Category: NBA

Luka Doncic’s minicamp couldn’t be better timed. 

Amid the chaos of the Lakers being sold twice in 10 months and the Buss family being embroiled in a battle over its remaining 17.8% stake in the team, Doncic is gifting the players some noise-canceling headphones in the form of chemistry. 

He chartered a flight for his teammates to come to Slovenia. They’re going to be playing basketball. Golfing. Going out to dinners. 

They’re going to be steeling themselves against the drama that has recently mired the Lakers.

This is Doncic’s first important act as the official leader of the team. 

Yes, the Lakers became Doncic’s team as soon as he was stunningly traded by the Mavericks to Los Angeles in February 2025. But even though it was clear that Doncic was their No. 1 priority, a man by the name of LeBron James was on the squad. You know, arguably the greatest player of all time. 

Doncic was the present and the future of the organization, but James was the face of the league. He’s going to be the sun on any squad he’s on. That’s what happens when you’re a four-time champion, four-time MVP and the league’s all-time leading scorer. 

When James left this summer in free agency, everything changed. 

There’s no more ambiguity. No fuzziness. No ifs, ands or buts. 

The Lakers belong to Doncic. He will be celebrated for their successes. He will be blamed for their failures. And more than anything, it’s up to him to keep things together when there are speed bumps. And right now, they’re Himalaya-sized. 

Doncic has already begun putting his fingerprint on all parts of the organization. He played a major role in helping build the Lakers’ new roster. 

He wanted to keep playing alongside Austin Reaves, whom the Lakers signed to a four-year, $180 million deal, the richest contract for a player who went undrafted. 

He wanted to be paired with center Walker Kessler, whom the Lakers acquired from Utah on a four-year, $130 million sign-and-trade deal, including giving up two unprotected first-round picks (2031 and 2033) and two first-round pick swaps (2028 and 2030).

The Lakers went all in on trying to make Doncic happy. They have zero tradable first-round draft picks through 2033. Now it’s his turn to pour his heart and soul into the team. 

A minicamp is just what the Lakers need now, and Doncic got very lucky with the timing.

They’ve been going through whiplash-inducing changes. They’re the talk of the sports world. They’re a mess.

During the minicamp, which began Thursday, Doncic will remind everyone of what matters. 

Each other. 

The Lakers’ new ownership isn’t going to play within the four lines. Former Disney CEO Bob Iger and venture capitalist Josh Kushner aren’t going to shoot game-winning jumpers with the clock expiring. 

The massive investigation into former Lakers owner Mark Walter’s financial empire can’t block their shots. 

Whether the Buss family sells its share in the Lakers and Jeanie Buss remains governor isn’t going to impact their locker room chemistry. 

All of the noise around the Lakers is really just noise, even though it’s seemingly deafening.  

What matters is Doncic and Reaves harmoniously playing off one another like two perfectly tuned musical instruments in a symphony. 

What matters is Kessler learning their games and blossoming into an All-Star. 

What matters is Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton and Matisse Thybulle wanting to run through a wall for the team’s three stars. 

Doncic has brought everyone together before, such as organizing a Porsche Driving Experience for the team in October 2025. But this feels different. 

He brought everyone to his home country. He greeted his teammates at their hotel while holding one of his daughters. They’re seeing the real him. 

The minicamp is going to remind the Lakers how unimportant all of the major earthquakes around them are as soon as they take the court.

It’s the type of thing that can quiet the chaos. 

It’s the type of thing that can pay dividends come April.

---

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

Over the weekend, Dallas Mavericks forward PJ Washington spoke with Kevin Gray of DLLS Sports and told him that he was very confident he’d be with the team for the start of the 2026-27 regular season. This led me to posting our weekly question about the Mavericks, but I made the question a bit more long term: do you think Washington will be a Dallas Maverick the entire season?

The voting ended up being fairly close, with a slight majority assuming Washington will get traded elsewhere before the NBA trade deadline.

This season Washington starts the first year of a four year extension he signed with the Mavericks last offseason, totalling just under $89 million dollars. This year’s portion comes in at just under $20 million. Washington is in the middle of his athletic prime at 28 and is an ideal forward in a league where many teams are starved at the position.

Though his three-point shooting and turnovers suffered during a down year last season, Washington’s proven capable of being a high-level contributor so long as he doesn’t have to be the primary offensive engine. He’s the most attractive trade piece the Dallas Mavericks might reasonably part with and he’s worth a future first-round pick from any team looking to close the gap towards being a contender.

All of this is to say, I think 58% is low. The issue currently facing the Mavericks is a lack of tradable first-round picks on the NBA trade market. Dallas likely covets a pick in the 2028 draft, one that should be filled with high level talent and one where they own the Oklahoma City Thunder’s first-round pick swap depending on where the teams end that regular season.

Dallas is currently not projected to be very good, with bettors placing their over-under at 32.5 wins. If Dallas somehow is that bad (which I doubt), then they absolutely should look to move Washington as soon as possible and pray a first-rounder is even available.

But since the season hasn’t begun and it feels as if all NBA transactions are through, there won’t be much pressure to move Washington for less than the franchise thinks he’s worth.

With the Denver Nuggets electing to trade Peyton Watson to the Cleveland Cavaliers to avoid the luxury tax, it raises a fascinating question that could shape the future of the NBA:

Could the Los Angeles Lakers take advantage of this Nuggets turmoil to bring Nikola Jokić to Hollywood to pair with Luka Dončić?

The Nuggets and Jokić have been in contract limbo. Jokić has put off signing an extension and has hinted at making a decision about his future with the team next summer.

Jokić will be 31 this season and has a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28, the final season on his five-year, $276.1 million extension that he signed after he helped propel the Nuggets to their first NBA title in 2023.

According to Lakers insider Anthony F. Irwin, the team is going to be “dead-set” on acquiring Jokić after their ownership situation is figured out.

With the Lakers ready to give Dončić the keys to the franchise and continue building around him, acquiring Jokić should be a no-brainer for them.

Dončić and Jokić are close friends and have enjoyed playing beside one another.

The two teamed up against the rest of the NBA during the All-Star Game in February on the team led by Dončić.

The success the Nuggets had in the playoffs three years ago now seems like a distant memory. They’ve won a combined two playoff series over the past three seasons, and were eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the opening round last season.

Jokić, who averaged a triple-double last season with 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists per game, is a three-time MVP with years remaining in his prime.

The Nuggets’ decision to move on from Watson has been criticized by some observers as short-sighted cost-cutting.

It adds fuel to the notion of a potential divorce between Jokić and the team that would delight the Lakers.

Former longtime Lakers executive Tim Harris has found a landing spot — at his alma mater.

The UCLA alumnus is consulting for Chancellor Julio Frenk, a role that allows the veteran marketing and business operations specialist to share his expertise on a volunteer basis, the California Post has learned.

Reached by phone, Harris confirmed to The Post that he was doing some consulting work for the university but referred all questions to the chancellor’s office.

One person familiar with the situation told The Post that Harris would examine revenue streams involving various aspects of campus operations, including athletics.

“We are so lucky to have alums like Tim who love UCLA and want to lend their time and talent to strengthen the Bruin community,” a campus source familiar with the arrangement told The Post. “As a former UCLA student-athlete himself, we’re incredibly fortunate to have Tim offer his deep expertise pro bono to elevate our programs. It’s a real win for Bruins.”

The move represents a homecoming for Harris, a onetime goalkeeper for UCLA, the U.S. National Team and the Los Angeles Lazers of the Major Indoor Soccer League. The Lazers owner was Jerry Buss, who held the same role with the Lakers and later served as Harris’ boss for many years.

Among his many duties for the Lakers, Harris was known as the essential source for landing celebrities the best seats inside Crypto.com Arena. Actor Andy Garcia once described Harris to the Los Angeles Times as “a good person to know.”

Harris departed the Lakers after last season, ending a 35-year career with the organization during which he was instrumental in landing a $3 billion, 20-year contract with Charter Communications to create Spectrum SportsNet for the Lakers in 2011.

When the team was sold to Mark Walter in 2025, Harris reportedly received $24 million. He was replaced earlier this year by Lon Rosen as the Lakers president of business operations.

Now he’s headed back to a familiar place that might seem strange given all the changes in the college landscape.

UCLA faces massive budget constraints across campus and in athletics, with the Bruins athletic department having run in the red for seven consecutive fiscal years. That will provide Harris, who turns 65 in December, a chance to help examine revenue streams and give recommendations.

Harris has already been an active presence on campus in recent years, teaching “Lakers 101” to students in UCLA’s Sports and Leadership Program in the Anderson School of Management.

Angel Reese’s brother drew the short straw of a five-team NBA trade.

Julian Reese was traded from the Wizards to the Nuggets as part of a multi-team deal highlighted by Peyton Watson going to the Cavaliers and Max Strus to the Clippers on Wednesday.

Denver will receive an unprotected 2031 Cavaliers first-round pick and a 2032 Kings second-rounder, per ESPN.

Additionally, Reese will ultimately not settle into Denver as the Nuggets are expected to waive him off his two-way deal.

The 23-year-old went undrafted in 2025 out of Maryland but eventually signed a two-way contract with Washington.

His NBA debut came in March in against the Rockets. He scored two points, tallied four rebounds and three steals, yet committed six fouls and four turnovers.

He went on to put up some solid numbers for the tanking Wizards.

Reese finished the season averaging 11.8 points on 52 percent shooting from the field. He also averaged 10.5 rebounds for over 30.9 minutes per game across 13 contests.

Now, Reese will have to presumably start over.

Watson will be signing a new four-year, $88 million deal that includes a player option and trade kicker with Cleveland.

It’s part of a big effort to retool the Cavs roster after being swept by the NBA champion Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. In the last week, the Cavaliers traded Dennis Schroder — sent to the Hornets for Tre Mann — along with Strus.

As part of the Johni Broome trade to Cleveland, the Clippers are sending a 2027 second-rounder from the 76ers.

With Mann, the Cavs are sending a 2027 second-rounder from the Clippers and cash to the Wizards for Cam Whitmore.

As for Angel, she’s averaging 15.7 points and 12 rebounds a game in her first season with the Dream, who are in fifth place in the overall WNBA standings.

As expected, James Harden isn’t going anywhere.

The 11-time All-Star agreed to a three-year, $97 million contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers Thursday, August 20, a person with direct knowledge of the matter confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. The deal includes a player option in the final season – 2028-29 – and a trade kicker.

The person spoke under the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss terms of the deal. ESPN was first to report the news.

Harden, who will turn 37 on Aug. 26, was a key piece of Cleveland’s operation last season after the Cavs acquired him in a February trade. In 26 games with Cleveland last season, he averaged 20.5 points, 7.7 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game. He starred alongside Donovan Mitchell and helped lead Cleveland to the Eastern Conference finals, where the Cavs were swept by the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks.

CAVALIERS: Acquire Peyton Watson from Nuggets in multi-team trade

Harden had opted out of his $42.3 million player option for next season to give the Cavaliers some salary cap flexibility while he sought a long-term deal. The expectation was always going to be that he would re-up with the Cavaliers. Team president Koby Altman and Harden each said during press conferences at the conclusion of the season that both sides intended to work out a long-term deal.

Given his age, this deal indicates that Cleveland will be Harden’s final spot, barring a future trade.

Harden is set to enter his 18th season in the NBA and has been one of the more prolific scorers of this generation. He continues to excel on the ball and can create shots for himself or for his teammates.

The Cavaliers are looking to retool after coming up short in their bid for the NBA Finals. On Wednesday, Aug. 19, the team traded for rising star forward Peyton Watson in a multi-team deal that shipped guard Max Strus to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Watson was a restricted free agent with the Denver Nuggets and will now sign a four-year, $88 million contract with the Cavs.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: James Harden returns to Cavaliers with new 3-year, $97 million deal

The Philadelphia 76ers have added a couple extremely high-profile names this offseason, somewhat understandably overshadowing the fact that Tyrese Maxey is coming off an All-NBA Third Team season. Still just 25 years old and with his 1 percent better mantra, it’s reasonable to expect Maxey to continue improving coming off that career-best campaign.

He recently conducted an interview with HoopsHype covering a wide variety of topics heading into this much-anticipated 2026-27 NBA season. I’ve excerpted a few key passages below with my reactions, but be sure to check out the entire Q&A.

“What parts of the game did you use as motivation to prove something?

I think the biggest things that I wanted to prove was my leadership, my playmaking abilities, and my defense. I think I’m good defensively and I can cause a lot of havoc, make a lot of disruptions. I’m able to block shots, get steals, and do those type of things, and hold my own one-on-one. And then just my leadership qualities. I’ve been trying to become a better leader every single day, try to encourage my teammates, and then playmaking, getting into the paint. I’ve done a really good job of drawing a lot of attention these last couple years, and now it’s just about getting to the paint, creating plays for everybody, creating shots for everybody.“

It’s revealing that leadership is the first thing Tyrese mentioned. You could clearly see the shift the last couple of years with the Sixers being “Joel Embiid’s team” to Maxey’s team. His stepping up as a leader and filling that vacuum was the biggest reason. I’m obviously curious how that adjusts with LeBron James and Jaylen Brown both entering the fold.

“What do you say to VJ Edgecombe after he called you out for lying about knowing beforehand of the LeBron-Sixers signing?

[Laughs] I had to say I love you so much and I’ll talk to you probably later on today. So just know that I love you, kid. And sometimes what you don’t know won’t hurt you. [Laughs]“

I just thought this was a fun anecdote. Even getting caught in a “lie”, Tyrese’s sparkling personality shines through. The vibes are high with the current roster.

“Do you feel added pressure now with the moves you guys made?

I work really, really, really, really, really, really hard, so I don’t really have that type of pressure, you know what I’m saying? The pressure that I put, I put on myself because I work extremely hard and I do these different things to try to make myself better every single day. But outside noise, it doesn’t really bother me.“

A lot of guys might get overwhelmed by the increased attention and scrutiny now on this Sixers group, or shrink under the bright lights sure to come, but Maxey is the last guy I’d be worried about in that regard.

“Have the Sixers settled on a pecking order for last-shot situations?

I think it depends on what the situation is, you know what I’m saying? I think we have confidence in a lot of different guys. I think people want to say VJ is our fifth option, but last year he took a lot of shots in the clutch. He made a lot of shots in the clutch. There was a couple times, where I got doubled and Joel [Embiid] got doubled and we had to kick it out to VJ [Edgecombe] and he had to make a shot. It’s going to be different people. We’re going to see how it goes and see how it flows. 

I think the biggest thing is we can’t have anybody, nobody on this team can have an ego. We have two guys that have won regular-season MVPs, two guys that have won Finals MVPs, multiple gold medal winners on this team, multiple 25-plus points per game, All-Stars, All-NBA. We’re all pretty accomplished. So the ego has to drop and you have to do it collectively.“

This hits at the question on everyone’s mind with the new roster: how are so many players used to being “the guy” with the ball in their hands going to react to maybe having to be a third or fourth option? Tyrese gives the appropriate answer here. Everyone is going to need to make some sacrifices for the greater good, but I honestly think they have the right group in place. LeBron has been dumbly criticized plenty in the past for making the right basketball play rather than playing hero ball at the end of games. Brown has all the motivation in the world to make this season a success and prove the doubters wrong. Embiid is at the stage of his career where I think he’s content to let others take the wheel if it means winning. Maxey and VJ Edgecombe are both young guys with A+ attitudes in terms of being unselfish teammates. I am genuinely unconcerned about this dynamic.

“What was the biggest lesson you learned from the season before last?

The biggest thing I learned was patience. I mean, I got hurt like three times that year, I think, and it wasn’t like real bad injuries, but it was little nagging injuries that they didn’t want me to play through because it would just make it worse and worse and worse. And I’m somebody who just loves playing basketball, so I had to be patient. I had to kind of sit out some of those times where I wish I could have played, but I probably shouldn’t play. The medical staff had the best interest for me. And then just patience, and just mentally, when you lose. That was my first time losing like that in my life, you know, consecutive games in a row in a row in a row. I just made a vow to myself that it wouldn’t happen to me again.“

I’ll end with this thought: there’s a timeline where things completely unraveled for the Sixers after that 2024-25 season. They caught a little lotttery luck in getting the pick used to select VJ Edgecombe. His arrival helped the Sixers be just good enough to squeak into the playoffs and come back against the Celtics. Boston then blows up the roster with the Brown trade, who upon arriving in Philadelphia, gives LeBron the thought that the Sixers can be true title contenders. If the Sixers end up with someone like Ace Bailey or Tre Johnson (no shade at them but they clearly didn’t have the Year 1 impact of Edgecombe), we might be looking at the Sixers missing the postseason and talks to completely blow up the roster. Instead, look at us now. We are truly living the “Can’t believe this is my life” LeBron meme.

Lakers minority owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong reportedly has no intention of selling his 4% stake in the team following Bob Iger and Josh Kushner purchasing the franchise from Mark Walter last week for a record-breaking $12.5 billion.

“Dr. Patrick is absolutely not selling his minority share of the Lakers,” Chuck “Tiger” Kenworthy, the Soon-Shiong family attorney, told ESPN on Thursday. “Bob Iger and Josh Kushner are good friends, and we will be joining them as supportive, active and engaged partners once they close the transaction with Mr. Walter. We are extremely excited about the Lakers’ future and look forward to many more championship years.”

The 74-year-old Soon-Shiong purchased his stake in the franchise from Lakers legend Magic Johnson in 2010.

Soon-Shiong is a surgeon and businessman who’s renowned for inventing a drug used for lung, breast and pancreatic cancer called Abraxane. He’s also the owner and executive chairman of the Los Angeles Times.

The Lakers have been sold twice in the last 10 months. The Buss family sold the Lakers to Walter in October 2025 for $10 billion, before Walter stunningly sold the team to former Disney CEO Iger and venture capitalist Kushner. The deal is still pending approval from the NBA Board of Governors.

The Buss family, which has a 17.8% remaining ownership stake in the team, is embroiled in a battle over its share. Five of the Buss siblings voted to sell, while Jeanie Buss, the Lakers’ governor, is contesting the sale.

Under NBA rules, a governor must hold at least a 15% stake in the franchise.

---

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

The Cleveland Cavaliers and James Harden agreed to a new contract on Thursday, just a few weeks after the superstar guard was arrested in Houston.

Harden is now slated to get $97 million over the next three years from the Cavaliers, the 11-time All-Star’s agents told ESPN’s Shams Charania.

The pact, which includes a player option as well as a trade kicker, will officially push Harden’s all-time NBA earnings to $511 million, according to Charania.

The stunning figure means Harden will join LeBron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant as the only four players in league history to ever cross the half-billion-dollar threshold.

The timing of the agreement is notable, considering Harden was just thrown behind bars in Texas on June 13.

The Houston Police Department alleged that during a routine traffic stop, Harden had an unholstered firearm in plain view in his vehicle. He was eventually charged with one misdemeanor count of unlawful carrying of weapons.

However, the case was dismissed on Aug. 6 after Harris County prosecutors stated Harden had completed an “alternative resolution agreement.”

Harden never publicly commented on the incident, though the Cavaliers said on the day of his arrest that they were “aware” of the situation and were “gathering additional information.”

Harden joined the Cavaliers in February in a deal with the Clippers that included two-time All-Star Darius Garland. In 26 games with Cleveland following the trade, Harden averaged 20.5 points and 7.7 assists per contest.

---

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

The Cleveland Cavaliers have penned what should be there final “big move” of the offseason. After weeks of rumors around the framework of a James Harden deal, it was reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania that Harden and the Cavaliers have come to an agreement.

The Cavaliers and Harden signed a three-year contract worth up to $97 million. The third year of the deal is a player option, and the contract includes a trade kicker as well. All three years are guaranteed.

Harden has been patient and very helpful with the Cavaliers’ offseason plans. With Harden declining his $42.3 million player option in June, it opened up the Cavaliers’ ability to navigate under the second apron.

The Cavaliers appear to be done with all their big swings after the recent acquisition of Peyton Watson. They’ve finally rewarded Harden for his patience through the LeBron James decision and then the trades of Dennis Schroder and Max Strus for Watson.

The Cavaliers were able to get Harden to lower his annual salary in a three-year deal to get under both the first and second aprons. For all the discourse about Harden and his approach to basketball on and off the court, it appears Harden was true to the rumors about giving the Cavaliers flexibility and was patient enough to allow the team to improve the roster.

While Harden’s deal will see him being paid around $32 million annually at age 39 is something that might be tough to swallow; it also needs to be noted that he has given the Cavaliers the ability to remain relevant in a greatly improved Eastern Conference in the short term.

Last season, Harden averaged 23.6 points, 8 assists, and 4.8 rebounds in 70 games for both the Cavs and Los Angeles Clippers. He appeared in 18 playoff games for Cleveland, averaging 19.2 points, 5.5 assists, and 5.1 rebounds.

As the Buss siblings battle each other for the right to sell their minority stake in the Lakers, at least one of the other minority shareholder is sticking with the team.

Patrick Soon-Shiong, the owner of the Los Angeles Times, is not selling his stake in the Lakers.

Soon-Shiong bought a 4% stake in the team from Magic Johnson in 2010. His family attorney, Chuck Kenworthy, said that Soon-Shiong has no interest in selling his stake amid a high-stakes ownership transition.

“We love the Lakers,” Kenworthy told The Times. “We believe in the Lakers. We believe in the future of the Lakers and the championship years they are going to have. And we believe they are still undervalued.”

Read more:Jeanie Buss contests family sale of Lakers ownership stake to Bob Iger, Joshua Kushner

A group led by former Disney chief Bob Iger and venture capitalist Joshua Kushner agreed last week to buy controlling interest in the Lakers from Mark Walter at a $12.5-billion valuation — a record price for an American sports team. The sale is still pending approval by the NBA board of governors. Walter, who owns a majority stake in the Dodgers, is the subject of multiple federal investigations.

Jeanie Buss, whom Walter had agreed could remain as the Lakers’ governor for five years, is challenging her siblings’ decision to sell the family’s 17.8% stake in the team.

Real estate developer Edward P. Roski, one of the Lakers’ other known minority owners, has not disclosed whether he intends to sell his 3% stake in the team. He has owned a stake in the team since 1998. Todd Boehly purchased a minority stake in the Lakers in 2021, but it’s unclear whether all his shares folded into business partner Walter’s majority stake.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter on all things Lakers.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Despite all the noise and rumors, the Golden State Warriors ultimately had an extremely quiet offseason. The Dubs are heading into 2026-27 season with largely the same roster that finished 37-45 last year. Rookie first-round pick Yaxel Lendeboorg is currently the only addition currently slated to play a large role in head coach Steve Kerr’s rotation. The Dubs barely reached the Play-In Tournament last season, finishing 10th in the Western Conference. However, the West seems far deeper this season. Where will Golden State finish this season?

Well, in a poll of Dub Nation by SBNation Reacts, the majority of fans expect them to finish among the top-10 teams in the conference once again. 47% of respondents expect the Warriors to reach the Play-In Tournament, 29% expect them to finish fifth or sixth, 19% expect them to miss the postseason entirely, and 5% expect them to finish with a top-four seed. That’s a surprising amount of confidence from a fanbase that has been justified in its complaints about a questionable supporting cast around an ageing core.