WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 28: AJ Dybantsa #4 of the Washington Wizards poses for a portrait during Media Day at CareFirst Arena on September 28, 2026 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images). | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards are about to begin a new era led by forward AJ Dybantsa, Trae Young and Anthony Davis. Capital One Arena, their home venue, is also nearly done with a major renovation. And fans want a rebrand of the franchise.
When teams are not particularly great on the court, field, ice, etc., I can see why fans want the logo, colors or even a team name to change. But it appears that what fans are clamoring for isn’t simply white noise. Monumental Sports & Entertainment is looking into this as well.
According to Joshua Robbins of The Athletic, Monumental Sports & Entertainment executives are looking closely into the possibility of rebranding the team’s logos and/or color schemes. Here is a snippet from that piece regarding a possible rebrand happening when Capital One Arena’s renovations are complete.
“There’s a commitment to doing the homework and the research and to doing it really, really effectively and not doing things in the moment, so I think a lot of this will be an evolving process,” [MSE Chief Commerical Officer Jim] Van Stone said.
“(The) 2027-28 (season) is a big year for us because the building project will be completed. That’s a major element for us. Certainly, we will be in the mix of looking at uniform designs. … There’s an openness to that. Some of the long-term logos or other changes, probably a little bit of a longer runway. But I do think the feedback that we’re getting from fans puts us in a really good situation to evaluate all of that.”
One thing Monumental Sports isn’t considering is renaming the team. So a return to the Washington Bullets is not happening.
Though the Wizards have various alternates like every NBA team, their traditional red jerseys and white jerseys have largely remained the same since the 2011-12 season when Monumental Sports decided to change the color scheme to red, white and blue.
What do you think about the possibility of a rebrand? Let us know in the comments below.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 22: A view of the ball sitting on the Philadelphia 76ers logo on the court during a game against the Houston Rockets at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 22, 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 NBA regular season is right around the corner, but it’s not the only level of basketball preparing for a new campaign. As the G League gears up for 2026-27, the Delaware Blue Coats are making a significant front-office change, hiring Brad Jones as their new general manager. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin was the first to report the news.
The Delaware Blue Coats, the Philadelphia 76ers’ G League affiliate, are hiring Brad Jones as their next general manager, team sources told me and @krisrhim1. Jones joins Delaware after working for the G League offices for the last eight years.
McMenamin reported that Jones was selected by Sixers President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey and Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Jameer Nelson. He will take over a role previously held by Ariana Andonian, who departed to become general manager of the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks.
So, who is Jones?
He began his career with the Orlando Magic, where he overlapped with Nelson during the latter’s playing days. Jones worked his way up from an internship to positions on the team’s video and player personnel staffs. Most recently, he has worked in the NBA G League’s New York offices, handling player contracts, transactions, basketball operations and league affairs. Between his past stop(s) and his work with the G League office, he’s well equipped to run this team.
The Delaware Blue Coats’ roster is expected to feature several intriguing names this season, with two-way players Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert likely spending time in Delaware. The roster could become even more notable once NBA teams finalize their cuts, as players such as Tacko Fall, Saint Thomas and potentially Jameer Nelson Jr. could also join the fold. The Sixers also have a vacant two-way contract spot that they could fill in the coming weeks or months.
With a new general manager in place and another season on the horizon, the Blue Coats appear well-positioned to remain one of the G League’s more compelling teams. Delaware has consistently served as an important developmental pipeline for the 76ers, helping players earn opportunities at the NBA level while providing meaningful minutes for young prospects. Players such as Justin Edwards and Adem Bona have logged stints with the Coats in the past.
As roster decisions are finalized and training camps conclude, the Blue Coats’ roster picture will become clearer. Between established G League veterans, two-way players and potential additions following NBA cuts, there should be no shortage of storylines to follow once the season gets underway.
Warriors forward Draymond Green is one of the smartest players in the NBA, and he loves to share his knowledge, even with the opposition.
The cameras caught Green expressively talking to Kings rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr. on Saturday evening during Golden State’s 111-106 preseason victory over the Kings.
Draymond Green gave Darius Acuff Jr. some advice on the sideline during last nights game. You love to see it.
On Tuesday’s episode of “The Draymond Green Show,” the Warriors’ veteran expounded on his interaction with Acuff.
“I saw something in that game on a possession that I was speaking with Acuff about,” Green said. “He had the ball the entire possession. Ultimately, down the stretch, late in the possession, he ended up getting fouled at the rim, but my advice to him was just, ‘Hey man, you remember that possession? … who else touched the ball that possession?’ He’s like ‘Nobody.’ Don’t have many of those because you can end up having a bunch of those.”
Green further stated that rookies on “rebuilding” franchises like the Kings can easily create bad habits through unlimited shots because they still are figuring out a direction.
Now 36, Green harkened back to his early days in the NBA when a former coach gave him a profound suggestion.
“(Former Warriors assistant coach) Pete Meyers said something to me that stuck with me my rookie year,” Green added. “He said, ‘Yo, you owe it to the game to leave it in a better place than it was when you found it.’ What does that mean, right? And for me, that means several different things. But more importantly, I think for me, when I got some knowledge, when I see a young guy doing something that I can maybe help out, that may help him at some point in his career, I always want to try to share that knowledge.”
Green and Acuff also have a hometown connection, with both being from Michigan.
Both were a part of The Family, a Detroit-based AAU team whose high school groups are a part of the Nike Elite Basketball Youth Program (EBYP) Basketball Circuit.
Green said he “always wants to see young guys do well that come from The Family,” and is rooting for Acuff “like nobody’s tomorrow.”
The Kings and Warriors will play each other four times this season, which gives Acuff multiple chances to show Green if he has put his advice into action.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 03: Caris LeVert #8 of the Detroit Pistons shoots the ball against Kyle Kuzma #18 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum on December 03, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Patrick McDermott/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.
The elephant has been in the (locker) room all offseason and, despite anticipation of its removal, it remains. Of course, this particular elephant is which players won’t make the final roster. With no two-for-one trades in sight, the Bucks currently carrying 17 standard contracts, and NBA teams only able to roster a maximum of 15 standard contracts during the season, Jon Horst and his staff will likely have to make the very difficult decision to waive two players. And that decision has to come soon—rosters must be set by 4:00 p.m. CT on October 19. So, which approach should they take?
Remove the dead wood
One option for Horst is to rid the roster of veterans who aren’t in the Bucks’ long-term plans. While plenty of fans would like this to include Gary Trent Jr., Milwaukee already has too much dead money on its books, so more likely veteran cut candidates are Kyle Kuzma and Caris LeVert. As the oldest players on the roster, Kuzma and LeVert could be cut without impacting the Bucks much on the court. However, doing so would mean Milwaukee no longer has their very tradable expiring salaries—$20.3m for Kuzma, $14.8m for LeVert—which, attached to draft capital or players with upside, could net the Bucks a quality player come trade deadline (or draft capital if the Bucks took on longer-term “bad” salary).
Bite the bullet on youth
On the other end of the spectrum, Horst could opt to cut youth that, for one reason or another, doesn’t seem to have the place on the roster it once might’ve. In this line of thinking, Bogoljub Marković is a prime candidate as he’s both a developmental project and on an inexpensive four-year, $9.3m contract that includes a team option in the final year. Outside of Marković, the options are less obvious. Kasparas Jakučionis’ name has recently been floated in the comments, but it’s hard to envision that scenario playing out given how insistent the Bucks were on him being included in the Giannis trade. Kevin Porter Jr., on the other hand, returned to the Bucks by exercising his $5.4m player option (i.e., not by negotiating a new deal with the team), has a history of injury, and isn’t likely to bring much back in a trade. Plus, Milwaukee’s guard room is crowded. Of course, he is one of the most talented players on the roster, so cutting him wouldn’t come without risk.
Take the easy way out
Somewhere in between the veteran and youth options is Pete Nance. It’s fitting, too. At 26, he’s not really a prospect anymore—yes, Porter is also 26, but his upside far exceeds Nance’s—and with only 68 career games he’s not exactly an established veteran either. More conveniently, at least from a roster-trimming perspective, he’s on a non-guaranteed deal. Truthfully, cutting Nance would hurt. After all, he’s an ideal third-string big, who makes the right play, spaces the floor, and does no harm. But he’s the easiest first step to solve the Bucks’ roster dilemma and would potentially (likely?) return to the team on a two-way deal anyway. Beyond Nance, things get a little more complicated, but Jericho Sims is the next “easiest” cut. Like Nance, he’s not old—Sims will turn 28 on October 20—but he’s certainly not young either and, at this point, he is who he is. Moreover, he’s on a measly one-year, $2.8m deal.
There you have it, three potential paths the Bucks could take to trim the roster to 15. Which strikes your fancy? Alternatively, you might want a combination of these—or something different entirely. If so, be sure to share your GM wheeling and dealing in the comments.
It didn’t take long for Jaylen Brown to bring one of his new Sixers teammates onto his Twitch stream.
On October 9, just one day before Philadelphia faced Boston in a preseason matchup, V.J. Edgecombe joined Brown on the stream. Brown, who was making his first return to TD Garden since joining the Sixers, did not play in the game and reportedly watched from the locker room.
Jaylen Brown reportedly decided to watch the 76ers-Celtics preseason game in the locker room in his return to Boston 🤔
The Sixers won’t play in Boston again until January 2027 👀 https://t.co/aSnyiLui8h
Although Brown’s return to Boston drew attention, his focus is already on building chemistry with his new teammates in Philadelphia.
He recently spoke about his plans to bring more Sixers players onto his stream, explaining that several teammates had already expressed interest in joining him.
“I can’t wait to introduce you to some of my teammates who have been hitting me up like ‘I want to be on the stream’ so I can’t wait to tap in, for y’all to tap in with some of them.
“For the most part we’ve been vibing, man. Everything’s been smooth, we’ve just been getting acclimated.”
Brown also explained why he sees streaming as an opportunity to connect with his teammates beyond basketball.
“We ain’t gonna be on here doing nothing just letting you get to know us as human beings, being authentic, but also just building team chemistry. I think building chemistry is important for a team to be able to vibe in order to try to accomplish goals. I wasn’t as successful in my attempts of being able to get more guys on my previous team, so hopefully this team I’ll be able to be more successful in getting guys.”
Jaylen Brown says he’ll try to get more Sixers teammates on stream compared to how it went in Boston:
“I wasn’t as successful in my attempts in being able to get more guys on my previous team (on stream). I think it’s the uncomfortably streaming… like you say the wrong thing is taken out of context. I’m not sugarcoating nothing.”
Brown didn’t have to wait long to make good on that plan. Edgecombe soon joined the stream, giving the two an opportunity to get to know each other outside of the practice facility.
After briefly connecting with teammate Justin Edwards on FaceTime, Brown and Edgecombe turned their attention to getting to know each other better. Their conversation touched on Edgecombe’s upbringing in the Bahamas, his family and even a hypothetical question about which teammate he would choose to survive with on a deserted island.
Edgecombe’s answer? Brown.
It might seem like a small, lighthearted moment, but these are the kinds of interactions that can help teammates develop a connection away from the court.
With the regular season still ahead, Brown is already taking steps toward the team chemistry he believes is essential to success. And if his Twitch stream is any indication, those connections are beginning to take shape.
Edgecombe and Brown shared the court for the first time in the Sixers’ preseason opener against the Knicks on October 5. Just one game together was enough for Brown to come away impressed.
Their partnership is still taking shape, but Edgecombe already trusts Brown enough to pick him for a deserted island. Sharing an NBA court should give them plenty more opportunities to build on that.
The pair will put that chemistry to the test when the Sixers open the regular season against the defending champion Knicks on Oct. 20 at Madison Square Garden.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 28: Sam Hauser #30 of the Boston Celtics is introduced before the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 28, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The 2023, 2024 and 2025 drafts all saw the Celtics select wings with their top pick. In all three cases, they found contributing players in Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman and Hugo Gonzalez. With Jayson Tatum and Paul George being the starters on the wing, it leaves a murky role for Sam Hauser.
Hauser even said that the young wings are looking good.
“Jordan, Baylor, Hugo, Ron [Harper Jr.] all throughout this point in training camp have looked really good,” Hauser said at his media availability on Tuesday. “That’s awesome for our team because those four guys bring a different dynamic to what we’re trying to do. We’re excited to see what they can do for us throughout the year.”
Sam Hauser still matters — he is Boston’s best catch and shoot guy and Jayson Tatum has always elevated his game. According to StatMuse, in games that Jayson Tatum did not play, Hauser shot 40.3% from three. In games that Tatum did play, Hauser shot 41.7% from three.
According to databallr, since the start of the 2022-23 season, the Celtics offensive rating with just Tatum and no Hauser on the court is 121.2; when Hauser and Tatum share the court, that number jumps to 123.7.
The Celtics are going to run their ‘Jayson Tatum plus the bench’ lineups this year. Those lineups should include Hauser, whose spacing helps those lineups a lot.
In the Celtics first preseason game, Hauser came off of the bench. He played 21 minutes and had 11 points on 4/6 from the field and 3/5 from three. Boston used him in different ways than they typically do as well.
Last year was Hauser’s worst 3-point percentage of his career at 39%, still a very good number but not in the 40’s which we have become accustomed to. His shooting is so valuable to this Celtics team. While Walsh, Scheierman and Gonzalez are all good players that could push Hauser out of town eventually, the reason he remains a Celtic is his three-point shot.
His ability to shoot standing still and off of movement is so important to what Boston does. Defenses have to respect him as a shooter because he will burn them if they don’t. For a team that takes as many threes as Boston does, Hauser plays a key role.
However, it does need to be mentioned that Boston’s three young wings do a lot of things that Hauser does not do. They are all better defenders than Hauser is, they all offensive rebound better than Hauser does and both Scheierman and Gonzalez have shown that they can play with the ball in their hands more than Hauser can.
That’s not to say that Hauser is a bad defender — they don’t call it ‘Hauser Island’ for no reason. Or that he can’t dribble at all; it’s just that the younger wings on the roster have proven to be better at it than Sam is.
As Hauser also said at his media availability, everyone is going to have a chance to prove they belong on the court.
“Pretty much throughout Joe’s coaching career to this point, I feel like one through seventeen we’ve all had a chance to play, all have had a chance to play good minutes and contributed to a lot of wins throughout the years,” he said. “The next man up mentality has kind of been our thing.”
Hauser is on a very tradable contract. He is owed $35 million over the next 3 years and $10.8 million this year. Boston is currently $10.3 million under the first apron, where they are hard-capped due to the Mitchell Robinson signing. The C’s have a $27.7 million trade exception from the Anfernee Simons trade last February they can use to acquire someone. If they pair Hauser’s money with the exception and some of the draft capital they got for Jaylen Brown, the Celtics can make a difference making trade at the deadline if they so choose.
The Celtics are going to need Sam Hauser this year. His catch and shoot game is too valuable for him not to be a fact on this team. However, with some younger wings on the roster, Hauser’s time in Boston could be coming to an end sooner rather than later.
Even if most of Hauser’s time as a Celtic is done, he will still help the Celtics win basketball games as long as he is in green.
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 11: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Orlando Magic during a 2026 NBA Preseason game on October 11, 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 Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers wrap up their preseason schedule as they head to the Sunshine State to take on the Orlando Magic once again.
The Cavs are expected to play their starters more than they did in Sunday’s game. Then, the regular rotation played through the third quarter before the two-ways and the Exhibit 10 contract players got their shot. Tonight, I’d expect the starters to go into the fourth.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson has talked about wanting to find lineup combinations that work in these preseason games. That would be one thing to keep an eye on in this contest. Particularly, how they split up the core four between Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen with the bench units.
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CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 28: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers poses for a portrait during media day at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex on September 28, 2026 in Camden, New Jersey. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
LeBron James and Jaylen Brown aren’t the only former NBA champions whom the Sixers added to their roster this offseason. Shortly after landing LeBron, they also signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a one-year, veteran-minimum contract.
KCP has largely gotten lost in the shuffle of the Sixers’ offseason overhaul, particularly coming off back-to-back disappointing seasons. But he might wind up being their secret weapon both on and off the court.
Caldwell-Pope won a championship alongside LeBron with the 2019-20 Los Angeles Lakers, and he added a second ring a few years later with Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets. He was a role player on both of those teams, which should give him a unique perspective to add in the Sixers’ locker room this year. Not only has KCP played with two of the greatest players of this generation, but he’s gotten to see the secret sauce behind two recent title teams.
At the Sixers’ media day, Caldwell-Pope spoke about how important it is for the team to build off-court camaraderie, and how that helped fuel both the 19-20 Lakers and 22-23 Nuggets. LeBron’s back-and-forth trips to New York City might not be helping much in that regard right now, but once the season starts and the Sixers start heading out on extended road trips, they’ll have plenty of chances to bond throughout the 82-game grind.
KCP isn’t just the Sixers’ honorary Kyle Lowry this season, though. There’s a chance that he’ll be able to make an impact on the court, too.
From 2019-20 through 2023-24, Caldwell-Pope averaged 10.7 points per game while shooting 45.0 percent overall and 40.3 percent from deep. Over the past two seasons, he averaged only 8.6 points per game while shooting 42.7 percent overall and 33.3 percent from distance.
At media day, KCP declared that his shot is still “great” and that he did a ton of shooting this past summer to get ready for this season. He also explained why he didn’t experience the success in Orlando and Memphis over the last two years that he did in L.A. and Denver.
“For me, I’m a rhythm player,” he said. “I have to be in a rhythm, being able to touch the ball, being able to feel the ball. Last few teams, that wasn’t happening how I wanted it to happen. But I still got there and played my ass off defensively, gave it my all on both ends.
“But I think here, just playing with these types of guys—Bron, JB, Joel, Maxey—it’s gonna be a lot of open shots, a lot of opportunity to be able to get back to shooting 40 percent. That plays a big part in me shooting 40 percent. I’ve gotta be able to get the ball, be in a rhythm. I think this team is gonna create those opportunities for us.”
Caldwell-Pope underwent surgery in February to “address a misalignment” of his right pinkie finger. He said that was “probably the longest I had ever sat out” throughout his 13-plus-year NBA career, but he added that “my game is still there.”
Since KCP is on a one-year, veteran-minimum deal, this was basically a risk-free signing for the Sixers. Anfernee Simons figures to be their sixth man, while Caldwell-Pope and rookie guard Labaron Philon Jr. will battle for any leftover minutes behind Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. If all of them play well, perhaps they’ll be able to convince head coach Nick Nurse to experiment with some three-guard lineups.
That isn’t the only way KCP could help the Sixers on the court, though. If he puts his recent struggles behind him, he could open the door to a larger midseason shakeup, too.
Simons signed a two-year, $12.3 million contract with the Sixers this summer, which includes a second-year player option. If he stays healthy and plays well, the Sixers might not be able to re-sign him next summer.
Since the Sixers are in a win-now window, they aren’t likely to preemptively dump Simons for draft capital at the trade deadline to avoid losing him for nothing in free agency. But if KCP plays well enough to give them confidence in a Maxey-Edgecombe-KCP-Philon backcourt rotation, the Sixers could use Simons’ $6.0 million salary as a way to solve one of their other roster problems. (Such as, say, backup center?)
Of course, last year’s trade deadline is a great example of how quickly such a trade can backfire. Shortly after the Sixers traded Jared McCain for the first-round pick that they’d later use on Philon along with three second-rounders, Maxey suffered a finger injury that sidelined him for two weeks in March. The Sixers were down to Edgecombe, Quentin Grimes, Cameron Payne and Lowry as their only healthy backcourt options.
This year’s Sixers do have Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert on two-way deals as well, and they shouldn’t have to be quite as reliant on their two-way players this season as they were last year. (In other words, they shouldn’t hit their 50-game limit as early.) Either way, their backcourt depth does look like a clear strength for them heading into the season.
If Caldwell-Pope does have a bounce-back year, that could have some quietly huge implications for the Sixers heading into the February trade deadline and the spring.
The NBA regular season is still a week away, but the league is already gearing up for its in-season tournament.
The league on Tuesday unveiled the specialty courts that all 30 teams will use during NBA Cup games this upcoming season.
NBA
All 30 NBA Cup courts for this year’s tournament.
The NBA first installed custom courts during the inaugural in-season tournament in 2023, and it has changed up the design for teams each edition of the competition.
Some court staples have been consistent in recent years, namely the colorful floors and the NBA Cup design at half court and in the paint.
This year’s designs include a handful of new features. There are oversized team wordmarks on both sides of the court, primary logos at center court and the tournament tagline — “30 Teams. 8 Advance. 1 Champion.” — near the 3-point line.
NBA Cup play will begin on Friday, Oct. 30, and run through Friday, Nov. 27, with all 30 teams randomly divided into six groups of five. The winner of each group, along with one additional team in each conference, will advance to the knockout rounds.
Quarterfinal and semifinal matchups will be played in NBA team markets ahead of the NBA Cup Championship at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Friday, Dec. 11. It will be the first NBA Cup Championship played outside of Las Vegas.
The NBA regular season is still a week away, but the league is already gearing up for its in-season tournament.
The league on Tuesday unveiled the specialty courts that all 30 teams will use during NBA Cup games this upcoming season.
NBA
All 30 NBA Cup courts for this year’s tournament.
The NBA first installed custom courts during the inaugural in-season tournament in 2023, and it has changed up the design for teams each edition of the competition.
Some court staples have been consistent in recent years, namely the colorful floors and the NBA Cup design at half court and in the paint.
This year’s designs include a handful of new features. There are oversized team wordmarks on both sides of the court, primary logos at center court and the tournament tagline — “30 Teams. 8 Advance. 1 Champion.” — near the 3-point line.
NBA Cup play will begin on Friday, Oct. 30, and run through Friday, Nov. 27, with all 30 teams randomly divided into six groups of five. The winner of each group, along with one additional team in each conference, will advance to the knockout rounds.
Quarterfinal and semifinal matchups will be played in NBA team markets ahead of the NBA Cup Championship at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Friday, Dec. 11. It will be the first NBA Cup Championship played outside of Las Vegas.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 10: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball against Jamal Shead #23 of the Toronto Raptors during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden on April 10, 2026 in New York City. 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 Pamela Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a Canadian tour that included stops in Quebec City and Vancouver, the Toronto Raptors finally make their return to Scotiabank Arena to take on the New York Knicks on Tuesday.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EST on Sportsnet.
Here are three storylines to consider ahead of the contest:
He’s back
As announced by Raptors Head Coach Darko Rajakovic during practice on Monday, Kawhi Leonard will be available against the defending champions. This potentially marks the first time Leonard has played in a Raptors uniform in Toronto since the team’s Game 5 loss to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.
While there won’t be a Nick Nurse in sight to call a momentum-halting timeout, expect Rajakovic to restrict Leonard to first-half minutes. Despite this, Leonard is seemingly on track for the regular-season.
“He went through practice (Monday),” said Rajakovic. “He’s feeling great.”
Last pre-season, Leonard played in three of four games for the Los Angeles Clippers, averaging roughly 21 minutes. After making his return from an ACL injury, Leonard appeared in two of four exhibition games in 2022-23. He averaged just over 16 minutes a contest.
Conditioning is key
When the Raptors wrapped up their 2025-26 season, Rajakovic noted that the team’s conditioning needed to improve. It came up again during Media Day on Sept. 28.
While the entire roster has seemingly worked on their endurance, one player who took that suggestion to heart was Jamal Shead, especially after his playoff experience. After averaging just over 21 minutes of action in his first two seasons in the league, Shead’s playing time ballooned to 32 minutes a game in the seven-game series against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Since then, Shead has focused on preparing his body for the demanding environment of playoff basketball.
“I think that I’m way ahead of where I was in my first two years,” said Shead during practice on Oct. 12. “I think I still can do a little bit more work…but I’m in a good spot.”
Toronto begins a stretch of three games in four nights to conclude the pre-season. To open the regular-season, the Raptors play three games in five nights. That’ll certainly be an early test of the team’s conditioning and depth.
“I’d rather have it now than we run into it for the first time after seven or eight games and all of our legs are not used to it,” said Shead. “We’ll get to see how in shape we are, where our bodies are.”
Shead’s increased playing time during the playoffs was primarily due to Immanuel Quickley’s injury. With several players currently dealing with early ailments – and Leonard primed for load management – it’s in everyone’s best interest to be ready to do more.
“Our team’s in a good spot, you don’t see us with just hands on knees everywhere,” said Shead. “Of course we’re going to get tired, we play really hard, but I think for the most part, we’re pretty good.”
The ‘King of New York’
The Knicks are expected to rest their starters on the second night of a back-to-back. They arrive in Toronto after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves 122-104 on Oct. 12. Jalen Brunson was electric, recording 20 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals in only 21 minutes of play.
After the Raptors play the Knicks again on Oct. 15 for their penultimate exhibition game, the teams play a mini-two-game series on Nov. 15 and 17. Both games will be played in Toronto.
Alphonso de Lamartine (who surely we all know and revere) wrote in his 1854 documentation of the French Revolution, “History teaches all things, even the future”. While the great Frenchman was writing of something with greater consequence than the Jazz’s projection for the 2027 season, the principle stands – if we would like a forecast for this upcoming season, we need only to understand the success of some of the team’s historical parallels.
Now, this is not a perfect science. For starters, the NBA is rapidly evolving; a team in 2026 cannot craft wins from the same formula that a team in 1986 could. Additionally, the game is complex enough that you will never find a 1-to-1 comparison for a player by scouring the history books. This is to say that the task is more strenuous than finding the team with the 1980s version of Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George.
So, instead of drawing specifics from NBA history, we are going to look for general principles that link teams together. For example, the primary lesson that we learn from the French Revolution is not that we need to bolster the fortifications of the Bastille, but that when the government upholds unfair economic structures, people may seek radical change. The concept is timeless, even if the particulars of the playing field shift with time. So, while the Utah Jazz will undoubtedly shoot more three pointers than any of the team historical comparisons I discuss today, that difference in playstyle does not negate the concepts of basketball that connect the eras. Teams have needed and will continue to need playmakers, shooters, defenders. Teams that win the possession battle have been and will continue to be successful. Teams with a dynamic, creative coach have and will continue to exceed expectations. There is no historical team with Darryn Peterson and Ace Bailey, but that fact does not impede our ability to learn from history.
In this article, I will attempt to find three teams from NBA history similar in construction to the 2026-2027 Utah Jazz. One of these teams will be the worst-case scenario; where has a team gone wrong with a make-up similar to Utah? Another will a more likely, closer to 50th percentile outcome; if we simulate Utah’s season 100 times, what type of success will we most often encounter? Finally, a best-case scenario; if everything clicks, just how good can this team be? As I look for comparisons, I will not be taking age or career trajectory into account. For example, none of these teams need to have a player with as much potential as Darryn Peterson, but we are trying to find a team with a player that plays like current Darryn Peterson. Finally, before we jump into things, let me reiterate one more time – none of the team or player comparisons I make are 1-to-1, so do not come for my throat if the historical player that I say plays the Lauri Markkanen role is, in your opinion, better or worse than Lauri Markkanen. We’re just trying to have a good time.
Worst case outcome: 2006-2007 Milwaukee Bucks
MIAMI – MARCH 24: Mo Williams #25 of the Milwaukee Bucks takes a breather with teammate Michael Redd #22 against the Miami Heat on March 24, 2008 at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. 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 2008 NBAE (Photo by Victor Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Record: 28-54
Key Players: Michael Redd, Mo Williams, Andrew Bogut
Offensive Rating: 107.0 (12 out of 30)
Defensive Rating: 111.7 (29 out of 30)
Season Outcome: Lottery
This was the most encouraging aspect of my historical studies – it was very, very difficult to find a team with the Jazz’s level of talent that truly failed. The Bucks are the team that with the least clean comparison to the Jazz. That isn’t to say that I’m totally off-base here. This is a team who found offensive success with fairly limited playmaking and the lack of a tier 1 star. Additionally, this is a team that simply could not hang defensively, even with the presence of a genuine defensive anchor (Andrew Bogut was young, but already quite impactful on that end). Michael Redd fills the Lauri Markkanen role as a sturdy wing who devastates teams with off-ball scoring. Mo Williams functions as the Keyonte George: a smaller guard who is additive to a good offense but who can’t keep one afloat on his own. Charlie Bell, the teams starting shooting guard, was a solid off-ball shooter with some playmaking juice (about what I’m expecting from DP in year one). The Bucks had solid offensive pieces, but it wasn’t enough to build a genuinely competitive team.
The holes in this comparison are admittedly obvious. For one, the comparison between Andrew Bogut and Jaren Jackson Jr. is a major stretch. Even if Bogut was already effective as a defender in his rookie year, and thus filled the archetype of a real anchor on a bad defense, the offensive gap is so substantial – who knows how good the 2007 Bucks would’ve been if Andrew Bogut was stretching the floor and giving them a fairly efficient 20 points per game? On top of that, the Bucks bench was not nearly as impressive as what I project the Jazz’s to be. A current dilemma the Jazz seem to be facing is having too many competent bench wings (Sensabaugh, Green, Okogie, Svi, Ace, Hinson). I think the majority of those guys would be getting a guaranteed 20 minutes off of the bench for Milwaukee. That is especially true when taking the Bucks’ injuries into account – Michael Redd missed 29 games, Mo missed 14, Bogut missed 16, and backup power forward Charlie Villanueva missed 43. This, again, is encouraging. A team that I view as less talented than the Jazz still needed to suffer significant injury to end the season with only 28 wins – the season before, when Redd played 80 games, the Bucks found a way to sneak into the playoffs. The fact that it is difficult to find an unsuccessful team that was both (a) healthy and (b) as talented as the Jazz is history’s way of teaching us that teams like the Jazz tend to win games. If everything goes wrong (Lauri injured, Keyonte taking a step-back, only minor improvements from Ace), sure, maybe the Jazz fare like the 2007 bucks, but the former’s advantages of the latter makes that seem unlikely.
Summary: A loose comparison built off the precedent an off-ball scoring wing, effective point guard, and defensive anchor failing to lead to wins. Jazz are much stronger on the margins, and the Bucks have no answer for Jaren Jackson Jr.
Median outcome: 1997-1998 Minnesota Timberwolves
MINNEAPOLIS – 1998: Kevin Garnett #21 and Stephon Marbury #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves pose for a 1998 photo in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges 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 1998 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Record: 45-37
Key Players: Kevin Garnett, Stephon Marbury, Tom Gugliotta
Offensive Rating: 107.8 (7 out of 29)
Defensive Rating: 107.1 (23 out of 29)
Season outcome: Lost to the Supersonics in the first round, 2-3
The parallel here is much stronger. This Timberwolves team built a strong offense off of ball movement – they ranked 3rd in the league in total assists in 1998, and averaged the 2nd most points per game without any one scorer reaching 21 PPG. Similarly to what many of us are predicting with the Jazz, this offensive cohesion did not translate to defensive success, even with the presence of an anchor like Kevin Garnett (who was young, but still an all-star).
There are cleaner player comparisons among these two teams, as well. A young Garnett is a solid 90’s equivalent of Jaren Jackson Jr. (with some additional rebounding juice) and Tom Gugliotta, with his floor-spacing (to the deep mid-range, but still) and off-ball movement, being reminiscent of Lauri Markkanen. Backcourt ballhandling duties for the Timberwolves were very much reserved to their two point guards – Stephon Marbury and Terry Porter – which is similar to the offensive load we can expect Keyonte George and Isaiah Collier to carry when they are on the court. Anthony Peeler provides some of the passing and shooting and Darryn Peterson, Sam Mitchell brings the defensive intensity of either Okogie or Green, and like the Jazz, the T-wolves employed a few very large players whose primary goal was to be imposing and pull down rebounds. Eras shift the roles a bit, but the general ideas of players permeate across both squads. There are some key differences between the team (Nurkic is more skilled a center than any of the Minnesota bigs, and Garnett+Gugliotta are much better passers than their Jazz equivalents), but their core principle of “shot creating guard dishing to two forwards who are most effective at the receiving end of plays” is very comparable.
The result of the Timberwolves season is very telling. First, I believe it emphasizes the importance of Lauri Markkanen. Tom Gugliotta went down with injury near the halfway point of the year, and the added offensive pressure put upon the rest of the players really hurt their proficiency. I watched some of their first round series against the Supersonics, and I could tell that without their stabilizing offensive force, newly overtasked players began to flounder. It is not some novel observation that a team losing their leading scorer will struggle, but I did find it interesting that the same held true in a context similar to Utah’s; losing a scorer, even if they are primarily off-ball and your attack is balanced, can be very difficult to overcome. Still, this team fought until the very end, and put up a strong fight against the heavily favored Supersonics. If they had another ballhandler, the story might’ve gone differently. However, with Marbury forced to fend for himself against the incessant pressure of Gary Payton, he put up horrendous efficiency, and Seattle was able to advance.
Summary: Gugliotta, Marbury, and a young Garnett make up a similar big three to Utah’s Markk, George, and JJJ. While injuries were likely the deciding factor in their season, their lack of ballhandling should be a sign that the Jazz may need to pick up another initiator before they face the pesky hands of OKC or San Antonio.
Best case outcome: 2003-2004 Sacramento Kings
DALLAS – MAY 13: (Left to Right) Mike Bibby #10, Predrag Stojakovic #16, and Vlade Divac #21 of the Sacramento Kings are upset in Game five of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Dallas Mavericks during the 2003 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Center on May 13, 2003 in Dallas, Texas. The Mavericks won 112-93. 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 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Record: 55-27
Key Players: Peja Stojakovic, Mike Bibby, Brad Miller, Vlade Divac, Doug Christie
Offensive Rating: 110.2 (2 out of 29)
Defensive Rating: 104.9 (21 out of 29)
Season outcome: Lost to the Timberwolves in the second round, 3-4
A man can dream, right?
This is about as good a team that didn’t play defense that there is in NBA history. 2004 Peja Stojakovic is likely the greatest individual season of any Lauri Markkanen comparison. Mike Bibby shows the benefits that can come as Keyonte’s dynamic offense ages and matures. Doug Christie’s union of 3, D, and playmaking could very well be replicated by a rookie Darryn Peterson. Vlade Divac, as a clever ground-bound anchor, likely sees shades of himself if he ever catches any Jusuf Nurkic minutes on TV. Brad Miller was stretching the floor, playing both big positions, and playing positive defense years before JJJ modernized that archetype for Memphis. And even though Bobby Jackson leans more into scoring than playmaking, he and Isaiah Collier effectively fill the same bench change-of-pace role. Fittingly, this Sacramento team that many said was ahead of its time finds its parallel in a 2027 squad.
For some, the success of this team is a mystery. With Chris Webber hurt most of the year (and when he returned, he was really a shell of himself), a traditional #1 scoring option could not be found. Peja led the team in points, but he isn’t a player that you can toss the ball to and ask to create consistent offense. Bibby, Christie, and Miller were all strong players, but were considered to be best when impacted by the gravity of a bigger star. Above all else, the Kings are an example of a team being greater than the sum of its parts, and that formula is what optimistic Jazz fans are betting on this year if the team is to exceed expectations. With a legendary coach and a near-unstoppable high-low, dribble handoff offense (we’ll miss you Jusuf Nurkic), the Kings were able to get the absolute most out of each of their offensive weapons. Go back and watch some of their highlights – some of their sets for Peja are eerily similar to what the Jazz run for Lauri Markkanen. If the Jazz are to make a substantial jump, it will be through the hivemind-esque cohesion exemplified by the Sacramento Kings (before Chris Webber came back from injury, at least).
Because of Webber, it is difficult to analyze the result of the Kings 2004 season. While Webber was out, the Kings had a scorching 42-15 record, or a 60 win pace. When Webber returned, they finished the regular season 13-12. It feels counterintuitive to assume that the Kings would’ve performed better in the playoffs without Webber, but it also seems obvious when you look at the actual results. Something had clicked during the 2003-2004 regular season, and by adding Webber into the lineup was the equivalent of throwing a grenade into the middle of it all. Had things stayed the way they were during those first 57 games, I would not have been surprised at all if the Kings found themselves in the finals playing the Pistons in 2004. Instead, they lost to the Timberwolves, partially because a dilapidated Chris Webber allowed Kevin Garnett to have the best series of his life. Nevertheless, the 2004 Kings provide a proof of concept – this is what the Jazz are gunning for until Darryn Peterson becomes the undebatable superstar that many of us believe he can be.
Summary: The Kings are the precedent. With a roster construction similar to Jazz, they meshed together to the tune of a 60 win pace without Chris Webber, all without a superstar or a strong defense. If it works, it’ll look like this.
Which historical team do you see in the 2026-2027 Utah Jazz? How do you feel about my comparisons? Let me know below!
The puck stops here! Or it needs to if the Phoenix Suns want to have a shot at winning a playoff series this season. The here that I’m talking about is the glass.
After an unexpected first-round playoff appearance, the Suns are back, hoping to improve upon last season, one that established a culture and new direction for the organization after the short-lived Kevin Durant era. It was a season that greatly exceeded national and local expectations, yet fizzled when the competition ratcheted up in the postseason.
In that final stretch run, the Suns’ stalwart seven-footer and leading rebounder Mark Williams finally succumbed to the injury bug, as has far too often been his fate over the course of his career, leaving a second year Oso Ighodaro, a sprinkling of Khaman Malauch and a whole lot of small ball to replace his vacated minutes.
During this Mark-less stretch, the Suns struggled to compete on the glass. Larger teams had their way with the Suns, including a disappointing Houston team that swept the Suns in the regular season series. Houston will be back, and bigger, with the return of Steven Adams, and they won’t be the only team in the West with a clear size advantage over the Suns. From Wemby to Kessler Walker, from Gobert to the double big lineup in OKC, the Suns are going to need to figure out how to close out defensive possessions with a rebound if they want to be the team they envision.
The Suns expect to be a team that gets out in transition, a team that relies on downhill rim pressure and foul shots (uh-oh) rather than the great equalizer that is the three-ball. They can no longer afford to get worked on the glass and expect to win, especially in the playoffs where giving up an offensive rebound in the closing possessions is enough to end games. The problem of size has limited the Phoenix Suns’ championship potential for years, long before the arrival of Ishbia, Gregory and Ott.
One of the all-time great fictional teams, the Mighty Ducks, found themselves in a similar situation as this year’s Phoenix Suns. Returning off a Cinderella season with new, more challenging goals, the Ducks were quickly derailed by the size and physicality of the brutal Icelandic Junior National team. In the end, they overcame their limitations. Not through the individual efforts of any one player but through the collective efforts of a team and their coach.
The Phoenix Suns must take a similar approach to solving their rebounding woes, or watch the goals we set for them this offseason sink into the cold Icelandic sea.
Just like Gordan Bombay, the mastermind behind the Triple Deke and Flying “V” formation in D2, Jordan Ott returns to the Phoenix Suns for his second go-around as an NBA head coach with a number of puzzles that still need to be solved.
How do they optimize the scoring talents of Devin Booker and Jalen Green with a roster that requires at least one of them to facilitate? How does Ott incorporate the new talent that’s been added to the roster into an established culture while allowing the team space to morph into something new? How does he adjust the offense to account for likely inconsistent three-point production from his starting five? All of these are important questions, but to me the issue that really limits the potential of what the Suns can be, a top-ten defense that causes havoc plays to generate transition opportunities, is finding a way to be a better defensive rebounding team. Mark Williams is once again out of the lineup, so Jordan Ott will have to get creative in order to cover up the defensive rebounding deficiencies of his young, promising centers, neither of which appears ready to replace Mark Williams’ rebounding production.
Ott will need to prioritize defensive rebounding as he tinkers with lineups in order to find the most effective rotations, specifically in who he pairs with Oso and Malauch as they grow into their roles.
Oso might need to be paired up with length so lineups that feature Dillon Brooks at the four might be better suited for a different center, whereas a pairing player like Ryan Dunn with Obo might be a better fit. Malauch provides length but still lacks the strength and processing speed to get into and hold position, so he needs to be paired with strength, like Miles Bridges or rebounding guards who can get to balls that are out of his reach, such as Collin or Goodie.
It will certainly take some experimenting in the beginning of the season, but it can’t be pushed aside if the Suns want to earn a playoff seed that gives them a chance to advance. Luckily, like the Mighty Ducks in the Junior Goodwill Games, the Suns have added some pieces for Ott to add to the mix. The first will open up a level of physicality the Suns haven’t tapped into since the early nineties.
When Team USA needed to beef up, they went to the streets of Chicago to find Dean Portman to play next to Fulton Reed. The two came together to form the Bash Brothers, the unruly, frequently penalized, enforcers of the Mighty Ducks.
The Suns added Miles Bridges, and in doing so, they are able to play Dillon Brooks at the three, which seems a better fit for his stature. Beyond their physical attributes, both players play with an edge and aggressiveness that lends itself to success on the boards. Can Dillon and Miles come together as veterans and leaders on this team to not only provide that grit and intention through their play on the court but permeate it through the locker room to the Suns’ young forwards? A player like Ryan Dunn, who was one of the better defensive rebounders on the team last year and who’s looking to carve out a role on this team, could stand to benefit substantially from the Bash Brothers mindset. Now that Mark Williams is sidelined, the Suns will need all the help they can get.
Yet the Bash Brothers aren’t the only direction Ott can turn to fortify his front court. He has at his disposal a unique weapon in the war of the boards. The Mighty Ducks found an edge when they discovered Tyler Russ and his Knuckle Puck. The Phoenix Suns have Jordan Goodwin.
Now that Russel Westbrook has aged out of relevance in the NBA, there really is no other player in the league like Jordan Goodwin. He’s physical, crafty, and determined, finding any opening to sneak into places a 6’3” journeyman should never tread and snatch a basketball out of the hands of an unsuspecting opponent. As Khaman works to find his flow, having a guard like Jordan Goodwin, or to a lesser extent Collin Gillespie, to swoop in on balls that bounce away from the young seven-footer could cover up some of his deficiencies in positioning as he develops his processing speed.
While so much of Goodie’s success is tied to rebounding on the offensive end, could Goodie expand his impact on the defensive glass in order to shore up the front court when the starters go to the bench, ensuring that defensive stops don’t turn into open threes and easy buckets?
Goodie is Goodie; rain, sleet, or snow. He’s put in years of work to get there, but for Oso and Khaman that’s just not the case.
The toughest call for Gordon Bombay in the Goodwill Games ended up being the move that won the tournament. Replacing his veteran goalie, Golberg, while he was on a heater, with a talented goalie from Maine, Julie “the Cat” Gaffney.
In the biggest moment, a shootout, against the Icelandic team’s best scorer, Bombay made the move to insert the Cat because of the shooter’s vain tendency to go glove side. While Goldberg was a player Bombay had leaned on through both movies, the Cat was known for her quick glove. Situationally changing goalies made sense.
Oso earned Ott’s trust over the course of last season. Ott knows he can depend on Oso to be where he needs to be and loves the defensive upside of his switchability. Yet situationally there are matchups where it will make sense to start and skew the minutes towards Malauch.
Flat out, Oso is not big enough to hold up against the league’s strongest centers. You can not win a playoff game against the Nuggets with Oso matching up against Jokic. Ott needs to be flexible and willing to play through the mistakes that come with starting a young center. Losses that may come in the beginning of the year will turn to valuable experience that will be paid forward in the back half of the season.
On the flip side, it may not make sense to play Malauch against teams that are going to bomb threes that lead to a lot of long rebounds. The Suns are blessed with diversity at the center position. Ott should lean into that.
I personally would like to see some double big lineups, where Oso is setting screens on offense and Khaman is on the three-point line stretching the floor, and defensively Khaman is taking the center and anchoring the defense, and Oso is guarding the four. I’m not going to stick Oso out there to guard MPJ or some of the more athletic fours in the league, but if Houston wants to run out Adams and Sengun, Phoenix might have an answer in KhOso.
None of these answers even need to be permanent. They just need to hold things together until they get Mark Williams back. Mark, like Adam Banks on the Mighty Ducks, is a known commodity, and if the Suns don’t fall apart before he returns, having him fresh for the back half of the season and hopefully available for the playoffs could make his injury a blessing in disguise.
Plenty of questions still remain, and their answers will only be revealed on the court, but one thing I know for certain is that if the Suns can’t improve their rebounding, they won’t be winning a playoff series. Not in this Western Conference. Not without the three-point shot. The Suns are going in the direction of the rest of the NBA in emphasizing it, but do they have the pieces to do so successfully? Ott will certainly have more to work with than in his inaugural season, but there’s a lot of ground to make up. There’s no one player that can fix this, and just like the Mighty Ducks, the Suns must learn to fly together.
(Photo by Tyler McFarland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There is truly no need for preseason NBA games. The season is already too long with an eternal 82-game regular season slate, followed by four more months of the most intense basketball possible for a team to run all the way to the championship. Yet, there’s still about five more preseason games for every team despite the league’s long history of stars playing themselves into shape and pacing their bodies for the eventual postseason run.
Preseason is mostly useless, but it does often allow young players to get an audition for extended minutes they otherwise wouldn’t be seeing until injuries hit in the regular season. A few younger role players have already made a strong case for themselves during the preseason. Now we wait to see if it will translate to when the games start to matter for real with opening night coming on Oct. 20. Check out our list of NBA breakout candidates for more thoughts on the league’s most promising young players.
Here’s a short list of young NBA veterans who have impressed in the preseason so far. It will be interesting to look back on this list at the end of the year and see which performances were real, and which only happened because it was preseason.
Leonard Miller, F, Chicago Bulls
Leonard Miller put together another great game for the Bulls, his been incredible this preseason.
Chris Finch never gave Leonard Miller a chance at real minutes during his first three years in Minnesota. It’s hard for any second-round pick to earn minutes on a contender, and Miller’s shaky outside shooting made him a particularly rough fit in a Wolves front court that already had spacing issues with Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle. Minnesota didn’t hesitate to part with him to acquire Ayo Dosunmu at February’s trade deadline, and that’s when his career finally started to tick up. The Bulls gave him a shot while they were tanking down the stretch, and Miller immediately proved to be productive, well-rounded player who knows how to use his big 6’10, 220-pound frame on both ends of the floor. Miller continues to impress in the preseason as an opportunistic scorer around the basket, a menace in transition, a quality rebounder, and an improved three-point shooter. Miller knows how to extend advantages with long, coordinated strides to the rim, and he has nice touch in close. He looks far more in control than he did earlier in his career. He’s never looked better than he did Sunday night, when he dropped 26 points and seven rebounds in 22 minutes against the Nuggets on ESPN. It’s fair to still be skeptical of his outside shot, but if he’s made any progress there, Miller’s ability to generation extra possessions and score efficiently should earn him minutes. The Bulls have a major glut of young power forwards after spending their last three lottery picks on Caleb Wilson, Matas Buzelis, and Noa Essengue, but Miller is simply too good to keep off the floor this season.
Brandon Williams, G, Golden State Warriors
Warriors Brandon Williams 19 PTS (7-8 FG, 2-2 3P, 97% TS), 1 AST, 1 STL, +12 in 17 minutes vs. Kings
Williams shined for the Mavericks last season in limited minutes filling in for the injured Kyrie Irving at point guard, and the Warriors did well to identify him as a buy-low free agent target this summer. Golden State has never had a point guard with the downhill scoring juice that Williams provides, and it should make him part of Steve Kerr’s rotation as Stephen Curry’s backup when the season begins. Williams is incredibly fast with the ball in his hands, and he’s slippery enough to keep defenders off-balance on his drives to the paint. His ability to glide to the rim and finish from awkward angles will be his bread-and-butter, and it sets up some easy passing reads for him to kick out to shooters. Williams won’t have much defensive versatility, but he looks pretty good guarding in isolation against other smaller guards, and he’s always quick to loose balls. The Warriors got him for an absolute steal on the veteran’s minimum. It’s fair to question how he fits into Steve Kerr’s offense as primarily a pick-and-roll ball handler, but he gives the Warriors an element they’ve always lacked, and that alone should get him rotation minutes.
GG Jackson, F, Memphis Grizzlies
It’s wild to think Jackson is still only 21 years old with three NBA seasons already under his belt, but that’s what happens when a player reclassifies to skip his senior year of high school. Jackson has never lived up to his recruiting hype at any point since heading to college early, but he’s always had the tools to be a productive off-ball scorer. If his preseason run is any indication, he might be putting it all together. He has 43 points in 46 minutes to open preseason, showing new confidence as an outside shooter while looking like a runaway freight train in transition. Jackson has a huge body for a forward at 6’9, 210 pounds, and he uses it to play a power game on the glass and in the open floor. He’s going to help the Grizzlies get up and down around the slower Zach Edey-Cameron Boozer front court, and he looks more decisive in his dribble-pass-shoot actions. Jackson’s size should make him a factor on the glass, and he no longer looks like a liability as a floor spacer. The Grizzlies are loaded with young talent, and he could be another diamond in the rough.
Asa Newell, F, Atlanta Hawks
Asa Newell has an ability to run into easy points just by using his god given tools. He’s an excellent run-and-jump athlete for a 6’11, 224-pound forward, and he’s kept his motor high in the preseason by moving without the ball and finishing everything around the rim. Newell’s skill set might feel a little outdated in the modern game when forwards are expected to be able to handle and shoot, but Atlanta’s up-tempo system should allow him to find more opportunistic avenues to make an impact. Newell isn’t going to be a creator, but he can put the ball on the floor in small doses to set up spin moves and step-throughs around the basket. His outside shot looked okay in low volume last year, and while that hasn’t been part of his preseason success, it’s something that will continue to be vital for him going forward. He’s a pretty nimble player when he gets in close, and he’s powerful enough as a two-footed leaper that it’s going to hard to challenge him around the rim. It’s still a bit of a question on how Newell fits into this version of the Hawks, but he could have some utility as a garbage man-style player just by keeping his energy high.
Kel’el Ware, C, Milwaukee Bucks
Ware always seemed to be in Erik Spoelstra’s doghouse in Miami, but it’s possible the lessons he learned with the Heat can help him take the next step in his career after being sent to Milwaukee in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade. Ware’s tools have never been a question as a super bouncy big man with a 7’4+ wingspan, and he’s always produced great highlights playing above the rim on both ends. The issue for Ware has been keeping his motor consistent while executing the scheme, but the early returns look good in preseason so far for the Bucks. Ware shoots such an easy ball from three-point range and has the results to back it up with a 36.9% stroke on 5.3 attempts from three per 100 possessions for his career. He started next to Myles Turner in the front court for the Bucks’ most recent game, giving Milwaukee two 7-footers who can space the floor beyond the arc. Ware has a massive catch and block radius when he goes above the rim, and he’s going to gobble up rebounds, blocks, and dunks on his tools alone. He just needs to stay focused enough to earn head coach Taylor Jenkins’ trust. A fresh start could be exactly what Ware needs to take the next step in his career.
Henderson was a bit underwhelming in his first two seasons after being the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, and a torn hamstring delayed his debut until February last season. When he finally returned to the lineup, Henderson looked more comfortable playing off the ball while refining his ability as a shot-creator. Portland is no longer counting on him to be a savior with Damian Lillard and Ja Morant in front of him on the depth chart, but it’s going to be hard to keep him off the floor if he stays on the trajectory he’s currently hinting at during preseason. The game no longer feels too fast for Scoot: he’s more composed making reads as a passer, and he’s more confident shooting it from deep whether it’s off the dribble or on spot-ups. He gets a lot of deflections on the defensive end, and he’s good at challenging shots with his explosion off the floor. Henderson learned he wasn’t going to be able to dominate the NBA on athleticism alone, but he’s in a better spot now that his skill level has started to match his speed and strength. He’s playing for a contract next summer, and if the Blazers don’t want to pay him under Tom Dundon, another team will.
Ron Holland, G, Detroit Pistons
Holland entered a tough situation when he was drafted to a Pistons team that already had two non-shooters entrenched in the starting lineup in Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren. The outside shot has always been the biggest hole in Holland’s game, but it shouldn’t conceal everything else he does well on the basketball floor. Holland has always been a maniac in terms of his motor on both ends of the floor, and it excelled again in his preseason debut, when he amassed seven ‘stocks’ (steals and blocks) in 24 minutes. Forcing defensive takeaways allows him to get in the open floor, where his speed, leaping, and agility can all shine. Holland doesn’t need the ball to make an impact, although he’s not much of a threat away from the ball offensively in the halfcourt. It feels like he may have to move to a different team to really have a chance to stand out, but his defensive projection and transition ability continue to intrigue. It would be wonderful to see Detroit give him a real chance in different lineup configurations to see if his per-minute impact numbers could extend to a bigger role.
Draymond Green always has been one to speak his mind, even about his teammates’ contract terms.
After fourth-year shooting guard Brandin Podziemski signed a five-year, $110 million extension on Oct. 10, Green congratulated his younger teammate on Tuesday’s episode of “The Draymond Green Show,” before commenting on an interesting aspect of Podziemski’s contract.
“I will say about this deal: it has the mutual option in the fifth year, and these mutual options, it’s kind of gotten a little weird,” Green said on his podcast. “We’re starting to see them pop up more and more in the NBA. You used to see the player option or team option, but lately we’ve been seeing these mutual options, … and it is ultimately a structure to where the final year of the deal requires both the player and the team to opt in for the contract to continue.
“Now, obviously, in the other ones, either the player has the option, or the team has the option. This one, they both have to agree. And if either the team or the player declines, the the year is voided. So this is essentially a four-year deal with the mutual option for the fifth year.”
Green noted that Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein and Miami Heat guard Pelle Larson, who both signed extensions this summer, also included a mutual option in their deals.
The former Defensive Player of the Year also pondered how the second apron could potentially alter a team’s perspective.
“The second apron has affected a lot,” Green said. “I wonder if this is another instance where the second apron is essentially making a team say, ‘Hey, we want the option to be able to get out of this because what if we are up against the second apron and we need a way out? This is an opportunity for us to be able to get out, even if we need to negotiate a lower number to avoid the second apron.’ “
The second apron is a spending threshold that went into effect in the 2024-2025 offseason, and severely curtails an organization’s ability to spend on or sign players through trade and free agency restrictions that are triggered if the monetary barrier is crossed.
The Warriors currently sit in the first apron with a $205 million cap that ranks third in the NBA, according to Spotrac.
Podziemski is set to be paid $5.7 million in the 2026-27 NBA season before his salary jumps to $18.9 million in the first year of his extension.
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