Category: Basketball

Welcome to our Lakers Season Preview Series! For the next several weeks, we’ll be writing columns every weekday, breaking down the biggest questions we have about every player the Lakers added this offseason. Today, we take a look at Jake LaRavia.

When the viral moment last season where a Minnesota Timberwolves fan asked “Who is No. 12?” with Anthony Edwards hilariously responding, “That’s what I’m saying! I don’t know,” Jake LaRavia was catapulted into a bright purple and gold spotlight. Excitement filled the air as it seemed the Lakers had found a surprise gem as he torched the Timberwolves for 27 points while shooting 5-6 from behind the arc that night.

He followed that up with a few more impressive games before hitting a brutal slump that lasted through March. His minutes continued to dwindle into the postseason, where he averaged 15 minutes per game against the Rockets and played in just two of the four games against the Thunder.

Now, with the addition of quite a few new players including Sandro Mamukelashvili, Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams and Quentin Grimes, LaRavia might find himself being outshined by his teammates if he doesn’t tap into his “Who is No. 12?” identity again.

What is his best-case scenario?

The easiest answer is that he finds consistency. While the Lakers played their best basketball in March last season, LaRavia didn’t provide much offensive impact during that stretch. He went 6-25 from behind the arc for the month, only scored in double figures once, and only shot 43% from the field. He did have games, though, where his good effort, hustle and defense impacted the team.

If he could add an offensive bag to his hustle and effort, that would be his best-case scenario. He ended last season shooting 32% from behind the arc. LaRavia found himself open quite a bit, with attention often shifting to Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and LeBron James, and he struggled to knock down those wide-open threes the team desperately needed.

LaRavia turning into a player who can impact the game on all cylinders adds an extra weapon to a new Lakers team that likely won’t struggle offensively but will need players to do a bit of everything.

What is his worst-case scenario?

Head coach JJ Redick went to LaRavia often last season, even in games he played badly, but that was mostly because the team wasn’t particularly deep. This upcoming season, with a team that has much more talent that can contribute in a multitude of ways, LaRavia’s minutes will likely start disappearing if he’s struggling.

Lakers fans may find themselves asking who number 12 is again, and this time it won’t be a fun viral moment. Was all that hype in the first half of last season just some random momentum he picked up? When his slump kept going and he showed no signs of improving, his worst-case scenario, you could say, started as soon as the lights shone too bright.

What is his most likely role on the team?

With Luka and Austin as the obvious two starters out of the five, LaRavia’s most likely role will be a battle with the newbies as well as Adou Thiero and rookie Cameron Carr, who shined in the Summer League. The best way he can earn minutes is by becoming a player who can contribute immediately when called upon, instead of someone who comes in, steals the ball a few times, but can’t consistently knock down triples. The Lakers likely have better versions of that type of player, particularly in Thybulle.

For many seasons, the Lakers have been in dire need of wing players. We saw LaRavia’s capabilities early on with a few stellar games and then a nice hustle performance here and there, so if he finds consistency, he’ll find the important minutes again.

You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.

Dominick Barlow went above and beyond what you’d ever expect for a player on a two-way contract last season. He started 59 games for the Sixers and averaged 23.8 minutes per game, as well as 10.8 minutes across nine games in the playoffs.

High motor, rebounding at both ends, sharp defense against guards and forwards, and some disruptive defensive playmaking — Barlow brought a lot to the table. Despite having little to offer on offense apart from play finishing, some improving driving against closeouts, and strong offensive rebounding (1.9 per game and an impressive 2.8 per 36 minutes), Barlow proved his value. He finished the season averaging 7.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.7 blocks per game.

The way Barlow plays within his role is key to his success. He has excellent agility and size with his 6-foot-9 frame, defensive versatility and playmaking potential as a defender and rebounder, so that’s what he focuses on. He doesn’t try to do too much, and he’s carved out a role as an impactful forward because of it. Combine that focus with his high motor and an IQ to generally be in the right spots at the right time (at both ends of the floor), and Barlow ticks a lot of boxes. There’s always a space for that on a team.

His career night against the Clippers in February with 26 points, two steals and 16 rebounds — including 10 (!!) offensive boards — was a perfect encapsulation of what his athleticism, knowhow and hustle can do.

Even with Barlow’s offensive weaknesses showing in the playoffs, he still had some high-energy plays in some key moments. Take Game 2 against the Knicks, where he chipped in with six points on 3-of-3 shooting, two rebounds, one steal, and two blocks in 15 minutes as he provided a boost and stepped up at center too.

Moving forward, the question for Barlow as 2026-27 approaches is what can we expect from him on these new-look Sixers?

We’ve seen some flashes of what Barlow’s been working on this summer. As you’d expect, his three-pointer is a focus, which he’s talked about with PhillyVoice’s Adam Aaronson. In his Rico Hines Runs with fellow young Sixers, Barlow has been showing off smoother form with his corner threes.

Dominick Barlow’s corner three looks noticeably smoother. pic.twitter.com/r0asKZmyNj

— HG (@Harrison_Grimm) August 20, 2026

It has to be the priority for Barlow if he’s going to maximize his minutes on this newly stacked team. His lack of threat from distance (only shooting 25.6 percent from three for the year on 1.2 attempts per game) is also what held him back from being more useful in the playoffs. Pair this offseason work with Barlow being able to get over the elbow injury that bothered him earlier last season and messed with his shooting mechanics, there’s reason for the Sixers and their fans to be hopeful that he can improve as a shooter.

With the addition of Jaylen Brown on the wing and LeBron James, who’ll spend his time running point and shifting between positions (including the 4 and maybe the 5 in bursts), there’s potential for Barlow to not just keep hustling at the 4, but carve out a role as a smaller, switchy option at the 5 and form some dynamic frontcourts with LeBron.

Clearly the need for traditional centers behind Joel Embiid won’t go away. The Sixers will be at their best if they can get some reliable performance from Adem Bona and Ariel Hukporti, so they have more size and traditional rim protection when they need it off the bench. But depending on how Bona in particular performs, and when Embiid inevitably misses time, there will still be opportunity for Barlow to keep building on what he showed last season. That includes run at center.

Plus, what with the arrival of Dean Wade as a quality new option and super versatile defender as a backup 4, the potential for Barlow to offer more value as a smaller, switchier 5 increases again. How about a lineup like Tyrese Maxey, Brown, Wade, LeBron and Barlow for loads of offensive creation and switchability?

Of course, we can’t realistically expect a leap in jump shot variety from Barlow. However, him at least becoming a somewhat reliable corner threat would be huge to him being more useful when sharing the floor with Embiid, providing space when Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and now LeBron and Brown are attacking the paint as they will frequently, and being viable in the playoffs.

Without trying to make every conversation come back to the jumper, as it so often has with too many Sixers in the past, that’s the swing factor for Barlow now. We know he can do plenty of little things well.

Command some respect from defenders at the arc to keep the floor a little more spacious for LeBron and co., and there’s upside for Barlow to be an even more valuable role player when he’s on the floor. Even if those minutes decrease a little at times due to the sheer wealth of top-end talent and lineup versatility with these new Sixers.

And on his now standard contract with the team, for just $3.41 million in 2026-27, you can bet Barlow will remain one of the best value deals in the NBA.

As much as NBA teams are trying to have success in any given season, the real tell of being a great organization is if they can set themselves up for sustained success over a longer period. The Dallas Mavericks looked as if they were set up for that success just two short years ago. After making the 2024 NBA Finals, the Mavs were fifth in ESPN’s Future Power Rankings, which ranks teams on a forward-facing three-year timeline.   

After falling to 16^th overall in the rankings last offseason, Dallas slid once again in ESPN’s 2026 offseason edition of the ranking, slotting in at 17^th in the NBA. Here is what the experts said on Dallas’ position.

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Three-year outlook

The Mavericks rank near the middle of the pack in almost every subcategory, so they’re a proper fit for the middle of the pack. On the plus side is the presence of 19-year-old Cooper Flagg, the reigning Rookie of the Year and one of the NBA’s most promising prospects. On the negative side is uncertainty around Dallas’ competitive window, as it’s unclear when Flagg and friends will actually start pushing toward the playoffs. – Kram

It continues to baffle me that Dallas hasn’t been able to get draft capital for some of the veteran players who are on the roster. For a team who isn’t going to compete for anything real in the next few years, they have no reason to be in the bottom third of the league in draft assets. Really, it’s an indictment of the organization that the only category they rank in the upper half of the league in is the thing they can’t control: The city they operate out of. But again, imagine where this roster would be without Cooper Flagg.

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Roster question looming

What happens with Kyrie Irving? The nine-time All-Star has not played an NBA game since tearing an ACL in March 2025 and has two years remaining on his contract. With a new front office in place, is Irving on the roster next summer or is he a trade candidate in February? Irving was on pace to average at least 20 points for a ninth straight season before the knee injury. – Marks

Perhaps the biggest question that the Mavericks face this year is the question about Irving. By the time late October rolls around, it will have been 18-months since he last played NBA basketball. No longer a spring chicken, and not getting any younger, will Irving have the tolerance to stick around if this team isn’t a play-in contender?

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Bold prediction for 2027-29

Flagg will be the first American-born MVP since Harden in 2018. Can the Mavericks forward reach the summit by 2030? That’s a tough ask given that Wembanyama, Jokic, Gilgeous-Alexander and Doncic will be drawing votes for years to come. But Flagg was incredibly productive as an 18-year-old rookie, and his two-way game should quickly transform Dallas into a winner. LeBron James captured his first MVP during his age-24 season; don’t be surprised if Flagg gets there at a younger age. – Golliver

A Flagg MVP campaign would surely mean the Mavericks are good again, so we can only hope this comes to fruition!

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What are your thoughts on the Mavericks’ ranking overall? Personally, I think it feels about right but admittedly, I’m a bit lower on their future than most.

Check out the full set of rankings from ESPN here.

With the season fast approaching, I decided to switch up from the usual and veer into a different lane: footwear. I wanted to investigate what shoes the Bucks wore last season, which will, by and large, inform what they wear this season. Players are creatures of habit and generally like to stick to the same makes and models once they find something they like. And while I’m certainly no expert, I do happen to know a bit about basketball shoes, so this was an enjoyable article to write. Let’s get into it.

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Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakucionis, and Bogoljub Markovic: The Sabrina squad

These guys all love the Nike Sabrina model, which, of course, is WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu’s signature shoe. Of the four players, Tyler Herro is the only one contractually obligated to wear Nike, while the other three choose to rock the brand. Below, you can see both Herro and Kel’el Ware showing off their Sabrina 3s.

Myles Turner, Ryan Rollins, Brayden Burries, and Jericho Sims: The Kobe crew

The only group that can rival the “Sabrina squad” in numbers is the “Kobe crew.” Myles Turner, Brayden Burries, Ryan Rollins, and Jericho Sims have all rocked a heap of Kobes. The Kobe 6 was Turner’s shoe of choice throughout last season, and as you can see, he owns some dope colourways. Rollins, for his part, wore a fair few Kobe 4s.

Caris LeVert: Anta Kai 3

At the start of last year, Caris LeVert signed an endorsement deal with Chinese brand Anta. Since that point, LeVert has been lacing ‘em up in Kyrie Irving’s signature “Kai” line.

Kevin Porter Jr: Li-Ning Sonic 13

After signing an endorsement deal with Puma when he was drafted—and wearing the brand until about a year ago—KPJ has often been seen rocking the Chinese brand Li-Ning. Here he is seen in their Sonic 13 model.

Ousmane Dieng: Adidas Harden Vol. 9

Dieng inked a deal with Adidas when he was drafted 11th overall in 2022. Since then, he’s mostly been rolling with with James Harden’s line. Here he is in the Harden Vol. 9.

Nate Ament: Reebok Engine A

For those who didn’t know, Nate Ament has been with Reebok since late 2024, when he signed a deal while still in high school. Yes, high school. As the once-heralded brand tries to break back into an increasingly saturated market, it targeted top players at all levels, with the Bulls’ Matas Buzelis, Kings’ Darius Acuff Jr., and Sky’s Angel Reese also joining as ambassadors. And for those wondering, no, the legs on the right aren’tAment’s. I had some copyright issues attaching the photo I wanted to use. Argh.

Gary Trent Jr: Adidas Adizero

Trent has been with Adidas since late 2020, rocking a variety of their kicks over the journey, including the aforementioned Harden line. Last season, GT mainly stuck to their Adizero range, as shown below in a purple colourway.

Jaime Jaquez Jr: Jordan 40-14 Ferrari

Jaime Jaquez Jr. is the only Buck signed with Jordan Brand. Jaquez has worn many of Jordan’s basketball shoes, but he chose to flex the 40-14 Ferraris for the Play-In game last season against the Hornets.

Kyle Kuzma: Nike Zoom Freak

Kuzma is currently a sneaker free agent after his five-year deal with Puma expired in late 2024. With the Bucks, Kuz has mostly worn Nike. He rocked a good number of Kobes last season, but his most common shoe was probably the Freak line of now-former teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo.

AJ Green: Nike LeBron NXXT Gen

Green doesn’t have an official shoe deal, but he’s laced up a slew of Nike kicks throughout his NBA career. These have ranged from the GT Cut to LeBron’s signature line, as shown below.

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Of all these kicks, which struck your fancy? Let us know in the comments.

The last time the Washington Wizards carried a playoff pulse, they were led, in part, by Russell Westbrook, who suited up for four other teams and pulled down the curtain on his NBA career in the half a decade since calling the nation’s capital home. 

Over those five post-Westbrook years, Washington’s won 35, 35, 15, 18 and 17 games. That’s 120 total victories, 12 fewer than the Oklahoma City Thunder racked up the past two seasons alone. 

Two campaigns of rudderless basketball succeeded by a trio of purposeful rebuilding seasons has led the Wizards into 2026-27, a year crucial in determining their long-term outlook. For their meager win totals across 2024-26, they’ve netted a cast of eyebrow-raising youngsters, including a pair of top-two picks in Alex Sarr (second in 2024) and AJ Dybantsa (first in 2026). 

Flanking them are a few other under-23 young players still worth giving a damn about: Kyshawn George (22), Bilal Coulibaly (22), Tre Johnson (20) and Will Riley (20). Last winter, aware of free agency as a dying ember for most teams to land talent, the Wizards utilized their bountiful cap space by trading for Trae Young and Anthony Davis, two former All-NBAers experiencing downswings in their respective careers with, in Washington’s eyes, hopefully the requisite juice left to rediscover stardom and accelerate its aspirations for winning. 

Much like the Utah Jazz out West, the Wizards do not have to summit the mountain of their rebuild in 2026-27. But they cannot remain at base camp and promise tomorrow, once they’re a little more energized and inherited another vibrant prospect,is the day they start climbing. This imminent season will answer plenty of questions to clarify whether the past three years can ignite a prosperous future or if their high-stakes moves will soon force another reset.

Sarr and George authored encouraging sophomore seasons. Can they build upon that promise, fill in a few more colors of their respective rainbows and become highly impactful players moving forward? This is precisely the time to punt away training wheels and less often apply the “young” caveat to analysis of their quality as players. The Wizards are hoping they’re ready for that responsibility. 

What does Dybantsa’s NBA debut look like? Will he indicate the towering offensive upside that prompted Washington to take him first overall in June? How does he mesh alongside the fellow bedrocks in Young, Davis, Sarr and George?

Through three seasons, Coulibaly’s hinted at being the sort of sprawling, defensive-minded wing every playoff contender desires yet struggled with health, consistency and offensive viability. Can an elevated offensive environment, headlined by Young’s wondrous facilitating, and greater surrounding talent allow him to connect the dots as he approaches restricted free agency next summer?

How does Johnson improve as an interior operator to amplify his sparkling long-range game and snappy passing? Can Riley parlay his post-All-Star Break surge and impressive Summer League stint to garner a rotation spot amid Washington’s crowded forward room?

Despite an injury riddled, underwhelming 2025-26, Young received a four-year, $212 million extension (player option final year) this offseason. Will his generational court vision amplify play-finishers such as Davis, Sarr, George, Johnson and Coulibaly? I’m optimistic it will; there’s a good mix of rim-rattlers and long-range explorers for Young to feed and establish a cohesive shot diet. 

Washington’s finished 23rd (2025-26) and 28th (2024-25) in effective field goal percentage the last two years, beset by wide-eyed and/or underqualified initiators orchestrating possessions. It simply needs to put the ball in the hoop more routinely. 

Young should help achieve that. 

Here’s how he impacted the Atlanta Hawks’ effective field goal percentage when he was on the floor over his first seven seasons (last year’s 15-game sample not included), per Cleaning the Glass:

Both he and Dybantsa are optimized on the ball. Can Young score effectively enough to warrant the majority of on-ball touches? He’s averaged 31.6 points per 100 possessions the past two seasons following a four-year run of 37.3. If he continues being a less lethal scorer — which absolutely alters his offensive footprint and the way defenses approach him — will this finally be the season he embraces some off-ball work in favor of creation reps for Dybantsa and Johnson? If the scoring perks back up, how does Washington manage his talents while still prioritizing Dybantsa’s game?

Now 33, Davis is extension eligible and has two years, $121 million remaining on his deal (player option for 2027-28). Following last season’s trade, he did not appear in a game for Washington and has played only 71 times the past two years, in addition to his already-mercurial availability. 

He shares a position with Sarr. Both take threes, neither makes them. They are best served as rollers and cutters focused on the interior. Sarr’s spike in efficiency between years one and two (48.2 percent vs. 54.4 percent true shooting) was rooted in swapping triples (38 percent 3-point rate down to 21 percent) for shots inside (28 percent rim frequency up to 39 percent). How do those two coexist offensively and what approach does Washington take to allocating their minutes? Does it want to foster Sarr as a 4-man or keep letting him grow at center?

If Davis re-establishes himself as a premier defender, that front-court tandem is quite rangy and imposing, especially with the progress Sarr exhibited in 2025-26. Davis can also alleviate some of Sarr’s glaring defensive rebounding woes, which have stunted his impact on that side of the ball. 

Can Davis stay healthy (a rarity since departing Los Angeles), return to his All-Star heights, synergize with Washington’s youthful core and prove worth keeping around for a few more seasons? That’s the reality the Wizards seek and from which they stand to benefit most.

So little about Washington feels bankable. Its prospects are unproven. Its veteran stars are, at least lately, unreliable. But the foundation to compete exists. In seven months, the Wizards will understand vastly more about the hierarchy of their young core and where it could propel them, and the early-ish dividends on their aggressive 2026 trade deadline. 

While that information is not guaranteed as satisfactory, it will outline a necessary route ahead. They’ll hope the route is one featuring many of the same players helping shape whatever 2026-27 looks like. If it does, their playoff signature should soon no longer be most recently penned by Russell Westbrook, a cornerstone from a different, distant era of Wizards basketball. 

You know things are heating up when start getting enough quotes to put together a Bulletin, only I’m keeping those for later this off/preseason.

For now, here’s the latest round of links and notes for you to enjoy as we approach media day about the end of September. Get excited!

• Knicks Opening Night tickets have exploded in price after the championship, experiencing a silly 526% increase from last season’s home opener.
• Jalen Brunson made a cameo in Mariska Hargitay’s Emmys cold open.

Mariska Hargitay Emmys open "You ever felt like you have millions of eyes on you & it all comes down to one night?"

Jalen Brunson "Seriously?"

Mariska "Jalen it's just me–I don't have anyone to tip it in

"I don't have time to sit around and steam outfits with you. I gotta go" pic.twitter.com/a8tar6IQP3

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) September 15, 2026

• Tyler Kolek is entering Year 3 focused on being more aggressive whenever opportunities come his way, he told The New York Post, and he believes he’s got much more to offer the NBA world: “There’s definitely a lot left [for me to show].”

“I just gotta play my game everyday. Be consistent, whatever the coaches need just follow their direction and let it be what it is.”

• Kolek echoed his teammates’ broader underdog mentality entering the season even coming off hoisting the Larry O’B. “At this stage, we shouldn’t have to be motivated. We’re champions,” Kolek said. “We know what it looks like, and we’re not just satisfied with one.”
• Jordan Clarkson keeps openly reminding fans he’s fly.
• Dirk Nowitzki admitted he never expected Jalen Brunson to develop into a franchise cornerstone in New York. That said, he gave kudos to JB for being “unbelievable on and off the floor” and fully deserving to lead the Knicks to a championship and win Finals MVP.
• Mitchell Robinson’s move to Boston still stings inside the Knicks’ locker room, with Kolek calling his departure painful. Robinson, meanwhile, says he is entering his Celtics stint with renewed confidence. We’ll see how that goes.

“Right now, I’m just so confident in myself. I feel like this is going to be a great year for me.”

• Taj Gibson was waived by New Orleans shortly after being acquired from Memphis, then called it a career and joined the Bulls on a coaching role. Also, Taj wants him kid to be like JB.

“I want my son to be like him. For real."

— Taj Gibson on Jalen Brunson pic.twitter.com/zwQDBDdNR2

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 18, 2024

• Julius Randle acknowledged returning to New York with Brooklyn feels natural after spending five seasons with the Knicks. “It’s definitely a place that just feels like home,” Randle said.
• Kawhi Leonard’s trade to Toronto has officially been approved by the league, ending the uncertainty surrounding whether the Raptors would complete the deal after a year-long investigation and its massive aftermath.
• Speaking of Kawhi, Nikola Jokić said he prefers playing every game rather than managing his workload.
• Danilo Gallinari also chimed in on the Klaw saga, and blasted the NBA’s punishment of Kawhi Leonard, arguing that Leonard should have faced a much larger financial penalty because of the impact his decisions had on others.

“He should pay all of that $50 million. He changed the trajectory of my career and put me in a difficult situation by sending me away from Los Angeles.

“What happened to my NBA career (when he was traded from the Clippers as part of the SGA-Paul George deal to convince Kawhi to sign with LA) wasn’t decided by a general manager or an owner, but by a player who decided that team wasn’t good enough and wanted something else.”

• The NBA Board of Governors discussed a possible expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle during meetings in New York on Monday and Tuesday. Commissioner Adam Silver, however, keeps stressing that nothing is guaranteed, with the league still weighing whether to add both cities, one, or neither. Yeah, right?
• Jalen Duren and Detroit remain far apart on a new contract, with the Pistons’ most recent offer reportedly around five years and $190 million and Duren seeking at least $200 million. The big fella is supposedly seriously considering taking the $9.6 million qualifying offer to reach unrestricted free agency next summer.
• Dwight Howard is continuing his career overseas, signing with Black Fortress Tbilisi in Georgia.
• Team USA won the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup by trouncing France 97-79. Breanna Stewart finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds and was named tournament MVP.

Together. For Gold. 🥇

The 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup Champions. pic.twitter.com/znS5UoST9S

— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) September 13, 2026

You just knew this was too big of a Sixers season to not have Matt Cord on the mic.

After initially retiring following the conclusion of the 2025-26 campaign, Cord will instead return as public address announcer at Xfinity Mobile Arena for Philadelphia 76ers’ home games for the upcoming season. It will be his 29th year in the role in South Philadelphia.

The team took to social media to announce the change of plans for the longtime announcer.

THE VOICE IS BACK. pic.twitter.com/0NqwiabE9a

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) September 16, 2026

(There is no in-arena announcer more deserving of a hype video than Cord also, in my opinion.)

Cord likely felt he had initially gone out on the best note possible, calling the home games of the Sixers’ seven-game takedown of the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs last season before Philly was eliminated in the second… That was until the Sixers had their blockbuster summer, featuring game-changing additions of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown.

So now, Cord returns for his 29th season at the helm to call out the names of the Sixers’ newest stars (in addition to Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and the other returners) for Philadelphia in what will likely be a rocking, packed arena all season long.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to return to the mic as PA announcer for 76ers for one more season,” Cord said. “Serving in this role for the past 28 years has been a dream come true, and I have been fortunate to witness so many memorable moments from the best seat in the house. This is going to be a special year, and I can’t wait to be back at Xfinity Mobile Arena with you all. Let’s go, 76ers!”

According to the team, Cord has also agreed to take part in working with the franchise to help identify the next Sixers PA announcer through a tryout process slated to start this winter.

Welcome back, Matt!

Every day, we’ll take a closer look at another member of the 2026-27 Phoenix Suns, examining what they bring to the roster and what their role could mean for the season ahead as we count down to training camp and the preseason.

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Koa Peat

Forward, 6’7”, 245lb, 19 years old, Rookie

The Suns took a big swing when they traded up and drafted Koa Peat with the 30th overall pick in the NBA Draft. Peat has obvious strengths and obvious weaknesses. His strengths made him a projected lottery-level talent in high school. However, his weaknesses in college and during the draft process caused him to almost fall out of the first round.

Peat has an incredible resume. He is a four-time Arizona High School state champion, he led the University of Arizona to its first Final Four in 25 years, and comes from a family full of professional athletes. He has all the intangibles and high character traits that will make him a fan favorite right away if he can get playing time on a deep Suns roster. Which is the biggest question mark for Peat going into this season.

Where does Peat get minutes this season in a crowded rotation at forward with Dillon Brooks, Miles Bridges, Rasheer Fleming, and Ryan Dunn all vying for minutes? And how quickly can Peat earn the trust of Jordan Ott and his teammates?

If Peat can get his now antiquated old-school style game to translate over to the new-school NBA, it will be a huge win for a Suns team that needs Peat to pan out for the future of the franchise.

Last Season

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

Last season at Arizona, Peat was one of the best players in the Big 12 and the entire country. He earned Third Team All-Big 12 honors despite missing three games with an injury/illness during conference play. He excelled in the biggest moments of the season, when he scored 30 points against Florida’s humongous front line in the first game of the season and later in the postseason.

He averaged a team-leading 17.1 points in the Wildcats’ run to the Final Four and elevated his all-around play when his team needed him the most. The in-state hero broke Sean Miller’s curse and got his team to the Final Four before losing to the eventual National Champion Michigan Wolverines.

What made Peat so effective with the Wildcats was how integrated himself within their offensive and defensive schemes. His basketball intelligence allowed him to still score and create for others despite the spacing limitations on the Arizona roster. He was effective playing off the Wildcats’ excellent guards Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries while also finding his spots at the elbows and midpost areas with Arizona’s two big centers Tobe Awake and Motiejus Krivas. Even with two of the best rebounding centers in the nation, Peat still grabbed almost six rebounds a game, making Arizona the second-best rebounding team in the country. Defensively, he was a capable on-ball defender and knew how to use his thick body to keep opposing players out of the lane.

But the reason Peat was available for Phoenix late in the draft was his 3-point shooting, or lack of 3-point shooting. At Arizona, Peat shot 35% from the 3-point line on just 20 attempts the entire season. He did not make a single 3 during Summer League and struggled during the NBA Combine’s shooting workouts. His mechanics are a work in progress and have already changed considerably since his time in college, but not necessarily for the better. Although Peat does not have to be a knockdown 3-point shooter in his NBA career to be effective, the Suns will have to be creative in how they deploy Peat early in his career because of those limitations.

Contract and Roster Context

Koa Peat signed a 4-year, $15,031,531 rookie scale contract with the Phoenix Suns this summer and will be extension-eligible in 2029 and will enter 2030 as a restricted free agent. He joins Ryan Dunn and Rasheer Fleming as the Phoenix Suns’ young wings competing for playing time at the back end of the Suns’ rotation.

What He Brings

Koa Peat has a very unique style of play for the modern NBA game. Put Peat back in an era that was less three-point prolific, and he might have been a high lottery pick.

Peat has a unique blend of size and athleticism that makes him effective as a mid-post player and finishing around the basket both above and below the rim. Where Peat is elite is his footwork, whether he’s finishing off one or two feet. During his brief stint in Summer League, he showed an ability to take and make difficult shots on the block, at the elbows, and anywhere in between. Because of how physical he plays, Peat should be effective at getting to the free-throw line, where he shot 62% at Arizona.

Peat’s fluidity and touch make him an extremely difficult-to-stop locomotive in transition and attacking off of cuts. He can get his shot off in almost any situation and at unique angles. Even if the shot looks off balance, Peat has had incredible body control and soft touch to finish over and around taller defenders that should translate to the NBA.

Not only is Peat effective off the ball and in the midpost, but he can play on the ball as well. He handles the ball comfortably on the perimeter and was the Suns’ primary ball handler during Summer League outside of the point guards. He sees the floor well and is a good passer, especially dumping the ball off to his centers after penetrating to the basket.

Peat fills many needs for this Suns roster long term because he has the potential to be a good to elite isolation scorer that can attack mismatches with his versatility. He is another athletic body that the Suns can utilize to be a tough, gritty team that plays defense and rebounds at an elite level. Outside of his scoring and rebounding ability, he might be the best passing forward on this Suns roster right now. With Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale gone, the Suns need to replace their shooting first and foremost, but also their undervalued secondary playmaking, and that is a void Peat can fill immediately.

What Needs to Improve

The main weakness for Peat is easy to diagnose but difficult to fix. He is not a three-point shooter, and to survive in the NBA without a consistent jump shot, he has to be elite at another skill, whether that’s defensively, playmaking, and/or rim pressure. The Suns already do not have many shooters on the roster, so Peat only adds to that problem.

Long term, if Peat adds a consistent three-point shot, the sky is the limit for what he could be. If all he ever becomes is a very consistent midrange jump shooter, he will still be an effective player because of everything else he brings; it will just take that organization prioritizing players that fit with Peat, which is not what this Suns roster has right now.

The other area where Peat has to grow if he is going to play minutes this season is his motor and conditioning. This especially stood out during Summer League, where he was often the last guy getting back on defense because he did not sprint or was the final player in the frontcourt on offense. With Peat’s spot on the roster right now, it will be his effort and skill set doing the little things that could make the difference between him playing for the Suns or the Valley Suns this season.

Prediction

While most NBA teams usually give their exciting young players the runway at the NBA level to develop, the Suns have taken a different approach by making their players earn their opportunity before it is given. While it was frustrating to see Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Maluach “waste away” on the bench last season, it could be beneficial for both of them long-term for their development. My prediction is that the Suns will bring Peat along slowly this year, just like last year’s rookies.

Here is why this is a good thing: it will give Peat a chance to work on his shooting mechanics and hopefully develop a passable NBA three-point jumper and work on refining his body. The Suns can work on completely overhauling his mechanics if needed and building them back from the ground up without having to stress him in NBA games, which can be detrimental during the process of reworking someone’s jump shot. As for his body, he already has the strength, but can he tap into even more athleticism if he cuts 10 pounds and adds it back in explosive muscle?

While this is my prediction, it would not surprise me if Peat is an immediate impact player as a rookie because of his unique skillset as a scorer and playmaker. If both Ryan Dunn and Rasheer prove not to be efficient enough 3-point shooters, there are so many other things Peat brings to the table that could vault him above the other young.

Stat Prediction: 40 games, 4.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 45/30/70 shooting

Final Word

While we all want to see Koa Peat play for the Suns this season, and we all want to talk ourselves into the hometown hero being the next young star to lead our franchise into the future, there is a reason 29(ish) NBA teams decided not to draft Peat. The Suns are swinging for the fences, hoping that Peat turns into a star, but they could easily strike out. It is going to take Peat time to develop into the fully formed version of himself, but what gives me the confidence Peat is going to be a great Phoenix Sun is because:

Koa Peat is a winner.

He won championships in high school, he won the Big 12 regular-season and tournament championships, and he delivered Arizona its first Final Four appearance in 25 seasons. The Suns likely won’t win a championship in the near future, but Peat has proven that he can win anywhere, and he has an unbelievable opportunity to win at home.

Editor’s Note: It’s with great pride we introduce Kaden Cho as one of our guest contributors! He’s going to bring some of his fresh perspectives here, and you can follow him at @kady1735.

LaMelo Ball is the Timberwolves’ premier addition this offseason, and with that label, discussions have inevitably started about how impactful he really is. The 25-year-old is coming off his first healthy season in years, finally surpassing the 50 game barrier, and leading the best starting lineup in the league in terms of net rating.

This has rightfully garnered Ball praise as one of the best offensive engines in the world, and while some still harbor grievances about his injury struggles, there remains a camp that believes he is simply not good at all. To them, he’s “reckless,” “inefficient,” and the biggest of his detractors will even call him “stupid”.

This narrative is generally associated with turnover issues, but the Wolves’ new point guard was actually in the 71st percentile among his positional group in creation-adjusted turnover percentage this season. This stat reflects that Ball suppressed turnovers relative to his 94th percentile on-ball load.

Rather, much of the talk about Ball’s playstyle hinges on our perception of his playmaking process, rather than the results of that creation. He is often degraded as being “made for TikTok”, in a way that connotes the idea that he is exclusively a highlight player. The one-legged threes and no-look passes certainly feed into that view, but we must take more than one look at any player that we evaluate.

LaMelo Ball 😭😭😭 https://t.co/PymUzuTepJpic.twitter.com/HpMxI1vxKc

— Rio (@RioStaysTrue) January 8, 2025

Why brand LaMelo as “reckless” rather than “innovative”? Ball’s way of playing basketball is groundbreaking and deserving of praise.

Perhaps the way that we talk about him is informed by his off-court shenanigans, with him being brought up as one of the first major social media stars in basketball, which has only continued through his irresponsible driving.

It’s understandable why many use this mental shortcut. The Julian Newmans of the world, who came up around LaMelo’s time, definitely aren’t doing as well, and clips have spread that have only further propagated this idea. LaMelo’s most recognizable highlight from his childhood is his pull-up from half-court, and it’s easy to look at that kid and say he’s an arrogant showboater.

Even in the pre-draft process, LaMelo stood out like a sore thumb. He bounced around internationally, even having a short stint with a start-up league created by his father, LaVar Ball. His interviews were even wackier: He said he wanted to be the President of the United States after he was finished with basketball.

This narrative has also been given life by the numerous clips of LaVar that have gone viral over the years.

LaVar Ball says LaMelo doesn’t need advice from Michael Jordan: ‘When the last time he won a championship?’ https://t.co/2Nz01dMQbw

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 10, 2021

It’s easy to look at this and say that LaMelo is not the most put-together person, and I wouldn’t necessarily disagree; I don’t know him personally. But I do find it to be an issue when these categorizations are applied to basketball.

Is it not our job as analysts to separate these issues from his actual play on the court? Why has the collective NBA community dumbed down LaMelo’s ability as a passer?

Basketball has long used terms like “low-IQ” to describe its own aesthetic bias, and it has routinely dipped into anti-blackness. Allen Iverson, Russell Westbrook, Magic Johnson, and so many other extraordinary passers have been demeaned for the same things that Ball faces now.

Magic, who is now widely considered to be the greatest passer to ever step foot on an NBA court, or really any court for that matter, was seen as too careless when he was drafted. Jerry West infamously tried to force him into the post as a power forward instead of as a point guard. And yet, he redefined the game by stretching its boundaries.

These words are usually used as a descriptor for a genuine evaluation of a player, but it’s important to remember that our biases are never fully isolated from stereotypes embedded in our society. There are ways that LaMelo’s shot diet could be more efficient, yes: he was a 58th-percentile point guard in rim attempts per 75 possessions last season, which is very low for his creation duties.

In the same way, LaMelo’s pull-up shooting and passing are indeed unorthodox, but it has lead to historic levels of offense, and even if there are valid criticisms of his game, we must watch what connotations our language has.

Anthony Edwards hasn’t played with a real passing point guard – at least not one who is in their prime – throughout his entire career, and the Timberwolves just went out and got one of the best in the league. Furthermore, it’s a very clear shift by the front office to counter the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder by leaning very heavily on pull-up shot creation.

Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball building chemistry. 🔥

This duo will be unstoppable

(h/t @SnapshotKyle)

pic.twitter.com/r248O1MnWF

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) September 12, 2026

Sometimes you have to zag when the league zigs, and that’s what Tim Connelly is known for. It is in moving away from the orthodox that we get some of the biggest Wolves moments of the decade. Coming off Rudy Gobert’s transformative defense and important part in several impressive playoff runs, you’ll never believe that trading for him was largely criticized as mortgaging their future.

Players shouldn’t be assigned personal qualities based on the different decisions they make on the court. Luka Dončić, whose eccentric playmaking style leads to incredible plays but also exasperating turnovers, has been called a playmaking savant, a passing genius, and a true innovator for the sport. But LaMelo “makes bad decisions,” and his passing process is “impaired”.

And even if you think LaMelo is reckless based on the driving, don’t apply it to the game, and vice versa.

These labels have stuck to LaMelo, but in the end, they don’t define who he is as a player. One of the best passers in the NBA is heading to the Timberwolves, and the fans should be excited for what is to come, as their franchise player is.

After Milwaukee acquired veteran wing Caris LeVert and two second-rounders in a trade with the Detroit Pistons that sent Taurean Prince and Gary Harris eastward, LeVert looks primed for a quieter, smaller role on a rebuilding Milwaukee squad.

The 2026-27 season will be his LeVert’s in the league, making him a veteran presence in one of the league’s youngest locker rooms. The 32-year-old struggled for playing time on the Pistons, logging just 19.2 minutes per game and averaging 7.4 PPG, 2.0 RPG, and 2.9 APG. In his peak years in Brooklyn (who could forget about his 50-ball against Boston?) and Indiana, LeVert was a high-scoring wing who could shoot efficiently both in and outside of the arc, but also operate as a ball-handler and play in the pick-and-roll. As he’s grown, LeVert has become much more of a microwave scorer.

Have urself a game Caris LeVert https://t.co/ZquHAXRhnZpic.twitter.com/k4hl0x0N88

— Shabazz 💫 (@ShowCaseShabazz) May 12, 2026

LeVert’s season with Detroit was interesting. Despite making 60 appearances, he didn’t start a game. The journeyman logged a career-low in FG% and FT%, and he dipped below 8.0 PPG for the first time in his career. Granted, LeVert was hampered by nagging wrist and knee injuries, and played through vertigo for a patch of the season. His lack of consistency in playing time, along with limited offensive spacing with the ball in his hands, led to a series of mediocre performances for the Pistons and, eventually, a mediocre season.

Last year, LeVert ranked in the 86th percentile for the percentage of time he had the ball while on the court, but was pretty turnover-prone and struggled offensively; he posted a 51.8% true shooting percentage. LeVert’s high usage can shrink the floor at times, and it isn’t helped by his inconsistent three-point shooting. That said, he improved leaps and bounds defensively; his 6’7” frame, high work rate, and guard-like agility allow him to rack up steals and blocks. However, LeVert’s offensive inefficiency made it hard for him to grow into a more meaningful role.

If LeVert struggled in Detroit, then why did the Bucks’ front office bring him in? Although LeVert is a solid role player and was great for the Pistons at times during their postseason run, the trade is more about GM Jon Horst’s wanting to acquire assets. LeVert’s expiring $14.8m contract didn’t affect the trade exception created in the trade for Giannis or their mid-level exception. In a period where Milwaukee’s draft chest is depleted, the trade for LeVert allowed Horst to gain assets while avoiding the first apron and freeing up cap space later in the rebuild. LeVert’s archetype is nice, but shoring up those assets and keeping cap space open is arguably nicer.

At the end of the day, LeVert projects as an off-the-bench wing who can create his own shot and set up his teammates. However, it will be a real fight to get minutes in a loaded guard rotation that includes Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr., and Kasparas Jakucionis. With the Bucks aiming to prioritise the future, expect head coach Taylor Jenkins to shift away from the aging LeVert and towards the younger guards.

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Who are you picking at 15th?

Sixers pre-camp questions: How will backup center situation shake out? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers’ new era is on deck.

With LeBron James and Jaylen Brown on board and training camp set to begin in late September, we’re taking a look at key questions for the 2026-27 Sixers. 

We’ve asked: 

• Just how dramatic of an impact will James make?
• What role will Brown play on his new team?
• Will the Sixers be healthy when it matters most? 
• Who will the Sixers run their late-game offense through?
• Can the Sixers’ retooled second unit get the job done in the playoffs?

Next up: How will the Sixers’ backup center situation shake out? 

Given Joel Embiid’s history of injury woes, the Sixers’ backup center picture has long been worthy of considerable scrutiny. Adem Bona and Ariel Hukporti are the two main figures entering the 2026-27 season.

Most Sixers fans are more familiar with Bona, the 41st overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft. He was one of the few bright spots in the Sixers’ injury-destroyed, 24-win season in 2024-25 and split the backup center job with Andre Drummond last year. Bona played 71 regular-season games and averaged 4.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 17.4 minutes per contest. 

At the 2024 draft combine, Bona’s 35-inch standing vertical leap tied for first. His big-time bounce has translated well to NBA shot blocking. The 23-year-old had a 3.3 block percentage last season, which ranked in the 88th percentile for big men according to Cleaning the Glass. He continued to struggle with excessive fouling — that problem popped up regularly in the playoffs — but Bona showed that his rookie shot blocking wasn’t just a byproduct of playing on an egregiously shorthanded team.

The essence of Bona’s game likely won’t change dramatically, but he’s aiming to be a steadier, more well-rounded player in Year 3. 

“I think just staying consistent, trying to get better at everything,” he told reporters at his exit interview in May. “The most important thing for me is rebounding, (being) able to impact the team defensively, and offensively, being versatile and bringing so many things to the team besides just doing one thing. I think that’s my goal and that’s what I’m trying to improve.”

Hukporti seems set for an internal competition with Bona. After winning a championship as a member of the Knicks, he signed a one-year, $3.4 million contract to come to Philadelphia this summer.

The 24-year-old lefty said he noticed the Sixers had a “great connection with the team.”

“I feel like it’s still a young team,” Hukporti said in a July virtual press conference. “They have young players and they have vets there as well, and I feel like they have a great balance between the two. I feel like it’s pretty similar to where I was before. … I was just looking at the young guys personally and seeing how connected they are. That made me want to be here.”

On a basic level, there’s plenty of shared traits between Hukporti and Bona. Both have:

• Two years of NBA experience 
• Strong shot blocking numbers (Hukporti had a 3.1 block percentage last season)
• High foul rates 
• Limited offensive production so far in the NBA, including hardly any three-pointers 

Hukporti’s role was smaller on the Knicks, since he was behind both Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson. He made 54 regular-season appearances and averaged 2.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.5 blocks in 9.2 minutes per game. 

Hukporti has hinted at future offensive expansion a tad more than Bona. He shot three-pointers for the Westchester Knicks last year in the G League and went 8 for 25 (32 percent). The German center also took threes with Nevėžis Kėdainiai back in the 2020-21 season in Lithuania and shot 13 for 47 (27.7 percent). 

“We’re going to see, we’re going to see,” Hukporti said in July when asked about his jump shooting. “It’s going to be a little surprise. I’m definitely working on it.” 

For now, it’s hard to give a definitive prediction on which backup center Sixers head coach Nick Nurse will ultimately prefer. Perhaps Bona has an initial edge because Nurse knows him and, even if he didn’t cleanly beat out Drummond, at least thought he earned a playoff role last season. 

In terms of the postseason, James, Dominick Barlow and Dean Wade are also names to note.

Barlow played 10 percent of his minutes at center last year, per Cleaning the Glass. He had a largely positive stint there in the Sixers’ narrow Round 2, Game 2 playoff loss to the Knicks without Embiid. Wade got nine percent of his playing time at center, James four percent.

The bottom line is the Sixers currently have two young big men backing up Embiid, but Barlow, Wade and James are all meaningful alternatives for Nurse.

Per a Spurs press release:

“The Rock at La Cantera announced the second annual “Holidays at The Rock,” running from Saturday, Nov. 21 to Sunday, Jan. 3. This festive celebration of the winter season is returning for its second year with free holiday movie nights, shopping at holiday markets, an expanded skating rink, a New Year’s Eve bash and many more festive activities. The campus will transform into a winter wonderland for the entirety of holiday season, lit by over 40,000 holiday lights. Entry for daily programming is free, with select activations including a cost.“

Tree lighting, an ice skate rink, holiday movies, a holiday market, pet activities and a New Year’s Eve party are all on the calendar. Ice Ice Dady on Frost Plaza becomes “Santa’s Shack,” and introduces festive drinks, snacks, s’mores, and premium hot cocoa.

Duane Randall, general manager of The Rock at La Cantera shared,

“Holidays at The Rock is a gift that brings our community together through festive traditions, memorable experiences and plenty of holiday cheer. With free programming for guests of all ages, The Rock offers a welcoming place for families, friends and fans to celebrate this special season together.”

 Visit TheRockAtLaCantera.com for more details, dates, times, and up-to-date information.

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Ramp to Camp: What do you want to see from Paul George? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

No one in our Ramp to Camp panel seems particularly worried about what Paul George can bring to the court entering his age 36 season. The question is simply how often the Celtics will have him there.

For Day 7 of our preseason series tackling the top questions surrounding the Celtics on the march to the 2026-27 season, we asked our panel for the No. 1 thing they want to see from George this season. The overwhelming response: Health and availability.

The encouraging news is that George arrived at his Boston introduction on Tuesday sounding refreshed and expressed optimism about his health. He noted how he “feels amazing … I haven’t felt like this in a long time.”

Later, in a sit-down interview with NBC Sports Boston, George took it one step further and expressed hope that his games played total would climb this season.

“Obviously, it’s been unacceptable for me, from a personal level, to not be able to play at least 50 games, 60 games in a season,” said George. “And so that’s kind of a benchmark, obviously, I want for myself is to be on the upper end of games played.”

The Celtics have done an elite job managing the workload for some of their more veteran players, most notably Al Horford throughout his second stint with Boston. Despite sometimes stubborn knees, Horford averaged 64 games over four years through his age 38 season.

George said he’s had initial conversations with the Celtics about managing his workload but wasn’t certain how that will look when the games start. He admitted that playing his best basketball in the postseason had to be a priority — and the Celtics know too well how good he can be on the playoff stage when his body is feeling right.

Even while navigating health woes in his age 35 season with Philadelphia last year, George still averaged 17.3 points per game while shooting 39.2 percent beyond the 3-point arc. He averaged 17.4 points over 37.1 minutes per game in Round 1 against Boston in last year’s playoffs, which included shooting a sizzling 55 percent beyond the 3-point arc in the series.

George remains an excellent defender. His 2.7 steals per 100 possessions ranked in the 97th percentile among wings last season. He should allow Boston to be even more aggressive on the defensive end this season.

The reality is that George isn’t just replacing one of the most impactful two-way players in the NBA in Jaylen Brown, but one of the most available players in the league. Brown navigated minor ailments but averaged 67.4 games per season over the past five seasons.

George can help fill some of what was lost in Brown’s departure, and his willingness to accept a secondary role at this stage of his career might also allow new teammates like Tatum, Payton Pritchard, and Derrick White to thrive.

But there is no denying the obvious: He has to stay on the floor.

Nick Goss: Producer, Multi-Platform Content

Play 65+ games. Durability is the primary concern with Paul George at 36 years old. He’s missed a ton of games over the last few seasons. He’s still a very good player, but how often is he going to be on the court? George has played 60-plus games in a single season only once since 2019.

Josh Canu: Editor

Availability. PG is a gifted player and we saw firsthand in the playoffs the impact he can have as an important role player. But he misses a ton of games and, if he isn’t available, he isn’t helping.

Michael Hurley: Producer, Multi-Platform Content

Signs of life? Is that rude? It is. I know. I’m just in the group of folks that wasn’t overly excited to see a franchise cornerstone traded for Paul George at this stage of his career. I guess the most realistic area you’d want him to thrive is hitting his 3s, because we know Joe Mazzulla will be encouraging them. He hit 39.2 percent of them last year but then hit almost half of them (49.3 percent) in 11 playoff games. He shot 55 percent from beyond the arc against the Celtics, so he owes them at least better than 40 percent from three this upcoming season.

Kevin Miller: Vice President, Content Creation and Strategy

38% 3FG, 65 games played, strong defense.

Justin Leger: Producer, Multi-Platform Content

Consistency. Jaylen Brown had his off nights, like everyone else, but for the most part, you knew what to expect from him on a nightly basis. Paul George is no Jaylen Brown at this stage of his career but the Celtics need to be able to lean on him when Jayson Tatum is struggling. If he performs at the level he did when he returned from his suspension in March, that’ll go a long way toward getting this C’s team back on top in the East.

Jason Levine: Executive Producer, Content Integrations

Availability.

Adam Hart: Executive Producer, Content Strategy

We saw positive veteran impacts from Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, and Kristaps Porzingis when the Celtics claimed Banner 18. I want to see positive veteran impacts. Won’t be specific — but you’ll know it when you see it.

Max Lederman, Content Producer

I’m sure this will be a popular answer but health is really the most crucial thing I’d like to see from Paul George. He can be an impact player for this team if he’s healthy, but that’s been rare over the last chunk of his career.