The 2026-27 NBA season could determine whether the Golden State Warriors extend their aging foundation or finally tear it down.
Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler are all playing on expiring contracts, giving Golden State an opportunity to disband its veteran core if the season begins poorly.
Marcus Thompson II, who has covered the Warriors for more than a decade as a beat writer and columnist for The Athletic, raised the possibility of Green being traded during an appearance on “The Kevin O’Connor Show.”
Stephen Curry and Draymond Green during an NBA game for the Warriors. Robert Sabo for NY Post
“I think this might be the time,” Thompson said. “Right now, we’re gonna figure out what happens next. I think by the trade deadline, we’ll know. This is gonna be tough, and we could really, fully be saying goodbye. Draymond could be traded at the trade deadline.”
Thompson could also envision Butler being moved, but he did not believe the Warriors would consider dealing Curry, whom he described as a franchise “lifer.”
Moving Green would not be simple. He would be an expensive rental earning $27.7 million and likely would not command the return he once did, despite remaining one of the NBA’s most impactful defensive players.
A contender looking to upgrade its defense could still pursue Green without surrendering a major portion of its future.
Stephen Curry and Warriors face important transition ahead of the NBA trade deadline. Draymond Green could potentially be traded. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Butler presents a different complication. He turned 37 on Monday and is recovering from the torn ACL he suffered last season. The veteran forward is not expected to return until late January or early February.
Golden State acquired Butler from the Miami Heat at the 2025 trade deadline. The move has not produced the intended results, with Butler appearing in only 68 games for the Warriors over parts of two seasons.
With Stephen Curry locked Jimmy Butler becomes a trade candidate if Warriors underperform during 2026-2027 NBA season. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Thompson noted that Golden State has approximately $100 million in expiring contracts, much of it attached to the core of its roster. That flexibility would allow the front office to make a dramatic pivot if it determines the current group can no longer contend.
“That’s the core players,” Thompson said. “Klay’s already gone. If Draymond leaves, there’s a sense you could feel like they just might start this thing completely over.”
Resetting during the final years of Curry’s career would be seismic, but the Warriors are already attempting to build their next generation. Coach Steve Kerr recently praised the influx of young talent on Golden State’s roster, particularly No. 11 overall pick Yaxel Lendeborg.
If the Warriors stumble, the trade deadline could become more than an opportunity to adjust the roster. It could mark the end of their championship foundation.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: The sneakers worn by Matthew Cleveland #35 of the Dallas Mavericks during the game against the Orlando Magic during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 18, 2025 at the Thomas & Mack Center 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Tom O'Connor/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
NEW YORK — NBA commissioner Adam Silver said the punishment of the Los Angeles Clippers for their role in circumventing the salary cap is final and was meant as a deterrent for other teams not to engage in breaking league rules.
Silver discussed some of the league's pressing matters as they concluded the two-day Board of Governors meeting in midtown Manhattan, while preparing for their 81st season starting Oct. 20, when the New York Knicks begin their defense of the championship against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Los Angeles had five first-round picks taken away, was fined $30 million, and Clippers owner Steve Ballmer was suspended from all league and team activities for one year for what the NBA said was the team "knowingly seeking to help" star forward Kawhi Leonard obtain off-court income opportunities.
Two other Clippers executives were suspended, and Leonard was fined $700,000 for their roles in the scheme; they were not represented at this Board of Governors meeting. Ballmer apologized to the team's fans and said in a statement he won't fight the salary-cap circumvention penalties.
Silver said during a press conference that there was difficulty in punishing the team, but there had to be "competitive consequences" for rule violations, and he doesn't think that he has done permanent damage to the franchise.
"We still want to be a 30-team league, and we recognize that, in some ways, we're unfortunately punishing the fans of that team as well. And so that's the balance we're trying to seek," Silver said. "The ultimate goal, in terms of these type of sanctions, are to ensure that other teams don't have to engage in this type of behavior, in the future, so there has to be something beyond suspensions and financial consequences, and that has to be to regulate competition"
The Clippers concluded the June 30 trade that sent Leonard back to the Toronto Raptors, where he helped win the NBA championship in 2019, for forward Brandon Ingram, guard Gradey Dick, as well as two unprotected first-round picks, one first-round pick swap, and two second-round selections. That deal had been on hold at the team's discretion while the NBA concluded its investigation into the Clippers.
Latest on Lakers sale
Silver also updated the situation with the Los Angeles Lakers, which is being sold by Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner and TWG Global CEO Mark Walter for a record $12.5 billion to businessman Josh Kushner and former Disney CEO Bob Iger.
Lakers controlling owner Jeanie Buss is challenging that sale, saying her five siblings don't have the right to sell the family's 17.8% remaining stake in the team. Buss, by virtue of having more than 15% ownership of the team, remains the Lakers' governor.
Silver said he had no prior knowledge that Walter, whom federal prosecutors are investigating for potential financial improprieties at two insurance companies he controlled, wanted to sell the team until he heard from buyers who had a handshake deal with him. When dealing with Walter, Silver said the league found no red flags when he originally bought the team in October 2025.
"Even to this day, as you know, these are allegations," Silver said. There are issues that are now being looked into, but independent of Mark Walter choosing to sell this team right now, he was not being investigated by our league."
NBA expansion?
Silver discussed the potential league expansion into Las Vegas and Seattle, as well as the situation in Portland with the Trail Blazers, where the fight for a new arena drags on under owner Thomas Dundon.
Silver made it clear that the team needs a new arena to replace the Moda Center, which opened in 1995 and is considered one of the league's worst venues. He added that they haven't discussed the team relocating and that it would be a "failure" if the team moved.
"It is important, at the same time, that Tom Dundon reaches a deal with the city officials and the state elected officials that makes operating important and viable for the long term. So that's what we're focused on."
There is no timetable for the expansion of the new teams, the last of which was added in 2004 with the Charlotte Bobcats, bringing the league's total to 30. The Bobcats were renamed the Hornets a decade later.
As far as Vegas and Seattle, Silver said the next round of bids will be coming in shortly.
"I think that there is real excitement around either, you know, a renovated T-Mobile Arena," Silver said of Vegas. "I think it still needs some significant improvements, but at the same time, there are groups who have presented plans to go, what I would call, you know, a modern entertainment palace in Las Vegas, and it's a unique market."
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 10: Lindy Waters III #43 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates during the game against the Indiana Pacers on January 10, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by A.J. Mast/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
For a few glorious weeks in 2024, Lindy Waters III looked like an incredible free-agent find for the Golden State Warriors. He sank seven of his first 12 three-point attempts to start the season and went 20-for-52 from deep in his first 15 games as the Warriors started the season 12-3. It sounds crazy in hindsight, but there was genuine discussion about whether the Warriors had too much depth for a functional rotation.
He hit some big shots, though his sickest one came to win a preseason game, which kicked off a huge celebration. Don’t tell these guys exhibition games don’t matter!
Eventually Waters cooled off, shooting 33.1% for the Warriors overall, and was part of the mega-trade that brought Jimmy Butler to Golden State. Waters ended up with the Detroit Pistons, where he played sparingly and didn’t appear in the playoffs, before spending last season with the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs.
Now he’s doing just what Victor Wembanyama did last summer: Heading to China to further his career.
Former Warriors and Spurs wing Lindy Waters III is leaving the NBA to join the Beijing Ducks in the CBA.
Waters will join the Beijing Shougang Ducks, a Chinese Basketball Association team best known in America for winning three titles with Stephon Marbury from 2012-15, who starred in a musical about his life called “I Am Marbury” in the middle of that run. Marbury has a bronze statue in his honor, his face on a postage stamp, and a museum dedicated to him in China.
Gotta make a religious pilgrimage to the bronze Stephon Marbury statue in China pic.twitter.com/rCIky3G71A
The Ducks also have former Warrior Omari Spellman, who played alongside another former Warrior, JaVale McGee, during the end of last season in Beijing. McGee has not yet retired at age 38, splitting his time last season between the Ducks and Australia’s Illawarra Hawks.
With Waters ineligible to sign a two-way deal, there simply aren’t a lot of NBA roster spots available, even for a solid outside shooter like Waters. He has a chance to make more money and start a second career in China at age 29. Sure, there will be some culture shock, but after Waters spent most of the past five years in San Antonio and Oklahoma City, he’s probably getting a serious lifestyle upgrade.
There simply wasn’t a place for Waters on the Spurs roster with the team adding two first-round picks, Jayden Quaintance and Tarris Reed, Jr., while also adding Tobias Harris in free agency. Plus, the already-stocked Spurs backcourt still has David Jones Garcia on a two-way deal and newly-drafted Tennessee star Ja’Kobi Gillespie.
It was a weird summer for Waters, who was accidentally part of a Spurs controversy. The team dismissed announcer Jacob Tobey after someone (almost certainly his girlfriend) posted on Tobey’s Instagram that he had cheated on her with Loren Waters, the sister of the Spurs guard. However, after two months, the Spurs welcomed Tobey back last week.
I thank the Spurs for allowing me time to step away to sort out issues in my personal life. I understand that I will have to regain trust within the organization and across our community, a community where I will continue to be present with enthusiasm and passion. I believe I…
Tuesday marked the first day of a new chapter in Celtics history, when the team introduced Paul George and Mike Conley at the Auerbach Center in Brighton.
George entered the league as the 10th overall pick in 2010, and he’s played in 945 regular-season games and 125 playoff games, making nine All-Star teams along the way. Few active players in the NBA could top that kind of experience, but Conley is one of them, with 1,226 regular-season games and 120 playoff games under his belt after being selected fourth overall way back in 2007.
And while the city and the organization is obviously still transitioning out of the Jaylen Brown era, Tuesday’s introduction to George and Conley helped move the process along.
“These are two guys who have been in the league, have incredible legacies when it comes to the NBA, but neither has won a championship yet. And that was something that they each brought up themselves multiple times,” Abby Chin told Chris Forsberg on the latest Celtics Talk Podcast. “And there is no question a sense of urgency with both of those guys.”
Abby then shared her expectations for both George and Conley in the upcoming season while also sharing an outlook on Jayson Tatum.
Expectations for Paul George
“Coming off of this press conference, I’m expecting more from Paul George than I think I was initially,” Abby said. “I think Paul George is gonna bring a lot, and he expects himself to bring a lot.”
Abby added: “He’s saying all the right things. He’s also saying that he feels great physically. … As of late, all of his offseasons have been about rehab and getting back to health. Having that time off has allowed his body to heal naturally, and he feels ready to go and is — there is no question in my mind — motivated for this season.”
George has only averaged 49 games per season, but Forsberg shared that the veteran is setting a goal to simply be more available this coming season.
“I think that’s really refreshing. The guy wants to be out there,” Forsberg said. “And he’s still gotta balance it. He’s gotta make sure he’s the best version of himself when the games matter the most. If the Celtics get that playoff version of Paul George, though, it’s gonna be interesting to see. And his willingness to try to make everyone else around him better could be really good for this team.”
“The leadership,” Abby said. “Using his experience to kind of coach guys along as well. I think you get another coach out there on the floor. I think Joe Mazzulla is very excited to have a Mike Conley around, someone who can kind of be his guy on the floor directing traffic and just kind of explaining what he’s seeing and the decisions that he’s making, why he’s making them to help this team evolve.”
“I’m expecting a 100 percent Jayson Tatum. Are you not?” Abby said. “You can’t put a ceiling on Jayson. He has fulfilled any sort of expectation that anyone has put on him. If last season was the challenge to Jaylen Brown to step up and be the guy for this team, this is Jayson Tatum’s season. And I have absolutely no reason to doubt him.”
Forsberg anticipates that the team will still tread with caution when it comes to managing Tatum’s workload, but the potential for a monster season is clearly present.
“Look,” Forsberg said, “last time I saw him when he had two healthy legs, he was top four in MVP voting, he was averaging 30 points per game a couple of seasons before that.”
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 28: Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers talks with Mike Conley #10 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the game on February 28, 2023 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
BRIGHTON — At age 38, Mike Conley is entering his 20th NBA season. Two years Conley’s junior, Paul George is entering his 17th campaign.
Together, the Celtics’ two veteran players have accomplished a boatload: they’ve combined for 10 All-Star appearances and collectively scored more than 36,000 career points. They’ve each made the NBA playoffs 12 times.
Still, despite their long list of accolades, neither Celtics offseason addition has achieved the thing they want most: an NBA title.
As such, on Tuesday afternoon, when Conley and George sat side-by-side at the Auerbach Center podium for their introductory press conference with the Celtics, the two made clear how desperately they wanted that to change.
“I believe I’m a winning guy,” George said. “And so that’s always gonna be a chip on my shoulder.”
Mike Conley explained he chose to sign with the Celtics as a free agent in pursuit of his first-ever championship, while George stressed that joining such a banner-filled organization only increased his own desire to win one.
“You look around the league, there are very few organizations and teams that you look at that honestly are trying to win every year,” Conley said. “The culture here in Boston speaks for itself — the championships, the banners, the fanbase.”
Conley, who will likely serve as the team’s backup point guard, noted he still feels he has plenty to give on the court this year. But it’s his off-court leadership that might end up being most impactful when it’s all said and done — and a burning desire to win his first-ever NBA championship at age 38.
“It’s that sense of urgency that maybe reignites that for the guys who have been on this team who’ve already won it,” Conley said. “To kind of continue to push them every day, continue to show them how bad we want to win in practices and try to translate that to games.”
In a similar vein, when George was asked about his overall impressions of the Celtics, he emphasized his own desire to win a title: “When you think of Boston, it’s winning.”
“I haven’t won yet, so I’m on the other side of that,” George said. “So the chip on my shoulder is — I believe I’m a winning player. I believe I’m all about winning, being a winning teammate, a winning locker room guy.”
And, both players stressed that they planned to bring desperation and urgency to a Celtics squad that is just two years removed from a title.
Many on the current Celtics roster do have championship experience
Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, Neemias Queta, and Jordan Walsh were all on the 2024 title team, as was the majority of the current coaching staff, minus a few exceptions.
On top of that, Mitchell Robinson, who has yet to be formally introduced in Boston, joins the Celtics just a few months removed from his first-ever championship with the Knicks,
Joe Mazzulla said the Celtics will tap into all of the different experiences that the new additions bring to the roster, both Robinson’s newfound championship pedigree and Conley and George’s pursuit of a first-ever title.
“We have Mitch, who’s coming off a win, so we have to take that wisdom and experience. He was around great coaches and great players,” Mazzulla said. “And Mike alluded to it — Mike and Paul have a different perspective on not getting there yet, and that desperation, and we need to be able to leverage that as a team, and that’s where they could lead and help us.”
Paul George is a 9-time All-Star, a 6-time All-NBA member, and a 4-time All-Defense team member. He’s won an Olympic gold medal with Team USA. He’s scored nearly 20,000 points in his regular-season career.
Still, he’s well-aware of the one thing his resume lacks, and he’s eager to change that.
“I’m a guy that, when it’s all said and done, where my legacy falls [when] being compared to guys in my category, I’ve yet to have something to show for it.”
Jan 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) is defended by Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (rear) and guard Russell Westbrook (4) during the second quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Let’s face it, last June’s big move, the three-team deal that brought Julius Randle to Brooklyn, was a salary dump on behalf of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Nets got the 31-year-old Randle — and a second first round pick in the next night’s draft — for Nic Claxton who wouldn’t even be sent to Minnesota.
Claxton would wind up with the Chicago Bulls. The T’Wolves got a second rounder from the Nets, along with cap space and a big trade exception. The deal permitted Minnesota to sign Ayo Dusumu to a five-year $112 million deal hours later. Clearly, the T’Wolves valued the young Dusumu over the veteran Randle.
Still, it should wind up as a good deal for Sean Marks & co., just like last year’s big salary dump with Denver Nuggets that brought them Michael Porter Jr. Randle is one of a handful of players to average 20+points, grab 6+ rebounds and hand out 5+ assists last season … and he played in 79 games.
There are a lot of people though who look past that stat and the three NBA All-Star selections and two All-NBA selections and see a relic of another era, someone who makes his money pounding in the paint. Most of all they wonder how Randle can fit with MPJ. Those two will be getting the bulk of the minutes upfront along with Day’Ron Sharpe.
Steve Lichtenstein writing for his Steve’s Newsletter laid out the basics.
It can be tricky for a HC to have two players who consider themselves the team’s alpha, especially when one, in this case Porter, will be playing on an expiring contract (barring the remote event an extension agreement is reached before the season). Randle has a $35.8 million player option for 2027-28.
Porter is coming off the most prolific season of his seven-year career in nearly every raw category, not to mention breaking his previous high usage percentage by a large margin. With the exception of the 18 games he played with Cam Thomas, Porter was typically Brooklyn’s sole available offensive force, which he seemed to relish by performing at an All-Star level (even if he was robbed of the honor).
That offense was the worst in the NBA in both offensive efficiency and points scored last season. Any help would be welcomed and Randle could be a big help. He’s seen as having done a good job deferring to Anthony Edwards in Minny after being “the man” with the New York Knicks. And in a talk with the media at the Brooklyn Basketball Training Center a few days back, he dismissed any concerns. Two different games that can mesh, he said in essence.
“I told him that like players like him, I love playing with because of how well he can space the floor,” Randle said of MPJ’s forte. “He loves big shots, big moments, and, like, they always seem to know exactly like where to be. He does it at an extremely high level, so I’m excited.”
Lichtenstein said he can see how Jordi Fernandez could stagger the two player (perhaps giving the overage to Noah Clowney?) and utilize Randle’s underrated passing. He’s averaged better than five assists per game over the past six years. Here’s how Lichtenstein envisioned the fit when the two are on the court together:
Fernandez used a variety of screen techniques and dribble handoffs to free Porter last season and that was with non-shooting center Nic Claxton often acting as the hub. NBA.com tracking had Porter leading the team in offensive miles run per game, an absolute necessity given all the attention he received from opposing defenses. It may take a while for Randle to replicate that chemistry, but his superior scoring prowess should make things easier because opponents will have to think harder about the consequences from ignoring him with the ball in his hands like they routinely did with Claxton.
Lichtenstein also debunks the notion that Randle takes too many dribbles, writing “his average dribbles per touch generally a little over 2.0. That’s not a ton, maybe a little over the league median.”
Brian Lewis tackled the same issue today for the Post. He pointed out that the combination could help the Nets get to that nirvana of quick shots and quick decision-making they’ve prioritized in their personnel choices during the rebuild.
Randle averaged 4.02 seconds per touch last season, which would have trailed only backup point guards Ben Saraf and Nolan Traoré on the Nets. Meanwhile, Porter got off the ball quickly, his scant 2.17 seconds per touch the quickest of all the Brooklyn regulars.
Lewis also mentions that should the two mesh, that could make for better trade packages in return for MPJ, come the early February deadline.
That ability to play off a ball-dominant scorer should make Porter a good fit to scale into any offense and alongside any star, making him all the more valuable to a contender before the trade deadline. But while the Nets still have both he and Randle together, it should make the duo effective.
Of course, there’s the other end of the court where neither Porter Jr. nor Randle are seen as stalwarts on D. Far from it.
“Jordi’s gonna want to play with a high pace and the right way, but you’re gonna hang your hat on the other end of the court as well,” said Marks in Las Vegas. “Defensively — not only Julius and MPJ, but the entire roster — our expectations are diving on the floor for loose balls, being a disruptor, hands in the passing lane, and just playing a brand of basketball that the borough can get behind.”
As Lichtenstein wrote:
However, we all should be horrified at the prospect of a defensive nightmare with the two on the court. Just among the Atlantic Division’s forwards, which one is guarding Philadelphia’s LeBron James, Boston’s Jayson Tatum, and Toronto’s Kawhi Leonard? Randle tried his hand at taking New York’s Karl-Anthony Towns in their two meetings last season—it didn’t go well, per NBA.com’s tracking. Towns scored 21 points on 7-for-13 shooting with Randle as the nearest defender.
But if you assessed Randle’s defensive metrics as substandard, they looked stellar in comparison to Porter, whose effort on that end is often lacking on and off the ball. Neither player is known for sprinting back in transition either, so that’s going to be a major problem.
Or as Lewis noted, it’s not beyond Fernandez’s desire for D to suggest that the Nets could occasionally bench his two scorers. Bottom line, though, for Randle will be able to put points on the board. The Flatbush 5’s growth should help and Mikel Brown Jr. proved he could score in a number of different ways while at Louisville.
Randle told Lewis that having two established scorers should help the youngest team in the NBA grow. He was asked if he and Porter Jr. have talked about the fit since Randle was traded back on June 23.
“A lot. We talked a lot and spent some time together for a few days,” Randle said of Porter. “And he’s cool. We’ve been around for a minute, and understand each other’s games very well and how we can really complement each other, honestly.
“[We are] two guys who can obviously both score the ball, but do it very different ways; his ability to be able to catch and shoot and move being a big wing, move off the ball. And me, my ability to be able to create off the dribble and with my passing.”
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 31: Rasheer Fleming #20 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the game against the Orlando Magic on March 31, 2026 at Kia Center in Orlando, 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Every day, we’ll take a closer look at another member of the 2026-27 Phoenix Suns, examining what they bring to the roster and what their role could mean for the season ahead as we count down to training camp and the preseason.
Rasheer Fleming
Power forward, 6’9”, 240 pounds, 22 years old, 2nd season
Ah, Rasheer Fleming. He’s a player with much promise, and someone you can’t help but get excited about when you project who and what he could be. Expectations must be tempered, of course. He was taken with the 31st pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, meaning 30 teams passed on him for a reason. But when we watch him play, as he glides with his condor-like wings, your heartbeat starts to spike. He looks like an NBA player, which sounds like half-assed scouting. But when you see it, you know it.
After a freshman year in which he showcased promise, the true test begins. The sophomore year is typically when we see the largest developmental jump, as prospects no longer are taken aback by the inaugural sights and sounds of the Association and have had an entire summer to focus on strength training, film study, and routine.
For an organization that needs its young talent to pop, Fleming represents the possibilities for the next phase of Phoenix Suns basketball. While the expectations that sit upon his broad shoulders aren’t nearly as heavy as those of his fellow draftmate Khaman Maluach, a season in which he plateaus developmentally would hurt the long-term viability of the franchise.
Last Season
GP
MIN
PPG
RPG
APG
STL
FG%
3PT%
FT%
OFFRTG
DEFRTG
+/- (TOTAL)
55
12.2
4.3
2.3
0.3
0.4
40.5%
34.6%
55.9%
112.7
106.6
+97
Rasheer made his NBA debut last season in the second game of the season, and scored his first NBA points in the team’s third. And while the stat sheet says he played in 55 games last season, his usage in the rotation was sporadic. Such is life for a rookie drafted in the second round. It wasn’t until late February that we began to see Felming with regularity, and with repetitions, we began to see what he could be as a player.
In the Suns’ final 25 games, Fleming played in 24 of them, averaging 18.9 minutes, 6.6 points, and 3.4 rebounds. He shot 40.2% from three-point range while averaging 1.3 stocks (steals + blocks). He was displaying his ability as a true 3-and-D player, impacting both sides of the floor. You couldn’t help but smile seeing him deny someone on one end and pump a three-ball in on the other.
He scored 10+ points in only 5 of his appearances, which is fine when you consider the role he was being asked to fulfill as a reserve. If you’re looking at box scores in an effort to define the productivity of a rookie, you’re certainly going to walk away disappointed. If you were to look at his only start of the season, game 82 when the team rested all of their regulars, there was a fortification of the promise Fleming brings. He scored 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including 4-of-7 from deep, adding 6 rebounds, 3 stocks, and 2 assists.
Fleming was pretty much a non-factor in the postseason as the Suns were swept by the Thunder, although he could have been if he had been provided more opportunities. I know, I know…the ‘Disease of What If’. What if he had more run? It would’ve made sense, as one of the ways to jam up two-time MVP is to throw length at him at the point of attack. It’s something the Suns chose not to do, and SGA made them pay. When Collin Gillespie guarded him for 71.9 partial possessions, he scored 30 points on 58.8% shooting and 40% from deep. Fleming guarded him for just 1.8 possessions. The result? A block.
We’ll never know what would have happened if Fleming played more than 18 minutes in the postseason. And at this point in time, we don’t have to. What’s done is done, and we’re looking forward to what he could be, not at a series that was ultimately sealed before the tip ever occurred.
Contract and Roster Context
Fleming is entering year two of a four-year, $8.7 million contract. It is guaranteed through the end of next season, with 2028-29 being a team option.
What He Brings
Hope. That is, from a fanalyst perspective, what Fleming brings first and foremost. Effective rosters are built upon the prospects that flourish within the system. These are the players who become fan favorites. Not the mercenaries, not the veteran minimums. It is the players you draft and develop who have your heart the most. Mikal and Cam. Rasheer and Khaman. That thread of “they are ours” is what endears them to a fanbase.
Exploring the traits Fleming possesses fortifies that hope. He can shoot. He can defend. He has length, athleticism, the ability to rebound, the ability to play small-ball five, and adds size. From a prospect perspective, you salivate over the upside. From a realist perspective, you know that continued development and patience must be practiced in order for him to maximize when you believe he ultimately could be.
He should see more opportunities this season, slotting in as the backup power forward. And I assume that his versatility will put him in some unique rotations where he will shine as an ancillary player. The injury to Mark Williams should open the door for him to play center in lineups when speed and spacing are prioritized. I’m interested to see him in as a small forward as well, in lineups that emphasize size and rebounding.
What Needs to Improve
For any sophomore, the goal is not to plateau. To continue to grow and develop. What does this look like for Fleming? It starts with consistency and decision-making.
Consistency can only occur when opportunity is provided, and we witnessed this in the final 25 games of last season. That needs to carry over into this season. Consistency in shooting, consistency in positioning, consistency in rebounding, effort, and defensive discipline. If you look at who Rasheer was during Summer League in 2025 and who he was a season later, you see growth. But that needs to carry over into the minutes he will be provided this season.
Decision-making is another opportunity for Fleming. There are times you can feel him thinking just a half-second too long, and processing speed needs to become instantaneous rather than processed. That ability to react quickly is the difference between a rotation player and someone sitting on the bench.
Prediction
This is a big year for Fleming, with plenty of opportunities. His versatility should give him numerous looks in different lineup combinations, and I believe he will thrive. What does thrive mean? It’s not necessarily statistical dominance, rather, it’s someone who can contribute to the greater good of the team in a multitude of ways. The skill set is there. It’s time to see the execution.
I feel that we’ll look back at the 2026-27 campaign for Fleming as one in which growth occurred. Where confidence grew. Where he impacted the game with regularity. Will there be hiccups and mental lapses? Of course. But by the end of this season, we will have confidence that this is a rotational piece moving forward, if not a core piece.
If there is one thing that is clear, it is that I am a Rasheer Fleming Stan. I believe he has the ability to be the Suns’ version of Kawhi Leonard, without all the cap-circumvention crap. He may be quiet and unassuming, but he’s an absolute beast on the hardwood. He can lock you up and hit you with a dagger three on the other end. Does he possess the upside that Kawhi does? Probably not. He possesses the intangibles that every team needs in order to be successful. It now comes down to what happens between the ears.
1923: Chicago Bears founder, co-coach and player George Halas returned a Jim Thorpe fumble 98 yards for a touchdown in a 26-0 victory over the Oorang Indians, setting an NFL record that stood for 49 years.
1951: The United States captured the Ryder Cup at Pinehurst, defeating Great Britain 9½-2½ with a team led by Sam Snead.
1959: Chicago Cubs slugger Ernie Banks was named National League MVP for the second consecutive season after another power-filled year at shortstop.
1961: Philadelphia Warriors star Wilt Chamberlain began an NBA-record streak of 65 consecutive games scoring at least 30 points.
1962: Detroit Red Wings defenseman Bill Gadsby recorded his 500th career point in a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, becoming the first defenseman in NHL history to reach the milestone.
1965: Johnny Kerr played his 844th consecutive NBA game, then a league record, as the Baltimore Bullets lost 108-107 to the New York Knicks.
1971: Los Angeles Lakers star Elgin Baylor retired because of persistent knee injuries, ending a 14-season career in which he scored 23,149 points and made 11 NBA All-Star teams.
1976: Major League Baseball conducted its first free-agent reentry draft, a landmark business event in the sport’s labor history that included stars such as Reggie Jackson, Rollie Fingers, Joe Rudi and Willie McCovey.
1977: New York Rangers star Phil Esposito scored his 600th career goal in a 5-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks, becoming the third player in NHL history to reach the mark.
1980: Japanese home-run king Sadaharu Oh retired after a legendary career in which he hit a professional-record 868 home runs.
1987: Edmonton Oilers star Wayne Gretzky recorded his 1,000th career assist in his 645th NHL game, adding a hat trick in a 7-2 victory over the New York Rangers.
1988: The Charlotte Hornets played the first game in franchise history, losing 133-93 to the Cleveland Cavaliers before a sellout crowd at Charlotte Coliseum.
1989: David Robinson made his long-awaited NBA debut after fulfilling his U.S. Navy commitment, scoring 23 points and grabbing 17 rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 106-98.
1989: The Orlando Magic played the first regular-season game in franchise history, losing 111-106 to the New Jersey Nets at Orlando Arena.
1993: The NBA Board of Governors awarded the league’s 28th franchise to a Toronto ownership group headed by John Bitove Jr., creating the Toronto Raptors, who began play in 1995.
1996: Houston Rockets forward Charles Barkley became the fourth player in NBA history to compile at least 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 3,500 assists as Houston defeated Utah 75-72.
2000: Grove City running back R.J. Bowers became the first player in NCAA history to surpass 7,000 career rushing yards, reaching the milestone during a 14-10 win over Carnegie Mellon.
2001: Luis Gonzalez singled home the winning run off Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the New York Yankees 3-2 in Game 7 to win the first World Series championship in franchise history.
2003: The Big East announced a major expansion during a wave of college conference realignment, adding Louisville, Cincinnati and South Florida in all sports and DePaul and Marquette in sports other than football.
2003: New York Rangers captain Mark Messier scored twice in a 3-0 victory over the Dallas Stars to pass Gordie Howe and move into second place on the NHL’s career points list with 1,851.
2006: Carolina Hurricanes captain Rod Brind’Amour collected the 1,000th point of his NHL career during a 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators.
2007: Minnesota Vikings rookie Adrian Peterson rushed for an NFL-record 296 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-17 win over the San Diego Chargers.
2009: Hideki Matsui drove in six runs, tying the World Series single-game record, as the New York Yankees defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 in Game 6 to win their record 27th championship. Matsui was unanimously selected World Series MVP.
2012: Indianapolis Colts rookie quarterback Andrew Luck threw for 433 yards against Miami, setting an NFL rookie single-game passing record in a 23-20 victory.
2016: Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry’s NBA-record streak of 157 consecutive games with at least one made 3-pointer ended.
— USA TODAY Network
This story was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of information gathering, review, editing and publishing. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
Steve Kerr is asking Draymond Green for a favor the Warriors star once requested from him: patience.
Green thanked Kerr during their postseason exit meeting for remaining patient with him through years of emotional swings, confrontations and suspensions. With Golden State entering a transition season, the coach now wants that patience returned.
“He’s going to have to adapt a little bit, and it’s probably going to be a little frustrating at times,” Kerr said on the “Tom Tolbert Show.” He added that he would need Green’s patience.
Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors looks on during a game against the LA Clippers on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. NBAE via Getty Images
Part of the adjustment could involve Green accepting a reduced offensive role, cutting down his turnovers and continuing to shoot open 3-pointers. The more delicate challenge may be tolerating the growing pains around him.
With Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody expected to miss much of the first half, Kerr said Golden State must rely on its entire roster, potentially including two-way players. Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, Gui Santos and Brandin Podziemski are among those expected to carry more responsibility until the veterans return.
Kerr praised Lendeborg’s maturity and believes the Warriors’ depth can “hold down the fort.” That approach will inevitably produce uneven nights, however, and Green has never been known for quietly accepting mistakes or insufficient effort.
His combustible history gives Kerr’s request additional weight.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr in the second half against the Los Angeles Clippers during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Green verbally unloaded on Kevin Durant during an infamous 2018 loss to the Clippers, an altercation that led Golden State to suspend him. Durant left for Brooklyn the following offseason, and both players later criticized how the organization handled their dispute.
Neither departure can be attributed entirely to Green. Durant already had complicated reasons for leaving, while the Warriors had basketball and financial motivations for moving Poole. Both episodes nevertheless demonstrated what can happen when Green’s competitive fury overwhelms the patience required inside a locker room.
Draymond Green, Dwayne Wade, Andrew Perlmutter and Omar Johnson attend Sport Beach during Cannes Lions 2025 on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, in Cannes. Ella PellegriniGolden State Warriors forward Draymond Green talks with head coach Steve Kerr during the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
The Warriors now need the 36-year-old to adjust his own responsibilities while guiding teammates who will occasionally miss rotations, overlook open reads or fail to match his urgency and intensity.
Whether Green can navigate that contradiction could determine more than Golden State’s early-season record.
Warriors insider Marcus Thompson II has suggested a poor start could force the franchise to confront an outcome once considered unthinkable.
“Draymond could be traded at the trade deadline,” Thompson said.
Green is playing on a one-year contract, while Stephen Curry remains untouchable and Butler offers more upside if he returns to his pre injured form. If the experiment fails, moving Green could become the clearest signal that Golden State is finally dismantling what remains of its dynasty.
Kerr is asking for patience. By February, the Warriors may know whether Green has enough of it — and whether the organization has any left for him.
Stephen A. Smith has found an unexpected way to describe Kawhi Leonard’s exit from the Clippers’ salary-cap scandal.
“He’s a gangster.”
The ESPN personality delivered that assessment Tuesday on “First Take,” marveling at the relatively limited punishment Leonard received before completing his return to the Toronto Raptors.
Kawhi Leonard attends the Public School New York SS27 show at Starrett-Lehigh in New York City on Thursday, September 10, 2026. Madison McGaw/BFA.com/Shutterstock
“He broke the rules, got caught, pointed the finger at somebody else, threw the organization under the bus,” Smith said.
The NBA determined that Leonard and the Clippers violated salary-cap circumvention rules through off-court financial arrangements involving companies connected to the franchise. Those included a $28 million endorsement agreement with Aspiration under which Leonard reportedly performed no promotional work.
Leonard was ordered to pay $700,000 but avoided a suspension and kept his contract intact.
The Clippers received the far more damaging sentence: a $30 million fine, the forfeiture of five first-round picks and suspensions for several organizational leaders. Owner Steve Ballmer received a one-year suspension before eventually accepting the NBA’s punishment.
Smith called the discrepancy outrageous, arguing that Leonard helped create enormous problems for the franchise before escaping with little more than restitution that represents a fraction of his NBA earnings.
Stephen A. Smith speaks on stage as he and Christopher Russo host SiriusXM shows live from Fanatics Fest at the Javits Center in New York City on Friday, July 17, 2026. Getty Images for SiriusXM
He then pushed the description further, saying Leonard “got his money and left the country.”
That was a reference to Leonard’s trade to Toronto, which became official Monday after being delayed during the investigation.
The Raptors acquired the two-time Finals MVP for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, a first-round swap and two second-round selections.
The destination makes Leonard’s exit particularly favorable. He returns to the franchise he led to its first championship in 2019, where his single season remains the most celebrated portion of his NBA career.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, must begin again without its best player, much of its leadership or control of its own first-round draft picks through 2033.
Smith’s language was crafted for television, but the imbalance behind it is real. The Clippers absorbed a franchise-altering punishment. Leonard paid $700,000 and landed with the team he wanted.
“I mean, damn,” Smith said. “How much better can it get than that?”
San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard reacts to a play as he waits to enter the game during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers in San Antonio on Thursday, April 6, 2017. AP
\n\n\n\tPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 08: Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers in action during Game Three of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Xfinity Mobile Arena on May 08, 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\t\n\n
BOSTON — Paul George has played just 78 games combined in his previous two seasons in Philadelphia. Since 2019, he’s been available for more than 56 regular-season games just once in his career — and he’s seemingly endured more injury-riddled offseasons than healthy ones.
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But sitting at the Auerbach Center podium on Tuesday afternoon, George made sure to emphasize just how healthy he now feels relative to the last few years.
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“Obviously, the last two years have been rough just with injuries, but for myself personally, I feel great again,” he said. “I feel like I’ve turned that corner in dealing with injuries, and now kind of re-establishing myself from a physical standpoint again, and with that, I can carry it over to the court.”
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The 36-year-old joins the Celtics as a result of the trade that sent Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers. He made clear that he plans to play a deferential role on the roster: “We have a superstar, and that’s JT… I’m here to help JT. He’s the guy.”
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Paul George joins the Celtics off of a healthy offseason
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Last year, before the season began, George underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee to treat an injury suffered during a workout. The previous season — his first as a member of the 76ers — he missed games due to a myriad of injuries, including a knee hyperextension he suffered in the offseason and adductor injuries.
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“This summer really was a chance to continue to work: strengthen my body, strengthen my knee,” George said. “It’s almost like a kind of rebirth, or reborn again — to be in a system, to be in a winning culture, a winning environment, and to feel good. To be able to work, to be able to train again in the summers — my summers the last couple of years were dedicated to rehab.”
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Paul George on his health heading into the season:
“I feel really good physically. I've worked hard this summer. My body has naturally just healed…It's almost like a kind of rebirth…to be in a winning culture, a winning environment, and to feel good.”
The Celtics have plenty of young wings who can slot into his starting spot if injuries do pop up, like Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, and Ron Harper Jr., among others. But if George can stay relatively healthy and be good to go come playoff time, the Celtics will be far better off for it.
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Can George stay healthy throughout an 82-game season and into a playoff run?
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Only time will tell, but in his introductory press conference, George said all the right things.
Kawhi Leonard left Los Angeles with his contract intact and a path back to Toronto. The Clippers were left with a $30 million fine, five forfeited first-round picks and a damaged future.
ESPN insider Shams Charania said the imbalance was less about the NBA viewing Leonard as innocent than the evidence it found.
“They needed every form of evidence to void Kawhi Leonard’s contract or suspend him,” Charania said, in remarks edited for clarity. “Clearly, the league didn’t have it.”
Noah Clowney of the Brooklyn Nets defends against Kawhi Leonard of the LA Clippers during the first quarter on Friday, January 9, 2026, at Barclays Center. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
“You have to have a stone-cold case,” he added. “Otherwise you’re dealing with a ton of real litigation and real arbitration through the NBPA.”
The investigation found that Leonard violated circumvention rules through the conduct of former representative Dennis Robertson, who acted on his behalf.
That was sufficient to order Leonard to pay $700,000, but not enough to risk an arbitration fight by suspending him or canceling his contract, explaining why he escaped the harshest penalties.
The contrast remains difficult to ignore. Steve Ballmer received a one-year suspension, several Clippers executives were sidelined and the franchise lost the draft capital it needs to recover from the Leonard era.
Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer congratulates Kawhi Leonard at Intuit Dome on Sunday, December 28, 2025, in Inglewood, California. Leonard scored 55 points to lead the Clippers to a 112-99 victory over the Detroit Pistons. Getty Images
That cost began before the investigation. Los Angeles surrendered Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, five first-round picks and two swaps in the Paul George trade after Leonard made adding another star a condition of joining the Clippers in 2019.
The gamble produced one Western Conference finals appearance and no championships. Leonard remained exceptional when available, but injuries repeatedly removed him from postseason runs.
He now returns to the franchise he led to the 2019 title, while the Clippers begin another reinvention without control of five future first-rounders.
Toronto at least supplied a lifeline. Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, one swap and two second-rounders give Los Angeles talent and flexibility. They do not erase the damage.
The Clippers made their own choices and earned their punishment. Leonard nevertheless received the benefits, avoided the harshest consequences and departed before the bill came due.
Charania explained why: The NBA did not find enough evidence to go further. The condition of the Clippers explains why that answer remains unsatisfying.
LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard reacts on the court during the fourth quarter of a game against the New York Knicks on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at Madison Square Garden. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
LUANDA, ANGOLA - SEPTEMBER 13: Will Smith, Owner of Westbrook Racing by Visit Angola and Lebron James, Owner of Team AlUla pose for a photo during the E1 Series Luanda GP on September 13, 2026 in Luanda, Angola. (Photo by Malcolm Griffiths/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sixers media day will take place on Sept. 28. That will be our first chance to hear from LeBron James (who is a Sixer now, by the way). Training camp starts the next day.
So, what’s on your mind as we inch closer to the start of the season? Anything you’re hoping to hear from LeBron? What about Joel Embiid, who’s kept a very low profile this offseason? Or how about any of the new guys?
It’s an exciting time to be a Sixers fan. Drop your questions or thoughts in the comments and I’ll do my best to respond to as many as possible.
Also, I’m going to keep recommending the SB Nation app to everyone. It’s made responding to you all a million times easier. I’m also looking forward to using it more on gamedays and possibly hopping in discussion threads on game nights.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 27: Austin Reaves #15 playfully blocks the shot of Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers before an NBA game against the Brooklyn Nets at Crypto.com Arena on March 27, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin Terrell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Saturday, Fred Katz and John Hollinger of The Athletic broke the news that the NBA recently increased its projections for the 2027-28 salary cap by $2 million. Initial projections had the cap landing at $174 million, but the latest projections are a $176 million salary cap and a $213 million luxury-tax line.
Katz and Hollinger explained why that could provide some much-needed financial relief to teams around the league:
“The latest national TV contract was supposed to usher in an era of 10 percent annual salary-cap increases, more than enough to cover the 8 percent raises in contracts given to most star players. Instead, the local TV market crashed so hard that the annual raise was barely half that a year ago (5.2 percent) and was forecast to be similar in 2027-28 (5.5 percent). The projected raise for 2027-28 is now 6.7 percent — still a far cry from the maximal 10 percent, but closer to the raises in player contracts.”
That’s particularly welcome news for the Lakers given their free-agent spending spree this past offseason.
Since Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Collin Sexton all changed teams this summer, they were limited to 5% annual raises in their contracts rather than 8%. That means the projected cap growth in 2027-28 is now expected to (slightly) outpace their annual raises.
While Grimes and Kessler each have standard 5% annual raises in their contracts, Mamu’s deal was uniquely structured. He’s earning $13 million this year, goes down to $12.35 million in 2027-28, goes back up to $13.0 million in 2028-29 and has a $13.65 million player option in 2029-30.
Austin Reaves also did the Lakers a solid by taking $5 million less than what was initially reported. He could have received full 8% annual raises every year, but instead, he took only a roughly 4% raise in 2027-28, which also slightly reduced the amount he could receive in the final two years of his contract.
That all begs the question of what the Lakers might have up their sleeves next offseason.
In all likelihood, they’re eyeing access to the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception. They’re now projected to have an additional $2 million in financial wiggle room because of this higher cap projection.
The final piece of the puzzle?
All salary-cap exceptions increase at the same rate as the salary cap itself. So, if the cap goes up by roughly 6.7%, the non-taxpayer MLE will go up by that same amount. Based on the new $176 million projection for the 2027-28 salary cap, the non-taxpayer MLE would be roughly $16.05 million next year, which is a slight increase over the previous $15.869 million projection. The taxpayer MLE would be nearly $6.5 million instead of $6.4 million.
Any team that uses the non-taxpayer MLE gets hard-capped at the first apron, which would also rise by roughly $2 million based on the latest projections. It should now land in the neighborhood of $222 million, while the second apron should be around $236 million.
Between Reaves, Kessler, Grimes, Mamu, Luka Dončić and Cameron Carr, the Lakers already have $158.5 million in guaranteed salary on their books for 2027-28. It feels relatively safe to assume that Jarred Vanderbilt will be picking up his $13.3 million player option, while Sexton could go either way on his $9.8 million player option.
If Vanderbilt and Sexton both pick up their player options, the Lakers would be up to $181.6 million in salary. They also have team options on Jaden Hardy ($6.0 million), Dalton Knecht ($6.45 million), Bronny James ($2.5 million) and Adou Thiero ($2.5 million). The Lakers must decide on Knecht’s option by Oct. 31, but they have until June 29, 2027, to decide on the other three.
If the Lakers picked up all of those options, they’d be up to $199.1 million in salary with 12 players under contract. That would leave them roughly $22.9 million under the first apron, which would give them enough room to spend the full $16.05 million non-taxpayer MLE and round out their roster with a pair of minimum contracts.
The Lakers owe their 2027 first-round pick to Memphis if it falls outside of the top four and owe their 2027 second-round pick to either Memphis or Brooklyn, so they likely won’t have to budget for 2027-28 with those picks in mind.
Either way, the Lakers have enough financial flexibility on the fringes of their roster — at least for now — to give themselves a real shot at having access to the full non-taxpayer MLE next summer. They could look to spend it all on one player, or they could divide it between two or more players, much like the Philadelphia 76ers did with Dean Wade and Anfernee Simons this past offseason.
The Lakers have almost a full calendar year to plan ahead for that. In the meantime, don’t be surprised if they’re wary about taking on additional long-term salary this year, particularly if it cuts into their ability to maintain access to the non-taxpayer MLE next summer.
