This was no surprise, Batum had hinted at retirement for a couple of years and said outright before last season that it would likely be his last. In July, the Clippers declined the team option to bring him back next season.
The No. 25 pick of the Houston Rockets back in 2008, he was traded on draft night to the Portland Trail Blazers, where he played the first seven years of his career. He would go on to play for Charlotte, then rebounded his career when he came to the Clippers in 2020. He would play most of his final six seasons with the Clippers, except for 57 games with Philadelphia in 2023-24.
Congrats on retirement, Nico ❤️
A Blazers legend in every sense of the word. Honored to be the first chapter in a great NBA journey pic.twitter.com/FPYF7hR56W
At every one of those stops he was a fan and media favorite, one of the most genuine, easy-to-talk-to guys in the league. On and off the court, he was a pro's pro.
He will be remembered in his native France for an impressive career with the French national team, winning two silver medals in 2020 and 2024 — in 2020, he had a famed game-saving block against Slovenia, which sent France to face the USA for the gold.
During his career of 1,205 regular season NBA games, he averaged 9.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, and was a career 37.1% shooter from 3. He was the kind of player coaches loved because he was a versatile two-way player, understood his role, played well within it, and had a high basketball IQ — he rarely made mistakes. His scoring peak was averaging 15.1 points per game in Charlotte in 2016-17, and through those first seven years in Portland he averaged 11.2 points per game.
Doc Rivers, the 13-year NBA player who later became a championship and Hall of Fame coach, will return to NBC and the broadcast booth this season as a game analyst.
"I loved playing the game, I loved coaching it, and I've always loved talking about it," Rivers said. "I have great memories working with NBC, and I'm excited to be back and share my perspective alongside such a talented team. This season should be a lot of fun. I can't wait."
Rivers was a second-round pick out of Marquette in 1983 and was an All-Star player in his 13 seasons, but he is better known as a coach. Rivers won a title coaching the 2008 Boston Celtics and has won 1,194 games across 27 seasons (he also coached Orlando, the LA Clippers, Philadelphia and Milwaukee), including leading 21 of those teams to the playoffs. That's 40 years of NBA experience coming to the broadcast booth for games across NBC, Peacock, and NBCSN.
After he retired as a player, he was a commenter in the booth for a couple of years for Turner Sports, then jumped to coaching in 199. He also worked for ESPN in between coaching stints in 2003-04 and 2023.
"It's been 14 years since Doc worked for us as a studio analyst at the 2012 London Olympics, and we couldn't be happier to have him back on the NBC Sports team," said Sam Flood, Executive Producer & President, NBC Sports. "Having led the Celtics to the 2008 NBA title with nearly four decades of NBA experience between coaching and playing, we are excited to add another Hall of Famer to our roster."
Rivers also has coached five of the other former players working as analysts and commentators for NBC Sports: • Grant Hill, Orlando Magic (2000-2003) • Tracy McGrady, Orlando Magic (2000-2003) • Brian Scalabrine, Boston Celtics (2005-2010) • Jamal Crawford, Los Angeles Clippers (2013-2017) • Austin Rivers, Los Angeles Clippers (2015-2018)
NBC's NBA coverage this season tips off on Oct. 20 with a triple-header: Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons (3 p.m. ET), Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks (7 p.m. ET), and Oklahoma City vs. San Antonio Spurs (9:30 p.m. ET). That coverage will continue throughout the season, including Sunday Night Basketball returning in January, plus great lineups of games on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents' Day. For the entire NBC Sports NBA schedule, follow this link.
As training camp approaches, the Knicks have a couple final open roster spots to fill before beginning their attempted repeat. Similar to last year, they’ve invited a group of veterans to camp to battle it out for a seat on the bench in the regular season.
Wings Ochai Agbaji, Bruce Brown and John Konchar join bigs Drew Eubanks and James Wiseman as the group working to impress head coach Mike Brown. With camp around the corner and tough decisions left to be made, let’s break down each of these invitees and what they might bring to the 2026 NBA Champion Knicks.
Ochai Agbaji
In an ironic turn of events, Agbaji was a key piece in the trade that landed Donovan Mitchell in Cleveland over New York after an intense summer of negotiations. The 6’5” wing with a 6’10” wingspan was a lottery pick for his 3-and-D potential. Unfortunately, he hasn’t panned out fully, spending his four NBA seasons on three separate teams.
He’s an active defender, but his shooting has been hit-or-miss. There’s definitely upside as he hit 40 percent of his threes in 2025 and 35 percent in a half-season with the Nets in 2026, but he will have to win out against two more veteran options at his position.
Bruce Brown
Brown is best known for a massive playoff run in 2023, culminating in a championship for the Denver Nuggets. He has since inked a big deal that’s been used in multiple trades, and his impact waned since splitting with Nikola Jokic.
He was solid returning to Denver last season, still providing steady ball-handling, screening and boarding from the guard position, defensive IQ and the occasional open three. His skillset is extremely valuable to New York as Josh Hartinsurance, but there’s strong overlap with their remaining wing option.
John Konchar
Another jack-of-all-trades, master of none, Konchar has added height on Brown with a similar tenacity on the glass and perhaps more defensively. However, he doesn’t have the same ball handling ability and may be even less dependable spreading the floor.
There’s no standout performance to point to as he spent close to seven entire years in Memphis, quietly stepping up when called upon. He appears to have an edge coming in, though, as he chose this Knicks offer over multiple suitors, per SNY’s Ian Begley.
Drew Eubanks
The first of the pivotal center invitees, one of which should end up with a roster spot given the Knicks’ dearth at the position. Eubanks is an eight-year veteran that provides soft finishes and solid defensive positioning, just nothing that jumps off the box score or highlight tape.
He isn’t an athletic marvel or big floor spacer but has been a reliable backup for six different teams.
James Wiseman
Wiseman was a former second overall pick to the Golden State Warriors, vaunted for his athleticism and potential before failing to click with the contender and suffering a waterfall of devastating injuries. He’s played a total of five NBA games over the last two seasons due to an Achilles tear and subsequent waiving by the Indiana Pacers.
But in New York lies a chance at redemption under Brown, who coached Wiseman in the Bay Area. Perhaps a reunion and half-season off to recover could get Wiseman’s career back on track, but it would be surprising if the contending Knicks took a flier over a more predictable veteran here.
"There was not as much discussion around Seattle as there was around Las Vegas," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said of the expansion discussion at last week's Board of Governors' meeting in New York. There were a few reasons for that, primarily Las Vegas has more potential ownership groups in the mix, there are questions about where this new team will play, and the Vegas franchise is expected to fetch a higher price.
The latest report on the topic, from Mike Vorkunov at The Athletic, expands on this and how Las Vegas is on a faster timeline than Seattle.
It seems as if the league is taking a different approach with Las Vegas than it is Seattle... It could name a winning bid in Las Vegas before it moves on to Seattle, according to industry sources with knowledge of the process. The NBA, however, has not yet revealed its hand.
The NBA hopes that this process — which includes a second, more detailed round of bids turned in last week — creates a bidding war for Las Vegas that could push the price for an NBA franchise there into the $10 billion range, according to reports. That said, Las Vegas has a lot more questions, including where the team might play. While the NBA has hosted its NBA Cup Finals at T-Mobile Arena just off the Las Vegas Strip the past two years, Silver said that arena would need "significant improvements" for an NBA team to move in. Other ownership groups are proposing new arenas. Silver said Dallas Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont — the CEO and chairman of Las Vegas Sands — took charge of that part of the discussion.
"I'll say that there was a discussion led by Patrick Dumont, of course, who is a Las Vegas resident, enormous operating experience there in Las Vegas, just sort of as an independent objective party," Silver said. "[Dumont] led a discussion around the various sites, potential sites, in Las Vegas."
While there is the T-Mobile Arena just off the Strip — the home to the WNBA's Aces, the NHL's Golden Knights, and it has been home to the final rounds of the NBA Cup the past couple of years — Silver said "it needs some significant improvements" before an NBA team could move in. Some ownership groups are proposing building new stadiums, Silver added.
A group led by Nancy Walton Laurie — a scion of Walmart founders Sam and Bud Walton — and her husband, Bill Laurie, is believed to be a leading contender. [Bill] Foley, the Golden Knights owner, also is very much in the mix. An ownership group called the Las Vegas Jacks — with Jerry Colangelo and Vinny Del Negro as named NBA emissaries and including former Turner Broadcasting president David Levy — also is in contention. That list is not exhaustive with at least another yet undisclosed bidding group additionally in the running.
With Seattle, it's more straightforward. There is a known, verified owner interested in Samantha Holloway, who also owns the NHL's Seattle Kraken and is the majority owner of the Climate Pledge Arena, where the team would play (and Silver said that venue appears nearly NBA-ready right now). Recently, a second group — BlackSun Private Equity partnering with the Tulalip Tribes — stepped forward, but it's early in the process for them, and the group proposes a new arena on tribal lands, about 35 miles outside the city.
Of course, this will all come down to money — who bids the most with a viable plan wins. The new report says the expectation is Las Vegas' expansion fee will be $9 billion or higher, with Seattle coming in below that by a few million. NBA owners reportedly were hoping to get at least $16-$17 billion between the two bids. A $16 billion total would mean a payout to each franchise of more than $500 million — half a billion dollars — that could go straight to the bottom line.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 21: Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green reacts to his second technical foul of the game while playing New York Knicks in 2nd quarter during NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, January 21, 2021. (Scott Strazzante/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
Today, Marc Stein reported that New York expects to carry 14 standard contracts rather than 15. That means the five veterans brought to camp (Bruce Brown, John Konchar, Ochai Agbaji, Drew Eubanks, and James Wiseman) are effectively duking it out for one job unless the Knicks clear some cash.
From the latest Stein Line:
“It’s believed that the Knicks will only fill one of the two current vacancies in terms of the maximum 15 standard contracts they can carry starting Opening Night (Oct. 21) unless they make another roster move first that sheds salary.”
At present, New York sits only a little more than $3 million below the second apron, leaving enough room for one additional veteran-minimum contract but not two. With the Knicks needing more help at center than on the wing, it sure seems that Eubanks and Wiseman are frontrunners for the open gig.
But wait! There’s another wrinkle. Stein also reports:
“Brown, furthermore, is indeed a Wiseman fan. The newly crowned champs likewise do appear to have a clear need for a third big man behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond.”
You’ll recall that Brown was an assistant coach for the Warriors when they selected Wiseman second in the 2020 draft. He must’ve helped to evaluate the young player out of Memphis, and perhaps he spotted potential that hasn’t yet been realized on the NBA court. The 6’11”, 240lb big man averaged 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds in 21.4 minutes across 39 games (27 starts) as a rookie, but his year was cut short by a torn right meniscus. After that, the injury bug continued to chase him through Detroit and Indiana.
“James—he does stuff on a daily basis that makes you sit back and go, ‘Wow. Did he just do that? Am I seeing that?’ The sky is the limit for him. I don’t know if there’s anything that he’s not gonna be able to do when he reaches his peak.”
If Wiseman lives up to that high praise in New York’s training camp, his former coach is very likely to lock him down for the opening night roster. Meanwhile, while searching for a cover picture, your humble blogger found a few too many images of Mitchell Robinson dunking on Wiseman. Which stung.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 01: Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers reacts against the Golden State Warriors at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on November 01, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s pretty difficult to imagine that it was just 15 short months ago when the Indiana Pacers had the OKC Thunder in a dangerous place in the 2025 NBA Finals. Everything that happened to this franchise from that moment through the end of the 2026 season felt disastrous. Heck, even this offseason the luck was not in their favor, as they lost a statistical coin flip in the NBA Draft Lottery, which saw them forfeit the fifth overall pick to the LA Clippers.
However, the bad vibes can’t overshadow what this team could look like when healthy. The Ivica Zubac trade, even with the draft loss, should net out to be a big win for the team. Tyrese Haliburton will be back from his achillies tear, and as the year progresses, he should look more and more like the player he was just a season ago. The depth of this team remains solid with guys who got extended burn last year during the injury-doomed year. And lastly, the coaching staff, led by Rick Carlisle, remains one of the best in the league.
Indiana Pacers: Over/Under 43.5 wins (-120/-105)
Last season: 19-63, 14th in the Eastern Conference:
Key additions: Ivica Zubac (trade with LA Clippers), Tyrese Haliburton (achillies)
Key losses: None
It seems like this team is primed for a bounce back, even if the Eastern Conference is much harder than it was when they won it in 2025. The starting lineup should be one of the ten best in the league, in my opinion. Zubac should fit nicely with Haliburton, as their two-man game should develop into a real weapon over the course of the season. Andrew Nembhard, Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin return off the Finals team as well.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JUNE 11: Pascal Siakam #43, Obi Toppin #1 and T.J. McConnell #9 of the Indiana Pacers high five during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game Three of the 2025 NBA Finals on June 11, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
I really like the depth of this group, especially in the backcourt. TJ McConnell is one of the better backup guards in the league. Ben Sheppard and Aaron Nesmith got to show off what they can do last year, and I expect the team at large to benefit from the growth they showed last year. The addition of Jay Huff last year could return dividends this season, as well. Plus, maybe Jarace Walker can continue to build off of last year’s growth.
The Pacers didn’t get a real chance to defend their crown last year, and naturally the rival Knicks took home the title in their absence. Redemption will be on Indiana’s mind this entire season, and I think that helps them return to their winning ways.
“That is one of several aggressive financial projections included in an investor presentation being circulated by Thrive Capital,” Toonkel and Maurer wrote. “… In the presentation, the buyers laid out plans to expand the storied National Basketball Association franchise, including through international growth and new opportunities in local media rights.
“Those moves would help boost the Lakers’ valuation to at least $30 billion in a decade, the buyer group said, assuming that TV and streaming rights double in value. More favorable assumptions for the same period would place the long-term valuation at $62 billion.”
Iger and Kushner believe they will simply be propelling an already prosperous franchise. According to Iger and Kushner’s investment group, Thrive Capital, the Lakers are tracking to produce $681 million in revenue this year — led by ticketing and media rights — with projections to hit $1.6 billion by 2037.
“Profits are expected to zoom up as well, with adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization set to more than triple from an estimated $129 million to more than $589 million over that span, according to the presentation,” Toonkel and Maurer wrote.
The key point with all of this news is what actually means for the fans and the on-court product. Fans do not care about billionaires bolstering their pocket books. If the Lakers are going to generate more revenue and explode in value as a franchise, ownership better invest a significant chunk (or all of it, really) back into the team or the fan experience.
Good owners spend, whether that’s enhancing TV production and in-arena pageantry, paying staffers a proper wage or ensuring finances aren’t an impediment for the Lakers’ team-building. Iger and Kushner seem confident and outspoken about their ownership tenure elevating Los Angeles to new heights monetarily. That won’t matter if such a development does nothing to benefit the Lakers’ on-court success or enjoyment for the fans.
BREAKING NEWS — Beatles biographer Mark Lewisohn just uncovered a new diary from Paul McCartney, suggesting the original lyrics to the 1968 hit “Hey Jude” were much different. Just as “Yesterday” originally came to Macca in a dream as a song about scrambled eggs, contemporaneous notes reveal that the seven minute epic was initially about future Minnesota Timberwolf Julius Randle’s troubled history with the franchise.
Canis Hoopus is proud to share an exclusive look at the original lyrics (sung to the tune of Hey Jude)
Hey Ju—lius Randle You were decent, but not immaculate Remember when you took it to Draymond and backed him down under the basket?
Hey Ju, you got done wrong by several members of the Buss family You outplayed Zion and Ingram and we get why you feel angry
And anytime you feel the pain, hey Ju, refrain, Don’t treat your coach a little colder The second apron is so cruel, hey Ju, you’ll do, The turnaround you neeeeed is over your shoulder
Hey Ju—lius Randle Take a bad shot and make it wetter You’ll probably get numbers with the dumb Nets But Karl-Anthony Towns is way, way better Better better better better better better, oh!
Na na na nananana, nannana, hey Ju… (repeat until George Harrison walks out on a rehearsal)
Hey folks, some real talk here. I know I just spent the last few paragraphs LARPing as Weird Al Yankovic, but deep down I’m just a Wolves fan with a big ol’ heart. I saw a lot of negative outbursts aimed at Julius Randle in the comments last playoffs and wanted to provide a nuanced assessment of his fun-but-flawed tenure in tree-stripes.
October, 2024 – Julius Randle’s wife allegedly says she prefers Twin Cities suburbs to New York City: I got hyped when someone on Reddit shared this rumor right after a clearly shocked Randle said he “just wants to be wanted” when he got traded on the eve of the ‘24 season. Maybe she’s on to something–the Plymouth K.U.B.E. indoor playground is a dope place to bring the fam.
November 17, 2024 – Ant hugs Julius after buzzer-beater. Unintentional hilarity ensued after Anthony Edwards gave Julius a jubilant hug to celebrate Randle’s game-winning three against the Phoenix Suns, a la Magic Johnson on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Julius reacted with saucer eyes, acting as if he had never been appreciated by a teammate before in his life. I guess Larry Nance Jr. isn’t a hugger.
Nov 27, 2024 – Julius struggles to find his footing in a depressing loss to the Sacramento Kings. Early on Julius struggled to fit into the offense. He didn’t have the court vision to facilitate from the elbow like KAT, wasn’t shooting great from three, and just couldn’t find a rhythm. It didn’t help that stonehands Rudy Gobert dropped every pass Randle sent his way.
JR’s stat line looked fine on the outside (21 points and nine rebounds), but he hit one of his five shots from three and chucked up some momentum-stopping head slappers. The Wolves were under .500 and stuck in a four-game losing streak. Nothing blares “it’s not working” like a loss to the Kings.
Dec 7, 2024 – Julius wears great sweater. Say what you will about his on-court achievements, the man performed wonders as cozy-sweater sommelier.
March 30, 2025 – Julius gets 25 points and 8 rebounds against the Detroit Pistons. Somewhere in the final quarter of the ‘24-25 season, Julius really started to settle into his role. This was the game I thought he finally figured it out. Down 16 early, Julius stayed calm and bullied his way to the line over and over. Thanks to Julius, the Wolves clawed back and celebrated a routine win in the midst of a 9-2 hot streak to end the season.
April 30, 2025 – Julius outplays LeBron James. While Jaden McDaniels was the real second option this series (backing an awesome Ant performance), Julius Randle played his part to perfection.
Randle used his strength to wear out Bronny James’ aging dad and saved his best for Game 5. Ruby Gobert got the headlines for this win, but I’ll always respect Julius for putting the team first against the Los Angeles Lakers and balling within the space Chris Finch carved out for him.
May 12, 2025 – Julius is better than Jonathan Kuminga. After dropping the first game to a veteran Golden State Warriors team, the Wolves ran the Dubs off the court for the next four games. Julius’ performance in Game 4 epitomized his dominance in the series, posting 31 points and contributing mightily to Kuminga’s minus-13 in the game.
May 22, 2025 – Oklahoma City slaps the ball out of Randle’s hands. Ooof. Aside from mood swings, Randle’s biggest weakness is losing the ball when pestered by smaller guards. OKC swarmed Julius, and turnovers fell from his fingers like cherry blossoms in an anime fight scene. Julius had six points in Game 2 of the series.
Dec 14, 2025 – Julius keeps the Wolves afloat. The rudderless Wolves got off to a frustrating start to the 2025 season, in no small part due to roster limitations forcing Finch to ask shooting guards to run the offense. Julius played great in December, frequently leading the team in scoring and bailing out the offense when plays broke down. His December 14th performance against Sacramento showed the value of having an 18-point, 9-rebound metronome on a team that struggled to run a play.
Jan 26, 2026 – Julius seems kinda bummed out by ICE shootings. In January 2026, the President paid 4chan moderators to execute a Veterans Affairs nurse. Shortly after this tragedy, the Target Center hosted a bizarre, tear-gas-stained matinee against the Golden State Warriors. Many Wolves fans were disappointed that Steph Curry and Steve Kerr seemed to be more empathetic to Minnesotans than members of our own team.
Julius Randle gave one of the better quotes, clearing a low bar by saying, “Regardless of politics, there’s a human aspect to it. For me, I have kids, I have family; for me, the job as a man is to be the protector of the house. You see things like that, and obviously, it’s tough. It’s hard to stomach things like that… regardless of whatever’s going on, when somebody loses their life, you never want to see that.”
These words aren’t the strongest condemnation, but to Julius’ credit, his demeanor was somber when reflecting on the moment. He honestly seemed saddened by the events, and my take was that he did not want to get death threats for saying the wrong thing.
Feb 6, 2026 – Giannis Antetokounmpo’s viral marketing stunt causes Julius’ self-esteem to crater. I feel for Julius on this one. After saying his only desire was to “feel wanted,” the 2026 trade deadline revealed that he was not wanted by two different teams. The Timberwolves tried to trade him for Giannis, but the Milwaukee Bucks also rejected Julius.
Randle went into a funk, pondering the ephemeral nature of love with each ill-conceived 18-footer. After the trade deadline, Giannis revealed he had an advertising contract with prediction market Kalshi, and it sure seemed like the Greek Freak engineered an effective insider trading campaign by manipulating trade rumors.
I guess that was legal??? Martha Stewart has to be so pissed about this.
May 15, 2026 – Julius scores three points as San Antonio Spurs eliminate Timbies in the second round. Randle was not the only big who floundered against Victor Wembanyama last postseason (pray for Chet Holmgren), but man, did he struuuuuugle. Wemby’s length erased Julius’ bread-and-butter foul-line turnaround/drive to the rim. By the end of the series, it seemed like Randle just wanted to go home.
July 10, 2026 – Julius traded to the third-saddest NYC team. At least it’s not the Jets or Mets, right? Looking back, I will always include Julius in the same category as Carlos Boozer and LaMarcus Aldridge: talented back-to-the-basket bruisers who could support a run to the conference finals, but who ultimately were just below the efficiency bar required for a true second banana on a title team.
No shame in that, Julius! You’re an all-star. I enjoyed your time on the Wolves and wish you the best in Brooklyn–I hear now’s a great time to catch Victoryland at Elsewhere.
This is the time of year when there are very few trades, and it's even rarer to see one with names players would recognize, but on-and-off talks between Atlanta and Charlotte have bubbled to the surface.
This summer, Atlanta has discussed trading Buddy Heild to Charlotte for Dorian Finney-Smith, reports Jake Fischer of The Stein Line. That deal has yet to come to fruition but is not dead, according to the report.
An earlier version of the trade could have included Devin Carter, but Atlanta waived him earlier this month and he quickly signed with Boston.
For the Hawks, this is largely about long-term money and the fact that they spent the summer trying to get off Hield's salary for this coming season. Hield is set to make $9.7 million this season, but has a player option for $10.1 million for next season, which he is likely to pick up. While Finney-Smith will make more this season at $13.3 million and has two more years on the books after that, only $3.1 million of his 2027-28 salary is guaranteed. Atlanta will likely have to include more in this trade that interests Houston (picks, potentially), it won't be a straight player-for-player swap.
Finney-Smith, 33, played just 37 games in Houston last season due to ankle surgery, and put up career-low numbers when he did. The hope is that, healthy again this season, he can return to the reliable 3&D role he had filled throughout his career.
Hield, 33, played in 51 games last season, splitting time between Golden State and Atlanta, and averaged 7.6 points per game while shooting 34.9% from 3-point range (the lowest percentage of his career).
This trade may never come to fruition, but expect both players to show up in more trade rumors as we move into the season.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 21: Quentin Grimes #5 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on April 21, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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 look at Quentin Grimes.
If it wasn’t clear already, the Lakers’ moves this offseason made it clear that they were heading in a new direction.
This iteration of the team, both in the present and future, will be built around Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. And the moves made in the summer reflected that.
Outside of Walker Kessler, perhaps the most notable and important addition the Lakers made in the offseason was Quentin Grimes.
The 26-year-old quickly signed a 4-year, $60 million deal with Los Angeles at the start of free agency, signaling the team’s interest in the guard now and later.
Although all but confirmed, Grimes will likely slot into a critical spot next to Dončić and Reaves in the starting lineup. That designation matters and, given the results, could have ramifications for years to come.
What is his best-case scenario?
After already bouncing around the league during his young career, Grimes’ best-case scenario is playing well enough to call Los Angeles his long-term home.
In order to do that, he will have to continue to do what has made him a tantalizing talent as well has fine-tuning his game within his new ecosystem.
There is no debating that Grimes can score. Capable of filling it up at all three levels, he has the tools to capitalize on compromised defenses that load up on Dončić and Reaves in exciting ways.
That will have to begin, however, with embracing and succeeding in a more streamlined role.
While his usage, attempts and touch time may all go down, they will hopefully do so in favor of improved efficiency and shot quality.
For example, Grimes shot a pedestrian 34% from three last season when removing garbage time, heaves, etc.
On the surface, this may appear like a potential fit issue. Yet, when zooming in, there may be alterations the Lakers are uniquely suited to make that could unlock better results.
When categorizing his 3-point attempts, Grimes converted 36.6% of his catch and shoot chances compared to just 28.8% of his pull-ups last season according to NBA tracking data.
Couple this with the fact that he actually took more tightly contested threes (115) than wide-open ones (98) with the Sixers. That shouldn’t be the case with the Lakers.
If his short experience playing with Dončić in the past is any indication, improvements are a safe assumption.
When Grimes shared the floor with Dončić in Dallas, his corner 3-ball rate went up 6% (notable because he has shot over 41% from the corners four times in his five seasons as a professional) and had his best shooting year overall (41%) from deep before both were ultimately traded.
Grimes proving he can complement Dončić and Reaves will go a long way for current and future success.
One doesn’t have to squint to see how much firepower the offense can have if the talents involved click. But their ceiling may be dependent on Grimes finding the right balance of when to cook and when to let others set his plate.
What is his worst-case scenario?
While there is an outcome that sees Grimes struggle to fit into a tertiary or even fourth option role, the offensive results should be the side of the floor with more optimism.
If Kessler has the most important defensive responsibility, then Grimes may be second in that pecking order.
Sidled between the likes of Dončić and Reaves in the starting lineup, it likely will fall on Grimes’ shoulders to take on the opposing team’s best perimeter player on a nightly basis.
Even if Grimes has shown flashes of being a capable individual defender in the past, that’s a tall task for a player who has mostly graded out as an average to slightly above defender at best in his career.
That of course could change in Los Angeles. But until he proves otherwise, his defensive acumen could be what ultimately holds him back from being the long-term answer in the starting lineup.
Beyond the defense, there should also simply be skepticism about how he performs in what will be his biggest role yet.
He’s never been a standout in terms of impact data as there has only been one season in his career where his team has performed better when he was on the floor compared to off.
Context matters for any catch all stat. But it is worth questioning why he hasn’t stuck anywhere despite his unquestionable talent.
If that trend continues with the Lakers, then that could send them back to the drawing board in search of another piece to add to their core.
What is his most likely role on the team?
Given the expectations needed from him on both sides of the ball, it’s probably unfair for to think Grimes to check every box. And that ultimately may be okay.
His contract, which averages out to essentially mid-level money, could still turn out to be fair value even if his role fluctuates from decent starter to good bench player.
Grimes won’t likely be the caliber of defender the team needs, but there is genuine upside to offensive impact if he can check channel his erraticism into more organized and selective aggression.
He may not be the long-term answer, but he could still be a long-term piece. And for a team still developing their new identity, that is a more than acceptable outcome.
All stats courtesy of Cleaning the Glass unless otherwise stated. You can follow Alex on Bluesky at @alexregla.bsky.social.
The Minnesota Timberwolves made a splash late in the offseason by signing former Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga to a two-year deal worth $12.4 million. Kuminga has a player option for the 2027-28 season and is expected to be the team’s starting power forward going into the year.
The Wolves needed a power forward after trading Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets and Naz Reid to the Charlotte Hornets earlier in the offseason. That glaring need for a power forward lasted nearly two months, but Anthony Edwards wanted to ensure that the position was covered. According to reports, he was instrumental in the recruitment process to get Kuminga to the Twin Cities.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – MAY 14: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shakes hands with Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors after winning Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Target Center on May 14, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 Ellen Schmidt/Getty Images) | Getty Images
“Anthony was really instrumental in recruiting him to come here,” Wolves general manager Matt Lloyd said in an interview with the StribSports Daily Delivery podcast. “We had had several conversations with him, his representatives, from [head coach] Chris Finch, to [president of basketball operations] Tim Connelly, to [basketball operations assistant] Alonzo Gee… everything just kind of came together.”
Edwards’ involvement in getting Kuminga to the Wolves is a strong sign of his leadership for the team. With Randle and Mike Conley Jr. gone, and Rudy Gobert taking a step back, this is undoubtedly Edwards’ team, and he is certainly taking on that role. This type of leadership is needed if Minnesota wants to take the next step as a franchise.
Edwards has earned the right to be able to recruit players to the organization and pick who will work best around him. The goal is for him, Jaden McDaniels, Kuminga, and LaMelo Ball to be part of the nucleus that gets the Wolves to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.
Canis Hoopus community, how do you feel about Kuminga joining the Wolves? Let us know in the comments section below.
BROOKLYN, NY - MARCH 1: James Harden #1 and Head Coach Kenny Atkinson of the Cleveland Cavaliers talk during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on March 1, 2026 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Last regular season was a step backwards for the Cleveland Cavaliers. They struggled through injuries and lacked much of the cohesion that made them a 64-win juggernauts the year before.
It’d be easy to blame Kenny Atkinson for last regular season being a disappointment. Many of the things that worked the previous year simply didn’t this time. The Cavs never established an identity, the offense struggled to find flow, and key players like Evan Mobley and De’Andre Hunter couldn’t find their place within the offense early on. All of those things reflect poorly on the coaching staff.
Despite that, I would argue that Atkinson did a better job last season than he did when he won Coach of the Year.
Atkinson made the best of a bad situation. The Cavs had plenty of chances to throw in the towel but didn’t, thanks in part to Atkinson. They kept their heads above water until a trade came through to save their season.
Acquiring James Harden at the deadline for Darius Garland changed everything. Bringing in a talented and healthy point guard in Harden raised the Cavs’ floor and ceiling, making a deep postseason run possible. It also meant that they had to completely overhaul how they played just two months before the start of the playoffs.
Atkinson’s willingness to cede control of the offense to Harden’s heliocentric style allowed them to hit the ground running. Atkinson’s preferred motion-based offense that worked the year before was thrown out in favor of more traditional high pick-and-rolls.
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Schematics and in-game adjustments aren’t the most important skills for NBA coaches; establishing trust with your players and getting them to buy into your vision is. Atkinson did that by putting his personal preferences aside to do what was best for the players actually on his team.
“He’s the ultimate player’s coach, he gets it, he understands his team,” Harden said at the close of last postseason. “I think he did an unbelievable job of getting me acclimated as fast as possible.”
This all added to the Cavs’ most successful postseason run with this group as they advanced to the conference finals for the first time since 2018. Yet, their inability to go further could be due to the fact that there wasn’t an identity to this team besides just Harden-centric basketball.
When things got difficult late in postseason games, the Cavs repeatedly just went to high pick-and-rolls without any alternatives. That worked late in Game 3 against the Detroit Pistons. It didn’t in the Game 1 collapse to the New York Knicks.
You could justify the team sticking to the basics given how chaotic last season was. You can’t anymore.
Atkinson has had a full summer with this backcourt. That’s more than enough time to figure out how he wants this offense to function — and more importantly — get both guards on board with executing that vision.
On top of that, Atkinson needs to figure out how to get Jarrett Allen and Mobley more involved on a consistent basis. We saw repeatedly in the playoffs that the Cavs were at their best when they were focal pieces of the attack and not just bystanders. Yet, getting them and the guards to realize this and make this a priority every game has been an overall losing battle. Changing that and getting the bigs into the flow of the game more consistently would do wonders for the Cavs on both ends of the floor.
The Cavs have been successful with Atkinson over the last two seasons; however, that might not be enough to shield him from being the fall guy if things go sideways this year. This team is all in on a two- to three-year window after trading away another first-round pick this summer and giving a 37-year-old $97 million guaranteed. If things go wrong, it’ll be much easier to change the coach than it would be to drastically overhaul the roster again.
This could be a make-or-break year for the Cavs. It almost certainly will be for Atkinson. He’s answered the call the last two seasons, putting this team in the best position to win. We’ll see if he can do so again in what will inevitably be a very different test than either of the previous two campaigns.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 14: Labaron Philon #00 of the Philadelphia 76ers handles the ball during the game against the Houston Rockets on July 14, 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 Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Much of the conversation around the Philadelphia 76ers this offseason has revolved around the star-studded projected starting five, with LeBron James and Jaylen Brown joining the incumbent trio of Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and VJ Edgecombe.
However, depth is vital over the course of a long NBA campaign. Mike Gansey addressed that issue in part with the free agent signings of Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons and Ariel Hukporti. With Wade and Simons in particular, those veterans bring known elements to the table that should prove valuable for the Sixers. Something that is more of an exciting unknown, though, is what role Labaron Philon will fill for this group with championship aspirations.
Taken with the 22nd overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft, Philon’s selection was well-graded by draft pundits. Some saw him as a projected lottery pick after an All-America Third Team sophomore season at Alabama that saw him average 22.0 points, 5.0 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals. While evaluations formed in Vegas should largely stay in Vegas, Philon looked the part of an NBA player in averaging 18.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists across four appearances in Summer League.
While Philon was the main attraction for the Sixers in the desert, he’s extremely far down in the pecking order back east. He’s the clear fourth option at guard behind Maxey, Edgecombe and Simons, with James and Brown also assuming a ton of ball-handling responsibilities. On the one hand, it’s a positive that Philon won’t be thrown into the deep end right away to sink or swim. Conversely, there likely won’t be very many opportunities for the rookie to spread his wings and experiment with different parts of his game at the NBA level. (I’m recalling rookie Tyrese Maxey scoring 39 points in his first NBA start when the Sixers only had seven players available due to a COVID-19 outbreak.)
Part of me knows Philon isn’t of legal drinking age until November so there’s no harm in bringing him along slowly. However, I also have some scar tissue from Doc Rivers burying rookie Maxey on the bench far too often, and Nick Nurse not trusting Jared McCain to the extent that Daryl Morey felt compelled to trade him to recoup value (ironically now bringing Philon into the fold as a result). On the flip side, Nurse did give rookie VJ Edgecombe an obscene amount of minutes last season.
When it’s all said and done, the Sixers’ season isn’t going to be judged by the progression of Labaron Philon in his rookie season. If he proves ahead of schedule and can serve as a valuable rotation piece, all the better. Maybe Gansey can then use Simons as a trade chip at the deadline to shore up another area of need. More than likely, though, he’ll see spot minutes here and there, maybe even the occasional DNP-CD if everyone is healthy and available for a big game. Come next summer, we’ll hopefully have a couple key moments to look back upon as signs of bigger things to come and Philon can ascend to a third guard role next season.
NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 28: Cam Whitmore #22 of the Villanova Wildcats in action against the Seton Hall Pirates during a game at Prudential Center on February 28, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. Villanova defeated Seton Hall 76-72. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Former Villanova 5-star forward/wing — and Big East Freshman of the Year — Cam Whitmore is getting another shot in the NBA, this time with the Denver Nuggets. ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported the news on Friday:
The Denver Nuggets are signing 2023 first-round pick Cam Whitmore on a two-way NBA deal, sources tell ESPN. Whitmore enters his fourth NBA season after averaging 10.5 points and 3.3 rebounds over 119 career games — and has already joined the Nuggets for workouts in Denver. pic.twitter.com/WBhDfTIhOQ
Denver signed Whitmore to a one-year, two-way contract after the 22-year-old was traded from Washington to Cleveland in a five-team deal (which ironically involved the Nuggets) and was subsequently waived by the Cavaliers almost immediately.
Technically, Denver i Whitmore’s fourth NBA team in four years. Realistically, it’s his third stop. He never played for Cleveland, so I’m not counting that one as legitimate.
Either way, the former Villanova five-star has reached an interesting point in his young, once-promising career.
Whitmore’s career hasn’t exactly gone according to plan after being taken 20th overall by the Rockets in the 2023 Draft, but his production hasn’t been terrible either. He averaged 10.5 points in 17.3 minutes across 119 games with Houston and Washington. Per 36 minutes, his counting stats jump to 21.8 points and 6.8 rebounds. Not terrible.
The question in Denver will ultimately become whether he’s the type of player a good team with championship aspirations trusts with regular minutes or not.
Whitmore has a respectable 34.9% from three over his career that dipped to 28.6% during an injury-shortened season in Washington last year. He also only has 97 career assists (0.8 per game), which feeds the “tunnel vision” criticisms the 6-foot-6, 230-pounder hasn’t been able to shake thus far. He needs to show he can contribute elsewhere on the court, either through cutting/driving/slashing and using his brute strength and athleticism or by leaning into being a secondary playmaker.
But playing with superstar center Nikola Jokic could also be exactly what Whitmore needs to finally take off.
Whitmore still has all the good that made him a first-round pick in 2023. He shot 54% from inside the arc last season and remains a dangerous finisher around the basket. In Denver, he won’t need to create everything himself. Cut, run the floor, knock down open threes and don’t stop the offense when the ball finds him.
Then there’s defense. Whitmore doesn’t need to suddenly become the defensive player Peyton Watson was for the Nuggets, but becoming more serviceable on that end would make it considerably easier for Denver to find minutes for him.
His talent has never really been the issue. Whitmore now needs to show he can complement other talented players instead of simply being one himself. If he does, Denver could finally be where his NBA career gets back on track. Nova Nation will be rooting for him.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 11: Kyrie Irving #11 and Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks pose for a picture during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2026 NBA Summer League game on July 11, 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 Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks are less than a week away from kicking off training camp in advance of Cooper Flagg’s second season in the NBA. Flagg’s personal trainer, Matt MacKenzie, sat down with RG.org to discuss what Flagg has been up to this offseason and what we can expect from his pairing with Kyrie Irving in year two. The discussion was a deep dive worth reading in its entirety, however a few key points stuck out and all of them should make Mavs’ fans excited for what is to come.
The offseason regimen
MacKenzie indicated that Flagg has been going hard all off season. In so doing, Flagg managed to go coast-to-coast throughout the summer, with time spent in California, Texas and Maine, amongst other locales. Of particular note is Flagg’s time spent in Dallas where he developed some familiarity with his new teammates and coaching staff.
“He spent a lot of time in Dallas with getting acclimated to the new coaching staff and some of his future teammates. He’s learning a little bit about what they’re all about. So it’s been a really good offseason.”
A young player having the wherewithal to do this is a great sign. Putting aside the sheer magnitude and duration of work, Flagg was smart to spend some of that time in Dallas. Plenty of players have their own plans for the offseason, both personal and professional, and there is nothing wrong with that. Training camp is a great way to get to know new faces and new systems. Getting a leg up on that as Flagg has done will surely pay dividends, making training camp less of an introduction and more of a continuation.
Refining his game
Virtually every NBA player that has enjoyed sustained success in the league has done so by way of adding to their game every offseason. Mavericks’ fans are intimately familiar with this concept after 21 years of Dirk Nowitzki. It appears that in his first chance, Flagg is proving to be cut from the same cloth. In what MacKenzie describes as a well thought out, collaborative and thorough process, Flagg is adding to his game in a variety of ways. Most intriguing of those is the three-point shot.
“He’s taking not only 3s off the catch, but also 3s off the dribble. He’s using a variety of different screens and actions to get him into different shots.”
Flagg had an outstanding rookie season, good for Rookie of the Year honors. He arguably outperformed even the more ambitious expectations that came with being the #1 pick, but one area of his game clearly needed work. Flagg shot only 29.5% from beyond the arc in his first season. The long ball was an area of some concern for the Mavericks as a whole, with the team only shooting 34.4% against a league average 36%. Flagg was excellent at driving and had a solid mid-range game, so adding a deep threat could be the first steps toward becoming nearly unstoppable, to say nothing for what it will do for the team’s offensive schemes.
The dynamic duo
One of the most exciting things about this upcoming season is the return of Kyrie Irving. To this point, we’ve only been able to imagine how the two players would come together, but now we’re only weeks away from seeing them in game action. There remains some concern here, too. This is clearly Flagg’s team, but Irving is an established veteran player and a star in his own right. He’s proven before that he can share the spotlight and even defer and it’s looking like that will be the case again.
“I know that Kyrie has a ton of respect for the player that Cooper is. Just like Coach May, he wants to continue to help Cooper take that next step in his career… They’ve had a chance to spend some time together on the court and in workouts when they’ve played pickup a little bit. I think they really enjoyed playing with each other.”
Many wanted to see Irving traded in the offseason, but this shows one of the key reasons Masai Ujiri was wise to keep him around. Irving brings plenty to the court and nearly (perhaps more) as much off the court in mentorship. The last thing the team needs is to stymie Flagg’s growth or limit his opportunities on the court in his second year. With Irving as his cohort, that should not be a problem. Irving is a natural leader and a great co-lead that will surely take pressure off Flagg as his game continues to develop. The fact the two are already spending some time together and gelling nicely is an excellent sign of things to come.
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