LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: Adou Thiero #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball during the game against the Golden State Warriors during the Semifinals on July 18, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Tom O'Connor/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Well, that was a frantic offseason.
Last time we did one of these, it was before NBA free agency and so many possibilities existed. At the time, LeBron James returning to the Lakers was certainly on the table and few would have predicted the way free agency would go.
But, with the Lakers’ offseason now (mostly) in the rear view and the WNBA trade deadline having come and gone, there’s plenty of questions to be asked. So, fire away with any of them. And if you have any questions about the young WNBA season, send them as well.
BROOKLYN, NY - DECEMBER 8: A close up shot of the Brooklyn Nets half court logo on December 8, 2019 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
We’ll put aside for the moment news that the Nets co-owners are ending their marriage. It’s encouraging that Joe and Clara Wu Tsai issued a statement that their sports assets in Brooklyn will not be affected by their impending split, but the division of assets in any divorce can be a long, grueling process. So we will hope for the best, follow the news and wish the Tsai family well.
The other big news in the last few days will likely also have lasting results. The Nets finally signed the Magic’s Moe Wagner to a two-year, $19 million contract, essentially ending speculation that Sean Marks & co. were holding out on some last-minute roster moves. So where are we:
The Nets have 15 guaranteed contracts after adding Wagner, Keon Ellis, Julius Randle and two first rounders in Mikel Brown Jr and Joshua Jefferson while subtracting Nic Claxton, Ziaire Williams, Jalen Wilson, Ochai Agbaji, and Malachi Smith along with the rights to second rounder Isaiah Evans who was included in the Randle/Claxton trade.
They also have Chaney Johnson returning as a two-way along with Tyler Bilodeau, their 43rd pick. One two-way remains open but our Connor Long believes the prime candidate to fill that spot will be 24-year-old 7-footer Grant Nelson who was on the Summer League roster but didn’t play as he recovers from jumper’s knee.
While Brooklyn also extended Day’Ron Sharpe and Josh Minott but did not offer an extension to Noah Clowney who will be a restricted free agent next summer. That means Brooklyn will have the right to match any offer he may be tendered. Motivation for the 22-year-old.
The Nets will also certainly be the NBA’s youngest roster again this season and they lead the league in both rookie contracts (eight). They will not break their record for rookie minutes, set last season at 6,716, of which the Flatbush 5 played 5,974. (Fun fact: Drake Powell led all rookies with 1,320 minutes.)
They retain their $9.4 million Room MLE and have roughly $4.9 million in cap space they can use this season. As for next season, they will again be among the league leaders in cap space with as much as $50 million, a function of having invested in all those rookie contracts.
The Nets remain at the top of the league in draft assets, per Yossi Gozlan ‘s capsheets.com with 13 first rounders, 10 of which are tradeable, and 19 second rounders for a total of 32. (Next closest is the OKC Thunder with 10 firsts, seven of which are tradeable, and 18 seconds for a total of 28.)
Then, there’s Michael Porter Jr.‘s extension. Although he can be extended at any point through next July, there is an upcoming date to monitor. If a player is extended, he can’t be traded for six months. So, if the Nets extend him by August 11, they can trade him at the deadline, February 11. After that, they can’t move him till next summer. And of course, if they and he reach an impasse, they can move him at any time up to the deadline. With so many rosters set, if that comes to pass, it might be best to wait to till then.
Despite the word that Randle has told Brown Jr. that Brooklyn’s current roster will “shock the world” and the coach’s unshakeable optimism, the Nets as we have noted, kept their powder dry believing that since they aren’t likely to contend for anything this season, there was no need to expend assets. You know, the Marksist dictate that they’ll be no big acquisitions unless they “automatically and absolutely” change the direction of the franchise. They will go for broke when the time is right, they say. In the meantime, they will have to live with the near unanimous assessment that their roster is either the 29th or 30th best in the NBA (thank you to the Milwaukee Bucks.)
Of course, as we’ve said all summer long, if Brown Jr. and Demin fulfill the potential we saw in Sacramento and Las Vegas, then that’s a huge step forward. It would mean that their big gamble — trading assets from the KD, Kyrie and Harden trades to get back lottery picks in two generational drafts — paid off … lottery luck be damned.
What might the Nets do in the waning days of free agency? If anything? They might be called on to help with some other team’s attempts to make a deal, stay below thresholds or aprons and get assets in return.
Reviewing that night in June 2024
Most fans can remember where they were on some of the biggest nights in team history. When Rod Thorn traded for Jason Kidd in 2001, then again in 2004 when he traded for Vince Carter; when Billy King sent the team’s future to Boston for three players in their mid-30’s in 2013 and when Sean Marks engineered the Clean Sweep in 2019. Then, of course, were the Big Three’s exits.
Maybe right up there in the pantheon of memory is the night of June 25, 2024 when within a space of 12 minutes, news broke that Brooklyn had swapped Mikal Bridges to New York for five firsts, a first round swap and a second and had exchanged first rounders with Houston that returned the Nets firsts in 2025 and 2026 for a three future picks and swaps, all of them acquired in trades for Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden. No Nets picks were harmed in the making of this deal.
The two trades, as we have insisted ever since, were essentially one big one that involved 11 first round picks or swaps plus a second, all in Drafts from 2025 through 2031 as well as a few players, led by Bridges. It is axiomatic that if a team wins a title as a result of a trade, said team won the trade, no questions asked. That of course happened in June of this year. “F*ck them picks” became almost as familiar mantra for Knick fans as “Go, New York, Go.” The two trades were also hedges against each other. If one didn’t work, the other held out some hope.
Still, let’s take a look at where we stand as free agency 2026 winds down.
So far, the Nets have picked up Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, Ben Saraf, Danny Wolf, Mikel Brown Jr. and Tyler Bilodeau from one deal or the other. Figuring out the heritage of each pick can get complicated. For example, Bilodeau was taken by the Nets at No. 43 in the second round this year. That pick originally had been the Clippers but it was traded from the Suns to Brooklyn on Draft Night in 2025 as partial payment for rights to Adou Thiero. He turned out to be the 2025 second the Nets reacquired in the Knicks trade then traded after taking five firsts. The Lakers ultimately wound up with Thiero.
Nets also control the Celtics 2030 second from that deal and they have the Mavericks second also in 2030 , acquired in the trade that sent Mamadou Diakite, picked up as last minute add-on in the Bridges trade, to Memphis for Ziaire Williams. That deal had taken place two weeks later.
On the other side of the ledger, the Nets had to give up the Suns pick in 2025, acquired in the KD trade as part of the exchange of picks with Houston. That pick became Khaman Maluach, taken two spots after Demin.
What’s left? The Nets control the Knicks unprotected firsts in 2o27, 2029 and 2031 plus a first round pick swap in 2028. As noted, they also have the Celtics and Mavs seconds in 2030 derived from subsequent trades. On the other hand, they still have to give up the Suns first in 2027 and the rights to the two most favorable of Mavs’, Suns’ and Rockets’ first-round picks in 2029 to Houston. Brooklyn retains the least favorable first in 2029 when they also have their own first and the Knicks.
Ya never know what will transpire but the Knicks pick in 2027 does not look like a high one. Nor do the prospects for the swap of firsts with Houston, although the Draft next year is reportedly pretty ugly, particularly when compared to the last two, generally seen as generational. The 2028 Draft on the other hand is looking much better with the addition of a couple of international prospects. After that, who knows? As for the exchange of picks, let’s assume the Suns 2029 first the Nets gave Houston is a terrific. That’s fine. Demin will be in his fourth year, Brown Jr. in his third. We’ll take it.
Final Note
The Nets historically have never turned down an overseas trip. They lead the league in games played outside North American at 23 following the NBA China Games in Macao last October. It was their fourth trip to the PRC and they’ve played in arenas across the world, in Japan, England, Mexico, Italy and Israel. A lot of international teams over the years have also visited Barclays Center from Turkey to Brazil to Israel. In fact, in October 2010, after Mikhail Prokhorov bought the team, the Nets made the NBA’s first round-the-world trip, stopping in Moscow for a practice with the new boss, then on to games in Shanghai and Guangzhou before returning home across the Pacific. Have we mentioned that the Long Island Nets have played 10 “home” games the last two season as they try to build a fan base in French-speaking Canada?
They could have added to that number this year if it wasn’t for the U.S. war with Iran…
"The NBA will not play any preseason games in the Middle East…amid the war between the US & Iran…League had discussions with Cavs, Heat, Nets & Wizards…2027 World Cup is scheduled in Doha…Knicks & Sixers played preseason games in Abu Dhabi last season"pic.twitter.com/J1n3vat5vy
No word on where the Nets would have played, but the team has had long-term ties with the Emirate of Qatar (a relationship that recently came in for criticism from Norman Oder, the critic and chronicler of all things at Flatbush and Atlantic.) Of course, things throughout the region have been upended and no one knows for how long. It may be a while before the NBA sends another team to the Middle East.
"Naji has earned this opportunity through the way he approaches the game every day," Mavericks president Masai Ujiri said in a release announcing the deal. "He is a competitive player who impacts winning in a variety of ways. His versatility, toughness and willingness to embrace every challenge make him an important part of what we're building."
That will nearly double Marshall's average salary. This coming season, he will make $9.4 million in the final year of his previous contract, while this new deal will average $17.4 million a season.
Marshall, 28, is coming off a career-best season where the wing averaged 15.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists playing nearly 30 minutes a night (he started 47 games for the Mavericks and played in 74). While not exactly a knock-down shooter (29.1% from 3 last season), is a quality scorer who can drive, has maybe the best floater in the NBA, and can work off the ball (something that will be needed with the return of Kyrie Irving to the rotation next season).
The Mavericks also announced that Marshall is changing numbers from 13 to 3 starting next season.
DALLAS, TEXAS - MARCH 23: Naji Marshall #13 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts during the first half against the Golden State Warriors at American Airlines Center on March 23, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Marshall, who began his career in New Orleans, originally signed with the Mavericks in the 2024 offseason. Former general manager Nico Harrison landed Marshall on a three-year, $27 million contract, a deal that was widely praised as team-friendly. The 6’8” swingman enjoyed a career statistical season for Dallas in 2025-2026, averaging a career-high 15.2 points and 3.3 assists per game on 51% shooting from the field. Marshall parlayed that success into a new deal with the Mavericks that will roughly double his annual salary in the first year. The team also announced earlier this offseason that Marshall would switch his jersey number to 3 from his previous 13.
Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall has signed a three-year, $52.2 million contract extension, sources tell ESPN. The fully guaranteed deal takes Marshall through the 2029-30 season in Dallas. pic.twitter.com/SKFfPkHdKO
President of Basketball Operations Masai Ujiri issued a statement shortly after the deal was made official:
Naji has earned this opportunity through the way he approaches the game every day. He is a competitive player who impacts winning in a variety of ways. His versatility, toughness and willingness to embrace every challenge make him an important part of what we’re building
The Mavericks now have upwards of $127 million invested in frontcourt players for the 2027-2028 season. With Marshall’s extension on the books, they also have just one projected 2027 unrestricted free agent on the roster, in Klay Thompson. Marshall is the second returning Mavericks player to sign a new contract with the team this offseason after Moussa Cisse was re-signed on July 18th. Dallas still has 16 players with standard contracts on the books. That number must be cut down to 15 by the time the 2026-2027 season begins.
Naji Marshall’s three-year contract extension with Dallas will start at $18.2 million in 2027-28 and decline in the following two seasons to $17.3 million in 2028-29 and $16.7 million in 2029-30, league sources tell @TheSteinLine and @DLLS_Sports. https://t.co/eVypmGMNvK
NBA insider Marc Stein reported shortly after Charania’s initial disclosure of the terms of the deal that the extension would be front-loaded. Marshall would reportedly earn $18.2 million for the 2027-28 season, with his annual salary declining to $17.3 million the following year and $16.7 million in the deal’s final year.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 10: The sneakers worn by Tyler Nickel #55 of the New York Knicks during the game against the Brooklyn Nets during the 2026 NBA Las Vegas Summer League on July 10, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - NOVEMBER 29: Kevon Looney #55 of the New Orleans Pelicans honored before the game against the Golden State Warriors on November 29, 2025 at Chase Center in San Francisco, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
While the Lakers’ biggest frontcourt addition this offseason is Walker Kessler, they also added Kevon Looney.
At 29 years old, Looney is a veteran on these new-look Lakers. He has championship experience and can provide stability at a position that has seen a ton of turnover in LA over the years.
As an unrestricted free agent, Looney had options this summer. During a recent interview on ESPN LA’s “Mason & Ireland” show, Looney discussed how he ended up with the Lakers.
“This summer’s been great. Being a free agent this year, I didn’t know what was going to happen. Lots of moving parts to this offseason with a lot of teams. Once the Lakers made a few moves and they had a need for a center, this was my top destination and I was able to make it happen and I’m super excited.”
It’s great to hear that a player who signed with the Lakers always wanted to. As a backup, he’s likely to have a smaller role, and the first part of shining in that scenario is embracing it. So far, it seems Looney won’t be having a problem with that.
He also won’t have to face Luka Dončić anymore, which he mentioned as another positive of joining the purple and gold.
“Playing against him sucks, especially being a big man. You’re in a lot of pick and rolls. You get iso’d on. He picks on people and you got to guard him 1-on-1 and he’s probably the toughest guy to guard in the league. I got peak against him on the Lakers and on the playoffs when he was in Dallas. I’m excited to be on his team and be able to learn from him and be able to play pick and roll with him. He’s probably the best pick-and-roll player in the league. So, getting to learn how he wants me to set screens and different things like that, I’m excited about it. He’s one of the best guys in the league so it makes my life a lot easier playing with him so I’m super excited.”
Luka is a pick-and-roll king. Last year, he had 648 possessions in this action, more than any other player in the NBA. The second closest was LaMelo Ball with 593.
So, being a good pick-and-roll partner with Luka will be essential if Looney is going to have a successful stint in LA. Luckily, Looney has plenty of experience having an elite player initiating this play from his Golden State days with Steph Curry.
Looney doesn’t have to be at his prime to be a productive player for LA. All he has to do is remain healthy and do the dirty work that can help open up the offense for everyone else.
So far, he seems excited to do so. Hopefully, that’ll translate to some quality minutes on the floor in the fall.
Jakob Poeltl R of Toronto Raptors fights for a rebound with Myles Turner of Milwaukee Bucks during the 2025-2026 NBA regular season match between Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks in Toronto, Canada, on Nov. 4, 2025. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua via Getty Images)
Even when Kawhi Leonard’s return to the Toronto Raptors was nothing but a fantasy, fans have long clamoured for a very specific type of archetype.
It’s a need that the front-office has struggled to fill since leaning on champions Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka – a two-way stretch five.
Anytime a player like Chris Boucher, Precious Achiuwa, Christian Koloko or Jontay Porter knocked down a three, Raptors supporters and analysts alike didn’t hesitate to post a clip to social media. During the 2019 championship run, Leonard thrived playing next to an effective stretch-five, particularly as he probed the mid-range areas.
While Toronto has never found a similar weapon to maximize Scottie Barnes’ strengths, it makes sense that fans believe this should be a priority for General Manager and Vice-President Bobby Webster.
With the start of pre-season beginning on Oct. 3, Raptors fans can continue to voice their expertise and knowledge during the upcoming season on FanDuel.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 27: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns shoots the ball over Alex Caruso #9 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter in Game Four of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 27, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns surprised the masses last season. Going 45-37 and reaching the playoffs after trading away Kevin Durant and buying out Bradley Beal, the year was considered a resounding success by many in the league. Sure, Dillon Brooks had the best season of his career, Collin Gillespie outperformed his contract, and role players like Jordan Goodwin and Grayson Allen brought the intensity and shooting that made Phoenix a frisky regular-season team, but the main person leading the charge was Devin Booker.
After his fifth All-Star selection, Booker joined Giannis Antetokounmpo as one of only two players in the NBA to average at least 25 points per game in each of the last eight seasons. He’s had better seasons, including multiple All-NBA campaigns, but once again, he led the charge for Phoenix.
Here’s a look at his best games of the season:
Honorable Mentions:
The 38-piece against the Warriors
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 20: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket against Moses Moody #4 of the Golden State Warriors in the first half at Chase Center on December 20, 2025 in San Francisco, California. | Getty Images
Booker had two 38-point outings against the Golden State Warriors, both of which ended in road losses. In the second contest, Phoenix had a 44-32 lead but couldn’t hold it, with Golden State taking a six-point lead into the fourth quarter.
Booker shot an impressive 21-for-23 from the charity stripe in the two games combined and 23-for-39 from two. In the first matchup, he scored more points than the number of minutes he played, something he didn’t do too much this year.
In the first two months of the season, both losses came amid some of the Suns’ best basketball of the year. The first defeat was sandwiched between the team handing the eventual Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs their first loss of the season and a five-game winning streak, while the second came before a four-game winning streak.
Booker’s 40 not enough to beat the Celtics
In one of the team’s most back-and-forth matchups of the year, Booker had a 40-piece against the Celtics, his second-highest-scoring outing of the season. However, thanks to poor execution and cold shooting late, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum had the last laugh, with Brown scoring nearly half of his 41 points in the fourth quarter.
Booker did most of the damage from inside the arc, scoring 26 points on 13-for-17 shooting.
3. Domination in Indiana
On the first leg of a back-to-back, Booker and Jalen Green went off for a combined 79 points in a mostly easy 123-108 victory over the Pacers, with Booker scoring 43, his most in an outing during the 2025-2026 campaign. In a year when he had a lot of struggles from three, Booker went 4-for-7 from deep and 11-for-11 from the free-throw line.
When the Pacers cut the lead to two late in the third quarter, it was Booker who took care of business for the Suns, hitting multiple triples and ending the quarter with a step-back jumper to help Phoenix extend its lead to eight.
The victory was the team’s fourth in a row, and the 39-27 record it boasted after the win marked the most games above .500 it had been all year.
2. The Dagger against the Thunder
By no means was this Booker’s best statistical performance of the season. In fact, he took only 11 shots and scored below his season average with 24 points, but when his team needed him most, he delivered.
With All-NBA defender Alex Caruso draped all over him in a 105-105 game, Booker hit one of the biggest shots of his career to complete the team’s double-digit comeback against the team with the league’s best record, which had handed Phoenix its worst loss in franchise history in the semifinals of the NBA Cup the month before.
DEVIN BOOKER HITS THE TRIPLE AND WINS IT FOR THE SUNS 🚨
Booker’s shot capped off the team’s most impressive win of the season and marked the start of a month when Phoenix beat the No. 1 seeds in both the Eastern and Western conferences en route to Jordan Ott winning Western Conference Coach of the Month.
1. Book’s double-double hands the Spurs their first loss of the season
Only the Oklahoma City Thunder started the season stronger than the San Antonio Spurs. After San Antonio won its first five games, Phoenix handed the Spurs their first loss of the year in dominant fashion, with Booker leading the way, scoring 28 points on 10-for-15 shooting to go along with a season-high 13 assists. In one of his six double-doubles of the season, the team was plus-26 when he was on the court as the team limited All-NBA First Team selection Victor Wembanyama to nine points on 4-for-14 shooting from the field and forced him into six turnovers.
The victory was the team’s first of the season against an opponent that would finish above .500 and the start of a 10-5 month. While Booker played point guard for a significant chunk of the season, no game demonstrated his playmaking skills more than this one, as the team led by more than 30 points at times. After this game, the Suns played with a newfound confidence for the rest of the regular season that helped them remain above .500 for nearly the rest of the year.
It's not often that an executive is attached to league-altering trades in two different sports, but Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam can etch his name in the trivia books after this summer.
Haslam has been known to have some questionable transactions under his watch, and the latest gambits were both eye-opening to fans, analysts – and even family members — like Haslam's 95-year-old dad.
Speaking with reporters, Haslam said his father, Jim Haslam, had a small reality check moment with him in the wake of the deals.
"My dad's 95 and a half, but still follows every sports move we make, and he called me up after we traded Giannis and said, 'Do you know that in the last month you've traded Myles Garrett and Giannis?,'" Haslam told reporters with a laugh recently. "I said, 'Yes, sir, I know that.'"
As a minority co-owner of the Bucks, Haslam had a hand in dealing Antetokounmpo to the Heat in July, ending a years-long saga of whether or not the team would deal the superstar. Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to an NBA championship in the 2021 NBA Finals and also added league MVPs to his mantle.
Garrett didn't have the luxury of being a piece of a championship team in Cleveland, but earned plenty of personal accolades, including two Defensive Player of the Year awards and five first-team All-Pro nods (while also becoming the single-season sack record holder in 2025).
Haslam weighs in on Giannis trade
The trade that sent Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat rocked the NBA as one of the biggest dominos of a massive summer across the league.
Haslam said he believes rebuilding in the NBA is more difficult than in the NFL, and that the only way to judge the Antetokounmpo deal is by what happens next. The Bucks netted Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Kasparas Jakučionis in the deal, alongside multiple picks.
"Listen, it's all about what you get, and Giannis is a generational player, won a championship, but we felt the need to get younger," Haslam said. "He was the best asset we had. We had mortgaged our future going forward and I think we got four really good players, and we got two draft picks – No. 1 draft picks - couple of swaps, and second, so, time will tell.
"We've gotta use those picks wisely – just like we have to do with the Myles trade – but cautious optimism. Although, you gotta be realistic, rebuilding is no fun."
Guerschon Yabusele will forever go down as a weird blip in Knicks history. Many years down the line, the Frenchman’s name will be brough up in trivia and reminiscing conversations, not just for his very tumultuous time as a Knick, but also for the incredibly selfless gesture he made that allowed the Knicks to acquire Jose Alvarado.
Yabusele, the player, left a lot to be desired. There’s really no way around it. He was put in a difficult situation where he was used in a way that maybe didn’t fully highlight his strengths. And he was playing in a very limited and inconsistent role that likely made getting into a rhythm difficult. But he did himself no favors. Yabusele started off by coming into the season a bit heavier than in the season prior. When the season began, while the effort was there, not much else was. The shooting was inconsistent, if not downright bad. The paint looks, be it in transition or off of a PnR, didn’t feel or look much better. And he just didn’t offer much in any specific area of the game.
But Yabusele unexpectedly won over the hearts of fans by doing them an incredibly big favor on his way out. To make the Knicks’ trade for the Brooklyn-native possible, he amended his contract to remove his $5.8 million player option. He didn’t need to do it, especially after the way his time with the club had gone. By that point in the season, Yabusele had fallen out of the rotation, racking up occasional DNPs and playing very sparing minutes even when he did enter the game. The Knicks have the option of presenting Yabusele with a ring and he fully deserves one after the role Alvarado had in bringing the city it’s first NBA championship in 53 years.
Recently, Yabusele spoke with as.com about his decision to leave the NBA again. “I spoke with my wife, my agents, my mentor. It’s an important decision. And it’s not something I’m saying easily; it was a long process, there were many questions.” Yabusele said. “I remembered French teammates who had gone through the same thing, who were there without playing for years. I can’t do that. And it was me who decided to leave, not them. I prefer to be the one who decides .”
On his time in New York, the reserve big man did open up about how tough it sometimes was. While he still has fond memories of the city, he did candidly say, “In New York, after two or three bad games, they’re already asking to trade you”.
On conversations he had with head coach Mike Brown about his playing time and role, he revealed that, “[Mike] explained that he wanted his five starters to play 38 minutes each, plus Mitch, who deserved his 26 minutes. And that already gives you an idea of what to expect. What puzzled me most was what the coach didn’t mention about others . He talked to me about the five starters, he talked to me about Mitch, but he didn’t talk about Landry, he didn’t talk about Jordan Clarkson, he didn’t talk about all the others who were also there. If you add all of them up, technically there are no minutes left. So I understood very early on that it was going to be a very complicated year.”
One interesting point was what Yabusele said about the offensive system the Knicks were running. “ What’s curious is that when I was there, if we had moved the ball like we did at Real Madrid, a bit like in Europe, moving it around, shifting it … New York would have finished first in the conference ,” Yabusele said.
The Knicks did not finish first in the regular season, but did hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy, thanks in part to adopting a more ball-movement and player-movement oriented offense for large portions of the postseason.
Yabusele concluded the interview by speaking briefly about public enemy number one in New York, Victor Wembanyama. Having played with Wembanyama on the national team, Yabusele knows him and his game well. “It’s a problem with no apparent solution. He’s still so far from his best. Every summer you come back, play against him again, and he has a new trick up his sleeve. Just when you think you know him, something new comes out.”
Yabusele, the player, ended up being a disastrous mistake, arguably for both sides. But he seems to be a genuinely selfless, caring, and team-first kind of guy. While it’s unfortunate that the signing, which at the time brough excitement, didn’t work out. Fans should be thankful for his gesture, and root for him as he becomes one of the top three highest paid players in European basketball.
DALLAS, TEXAS - JUNE 29: New Dallas Mavericks head coach Dusty May is introduced during a press conference at American Airlines Center on June 29, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Earlier this week we had a poll up asking you to grade the Dallas Mavericks’ offseason. This was a question where I simply assumed fans would give the team an A. The results were really interesting!
There’s a lot to derive from results like this. Make no mistake, the vast majority of respondents thought Dallas had a good offseason, with 73% giving either an A or a B. But the differentiation here interests me. I am the site grump; I tend to be negative about the team, and when looking at the offseason so far, I really like what they’ve done! I voted A. There are elements of what the team’s done that I am lower on, take the Morez Johnson Jr. selection for example, but by and large I am impressed with where the team started before the draft and where the team is right now. And that doesn’t factor in any additional moves to occur before the season starts.
That a significant portion voted either B or incomplete says to me that they still want more from the team. Which is understandable, given how many things are still up in the air with the roster. Perhaps if any of these more confusing logjams at forward get sussed out, then anyone feeling less than excited about the offseason will have more reason for optimism.
Those who voted C, I’d like to know more. What has the team done that you didn’t like to grant that kind of grade? I’m curious if it’s more draft or free agency-focused. If you’re high on team there’s a number of win-total bets you can make over at our partners at FanDuel.
This week’s national poll centered on the Eastern Conference. The results, particularly following LeBron James heading East, are interesting.
I think the Knicks as clear favorites here is wild; while I don’t totally believe in the 76ers, I think the Knicks got hot and played well at the ideal time. Making it last for a playoff run is different (and harder) than being the best team in a division for the regular season. But that’s why we play the games.
Jeremy Sochan, who won a ring with New York last season after being released by the San Antonio Spurs following the trade deadline, is now headed across the country.
Sochan has agreed to a one-year deal with the Portland Trail Blazers, reports Shams Charania of ESPN, who got the news from Sochan's agent Deirunas Visockas. While the report does not mention the size of the contract, it is undoubtedly for the veteran minimum.
It also is a non-guaranteed deal and Sochan is essentially getting the chance to come to training camp and compete for a roster spot, reports Sean Highkin of the Rose Garden Report. That echoes what NBA Insider Jake Fischer had previously reported: Portland has 12 players on guaranteed contracts, and Sochan now joins Micah Potter, Vit Krejci, and likely others to follow on non-guaranteed deals, all of them brought in to compete in training camp for the final couple of roster spots. That said, there is room for frontcourt players like the 6'8" Sochan in Portland, which will start Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara at the forward spots, but the depth behind them is a question for the team.
Sochan, who Gregg Popovich once tried as a point-forward in San Antonio, got some regular run early last season with the Spurs but eventually fell out of the team's increasingly deep rotation. He signed as depth for the Knicks frontcourt, but averaged 6.9 minutes a game in the 16 games he got into for the Knicks. In New York's run to the title, he played a total of 23 minutes in the playoffs.
This is a one-year contract for the veteran minimum of $3.9 million (counting as only $2.4 million against the cap for Golden State).
Peyton has spent most of the last six seasons with the Warriors (aside from a brief detour with the Trail Blazers) and last season averaged 7.5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, playing about 15 minutes a night and getting into 73 games. At age 33, he remains a solid rotation player who is a plus defender on the perimeter and can get a few buckets when needed. While he's not a great 3-point shooter (29.1% last season) he's a high-IQ veteran who is fantastic at cutting and moving off the ball, which fits perfectly into the Warriors egalitarian offense.
The signing leaves the Warriors about $8.3 million below where they are hard-capped at the second apron, with two roster spots to fill (although they can enter the season with 14 players). They can easily fill out the rest of the roster with minimum contracts.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 13: Jeremy Sochan #20 of the New York Knicks walks to the court before the game against the San Antonio Spurs 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 Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
As the Knicks continue their prolonged search for a third string center, Jeremy Sochan, who came over to New York midway through last season, remained an option to fill that spot. The big man played very sparingly, appearing in only 16 regular season games. But out of all of the remaining options, his youth and defense, along with the fact that he already knew the team, made his return possible. Evident by his lack of playing time, Sochan has some very glaring holes in his game.
He is both an unwilling and poor three-point shooter, rendering him somewhat useless offensively. He is the kind of player that you kind of have to build a lineup around given his lack of spacing. Unfortunately, he’s not good enough to warrant doing that. Playing him despite those weaknesses usually meant hindering the offensive abilities of everybody else sharing the floor with him.
His defense though, still gave people hope. During some of the more turbulent portions of the season, fans had wondered if Sochan could provide a bit of a defensive spark for a team that on some nights, looked like they badly needed it. During his four-year career, the 23 year-old has done one thing well-defend. He isn’t a defensive playmaker. He doesn’t block a lot of shots or force a lot of turnovers. But he is an athletic and versatile defenders that has the motor, size, and athleticism to defend multiple possessions.
Like so many of the other options the Knicks had though, Sochan is now also off the board. Late Saturday night, Sochan signed a one-year non-guaranteed deal with the Portland Trail Blazers. Sochan will have a fair opportunity to win a roster spot and break camp with the team. If he does, having a full training camp, and doing so with a team that isn’t nearly as loaded talent wise as the Knicks, could give him a much better chance at actually being in the rotation.
On a team that finished the regular season with the 12th best defensive rating in the league, Sochan could provide even more defensive versatility, while having a bit more of a leash to continue developing offensively. The Trail Blazers will want to make the playoffs once again, but they aren’t tasked with having the same kind of win-now mentality the Knicks are currently in.
The non-guaranteed aspect of the contract does leave open for a reunion though. If the Knicks really liked Sochan, they would’ve re-signed him. And if Sochan wanted to really stay, he may have waited. So the chances Sochan returns is unlikely. But is isn’t fully out of the window. If the Knicks end up not finding the right options, or signs someone to a non-guaranteed contract of their own, and it doesn’t work out, maybe they view Sochan as a last resort option if he gets cut at some point. Again, very unlikely, but it’s possible.
For now though, the Knicks, who probably never had any intentions of bringing Sochan back, have to continue their search.
GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA - MARCH 21: Patrick Ngongba #21 of the Duke Blue Devils defends against David Punch #15 of the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 21, 2026 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
They’re correct to say that, while he’s a good athlete, he’s not elite. However, intelligence is a more valuable asset than raw athleticism. Look at some guys who have carved out nice NBA careers despite limited athleticism, at least by NBA standards: Jared McCain, Jalen Brunson, and Luka Doncic, to name a few. Now look how many great athletes have washed out of the league or failed to live up to expectations.
Never bet against smart players.
Ngongba needs to prove he can stay healthy, but assuming he can do that, he has a lot to offer, and not just post play: “Ngongba will have to be much better to overcome his age, and potentially even add some skills not yet seen. Though it’s not out of the question the NBA values his play-making big archetype, and ancillary skills, enough to take a shot on him in the late-lottery.
“Regardless, he should be a locked-in first-round selection with even limited improvement.”
The ancillary skills include his passing game, which is superb. He brings a lot to the table for any team, and we may see aspects of his game this season that we haven’t see before.
