The latest Buss family dispute emerged Monday following a report that the family will sell its remaining stake in the Los Angeles Lakers to new majority owners Bob Iger and Josh Kushner.
The move to sell off the remaining 17.8% ownership stake, reported Monday morning by ESPN, would mark the end of the Buss family era with the 17-time NBA championship franchise.
In a statement reported by ESPN, the Buss family said. “We have decided as a family to sell the remaining Buss Family Trust shares to the Bob Iger group as part of the ongoing transaction. We love the Lakers, Laker fans and will continue to support Los Angeles; but it is time to use this opportunity to move on and exit gracefully while we still can.”
NBC Los Angeles has reached out to the Lakers, Buss family and representatives for Bob Iger and Josh Kusher for comment.
The sale would mean Jeanie Buss would no longer be the team’s governor, which requires a qualifying 15% ownership stake in a franchise. She has been team governor since 2013, following the death of her father Jerry Buss.
But later Monday, CNBC reported that Jeanie Buss is opposing the potential sale of her family’s stake, citing a letter addressed to law firms representing Jeanie Buss’s siblings. The letter said Jeanie Buss has not agreed to sell the team and a vote suggesting the family is selling “would be and is void,” CNBC reported.
Attorney Adam Streisand argued in the letter that Jeanie Buss remains the controlling shareholder, CNBC reported.
The siblings have been in frequent conflict since their father’s death. Jeanie Buss fired Jim Buss from his job as the Lakers’ head of basketball operations in 2017. A week later, she filed a lawsuit against her brothers during an attempt by Jim and Johnny to oust Jeanie from her role as the Lakers’ controlling owner.
Iger is the former CEO of the Walt Disney Co. Kushner is the younger brother of Jared Kushner, who is married to President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka. They confirmed last week that they had reached an agreement to purchase the Lakers for a record $12.5 billion.
The deal was announced about 10 months after Dodgers owner Mark Walter purchased a majority stake in the team from the Buss family for $10 billion.
ESPN reported that a majority of the Buss siblings, Jeanie, Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse, voted to sell off the family’s remaining stake in the team. According to the ESPN report, Jeanie Buss’ agreement under the sale to Walter would have kept her as governor of the franchise through 2030.
The team sale must still go before the NBA Board of Governors for approval. The board’s next meeting is Sept. 15-16 in New York.
Jerry Buss bought the Lakers in 1979 for $67.5 million. The deal included the NHL’s Kings and The Forum in Inglewood.
Following his death in 2013, Lakers ownership passed to his children, with Jeanie Buss serving as team governor ever since.
Under the Buss family, the Lakers captured 11 NBA championships, the last coming during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
Mar 10, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Haywood Highsmith (19) reacts after scoring a basket during the fourth quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Free agent F Haywood Highsmith has agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Phoenix Suns, his agent Jerry Dianis tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/IpkzmLnRju
Five days ago, Phoenix opted to waive the veteran defensive specialist, who was owed $1 million on a contract that was not set to become fully guaranteed until January 10, 2027. Had Highsmith remained on the roster through that date, the deal would have become worth $3 million in total.
Now, less than a week later, he’s back.
So what’s the reasoning behind this? Why would the Suns waive Highsmith only to bring him back for roughly the same amount? Certainly there have to be some mechanics involved that benefit both sides, right? Because if not, the $1 million that was owed to Highsmith before he was waived would simply be added to the Suns’ dead cap, pushing that total to $24.2 million.
I haven’t seen an updated cap sheet yet or any official details on how the new contract is structured, but my assumption is that it will be fully non-guaranteed. If that’s the case, the $1 million previously owed to Highsmith would remain part of the dead cap, while his new deal would give Phoenix greater flexibility moving forward.
So why do it? For starters, the Suns gave Highsmith an opportunity to test the market and see whether another team would offer him a fully guaranteed contract. Given his recent injury history, including missing nearly all of last season after meniscus surgery, there were legitimate concerns. He cleared waivers, nobody brought him in, and ultimately he returned to Phoenix.
The Suns, meanwhile, may have created additional flexibility with the structure of the new deal. Had Highsmith remained on his previous contract, they already owed him $1 million, and that deal could have grown to $3 million if it had become fully guaranteed.
Under this new arrangement, Phoenix potentially avoids committing that additional money if Highsmith doesn’t make it to the guarantee date. If he does, the Suns have the room to keep him. That $3 million would hit the cap, but it wouldn’t necessarily create a major problem given where Phoenix already sits relative to the first and second aprons.
Another way to look at this is that Highsmith could potentially be on an Exhibit 9 contract, which would essentially make this a training camp invite and give the Suns an opportunity to see how he looks and responds physically. If he doesn’t make the regular-season roster, the deal wouldn’t count against the cap.
We could see something similar to what happened last season, when Jordan Goodwin and Jared Butler battled for a roster spot. This time around, that competition could involve Highsmith and Jamaree Bouyea, who also does not have a guaranteed contract. If that’s the case, Phoenix could still enter the season with an open roster spot, giving the organization another layer of flexibility.
For all the people who were devastated when the Suns waived Haywood Highsmith last week, you can settle down now. I found it funny how frustrated some people became, almost as if Phoenix were waiving a starter rather than a depth piece. In reality, Highsmith is someone who can step in when injuries occur or provide specific minutes against a point-of-attack threat. It’s a reminder that depth is fluid, and sometimes people become more emotionally invested in the idea of a player than what that player actually is in the present.
Highsmith still has a long road ahead of him to earn those minutes back. He needs to get himself back into complete NBA shape and rebuild that value. The fact that he cleared waivers also showed that his value around the league may not be as high as the local fan base believes.
That doesn’t mean he isn’t a worthwhile addition. He brings a defensive mentality, can shoot the three-ball, and fits with who and what the Phoenix Suns are trying to be from both an organizational and skill-set standpoint.
And the Suns? Kudos to them for remaining vigilant and finding ways to save wherever they can. For an organization that has been fiscally irresponsible in the past, this is further evidence that they are operating much more responsibly moving forward. You may look at saving $3 million as a risk when it meant potentially losing a player of Highsmith’s caliber, but it wasn’t necessarily much of a risk at all.
The Suns were already going to owe him $1 million guaranteed. My assumption is that this new deal is fully non-guaranteed, meaning they incur no additional financial loss if it doesn’t work out. Optionality. That’s what the Suns have given themselves.
The Sixers on Monday announced their 2026 preseason schedule, which begins with an Oct. 5 home game against the Knicks. All games will air on NBC Sports Philadelphia and 97.5 The Fanatic. The full schedule is below:
The Sixers presumably won’t play their full-strength team for much of the preseason, but the exhibition games will provide the first glimpse at a new-look team with LeBron James, Brown and sky-high expectations. The Sixers’ regular-season opener at Madison Square Garden will tip off on Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. ET.
One of the biggest X-factors for the Boston Celtics in the upcoming 2026-27 NBA season will be Paul George.
The veteran forward was acquired by the Celtics as part of the controversial Jaylen Brown trade with the Philadelphia 76ers back in July.
George is older and not as talented as Brown, but he should still be a productive player for the C’s.
In the latest episode of team-produced show Beneath the Banners, Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens explained why he thinks George will be a good fit in Boston.
“Paul’s a really good player,” Stevens said. “He’s been a really good player for a long time. He’s one of the more impactful players with regard to winning, even as he’s aged in the NBA. We just think he’s a good fit for how we play, and I think the other part about Paul is he’s very smart.
“He has a good feel for the game; he’s got a good savvy to him about the game, and I think that fits in with the rest of our lineup.”
George averaged 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game for the Sixers last season, while shooting 39.2 percent from the 3-point line. He also impressed in the 2026 playoffs, especially in the seven-game series against the Celtics. George averaged 17.4 points per game and shot 55 percent on 3-pointers versus the C’s.
The concern with George is availability. He has battled injuries throughout his career. He played in just 37 games last season (also served a 25-game suspension) and 41 games in 2024-25. George has played 60-plus games in a season only once (2023-24) since 2019.
But if healthy, George can absolutely be a difference maker for the Celtics.
He’s still a good outside shooter, he’s still a quality perimeter defender. He’s a smart player, he can play/defend multiple positions, and he brings tons of experience. George isn’t an All-NBA caliber player at this stage of his career, but his impact on winning can still be pretty high.
And he sounds pretty excited to get going with his new teammates.
“It’s surreal,” George said on the latest Beneath the Banners episode. “I’m ecstatic. I’m looking forward to the journey. I’m looking forward to wearing that green and representing for Boston.”
Well, you can't say New Orleans did absolutely nothing this offseason.
The Pelicans are signing 6'8" power forward Trendon Watford to a one-year, $2.9 million minimum contract, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania. This will be the former LSU star's sixth NBA season, bringing the Pelicans roster to a full 15 contracts.
Watford was at the end of the rotation in Philadelphia last season, getting into 53 games and averaging 6.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per night when he did. He's not a floor spacer, taking nearly three-quarters of his shots last season within 10 feet of the rim (but being pretty efficient on those). Watford reportedly was in talks to play next season in Spain before the Pelicans' opportunity arrived.
Watford will struggle for minutes if the Pelicans are healthy, playing behind Zion Williamson and Derik Queen, but if either player misses time, Watford becomes a veteran reserve off the bench. Also, if the Pelicans make trades during the season — teams are still calling about Trey Murphy III — his role could expand as well.
Watford is the biggest signing this offseason for New Orleans, which says something about how quiet their offseason has been. The Pelicans hired a new coach in Jamahl Mosley, who should help the defense — just as he did in Orlando — but the Pelicans are essentially running it back with a 26-win team from a year ago that did not tank (they didn't control their own draft pick) and was largely healthy. This team looks better on paper than on the court the past couple of seasons, can a new coach change that?
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 13: De'Aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots a three point basket during the game against the New York Knicks during Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant /NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to Pounding the Rock’s 2025-26 player reviews! The series will look at the players who finished the season with the San Antonio Spurs on guaranteed contracts and who played consequential minutes and/or a vital role (so no two-way players because we hardly saw them this year, no players who were traded away, and none of the deep bench centers, since they were both irrelevant and are now all gone).
Contract Status: 4 years, $221.7 million remaining
Age: 28
What goes into a grade? With 82 games and four playoff series, there is so much time to reflect on. Summarizing it all with an overarching grade is a unique task. And yet, so far, it’s been largely easy to assign a letter to most of the Spurs. Grading De’Aaron Fox is not so easy.
Fox made one of San Antonio’s most famous mistakes of the season. Getting blocked by OG Anunoby with seconds left in Game Four of the NBA Finals will haunt him and the Spurs for quite some time. After being pretty good in the first two playoff series, an ankle injury held him back from being as effective in the Western Conference Finals and Finals. And yet, Fox was an All-Star this season, and without him, the Spurs don’t reach the highest highs of their season.
Fox did two things extremely well this year: lift the team when Victor Wembanyama sits (a very important job for a team with a superstar with some delicate health issues), and steady the ship when things got tough in the postseason. Fox averaged 24.6 points, 6.2 assists and 4.4 rebounds in the 18 games Wembanyama missed this season. With a mostly inexperienced roster, Fox kept the team afloat while guards like Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper could not yet handle a primary ball-handler role (Castle had a major turnover problem when Fox was not in the lineup).
Still, it’s hard not to feel like Fox left a bit on the table this season. San Antonio’s offense, while effective (4th in offensive rating), never seemed to click. Fox was left playing off the ball due to Castle and Harper’s lack of three-point shooting. That meant less of Fox running the pick-and-roll where he was most effective, and a lot of him spotting catch-and-shoot threes, where he hit only 33.2% of his deep shots.
Despite the disappointing end to the season (which was almost certainly affected by injury), Fox was one of the Spurs’ best players all season long. He was a steady, veteran performer who lifted his teammates and took over when he needed to. It was actually kind of the exact type of season you’re looking for from your starting point guard (minus the Finals blunders).
So a grade here is tough, because there are large, glaring negatives to take away from this season. But I am, admittedly, a basketball optimist. For every Fox mistake late in the season, I can think of 5 moments where he came up with a clutch basket, or settled the team after a wild run. So he gets a passing grade, but is certainly one of the Spurs with the biggest microscope on him entering the 2026-27 season.
Looking ahead
Fox’s max contract extension kicks in this year. With that comes even more scrutiny for the veteran, especially coming off his NBA Finals performance. For the first time since he’s been a Spur, it seems like Fox will be fully healthy coming into the season. His ankle is healed up, and there has been no word of other lower body injuries cropping up. A fully rested and motivated Fox could be a dangerous player coming into the year.
It would be great to see Mitch Johnson lean into the Fox-Wembanyama pick-and-roll that was so deadly last season. Castle and Harper have improved as off-ball shooters, and are good enough cutters to make defenses pay for losing them in the half-court. Overall, it’s on Johnson to find a way to play Fox and the other three guards. It’s an offensive scheme that the team needs to figure out to ascend to another level.
San Antonio’s personnel actually should fit Fox a bit better this season, too. A potential lineup of Fox, Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie, Tobias Harris and Wembanyama could be an interesting mix of shooting, playmaking and finishing that would allow Fox to play a more central ball-handling and playmaking role. If Carter Bryant becomes a better shooter, he could be an interesting player next to Fox who could space the floor on the wing and run out in transition with the point guard.
I am bullish on a bounce-back year for Fox next season on the court. San Antonio needs that to recoup his value. With Harper nipping at his heels, Fox’s time as the starting point guard seems to be dwindling. It is going to be very hard for the Spurs to field a competitive team when they need to hand out max contracts to Castle and Harper, alongside Wembanyama and Fox’s contracts. Right now, it’s easy to point to Fox as the odd man out of that core.
But what realistically could the Spurs get in a trade for Fox at this point? Are teams clamoring to acquire a 28-year-old point guard coming off of his worst playoff series, and starting a contract many have labeled one of the worst in the league? San Antonio needs Fox to play well, not only to help the team this year, but to make him moveable down the road once they need to clear space to build a competitor around Wembanyama, Harper, and Castle.
That is likely not a problem for this season, or maybe even next offseason. But it is something that will be on Spurs fans’ minds, and maybe even Fox and Harper’s as they compete for playing time moving forward. In an ideal world, that drives Fox to play to the level of his contract. In a world where things go wrong for the Spurs, it kills chemistry and a move needs to be made. Which direction things start to go is going to be one of the biggest storylines for the Spurs next season.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 15: Trendon Watford #12 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 15, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The final 2026 Sixers free agent has found a home.
ESPN’s Shams Charania has reported that Trendon Watford has signed a one-year, $2.9 million dollar deal with the New Orleans Pelicans.
Free agent F Trendon Watford has agreed to a one-year, $2.9 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, sources tell ESPN. Watford considered multiple options but for New Orleans serves as a productive two-way get late into the offseason after a year in Philadelphia where he… pic.twitter.com/F8ecDrfLei
In his lone season with the Sixers, Watford averaged 16.3 minutes across his 53 appearances while struggling with soft tissue injures. A strained hamstring made him miss the start of the season and an adductor strain cost him a healthy chunk of the middle of the season.
Watford put up 6.5 points per game along with 3,3 rebounds and 2.5 assists as a Sixer. As a starter he dropped a triple-double early in the season and was very popular in the locker room as a close friend of Tyrese Maxey.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 10: Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers wrestle for a loose ball during the second quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on May 10, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The New York Knicks’ full 2026 preseason schedule has emerged after X account New York Basketball (kudos!) put together other franchises’games, giving us our first look at the reigning champs’ five-game tune-up before the start of their title defense.
The complete slate will run from Oct. 5 through Oct. 15 and feature four different opponents, three games at Madison Square Garden, and two on the road — one of them not in the USA of A.
New York will open preseason play Monday, Oct. 5, with a trip to Philadelphia (of course) before returning home for games against two very exciting and promising teams in Washington and Minnesota. The Knicks will then finish with a home-and-home against Toronto on Oct. 13 and 15.
The final matchup was initially listed by the Raptors with a 7 p.m. ET tipoff, but NBA New York subsequently clarified that the Oct. 15 game at MSG will begin at 7:30 p.m., as corrected by the Knicks.
Philadelphia 76ers: The preseason opener might also feature the most intriguing opponent on the schedule, although we all know there won’t be any NYK vs. LBJ on Oct. 5, right? Philadelphia added LeBron James and Jaylen Brown during the offseason, putting them alongside Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and perennially hurt Joel Embiid. On paper, that makes the Sixers quite the first test—even if maybe none of those five play.
Washington Wizards: New York gets its first preseason appearance at Madison Square Garden against Washington on Oct. 8. The Wizards have only lost D’Angelo Russell (if you still cared about him) while adding Deandre Ayton, Khris Middleton, and mostly AJ Dybantsa to their squad. Ever-hated Trae Young is still around, and the Wiz Kiz are my underdog to make the ECF, so I’m highly intrigued!
Minnesota Timberwolves: Minnesota visits MSG on Oct. 12, providing another meeting between two teams that went deep into last season’s playoffs. For the Knicks, it will also be their final preseason game before playing on consecutive nights north of the border. Will we get at least a glimpse of the new LaMelo Ball-Anthony Edwards backcourt? We hope!
Toronto Raptors (x2): We don’t know which sort of team the Knicks will face here. Will Kawhi Leonard play? Will he even be a member of the Raptors by the time we get to this game? Will RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley face their former team? Will Brandon Ingram or won’t he? Too many questions for which only Pablo Torre has the answers.
Knicks’ 2026 Full Preseason Schedule
Oct. 5 — at 76ers — 7 p.m. ET Oct. 8 — vs. Wizards — 7:30 p.m. ET Oct. 12 — vs. Timberwolves — 7:30 p.m. ET Oct. 13 — at Raptors — 7 p.m. ET Oct. 15 — vs. Raptors — 7:30 p.m. ET
What do you make of this, if anything at all? Are you already looking forward to anything in particular? Do you expect any spicy matchup to happen during these meaningless, early-to-mid-October games? Let us know in the comments section below!
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 8: Trendon Watford #12 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the game against the New York Knicks during Round Two Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 8, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Free agent forward Trendon Watford has signed a one-year deal with the New Orleans Pelicans worth $2.9 million, per reports.
Free agent F Trendon Watford has agreed to a one-year, $2.9 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, sources tell ESPN. Watford considered multiple options but for New Orleans serves as a productive two-way get late into the offseason after a year in Philadelphia where he… pic.twitter.com/F8ecDrfLei
The former LSU Tiger was most recently with the Philadelphia 76ers, after previously spending two seasons with both the Portland Trail Blazers and Brooklyn Nets.
The Birmingham native immediately made an impact at LSU, averaging 13.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game as a freshman in 2019 and earning SEC All-Freshman Team honors.
As a sophomore, Watford averaged 16.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. He scored a career-high 30 points in LSU’s SEC Tournament championship game loss to Alabama and earned First-Team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press and Second-Team honors from the coaches. He declared for the 2021 NBA Draft following the season.
After going undrafted, Watford signed a two-way contract with the Portland Trail Blazers in August 2021, which was converted to a standard contract in February 2022. He scored a career-high 27 points against Washington that March. In the 2022 NBA Summer League, Watford led Portland to the championship with 19 points, seven rebounds, and three steals, earning Championship Game MVP honors and a spot on the All-Summer League Second Team.
In July 2025, Watford joined the 76ers on a two-year contract worth $5.3 million. He recorded the first triple-double of his NBA career on November 8, finishing with 20 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 assists in Philadelphia’s 130-120 win over the Toronto Raptors.
The 25-year-old will now head to New Orleans, where he will look to help the Pelicans turn things around after finishing the 2025-26 season with a 26-56 record, 11th in the Western Conference.
The latest Buss family dispute emerged Monday following a report that the family will sell its remaining stake in the Los Angeles Lakers to new majority owners Bob Iger and Josh Kushner.
The move to sell off the remaining 17.8% ownership stake, reported Monday morning by ESPN, would mark the end of the Buss family era with the 17-time NBA championship franchise.
In a statement reported by ESPN, the Buss family said. “We have decided as a family to sell the remaining Buss Family Trust shares to the Bob Iger group as part of the ongoing transaction. We love the Lakers, Laker fans and will continue to support Los Angeles; but it is time to use this opportunity to move on and exit gracefully while we still can.”
The sale would mean Jeanie Buss would no longer be the team’s governor, which requires a qualifying 15% ownership stake in a franchise. She has been team governor since 2013, following the death of her father Jerry Buss.
But later Monday, CNBC reported that Jeanie Buss is opposing the potential sale of her family’s stake, citing a letter addressed to law firms representing Jeanie Buss’s siblings. The letter said Jeanie Buss has not agreed to sell the team and a vote suggesting the family is selling “would be and is void,” CNBC reported.
Attorney Adam Streisand argued in the letter that Jeanie Buss remains the controlling shareholder, CNBC reported.
The siblings have been in frequent conflict since their father’s death. Jeanie Buss fired Jim Buss from his job as the Lakers’ head of basketball operations in 2017. A week later, she filed a lawsuit against her brothers during an attempt by Jim and Johnny to oust Jeanie from her role as the Lakers’ controlling owner.
Iger is the former CEO of the Walt Disney Co. Kushner is the younger brother of Jared Kushner, who is married to President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka. They confirmed last week that they had reached an agreement to purchase the Lakers for a record $12.5 billion.
The deal was announced about 10 months after Dodgers owner Mark Walter purchased a majority stake in the team from the Buss family for $10 billion.
ESPN reported that a majority of the Buss siblings, Jeanie, Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse, voted to sell off the family’s remaining stake in the team. According to the ESPN report, Jeanie Buss’ agreement under the sale to Walter would have kept her as governor of the franchise through 2030.
The team sale must still go before the NBA Board of Governors for approval. The board’s next meeting is Sept. 15-16 in New York.
Jerry Buss bought the Lakers in 1979 for $67.5 million. The deal included the NHL’s Kings and The Forum in Inglewood.
Following his death in 2013, Lakers ownership passed to his children, with Jeanie Buss serving as team governor ever since.
Under the Buss family, the Lakers captured 11 NBA championships, the last coming during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 18: Owner James Dolan looks on during the New York Knicks Championship ticker tape parade and victory rally celebrating winning the 2026 NBA Finals on June 18, 2026 in New York City. The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games to win their first NBA Championship in 53 years. (Photo by Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For most of their history, the Knicks and Rangers have been cozy bedfellows, with a shared owner, arena, training facility, and the same balance sheet. Now James Dolan is making moves to break them up.
MSG Sports currently expects to complete the spin-off by the end of October 2026. There can be no assurance that the proposed transaction will be completed in the manner described above, or at all. Completion of the transaction remains subject to various conditions, including any required league approval, receipt of a tax opinion from counsel and Company board approval.
MSG Sports first announced in February that it was exploring a separation. The new filing lays out how the businesses would actually be divided, with the company targeting completion by the end of October. If completed, MSG Sports would become MSG Knickerbockers Corp., containing the New York Knicks and Westchester Knicks. A new publicly traded MSG Rangers Corp. would contain the Rangers, Hartford Wolf Pack, and MSG Training Center in Greenburgh.
Dolan is expected to remain executive chairman and CEO of both companies. Existing MSG Sports shareholders would receive proportional shares in the new Rangers company, leaving investors with stakes in two separate businesses instead of one containing both teams. The key difference is that investors could value and invest in the Knicks and Rangers independently. The timing of this is no surprise: the proposed separation comes on the heels of the Knicks winning their first championship in 53 years and producing record business results.
In July, Dolan’s 32-year-old son, Quentin Dolan, stepped into day-to-day operational control of the New York Rangers as the team’s new President, Chief Operating Officer, and Alternate Governor. Under the new hierarchy, Rangers General Manager Chris Drury continues to oversee hockey operations while reporting directly to Quentin, who will also retain his role heading the organization’s sports science and analytics department. The move allows Dolan to step back from hands-on oversight of the Rangers while maintaining direct control over the Knicks, aligning with the corporate effort to divide the two franchises into distinct business entities.
MSG Sports reported $278.7 million in fiscal fourth-quarter revenue, up 37% from a year earlier, and nearly $1.154 billion for the full fiscal year. The Knicks generated approximately $182 million in playoff-related revenue during their championship run, compared with $115.2 million the previous postseason, despite playing nine home playoff games in both years. Average playoff revenue reached a company-record $20.2 million per home game, with record playoff ticket and merchandise sales. Even the MTA got a boost! The Knicks’ historic championship run drove staggering transit surges across their network, setting multi-year post-pandemic ridership records at 34th St–Penn Station and pushing single-day subway travel past 4.3 million trips. Expanded subway and commuter rail services accommodated over one million fans during the June 18 ticker-tape parade.
The $12.5 billion sale of the Lakers last week was just another reminder of how valuable NBA franchises have become. MSG Sports shares have also roughly doubled over the past year. Separating the teams gives the Knicks their own corporate identity and stock price, while investors would no longer have to determine how much of MSG Sports’ value comes from basketball and how much comes from hockey.
As noted above, the MSG Training Center in Greenburgh, which the Knicks and Rangers both use, would belong to MSG Rangers Corp. That doesn’t necessarily mean the Knicks would need a new practice facility; the Rangers company could play landlord while the ‘Bockers continued using it through some sort of agreement. There is a similar arrangement at Madison Square Garden already. MSG Sports owns the teams, while the arena is operated by the separately traded Madison Square Garden Entertainment.
In a nutshell, the split gives investors the ability to evaluate the Knicks as a standalone business right when the ‘Bocker business is booming. If everything goes according to plan, by the end of October the Knicks will have their own, publicly traded corporate home: MSG Knickerbockers Corp. Try putting that on a jersey.
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 20: Jarrett Allen #31 and Max Strus #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers high five during the game against the Toronto Raptors during round one Game two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 20, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes /NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Strus is entering the final year of his current deal with the Cavaliers earning $16.7 million in 2026-27. Strus spent the bulk of this past season on the shelf due to a Jones fracture he suffered before training camp.
Strus suited up for 12 regular season games, including his debut, where he went 7-9 shooting (6-7 from three), ending with 24 points and eight rebounds in 23 minutes.
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With the trade of Schroder on Friday, the Cavaliers were able to shave $6.8 million off their books for next season. Finding a buyer for Strus could require attaching draft capital, given the amount owed to him next season.
While it is a one-year rental, deals like this are harder to accomplish in the NBA’s apron era. Teams are more hesitant to take on any form of sizeable salary as each apron offers less roster flexibility and prevents an ability to be liquid with their current assets.
While Strus is far from a player teams would view solely as a salary hold, the salary size is notable enough to give certain teams pause. Strus is still a very capable scorer in the league and a great locker-room presence. Cleveland would definitely feel the absence of Strus’s presence on and off the court. However, according to Stein, the Cavs are looking to create the flexibility to acquire either Jonathan Kuminga or Peyton Watson.
The active search would imply the Cavaliers are still proceeding with this approach. The question now is how much the Cavaliers will have to attach or take back from a potential trade partner to clear up the necessary space to pursue a starting small forward.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up before the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the majority of Joel Embiid’s tenure with the Philadelphia 76ers, the power forward spot has, among other factors, served as a nagging hindrance against their title aspirations.
Ben Simmons was averse to embracing the position and its typical physicality-oriented duties. Tobias Harris could not provide ancillary contributions like keen decision-making and defensive versatility while his supposed foremost trait of scoring proved mercurial in the postseason. Paul George’s health woes and on-court inconsistencies often left Philadelphia in a bind; his finest stretch as a Sixer was headlined by malleable defense, silky shot-making and grease-the-wheels passing to upset the second-seeded Boston Celtics in the first round last spring.
Over the past five years, all three players have exited the City of Brotherly Love, two via trade, one via free agency. In their stead is LeBron James, who signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the Sixers after spending his past eight seasons as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Despite nearing his 42nd birthday*, James remains a very good NBA player who can address weak points for the Sixers since they reshaped their roster by swapping George for Jaylen Brown earlier this offseason.
*This will be the one time I acknowledge James’ age when discussing his skill-set. It is incredibly impressive he persists as such an impactful player this deep into his career. But I am projecting how he fits onto a team carrying championship hopes, not simply celebrating the staggering accomplishment. Through that prism, his game must be assessed without any age caveat.
Most prevalently, James seriously invigorates Philadelphia’s passing attack and broadens the possibilities of the playbook offensively. Prior to his signing, a Brown-Embiid-Tyrese Maxey-V.J. Edgecombe quartet was severely lacking in the playmaking department. I worried how that group could decode stingy, ingenious playoff defenses to optimize their individual scoring talents together.
Now, James helps shore up that once-glaring deficiency, even if he’s not the ethereal offensive engine of five years ago, let alone a decade ago. He is still one of the league’s premier facilitators fueled by his size, manipulation, vision, and processing speed. Given the amount of strain Maxey, Brown, Embiid and Edgecombe can impose upon defenses as scoring threats, James should be equipped to capitalize on whatever concessions opponents allow.
At this stage of his career, his passing comfortably transcends his scoring. Conversely, Maxey, Brown, Embiid and Edgecombe are all score-first options who own varying levels of passing limitations. James is perhaps the ideal solvent to unlock them and won’t be asked to fill too large of a scoring role. Theoretically, it’s about as perfect a partnership as he and Philadelphia could’ve found.
Last season, the majority of his half-court work occurred in the post, against switches following a screen he set or operating around the wings with an empty corner alignment. I anticipate much of that deployment translating to Philadelphia since it’s not too dissimilar from how head coach Nick Nurse utilized George.
Where those two veterans differentiate is in the pressure they inflict from the elbows and mid-post. Most of George’s touches there resulted in jumpers, so teams were content to play single coverage against him, narrowing the scope of his scoring gravity.
James, though, brandishes considerably more lower body strength to chisel himself into deep position at or near the rim. George just shoots over the top of defenders — mismatches or otherwise. James bowls through them to finish inside or elicits multiple bodies to table-set cutters, shooters and big men for rhythmic scores.
According to Cleaning the Glass, 40 percent of his shots were at the rim in 2025-26 (77th percentile among forwards) and he converted 75 percent of them (92nd percentile). That’s a stark upgrade from George’s 15 percent frequency (15th percentile among wings) and 55 percent success rate (ninth percentile), which dramatically alters how the Sixers can leverage James as a stationary hub inside the arc.
James’ effective, audacious passing should behoove Maxey, who’s been overextended as an on-ball engine since James Harden’s departure and flourishes as an off-ball scorer. Look at the discrepancy in his efficiency between creation (pick-and-rolls, isolations, post-ups) and spacing play-types (spot-ups, handoffs, off-screens) last season, per databallr:
I’d love to see screen-the-screener actions for Maxey — who’s a contact-oriented screener — in which he primes Embiid for deep catches inside before zipping around a pick himself. Sets like those spotlight two divergent, high-level scorers but have been hard to embed with the lack of creation and ball-handling around Maxey in recent seasons.
The Sixers should also implement Split actions for Maxey with Embiid — who doled out the sturdiest picks of his career last year — as his screener. Heck, they can even tab Brown or Edgecombe to screen for Maxey, as both are capable of vibrantly diving to the rim if defenses swarm Maxey. Split actions were a staple of the Golden State Warriors’ dynastic run and unfold like this:
Maxey isn’t a Stephen Curry or Klay Thompson-level marksman but has drilled 41.9 percent of his career catch-and-shoot triples. Among his shooting credentials, speed and instinctive off-ball movement, he can certainly tilt the defense to let everyone thrive in Split actions, particularly with a decision-maker like James at the helm.
High-low actions between James and Embiid should feature heavily into the chemistry those two aim to establish together. Embiid’s never played alongside a passer of James’ ilk, the closest being James Harden from 2022-24. During that stretch, he averaged 36.0 points per 75 possessions on 65.5 percent true shooting with Harden on the floor, according to databallr. James’ contemporary playmaking panache is built less around pick-and-rolls than Harden’s but could nonetheless be a nightly stream of easy points for Embiid
With James most comfortable at the elbows and in the mid-post, I do wonder how he meshes alongside Brown, who considers those spots his home as well. The Sixers’ offense is better served treating James as their foundational mid-post player yet such a hierarchy may stunt Brown’s impact.
Brown is likely a superior scorer to James but a much lesser passer and a fairly stationary off-ball cog. He does not routinely cut or move and has only made 34.8 percent of his catch-and-shoot long balls the past three seasons.
The degree to which they harmonize could determine Philadelphia’s offensive ceiling and be contingent on how well each performs as spot-up shooters, where they’ve both oscillated over the years. Although, I do think their collective propensity for physicality and paint scoring are major boons to potentially paper over incongruency elsewhere.
Tossing Embiid, a face-up and low-block player, into the mix could further complicate matters, too. But his size, pick-and-roll scoring, midrange touch, dribble handoff talents and advantage passing make me more optimistic about how he’ll fit with James.
While still a useful half-court technician because of his virtuoso playmaking, James is not much of a dribble-drive creator these days. He can burp up unnecessary, ill-advised jumpers and lacks the explosion/ball-handling to punish defenders off the bounce as he did in his heyday. Perimeter creation attempts sometimes grow stagnant or unfruitful and lead to wasted trips down the court.
Yet in the open floor, he is mesmerizing and devastating, seemingly eager to maximize those opportunities and avoid the constraints of the half-court. Per Cleaning the Glass, with James out there, the Lakers’ transition frequency was 2.4 points higher and their transition offensive rating was 1.6 points higher per 100 possessions last season.
Since the Sixers traded away Simmons — they ranked among the top eight in transition rate during three of his four seasons — they’ve dialed down the tempo. They’ve finished 19th or lower three times and never eclipsed the league’s 11th-highest transition frequency over the past five years.
James, Brown, Maxey and Edgecombe are likely to change that; according to Synergy, the initial three were among the top four in transition possessions per game last season while Edgecombe was 48th overall (409 eligible players). All of them can ignite and punctuate fast breaks, especially James. He’s a bullet train with the ball who loves arcing outlet passes for quick buckets.
In semi-transition, inverted actions including James as the ball-handler and Maxey, Brown or Edgecombe as the roller will lather up this offense. James and Austin Reaves wielded these connections to team up for plenty of snappy scores during their years together. His new running mates should do the same.
James’ passing flair ensures he’ll see plenty of time on the ball. But there will also be many stretches when Maxey, Brown and Embiid commandeer possessions. During those periods, James’ feel and athleticism can shine. He and the Sixers would be shrewd to minimize his half-court creation volume — containing most of it to transition chances — and funnel the majority of his field goals in that context to play-finishing responsibilities.
Cuts, drives off the catch, deep seals, off-ball screens into hard dives and on-ball screens into spacious rolls should be the emphasis. Of course, it is unrealistic to fully separate one’s scoring and playmaking usage like this. He will take shots via his elbow/mid-post touches and snug pick-and-rolls. Being diligent about not letting those scenarios overlap too much, though, is imperative for fostering his ideal offensive environment.
Beyond Maxey, the Sixers’ starting five is quite light on shooting. Reserves Anfernee Simons (career 38.1 percent from deep) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (36.5 percent) are pivotal in alleviating some of those concerns. Regardless of what those three do, Philadelphia, to reach the lofty offensive heights it seeks, must ply its trade inside and rely heavily on James to do so.
His individual interior exploits have been outlined above. But he is also one of the NBA’s foremost playmakers around the basket — an area Maxey, Philadelphia’s primary playmaker last year, has long struggled — tossing lobs, whizzing feeds to cutters and fitting drop-offs or wraparounds through keyholes.
Note his at-rim assists per 100 possessions from the past four seasons (smaller number is percentile ranking):
Or how much higher the Lakers’ rim frequency was with him on the court each of the last four years, per Cleaning the Glass (a consistent trend throughout his illustrious career):
An interior-inclined offense short on long-range shooting is not a new phenomenon for the Sixers. They’ve been among the top 10 in rim frequency the last three seasons. But they’ve dawdled as a bottom-15 group offensively partly by virtue of never placing higher than 24th in rim efficiency. James (and Brown) should help remedy that.
For as monumental an offensive upgrade James represents over George for Philadelphia, his latest seasons defensively indicate a notable defensive decline from his Sixers predecessor.
James is a fairly inactive defender, content to switch out of most actions and avoid being thrust into screen navigation requirements or on-ball duties. Once a ferocious help-side rim protector, his flame has dimmed. Vigorous rotations at the basket or pick-six steals are highlights rather than an accurate snapshot of his signature off the ball.
Philadelphia will miss George’s point-of-attack aptitude, swirling limbs of chaos and interior imprint. The gulf between his and James’ rim protection over the past three years is vast, per databallr (top is George, bottom is James):
Similarly, the gulf between their playmaking is substantial. Last season, George averaged 2.7 steals (98th percentile) and 6.5 deflections (98th) per 100 possessions. His STOP rate (steals, blocks recovered by the defense, offensive fouls drawn per 100) was 3.5 (94th).
James’ production in those categories? 1.8 (64th percentile), 2.7 (30th) and 2.4 (60th).
Illuminating this reality does not mean the indirect George-for-James swap at the 4 is a negative for Philadelphia. In essence, the Sixers opted for Brown and James over George. That’s an easy decision that makes them much better entering 2026-27, led by the offensive dominion those two acquisitions will instill.
Yet they are demanding lots from Embiid as the lone interior force (commonplace for him, we’ll see what he looks like another year removed from the tumult of 2023-24); hoping for a bounce-back year on the ball for Brown (while still carrying a hefty load offensively, albeit smaller than 2025-26); asking Edgecombe to expand upon the defensive intrigue of last season, and banking on Dean Wade to continue excelling at the point of attack.
None of those are unreasonable expectations. They’re merely many dominoes needed to fall for Philadelphia’s presumably potent offense to be flanked by a serviceable defense in a post-George existence (again, George out, James and Brown in is a smash hit).
More than anything, envisioning what an overhauled roster uniting so much talent and starpower may resemble is a guessing game of the highest order. I have an idea of what James brings and how he fits. I could be off-base in my assessment.
At worst, I know his passing sorcery is an element Brown has never experienced, nor has the All-NBA version of Maxey or the still-very-good-yet-below-MVP-caliber era of Embiid. That should benefit all of them and render the Sixers an improved team in 2026-27. I’m fascinated to watch it shake out.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 10: Jaime Jaquez Jr. (L) and Kel'el Ware of the Milwaukee Bucks pose for photos as they sit courtside in the first half of a 2026 NBA Summer League game between the Bucks and the Miami Heat at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 10, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Bucks fans and fans across the country.
With the season inching closer and the preseason and regular season schedules released, it’s time to start thinking about the realities of the Milwaukee Bucks’ roster. And while there are moves yet to be made—the Bucks still have 17 rostered players and thus must trim that to 15 to begin the season—what better way to start than by considering, well, who starts?
Over the next week or so, we’ll break down the options at each position—and, of course, seek your insight too. But to set the scene, let’s first consider the Bucks’ (relatively) newly acquired talent, courtesy of Giannis, Bobby Portis, and the Miami Heat: Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Kasparas Jakučionis.
We’ve already profiled each of these players individually, detailing Herro’s homecoming, dissecting Jaquez’s old-school game, examining why Ware is primed to break out, and explaining why Jakučionis was a must-have acquisition. But considering their games and whether they start are two very different things.
Thus, we pose the question: how many of these Miami expats should Taylor Jenkins start?
For reference, the Heat went 43-39 last season, finishing 10th in the Eastern Conference standings. During the regular season, only Herro was a near-lock for the starting lineup, racking up 28 starts in 33 games. Ware was next, but he was part-time at best—34 out of 77. Of course, Jaquez was runner-up in the Sixth Man of the Year award, so he seldom started in his 77 appearances (just once, in fact). As for Jakučionis, he played 53 games, starting 12.
In the postseason, things mostly stayed the same. The Heat played just one game, losing an epic overtime Play-In battle to the Charlotte Hornets, 127-126, and Herro continued to start, putting up 23 points, three rebounds, and six assists. In somewhat of a surprise, Ware joined him, going for 12 points, 19 rebounds, four assists, and five blocks, while Jaquez did his usual thing off the bench (13 points, six rebounds, eight assists, a steal and a block). Jakučionis, on the other hand, collected a DNP-CD.
Context considered, how do you envision the ex-Heat quartet fitting in with the Bucks? Four players. Five starting spots. How many should Taylor Jenkins actually trust with a starting role?
Inglewood, CA - March 25: LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) dribbles against Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Intuit Dome on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 in Inglewood, CA. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
While Kawhi Leonard was the driving force behind the Toronto Raptors’ first-ever NBA title in 2019, there was an entire operation behind him, constantly scheming to put the superstar in a position to succeed.
Vice President of Player Health and Performance, Alex McKechnie, became a household name among casual basketball fans when he coined and implemented the term “load management”. The season-long strategy was designed to keep Leonard healthy enough for an eventual post-season run. This meant devaluing certain stretches in the regular-season, often games falling in a back-to-back.
Despite not having their captain on the court, Toronto ultimately finished 2nd in the Eastern Conference with a 58-24 record. The Raptors’ home court was a tremendous advantage in the playoffs, particularly during the seven-game series against the Philadelphia 76ers. The 76ers finished as the third seed that year. It’s tough to envision Leonard’s bouncing game-winner anywhere but at Scotiabank Arena.
During that season, Toronto played in 12 back-to-back sets. This year, the Raptors have 15 on the schedule. The 2018-19 Raptors were an impressive 17-7 in back-to-back games. They were also 11-3 from October to December, an astonishing feat considering the roster was still trying to sort out its chemistry at the time.
By comparison, the Raptors finished 12-16 in back-to-back games last year.
When Leonard missed one of these contests, his team still produced, with Toronto accumulating a 12-3 record. Additionally, it seemingly didn’t matter which game of the back-to-back Leonard missed:
Missed the first game: 4-1
Missed the second game: 8-2
Leonard also sat in three entire sets of back-to-back games, with one a month from November to January.
Subsequently, Toronto often leaned on players like Norman Powell (earlier in the season) or Fred VanVleet as fill-in starters whenever Leonard sat. Factor in other options like Serge Ibaka, OG Anunoby and Jeremy Lin, and it’s easy to understand why that team was so successful without Leonard.
Does this year’s iteration of the team have the same luxury?
As it stands, it depends on what’s measured. Defensively, the Raptors are ready to support Leonard at an elite level. The combination of Jamal Shead, Ja’Kobe Walter, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Allen Graves is a relentless group. Offensively, it’s unfair to compare this year’s bench to the firepower that the championship team had. If Walter can make another significant jump in his development, that’ll certainly go a long way.
Toronto could also still make additions this off-season or make a trade-deadline move similar in value to when the team acquired Marc Gasol.
Regardless, the Raptors must improve their back-to-back record, especially in an Eastern Conference that is forecast to be a gauntlet.
