WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 5: Amber Nichols of the Capital City Go Go looks on before the G League Playoff game against the College Park Skyhawks on April 5, 2022 at Entertainment and Sports Arena in Washington, DC. 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 2022 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards have promoted Amber Nichols to vice president of basketball operations and player personal, HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported Tuesday.
The Washington Wizards are promoting Amber Nichols to Vice President of Basketball Operations and Personnel, league sources told @hoopshype. Nichols was previously Washington’s Director of Amateur Evaluation. Prior, she was General Manager of the Capital City Go-Go G League team. pic.twitter.com/9ev4mqItSM
Nichols previously served as the Wizards’ director of amateur evaluation. Before that role, she served as general manager of the Capital City Go-Go — Washington’s G League affiliate.
Wizards general manager Will Dawkins praised Nichols’ role in the team’s draft evaluation process. The Wizards selected AJ Dybantsa and Felix Okpara in the 2026 NBA Draft.
The Los Angeles Lakers are going to honor Jackson, who coached the team to five titles, with a statue outside Crypto.com Arena. A ceremony unveiling the statue is set for April 9, when the Lakers host the Minnesota Timberwolves.
"Phil Jackson defines championship basketball for a reason," Lakers Governor Jeanie Buss said in a statement announcing the ceremony. "His masterful approach to coaching brought out the best in some of the greatest athletes to ever play the game. After he accepted my dad's invitation to join the Lakers, Phil's unmatched creativity and commitment to excellence restored our championship legacy, bringing five titles and setting a standard of excellence for generations to come. It is a great joy to be able to mark that achievement with the statue he so richly deserves."
Jackson first came to the Lakers in 1999, at a time the Lakers were the most talented team in the league, led by Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. However, getting all those players on the same page was the issue. Jackson came in with the gravitas to make everyone listen — especially Shaq, who has said at that point in his career he needed a coach who could stand up to him in his eyes and tell him no. Jackson did (and at points Kobe paid the price). Shaq played arguably the best basketball of his career under Jackson and the Lakers three-peated with that team.
Jackson left, but returned a few years later to patch things up with Kobe and win two more titles with the Lakers in the Kobe and Pau Gasol era.
For much of his time with the Lakers, Jackson and Buss dated and got engaged in 2013, only to break it off three years later.
Jackson becomes the ninth person from the Lakers organization with a statue outside Crypto.com Arena, joining Riley, Shaq, Kobe, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Chick Hearn, Magic Johnson and Jerry West. The one surprising name not on that list: Dr. Jerry Buss.
Welcome to our Lakers Season Preview Series! For the next several weeks, we’ll be writing columns every weekday breaking down the biggest questions we have about every player the Lakers added this offseason. Today, we look at Adou Thiero.
The Lakers used this offseason to revamp their entire roster, getting younger, faster and more athletic as they move into the Luka Dončić era. One of Los Angeles’s key figures in this transitional period — who falls under each of those three categories — is 2025 second-round pick Adou Thiero.
Following a season riddled with injuries hindering him from establishing any modicum of a presence in JJ Redick’s rotation, fans anticipated a leap in Summer League. It took the athletic, high-flying forward a game or two for the play to slow down for him and to start showing glimpses of progression between rookie and sophomore seasons.
The majority of Thiero’s 25 appearances last season were in garbage time as he recovered from his various lower-body injuries. He did, however, earn enough trust to appear in six playoff games, though he averaged just a hair under six minutes per game.
Thiero averaged 15.4 points, six rebounds, three assists and 1.8 steals in his five games in Las Vegas before sitting out the Lakers’ Summer League finale with a wrist injury. He jumped off the screen (almost literally) in every contest, though, flashing powerful dunks, vicious blocks and a vastly improved defensive arsenal.
The Lakers have a gaping hole at power forward and plenty of suitable options alongside Thiero, like Jarred Vanderbilt, Ziaire Williams and Jake LaRavia, competing for a defined role in the frontcourt. But what would Thiero’s path be?
What is his best-case scenario?
Thiero is already one of the best pure athletes in the league, so he fits naturally off the ball next to Dončić and Austin Reaves offensively. Where he could really carve out a role in the rotation this season is by taking a sizeable leap on the other side of the floor as a versatile defensive wing.
Despite limited production last season, Thiero displayed plenty of potential as a connective perimeter defender, grading out in the 64th percentile as a ball screen navigator and the 80th and 83rd percentiles in pick pocket rate and passing lane defense, respectively, according to Basketball Index.
He has a keen awareness of where to be when defending off the ball. Couple that with his natural athleticism and he could be a threat from anywhere on the court.
Watch below as Thiero plays as the tagger off the ball while LeBron James and DeAndre Ayton guard the pick-and-roll. Guarding Scottie Barnes in the corner, Thiero slides over early enough in the action to disrupt the rolling Jonathan Mogbo, then reads Immanuel Quickley’s eyes as he passes to Barnes, who is lifting up to the perimeter. Thiero covers nearly 15 feet of space to steal the ball and create a transition look for the Lakers.
The fully idealized version of Thiero develops a reliable perimeter shot, turning him into the highly-coveted 3-and-D wing archetype. He made just one 3-pointer in three attempts last season. In 12 South Bay games, he shot 10-of-20. Through seven Summer League appearances (California Classic and Vegas), he shot 2-of-14 (14.3%). Thiero not only needs to show an ability to knock down the deep ball, but also the willingness to attempt it.
In regards to his fit alongside Dončić, think of Derrick Jones Jr.
What is his worst-case scenario?
Plenty of underlying proclivities stand in the way of Thiero becoming the version of himself that the Lakers need — namely, the aforementioned lack of perimeter shooting and an already checkered injury history.
Los Angeles drafted Thiero as he was still recovering from a left knee injury he suffered while at Arkansas that sidelined him for the first portion of his rookie season. Later in the year, he was sidelined for five weeks with a right knee MCL sprain. When a player as athletic as Thiero suffers multiple lower body injuries early in their career, that’s usually a cause for concern.
What if he never develops a deep ball? Does he turn into another version of Vanderbilt? Are the injuries this early in his career a problem? Could they become one?
What is his most likely role on the team?
Thiero has a ton of room for growth this early in his career. Although his natural athleticism pops on the court, he still needs to develop the intangibles and floor spacing that separate him from many of his counterparts. That being said, there still is a role that needs to be filled in the frontcourt.
He came to Los Angeles as a work in progress, but, to his credit, he has already showcased an ability and willingness to improve his craft.
We will know as early as training camp whether Thiero made an impactful enough leap in his game to elevate beyond just a fringe rotation player.
The Los Angeles Lakers have announced the club will honor former coach Phil Jackson with his own statue at Crypto.com Arena.
The statue will be unveiled in April, according to the Lakers.
It’s hard to imagine fining a more deserving candidate who not yet honored at the Star Plaza plaza alongside the likes of Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Jackson, 80, guided the Lakers to a three-peat in 2000, 2001 and 2002 when Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal were co-stars. He also helped lead the Lakers to back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010 with Bryant and Paul Gasol propelling the team.
In all, Jackson won 11 NBA titles as a coach, and six of those came with the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan.
In addition to coaching and employing the triangle offense, Jackson earned the nickname “Zen Master’’ for incorporating Eastern philosophy, meditation, and mindfulness when coaching his players.
In his book “Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success,’’ Jackson wrote, “There’s a Zen saying I often cite that goes, ‘Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.
“The point: Stay focused on the task at hand rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.”
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: The sneakers worn by Cody Williams #5 of the Utah Jazz during the game against the Chicago Bulls during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 18, 2025 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
ORLANDO, FL - JUNE 14: Kobe Bryant #24 and Phil Jackson, head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrate after defeating the Orlando Magic in Game Five of the 2009 NBA Finals at Amway Arena on June 14, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. The Los Angeles Lakers won 99-86 against the Orlando Magic. 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 Credit: 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Another Lakers coaching legend will be given high honors by the Lakers.
On Tuesday, the franchise announced that Phil Jackson would be the newest to be cast in proverbial bronze as he would receive a statue outside Crypto.com Arena. The unveiling ceremony will be on Friday, April 9, 2027 ahead of the team’s game against the Wolves.
“Phil Jackson defines championship basketball for a reason,” Jeanie Buss said in a statement released by the team. “His masterful approach to coaching brought out the best in some of the greatest athletes to ever play the game. After he accepted my dad’s invitation to join the Lakers, Phil’s unmatched creativity and commitment to excellence restored our championship legacy, bringing five titles and setting a standard of excellence for generations to come. It is a great joy to be able to mark that achievement with the statue he so richly deserves.”
Jackson led the Lakers to seven Finals appearances and five titles across two stints with the purple and gold. He was the coach who finally took the Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant Lakers over the top, guiding them to their three-peat. He then returned after a brief hiatus away from the team, mended fences with Kobe and eventually helped the purple and gold to two more titles in 2009 and 2010.
Jackson holds the franchise record for wins with 610 and added 118 wins in the postseason as well. In fact, the Lakers made the playoffs every year Jackson was in charge.
He’s generally regarded as one of the greatest coaches in the league’s history and was recognized as such in the NBA’s 75th anniversary celebration, where he was named one of the 15 greatest coaches. Joining him on that list was Pat Riley, who had his own statue unveiled by the Lakers earlier this year.
Jackson is the ninth member of the franchise to receive a statue. Joining him, along with Riley, are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Kobe Bryant, Chick Hearn, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Jerry West
Lakers' Kobe Bryant and coach Phil Jackson share a few words during Game 4 of the 2010 NBA Western Conference semifinals in Dallas. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Phil Jackson will be the next member of the Lakers to receive a statue outside Crypto.com Arena.
The Lakers announced on Tuesday that they have commissioned a statue of the coach who led them to five NBA championships — with help from Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Pau Gasol and others — that will be unveiled April 9 when the Minnesota Timberwolves are in Los Angeles for the next-to-last game of the 2026-27 season.
The statue will be designed and created by Omri Amrany of Rotblatt Amrany Studio.
Jackson had already led Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and the Chicago Bulls to six NBA titles during the 1990s when then-Lakers owner Jerry Buss hired him before the 1999-00 season. He ended up coaching the team in two stints — winning three championships with Bryant and O’Neal as his stars from 1999 to 2004 and two more with Bryant and Gasol leading the way from 2005 to 2011.
Jackson’s 11 championships are the most for any NBA coach, a record he claimed from former Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach (nine).
“Phil Jackson defines championship basketball for a reason,” Lakers governor Jeanie Buss said in a statement released by the team. “His masterful approach to coaching brought out the best in some of the greatest athletes to ever play the game.
“After he accepted my dad’s invitation to join the Lakers, Phil’s unmatched creativity and commitment to excellence restored our championship legacy, bringing five titles and setting a standard of excellence for generations to come. It is a great joy to be able to mark that achievement with the statue he so richly deserves.”
Jackson will join Bryant, O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Magic Johnson, Pat Riley and Jerry West as former Laker players and coaches, along with Chick Hearn, with statues at Star Plaza.
The Lakers will unveil a statue of another legendary coach late in the 2026-27 season.
The franchise announced Tuesday that it’ll unveil a statue of Phil Jackson, who won five NBA championships in 11 seasons with the Lakers, on April 9, 2027 outside Crypto.com Arena.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson waves three fingers signifying the team’s three consecutive NBA championships in 2002. REUTERS
The team is set to host the Timberwolves that night in a nationally-televised game on ESPN.
“Phil Jackson defines championship basketball for a reason,” Lakers Governor Jeanie Buss said in a statement. “His masterful approach to coaching brought out the best in some of the greatest athletes to ever play the game. After he accepted my dad’s invitation to join the Lakers, Phil’s unmatched creativity and commitment to excellence restored our championship legacy, bringing five titles and setting a standard of excellence for generations to come. It is a great joy to be able to mark that achievement with the statue he so richly deserves.”
After guiding the Bulls to six NBA titles from 1991-98, Jackson took over the Lakers coaching reins ahead of the 1999-2000 season, leading the franchise in one of its best eras: Five NBA titles (seven NBA Finals appearances), including three consecutive championships from 2000-02 and back-to-back titles in 2009 and ‘10, while he was head coach from 1999-2004 and 2005-2011.
Jackson is the Lakers’ all-time leader for the most regular-season games coached (902), most playoff games coached (181), most regular-season game wins (610) and most playoff wins (118).
Kobe Bryant (left) won all five of his NBA titles with Phil Jackson as his coach. AP
The Lakers reached the postseason every year under Jackson, including nine 50-plus-win seasons and two 60-plus-win seasons.
Jackson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007 and was named one of the 15 greatest coaches in NBA history as part of the league’s 75th anniversary celebration in 2022.
He’ll become the ninth person the franchise honors with a statue, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Kobe Bryant, Chick Hearn, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Pat Riley and Jerry West.
Shaquille O’Neal (right) won his first three NBA titles with coach Phil Jackson (left). REUTERS
PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 10: Oso Ighodaro #11 of the Phoenix Suns and Mark Williams #15 of the Phoenix Suns talks to the media after the game against the Dallas Mavericks on February 10, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
You may look at the Suns re-signing Mark Williams to a three-year, $38 million contract as unnecessary. He hasn’t exactly been the picture of health throughout his career. And while he played 60 games last season, 15 more than his previous career high, that still left him 22 games short of a full 82-game season.
So why pay him $11.7 million for 2026–27? You have second-year center Khaman Maluach waiting in the wings, along with third-year big Oso Ighodaro providing versatility behind him. On the surface, you could make the argument that Phoenix didn’t need to spend that money on Williams.
I’ve talked ad nauseam about the optionality his contract provides in both the short and long term. If he plays well, you have a quality center on a team that isn’t going to be center-centric. If he struggles, or if Maluach exceeds expectations early, you have a highly tradable contract.
But I’m not worried about any of that today. What stands out right now is how versatile the Suns suddenly are at center. Between Williams, Maluach, and Oso, Phoenix has options depending on what a matchup calls for, and that is one area of the roster that doesn’t feel like it should create much anxiety entering the season.
Phoenix is not a city, or a franchise, that has known much stability at center. Three seasons ago, it was Jusuf Nurkic and Drew Eubanks. Two seasons ago, it was Nurkic and Mason Plumlee. And before that, you had a player with all of the promise but none of the mental toughness to allow it to come to fruition. Too often, the Suns have been stuck with lumbering, limited bigs who check only a couple of the boxes you want from a productive center.
Those boxes? Rim protection. Rebounding. Finishing. Screening. Athleticism. And if you want to add a bonus skill, the ability to stretch the floor. Throughout the organization’s history, Phoenix has gotten two of those six attributes and had to make do.
The beauty of this year’s roster is that Williams, Khaman Maluach, and Oso Ighodaro each check multiple boxes, which gives Jordan Ott the ability to play chess rather than checkers.
Williams graded in the 91st percentile with an A in rim protection, according to BBall Index. He also earned an A in defensive rebounds per 75 possessions, an A- in offensive rebounding talent, an A in offensive rebounds per 75 possessions, and an A in finishing talent, where he ranked in the 93rd percentile.
There is still room for improvement as a screener. His screening talent graded out at a C+, although he earned an A in both screen assists per 75 possessions and roll man possessions per 75.
What Williams did last season was play within the confines of the offense and complement what was happening around him. At times, it felt like he was underutilized, especially when certain mismatches presented themselves, and Phoenix continued to lean heavily into perimeter play.
Still, there’s a reason the Suns paid him. Mark Williams is a quality NBA center. Is he top 15 at the position? Probably not. But when you look at his contract within the context of the league, the value becomes much easier to understand. At an average annual value of $12.7 million, Williams ranks 34th among NBA centers. When you start talking about production relative to price, that is where Mark Williams can provide real value.
Maluach is your wild card, the kid who will be 20 years old when the season starts and showcased plenty of potential this summer in Las Vegas. He still has a lot of work to do, but he already possesses the rim protection, rebounding, finishing, and athleticism you want from a lottery pick. And screening? Stretching the floor? He might eventually be able to do both of those effectively as well. Heck, he shot 40% from deep in Las Vegas this past Summer League, and did so on 20 attempts.
If the progression continues and the opportunity follows, Maluach could become something special, not only as a prospect, but potentially as a franchise cornerstone. We don’t want to put the cart before the horse, but the skill set he brings gives Jordan Ott another piece he can weave in and out of games to disrupt opposing teams.
I think back to last season against the Denver Nuggets, when Ott put Maluach on Nikola Jokic after Jokic had been dissecting Phoenix from the high post all game. Maluach didn’t stop him, but he slowed him down. He forced Jokić to look at different angles and work harder to complete passes because of the length, tenacity, and disruption Maluach brought. That matters because disruption was a major part of what made the Suns successful last season. Maluach fits directly into that identity.
And then you have the advanced metrics darling, Oso Ighodaro.
When you look at the six attributes of a quality big, he doesn’t check every box. His rim protection graded as an A, according to BBall Index, while his defensive rebounding came in at a B plus. His offensive rebounding talent, however, ranked in the 12th percentile and earned an F. As for stretching the floor? That probably isn’t entering his repertoire anytime soon.
What Oso does possess is athleticism, finishing ability, elite screening for the position, and the versatility to switch onto the perimeter. That last part makes him an especially useful defensive option for Jordan Ott. In the modern NBA, having a big who can survive away from the rim and defend multiple types of players is incredibly valuable. Oso gives Phoenix exactly that.
When you put those three players together, you get a level of optionality at center that Phoenix hasn’t had in quite some time. I guess technically since last season, although the hope is that we see much more of Maluach this year.
When all three are healthy, the Suns can dictate pace, adjust to matchups, or respond to whatever an opponent throws at them. And if they aren’t all healthy, there is still viable depth behind whoever is available. You don’t have to sprinkle in starts for Chimezie Metu simply to survive the NBA calendar.
That versatility could end up being one of the unsung strengths of this roster because center is not the featured position in Phoenix. This isn’t Denver or Philadelphia. It’s a complementary position, one that needs to be occupied by capable players who understand their role, embrace it, and thrive within it. Williams, Maluach, and Ighodaro all have the ability to do exactly that.
Phoenix doesn’t need one center to do everything. It needs the position as a whole to provide enough answers over the course of 82 games. Williams gives you proven production. Maluach gives you upside and disruption. Oso gives you versatility and mobility. None of them is perfect, but together they cover a hell of a lot of ground. For a team built around Booker, Green, Bridges, and Brooks, that may be exactly what the position is supposed to look like.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 11: Dillon Jones #1 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on February 11, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Sixers have signed Dillon Jones to an Exhibit 10 contract.
Jones was the 26th overall pick back in 2024, selected by the Washington Wizards before being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder on draft night. He made 54 appearances for the Thunder in his rookie season, playing 10 minutes a game averaging 2.5 points and 2.2 rebounds on 38% field goal shooting.
After being traded back to and waived by the Wizards, he bounced around several G League teams last season before signing a two-way deal with the New York Knicks in January. He made just seven appearances for the Knicks and only averaged five minutes a game per appearance. In 18 games for the Westchester Knicks, he averaged 15.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game, shooting 43% from the field and 38% from three.
Jones was a 32% three-point shooter in his four college seasons at Weber State and hasn’t shot over 25% from deep in his limited NBA opportunities. He did though make a big shooting leap in the G League, going 27.5% from three in his first season to 37% over the course of his second season with three teams.
Since the start of free agency, Jalen Duren has been on top of every NBC Sports ranking of the best free agents available. In every one of those cases, we wrote about how he would definitely be back with the Pistons next season, the only question was the price tag and years. Duren is still technically a restricted free agent and still technically available, but in practice neither is true.
After Duren, who are the best free agents still available? Here is our list of the top seven players who can still be signed.
Cam Thomas
Cam Thomas is a bucket.
Last season between Brooklyn and Milwaukee, he averaged 13.5 points a game. The season before in Brooklyn he averaged 24. However, he's inefficient getting those points (31% from 3 and a .530 true shooting percentage last season, both well below the league average), doesn't involve teammates, and isn't a good defender. In short, he doesn't contribute to winning basketball and, according to teammates, wasn't popular in the locker room.
Which is why he's still available (and was waived by both Brooklyn and Milwaukee last season). However, for a team looking for a scoring punch off the bench, a guy who can go get a bucket, Thomas is available and can get one. Some Miami fans have pushed for the team to sign him, but that seems unlikely at this point. (He's not going to want to play overseas, but he could give his NBA chances a boost with a big season in Europe.)
John Konchar
The seven-year veteran guard was traded from Utah to Minnesota for Josh Green, but the Timberwolves instantly waived and stretched Konchar's salary, giving them the space to sign Jonathan Kuminga.
Konchar is a rock-solid, 6'5" deep bench guard who has a spot in the NBA. He's not going to put up a lot of points (4.3 points per game for his career), nor is he a great floor spacer (34.9% from 3 for his career), but he will get a team rebounds (4.3 a game last season) and will just play smart ball. He has been linked to final roster spots in New York and Miami.
Ochai Agbaji
Agbaji is an athletic wing who has bounced around the NBA for four seasons after being the No. 14 pick out of Kansas in the 2022 NBA Draft. Two seasons ago in Toronto he showed his potential as a 3&D wing, but last season he struggled, shooting 26.6% from 3, although that was a better 34.9% in 20 games with Brooklyn.
If Agbaji can return to his 2024-25 form — 10.4 points per game, shooting 39.9% from 3 — he has real value, but he needs to prove to teams he can be that guy again.
Kelly Olynyk
One of a long list of solid veterans still available, and Olynyk showed his value as a mentor last season in San Antonio. He can fill that role and still contribute.
Olynyk, 34, is a 13-year NBA veteran stretch big who is a career 36.9% shooter from 3-point range, but that fell to 25.5% last season. Still, stretch bigs are always in demand, and it's easy to imagine Olynyk landing somewhere either before the season starts or during it when a team facing injuries (or just a surprise weakness in the frontcourt) reaches out to him.
Bruce Brown
Brown is at the front of the line of a series of veteran guards still available (including Gabe Vincent and Cameron Payne). He played in all 82 games for Denver last season, and while he may not have been the guy from the 2023 championship run, he still averaged 7.9 points and 3.9 rebounds a game, shooting 38.5% from 3-point range. Brown has been linked in rumors to the Lakers and Knicks in recent weeks.
Cam Whitmore
Is there a team out there willing to bet on Cam Whitmore's potential and growth?
He is an explosive scorer, which is why Washington brought him in a year ago, but by early December coach Brian Keefe buried him on the bench because of his lack of passing and defense. He was too one-dimensional (he injured his shoulder in January and was done for the season). With the drafting of AJ Dybantsa, Whitmore was going to be out of the Wizards' rotation, so they traded him to Cleveland, which promptly released him.
Whitmore is just 22 and has played three years in the league, some team should consider taking a flyer on him. Whitmore wouldn't like this, but may have to take a two-way contract (he still has eligibility for that) and prove he can fit with a team before he gets another standard deal.
Kevin Love
Love just turned 38 and has played 18 seasons in the NBA, but for a team looking for a quality locker room guy who can a mentor and still play a little as a stretch big — and throw incredible outlet passes — Love may be the guy.
The five-time All-Star has been linked to a return to Cleveland (where he won an NBA title) and Minnesota (where he played the first six years of his career), but in both cases that likely would come a month or two into the season. Both would be great stories, but it is possible another team makes a move earlier.
Other free agent names of note: 18-year NBA veteran Jeff Green, Nicolas Batum, Dwight Powell, Bismack Biyombo, Cameron Payne, Victor Oladipo, Elfrid Payton, Gabe Vincent and Blake Wesley
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JULY 14: LaMelo Ball #1 and Josh Green #10 of the Minnesota Timberwolves are introduced to the media by President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly, Head Coach Chris Finch and Play-by-Play Announcer Alan Horton on July 14, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Last week, we came on here to ask you all, off the backs of the Jonathan Kuminga signing and Cody Williams trade, which newcomer to the Minnesota Timberwolves you were most excited to see on the court. With such an action packed summer, filled with a full restructuring of the roster around Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels, it was set to be an interesting conversation.
Wolves fans, we want to hear from you!! The Wolves have had a very active offseason, but who are you most excited to watch?
Maybe Isaiah Evans, a second-round pick from Duke who disappointed in Summer League, or Cody Williams, universally seen as the worst rotation player in the NBA last year, or even the confounding “Other” who never shows up on the box score aren’t big enough draws to be added to that list, but the idea was that there would be some difference in opinions.
Well, apparently not, as all of you are in consensus that the Spectacle’s NBA equivalent, the ever mercurial, sporadic but never boring LaMelo Ball is the player most Canis Hoopus readers can’t wait to see.
We haven’t seen a blowout this bad since the Wolves demolished the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Play-In a few years ago. Sheesh.
This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, though. Star players are always going to get the most eyes, and even if I voted for Cody Williams, I also understand that in this site full of basketball degenerates, I may be the most degenerate.
Ball is also an easy player to be excited about. Over the past five years, the Timberwolves have been looking for a solid point guard option next to Anthony Edwards. D’Angelo Russell flamed out after being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers during a hot stretch that brought back maybe the best heist the Wolves have ever pulled off. Mike Conley Jr. was excellent, but age ultimately caught up with him, before he was dumped in Chicago and then returned to Minnesota, only to head to Boston this offseason.
The graveyard of failed guards next to Ant still holds some excellent players. Nickeil Alexander-Walker was one of the best developmental stories in Wolves history, but a point guard, he was not. Bones Hyland has far too many nights in which he destroys his own value with shot-chucking to be considered a solution.
Even the most recent hope, Ayo Dosunmu, is a quality wing off the bench, but he cannot be a point guard. He simply does not make the players around him sufficiently better.
Enter LaMelo Ball, who is expected to be a revelation for a team that has lacked ball-handling and playmaking to an extreme ever since Conley’s decline.
If the already excellent Wolves can fix their biggest hole without losing their defensive identity – one which has always been set by Rudy Gobert, who remains on the roster – they’re set to re-enter contention status after a Mickey Mouse Conference Finals run in 2024-25 and a disappointing collapse last year.
This season is set to be a pretty massive one for the Wolves. As the offseason comes to a close and the Los Angeles Clippers are moved to the G-League, it’s worth looking at just how much depends on this year for Minnesota.
They’ve tapped out their assets for a trio of young stars, all drafted in 2020. They’ve exhausted their draft picks and their movable deals.
If the Anthony Edwards era is supposed to last as long as many fans want it to, the Wolves will need to take a big step forward from a team that had reached its peak to one that can dream once again.
With that in mind, how could the answer ever have been anyone outside of the one and only LaMelo Ball?
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Jaden Hardy #8 of the Washington Wizards looks on against the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter at Chase Center on March 27, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to our Lakers Season Preview Series! For the next several weeks, we’ll be writing columns every weekday breaking down the biggest questions we have about every player the Lakers added this offseason. Today, we look at Jaden Hardy.
Every start of the NBA season, most teams have at least one roster spot occupied by a player they’re uncertain about. For the purple and gold, it’s hard to imagine anyone fitting that description more than Jaden Hardy.
After being acquired from the Wizards along with much-needed draft capital in exchange for Deandre Ayton, the 24-year-old Hardy joined an already crowded guard rotation. He may be coming off a career year with the Wizards where he averaged 12.6 points in 23 games, but his addition didn’t really address a need.
Given that the Lakers’ two best players already occupy the guard rotation and they have options like Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, Matisse Thybulle and Bronny James, it’s hard to see Hardy standing out. That’s why right now, Hardy may hold more value as a tradable asset.
But that’s not to say that the five-year guard won’t have the opportunity to prove that he’s more than that. Hardy can still crack the rotation and the best way he can do that is to surprise everybody, especially JJ Redick.
What is his best-case scenario?
The best-case scenario for the 6’3” guard is to be a serviceable option off the bench, which would mean overtaking the other guards in the rotation. Hardy will have to fit very well in Redick’s system. He has the potential to do so because of his ability to shoot, create his own shot, execute pick-and-rolls and push the pace in transition. This is the type of skillset that bodes well around Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, and Walker Kessler.
Note that across his time with the Dallas Mavericks and Wizards, Hardy shot 38.6% from the 3-point line in 3.6 attempts per game. He doesn’t need to dominate the ball to be useful. Ideally, he becomes a spark plug off the bench or a spot-starter when the superstars sit.
If he can replicate what Malik Monk was for the Lakers in the 2021-22 season, then that’s the best possible outcome.
What is his worst-case scenario?
The worst-case scenario for Hardy is if he’s traded before deadline in February without having the opportunity to prove himself. Not only would that put the 24-year-old on his third team in three years, but it could also leave him entering the final stretch of his three-year contract without establishing himself as a long-term piece, since his team option will be looming ahead of next season.
It’ll also be a shame for the Lakers to be spending $6 million on another guard whose role is to simply warm the bench. For as useful as his offensive upside is, the question is whether Hardy can provide enough value in other areas such as defense, playmaking, decision-making and off-ball impact.
What is his most likely role on the team?
Realistically speaking, Hardy is a third-string scoring guard. He can carve out a role for himself as the team’s microwave scorer and spark plug but that’ll depend on whether he earns Redick’s trust.
The Lakers have had their fair share of undersized, one-dimensional guards in recent seasons and too many of them have ultimately become liabilities rather than assets. Hardy’s challenge will be to avoid falling into that same category. If he can provide consistent scoring without becoming a weakness elsewhere, he has a chance to be a pleasant surprise rather than another player taking up a valuable roster spot.
The Sixers have added Dillon Jones to their training camp roster.
The team announced Tuesday that it has signed Jones, who won NBA championships in his first two professional seasons with the Thunder and then the Knicks.
The deal is an Exhibit 10 contract, according to a source. Jones is expected to join the Sixers at camp and be in the mix for the team’s one open two-way contract slot. Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert inked two-way deals this summer.
Exhibit 10 contracts are one-year, non-guaranteed agreements at the minimum salary. They can be converted to two-ways before the start of the regular season. Many players on Exhibit 10 deals are waived and then stick with the organization’s G League affiliate because of a corresponding bonus within the contract.
The 24-year-old Jones is listed at a sturdy 6-foot-5, 235 pounds. He was selected with the 26th overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft after a highly productive, versatile end to his four-year college career at Weber State. As a senior, Jones racked up 20.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game.
Memphis and New Orleans reportedly agreed to a four-player trade that is largely about the Pelicans saving some money to sign their one big free-agent move.
The Pelicans will send Jordan Hawkins and Micah Peavy, plus a future second-round pick and a second-round swap, to the Grizzlies for AJ Johnson and Taj Gibson, a trade first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN.
This is about saving money for the Pelicans, who will now be almost $9.5 million below the first apron of the luxury tax. They needed that because they agreed to sign Bennedict Mathurin to a two-year, $16 million contract, but that will hard cap them at the first apron.
The Pelicans are expected to waive Gibson, however, Johnson will be brought into training camp with a chance to take the 15th roster spot if he impresses, reports Will Guillory of The Athletic.
Memphis picks up a second-round pick and a second-round pick swap for giving up their cap space in this deal.
Whether Hawkins or Peavy make the final roster in Memphis is up for debate. With them, the Grizzlies have 19 players under standard contracts heading into training camp and need to waive or trade at least four players by the start of the season to get down to 15.
Hawkins, the No. 14 pick in the 2023 draft, averaged 5.1 points per game last season and shot 34.8% from 3 last season. After a promising rookie season, Hawkins has not progressed and last season averaged just 13.6 minutes per game on a struggling Pelicans team. Peavy, a second-round pick in 2025, averaged 4.3 points in 15 minutes a night as a rookie, but has to become more efficient than the 38.5% shooting overall and and 25.9% from 3-point range last season. That said, Peavy's defense earned him minutes and will interest the Grizzlies.
