DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 28: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks celebrates during the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at American Airlines Center on October 28, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The scuttlebutt over the weekend was a series of quasi-nonsense reports about the Dallas Mavericks being open to trading Kyrie Irving. On Sunday, the Mavs Moneyball Slack was on fire at the ridiculousness of such an idea, particularly with the Mavericks sitting pretty at 4-2. Then national media outlets started chiming in on the subject so I asked anyone who really had a take to answer this: what WOULD it take for you to be happy if the Mavericks traded Kyrie Irving?
Tyler: Obviously, the Mavericks shouldn’t trade Kyrie just for the sake of trading Kyrie, but there are plenty of scenarios where they should listen. The two teams in particular that I’d be interested in dealing with are Houston and Detroit. Houston has a treasure trove of draft assets from Brooklyn and Phoenix, and combined with plenty of young talent on the roster, you could easily put together a deal with a couple of those attractive first-rounders and a young player. Detroit is such a perfect Kyrie team, and they have all of their draft capital plus young guys in Ebuka Okorie, Ron Holland, and others. Again, some firsts, and Okorie and Holland and I’d probably go ahead and do that.
That’s not an indictment of this Mavericks team. They’ve gotten off to a very nice start amid a very tough schedule. However, one of the fatal flaws of the Luka Doncic era was accelerating the timeline with the Porzingis deal. The Mavericks in keeping all of these vets around, with a severe lack of assets to properly build around Cooper when he reaches his prime, is far more of a pressing issue than being the eighth seed this year. This is a five-year plan, not a one-year deal. They need to be prudent about this.
Ben: I’m ready to fully move on into the next era of Mavericks basketball. They shouldn’t trade for the sake of trading, but should also be realistic about the value of a soon-to-be 35 year old small guard coming off knee surgery.
If they get an offer of a first-round pick and an expiring salary, they should take it immediately.
Michael: I fully agree we should not trade Irving. I have never been on board with trading the veterans for a bunch of picks and full-on rebuilding in that manner. There is just far too much unknown in doing so. Getting younger and cheaper could just as easily mean “getting much worse” as it could mean “getting better.” NBA teams need veterans, especially Hall of Famers who are willing to play as the second option to a 19-year-old. The Mavs have that almost-impossible-to-obtain scenario, and I don’t think they should let it go.
But that doesn’t answer the question. The question was, “if we do” trade Irving, what does it take for me. My answer to that question is “a lot.” It would take a younger player that is a direct replacement for Irving in terms of production (or a year removed from all but certainly making that jump), along with at least two FIRST-round picks in consecutive drafts no more than one year removed from this offseason. That is simply something I don’t see happening.
Irving is critically important to this team, and I think he gets underestimated by a big margin when it comes to assessing his value. I understand he is currently 34 years old and coming off a major injury, but we’re not in 1996. In this modern era, we have Steph Curry at almost four years older to the day than Irving. Kevin Durant is three-and-a-half years older with a major injury under his belt. LeBron James is another one… Irving is playing at a high level and clearly helping this team win. Also, Irving has a player option next year, then is likely gettable for a reasonable contract thereafter. I don’t feel as though he is hurting the team or the cap in such a way that can’t be solved via other moves (plus the team will drop Klay Thompson’s $17M cap hit after this season by simply doing nothing).
The only way I personally would be willing to trade him is basically if it was the most obvious no-brainer trade imaginable where Dallas is getting back a young but ready player and draft capital. It can’t be something that ushers in a “hope for the best” youth movement and obviously hurts the team right off the bat with hopes of the team improving over time. If the Mavs make moves, it should be with the goal of improving immediately and going forward.
Bryan: To give up Kyrie, the Mavericks would need to be either flailing around the December 15th mark (when most players in the league become available for trade) or to be bowled over with an offer worth 3 or more first-round picks in value if they are above .500 and in good seeding position. Unless Cooper Flagg’s production slows down tremendously or Kyrie gets hurt, there is no reason to tear any of the core pieces of this team off of it for a paltry trade return when they could simply carry a team performing well into the play-in/offs and allow the young players to gain incredibly valuable postseason experience. Everyone is clamoring for Kyrie Irving to be shipped off to a playoff team that could use him more. After a hot early start, the Dallas Mavericks are pounding on their chests asking, “Why not us?”
Salvator: I think for this year barring an obvious overpay, I think they should keep Kyrie at least until the offseason. There is still value in making the postseason and seeing how our guys play in that environment, kinda similar to the one year CP3 played in OKC.
Kirk: I can’t fathom trading him. Any contender making an offer to Dallas has to come through with picks that are from a team that projects badly, like, I’m not interested in a Detroit 2028 first-round pick (well… I guess I am a little, what a draft class). There has to be something there for me to sink my teeth into as a person looking ahead. Right now, Kyrie is too valuable and too fun to consider otherwise. But if I was forced? Two first-round picks, and ones that look good right now.
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 2: Tyler Kolek #13 of the New York Knicks faces off against Mikel Brown Jr. #0 of the Brooklyn Nets during the game on November 2, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
New York hosts the 1-6 Bulls tonight for their second game in a week after beating them last Wednesday.
Chicago is not a team the Knicks should be too worried about, but hey, this is a matchup between sub-.500 teams, so who knows what will happen then and there.
Here’s some of what we heard from the Knicks heading into today’s game.
"I'm a little excited that we're struggling. I want to see if we can right now figure it out."
“Everything can get better… I’m not pissed about the start or upset about the start. There’s a part of me… I’m a little excited that we’re struggling. I want to see if we, right now, can figure it out.
“When you go through the offseason that we went through, everybody celebrates you the way that this lovely city did and the fans of the New York Knicks did, you want to be shaken and brought back to earth right away when the season starts because that grounds you.
“Right now, because we’re not playing our best basketball, we’re seeing some of the challenges that we need to work on. Right now we could be winning games, but it could be false reality.”
On Jalen Brunson’s early-season shooting struggles:
“He’s taking the same shots as in the past. In my opinion, he’s just missing shots. He’s taking the right shots. I think all our guys are, for the most part, taking the right shots. Right now, they’re not going in. And that can be for this reason, that reason, I don’t know, and I’m not going to try to overanalyze it. As long as they keep taking the right shots, keep working on the shots, I think eventually they’re gonna fall sooner than later.”
On the NBA’s best shooters’ slumps:
“It happens. It happens to the best of them because everybody is definitely human and every human has their ups and their downs when it comes to shooting. That’s why we have to keep embracing the little things, because they’re not gonna always fall.”
On Landry Shamet’s natural ability to create opportunities through off-ball movement:
“You could drill it, and guys will pick up on it, but you can tell (Shamet) is a natural with it.”
"He has a professionalism about it. For a person who is willing to do that…he makes our team better. Great person, great teammate – off the court, he's a great dude and someone I enjoy being around."
On the explanation for his unusually poor shooting percentages to start the season:
“Missing shots. I normally make.”
On whether his offseason wrist surgery has affected his shooting:
“Not at all.”
On Landry Shamet’s ability to create defensive closeouts:
“He creates great closeouts, whether he’s shooting or catching. He has a good knack for it.
“It’s just how he operates. He just finds the right windows, whether it’s benefiting him or someone else.”
On Jordan Clarkson’s role:
“He has a professionalism about it. For a person who is willing to do that — he makes our team better. Great person, great teammate. Off the court, he’s a great dude and someone I enjoy being around.”
"I know [Mike Brown] knows I'm always ready. My teammates know I'm always ready…tp bring the energy. If that's not on the stat sheet, do the little things – that's something that I've grown in since I've been here and took priority for me."
On why the Knicks’ defense has been ahead of their offense early in the season:
“We have great coaches. [Brendan O’Connor] and [Darren Erman], they do a great job indicating to us what we need to be doing on the court, and then guys are executing defensively and we’re getting stops. That’s always our goal.
“We don’t think about it. Even when you said that, I didn’t think about it. There’s always room for improvement though, so always striving for better.”
Josh Hart
On the Knicks finally increasing their pace:
“We finally played fast. We’ve been playing very slow, very stagnant. We finally got out, we ran.”
Tyler Kolek
On the champion Knicks remaining a work in progress:
“It’s early in the season. I think everything’s a work in progress. Last year, I feel like we probably hit our best stride in the playoffs. So we were a work in progress the whole year. That’s the nature of the NBA season. You gotta keep getting better each and every day, each and every game, and be ready to go.”
Landry Shamet says he hopes kids learning to play basketball learn to move without the ball
"It really helps you learn how to play and understand how to move and get open. It's always been something I try to get better at" pic.twitter.com/K8zdEnFx4D
On the Knicks’ dissatisfaction with their start to the season:
“I just think we’ve got to win, and I think it’s still early in the season, and I don’t think anybody in this locker room is satisfied with where we’re at. Happy to be in the win column tonight, but, you know, to point to 10 things offensively and defensively that we need to improve on. So the good news is there’s no panic there. Some nights right now, it might be the offense ahead of the defense and vice versa. We’ve had a hard time making shots so far early in the season. Tonight a few went in, but then we had some slippage defensively. So, a little give and take, but luckily that’s not the point. The point is for us to continue to get better and we’ll continue to do that.”
On Mike Brown holding the Knicks accountable and not allowing the Nets win to disguise their problems:
“We have to be real with ourselves. And Mike’s great with that, assesses things in film, calls it as it is. Our group’s great with that. We all understand that by no means — we’re not taking this as any potential fool’s gold. The whole goal right now is to continue to get better, and we want to do that. So that’s the thought process.”
On learning to move without the basketball by playing three-on-three without dribbling as a child:
“I remember growing up playing full-court three-on-three with no dribble, so you just learn how to move without the ball. I’m lucky I had that implemented for me at a young age. I wish more kids and hope more kids would do that moving forward in today’s game. I think it really helps you learn how to play and understand how to move and get open. So, it’s kinda always been something I’ve tried to continue to get better at.”
Jeremy Sochan with the most humble and thoughtful response to his last 10 months or so, from NBA Champion (Knicks) to a standard G-League contract (Texas Legends).
– Drafted 9th overall by the Spurs in 2022, Sochan was a focal point of their early rebuild. – 2025–26 season,… pic.twitter.com/n1ZUt3fkTI
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 14: Donovan Dent #3 of the LSU Tigers drives to the basket during the second half of an exhibition game at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on October 14, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was refreshing to see Will Wade back in action Tuesday night, wearing purple and gold, roaming the sidelines, and even getting a technical foul called during the course of the game. As good as it was to see Wade back on the sideline, it was even more refreshing to see a basketball team showing some promise and ability.
The LSU Tigers defeated LSU New Orleans Privateers, winning 100-57. A few players stood out with some really good performances. Saliou Niang had 14 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, and 6 steals. Donavan Dent finished with a team-high 19 points, 10 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. He also added 4 rebounds. Off the bench, Michael Ruzic, a freshman 7-foot big man, finished with 17 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block.
This team played pretty well, considering that most of the players had very limited preseason action due to the eligibility issues the team was waiting to resolve. Now that this team gets to play together, the expectation will be for them to continue to grow.
It wasn’t pretty the entire game, as the team still committed 12 turnovers and shot only 25% from behind the three-point line. Abdi Bashir was able to showcase his range Tuesday night, finishing 3-of-9 from three-point range and 4-of-11 from the floor, with 11 points off the bench.
Defensively, the Tigers held the Privateers to 25% shooting from the floor and only 14% from three-point range. However, they did allow 14 offensive rebounds, which will need to be addressed going forward. The Tigers also sent the Privateers to the free-throw line 38 times after committing 25 fouls. Expect this to improve as the season moves along and the team gets a better feel for playing together.
This was a really good start for the Tigers. They got the win but still have plenty of work to do. The talent is there, and so are the coaching and leadership. LSU will be back on the court Friday against Texas Southern at 7 p.m. on SECN+.
Share your thoughts on how you felt the Tigers handled the Privateers. What do you think the team needs to improve on before the next game?
MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 3: Jericho Sims #00 and AJ Green #20 of the Milwaukee Bucks boxes out during the game against the Boston Celtics on April 3, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks do battle with the 5-2 Boston Celtics tonight as they seek their first road victory of the season. On Monday in Minnesota, the Bucks entered the fourth quarter down just four points after a back-and-forth affair, only to see the rim shrink and, once again, go cold to close out the game. Meanwhile, the Celtics were in Houston and lost to the Rockets in a similar fashion, with their offense running out of steam in the fourth. Milwaukee will look to avoid a Beantown beatdown and hope to see Burries, Jakucionis, and other young Bucks continue to find their stride.
The Task Ahead
Boston was without Paul George Monday evening for a planned rest day, and George is expected back in the lineup, while Jayson Tatum will likely be on the bench for a scheduled rest day himself. In typical Boston fashion, though, they have been a model of consistency with almost any lineup they have thrown out there. The Celtics currently rank 10th in point differential, 13th in Offensive eFG%, and 12th in Defensive eFG%, while playing effective team defense that forces turnovers through help-side rotations. However, when the Celtics struggle, it often happens in the 4th quarter: they are -29 on the season in the final quarter of games, and it nearly cost them in their game against Brooklyn.
For this game, then, it will be about who maximizes their strengths first. Boston runs an effective half-court offence but is 26th in pace; meanwhile, the Bucks, for all their flaws, are fourth in pace. Both teams shoot a lot of three-pointers but are below league average in makes, with the Bucks shooting 33.3% and the Celtics shooting 34.5%. So if the Bucks can get more possessions by winning the offensive glass, they will have a good chance of walking away with an upset win (provided Kyle Kuzma doesn’t have another -22 net rating in 21 minutes of a 12-point loss, of course). This means that Kel’el Ware will need to have his presence felt. The Celtics are a bottom-five team in offensive rebounding; whether that means they aren’t prioritizing the O-boards or don’t have the personnel to get them, Ware has a real opportunity to prove himself as a difference-maker in that area.
Jericho Sims. We saw Sims get his first real minutes against the Wolves, and he was impressive. Was that a blip on the radar, or will we get another impressive performance? Also, the Celtics like to hunt for mismatches, so if the Bucks can deploy a big who has no problems switching, it will do a lot to mitigate that.
Projected Starters
Bucks
Position
Celtics
Brayden Burries
PG
Derrick White
Tyler Herro
SG
Hugo Gonzalez
Jaime Jaquez Jr.
SF
Sam Hauser
Kyle Kuzma
PF
Paul George
Myles Turner
C
Neemias Queta
Game Details
Who: Milwaukee Bucks (1-6) vs. Boston Celtics (5-2).
In his second NBA start, Brayden Burries will find his rhythm and come up in a big way for the Bucks, posting a double-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists!
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - NOVEMBER 02: LaMelo Ball #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates his three-point basket against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first quarter at Target Center on November 02, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
So… how are we doing folks?
We at Canis Hoopus usually try to get game recaps out a full day before the games so everyone can get their jokes and thoughts going in the comments. It’s what makes this community so fun for so many of us, myself included. From GIFs to shitposts to real analysis and everything in between, this is where to find it.
However, some of us were a little busy tracking some election day results. We were watching a blue wave instead of watching a wave of blue at Target Center. We were celebrating the left wing, not analyzing the wings left with Anthony Edwards out. We were… You get the point, but I have a ton of these.
Now, with the Minnesota Timberwolves heading down to Texas to face the 7-1, conference-leading Houston Rockets, it’s time to flip red to blue, just as the state just did.
It’s a pretty great day to wake up and rep the Wolves, and to completely destroy now-jobless Greg Abott’s favorite team.
So far this season, the Houston Rockets have played fast. After being a team largely defined by defense, Houston is now winning their games the way people have been doing for decades: by simply scoring more points than their opponents.
Getting Fred VanVleet back after his season-ending injury has done a lot to organize the Rockets, but it is their ability to turn defense into offense that ultimately has turned them from a Kevin Durant shooting clinic into a well-balanced, well-oiled machine.
To their credit, the Timberwolves have been aiming to do a similar thing in the absence of Anthony Edwards. Without Ant, the Wolves have been relying on the talent and speed of LaMelo Ball.
“I like to play fast, and he’s faster than no other,” Ball said earlier this week.
While his driving (not the on-court kind) has gotten most of the focus in regard to his speed, Ball has been the fulcrum Minnesota needs to stay in games without their superstar wing and primary half-court shot creator.
LAMELO MADE HISTORY IN MINNESOTA'S WIN!
🏀 34 PTS 🏀 6 REB 🏀 6 3PM 🏀 Fastest player in NBA history (311 games) to reach 1,000 3PM pic.twitter.com/Am8MEXgZQe
However, it has also been Ayo Dosunmu’s incredible play filling in for Edwards that really should get more attention. So much of the conversation around Ayo was about this feigned outrage over a perceived overpay, but the Illinois guard is more valuable for the Wolves than any other team. He can fill in for either Ball or Edwards when needed, and can certainly fit with anyone else in the rotation.
And when he’s in the game, he’s moving.
The Twin Turbos of Dosunmu and Bones Hyland have been the two main beneficiaries of Edwards’ absence, and it’s their pursuit of transition opportunities that has kept Minnesota alive.
The team is coming off a win against the Milwaukee Bucks that showed both of them off, and will now hopefully carry that momentum into Houston.
Kevin Durant’s Gravity
I want all of you to take a look at this clip for a moment. While on the surface it looks like Kevin Durant is once again getting irritated with what seems like a relatively innocuous question, there’s a moment when Durant shifts from being annoyed to actually respecting the reporter’s questions and thoughts.
That’s because this is a really good goddamn question.
Things got a little tense between Kevin Durant and a reporter after the Rockets' win vs. the Celtics 😳 pic.twitter.com/ck7UWS4N3M
For years, the balance for stars has been all about involving teammates while also not shrinking under the lights. Many years ago, 538 put out an article about not just ball dominance but emotional dominance within a team structure. That piece determined that Durant was not an alpha.
It’s been the same argument for much of LeBron James’ career, and it is an argument that continues to be completely asinine.
The best players use their gravity to create for others as they do for themselves. How often they pull off those different things is what we use to define players as scorers or creators.
Maybe it’s not that simple.
Durant has been an underrated playmaker for the entire duration of his career because of how good he is as a scorer. Just a few games ago, Jabari Smith Jr. had a 30-point game largely off of attacking closeouts that Durant put him in position to beat.
The Wolves will have to do a good job of not just defending Durant but also minimizing the ways he can enable everyone around him. That’s so much easier said than done, and may not even be possible in general.
With Alperun Sengun at center, the Wolves can’t move Rudy Gobert to guard Durant, so they will have to ask Jaden McDaniels and Jonathan Kuminga to guard him while not sacrificing their rebounding that has been so vital recently.
Answers, however, are easy to think of and hard to implement, so watch out for a big Durant game, even if the box score doesn’t necessarily show it.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - AUGUST 16: (L-R) Phoenix Mercury and Suns owner, Mat Ishbia and Devin Booker attend the WNBA game against the Portland Fire at Mortgage Matchup Center on August 16, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We currently find ourselves in the trenches, five games into the season, with the Phoenix Suns sitting at 1-4. And when you’re down in the trenches, you typically don’t have the luxury of looking at things from 30,000 feet. There’s too much happening around you, and the moment you start thinking too big or too far into the future, something changes that demands your immediate attention. Such is life. Ultimately, what defines quality strategy is the ability to balance the immediate challenges in front of you with the health and viability of your franchise over the long term.
But there’s a realization slowly creeping into the frontal lobes of our brains, something we’ve been actively trying to avoid thinking about because we know that once we accept it as reality, the outlook becomes increasingly frustrating and dystopian. Last year’s team saved us from these thoughts. This year’s team may not be able to. The Suns don’t own their own draft capital, and no matter what happens, sucking as a basketball team provides them absolutely no benefit.
The reality of professional sports is that teams ebb and flow. The advantage of possessing your own draft assets is that when an inevitable down season arrives, you have an opportunity to turn that adversity into something useful. Down seasons can happen for a multitude of reasons, with injuries often being the primary culprit. You struggle for a year, acquire a valuable asset through the draft, and get back to work. If you’re a perpetually bad team, the draft provides a pathway toward rebuilding your roster.
There’s no perfect formula for constructing a championship roster, or even one that’s consistently competitive. Throughout NBA history, organizations have employed numerous strategies with varying degrees of success. But as we look at the season ahead, we’re staring at a Suns team that appears disjointed and poorly constructed. The roster features expensive players with duplicative skill sets, an abundance of undersized contributors, and injuries that only complicate matters further.
Things can get really bad in Phoenix, really quickly. The most unsettling part? There’s no eject button.
You might believe that trading Devin Booker is ultimately the answer, but it’s not. Perhaps Booker is overvalued as an asset within the Phoenix market because of everything he’s meant to this organization and how long he’s been its centerpiece. His value on the trade market may ultimately produce a return that falls short of what Suns fans envision. If that return includes multiple first-round picks, there’s a very real possibility those selections end up being far less desirable than what Phoenix would need to meaningfully rebuild over the long term.
There was a time in the not too distant past when some team would've thrown the farm at Phoenix for Booker. Now, you see a 30 YO whose 3-point shooting has declined, who rarely gets to the rim, who needs a certain type of PG, that's not a "whole draft" kind of player anymore. https://t.co/d3miUqUsIW
Booker is now 30, which isn’t what you would classify as “old”. At least, you wouldn’t have 10 years ago. Kirk Golderberry of The Ringer, however, recently delved into the decline in players over 30 and their impact on the game:
During the 2025-26 regular season, players 30 and older made up just 17.5 percent of the NBA. That’s the lowest share in at least 30 years. Meanwhile, for the seventh straight season, more than half the league (54.6 percent) was 25 or younger. In 1997-98, that number was just 36 percent.
Yeah, that wasn’t exactly my favorite read of the week. Nothing quite like being reminded that the guy who’s supposed to be in his prime and leading this team to victories is rapidly becoming antiquated in a league that increasingly values youth and durability over sustainability and longevity. Great. Fantastic. Love that for us.
I had someone suggest trading Devin Booker to the Detroit Pistons for Ausar Thompson and four first-round picks. As unlikely as that scenario might be, let’s play it out.
The Suns acquire Ausar Thompson, meaning they’re now building around Jalen Green, Thompson, Dillon Brooks, Miles Bridges, and Khaman Maluach. How many games is that team winning? My guess is they’re a .500 team at best. Let’s say, in a best-case scenario, Phoenix somehow ends up with the sixth seed in the Western Conference, although reality probably suggests they’re a Play-In team at best. Regardless, because the Suns don’t control their own draft pick, they’re handing that selection over to Houston. No, the Suns get the worst pick between Cleveland, Minnesota, and Utah. For thought exercise purposes, let’s say Phoenix receives the 25th overall selection.
But wait! You traded Devin Booker to Detroit for four first-round picks! Except now Booker is playing alongside Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren, and suddenly the Pistons look fantastic because Booker is operating in a role that better suits him. Detroit hypothetically ends up with the 24th pick.
So Phoenix walks into next year’s draft holding the 24th and 25th overall selections. Cool. No high-end prospects. No obvious game changers. Instead, you’re selecting a pair of developmental projects, hoping they possess enough transferable skills to become viable rotation players three years down the road. You get a couple of Ryan Dunns.
There’s no easy fix for the Suns. When Murray or Sabonis are your trade solutions, you’re fucked.
Tanking is pointless without your picks. Trading Booker for picks from contenders means rebuilding through the late first round.
Then it becomes rinse and repeat. Every year, the Suns are struggling to assemble a competitive roster, attempting to do so with Detroit’s draft capital while their own selections remain outside their control.
Why am I bringing this up five games into the season? Why am I looking at the bigger picture when I should be focusing on Portland tonight? I think it’s because the potential worst-case scenario is beginning to unfold before our eyes. And while the fan base desperately rushes to trade machines, searching for some magical combination of transactions that will fix everything, the reality is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. This is a very hard situation to fix.
Perhaps it’s because I’m seeing the suggestions people are putting out there, and while I understand the strategy behind many of these proposed deals, I ultimately find myself asking one question. How the hell did we get here?
To me, the answer is simple: Bradley Beal.
I know plenty of people will argue that acquiring Kevin Durant was the beginning of the downfall of the Phoenix Suns, and I don’t completely disagree. That move was a step in the wrong direction, one that could ultimately take this organization a decade to recover from. The Suns had what makes teams successful in today’s NBA: youth, connectivity, chemistry, and a veteran presence to stabilize it all. It’s reminiscent of the Seven Seconds or Less Suns, a team that was ahead of its time. By the time the rest of the league caught up to that philosophy, Phoenix had already moved on to something different, never fully capitalizing on the strategy it helped pioneer.
Through that lens, I can accept the argument that Durant’s acquisition was the root cause of where we find ourselves today. As for the extracurricular drama he brought to the organization, and the notion that his presence was ultimately more detrimental than productive, I politely disagree. Sure, there were extracurriculars with Kevin Durant. Nobody knows that better than I do. But he was also an elite scorer, someone you could rely on at virtually any moment to get you a bucket. It was the moves made around him that ultimately sunk this team, and none was more damaging than acquiring Bradley Beal.
The Suns acquired a depreciating asset whose skill set was largely duplicative of Devin Booker’s, sacrificed the remainder of their available draft capital to do so, and inherited a no-trade clause that made an already difficult situation even worse. Ultimately, they had to buy Beal out and stretch the financial consequences across multiple seasons.
BREAKING: The Washington Wizards are trading three-time All-Star Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns for Chris Paul, Landry Shamet, a handful of second-round picks, and multiple pick swaps, league sources tell @TheAthletic@Stadium.
Think about this team right now and how differently you might view it with an additional $19.3 million in payroll flexibility. Need a point guard? How about another big man who can actually rebound? That money could help address those issues, but it’s unavailable because the Suns waived Bradley Beal. And the ancillary draft capital that could facilitate additional transactions? That’s gone, too, because they shipped it away to acquire Bradley fucking Beal.
That’s the deal we’re going to continue paying for through 2030. That’s the transaction whose consequences continue to suffocate this franchise, even after the player himself is long gone. And that’s the draft capital we sacrificed, capital that could have been used to facilitate the very transactions this team so desperately needs today.
The reality of what the Phoenix Suns might become if they aren’t a competitive basketball team is something we accepted at the beginning of last season. The thought process at the time was that eventually we’d trade Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale, Dillon Brooks was a throw-in from the Kevin Durant trade, and Jalen Green had enough upside to warrant seeing what he could become. Expectations were low as we prepared for this dommsdat scenario to play out. Phoenix surprised us, however, winning 45 games.
The team did eventually trade Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale, and in return acquired Miles Bridges, who thus far has probably been the most consistent player on the team. But we also surrendered our 2033 first-round pick to make it happen. Why? Nobody fucking knows. Because the Suns “expect to be good”, right? They operate as though they’ll never need a contingency plan, and when circumstances inevitably demand one, they’re screwed.
Jalen Green has upside. He has athleticism. And he absolutely does not fit on this team. If he were making $16 million a year, perhaps I wouldn’t think much of it. But he’s making $36.3 million this season and another $36 million next year, with a player option he’s almost certainly going to exercise because he’s unlikely to command that kind of money on the open market. So the Suns are left holding the bag. Again.
When was the last time the Suns made a trade and actually won it? When was the last time you looked back three years after a transaction and thought, you know what, “Slam dunk for Phoenix”? The Barkley trade? KJ?
That’s why I’m feeling so much doom and gloom right now. That’s where the frustration comes from. The reality we managed to put off last season because the team overperformed is beginning to show signs of coming to fruition this year. Now another year has passed, Devin Booker’s trade value isn’t getting any higher, and even if it were, it wouldn’t change the fundamental problem. This franchise simply cannot benefit from being a losing basketball team.
I’m writing this because I see all the solutions people are desperately trying to come up with to save the Suns, and every time another proposal surfaces, I find myself asking the same questions: How? Why? Is Dejounte Murray going to be the guy who saves this franchise? Domantas Sabonis? Are those really the answers to the problems we’re facing? No.
The fact that we’ve reached the point of entertaining those possibilities only five games into the season says plenty about the long-term outlook of this organization. And perhaps that’s what I’m really doing here. Trying to mentally prepare myself for a reality we’ve spent the past year hoping we’d never have to confront.
The Suns can improve their execution, find better lineup combinations, and perhaps salvage something from this season. But none of that changes the underlying reality. This organization has sacrificed its flexibility, its financial resources, and its ability to benefit from failure. Five games into the season, we’re already contemplating the consequences of decisions made years ago. The Suns aren’t necessarily doomed to lose. They’re trapped in a situation where losing doesn’t help them win tomorrow.
Basketball: NBA Playoffs: San Antonio Spurs George Gervin (44) in action vs Boston Celtics John Havlicek (17) at HemisFair Arena. Game 2. San Antonio, TX 4/15/1977 CREDIT: Manny Millan (Photo by Manny Millan /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X21381 )
This season the Spurs unveiled their City Edition jerseys with a throwback video:
The reveal, which featured Spurs 2025 draftees Carter Bryant and Dylan Harper, starts in an animated form while the voice of Spurs legend George “The Iceman” Gervin narrates. The duo, who played in the NBA Finals as rookies, eventually appear in place of the animation.
The spot goes on to show Bryant and harper pulled the iconic red, white, and blue ABA balls from the trunk of a classic lowrider, eventually showcasing this years jersey.
Now you can enter to win the Classic on the Court Giveaway.
Per a Spurs press release:
“Straight from the HemisFair Arena days, a Spurs classic could be yours! Enter the Classic on the Court Giveaway pres. by Ledger for your chance to win a Classic Edition jersey inspired by the original home uniforms worn in downtown San Antonio, plus tickets and more.”
Prize Includes: 🎟️(2) tickets to Spurs vs. Pacers on Jan. 6th 👕 Classic Edition jersey 🏀 ABA basketball 🔐 Ledger device
Sean Elliott has promoted the idea that the Spurs should play with the ABA tri-colored ball when they host games in the City Edition jerseys. Perhaps he will get his wish.
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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 30: Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics high-fives Mitchell Robinson #4 during the first half against the Chicago Bulls at the TD Garden on October 30, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ok, for full disclosure, the question in the title wasn’t actually asked. But that is the kind of vibe this mailbag has, so I felt it was representative of the overall feel. And as a reminder, I did ask people to provide their hot takes and questions. So don’t be mad that people delivered. Don’t hate the playa, hate the game. Which, would honestly be fair in this case.
Red_Auerbach_Junior
Hot take 1: Big Country looks out of shape. Over the first few games he’s playing well below how he has performed in prior seasons. I will be interested to see if this continues or if this is a product of the team getting used to Big Mitch and him getting used to the team.
The boring/optimistic answer is to preach patience and give him time to acclimate to his new surroundings and role. The concern is that these things don’t always work out as we would hope. He had a specific role in New York and thrived in that system. What if he doesn’t work within the Celtics structure? We haven’t even hit the first time missed due to injury that we all expected.
At the moment I’m not overly worried (once again, small sample size) but it is something to keep an eye on.
Hot take 2: Derrick White should be traded. There are many trade approaches that could be taken, his contract could be used to grab either another center or forward in an effort to lean into Peyton, Baylor, Hugo, and Ron stepping up to fill his role/shift the ball handler role more onto JT and PG13, the other would be to find a way to make a trade exception, have the aforementioned bench players absorb some of those minutes and also create minutes for Chris Cenac. Ultimately Derrick White is close to his athletic downturn. His playstyle, though not nearly as reliant on his athletic ability, does operate on the right side of a thin margin that contributes of his ability to stay in front, react defensively, and generally use what athletic ability he does have to keep up with the more athletic players he usually is tasked with guarding. Losing a half step, which I believe he is in the process of doing, will put him on the WRONG side of that margin and we need to deal him before he is on the wrong side of that margin.
I love, love, love Derrick White. I do not want to trade Derrick White. I will fight for Derrick White.
With all that said, it is hard to argue that he might be a logical option to move. Not necessarily this year, but perhaps by this coming offseason. Smart GM’s tend to move on from players before they lose a step and White’s shooting woes last year indicate that he might be close to that downturn you are talking about.
He has a large (but not max) contract that could be paired with picks or players to bring back another star or an impact long-term piece.
With all that said, I’d be very reluctant to move White until one or two of the younger players has firmly established themselves as consistent performers. Not just “shows us something occasionally” but contributing on both ends on a nightly basis. You need consistent, effective adults on the floor to win games.
Hot take 3: we should flip Garza and give his minutes to Chris Cenac. Right now Garza is the much better player by a decent margin. I agree that the current minute allocation where Garza is the third big in the rotation will lead to the most wins throughout the season. However, Chris and Luka fill very similar niches when they are on the floor. Giving Chris those minutes now will lead to more winning further down the line. The one drawback is that Cenac starts to click early which will increase his value when his rookie contract ends which may cause an unnecessary increase in his first contract negotiations.
I legitimately don’t think either of those last two things will happen, but for the first one I am optimistic that we will see an improvement of Mitch’s fit within the next few games…
I support the idea of finding minutes for Cenac, but I don’t think we necessarily need to bench Garza to get them. First of all, I think he could use the reps in Maine. Secondly, I think there will be plenty of scheduled (or sometimes unscheduled) games off for Mitchell or Queta and there will be opportunities for Cenac to play on the 2nd night of a back-t0-back or in garbage time.
Micah Wilson
I should probably be writing in all caps, cus that’s how people seem to talk on ESPN, but I’ll restrain myself.
Hot take 1: Luka Garza is the Celtics best offensive rebounder.
No disagreement here. At least for now.
Hot take 2: Mitchell Robinson retires mid-season and joins Monster Jam, a place where his truck actually fits in the parking garage.
I wonder if Joe has had any thoughts about “borrowing” the truck to use as a getaway vehicle for his next theoretical ballpark heist.
hurdler17
Queta earned the starting spot last year, and Mitch is did not come in prepared to take over the starting spot. Queta should play the start and ends of the quarters, staggering his rest to be able to play 24-30 mpg. Mitch should play shorter stints in the middle of quarters to about 18-24 mpg; and Luka plays as needed. Refs are morons and they have a quicker whistle for backups. Let Queta’s experience and reputation grow as a starter.
Mitch’s minutes are about the same, points steady, rebounds way down, fouls up, blocks down. He’s a career backup that should be beating up on other backups. Nobody is doing hack-a-mitch at the beginning of quarters. He’s not playing like a starter, and Queta is thrown into a completely different environment from where he was a steady performer last year.
I will admit, I haven’t had a strong take on which big should start. I can see the argument for both of them. Both of them are what I would consider starting quality bigs (based on performance in previous seasons). Both could and should thrive in a bench role. Both should get about the same number of minutes.
The rest is just about fit and chemistry with the units that they play with. I tend to think that the worries about hack-a-Mitch are a bit over-stated. It seems more important to me that he knows where to be on the court and how his teammates are going to be delivering the ball (or how their shots come off the rim). That will take time to develop and the coaching staff is going to need to see what downstream impacts occur in various lineup combinations.
Hmm, that answer seems pretty boring. Is this where I should suggest that he’s washed and the team should trade him as soon as possible (December 15th I believe)? Asking for a friend.
tunaboats
The Celtics will continue to win exactly 3 out of every 4 games and finish the season with 61.5 wins, including the first tie in NBA history.
Now I’m trying to think of the scenario that would result in a tie. Maybe both teams would have to foul out all their players with the score tied. In theory that could happen if the team’s got into a benches clearing brawl right off the tipoff (not that I’m rooting for that).
Oh, what if Tatum and Brown decide to play a full game of 1 on 1, telling all their teammates to clear out (you know, like they typically did in clutch time for years). Each one pounds the ball for 20 seconds, takes a side-step 3 pointer that clangs off the rim, the other one rebounds, and repeats the process. Game ends in a 26-26 tie (on 20% shooting efficiency) and everyone agrees that the game should not continue into overtime for the sake of all our sanities.
Both hug and dap up after the game and go out for a dinner of lamb chops and gravy.
zzanbo1
i would like to see mike conley get some floor time. looked good the only time he played.
Speaking as someone who is, …umm, matured past optimal playing conditions, there are going to be days when he looks as good as his best days in the league (or at least close). But there are also going to be days when he feels like he just got run over by Mitchell Robinson’s truck.
I really love the way that Joe Mazzulla is giving him a chance to play the role of player-coach. Between that and giving his assistant coaches opportunities to shine in preseason and elsewhere, Joe is developing a positive reputation. One that could lead to future players in the waning years signing on to get that kind of coaching internship experience. And when the current assistant coaches move on to greener head coaching pastures, more will be excited about joining the program.
thruthelookingglass
Two ideas: (1) All due respect to Red_Auerbach_Junior, will Luka Garza take us to the promised land on sheer effort? and (2) will this be the year the Maine Celtics take the G League championship?
You laugh about Garza and his piston pumping arms when he runs, but every single banner in the rafters included contributions from unsung, try-hards that gave it their all. Sometimes it just takes that one 50-50 ball going to the Celtics because someone just flat-out wanted it more. Give him a Tommy Point!
The Maine Red Claw Celtics are going to have a stacked roster, no doubt. The one thing that could hurt them is the Celtics load-managing the parent team and calling up the best players. But it should be fun most nights.
EZwind
Here’s one more:
Will some fans stop claiming that the new owners are cheap after they just donated $200 million to Boston Children’s Hospital?
I support the tax write off.
Seriously though, I get the frustration. Celtics fans have had to watch their title winning team get dismantled piece by piece. Most understand the difference between being “cheap” and working within the strict confines of the aprons, but it is still a tough pill to swallow.
At some point, Brad Stevens is going to bring them a deal that cashes in on the “optionality” and asks them to pay well into the tax. He knows that it will have to be the right deal and he can only play that card a few times. So far, he’s proven he’s a lot smarter than most GMs at this. Will the ownership group agree? We’ll see, but I’m hopeful.
Veknironth
The Celtics will defeat the Grizzlies to win the NBA cup with Boston sitting it’s top 9 players to save the from injury. They will not hang the banner.
The Celtics “stay ready” group would absolutely give it their all and make for an entertaining Cup game. Still not sure if I’m ready to be a “cup respecter” or whatever the kids are calling it, but hey, it is something to talk about. So why not try to win it?
Veknironth
Here’s a non-Celtics one. In order to increase the teams’ giddiness, the Timberwolves will trade for Josh Giddey
I see what you did there and I approve.
Morpheus6610
Is Paul George the partner and mentor that Tatum has always needed?
Tatum has had plenty of positive mentors over the years (Al Horford, Marcus Smart, Jrue Holiday, etc.). And having Jaylen Brown on his team had a lot of very real positives (like a ring, for example). But it is no secret that Tatum idolized George growing up and patterns a lot of his game off the vet.
Makes you wonder what might have happened if Tatum was paired with him earlier in his career (preferably during a healthy stretch). but I guess we’ll never know.
I will also point out that replacing Brown would not be an easy gig for most players on the downswing of their careers. Thus far, George has handled himself exceptionally well and deserves the respect he’s getting.
Sportzballer
Is Walsh only Boston’s 4th or 5th best prospect?
First of all, it is worth noting that Walsh at 22 is a year younger than rookie Dillon Mitchell. Which should put some perspective on his development.
Finn McGrath
Is Jayson Tatum going to be able to come off the bench to allow Amari Williams to develop as a starter?
I’m starting to think that Amari is the center version of JD Davison. Too good for G-League, not quite good enough for a regular role in the NBA. But I’ve been wrong before.
Mitchs Dad
What are the chances that PP makes the All Star team?
He needs to be a little more consistent night-in-night-out against the league’s best defenses, but he has that kind of potential. Might also take a few stat-padding games early in the season to boost his numbers and chances.
Move the Ball
Do you think RH, Jr. will see the light of day this year? And something I’ve always wondered about: Why are some carrots oranger than an orange?
Hey man, there will be load management games where the stay ready guys will have to stay readier than ready.
I also think there could be another 2 week stretch where Harper is the soup du jour on Joe’s menu.
BOSTON, MA - 1968: Julius Erving #32 of the New Jersey Nets looks on during a game against the Boston Celtics circa 1968 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1968 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The ABA lived from 1967 to 1976. It was a short, chaotic, but also exuberant and fantastic era.
The management in the ABA was generally horrible, but there were some brilliant coaches and some unbelievable players.
Julius Erving was, is, and always will be the face of the ABA, but the league had some other immense talents. Guys like David Thompson, Spencer Haywood, Rick Barry (who started in the NBA but spent several years in the upstart league), Connie Hawkins, Dan Issel, Artis Gilmore, George Gervin, and the first great three-point shooter Louie Dampier, come to mind, along with Charlie Scott and Mel Daniels.
The league was a race between chaos and brilliance. The merger with the NBA happened in 1976, just in time, because of mismanagement and the lack of a TV contract; the ABA was on borrowed time.
It’s really too bad the league couldn’t sustain itself, but it changed basketball forever, and its legacy should not be forgotten.
MACAO, CHINA - OCTOBER 11: Dallas Mavericks majority owner Miriam Adelson and Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont pose for photos after an NBA preseason basketball game against the Houston Rockets at the Venetian Arena on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Macao. (Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News via Getty Images)
Nice.
In 2023, Mark Cuban sold what was then his majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks to Miriam Adelson and her son-in-law, Patrick Dumont. At the time, the sale was purported to be to the tune of $3.5 billion. The transaction gave Adelson and Dumont majority ownership of the franchise, with Dumont serving in the role of Governor while Cuban maintained a minority stake in the team.
It is now being reported that another sale took place last month, though this one does not involve any new parties entering the fold. Adelson has instead sold her stake in the Mavericks to Dumont and his wife (and Adelson’s daughter) Sivan Ochshorn. As a result of the deal, Dumont now holds a 69% ownership stake.
Along with Dumont are minority owners Cuban (27%) and Mary Stanton (4%). As part of the terms of the original sale in 2023, Dumont retains the right to purchase as much as 20% of Cuban’s remaining portion as well. “Our plan is to look at that and to do that over time,” Dumont suggests. Should he chose to do so, he would then hold a whopping 89% of the franchise which Forbes values at $5.8 billion.
Since taking over in 2023, Dumont has overhauled much of the front office. He hired Rick Welts as CEO, Ethan Casson as President (and successor CEO come the turn of the calendar to 2027), Masai Ujiri, Mike Schmitz, new head coach Dusty May and a number of other senior-manager level employees. Dumont is also hard at work on a new basketball-only area for the Mavs, with plans to make the former Valley View Mall an all-out entertainment destination.
“The most important thing every day is just trying to work harder to get better.” Dumont clearly has big plans on where he wants to take the Mavericks behind young phenom Cooper Flagg and this purchase demonstrates his long-term commitment to the team
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
The NBA paused its action to encourage Americans to vote.
So with no games scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3, it offered a bit of a reset to take in the lessons learned from the first two weeks of the 2026-27 regular season.
The good news for teams is that the spate of injuries that ravaged rosters across the league have (mostly) calmed. And while it’s still so very early in the season, the early action has led to sweeping changes across the board. Already, there’s a new No. 1 team, and a new No. 2 for that matter.
Here are the Week 2 USA TODAY Sports NBA power rankings:
No team plays faster than the Bulls, who lead in pace (105.86), but the offense has been wildly inefficient, with Chicago shooting just 41.6%, second-worst in the NBA.
The addition of Julius Randle hasn’t been enough to stabilize the offense, and 3-point defense (15.0 conversions allowed per game) has been another Achilles heel.
The Jazz, who were looking to take a step forward, have been one of the more disappointing teams. Utah doesn’t force enough turnovers and its transition offense is basically nonexistent.
They’re the only NBA team to have only played five games, but Phoenix has been getting killed on the glass, where they rank 29th in rebounding (39.6 per game).
Winners of three consecutive, the Pelicans have been a nice story so far and are dominating down low; New Orleans leads the league with 62.6 points in the paint per game … which is 7.5 points more than the next team.
Since Paolo Banchero (ankle) and Jalen Suggs (knee) have been out, Orlando has been unable to find consistent offense and turnovers (17.3 per game; tied for 25th) are a massive issue.
No team is allowing more 3-pointers per game (17.3). The defense has been a nightmare, with players even saying they’re not trusting each other on the court.
They’ve lost four consecutive and the warning sign is an offense that has is drastically underperforming; Charlotte ranks dead last in offensive rating (100.4), which is nearly four full points below the next closest team.
They look older and slower, but the more curious issue is the sweeping dip across Nikola Jokić’s stats: 22.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.0 assists per game.
They’ve won three of four, but became the first team to lose to the previously winless Kings. The Cooper Flagg-Kyrie Irving partnership, however, has been a fun watch.
They’ve had five different leading scorers through eight games and lead the NBA in assists per game (30.6) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.08). The results have nonetheless been uneven.
Are we in championship hangover territory? The Knicks are a bit of a rarity, ranking dead last in pace (96.5). They’ve struggled against marquee opponents.
No team has been hauling in more offensive boards per game (15.3), but losses in three of their last five have stunted their progress up the standings. And they got good news: Kawhi Leonard (knee swelling) might be back soon.
They share the ball well and protect it, but the Cavs have had an uneven start to the season. A loss against an extremely short-handed Thunder team was a missed opportunity.
They’ve won five consecutive, some against top-level teams (Lakers, Timberwolves, Nuggets). And Stephen Curry, at 38 years old, is playing his way into the MVP conversation.
Minnesota’s two victories this week were against the Clippers and the Bucks, which is fine. But the Timberwolves will need to show that they can beat some of the league’s better teams without Anthony Edwards. The saving grace will be the defense.
The overtime loss against the Pelicans was a setback, but Memphis remains the biggest surprise in the NBA, and Ty Jerome (28.2 points per game; seventh in the NBA) has been a revelation.
Losing Ja Morant (hamstring) is certainly a blow, but Portland has been doing a great job on the glass, limiting teams to an 10.0 second chance points per game.
The move to add Mitchell Robinson is paying off so far, as pairing him alongside Neemias Queta has Boston ranking third in the league in opponent points in the paint per game (39.4).
Recent competition hasn’t been as robust, but the Spurs have won five consecutive and are taking care of the ball, ranking second in turnovers per game (13.4).
Luka Dončić is flaming opponents, averaging an absurd 38.3 points per game and orchestrating the NBA’s best offense (121.9 points per 100 possessions).
They’ve dropped two of their last three, as the injuries keep piling up. The latest, to Chet Holmgren, means OKC will be without three starters for the foreseeable future.
It’s rather unfair to drop a team one spot even though it won all three games this week. This is more about how good the 76ers have been and the quality of opponents Detroit faced. But can the Pistons sustain this level with Duncan Robinson (a career-high 17.9 points per game) as their second-leading scorer?
Interestingly, it’s the defense that has been Philly’s strength. The Sixers have the league’s third-best defensive rating (105.1 points allowed per 100 possessions).
In his season-ending press conference immediately after Boston’s first-round playoff exit, Brad Stevens made a comment about the state of the Celtics that reverberated through every offseason decision leading up to the start of the season.
“I think one of the things that we’ve gotta figure out is how to have more impact at the rim,” Stevens said. “I thought we struggled to get to where we wanted to go on offense.”
He had a point. In the regular season, the Celtics were dead last in volume inside of 5 feet, averaging 22 attempts per game. But on low volume came high efficiency, with the team’s 69% finishing on those attempts being second in the league. On top of that lack of attempts was a league-low in free throw attempts (18.7).
So, the Celtics made changes. They brought in Mitchell Robinson, one of the game’s best offensive rebounders after the Celtics averaged the lowest amount of putback points among all playoff teams (4.1). Then they swapped Paul George for Jaylen Brown, adding a shot creator that would offer a different kind of off-ball influence to open up Jayson Tatum’s own scoring creation.
As of Nov. 2, Boston’s 7-game starting sample has shown early returns in this area. As far as just touching the paint, they’re getting inside at an increased rate, jumping from 24.4 touches to 28.3. The Celtics entered their Rockets matchup 13th in field goal attempts inside of 5 feet, making a major leap of 28.3 attempts to last year’s 22.
There’s work to be done in their finishing on those attempts — they’re currently working at a 63% clip (17th in the league) — but the results are showing a team that’s making an effort to get more looks at close range.
This back-to-back showed two sides of that progress, with slight variations in personnel and significant variations in Joe Mazzulla’s lineups.
Orlando Magic
On the first night of their back-to-back, the Celtics got an Orlando team that’s missing key pieces and is in the process of developing a new identity under coach Sean Sweeney, yet still retains some of that gritty defensive identity with their available personnel.
For Boston, only Mitchell Robinson was absent from the rotation, and in that absence, we saw more of the freeflowing, fast-reacting movement of last year’s offense with Neemias Queta as the lone big on the floor.
It’s no surprise that Robinson and Queta lead the team in paint touches, but behind them stand Boston’s two most important players in Tatum (3.5) and George (3). In this matchup, they shined both in their self-creation and in their playmaking inside the paint.
As a team Boston was 72% inside the restricted area, and Tatum’s gravity as a pick-and-roll ballhandler was a significant factor in creating looks for himself and for the roller.
Tatum’s high free throw rate has also been a major benefit of his driving aggression. The Celtics are currently averaging 28 attempts from the line, another significant jump from last year’s number. Tatum is currently at 10.2 attempts from the line.
Like Tatum, George is creating off the dribble, feeding the roll man, and comfortably playing off-ball.
It’s two players who have figured out how to put the ball into space. But for that to happen, you need good cutting instincts from those around them. That wasn’t an issue last year, and it’s definitely not an issue now. The Celtics are currently scoring 1.35 points per cut possession, nearly identical to last year’s 1.36 PPP.
This game was a good indicator of this team’s ceiling attacking the rim. You’re missing Robinson, who has struggled to adapt to his new role closer to the action on the perimeter, but you’re seeing Boston’s other two bigs look comfortable in their roles, while the team’s two stars acted as high-running motors to an efficient offense. When you can space the floor with shooters around Tatum and George and add in a rolling threat like Queta, the space to attack and the decisions you can make feel more abundant.
Houston Rockets
On the second night of their back-to-back, the Celtics were without their other primary offseason addition with Paul George getting a night off.
On a sluggish shooting night, the primary theme for this story’s subject was as follows: No Tatum=No Paint Pressure.
Without George’s primary option lineup, when Tatum stepped off the floor, getting inside the arc became a chore for Boston. In a shade under 16 minutes with Tatum resting, they were just 1-for-8 on shots inside the paint, with a single shot generated at the rim. With Tatum, they had 20 shots at the rim and were 70% on those shots, much more in line with what we’ve seen so far this season.
Along with his ability to create in isolation, Tatum’s gravity as a pick-and-roll threat opened up rim-runs for Mitchell Robinson and Queta, while his vision finding cutters particularly flashed early on.
The Celtics trailed by five when Tatum checked out with 1:39 left in the third quarter. When he returned with 7:02 left to go in the fourth quarter, it was a deficit of 16. With JT off the floor in general, the Celtics were outscored 35-18.
When he returned, it didn’t take long for the offense to get back into its previous flow. Tatum quickly assisted on a drive-and-kick three to Derrick White in the corner, hit Queta on a roll, and scored himself on a drive-and-finish within his first six possessions after checking back in. But by then, the Rockets had comfortably separated enough to bury them.
With a lack of paint pressure coming from the perimeter, Mazzulla experimented heavily with double-big rotations throughout the game, which in spurts gave Boston some more putback and lob options but wasn’t nearly enough to overcome poor shooting from the outside and a tough night on drives. The Queta-Robinson combo was featured most prominently, finishing the night with 4:42 on the floor together. With those two sharing the floor, the Celtics were 3-for-3 at the rim, two of which came from Queta and the other from Robinson.
Even without an interior enforcer like Steven Adams, the Rockets are an exceptionally difficult team to get a step on. They have a collection of lengthy wing defenders like Amen Thompson, Tari Eason and Kevin Durant and feisty point-of-attack guards in Marcus Smart, Fred VanVleet and Reed Sheppard. Add to that disciplined help on the nail, and even if your last line of defense is Alperen Sengun, the defense is designed to make it drudgerous just to get to that weak link. And it just so happens that their weak link still finished with a pair of blocks and steals on Monday night.
If the Orlando game was a sign of what they could be, Houston was a sign of how far they have to go to get there. Missing George’s ballhandling was a predictable blow, but a lack of influence in the paint from those not named Jayson Tatum against a quality defense does show that they have a lot to work on.
The road ahead is long to figure out what kind of impact this team can have from close range. They can’t all be against a Chicago, and they won’t all be against a Houston or Detroit, but it’s important that every step of the way, we keep tabs on the progress of this team’s still-developing interior identity.
Over the past few years, the Celtics have seen a lot of guards come and go. Marcus Smart, Malcolm Brogdon, Jrue Holiday and Anfernee Simons have all come in and eventually been shipped out.
In that timespan, both Derrick White and Payton Pritchard have remained in green. Pritchard, a 2020 draft pick, and White, acquired at the 2022 trade deadline, have been the guards Boston has chosen to lead them going forward.
However, to start this season, neither of them are playing very well.
Neither White nor Pritchard have gotten off to the starts Boston was looking for. White has averaged 11.1 points and 4.9 assists, shooting 44% from the field and 32% from three while Pritchard has averaged 13.4 points and 3.4 assists, shooting 40% from the field and 31% from three.
Unfortunately, Boston doesn’t have a ton of depth at the point guard spot. Baylor Scheierman is much more of a 2-guard or a wing than a point guard and Mike Conley is 40-years-old.
CLEVELAND, OHIO – OCTOBER 08: Devin Carter #99 celebrates with Mike Conley #45 of the Boston Celtics during the first quarter of a preseason game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on October 08, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Celtics defeated the Cavaliers 124-113. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Devin Carter is another option, but he has yet to play this season due to mononucleosis and could have a role when he returns. With that said, he is a two-way guard who hasn’t had a good start to his NBA career so we shouldn’t be putting too much stock in him.
Boston needs the improved play to come from White and Pritchard. Those are the guys they have invested in.
For Pritchard, he needs to be more aggressive. Joe Mazzulla should be starting him, but that is a different conversation. Regardless, the Celtics need Payton to be a big scorer for them, in whatever role he is in. So far this season, Pritchard is averaging 10.3 shots per game, below both his 2024-25 and 2025-26 averages. If you remove the two games against the Bulls, Pritchard is averaging 7.8 shots per game, along with just 7.2 points.
That cannot happen on this team. In an ideal world, Pritchard is the Celtics number 2 offensive option behind Jayson Tatum, to take pressure off of White and Paul George. He isn’t going to be that without being aggressive.
Derrick White has always been more of a defensive player than offensive player, and so far this season, the Celtics have been a worse defensive team with him out there. According to databallr, Boston is 4.8 points better in 131 minutes with White on the bench than they are in the 210 minutes White has been on the court. It’s a small sample size, but I’m not too concerned.
I am worried about is his three-point shot though. Since the start of last season, D-White’s three-point shot has fallen off of a cliff. In the three seasons prior to last year, he shot 39% from three in the regular season. Since the start of last season, White has shot 33% from beyond the arc. He needs to make more threes than he has over the past year plus.
White and Pritchard are too talented and too good to play this poorly all season. Water typically finds its level with this stuff and I expect it to do the same here. If they don’t start playing better, however, it will be very hard for the Celtics to accomplish anything real in April and May.
Hype surrounded the 2026 NBA Draft class, and many top prospects are living up to the noise two weeks into their careers. Some of these names have been known throughout their high school days and college, but the pros is a whole new level of a leap. This isn’t summer league anymore, it’s the real deal.
Every rookie goes through a learning curve. There will be highs and there will be lows. These special talents also are bringing exciting levels of optimism for their teams and finding themselves all over highlight reels.
Who has stood out most? And where does Warriors No. 11 pick Yaxel Lendeborg fit in our first edition of Rookie Watch? Let’s take a look.
All stats are current through Nov. 3.
5. Darryn Peterson, G, Utah Jazz
Stats: 7 G, 13.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.3 spg
The No. 1 pick, AJ Dybantsa, isn’t listed since he only has played three games. Peterson, the No. 2 pick, hasn’t exactly dominated to begin his career. But he’s starting to string together some solid games.
Peterson in his last game had three steals and three blocked shots, and has five straight games with at least one steal – including two three-steal games. After two single-digit games in his first three games, Peterson in his last four games is averaging 15.5 points while shooting 44 percent from three (11 of 25).
4. Darius Acuff Jr., PG, Sacramento Kings
Stats: 7 G, 26.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 6.3 apg
There’s no doubt Acuff will go out and get his. Acuff leads all rookies in points and assists per game. He looks like a mixture of Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis and already has three 30-point games, five 20-point games and is averaging 7.4 assists over his last five games.
But his stats are devoid of wins and efficiency. Acuff scored 25 points on 21 shots to give the Kings their first win after losing their first six games. He leads the league in shots per game (23.6) and is shooting just 40.6 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from 3-point range.
It’s hard to be a minus-45 in 32-plus minutes, yet that’s what Wilson did in his NBA debut. He was a minus-20 in his most previous game and the Bulls are an ugly 1-6. His talent also is undeniable.
Wilson ranks second in points per game and third in rebounds per game, all while having the most steals (14) and second-most blocks (nine) among rookies.
2. Cameron Boozer, PF, Memphis Grizzlies
Stats: 7 G, 17.7 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 5.6 apg
Boozer is much more a 1B than in second place here. Maybe he’s even a 1A-minus. Regardless, this debate comes down to Boozer and the talk of the town in the Bay Area.
Like Wilson, Boozer didn’t have a great debut, except he was a plus-32 in a win. Boozer has been a plus-45 on the season for the upstart Grizzlies and has a 2.9 box plus/minus. He was great against the Warriors in his second career game (25 points, 13 points and six assists), but he did have six turnovers and has three high-turnover games.
As a polished 19-year-old, Boozer is fifth in points per game for rookies, first in rebounds per game and second in assists per game. He’s shooting just 38.5 percent, but has a 37.2 3-point percentage.
1. Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Golden State Warriors
Stats: 8 G, 21.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 3.9 apg,
The rapid emergence of Lendeborg has completely shifted the Warriors’ outlook on the season. They came into the 2026-27 campaign with their backs against the wall already being down Jimmy Butler, Moses Moody and Kristaps Porziņģis. Lendeborg already has erased many of those sour feelings and brought a renewed sense of joy to the Warriors’ fanbase.
Combining his size, skill and feel for the game, Lendeborg has been a force offensively. He had one 30-point night in 112 games between UAB and Michigan and already dropped two of them in his first seven NBA games. Steph Curry has his co-star again, and he just happens to be a rookie. The Warriors’ rookie record books are becoming a revolving door of Curry, Lendeborg, Rick Barry and Wilt Chamberlain.
Lendeborg has a chance to be the Warriors’ first Rookie of the Year since Chris Webber in 1993-94. The last three rookies to average 20 points and seven rebounds in a season were Victor Wembanyama, Luka Dončić and Joel Embiid, and Lendeborg would be the highest scorer among the four of them.
Used as the Warriors’ second scoring option, and often even their first, Lendeborg is shooting 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from deep on more than six 3-point attempts per game. Lendeborg ranks third among rookies in points per game, second in rebounds per game and fifth in assists per game, plus he also has the third-most steals, and the most free throw attempts and makes.
After taking care of business at home, the Lakers (6-2) head to Sacramento where they will take on the Kings (1-6) for the first time this season. Both teams enter this matchup coming off wins.
Start time and TV schedule
Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings
When: 7 p.m. PT, Nov. 4
Where: Golden 1 Center
Watch: Spectrum Sportsnet
The Lakers responded to their worst loss of the young season by stringing together two straight victories, which wasn’t an easy task considering that it happened in back-to-back games. Led by Luka Dončić, who is just scorching hot right now, Los Angeles stands at 6-2.
Simply put: if the Lakers continue to perform and win at this rate, there’s little doubt they can secure a top-four spot in the Western Conference, health permitting. A big part of their success in finishing among the West’s top four over the last couple of seasons has been their ability to take care of business against teams lower in the standings.
Enter the Kings, who have had a tough start to their season. Sacramento has won only one of their first seven games. They’re 22nd in the league in points per game and are ranked 25th in offensive rating. The team is led by veterans Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis, but so far it’s their rookie Darius Acuff Jr. who’s stealing the limelight. Acuff Jr. is averaging 26.1 points per game, so he’ll certainly be high on LA’s scouting report.
That said, there’s really no excuse for the Lakers to lose this game. They should be better in every facet and, while it’s tougher to beat opponents on their home floor, Los Angeles’ firepower should be enough to propel them to a win. Ideally, it’s the type of victory that won’t see Dončić play more than 36 minutes and that sees contributions across the board.
Maybe this is the perfect time for some of the role players to break out. Perhaps it’s an opportunity for Quentin Grimes and Colin Sexton to regain his shooting rhythm or maybe a monster-like game for Walker Kessler, who held up very well against Giannis Antetokounmpo in the win against the Miami Heat.
Jake LaRavia — who has been playing really well to begin the season — should be able to continue making his presence felt while Sandro Mamukelashvili and Jarred Vanderbilt will be given the opportunity to do so. And how about a proper debut for rookie Cameron Carr? It would be nice to see him go up against Acuff Jr.
We’ll see who comes up big for both teams as Pacific Division teams battle it out on Wednesday.
Notes and Updates
Aside from having the 25th best offensive rating in the league, the Kings also don’t rebound the ball well (27th), just like the Lakers.
For the Lakers’ injury report, only Adou Thiero (left knee injury management) is listed as out.
As for the Kings, Keegan Murray (left ankle capsulitis), Maxime Raynaud (right patella subluxation) and Ben Simmons (right achilles tendon repair) are out. Precious Achiuwa (left ankle soreness) is probable.
