By not extending his contract a summer ago, they made it clear: They were ready to move on. And they have. They found their way to a front-line center and got a whole lot younger. And get this: They got better. In the long run and probably in a sprint too.
Maybe it seems sacrilegious to suggest they’ve improved by parting ways with the greatest player of all time and trading for a fifth-year pro who missed all but five games last season with the Utah Jazz after suffering a torn labrum.
Maybe you’re finding it hard to get fired up about the new guy with no playoff experience. And you’re used to the Lakers collecting the biggest names — not guys whose games are unfamiliar. Giannis, say. Not ... Walker.
But please, stop and consider the tankathon Utah has been running; the last thing the Jazz wanted was Kessler on the court winning games for them.
You also still might be experiencing sticker shock on the Lakers’ behalf. They’re getting Kessler on a $130-million, four-year deal after completing a sign-and-trade that sent out a 2031 first-rounder, 2033 first-rounder and first-round pick swaps in 2028 and 2030.
But position, position, position is to the NBA what location, location, location is to real estate — and if this fit proves as fun as Doncic seems to believe, then Kessler’s contract is going to feel like a real fair trade on the hot center market.
Because, defensively, the Lakers’ new 7-foot-2 center is a shot-blocking, space-eating deterrent in the post. That’s invaluable when you’re going with Doncic and Austin Reaves on the perimeter.
Offensively, Kessler has good hands and good handoff timing. You can call for him to screen all day. He has a radar for the rim, sixth in the NBA in dunks per game in 2024-25.
And Kessler is a blessing on the glass, the king of second chances. His 4.6 offensive rebounds per game in 2024-25 led the NBA.
Also: LeBron is going to turn 42 this season; Kessler is 25.
Walker Kessler was a big presence in the paint for the Jazz before he got hurt last season. (Frank Franklin II / Associated Press)
Age and experience count for a lot in life. But increasingly, today’s NBA is proving a young man’s game — and check ball, the Lakers are now in it.
Out went Deandre Ayton (28 years old), Rui Hachimura (28), Luke Kennard (30) and Marcus Smart (32). Jaxson Hayes (26) too, the only departing rotation player younger than 28.
In come Quentin Grimes (26), Sandro Mamukelashvili (27), Collin Sexton (27), Ziaire Williams (24), Jaden Hardy (24) and rookie summer league sensation Cameron Carr (21). Also, Kevon Looney, who will be Kessler’s backup big, and Matisse Thybulle, a proven defender on the wing, who are 30 and 29, respectively, and the only additions not younger than Doncic (27) and Reaves (28).
Still, I get it. You’re not wowed by the incoming group.
Were you wowed when the Dodgers acquired Max Muncy, Justin Turner or Chris Taylor? Probably not. But those guys went on to help the club win World Series titles.
Were the Dallas Mavericks banking on lob threat Derrick Jones Jr. — on a minimum contract — being a catalyst for their run to the 2024 NBA Finals? Do Lakers fans remember Doncic’s 17 assists to guys like Dante Exum, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Grant Williams in a 2023 victory over LeBron and Anthony Davis?
Doncic is manning the Lakers’ elevator now; it’s his job to lift his teammates to new heights. He can do it. He better do it.
Because the margins can be major, but they don’t account for most of the Lakers’ offseason grade this summer.
So give them a B+.
Not an A. No, because not every assignment has been completed.
There’s the minor matter of a starting five. The Lakers don’t appear to have one of those just yet.
They might yet add Jonathan Kuminga at forward. Or perhaps someone already rostered — hello, 22-year-old, skyscraping Adou Thiero — is waiting to wow us all in that role?
Normally, not having an answer to the most basic of questions at this point in the summer would fail you.
Filling the hole at center was weighted so heavily among the Lakers’ priorities — and landing Kessler earned them so much extra credit — it bumps their grade almost all the way up.
Of course, this was only the introductory course.
The real tests for this fresh new roster — down an all-time talent but so much more solid in the center — come when the season begins. Or, really, when the postseason does.
And expecting that opponents won’t have an easy time coming up with answers for Doncic and his new dominant defensive center, the Lakers are now set up to score well there too.
LeBron James ultimately did not choose to sign with the Warriors, and Draymond Green believes there was one main reason why.
The Golden State forward discussed James’ decision to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers on the latest episode of his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show,” and hypothesized why the 22-time NBA All-Star might have been hesitant to join the Warriors.
“You look at Golden State, and I ultimately don’t think Bron was ever able to get over the history, and I understand it, I get it,” Green said. “What we all ultimately always knew was like, that’s the hurdle to get over. I don’t think it’s the team, the organization, anything else. I think it’s the history.
“We live in a day and age where everybody who doesn’t have anything to say has something to say. And so, he’s gonna get crushed if he comes to the Warriors, ‘Ahh man, you went to team up with Steph, you had to go to them.’ All the things people would have said, and I think ultimately that weighed in on the decision a lot.”
James famously faced off against Golden State in four consecutive NBA Finals from 2015-2018 with the Cleveland Cavaliers, losing three of the four series against Green, superstar Steph Curry and the Warriors.
Green believes James, a longtime Warriors rival, might not have wanted the backlash that could have followed had he joined forces with the organization — or just Curry and Green at this point — he went to war against time and time again on the biggest stage.
“Because I’ve never seen so often and so much people — and when I say ‘people,’ I’m talking about media, I’m talking about fans — I’ve never seen so many people who want to find something to tear someone’s legacy down,” Green added. “We live in a miserable ass world where people just want to find anything to tear someone’s legacy down, and this for sure, had he come to the Warriors, would have been something that everyone would have tried to use to tear his legacy down.
“… Needless to say, I think there’s always this narrative of people trying to tear guys down, tear their legacy down, and I ultimately think that played a big role in the Warriors not landing LeBron.”
James, despite having a longstanding respect for the Warriors organization, and being close friends with both Green and Curry, ultimately decided it was best for him to take his talents elsewhere.
RUSSIA, NOVOSIBIRSK - MARCH 31: A polar bear cub is seen at the Novosibirsk zoo named after Rostislav Shilo in Novosibirsk, Russia on March 31, 2026. The cub was born 7 December 2025 to polar bears Kai and Gerda. Biologists haven't yet examined it or determined its sex. (Photo by Rostislav Netisov/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
A lot of no-story stories going on in the middle of the summer as we patiently wait for something—anything, God please help me—to happen. Here’s today’s dose of links and notes.
The more the offseason advances, the more we’re hearing about Karl-Anthony Towns’ contract situation as the biggest unresolved issue around the Knicks heading into next season. The New York Post’s Jared Schwartz broke it down as the big man approaches a $61-million decision, with New York already able to offer him a four-year extension worth up to $272 million.
Josh Hart’s future also remains uncertain, with a team option worth roughly $22 million for 2027-28 and his eligibility for an extension starting on Aug. 10.
Miles McBride presents another looming cap decision, and Daily Knicks’ Jack Simone compared it to what happened to the Celtics and Al Horford.
Are the Pelicans showing more willingness to discuss deals involving some of their younger players? Could that lead to another attempt at landing Knicks fans’ favorite target Yves Missi? Questions, questions!
A trade for Milwaukee center Kel’el Ware has been floated by SI’s Steven Simineri as an aggressive solution to the Knicks’ frontcourt problem. I think we all agree that’s a lovable idea, but at the same time a very far-fetched one.
Karl-Anthony Towns talked about everything in an interview with The New York Times and among all the quotes, he explained why he was so vocal after scoring against Victor Wembanyama during the NBA Finals.
Another interesting nugget was Towns admitting it will feel strange seeing Mitchell Robinson in a Celtics jersey next season.
“I don’t even know if I could look at Mitch with a Celtics jersey on after everything. He owes me a pickup truck.”
Our own John Gove decided to build his Mt. Rushmore of Knicks’ all-time point guards. The list centered on winning and cultural impact rather than empty statistics, with the championship years of 1970, 1973 and 2026 serving as the obvious foundation. Do John a favor and read it all.
LeBron James is expected to spend significant time playing point guard for the 76ers. ESPN’s Shams Charania said Philadelphia wants James to initiate the offense and create opportunities for usage-rate monsters Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid and V.J. Edgecombe.
The Knicks might never call James one of their own, but it feels James will never get over the idea of one day represeting New York. That’s why he is expected to live at least part-time in NYC despite signing with Philadelphia.
Back to NYP’s Schwartz, he believes the Knicks’ decision not to seriously pursue LeBron will remain a season-long storyline and could come back hunting them.
“The Knicks’ decision to not make a real effort for LeBron, coupled with his interest in the team, his availability at a cheap price and his eventual signing with a rival, puts pressure on the Knicks. They are doubling down on the belief that their roster is good enough to repeat as champions, with LeBron and the 76ers now representing the opponent that oddsmakers believe will serve as the Knicks’ greatest obstacle in the Eastern Conference.
“In head-to-head games, in the standings, in a potential playoff matchup — this will be a talking point. The Knicks must prove themselves right. They must prove that they do not need The King.“
At least 18 men’s college basketball players are projected to earn more than LeBron next season, with James making just under $4 million in Philadelphia next year.
Remember the Heat employee who accidentally scheduled a “LeBron James Introductory Press Conference” video? Now we know the real reason why he did it.
Yo @spidadmitchell trade deadline coming up. Yall might want to make a move…it’s looking dark at the bottom
Josh Hart trolled Donovan Mitchell over the Mets’ struggles.
OAKAAK Mario Hezonja is really really returning to the NBA after agreeing to a one-year, $2.8 million deal with Cleveland after the Cavs whiffed on LeBron’s homecoming. Hezonja, for what it’s worth, said he had no interest in returning to the NBA when he first left the league because he felt disrespected.
“No, I’m not going to return to the NBA. There was a lot I didn’t like there, I didn’t get the respect that I deserved. In my opinion, the NBA is more of a show than the game itself.”
“I wasn’t blindsided because I know a few people that know a few people,” he said. “And I knew the stuff was in the works. So I wasn’t quite blindsided. However, I didn’t know exactly when the announcement would come. I didn’t know exactly how the announcement would come.”
Green was spotted with James several times leading up to the decision, raising eyebrows across NBA circles as Green’s Warriors were viewed as a finalist to win the LeBron sweepstakes.
Ultimately, it came down to Golden State, Philadelphia, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat.
Green explained why he believes James ruled out the Cavaliers and Heat, stating that since James already won with each team, it wouldn’t be as special to run it back with them. Plus, Green added, it could risk James making his legacy with those organizations worse than when he originally left them should things not go as planned this time around.
As far as the Warriors, Green believes it was the history between James and Golden State, dating back to those intense consecutive NBA Finals matchups from 2015 to 2018 when James was Dub Nation’s biggest villain.
For most of LeBron James’ career, the Celtics have been waiting for him somewhere.
Sometimes, they were the wall he could not get over. Other times, they forced him to find another way around it. Eventually, they became the opponent he could dismiss on command, no matter which players happened to be wearing green.
The rivalry went quiet when James moved west, but it never disappeared completely. Even without a Finals meeting, he joined the Lakers and helped Los Angeles pull even with Boston at 17 championships. Now, almost two decades after their first playoff series, the rivalry is back in a form no one saw coming.
James is a Philadelphia 76er. So is Jaylen Brown.
The player who spent years tormenting Boston has joined forces with one of the stars who carried the rivalry into its next generation. The Celtics will see James again in the Eastern Conference, only this time, Brown will be standing beside him.
Before we find out how this chapter ends, it’s worth going back to see how they got here.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 22: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the second half of their game against the Boston Celtics at Crypto.com Arena on February 22, 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 Luiza Moraes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The wall
LeBron had already reached the NBA Finals by the time he first encountered Boston in the playoffs. He was a scoring champion, a perennial MVP candidate and the Chosen One expected to eventually inherit the league.
The 2008 Celtics did not care.
Boston had won 66 games after bringing Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen together with Paul Pierce. They had the best defense in basketball and the confidence of a team that believed its championship window had opened immediately.
Practically all by his lonesome, James still nearly took them out.
The series went seven games, and the Celtics needed every piece of their newly constructed superteam to survive. James scored 45 points in the finale at TD Garden. Pierce answered with 41, and Boston escaped with a 97-92 win on its way to Banner 17.
Years later, Brian Scalabrine remembered how quickly James challenged the Celtics’ belief that even the league’s best individual players could be swallowed by their defense.
“He could beat you with his brain, he could beat you with physicality, and he could beat you at the rim,” Scalabrine told ESPN.
That series established the first version of the rivalry. Boston was the finished product. LeBron was the singular force still trying to figure out how to defeat one.
The Celtics had Garnett directing the defense, Pierce accepting the scoring duel and a rotation built to make every drive exhausting. James could easily blow past his primary defender, but still look up to find several more bodies waiting for him.
Boston became the standard he had to reach.
The breaking point
Two years later, the Celtics became something more consequential.
Cleveland entered the 2010 postseason with the NBA’s best record and what appeared to be James’ clearest path yet toward a championship. Boston had slipped to fourth in the East, looked old at various points during the regular season and no longer carried the same aura as the defending champions.
Despite it all, the Celtics beat the Cavaliers again.
James struggled badly in Game 5 at home, finishing with 15 points on 3-of-14 shooting as Cleveland was booed off its own floor. The Cavaliers’ season ended two nights later in Boston. James walked off the court in a Cleveland uniform, removed his jersey in the tunnel and entered an offseason that changed the NBA.
— Boston Sports Throwback (@BOSthrowback) May 13, 2026
The Decision is remembered as a response to years of organizational failure in Cleveland, the lure of playing with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, and James’ growing desperation to win his first championship.
The Celtics did not make The Decision for him, but they certainly helped turn up the heat.
Boston had eliminated James twice in three years. Its own Big Three had demonstrated the value of stars sacrificing individual control to extend their championship window. The Celtics had also made clear how difficult it would be for James to keep dragging an overmatched Cleveland roster through the East by himself.
Miami’s new superteam was built with Boston in mind.
The Celtics understood that too, and they enjoyed it. Doc Rivers later recalled Garnett refusing to recognize Miami as a legitimate Big Three because, in Garnett’s mind, that title still belonged to Boston. The Heat may have assembled the league’s most hated team, but the Celtics saw them as challengers who still needed to take the conference away.
Boston won James’ first game with Miami, an ugly season opener at TD Garden that briefly made the league’s grand new experiment look vulnerable.
The Heat eventually found their footing. More importantly, James finally found his way through Boston.
Miami eliminated the Celtics in five games during the 2011 conference semifinals. When the series ended, James dropped to his knees near midcourt. Beating Boston did not bring him a championship that year, but it removed an opponent that had come to represent every doubt surrounding him.
He had cleared the wall, but would soon need to do it again.
The stare
The Celtics arrived at Game 6 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals with a 3-2 series lead and a chance to end the Heat’s season in Boston.
It was the kind of night TD Garden had been built for. The veteran Celtics were nearing the end of their run together, but they had one more chance to break the team created to replace them. Miami faced an offseason of impossible questions if it lost. Erik Spoelstra’s future would have been uncertain. The Heat’s Big Three might not have remained intact.
James entered the building looking as if he had already considered every possibility.
The expression from that night has become one of the defining images of his career. Eyes forward, jaw set, locked in beyond measure. We all know the picture.
Then, the game started.
James scored 30 points in the first half and finished with 45 points, 15 rebounds and five assists. He made 19 of his 26 shots. Jumpers that Boston’s defense had once invited became automatic. Every time the Celtics threatened to pull the crowd back into the game, James answered.
Scalabrine later called it “the most dominant performance” he had ever seen. Rivers believed Boston would have won the series without James producing that kind of game and admitted that the result might have broken Miami apart.
Instead, the Heat won Game 6, returned home to finish the series and captured James’ first championship two weeks later.
Boston had initially shown James what he lacked. Four years later, it provided the stage where he showed everyone what he had become. The Celtics had helped push him toward Miami. Now, they had helped summon the version of James they spent years trying to prevent.
The gatekeeper
At first, Boston was LeBron’s wall. Eventually, he became theirs.
The Pierce-Garnett era ended in 2013, but James’ relationship with the Celtics continued. The uniforms stayed the same. Nearly everything else changed.
He eliminated an overmatched Celtics team in 2015 after returning to Cleveland. He swept Boston again in the 2017 conference finals, although Avery Bradley’s Game 3 winner at least spared them the indignity of going quietly.
OTD in 2017: Avery Bradley's last-second 3-pointer in Cleveland caps stunning 21-point comeback for the scrappy 2017 Boston Celtics 😤 pic.twitter.com/qDEOMj8bRV
By then, the rivalry had become lopsided. Boston kept finding its way back into the postseason while Danny Ainge rebuilt the roster, and like clockwork, James kept sending the Celtics home.
He beat them five straight times after losing the 2008 and 2010 series, winning matchups in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2018. The power had shifted so completely that James became the expiration date stamped on nearly every promising Celtics season.
The characters in green kept changing. Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett gave way to Isaiah Thomas and Al Horford. Brad Stevens replaced Doc Rivers. Boston moved from squeezing one last run out of its veterans to building around draft picks who had grown up watching James dominate the league.
The Celtics changed, sometimes for better and sometimes for worse. LeBron just kept getting better.
The kids
The 2018 Eastern Conference finals should have been a transition year for Boston.
Gordon Hayward had been lost five minutes into the season. Kyrie Irving underwent knee surgery before the playoffs. Jayson Tatum was 20 years old. Jaylen Brown was 21.
Somehow, the Celtics reached Game 7 against James anyway.
That series produced the image Boston fans remember most: Tatum driving the lane, throwing down a dunk over James and bumping him afterward as TD Garden erupted.
Then-rookie Jayson Tatum threw down a MONSTER poster dunk on LeBron James in Game 7 of the ECF on this day in 2018 👀pic.twitter.com/CjkXqdzl7P
For a moment, it felt like the future had arrived early.
But as he so often did during that decade, James won.
He played all 48 minutes in Game 7, finishing with 35 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists. Cleveland survived 87-79, and James reached his eighth consecutive Finals.
The young Celtics had their chances. They led the series 2-0 and 3-2. They held a fourth-quarter lead in the deciding game. Marcus Smart blocked a James dunk attempt in Game 6. Tatum put him on a poster in Game 7.
None of it was enough.
“We were right there,” Smart later told ESPN. “But LeBron turned into LeBron on us. There was nothing we could really do that day.”
Smart also believed the experience accelerated Boston’s young core. Tatum said being placed in those high-pressure moments as a rookie helped prepare him for everything that followed. Brown later described those early playoff runs as the place where the Celtics learned the maturity required to win.
The 2018 series was different from the battles with Pierce and Garnett. Those Celtics were established champions trying to hold off a still young but dominant James. Tatum and Brown were only beginning to understand what they might become.
James was no longer trying to prove he belonged in that setting. He had become the test that Boston’s next generation needed to pass.
They came close. He left the conference before they had another chance.
The distance
James’ move to Los Angeles placed the rivalry into something resembling hibernation.
The Celtics and Lakers remained the NBA’s foundational enemies, and James added his own history to that tension. His 2020 championship in the bubble brought the Lakers level with Boston at 17 titles, giving Los Angeles something it had spent years chasing.
Still, Boston and James never met in the Finals.
Their regular-season games produced occasional drama. There was Tatum’s late scoring duel with James in 2020. There was the chaotic overtime game in Boston in 2023, when James erupted over a missed foul call at the end of regulation and Patrick Beverly tried his hand at photography. There were the usual split crowds, national broadcasts and debates about how much hatred Celtics fans should direct toward James compared to the uniform he now wore.
It never carried the same weight.
The Celtics were building toward a championship with Tatum and Brown. James was trying to extend his career on the other side of the country. For the first time since Boston assembled its Big Three, their seasons no longer seemed destined to collide.
The rivalry had started to look like history, something to revisit through grainy highlights and increasingly dramatic anniversary posts. But the 2026 offseason pulled off a twist even the most deranged NBA trade machine user probably would have rejected: LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, together in Philadelphia.
The finale
James will return to the Eastern Conference with Philadelphia, joining Joel Embiid and the former Celtic who helped shape the last chapter of this rivalry.
Their history has not always been seamless. Cameras caught Brown questioning whether Bronny James belonged in the NBA during the 2024 Summer League. James referenced the incident after playing Boston last season, though he also praised Brown’s leap and questioned why he was not receiving more MVP consideration.
“We’ll be all right,” James said of their relationship.
Now, they have to be.
The visual will take some getting used to. James and Brown sharing the floor as teammates. Brown returning to TD Garden in a Philadelphia uniform. The two of them trying to end the Celtics season.
For Boston, James will once again be attached to a defining emotional question. The first version asked whether the Celtics could contain the league’s rising force. The next asked whether their aging champions could hold him off one more time. In 2018, Tatum and Brown had to prove they were ready to occupy the stage he had controlled for years.
In 2026, the Celtics may need to confront James alongside a player who helped deliver Banner 18 and once appeared certain to spend the rest of his prime beside Tatum.
That is what has allowed this rivalry to survive several different Celtics teams, four LeBron uniforms and enough roster turnover to make the original cast nearly unrecognizable. Boston has been his obstacle, inspiration, victim and measuring stick.
Now, he will battle the Celtics with Jaylen Brown at his side.
Maybe this final chapter ends quietly. James is deep into a career that has already lasted longer than the entire Celtics tenures of most players who opposed him. Philadelphia’s collection of stars brings obvious questions about age, health and fit.
History suggests Celtics fans should expect something more complicated.
For nearly 20 years, whenever the Celtics and LeBron James have appeared to be finished with each other, another chapter of the rivalry has emerged.
This is almost certainly the last one. After everything that came before it, good luck predicting the ending.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 5: Lauri Markkanen #23 of the Utah Jazz shoots a free throw during the third quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on February 5, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Utah Jazz are coming into the season as maybe the most unpredictable team in either conference. No one is sure what to make of this collection of talent. Will the players achieve a level of cohesion and become better than the sum of their parts? Or will they struggle with the blend of youth and veterans and underwhelm?
That leads us to this week’s Utah Jazz Reacts survey. How will this season end when all is said and done? Will they overachieve, be much better than people think, and be a top-3 seed in the West? Or will they underwhelm, fall apart, and wind up in the lottery once again?
Personally, I find it hard to believe the Jazz won’t, at a minimum, make the play-in. I also think that the Jazz are highly motivated to make additional moves this season. They are now buyers instead of sellers, and I can see them making moves to shore up their weaknesses come trade deadline. But now is your chance to vote in the poll below and let everyone know what you think.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Jazz fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The Golden State Warriors failed to land the star they spent much of the offseason chasing, but Brian Windhorst believes declaring the Stephen Curry era finished would be premature.
Windhorst acknowledged that reality during an appearance on ESPN’s “Get Up.”
Brian Windhorst says the Warriors still have the assets and financial flexibility to build another contender around Stephen Curry. NBAE via Getty Images
“They absolutely are not championship contenders right now,” Windhorst said.
Golden State finished 37-45 last season and missed the playoffs after losing in the play-in tournament. Jimmy Butler suffered a torn ACL, Moses Moody is recovering from a major knee injury and Curry will again be asked to carry a significant offensive burden at 38 years old.
Still, Windhorst argued that the organization’s window has not completely closed.
“But Steph Curry has said he wants to play multiple more years, and the Warriors have a lot of draft pick equity, and they have a lot of flexibility financially going forward,” Windhorst said. “So, if you want to write them off, say that they’re done, go ahead and do that.”
Windhorst pointed to Philadelphia as proof that an NBA team’s outlook can change quickly. The 76ers appeared limited earlier in the offseason before unexpectedly adding Brown and James.
“Seven or eight weeks ago, you thought the 76ers were not going to do anything this season, and watch what happened,” Windhorst said. “Let’s just see what happens with Steph Curry over this next 18 months.”
Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors looks on from the bench during the game against the Sacramento Kings NBAE via Getty Images
Curry’s contract could become central to that plan. He has one season remaining and will soon become eligible for a two-year extension reportedly worth $136.7 million.
Windhorst suggested the Warriors could ask Curry to delay signing it. If Curry, Draymond Green and Butler were all allowed to reach free agency next summer, Golden State could potentially create roughly $90 million in cap space and pursue another major roster overhaul.
Stephen Curry #30 and Jimmy Butler III #10 of the Golden State Warriors laughs during the game against the LA Clippers NBAE via Getty Images
That path would carry obvious risk. Curry would be turning down long-term security without knowing which stars might become available. Golden State would also be asking him to trust a front office that has repeatedly missed on its biggest targets.
There is no guarantee another superstar will choose the Warriors next year, especially as Curry moves further into his late 30s.
But Windhorst’s broader point remains clear: Golden State is not out of assets, flexibility or time. The Warriors may have to survive a difficult 2026-27 season while Butler and Moody recover, but they still have the tools to reshape the roster.
Golden State spent this summer missing its swings. Windhorst believes the Warriors still have enough time to connect on one before Curry’s window finally closes.
Spencer Jones #21 of the Denver Nuggets shoots the ball between Naz Reid #11 and Ayo Dosunmu #13 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second quarter in Game Five of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 27, 2026 in Denver, Colorado.
Nuggets forward Spencer Jones has explained why he signed an offer sheet with a rival team.
Jones signed a fully guaranteed two-year, $12 million offer sheet with Oklahoma City, before the Nuggets matched the deal.
While the forward will return to Denver for the 2026-27 season, fans weren’t happy he’d signed with a rival in the first place.
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels, right, shoots as Denver Nuggets forward Spencer Jones (21) defends during the second half of Game 6. AP Photo/Matt Krohn
“I get it. But I also need people to understand something,” Jones wrote on LinkedIn. “This is a business. Front offices treat it that way every day and players have to do the same.
“I went into free agency with clear priorities: a team that fits my skillset, a championship culture, and an organization I believe in. Both Denver and OKC checked those boxes. Either way, I was landing somewhere that made sense.”
Jones added that the offer sheet made sure he would end up in the right situation no matter if the Nuggets matched or not.
He also said it allowed him to make history, signing the largest fully guaranteed offer sheet ever as an undrafted player from a two-way contract.
“From a two-way with no safety net to this. I don’t take that lightly,” Jones said.
Jones joined the Nuggets in 2024 on the aforementioned two-way contract after a decent career at Stanford, where he averaged 11 points on 43.9-percent shooting over five seasons.
Spencer Jones #21 of the Denver Nuggets shoots the ball between Naz Reid #11 and Ayo Dosunmu #13 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second quarter in Game Five of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 27, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. Getty Images
The forward didn’t contribute much as a rookie, but in year two he started 37 of the 64 games he played in and led the league with 69.2 percent shooting from 3-point range during the playoffs.
During the regular season, he averaged 5.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in 64 games.
While the deal keeps the Nuggets’ home-grown talent in Denver, it also means they are set to enter the second apron for the first time under the current collective bargaining agreement.
Jones’ $12 million deal will increase the Nuggets projected tax penalty by $32 million, nearly doubling from $36 million to $68 million, per ESPN.
Bob Myers went from being the architect of the NBA’s modern day dynasty to its foil.
As Warriors’ general manager from 2012-2023, Myers helped the franchise win four championships in eight years.
But this summer, he played a different role. He indirectly ripped the carpet out from under his former team.
Myers, who is the president of Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment, the managing entity for the 76ers, helped orchestrate a trade for Jaylen Brown and land LeBron James in free agency.
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors high five after the game on April 9, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California NBAE via Getty Images
After spending over a decade ensuring Curry had the proper pieces around him to climb atop the league, Myers stole his safety ropes.
It’s a testament to his skills. But for the Warriors, it’s an absolute gut punch.
Myers helped transform the Warriors from laughing stock of the league into one of the greatest teams of all-time.
He signed Steph Curry to a four-year, $44 million extension in 2012 when there were concerns about his ankle.
Myers drafted defensive wizard Draymond Green as the No. 35 pick in 2012, which proved to be one of the best second-round steals in NBA history.
He hired Steve Kerr as coach in 2014, and orchestrated a trade for Andre Iguodala, who won Finals MVP in 2015. And in 2016, he signed Kevin Durant, who won Finals MVP in 2017 and 2018.
Myers may not have drafted Curry, but he played a major role in shoring up Golden State’s boat so he could become a four-time champion and two-time MVP.
Rumors surfaced that the Warriors were close to convincing James to join their team.
Curry, who historically has stayed mum on free agency moves, was vocal about how much he wanted the 41-year-old megastar as a teammate. Green turned down his $27.7 million player option so the Warriors could entice James with more money.
There was also the fact that LeBron himself had openly discussed how he had hoped to play alongside Curry, outside of the Olympics.
But Myers, who’s well known for his ability to gain players’ trust, showed why he’s one of the best in the business.
He went onto Rich Paul’s podcast, “Game Over,” and told James’ agent why he believed one of the greatest players of all-time should join the 76ers.
‘I honestly believe this is your best chance to win,” Myers said.
Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers talks with reporters at the NBA basketball team’s practice facility Friday, June 14, 2019, in Oakland, Calif AP
Considering the 76ers’ starting five now consists of LeBron, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, and Joel Embiid, it is not a hard argument to make.
Was Myers the reason why James decided to sign a two-year, $8 million deal with the 76ers? Obviously not. But is Myers the type of guy James wants in important meetings?
Yes.
Is he the type of guy James trusts to be part of the brains of an organization?
Yes.
Myers has made notable mistakes.
He squandered the Warriors’ No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 draft by selecting James Wiseman, who proved to be a bust. In doing so, he passed over LaMelo Ball, Tyrese Haliburton, Deni Avdija and Maxey.
He was also was Golden State’s failed “two-timelines plan.”
But overall, Myers helped put the Warriors on the map.
Now he’s guiding one of their competitors, and it had major repercussions for Golden State.
The Warriors are widely considered the biggest losers of the James sweepstakes. They stood pat this offseason, banking on the fact James would want to play alongside Curry and Green.
While the Warriors crossed their fingers, Myers worked overtime.
Myers took over basketball operations for the 76ers on an interim basis after Daryl Morey was fired in May. He then led the front-office search for new President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey.
What happened next?
The 76ers had the best offseason of any team in the NBA.
They should be title contenders next season. Myers had his fingerprints on everything, from the landscape-shifting additions of Brown and James to smart moves around the margins, such as Anfernee Simons, Dean Wade and Ariel Hukporti.
Meanwhile, Curry is going to have to play hero ball on his balky knee for the Warriors to make the playoffs.
It’s ironic that this came at the hands of Myers, who helped put Curry in a position to soar for so long.
DALLAS, TEXAS - APRIL 12: Klay Thompson #31 of the Dallas Mavericks celebrates a three point shot against the Chicago Bulls during the first half at American Airlines Center on April 12, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Things haven’t gone particularly well for Klay Thompson on the court since he left the Golden State Warriors two offseasons ago. He signed a three-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks with the intention of competing for a title with Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, but the latter has played just 50 games over those two years, while the former was shockingly traded for Anthony Davis. On top of it all, Thompson put up career-lows in points per game, field goal percentage, and three-point percentage last year. Entering the final season of his contract, speculation about a buyout has begin and murmurs of a potential reunion with the Dubs have been floated. A recent SB Nation Reacts poll asked Warriors fans how they’d feel about that move.
While a majority of respondents want Klay to return to Golden State before he retires, it was a much smaller majority than one would expect (56%). It may speak to the disappointing ending to his tenure with the Dubs, capped off by an atrocious Play-In Tournament performance, but likely has even more to do with Thompson’s struggles and the Warriors lack of top-end talent. With a roster lacking so much, the Dubs rostering another old player past his prime with serious limitations is much harder to sell.
The Philadelphia 76ers already have LeBron James’ position set, or so it seems.
A week ago, the team wasn’t certain James would be joining their ranks. Now, the 76ers have reportedly established James’ role for the upcoming season.
LeBron James is expected to play point guard for the 76ers. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the 76ers are expected to utilize the 41-year-old as their point guard. While ESPN’s post on X has since been deleted, Charania discussed James running point for Philadelphia on NBA Today.
“The Sixers, I’m told, are expecting LeBron James to play a good amount of time and period of time at the point guard position, on offense, initiating the game, the offense, for Nick Nurse,” Charania said on Monday.
“Tyrese Maxey, last season, played a lot on the ball at point guard, and we know his prowess off the ball as a scorer. Think of a better player that can set the table for Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, VJ Edgecombe. There’s all these players that can score, that can get the ball from LeBron James.”
This wouldn’t be a first for James as he most notably facilitated the ball throughout the 2019-20 season, where he averaged a career-high 10.2 assists with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Coincidentally, or maybe not so much, the Lakers won the NBA Championship that season.
Joel Embiid and LeBron James will take the floor as teammates in 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Despite being 41 years old, James being the floor general in Philadelphia makes perfect sense since the team lacked a true point guard.
LeBron signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the 76ers, and now that the free agency saga is over, basketball fans will turn their attention to the veteran’s performance.
The 76ers will do everything in their power to ensure James has a smooth transition to the Eastern Conference and running the offense is one of his many talents. Throughout his storied career, James has often been compared to Magic Johnson because of his court vision.
Former Lakers star LeBron James was spotted in LA a few days after making his free agency announcement. The Hollywood JR / BACKGRID
The 76ers’ starting roster is absolutely stacked. But the question remains, are there too many cooks in the kitchen?
His other potential suitors — the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves — are no longer in the dark about his next destination. And the free agents and teams contingently connected to those franchises are free to continue their offseason work now that one of the biggest dominoes of the offseason in James is accounted for.
The Los Angeles Lakers underwent offseason reconstruction, planning around superstar Luka Dončić (right). Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Among those teams include the Lakers, who swiftly underwent their offseason reconstruction around superstar Luka Dončić after James made it clear on June 29 he wasn’t going to return to the franchise for his unprecedented 24th NBA season.
Eight players that ended last season with the Lakers won’t return for 2026-27, including James, Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton and Luke Kennard — the starting lineup from the first four games of their first-round playoffs series victory over the Houston Rockets in the spring.
Rob Pelinka attends a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Indiana Pacers at Crypto.com Arena on November 28, 2022 in Los Angeles. Getty Images
This doesn’t include Cameron Carr (the No. 24 pick in June’s NBA draft) or Jaden Hardy (who the Lakers acquired from the Wizards in the trade that sent Ayton to Washington). Or Austin Reaves, who re-signed with the Lakers on a four-year, $180 million deal.
And the Lakers still aren’t done making moves.
By league rules, they can’t be done, having to trim their roster from 16 players to 15 by the time the regular season starts in October.
But they’re also actively looking to add to their roster to put a bow on their offseason before training camp starts in two months.
What must happen between now and then for the Lakers’ offseason to be considered even more successful? A starting-level forward? Another backup big man?
Here’s where the Lakers’ offseason stands, and the directions it’s moving in.
Kuminga pursuit
The Lakers and Cavaliers remain connected even after James’ decision.
As previously reported by the California Post, both franchises are pursuing unrestricted free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga, who had his $24.3 million team option declined by the Hawks on June 29.
The Lakers met with Kuminga the following day and have stayed in touch with his side over the last few weeks, but they haven’t been able to find a deal.
The Lakers have been linked to pursuing Jonathan Kuminga. NBAE via Getty Images
The holdup has been centered around financial terms of a potential contract that would bring the 23-year-old Kuminga to L.A. – a source told the Post in mid-July the Lakers were offering around $10 annually – and the details of a sign-and-trade the Lakers would need to execute with the Hawks to acquire Kuminga.
As told to the Post last week, there hadn’t been significant progress in a deal that would bring Kuminga to L.A., but that was before James’ decision was made.
A sign-and-trade – which must be for at least three seasons without contract options – is the most realistic way for Kuminga to join the Lakers.
The Post previously reported the Hawks are willing to send Kuminga to the Lakers in a sign-and-trade in a deal that would involve the framework of Atlanta taking back Jarred Vanderbilt and the Lakers’ 2032 first-round pick swap – the lone option the Lakers have of trading a first-round pick this offseason. But that was before the Hawks acquired Lu Dort from the Thunder in a three-team deal and had 17 players under contract on standard deals – meaning they’ll also have to trim their roster over the next few months.
Even after agreeing to terms with Mario Hezonja on a one-year deal, the Cavaliers remain a viable option for Kuminga via sign-and-trade. How much they’ll be able, or willing, to offer him Kuminga depends, in part, on how much of a pay cut James Harden is willing to take to return to the Cavaliers after declining his $42.3 million player option. The Cavaliers are reportedly also interested in DeMar DeRozan.
Good enough roster?
Without Kuminga, the Lakers’ roster has an evident hole for a starting-caliber wing alongside Doncic, Reaves, Grimes and Kessler.
If they don’t land Kuminga, their paths to a backup option appear to be murky.
The same is true for the Lakers’ quest for another big man, with their rotation currently being Kessler, Looney and Mamukelashvili.
Multiple front office personnel who spoke with the Post on the condition of anonymity throughout July overall liked the moves the Lakers made during the offseason.
But the moves weren’t lauded to the point where they’re viewed as a contender to come out of the Western Conference. The Lakers remain viewed as at least a tier below the Spurs and Thunder – along with most of the West.
Landing Kuminga – or another starting-level forward – would help the Lakers close the gap between themselves and the top of the West.
But realistically, there aren’t enough big moves for the Lakers to make this offseason to transform their outlook for 2026-27 outside of what they’ve already done.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 31: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the first half of the Emirates NBA Cup game against the Utah Jazz at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 31, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Jazz 118-96. 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 Kelsey Grant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Suns fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
This past week, I found myself roaming the streets of social media once again, searching for inspiration on what to write about. Such is life in late July when you cover the Phoenix Suns. It didn’t take long before I came across a conversation where I firmly stand on one side of the fence.
The topic? Whether Devin Booker is a star or a superstar.
I believe it’s well documented that, at this moment, I view him as a star. There’s nothing wrong with that. I don’t hand out the superstar designation simply because I’m a fan of the player, a fan of the team, and want nothing more than to see him succeed. I try my best to approach these conversations logically and consider every side.
In my opinion, at this point in his career, Devin Booker is not a superstar. Why? While it’s a subjective term, I believe you can set some parameters around it. Being an All-Star, earning All-NBA honors, and winning multiple rounds in the postseason are the types of accomplishments that place a player in the rare air reserved for superstars. It is fluid. Just because you were in the club for a couple of years does not mean you have a table reserved.
Fun fact: not every team has one. If every team had a superstar, there would be more than 30 of them in the league, and that simply isn’t the case. Calling everyone a superstar devalues the word.
Devin Booker is a star. He is someone you can build a team around, and he has also held the superstar designation in the past. Look back at 2021 and 2022. There’s no doubt Booker belonged in the conversation as one of the best players in the league. He finished fourth in MVP voting in 2022, and there was a legitimate argument about whether he was the best shooting guard in basketball at the time.
But as time has passed and the production has declined, he has found himself in that strange space between superstar and star. I understand why some people still consider him a superstar. It simply isn’t a designation I currently subscribe to.
That leads to the question I’d like to ask the Bright Side community. Is there a world where Devin Booker can regain that superstar status?
The organization has pivoted over the past two seasons, moving from a roster that was incredibly top-heavy on salary to one that is much more balanced. Outside of the $36 million Jalen Green is making, the contract that stands out is the supermax money attached to Booker. Why does he make it? Because he has been loyal to the organization, and there are financial rewards that come with that loyalty, especially when you reach the heights he has. When you begin earning All-NBA honors, your contract increases. Booker accomplished those things in the past, and that is why he is paid like a superstar.
Can he once again earn the compensation he is being provided? Has the organization constructed a roster that puts him in a position to reclaim that superstar status? And what does the word superstar mean to you?
Take your time voting in the poll, then let me know in the comments how you define a superstar and whether you believe Devin Booker can reach that level again.
During the height of the LeBron James drama, NBA fans noticed the Heat had a livestream scheduled for July 27 titled “LeBron James Introductory Press Conference.”
According to ESPN, the Heat staffer who posted the press conference, “had scheduled vacation for this week and was trying to get ahead of work that could come up if James indeed chose the Heat.”
LeBron James talks on stage while at Fanatics Fest 2026. BACKGRID
Miami took down the mistake quickly and released a statement calling it a mistake, but that didn’t stop fans from believing James had made his decision and was returning to the Heat.
In fact, a number of factors leading up to James signing with the 76ers pointed to a second stint in Miami, including ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter and former NBA player Gilbert Arenas saying it was most likely.
The odds followed the trends and DraftKings sportsbook dropped the Heat as the final destination of the NBA’s all-time leading scorer to -200 from the +1000 odds they had at the start of free agency.
Rich Paul was seen at Justin Bieber and SKYLRKs exclusive FIFA World Cup after-party. BlayzenPhotos / BACKGRID
While James’ agent Rich Paul said he thought Miami would end up as “the spot,” he was amused by the YouTube debacle because at the time, James had not made his decision.
Another league source close to the decision told ESPN he questioned why people thought James would even do a press conference.
When he signed with the Lakers in 2018, he didn’t make his first appearance to the media until training camp in the fall.
James used up all 24 days to process every factor imaginable, admitting he had thought about retirement after last season.
In the end, Paul said James signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the 76ers at 1 a.m. on Friday, just a few hours before ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the deal.
He will join the likes of Joel Embiid, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey in the pursuit of one last championship.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 20: Jordan McLaughlin #0 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the third quarter in Game Two of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Paycom Center on May 20, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to Pounding the Rock’s 2025-26 player reviews! The series will look at the players who finished the season with the San Antonio Spurs on guaranteed contracts and who played consequential minutes and/or a vital role (so no two-way players because we hardly saw them this year, no players who were traded away, and none of the deep bench centers, since they were both irrelevant and are now all gone).
There’s not much that can be asked about journeymen on minimum contracts. They are simply expected to suit up when needed, likely due to injury to a rotation player, and mostly blend in, helping when possible but mostly just not hurting the team too much.
The Silver and Black, who couldn’t find a veteran big who could live up to those modest expectations, mostly got that from their fourth-string point guard. Jordan McLaughlin only played a total of 282 minutes in the regular season, fewer than Jeremy Sochan, as a comparison point, spread over 44 games, so it’s hard to consider him an impact player. The good news is that he didn’t try to be one when his number was called, even in his handful of playoff minutes.
At this point, McLaughlin knows that the reason he’s still in the league is that he plays within himself. The veteran guard took decent care of the ball, played disruptive defense, and was happy to pass to a more talented creator while spotting up from beyond the arc. He brought the same level of professionalism in garbage time as he did in the Conference Finals, which is what you want from your 11th guy.
Delving into the numbers from someone who played so little and so often in low-leverage situations isn’t really helpful, so any judgement of McLaughlin has to rely on the eye test, which is kind to him. As a break-in-case-of-emergency ball handler and veteran stabilizer, he looked the part. He never impressed, but he rarely looked out of place or helpless when he was on the floor, as others in the deep bench did.
Looking ahead
While McLaughlin was fine in his role last season, he benefits from the comparison to the horrendous platoon of veteran centers and an underwhelming Lindy Waters III, who showed some intriguing flashes but couldn’t crack the rotation. The expectations from everyone on the periphery of the roster were low, so McLaughlin meeting them doesn’t feel like a significant achievement.
There was a case to be made for a change in the fourth guard spot heading into 2026/27. Knowing what you are going to get from someone can be comforting, and the still youngish and supremely talented Spurs need veterans who will be fine with little to no minutes, but taking the long view, finding someone with more oomph to their game than McLaughlin might have been a good idea. After all, at some point the logjam at point guard will eventually disappear as a result of the increasing cost of the roster, and San Antonio will need actual production from a backup.
For now, though, McLaughlin (and the two-way guards) will do. The vet won’t complain about the many, many games in which he won’t get to see the floor and hopefully will continue to hit open threes to complement his solid floor game and tenacious defense.
If this is, as it probably should be, J-Mack’s last season in San Antonio, he has the opportunity to leave a good impression just by being ordinary instead of a liability in the few minutes he gets, which seems like something he should be able to accomplish.
Top performance
6 points, 1 assist in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals against OKC. McLaughlin got few but important minutes in De’Aaron Fox’s absence and did well enough under the bright lights.
