Category: NBA

As the NBA calendar churns, and as teams look ahead to next season, some of the more interesting storylines extend beyond that.

But, as always in the NBA, player movement and free agency are big draws, so it’s never too early to look ahead to the free agent class of players who may be available during the 2027 offseason. The interesting thing with NBA contracts is that there are multiple levers that could lead to a player being available on the open market.

The simplest are expiring contracts that make players unrestricted free agents at the end of the season, allowing them to sign wherever they choose.

Then there are players who will enter player options or team options. A player option gives the player the right to exercise a one-year term under a salary set during negotiations of the player’s current contract. The team option allows the team to exercise the right to retain the player.

There are also restricted free agents, but it has increasingly become a rarity for opposing teams to snatch away key contributors, since the player’s current team has the option to match an offer sheet. In this case, the player’s current team has all the leverage.

With that in mind, here’s a look at the USA TODAY Sports Top 25 free agents for the 2027 offseason, broken down by their contractual status:

Top 2027 NBA unrestricted free agents

9. Luguentz Dort (Atlanta Hawks)

Guard; 278.3 ppg, 1.2 apg, 3.6 rpg in 69 games

He saw a pretty sizable drop in shooting efficiency across the board, and that hurts his case for a long-term deal. He’s a defensive stopper, but a bounce back on offense with the Hawks will be required for a big payday.

8. Fred VanVleet (Houston Rockets)

Guard; 3214.1 ppg, 5.6 apg, 3.7 rpg in 60 games (2024-25)

The Rockets suffered last season when VanVleet missed the entire season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, and he should stabilize the point guard position this year.

7. CJ McCollum (Atlanta Hawks)

Guard; 3418.7 ppg, 3.9 apg, 3.3 rpg in 76 games

His introduction into the Hawks — first as a reserve and then as a closer in the playoffs — shows McCollum is still adaptable and has the ability to assimilate into a system. His defense is an issue, as is his age, but he’s a solid veteran presence who can lift an offense.

6. Jimmy Butler (Golden State Warriors)

Forward; 3620.0 ppg, 4.9 apg, 5.6 rpg in 38 games

He will be coming off a torn anterior cruciate ligament and turns 37 Sept. 14, but Butler can still be a playmaker when healthy. Butler also coasts at times during the regular season before turning it on in the playoffs; while that may frustrate fans, at his age, it’s just a prudent approach. Either way, it’s reasonable to expect some type of slowdown, given that he’ll be 38 at the start of the 2027-28 season.

5. Tyler Herro (Milwaukee Bucks)

Guard; 2620.5 ppg, 4.1 apg, 4.8 rpg in 33 games

He’s a three-level scorer who has focused extensively on his efficiency metrics, and he’s a player who has deftly handled being involved in trade talks throughout his career. Yet, it’s unclear if the Bucks view Herro as a long-term piece, and this season will be telling. Either way, his significant limitations on defense can make him something of a liability when opposing teams target him.

4. RJ Barrett (Toronto Raptors)

Guard; 2619.3 ppg, 3.3 apg, 5.3 rpg in 57 games

He had his best season (and postseason), so he’s poised to cash in on a solid deal if his production stays the same. And, despite having seven NBA seasons under his belt, he only just turned 26 in June.

3. Michael Porter Jr. (Brooklyn Nets)

Forward; 2824.2 ppg, 3.0 apg, 7.1 rpg in 52 games

His usage rate jumped up more than 10 percentage points to a career high 30.5% in his first season with the Nets, but he registered only a moderate drop in efficiency metrics. He’s a plus rebounder and thrives on the perimeter, but he’ll need help to lead a team to competitive play.

2. Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)

Guard; 3826.6 ppg, 4.7 apg, 3.6 rpg in 43 games

Set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this upcoming season, it’s tough to envision Curry anywhere but Golden State. Despite his age, he remains a lethal shooter and one of the tougher players to guard because of his off-ball movement and quick release.

1. Kawhi Leonard (Toronto Raptors)

Forward; 3527.9 ppg, 3.6 apg, 6.4 rpg in 65 games

When he’s available and healthy, Leonard is among the best two-way players in the NBA. The specter of the NBA investigation into alleged salary cap circumvention is no longer hanging over Leonard’s head, so his trade to the Raptors should be resolved soon.

Notable mention: Zach LaVine (Kings), Cameron Johnson (Nuggets), Miles Bridges (Suns), Saddiq Bey (Pelicans), Miles McBride (Knicks), Donte DiVincenzo (Timberwolves), Max Strus (Clippers)

Top 2027 NBA free agents: player options

12. Paul George (Boston Celtics)

Guard/forward; 36; $56.6 million player option for 2027-2817.3 ppg, 3.6 apg, 5.3 rpg in 37 games

Availability and a dropoff in production are the big concerns, though perhaps George could revive his career in Boston, where he should have the green light to shoot from the perimeter. But he’ll have a choice to make — to either secure that lucrative one-year salary for 2027-28, or to opt out instead for a multi-year agreement.

11. Brandon Ingram (Los Angeles Clippers)

Forward; 28; $41.9 million player option for 2027-2821.5 ppg, 3.7 apg, 5.6 rpg in 77 games

This is another interesting case because he’s still in his prime, though the Clippers may not view him as a long-term fixture (assuming the trade for Kawhi Leonard does go through).

10. Dejounte Murray (New Orleans Pelicans)

Guard; 29; $30.8 million player option for 2027-2816.7 ppg, 6.4 apg, 5.4 rpg in 14 games

He looked solid in his small-sample return late in the season from a ruptured Achilles tendon, and he is an excellent two-way guard option with some size. A big year could prompt him to decline his option for a more lucrative, long-term deal.

9. Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers)

Guard; 36; $14.1 million player option for 2027-2824.9 ppg, 7.1 apg, 4.7 rpg in 58 games (2024-25)

It’s no sure thing to come off an Achilles tendon rupture, especially as a player of his age. But Lillard is still one of this generation’s all-time shooters, and his style of play should allow for sustained production. Yet, given his desire to return to Portland, it feels like Lillard is there for the long-term.

8. Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves)

Center; 34; $38 million player option for 2027-2810.9 ppg, 1.7 apg, 11.5 rpg in 76 games

He is still a dominant defensive force and has been the anchor for the Timberwolves. Though Gobert is offensively limited, there is a demand for rim protectors, though he may want one more chance to ink a lucrative, long-term deal.

7. Anthony Davis (Washington Wizards)

Center; 33; $62.8 million player option for 2027-2820.4 ppg, 2.8 apg, 11.1 rpg in 20 games

This will be an interesting case because, on the open market, Davis won’t see the type of payday available to him through the option. So this will test whether he sees Washington as a longer-term option. Either way, availability and durability concerns continue to prevent Davis from being a dominant force.

6. Kyrie Irving (Dallas Mavericks)

Guard; 34; $42.4 million player option for 2027-2824.7 ppg, 4.6 apg, 4.8 rpg in 50 games (2024-25)

He missed all of last season as he recovered from his torn anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered in March 2025, so it will be interesting to see how he responds this season. Still, he should remain one of the best ball-handlers in the NBA and a player who can operate in the tightest of spaces. The complicated element in this is that the Mavericks are rebuilding and may have a different timeline to consider.

5. LeBron James (Philadelphia 76ers)

Forward; 41; $4.1 million player option for 2027-2820.9 ppg, 7.2 apg, 6.1 rpg in 60 games

At this point of his career, his best asset is his ability to create plays for others, especially in transition. But by taking the deal James signed this offseason with the Sixers, it was clear this was not about money. He wants to compete for championships, and it’s hard to see James — who is extremely calculated and measured in his career choices — to upend his career once more. Given his age, his workload will need to be managed cautiously.

4. Kevin Durant (Houston Rockets)

Forward; 37; $46.1 million player option for 2027-2826.0 ppg, 4.8 apg, 5.5 rpg in 78 games

He might be the best pure scorer of this generation, and he still has plenty of offense left to offer, especially with his size and shooting ability. There was the issue of an alleged burner and some potential concerns in the locker room, but Durant has been searching for an elusive third NBA title.

3. Karl-Anthony Towns (New York Knicks)

Center; 30; $61 million player option for 2027-2820.1 ppg, 3.0 apg, 11.9 rpg in 75 games

He showed how versatile he can be when the Knicks altered their offense mid-postseason to run distribution through Towns. He boasts deep shooting range, can pass and rebound and can step up his defensive effort when he wants. He’s in his prime, but foul trouble and some occasional inconsistent stretches can crop up.

2. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Miami Heat)

Forward; 31; $62.8 million player option for 2027-2827.6 ppg, 5.4 apg, 9.8 rpg in 36 games

He didn’t hand-pick the Heat to not eventually sign a long-term extension there. Because of the trade, he won’t be extension eligible until early January. Either way, he is an offensive force and one of the elite stars in the sport. Nagging calf injuries, however, are a concern worth monitoring.

1. Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets)

Center; 31; $62.8 million player option for 2027-2827.7 ppg, 10.7 apg, 12.9 rpg in 65 games

The three-time Most Valuable Player remains the most gifted offensive player on the planet, with his low-post footwork and elite vision and passing ability. He and the Nuggets will almost certainly work out a massive max contract, worth north of $359 million, but Denver needs to find ways to keep Jokić happy with a competitive roster.

Notable mention: Jrue Holiday (Trail Blazers), Jalen Green (Suns), Julius Randle (Nets), Ty Jerome (Grizzlies), Bennedict Mathurin (Pelicans)

Top 2027 NBA free agents: team options

4. Santi Aldama (Dallas Mavericks)

Center; 25; $17 million team option for 2027-2814.0 ppg, 2.9 apg, 6.7 rpg in 43 games

Aldama, a 7-foot, versatile scorer who has improved every season he has been in the league, could be a nice asset for the Mavericks, or any team he’d join. Size and shooting range are his best assets.

3. Ajay Mitchell (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Guard; 24; $2.9 million team option for 2027-2813.6 ppg, 3.6 apg, 3.3 rpg in 57 games

After Mitchell broke out last season, especially in the playoffs, when the Thunder suffered a number of injuries, this team option is a massive bargain for Oklahoma City. The Thunder will likely want to try to negotiate a long-term extension to show goodwill, because Mitchell could become a key — and young — piece in the Thunder’s identity. Luxury tax and apron issues are considerations, but Mitchell is certainly a player worth investing in. If he hits the market, he should command a nice payday.

2. Josh Hart (New York Knicks)

Forward; 31; $22.4 million team option for 2027-2812.0 ppg, 4.8 apg, 7.4 rpg in 66 games

He won’t wow you with his stats, but Hart is versatile and makes the types of winning plays that don’t necessarily show up on the box score. He’s an excellent rebounder and can stroke a decently reliable shot from the perimeter, though he has found his home in New York. He’s a key part of this core. Will salary issues force the Knicks to move on?

1. Norman Powell (Chicago Bulls)

Guard; 33; $22.6 million team option for 2027-2821.7 ppg, 2.5 apg, 3.5 rpg in 58 games

Coming off his first and only All-Star season with the Heat, Powell showed that he can be a steady scoring presence, even when taking on a larger role. But the Bulls are in something of a rebuild, so a veteran of Powell’s age might not fit their timeline.

Notable mention: Isaiah Stewart (Grizzlies), Jaylen Wells (Grizzlies), Isaiah Joe (Pistons), Jaylin Williams (Thunder)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ranking the top 25 NBA free agents set to hit the 2027 market

While the Long Island Nets don’t begin their 2026-27 season until November 6, the team’s roster is beginning to take shape.

As shared in a Thursday press release, Long Island has acquired guard Dwight Murray Jr. and a 2026 first-round pick in the G League Draft from the College Park Skyhawks in exchange for a 2026 first-rounder (via Cleveland) and a 2027 second-round pick.

The Long Island #Nets have acquired G Dwight Murray Jr. and a 2026 first-round pick from College Park in exchange for a 2026 first-rounder (via Cleveland) and a 2027 second-round pick.

Murray averaged 8.9 PPG and 5.0 APG over two G League seasons and played for Brooklyn at…

— Connor Long (@connor_long15) September 3, 2026

Standing at 6’0” and 181 pounds, Murray has appeared in 90 career G League games (51 starts) across two seasons with the Skyhawks. Throughout his career in the G League, the 26-year-old has averaged 8.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in 23.5 minutes per game. A Georgia native, he played college ball at Rider in Lawrence Township, N.J.

In the 2025 Tip-Off Tournament, Murray tallied 96 assists, tied for the ninth-most in the G League. He earned an invite to the Brooklyn Nets’ Summer League squad, appearing in two games while averaging 5.0 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists on 33.3% shooting from the field and a 40% mark from beyond the arc throughout 15.7 minutes.

It’s also important to keep in mind that Long Island’s first-year head coach, Shawn Swords, was an assistant on Brooklyn’s Summer League staff, so there’s already some familiarity between him and Murray.

This wasn’t the only trade of the week for Long Island, as the team announced Tuesday that they acquired a first-round pick in the 2027 NBA G League Draft from the Santa Cruz Warriors and the returning player rights to guard Joey Calcaterra from the Memphis Hustle in a three-team trade. Long Island traded the returning player rights to guard Yuri Collins to Memphis.

The Long Island Nets have acquired a first round pick in the 2027 NBA G League Draft from the Santa Cruz Warriors and the returning player rights to guard Joey Calcaterra from the Memphis Hustle in a three-team trade. Long Island traded the returning player rights to guard Yuri… pic.twitter.com/SwjX0DbAXY

— Long Island Nets (@LongIslandNets) September 1, 2026

Calcaterra, 27, hasn’t produced at the same level Murray has throughout his G League career. Across 28 career games, Calcaterra has averaged just 3.0 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 10.8 minutes per game, shooting 37.5% from the field and 32.1% from deep.

Long Island’s roster is starting to come together. Aside from Murray and Calcaterra, Brooklyn has filled two of its three two-way spots with forwards Chaney Johnson and second-round rookie Tyler Bilodeau.

The Nets also signed 6’9” Nick Pringle out of Arkansas to an Exhibit 10 contract, putting him in line to spend time with Long Island.

In July, the organization selected 6’4” guard Tidjiane Dioumassi in the G League’s International Draft.

Then, there is Grant Nelson. The 24-year-old has agreed to a training camp deal, according to Chinese media, although NetsDaily can’t confirm that report. He spent time with both Brooklyn and Long Island last season, but his year was cut short due to patellar tendinitis.

Also, it is fair to assume that some members of the Flatbush 5 will spend some time at the Nassau Coliseum this year along with the No. 28 overall pick in this year’s draft, Joshua Jefferson. And three other members of the Nets Summer League roster have also reportedly agreed to Exhibit 10 deals: Dion Brown, a 6’4” combo guard out of St. Louis and two 6’9” bigs: Ben Humrichaus, a wing who played for Illinois last season, and Dain Dainja, a power forward/center who played for the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the Heat’s G League club.

Overall, there should be no shortage of young talent cycling through Long Island this year.

Amen Thompson's rise in the NBA will continue with the Houston Rockets.

The Rockets and Thompson have come to terms on a new lucrative contract extension that will make the 23-year-old a franchise cornerstone for the foreseeable future, according to multiplereports on Thursday, September 3.

Thompson has agreed to sign a 5-year, $208-million contract extension with the Rockets, ESPN reported. The uber-athletic two-way guard was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. He just completed the most productive season of his career, despite being playing out-of-position at point guard at times.

Here are more details on Thompson's new contract extension, as well as what it could mean for the Rockets this season and into the future:

CLIPPERS: What punishment did they get? NBA releases full list of penalties

Amen Thompson contract details

Thompson agreed to a 5-year, $208-million contract extension with the Rockets and it includes a 10% trade kicker, according to ESPN.

The deal carries an average annual value of $41.6 million, which is below what Thompson would have received had he signed a max contract extension. The new deal won't begin until the 2027-28 season. Thompson is set to earn about $12.2 million for the 2026-27 season as part of his rookie contract.

What Amen Thompson's contract extension means for Rockets

This contract locks Thompson in as one of the Rockets' foundational players moving forward along with Alperin Sengun, who the team signed to a long-term extension in October 2024. Thompson is already one of the league's best perimeter defenders and his athleticism can change the momentum of games on both ends of the floor.

That Houston got Thompson to agree to a deal below the maximum salary level is notable for future salary cap flexibility. It could become a relative bargain if Thompson's upward trajectory continues and he develops more as a shooter and ballhandler.

Amen Thompson stats

Thompson is coming off the best statistical season of his NBA career. He averaged a career-high 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.5 steals while appearing in a career-high 78 games for the Rockets during the 2025-26 season.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Amen Thompson gets huge contract extension: What it means for Rockets

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 start with a look at the team’s three two-way players, Chris Mañon, Arthur Kaluma and AK Okereke.

Throughout his brief tenure with the Lakers, head coach JJ Redick has been more than willing to give two-way players a chance.

Last season, it was Nick Smith Jr. who stepped up early in the season to help win a game and, eventually, earn a regular contract at the end of the season. Drew Timme also saw a stretch in the rotation in the middle of the season to help with the team some games. In Redick’s first season, Trey Jemison and Christian Koloko got plenty of playing time, particularly after the Luka Dončić trade.

That foundation leads to optimism that a pair of intriguing two-way options for the team this season in Chris Mañon and Arthur Kaluma could find their way onto the court. Both were not just part of the surprisingly fun Summer League Lakers, but standouts.

Both also possess unique skill sets not seen elsewhere on the team’s roster. Is that enough of a path to lead them to minutes this season? And can the team’s third two-way player, AK Okereke, find his footing in the G League and blossom into the team’s next diamond in the rough?

What is his best-case scenario?

Chris Mañon

Defensively, Mañon has been league-ready since last season. The questions have largely centered on the other side of the court. At Summer League, Mañon had some promising offensive flashes.

If he’s able to hit threes at a league-average rate, excel off the ball as a cutter and weakside playmaker or be able to get downhill and finish at the rim, then things become more interesting. He very well may be the team’s best perimeter defender and if he can survive offensively, he wouldn’t be far removed from a standard contract.

Arthur Kaluma

Kaluma’s advantage this season is the gaping hole at the forward spot in the starting lineup and rotation overall. Multiple players are going to get chances in that position, with Kaluma likely one of them. If he can prove in the preseason and training camp that Summer League wasn’t a flash in the pan, then I think there’s a real chance he gets a chance in the regular season.

The Lakers need front court bodies. Kaluma is a big that can stretch the floor and still be physical. If he can make that work in real NBA minutes, then it’s going to be hard to keep him off the floor.

AK Okereke

Even in the most glass-half-full outlook, it’s hard to see Okereke doing much more than developing in the G League this season. He also had moments in Summer League, but they were much shorter and surrounded by a lot more examples of the development he needs.

That being said, fellow two-way signee Kaluma painted a pretty clear picture of how to spend a year behind the scenes developing and turn that into an opportunity.

What is his worst-case scenario?

Chris Mañon

This is pretty obvious, but everything about Mañon’s playability hinges on his offense. If he can’t find his shot and struggles without the ball in his hands, then it’s going to be hard to keep him on the floor, no matter how good he is defensively.

As much as the Lakers need defense, Redick has shown that there aren’t many minutes to be had even for good defenders if it’s 4-on-5 on the other end of the floor.

Arthur Kaluma

What if Kaluma’s strong summer was just a hot streak? He wouldn’t be the first player to play well in Las Vegas and then struggle months later when the games actually matter.

No one is expecting him to hit threes at the insane clip he did in Summer League, but if he becomes someone who can’t space the floor and teams don’t respect him from the perimeter, then most of his value is lost. Suddenly, he can’t drive by defenders on hard closeouts or splash home open threes.

And matched up against NBA forwards, the speed and intensity can overwhelm guys. If Kaluma can’t adjust on that end, then he’s not just another Laker who can’t defend, but one who can’t at least make up for it on the other end.

AK Okereke

It’s no secret that Okereke is the two-way signing closest to the chopping block. That adds a small sense of urgency to his development.

If he isn’t coming along early or another, more intriguing option comes along, then it’s unlikely the Lakers would hesitate to part ways with Okereke and use his two-way spot on someone else.

It wouldn’t spell the end of Okereke even in the Lakers’ system, but it would put more pressure on him to find his role in the league.

What is his most likely role on the team?

With how preseason games typically shake out, there’s going to be real chances for Kaluma and Mañon, specifically. As guys rest and rotate through games, those two are likely going to be some of the guys who benefit from some extra minutes with the actual rotation players.

If they can impress in those outings, then I think there’s also a real chance they get opportunities in actual games, too. For both, it feels like a strong preseason could parlay into minutes in the season. Otherwise, they’ll be playing from behind and have to wait for an opportunity to open up.

As for Okereke, his two-way spot is far from secure. One wave of injuries to the parent Lakers or an unexpected roster cut — a la Smith Jr. last year — could mean his two-way contract is gone.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

The Kawhi Leonard saga came to a head on Wednesday, Sept. 2, when the NBA released the results of an 11-month investigation that concluded the Los Angeles Clippers knowingly circumvented the league's salary cap through "no-show" endorsement deals for their former star forward.

The Clippers are being fined $30 million, and the team will forfeit five first-round picks in the 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032 and 2033 NBA drafts. Leonard has been fined $700,000, but will not be suspended. The league, however, is suspending Ballmer, the team's owner, from all league activities for one year.

It's perhaps the harshest punishment in NBA history. Here's what we know.

What did the Clippers do?

The official investigation report from the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz explicitly lays out why the organization was hit with such harsh penalties.

Throughout the 36-page document, investigators state the three individuals most responsible for the Clippers’ rule-breaking are team owner Steve Ballmer, president of business operations Gillian Zucker and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank. Among their transgressions:

• The Clippers were punished for circumventing the NBA salary cap before. The team was fined $250,000 in 2015 for trying to facilitate an endorsement deal for free agent DeAndre Jordan.
• The Clippers denied agreeing to requests from one of Leonard's relatives for additional benefits prohibited under the CBA.
• The Clippers introduced Leonard to representatives of companies who later became corporate sponsors of the team and who signed endorsement deals with Leonard at almost the exact same time.
• The Clippers executives repeatedly delayed and attempted to obfuscate the NBA's ability to obtain information about the case.

How does the punishment affect the Clippers' future?

The Clippers roster over the next several years will be severely impacted by the NBA's ruling.

Most important is the loss of five-first round draft picks − in 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032 and 2033.

In addition, the team's proposed trade sending Leonard to the Toronto Raptors is currently on hold.

If the trade goes through, L.A. will receive Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and two unprotected first-round picks, two second-rounders and a first-round pick swap in 2027. After that, roughly half of the Clippers' cap space this season will be tied up in two players, guards Ingram and Darius Garland, who are set to make over $82 million combined this season according to Spotrac. 

Is this the end of the Kawhi Leonard saga?

Maybe not.

Independent journalist Pablo Torre, whose reporting spurred the NBA's investigation of the Clippers, said on his Sept. 2 "Pablo Torre Finds Out" podcast: “There is more to come than is in the NBA report ... This is not everything.''

Torre pointed out that the NBA's report did mention an unidentified second player, and that the league issued a statement acknowledging "more information will likely surface over time."

Winners and losers of NBA's Kawhi Leonard investigation

Certainly, Torre comes out as one of the biggest winners. His efforts struck a huge blow for investigative journalism, especially in the face of repeated criticism from NBA and media personalities.

Leonard himself seemingly got off easy, considering he is allowed to keep the millions he received for "sponsorship duties."

The Clippers, on the other hand, paid a hefty price.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA punishes LA Clippers over Kawhi Leonard deals: What we know

The Los Angeles Clippers circumvented the salary cap to funnel extra money to Kawhi Leonard for his commitment to the team, and they were caught red-handed. The NBA dropped the hammer on the Clippers on Wednesday after a one-year investigation into the allegations first uncovered by journalist Pablo Torre. The NBA decided to dock the Clippers five future first-round draft picks while suspending governor Steve Ballmer for a year as punishment for Leonard’s no-show endorsement deal with Aspiration and other companies. This is a massive penalty, and it could ruin the Clippers for the next decade.

The NBA had precedent to punish cap circumvention with the 2000 Joe Smith scandal that stripped the Minnesota Timberwolves of five first-round picks back when David Stern was commissioner (though two picks were eventually returned). Adam Silver followed through after a thorough investigation by top-rated law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen, & Katz. While Leonard and Ballmer came away with relatively small fines compared to their level of wealth, Clippers fans and players suffer after receiving this devastating penalty.

Still, the NBA got it right. This was a job well done by Silver and the league office. Let’s go through the winners and losers of this historic NBA story.

Winner: Pablo Torre

Torre was named in the first sentence of the report on the NBA’s findings. His independent reporting started this investigation and led to the one of the biggest punishments in sports history. He went after a billionaire for cheating the system, and he was completely vindicated. This ruling is an incredible victory for Torre, yes, and also for journalism. At its core, journalism isn’t about scooping a press release by a few hours — it’s about finding the truth, holding power accountable, and giving unbiased, verified information to the public. Torre did that by taking on one of the richest billionaires in the world and continuing to stand strong in his reporting despite a massive smear campaign against him. Hopefully, he inspires a younger generation of journalists to keep searching for the truth in a dying field.

Winner: Adam Silver

It would have been convenient for Silver to sweep this under the rug. Ballmer has been a great owner for the NBA, pouring tons of money into a stale Clippers franchise and doing everything he can to revitalize a dormant organization in one of the league’s biggest markets. This punishment could potentially turn off other sponsors, who now might worry they’re doing something wrong if they agree to endorsement deals with players, which happens for all 30 teams. Silver has always made his top priority protecting the league’s money, but in some ways it came at the risk of losing integrity. There was simply too much evidence in the report by Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen, & Katz to ignore. Silver made the difficult decision to punish the league’s richest owner and stand up for the league’s rules to help ensure competitive balance. I was ready to roast Silver if he let the Clippers off the hook. Instead, I’m applauding his judgment. The NBA has more integrity today than it did yesterday because of this ruling. The other owners are fully put on notice that you can’t just spend your way past the rules. Silver laid down the law, and he deserves all the credit for it.

Winner: Kawhi Leonard

Leonard has to pay back $700K in restitution for improper benefits. Aside from that? He’s getting off scot free despite being the central figure in this entire fiasco. I suppose Leonard can hide behind the idea that it was Uncle Dennis asking for all these endorsement deals, not him. Sure, man. The reality is that Leonard was one of the best players in the NBA at the time, but he wasn’t landing the same endorsements as LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant because he has a bizarre, off-putting personality away from the court. Kawhi is a robot. Uncle Dennis made it his mission to get Leonard the money he thought he deserved, but the problem is he refused to do any actual work for any of it. I really feel like the Clippers could have evaded this entire debacle if Leonard would have just shared some Instagram posts, taken a few pictures, and planted a few trees. Instead, Leonard did absolutely nothing. The Clippers essentially funneled money to various sponsors as a way to give Kawhi a little extra. Kawhi’s reputation took a hit in this, for sure, but it didn’t impact his money or his career. The trade to the Raptors will finalize soon, and shortly after that, Kawhi will probably sign the last huge contract extension of his career. I think Toronto is good enough to potentially reach the NBA Finals with Leonard next season. What a story that would be after all this nonsense.

Loser: The Clippers

Obviously. The 2020s are fully cooked for the Clippers, and they’re probably screwed for the 2030s, too. Let’s move on to the next one.

Loser: ESPN

ESPN seemed to get out of the business of journalism a long time ago, but their coverage of this story was lazy at best and flat-out dishonest at worst. This company once had Pablo Torre and many other great reporters on staff. Now all of their money goes to Pat McAfee and Stephen A. Smith. Torre broke this story, and ESPN’s reporters, with far more resources, never advanced it and seemed to spend most of their time covering up for a lying mega billionaire. ESPN’s bad coverage started with Ramona Shelburne’s softball interview with Ballmer shortly after the allegations broke. Go back and watch it now, and it looks totally pathetic for every party involved. Two weeks before the Wachtell report dropped, ESPN published a story with this headline:

Shams Charania’s byline was originally on that story, but it’s not today after the punishment dropped. Weird! ESPN’s report said that there was no evidence of Ballmer funneling money to sponsors to get Kawhi endorsement deals. Wachtell sure found a lot of evidence after Torre pointed them in the right direction. ESPN’s podcasts like The Hoop Collective, which I often listen to, also never really took the story seriously. ESPN’s reporters dropped the ball at every turn. It’s a truly humiliating moment for the company, and it’s the ultimate proof that it has no interest in trying to do actual journalism anymore.

i regularly listen to hoop collective and they were so pathetic on that whole story that i questioned why i listen to them in the first place. completely co-opted and towing the party line

— Bingo! At the Rock'n'Roll club (@whocareenergy) September 2, 2026

I stopped listening to them due that nonsense. The whole ESPN organization stuck its head under a rock. Baxter Holmes only wrote recap stories after each new piece of evidence was released. ESPN’s army of reporters didn’t break a damn thing on the years biggest NBA story.

— Tim Hazard (@TimHazard775) September 3, 2026

Loser: Keaton Wagler

The Clippers were arguably the luckiest team of the 2026 NBA Draft lottery. Los Angeles landed the Indiana Pacers’ first-round pick in the Ivica Zubac trade, but it was top-4 protected. That pick came in at No. 5, which meant the Clippers got it, and they used it to draft Illinois guard Keaton Wagler. I feel for Wagler today more than anyone else. Wagler is now joining a franchise with a dead-end future who won’t be able to pair him with other talented young players moving forward because of this penalty. The Clippers badly need Wagler to turn into a superstar, and it could still happen, but now it feels like he’s destined to spend the first half of his career next to a bunch of cast-offs and veteran free agents. Whatever optimism Wagler felt about his future with the Clippers has to be crushed now.

Loser: Clippers fans

Steve Ballmer is still one of the richest people in the world. Kawhi Leonard got away scot free. The people who will truly feel this punishment are Clippers fans, as if they didn’t have it bad enough already. The Clippers were a terrible franchise in the ‘80s, ’90s, and ‘00s. Things started to tick up when they traded for Chris Paul and drafted Blake Griffin, but those teams never made it out of the second round. It really felt like the Kawhi and Paul George era was going to bring the Clippers sustained success and possibly a championship. They were my 2020 title pick! Instead, Kawhi basically played half a season every season during his time in Los Angeles, and the furthest they ever made it was a conference finals. Now the franchise is totally decimated for at least the next 10 years. First round picks don’t just give teams the ability to acquire good young players, they are also the currency to make transactions. It’s like the Clippers have a gun without any bullets now. If the Clippers have any sense, they should make the tickets and the merchandise much more affordable going forward. The team has no hope for the future because it cheated and got caught. The least they could do entertain their fans for an affordable price. Ballmer doesn’t need the extra money anyway.

They won’t do it, mainly because it’s how nothing in life works, but the Clippers should absolutely lower the price of tickets, concessions, merchandise, etc. for the foreseeable future. The fans, at least, deserve that from them for all of this.

— Justin Russo (@FlyByKnite) September 3, 2026

Winner: Lakers fans

I’m almost disgusted by how happy Lakers fans are in this. Their joy is palpable. The Clippers have never been a real threat to the Lakers’ dominance inside or outside of Los Angeles, but now the Clippers are completely cooked. Lakers fans couldn’t be happier.

Wait so the Clippers had to give up more first round picks than the number of playoff series they won with Kawhi? Lmaooooooooo

— Anthony F. Irwin (@AnthonyIrwinLA) September 2, 2026

Winner: NBA integrity

The NBA still has plenty of problems, to be sure. The regular season is too long (this is the biggest one), the style of play leads to too many injuries, officiating is inconsistent (hey, it’s the hardest sport in the world to officiate), the end of games drag out forever with commercial stoppages and challenges, etc. I do think the NBA has more integrity today than it did yesterday with this Clippers punishment, though. It would have been really easy for Adam Silver to essentially sweep this under the rug with a light punishment. He didn’t do that. He made an example out of the Clippers, which was absolutely essential given that the league now basically operates with a hard cap. The league had to come out with an iron fist to deter this type of thing from happening again. In this case, the punishment fit the crime. Add in the new anti-tanking rules (which I don’t like, but hey), and the NBA might actually have some good PR on their side for the first time in years.

Winner: Players’ Union

The union is the reason that Kawhi got away with all this with a slap on the wrist. If the NBA tried to void Kawhi’s contract, the league was going to have a major fight on its hands with the union, and this would have been tied up in arbitration forever. The NBA Players’ Association kind of took one on the chin in the last CBA negotiations by allowing the second apron to create a subtle hard cap, but this case showed its power. The union protected Kawhi from punishment for his many misdeeds while the Clippers got hammered. We should all be lucky enough to have a union like the NBAPA on our side.

Loser: Steve Ballmer

He’s still rich, but his reputation is ruined. He thought the rules didn’t apply to him, and he was caught red-handed. He was supposed to be the man to bring the Clippers out of the dark ages, and instead he’ll forever be remembered in NBA circles as the guy who cheated, lied about it, and got busted. All that money can’t buy a good reputation. Ballmer’s is finished.

Media reports of Bob Iger’s future “ownership” of the Los Angeles Lakers appear to have been greatly exaggerated, On The Money has learned.

Three weeks ago, a flurry of headlines from major outlets – the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the LA Times, you name it – reported that “Bob Iger and Josh Kushner,” in that order, will be buying the iconic NBA franchise.

The natural implication would be that Iger is poised to own at least 50% of the team under terms of the $12.5 billion, blockbuster deal, which was cut with embattled Guggenheim Partners boss Mark Walter.

The deal is still under review by the NBA, but the fact is, it’s Kushner – the 41-year-old brother of President Trump’s son-in-law, Jared – who will be the lone controlling shareholder of the Lakers, sources close to the situation said. Under NBA rules that requires him to personally own at least 15% of the franchise, so Kushner himself will plunk down at least $1.875 billion to get the deal done.

How much will 75-year-old Iger be investing? That’s what a lot of folks in Tinseltown are wondering. 

Consider the fact that Forbes hasn’t weighed in on Iger’s net worth since 2019, when it pegged it at about $690 million. It’s not clear what Iger is worth now, but given that much of his wealth has been tied up in underperforming Disney shares, most doubt it’s more than $1 billion.

Kushner, meanwhile, has seen his fortune skyrocket to $16.7 billion this year, according to Forbes – up from $5 billion last year – as his venture firm Thrive Capital’s shares in OpenAI have gone through the roof.

Here’s the reality: Iger is indeed poised to become a major player with the Lakers when it comes to being a face of the team and an executive overseeing its operations – general manager, maybe. But he won’t be the “governor” in NBA parlance who makes the final decisions, a source close to the talks told me.

“Bob will not be the control person,” one person close to Kushner told me. “It is expected that Bob will be a minority owner, an alternate governor, and lead the management of the team day-to-day, but not the governor of the team.”

Another source close to the NBA who asked not to be identified: “There can only be one governor per team and that will be Josh Kushner. He will be putting up the 15% ownership stake.”

Iger, meanwhile, will be among a consortium of investors who are buying smaller slugs in a deal led by Kushner to acquire Walter’s 64% stake in the Lakers. Walter’s business partner Todd Boehly, who also owns the UK’s Chelsea Football Club and a chunk of the LA Dodgers, currently remains a limited partner in the Lakers, sources said.

In many respects, Iger looks like the perfect Lakers co-owner, having run Disney and its ESPN subsidiary and having crafted TV rights deals with the NBA in the past. He is known to be close to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.

The latter should be a positive when owners change hands since the league must bless the purchase. And yes, Silver really wants the Lakers to be sold from its current ownership given Walter’s financial issues, which likely sparked the sale just 14 months after he bought the team.

Both parties have been scrambling to set the record straight on exactly who will be controlling the Lakers since news broke last month that suggested that Iger and Kushner are going to split their ownership stake in the Lakers. 

Indeed, if this deal is going to proceed smoothly, the participants might want to improve their communication. Last month’s flurry of Iger-Kushner headlines set tongues wagging in sports business circles, with some asking how Silver could possibly justify allowing Iger a controlling role in the team. 

“I can’t see Adam bending the rules, but none of this makes sense,” said one top sports-media executive who also owns a major franchise.

Another top executive notes that Silver and Iger are close. Before naming D’Amaro his successor at Disney, Iger and the board reportedly considered Silver for the job. Disney also was one of three media companies in 2024 that paid up for an 11-year media rights deal with the NBA, with the company forking over $2.6 billion a year in one of the most lucrative sports packages in history.

“These guys have a lot of history,” the executive noted – tactfully, one might argue.

Through a spokeswoman, Iger declined to comment as did Kushner. An NBA spokesman said Silver had no comment. Walter didn’t return a request for comment.

Just 71 days ago, the Los Angeles Clippers selected star All-American guard Keaton Wagler with the No. 5 overall pick.

A lot has changed in the roughly two months since they made that pick, however, and right now is not a great time to be a Clippers fan.

There have been speculations for a long time that the team’s owner Steve Ballmer and the organization as a whole did some shady things to circumvent the salary cap and sign forward Kawhi Leonard.

These theories started to gain even more traction this summer, and just today, Commissioner Adam Silver and the NBA levied their official punishments.

The Clippers will lose five first-round picks, be fined $30 million, Ballmer will be suspended for a year and Leonard will be forced to pay back $700,000 in restitution.

And now, enter Wagler, caught in the middle of it all.

The 19-year-old former Illini is weathering a heck of a storm for his first year in the league, something that could end up having an impact on his rookie season.

But Illinois fans and Clippers fans agree on one thing, they’re hopeful that it won’t.

The NBA brought the hammer down on the Clippers for circumventing the league’s salary cap rules by “initiating off-court income opportunities” for star forward Kawhi Leonard.

And the impact of the harsh penalties after the yearlong investigation will be felt for years to come. 

Among the punishments the NBA dished out out Wednesday: a $30 million fine for the Clippers; franchise owner Steve Ballmer (one year), President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker (one year) and President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank (six months) being suspended for their roles in Leonard’s impermissible endorsement deals; Leonard having to pay the league $700,000 for his connections with the violations. 

And the penalty that’ll have the biggest impact on the Clippers’ short- and long-term futures: having to forfeit five first-round draft picks in 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032 and 2033.

One of the harshest penalties in league history. 

But in the eyes of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, an appropriate punishment considering the violations the league found that the Clippers committed. 

“The NBA’s collectively bargained system for determining player compensation is a fundamental component of the basketball competition that the league oversees for the benefit of the teams and players and ultimately the fans,” Silver said in a statement. “I am deeply disappointed by the flagrant violations of our rules and by the Clippers’ institutional and leadership failures that led to this misconduct. The severity of the penalties reflects the seriousness of the violations.”

The league didn’t hold back on the Clippers. 

The fine issued against the team is the largest in league history against a franchise — nearly 10 times more than the $3.5 million the Timberwolves were fined in 2000 (around $6.7 million in 2026 when adjusting for inflation) for circumventing salary cap rules with Joe Smith. 

But Ballmer has the money to pay for it. 

The suspensions will result in the Clippers not having a few of the most important individuals in the organization involved in their day-to-day operations for a significant period. 

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But eventually, Ballmer, Zucker and Frank will be allowed to do their jobs. 

The deduction of first-round draft picks is where the Clippers will feel the most impact for at least the next half decade.

The Clippers were set on a new era entering this offseason, already having traded James Harden for Darius Garland and Ivica Zubac to the Pacers for a package that included Bennedict Mathurin (now on the Pelicans), a 2026 first-round pick (drafted Keaton Wagler), a 2028 second-round pick via Dallas and a 2029 first-round pick. 

And by agreeing to a trade with the Raptors that’ll send Leonard back to Toronto for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and multiple draft picks, the Clippers made it clear they were embracing being able to rebuild their franchise around younger talent after the seven-year Leonard era didn’t produce the desired results. 

But the loss of first-round picks, and the overall lack of draft capital for the next seven years, will make it challenging for the Clippers to set themselves up for a more successful future.

If the Clippers and Raptors go through with the Leonard trade as they agreed to in late June, the Clippers will get the Raptors’ unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, a 2027 first-round pick swap and two second-round picks.

But that’ll give them just four first-round picks over the next seven drafts after entering July believing they’d have up to nine. And if the Stepien Rule applies to forfeited first-round picks, they’ll have zero first-round picks available to trade until the day of the draft. 

A very challenging place to build up from. 

It appears the Clippers are going to fight against the NBA’s ruling, even though, as has widely been reported, that there isn’t an appeal or arbitration process available to the franchise. In other words, if the Clippers want to fight against the punishments, they’ll have to take it to court.

The Clippers’ future isn’t completely bleak.

Once the trade goes through as anticipated, they’ll have several young or in-their-prime good players on respectable contracts — players who can either develop or be traded for draft capital. They’ll still draft picks at their disposal.

But the Clippers’ future appears to be a lot bleaker now than it did even a couple of months ago. 

Which is the biggest punishment of them all.

Following last year’s historic run to the NBA championship, there’s little a critic can say to Jalen Brunson. New York’s captain averaged 28.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 6.1 assists en route to a Knicks championship, hitting clutch shots and stringing together all-time performances along the way.

With training camp still a month out, fans have had to occupy their free time with the sort of debates a run like that naturally sparks. One of those debates is where Brunson now ranks among the best point guards in the league.

Truthfully, 45 points in a close-out Finals game against the best defense in the league should earn you best player in the world discussions, but much of that talent resides at his position anyway. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was one win away from being New York’s Finals foe after winning the 2925 championship. Luka Doncic is still a machine when healthy. Cade Cunningham had another stellar year, and Tyrese Haliburton is returning from injury after absolutely haunting the Knicks in back-to-back Playoffs. 

Let’s break down the competition and see where Brunson shakes out.

Honorable mentions are owed to Stephen Curry and Tyrese Maxey, but consensus puts them just outside this group. Curry’s aging has caused his rim pressure and durability to decline, while Maxey’s playmaking and defensive limitations were exposed against Brunson in the Playoffs.

Haliburton is a legitimate wild card. The last we saw of him, he piloted the NBA’s most dangerous offensive system and was nailing big shots in a legacy-defining Game 7 of the NBA Finals.

His size and playmaking advantages over Brunson are indisputable, there’s few passing equivalents to him, and he’s proven the ability to take over with his scoring, especially in the clutch. The only question is if he can walk back into this production coming off injury with a slightly rejiggered roster.

A big argument for Brunson is his aversion to disappearing. Haliburton had a handful of high-stakes single-digit performances, whereas Brunson will shoot his way out of just about any stupor, never shrinking to the sidelines. 

Cunningham, keeping with the trend, also has an advantagel of height and weight on Brunson. His production is also especially impressive working with spacing similar to Brunson’s before Karl-Anthony Towns and Mike Brown arrived. 

But there’s a clear separator between the two, and that’s ball control. Cunningham’s averaged four turnovers a game over his career and closer to six in the Playoffs, the latter making for a much worse assist-to-turnover ratio compared to Brunson’s.

That poise was much of the difference in Brunson facing the Cavaliers in this year’s Conference Finals instead of Cunningham’s Pistons. While Brunson rose to the occasion, Cunningham faltered in the biggest games of his career, though he’ll surely be back more motivated than ever.

The real conversation is where Brunson belongs in the MVP tier of guys - Doncic and SGA. Unfortunately when the latter is on and healthy, there’s almost nobody that can outplay him.

But Brunson’s been more available, and more dependable on the biggest stages defensively. Doncic got worked in the 2024 NBA Finals on that end, couldn’t do enough in the first round of the 2025 Playoffs to top Minnesota, and outright missed the 2026 postseason due to injury.

While he’s a walking 30-point triple-double, he is entering somewhat of a prove-it year with the major milestones of MVP or a championship still in reach. Brunson spent last season proving all he needed to in ways Doncic never has, such as on the defensive side of the ball or as an off-ball offensive threat.

For those reasons, one can argue Brunson over Doncic in a battle over former teammates.

But what about Gilgeous-Alexander?

That’s a tougher argument to make. The reigning MVP has the added inches but none of the drawbacks when put side-by-side with Brunson.

His shot making is unreal, his passing and defense is reliable, and he has the resume to back up the complete package. He put together his own heroics against the Spurs last Playoffs, scoring 35 points and dishing nine assists in his Game 7 loss despite a lack of secondary weapons.

Brunson is the bigger threat to pull up from three and is less free throw dependent, but Gilgeous-Alexander is the superior defender with gaudy efficiency numbers. At the very least, last year made this a real race.

Wherever you place Brunson in the rankings, 2026 was validation that he belongs among the best names this league has to offer at the position. And this upcoming season should only need to serve as a reminder.

When Steve Ballmer bought the Los Angeles Clippers for $2bn in 2014, it was widely regarded as a coup for the NBA.

Not only is Ballmer one of the richest men in the world – worth an estimated $152.7bn – but his passion and enthusiasm for the sport stood in stark contrast to the team’s embattled former owner. Donald Sterling, who bought the Clippers for $12.5m in 1981, was forced to sell after being handed a lifetime ban by the NBA in response to a series of racist comments.

Ballmer was the kind of owner NBA fans dream of, especially ones as downtrodden as the Clippers. He invested hundreds of millions of dollars towards improving the roster, growing the brand, and developing the new state-of-the-art Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. When it opened in 2024, it gave the Clippers a home of their own for the first time since moving from San Diego in 1984. Ballmer’s Clippers constantly pushed the envelope, installing the first “halo” scoreboard, a wall of a supporters’ section strategically positioned to throw off opponents, a team with future Hall of Famers Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Ballmer turned a laughingstock that had been living in the shadows of the crosstown rival Lakers into a relevant organization.

Related: Clippers docked five first-round draft picks and fined $30m over Kawhi Leonard scandal

But on Wednesday afternoon, after a year of allegations that Ballmer’s Clippers circumvented the NBA’s salary cap to pay superstar Leonard back in 2021, it was confirmed that Ballmer had taken it all a little bit too far. NBA commissioner Adam Silver handed down the harshest punishment in league history, stripping the Clippers of five first-round draft picks and fining them $30m, while suspending Ballmer for a year.

“The NBA’s collectively bargained system for determining player compensation is a fundamental component of the basketball competition that the league oversees for the benefit of the teams and players and ultimately the fans,” Silver said in a statement. “I am deeply disappointed by the flagrant violations of our rules and by the Clippers’ institutional and leadership failures that led to this misconduct. The severity of the penalties reflects the seriousness of the violations.”

NBA fans have been looking for clarity for a year. Last September, journalist Pablo Torre released the first in a series of podcast episodes alleging that Ballmer’s Clippers violated the salary cap circumvention rules designed to punish teams for spending too much on player salaries. Citing legal documents, Torre claimed that Ballmer went under the table to sign Leonard to a no-show endorsement deal with Aspiration – a now-bankrupt sustainability services company that Ballmer invested in to pay Leonard $28m.

The NBA-hired New York law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz has been conducting an independent investigation into the allegations since then, saying on Wednesday that the Clippers violated “the circumvention rules in numerous independent ways by (i) affirmatively initiating off-court income opportunities between Mr Leonard and four different companies doing business with the team: Aspiration, Boingo Wireless, Daktronics, and Lockton Insurance.” It also found that the Clippers facilitated the fulfillment of those endorsement agreements and induced the companies to enter into the agreements by offering and providing them with business from the Clippers, such as an Aspiration jersey patch and Daktronics scoreboard.

The Clippers “vehemently reject the NBA’s punishments,” according to a statement released by the organization, calling them “the result of a heavily biased investigation seeking to justify a predetermined narrative rather than facts and evidence.” Leonard, meanwhile, announced on Instagram that “I accept full responsibility for lapses in judgment by people within my inner circle,” referring to his uncle and former business manager, Dennis Robertson, who solicited these agreements on Leonard’s behalf and was banned from the league for five years as a result.

Leonard appears to be on his way to Toronto, as the previously announced trade between the Clippers and Raptors is expected to go through within the next few days, according to ESPN. The Raptors will send Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, two second-round picks and a pick-swap to Los Angeles to reunite Leonard with the franchise he won an NBA championship with in 2019. The deal was put on hold in late July after the NBA announced that the Raptors had to commit in writing to assume any risk of penalties Leonard might incur from the investigation. But given that Leonard basically got off scot-free – his only punishment is to pay the league $700,000, probably because the league wanted to avoid a battle with its Players Association – the Raptors will be incentivized to see the deal through while the Clippers will have a hard time going back to the negotiating table given that most of their front office has been suspended.

Still, the Clippers are desperate for a way out of this situation, and for good reason. After having to forfeit five first round draft picks, the Clippers now have no natural pick in the draft from 2029 through 2033. It’s a dire situation considering that the franchise only recently pivoted to a rebuild after trading veterans James Harden, Ivica Zubac, and (almost certainly) Leonard – leaving them without any superstars or bluechip prospects to build around. They can’t really attract veteran talent given the damage this year-long soap opera has done to their brand, while finding good young players through the draft just became nearly impossible.

“We intend to vigorously challenge these findings and penalties through every avenue available to us and look forward to an ethical and impartial arbitration process,” announced the Clippers, who also sent a letter to Silver confirming that “we are exploring every legal remedy to address this gross injustice.”

Prolonged litigation between one of the world’s richest men and one of its wealthiest sports leagues could be ahead of us. But while this all may seem like a harsh penalty for an organization that only recently climbed out of the dregs of the NBA – one that could be forced to sell or relocate in the aftermath of this news in the worst-case scenario – Silver had no choice but to drop the hammer on Ballmer given what he represents not only to sports fans, but to the swell of big-pocketed owners who have recently bought into the NBA as well.

“Many fans have expressed apathy about the entire cap circumvention fiasco,” Stephen Noh wrote in Sporting News. “But if the league simply gave a finger wag, then other deep-pocketed ownership groups would surely have started their own cap circumvention techniques.”

Whether it’s Bob Iger and Josh Kushner buying the Lakers for $12.5bn this summer, or casino mogul and Donald Trump megadonor Miriam Adelson buying the Dallas Mavericks for $3.5bn in 2023, the new wave of NBA owners have a lot more in common with Ballmer than they do with the previous generation of NBA owners like Sterling and former Lakers owner Jerry Buss, who ran mom and pop shop operations after buying their teams for, as ridiculous as this sounds, “mere” millions.

Following in Ballmer’s footsteps, the new money entering the NBA is tied to tech billionaires, sovereign wealth funds in the Gulf states, and private equity firms in America that have seemingly unlimited amounts of money and power. Silver had no choice but to make an example out of the Clippers, theoretically setting a precedent that is harsh enough to keep the rest of the owners in line to ensure parity and integrity for the NBA.

Hopefully it’s not already too late.

We begin ranking the individual tiers within SunsRank today with the depth pieces. I’ll start by acknowledging that this isn’t a perfect science, and it certainly isn’t a perfect polling system. There will be players you voted for in a different tier. That’s fine. I’m going off the majority of the voting for each individual player. So if there is somebody you believe belongs in the Wild Card tier and they ended up here with the depth pieces, rank them higher within the confines of this group.

The goal with SunsRank is to cut the steak into pieces rather than shove the entire thing down our throats at once. Stretch it out a little. Enjoy the meal. Then, once everything has been consumed, we can step back, look at the plate, and figure out how it turned out.

Based on the voting, here is everyone who landed in the Depth Piece tier. Need a reminder of what that means? Absolutely.

These are your end-of-the-bench players who provide depth when needed. Their roles may be limited, but injuries, matchups, and circumstances can create opportunities for them to contribute.

Get it? Got it? Good. Let’s eat.

The Depth Pieces

CJ Huntley

GP	MIN	PPG	RPG	APG	BLK	FG%	3PT%	FT%	OFFRTG	DEFRTG	+/- (TOTAL)
4	10.0	3.0	1.3	0.5	0.0	54.5%	0.0%	0.0%	122.4	104.7	+15

The second-year big man out of Appalachian State returns on another two-way contract. His journey has already been an interesting one. The Suns brought him in after he went undrafted and signed him to a two-way deal. They later waived him, only to bring him back once Jamaree Bouyea earned a fully guaranteed contract with the team.

He’s certainly a unique prospect, someone who brings strength, athleticism, power, and a touch of shooting. Given the right opportunity, he could thrive. The goal now is to continue developing him as a prospect in hopes that one day he can make a real impact.

Jamaree Bouyea

GP	MIN	PPG	RPG	APG	STL	FG%	3PT%	FT%	OFFRTG	DEFRTG	+/- (TOTAL)
46	14.0	5.7	1.8	1.8	0.6	45.8%	29.5%	68.6%	106.0	104.6	+25

Bouyea will be an interesting player to watch this upcoming season because he provides depth at the point guard position. He has that dog in him that helped personify the 2025–26 Phoenix Suns, and with a pending decision still looming on a potential Jalen Green extension, Bouyea could eventually provide some long-term depth if needed.

His contract still isn’t guaranteed, though, so he remains one of those fringe players who will constantly be fighting to stay relevant and employed. If the Suns need to make any moves around the edges of the roster, Bouyea could find himself involved.

Koby Brea 

GP	MIN	PPG	RPG	APG	STL	FG%	3PT%	FT%	OFFRTG	DEFRTG	+/- (TOTAL)
12	7.0	3.8	0.7	0.8	0.1	41.7%	43.3%	1.00%	101.8	106.0	-15

Another second-year two-way player, Koby Brea is an intriguing prospect because of the three-point shooting he can bring. But he still needs to continue developing other areas of his game, and we can expect to see plenty of him with the Valley Suns this season.

The hope is that he continues to grow, and we’ll be watching closely to see how much that development occurs and whether he can eventually become a long-term piece within the organization.

Pat Spencer

GP	MIN	PPG	RPG	APG	STL	FG%	3PT%	FT%	OFFRTG	DEFRTG	+/- (TOTAL)
66	18.6	7.2	2.4	3.5	0.7	42.7%	35.7%	77.2%	112.1	115.6	-95

Pat Spencer comes to the Phoenix Suns with the most experience of anyone in this tier of depth pieces. He spent time with the Golden State Warriors and brings a hard-nosed approach at the point guard position while also being capable of knocking down the three-ball.

He may not bring much size, but he does bring heart, physicality, and effort. That aligns with the current direction of the Phoenix Suns and what this team is trying to be.

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Those are the Depth Pieces. It is now up to you to put them in order of who is better than who.

In the early 2000s, the Minnesota Timberwolves committed one of the biggest scandals in NBA contract history. The confusion first started when forward Joe Smith, a former first overall pick, signed a small deal with the Timberwolves.

Now, players taking pay cuts is nothing new, and certainly not illegal by any means. However, then General Manager Kevin McHale had promised Smith a larger deal when the Wolves acquired his Bird rights after three seasons of minimum deals. With the typical restrictions lifted, McHale promised Minnesota would give Smith the deal he so badly wanted and may have even deserved.

The Wolves were docked five first-round picks, Glen Taylor was fined a lot of (and still not enough) money, Joe Smith’s deal was voided, and McHale was banned from team operations for a year.

You know who probably should’ve brushed up on their NBA history?

The Los Angeles Clippers.

Funny enough, if they had done that, they’d realize that they could’ve asked so much more of Kawhi Leonard than they ended up doing if they were going to cheat this badly anyway. Instead of asking Kawhi for a pay cut, they gave him the biggest extension they could, and then gave him even more money (hence the cap circumnavigation).

Instead of asking for anything back, the Clippers gave Leonard everything and more. Unfortunately for them, the more is not allowed. Between no-show endorsement deals and funneled funds to Swiss bank accounts (okay, they may not be Swiss), Kawhi had fewer responsibilities off the court than he did on it.

If we’re still comparing these Clippers to those early 2000s Minnesota squads, Los Angeles rolled out the Joe Smith offer to someone they were already treating like Kevin Garnett. They somehow above-and-beyonded themselves into a crippling punishment.

Despite sacrificing so much more than those Wolves teams, the Clippers will be giving up five first-round picks, the same initial punishment as Minnesota received. While the Wolves had two of those picks returned based purely on how god-awful they were, the Clippers will continue to try to push for playoff contention.

the NBA report is hilarious, highly recommended

they got an entire crate full of smoking guns from Aspiration lol

good lesson: don't enter into deals with fraudsters, especially where you are doing something you need to cover up but they aren't https://t.co/3EEzZlOl8Xhttps://t.co/4v9ZGJIvJbpic.twitter.com/VPjkzYezUt

— Michael Caley (@MC_of_A) September 2, 2026

Additionally, owner/team governor Steve Ballmer will pay a 30 million dollar fine and will be suspended from team events for a year. While the Kawhi Leonard trade will still go off without any real hitch, this leaves the Clippers with just two first round picks in the near future, both from the Toronto Raptors, whose young core likely outgrows any costly regression from Leonard.

All of that is fine and good, but there’s a far more important question to be asked for Wolves fans…

Are we finally not the most pitiful team in NBA history?

Your next SB Nation collapse video, and subsequent hatewatch, is here

It’s hard to imagine that Minnesota could finally not be the most snakebitten team in the NBA. Hell, the Washington Wizards haven’t done much since Wes Unseld in the 60s and 70s, with deserved credit given to Elvin Hayes. The New Orleans Pelicans can’t even put together an all-time team without stealing history from the team whose identity they adopted.

For years, deservedly or undeservedly, the Wolves have carried that weight. They’re still last in franchise winning percentage after all. However, maybe we need to recontextualize this. Bad teams waste fans’ time. Awful teams waste talent and the optimism that it brings, while also wasting everyone’s time as well.

In that way, who is better suited for this role than the Clippers? The aforementioned Pelicans have wasted more young talent and draft picks than any other franchise in the 21st century, but have they ever had the expectations to crush optimism? No, they exist in perpetual basketball purgatory, feeling joy only when they know it will end crushingly and soon.

Could it be our very own Wolves, who wasted away for 20 years before they took a high schooler built like a string bean and watched him turn into one of the 20-30 best players of all-time? They built up a contender around him, and then ruined everything by trying to beat the proverbial NBA dealer to sign a player who barely even fit their team.

The Timberwolves (of the past) approve of the Clippers punishment

— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) September 2, 2026

They wasted prime after prime. Karl-Anthony Towns, Kevin Love, and Andrew Wiggins all came and went without meaningful difference to the sad, cold status quo.

Building a winner in Minnesota was misery and seemed impossible for years. It’s not anymore. That optimism isn’t crushed and it carries a flame that changes everything.

Conversely, what about this is new for the Clippers?

This is a team that has frequently built teams good enough to win a ring that ruins their own chances. The Lob City era, the early 2013 days, or whatever this era was called, and even the last chance run with Kawhi and James Harden.

Each of those rosters had enough talent to finally break the drought that last the entirety of the Clippers’ franchise history.

And yet they didn’t.

Los Angeles is where optimism goes to die. When they’re bad, they’re hopeless (shout out Michael Olowokandi). When they’re good, they’re simply not good enough.

The NBA returned two of the Wolves’ five rescinded draft picks after everyone found themselves feeling pity for the team that had fallen below the dregs of the league.

The Clippers will get no such pity. They did each and every bit of this. They killed the hopes of their fans while cheating the whole time. They’re headed by the richest man in the sport, who has consistently used his checkbook to prove he is right.

The Wolves had their history saved because of empathy. The Clippers deserve none.

And shout out to Kawhi Leonard for wasting Steve Ballmer’s money and escaping to Canada. May he have an autobiography ghostwritten one day.