Category: NBA

LeBron James' agent Rich Paul says that James went through immense emotional turmoil "every day" until the 41-year-old made his decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers early Friday morning.

Paul confirmed what many people had expected, that James was deciding between four teams — the Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat.

"You can see from the end of the season…the emotional attachments and how hard it is to go away from a Miami and go away from a Cleveland," said Paul on the "Game Over" podcast Friday afternoon. "Who wouldn't want to play with Steph Curry and Draymond Green? I'm seeing the emotional roller coaster every single day."

Rich Paul says LeBron was on a emotional roller coaster making his decision:

Rich: The emotional attachments to go away from a Miami, and go away from a Cleveland, who wouldn’t want to play with Steph Curry and Draymond Green?

Max: That would’ve been fun but it’s not the choice… https://t.co/V5k5L6pM1npic.twitter.com/yEg7XUyC7c

— Heat Central (@TheHeatCentral) July 24, 2026

Paul also added that he believed every team in the race was leading at some point for James' services, but James opted for Philadelphia because the team had become a much more attractive option since trading for Jaylen Brown. Furthermore, James' relationship with Tyrese Maxey, who is also represented by Klutch Sports, played a role in the decision as well.

Why did LeBron James choose the 76ers?

Paul says that James chose the 76ers because of their ability to contend for a championship immediately. Paul noted that the decision to trade away Paul George in exchange for Jaylen Brown while already boasting a roster with star players like Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and up-and-comer VJ Edgecombe gave James the clarity he needed to make his decision.

Paul also believes that the team's head coach Nick Nurse will find a way to implement James' into the team's tactics without diminishing anyone else's impact.

Paul said, "[James] helps Tyrese [Maxey] in terms of pick-and-roll action. ... I think Nick Nurse can take a little page out of Ty Lue's book and use Tyrese as the screener. When you talk about a guy like VJ Edgecombe, he definitely helps him."

Were other teams in the running?

The Minnesota Timberwolves were another team Paul mentions in the podcast, though he clarifies that they were not one of the final four teams James was considering.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LeBron James' emotional roller coaster led to signing with the 76ers

Jaylen Brown hasn’t even been on the Sixers for a month. We still haven’t seen him play in a Sixers uniform. Yet the Sixers already have a tough decision to make with him.

On July 26, Brown becomes eligible to sign a one-year extension worth no less than roughly $68.9 million. He’s only eligible to sign that deal between July 26 and the preseason, though. Once the regular season begins, he will not be able to sign an extension again until next summer.

Brown’s upcoming extension talks likely contributed to the urgency that the Celtics felt to move him this offseason after their failed pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens didn’t admit to that, but he did say “the path looked a little bit more challenging with 70% of our cap and such a high percent of our usage tied into two players.”

As we’ve covered before, the Sixers were already pot-committed to that model, so the upgrade in terms of ability, age, health and availability from Paul George to Brown is arguably worth two first-round picks and then some. But is it worth committing to that model beyond 2029?

Let’s walk through each of Brown and the Sixers’ extension options between now and the expiration of his contract after the 2028-29 season.

This summer: 1-year extension

Had Brown stayed with the Celtics, he would have been eligible for a two-year extension this summer. But once he got traded, he was limited to having a four-year deal for the next six months, including the years remaining on his current contract. That means he can only tack on one more year come July 26, not two.

It’s far too early to make an accurate prediction for the 2029-30 salary cap. But under the current collective bargaining agreement, a player’s max salary for any given season can never be less than 105 percent of what they earned the previous year. Since Brown is set to earn $65.6 million in 2028-29—his age-32 season—his max in 2029-30 would start no lower than nearly $68.9 million.

However, that comes with one major caveat. The current CBA is set to run through 2029-30, but either side can opt out after the 2028-29 season—the year Brown’s current contract is set to expire. If there’s a new CBA in place by the time Brown’s contract expires, the Sixers might want to know what team-building restrictions they might be risking if they continue to assemble a pricy roster.

Brown isn’t the only major deal coming off the Sixers’ books that summer. Both Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey are set to become unrestricted free agents in 2029, although it’s tough to imagine the Sixers allowing that to happen with the latter. VJ Edgecombe will also be a restricted free agent if he doesn’t agree to an extension during the 2028-29 offseason.

Depending on what happens with the CBA, 2029 could be a reset year both for the Sixers and the league at large. With that in mind, it’s hard to imagine the Sixers committing a huge portion of their cap space that far in advance to someone whom they’d never even see play with the rest of the core.

Next summer: 3-year extension

Brown technically would become eligible for a two-year extension with the Sixers in January, six months after the trade. However, since he has multiple years remaining on his deal, he can only sign an extension before the start of the regular season. So, if he doesn’t sign a one-year extension by October, he won’t become extension-eligible again until next summer.

At that point, Brown would be able to add three years and at least $223.2 million to his deal. At a minimum, it could be structured along these lines:

• 2029-30: $68,889,740
• 2030-31: $74,440,920
• 2031-32: $79,912,100
• Total: $223,202,760

Brown would be going into his age-33 season at the beginning of this deal. With Maxey and Edgecombe also heading into new contracts that season—and with Embiid possibly coming off the Sixers’ books—that is a lot of money for someone heading away from his prime.

Perhaps Brown proves to be the Sixers’ missing piece this season, guides them to a championship, quashes any concerns about what analytics might say about him and fully justifies that price tag next summer. If so, the Sixers would likely be happy to pay it.

But if the concerns from the Celtics and the analytics community pan out in Philadelphia as well, it might be less clear whether the Sixers should sign up for three more years of a 35 percent max for Brown.

Summer of 2028: 4-year extension

Perhaps the Sixers and Brown both decide to take this decision down to the wire. Brown is a vice president of the NBPA, so he’ll have an early read on how CBA negotiations are going and the major areas of conflict between the two sides. (It’s easy to guess one of them.)

At this point, the Sixers will be able to negotiate both with Maxey and Edgecombe on new extensions as well. Since all three will be interconnected decisions—as will Embiid if they have interest on bringing him back again—it’d be easiest from their standpoint to coordinate those decisions simultaneously.

This would be Brown’s best chance to cash in before he reaches free agency, too. The first three years would be the same as his three-year extension, but he’d add an extra $85.4 million in his age-36 season to bring the total value of his deal north of $300 million.

• 2029-30: $68,889,740
• 2030-31: $74,440,920
• 2031-32: $79,912,100
• 2032-33: $85,423,270
• Total: $308,626,030

Given how the George experience went for the Sixers, they’ll likely be gunshy about shelling out that kind of cash for someone heading into his mid-30s unless Brown forces their hand in the next two years. Perhaps they can find a middle ground that’s below his 35 percent max but still compensates him handsomely over the coming years. That would be the optimal outcome from the Sixers’ perspective, if nothing else.

With a new CBA guaranteed to be in place no later than the 2030-31 season, most teams around the league figure to keep their books as clean as possible at the turn of the decade, no-brainer keepers notwithstanding. They should feel zero urgency to sign Brown to an extension with that in mind. Brown should likewise be curious about potential changes to the CBA before deciding on his long-term future.

The Sixers and Brown have plenty of time between now and when his contract expires after the 2028-29 season to hammer out an extension. Even though he becomes eligible to tack on an extra year to his deal on July 26, neither side should feel any pressure to get something done before the start of this season.

Unless otherwise noted, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball Reference. All salary information via Spotrac and salary-cap information via RealGM.

Follow Bryan on Bluesky.

As we find ourselves roughly two months away from any tangible news surrounding the start of the 2026–27 Phoenix Suns season, it’s time to revisit a topic that some people love, some couldn’t care less about, and some won’t even click on. Uniforms. And before the obligatory commenter reminds everyone that “it’s about the players, not the uniforms,” I know. Save yourself the effort. This one simply isn’t for you.

I’ve always enjoyed following the topic because uniforms become part of a team’s identity. They define eras. They become intertwined with our memories of specific seasons, players, and moments. When you think of the Seven Seconds or Less Suns, you picture those sunburst orange jerseys. When you think of the Valley era, the black gradient uniforms immediately come to mind.

Every season, we typically see a few new designs across the NBA. The Statement Edition and City Edition uniforms are intentionally fluid, allowing Nike to refresh each franchise’s look and tell a different story. The Suns have certainly had their share. We’ve seen the orange Statement jerseys with the Suns logo centered on the chest. We’ve lived through the “Los Suns” era. We’ve had El Valle, the immensely popular Valley gradient uniforms, and the turquoise City Edition that paid tribute to Arizona’s Native American communities.

So what should we expect this season? It appears the answer is…not much.

Looking like the Suns will be rocking the same uniform set as last season https://t.co/64uyMgsNCWpic.twitter.com/VnJkvdXLlf

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) July 23, 2026

Everything points toward Phoenix running it back with last year’s uniform lineup. That includes the black Statement Edition jersey with “Phoenix” across the chest, along with the return of the Valley uniforms that have become synonymous with this era of Suns basketball.

Sources indicate this could be the final season of the NBA’s City Edition uniforms, with Nike reportedly believing the concept has run its course after 10 years. Personally, I’d hate to see them go. Sure, not every City Edition jersey has been a hit, but I’ve always appreciated the creativity behind them. They allowed teams to tell a different story, celebrate their cities, and pay homage to the communities they represent. Some designs were forgettable. Others became iconic.

If the program is truly coming to an end, that’s unfortunate. As it stands right now, though, it appears the Phoenix Suns will be wearing the same four uniform combinations they wore a season ago. Not exactly the most exciting news. But if you’re wondering what the Suns will be wearing this season, now you know.

---

I distinctly remember the feeling after the Timberwolves lost to Denver in the first round of the 2023 playoffs.

Minnesota had been eliminated in five games, which on paper looked like another early exit for a franchise that had collected early exits like refrigerator magnets. There was no banner to raise, no deep postseason run to celebrate, and no reason for the rest of the league to spend much time thinking about a team that had just finished eighth in the Western Conference.

But the series did not feel like a typical five-game loss. The Wolves were without Naz Reid, who had broken his wrist late in the regular season. They were also without Jaden McDaniels, who broke his hand after punching a wall during the final game of the year (an incident that remains one of the purest expressions of Timberwolves basketball ever recorded). Minnesota had finally assembled a potentially dangerous playoff team, only to lose one of its most important reserves to injury and one of its best defenders to a hallway confrontation with cinderblock.

That Wolves team was incomplete, emotionally erratic, and nowhere close to fully mature. Anthony Edwards was still learning what it meant to carry a playoff offense. Karl-Anthony Towns was trying to find his footing after missing half of the season. Rudy Gobert was completing his first turbulent year in Minnesota. Chris Finch was still figuring out how the pieces fit together.

And yet the Wolves pushed the eventual champions harder than almost anyone expected. Denver reportedly viewed Minnesota as the toughest opponent it faced during that entire title run. That may have sounded like a consolation prize at the time, but it mattered. The Nuggets knew what they had survived. They had faced Edwards attacking a championship defense without fear, Minnesota’s size bothering Nikola Jokic, and a Wolves team that remained competitive despite playing without two essential rotation pieces.

That was the first time I looked at this group and thought: This team can compete for a championship. Not a respectable playoff team. Not another fun collection of talent destined to win 44 games before getting bounced by a real contender. A genuine championship foundation.

The following season proved that instinct correct. Minnesota entered the 2024 postseason healthy and immediately swept Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and the Phoenix Suns. It was the franchise’s first playoff series victory in two decades, and the Wolves did not merely survive the series. They overwhelmed Phoenix. They looked like the team that understood the future had arrived while the Suns were still trying to explain why three expensive scorers had produced such a lifeless offense.

Then came Denver. The defending champions. The team that had ended Minnesota’s previous season. The team built around the best player in the world. The Wolves had them on the ropes, briefly lost control of the series, and then walked into Denver for Game 7 and erased a 20-point deficit on the road. It remains arguably the greatest victory in franchise history, overcoming that deficit against that opponent in that building with a trip to the Western Conference Finals at stake.

For a franchise that had spent decades training its fans to expect the floor to collapse, the Wolves were suddenly the team doing the collapsing. They eventually fell short against Dallas in the conference finals, but the larger breakthrough had already happened. Minnesota had established itself as a contender. The franchise had finally stopped asking whether it belonged in important games and started asking why it had not won them.

The next season brought a different version of the same ambition. Karl-Anthony Towns was traded in a cap-driven move that brought Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota. The logic behind the trade made sense financially, even if it was emotionally jarring. The second apron was looming. Towns’ contract was enormous. The Wolves needed greater flexibility and depth.

The basketball fit was less immediate. That team spent much of the season searching for cohesion and identity. Randle’s deliberate, isolation-heavy style did not always blend naturally with Edwards. DiVincenzo took time to settle into his role. Minnesota eventually landed the sixth seed, which felt disappointing after the previous year’s run. Then the playoffs began, and the Wolves once again reminded everyone that regular-season discomfort does not always define a team’s ceiling.

They eliminated LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and the Lakers. They followed that by knocking out the Golden State Warriors. The had overwhelmed two of the league’s signature franchises, two of its most recognizable stars, and earned another trip to the Western Conference Finals. Minnesota fell to the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder, but reaching the conference finals for a second consecutive season represented a monumental leap for this organization. Before Edwards arrived, the Wolves had won two playoff series in their entire history. They had now reached the final four twice in two years.

The Western Conference Finals were not the ultimate goal, but dismissing those appearances as failures would have ignored the scale of the accomplishment. This was not Boston or Los Angeles measuring another season against a wall filled with championship banners. This was Minnesota, a franchise that had historically treated competitive basketball after April 15 as an exotic concept.

Last season was supposed to be the year that continuity carried the Wolves forward. The roster had been together. The coaching staff understood the pieces better. Edwards was entering another stage of his ascent. The hope was that the inconsistency of the previous season would disappear and the Wolves would finally combine regular-season stability with postseason force.Instead, Minnesota experienced another roller-coaster campaign filled with impressive highs and baffling lows.

That inconsistency once again left them in the sixth seed. Then the injury luck that had largely favored Minnesota over the previous two seasons finally reversed. Minutes into Game 4 against Denver, Donte DiVincenzo tore his Achilles tendon. Shortly afterward, Anthony Edwards, already dealing with lingering knee issues, hyperextended his opposite knee, an injury that cost him the remainder of the series.

Losing two starters in the middle of a playoff matchup would normally end a team’s season. Instead, Minnesota battered Denver and eliminated its rival in six games. That result said something important about the Wolves’ depth, resilience, and institutional confidence. They still defended. They still competed. They still understood how to win ugly playoff games.

Eventually, however, the damage became too much to overcome. Minnesota entered the Western Conference Finals against San Antonio with Edwards limping, DiVincenzo gone, Naz Reid fighting through a shoulder injury, and Ayo Dosunmu limited by calf tightness. The Wolves were missing their best player, one of their best shooters, and portions of the supporting cast against a Spurs team that eventually won the West.

They still took two games.

That does not mean Minnesota would have won the series at full strength. San Antonio was excellent, and Wolves fans do not need to rewrite the matchup into something more comforting than it was. But a healthy series would have been close. Minnesota’s injury problems prevented a clean evaluation of that team’s true ceiling. At its best, it could compete with the league’s elite. Even diminished, it made the Western Conference champion work through six games. There was enough evidence to believe the Wolves belonged near the top, but not enough to claim they could win a title without favorable health, improved execution, and perhaps one or two lucky bounces.

That is the reality for almost every contender. Championships are not won through talent alone. Health matters. Matchups matter. Timing matters. Sometimes a team gets a fortunate bracket. Sometimes an opponent loses a star. Sometimes a role player turns into Ray Allen for four games. Sometimes a loose ball takes exactly the right bounce.

The Wolves, as previously constructed, could have won a title. But they would have needed the same kind of lightning in a bottle the New York Knicks captured during their championship run this past postseason. Tim Connelly apparently decided waiting around for lightning was not enough.

The NBA continues to evolve, and the salary cap now behaves less like a guidelineand more like a predatory animal lurking outside every contender’s front office. The second apron punishes expensive teams, limits flexibility, and turns every long-term contract into a referendum on whether a player can still help deep into May.

Connelly has rarely been afraid to act before circumstances force him. He sent Julius Randle to Brooklyn in a salary-clearing move, ending an uneven tenure that had produced strong stretches, frustrating habits, and another postseason disappearing act. Randle was talented enough to dominate individual games, but the moodiness, defensive inconsistency, and tendency to vanish during critical series made him a questionable long-term fit. Minnesota did not need another player capable of looking disengaged when the season reached its most important moments.

Then came the emotional gut punch. Naz Reid, the fan favorite and heart-and-soul figure whose name had become a citywide slogan, was traded to Charlotte for LaMelo Ball. There is no painless way to describe that move. Reid was more than a productive reserve. He was one of the most beloved players in franchise history, an undrafted success story who developed into a legitimate weapon and connected with fans in a way few role players ever do.

But Ball gives Minnesota something it has lacked for years: a dynamic offensive organizer who can create for others, manipulate defenses, and remove some of the burden from Edwards. The Wolves now possess the most exciting backcourts in the NBA, and perhaps the most unpredictable.

Edwards is a devastating downhill scorer with the strength to overwhelm defenders and the confidence to attack any matchup. Ball is a gifted passer who sees plays before they happen and treats conventional decision-making as a mild suggestion. Put them together and there may be nights when Minnesota’s offense resembles a basketball fever dream of full-court passes, transition threes, violent Edwards dunks, and possessions that begin chaotically but somehow end with Gobert standing alone beneath the basket.

Minnesota also re-signed Dosunmu, whose arrival at the trade deadline had initially been overlooked around the league. He eventually demonstrated why Connelly valued him, including a 43-point playoff performance against Denver that revealed just how much offense he could provide when opportunity and confidence aligned. Had injuries not overwhelmed the roster, the Dosunmu move might have been viewed as one of the defining transactions of the season. Instead, it became a glimpse of what he could be. Bringing him back establishes him as a core member of the rotation rather than a temporary addition.

Mike Conley departed in free agency, as did Kyle Anderson. Their production could be replaced in pieces, but their maturity and leadership will be harder to duplicate. Their exits leave a younger, more athletic, more explosive team, but also a team that must learn to steady itself.

The core is impressive: Edwards, Ball, McDaniels, Dosunmu, and Rudy Gobert.

Around them sits a collection of intriguing but unproven players. Terrence Shannon Jr. has shown flashes of brilliance. His athleticism, strength, and direct attacking style can change the energy of a game. He has also experienced moments when the speed of the situation appears to overwhelm him.

Jaylen Clark can enter like a rabid wolverine, pressuring ballhandlers, creating chaos, and supplying defensive energy. His offense remains limited, and opponents will test whether Minnesota can keep him on the floor during meaningful playoff possessions.

Joan Beringer is an extraordinary athlete with size, mobility, and enormous potential. He may be the most fascinating young player on the roster. He is also raw and unrefined. Expecting him to become a polished contributor immediately would be unfair.

Bones Hyland remains the definition of streakiness. When the microwave is hot, he can score in bunches and swing a game. When it is cold, things can get ugly quickly.

That supporting cast will require patience and coaching. They will also be essential. The modern NBA does not permit contenders to fill every position with expensive veterans. The second apron has made developmental success mandatory. Teams must find young players, teach them winning habits, and trust them before they are fully comfortable. A contender’s survival increasingly depends on whether the ninth player becomes useful, whether a second-round pick can defend, and whether a raw big can provide 12 competent minutes without detonating the scheme. Minnesota’s ceiling may be determined as much by Beringer, Shannon, and Clark as by the stars.

Then there is the DiVincenzo question. A torn Achilles is one of the most serious injuries in basketball, and no one should assume a smooth or rapid recovery. But there remains hope that DiVincenzo could return late in the season, perhaps on a timeline similar to Jayson Tatum’s. The Wolves desperately need what he provides. His hustle, shooting, and willingness to move without the ball would fit beautifully alongside Ball. Few things would be more natural than Ball advancing the offense, drawing attention, and finding DiVincenzo relocating for a catch-and-shoot three. A late-season return would give Minnesota another playoff-tested guard and expand Finch’s options. It would also introduce the challenge of integrating a player after months away.

The roster’s largest weakness remains impossible to miss. Minnesota has a glaring hole at power forward, one seemingly custom-built for LeBron James before he chose Philadelphia. The Wolves will now have to find another answer. Perhaps a role player such as Josh Green or Trey Lyles can handle the position. Perhaps Minnesota leans into smaller, positionless lineups and uses McDaniels as an unconventional four. Perhaps Beringer develops more quickly than expected. Perhaps Connelly makes another trade before the deadline.

None of the current options is ideal. Going small could improve speed and spacing while placing more rebounding responsibility on Gobert. Playing McDaniels at power forward might allow Minnesota to switch more aggressively, but it could also diminish the value of using him against elite perimeter scorers.

The situation resembles last season’s unresolved point guard problem. Minnesota cycled through patchwork solutions without ever finding the version that fully unlocked the roster. Finch and the coaching staff adjusted, but the offense often failed to lean into the team’s greatest strengths.

This season, the positional weakness has simply moved. That leads to the central question surrounding the Wolves: Are they still contenders?

Sixty-five percent of respondents to the latest SB Nation Reacts poll said yes. That is a solid majority, but it also suggests less confidence than the fan base probably carried during the previous three summers. We did not ask the same poll question last year, but it is easy to imagine the number being higher after consecutive conference finals appearances.

Perhaps optimism and homerism are doing some work to keep the number above 50 percent, but homerism is not the same as delusion. There are legitimate reasons to believe. The offseason is not over. Free agency may look fairly barren, but trades remain possible. Connelly has demonstrated an ability to make useful in-season moves, and another transaction similar to the Dosunmu deal could reshape the roster by spring.

The Wolves still possess enough talent to finish among the top teams in the West. Edwards is approaching his prime. Ball gives the offense a dimension it has lacked. McDaniels remains an elite defender. Gobert still supplies the structure for a championship-level defense. Dosunmu offers two-way scoring and flexibility.

The league is also unpredictable. Injuries happen. Young players develop faster than expected. Favorites lose cohesion. Salary pressure forces rivals to break apart.

Perhaps the Edwards-Ball partnership unlocks something magical. The Wolves have spent years building around size, defense, and physicality. This version may be smaller, quicker, and far more explosive offensively. The change could create matchup problems because few opponents are built to handle Ball’s passing imagination and Edwards’ violence in the same backcourt. Minnesota could become a team that keeps defenses spinning, attacks before opponents get set, and turns every turnover into a potential highlight.

There will be difficult stretches. The power-forward hole could prove costly. Ball’s health remains a concern. The young bench could struggle. Gobert’s limitations may become more pronounced in certain matchups without the release valve that Randle and Reid provided. Edwards must continue developing as a leader and decision-maker.

But at the very least, this team should be fun. After watching a roster that often looked disjointed offensively, that alone will feel refreshing. There is a real chance the Wolves rediscover some joy and unpredictability, that Edwards plays freer, that Ball elevates teammates, and that the offense finally stops feeling like it is dragging a suitcase through wet cement.

Sixty-five percent of Wolves fans believe this is still a contender. Maybe two-thirds of us are delusional. Maybe we are looking at the uncertain supporting cast, unresolved frontcourt, and incomplete rotation and choosing to see possibility because that is what fans do every summer.

Or maybe Minnesota genuinely has the pieces to produce something special. A title run is not guaranteed. Another conference finals appearance is not guaranteed. Even a top-four seed in the West is not guaranteed. What is guaranteed is that the future remains young, talented, and flexible.

Anthony Edwards is standing on the edge of his prime. LaMelo Ball is arriving to share the backcourt. The Wolves have already proven they can reach the Western Conference Finals, survive injuries, eliminate champions, and compete with the best teams in basketball.

The roster has changed. The challenge has not.

Minnesota is still chasing the breakthrough that once seemed impossible.

The difference now is that nobody laughs when Wolves fans say it might actually happen.

---

The Timberwolves 2027 Championship odds are now at +2500, at FanDuel Sportsbook. It looks like the LeBron decision cost us 300 points. But that just means the value is even better if you believe in the Wolves!

After a relatively messy 4.5 season saga, Hawks acquired former number seven overall pick Jonathan Kuminga in a swap with the Golden State Warriors for Kristaps Porzingis straight up at last trade deadline.

Could the Hawks get the most out of a talented, but out of favor, forward?

Well, in 16 regular season games with the Hawks, he averaged 12.3 points (58% true shooting) on 22.1 minutes per game. In the six-game Knicks series, those figures were 13.7 points per game (57% true shooting) in 26.0 minutes per game. His overall play was impactful if erratic, and at 24 years of age still, there are many fans of him around the league.

But is Onsi Saleh, the president of basketball operations, one of those fans? Well Saleh did make the decision to turn down his $24.3 million team option for 2026-27.

Now a month later, Jonathan Kuminga remains an unrestricted free agent who has yet to find a home. The Hawks have the ability to execute a sign-and-trade transaction in order to bring back assets this deep into free agency with few teams having necessary cap space or exceptions to take in the forward onto their roster.

While he operated as Atlanta’s sixth man late in the season, there are murmurs Kuminga wants a bigger role somewhere. Additionally, rumors indicate teams aren’t willing to match he and his camp’s asking price.

With that background, what are the prominent insiders saying about the situation surrounding Jonathan Kuminga?

Well, this from Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of the Stein Line substack was posted on July 23, before the Philadelphia 76ers signed LeBron James:

The Cavaliers naturally still badly want to re-sign LeBron — for all of this week’s mounting talk about a second stint for King James on South Beach — and remain hopeful that the 41-year-old Akron native will choose a third marriage with Cleveland over the Heat, Warriors and Philadelphia 76ers.

The expectation thus naturally persists that the Cavaliers, like the Joe Lacob-owned Warriors, will hold off on doing anything else until it is confirmed that James’ second homecoming is out of reach.

That said …

League sources maintain that the Cavaliers are among the teams that have registered interest in former No. 5 overall pick Mario Hezonja. The Real Madrid forward has made it clear that he wants to return to the NBA after playing in Europe for the past six seasons and the last four in the Spanish capital. So add Hezonja’s name to the list of potential fallback options for Cleveland along with Hawks free agent Jonathan Kuminga.

“I think,” said one trusted source, “that we’re going to see eight or nine players sign right after LeBron makes his choice. Maybe more.”

Speaking of Kuminga …

He’ll need help from Atlanta on a sign-and-trade to come anywhere close to last season’s $22.5 million salary, but the latest indications we’ve received suggest that the Hawks are likely to be pretty choosy when it comes to sign and-trade scenarios they’re willing to accept.

Kuminga, meanwhile, is said to be open to an Atlanta return on a short-term deal. The Hawks, though, appear pretty deep at the wing positions after their trade Sunday to acquire Lu Dort from Oklahoma City.

So post-James signing, will the Cleveland Cavaliers offer the Hawks players and/or picks in return for agreeing with Kuminga on a contract? Time will soon tell.

Then, on July 24, Joe Vardon of the Athletic posted in part this update on the Kuminga holding pattern:

Kuminga, though, is more interested in a sign-and-trade deal involving Atlanta because he could earn more money that way. Kuminga is seeking a salary much closer to what he would have earned had the Hawks picked up his option, in the neighborhood of $20 million to $23 million. The two teams most often linked to Kuminga — the Cavs and Los Angeles Lakers — would both need to execute a sign-and-trade to pay him anywhere near that figure. Kuminga could also return to the Hawks on a short contract, and other teams like the LA Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks have been mentioned as potential destinations.

League sources, who spoke on the condition anonymity to discuss ongoing negotiations, said what the Lakers are prepared to offer Atlanta in a trade is underwhelming, whereas Cleveland has potentially more appealing trade pieces. The Cavs have been linked to possible trades of veteran forward Max Strus ($16 million) and point guard Dennis Schröder ($14 million). To execute a sign-and-trade transaction, Cleveland must remain under the NBA’s first salary apron of roughly $209 million, which is why Harden remains unsigned.

---

What do you think the Hawks should do? Re-sign Jonathan Kuminga or look to the Cavaliers or Lakers for a sign-and-trade? Please let me know in the comments below.

Conventional wisdom in NBA free agency is that one big signing could swing the pendulum of power, making teams consider backing up the Brinks truck to bring in a player who could fulfill championship dreams, whether those dreams are realistic or not.

The free-agent class of 2027 might actually live up to that thought process, as it has the potential to be the biggest ever, with future Hall of Famers all over the place, ready to cash in.

The jewels of the class are Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo, two players who figure to have multiple years left in their careers, barring injury, of All-NBA type play. They have won a total of five NBA MVP awards and could break the bank by becoming the first players in one of the four major North American sports to earn more than $75 million per season.

Here is a list of the most prominent free agents for 2027 (with players' ages in 2027, free agent status and contract details):

Nikola Jokic (32) — Player option, $62.8 million (Denver Nuggets)

Giannis Antetokounmpo (33) — Player option, $62,786,682 (Miami Heat)

Anthony Davis (34) — Player option, $62.8 million (Washington Wizards)

Stephen Curry (39) — unrestricted

Kawhi Leonard (36) — Unrestricted

Kevin Durant (39) — Player option, $46 million (Houston Rockets)

Kyrie Irving (35) — Player option, $42.4 million (Dallas Mavericks)

Karl-Anthony Towns (32) — Player option, $61 million (New York Knicks)

Jimmy Butler (38) — Unrestricted

Brandon Ingram (30) — Player option, $41.9 million (:Los Angeles Clippers)

Cooper Flagg (20) — Team option*, $15.2 million (Mavericks)

Jalen Green (25) — Player option, $36 million (Phoenix Suns)

Julius Randle (33) — Player option, $35.8 million (Brooklyn Nets)

Rudy Gobert (35) — Player option, $38 million (Minnesota Timberwolves)

Dylan Harper (21) - Team option*, $14 million (San Antonio Spurs)

Paul George (37) — Player option, $56.6 million (Boston Celtics)

Zach LaVine (32) — Unrestricted

Michael Porter Jr. (29) - Restricted

Jrue Holiday (37) — Player option, $37.2 million (Portland Trail Blazers)

Tyler Herro (27) - Unrestricted

Jerami Grant (33) — Player option, $36.4 million (Memphis Grizzlies)

Josh Hart (32) — Team option, $22.4 million (Knicks)

Isaiah Stewart (26) — Team option, $15 million (Detroit Pistons)

Kristaps Porzingis (32) — $20 million (Golden State Warriors)

* Player currently on rookie scale contract

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo top NBA free agent class for 2027

Here’s the thing with being a cranky old guy — I have to kvetch before I can get to the good stuff.

Here’s my gripe with the Wizards 2026 summer league: they shut guys down. AJ Dybantsa and Will Riley appeared in only two games. Tre Johnson played in just one!

I know the official line. They don’t have anything to prove. No need to risk injury. Blech and blech.

All these young guys have a lot to prove. Injury risk is minimal, and they’re going to spend the rest of the offseason working out, training skills, and playing tons of pickup games.

Meanwhile, another up-and-coming team with youngsters actually played the youngsters. Third overall pick played all six games (and 177 total minutes) for the Memphis Grizzlies. Second-year wing Cedric Coward got 162 minutes in six games.

Yaxel Lendeborg played 170 minutes for the Golden State Warriors. The Chicago Bulls gave Caleb Wilson four games and 111 minutes.

The Brooklyn Nets gave guys they expect to be in their rotation three or four games for the most part. The Charlotte Hornets went 3-5.

New Cleveland Cavalier Meleek Thomas, who dropped mega points on everyone he faced, played four games.

I’m not saying play guys until they collapse from exhaustion. And to be clear, I don’t know what the “right” way is. My guess is that treating 19- and 20-year-olds like they’re too precious and fragile to even face the risk of summer league competition probably isn’t the best way to engender the tough, competitive ethos the Wizards say they want.

‘Nuff said.

Well…okay, I have one more grumble: allowing 10 fouls per player in summer league. This is dumb. In the NBA, players get six fouls for a 48-minute game. In the NCAA, it’s five fouls for 40 minutes. In FIBA competition, it’s five for 40. In other words, one foul for every eight minutes of action. Then summer league where it’s suddenly double that? Dumb.

The 2026 prize for Prodigious Hacking goes to Aidan Mahaney, who suited up for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He committed six fouls in 15 minutes of action — a rate of more than 19 fouls per 48 minutes (extrapolated, which I’m doing here for entertainment value only).

Washington’s top hacker this summer was Julian Reese at 11.7 fouls per 48 minutes.

Okay, some numbers and thoughts for key Wizards from summer competition (PPA is my all-around production metric — in PPA, 100 is average and higher is better; ortg = offensive rating (points produced per possession used x 100), usg = possession usage percentage; all box score stats are per 48 minutes unless otherwise noted):

• AJ Dybantsa — PPA: 293 | ortg: 103 | usg: 33.6% — In his 51 minutes of action, Dybantsa showed why the Wizards made him the top pick. Good size, great athletic tools, impressive skills. He scored 50 points in those 51 minutes, and averaged the second most free throw attempts per minute in summer league. Worry point: Just 1-11 from three-point range, which led to the slightly subpar overall efficiency (-2.2 relative to the summer league average).
• Will Riley — PPA: 216 | ortg: 136 | usg: 26.1% — Shot well from everywhere (67.3% effective field goal percentage) and made frequent trips to the free throw line (more than 10 attempts per 48 minutes). Worry point: Riley’s high PPA is mostly from unrealistic shooting efficiency. His rebounding was below average, his turnovers elevated (just a 1:1 assist-to-turnover ratio), and he had zero steals or blocks in 57 minutes.
• Tre Johnson — PPA: 87 | ortg: 105 | usg: 32.8% — Got up 20 shots in 28 minutes. Yay, I guess. Worry point: My concern about Johnson in the 2025 draft evaluation was the non-scoring aspects of Johnson’s game. That concern manifested on the floor during the regular season, and it showed up again in summer league (just two rebounds, one assist and a steal in 28 minutes — four turnovers, though).

The rest of the summer league roster will likely be part of the Capital City Go-Go, another team’s G League squad, or perhaps overseas. Some numbers and a thought or two:

• Norris Agbakoko — PPAL 148 — Great name. Played well in summer league, but it’s tough to see much of an NBA future considering he’s already 26-years-old. Maybe the next Anthony Gill?
• Chris Livington — PPA: 145 — I was kinda impressed by Livington, who I think might hsve the size and physical tools to be a backup NBA wing.
• Seth Trimble — PPA: 140 — His summer league looked a lot like his pre-draft eval — impressive defender, good rebounder for a guard, and he shot just 4-15 (26.7%) on threes.
• Reece Beekman — PPA: 118 — Lots of assists and steals, not much scoring.
• Domari Monsanto — PPA: 103
• Julian Reese — PPA: 76 — Rebounded well but struggled to convert inside.
• Kadary Richmond — PPA: 74
• Felix Okpara — PPA: 49 — Not too good. Had trouble finishing, meh board work for a big, didn’t block many shots. The numbers that stood out were bad: 5.5 turnovers and 7.6 fouls per 48.
• John Camden — PPA: 39
• R.J. Nembhard — PPA: -66

Around the League

• Most On-Brand Award goes to Cam Boozer, who led summer league in on/off and scored efficiently, got rebounds, set up teammates, and got lots of steals.
• Brooklyn’s Egor Demin (231 PPA) launched 30 three-point attempts in 76 minutes.
• Darius Acuff Jr. (Sacramento Kings) and Darryn Peterson (Utah Jazz) each had a 10 PPA in summer league. Remember, in PPA 100 is average and higher is better.
• Chicago’s Caleb Wilson (133 PPA) shot 13-31 from three-point range in four games. At North Carolina last season, he shot 7-27 in 24 games. He also did a good job on the boards, and generated steals and blocks. Also, 1-in-4 of his possessions ended in a turnover, and he committed more than six fouls per 48 minutes.
• Favorite summer league name: Boo Buie, who played for Chicago.
• Cleveland’s Meleek Thomas was officially summer league’s leading scorer at 27.3 per game. His per 48 average was 45.1. Dybantsa (who didn’t qualify for leaderboards because Washington removed him from the lineup) averaged 47.3 — No. 1 among all players, even low-minute guys.
• Brayden Burries (256 PPA) had a nice summer for the rebuilding Milwaukee Bucks. He shot reasonably well, and produced well across the board (rebounds, assists, steals) while avoiding turnovers.
• For the Toronto Raptors, YODA favorite Allen Graves (189 PPA) was productive across the board (as he was at Santa Clara). He hit shots from everywhere, rebounded, assisted, generated steals and didn’t commit many turnovers (1.7 ast/tov ratio).

Let me know in the comments if there’s someone in particular you’re curious about.

In just a few months, new Mavericks President Masai Ujiri and his counterpart, general manager Mike Schmitz, have grabbed this franchise by the ends and, in a single offseason, with one mighty heave, shaken off all the baggage clinging to this team like dust on an old rug. What was once one of the most stable franchises in basketball has undergone such swift and drastic change that it’s nearly unrecognizable. New GM, new coach, new players. This season will not look like any other recent season of Dallas Mavericks basketball. And that’s great news.

With Dallas finally emerging from the shadow of the “AD Era”, perhaps the darkest in the team’s history, fans are being presented with a roster full of new, young faces that fit the timeline of newly minted franchise cornerstone, Cooper Flagg. It signals that this front office is heeding the advice of Ron Swanson. “Never half-ass two things. Whole-ass one thing.”

While there are still some vets on this roster (for now… the LeBron decision may mean more roster changes are still ahead of us), the Mavericks have taken an unmistakably youth-oriented stance. They are clearly taking the first step in rebuilding a roster that has been hamstrung between contending and tanking for too long.

Dallas is taking a gap year

Dallas will not be contending for a championship this season. That much should be obvious, but they’re also not simply going to let this season go to waste. With very little in their war chest of draft picks to work with, Dallas’ new braintrust went to work quickly adding low-risk, high-reward developmental pieces. Outside of ninth overall pick Morez Johnson, who will shoulder much of the upside expectations by virtue of being Dallas’ last lottery pick for the foreseeable future, the calculus for the other newly acquired players nets out to something between “it’d be nice if he panned out” and “if this works they’re going to call us geniuses.”

In true gap year fashion, Dallas seems poised to spend this season “finding themselves.” They’re going to be developing opinions on what kind of team they can or are able to be, which players on the roster fit that vision, or can grow into a role on that team, and clarify where they still need to address team deficiencies.

The freedom to enjoy things

By unshackling your enjoyment of basketball from the binary of the win/loss column, you are free to find happiness in the margins.

“I hope AD can play today.”
“This is a huge loss for the tank standings.”
“Man, screw Utah, we’re tanking too, but not like THAT.”

These are all thoughts that no longer need to enter your mind. Not only is Dallas in a position to focus entirely on player development, but they also don’t even need to worry about winning too much or not losing enough, because we do not own our pick. Every decision made can be in service of making our players better. And in the meantime, things like…

“Awesome, Cooper scored 50.”
“Wow, Morez just threw down the nastiest dunk I’ve ever seen.”
“Dang, Sergio had double-digit assists.”

…are all nuggets of joy that can be enjoyed at face value, with no ulterior motive.

Your new favorite player is already on the team

To that end, one of the beautiful parts about being a sports fan is watching a player develop. Hopefully into the kind of player that one day means your team is a real post-season contender. And, odds are, with how many new names are about to get embroidered onto the backs of these Dallas jerseys, there’s likely a new fan-favorite just waiting to emerge. In the same way Dirk was able to pass the baton to Luka, now Dwight Powell can perhaps pass the baton to Sergio de Larrea. Or Tarik Biberovic. Or Zaccharie Risacher. Or Santi Aldama. Or, hell, why not, Vsevolod Ishchenko!

Dallas is fully committed to throwing every dart they can at the board and rolling with whoever sticks. It’s a great teambuilding tactic for a team that’s going to have to get creative in how they go about adding talent around Flagg this season and beyond.

And there’s something about an unknown — someone with no expectations, rising to not only meet what little you expected of them, but exceed it. JJ Barea, Dorian Finney-Smith, Salah Mejri; the next iteration of that guy is here, and this season is all about finding out who that is. It’s the basketball version of a whodunnit, but instead of a murder, it’s about who’s going to be a Dallas Maverick for the next five to seven years. Whoever it is will no doubt be embraced by this fanbase, hungry to see their team return to relevance after 18 months of the most torturous basketball ever experienced.

There is an art to trash talk. Not everyone can do it. And when some players try, they are sent packing by those more adept at gab jab. My favorite all time trash talk story was when Kevin Garnett admitted Tim Duncan was unflappable, poked in a quiet way, and simply ruined opponents by simply dominating the game.

That said, trash talk is a big part of the game. Curiosity begs the question of from whence it derived. For sure, it existed on playgrounds and neighborhoods courts. Japery development is as much of the game as learning how to free throw. But there was a time when basketball was a “gentleman’s” game. In order to play in the NBA each man had to have a college degree and could not have any tattoos. The men who played in the early days couldn’t fathom the verbal assaults that players endure today. Those days are long gone (can you imagine all the talent unavailable if tattoos were outlawed?) and now smack talk is 100% a art of the game. It is a tool used toward an upper hand…until it crosses a line.

So who are the habitual line steppers whose trash talk was as integral to their game as a fast break layup?

As the summer lingers on, Bleacher Report continues to offer interesting content to fill the days between Summer League and Preseason. They’ve added an installment of the “Top 50 Trash-Talkers Ever” and while some names seem like a shoo-in, there are others who should have possibly ranked higher.

Let’s start with the former Spurs on the list:

#16 Dennis Rodman, who spent two seasons with the Spurs, definitely belongs on this list. He spent so much of his career getting into opponent’s heads. Rodman didn;t just trash-talk, he’d push and jockey for position. During plays, between plays, after the whistle blew, Rodman’s entire technique was to push guys to their limit. The fact that he took pleasure in the confrontation infuriated players from both sides even more.

#18 Chris Paul was hated by Spurs fans hated him for so many years…until he signed on for a year. And that’s what you want in a trash-talker – someone who you hate to play against and love to have on your side. Paul, one of the most celebrated point guards of all time spent years poking at opponents.

#23 Chuck Person, aka “The Rifleman,” was with the Spurs from 1994-1998. The sharpshooter had a propensity to aggravate his opponents, with his shot as well as verbally.

#24 Stephen Jackson had two stints with the San Antonio Spurs. The first from 2001-2003 resulting in a championship. The second from 2012-2013 allowing the Spurs to trade away Richard Jefferson. For those unaware of Jackson’s verbal style and tone, check out his digital video podcast All the Smoke with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson. His partner, Matt Barnes, is #31 on the list, so you can imagine what their show is like.

#43 Like Captain Jack, Vernon Maxwell also had two tenures with the Spurs. The first from 1988-1990, his first two years in the league, and then again from 1996-1997. He was known for his altercations not only with opposing players, but with fans.

As I was sifting through old video footage one thing was consistent. No matter whose name a put next to the words “trash talk” in search engines, inevitably video results consisted of that player in an altercation with Larry Bird. There should be little surprise that Larry Bird is the #1 trash-talker of all time.

You can see the entire list HERE.

Do you agree? Should anyone be added or amended? Were there any names that surprised you? Personally, I don’t see Kevin Durant as more acerbic than Dennis Rodman. I’ve also heard Luka Doncic trash talk and I am curious if cuts as deep when it requires subtitles. Finally, shouldn’t Dillon Brooks be higher on the list considering his trash talk overshadows most other facets of his skill set?

---

Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.

LeBron James has officially moved on from the Los Angeles Lakers. But what does that mean for Bronny James?

James made his intentions clear on June 30, 2026. Nearly a month later, the four-time MVP announced that he was joining the Philadelphia 76ers.

He thanked Los Angeles and the Lakers for his eight-year tenure in a social media post.

Bronny James, LeBron’s son, remains on the Lakers’ roster.

James just finished his second season with the organization, but there’s been an ongoing conversation in the basketball community about whether he will end up in Philly with his father.

Will Bronny James be traded?

James recently had his contract fully guaranteed by the Lakers for the upcoming season.

James will make $2.3 million this upcoming season, the third year of a four-year deal that he signed in 2024. The Lakers have a team option for the fourth year of James' deal for the 2027-28 season.

ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported that agent Rich Paul made it clear that Bronny and LeBron “are not a package deal” and there was no plan in place to reunite them in Philly.

What is Bronny James’ status with Lakers?

There’s a strong sense of support for Bronny James when it comes to the Lakers’ organization.

James was drafted during the second round by the Lakers with the 55th overall pick in 2024.

He will have an opportunity to build off his second season in the league.

James saw an increase in games played, indicating a stronger sense of belief from coach J.J. Redick.

“He’s gotten significantly better,” Redick said previously about James. “Our staff has confidence in him.”

As a rookie during the 2024-2025 season, he played just 6.7 minutes per game and averaged 2.3 points in 27 games played. James saw the floor in more games this past season, participating in 42 games. He averaged 2.9 points per game and 1.2 assists.

“I really believe Bronny wants to play here (in Los Angeles),” Mychal Thompson, a broadcaster with the team, said on ESPN LA radio. “... I say keep him here and let Bronny branch out on his own. He is a grown man now. … I think he is good enough to play in this league for years to come.”

James played in just two playoff games as a rookie for a combined total of four minutes. He did not average any stats. The second-year player averaged 1.5 points, an assist and 5.3 minutes in eight games played this past postseason.

The USC product did not participate in the NBA’s Summer League as a member of the Lakers earlier this month, but he was seen around the team in Las Vegas.

Lakers depth chart

PG: Luka Doncic, Collin Sexton, Jaden Hardy, Bronny James

SG: Austin Reaves, Cameron Carr, Matisse Thybulle

SF: Quentin Grimes, Jake LaRavia, Ziaire Williams

PF: Sandro Mamukelashvili, Jarred Vanderbilt, Adou Thiero

C: Walker Kessler, Kevon Looney, Sandro Mamukelashvili

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What's next for Bronny James after LeBron leaves Lakers for 76ers

When Draymond Green opted out of his $27.7M salary for next season, it was purely to give the Golden State Warriors the financial flexibility to pursue his good buddy LeBron James. Now that James has chosen the Philadelphia 76ers, it appears that the Warriors are simply going to give him the salary he gave up.

The Warriors are expected to re-sign Draymond Green to a nearly $28 million deal, per @joevardon

(https://t.co/SBfhOug1Qw) pic.twitter.com/t4iUM7RScK

— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) July 25, 2026

There were reasons for the Warriors to give Green an extension to lower his salary cap number for this season. The team would clear space under the first luxury tax apron, where the Warriors are hard-capped, and get a chance to use the money they freed up to pay another premium free agent. However, the Warriors’ wish list seems to have consisted of a single player: James.

Despite rumors he might follow James to his new team, Green was never going anywhere. He was willing to opt out and sign for less, likely with some extra protection like a player option in 2027-28, if the team could get James. If not? The team lets him hit the “Whoopsie” button and get the same deal he gave up. Which is completely fair! If Green’s going to play for less money, the team should actually be spending it on something besides Icy-Hot and Metamucil for the veterans.

It also means Green becomes a free agent next summer, just like the majority of the Warriors roster. Only Gui Santos, Moses Moody, Al Horford, and Yaxel Lendeborg are under contract past this season at the moment, with De’Anthony Melton holding a player option and Kristaps Porzingis owed a $3M buyout if the Warriors cut him loose.

Of course, Steph Curry is quite likely to sign another contract extension next month. But the absence of James means the Warriors have a nearly clean slate after this season. Does that justify an offseason where they’ve so far only added rookies? It probably does to management, who had an offseason to-do list that read:

1. Bring back everyone from last year’s 10th place team
2. LeBron (?!?) LOL

One more year (at least!) of Draymond Green. Maybe one more addition — DeMar DeRozan? Mario Hezonia? Bradley Beal? — but otherwise the main roster drama will be sorting out who gets the two-way deals.

For the record, the funniest possible outcome is the Warriors striking out on Super Mario and signing Jonathan Kuminga, with him wearing a University of Michigan sweatshirt at the signing to troll Draymond. And if you’re wondering, Jaden Ivey is much more likely to catch on with the San Francisco Giants bullpen than the Warriors.

The Golden State Warriors still talk about maximizing Stephen Curry’s championship window. Their latest reported priority, however, appears focused on what comes after it closes.

Warriors owner Joe Lacob wants to prove the organization can remain successful once Curry is no longer leading the franchise, according to longtime Bay Area reporter Tim Kawakami.

“What Lacob wants to do, and this might get Warriors fans mad, but he wants to build the next team after Steph Curry,” Kawakami said on The TK Show. “I don’t know how possible that is, but Lacob has a very keen interest in ‘This organization is going to show what it can do with Steph Curry and then after Steph Curry.’ I don’t think it’s going to be as good myself, but that’s what he wants to do.”

That ambition is understandable for an owner responsible for the franchise’s long-term health. It may be harder for fans to accept while Curry remains capable of chasing a fifth championship.

Golden State pursued LeBron James this offseason but lost him to the Philadelphia 76ers. Rather than immediately pivoting toward another major acquisition, the Warriors appear prepared to preserve their draft capital, re-sign Draymond Green and continue balancing an aging core with younger players.

That strategy has produced mixed results before.

Golden State previously attempted a two-timeline plan built around Curry, Green and Klay Thompson while developing James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody. Wiseman became one of the most costly draft misses in franchise history, while Kuminga was eventually traded without becoming the foundational star the organization envisioned.

The Warriors still control most of their future first-round picks, giving them enough assets to pursue another established player. But holding those selections also protects Lacob’s effort to construct a post-Curry roster.

That creates an uncomfortable question: Is Golden State doing everything possible to win now, or is it already limiting its spending power and trade flexibility to prepare for the future?

Curry is expected to sign a two-year extension that could keep him with the only franchise he has ever played for through the end of his career. He will enter next season at 38, while Green and Jimmy Butler are also nearing the final stages of their careers.

Lacob may eventually get his chance to prove the Warriors can win without Curry.

Warriors fans would probably prefer he wait until Curry is finished before making that the priority.

---

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

Draymond Green created financial flexibility for the Warriors to chase LeBron James. Now that James is headed to Philadelphia, Green must decide whether Golden State still represents his best option.

NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor laid out the dilemma after James agreed to a two-year, $8 million deal with the 76ers.

“Draymond Green has a big decision to make next,” O’Connor wrote on X.

Green can return to Golden State, collect another substantial salary and remain beside Stephen Curry. He would also be rejoining an organization that reportedly explored trading him only five months ago and could revisit that possibility as Curry’s championship window narrows.

The alternative would be testing a market that may offer less money but greater control over where he finishes his career.

O’Connor floated several possibilities, including following James to Philadelphia on a minimum contract or becoming part of a sign-and-trade. Green’s defense, passing and postseason experience would still appeal to contenders despite his age and limited scoring.

The most likely outcome, however, remains a Warriors reunion.

The Athletic reported that Golden State is expected to re-sign Green for nearly $28 million, roughly matching the player option he declined. Green reportedly opted out at the last minute to maximize the Warriors’ flexibility in their pursuit of James and a possible Anthony Davis trade.

---

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

Neither move happened.

Returning would allow Green to continue a partnership with Curry that has produced four championships. He has spent his entire career with Golden State and remains the team’s defensive organizer and emotional center.

But loyalty now comes with uncertainty.

The Warriors have already demonstrated that sentiment will not prevent them from discussing a Green trade if they believe it improves the roster. After missing on James, they may again explore major moves involving Jimmy Butler, Kevin Durant or other available stars.

Green is expected to stay, but O’Connor’s question remains relevant: Does he take the money and continue beside Curry, knowing he could be moved later, or choose his next team before the Warriors choose it for him?