would help dissect the opposing teams, spotting and taking advantage of any mismatch which presents itself.

Not only that, but with ball-security and maximizing possessions being such a focal point of Mazzulla Ball, having Payton use his playmaking skills to maintain order with the second unit gives the team a level of depth and continuity that will be hard for opposing teams to rival. Out of all players who had at least 100 assists last season, Pritchard ranked 10^th highest in assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.74. That may just be the most underrated tool he could bring to the bench.

Payton has been a sort of spark plug for the Celtics over the past several years. He’s proven that he can come in hot at any moment. By bringing him off the bench, Boston can maximize their potential through the entirety of the game while still packing a punch with their starting lineup. After all, it’s not about how you start a game – it’s about how you finish it.

So, CelticsBlog readers, what do you say? Should Pritchard start or come off the bench next season?

The 2026 Los Angeles Lakers will be a new era for the team, as they will look vastly different after a busy offseason that has been built around Luka Dončić, with hopes of winning an NBA title for the 18th time in franchise history.

Robert Horry, who helped win three of the Lakers’ five titles in the 2000’s said he believes top free-agent acquisition Walker Kessler will be the difference-maker this season.

“When you watch what Walker Kessler brings to the game, he’s so incredibly skilled and we haven’t had a big since AD that can block shots like that, pop out for threes,” Horry said. “So I just hope he stays healthy — Him missing damn near all season, how much rust has he developed?”

During his first three seasons in the league, Kessler was emerging as one of the best big men in basketball as he was coming off a 2024-2025 season where he averaged a career-high 12.2 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, 1.7 assists, and 11.1 points per game.

Last year, Kessler was already putting up similar production, but his season would quickly come to an end after suffering a torn labrum injury.

“So it’s going to be really interesting to see what he can do because he is the key. Not Luka, not AR, he is,” Horry said.

When the offseason began, Dončić had one request to the Lakers front office, and that was finding him a big man.

The Lakers granted his wish when they acquired Kessler from the Utah Jazz in a sign-and-trade deal that featured them trading away two unprotected future first-round draft picks and two first-round pick swaps, including a four-year, $130 million contract extension that will pay him $30.1 million next season.

With a potentially healthy Kessler on the Lakers roster this year, it will be a new Lakers trio that will feature him, Dončić, and Austin Reaves.

Sandro Mamukelashvili has yet to wear his Lakers uniform in an NBA game but is already making the most of his time with the team.

Mamukelashvili appeared in an interview on the golf course with Deondre Hawkins of ESPN and spoke about the team’s recent trip to Luka Dončić’s home country of Slovenia.

“First of all, shoutout to Luka. I think the organization was amazing, the way they planned everything,” Mamukelashvili said. “They showed us a lot of great places, and Ljubljana is a really, really nice city.”

“Plus, it was great for the new team. It was a bunch of new guys on the team, and you know, all of us being together, it didn’t even feel like it was a lot of new guys.”

First Look : Lakers Forward @Mamukelashvili5 Steps In For A Little Lakers Talk Daily with @Hawkins_Deondrepic.twitter.com/4QGGTi5QkC

— ESPN Los Angeles (@ESPNLosAngeles) September 5, 2026

Mamukelashvili said the team jelled well, and he left feeling excited for this season because of how excited everyone else was.

Aside from the trip, Mamukelashvili and his Lakers teammates have been spotted golfing throughout the offseason. He was asked who is the team’s second-best golfer after Austin Reaves.

“I’ve been hearing a lot about Bronny [James],” Mamukelashvili said. “They say he’s really, really good, and that he actually plays a lot. … So I’m kind of looking forward to seeing the Luka, Austin, Bronny tournament.”

The new Lakers forward was one of the key depth pieces Rob Pelinka, the team’s president of basketball operations, made over the offseason. Mamukelashvili will join the team as a sixth-year veteran after bouncing around the league with the Bucks, Spurs and Raptors.

Mamukelashvili is a year removed from a career high, averaging 11.2 points per game, as well as 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists.

While the Lakers are enjoying their time off the basketball court, the NBA season is rapidly approaching. The team is expected to report for training camp on Sept. 29.

The 2026-2027 season is a pivotal year for the Lakers, who are transitioning to new ownership for the second season in a row.

They are also about to enter a new era of Lakers basketball that features the team fully embracing Dončić as the main guy after LeBron James’ departure during the offseason.

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After the big-time star player, what matters most in the modern NBA? Billy Crystal might say that “is a question for the ages,” yet the picture gets clearer when reviewing some of the proven teams or the ones that have ascended at rapid speed. 

The San Antonio Spurs’ build fits the latter category because of their talent, plus they’ve had someone committed to doing the hardest jobs: Stephon Castle. Anyone who watched him at UConn in 2023-24 probably knew he was bound to have a great pro career because of his skills and the special something beating in his chest. And they are correct so far.

Castle wasn’t setting the league on fire out of the gate, being an ineffective 3-point shooter and being unsure of when to assert himself offensively at times. Yet his value illuminated like the lights coming out of Marsellus Wallace’s briefcase in Pulp Fiction 10 games into his career when he dropped 10 points in the fourth quarter of a one-point loss at home against the Utah Jazz.  

That was his first time scoring in double figures late and it felt like a glimpse of the future. Then within a handful weeks, it felt like he should have been starting despite being green, but the Spurs don’t usually hand things over quickly. On some nights, it may have been difficult to see his full value when he scored in single digits or missed easy ones at the rim, but this is why one must be entrenched in their basketball philosophy.

He came into the league with grown-man strength, so it was easy to tell, even then, that offensive shortcomings would be corrected with added reps and improved mechanics. On top of that, he had Chris Paul’s approval and the future Hall-of-Famer had said they share the same competitive nature. Notably, Castle inherited some of Paul’s best qualities the next year, showing them early as the team waited for De’Aaron Fox to rehab from his hamstring injury.

Part of the reason I thought so highly of Castle as a rookie was that he found a way to make the rest of the Spurs’ season fun by taking on a bigger role after Victor Wembanyama went down with a blood clot. Thank goodness Castle did because there’s only so many years fans can take of not being competitive. His late-season push secured his Rookie of the Year award, too.

At that time, one of the signs that he was improving quickly was that his usage was higher and so was his effective field goal percentage (slightly) than when Wemby was playing. Additionally, lots of unfinished business was left on the table in 2024-25 as they had both assisted each other 60 times. When fans look back on it, they saw the rise of Area 51, which hit the ground running the next season as both players increased their pass frequency to each other. Each of them started scoring more easily with help.  

Castle, particularly, as a rookie was not very efficient when scoring on passes from Wemby because he would rush some shots, boldly try to maneuver through traffic and he hadn’t gotten completely comfortable against faster coverages. None of that is abnormal for a youngster. 

Still, I didn’t think he’d be that good the next year and that’s part of what made the 2025-26 season so special. His points-per-game average increased by two, his EFG percentage went up by 4.5 points, and he recorded 80 percent extra assists. One of the ways he was able to raise his deep-shooting percentage was by taking more shots off the catch but it still needs more work.

In the playoffs, he was seen guarding up against Julius Randle in round two as well as being on the perimeter. His versatility makes him a mobile sentry. 

The average committed NBA fan is generally sharp. Outside of San Antonio, it’s hard to say how he is viewed by them, but I took the liberty of ranking him. The process included reviewing the rosters of every team and writing down the names of the players I would take before him. Consider how every championship team needs someone like him to defend the other team’s best perimeter player and that there aren’t 20 ballers in the NBA who will do that and score 15 points nightly. Castle is one of those guys, and there were only 25 names before his on the list (see at the bottom). 

It matters little that 39 players scored more per game (minimum of 65 games) in 2025-26 and that he’s still a below-average 3-point shooter (33.2). Winning requires having an all-round game and that’s what the Spurs are molding.  

My basketball philosophy states that defense and rebounding are the most important ingredients to winning a championship, and that’s why I’d pick Jrue Holiday before Damian Lillard. That’s also the same reason why Castle, who is sort of like an upgraded version of Holiday, is more of a winning player than a lot of popular guys. Keep in mind that he was four points shy of being on second team All-Defense in 2025-26.  

Despite his game’s imperfections, he’s not far off from being an All-NBA-level player. When coach Mitch Johnson praised him as a rookie, saying he “embraced everything we’ve thrown at him,” it reminded me of the times fight promoters, proclaimed their prospect would be champion, and I believed them.

List, in no order:

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
2. Jalen Williams
3. Nikola Jokić
4. Luka Dončić
5. Anthony Edwards
6. Kevin Durant
7. Deni Avdija
8. Kawhi Leonard
9. Stephen Curry
10. Zion Williamson
11. Cade Cunningham
12. Jayson Tatum
13. Jaylen Brown
14. Tyrese Maxey
15. Jalen Johnson
16. Paolo Banchero
17. Giannis Antetokounmpo
18. Tyrese Haliburton
19. Pascal Siakam
20. Scottie Barnes
21. Jalen Brunson
22. OG Anunoby
23. Karl-Anthony Towns
24. Anthony Davis
25. Donovan Mitchell

As we saw with the steep punishment that the NBA handed out to the Los Angeles Clippers earlier this week, one of the most valuable assets an NBA team can have is draft picks, especially lottery selections. While many people believe that Los Angeles is in the toughest situation in the NBA after getting stripped five first-round picks, one of the reasons many don’t believe so is because they got to select Keaton Wagler fifth overall out of Illinois in this year’s draft.

While the Phoenix Suns had to give up Kevin Durant last offseason, they acquired the 10th overall pick, where they selected Khaman Maluach, which at the very least, helped them add young talent with a roster thin on draft picks and young players. Similar to the Clippers, Phoenix is thin on picks, just not for the same reason as the Clippers, but just like Los Angeles, a lot of their future relies on the development of their young players, with the former Duke center at the forefront of their best and most valuable young players.

That is why Phoenix needs to consider starting him earlier than later.

Whether it’s fair to believe or not, considering what many may think to be lofty expectations, one of owner Mat Ishbia’s most consistent messages is that the plan is to win a championship around Devin Booker.

Suns owner Mat Ishbia: “I’ll ride into a fire with Devin Booker, and I’ll do it proudly… Devin Booker is not getting traded. Devin Booker is our franchise player. We’re going to win a championship here with Devin Booker. I’m excited to do it and be next to him when we do that.” pic.twitter.com/CtyNXnLehp

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) April 30, 2026

With his physical traits, flashes of being able to stretch the floor and an encouraging sign, because of the Suns’ lack of assets and abundance of cap space over the next few seasons thanks to a variety longterm deals and Nassir Little and Bradley Beal’s contracts still on the books, Maluach may be the person with the best chance to be Booker’s running mate to help achieve the franchise’s goal.

While he didn’t play a lot during his rookie campaign and most of his minutes came when games were decided or the team was dealing with injuries, a strong summer has many excited about his prospects coming into the season. With Mark Williams now signed to a three-year deal for less than the mid-level exception and his future under team control, the team can feel more free in how they operate at the center position, not having to think about contract negotiations with a player they traded two first-round picks to acquire. In 60 games last season, Williams averaged 11.7 points, 8 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks per game. He missed the playoffs with a foot injury, and his numbers dipped once the 2026 part of the season started.

Receiving 2026 NBA All-Summer League Team honors, the player they call “Man Man,” averaged 19.5 points, 2 blocks, and 12.8 rebounds per game, which led Summer League.

The 2026 NBA All-Summer League Second Team:

Cedric Coward, @memgrizz
Egor Dёmin, @BrooklynNets
Khaman Maluach, @Suns
Liam McNeeley, @hornets
Zyon Pullin, @Timberwolves

The team was selected by a vote of all 30 NBA teams based on performance at Summer League in Las Vegas. pic.twitter.com/jbkB0XsQvt

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) July 21, 2026

To get back to the Finals and for the franchise to win its first playoff game since 2023, major development will be required. Players who weren’t key contributors last season need opportunities to contribute in new ways, and thanks to his raw talent and strong Summer, Khaman Maluach could be the perfect player to help the team improve and accomplish its main goal.

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This week’s question asks: How many wins will the Houston Rockets have this season?

The Rockets have been on a roller coaster since the start of the decade. From a franchise-changing trade in 2021 that sent James Harden, the Rockets’ best player, for almost a decade to a complete overhaul that saw them hit rock bottom and end up in the lottery for several seasons. The latest iteration of the Rockets has shifted from a team full of young, promising players struggling for wins to a more veteran-led team expected to make deep playoff runs.

Even though the Rockets made the playoffs the past two seasons, they hoped for more, especially after the blockbuster trade that brought Kevin Durant to Houston last offseason. The past two seasons have seen the Rockets bow out in the first round despite winning 52 games both seasons.

Now, heading into year two of the Durant era, the Rockets hope the return of Fred VanVleet and the additions of Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic will finally give them the push they need to get past the first round for the first time since 2020. We asked the SB Nation community for their opinion on how many wins the Rockets will have this upcoming season.

This is what you said:

The SB Nation community has spoken, and 68 percent think the Rockets will win at least 51 games for the third straight season. As mentioned earlier, the Rockets have won exactly 52 games in the past two seasons, and in the Western Conference, every win counts, as spots three through five were separated by only two games.

Some fans believe the Rockets will go backward this season. 32 percent believe the Rockets will win fewer than 51 games. After last season’s disappointing finish, it is understandable that some fans have lost confidence in the team, as the Rockets didn’t make a big splash this offseason like they did last summer.

The Rockets front office and coaching staff have made it a point to say that they believe VanVleet’s return and the other additions mentioned earlier in this article will be enough to finally get past the first round this upcoming season. With a full roster this season, if the Rockets can stay healthy, I believe the Rockets can get to 55 wins, which should be enough to have home-court advantage, something the Rockets did not have this past playoff.

Dont forget to check out our sponsor FanDuel for all your basketball odds. The Rockets are a plus 470 to win 55 games next season, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. That means if you bet 100 dollars and the Rockets win 55 games or more, you win 470 dollars!

Thank you to the SB Nation community for voting!

I apologize there was no Open Thread yesterday, I have been experiencing some technical difficulties. For the time being, Ms. Marilyn Dubinski has graciously offered to post the OT for me. Without further ado:

On Friday, Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox released his new Fox 3 shoes through the Under Armour brand. The $125 sneakers are lighter and more responsive than its predecessor. 

De’Aaron Fox’s new kicks, the Fox 3, dropped today. pic.twitter.com/qXin1aIIkv

— Michael C. Wright (@mikecwright) September 4, 2026

“Every version of my signature shoe has gotten better because we keep learning from how I move and what I need on the court,” Fox shared.

De’Aaron Fox officially steps out from Curry Brand today.

His new Fox 3 ($125) is the first model to live fully under Under Armour.

It was specifically designed to be lightweight (11.9 oz) with Flow traction and Charged cushioning. In other words, it’s built purely for speed,… pic.twitter.com/OgQaG9DgLL

— SpursRΞPORTΞR (@SpursReporter) September 4, 2026

The “Gamer” edition has a bright colorway to parallel Fox’s love of video games. This latest edition, which he premiered during Playoffs, weighs under 12 ounces due in prt to a mesh covering. The shoe has been modified with charged cushioning, a thermoplastic polyurethane shank for support, and a rubberless sole for cushioning and bottom grip, designed by Under Armour to respond to Fox’s speed and sudden directional changes. While the shoes are designed to elevate your game, they do not guarantee a speed increase in your downhill game.

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Welcome to The Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, do not troll and watch the language.

The offseason has been a near overhaul for the Lakers’ roster, and former NBA player Matt Barnes is having fun analyzing it.

In a video with TMZ Sports, Barnes called out the team’s roster and said it’s the “whitest Laker team since the Minneapolis Lakers.”

Barnes cracked a smile as he was joking about the Lakers team and then went on to praise them for building around Luka Dončić.

“But again, man, when you’ve got Luka and AR [Austin Reaves] out there, to me two of the best scoring guards in the league. They added some depth,” Barnes said. “To me, I just got to see it. Everyone wants to give a hot take and predict what they feel like they’re gonna do.”

The Lakers are preparing to enter the first year of the Dončić era after LeBron James departed from the franchise after an eight-year stint.

The Lakers have spent the offseason building around Dončić as the team fulfilled his request for a big man by acquiring Walker Kessler via sign-and-trade, giving him a four-year extension for $130 million.

The team also extended Reaves, Dončić’s partner in crime, by giving him a four-year, $185 million max contract that includes a player option in the final year of his deal.

The front office has also built a strong supporting cast, adding Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Collin Sexton, Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle.

“They’re trying to build around him. I don’t know if there is new ownership or not, so they gotta kind of figure that out,” Barnes said. “The Lakers, whether they’re up or down, when they’re down, they don’t stay down long. So, it’s going to be interesting to see what this season looks like.”

The Lakers’ ownership saga over the last three weeks has been dizzying, to say the least.

Mark Walter agreed to sell his shares of the Lakers to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger at a historic valuation of $12.5 billion, less than a year after Walter bought the team from the Buss family. 

All while Walter’s business empire is facing a federal investigation into potential loan fraud and business wrongdoings.

As for the Buss family, it has another date in court as current Lakers governor Jeanie Buss attempts to block her five siblings (Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse Buss) from selling the family’s 17.8% share of the Lakers to Kushner and Iger.

There are clear stakes tied to the results of the litigation: If Jeanie is able to block her siblings’ attempted sale, she’d maintain the ownership stakes of the Lakers that are required for her to remain the franchise’s governor for at least the next four years, which was a part of the deal she had with Walter when her family sold the team.

But if the siblings are able to go through with the sale, Jeanie wouldn’t be able to stay on as the Lakers’ governor because the league requires a governor to have an ownership stake of at least 15% in the franchise. 

And that’s without even adding the context of a source close to the NBA telling The Post’s Charles Gasparino that Kushner will be the Lakers’ governor once he and Iger’s purchase is official, with Kushner being expected to have the largest shares of the Lakers.

The Lakers’ internal hierarchy could go in multiple directions. 

But when it comes to Jeanie Buss, her options to maintain her role as Lakers governor appear to be narrow. 

The Athletic first reported that Buss would be open to acquiring other ownership stakes to reach the 15% threshold to remain governor.  

But as detailed in the 97-page petition Buss’ lawyers filed in Los Angeles Superior Court last week looking to block her siblings’ attempted sale of their minority ownership stake of the franchise, it was made clear that while a couple of the Lakers’ other minority owners support Buss staying as governor, they also don’t intend to sell their shares. 

“[Patrick] Soon-Shiong and [Ed] Roski [Jr.] have made the determination, as has Jeanie, that the value of Lakers stock will continue to increase over the value of the stock in the current proposed offer for the purchase by a group led by Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner of Lakers stock owned by Mark Walter,” the petition states. “And, for that reason, they have no intent to sell their Lakers stock at this time.

“They also believe that Jeanie is the right person to continue as the Controlling Owner and NBA Governor of the Lakers to help preserve and continue to grow the value of their Lakers stock investments.”

ESPN first reported Soon-Shiong’s desire to keep his 4% stake of the Lakers. And with Roski, who owns about 3% of the franchise, also looking to maintain his ownership of the Lakers, that’s around 7% of the franchise that won’t be available for Buss to purchase.

Could her siblings sell their shares to her? 

Yes, it’s technically possible but also realistically improbable. 

For one, would Buss’ siblings be willing to do business with her after the acrimony over the last decade-plus — which included Joey and Jesse Buss being fired from their front office positions less than a year ago, and Jeanie firing Jim as the Lakers’ executive vice president of basketball operations in 2017?

And even if her siblings were willing to sell their ownership stakes to her, would Buss have the financial backing to make that kind of purchase, especially in light of the franchise’s growing valuation?

The answers to both questions make it unlikely the sides would strike a deal. 

All of which limits Buss’ options to remain Lakers governor. 

And puts more attention back on the litigation with her siblings.

SunsRank continues as we look at the Phoenix Suns roster in its entirety and try to determine the team’s hierarchy. It is an exercise I always enjoy because it captures exactly how we feel at a specific point in time. Right now, that point is September. Hope is still alive. Possibility is everywhere. We can talk ourselves into players, rotations, roles, and outcomes before reality gets its filthy little hands on everything.

Then we do this again at the end of the season and see how much has changed. Players change. We change. Expectations change. Perceptions change. Right now, we are full of hope. Based on our experiences with the Phoenix Suns, there is a decent chance we will end the season carrying some level of disappointment. Watching that curve develop is always interesting. Who rose? Who fell? Who surprised us? Who was responsible for the shift?

In our last installment, we dealt with the Depth Pieces. Based on the voting, here is where we currently stand.

#	2025-26 SunRank	Community SunsRank	Writers SunsRank
15	Koby Brea	Pat Spencer	Jamaree Bouyea
16	Amir Coffey	Jamaree Bouyea	Pat Spencer
17	Isaiah Livers	CJ Huntley	CJ Huntley
18	CJ Huntley	Koby Brea	Koby Brea

There are a couple of interesting things you can take away from both the community rankings and the writers’ rankings. The first is that the writers value Jamaree Bouyea more than the community does. Perhaps that’s the shine of a new toy that Pat Spencer brings, knowing he possesses a defensive mentality that makes him a little more appealing to the community.

What I find more interesting, though, is that Koby Brea ranks 18th overall. In one summer, he dropped from 15th to 18th. That’s understandable considering two players are no longer on the team, but he was also jumped by CJ Huntley, who finished 18th in SunsRank at the end of last season. Perhaps that’s a result of the unimpressive Summer League Brea had in Las Vegas. Across five games and 26.1 minutes per game, he averaged 7.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. More concerning was the shooting, as he hit 30% from the field and 28.6% from beyond the arc.

For someone whose superpower is supposed to be shooting, that certainly wasn’t encouraging, and it most likely played into why both the community and the writers have him slotted last in the preseason SunsRank.

Now it is time to rank the Wild Cards. These are the players who could become more important than expected. There is no guarantee they carve out a major role, but there is enough intrigue, talent, or opportunity for them to surprise us and force their way into the rotation. These are the fringe guys carrying a little bit of hope with them. And where there is hope, there is possibility.

So let us continue the SunsRank journey and meet the Wild Cards, based on your previous voting and who ultimately landed in this tier.

The Wild Cards

Haywood Highsmith

GP	MIN	PPG	RPG	APG	STL	FG%	3PT%	FT%	OFFRTG	DEFRTG	+/- (TOTAL)
7	13.0	5.4	1.9	1.0	0.6	52.2%	57.1%	85.7%	117.8	116.1	+10

Highsmith is a true wild card because we still don’t really know what he can bring or where his health currently stands. After undergoing surgery in August 2025 to repair a meniscal tear in his right knee, he played only seven games with the Suns last season.

There’s optimism that the three-and-D wing can make an impact, but so much of that depends on whether he can stay healthy.

Khaman Maluach

GP	MIN	PPG	RPG	APG	BLK	FG%	3PT%	FT%	OFFRTG	DEFRTG	+/- (TOTAL)
46	8.9	3.0	2.9	0.1	0.7	53.3%	23.8%	71.0%	106.0	103.5	+47

It’s funny because when I look back at the stat line and see that Maluach played 46 games last season, it doesn’t really feel like he did. The hope is that he gets much more run this season, and the expectation is that he should. The second-year center, who turns 20 in less than 10 days, is expected to be an integral part of the Suns’ future.

Unlike Koby Brea, Maluach had a stellar Summer League and absolutely dominated. In 27.4 minutes per game, he averaged 19.5 points and 12.8 rebounds while shooting 40% from three. He was a force. But that was Summer League. What he does next, and how much opportunity he receives this season, will be one of the more interesting storylines to follow.

Koa Peat

GP	MIN	PPG	RPG	APG	STL	FG%	3PT%	FT%	OFFRTG	DEFRTG
36	27.8	14.1	5.6	2.6	0.6	52.8%	35.0%	62.3%	119.5	100.7

We spent all last season wondering how the hell the Suns were going to navigate not having a first-round pick, and Brian Gregory worked his magic to sneak into the back end of the first round and select Koa Peat, the local kid who went to high school in Phoenix and played at the University of Arizona.

Peat had a productive Summer League, averaging 16.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.4 steals while shooting 51% from the field in Las Vegas. It gave us a glimpse of what he could potentially become: someone who is confident with the ball in his hands and has no problem attacking the rim. It was an impressive summer for the 19-year-old.

How much playing time he gets this season remains to be seen, and that will depend on a multitude of factors, including team health and scheme.

Luke Kennard

GP	MIN	PPG	RPG	APG	STL	FG%	3PT%	FT%	OFFRTG	DEFRTG	+/- (TOTAL)
78	21.5	8.4	2.3	2.2	0.7	53.3%	47.8%	91.3%	114.2	113.7	+41

The Suns lost shooting when they traded away Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale, but the outgoing salary in the Miles Bridges deal opened the door for Phoenix to enter free agency and replace some of it. What they found was one of the best three-point shooters in the league.

Kennard shot 47.8% from beyond the arc last season. The challenge with him has always been volume. He doesn’t take nearly as many threes as O’Neale or Allen did, and that will probably have to change in Phoenix, especially considering how much this team will need help from deep. But if shooting is what you need, there are few players better equipped to provide it than Luke Kennard.

Rasheer Fleming

GP	MIN	PPG	RPG	APG	STL	FG%	3PT%	FT%	OFFRTG	DEFRTG	+/- (TOTAL)
55	12.2	4.3	2.3	0.3	0.4	40.5%	34.6%	55.9%	112.7	106.6	+97

The second year forward out of Saint Joseph’s enters the season with high expectations after being productive in the limited opportunities he received as a rookie. Yes, the stat sheet says 55 games played, but his 12.2 minutes per game show that the Suns didn’t use him as often as some might have wanted.

You would think Fleming enters this season as the second option on the depth chart, but until the games are played, we don’t really know how much opportunity he’s going to get. Then it becomes about what he does with it. Can he continue to be a quality defender? Can he become a knockdown shooter from beyond the arc? There are plenty of things he already does well. Does his game grow or plateau?

Ryan Dunn 

GP	MIN	PPG	RPG	APG	STL	FG%	3PT%	FT%	OFFRTG	DEFRTG	+/- (TOTAL)
70	19.4	5.8	4.2	1.5	0.9	45.3%	33.1%	48.9%	110.4	108.7	+4

Ryan Dunn enters the season as one of the more interesting players on this roster. Why? He’ll make $2.9 million this year, but Phoenix holds a $5 million team option for next season. With extensions continuing to come due and roster decisions needing to be made, Dunn’s contract could become expendable if he doesn’t prove his value.

There wasn’t a major jump from Year 1 to Year 2, so the hope is that his third season finally brings the productivity and two-way impact the Suns envisioned when they drafted him in the first round out of Virginia.

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Ready to rank these Wild Cards? Rank them as you see fit, and let us know in the comments below why you put each player where you did.

While the Lakers have lots of new faces joining the franchise this season, one of the more intriguing players returning is Bronny James.

The only real discussion about him this offseason is whether or not he’d be used as a trade pawn before or after his father’s free agency decision. Once it became clear the Lakers were holding onto him, he drifted into the background.

It’s a spot he’s been comfortable in while with the Lakers. But entering his third year, the expectations will start to rise. Following a couple of seasons of development, the results will need to come this year.

In a recent radio interview, Bronny spoke on ESPN LA’s “Mason & Ireland” about what he’s focused on this summer.

“All across the board I’m trying to get better. I’m playing with Luka and AR still, so I’m going to be off ball. When it’s needed, I need to be able to knock down shots and create for others and I think I’ve been doing a good job at that this summer.”

Bronny’s role with the team will become a bit more streamlined this season. With the offense built around Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves being on the ball, Bronny’s role will be as an off-ball guard.

Focusing on what will come in those moments is the best way to handle his offseason work. He talked a bit more about that when asked about what type of player he sees himself becoming.

“I feel like I can be a secondary ballhandler to Luka and AR and generate whatever offense. Catch-and-shoot, pick-and-roll offense and stuff like that. I just pride myself in being an all-around player and whatever’s needed, I’m up for it.”

This is a make-or-break year for Bronny. The Lakers have a wealth of options at guard, both older and younger than him. With a team option for next season, the clock is ticking for Bronny, who needs to start making an impact in games.

He has the right mindset for what to work on this summer, but, again, that will have to lead to real production this season.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.