The Los Angeles Lakers spent like Walker Kessler must become much more than a conventional center.
Kevin O’Connor and Raj Chipalu believe he could be the piece that stabilizes the Lakers on both ends — and turns its revamped core into a relentless regular-season operation.
Los Angeles Lakers Walker Kessler throws out the first pitch before a game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday, September 3, 2026, in Los Angeles. Wally Skalij for CA Post
Discussing Kessler on “The Kevin O’Connor Show”, O’Connor said the 7-foot-2 big man was “amazing when he was healthy” and argued that the Lakers’ steep investment reflects how difficult his skill set is to find.
Los Angeles sent Utah unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, plus swaps in 2028 and 2030, to complete the sign-and-trade, then gave Kessler a four-year, $130 million contract.
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O’Connor described him as an “elite interior defender,” lob target, finisher and screener. He also pointed to Kessler’s early experimentation with spot-up 3-pointers, a development that could determine whether the deal eventually resembles an overpay or an underpay.
The immediate fit beside Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves is uncomplicated. Kessler can create advantages without demanding post-ups or midrange touches: set a sturdy screen, roll hard, catch lobs and punish defenses on the offensive glass. He led the NBA with 4.6 offensive rebounds per game in 2024-25.
Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks goes up for a shot as Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz defends in the first half at Madison Square Garden in New York on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
His larger responsibility is covering for breakdowns at the other end. Kessler contested 7.5 shots per game at the rim in 2024-25 and held opponents to 54.8 percent shooting there, placing him behind only Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren among the league’s highest-volume rim defenders.
Chipalu called the Kessler-Dončić-Reaves trio a “regular-season wins machine.”
His reasoning centered on coach JJ Redick, who guided the Lakers to 53 wins last season even though Dončić and Reaves played only 41 games together. Adding a low-maintenance center who blocks shots, rebounds and complements both creators should raise the team’s nightly floor.
The postseason question is harder. Elite defenses can sag away from centers who do not shoot, clogging Dončić’s driving and passing lanes. Kessler made six 3-pointers in only five games last season, but that remains a tiny sample rather than proof of a dependable weapon.
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers hold hands during a timeout in the second half of a game against the Chicago Bulls at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, on Thursday, March 12, 2026. Getty Images
Health carries equal weight after a torn labrum and shoulder surgery ended that season. The Lakers have limited conventional center depth, making availability essential. Robert Horry has already called Kessler the team’s key, while Kessler has said the franchise’s investment makes him want to “run through a brick wall.”
Kessler does not need superstar usage to justify the gamble. If he stays healthy and masters the role around Los Angeles’ two creators, the enormous price may begin to look less like an indulgence and more like infrastructure.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: Mikel Brown Jr. #0 of the Brooklyn Nets poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on July 15, 2026 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Opening night — October 21 vs. the Charlotte Hornets — is still six weeks away and the internet is filled with hope, tempered by widespread predictions of calamity and doom, but one thing is certain and is likely to be throughout the season — Mikal Brown Jr. along with Egor Demin are the focus of the organization, whether it be basketball operations or marketing.
Julius Randle may be a three-time All-Star and a two-time All-NBA selection. Michael Porter Jr. may be coming off his best season in his seven-year career and their only player with a ring. But for better or worse, they are viewed as mercenaries, short-termers. The kids, leaders of a band of nine players 23 or younger, are the franchise future, promoted by the organization across social media and by fans as well.
We don’t know the source of this piece of art but it’s typical.
Sounds risky to the fan psyche so when someone from the outside says Nets fans should be “really, really, really excited” and compares his mindset to a future Hall of Famer, it’s time to take notice. Brian Lewis did just that this week when quoting Donovan Mitchell’s comments to Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter on their Cousins podcast.
A fellow Louisville product, Mitchell talked about Brown Jr.’s curiosity even in high school and how it shows in his basketball IQ . Here’s his full take.
“What I love about Mikel is there are not many high school kids that pay attention to the details,” Mitchell said. “I’m having a conversation with him like I’m talking to James Harden. I’m sitting here like, ‘Bro, how old are you?’ He’s like, ‘I’m 16, 17.’ I’m like, ‘What?’ He’s asking about the low man, he’s asking about strong-side help, he’s asking about the gap help, he’s asking about pickups. … That’s one thing I really respected about him. He was like, ‘Man, I want to work. I just want to work.’
“And even when he got to Louisville — and he obviously got paid a lot of money and all — the process mentally, the phone calls never changed. It was always like, ‘I want to be the best I can possibly be.’ And obviously a phenomenal kid, phenomenal family. But that’s where our relationship grew, because we had a game in Miami, I flew to watch him play against Kentucky — we beat them by the way, badly — and I’m sitting on the sideline and he’s looking at me so I can give him things in-game.
“That’s something I would do when Dwyane Wade was sitting courtside in Utah, so it was crazy to be able to do that. And I’m not saying I’m the reason he’s having success. He’s phenomenal, and he’s going to do amazing things in Brooklyn. Nets fans should be really, really, really excited, because they got one in him.”
Three “reallys” is a lot of excitement, but what might be even more exciting is Mitchell’s comparison to Harden’s mentality. Put aside his time with the Nets and ugly departure (which he now reportedly regrets), Harden has always had a reputation as a “basketball savant,” as one Nets insider described him to ND during his time in Brooklyn. His knowledge of the game from draft prospects to ancient NBA history is seen as second-to-none.
Mitchell isn’t alone, either as Lewis wrote. Rajon Rondo is another. The two-time NBA champion and Kentucky product would host Brown Jr. at his Louisville home where they would watch game film and play chess. Rondo, said Brown Jr., was a trio of former NBA point guards he modeled, the others being Steve Nash and Chris Paul.
“You don’t need to overcomplicate it. You’re extremely talented. Just keep it simple,” Rondo told him, according to Brown Jr., per another recent story by Josh Sloan of Roundtable Sports.
Brown Jr. himself talked recently about how his relationship with Mitchell evolved and continues to thrive.
“[Mitchell] first saw me at OTE,” Brown said of the Overtime Elite team he played for. “I got to speak to him in a little interview in a podcast, and we exchanged numbers. And ever since then, we’ve been very, very close. Obviously, I went to the same school, Louisville. So, yeah, we definitely have a really close relationship.
“He gives me tips, and I ask him questions on how it is to play at the highest level and how do you deal with adversity. I think that’s really been the biggest thing for me coming up to this point, is how you deal with it, because it’s going to come at some point. It’s inevitable. So he’s been really great with that. And also, I can’t wait to compete against him.”
Sean Marks sees Brown Jr. not just as his point guard of the future, but a team leader, saying what Nets scouts saw and heard about him helped cement their choice at No. 6.
“When you’re talking to the staff at Louisville and, honestly, everywhere he’s been,” said Marks. How he wanted to take care of his teammates and those stories that he likes breaking bread with teammates and taking ’em out and spending time socializing with them, that goes a long way when we’re trying to build a team culture, trying to build a connected group. … It’s important to bring guys in there that actually want to facilitate that.”
The Nets are heavily promoting Brown Jr. and Demin in their marketing, both with longer form episodes of The Bridge and Nets Generation which can be seen on the Nets YouTube channel and social media, particularly their official Twitter account.
But on the court, Brown Jr. says his sponge
“It’s gonna also help because I get to learn from them,” Brown said. “You want to soak up as much knowledge as possible as a young player coming into this league. To be able to ask them and pick their brain on a lot of things, and to be able to play alongside them, it’s going to mean the world to me. And you know we’re gonna try to bring a chip.”
Like we said, in seven weeks we will know more, but at the moment, it’s good to be hopeful.
It's another edition of Knicks Mailbag, with SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley ready to answer your questions surrounding the team. Let's get started...
What’s your read on McBride's future with Knicks? Is he a likely trade piece for a big? Love him but feels hard to see him extended - @SBart_89
**This one is tricky because Miles McBride has definitely earned a raise. He’s outplayed his contract (3 years, $13 million) by a significant amount. The problem here is that the Knicks are up against the NBA’s second apron. According to owner James Dolan, the Knicks will not exceed the second apron in team salary ($221 million) this season. Let’s assume Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart and – eventually – Jalen Brunson sign extensions. With those extensions on the books, the Knicks will have significant money committed to the starting five.
Landry Shamet and Jose Alvarado are also under contract for multiple seasons. So there isn’t much financial wiggle room for a McBride extension.
Things can change, of course. Maybe the Knicks move off of future salary in a trade and open up some money. Maybe Dolan and the Knicks decide to increase future spending without regard for the second apron. It's worth noting that the Knicks and McBride’s representatives have been in regular contact ahead of the season. In a perfect world, those conversations would produce a multi-year extension for McBride.
The longest-tenured Knick, McBride loves New York, loves his teammates; he was an integral part of this team’s rise. The fact that he’ll likely have to play this coming season with contract uncertainty is a shame.
Yes, McBride on an expiring contract is one of the most valuable trade chips in the league. He would garner significant interest if New York made him available via trade – either in-season or in the offseason. We’re certainly not there yet. But logic tells you that’s where things could be headed.
Feb 5, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Egor Demin (8) dunks during the first quarter against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center. / Mike Watters-Imagn Images
Do you think any of the second-year Nets guys are poised for a breakout season? - @Jayis2serious
Have to go with their highest 2025 first-rounder, Egor Demin. He showed the most promise as a rookie and, according to friend of The Putback, Albert Ghim, organizationally, at least one of the Nets’ five first-rounders needs to take a jump this season. If that happens – and lottery pick Markel Brown Jr. shows promise – the Nets will be building a nice foundation amid the rubble of the Kevin Durant-Kyrie Irving-James Harden era.
We all know the starting five and the two or three first guys off the bench, but is there someone you can see on this roster outside of those guys turning into a big-time contributor? - @tbrucato
Just looking at the roster, there is no direct path to minutes for any of the young guys. But last year’s club relied on strong stretches from multiple non-rotation players. Mike Brown didn’t hesitate to go with younger players if a rotation player got hurt or struggled. That said, it’s hard to see any of the young non-rotation players making consistent, significant contributions this season. The top of that rotation seems to be set. One other note on free agent signings ahead of training camp: veteran center Tony Bradley has also been a player on the Knicks' radar. The Knicks do not currently have a third center, but there is a strong degree of confidence internally in the Karl-Anthony Towns-Andre Drummond duo at the position.
** I answered a question from @AndrewA59778512 last week, but I cited @sbart_89 as the reader. My apologies for the mix-up. My opinion on @sbart_89’s background photo remains the same as it was last week. I love it.
“I wanted to go to a winning culture,” Kuminga said after he was asked about his priority, despite having opportunities to sign with other teams for money.
Kuminga said that leading into his decision, he spoke to players and members of front offices of the teams that were interested in him, but felt that the Timberwolves had “the type of vibe I was looking for.”
“I asked God to guide me and give me the best decision, and I think this was the best decision for me,” Kuminga said. “… I think this was one of the best winning cultures I could actually have of all the options.”
Los Angeles Lakers catch stray during Jonathan Kuminga introdcutory press conference. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Through his five-year career, Kuminga has primarily served as a sixth man, coming off the bench.
Turner noted that with this opportunity, and if Kuminga elects to enforce his player option next season, he will have more leverage for a higher contract next offseason.
Kuminga’s former teammate, Draymond Green, said his decision to spurn the Lakers could get dicey in the future, as he could find himself going back to his role, coming off the bench, if the Warriors start losing games.
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Former Boston Celtics star, now Philadelphia 76ers player Jaylen Brown decided to get in the squared circle with absolutely no preparation in Nigeria.
Brown took part in a boxing match earlier this week, a little over a month before the start of his first season in his new city. Footage of the boxing match was shown on Brown’s clips page on Instagram.
Brown commented on the post saying he ‘had 0 prep for this,” although he does have some boxing in his blood with his father being former WBU champ Quenton Marselles Brown. The match appeared to call extra attention to Brown’s 7uice Foundation, which, according to social media, “partners with leaders and institutions to bridge opportunity gaps and empower youth through education and innovation.”
In July, Brown was traded by the Celtics to the 76ers for Paul George and a pair of future second-round draft picks. Brown and the Celtics won the NBA title in 2024 after destroying the Mavericks in five games, where Brown was named Finals MVP.
Alex Toohey, the forward from Canberra, Australia, originally drafted by the Golden State Warriors before being waived is coming back for training camp, according to multiple reports.
Alex Toohey of the Golden State Warriors arrives at the arena before a game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NBAE via Getty Images
Toohey was Golden State’s top selection in the 2025 draft, at No. 52 overall, but has yet to appear in an NBA game and played only two games for G League Santa Cruz because of a knee injury. He was waived in December so that the Warriors could sign Malevy Leons.
Toohey and Leons will be among the crop of players competing for the Warriors’ pair of two-way slots when they open training camp later this month in Hawaii. Also expected to be in the mix are sharpshooter LJ Cryer, rookie guard Lajae Jones and Deivon Smith and Graham Ike, who like Toohey both inked Exhibit 10 deals for training camp.
Alex Toohey of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket during a game against the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2025 NBA Summer League on July 15, 2025, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NBAE via Getty Images
The signing brings the Warriors’ roster to 20 players, one shy of the offseason maximum. After a quiet summer, they’ve rounded out their 15-man roster in recent weeks with veterans Georges Niang and Brandon Williams on minimum contracts.
Dalen Terry, the former Bulls first-round pick, will also be in training camp but must earn a spot on the full-time roster; the 6-foot-6 wing is ineligible for a two-way contract.
The Warriors report Sept. 29 for training camp, which runs through Oct. 3 on the campus of BYU-Hawaii, before opening their preseason slate against the Clippers on Oct. 4 in Honolulu.
From bobbleheads celebrating current stars to ones honoring key figures of the past, to Hello Kitty – yes, Hello Kitty – the Lakers are slated to have a well-rounded promotional nights schedule for 2026-27.
The team announced Thursday their full slate of promotional nights and special recognitions for the upcoming season.
The Lakers are having bobblehead giveaways of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves during the 2026-27 season. Getty Images
They’ll celebrate superstar guard Luka Dončić as the NBA’s 2025-26 scoring champion with a bobblehead giveaway during the Nov. 1 home game against the Raptors.
Lakers star guard Austin Reaves will also have his own bobblehead giveaway night during the Dec. 27 home game against the Grizzlies.
The franchise will also honor legends through its new “League of Stars” program, which will include throwback bobbleheads of two-time All-Star and NBA champion Norm Nixon (Dec. 14 vs. Pelicans), NBA champion coach Paul Westhead (Jan. 14 vs. Magic) and four-time NBA champion Kurt Rambis (March 17 vs. Suns).
Keeping up with celebrating their past, the Lakers will have a 2020 Championship ring replica giveaway on Jan. 24, when they’re slated to host Anthony Davis and the Wizards.
The Lakers are hosting their first “Hello Kitty” night during the 2026-27 season. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
A few other promotional nights include a Lakers x Dodgers baseball-style jersey giveaway on Nov. 18 vs. the Jazz, the franchise’s first Hello Kitty night on March 7 vs. the Nets, in addition to giveaways during Opening Night against the Warriors on Oct. 21 and the 76ers on Christmas Day.
Lakers’ 2026-27 promotional nights
Oct. 8: LGBTQ+ Pride Night with Pride t-shirt
Oct. 21: Opening Night vs. Warriors
Nov. 1: Luka Dončić scoring champion bobblehead
Nov. 17: Veterans Appreciation Night
Nov. 18: Lakers x Dodgers baseball-style jersey giveaway
Dec. 1: League of Stars honors Norm Nixon with bobblehead
Phil Jackson is one of several Lakers legends who’ll be honored with a bobblehead during 2026-27. REUTERS
Dec. 25: Christmas Day vs. 76ers
Dec. 27: Austin Reaves bobblehead night
Jan. 14: League of Stars honors Paul Westhead bobblehead
Jan. 24: Lakers 2020 Championship ring replica giveaway
Feb. 10: Mental Health Awareness Night
March 7: Hello Kitty Night
March 17: League of Stars honors Kurt Rambis with bobblehead
April 9: Phil Jackson statue unveiling and Phil Jackson bobblehead
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: The sneakers worn by Malik Williams #37 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the game against the Miami Heat during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 18, 2025 at the Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Walker Kessler: The big man the Lakers coveted for years and were finally able to make their marquee addition via a sign-and-trade with the Jazz, and inking Kessler to a four-year, $130 contract.
Quentin Grimes: The versatile, two-way guard the Lakers signed to a four-year, $60 million deal, and is expected to be a Day 1 starter after bouncing around the NBA (the Lakers are his fourth team in 2 ½ years) over the last couple of years.
The Lakers signed Sandro Mamukelashvili to a four-year, $52 million contract. Getty Images
Austin Reaves: The Lakers’ homegrown star whose story from undrafted–to-All-Star caliber player over the last five years has been well-documented, earning him a four-year, $180 million deal.
And Sandro Mamukelashvili: The four-year, $52 million signee who’ll be the biggest swing factor for whether the Lakers’ offseason moves were a success.
Mamukelashvili, who’s entering his sixth season in the league aftr being the No. 54 pick out of Seton Hall in the 2021 draft, was relatively unproven through his first few seasons in the league.
The combination of his size (6-foot-9, 240 pounds) and skillset (versatile offensive connector) has made him an intriguing player.
But playing time opportunities didn’t come by easily, with Mamukelashvili averaging fewer than 16 minutes per game in each of his first four seasons in the league with the Bucks and Spurs.
Mamukelashvili’s final 18 games of the 2024-25 season with the Spurs, in which he averaged 10.4 points (49.3% shooting, 37.2% on 3-pointers), 4.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 17.4 minutes per game, opened up a sixth man role opportunity for him with the Raptors.
He seized the opportunity, putting together a career year that led to his long-term, lucrative deal with the Lakers: Mamukelashvili’s scoring average (11.2 points), rebounding (4.9 rebounds), assists (1.9), field goal percentage (52.3%) and minutes per game (21.9) with Toronto in 2025-26 were all career-best marks.
Mamukelashvili is expected to bring size, physicality and an ability to stretch the floor, which should pair well with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Getty Images
Mamukelashvili finally showcased the skills and offensive versatility that every team in the NBA covets from a frontcourt role player:
Shooting.
Passing.
Keeping the play moving.
Being able to play off of primary and secondary ball handlers as a connector within the offense.
It all may sound simple, but those were the type of skills the Lakers were coveting entering the offseason.
“We gotta be better [at] being able to dribble, pass and shoot,” Coach JJ Redick said in May. “That sounds simple, but that’s just the reality.”
Sandro Mamukelashvili will provide a boost to the Lakers’ transition offense. NBAE via Getty Images
The reality is that Mamukelashvili will help in each of those areas in a more well-rounded way compared to former Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, or even other options who were available in free agency.
And because he’s a credible center option in small-ball lineups, Mamukelashvili opens up opportunities for the Lakers to play bigger forwards who aren’t shooting threats (Jarred Vanderbilt, Adou Thiero) but can help cover for him on the less glamorous end of the floor.
Does Mamukelashvili come with defensive concerns? Absolutely. He isn’t a strong perimeter or interior defender.
But he can also change the rhythm of the Lakers’ offense, especially in transition or when Luka Doncic isn’t on the floor.
And with the Lakers committing less than 8% of their cap space to Mamukelashvili over the next three years, his upside is worth taking a gamble on.
Jonathan Kuminga turned down more guaranteed money from the Lakers — nearly twice as much per year — and elsewhere to come to Minnesota on a two-year, $13 million contract that could have him back on the free agent market next summer. Kuminga is betting on himself. Again.
"Just looking back, I think I'll say it's one of the best decisions I made," Kuminga said of coming to Minnesota. "Just looking at the roster, looking at the young group of guys they have, and just seeing what they've done in the past and things that they're trying to accomplish going forward."
Kuminga also said all the right things about fitting into a role with this team, where he often won't have the ball in his hands because that role falls more to Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball. Fitting into a role has not been Kuminga's strength (just ask Steve Kerr), but he sees a fit.
"I think my game, my mentality, pretty much everything fit well with the group. It don't matter what it is," Kuminga said. "They could put me wherever: running the floor, screen, defend, play fast, whatever it is. I feel like I could come in, be one of the best defenders."
Kuminga talked about how Edwards called him nearly every single day to recruit him. He also talked about his excitement of playing with LaMelo.
"I was watching him work out yesterday. I was watching him doing certain things, and just the way he passed the ball — it's incredible," Kuminga said. "I mean, I play with so many point guards in my career, but I never played with somebody that could pass as good as LaMelo, so I think I'm looking forward to it."
Kuminga talked a lot about defense — Edwards' focus on that was one of the draws for Kuminga, according to reports — and specifically the freedom he will have knowing Rudy Gobert is behind him.
"I could be myself on defense, I will be more aggressive because I know I have a shot blocker, and he's done it so many times," Kuminga said.
Tim Connelly and the Minnesota decision makers took a big gamble this offseason, moving on from Julius Randle, Naz Reid and a style of play that had been successful — but seemed to run into a wall — to bring in LaMelo, Kuminga, and to radically reshape the style of play. It's going to take coach Chris Finch a little time to find the rotations and systems that work, but by the holidays we should have a better sense of just how good this team will be.
INGLEWOOD, CA - OCTOBER 24: Chris Paul #3 and Bradley Beal #0 of the LA Clippers high five during the game against the Phoenix Suns on October 24, 2025 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jim Poorten/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The last 10 days for the Los Angeles Clippers have been tumultuous, to say the least. Last Wednesday, the NBA dropped the hammer on them for salary cap circumvention involving Kawhi Leonard, which resulted in the league taking away five future first-round picks and suspending several key personnel, including owner Steve Ballmer and President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank. And if you didn’t think there was enough drama going on in Clipperland, tensions involving arguably the franchise’s greatest player and one of the most influential figures in recent Phoenix Suns history continue to brew.
After returning to the franchise he helped lead to a franchise-best 57-win season and earning numerous All-Star and All-NBA selections for the final season of his career, Chris Paul was sent home by the Clippers in the middle of the night less than two months into the season. The move was an attempt by the team to shake up the locker room amid a poor start to the season, and it ultimately ended his career prematurely.
Now, more than nine months after his release, as if the Clippers hadn’t done enough damage to their relationship with potentially the most iconic player in franchise history, it seems there’s a new wrinkle, and it involves another former Phoenix Sun.
With Paul retired and no longer on the Clippers, Bradley Beal is switching his number from zero to three, according to NBA numerologist Etienne Catalan and the Clippers’ team website. Paul wore No. 3 for the entirety of his career, and it was the number he was told the organization would retire.
Chris Paul details convos with Kawhi, Ty Lue and Lawrence Frank ahead of his abrupt exit from the Clippers 👀 pic.twitter.com/fG3ojh2YE4
Coincidentally, Beal took Paul’s No. 3 when he was traded for him after the Suns acquired Beal from the Wizards. But even though Paul helped break a decade-plus playoff drought and led the team to its first Finals in nearly 30 years, he played just three seasons in Phoenix, compared with seven for the Clippers, and there have been no reports from Paul or the team about plans to retire his jersey.
Beal taking Paul’s number in Phoenix didn’t ruffle any feathers, but Paul’s history with the Clippers runs much deeper, and people are disappointed with how the franchise is acknowledging it, or lack thereof.
With all the backlash directed at the Clippers, Beal stepped in and appeared to defend his former Clippers teammate with a recent post on Twitter, singing his praises and saying that Paul’s legacy is intact.
He’s a legend!
The HISTORY and BRAND can’t be touched, nor erased!!!
The NBA has a checkered history with alternate uniforms, to put it lightly. While throwbacks and retro-inspired designs often strike the right chord between nostalgia and innovation, many of the recent designs aimed at pushing on-court fashion forward feel like a miss. It feels like an absolute shame that the greatest moment of LeBron James’ career happened in sleeved jerseys back when Adidas had the NBA contract. Nike took over as the league’s official jersey maker two years later, and it’s hard to say it’s been any kind of improvement.
There have been some good Nike City Edition NBA jerseys through the years, but lately it feels like there are more and more misses. It’s hard to maintain optimism for the future of the league’s alternate uniforms after Nike’s latest release leaked this week. Eight teams are getting new looks for the 2026-27 season with Nike’s Specter Edition uniforms, which “reimagine team identity for the league’s oldest franchises through their history, culture and the energy of today’s game.”
It’s a good idea in theory, but the execution is currently getting panned all over the internet. Here’s the leak of the new uniforms for the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, and Sacramento Kings.
🚨BREAKING 🚨@Nike & @NBA are unveiling new Specter Edition unis!!
Nike’s new NBA Specter Edition uniforms, created for the teams who trace their roots back to the earliest chapters of the league.
Nike says these looks are “inspired by the next generation of hoopers,” and there are plenty of young people in the press photos. I’m not going to tell a teenager what’s cool and what isn’t because I’m twice their age. All I know is that from the reaction I’ve seen online so far, justabouteveryonehatesthese.
these look like the kind of thing you'd wear in middle school basketball. hard to think of any worse jerseys ever worn in the league. https://t.co/WPC5CgKU9l
Pick out the good ones, and stick with them for a few years. Radical idea, I know.
It really feels like the public has fully turned against Nike’s NBA uniforms. After years of complaining about Adidas’ sleeved jerseys, these feel just as poorly thought out. Making new NBA uniforms doesn’t have to be so hard. Maybe take a few years off and get back to the drawing board.
We are less than two weeks away from some teams opening NBA training camps (teams leaving the country for NBA overseas preseason games), and 18 days from training camps opening across the league. This tends to be a slow time for NBA news, but things are happening, including new rumors about Jalen Duren's situation.
Jalen Duren’s qualifying offer
The situation remains the same. Jalen Duren wants to get paid like the All-NBA player he is — 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game last season while playing elite defense. He wants at least a $40 million-a-year average salary (five years, $200 million). Pistons management also saw the playoffs, where Duren struggled — 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, with a negative plus/minus — and are offering more like $35 million a season (five years, $175 million). The sides have been stuck here for a while, and the fact that the Pistons are about $36.5 million below the luxury tax line factors in here.
Duren's nuclear option: He could play this season for the $9.6 million qualifying offer, then become an unrestricted free agent next summer. He is leaning more towards that, Marc Stein reports in his latest Substack missive.
One source briefed on the process says Duren is increasingly prepared to play out the coming season on his $9.6 million qualifying offer — with the intent to become an unrestricted free agent next summer — if no deal with Detroit materializes by the end of September.
Take that with a grain of salt. Remember, that is the threat Duren and his agent want out there as leverage (the only real leverage they have as a restricted free agent). Taking the qualifying offer would be a massive risk for Duren, leaving generational wealth on the table (even at the Pistons' offer), he could get injured or have a down season that hurts his market. From 30,000 feet, there is an obvious compromise here — $37.5 million a year average, five years, $187.5 million — but that's easy to say from a distance. This has been a rough negotiation that will leave scars no matter the outcome.
Other NBA news:
• Bradley Beal is switching from No. 0 to 3, which is only a big deal with the Clippers because that was Chris Paul's number, and they are likely to retire his number in the coming years. I doubt this bothers Paul himself, and Beal paid tribute to Paul. The number will be retired at some point.
He’s a legend!
The HISTORY and BRAND can’t be touched, nor erased!!!
• Ben Simmons' one-year contract with the Kings is non-guaranteed — the team can cut him in training camp with no penalty. Consider that insurance because of Simmons' injury history, but the Kings envision him on the roster as both a backup point guard with Darius Acuff and as a secondary shot creator who can play with him. If Simmons makes the opening-night roster, he has a $1 million guarantee.
• Always be mindful of the spin from agents — passed along by news breakers — when it comes to contracts. Case in point, the announcement that Lonnie Walker IV returned from a year playing in the EuroLeague to sign a one-year, $3.3 million minimum contract with the Denver Nuggets. Turns out, what he signed is a non-guaranteed training camp deal, as reported by Sportac’s Keith Smith. If Walker makes the roster his deal becomes that minimum contract, but the fact he got a training camp deal suggests that is a bit of a long shot.
• The NBA and Nike announced new warmup, practice and travel gear that all 30 teams will use during the 2026-27 season. These will officially drop in two launches, Sept. 15 and Oct. 12.
Today, the @NBA and @Nike unveiled the NBA Standard Issue Collection, a new leaguewide look for all 30 teams.
The collection is designed to connect what players wear on and around the court with how fans express their passion for the game.
SPRINGFIELD,MA - AUGUST 15: Steve Nash and Mike D'Antoni look on during the 2026 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony on August 15, 2026 at Symphony Hall in Springfield, 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Among the most infamous teams in modern NBA history is the 2012-13 Los Angeles Lakers. A star-studded group headlined by Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard and Steve Nash, all of whom finished top nine in MVP voting the season prior, went just 45-37 and earned the West’s No. 7 seed before being swept in the first round by the San Antonio Spurs.
Once head coach Mike Brown was fired after a 1-4 start, followed by a brief 4-1 stint from interim head coach Bernie Bickerstaff, the Lakers hired Mike D’Antoni, who previously coached Nash for four seasons with the Phoenix Suns as they worked in tandem to innovate some of the most efficient offenses in NBA history.
Last month, D’Antoni was enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Ahead of his induction, he spoke with ESPN’s Dave McMenamin about numerous topics, including his tumultuous Lakers tenure and why he initially opted to join the organization.
“One of the reasons why I took the Laker job — the biggest reason, other than I wanted to coach — was that Steve was going to be there,” D’Antoni told McMenamin. “So I’m thinking that if Steve and I can get this and put this together, we could be really good. And I remember asking them before I signed, ‘I know Steve’s hurt, when’s he coming back?’
“And they go, ‘Well, he’ll be back by Friday. And if we can get you to sign and you get in here, he’ll be almost ready to go right when you get here.’ That kind of pushed me over the hill.”
Only two games into the regular season, Nash fractured his left fibula and missed the next 24 contests. He suited up for 50 games total, his fewest since 1998-99 and third-fewest of his entire career, and posted the fifth-lowest assist rate (32.8%) of his career. The four seasons featuring lower assist rate were the first four of his career, all of which came before he made his eight All-Star appearances.
According to Cleaning the Glass, Los Angeles’ offense was just 0.2 points better per 100 possessions with Nash on the floor that year — a far cry from his enormous imprint during the previous eight seasons in Phoenix. Back injuries spoiled the majority of his next campaign as he played 15 games and the Lakers went 27-55. D’Antoni resigned at the end of the season.
“Well, Steve never really came back,” D’Antoni said. “And even when he did come back, he was about half himself. And so it was doomed from the start.”
HOUSTON, TX - MAY 1: Bronny James #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball during the game against the Houston Rockets during Round One Game Six of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 1, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to our Lakers Season Preview Series! For the next several weeks, we’ll be writing columns every weekday breaking down the biggest questions we have about every player the Lakers added this offseason. Today, we take a look at Bronny James.
Whether or not he was worth the gamble or not, Bronny James’ original spot on the Lakers was inarguably a result of his father being on the team. That he is on the team heading into the 2025-26 season, though, is a result of no one but himself.
Multiple seasons of hard work behind the scenes led to Bronny producing in meaningful minutes late in the regular season and in the first round series against the Rockets. Even if nothing else happens in his NBA career, the sequence of him and LeBron cooking the Rockets together will endure.
Even if those playoff minutes also showed how far Bronny has to go, it also instilled enough belief in the Lakers to fend off any potential suitors this summer. As much as he has shown signs of progress, though, the time has come for him to be more than a project and to make good on the team’s investment in him.
What is his best-case scenario?
The years of work, and perhaps being a bit liberated from his father going to the other coast, set Bronny down the path of an impactful role player off the bench. The archetype of player he could become — an athletic point-of-attack defender who can be a connector offensively — fits nicely alongside either Luka Dončić or Austin Reaves.
However, all we’ve seen are flashes of that type of player, and rarely, if ever, all at once. The best-case scenario of this season sees him take those flashes and turn them into sustainable stretches of play. No longer does it happen once every few games, but happens across multiple games.
One of Bronny’s biggest challenges, though, will be breaking through the rotation. Between Austin, Luka, Collin Sexton and Quentin Grimes, the backcourt already has a lot of minutes accounted for. He’s going to have an uphill battle to get in the rotation, but defense is the easiest way to project how he sets himself apart.
What is his worst-case scenario?
While Bronny has clearly shown improvement through two seasons, the starting point was far away from an NBA player.
It also means that even if he has improved, he still has a way to go. Improving from flashes to consistent production is a tall ask.
Bronny is going to start the preseason on the fringe of the rotation. To break into it, he’s going to have to beat out established NBA players. It’s quite the leap, one that isn’t inconceivable to say he might not make.
Flashes or production won’t cut it for a team that is deeper this season than last. If injuries pop up, he won’t be one of the first names off the bench. And if he can’t produce for consistent stretches, he’s not going to stick in the rotation.
As much as the team or coaching staff might be fans of him, playing time will be hard to come by and hard to maintain this season.
What is his most likely role on the team?
A deeper Lakers team this season will breed competition, which typically breeds improvement. Bronny will be part of that competition, but he’s going to have to work his way into playing time. That means he’ll have to improve even more, and in the biggest way yet.
For now, he’s going to be on the outside looking in, but the opportunities will come. He’ll have to take advantage of them to prove he deserves to remain in the NBA.
