After years of irrelevance and rebuilding, after a season spent tanking, the Jazz have an unproven but talented roster in place. So, now, expectations are elevating in kind.
After years of rebuilding, can this Jazz team finally compete in the West?
Across the last four seasons, the Jazz have won 107 of a possible 328 games (.326). Across the last two, they’ve won only 39 of 164 (.237). They’ve missed the postseason each of those four seasons, as the team was in a full rebuild after it traded away franchise cornerstones Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. Now, the roster has a solid balance of young players — Keyonte George, Darryn Peterson and Ace Bailey — and veterans — Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., Jusuf Nurkić — in place to compete. There might be some growing pains along the way, but there’s so much raw talent on the roster now — especially among the top eight players in the rotation — that the time for excuses is gone. These Jazz need to take a jump.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Keyonte George
G Darryn Peterson
F Ace Bailey
F Lauri Markkanen
C Jaren Jackson Jr.
Rotation players
C Jusuf Nurkić
G Isaiah Collier
F Kyle Filipowski
F Brice Sensabaugh
C Jaxson Hayes
G Josh Okogie
G Josh Green
C Mo Bamba
G Trey Alexander
F Svi Mykhailiuk
What to expect in 2026-27 season
A team that is much better than it has been the last four seasons. The Jazz are a young and talented team, and there are some questions that need to be answered, but they could fly under the radar and emerge as a playoff contender. As to the questions: does coach Will Hardy, who is normally patient and deliberate with rookies, break his rule and start No. 2 overall rookie Darryn Peterson right away? Does Hardy opt to start Jusuf Nurkić at center, instead of Jaren Jackson Jr., who has expressed a desire to play power forward? And, in a related question, what then happens to Ace Bailey, the 20-year-old No. 5 overall selection from the 2025 draft? These are good problems to have, and they signal a team that is on the rise.
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Arguably no team has undergone more change over the course of the year than the Portland Trail Blazers.
They’ve seen their head coach at the start of the 2025-26 season charged in an alleged illegal gambling ring. They surprised and broke through in the NBA Play-In Tournament to make the playoffs as the No. 7 seed. Their interim coach was not retained, despite the success, and their new owner, Tom Dundon, has floated relocation in negotiations to upgrade the Moda Center, the Trail Blazers' home venue.
Can the Trail Blazers find some semblance of stability?
This was a surprise playoff team, one that had to deal with chaos just days into the 2025-26 regular season, when former head coach Chauncey Billups was charged for his role in an alleged illegal gambling ring. But, after righting the ship and getting the most out of the young Trail Blazer roster, former coach Tiago Splitter was not retained. In comes in first-time coach Micah Nori, who was an excellent assistant with the Minnesota Timberwolves. But Nori was signed to a one-year deal, which is wildly unconventional. It also points to more potential changes in the future, as Portland could theoretically have four different head coaches in four seasons, if Nori is not retained next season. When players cycle between different offensive and defensive philosophies and coaching styles, it can create a whiplash and can stymie the development of younger players. There’s decent talent on this roster, but ownership does these players a disservice by not sticking to a long-term plan.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Ja Morant
G Damien Lillard
F Deni Avdija
F Toumani Camara
C Donovan Clingan
Rotation players
G Scoot Henderson
G Jrue Holiday
C Robert Williams III
G Vit Krejci
F Sidy Cissoko
F Jeremy Sochan
C Micah Potter
G Blake Wesley
C Yang Hansen
What to expect in 2026-27 season
Honestly, it’s a little difficult to project. This team has a blend of young and veteran talent. Damian Lillard’s return should provide plenty of perimeter shooting, and Ja Morant could eventually become a low-cost upgrade, if he can return to form and stay healthy. Deni Avdija was a first-time All-Star last season. But, given the tumult in the coaching staff, and given that Micah Nori is a first-time head coach, the Trail Blazers could be a candidate for regression. Whether that comes true or not will hinge on Morant’s ability to assimilate and operate Portland’s offense and whether Lillard has more left in the tank.
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The Washington Wizards had an interesting way of building toward this season.
Trae Young played just 15 games last season, a career low, and only five of them for Washington. He called it "a blessing in disguise," the deal that sent him out of Atlanta after the Hawks never offered him an extension. The Wizards then gave him four years and $212.8 million – the most any team could have offered him – and agreed to it the day before they used the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA on AJ Dybantsa.
Nobody was actually bidding against them though.
The Wizards had already landed Young and Anthony Davis in midseason trades, then won the lottery after losing 26 of their final 27 games. Dybantsa led the nation in scoring as a BYU freshman.
Young is 27, Davis is 33, Middleton is 35. Dybantsa is 19, Alex Sarr is 21, Tre Johnson is 20. Keefe has to get all of them shots without stalling any of the development that got him a fourth season in the first place. His record so far is 43-160. Then there is Davis, who wants a max extension. If Washington declines, a trade request is the logical next move, and it would land in the middle of the season the Wizards have spent two years setting up.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Trae Young
G Kyshawn George
F AJ Dybantsa
F Anthony Davis
C Alex Sarr
Rotation players
G Tre Johnson
G Bub Carrington
G Tre Mann
F Bilal Coulibaly
F Khris Middleton
C Deandre Ayton
What to expect in 2026-27 season
Thirty wins would be progress. Washington finished 30th in defensive rating at 122.7 and 30th in net rating at minus-11.8, and it has finished last in net rating in back-to-back seasons. Young and Davis alone should move both numbers several points, and Davis, Dybantsa and Sarr give Young three pick-and-roll partners who can all finish, easily the best supporting cast of his career.
The defense will still be a problem. So will the East, which is no longer anybody's soft landing.
Washington opens at home against the Milwaukee Bucks on Oct. 21. General manager Will Dawkins, asked in April whether the coach who went 17-65 would be back, did not hesitate. "Yeah, I anticipate Brian Keefe to be here," he said.
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The Chicago Bulls underwent drastic changes this offseason, adding three new starters, a new front office leader and a new coach. This makes better days easier to envision even though the Bulls once again appear positioned as neither a legitimate Eastern conference contender nor a doormat entering the 2026-27 NBA season.
After years of holding on to a core that was only good enough to be a play-in team, the Bulls have finally turned the page while retaining potential foundational players in Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey. If Wilson has an immediate impact, Chicago can suddenly look forward to one of the East's most intriguing young trios.
Here's a breakdown of the Chicago Bulls' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:
Is Caleb Wilson the franchise cornerstone the Bulls have been searching for since Derrick Rose?
Wilson was widely regarded as one of four elite prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft, and he's the most likely to emerge as a star from the Bulls' rebuilding pivot. The success of Chicago's new direction will largely depend on Wilson's development over the next several seasons and a productive rookie campaign is especially important for this new regime after 2025 first-round pick Noa Essengue struggled to gain traction last year.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Josh Giddey
G Norman Powell
F Matas Buzelis
F Caleb Wilson
C Nic Claxton
Rotation players
G Tre Jones
G Isaac Okoro
F Dailyn Swain
F Patrick Williams
F Noa Essengue
F/C Jalen Smith
What to expect in 2026-27 season
It's been more than a decade since the Bulls won a playoff series and that's unlikely to change this season. But the franchise has more optimism than recent years with the arrivals of Wilson and Powell to help Buzelis and Giddey. Expect this group to hover closer to .500 than last year, with the chance to push for one of the East's last playoff spots if the new pieces come together quickly.
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The Pacers should nonetheless be in the playoff mix again, with much of the core that won the Eastern Conference finals less than 16 months ago still intact. If Haliburton is healthy enough to once again be one of the NBA's best playmakers, Indiana will quickly re-emerge as a title threat.
Here's a breakdown of the Indiana Pacers' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:
Haliburton missed the entire 2025-26 season rehabbing from an Achilles injury and also dealt with a frustrating case of shingles that slowed his recovery. He appeared to be at the peak of his powers before getting hurt, hitting game-winning shots and orchestrating Indiana's high-powered offense throughout its run to the 2025 NBA Finals. Advances in Achilles rehabilitation and Haliburton's diverse skill set provide reasons for optimism, but last season only reinforced that the Pacers are counting on him to remain a franchise star. Indiana's roster is built around Haliburton's ability to create shots for himself, and his ability to bounce back from injury will determine this team's outlook.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Tyrese Haliburton
G Andrew Nembhard
F Aaron Nesmith
F Pascal Siakam
C Ivica Zubac
Rotation players
G T.J. McConnell
G Ben Sheppard
F Kelly Oubre Jr.
F Jarace Walker
F Obi Tobbin
F Larry Nance Jr.
C Jay Huff
What to expect in 2026-27 season
Nobody in the NBA should improve their record more than the Pacers this season, even if Haliburton isn't quite what he once was in his first year coming back from a major Achilles injury. That's how strong the combination of Pascal Siakam and Zubac could be in the frontcourt and how much the team's record suffered while tanking in Haliburton's absence. But Haliburton's re-emergence as a star is the key to this group separating itself from the other Eastern Conference contenders trying to challenge the Knicks this season.
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LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 14: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Utah Jazz poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on July 14, 2026 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Zach Barron/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s clear that a lot of the NBA is starting to figure out that the Utah Jazz might be on the verge of a special season. But they’re not getting just how good it might be.
But they’re missing the biggest point of all of this. Utah has a team that would have been a playoff team last year if they’d pushed as hard as they could. That core, which added a former DPOY/All-Star in Jaren Jackson Jr., is adding a player who could be a top-ten player in the NBA. If anything, it’s very likely.
Darryn Peterson is not getting enough buzz for how good he’s going to be this upcoming season. You name it with Peterson, and he’s able to do it at a high level. Even the numbers that aren’t as high as you’d like have context that shows a chance to improve once he steps on the floor with Utah.
For example, everything that Peterson did in college has to be viewed with the understanding that Peterson was the #1 option with an extremely high usage percentage of 30.9. You also have to remember that Peterson was dealing with documented cramping issues, an ankle sprain, and a hamstring pull. All those injuries had him playing tentatively for multiple games. When he did play, opposing offenses focused on him, and he still managed to put up awesome efficiency.
For the college season, Peterson shot 38.2% from three. That was off the bounce and off the catch. It’s the stat that has to make Jazz fans as excited as anything. That ability to shoot the ball regardless of pressure will only get better. It’s safe to assume that Darryn Peterson will be one of the best shooters in the NBA.
Some numbers show a player with the potential to develop into one of the elite three-level scorers in the league. Peterson shot 48.7% from two. It’s a slightly above-average number, but it’s nothing to sniff at. Also, Peterson shot 59.7% at the rim. That’s also above average, but not necessarily elite. As I mentioned, Peterson was dealing with cramping, an ankle, and a hamstring, and still put up solid numbers at the rim and on 2PT shots. What happens when Peterson is on the floor with elite talent around him? Utah has the potential to have 5-out lineups with shooters all over the floor. At Kansas, Peterson was playing with multiple non-shooting bigs. The paint was almost never open. When it was, Peterson would take advantage. And even with a clogged paint in the stifling college basketball setting, he still put up good numbers. The pull-up two was good for him, and he finished at a good percentage.
Again, what happens when he has NBA spacing with elite talent around him? What you’re going to have is a season that will shock the NBA. There’s a lot of attention being given to Cam Boozer, and he’s leading in the odds at FanDuel to be the ROY, with Peterson not too far behind. But that’s a mistake. Darryn Peterson is going into a winning situation, and he’s not going to put up empty stats. His stats are going to be high-level, and they’ll be the type of stats that lead to winning. Those stats should also improve. Don’t be surprised if Peterson not only has a ROY season, but an all-star caliber season as well.
Yes, I’m about as positive as they come, but the numbers paint a picture of a potentially incredible season. If Peterson is as locked in as he appears, Jazz fans are in for a fun ride.
BROOKLYN, NY - APRIL 9: Malachi Smith #18 of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles the ball during the game against the Indiana Pacers on April 9, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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
After spending the tail end of the 2025-26 season with the Brooklyn Nets, shooting guard Malachi Smith now finds himself in the country of Canada with the Toronto Raptors.
The 26-year-old had his non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 training camp contract altered into a two-way deal, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto. Smith will split his time between the big club and their G League affiliate, the Raptors 905.
The Toronto Raptors are converting Malachi Smith to a two-way contract, league sources told @hoopshype. Smith averaged 8.3 points on 48.5% shooting from the field and 43.5% shooting from 3-point range, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 15 games for the Brooklyn Nets last season. pic.twitter.com/AeRZCLX3yh
Across 15 games with Brooklyn, four of which were starts, the 6-4 Smith averaged 8.3 points on a shooting split of 48.5 percent from the field/43.5 percent on three-pointers/100.0 percent at the free-throw line, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per contest. He was waived back on July 10 after the organization exercised his minimum salary team option on June 30, in order to make salary cap space.
Toronto’s training camp will begin on Sept. 29.
Joining Smith on a two-way deal is forward/center Graham Ike with the Golden State Warriors. As of right now, 12 Gonzaga alums will be in the NBA at the start of the 2026-27 season.
Forward/center Drew Timme, who was on a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers this past season, wasn’t picked for the open roster spot before the 2026 NBA Playoffs. He’s still searching for his next professional destination as Los Angeles has all three of their two-way spots filled.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
Doc Rivers on the red carpet prior to the 2026 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony.
Doc Rivers’ time on an NBA bench is over for good, he said on Monday, as he moves into the next chapter of his life.
NBC announced that the former NBA player and coach would be joining its coverage of the league as an analyst during games on NBC, Peacock and NBCSN, while also possibly doing studio work.
Rivers’ coaching career spanned nine seasons with the Celtics, who he led to an NBA title in 2008, along with time coaching the Clippers, Sixers and Bucks.
Doc Rivers on the red carpet prior to the 2026 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
“I honestly can say I’m absolutely retired,” Rivers told the Associated Press in an interview. “I had a long run. It ended up in the [Naismith] Hall of Fame [earlier this year] and I am so thankful that I was able to coach and played as long as I did. For the first time, I can focus on giving TV my 100 percent attention, which I’m really looking forward to.
“I think I’ve always been pretty honest. I’ve always celebrated the game in general, but told the truth. I don’t think anyone has ever had a problem with honesty and the way you tell the truth. There are always times where you offend people because of the truth, but I’ve never really worried about that.”
Rivers has had plenty of broadcast experience, having spent three years as part of Turner Sports’ coverage from 1996-1999 and then later did two stints with ESPN/ABC in the 2000s and was part of NBC’s Olympic coverage in 2012 as a studio analyst.
Rivers will also join his son, Austin, at the new gig since the younger Rivers is already an analyst for NBC Sports.
Doc Rivers of the Milwaukee Bucks instructs his players from the sideline during the first half of an NBA game against the Los Angeles Clippers on March 23, 2026 at the Intuit Dome Getty Images
And the network already employs six former players Rivers coached during their careers, including Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, Brian Scalabrine and Jamal Crawford.
DETROIT, MI - APRIL 8: Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons drives to the basket during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 8, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Bucks have shown serious interest in All-Star center Jalen Duren, per The Athletic. Duren is deadlocked with the Detroit Pistons over a long-term contract extension and could switch teams this offseason or in 2027 if they can’t reach an agreement.
Still, Duren’s confidence is born out of the fact that his market for next summer looks quite robust. As The Athletic previously reported, the Sacramento Kings have signaled a willingness to pay him a max-salary deal next summer. That alone has aided his leverage, but there are at least two other teams—including the Milwaukee Bucks—that are known to have serious interest in Duren (both now and, potentially, next summer).
Duren averaged 19.5 PPG and 10.5 RPG while shooting 65% from the field last season. However, those averages slumped during the postseason in the face of physical coverage and frequent double-teams. Duren averaged just 10.2 PPG as Detroit bowed out in the conference semifinals.
ESPN recently reported that Detroit offered Duren a fully guaranteed, five-year, $200m contract to stay in the Motor City, but the two sides are still far away from concluding their contract saga. Duren reportedly felt disrespected by the Pistons’ negotiation tactics and spent most of the offseason away from the Pistons.
Although outlets cite the Sacramento Kings as the most enthusiastic suitor for Duren’s services next year, the Bucks are also reportedly vying for the 22-year-old’s services.
The roadblock preventing Duren and Detroit from agreeing to an extension is their valuation of the center. Duren reportedly wanted to sign with Detroit on a supermax deal. Duren is eligible to sign for a five-year, $287m contract, but due to Duren’s playoff drop-offs, Detroit has consistently offered Duren a much lower figure. To beat Sacramento for Duren’s signature, Milwaukee would need to offer Duren a supermax—or a very close figure—as well as a clear plan toward contention in the East.
The Bucks’ apparent interest in the All-NBA center clearly means that Milwaukee likely doesn’t see a long-term future with Myles Turner, which makes a lot of sense given his age profile. Turner slumped after signing a four-year, $109m contract with Milwaukee last July, averaging about 12 points and five rebounds last season. Especially as the Bucks grow younger and look to ease into their rebuild, the 30-year-old is no longer an essential part of Milwaukee’s future.
In theory, the Bucks could execute a sign-and-trade for Duren this summer, but it appears practically impossible. The Bucks would probably have to give up key pieces of their burgeoning young core—including Ryan Rollins and draft capital—to meet the Pistons’ price. Additionally, despite their contract saga, Detroit leadership still sees Duren as a foundational piece of their roster as they continue to compete for a championship.
With Detroit and Duren still going back and forth on a potential new contract, Milwaukee can only wait and watch to see whether Duren enters unrestricted free agency in 2027. It should be noted that, given Detroit’s spacing concerns, a stretch five like Myles Turner would theoretically fit quite well offensively.
New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown reacts on the baseline during the first quarter of Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, Saturday, June 13, 2026, at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas.
The Knicks have a new replay maestro.
Ed Flynn, a video coordinator with the Pelicans for the past three seasons, will serve as Mike Brown’s “challenge guy,” The Post has learned.
It’s a pressurized role defined by split-second decisions to recommend a challenge or pass, depending on real-time replays on his iPad. More than most positions on the Knicks staff, Flynn’s successes and failures can be quantified and directly impact a game’s result.
Jordan Brink held that job for the Knicks the past two seasons, challenging at an impressive success rate while helping win Game 2 of the NBA Finals with a momentum-shifting challenge.
Brink’s challenge recommendation changed a Knicks turnover into three OG Anunoby free throws with 2:37 remaining in New York’s 105-104 victory over the Spurs. He will get a championship ring and an assistant position with the Chicago Bulls under new coach Tiago Splitter.
New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown reacts on the baseline during the first quarter of Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, Saturday, June 13, 2026, at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Brink’s contract with the Knicks expired, and the Bulls gig represented a promotion, league sources said.
Before Brink, Scott King and Darren Erman were the “challenge guys.” Now, Flynn will monitor the important iPad. His official title is assistant coach/special situations, a league source said.
According to Flynn’s online bios, he’s tall (6-foot-10) and played for Williams College in Massachusetts. He served as a graduate assistant at the University of Miami, then as a video intern and coordinator with the Charlotte Hornets.
In 2023, Flynn joined the Pelicans and left as their head video coordinator. The Pelicans had significant staff turnover after hiring head coach Jamahl Mosley in May.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) warms up with assistant coach Carson Shanks before Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
The Knicks coaching staff remains mostly the same from last season. Top assistants Chris Jent, Rick Brunson, Brendan O’Connor and Erman are all returning, sources said.
Kwadzo Ahelegbe and Peter Patton, who have earned high praise from players for their individual development work, also return.
SAN ANTONIO - JANUARY 14: Derek Fisher #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers talks with head coach Phil Jackson during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on January 14, 2009 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs won 112-111. 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 2009 NBAE (Photo by D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Are you surprised by the Villain Bracket Final results?
Marilyn Dubinski: I am. I wholly expected Kawhi Leonard to be in the Finals (along with Zaza Pachulia) since he has very clearly been public enemy no.1 in San Antonio for the last eight years, and the fact that he wasn’t there shocked me. It leads me to wonder how much the Clippers’ Aspiration scandal and the punishment, which was much harsher on Uncle Dennis than Kawhi, coming out during the tournament played a role in influencing the outcome of the last few rounds. Clearly, fans decided that Uncle Dennis was more responsible for influencing Kawhi than Kawhi was for going along with it, but that’s why we did this! It wouldn’t have been any fun without surprises, and there were none in the other three brackets.
Mark Barrington: Like Marilyn, I certainly expected Kawhi to be in the finals, and the eventual winner. However, both finalists are inexplicably entwined in the Leonard saga: Zaza as the brigand who intentionally injured the already tender ankle of the Spurs’ best player, ending their 2017 playoff run, and uncle Dennis, who engineered Kawhi’s messy exit from the Spurs and the franchise-crushing salary cap circumvention fiasco (with Ballmer’s complicity). Once again, Kawhi is at the center of a hurricane of misdeeds and calamity, but he doesn’t face the consequences, traded to the Raptors to finish out his career at one of the teams he left in his wake years ago. He’s had quite the villain’s journey, and maybe the final chapter will be redemption. But don’t count on it.
Bill Huan: Like Marilyn and Mark, I wholly expected Kawhi to be in the finals, but I think the fans got it right by having Uncle Dennis usurp his nephew. I fully admit that recency bias is likely affecting my judgment, but all the recent reports regarding the Kawhi-Aspiration scandal indicate that Uncle Dennis was the mastermind behind everything. That doesn’t mean Kawhi was going to stay in San Antonio forever if he was more in control of his camp, but I do think it’s possible he could’ve stayed a few more seasons and departed in the 2019 offseason rather than forcing the team’s hand to trade him in 2018. Perhaps the Spurs could’ve had a few more seasons as a title contender with him leading the way, so I agree with Uncle Dennis making the final over his nephew.
Devon Birdsong: I mean, not really. With the Clippers scandal going down, I expected that Uncle Dennis and Kawhi were going deep in the bracket. Those two and Zaza are the most recent faces of Spurs fandom villainy, and they all made the Final Four. However, I expected that Dennis was going to take the brunt. There are still some Kawhi apologists in the fanbase, and he did physically help the Spurs win a championship, whereas his Uncle has no such buffer. I was more shocked that Ray Allen didn’t make it past Derek Fisher in the Elite Eight, though I’m realizing that’s probably the result of the 2014 Championship taking the edge off of his shot. Still, I rarely see the .4 seconds clip anymore, and the NBA at-large loves to play Allen’s shot on a loop every postseason (or, at least, that’s how it feels), so my animus for (and reaction to) Fisher’s shot is greatly lessened.
Jeje Gomez: I’m shocked Uncle Dennis made the Finals. Current-day UD is a certified NBA villain, but back in the day he was just someone who engineered Kawhi’s exit. Any other manager or agent could have done the same. I absolutely understand why he’s there, considering recent news, but I thought Kawhi himself would be the one to win the whole thing.
Other than that, there weren’t major surprises. Zaza earned the villain title. The guys in the semis did as well. Overall, I think this exercise showed that, with one possible exception, the fan base is united in who they dislike the most.
Is there anyone you think should have advanced further than they did, and why? Was there an upset you weren’t expecting?
Dubinski: I was shocked that neither Phil Jackson nor David Stern advanced past the second round of the Haters bracket, which may be an indicator that a lot of our PtR audience is younger than me. (And I’m “only” 40! You guys are making me feel old!) Back in the early-to-mid 2000’s, when public figures could get away with more controversial statements without worldwide pushback on social media, Jackson’s asterisk comment reeked of jealousy and was used by Lakers fans and other haters to discredit the Spurs even at the height of their dynasty, and frankly Stern’s comments that the Spurs being in the Finals was bad for the league, and if he had his way, every Finals would be Celtics-Lakers, were right up there with Restgate, but maybe not everyone went through or remembers all that.
Barrington: Except for Kawhi’s failure to advance to the Finals [mentioned above], I think things played out about as I thought they would. I would have thought that the Knicks might have gone further than they did, because of Spurs being unhappy about the outcome of the Finals, but I think that voters correctly assessed that the Knicks aren’t villains; they are simply a team that played with a lot of heart and poise and outcompeted the inexperienced Silver and Black. Sure, their fans were insufferable, but that’s not the team, and frankly, if the Spurs had won, I’d be insufferable too.
Huan: I personally think that Richard Jefferson (4-seed) was placed way too high on the Former Spurs’ side of the bracket, and Dennis Rodman (7-seed) was too low. Sure, RJ struggled in his three seasons in San Antonio, but he has never blamed the organization the way Rodman did. RJ was never a locker room distraction like Rodman and didn’t bash his former teammates on the way out, so why was he ranked so high? I think it would’ve made more sense to swap the two.
Birdsong: I was a little surprised that Stephen Jackson beat out Robert Horry in the Sweet 16 as well. It definitely felt like a near-even match, but Jackson is at least complimentary about Tim and Pop, whereas it feels like Horry has taken potshot after potshot over the years, and is just generally resentful of his time in San Antonio overall, and that would maybe be the difference (it was for me). I guess one huge shot bought him enough goodwill, but Jackson had quite a few against Dallas (alongside Steve Kerr) in 2003, so what do I know? I also feel like Marcus Morris and Hakeem The Dream would have made it further if they didn’t end up facing Kawhi and Ray Allen so early in the bracket.
Gomez: The 2025/26 Knicks talked a lot of smack about the Spurs and Wembanyama, to the point where I thought recency bias might propel them through a couple of rounds. But the real answer is Phil Jackson. During the mid-2000’s rivalry, the guy was downplaying most Spurs achievements. I completely understand that it’s been a long time since then and the 2014 title changed things, but I was expecting more vitriol to come his way.
Five years from now, who do you think would win a Villain Bracket?
Dubinski: Beyond wondering if Kawhi would have beaten out Uncle Dennis in any other year, I feel like there’s going to be someone who does something to Wemby that outdoes Zaza or Karl Malone and shoots them up our Dirty Players bracket. Also, the Spurs’ rise to new prominence is inevitably going to create or renew rivalries. It will be interesting to see if someone on OKC triggers our hate more than Lu Dort. (Will Chet Holmgren figure things out and really get that rivalry with Wemby going in the playoffs? Will SGA keep getting away with foul baiting to the point that they beat the Spurs with it?) It’s also inevitable that a former Spur will be able to replace Marcus Morris in that bracket, although I’m not sure it will be anyone among the current players. (We were a bit limited in that bracket by sticking to basketball and not looking into players’ off-court troubles.)
Barrington: Speaking of Marcus Morris, I’m kind of wondering how Cam Payne didn’t make the list. He was traded to the Spurs in 2023 and never reported, finally waived so he could sign with another team. Maybe that’s because nobody remembers who he is. I think if the Spurs end up meeting again with the Knicks in the finals, there could be some sports hate brewing between the two teams. Conventional wisdom is that they had a pretty brief window due to salary cap concerns, but with Brunson setting the example by taking a discount, I wouldn’t count them out as a long-term contender in the Eastern Conference, and if the Spurs can’t get past them if they meet again, they will be worthy nemeses. My hope is that the Spurs have a 2014-style redemption tour the next time they meet in the playoffs, but history is yet to be written.
I was noticing in the SBNation thread about Most Hated Teams that some people are mentioning the Spurs. In my opinion, that’s a sign of respect. As the Spurs become more successful, I suspect that they will become more hated, and if there were a villains tournament open to fans of all fans in the entire league, Wemby could end up near the top, unless he and the team can find some more creative ways to deal with the constant mugging he gets from opposing defenders.
Huan: Five years is not much time at all, but if I had to crown a new winner, it must be a player who does something dirty to Wemby. The recency bias alone would be a huge advantage for them, not to mention potentially injuring the best player in the league. I mean, Zaza’s in the Finals for injuring another top-three villain in the tournament; can you imagine how much hate a player would receive for injuring the face of the franchise and fan favorite Wemby??
Birdsong: If anyone injures Wemby (especially in the postseason), I suspect Zaza’s reign on that front will finally end. I think making it to the Finals this season has already taken some of the sting out of that for a lot of fans. Sure, he’s hated, but not in the way he was when the Spurs were mired in multiple double-digit losing streaks. Another championship or two will probably reduce that even further. Additionally, if the Spurs were to (knock on wood) lose to the Knicks in the Finals again, they’ll probably become Enemy #1 for the fanbase in a manner we’ve never seen before. I don’t see that happening for a multitude of team-building + James Dolan-related reasons, but that would be an all-timer. I’m willing to bet the Miami Heat would’ve swept the entire bracket if the Spurs had lost to them again in 2014.
Gomez: Anyone who hurts Wemby is the right answer, but I’ll offer another perspective: If the Spurs don’t win a title in the next five years, I could see Brian Wright becoming a villain. Wright will be the face of a lot of likely unpopular moves to keep the team under the tax line and second apron, so if San Antonio falls short, he’ll be the perfect scapegoat as to why a group with elite young talent underperformed and how so many good years were wasted. The narrative writes itself.
If we are talking about a dark horse, it could be one of the young guards. Restricted free agency practically ensures that they’ll sign a second contract, and both seem happy now, but both seem good enough to potentially be the biggest star on their own team, and the Spurs’ are clearly Wemby’s. If there’s enough success, there should be no issues, but it’s hard to forget what happened the last time a team with this much elite young talent had to pay everyone and figure out a pecking order, so hopefully neither Castle nor Harper pulls off a 2012 James Harden and becomes a villain.
Apr 17, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) against the Golden State Warriors during the first half in the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
As the offseason prepares to come to a close, with training camp starting in a little over a week, we can’t help but continue trying to project what the 2026–27 Phoenix Suns will ultimately become. There are numerous questions about how the offense will function, what a summer of development has done for the young guys, what adjustments the coaching staff has focused on, and whether they can successfully implement new strategies this season.
Project. That’s about all we can really do at this point. And as I was exploring Basketball-Reference, the holy grail for looking at players throughout NBA history, their statistical output, and the marks they’ve left on the game, I stumbled across something. Basketball-Reference has already put together projections for nearly every player in the NBA this upcoming season.
The only players who don’t have projections are rookies, so in the case of the Phoenix Suns, that means Koa Peat. But if you visit the page of nearly any other member of the roster, you’ll find their statistical projections for the upcoming season.
Have no fear. I went through and collected them all for you so we can take a look at what Basketball-Reference expects of the Suns this season. I do the tedious work so you don’t have to!
There is one important thing to keep in mind before we dive in. All of their projections are on a per-36-minute basis. So take them with a grain of salt.
Player
FG
FGA
3P
3PA
FT
FTA
ORB
TRB
AST
STL
BLK
TOV
PF
PTS
FG%
3P%
FT%
Collin Gillespie
5.6
13.2
3.5
8.7
1.3
1.5
1.4
5.3
5.8
1.6
0.3
1.9
2.1
16.0
0.425
0.404
0.783
Devin Booker
8.8
19.1
2.2
6.5
6.5
7.4
0.9
4.2
6.5
0.9
0.3
3.1
2.8
26.3
0.459
0.333
0.878
Dillon Brooks
7.2
16.7
2.6
7.3
2.6
3.2
1.0
4.3
2.1
1.1
0.2
1.7
3.8
19.7
0.431
0.361
0.715
Haywood Highsmith
4
8.7
1.9
4.9
1.0
1.3
1.6
5.3
2.4
1.3
0.7
1.1
3.2
10.9
0.463
0.394
0.812
Jalen Green
8.5
19.6
3
8.8
3.4
4.3
0.7
5.3
3.9
1.1
0.4
2.7
1.8
23.4
0.432
0.344
0.835
Jamaree Bouyea
6
12.9
1.4
4.5
1.6
2.3
1.1
5
4.5
1.6
0.9
1.9
2.3
15
0.461
0.308
0.833
Jordan Goodwin
5.2
12.4
2.3
6.3
1.0
1.4
3
7.7
3.6
2.2
0.4
1.7
3
13.7
0.416
0.367
0.554
Khaman Malauch
5.5
10.4
0.9
2.9
2.2
3
3.7
10.5
1.6
0.7
2.3
2.1
3.4
14.1
0.526
0.318
0.643
Koby Brea
6.4
14.0
3.2
8
2.1
2.6
1.3
5.6
4.2
1.0
0.5
2
2.8
18.2
0.459
0.407
0.855
Luke Kennard
5.1
10.1
2.6
5.8
1.4
1.6
0.8
4.2
4.2
1.2
0.2
1.5
2
14.2
0.505
0.453
0.727
Mark Williams
7.5
12.0
0.2
0.5
3.6
4.6
4.4
12.3
2.2
1.3
1.4
1.8
3.3
18.7
0.624
0.362
0.798
Miles Bridges
7.5
16.7
2.3
6.9
3.2
3.9
1.2
7.2
3.8
0.8
0.6
1.9
1.9
20.6
0.452
0.330
0.746
Oso Ighodaro
4.8
7.5
0.1
0.4
1.2
2.3
2.6
8.2
3.5
1.4
1.1
1.9
4
10.8
0.63
0.345
0.513
Pat Spencer
5.5
13.0
1.7
4.8
1.5
1.9
1.6
5.0
6.5
1.4
0.2
2.5
2.3
14.2
0.428
0.348
0.888
Rasheer Fleming
5.1
11.8
2.4
6.6
1.4
2.2
2.8
6.8
1.5
1.2
1.1
1.6
3.3
14.0
0.431
0.359
0.747
Ryan Dunn
4.9
10.7
1.7
5.3
0.7
1.3
2.5
7.6
2.4
1.4
0.9
1.4
3.6
12.2
0.454
0.332
0.77
Okay, I’ve taken it with a grain of salt. Now I want something cleaner, something more tangible, and something that gives us a more realistic idea of how Basketball Reference is projecting these players. Knowing a per-36 statistic is fine, but when you take into account only 3 players who played in 10+ games last season and averaged over 36 minutes per game, it’s somewhat of a dead stat.
So I decided to take this exercise one step further. I used the per-36 projections Basketball Reference has for every member of the Phoenix Suns and normalized their statistical output to the minutes each player averaged last season. Ah, math and Excel. I heart you.
I know this is a flawed way to approach it. Minutes and roles will change, and last season’s playing time isn’t necessarily indicative of what each player will receive this year. Still, it gives us a little more insight into the production Basketball-Reference is projecting based on a workload we’ve actually seen these players handle.
Player
MPG
FG
FGA
3P
3PA
FT
FTA
ORB
TRB
AST
STL
BLK
TOV
PF
PTS
FG%
3P%
FT%
Collin Gillespie
28.5
4.4
10.5
2.8
6.9
1.0
1.2
1.1
4.2
4.6
1.3
0.2
1.5
1.7
12.7
0.425
0.404
0.855
Devin Booker
33.5
8.2
17.8
2.0
6.0
6.0
6.9
0.8
3.9
6.0
0.8
0.3
2.9
2.6
24.5
0.459
0.333
0.878
Dillon Brooks
30.4
6.1
14.1
2.2
6.2
2.2
2.7
0.8
3.6
1.8
0.9
0.2
1.4
3.2
16.6
0.431
0.361
0.833
Haywood Highsmith
13.0
1.4
3.1
0.7
1.8
0.4
0.5
0.6
1.9
0.9
0.5
0.3
0.4
1.2
3.9
0.463
0.394
0.746
Jalen Green
25.9
6.1
14.1
2.2
6.3
2.4
3.1
0.5
3.8
2.8
0.8
0.3
1.9
1.3
16.8
0.432
0.344
0.798
Jamaree Bouyea
14.0
2.3
5.0
0.5
1.8
0.6
0.9
0.4
1.9
1.8
0.6
0.4
0.7
0.9
5.8
0.461
0.308
0.715
Jordan Goodwin
22.5
3.3
7.8
1.4
3.9
0.6
0.9
1.9
4.8
2.3
1.4
0.3
1.1
1.9
8.6
0.416
0.367
0.727
Khaman Malauch
8.9
1.4
2.6
0.2
0.7
0.5
0.7
0.9
2.6
0.4
0.2
0.6
0.5
0.8
3.5
0.526
0.318
0.747
Koby Brea
7.0
1.2
2.7
0.6
1.6
0.4
0.5
0.3
1.1
0.8
0.2
0.1
0.4
0.5
3.5
0.459
0.407
0.812
Luke Kennard
21.6
3.1
6.1
1.6
3.5
0.8
1.0
0.5
2.5
2.5
0.7
0.1
0.9
1.2
8.5
0.505
0.453
0.888
Mark Williams
23.6
4.9
7.9
0.1
0.3
2.4
3.0
2.9
8.1
1.4
0.9
0.9
1.2
2.2
12.3
0.624
0.362
0.783
Miles Bridges
31.0
6.5
14.4
2
5.9
2.8
3.4
1.0
6.2
3.3
0.7
0.5
1.6
1.6
17.7
0.452
0.330
0.835
Oso Ighodaro
22.0
2.9
4.6
0.1
0.2
0.7
1.4
1.6
5.0
2.1
0.9
0.7
1.2
2.4
6.6
0.63
0.345
0.513
Pat Spencer
18.6
2.8
6.7
0.9
2.5
0.8
1.0
0.8
2.6
3.4
0.7
0.1
1.3
1.2
7.3
0.428
0.348
0.77
Rasheer Fleming
12.2
1.7
4.0
0.8
2.2
0.5
0.7
0.9
2.3
0.5
0.4
0.4
0.5
1.1
4.7
0.431
0.359
0.643
Ryan Dunn
19.4
2.6
5.8
0.9
2.9
0.4
0.7
1.3
4.1
1.3
0.8
0.5
0.8
1.9
6.6
0.454
0.332
0.554
I know this isn’t a perfect science. Again, these are projections. They never truly are. There are also individual intricacies that get lost in this process. I don’t believe Khaman Maluach will only play 8.9 minutes per game as he did a season ago, nor do I expect Mark Williams to have much impact when he returns from his labrum injury. Still, the exercise gives us an interesting look at how Basketball Reference views the individual players on this roster.
Based on these projections, the Suns would have six players averaging double figures in scoring each night. Overall, the projections have the Suns shooting 47.5% from the field, 36% from beyond the arc, and 75.6% from the free-throw line. And I can fall in love with those three-point shooting numbers from Gillespie and Kennard.
Perhaps the most interesting projection belongs to Devin Booker. Basketball Reference has him averaging 24.5 points per game, which would be his lowest scoring output since his sophomore season back in 2016-17, while matching his assist production from last year. His three-point percentage mildly increases while his free throw attempts drop from 8.1 last season to 6.9 this season. A question we have to ask ourselves is: What does a stat line of 24.5 and 6.0, with 2.9 turnovers, on 46/33/88 splits mean? To us, to him, and to the team?
Another thing I find interesting is the overall shot diet, and it’s something I’m contemplating monitoring throughout the season. Every week during the season, I write a Suns Weekly, which I’m renaming The Solar Report this season as an homage to my podcast’s original name. Within that, I like to find one statistic to mine and monitor throughout the season. This year, the overall shot diet might be one of them.
What does the balance of this offense actually look like? Based on these projections, the Suns would have five different players averaging more than 10 shot attempts per game. That isn’t necessarily unfamiliar territory. We saw a similar distribution last season. What interests me is where those shots are going. Based on my normalized version of Basketball-Reference’s projections, Miles Bridges would be second on the team with 14.4 field goal attempts per game, while Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green would both average 14.1.
Is that the right balance? More importantly, what does balance even look like for this team? That’s something I want to monitor throughout the season. Because with this many players capable of taking double-digit shots on any given night, how those opportunities are distributed could tell us quite a bit about what this offense ultimately becomes.
Again, none of this is gospel. It’s simply another way to look at what this roster could potentially produce. The numbers aren’t telling us what will happen. They’re establishing another baseline for what could happen. Roles will change, minutes will change, injuries and development will blow holes through some of these projections before Thanksgiving. But with training camp around the corner, we’ve officially reached the point where speculation is about to collide with reality. The spreadsheets have had their turn. Now it’s time for basketball to start providing the answers.
Things are starting to ramp back up around the NBA. Players are working out with teammates and teams are making a lot of moves, but most of those are Exhibit 10 training camp contracts to stack the franchise's G League roster. Still, there is news of note, and that starts with the LA Clippers.
Clippers name John Gibson interim Governor
Rather than promote from within, the Clippers have gone outside the organization and named Los Angeles-based attorney John S. Gibson interim Chief Executive Officer and Governor. He steps into the roles formerly filled by team owner Steve Ballmer and head of business operations Gillian Zucker, both of whom the NBA suspended for a year for circumventing the salary cap to get Kawhi Leonard more money.
"I am honored to take on this responsibility and grateful for the opportunity to serve an organization I have supported for many years," Gibson said in a statement. "The Clippers have talented players, coaches, and staff, an extraordinary home in Intuit Dome, and passionate Clipper Nation fans who, like me, care deeply about this team. My focus will be on supporting our people, providing steady leadership, and helping the organization continue moving forward."
Gibson is a partner at the law firm DLA Piper in Los Angeles and a long-time Clippers season ticket holder. He also represented the Clippers during the Donald Sterling ownership court battle. Expect more caretaker for a year, a guy who will set some best-practice business guidelines for the future but is not there to shake things up.
The Clippers also officially announced the expected, that General Manager Trent Redden will oversee basketball operations for six months until Lawrence Frank is off of his suspension.
Pistons, Duren still at an impasse
Seven days from the start of training camp and the Pistons and All-NBA center Jalen Duren remain at an impasse. While the sides are talking, they reportedly aren't close to a deal.
ESPN’s Shams Charania said on NBA Today that "it's highly up in the air and questionable as to whether (Duren) will be reporting and showing up to media day in just seven days." He also said the Pistons' latest offer is five years, $200 million.
If that is true, it shows how this is more about Duren not feeling respected by the organization than it is pure money — although Houston giving Amen Thompson five years, $208 million likely raised the bar a little. As Charania notes, a year ago the Pistons came to Duren with a hard $20 million a year average take-it-or-leave-it offer, and that is where the tension started. He turned that down and proved he was worth more than that — how much more (after a rough playoff run) is part of the question. The other part is how he feels the organization has treated him, which plays into this. It's now about more than money, although at the end of the day, can Duren really leave that contract on the table and play for a $9.6 million qualifying offer?
Hawks’ Henri Veesaar tears ACL
This sucks.
Henri Veesaar — coming off a breakout year at North Carolina where he averaged 17 points and 8.7 rebounds per game — was a first-round talent who slid all the way to No. 52 last June because his agents steered him to a team where he could get a standard NBA contract. He got that in Atlanta at four years, $9.6 million (the first two years are guaranteed).
Veesaar tore his ACL in a workout on Sept. 15 and will miss the entire upcoming season recovering after surgery next month, Atlanta announced. This is a real blow for the Estonian big man, and also tough on Atlanta's frontcourt depth, with Mouhamed Gueye missing the start of the season due to a fractured foot that required surgery.
Mavericks expected to sign Dwight Powell
Reserve center Dwight Powell has played the last 12 seasons in Dallas, and is now expected to play one more, reports Marc Stein of The Stein Line.
Well, probably. Powell is expected to sign a non-guaranteed deal with the team that gives the Mavericks flexibility if Powell were injured or something else occurred. That said, Powell was in Santa Monica with many of the Dallas Mavericks last week in a series of workouts organized by Kyrie Irving.
Powell doesn't have a big impact on the court at age 35 (3.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in 63 appearances last season), but he may be more valuable to a young team as a mentor who shows players how to be professional and has a strong work ethic.
Pistons executive Michael Blackstone talks cancer
If you read one thing today, it should be Pistons executive vice president of basketball operations Michael Blackstone sitting down with Hunter Patterson of The Athletic to talk about Blackstone's battle against Stage 4 lung cancer. Blackstone was diagnosed in 2023 but is speaking out now to urge people to see their doctor if they are feeling unexplained aches and pains. That's how he found out.
"The reason I'm talking about it now versus the past three years is because time is basically all I have now, right? Time is what matters...
"If I didn't pay attention to the discomfort I was having and ask a very innocent question, I wouldn't be here right now. It was already Stage 4 when we found it; it had already gone too far."
Will the Lakers’ offseason roster reconstruction – which included the departure of LeBron James after eight seasons in Los Angeles and addition of nine players over the last three months – provide the desired results?
After this offseason, the Lakers are fully entrenched in the Luka Doncic era. Getty Images
Will Austin Reaves be ready to be the true No. 2 behind Doncic?
The answers to some of these questions won’t be known until the end of the 2026-27 season. Others may take even longer to answer.
But the next month will provide clarity on one front: What will the Lakers do to become compliant with the league’s roster rules?
When the Lakers signed Matisse Thybulle to a veteran’s minimum contract (one year, $3.3 million) in late July, to deal put the team at 16 players signed to guaranteed standard NBA contracts – one more than the league permits during the regular season.
The Lakers have attempted to trade Jarred Vanderbilt. Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Since the signing, there’s been a focus on what route the Lakers will choose to trim its roster down to a maximum of 15 players before the regular season starts in mid-October.
And with training camp around the corner, and the start of the season four weeks away, the decision will be back at the forefront of conversations.
Which route would best serve the Lakers?
Player-for-pick trade
If this option was available for the Lakers, the belief is they would’ve already pulled the trigger on the move by now.
With Jaden Hardy, Dalton Knecht and Jarred Vanderbilt being the players who are most likely expected to be traded or waived, the question becomes whether any team would be willing to send out a draft pick to acquire any of them.
It’s clear that isn’t the case.
The Lakers received Jaden Hardy in July for Deandre Ayton. Getty Images
Remember: The Lakers received a pair of second-round picks from the Wizards when they traded Deandre Ayton to Washington despite both Hardy and Ayton essentially being on expiring contracts.
Vanderbilt’s contract status ($12.4 million this season; $13.3 million player option for 2027-28) and Knecht’s diminished role make it unlikely the Lakers would be able to acquire even a second-round pick for either player on their own.
Consolidation trade
This is the likeliest trade scenario for the Lakers to get down to 15 players.
A 2-for-1 involving two of Hardy, Knecht and/or Vanderbilt, and a team with at least one open roster spot and a player on an expiring contract, would get the Lakers at the 15 players they need to be at by mid-October.
There’s a chance they’d still be able to acquire an asset such as a second-round pick this way.
But even if they didn’t, this scenario would make them roster compliant and maintain future financial flexibility.
Dalton Knecht’s spot on the roster could be at risk. Imagn Images
Waiving player
The least desirable option – outside of a trade that adds money onto the team’s salary cap for future seasons – would be outright waiving a player on an expiring deal, such as Hardy or Knecht.
It would put the Lakers at 15 players.
But it would also mean they’d have to eat the dead money for the rest of the season since the deadline to waive a player and use the stretch provision on their current-season salary passed last month.
Rivers will join NBC Sports as a NBA game analyst, where he will continue to display his knowledge and expertise of more than 40 years in the league as a player and coach.
“I loved playing the game, I loved coaching it, and I’ve always loved talking about it,” Rivers said in a statement. “I have great memories working with NBC, and I’m excited to be back and share my perspective alongside such a talented team. This season should be a lot of fun. I can’t wait.”
Doc Rivers' extensive NBA resumé
Rivers was selected by the Atlanta Hawks in the 1983 NBA Draft with the 31st overall pick in the second round. He went to play 14 NBA seasons and earned an All-Star selection in 1988, playing with the Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs before hanging up the jersey.
Three years later, Rivers stepped back into the league, this time with a suit and clipboard as he coached the Orlando Magic from 1999 to 2003, winning Coach of the Year in 2000. He then agreed to a deal with the Boston Celtics, where Rivers won his first and only NBA championship in 2008.
He went on to coach one of his former teams, leading Clippers from 2013 to 2020 and becoming the winningest coach in franchise history.
He spent the final years of his coaching career with the Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks before his retirement.
Rivers is highly regarded for his 2008 NBA title in Boston, but what he was able to accomplish in Los Angeles could make him the greatest Clipper of all time. Consider this:
Is Doc Rivers the greatest Clipper of all time?
Well before Rivers was named one of the NBA's "15 Greatest NBA Coaches," he played for the Clippers in 1991 following a draft day trade for the No. 9 overall pick in that year's draft, which became Stacey Augmon. Rivers was the Clippers' starting point guard and led them to their first winning season and playoff appearance in Los Angeles at 45-37, a 14-win differential from the previous season. As the Clippers, the franchise had only tallied one winning season prior to Rivers' arrival, their inaugural 1978-79 campaign in San Diego.
Rivers averaged 10.9 points, 3.9 assists and 1.9 steals in 59 games played. He was traded in the offseason to the Knicks just before the start of the 1992-93 season. But it wouldn't be the last time Rivers was a significant part of the Clippers organization.
Decades after he'd been traded from the Clippers, Rivers became their head coach and senior vice president of basketball operations. The Clippers traded for Rivers in 2013, sending the Celtics an unprotected 2015 NBA first-round draft pick in a rare coaching transaction.
Rivers didn't win a championship like he did with Boston, but he helped turn Los Angeles into a perennial playoff team throughout his tenure. For the first time in history, the Clippers were considered the better basketball team in L.A. while under Rivers' direction. In his seven seasons, the Clippers only missed the playoffs once.
Rivers has the best record of among all Clippers coaches with an overall 356-208 record and a .631 winning percentage. Other coaches on that listed include Vinny Del Negro, Mike Dunleavy, Tyronn Lue and Jack Ramsay.
The Clippers are the only NBA franchise that hasn't retired a player's number. There is no jersey hanging in the rafters for Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Deandre Jordan, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, James Harden, Elton Brand, Darius Miles, Lamar Odom, Norm Nixon or Danny Manning.
Maybe, just maybe the Clippers will consider No. 25 – or No. 356.
