When reports leaked of Minnesota reaching an agreement with free agent Jonathan Kuminga — to massive headlines and the excitement of Timberwolves fans — there was one little problem: Minnesota didn't yet have the cap space to pay him. Yet. Minnesota was hard-capped at the second apron and just about $4 million below that number, but it needed more than $6 million in space to give Kuminga the promised taxpayer mid-level exception.
Enter a late Friday night trade: Minnesota is sending wing Josh Green to Utah and in return getting back Cody Williams and John Konchar, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN and confirmed Saturday morning by the teams.
A Green trade was expected, he had come to Minnesota as part of the LaMelo Ball trade, and clearing his $14.7 million contract off the books was the cleanest way for Minnesota to get the room under the apron it needed. Minnesota plans to keep Williams — taking a chance on the No. 10 pick from just two years ago, a 6'8" wing who was inconsistent, shot 21.4% from 3 last season, and never established himself with the Jazz — but will waive-and-stretch Konchar's $6.2 million salary, meaning a cap hit of just $2.1 million.
Once all the moves are completed, that gives the Timberwolves about $10.6 million under the second apron to sign Kuminga and have the breathing room for another move in season, if needed.
Utah lands Green, the six-year veteran who struggled last season in Charlotte after returning from shoulder surgery and averaged 4.3 points per game, but did shoot 42% from beyond the arc. Where Green can earn minutes for Will Hardy in Utah is with his defense, which has always been good and is a point of emphasis for Utah this season. There are minutes for Green to earn off the bench, he will get his chance.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 24: Josh Green #10 of the Charlotte Hornets plays against the Sacramento Kings during their game at Spectrum Center on March 24, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Josh Green and Lauri Markannen never crossed paths at Arizona in their respective one-and-done seasons, but now the former Wildcats will be NBA teammates.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Green was traded on Friday night from the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Utah Jazz. Green and cash went to Utah in exchange for John Konchar and Cody Williams.
It’s the second time this offseason that Green has been dealt. In June he was part of the trade that sent point guard LaMelo Ball to Minnesota from the Charlotte Hornets, where Green had spent the previous two seasons following four years with the Dallas Mavericks.
Green, a 6-foot-6 guard who turns 26 in November, is entering the final year of a 3-year, $41 million contract and is set to earn $14.7 million for the 2026-27 season. He joins a Utah team that had one of the worst records in the NBA last season, despite and drafted Kansas point guard Darryn Peterson with the No. 2 overall pick in June.
The Jazz have missed the playoffs five years in a row, the last four with Markkanen as their leading scorer. The ex-Wildcats averaged 26.7 points per game in 2025-26 and is set to make $46.1 million this season.
Green, who has averaged 6.3 points and 2.5 rebounds in 349 NBA games, was the 18th overall pick by Dallas in the 2020 NBA Draft after one season at Arizona. With the UA he averaged 12 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: Cameron Boozer #27 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on during the game against the Houston Rockets during the 2026 NBA Summer League Semifinals game on July 18, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA season starts in 52 days, and while the Memphis Grizzlies start exhibition play in 37 days, vs. Quin Snyder’s Hawks, regular season play starts in 53 days, on October 21, against the Utah Jazz, featuring former Blue Devil Kyle Filipowski.
There’s a lot of keen interest in how former Duke star Cameron Boozer will do as his NBA career starts up.
At least one GM, anonymously, thinks he’s headed for a Rookie of the Year campaign, saying this: “Boozer is a winner and he’s won things his entire young life. Memphis isn’t going to have a good year, but he’s going to be the bright spot and he’s going to win the award.”
He’s more knowledgeable than we are, but Boozer could be better than people expect. We’re not saying they’ll necessarily make the playoffs, but Boozer will be a solid scorer, rebounder, and he’s a much better passer than people think.
Almost-Blue Devil Cedric Coward should start at one guard, while former Virginia point guard Ty Jerome will take over for Ja Morant.
He’s nowhere near the talent Morant is, obviously, but he’s going to be much more steady, and the chances of getting suspended for doing something idiotic are trivial. As immensely talented as Morant is, he can be his own worst enemy.
The thing that people don’t fully realize about Boozer is that he’s a superb passer. It won’t surprise us in the least if he leads Memphis in assists, covering that weakness as Edey and newly acquired Isaiah Stewart should cover up his perceived defensive weaknesses in the post.
The biggest thing, as the GM observed, is that Boozer is a winner, and he’s a winner because he has mastered the basics of the game at a very early age, and understands it at a level a lot of players never figure out. Whether it’s this year or one or two down the road, he’s going to help turn that team around.
CHENGDU, CHINA - JUNE 27: American professional basketball player Kyrie Irving high-five with a fan in a fan meeting during his China tour on June 27, 2026 in Chengdu, Sichuan Province of China. (Photo by You Fang/VCG via Getty Images) | VCG via Getty Images
We’re under two months away from opening night, and there’s plenty of chatter surrounding the new-look Dallas Mavericks. From draft night in June to trade splashes in July to personnel moves in August, the Mavericks have had a busy summer. They’ll begin the 2026 season with a new president, new coach, and a flurry of new faces. However, one familiar face we’re ready to see on the court again is Kyrie Irving. Several trade rumors have surrounded the nine-time All-Star, but are any true? Here are three reasons why Irving will stay a Maverick this season.
No sample size with Flagg
Arguably the most exciting part of the upcoming season will be watching the Cooper Flagg-Kyrie Irving duo materialize. Coming into the league as an 18-year-old rookie with expectations similar to names like Victor Wembanyama, Zion Williamson, and LeBron James, Cooper Flagg had a lot to carry on his shoulders last season. Despite the heavy load, Flagg averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game, on 46.8% shooting. Among rookies, Flagg had the highest usage rate at 26.9% and played more minutes than any rookie, averaging 33.5 per game — 2,344 total for the season.
Having another on-ball threat will make a huge difference for the Mavericks. The majority of the 2025-2026 season was spent experimenting with guards like D’Angelo Russell, Brandon Williams, and Ryan Nembhard, all of whom have found different teams this summer. Adding in a bona fide star like Irving, even as he comes off an ACL injury, will take some pressure off Flagg. Before the ACL injury, Irving was having one of the best seasons of his career, averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game on 47.3% shooting. Even Irving at 70% will have a huge impact. Coming into his second season next to Irving, Flagg will be able to move more without the ball, enjoy better floor spacing, and play to his strengths. Teams won’t be able to double-team and swarm the 19-year-old as easily if Irving is on the floor too. This duo will be an exciting watch.
Slim pickings at guard
Currently, Dallas has 19 players listed on its roster, which will be reduced to 15 by opening night. Of those 19, only six are guards — Irving, Max Christie, Marcus Sasser, Jett Howard, John Poulakidas, and Vsevolod Ishchenko. There’s a significant drop-off after Kyrie Irving in both shooting and playmaking. The Mavericks need Irving if they want to make any noise in the Western Conference. For the first time since the pre-dynasty Golden State Warriors, the West took a step back this summer. With no incentive to lose, since the Mavericks do not own their first-round picks until 2031, Dallas is looking for a major bounce-back year.
While putting too many eggs in Irving’s basket is risky, trading him doesn’t make sense if the Mavericks want to start winning. The only way he gets moved is if the Mavericks find themselves in the midst of a disastrous season. Even then, the mentorship and skills Irving could impart to Flagg are invaluable. It would likely take an Irving trade request to get this ball rolling.
Cents on the dollar return
The reality of Irving currently is that for all his talent and wizardry on the court, he’s 34 and coming off an ACL tear. With that, the offers for Irving would likely be less than ideal. Until other teams see him on the court, playing like the Irving we know and love, it’s hard to imagine Dallas would get an offer it couldn’t refuse. At bare minimum, Dallas would want a high first-round pick plus a good young piece or two late first-round picks with a salary dump or something similar.
Weighing the pros vs cons, there are more pros to keeping Irving and seeing what the fit looks like before even considering trading him. If Dallas isn’t in the playoff hunt by the trade deadline in February, or if he wants out, then a new destination could be an option. But for now, it makes more sense to keep him and, at bare minimum, see if he can increase his trade value before moving him.
Looking ahead
There will be loads of excitement to see number eleven back on the court opening night on October 21st. Plugging him into a lineup with Flagg is a recipe for basketball poetry. Irving has become the co-face of the Mavericks over the past 18 months, and his presence on the court will be felt from tipoff. Before even thinking about moving him, the Mavericks will want to see what he looks like, how he fits, and if he can bring them back into the playoff picture. Get your popcorn ready. It will be absolute cinema.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 18: Jose Alvarado #5 of the New York Knicks celebrates with the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy during the New York Knicks Championship ticker tape parade and victory rally celebrating winning the 2026 NBA Finals on June 18, 2026 in New York City. The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games to win their first NBA Championship in 53 years. (Photo by Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There are easier (and less surreal) ways to fulfill an NBA dream than the Jose Alvarado route.
Go undrafted and fight your way onto a roster. Develop a reputation as a defensive menace on the court. Spend four and a half seasons in NOLA. Get traded home to New York mid-season. Help your favorite team from childhood win their first championship in more than half a century. Then parade through the streets of the city where you grew up with a few million people screaming at you.
Alvarado sat down with SLAM during his cover shoot for KICKS 29, and the conversation naturally circled back to the improbable route that brought the Brooklyn native here.
Asked to choose one word for the Knicks’ championship run, Alvarado answered: “Believe. That’s one thing you got to do is believe the way we did it.”
That was especially true in Game Four of the Finals, when New York fell 29 points behind San Antonio and somehow dragged itself all the way back, aided by significant contributions from Alvarado. He said his focus during the comeback was simple: “It was more not really overthinking—like, what can I do to make us win the game regardless if it’s making shots or not.”
The championship would have been a massive achievement anywhere. Winning it in New York meant even more for Jose, who grew up in Brooklyn before playing at Georgia Tech and eventually joining the Pelicans.
Pondering Jose’s experience, there is always something weird about getting a desperately wanted thing. For years, the dream existed at a distance, beyond the next practice, the next contract, the doubt expressed by others about your size or talent. Then one afternoon, you’re dancing on a float in Manhattan as an NBA champion with your hometown passing by, block by block.
“I almost cried on the float because . . . obviously going through the city that I was raised . . . I know a lot of people that’s in the crowd,” Alvarado told SLAM.
That’s the part of winning a championship nobody can really prepare for, that transition point when the dream stops being something you’re chasing and becomes something that has happened to you. Sounds surreal. And not to get all Jean-Paul Sartre about it all, but it’s natural to wonder: what’s next?
The answer: Your own sneaker and a new contract with the Knicks, naturally. After declining his $4.5 million player option this summer, Alvarado agreed to a new three-year deal with the Knicks worth roughly $14.4 million, with $12 million guaranteed.
Furthermore, Jose recently signed with the streetball brand AND1 and showed off his personalized player-exclusive shoes during the SLAM shoot. The partnership makes sense. Few NBA players have built an identity more closely connected to playground basketball’s particular mixture of hustle, swagger, annoyance, and joy. Thus, the SLAM team drove Alvarado back to an outdoor New York court, a familiar environment to the 28-year-old who is currently playing for Puerto Rico in FIFA’s Basketball World Cup qualifiers.
In March, I spoke to Jose over Zoom. He was connecting from a hotel room in Utah, grinding out NBA life on the road, still getting acclimated to his new team. What struck me in the conversation was how completely disruptive a mid-season trade is on a player with a young family.
“People don’t understand,” Alvarado told me. “You think, ‘They’ve got millions,’ and don’t get me wrong, the financial security is great. But one day you’re comfortable in your forever home, and overnight you have to go to a different city, leaving your wife and kids behind.”
He explained that even a month after the trade, he hadn’t yet been able to return home to his family in New Orleans. It became clear how much these players—and their families—must sacrifice for an NBA career.
And Jose is not slowing down. Despite the ring, a new contract, and his face on a SLAM cover, Alvarado doesn’t sound particularly interested in staying comfortable.
“The only way to stay in the NBA, or to be in a conversation where I want to be, with my goal, is [I] definitely got to have a chip on my shoulder, no matter what,” he told SLAM.
That chip is mighty durable. Going undrafted didn’t remove it; making an NBA team didn’t shake it; becoming an established rotation player didn’t loosen it; and neither did coming home, getting paid, or getting to pose for glamour shots with the Larry O’Brien trophy.
Asked how he eventually wants people to remember him, Jose went right back to the beginning. “I want them to remember that there was a lot of people that said no to this kid. There was a lot of doubts . . . just remember the doubts and how I overcame all that.”
I can think of worse epitaphs for a basketball career. Congrats, Jose. Knicks in five.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JUNE 13: Fans gather on the concourse prior to Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center on June 13, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last season, Victor Wembanyama introduced American basketball to European football fandom. His brainchild, The Jackals, were designed to make the Frost Bank Center the NBA’s most raucous arena. Wemby held auditions, cast a number of rabid fans who committed to attending the majority of home games, and set them loose. His experiment was a huge success, and the Jackals not only raised the level of excitement in the Forst Bank Center, they made special trips to out of town games. Wemby personally invited many along to attend the NBA Cup when the Spurs upset a number of Western Conference teams to make it all the way to the Emirates Final.
The Jackals are returning for the 2026-2027 season and their numbers are increasing. Auditions are being held for prospective members.
Per a Spurs press release:
“The Spurs Jackals will host auditions on Saturday, Sept. 19 at Frost Bank Center, giving passionate Spurs fans the opportunity to join the supporter section for the 2026-27 season. Auditions will begin at 9 a.m., and fans interested can register here.“
This year the Jackals are adding two new areas — Sections 114 and 115 — allowing space for 100 new members.
Fans auditioning should show up in Spurs gear and come ready to bring the energy. If you are interested in learning more can visit Spurs.com/Jackals or text JACKALS to (210) 444-5940.
Go Spurs Go!
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During the years that Red Auerbach ran the Celtics, the organization was a paragon of stability and tradition. First Red coached the Celtics, and then, often, the players he coached coached the Celtics. The uniforms didn’t change, and banner after banner of the same plain type accumulated in the rafters of the old Boston Garden. One by one, player numbers were retired and raised to the same lofty position above the most storied court in the National Basketball Association. From a basketball perspective, the Celtics were about as solid and stable as the rock of Gibraltar.
But that stability was not reflected in team ownership.
After Walter Brown died unexpectedly in the fall of 1964, the Celtics went through a twenty-year period when ten different ownership groups controlled the team.
In 1983, the Celtics were purchased from Harry Mangurian by a consortium led by Don Gaston. Gaston had been an executive with Gulf+Western when they owned the Knicks, having purchased Madison Square Garden and its tenants in 1977.
Gaston’s consortium included Boston native Paul Dupee, and Alan Cohen, who was an executive with the New Jersey Nets at the time—both were also Gulf+Western alumni. The sale price was reported to be $15 million.
Gaston, a Texas native, had left Gulf+Western in 1982 after assembling a group of investors that purchased Providence Capitol International Insurance Ltd., and Famous Players Realty, Ltd. from Gulf+Western for $350 million.
About three years after purchasing the Celtics, Gaston and his partners decided to share the wealth while creating some wealth for themselves.
They sold 40% of the Boston Celtics on the New York Stock Exchange on December 3, 1986.
This was the first—and so far only—time that a sports franchise has been publicly traded.
It provided an opportunity for any number of Celtics fans, including my dad, to claim an ownership stake in what could in a very real sense now be called ‘their’ team.
It was also an excellent move for the wallets of Boston’s ownership group. Having paid around $15 million for the team in the fall of 1983, they recouped about three times that in an IPO that simultaneously lined their pockets with an estimated $48 million in cash and boosted the valuation of their holdings to about $72 million—not a bad return overall. At the close of the first day of trading, the Celtics were valued at $120 million, give or take. This was an astronomical price for a professional sports team at the time.
For the next sixteen years and change, the Celtics were, partially, a publicly traded entity.
The IPO was the brainchild of Charles Weiss at Smith Barney, an investment banking firm that didn’t survive the 2008 financial crisis. His idea was to create a series of “Master Limited Partnerships” in which sports franchise owners could raise a significant amount of capital by selling a minority stake on the market; master limited partnerships would also ease the tax burden that sports teams would face, as income would be distributed to partners who would pay taxes individually. Gaston and his partners, who were always businessmen first, leaped at the opportunity.
The Celtics IPO was a relatively small float of 2.6 million shares.
Those shares ended up in the hands of about 95,000 investors, meaning the average shareholder was sitting on just over 27 shares. This created an enormous headache whenever dividends came due. It cost the Celtics roughly $1 million per year just to print and mail out the quarterly checks. These quarterly dividends, always under a dollar per share, were quickly turned into an annual distribution which saved considerable money in postage and printing. Adding to the headache was the fact that roughly one out of every ten stockholders failed to deposit those dividend checks.
Celtics fans held onto their shares, too. On any given day, fewer than 2,000 Boston Celtics Limited Partnership shares might change hands on the New York Stock Exchange. Far more stock certificates were likely to be found hanging on the walls of offices and dens, and, in the case of particularly tolerant spouses, perhaps even in living rooms.
In exchange for a sudden influx of cash and a boost to the bottom line, trading on the stock exchange required that the Celtics open their books to public scrutiny in a way that no team before or since has had to. In addition to player contracts, which were generally reported on and public knowledge, salaries of front office personnel were revealed. For example, it turned out that Red Auerbach was making a relatively modest $250,000 per year, an amount that had been guaranteed for Red’s lifetime in a contract with the new owners.
In 1998, a ten-year provision that had kept the favorable tax treatment of income under master limited partnerships in place expired. As a result, the Celtics were reorganized into a byzantine structure in which individuals who held more than 100 shares would be eligible to obtain partner status, while smaller investors would receive a share in the new entity along with $20 in subordinated debt per share: basically, they would be given an IOU from the Celtics guaranteeing payment of 6% annual interest (or $1.20), and, in forty years, repayment of the full $20.
This new structure was arranged in an effort to preserve the pass-through treatment of income that had been in place with the master limited partnership.
Under the new arrangement, the Boston Celtics were owned by a partnership, Celtics Basketball, L.P., which, in turn, was owned by Celtics Basketball Holdings, L.P. 48.3123% of Celtics Basketball Holdings, L.P. was owned by Boston Celtics Limited Partnership II, or “BCLP II,” which was, in fact, the original Boston Celtics Limited Partnership. A new Boston Celtics Limited Partnership, “BCLP,” owned 99% of “BCLP II.” BCLP was the entity with publicly traded shares, while BCLP II was the entity that issued the $20 debentures.
Presumably there were tax advantages to having this many tiers of ownership over the Boston Celtics, and it seems likely that such convoluted arrangements are in place with other teams, now that professional sports have become a big business.
In fact, it could be well argued that the Celtics IPO was the beginning of the ‘big business’ era for sports franchise ownership.
At a swoop, the valuation of the Celtics jumped from $15 million to $120 million. Ownership of a basketball franchise, which had been more or less a hobby for the well-heeled up to this point, suddenly became a realm where serious cash was required to buy into the game. With that cash came expectations regarding revenue growth and profitability.
Available documents from the SEC’s EDGAR online database of filings from 2001 and later show that there were still about 58,000 individual stockholders at the time that Wyc Grousbeck’s ownership group put in an offer for the team.
These individuals, many of whom had likely held onto their shares going back to the initial public offering, or a few months afterwards, were paid $27 for their share, which, along with redemption of the $20 debenture, meant a $47 return on an initial investment, if made around the time of the IPO, of about $18. This was about a 261% gain, not counting dividends.
Interestingly, this reflected an approximately even return on investment compared to what Gaston and company had accrued based on the team’s valuation at the time of the IPO. The net sale price of the Celtics in 2002 was $310 million, which was a 258% increase over the IPO’s valuation of around $120 million.
However, Gaston, Dupee and Cohen had bought the team for just $15 million, and the return on their cash outlay amounted to about 2,067% when the team sold in 2002, not counting the $48 million that they had received from the IPO. Grousbeck’s group paid $360 million for the Celtics, which was a record sum for the NBA at the time, but $50 million was used to retire various debt obligations, including the debentures that had been distributed to shareholders in 1998.
This sale marked the end of an interesting experiment in franchise ownership during a period that saw valuations of professional sports teams skyrocket. This trend has only continued with the record sale of the Celtics in 2025 for $6.1 billion, a sale price that was rapidly eclipsed by two different sales of the Los Angeles Lakers, first for $10 billion and then, less than a year later, $12.5 billion.
The irony is that an IPO that marked the transformation of sports into big business also made it possible for ordinary fans of every stripe to own a piece of their favorite team, at least for a time.
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DENVER, COLORADO - MARCH 27: Cody Williams #5 of the Utah Jazz warms up before a game against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on March 27, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. 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 Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On another inauspicious evening in the NBA offseason, Minnesota Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations, Tim Connelly, was wide awake. As first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, Minnesota traded Josh Green and cash to the Utah Jazz for Cody Williams and John Konchar.
Charania followed up by sharing that Konchar, a 30-year-old wing rebounding specialist, will see his $6.2 million contract waived-and-stretched, incurring roughly $2 million in dead cap space for the next three years. Konchar could’ve been an interesting end-of-bench option, but alas the Wolves are filled to the brim at his position.
Josh Green, who was just on a team-wide outing in France, was the unfortunate salary dump that needed to happen in order to make the Jonathan Kuminga deal legal per salary cap regulations. Despite being a potential Donte DiVincenzo replacement on the roster, Green’s $14.7 million was the only realistic salary that could be moved to make enough room for Kuminga to join via the tax-payer mid-level exception. Many had theorized if there were no takers for Green, Minnesota could have entertained a waive-and-stretch of his contract, incurring a near $5 million cap hit for three years.
Instead they nearly halved that while taking a flyer on a 21-year-old top 10 draft pick, Cody Williams.
Cody is the little brother of the Oklahoma City Thunder All-NBA wing, Jalen Williams. The younger Williams has spent his last two seasons on a tanking Utah organization who have mostly failed to develop any young talent despite multiple lottery picks.
Cody is included in that bunch.
He was billed as a long (seven-foot wingspan), athletic, triple-threat scorer out of college who knocked down over 40% of his triples in his one year at Colorado. Williams, like his brother, was a late riser during the 2024 draft process, impressing scouts with his defensive tenacity and two-way star potential. Instead of following in Jalen’s footsteps on his journey to stardom, he has fallen flat on his face, becoming one of the worst players in the NBA. Respectfully.
But all is not lost yet! Tim Connelly and his front office have always been believers in finding value in what others perceive as broken toys. Aaron Gordon, Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, Bones Hyland, LaMelo Ball, Jonathan Kuminga. These are all players that had less than stellar “reputations” among various NBA circles, yet he’s taken a leap of faith to salvage their careers. And they’ve mostly worked out.
Williams is much less of a risk than those aforementioned names, considering he’s likely not even going to figure to be in the rotation. Hell, he’s not even guaranteed to make the opening night roster. He’s on his final two years of his rookie scale contract (~$6.5 million per year). However, Cody did finally show some promise near the end of his sophomore season.
I also still have some interest in Cody Williams as a flyer. Was always a skinny project coming into the league. Thought he was pretty solid down the stretch in Utah.
Still only 21 years old. Averaged 16/4/4 in his last 20 games this year while Utah was losing. Shot 47/21/77.
According to our SB Nation sister blog, SLC Dunk, they named Cody their second most improved player of the season. They also included this nugget from Zach Lowe:
I think Cody Williams — who looked like an epic bust of a top-10 pick… has shown enough in the last couple of months that I think there’s a world in which he’s a functional eighth to tenth guy on a good Utah Jazz team. His defense is really improved. He’s a solid defender. He knows how to close out on guys short, he knows how to run guys off the arc, he’s extremely well balanced.
The Wolves now have 14 players under contract, and all three two-way spots filled. That leaves one potential spot to be filled, though many teams often leave a spot open for flexibility. If we know anything about Connelly though, things can change on a dime, but this could be what Minnesota’s roster will look like come opening night.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 10: Cody Williams #5 of the Utah Jazz handles the ball during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 10, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Late Friday night, Shams Charania reported that the Jazz and Wolves had completed a trade:
The Minnesota Timberwolves are trading Josh Green and cash to the Utah Jazz for Cody Williams and John Konchar, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/9mZTm4amkH
One of the most persistent questions in Jazzland over the past two years or so looms large: Is Cody Williams a bust? If you are Justin Zanik and/or Austin Ainge, it appears the answer is yes. After being drafted in the lottery, being out-physicaled for most of his rookie year, showing limited progress in his sophomore year, and struggling this summer in most of his Salt Lake and Vegas Summer League runs, Cody has been shipped north(east). This gives Minnesota a young prospect who still has the ability to turn the corner with a scenery change, a solid “glue guy” in John Konchar and, most importantly, some financial relief:
Swapping out Josh Green for Cody Williams/John Konchar puts Minnesota $6.489M below the second apron hard cap.
In return, the Jazz get a 6th-year shooting guard who shoots accurately (career 39% 3PT) but not at high volume. He defends serviceably, posting a career Defensive Rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) of 117. Much like last year’s Colin Sexton/Jusuf Nurkić trade, this may end up being a case of addition by subtraction. There was nothing wrong with Colin Sexton—he is a good basketball player—but he wasn’t a good fit. As a bonus, Nurk turned out to be a fantastic fit. Now the rotations will be even more open for Darryn Peterson, Ace Bailey, and Keyonte George.
The Jazz are not bringing Josh Green in to play 25 minutes per night. He is here a) to make the salaries work and b) to provide a modest boost off the bench as an 8th 0r 9th man. He’s a solid player who knows his role and plays it well:
For their part, Timberwolves fans will point to Cody’s flashes of brilliance over his short career to this point:
Jazz Cody Williams career-high 34 PTS (12-20 FG, 3-7 3P, 7-8 FT), 7 REB, 7 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK vs. Kings
— Role Player Performances (@BenchHighlights) March 16, 2026
We at the Dunk wish Cody and John the best of luck as they each start their new chapters in Minnesota, as so many other Jazz players before them have. Once a Jazzman, always a Jazzman. Despite the unfortunate parting of ways, Utah’s future is brighter than it’s ever been. For now, this trade looks like a “win-win,” something which is rare in the market these days. 53 days remain until we can begin to find out.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 28: Cameron Brink #22 of the Los Angeles Sparks controls the ball against Shakira Austin #0 and Lauren Betts #51 of the Washington Mystics during the first quarter at Crypto.com Arena on August 28, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After Georgia Amoore’s career night propelled her squad to a 94-84 win in Phoenix on Thursday, the Washington Mystics returned Friday night for a road tilt against the Los Angeles Sparks.
Washington led entering the fourth quarter, but the Sparks’ late surge proved too much as the Mystics lost 88-82.
The Mystics overcame a 15-2 start in Thursday’s win. Their start to Friday’s contest was much better thanks to Sonia Citron, who tallied 10 points on 4-for-4 FG in the first quarter.
Shakira Austin added seven points as the sides entered the second frame tied at 23. Then Kiki Iriafen got active.
The second-year forward scored seven straight Mystics points, including a 3-pointer, to extend Washington’s lead. An Amoore triple and another Iriafen bucket pushed that advantage to double digits as halftime neared.
Citron closed the half the same way she started it: with a flurry of buckets to give her 15 points on 6-for-10 FG. Washington led 51-40 at halftime.
The Sparks cut into Washington’s lead behind Nneka Ogwumike’s efficient shooting. Halfway through the third quarter, the 11-time All-Star had tallied 24 points on 11-for-15 FG to trim Los Angeles’ deficit to just one.
Crypto.com Arena rose to its feet as Los Angeles briefly took the lead. But like Thursday night, Amoore had the answer. The second-year guard drilled 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to give Washington a 68-65 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Citron continued her strong performance with a triple and a layup to open the fourth. But Los Angeles held firm, answering with an 8-0 run to take an 80-76 lead.
After a Lauren Betts bucket, Rae Burell added five more points to extend the Sparks’ advantage to 85-78 with 2:21 remaining. Burell added three more to ice an impressive win for Los Angeles and snap Washington’s three-game winning streak.
The Mystics fell to 24-16 on the season. Citron finished with a team-high 22 points on 9-for-18 FG. Iriafen and Austin both tallied double-doubles.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 14: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Utah Jazz poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at UNLV on July 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jazz fans have had one of the most eventful offseasons I can remember. Arguably the greatest prospect in team history was drafted while a massive trade for their starting center surprised everyone. So how do Jazz fans feel about it? Well, that was the point of this week’s Jazz Reacts survey.
So there you have it, the vast majority of Jazz fans gave an A or B to the offseason. The majority of fans gave a B, but because there are so many As, I think you could say the grade is either a B+ or an A-.
It’s a fair assessment for a team that is on the verge of starting one of the most exciting chapters in team history. Yes, they’ll be without Walker Kessler, but they also won’t be with Kessler’s albatross of a contract going forward. In a league with an incredibly restrictive cap, the Jazz kept their best players and have the flexibility to move forward with multiple options.
If you go to FanDuel, you can see that the NBA hasn’t caught on to how good the Jazz offseason was yet. The Jazz aren’t favored to win 40+ games. They’re currently a +140 to win 40+ games and +360 to win 45+ games. Personally, I’d be shocked if Utah didn’t win at least 40 games this year. In a month, we’ll find out if I’m wrong or right.
Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, appeared on the Fan Duel show “Run it Back” and explained why they chose the Timberwolves and also what happened with the rumored three-year, $75 million extension with the Warriors.
“With the [three-year, $75 million deal] it was to me, he had to get to a spot to make long-term money, or past this contract, where the basketball was set,” Turner said. “With the basketball comes the money, right? If you understand this business, it’s ‘If it’s a good basketball fit, the money follows.’ The money coming before the basketball is not really how you’re going to continue to make more and more money.”
Jonathan Kuminga will not reunite with Steph Curry (right) after agreeing to a deal with the Timberwolves. Jason Szenes for New York Post
Turner said if Kuminga took a longer deal, he would no longer have control of his future and insisted that he would have less control. Last season, when he was traded ahead of the NBA trade deadline, Kuminga didn’t have a choice in being moved to the Hawks.
Kuminga’s deal with the Timberwolves is for two years and worth up to $12.4 million, including player options after the 2026-2027 NBA season.
Turner said next year’s free-agency option gives Kuminga higher leverage when looking for the right contract that fits him.
“There’s a lot of teams with money, and if you’ve paid attention to JK’s recruiting saga over the last few years, those teams that have been trying to sign and trade for him, Sacramento, Chicago, these teams have a lot of money next year,” Turner said. “Who knows, but the game board is set very, very well for JK for 2027.”
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Jonathan Kuminga suited up for the Hawks after being traded by the Warriors. AP Photo/Brynn Anderson
After Kuminga chose the Timberwolves, NBA ESPN insider Shams Charania reported the Lakers had a sign-and-trade offer “that would have been in excess of three years for at least $12 million per year.”
Draymond Green gave a warning to Kuminga about the deal he took with Minnesota; as he alluded to, Kuminga could see his role reduced if the team struggles early in the season.
If Kuminga doesn’t perform up to expectations, he and Turner could likely see their high payday go down the drain.
The San Francisco 49ers released a veteran running back before 53-man roster cuts.
The San Francisco 49ers have parted ways with veteran running back Patrick Taylor Jr. and have removed him from the team’s injured reserve list.
Because he was on the team’s injured list, Taylor’s does not count as a member of the team’s 90-man roster, meaning his release will not affect San Francisco’s path to narrowing the roster down to 53 players.
San Francisco 49ers running back Patrick Taylor Jr. running the ball against the Tennessee Titans. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The veteran running back has seen limited time on the field this preseason, despite competing for a spot on the team’s roster, as he had very little impact in their opener, when he had 5 carries for -5 yards.
In 2024, Taylor signed with the 49ers and appeared in 13 games, where he saw time as a rotational running back and ran the ball 39 times for 183 yards and scored 1 touchdown. He also had 3 receptions out of the backfield for 25 yards.
Like this year, he was in a similar role last season, competing for a backup spot on the 49ers roster, but would end up coming up short after suffering another injury and spending the season on the team’s injured reserve.
San Francisco 49ers veteran running back Patrick Taylor Jr. rushing through a pile of defenders. San Francisco Chronicle / Polaris
Taylor’s career began when he was picked up as an undrafted free agent by the Green Bay Packers in 2020. He spent the first four years of his career between the Packers and the New England Patriots.
Despite never playing in a game with New England, Taylor Jr. has had 47 carries for 444 yards and 2 rushing touchdowns.
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COLLEGE PARK, GA — Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese picked up her eighth technical foul of the season on Aug.28, triggering an automatic one-game suspension unless the technical is rescinded.
Reese received the technical with 8:45 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Dream's matchup against the Portland Fire after Reese made contact with Carla Leite. Reese appeared to shove Leite while the two were battling for position in the lane.
The play that led to Angel Reese's 8th technical foul and a suspension for Sunday against the Lynx unless it is rescinded:pic.twitter.com/G8wsa09F37
Under WNBA rules, a player or coach is automatically suspended for one game upon receiving their eighth technical foul during the regular season. Every additional technical comes with a $1,500 fine, while every two additional technical fouls received during the regular season will result in an additional one-game suspension.
The league has the option to rescind every technical or flagrant foul assessed during each game. But if the technical foul stands, Reese will serve out her suspension for the Dream's matchup against the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday, Aug. 30.
