SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 13: Julian Champagnie #30 of the San Antonio Spurs grabs the rebound during the game against the New York Knicks during Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Champagne problems make for interesting offseason conversations. Coming off an NBA Finals run, the San Antonio Spurs are returning a stacked roster with some minor additions. The signing of Tobias Harris gives the Spurs another option in their starting lineup, alongside De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, and Victor Wembanyama.
But Julian Champagnie was a starter for 68 games last season and started every single NBA Playoff game. He has some claim to keeping his spot to start the season. Then there is Dylan Harper, who became a 19-year-old star in the postseason, at times looking like the best player on the court across multiple series.
So between Harris, Harper, and Champagnie, who gets the fifth spot? We want your input. Vote in the poll below, and we will be back later in the week to go over the results.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Spurs fans and fans across the country.
SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 15: Isaiah Collier #8 of the Utah Jazz looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 15, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Utah Jazz are going into the season with a pretty clear core of five players that Jazz fans are looking most forward to watching: Darryn Peterson, Keyonte George, Jaren Jackson Jr., Ace Bailey, and Lauri Markkanen.
But winning teams can’t win only with their stars, they need role and bench players contributing as well. Utah has drafted a collection of interesting prospects who have each shown distinct elements of potential. Isaiah Collier has been impressive assisting the ball. Brice Sensabaugh has shown flashes of high-level scoring. Kyle Filipowski has shown a lot of skill for a 7-footer and Cody Williams has shown some nice two-way potential. But potential is all these players have shown, and potential doesn’t mean anything if they don’t eventually have a winning impact on the game.
That brings us to this week’s question. Of those players, who will have the biggest impact this upcoming season?
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Jazz fans and fans across the country.
"Every year, some team is going to win a championship. So it happens that this year that team is in the same city. It doesn't make us feel very good. It irritates our fan base and it is embarrassing but in business or in competition, in sports, or in anything, you shouldn’t let the embarrassment factor affect how you perform."
Or, in the case of the Brooklyn Nets, change their rebuilding trajectory.
"[We] had a plan and we're rebuilding and I think right now we are on a positive trajectory. So it doesn’t change my thinking at all."
Brooklyn went 20-62 last season, the third-worst record in the league, which ended up giving them the No. 6 pick, where they selected point guard Mikal Brown. Then, at Summer League, their No. 8 pick of a year ago, Egor Dёmin, looked like a player ready to make a leap next season. That's a positive place to start.
The Nets also acquired power forward Julius Randle from Minnesota as part of the four-team trade that sent LaMelo Ball to the Timberwolves. Randle is a rock-solid 20+ a game scorer (21,1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5 assists per game last year) who will step in and make this team better. He raises the floor, even in a deeper East.
It's still a rebuilding project in Brooklyn, but Tsai is right in that they shouldn't be comparing themselves to that team over the bridge in Manhattan.
Los Angeles, CA - March 12: Mark Walter, left, a majority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, and Jeanie Buss, minority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, talk as the Lakers play the Chicago Bulls at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles Thursday, March 12, 2026. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Between Mark Walter selling the team to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner and the Buss family’s predictable in-fighting over whether to join them, there has been a constant stream of information and rumors that’s hard to stay on top of.
In lieu of multiple stories, here’s a roundup of the latest information and updates on Walter, the sale and the Buss family.
Expected hiring freeze
More often than not, when a company is sold, there is a hiring freeze during the transition. That appears likely to be the case here as well.
On Tuesday, Dan Woike of The Athletic reported that the expectation around the league is that the Lakers are not going to make any front office hires until Iger and Kushner take over.
According to a pair of league sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to publicly discuss the Lakers’ internal operations, there is a belief around the NBA that the team cannot complete the buildout of its basketball operations department until the ownership situation is resolved. After laying out a vision for a pair of assistant general managers, with one focused on analytics and one focused on player scouting, the team has yet to make any inroads in pro scouting. With preseason games set to start in a little more than a month, filling a staff and getting everyone accustomed to a system was already going to be difficult. Now it feels like a distant hope more than a reality.
The biggest impact will be the second assistant GM that was never hired. The team hired Rohan Ramadas as one of the assistant general managers with his role focusing on the stats and analytics aspect. The other general manager was supposed to focus on scouting and development.
One of the next questions, then, would be whether the team ever hires for that position. Those moves were made by Walter and likely with the insight from those in the Dodgers front office working with the Lakers.
Will Iger and Kushner have that same vision?
Walter fire sale?
Speaking of Walter, it looks like selling the Lakers was only the start.
Roughly around the time the news of the Buss family moving on came out, there was also a report from Liam Twomey, Simon Johnson and Matt Slater of The Athletic revealing that Walter looks set to sell his stake in English soccer team Chelsea.
Todd Boehly and Mark Walter are in talks to sell their shares in Chelsea to Clearlake Capital.
Buyout talks between the parties have been explored at various times in the two years since The Athletic detailed a breakdown in relations between Boehly and Clearlake, who partnered in the BlueCo consortium which purchased Chelsea for £2.3billion from the sanctioned Roman Abramovich in June 2022.
It sure seems like the federal investigation into Walter is finding legitimate issues because Walter is making the moves of someone trying to avoid legal issues.
What could be interesting here is that Walter has apparently made it clear he’s going to have his finances “fixed” by the end of the year. That will be largely dependent on the Lakers being sold. If Jeanie is still fighting her family and holding up the sale, then things could get really dicey.
Mark Walter has told regulators that his companies books will be fixed by the end of the year. So if Jeanie Buss decides to drag this out, delaying the transaction and therefore Walter’s liquidity event, things could get real ugly real fast.
While it might seem like she’s grasping at straws — and she probably is — Jeanie does have at least an argument for why she feels like she has the final say.
In an appearance on ESPN LA, Dave McMenamin broke down Jeanie’s stance and her siblings’ stance.
“The question is where will the legal precedent lie. In 2017, there was basically documentation that Ramona Shelburne has actually shared in the last couple hours on her Instagram account that, in order for there to be a sale, three of the six trustees have to agree — the three trustees, being Jeanie Buss, Janie Buss and Joey Buss. I believe I got that right.
Now, fast forward eight years later, though, when the team was sold to Mark Walter, all six siblings signed off on what’s referred to as a tag-along provision which would be, if the team is sold by Walter, we are going to have the ability to attach our shares to the sale to the new owner if the new owner is interested at that valuation.
Now, I’m sure everyone involved with that agreement back in 2025 in their wildest dreams didn’t think that Mark Walter would be selling the team 10 months. The siblings that voted yes on the sale — five out of six, everybody but Jeanie Buss, according to sources — they all believe that that should be the precedent that stands considering they all just agreed to it 10 months ago.“
It does feel like the siblings have the stronger case here, but I say that as someone with zero legal expertise who also didn’t stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night either.
The hope here is that this situation is handled quickly, whatever the conclusion may be. Ideally, that conclusion also involves being done with the Buss family and their constant drama.
"The Los Angeles Lakers have never been just a basketball team. They have been one of the greatest privileges of our lives.
"Our focus has always been on what we believe is best for the Lakers, the fans who have supported this franchise for generations and the greater Los Angeles community.
"Johnny, Jimmy, Janie, Joey and Jesse have made the decision to sell the family's remaining stake, and we remain united in that decision. We intend to move forward thoughtfully, respectfully and through the appropriate process.
"We have tremendous respect for Bob Iger and Josh Kushner and believe they understand what the Lakers represent to Los Angeles and our incredibly loyal fan base. We are confident they will honor everything this franchise stands for while building upon the foundation our father created."
Within hours of the first report that the five Buss siblings wanted to sell the remaining family shares, Jeanie Buss and her attorney, Adam Streisand, sent a strongly worded letter to the other siblings' attorney saying that selling the shares would be "a breach of trust" and violate court orders. From that letter:
"[No selling of the] 17.8% ownership interest in the Los Angeles Lakers, Inc. can be effectuated without approval by the current co-trustees, i.e., Jeanie, Janie and Joey Buss. The co-trustees are bound to vote the Los Angeles Lakers, Inc. shares to ensure that the minimum 15% ownership requirement is maintained in order to ensure that Jeanie Buss may remain Controlling Owner."
And that's really the rub — Jeanie Buss wants to stay in her role as team governor.
Like any good family drama, there is plenty of backstory here. The Buss family has owned the Lakers since Jerry Buss purchased the team in 1979, and behind the star power of names like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, the franchise has won 11 titles and become the biggest brand in the sport. When Jerry passed, it was Jeanie as team governor (the controlling owner who was the liaison with the league), Jimmy was put in charge of the basketball side, with Joey and Jesse as part of the front office (Joey and Jesse were respected around the league for their work, particularly with the draft). Jimmy, however, struggled in the GM role and was eventually forced out by Jeanie.
It reportedly was Jeanie who drove the initial sale of the Lakers to Mark Walters for what was then a stunning $10 million. The numbers were too big to ignore, and the point had come where the Buss family — as much as the Lakers drove revenue — could not compete with the deep-pocketed billionaire owners buying up teams. After the sale, Joey and Jesse were let go as the front office was restructured.
Jeanie, however, had a five-year agreement with Walter to stay on as the governor. She was around the team and still involved in its business. The other Buss family members were not.
Then came the news that shocked the league: Walter was selling the Lakers at a $12.5 billion valuation to Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner (who will have to get their money from somewhere, combined they are not worth the billions needed for this transaction).
Now, those other Buss family members want to sell while Jeanie wants to hold on to the shares. And it looks like it will be hashed out by lawyers and, potentially, judges.
The Lakers left everyone crossing their fingers after mortgaging their future on Walker Kessler, whom they acquired in a sign-and-trade from Utah on a four-year, $130 million deal, sending out unprotected first round picks in 2031 and 2033 alongside pick swaps in 2028 and 2030.
ESPN’s Joshua Kushner and Disney’s CEO Bob Iger watch Novak Djokovic of Serbia play against Taylor Fritz of the USA during the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, in Queens, New York. (JASON SZENES) JASON SZENES/ NY POST
Within a few-hour stretch, Laker fans had to digest the news that the Buss family was selling their 17.8% stake in the franchise to the team’s new owners after a 47-year reign, only to quickly learn that Jeanie Buss was waging war against her siblings to block the deal and remain the team’s governor.
Check on your friends who are Laker fans.
They’re not okay.
Just ask Laker superfan Flea, the founding member and bassist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Flea, whose real name is Michael Peter Balzary, took to X on Monday to lament what has been one of the most wild offseasons in Laker history, if not the wildest.
“Oh lakers, I just wanna get lost in the transcendent and telepathic communal cosmos of the orange bouncing ball why do you do [this] to me,” he wrote.
It’s a fair question.
This offseason has been so drama-filled that it’s almost comical. At this point, this isn’t sports. It’s satire.
And it’s far from over.
The board of governors still has to approve the sale from Walter to Iger and Kushner.
Jeanie Buss, controlling owner and President of the Los Angeles Lakers, attends the FIBA EuroBasket match between Slovenia and Poland at Spodek Arena in Katowice, Poland, on Thursday, August 28, 2025. (NurPhoto) NurPhoto via Getty Images
Meanwhile, the basketball side of things is at a standstill. These major pending pieces essentially stunt the franchise from taking care of much-needed offseason business, such as building out the front office and revamping the data and analytics department.
How about the players?
This is a lot of drama for Luka Doncic, who’s preparing for his inauguration as the sole torch bearer for Laker fans’ championship dreams.
He’s hosting a four-day mini camp in Slovenia this week to try to build team chemistry, including paying for all of his teammates’ expenses during the trip. While Doncic and Austin Reaves will be lovingly teasing each other and trying to build rapport with their new teammates, there’s static blaring in the background.
There’s so many unknowns. So much movement. So much chaos.
Sure, Lakers players and fans are used to drama. The franchise is under the brightest spotlight of all 30 teams in the NBA. They’ve had some of the league’s biggest stars, including Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant and James. They’ve won 17 championships. They’re always under the most powerful of microscopes.
Kurt Rambis, Jeanie Buss and Rob Pelinka attend the FIBA EuroBasket match between Slovenia and Poland at Spodek Arena in Katowice, Poland, on Thursday, August 28, 2025. Rambis is a former NBA player and coach, Pelinka is the president of basketball operations and general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers, and Buss is the controlling owner and president of the Los Angeles Lakers. (NurPhoto) NurPhoto via Getty Images
But this offseason is an aberration.
Even for the Lakers, the drama has been eye popping. It has been relentless. It has been unnerving.
Want to relax on the beach before the marathon 82-game season begins? Think again. Here’s some news that’s going to give you heart palpitations.
Want to unwind before Doncic tries to lead the Lakers to their first championship since 2020? Joke’s on you! There’s more action in August than there could ever be in June.
The Lakers have gone from being the darlings of the NBA to degenerating into tabloid fodder. They’re on the front page. Their makeup is smeared. They’re wide-eyed. They’re entrenched in scandal.
It has been a doozy for Laker fans.
The Lakers were supposed to turn a new page this summer.
Instead, they blew up the script, leaving everyone reeling.
TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 1: RJ Barrett #9 of the Toronto Raptors reacts after a basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers CLECAV during Game Six of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 1, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The buzz around NBA2K27 is picking up ahead of its September 4th global release. In addition to early access, cover art, and first look images, they’ve finally released the top 100 player OVR ratings.
If you’ve played the game, or follow the global conversation, every year there are huge surprises and disappointments. More than ever if you’re a Raptors fan. While they haven’t released the full roster yet and many of the player ratings won’t be available until closer to the early access release date of August 28th, there’s already more than enough to have opinions on just in the top 100.
Some of the ratings were on par as expected. Back-to-back MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander having the highest OVR of 97 is respectable. Right there with him are the other top finishers in voting, Wemby and Jokic. Jalen Brunson edging Lebron James out of the top 10 also feels warranted with his performance and championship. But the longer you look at the list, the more you start to realize some things that are… not really anything that can be rationalized. While we could take all day and point them out, there’s enough just amongst the Raptors to get worked up about. So let’s break down the three most shocking:
Scottie Barnes is an 88 OVR.
You would have to have seen this coming. A huge leap from his 51st rank to start last year in 2K26, he now sits 23rd. Positionally I’m okay with this. Until you start to compare him to other 88 OVR players. Deni Avdija, whose post season numbers were substantially worse than Scottie, who only played 66 games last year, and whose defense is considerably worse than Scottie sits at the same OVR. The exact same can be said about Austin Reaves who also sits at an 88. To add insult to injury, Anthony Davis who only managed to play 20 games last season is two points higher at 90. The only solace in this situation is finally both Paolo Banchero and Evan Mobley are ranked lower than him.
My hot take: Scottie is an 89, and Jamal Murray and him should both be above Davis.
The 19-position fall of RJ Barrett.
So last year, RJ started at an 82 OVR. This year, he is starting as an 82 OVR. Already, I have some questions. Statistically, he may not have been as electric, but if you actually watched the games he played better. He had to share the scoring load with more ball-handling players. He had less touches. Still, he was efficient, played better in the clutch, and in some games, felt like the only reliable scoring option. Apparently that means you stay the same OVR. Since there’s so many guys that sit at 82 though, this means he’s actually fallen from 68th to 87th, suggesting he’s gotten worse. Even if that was the case, compare that to players rated more highly: Ajay Mitchell (a talented player, but genuinely, what am I missing here?), Payton Pritchard (absolutely not), and Paul George (????).
My hot take: If they’re all 82s fine, but there’s no way there’s 86 people in the league you’d rather have than RJ Barrett. Especially those three.
Kawhi Leonard erasure.
It’s no secret that the investigation has complicated things for the Raptors, the trade still isn’t official, and Kawhi is listed in 2K27 as a Clippers player. But it already feels like he’s getting the Raptors treatment. Yes, he moved up and OVR point to 93 and from 15th to 11th, all great. But now, Cade Cunningham is above him, despite averaging 4 fewer points per game, fewer rebounds, a lower FG percentage, and his complete disappearance in game 7 against Cleveland. It feels like while previous years, 2K has valued the “grandfathered in” greats, giving guys like LeBron, Kawhi, KD, and Steph the edge, now they seem to be favouring the “younger talent” and the fresh faces in the League. Wemby being second after three years isn’t undeserved, just surprising. Cunningham being 8th this quickly also caught me by surprise. It seems like things are slowly changing.
My hot take: I’d have Steph 8th, KD 9th, and Kawhi 10th if it’s them over Cunningham (although honestly I think Maxey, Tatum, and Mitchell could all make a case for 10th over Cunningham too).
Let’s see how the rest of the Raptors OVRs stack up as more information is announced.
SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 11: Phoenix Suns head coach Mike D'Antoni meets with Sacramento Kings head coach Rick Adelman before their teams take on each other at Arco Arena on April 11, 2006 in Sacramento, California. The Suns won 123-110. 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 2006 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rockets fans and fans across the country.
You ready for this week’s question? It’s a good one. With former Houston Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni recently being named to the Basketball Hall of Fame, it’s time to discuss who was the second-best coach in Rockets history?
I had the luxury of being a senior in high school when the Rockets won their first title and a college freshman for the second, so it’s clearly Rudy T for me in the top spot. But both D’Antoni and former Rockets coach Rick Adelman (RIP) have a legitimate case for the number two spot.
Adelman finished with 195-135 Rockets record (.588), while D’Antoni was 217-101 (.682). However, it’s important to note that the Rockets only had a true contending roster until about 2009 for Adelman, with the next several seasons being mired in mediocrity. Adelman was 108-56 in his first two seasons (.659) until Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady fell to pieces.
Adelman was 9-10 in the postseason, getting to the Western Conference Semis in 2009, where the Rockets had a legitmate shot at the NBA Title (Yao was playing out of his mind), until injuries did them in against the Los Angeles Lakers.
D’Antoni made it all the way to Western Conference Finals in 2018, where injuries also did him in against the Golden State Warriors. I think both of those teams wind up with hardware if they didn’t get hurt. But the history books show they both fell short. D’Antoni was 28-23 in the postseason for Houston.
D’Antoni did take home Coach of the Year honors in the 2018 season, and he was the architect of the best regular season Rockets record at 65-17, while Adelman peaked at 55-27, but was the man to turn a perennial first round out under Jeff Van Gundy to a legitmate title contender. He also won multiple NBA Coach of the Month awards, but never took home Coach of the Year trophy.
So what say you? On paper, it looks like D’Antoni has the edge. He also transformed James Harden into an offensive juggernaut. But Adelman brought the best out of that group in 2009 and had a coaching tour de force during 2008 and 2009, including the famous 22-game win streak.
So what say you, TDS?
Cast your vote, tell us in the comments, and we’ll be back soon with the results.
El Segundo, CA - June 06: Siblings Joey and Jesse Buss (in black hat), from left, sitting in the front row during a press conferrence announcing new Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham, at the UCLA Health Training Center, in El Segundo, CA, Monday, June 6, 2022. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
It looks like both sides are digging in their heels ahead of a fight between Jeanie Buss and her siblings.
Statement from Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse Buss after attorney of Jeanie Buss made clear she will battle her family members on selling their remaining 17.8% Lakers ownership stake:
The Los Angeles Lakers have never been just a basketball team. They have been one of the…
The Los Angeles Lakers have never been just a basketball team. They have been one of the greatest privileges of our lives.
Our focus has always been on what we believe is best for the Lakers, the fans who have supported this franchise for generations and the greater Los Angeles community.
Johnny, Jimmy, Janie, Joey and Jesse have made the decision to sell the family’s remaining stake, and we remain united in that decision. We intend to move forward thoughtfully, respectfully and through the appropriate process.
We have tremendous respect for Bob Iger and Josh Kushner and believe they understand what the Lakers represent to Los Angeles and our incredibly loyal fan base. We are confident they will honor everything this franchise stands for while building upon the foundation our father created.
Clearly, the family is focused on moving forward with the sale, which is to be expected since they were the ones who voted for it. Of the two sides, the non-Jeanie siblings are definitely winning the PR battle right now.
Both this statement and the one when the sale was initially reported were well-crafted and portray the family making the decision that’s best for the Lakers. Portraying it in that light is a great win in the court of public opinion.
On the other hand, Jeanie’s letter about her siblings’ decision didn’t have the same vibe. It felt much more aggressive and dismissive about their wishes with an attitude that she knows best. Because she was put on the back foot, it was always going to be hard for her to come off as anything other than defensive, but that’s how her letter came across.
Unfortunately, a public back-and-forth is likely how portions of this will play out. It doesn’t really serve anyone’s best interests in doing so, but given how the family has handled things throughout the last decade, it feels like it’s the path we’re heading down.
Shams Charania is not backing down after Jeanie Buss’ legal team accused the ESPN insider of inaccurately reporting the latest twist in the Lakers’ increasingly messy ownership saga.
Appearing Tuesday on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Charania addressed a letter from Buss’ attorney that accused him of falsely reporting that all six Buss siblings voted to sell the family’s remaining 17.8% stake in the franchise.
The statement specifically claimed Charania “falsely reported that the six Buss siblings voted to sell” the stake to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger and that Jeanie was “out” as controlling owner.
Mark Walter, left, a majority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, and Jeanie Buss, minority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, talk as the Lakers play the Chicago Bulls at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Thursday, March 12, 2026. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Charania took direct issue with that characterization.
“That letter included my name in it, which I do find interesting,” Charania said. “I do have to make it clear, I fully stand by my reporting.”
He then zeroed in on what he believes Buss’ legal team got wrong.
“The first line of the statement from the lawyer said that I reported that the six Buss siblings voted to sell,” Charania said. “That key sentence right there is inaccurate.”
Buss’ attorney, Adam Streisand, went further in Monday’s statement, alleging a “years-long pattern” in which Joey and Jesse Buss have leaked “false, defamatory and pernicious” information to Charania in an effort to damage the Lakers while Jeanie carries out what the attorney described as their late father Jerry Buss’ wishes.
Charania did not retreat from his reporting in response to those accusations, instead emphasizing that his report concerned whether the family had enough votes to move forward with the sale.
Shams Charania appears on ESPN’s NBA Draft coverage on June 23, 2026, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NBAE via Getty Images
That distinction has become central to the latest round of Buss family infighting surrounding the Lakers. In ESPN’s current report, Charania wrote that the family trust received enough votes to approve the proposed sale, with at least five of the six siblings voting in favor.
ESPN separately reported that Jeanie did not participate in the vote. According to Charania’s sources, four votes were required to trigger the provision allowing the sale.
That is different, however, from whether those votes can actually force Jeanie to give up the family’s stake.
Los Angeles Lakers president Jeanie Buss is seen during a preseason NBA game against the Golden State Warriors on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
Buss is challenging her siblings’ attempt to sell, with Streisand arguing that the family trust and a 2017 court ruling prevent a sale without approval from the co-trustees and require them to preserve enough ownership for Jeanie to remain the Lakers’ controlling governor.
Charania maintained that his reporting concerned the majority vote while acknowledging that interpreting the rules of the trust itself is another matter.
So while Charania is pushing back on the claim that his reporting was inaccurate, the larger question remains unresolved.
What began as another blockbuster Lakers sale is increasingly shaping up as a battle over exactly what the Buss family voted for — and whether that vote actually has the power to end Jeanie’s reign.
One day after Jeanie Buss contested her siblings attempting to sell the family’s shares of the Lakers, the rest of the Buss family made it clear they aren’t backing down.
Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse Buss issued a statement on Tuesday afternoon: “The Los Angeles Lakers have never been just a basketball team. They have been one of the greatest privileges of our lives. Our focus has always been on what we believe is best for the Lakers, the fans who have supported this franchise for generations and the greater Los Angeles community.
“Johnny, Jimmy, Janie, Joey and Jesse have made the decision to sell the family’s remaining stake, and we remain united in that decision. We intend to move forward thoughtfully, respectfully and through the appropriate process.”
Jeanie Buss, left, and Mark Walter attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors. Getty Images
“We have tremendous respect for Bob Iger and Josh Kushner and believe they understand what the Lakers represent to Los Angeles and our incredibly loyal fan base,” the statement from the Buss siblings added. “We are confident they will honor everything this franchise stands for while building upon the foundation our father created.”
Lakers Governor Jeanie Buss is opposing her siblings’ vote to sell the family’s share of the Lakers, according to a letter from her lawyer, Adam Streisand, which was obtained by the California Post, arguing her siblings can’t legally execute a sale without her approval and that any vote of the Buss family selling would be “void”.
The Buss family trust includes six of the late Dr. Jerry Buss’ children: Johnny (69), Jim (66), Jeanie (64), Janie (62), Joey (41) and Jesse (37).
The siblings believe they simply need a majority vote (four out of six) to allow the trustees to sell the family’s shares.
Jim Buss and his sister Jeanie Buss of the Los Angeles Lakers attend a news conference. Getty Images
“Pursuant to the JAB Trust and the attached Court Order, the co-trustees are bound to vote the Los Angeles Lakers, Inc. shares to ensure that the minimum 15% ownership requirement is maintained in order to ensure that Jeanie Buss may remain Controlling Owner,” Streisand said in the letter. “Any attempt by the co-trustees to do otherwise, and any attempt to aid or abet the co-trustees as such, would constitute a breach of trust, breach of fiduciary duty and be in contempt of court.”
The letter added: “On behalf of Jeanie Buss, I demand that your clients make clear publicly that Jeanie Buss is the Controlling Owner of the Los Angeles Lakers and that your clients shall take no action on this supposed “vote” to sell the 17.8% stake.”
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The siblings took the opposite action, making it clear they still intend to sell their share of the Lakers.
What comes next remains to be seen.
Jeanie and her representatives didn’t issue a statement in response Tuesday.
The Buss family said in a statement Monday morning: “We have decided as a family to sell the remaining Buss Family Trust shares to the Bob Iger group as part of the ongoing transaction. We love the Lakers, Laker fans and will continue to support Los Angeles; but it is time to use this opportunity to move on and exit gracefully while we still can.”
Selling the Lakers would result in Jeanie no longer being the team’s Governor, since she would no longer have the qualifying 15% ownership stake in the franchise required told hold that position. She has been team’s Governor since 2013 after Jerry’s death.
When Walter purchased the majority ownership of the Lakers from the Buss family, the league announced that Buss would remain the team’s Governor for a period of at least five years (through 2030).
But on Monday, Jeanie’s attorney sent a letter to lawyers for the other siblings demanding that they retract the announcement of the proposed sale, insisting that rules of the family trust and a 2017 court ruling make clear that she will remain a controlling owner of the team for life.
The letter also called the announcement of a planned sale of the family’s stake in the Lakers, “just the latest instance of a years-long pattern whereby Joey and Jesse Buss leak false, defamatory and pernicious `information’…for the malicious purpose of doing harm to the Los Angeles Lakers so long as Dr. [Jerry] Buss’ chosen successor, Jeanie Buss, carries out her father’s wishes.”
Jerry Buss died in 2013. AP
Kushner and Iger are purchasing about 65% of the Lakers in their deal with Walter. The Buss family’s share of the Lakers would give Kushner and Iger about 83% of the franchise.
That sale needs to be approved by the NBA Board of Governors, which is scheduled to meet Sept. 15-16 in New York.
Kushner also must sell his minority ownership stake in the Heat before he can officially become the Lakers’ co-majority owner.
But after the latest update in this saga, how and when this will be resolved isn’t clear.
The NBA rumor mill never stops, and the latest smoke concerns one of the purest scorers of this generation.
Year One of Kevin Durant on the Houston Rockets proved to be “frustrating and disappointing,” in the words of general manager Rafael Stone. Houston won 52 games, but was bounced in the first round of the postseason, after injuries took their toll.
That has led to Durant, who will turn 38 in late September, to pop up on the rumor mill as a potential trade candidate. This, however, should be taken merely as the work of high speculation from the corners of NBA message boards.
For the Rockets, this entire offseason was essentially the anticipation of the return of point guard Fred VanVleet, who missed the entire 2025-26 campaign with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Point guard was the biggest weakness for the Rockets, and competent play at the position should take considerable pressure off of Durant to be the one to create offense. Houston tried several different options at point guard. From Amen Thompson in the regular season opener against the Thunder, to Reed Sheppard later in the year, Houston could not find a consistent facilitator.
That led to Durant playing on ball more than coach Ime Udoka wanted, and it also led to frequent offensive stagnation.
The reality is the Rockets can still field an interesting and competitive team this season, so there simply is no incentive to bail on Durant — at least not yet.
Houston will also return backup center Steven Adams, and Durant himself missed five of Houston’s six games in that first-round series loss against the Lakers.
“We think the players in our locker room can win a lot of games and can be very competitive,” Stone said in May. “We have players coming back from injury; they will help us. If we bring back, largely, the same group, I think continuity will help us.”
All this to say: don’t expect the Rockets to move Durant.
No major outlet or NBA insider has reported anything about Durant being on the trading block. The only reason his name has come up in the rumor mill is because fans have conjured highly speculative potential trades involving him, most of which — frankly — make no sense at all.
Durant has one more season left on his contract and also has a player option worth $46.1 million for 2027-28. He averaged 26 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game across 78 appearances last season. He is still a steady scoring threat, though it’s clear he needs more help and facilitation at this stage of his career.
VanVleet should stabilize play-making and should get even more out of Durant. Houston still needs Thompson, Sheppard and forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason to develop further. Center Alperen Şengün has to continue playing within the system.
But the Rockets did not ship all those assets (Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, the 2025 No. 10 overall pick and five second-round selections) to simply pull the plug on Durant after one injury-riddled season.
Now, should Houston’s season absolutely implode and should it become clear that this roster is not in position to compete, the Rockets may then consider moving Durant before the February trading deadline to recoup assets. But if this hypothetical goes down, it’s likely because Durant is either injured or has drastically underperformed, either of which would lower his value, anyway.
And though he’s in the sunset of his career, Durant has been far too consistent for that to feasibly be an option.
It’s always a challenge to incorporate an elite star into a new system. Often, it takes time for these new teammates to jell. That’s only magnified when key injuries rob a team of its identity.
This is the time of the year when hoops fans are starved for any news or juicy trade scenarios. Treat anything you see about Durant as just that.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 09: Dennis Schroder #8 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates after a basket against the Detroit Pistons during the first quarter in Game Three of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Rocket Arena on May 09, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Dennis Schroder isn’t one to shy away from the truth. He showed this in his limited time with the Cleveland Cavaliers last season, often being one of the most vocal players on the court and in the locker room.
Whether he was urging his teammates to hustle back on defense or to keep the bigs involved offensively, Schroder wasn’t afraid to call it how he sees it.
That’s continued even after Schroder was traded to the Charlotte Hornets last week.
In an interview with EuroHoops, Schroder opened up about the challenges of his role in Cleveland.
“When you have two legends in your position who bring the ball up the court and play a lot of isolation, then it’s just difficult,” said Schroder.
Playing behind James Harden and Donovan Mitchell is a unique challenge for anyone. Being the backup to two ball-dominant stars is a thankless job. It requires a sacrifice that isn’t always recognized. Schroder wasn’t in his comfort zone sharing the floor with both Mitchell and Harden, as no one in that group excels without the ball.
Anyone watching the Cavs could tell you that.
This isn’t to say that Schroder should have had more touches. We all agree that the ball should be primarily in Harden or Mitchell’s hands. But it’s no secret that co-existing with them in the backcourt is easier said than done. You need a specific skill set that doesn’t match Schroder’s archetype.
Schroder is at his best when he’s on the ball. He isn’t the type of player who can spot up in the corner or space the floor. And even with his scrappiness on the defensive end, he still isn’t the ideal partner to cover up for either Harden or Mitchell on that end of the floor.
That put Schroder in an awkward position. The Cavs needed a backup point guard — but they didn’t need the type of package that Schroder brings. He’s a speedy, on-ball floor general who can run the offense in a pinch. Not a 3-and-D guard who can fill in the gaps.
For this reason, Schroder is right to feel optimistic about landing in Charlotte.
“I’ve known [I was being traded] for a month,” said Schroder. “I think it’s a better situation for me from a sporting perspective.”
Schroder will have more room to be himself on the Hornets bench. Meanwhile, the Cavs search for a way to capitalize on their newfound financial freedom. The trade feels like a win for both parties.
TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 12: Malachi Smith #18 of the Brooklyn Nets drives around a screen set by E.J. Liddell #9 against Immanuel Quickley #5 of the Toronto Raptors during the first half at Scotiabank Arena on April 12, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Toronto Raptors have signed Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Malachi Smith to a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 training camp contract through the work of his agent, Michael Lelchitski of SIG Sports.
Across 15 games, four of which were starts, played with the Brooklyn Nets to close out the 2025-26 season, 6-4 Smith averaged 8.3 points on a shooting split of 48.5 percent from the field/43.5 percent on three-pointers/100.0 percent at the free-throw line, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per contest. He was waived back on July 10 after the organization exercised his minimum salary team option on June 30, in order to make salary cap space.
Toronto doesn’t have any of its three two-way spots available and currently has 17 players on the payroll (both standard and training camp contracts), including Smith’s $2,185,116 that he’s owed next season. An NBA roster has a 15-player limit. Once the trade of forward Brandon Ingram and guard Gradey Dick for Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard goes through, one roster spot will open up for the Raptors.
The 26-year-old Smith will be fighting mostly with Oregon Ducks center Nate Bittle, who went undrafted in 2026, for minutes throughout the preseason. If he were to get cut, Smith should have the option to join the Raptors 905, Toronto’s NBA G League affiliate.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
The $12.5 billion sale of the Los Angeles Lakers has unleashed a family feud.
The Buss children are at it again.
Jeanie Buss, 64, took over as the team’s governor and controlling owner in 2013 after the death of her father, Jerry, the team's longtime and celebrated owner. She sued in 2017, alleging that two other brothers tried to oust her. Now Jeanie Buss is fighting to hold on to that power.
She is one of six siblings and apparently is outnumbered. Her five siblings issued a statement saying they plan to sell the family’s remaining 17.8% in the Lakers to the incoming owners -- venture capitalist Josh Kushner and former Disney CEO Bob Iger.
The 17.8% is how much the Buss children retained after selling the team to Mark Walter in June 2025 on a valuation of about $10 billion. The terms of that sale stipulated that Jeanie Buss was to remain the team's governor for at least five years following the sale.
But that plan looks to be in jeopardy after Walter sold the team to Kusher, brother of Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared, and Iger. NBA rules require a team’s governor have at least 15% ownership. If her siblings are allowed to sell their shares, Jeanie Buss won’t meet the threshold needed to oversee the team.
When Jerry Buss died in 2013, he owned 66% of the Lakers, and he left 11% to each of his six children. But Jeanie Buss, through Adam Streisand, contends her siblings need her approval to sell their remaining shares.
In a copy of a letter obtained by ESPN, Streisand wrote that any family vote for a sale "would be and is void" because Jeanie’s approval is needed.
"Co-trustees are bound to vote to ensure that the minimum 15% ownership requirement is maintained in order to ensure that Jeanie Buss may remain controlling owner," Streisand wrote, via ESPN.
"Any attempt by the co-trustees to aid or abet the co-trustees as such, would constitute a breach of trust, breach of fiduciary duty and be in contempt of court.
"On behalf of Jeanie Buss, I demand that your clients make clear publicly that Jeanie Buss is the controlling owner of the Los Angeles Lakers and that your clients shall take no action on this supposed 'vote' to sell the 17.8% stake."
The siblings see things differently.
“We have decided as a family to sell the remaining Buss Family Trust shares to the Bob Iger group as part of the ongoing transaction,” the Buss family said in a statement, according to the Associated Press. “We love the Lakers, Laker fans and will continue to support Los Angeles, but it is time to use this opportunity to move on and exit gracefully while we still can.”
Lakers in limbo off, on court
Under Jerry Buss, the Lakers became one of the most iconic teams in sports.
The team won 10 NBA titles between Jerry Buss’ purchase of the Lakers in 1979 for $67.5 million and his death in 2013.
Since then, the Lakers have won just one more title, giving the franchise 17 -- second behind only the Boston Celtics' 18 titles.
Jeanie Buss' biggest move since firing her brother Jim in 2017 was to sign LeBron James the following year. James led the Lakers to an NBA title in 2020 during a COVID-19 pandemic-shortened season. The Lakers have not returned to the Finals since. This offseason, James left the Lakers and signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Lakers have retooled their roster around star Luka Doncic, and for the moment, the Lakers look to be in limbo on and off the court.
