Could Kevin Durant's contract extension with Rockets be for considerably less than max?

Kevin Durant in Houston feels like a hand-in-glove fit. The Rockets wanted Durant, and Houston was on his short list of places he wanted to be traded. When asked about the organization, Durant praised the Rockets. He fills the need for a half-court scoring threat that will open up their offense.

The only question is the money on Durant's contract extension.

Durant is in the final year of his current contract at $57.4 million. The Rockets can offer him a max two-year, $122.1 million extension (no team can offer Durant more than two years because of the over 38 rule). There was always an expectation that Durant would take a bit of a haircut off that max number, but that cut may be deeper than just a haircut, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon and Brian Windhorst on the Hoop Collective podcast (hat tip Hoopshype).

MacMahon: "By all appearances and by what I've heard, they're not going all in on an extension for Kevin Durant. Now, doesn't mean it won't happen, but there've been rumblings of KD not going to push for the full max. I don't know that the Rockets are going to put anything on the table that's close to the max."

Windhorst: "I think the Rockets are like it's not ideal, but I don't think they would panic if they go into the season with Kevin Durant just on the contract that he's on just on the on the expiring deal... I'll say this, Rafael Stone, since he's been the GM of the of the Rockets, he's signed quite a few giant contracts, but a lot most of them have been short."

The contract has to be short in this case, but what is a fair number for the future Hall of Famer? One source who spoke to NBC Sports during Summer League suggested KD might dip to about the $100 million mark for two years, around $10 million a season below the max but still $50 million a season. However, maybe that number is too high. Maybe Durant will take less — he has the right to make whatever choice he thinks is best for him, his legacy and his family.

Maybe everyone is comfortable going into the season without an extension and seeing how things play out. That said, we are more than a month out from the start of training camps, and a lot of deals get done right around the beginning of camp. This is all just something to watch.

5 potential targets for Knicks' last veteran minimum spot

The offseason appears all but wrapped up for the Knicks, coming off some housekeeping items in filling out their coaching staff and signing Mikal Bridges to an extension.

They still don’t have a full roster, however, with an open spot to sign one of their second-round picks and another to add a veteran on a minimum deal. The latter has been cause for speculation, with a few intriguing targets available and multiple needs the Knicks could potentially address. 

Here are their options for the last veteran’s minimum spot and who might be the most valuable this season...

Ben Simmons

According to ClutchPoints’s Brett Siegel, the Knicks are favorites to land Simmons, the former first overall pick, Rookie of the Year and perennial All-NBA Defensive First Team selection. 

Unfortunately, fans expecting that level of production are likely to be disappointed, as Simmons hasn’t been the same since his back issues and holdout season.

In fact, he hasn’t been a fraction of his former effectiveness. In his three seasons since, Simmons hasn’t eclipsed 51 games played or seven points per game in those games, totaling twice as many turnovers as free throws. 

Simmons can still push the ball off a defensive rebound and bring it up in the half-court, but has lost all aggressiveness on offense. He rarely looks to drive and when he does, it’s rare he actually attacks the rim with any real intent to score or draw in the defense. 

He can screen and make connective plays from there, a tantalizing prospect under Mike Brown’s Domantas Sabonis playbook -- but this and some decent defense won’t make him anything more than a spot minutes specialist. 

Even his defense has slid off a cliff, lacking the foot speed to stay with quicker guards and the verticality and imposition around the rim to protect it. There’s a reason his playoff minutes quickly descended to multiple DNP’s as the Clippers learned of his decline the hard way.

That said, none of the available options are the swing piece between the Knicks winning a championship and falling short, and Simmons represents the highest upside and biggest frame of the bunch, which makes his case viable. 

Malcolm Brogdon

New York beefed up its guard position with the addition of Jordan Clarkson, rounding out their rotation of Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride and Tyler Kolek. Kolek looked the part as a break-glass-in-emergency point guard last season, and is in line to fill that role as the team’s fourth guard this year. 

If the Knicks have any reservations, signing Brogdon would be a nice insurance policy on their backcourt options. Like Simmons, he’s likely past his prime but can provide some reliable playmaking.

Unlike Simmons, he’s only two years removed from winning Sixth Man of the Year and currently has some more credible NBA skills. Brogdon is a career 38.8 percent shooter from three and has evolved into more of a distributor in his last few seasons. 

His numbers have been otherwise unimpressive as of late, but he’s spent two years mired in unclear roles in rebuilding situations. Putting him in position to help more sporadically for a championship chaser may be just the thing he needs to have a strong year.

This minimum contract may be better utilized at a position of more value or need, as the Knicks can always lean on Kolek or their non-guards to facilitate. If they’re dead-set on a guard, Brogdon isn’t their only option.

May 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4) runs down the court after a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half during game one of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center.
May 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4) runs down the court after a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half during game one of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. / Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Russell Westbrook

Westbrook looks like a long shot, given rumors don’t tie him to New York and there’s no clear path to consistent minutes in this rotation. With that being said, he’s proven much more impactful than Brogdon or Simmons in recent years, and would be an absolute firecracker of an add if the Knicks pulled it off.

What Westbrook’s lost in athleticism and scoring efficiency, he’s learned to make up for with his defensive tenacity and high-motor play. He does not take a play, let alone a game, off, and is always full tempo when he’s on the court. 

These are valuable things to bring off your bench, especially in a limited role on a small deal, it’s just unlikely Westbrook takes one with three guards ahead of him on the depth chart. Fun to think about, especially in the context of a slower Knicks team, but not much else to consider here.

Thomas Bryant

One position the Knicks may want to heavily consider using this spot for is the center spot. Their current rotation is made up of Karl-Anthony Towns, Mitchell Robinson and Ariel Hukporti, and if they start the double-big lineup, this essentially leaves them one backup five to start the year.

They have interesting alternative options at the center like sliding newly-signed Guerschon Yabusele down a position or playing OG Anunoby there, and can always move Robinson back to the bench. However, signing a depth piece at the position like Thomas Bryant gives them more security in case injuries hit. 

Fans will remember Bryant from his timely threes against the Knicks in the conference finals. He’s now bounced between five teams in his eight-year NBA career, but can step in in a pinch with some offensive rebounding and rim deterrence. 

A report from Kevin Martorano of Sportando stated that Bryant may be packing his bags for Greece, in which case the Knicks may need to turn to another center option. Other names they can target are Bol Bol and Bismack Biyombo

Landry Shamet

Another thing this roster could use is some pure shooting, as their two offensive hubs are also their best shooters, and their role players could sometimes be iffy from range. Their two bench pickups this offseason are reliable, but nothing extraordinary from there either.

Enter Shamet, who was one of New York’s best bench pieces in 2024-25. 

If he’s interested in returning on a veteran’s minimum without assured playing time, the Knicks would happily welcome back his career 38.5 percent clip from deep.

Unlike some of these other options, Shamet has some positional flexibility, with the ability to play and guard one through three. He was clutch in last year’s Eastern Conference Finals, shooting 7-15 from three in the series and playing some stifling defense after not playing for essentially the entire postseason. 

There’s also Delon Wright, who’s still a free agent after giving the Knicks dependable spot minutes in last year’s regular season and playoffs. He’d be another worthwhile signing if they’re looking to go smaller and more defensive. 

Letters to Sports: Luka or LeBron? Lakers need both

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, right, is congratulated by forward LeBron James.
Lakers guard Luka Doncic, right, is congratulated by forward LeBron James after scoring against the Clippers during a game last season. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

It's good to see that Luka Doncic was rewarded with an extension for working hard to attain a better game-playing weight. Next he must work to get better at playing defense so the Lakers will be rewarded with more victories.

Mark Sherwin
Los Angeles


Laker nation stop and take a deep breath. Lakers fans love, and are extremely happy, to have Luka Doncic wearing the purple and gold.

However, let’s not forget LeBron James, a bona fide NBA MVP championship player on the team sporting four championship rings on his fingers and four MVPs.

James’ leadership on the floor in 2025-2026 is the only way the Lakers can challenge for, and be expected to win, another NBA championship. Every player on the team knows that. So do we, the fans.

Donald Peppars
Pomona

Move Mookie

We all love Mookie Betts. But right now, he is a liability batting in the top of the order. You have to move him down until he figures it out. Hopefully soon.

R.D. McCall
Fallbrook


Mookie's loss of power is understandable what with the weight loss and other injuries. In the absence of power, he can help the team by being a patient hitter, getting on base, moving runners, etc. In time his power might come back but even if it doesn't, he can still be a valuable offensive presence.

D.G. Artis
Woodland Hills


I know that Mookie Betts has tried everything physically possible to get out of his slump. But, as a retired optometrist, I would like to recommend a complete eye examination to find his mojo again. It has worked for Max Muncy and Kiké Hernández. Four eyes are always better than two eyes.

Terry Feigenbaum
Los Angeles

Lambs to the ...

The Dodgers don’t have bulls in the bullpen, just some sheep.

Louis H. Abramson
Westlake Village

Split MVP decision

After Shohei Ohtani’s pitching and hitting performance against St. Louis on Wednesday he should be the MVP of the National League.

However, Max Muncy has shown he is the MVP of the Dodgers.

Russell Hosaka
Torrance

Kyren siren

Regarding "Rams are full steam ahead with Kyren Williams," I hope this works out better than the last time they gave their premier running back an extension. Remember Todd Gurley?

Mike Schaller
Temple City

Child support

Of course Mathew Stafford has a bad back. He has four small children!

George Metalsky
Redondo Beach

Conflict of interest

The NFL’s acquisition of an equity stake in ESPN raises conflict-of-interest questions. Can ESPN be trusted to investigate issues like CTE in former NFL players or whether owners are engaged in collusion?

This deal might assure ESPN of playing Johnny Pearson’s “Heavy Action” Monday Night Football theme for years to come. But anyone who takes sports journalism seriously should view it with grave concern.

Stephen A. Silver
San Francisco

Officially concerned

Thanks for the great Sunday article by Ira Gorawara (and photos) about the current state of affairs regarding officiating in the WNBA.

What is going on with refereeing in the WNBA and why leave so much talent sitting on the bench due to injuries? Let's support and train the refs like the NBA and let the women play basketball (Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Plum, Cameron Brink and many others).

The fans want to watch the game, not the refs. Who is controlling the whistle?

Joan C. Fingon
Ventura

Kudos and criticism

I’m nominating Eric Sondheimer for the high school sports reporting Nobel prize.

Gary Wilson
Murrieta


We need more Houston Mitchell! I love his style and insight in his Dodgers Dugout newsletter. He is always a great read.

Lance Oedekerk
Upland


Instead of writing about parking lot rate increases and sex toys, how about more sports news.

David Marshall
Santa Monica


Dylan Hernández: Enough with the Luka-LeBron malarkey. Give it a rest.

Brent Montgomery
Long Beach


The Los Angeles Times welcomes expressions of all views. Letters should be brief and become the property of The Times. They may be edited and republished in any format. Each must include a valid mailing address and telephone number. Pseudonyms will not be used.

Email: sports@latimes.com

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

NBA Christmas Day games reportedly headlined by Spurs at Thunder, Rockets at Lakers

Next week, the 2025-26 NBA schedule will come out, but some of the highlights always tend to leak out first.

One of those is Christmas Day — a showcase day that has always featured the biggest names and best teams in the NBA. This Christmas will be no different, if the schedule reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania is correct (and it almost certainly is):

• Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks
• San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder
• Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers
• Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors
• Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets

Here are a few quick thoughts on that list:

• Once again the NBA has leaned into its older generation of stars — LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant — but it has done a better job of making sure the up-and-coming generation is in the spotlight, too. We are getting Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Edwards, Cooper Flagg, Amen Thompson, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams and Darius Garland. It's better than past years, certainly better than recycling Giannis Antetokounmpo and a Bucks team with a lot of question marks just for the star power.

• There are only two Eastern Conference teams on that list, the opening game of the day between the Knicks and Cavaliers. What that speaks to is the perceived gap heading into this season between the deep West and the East in a season where Boston's Jayson Tatum and Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton will not be playing on Christmas Day as they recover from torn Achilles (if those guys had been healthy and those teams didn't try to save money by trading away or letting key players walk, the Celtics and Pacers would have been busy on Christmas).

• That Cavaliers vs. Knicks game might be the best game of the day.

• During last season's NBA Finals, both the Thunder and Pacers cited not being invited to play on Christmas Day as motivation for them during the season. Which team could be that squad this year? Keep an eye on young star Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic, they should have been on the bubble for making it to this day. Cade Cunningham and Detroit, as well as Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks, could also use this as fuel.

• Did the NBA miss an opportunity by having Luka Doncic's current and former teams both playing on Christmas but not facing each other?

• Wembanyama and the Spurs against the defending champion Thunder could be the NBA's best rivalry for the rest of this decade, putting in a prime slot on Christmas Day speaks to how the league office sees it that way.

Knicks finalizing deal with Chris Jent to be associate head coach

Knicks coach Mike Brown has found his guy to help lead his new team.

New York is finalizing a deal with Charlotte Hornets assistant Chris Jent to become the Knicks' associate head coach, sources tell SNY's Ian Begley.

Jent, 55, was on Brown's staff with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Jent was an assistant coach with the 76ers, Magic, Cavaliers, Kings, Hawks, Lakers and Hornets from 2003 to 2025. He was the interim head coach for the Magic during the 2004-05 season, where he went 5-13.

Recently, Jent led the Hornets to the Las Vegas summer league championship in July.

Jent was also a player and won a title with the Rockets in 1994 and played for the Knicks during the 1996-97 season.

The Jent hiring comes after the Timberwolves' Pablo Prigioni and Pacers' Matt Weinar pulled their names from consideration. Brown also hired Clippers assistant Brendan O'Connor this offseason to be the top defensive assistant in New York.

Lakers open season at home against the Warriors

LeBron James, left, and Stephen Curry.
Veteran NBA superstars LeBron James, left, and Stephen Curry will renew their rivalry on Oct. 21 in a nationally televised game on opening night of the season. (Michael Wyke; José Luis Villegas / Associated Press)

Lakers and NBA fans in general will get a quick view of two of the league’s longtime greats when LeBron James and the Lakers open the regular season against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 21 at Crypto.com Arena, people not authorized to speak publicly on the matter told The Times on Friday.

The game will be nationally televised on NBC and it will give Lakers fans a chance to see Luka Doncic’s new and trimmed body.

According to those people, the Lakers will play the Houston Rockets and newly acquired Kevin Durant on Christmas Day at home, one of five games on the holiday. That will give fans another chance to see the league’s veteran superstars go at it again.

The NBA will release the full schedule soon.

The Lakers will start training camp Sept. 29 and will play six preseason games.

The first preseason game is against the Suns at Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs on Oct. 3. The rest of the preseason game are: at Golden State on Oct. 5; against the Warriors at Crypto.com Arena on Oct. 12; against the Suns in Phoenix on Oct. 14; against the Dallas Mavericks at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Oct. 15; against the Sacramento Kings at home on Oct. 17.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter on all things Lakers.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Knicks to host Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers on Christmas Day: report

The Knicks playing on Christmas Day has become an annual tradition, and that will continue this year.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Knicks will host the Cleveland Cavaliers to open the NBA's five-game slate on Dec. 25.

This will be the fifth consecutive year with the Knicks playing on Christmas Day. Last winter, they played to a thrilling 117-114 win over Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs at MSG.

Jalen Brunson and the Knicks will hope to get in the win column against the Cavaliers, after going 0-4 a season ago.

The Knicks lost 110-104 to Cleveland in October before suffering a 142-105 blowout defeat to them in late February.

The Knicks fell to the Cavs, 124-105, in early April before almost coming away with the win a week later.

However, that April 11 matchup saw Cleveland complete the season sweep, 108-102.

After the Knicks play at the Garden, basketball fans can be treated to the following games throughout the day:

  • Spurs at Thunder
  • Rockets at Lakers
  • Mavericks at Warriors
  • Timberwolves at Nuggets

WNBA Trade Deadline winners and losers roundtable

The WNBA trade deadline passed at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, closing out one of the most active deadline's in recent memory.

The reason for this? In previous years, 12 teams for eight playoff spots meant that teams had ample chances to try to squeeze into those final couple of spots. Teams that probably should have folded their playoff chances and became sellers didn’t because they still believed could go on a late season playoff push.

Also, it was often difficult for certain trades to go through because the WNBA operates on a hard salary cap rather than a softer one, which is the status quo in other professional leagues. Three years ago the Phoenix Mercury were trying to trade Skylar Diggins after there were tensions between her, Diana Taurasi and their head coach at the time, Vanessa Nygaard. Trading Diggins never went through because the math didn’t work and general managers around the WNBA didn’t manage their caps as intentionally as they do now in 2025.

This season, however, trades were much more intentional with clear buyers and sellers. Franchises like the Dallas Wings and Washington Mystics embraced their roles as sellers stacking their assets for the future, especially leading up to a 2026 free agency period where around 80 percent of the WNBA will be unrestricted free agents.

While this year’s deadline resulted in four different trades, including one that came in late June, it still didn’t match the typical excitement that often comes on deadline day in the NBA or MLB. This could change as soon as next season. The current iteration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement expires on October 31 and a well-reported goal of the players association is to bargain for a softer salary cap.

How much did the sellers like the Mystics and the Wings accomplish their goals? And what about teams like the Minnesota Lynx and Seattle Storm who were clearly buying at the deadline? Our staff answers some of those questions in the roundtable discussion below.

Which player should benefit the most from their change of scenery?

Raphielle Johnson: DiJonai Carrington. After winning Most Improved Player honors last season, the move to Dallas did her no favors from a development standpoint. She may be coming off the bench with the Lynx, but there's a clearly defined role and she's on a team that's the favorite of many to win the WNBA title. And we've already seen what Carrington is capable of doing, as she was excellent down the stretch in her Lynx debut against the Storm on Tuesday. The move to Minnesota should do wonders for Carrington as the Lynx look to win a ring.

Cole Huff: The answer has to be Aaliyah Edwards, right? She was a starter for the Mystics just a year ago as a rookie with plenty of potential, but was demoted to the bench as a sophomore in favor of a 2025 lottery pick that plays the same position. But now, Edwards heads back to Connecticut, where she enjoyed major success and earned plenty of fans as a UConn Husky, to potentially start in the frontcourt for a Sun team playing the rest of this season without many expectations from a wins and losses standpoint. She may have a chance to log heavy minutes in a stress-free environment, giving her a chance to get her career back on track.

Jackie Powell: Diamond Miller is going to get a huge opportunity to play minutes on a Dallas team that has a lot of young talent. Miller has been through the ringer when it came to injuries, missing around half of her sophomore season in 2024. But another challenge Miller had to endure playing for the Lynx was her playing time. She lost her starting role to the more experienced Bridget Carlton after she had begun her WNBA career averaging over 12 points per game during her rookie season in 2023.

Lynx head coach and president of basketball operations Cheryl Reeve alluded to the Lynx having a longer developmental timeline for Miller than Miller herself wanted in her career. Miller wanted to contribute and playing in Dallas will allow her to do that immediately with much lower stakes. Miller provided a spark every time she came off the bench for the Lynx. She shot over 50 percent from three in 26 total attempts, but Reeve didn’t have enough trust in her yet to allow her to play freely in critical situations.

“I think… most of us came from places where we’ve felt undervalued,” Miller told reporters prior to her first game for the Wings this past Tuesday night. “Now it’s time where we can expand our game so it’s really exciting.”

To be clear, Miller is thankful for her time in Minnesota as she learned what excellent looks and sounds like. But in Dallas she’ll be able to play meaningful minutes, something that the former No. 2 overall pick has been longing for ever since she got healthy.

Which team helped itself most regarding competing for a championship this season?

Johnson: Minnesota (DiJonai Carrington) and New York (Emma Meeseman) made important additions to their rosters, whether it was via trade or free agent signing. But, I think Seattle adding Brittney Sykes gives them a better chance of competing for a title, and it was much-needed. The Storm entered Thursday 12th out of 13 teams in bench scoring, and they've asked a lot of their starters, most especially Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins, and Gabby Williams. Adding Sykes bolsters the bench even if she starts, as that would likely push Erica Wheeler back into a reserve role. Also, rookie Dominique Malonga has made strides in her development, and her playing time has increased. Including Alysha Clark in the deal frees up opportunities for Malonga, even if they don't share similar skill sets or positions on the court.

Huff: Seattle. While I agree that Minnesota and New York improved by adding depth, it feels like those two teams’ additions serve more as luxury pieces that may or may not consistently play big enough roles to make a drastic difference on already-loaded teams. With Sykes heading to the Pacific Northwest, I get the notion that Seattle will really lean on her. Will she start alongside Diggins or play a sixth-player role? Remains to be seen. But Sykes' two-way ability for a team relatively thin outside its starting five should allow her to carve out a big role and potentially raise Seattle’s floor and ceiling in a significant way.

Powell: New York. While adding Belgian superstar Emma Meesseman technically wasn’t a move made via a trade, it still was a transaction before the deadline, so I guess it still counts. Meesseman also arrived in New York at such an opportune time when the Liberty are without the third member of their big three in Breanna Stewart. Meesseman has been called an ultra-processor and while she’s a superstar, she’s also a player who can adapt to a myriad of situations because she’s wired as a team player in the body of a superstar. Integrating Meesseman with Stewart, Kennedy Burke and Nyara Sabally, all Liberty front court players who have been injured since Meesseman’s arrival, will come with its challenges, but Meesseman is the ideal player you want in this position where the Liberty need her to adapt quickly.

I have a lot of questions about how both Carrington is going to add to the Lynx’s offense especially when she’s been so inconsistent this year. (She’s shot 36.6% from the field and 27.5% from three this season in over 51 attempts.) But will playing for a coach that demands so much respect in Cheryl Reeve help Carrington return to her Most Improved Player form that she reached last season? It’s possible especially when she has former Sun teammates on roster in Courtney Williams, and Natisha Hiedeman. And then there’s Alanna Smith, who she played with in college at Stanford. The Storm added the second most talented player behind Meesseman, but their offensive math doesn’t change all that much, which makes me question if they are really a team that can make it past the first or second round of the playoffs.

New York Liberty vs Minnesota Lynx
Lynx are comfortably on top, but the Dream and Fever gain ground on the Liberty and Mercury.

How clear is the Washington Mystics’ vision based on the moves they made?

Johnson: Regarding the immediate future, the Mystics' vision is very clear. Trades involving Brittney Sykes and Aaliyah Edwards netted the team two additional 2026 first-round picks. While the swap with Connecticut may not result in a high first, as the teams are swapping picks initially held by Minnesota (Washington) and New York (Connecticut) respectively, the Mystics have two more pieces of draft capital to work with as they build around Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen. And the decision to move Sykes puts the team on a collision course with the draft lottery, which was the preseason expectation.

Huff: Although the Mystics replaced one of their veterans (Sykes) with an even more experienced player (Alysha Clark), their vision to build around their young core is even clearer than it already was prior to the deadline. Before her departure, Sykes was leading Washington in points, assists and field goal attempts per game — her high involvement in the offense being removed will open doors for Citron, Iriafen and potentially Shakira Austin to take on and continue blossoming in greater roles. And while the Mystics shipped off a young player with potential in Edwards, there was a logjam in the frontcourt, and her exodus brought back a future first-round pick, as did the Sykes trade.

Powell: Respect is due for how clear the Mystics’ vision is. This is a franchise that aims to build through some of the most pro-ready draft classes the league has ever seen. There are some teams, namely the Chicago Sky and Los Angeles Sparks that chose not to take advantage of the circumstances that the Mystics have. As a result the Sky are 11th place and they won’t have control over what will be a 2026 lottery pick due to a pre-draft trade they made this year to make sure they could draft Hailey Van Lith. And the Sparks are clawing tooth and nail to get into one of the last two playoff spots. But just because the Mystics' vision is clear, doesn’t mean they’ve hit a home run on all of their moves. Edwards is a talent who could have become part of the Mystics young core, but because of the Mystics’ poor roster construction she ended up in an unfavorable spot in the rotation leading to a trade request. Did no one want Stefanie Dolson instead around the league? That’s for sure possible. But also, the inexperience of Mystics’ front office came back to bite them earlier this season when they missed the deadline to pick up 22 year-old point guard Jade Melbourne’s option, extending her rookie scale deal through 2026. As a rebuilding franchise that should have control over as many young players as possible, this was a missed opportunity. So while this vision is clear, it’s far from flawless.

Which team do you believe is the biggest threat to the current favorite, Minnesota, to win the title?

Johnson: It's New York, under the assumption that their frontcourt will return to full strength well ahead of the playoffs. Not having Breanna Stewart, Nyara Sabally and Kennedy Burke due to injury is huge, as it's left the Liberty light on frontcourt depth. Adding Emma Meeseman to the fold was a significant move, as she was the best player not in the WNBA at the time of her signing. Meeseman's offensive versatility will be a major asset for Sandy Brondello, especially as the veteran forward continues to get more comfortable with her new teammates and the system. Plus, they still have Sabrina Ionescu and Natasha Cloud on the perimeter.

Huff: Like Raphielle said,New York is Minnesota’s biggest threat, if healthy. The Liberty were off to a similarly fast start to the season as the Lynx were before Jonquel Jones’ ankle injury jumpstarted a series of injuries to follow for the Liberty, who are very banged up at the time of this writing. Health provided, in addition to the acquisition of Meeseman, there’s a real argument to be made that the defending champions have a better roster than they did a season ago. That being said, the injuries are a concern and good health come postseason is far from guaranteed.

Powell: I have two answers. The obvious one is the New York Liberty which both Raphielle and Cole alluded to. But what about the Atlanta Dream, a team that’s currently third in the standings and third in net rating behind the Lynx and the Liberty. The Lynx have struggled with the Dream’s size this season as Alanna Smith has had to take the brunt of guarding the Dream’s large and strong centers in Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones. To be clear Smith deals with this mismatch when she guards Jonquel Jones in New York, but in Atlanta there are two players of that stature that she really has to worry about.

In two games played against the Dream this season, the Lynx have a net rating of zero, and their defensive and offensive ratings are both at 107.7. The Lynx’s base defensive rating of 95.4 drops by over 12% when they play against the Dream. While Carrington will be able to contain Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard when she returns better than Kayla McBride previously could, I still question how much the mismatch in the front court will matter for the Lynx. Although if the standings remain the same by the final day of the regular season, the Lynx might get lucky and might not have to face the Dream in the postseason at all.

Do you believe the Connecticut Sun should have gone “all-in” on a rebuild by being more active at the deadline?

Johnson: I'm somewhat surprised that the Sun did not look to move another of their veterans, either for a young prospect to evaluate for the rest of the season or in exchange for added draft capital. Then again, maybe the fact that nearly 80 percent of the league's players will be free agents after this season factored into Connecticut not doing more before the trade deadline. Adding Edwards via trade was a good move, but Connecticut not looking to move another post to free up minutes for the 2024 first-round pick was somewhat confusing. If there's anything to watch down the stretch for Rachid Meziane's team, it's the playing time that Edwards and rookies Leïla Lacan, Saniya Rivers and Aneesah Morrow receive (Rayah Marshall can be included, but she's been out of the rotation on most nights). This isn't going to be a playoff team, so the focus should be on evaluating those young players.

Huff: Yes, considering the Sun’s spot in the standings at this point in the season. With the worst record in the league and the playoffs likely unrealistic, the starting roles that Connecticut’s veteran players occupy are preventing the young players from receiving important developmental reps; this potentially becomes even more of a hindrance with Aaliyah Edwards in town and needing minutes. Marina Mabrey and Tina Charles are a couple of veterans slated to become unrestricted free agents after this season, which will provide the Sun even more cap space to be active in free agency this upcoming offseason. Perhaps they are waiting until then to go “all in.”

Powell: To be clear the Sun were forced to rebuild unlike the Mystics who leaned more into it after changing hands once they fired Mike and Eric Thibault. The writing had been on the wall for so long that the late 2010s and early 2020s Sun coached by Curt Miller and then Stephanie White was going to come to a dramatic end. That success wasn’t going to be continued mostly because the Sun franchise arguably has the least player friendly facilities in the league and is located in the most middle of nowhere place in Uncasville, Connecticut. The Sun as they stand aren’t a place for free agents as they once were.

There are many reasons as to why the Sun weren’t more active, but the most obvious one is the current battle for the franchise itself. There is an ownership group in Boston willing to put up $325 Million for the franchise and move it to Boston. The proposal, however, hasn’t been accepted by the board of governors and multiple reports suggest that the league could force the Sun to sell to a buyer of the league’s choosing rather than Connecticut's.

There are also other questions about how much trade value 37-year-old Tina Charles and recently-hurt guard Marina Mabrey had. Jacy Sheldon, who they did trade, is a very good rotation two-way guard and she will balance out a Mystics roster that was never balanced. 2026 will present a blank slate for many WNBA teams, and that includes the Connecticut Sun.

Between the Lynx and the Storm, who improves more as a result of the moves they made at the deadline?

Johnson: While Seattle adding Sykes may have addressed a slightly more pressing need, adding a defender of Carrington's caliber is why Minnesota receives the nod for me. The Lynx were able to go small at times on Tuesday, playing three wings with Bridget Carleton shifting down due to Alanna Smith being in foul trouble. And the move worked, with Minnesota making its run and going on to beat the Storm in Seattle. It isn't difficult to envision lineups where it's Napheesa Collier serving as the five once she returns from her sprained ankle. Minnesota has been the best team all season, and the Carrington additions should make them even better, especially once Collier returns.

Huff: I somewhat alluded to this in an earlier response, but I’ll rephrase it here: I think the Lynx entered and exited the trade deadline as an A+ team, while the Storm upgraded from probably a B-level team to something greater. Alysha Clark’s role had diminished throughout the season and she wasn’t consistently playing meaningful minutes by the end of her second stint in Seattle. Now, the Storm gets deeper with the addition of Sykes and gains another defender, but one with real game-changing ability on the offensive end and player capable of closing games. Between their starting five, the rookie Dominique Malonga, and now Sykes, Seattle has a very strong seven-player rotation.

Powell: I agree with Cole on this one. The Storm improved more because they added a better all around player, but I’m not sure how much adding Sykes is going to help them make a deep playoff run and make it into the WNBA Finals. Basketball is about math and I agree with Nekias Duncan at Bleacher Report when he says that the Sykes trade “reinforces” who the Storm are rather than " solves what they aren’t”. While Sykes has improved her three-point clip over the years, she’s still not the perimeter spacing threat that the Storm need in order to put more pressure on defenses.

To be clear, I saw the fit for Sykes much more in Minnesota. The Lynx didn’t just need another perimeter defender, but they needed someone who can reliably create offense in high pressure situations when offensive actions get blown up by excellent defenses presumably in the postseason. Napheesa Collier is the Lynx’s only consistent creator of offense in clutch and crunch time situations. She can be handed the basketball and can make something happen with it. While there’s some argument to be made that Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride have the potential to take on those types of responsibilities, Sykes has been excellent at drawing contact and getting to the line, which regardless of officiating, the Lynx struggled to do in situations when it mattered most. As of now the Lynx are 11th in the league when it comes to free throws attempted per game.

Buddy Hield jokingly threatens Warriors teammate Jimmy Butler in hilarious post

Buddy Hield jokingly threatens Warriors teammate Jimmy Butler in hilarious post originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The playful banter between Buddy Hield and Jimmy Butler has continued through the Warriors offseason.

Hield responded to Butler’s Instagram story, which featured him wearing a Hield mask while on tour in China, with one of his own, poking fun at his Warriors teammate.

The duo has developed quite a rapport since Butler arrived via a trade with the Miami Heat in February. The comical back-and-forth has brought much-needed brevity to the team, which helped smooth the transition for Butler.

Between constant social media trolling, funny postgame commentary, and Butler switching out Hield’s shorts before the start of a playoff game, the two have had plenty of zany highlights so far.

Given the heightened expectations surrounding Golden State heading into the start of the 2025-2026 NBA season, the lighthearted banter between the two stars is needed big-time.

Look for plenty more funny jokes, silly memes, trolling and all-around silliness from Butler and Hield, especially once training camp starts at the end of September.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander receives key to hometown of Hamilton, Ontario

HAMILTON, Ontario (AP) — NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander received the key to the city of Hamilton from Mayor Andrea Horwath at a public rally Thursday at Hamilton Stadium.

Horwath also announced the Oklahoma City star will have a street named after him after capping an epic season by leading Thunder to the NBA title.

“Growing up as I traveled across the world, to countless states, cities and countries people always asked where I was from,” Gilgeous-Alexander told a raucous gathering in the north end zone after hoisting the NBA championship trophy over his head. “I took pride in letting everyone know I was from Hamilton.

“Hamilton is different from every other city in Ontario, Hamiltonians carry a different sense of grit, determination, pride and energy than the rest of the province and honestly, I couldn’t shy away from that. I carry that with me every day and everywhere I go so you guys can only imagine how (much) overwhelming joy there was when I found out I was getting a key to the city I love and a street named after me.”

Gilgeous-Alexander returned to the Stadium on Thursday night. He was honored to start the second quarter of the CFL game between the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the B.C. Lions.

Boston Celtics sign coach Joe Mazzulla to multi-year contract extension

We've got a few more years of nature documentary metaphors ahead of us now.

Joe Mazzulla signed a multi-year extension to remain head coach of the Boston Celtics, the team has announced.

This is truly a blessing," Mazzulla said in a statement announcing the signing. "I would not be here without my faith, my wife, and my children. We are thankful for the partnership with our ownership groups, Brad's mentorship, and the support of our staff. Most importantly, I am grateful for the players I have been able to coach the past three seasons. I look forward to competing for the Celtics and the city of Boston."
This extension is not a surprise. Mazzulla was thrust into a tough spot when he took the job, replacing the suspended Ime Udoka first as the interim head coach, just days before training camp opened in 2022. Despite that, he has thrived in the role. Mazzulla led the Boston Celtics to an NBA title in 2024 and has had them at the highest levels of the sport since he took over. That earns a coach some extra years.

"We are very excited that Joe has agreed to extend with the Celtics," Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens said in a statement. "He understands the job and has a passion for the Celtics that is only rivaled by our most die-hard fans. He's worked hard and accomplished amazing things in his first three years as a head coach — including averaging over 60 wins per season and winning the 2024 NBA Championship. Joe is a gifted leader who brings a consistent commitment to learning, improving, and maximizing each day we get to compete for the Boston Celtics."

The extension ends the speculation in Boston about his contract heading into a season where Mazzulla is likely to hear more criticism from fans and media than in the past. This is going to be a gap year for the Celtics, who will not be a bad team, led by Jaylen Brown, but will not be title contenders without Jayson Tatum (torn Achilles expected to keep him out most, if not all, of next season) as well as trading away Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. This is no longer a deep team, it looks more like a play-in team, even in a down Eastern Conference. The Celtics have a "no ceiling" mindset heading into this season, with the focus clearly on saving money now and then reloading for another title run in the 2026-27 season with a healthy Tatum.

We now know that Mazzulla will be coaching that team as they try to get back to the mountain top.

Rumor: Warriors have some interest in a Jonathan Kuminga for Josh Giddey trade

The Golden State Warriors are at a very public stalemate with restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga over a new contract. While not negotiated through the media in the same way, the Chicago Bulls and Josh Giddey are in a similar situation.

The Warriors are at least open to the idea of trading their problems — a Kuminga for Giddey trade, reports NBA insider Jake Fischer during a live stream for Bleacher Report.

"I can report that there have been multiple teams that have reached out to Josh Giddey's representation about having interest in [him]. Golden State is one of them. Golden State would be interested, depending on how the machinations would go, in some kind of Josh Giddey/Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade, to my understanding."

How serious the Warriors are about this is up for debate but also moot right now — the Bulls have shot down all calls for a Giddey sign-and-trade so far, Fischer said. However, he added that in the past there was some interest in Chicago in Kuminga.

"They made outreach to Golden State early in the offseason about Kuminga, they've talked about Kuminga in various trade conversations with the Warriors in the past when Golden State was checking in on Zach LaVine and Alex Caruso."

This trade is a long shot primarily due to logistical reasons — a double sign-and-trade deal is incredibly difficult to pull off. That's because of the NBA's base year compensation rule, which would break down in practice this way: For the purposes of the trade, Kuminga's outgoing salary would count for half (50%) of its annual average on the Warriors' books, but the full amount incoming on the Bulls' books. For example, and hypothetically, if Kuminga's average salary on the new contract were $20 million a season, for the Warriors it would count as $10 million going out, but for the Bulls it would count as $20 million a year coming in. The same is true in reverse, Giddey would count for 50% of his salary on the Bulls' books, but the full amount on the Warriors. That means there would need to be at least three teams in this trade to make the math work, and more likely at least four teams. Good luck putting that together.

The Warriors reportedly have pulled out of all Kuminga trade talks and expect him to be with the team this fall. The Warriors reportedly offered a two-year, $45 million contract, and Fischer confirmed previous reporting that Golden State wants a team option on the second year and for Kuminga to waive the no-trade clause that would automatically come with that contract (because it's in practice a one-year deal and he could lose his Bird rights). Kuminga isn't about to give up his only leverage in this situation.

The deadline to reach a deal is Oct. 1 (the final day Kuminga could pick up the $7.8 million qualifying offer and play for that, then be a free agent next summer), which is far enough away that neither side feels any pressure to compromise. Same with the Giddey situation. In both cases, expect the situation to be worked out closer to training camp, and don't expect a Giddey for Kuminga trade, that would be a lot to make happen.

Warriors reportedly to open season vs. Lakers, host Mavericks on Christmas Day

Warriors reportedly to open season vs. Lakers, host Mavericks on Christmas Day originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Two big Warriors games have been unveiled for the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season.

Golden State will open the season against LeBron James, Luka Dončić and the Lakers on Tuesday, Oct. 21, in Los Angeles, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Friday afternoon, citing sources. The game will air on the newly revived NBA on NBC.

The other Opening Night game set for that Tuesday, per Charania, will be the Houston Rockets, freshly led by 15-time NBA All-Star Kevin Durant, against the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

Another big Warriors contest revealed by Charania is their Christmas Day showdown with former Golden State guard Klay Thompson and his Dallas Mavericks.

The game will take place on Dec. 25 at Chase Center and air on ABC and ESPN.

Here are the rest of the reported Christmas Day games:

Thompson, of course, spent the first 13 years of his NBA career with Golden State as he, his Splash Brother Steph Curry and Draymond Green created a dynasty in the Bay before Thompson departed in free agency last offseason.

In one season with the Mavericks, Thompson averaged 14 points on 41.2-percent shooting from the field and 39.1 percent from 3-point range, with 3.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 27.3 minutes through 72 games (72 starts).

Alongside Thompson will be the 2025 No. 1 overall draft pick, Cooper Flagg, in addition to nine-time NBA All-Star Kyrie Irving, who agreed to a three-year contract with Dallas worth a reported $119 million.

We’re still a ways away from NBA action, but it’s never too early to get excited about Dubs basketball, right?

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

How Knicks' Mikal Bridges has the most to gain from the Mike Brown hiring

When the Knicks hired Mike Brown as their new head coach, much of the focus was on how he can optimize the All-Star tandem of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns

However, it is Mikal Bridges who might have the most to gain from Brown’s hiring.

The two-way wing recently signed a four-year contract extension worth $150 million to stay with the Knicks. With Bridges set to remain in New York for an extended period of time, putting him in an ideal role will be important to the team's title hopes. 

Bridges had a bit of an uneven debut season with the Knicks. 

After the club sent five future draft picks to the Nets to acquire Bridges, his fit on the roster was inconsistent. There were the highs -- like a 41-point explosion on Christmas against the Spurs, a buzzer-beater against the Trail Blazers, and key defensive stops against the Celtics in the second round of the playoffs. 

But there were also nights when Bridges disappeared, like an 0-for-9 shooting performance against the now-champion Thunder in January.

Though his raw numbers of 17.6 points on 50 percent from the field looked good on paper, it never seemed like Bridges was fully comfortable. After altering his shot release this past season, Bridges’ three-point attempt rate dropped and he shot 35.4 percent from beyond the arc, his lowest mark since his rookie season.

He was effective from the corners (42.4 percent) but struggled mightily from deeper. Bridges knocked down only 30.5 percent of his trifectas from above-the-break. In the playoffs, he shot 36.2 percent on above-the-break threes, but made only 32.3 percent of his corner ones.

Ways to build Bridges

There are levers that Brown could pull to help Bridges become more efficient. 

Under Brown’s watch, the Kings played fast and also embraced the pass. 

In his two full seasons as Kings head coach, they finished seventh in assist rate and top five in passes made per game. Kings center Domantas Sabonis thrived as a creator in Brown’s offense, through dribble handoffs and finding cutters from the mid-post and at the top of the key.

The Knicks can use Towns in a similar way. With Towns’ ability to shoot from outside, it would open space in the paint and create easier scoring opportunities for Bridges, as well as other Knicks. The former Villanova star was successful earlier in his career as an off-ball cutter with the Suns. 

Under Tom Thibodeau last season, the Knicks were 26th in pace in the regular season, per NBA Stats. The team was also 13th in transition frequency. When the Knicks did push the ball, they were effective, scoring 1.18 points per possession -- good for second in the NBA. 

Bridges is effective running the floor and it would give him more opportunities to find easier buckets.

Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) dribbles the ball against New York Knicks small forward Mikal Bridges (25) during the first half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images
Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) dribbles the ball against New York Knicks small forward Mikal Bridges (25) during the first half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images / Soobum Im-Imagn Images

On defense, Bridges was New York’s primary point-of-attack defender. He was often tasked with defending lead ball handlers, and he struggled at times navigating picks while trying to stay in front of guards such as Tyrese Haliburton or Trae Young

Even with a new coach, it’s hard to see that changing -- none of New York’s other starters are capable of guarding at the point-of-attack. 

The only way Bridges won’t be in that position is if Miles McBride plays more minutes with the starters, rather than Josh Hart or Mitchell Robinson. But it’s hard to envision a lineup of four starters with McBride joining the Knicks' primary five-man unit. 

One other adjustment the Knicks could embrace would be switching more on defense, so Bridges won’t be hung up on screens as much.

Self-improvement

Even with the coaching change, there are adjustments Bridges can make on his own. 

He needs to be more willing to embrace contact -- there were too many occasions where the iron man opted to fade away in the mid-range and avoid defenders. Bridges converted those attempts, making 51.3 percent of attempts from three to 10 feet, according to Basketball Reference.

Last season, Bridges attempted a laughably low 118 free throws in 3,036 minutes. In the year prior, he took nearly 200 more freebies despite playing over 200 less minutes with the Nets. 

The lack of foul shots, lower three-point rate, and high volume of mid-range attempts made Bridges the antithesis of efficiency. If he can alter some of that shot diet toward the rim and welcome contact on finishes in the paint while attempting more threes, the Knicks will greatly benefit. 

Derrick White recalls being on ‘good side' of Steph Curry flurry during Olympics

Derrick White recalls being on ‘good side' of Steph Curry flurry during Olympics originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Derrick White has fond memories of Steph Curry’s incredible finish to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

After many seasons of seeing Curry and the Warriors unload on White’s Boston Celtics squad, the NBA veteran got to be on the winning side for once during the Olympics last summer, something he cherishes still.

“Steph was unbelievable, he was just going crazy,” White said Tuesday on the “White Noise Podcast.” “In the beginning [of the Olympic tournament], Steph wasn’t himself. We were waiting for that Steph game to happen, and it happened in that Serbia game, and he carried it over to the gold medal game.

“In the [fourth quarter] of that game, Steph kicks it to [Kevin Durant] and [LeBron James] is open in the corner and he’s like, ‘Nah, back to you, Steph,’ it was unbelievable. To be on the good side of it, it was an unbelievable feeling. The whole bench is going crazy, like we can’t believe what we’re watching either.”

Curry shook off some rust early in the tournament to almost single-handedly lift Team USA to the victory over Serbia in the semifinals. After that, Curry turned in an iconic performance against France in the gold medal game, erupting for 24 points on 8-for-12 shooting from 3-point range and five assists.

It was another vintage performance from one of the NBA’s all-time greats and a welcome relief from White’s perspective.

White and the Celtics faced Curry and the Warriors in the 2022 NBA Finals and saw firsthand his devastating shooting abilities. Boston took a 2-1 series lead, but after that it was all Golden State, with Curry putting things out of reach with a mesmerizing 34-point performance in the series-clinching Game 6.

Still, White always will have golden memories of his time with Curry and Team USA in Paris to go along with his gold medal.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast