Basketball season is near and the Warriors are getting ready to begin training camp, hoping to bounce back after missing the NBA playoffs last season. But when the season begins, the franchise will be missing a couple of key players such as Moses Moody, who is recovering from a knee injury.
Moody is set to miss the early portion of the 2026-27 NBA season, but during media day on Monday, he reflected on his rehab and why stayed positive in the wake of his horrific injury.
“It’s funny. My first thought on the ground was, I know this is going to be a good thing at some point. I’m going to say I’m happy this happened,” Moody told reporters. “So what’s the point of being upset about it right now if I’m going to be happy that it happened?
“Then the next step is I got to make it a good thing. So whatever time it allowed me to have, do something with that time. I’d be happy that I had the time to do. Then on the basketball court, being able to slow down and train my movements and body and a bunch of stuff that might normally get passed up because I got so many other things to work on. I can slow down and go step by step. I feel like I’ve done that.”
Moody’s left patellar tear is an injury that can make a player feel down about the situation, especially with the long and grueling rehab process that is required to return to play and the pain and emotions that come with it. But Moody quickly thought about how he could make the most of it, alluding to how he was feeling the moment he went down in that March 26 game against the Dallas Mavericks.
“Well, it didn’t hurt, first off. I guess you don’t got a lot of nerves in that area,” Moody told reporters. “Another one that I think about is, how do you actually feel versus how you’re supposed to feel? And I’m looking at it, and I’m, like, I should probably be in pain and screaming and all that right now, but actually it doesn’t hurt. Now I’m just waiting until I get up or whatever is next.
“That was the feeling for me. So as I sit there calmly and think, that was the first thought that came to my head. Looking back on it, I think it’s pretty cool that that’s how that went.”
Moody still has a little ways to go but is progressing well in his rehab. Moody currently is participating in light on-court activity and described the process as tedious, but also said how much he has enjoyed working through this career hurdle.
“Yeah, I would describe it as light on-court activity,” Moody told reporters about where he is in the rehab process. “I’m in a good spot with it all. It’s been a fun process, tedious, you know, day by day and everything, but I’ve enjoyed it.”
“Yeah, I’m confident with the plan. I think everything has been on track for what Rick [Celebrini] has estimated and everything,” Moody told reporters. “Yeah, I’m in a good spot.”
The Warriors open their season Oct. 21 on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers. Expectations for the team heading into the season are not super high, but the Warriors are determined to be competitive early on so that when they do get Moody back, they can reach another level and prove to the league that they once again are contenders.
Draymond Green and Yaxel Lendeborg have had an eventful summer full of back-and-forth exchanges, but the veteran didn’t mince his words when discussing his initial impression of the No. 11 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Green was effusive in his praise of Lendeborg after Jimmy Butler III’s players-only camp in San Diego before training camp begins on Sep. 29.
“He (Lendeborg) can play,” Green said on Saturday’s episode of “The Draymond Green Show”. “He understands the game, he’s smart and this was really my first time getting eyes on him in-person consistently. Shoot the piss out of the basketball, like I was very, very, very impressed. I’m excited to see where he can take it.”
Green also clarified he did not want to burden Lendeborg with unnecessary expectations, stating the “NBA game is different” when going up against players like Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard on a nightly basis.
The new teammates appear to have a strong relationship, but have traded barbs about their rival alma maters since Lendeborg became a Warrior. Green and Lendeborg attended Michigan State and Michigan respectively, with Lendeborg referring to the Spartans as “little brother” on draft night.
Lendeborg then called out Green for not responding to his introductory text message, to which Green responded with receipts on his show before jokingly threatening to haze the rookie.
Despite the banter, both share similarities from their collegiate accomplishments to their play style. Both players earned First-Team All-American honors in their final seasons, employing a defense-first approach to their games.
Lendborg, who turns 24 at the end of the month, was the oldest player in this year’s draft, and brings a level of experience that previous lottery picks, like James Wiseman and Jonathan Kuminga, did not have.
Golden State’s roster is veteran-heavy at the top, led by Steph Curry, Butler and Green, but Lendeborg is set up to make an immediate impact as a rookie.
The Warriors’ training camp is slated to start Tuesday, where Green and Lendeborg are hopeful to translate their online conversations into on-court chemistry.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 18: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks celebrates with the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy during the New York Knicks Championship ticker tape parade and victory rally celebrating winning the 2026 NBA Finals on June 18, 2026 in New York City. The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games to win their first NBA Championship in 53 years. (Photo by Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It might seem like football season just started, but the NBA is already back. Every team in the league will have opened training camp for the 2026-27 season by Monday, with media days servicing as the unofficial start of the new year. It feels like only yesterday when the New York Knicks outlasted the San Antonio Spurs in one of the wildest NBA Finals series in recent memory, but so much around the league has happened since then.
Let’s dive into some of the biggest themes in the league entering the 2026-27 season.
The NBA has 3 clear championship front-runners. Will one of them win it all?
The San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, and New York Knicks are going to be the top-3 teams in any preseason edition of NBA power rankings in some order entering the season. It feels likely that one of these teams will eventually be crowned the 2027 champion, but the league has been incredibly tough to predict in recent years. The NBA has seen eight straight unique champions dating back to the 2019 Toronto Raptors, and no team has won multiple championships or even made back-to-back NBA Finals trips over that time.
NBA history is defined by dynasties. That isn’t the case in the present era for several reasons, starting with the second-apron, which makes it incredibly difficult to keep together a great team for longer than a few seasons by functioning as a hard cap. The increased pace and space of today’s game also leads to added injury risk, with several recent champions losing their repeat bids to untimely injuries in the playoffs. The NBA wanted parity with the current Collective Bargaining Agreement rules, and they got it.
I’m starting to favor the Spurs as my championship pick. Their young core should all continue to improve after winning 62 games and reaching the NBA Finals last year, which is terrifying. Victor Wembanyama is already one of the most dominant defenders of all-time, and he could be the consensus best player in the world by the end of the season. I also think adding Tobias Harris in free agency will help them a bit this year. San Antonio is my team to beat entering the season, but if recent NBA history has taught us anything, it’s that the championship race will eventually prove to be wide open.
4 teams I’m higher on for the playoffs than the regular season
Minnesota Timberwolves: I had the Wolves at the No. 4 seed in my West predictions, and even that felt a bit generous, but I like their playoff upside. The core trio of Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, and Jaden McDaniels has been highly successful the last three years, and LaMelo Ball injects playmaking and pull-up shooting into the mix that adds high variance in a good way come playoff time. I’m not sure how any team beats the Spurs or Thunder in a seven game series, but having two super talented guards bomb threes off the dribble seems like a decent punch to throw.
Philadelphia 76ers: I had the Sixers at the No. 6 seed in my East predictions for the regular season, but I’m talking myself into their playoff upside. Philly won a series last year and got noticeably better by adding LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Dean Wade, and more over the offseason. James proved he can still turn it up in the playoffs last year, and Brown’s determined one-on-one scoring feels more functional during the playoffs than the regular season to me. Philly’s regular season defensive projection is the biggest reason I’m lower on them — along with injuries and unavailability for their core players — but Nick Nurse is smart, this team could still be really good come spring time.
Miami Heat: Erik Spoelstra is the best coach in the NBA. Giannis Antetokounmpo is the best player in the East. I’m worried Miami’s poor depth could hurt their regular season chances, but I’ll never be surprised when this franchise makes a Cinderella run to the NBA Finals.
Golden State Warriors: I had Golden State at No. 11 in West regular season projection, but I have them seventh among West teams in my championship chances rankings here. I don’t think Golden State is going to be any good this season, but if they do make the play-in, they should have Jimmy Butler back from injury and have the assets to add another key piece if they want to. I’m fading the Warriors in general, but Steph is always scary in the playoffs.
Who’s your 2027 NBA championship pick?
Let me know in the comments. NBA basketball is back, and it feels great.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 05: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns looks on against the Chicago Bulls during the first half at the United Center on April 05, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Jayden Mack/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Every day, we’ll take a closer look at another member of the 2026-27 Phoenix Suns, examining what they bring to the roster and what their role could mean for the season ahead as we count down to training camp and the preseason.
Devin Booker
Shooting Guard, 6’5”, 206 lbs., 29 years old, 11 years of experience
Happy Media Day, folks!
Devin Booker has lived many lives during his Suns career. From a wide-eyed rookie absorbing everything he could from his “vets” to a grizzled veteran giving the next generation advice as they look to pave their own way. Oh, and he’s wearing number 15 now. Remember that? It’s been a long offseason.
He is still in his twenties somehow, but not for long. The Suns’ star turns 30 on October 30th, when the Suns are set to host the Denver Nuggets in their 4th game of the season.
We all know by now that Devin Booker is the Suns’ offensive engine. They go as he goes. He has been consistently one of the best scorers in the NBA, and quietly one of the most underrated playmakers.
Last Season
Devin Booker earned his 5th All-Star appearance of his career last season. Phoenix exceeded expectations as a team by a wide margin and secured themselves a ticket to the NBA Playoffs. Ultimately, Booker and company got swept by the Thunder, but they left the season with a reason for optimism.
Devin Booker has eight straight seasons averaging 25+ PPG, putting him in some historically elite company with the likes of LeBron, Giannis, and his former teammate Kevin Durant as the only active players with longer streaks throughout their careers.
GP
MIN
PPG
RPG
APG
STL
FG%
3PT%
FT%
OFFRTG
DEFRTG
+/- (TOTAL)
64
33.5
26.1
3.9
6.0
0.8
45.6%
33.0%
87.3%
118.7
117.5
+201
Contract and Roster Context
This is where the discourse will get interesting as the years go by. Devin Booker is making a lot of money, and he is going to make a whole lot more in the years to come. He will be one of the top-paid players in the association, and with that comes increased expectations and responsibilities.
Devin Booker originally signed a 4-year, $220,441,984 contract with the Phoenix Suns, all guaranteed, with an average annual salary of $55,110,496. In 2026-27, Booker will earn a base salary of $57,078,728, while carrying a cap hit of $57,078,728.
Booker signed a 2-year, $132,594,000 contract with the Phoenix Suns last summer, including $132,594,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $66,297,000, per Spotrac.
What He Brings
Devin Booker’s offensive gravity is easy to take for granted. Not just his ability to get a bucket in tight quarters, but his ability to draw the defense, make quick reads, and give his teammates a chance to capitalize.
Collapsing a defense and demanding attention oftentimes has a ripple effect that can go unnoticed on the box score. Luckily, there are other ways to track playmaking, driving, and potential assists created, as Shane Young notes in the tweet linked below.
His playmaking continues to be undersold in discourse when it comes to the top playmakers in the association. The gravity he possesses, along with the fortitude to make the right play when he’s being targeted relentlessly by defenses, needs to be talked about more.
Devin Booker’s final stats as a driver and playmaker this year:
• 1,006 total drives, 5th most in the NBA • 38% pass rate on those drives
• 785 potential assists and 12.3 per game, 13th among all qualified players. • 1,053 total points generated by assists • 77 secondary…
Phoenix needs a lot from Devin Booker. That comes with the territory of his massive contract. He must be a leader. He must take over games when needed. He must make others around him better and find creative ways to get them involved.
The Phoenix Suns need him to play like a superstar more than he plays like a star. That means showing up every night.
What Needs to Improve
By now, it’s obvious that Devin Booker has a few flaws. We all know by now that the opposing defense will game plan to slow him down in any way they can. Sending another body his way. Putting an aggressive point-of-attack defender on him.
At times, he can make what looks like careless turnovers against smaller guards with quick hands like the Jrue Holidays and Alex Carusos of the world. That’s just what those guys do. He can struggle to get his shot off against longer, more athletic defenders like Jaden McDaniels, for example. He also seems to struggle against Orlando, with their big wings and forwards thrown at him every possession. Cutting down on some of the unnecessary turnovers would be item number one to focus on. Number two would be a modest increase in 3PT%. And lastly, continued consistency in his defensive intensity. And a bonus take… if the jumper isn’t falling, attack the rim with more frequency. Downhill Book is a threat as a scorer and playmaker.
The defensive questions he faced earlier in his career have dissipated over time as well, as he’s proven to be a feisty one-on-one defender and smart team defender. The run with Team USA woke some people up to that, but his defensive growth was brewing long before that for those who paid attention. He will never be on an All-Defensive team, but he is solid. And when he turns it up a notch, he can be an impactful defender.
Steve Kerr on Devin Booker:
"He's probably the guy who's been most adaptable to go from a different role in the NBA to a new one here. He's such a big scorer in the league, but just like in Tokyo, he's adapted to being an on-ball guy, ball mover, the offense clicks when he's out… pic.twitter.com/rrVfUbjEj1
He and the rest of the league know who he is at this point. The question is… does he have another gear to showcase?
Prediction
This could be the best year possible for Devin Booker to take a stealthy leap. He is sort of flying under the radar on the national scale. Dillon Brooks draws the “villain” role and allows Booker to focus more on the game, whereas in the past there were times that Booker felt he needed to fill that role while also being the franchise player.
I’m excited to see how he leads this group. They have youth, athleticism, rim pressure, and a bit more continuity as a group. The lack of playmaking and floor spacing can be solved with the right offensive game plan and rotations. Good luck figuring that out, Jordan Ott!
Devin Booker dropped four spots (from a year ago) to the 20th-ranked player in the NBA, according to ESPN. I predict that they will need to correct that and place him back into the top-15 after a “late-career” breakout. But as noted, a breakout season for Booker doesn’t look like a ton of more points scored. It’s improved efficiency, continuing to improve his already elite playmaking, and serving as the engine for a Suns team that overachieves for a second straight season.
A successful season for Devin Booker is mostly predicated on team success. Yes, his individual numbers matter, but as we all know, if he’s finding ways to impact the game, the stats will come.
Could this be Devin Booker’s best season yet?
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – APRIL 27: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the third quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Four of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 27, 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
MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 10: Ousmane Dieng #21 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on April 10, 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
Ousmane Dieng was one of Milwaukee’s breakout players last year. Dieng, a 22-year-old wing out of the French town of Villeneuve-sur-Lot, wound up in Milwaukee after a series of deadline-day trade deals. The Bucks acquired him in a three-team transaction that sent Amir Coffey and Cole Anthony to Phoenix. Dieng hasn’t looked back since, starting hot and averaging 11.0 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 3.6 APG in 26.8 minutes per night with Milwaukee. He agreed to a three-year, $17.5m contract in June and is expected to be an exciting piece of the Bucks’ young core.
The Frenchman is tall at 6’9”, but weighs a slender 185 pounds, giving him the athletic and positional versatility to play as a jumbo wing or even a really, really tall guard. Dieng is also a solid athlete; despite his size, he moves quickly and fluidly, which allows him to stay in front of shifty guards and create for teammates.
Tactically, Dieng can create some exciting scenarios for new coach Taylor Jenkins. He featured as a secondary creator for much of last season alongside lead guards like Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr., but when those guys were out toward the back end of the season, Dieng was the primary creator, averaging 6.3 assists in his final seven games. Dieng can physically overpower smaller point-of-attack defenders and shift past larger guys due to his mobility. He’s also been proficient as a pick-and-roll operator, with his highlight reel including many fancy dimes.
Dieng could be a major source of offence for Milwaukee this season, since he can score at all three levels. He leans heavily on his jump shot (which is partly because of his relatively lean frame, if we’re being honest). He struggled heavily with his three-ball as the season wore on, though, shooting just 20.3% from three during his last 12 games.
Relatedly, Dieng often takes low-percentage shots, and his diet of pull-ups and side steps further bogs down his shooting splits; turning his streaky jump shot into a consistent one would make Dieng a dangerous offensive weapon. He also finishes well through contact when he attacks the rim, but he avoids going there much of the time because of his relatively skinny frame.
Dieng had some very solid games for Milwaukee last season. Chief among them were a 19-point double-double against the Thunder and a 36-point, 10-assist outburst in a loss to Houston. However, these highs came with sluggish lows as he navigated tough shooting slumps and adjusted to greater responsibilities in Milwaukee.
All in all, Dieng’s contract, age, and portfolio for Milwaukee make him an intriguing piece for the future, but also give him trade value, as Jack noted in his trade value rankings. If, for whatever reason, Jon Horst decides to ship Dieng out before the trade deadline, he can expect a decent return.
Selected 19th overall by the Raptors in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Santa Clara forward enters Toronto with an intriguing combination of size, shooting, rebounding and defensive ability. Unlike some first-round picks, however, Graves does not need to become an immediate star.
If he can defend, hit open threes, rebound and make smart decisions, Toronto will have plenty to work with.
What Did He Do Last Year?
After redshirting his first year at Santa Clara, Graves appeared in all 35 games during the 2025-26 season, averaging 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 22.6 minutes per game.
He shot 51.2 percent from the field, 41.3 percent from three and 75.0 percent from the free-throw line while adding 1.9 steals and 0.9 blocks per game.
His season earned him West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year and First Team All-WCC honours.
Graves also showed up when the stakes were higher, scoring 17 points and grabbing seven rebounds against Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament.
Mar 20, 2026; St. Louis, MO, USA; Santa Clara Broncos forward Allen Graves (22) reacts after making a basket against the Kentucky Wildcats during the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
What Makes Graves Intriguing?
Graves does not need the ball in his hands to be effective, which could make him a natural fit alongside Toronto’s higher-usage players.
At 6-foot-9, his ability to space the floor, cut, rebound and defend multiple positions gives him several ways to contribute. His 41.3 percent three-point shooting is particularly encouraging.
The Raptors will not need him to create every possession. If he can make open shots and take advantage of the attention given to players like Scottie Barnes and Kawhi Leonard, there could be a clear role for him.
What Can We Realistically Expect?
Expectations should remain reasonable.
Graves was the 19th pick and has just one college season under his belt. A realistic goal would be competing for a rotation role rather than immediately becoming a starter.
If he earns around 10–15 minutes per game, defends, rebounds and knocks down open threes, that should be considered a successful rookie season.
His Summer League performance provided some encouragement. Through his first four games, he averaged 16.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting 50 percent from three, showing flashes of his offensive versatility.
Of course, Summer League is not the NBA regular season. The real test will be whether those skills translate against NBA competition.
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 16: Allen Graves #22 of the Toronto Raptors shoots a three point basket during the game against the Miami Heat on July 16, 2026 at the Cox 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Could the Raptors 905 Be Good For Him?
This may be one of the more important decisions Toronto makes with Graves.
If he is only playing limited minutes in the NBA, spending time with the Raptors 905 could give him an opportunity to handle the ball, create shots and make reads he may not get to make in a limited NBA role.
That does not mean Graves is not ready for the NBA. Sometimes, playing 30-plus minutes in the G League can be more valuable for development than playing 10 minutes in the NBA.
At the same time, if he proves during training camp that he belongs in the rotation, Toronto should not force him into the G League simply because he is a rookie.
The Biggest Thing To Watch
The three-point shot could determine how quickly Graves earns a role.
He shot 41.3 percent from three at Santa Clara, but NBA defenders close out faster and open shots are harder to find.
His ability to attack those closeouts will also be important. If he can put the ball on the floor and make plays when defenders run him off the line, he becomes much more than a spot-up shooter.
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 13: Allen Graves #22 of the Toronto Raptors looks on during the game against the Indiana Pacers during the 2026 NBA Las Vegas Summer League on July 13, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Verdict
The realistic expectation for Allen Graves should not be that he immediately becomes a star. It should be that he develops into a reliable NBA player.
His size, shooting, rebounding and defensive instincts give him multiple ways to stay on the floor, and Toronto does not need to rush his development.
If he earns a rotation role, great. If he spends time with Raptors 905, that should not be viewed as a setback.
Graves has the foundation of a modern NBA role player. Now he has to prove he can consistently translate it to the NBA level.
DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 26: Justin Verlander #35 of the Detroit Tigers hugs his daughter Genevieve, with Spencer Torkelson #20 looking on, right, before leaving his final game against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the sixth inning at Comerica Park on September 26, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I get it, baseball news does not necessarily belong on Pounding the Rock, a Spurs fan site. During the offseason — when content can be few and far between — I may from time to time veer away from the Spurs and share some basketball-oriented news. If there is absolutely nothing going on in the basketball world, I may broaden the scope to “sports” at large. And some stories transcend into the fan experience. I saw this post on Saturday and initially ignored it. But Sunday it hit me again and decided sharing it was appropriate.
On Saturday evening, Justin Verlander pitched his final MLB start. After a twenty-one year career, two World Series championships, ten MLB All-Star appearances, three American League Cy Young awards, a 2011 Triple Crown, the 2006 AL Rookie of the Year award, and earning the 2022 AL Comeback Player of the year award at age 39, Verlander is riding off into the sunset.
In the fifth inning of Saturday night’s Detroit Tigers/Pittsburgh Pirates matchup, Verlander (pitching for the Detroit Tigers) was approached by manager A.J. Hinch to hand over the ball for a relif pitcher. Before he could exit the mound, he was met by his daughter, Genevieve.
This literally made me cry…more than once.
Justin Verlander has played 21 seasons in the majors. His final start was today.
After 5⅓ innings, manager A.J. Hinch came out to take him out, then pointed to the stands. Genevieve, his 7-year-old daughter, sprinted onto the field in his jersey, ran to the mound, and hugged…
Happy Monday, Pounders. Have a great start to your week.
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In a reserve role for the first time, DeAndre Ayton will have a chance to reset his career with the Washington Wizards. | Getty Images
With training camp opening tomorrow, there’s time for one or two trips on The Statistical Doppelganger Machine. Next up: the guy who figures to be the team’s backup big man this season, DeAndre Ayton.
According to Basketball-Reference and other online sources, it only feels like Ayton has been in the NBA forever. Somehow, this will be only his ninth season. Somehow, he’s still just 28 years old.
Since going first overall in the 2018 NBA Draft — before players like Luka Doncic, Trae Young, Jaren Jackson Jr., Mikal Bridges, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — Ayton’s performance has been a frustrating mixture of good (at times) and puzzling. The puzzling part was often characterized by low motor and lack of awareness (especially on defense). His personality and attitude has been primarily frustrating, befuddling, and perhaps a bit delusional.
Coming off the bench for the first time in his career, DeAndre Ayton has a chance with the Washington Wizards to reset the direction of his career. | NBAE via Getty Images
Three teams have been happy to move on from him, including the Phoenix Suns, which he helped reach the NBA Finals and then back to the Western Conference semifinals the following two seasons. By the end, the Suns were dumping him — taking back Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Keon Johnson, and Nassir Little — and getting no draft picks.
While Ayton’s individual production has been pretty good (his next below average PPA will be the first of his career), his impact on team metrics has been meh — modest positive on offense, about-the-same on defense.
The defense part is a bigger issue with a starting center, which Ayton has been throughout his career so far. He’s played 470 regular season games and not started seven times. All the non-starts came in his first two seasons. While he’s a legit seven-footer with better-than-adequate length, agility, and leaping ability, he’s not much of a shot blocker or rim protector. That loops back to the motor and awareness issues.
Even with effort, awareness, and attitude issues, Ayton’s still been a pretty good player. Certainly not what his teams have hoped he’d be, and not as good as his tools and talents would suggest he could be, but overall still an above-average NBA player.
Before running Ayton through the doppelganger machine, I kinda-sorta expected to see names like Joe Barry Carroll or Benoit Benjamin — talented 1980s-era bigs who had inconsistent motors, awareness, and attitudes. Ayton’s better than either, however. Ayton’s worst seasons (PPAs in the 130s) are about the level of Carroll’s and Benjamin’s best years.
This season could be a fascinating experiment for the Wizards and Ayton. Washington will be starting two centers, and one of them won’t be Ayton. The team should have plenty of minutes for Ayton — I figure Alex Sarr and Anthony Davis will consume 28-30 minutes each. Ayton could play another 28-30, and the team would still have 10-12 minutes a night at forward for someone else — perhaps Kyshawn George or AJ Dybantsa.
On the last year of an expiring contract, Ayton should be highly motivated to perform his very best. He could parlay a productive season into starting role with another team, or perhaps cement a spot in a Wizards big man triumvirate for the next few seasons. Of course, he could also low motor his way to a starting job with Olympiacos.
Let’s get to the doppelgangers. For new readers: this is the latest installment in a Bullets Forever annual Dog Days of Summer tradition, which involves me running players through my Statistical Doppelganger Machine. The Machine is a (not so) fancy-schmancy algorithm that compares the reference player season to every other NBA player season since 1977-78 and then tells me who was most similar. The Machine uses 14 statistical and biographical characteristics including minutes and age. While it doesn’t include position, players tend to get comps from their position group. The ones who don’t are usually interesting.
In this case, Ayton’s comps are not so interesting — at least positionally. Which is to say they’re all centers or 1990s/early 2000s power forward types.
Here are the player seasons with similar production at a similar age:
Richaun Holmes | 2020-21 | Sacramento Kings | Age: 27 — Worth mention that Holmes’ previous season ranked second most similar. While Ayton is physically bigger, their pace-adjusted production was remarkably similar across the 14 comparison points except for blocks (Holmes had more) and fouls (Holmes also had more). One other difference: Holmes was all effort all the time. If Ayton played with Holmes’ effort, he’d be first team All-NBA. Or perpetually injuried. These were Holmes’ two best seasons. Last season was something of a down year for Ayton.
Ivica Zubac | 2023-24 | Los Angeles Clippers | Age: 26 — Zubac’s career has been marked with year-to-year inconsistency. He posted a 184 at age 22, which he followed with a 121, 135, and 120. Remember, in PPA average is 100 and higher is better. In this comp season, he was on the way back up — 157, which he followed with a 183. Then he got hurt and his production dropped again. Interestingly, Zubac has faced criticism at different points of his career for his motor and alleged softness.
Derrick Favors | 2017-18 | Utah Jazz | Age: 26 — This was the first year of Favors’ short-but-high prime, which included a 200+ PPA at age 27. His last above average season was age 28, and he was out of the NBA after his age 30 season.
Loy Vaught | 1993-94 | Los Angeles Clippers | Age: 25 — Another guy whose career peak was around the level of Ayton’s “worst” seasons. This was the high point for Vaught (131 PPA). His production slid from there. After being a veritable Iron Man by playing in at least 73 games in each of his first seven seasons (80+ for the last three of those, including all 82 in 1996-97), the end of Vaught’s career was ruined by a serious back injury. His final NBA stop was in Washington — he arrived in the trade that sent Juwan Howard to the Dallas Mavericks.
Robin Lopez | 2015-16 | New York Knicks | Age: 27 — Known as Captain Hook during his year in Washington, this version of Lopez was still a good scorer on lower volume, offensive rebounding machine, and an all-82 iron man. Like Ayton, he was challenged on defense. He also generally seemed more interested in other stuff (like “feuding” with opposing team mascots) than basketball. That was often entertaining, like when he responded Hermione Granger. Which is both funny and wrong because Granger wasn’t a wizard at all — she was a witch. Also, the correct answer is Rincewind.
The honorable mentions are are most in that mid-tier big guy range who were pretty good at their best but either weren’t good enough to do better or weren’t always fully concerned with giving their best: Timofey Mozgov, Joe Smith, Jakob Poeltl, Tristan Thompson, and Randy Breuer.
Odds are that even if Ayton as a poor year by his standards, it’ll still be a significant improvement for Washington in the backup big man role. He’s a pretty good player who’s at something of a crossroads of his career.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 30: Luguentz Dort #5 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Seven of the NBA Western Conference Finals on May 30, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Atlanta Hawks will be starting training camp tomorrow, and there is a different feel about this team coming into the season. Around this time last year, the Hawks were seen as one of the youngest teams in the league, but still had expectations of being competitive. A lot has changed since then, and even though the young core is still a priority, general manager Onsi Saleh made it a mission to add some more experience to this year’s roster.
Outside of bringing back CJ McCollum and Jock Landale, the Hawks traded for Aaron Wiggins and Lu Dort during the offseason. Of course, they’re not old, but they bring something to the team that they didn’t have much of over the past few years, and that’s championship experience.
Saleh talked about those additions at his preseason press conference and the impact they could have on the Hawks.
“Bringing in Lu and Aaron from a championship team- guys who played in the finals a couple of years ago- we needed that pedigree in our room,” Saleh said. “With our group, we felt like it was going to make us better on the court, but those guys will also make us better through our player development program in a lot of ways.
“When a guy like Jalen Johnson goes up against a guy like Lu Dort in practice, Jalen’s going to get a lot better.”
Going up against someone like Dort should make the team better, and he feels like a guy you hate to play against but love when he’s on your team. Everyone knows the kind of defensive prowess he brings to the court, and those are the types of things that help teams in the playoffs.
Saleh noted that the team wanted to be physical, and having Dort is just adding another piece to the puzzle.
“If you guys watch all the playoffs from the first round to the finals, it’s a very physical and different environment, Saleh said. “We felt like Lu can guard and be physical, bring that tenacity on the court every single moment he’s out there, and it’s going to help our guys.”
Wiggins has the same intangibles, which helped him become a mainstay in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s rotation over the last few seasons.
“Aaron is a three-level scorer, a guy who can guard. He brings something to our group and our rotation that we felt like we didn’t have a lot of last season,” Saleh said.
These moves weren’t just about what these players could do for the Hawks on the court, but it was to help the other players on the team learn how to compete at another level. That’s important for guys like Kingston Flemings and Zuby Ejiofor, who are just getting started in their NBA careers.
“When we added CJ and Jock last year, their voice and experience, and even Nickeil last year, who made a couple of Western Conference Finals in Minnesota. Adding those guys helps our other guys who haven’t quite done that yet learn how to win,” Saleh said.
“They fit every checkbox we wanted. [Lu and Aaron] were unbelievable adds to our group. You can feel when they come into our building; there’s a sense of respect,“ Saleh continued. ”When you win a championship and are a part of one of the best programs in the NBA, you step into our gym, and that just elevates the competitive environment of our group.“
Right before training camp, the Hawks also traded for Dorian Finney-Smith in the deal that sent Buddy Hield and Ryan Nembhard to the Charlotte Hornets. Finney-Smith has playoff experience as well throughout his career, and he’s another person the team can lean on in certain moments.
With more veteran leadership and players on the team who have been where the Hawks want to go, this should be a very competitive roster this season.
\n\n\n\tBOSTON, MA - MAY 2: Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics dribbles the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 2, 2026 at TD 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images\t\n\n
Celtics fans have questions. A lot of them.
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And after the offseason they just had, there’s plenty to talk about.
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Boston has already shown it can build a championship team, but what does this team need to do to get back to the top? Has the roster been built the right way? Which players are going to take the next step? What must change for the Celtics to become a legitimate postseason threat again?
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Those are some of the things I assumed most fans would inquire about. But instead of guessing what’s on the minds of C’s fans, I decided to ask them.
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(Idk if I have the motion for this but) If there are any Celtics questions at all that ya would like to hear my thoughts on feel free to drop them below. Would like to do a video or something on them ⬇️
Q: What do you think the biggest deficiencies are to address for the Celtics to be a serious postseason threat?
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Since Boston’s latest successful run at the prized jewelry in 2024, they have endured multiple disappointing and premature playoff exits. One of the things I believe has plagued them in both years has been their offense and shot making, and a number of things tie into this.
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To start in the simplest form, since the 2013-2014 season, there has only been one team (2021 Milwaukee Bucks) to win the championship while being ranked outside the top five in Field Goal percentage for that year’s playoffs. In caveman terms: the Celtics have to put the ball in the basket at a higher rate than what they’ve done the last two playoffs.
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Last postseason, Boston shot 43.4% from the field, which ranked 13th among the 16 playoff teams. They also struggled at the stripe, slotting in at 13th in free throw percentage as well. Furthermore, they were 15th in catch and shoot field goal percentage (32.9) and dead last in corner three-point percentage at 24. The year before, the Celtics shot 44.3% from the field, which was good for 12th. Conversely, the 2024 championship team shot 47% from the field, which ranked fourth.
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There is always going to be a discussion about the amount of threes Boston takes when they don’t fall even if they are generated properly. In my opinion, the team has struggled to consistently generate the easiest opportunities available on top of that.
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Last postseason, Boston ranked last in rim frequency, dunks, and fouls drawn; second-to-last in points in the paint and steals; 13th in paint touches and points off turnovers; and 11th in fast-break points.
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Here is how the champions have fared in some of these categories since 2020 (Celtics excluded).
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This is not to suggest that ranking highly in these statistical categories is the only way to win. The 24’ Celtics, after all, ranked ninth, 12th, ninth, and sixth, respectively, in those areas, but that team possessed an extraordinary combination of talent, versatility, and shot-making that will be difficult to replicate, and that makes finding easier ways to get buckets even more important for the current Celtics.
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Boston hasn’t been a dominant team in terms of paint points or rim frequency, even during its championship run, and I don’t expect that identity to change. The teams that excelled in those areas had elite interior forces such as Nikola Jokić and Giannis Antetokounmpo, making their success in those categories relatively predictable.
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Instead, I believe Boston has a more realistic opportunity to make up ground in three areas: steals, points off turnovers, and fast-break points.
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Boston added Paul George and Mitchell Robinson this offseason, who were two of the best defensive playmakers at their positions last season.
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Paul George : 2.7stls + 6.5 deflections per 100 possessions (both 98th%tile) | 3.5 STOP% (94th%tile)
As I mentioned earlier, Boston has struggled to consistently capitalize on its offensive opportunities, even when the team generates quality looks from three. That disparity was particularly stark in its losses to Philadelphia. Across the Celtics’ four losses, Boston shot just 40% from the field and 27% from three. In their wins, however, those figures climbed to 47% and 41%, respectively.
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In theory, the additions of George and Robinson should help Boston take the ball away more, which in turn can create additional fast-break opportunities. That fits into a broader possession-game philosophy: create extra possessions for the inevitable nights when the shots aren’t falling.
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The Knicks also ranked first in second-chance points last playoffs, with Robinson playing a major role in that success. His presence gives Boston a potential source of high-quality offense, one that doesn’t depend on the team shooting its way out of a slump even though, the quality if threes off offensive rebounds could be great.
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There are certainly more holes you can find in this roster come playoff time, but these were the big ones for me. I think the addition of George helps the fluctuation of 3-point percentage and catch and shoot numbers, being that he has been one of the best spot up wings for a while now. But when those bad nights do come, I trust that the team will create more turnovers than it has in the past to allow them to get easier buckets.
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Q: Chris Cenac Jr. ceiling and floor player comps?
At 6-foot-11, Cenac showed flashes of an incredibly diverse skill set. He rebounded, protected the rim, defended on the perimeter, knocked down threes, played above the rim as a playfinisher, passed, and created for himself both off the dribble and as a jump shooter. The biggest question is consistency. The flashes are undeniable, and his athleticism should allow a simplified NBA role to raise his floor early in his career. Still, there is a considerable amount of development ahead of him, which is exactly what you would expect from a 19-year-old prospect.
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But the word ceiling means the absolute top of his powers and realistically, the name that keeps popping into my head as a do it all athletic big with self-creation skill is Bam Adebayo.
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The first thing that brought the thought to my head was just how comfortable Cenac looked on those floating/moving mid-range shots Bam has really developed over the years.
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Bam has also developed into an incredibly comfortable ballhandler for a big, particularly as a handoff facilitator and passer. He can put the ball on the floor and attack the rim from virtually anywhere in the half court. I don’t expect Cenac to reach Bam’s level as a passer, but the movement ability he displays with the ball in his hands is legitimate and gives you another intriguing layer to his offensive upside.
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And on the defensive end, it again starts with the foundation of fluid movement and vertical pop. Bam has developed into so much more than just an athletic big, so for Cenac to reach that level, he’ll have to learn the backline communication, positioning, and mental nuances that come with being a high-level defender. When projecting his ceiling, though, I’m expecting him to learn most of those responsibilities. Coupled with this level of athleticism, that combination could be scary.
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Sadly, Cenac reaching his ceiling is far from a guarantee. So, when it comes to his floor, I’ll go with Chicago Bulls big man Jalen Smith. Smith is a really solid rotational big who averaged 10 points and seven rebounds last season while shooting 48/37/74 from the field, in just 20 minutes per game.
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I think Cenac is too talented to completely flame out in the league. His floor, in my eyes, is a player who never fully harnesses his on-ball skills but still develops into a versatile big capable of rebounding, defending multiple positions, and knocking down threes at a respectable clip.
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Q: Do you think Joe will be willing to play the young wings this postseason more than last
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Coach Joe Mazzulla took plenty of heat from the fanbase after last year’s premature playoff exit, and one of the biggest points of confusion was why the young wings who had contributed throughout the regular season didn’t seem to get the same opportunity once the playoffs rolled around.
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In the case of Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, and Ron Harper Jr, here are how their minutes differed from regular season to post season.
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The one that hit me the most was Hugo. All regular season long this kid had a certain superpower. No matter how long he sat before he entered a game, he always changed the energy and intensity of it. And in a series where it seemed the Celtics desperately needed an energy boost to just get one more win; his minutes dropped by ten (this is my main point), and he wasn’t called upon in real minutes until game seven.
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In that Game 7, he entered in the second quarter and immediately got the crowd going, making several defensive plays and drawing an offensive foul. He ultimately played 10 minutes in the quarter and was a +7. Then came the second half. He played for just two minutes in the third quarter and never saw the floor in the fourth.
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For Scheierman and Harper Jr though, they got a surprise start in Game 7 but couldn’t catch a rhythm quick enough.
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To give you an answer, I do think Joe will be more willing to play them, or at least the ones most deserving of the opportunity. I thought those guys did enough during the regular season to earn a longer leash, but I also think Joe will learn from that experience. And, ultimately, I expect someone from that group to separate themselves from the pack this season.
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In a press conference sometime after Boston’s season ended, Brad Stevens was asked a very similar question. He explained that none of the young wings had clearly separated themselves from the pack, which made it difficult for Mazzulla to determine who should consistently be in the rotation. Whether I agree with Steven’s sentiment or not, certain matchups may favor one player over another, but overall, I think Mazzulla has learned from what happened last postseason, and a player will solidify themselves.
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Q: Who should start next to White and Paul George on the perimeter?
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For this question, let’s assume Payton Pritchard is coming off the bench. He absolutely deserves to start, but I’ve seen the bench role work really well for him, and I expect that to continue. He’ll still play more minutes than some starters and, more importantly, will be on the floor to close plenty of games.
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So, then that leaves Scheierman, Gonzalez, Sam Hauser, Walsh and Harper Jr.
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Harper Jr. is the most guard-like of the group, boasting one of the NBA’s best height-to-wingspan differentials. He’s a smart, heady player with some real juice on ball, and he showed last season that he can really defend. Most notably in an impressive showing while guarding superstar Kevin Durant. I just don’t think he’s in the mix to start unless injuries to multiple guys occur. I do believe in this player though and have no doubt in his readiness in big games.
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Walsh is the best defender, albeit by a very slight margin over Hugo, as well as the best rebounder and screener of the group. He’s also the tallest and gives you tremendous defensive versatility, much like the others in this group.
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The question with Walsh is on the offensive end. He shot a career-high 38% from three last season, which has been a real bright spot in his development over the years. However, if Boston is looking for that additional wing to earn the consistent starting tag next season, it seems to me that the player needs to be more adept at putting the ball on the floor than Walsh currently is.
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While I think that’s true, Walsh did so well last year in his 20 starts and was a true catalyst in the team going 15-5 in that stretch. Maybe Mazzulla will take that into consideration.
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Sam Hauser has the advantage of seniority, which could help him at least to start the season. Getting into a head coach’s circle of trust is difficult, and given how long Hauser has been in Boston, he could be Mazzulla’s safe option. Hauser is one of the league’s best specialists, particularly as a shooter, but he is also the weakest defender of the five.
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We already know what Hauser can provide, whereas the younger wings offer the possibility of developing something more. But if none of those guys separates themselves from the pack, there’s a very real chance Hauser starts a number of games simply because Mazzulla knows exactly what he’s going to get from him.
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Gonzalez has the most potential and is the guy I want to take the starting spot the most, but I’m not sure when that will happen.
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He has all the intangibles at such a young age and the athleticism to play against most playing styles. A ton of players in the NBA have a motor, but from Day 1 it was evident that Gonzalez’s was one of a kind. The ferociousness and intensity were well on display last season and works in tandem with his other skills to help him be a great on and off ball defender. He can be a chess piece on defense as we saw him guard the likes of Jalen Brunson one game then turn around and matchup with bigs such as Karl Anthony-Towns and Bam Adebayo well.
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González’s summer has given me legitimate intrigue about what his offensive game can eventually become. Between his FIBA run with Spain and his time in Summer League, we saw more of the playmaking and offensive versatility that made him intriguing coming out of Real Madrid. The passing chops were already there in Madrid, but they look more refined now, particularly in his ability to make reads out of pick-and-rolls and create for others. His overall offensive craft also appears to have taken a step forward.
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That said, he still has to prove that those skills can jump against NBA competition when the games actually matter. There are still questions surrounding his shooting consistency and handle, and those will ultimately determine how much of this expanded offensive game translates.
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Which leaves my pick for the starting shooting guard position: Baylor Scheierman. For me, it ultimately comes down to balance. Scheierman offers the best combination of offense, defense, and size at the position right now.
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On offense, he’s a legitimate three-point shooter, a very underrated passer, and someone with plenty of untapped skill and craft as a two-point scorer. Defensively, he can also take on point-of-attack assignments and give you everything he has on that end of the floor. And, like everyone here besides Hauser, he consistently gives maximum effort when crashing both the offensive and defensive glass.
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Q: Not sure if you are that tapped into Maine, but curious if there’s anyone, you’re particularly intrigued by down there that u could see making an impact in Boston eventually?
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I just want to thank you for giving me a quick chance to talk about Amari Williams.
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The unique seven-foot big man is entering his second season after averaging 17 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks per game in the G League last season. Williams possesses several outlier traits for a player his size, most notably his extraordinary passing vision, pass placement, and ability to handle the ball.
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That combination is what makes him so intriguing, but the areas he needs to prove he can handle, and continue to improve upon, are the more traditional responsibilities of a big man: rebounding, rim protection screen setting, and overall physicality. While he still has a ways to go to be ready for regular minutes, Williams played in several games with the big club versus legitimate competition and impacted them.
The best thing Williams did as a rookie was protect the rim. His most electric night was when he swatted a shot to save the game in Double Overtime vs the Brooklyn Nets. The rebounding still needs work, but knowing that he could play real time as a rookie shows his floor is higher than even I thought.
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Hayden Gray, who is now back in the Celtics program, was someone I kept a close eye on last season for Maine. He led college basketball in steals, and the ball hawking instincts in passing lanes are evident.
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This year I’m excited to see the time Cenac and Dillon Mitchell spend there if any. Another name to look out for is Milos Uzan out of Houston.
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Q: What changed offensively last year for DWhite that drove his efficiency to fall so far?
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Derrick White’s entire offensive profile flipped on its head last season. Let’s take a look at his play types the last two seasons.
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The three primary play types for me are Handler (22.9%), Spot-Up (35.3%), and Transition (15.3%). These percentages represent the share of White’s offensive possessions that came from each particular play type. As you can see, a significant portion of White’s offense came from spotting up rather than operating as the ball-handler.
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Furthermore, in 2025, 6.7 of his 12.6 shot attempts came with zero dribbles.
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Now fast forward to last season and look at how drastic this change is.
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His Handler possessions increased by 10.1%, the Spot up possessions decreased by 8.9%, and he got out in transition 4.5% less.
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All in all, White was used to more than half of his shots coming with a premade advantage from his teammates. He spent most of his time as a play finisher rather than someone on the ball the majority of the time. Until last season.
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I’ve made up a most important number theory for DWhite and the number is 36. My ideal situation for White’s upcoming season is that he gets somewhere in the middle of his Play Finishing percentage the last two years. If we can go from the 30.8% we saw last year up to say 36%, I think the extra load off could get his 3-point percentage back up.
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And it doesn’t have to be the 39% he shot the previous couple years. Maybe just something in the middle of the 33% he shot last year and the 39% marks. What would that number be you might ask?
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36%.
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Q: Have you told Joe or Brad about Amari Williams as PnR ball handler yet?
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No. My life’s mission has not been completed yet.
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If you have any questions, answers, thoughts, or want to see this again, please don’t hesitate to reach out in the comments.
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Part one of this series was done in video form. Check it out below!
DALLAS, TX - APRIL 5: Naji Marshall #13 of the Dallas Mavericks handles the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 5, 2026 at American Airlines Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It won’t be long before the Dallas Mavericks are back on the court to kick off the 2026-2027 regular season. With their return comes many questions. The team, coaching staff and front office have all been overhauled during the past few months. Naji Marshall is poised to be a big part of the equation after signing an offseason extension, but exactly how he figures in remains a mystery.
Throughout the offseason, the fanbase seemed somewhat divided on Marshall. One camp wanted to jettison all manner of veteran player in exchange for assets, while another camp wanted to move certain veterans while retaining others. On August 2, 2026 we learned that Marshall would in fact remain part of the future of the Mavericks. Marshall signed a three-year contract extension, which will kick in after this coming season and carry through the 2029-2030 season. The $52.2 million extension is a relative bargain for a player of his caliber and will likely only look better with time as the salary cap continues its endless growth.
The big question
The big question surrounding Marshall is precisely where he fits in with the Mavericks. Dallas is loaded with wings and forwards – Cooper Flagg, P.J. Washington, Zaccharie Rissacher, Caleb Martin, Morez Johnson and Santi Aldama (perhaps more of a center). On the surface, it appears playing time will be at a premium, but a closer look suggests there will be room to maneuver. Flagg will likely see time at one of the guard positions, Aldama and even Johnson at center, Martin likely relegated to spot minutes… and with Marshall having just signed an extension, it’s all but certain he will factor in as a key rotation piece.
Best case scenario
The best case scenario for Marshall and the team is that he will be the third best player. If he is, that will mean that 1) Flagg maintains his spot atop the pecking order; 2) Kyrie Irving has not only returned to form but is consistently available as the Batman to Flagg’s Superman; 3) new faces like Sergio De Larrea, Johnson and others won’t be forced to do too much.
Marshall doesn’t have to be the third best player for the remainder of his newly minted contract, but being that for at least this upcoming season will take a ton of pressure off the new guys, as well as Flagg and Irving. Marshall was arguably the best player on the floor in a handful of games last year when the injury bug bit, so he is certainly capable of offsetting some of the load on both sides of the floor.
Worst case scenario
The worst case scenario is complacency or injury – more succinctly, a lack of production. If Marshall decides to put his inner dog on a leash now that he’s been paid, that’ll be bad for the Mavericks. It is difficult to imagine such an outcome is even remotely possible. Beyond that, he needs to stay healthy. In his two seasons with Dallas, Marshall has played 69 and 74 games, respectively (with more than a few absences last season being of the arbitrary “rest” variety). Marshall has been one of the most available Mavericks since he arrived in Dallas and he needs to stay that way since he is one of the most versatile players on the roster.
Season Goal
Do a little bit of everything, with a focus on improving the “three and D” label. Marshall is one of those players who brings immense value despite not being a bona fide star. He can dribble, he can drive, he has a lethal mid-range game, he can rebound, he stands up for his teammates and he backs down from virtually nothing. If he can get a more consistent three-point shot, he’s going to be a real problem for the opponent. Coming to Dallas as a “three and D” type of player, we’ve seen the “three” portion of that equation come up a bit short. With Irving and even a stretch big like Aldama, Marshall may find he gets himself better looks this year, but whatever the case, he needs to get his three-point shooting percentage above 30% (something he’s never done in Dallas) as the first step, then needs to take a big jump from there. If he can get even close to league average, it will be a huge boon.
Overall
The Mavericks didn’t sign Marshall to an extension only for him to play a minor role. The extension signals that Marshall figures into the main cast of characters for Dallas and the fanbase should be happy about this. His contract is quite reasonable, he may be the most versatile player on the team aside from Flagg and he brings a veteran presence and on-court production that the team will need. If he can make a meaningful jump in his three-point shooting percentage, he will be an invaluable piece to the Mavericks roster.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
Greetings, internet users. Welcome to The Scratching Post, your home for open conversation with your fellow Carolina Panthers fans.
Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-football sports, you name it. As long as it’s allowed by the site’s ToS, it’s fair game here.
HOUSTON — Distance from devastation granted Fred VanVleet not just a surgically repaired knee but new clarity. One year removed from tearing his ACL and on the eve of the NBA season, the Houston Rockets point guard appreciates the everyday tasks he once considered minute and mundane. Hell, he joked, he even enjoys media day now.
“I have a whole newfound perspective on this thing that we do here that we call a job and also just life in general,” VanVleet said this month. “I’m just really grateful and excited to be able to get back out there on the court.”
The Rockets bring back their seven main rotation players from last season – including the team’s three top scorers in Kevin Durant, Alperen Şengün and Amen Thompson – plus offseason signings Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic. But Houston’s most important additions might actually be the re-addition of VanVleet and backup center Steven Adams.
Following months of recovery and rehabilitation, VanVleet and Adams are primed to return to the court when the Rockets tip off the 2026-27 NBA season in October.
Rockets head athletic trainer Jason Biles told USA TODAY Sports that both players approached the rehab process the same way they approach playing a game.
“Aggressive, steady, consistent. They’re competitive guys. and it really showed in the process,” Biles said. “They want to be back out here. Some guys may have taken even longer time, but they worked really hard to put themselves in this position, and they’re also team guys. They don’t want to let the team down. They want to be a part of it and fulfill their responsibilities.”
How Rockets kept their injured stars 'integrated and connected'
Whenever a player is facing long-term injury rehabilitation, Biles and the Rockets’ team doctors sit down with the player’s personal team and map out a plan. They progress from pain management to restoring mobility and stability, followed by adding strength and, finally, back to basketball.
Early on after his injury, VanVleet rehabbed at the Rockets’ training facility almost every day. During the NBA season, Adams rehabbed with team staff in Houston and with his personal physical therapist in Washington, D.C.
Injured players can feel isolated and unempowered. Biles said the Rockets worked to make sure that Adams and VanVleet, two of Houston’s vital locker room leaders, were around the rest of the team as much as possible during their recoveries.
“I always want them to be integrated and connected,” Biles said. “There are some instances where a guy is going to need some time one-on-one with me that may be separate from the team, but as a general rule, we’re all in this together, and we love for everybody to be around. It offers, especially with those two guys, great teaching points for young guys, and it’s good for them, too. It keeps them feeling like they’re a part of something.”
VanVleet’s case was unique because it was his first long-term injury recovery, and a grueling one. Biles said that ACL rehabilitation has shifted from time-based to performance-based, meaning there’s no concrete timeline for a return. In basketball specifically, it’s important that the injured knee regains as much strength as possible so that both sides of the body are symmetrical.
“The hardest challenge, probably, in ACL rehab is the time that it takes,” Biles said. “It’s just a grind, mentally, because you can imagine having to bring it for 12 months, you expend a lot of mental energy doing that.”
Biles got creative with ways to keep VanVleet engaged in his rehab. He played energizing music during sessions, alternated between indoor and outdoor settings and asked coaches to come up with interesting shooting games. Sometimes, they tried to make shots with a football – whatever kept the vibe fun and light.
Adams’ physical recovery was complicated because problems with the ankle can affect the knees, hips and lower back. But Adams said the key to his process was a mental adjustment.
“You have to kind of redefine what a win looks like,” Adams said. “Usually, when you play basketball, you’re kind of like, ‘Did I do my job well? Did I guard this person correctly? Did I do this many pick-and-roll coverages?’ Blah blah. But for rehab, it’s like, ‘Oh, did I achieve more dorsiflexion today? Was I able to do this many reps of toe movements?’ You know, real boring stuff. But you have to kind of just use those as wins because it’s pretty easy to slip off and feel sorry about yourself.”
Adams said his previous knee injury helped him feel better equipped to tackle the recovery process for his ankle and to be a source of comfort for VanVleet, in his own way.
“My love language is sending like really inappropriate reels or memes,” Adams said. “So I sent him some real rough stuff, but it’s all love.”
Rockets returnees propel expectations
After Houston was eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers from the first round of the 2026 playoffs with VanVleet, Adams and an injured Durant watching from the sidelines, the Rockets are hoping that getting their key players back will make the team whole again.
Their absences last season provided what Rockets general manager Rafael Stone described as a silver lining, forcing young players like Thompson, Şengün, Reed Sheppard and Jabari Smith Jr. to develop new skills and shoulder increased responsibilities. Their returns will allow every player to slide back to his natural position.
“This team was constructed to have me and Steven on the floor, not on the bench, and not in street clothes,” VanVleet said.
VanVleet is a vocal leader and on-ball operator who greases the wheels of the Rockets’ offense. Adams’ screening and offensive rebounding are central to Houston’s physical, glass-gobbling identity – which coach Ime Udoka said the team intends to “quadruple down” on this season.
“When you get Fred and Steven back, two of our more experienced, high-IQ guys, vocal guys, the communication and everything goes up on both ends of the floor,” Udoka said. “We’re all excited. Seeing everybody in the gym playing five-on-five and you can kind of see the new pieces, as well as guys coming back. Steven and Fred looking good out there gives us a lot of optimism.”
The final hurdle of the rehab process is a battery of return-to-play tests. Biles said the tests look different for each player but generally measure balance, range of motion and how well they can jump, land and cut.
VanVleet has been fully cleared, while Adams had not yet taken his final return-to-play tests as of Sept. 25, according to Biles.
Udoka said the Rockets will probably not allow Adams or VanVleet to play in back-to-back games to start the season, adding that minute restrictions for both players will be determined by how they progress through training camp.
“I’m sure what you guys see won’t be the finished product, but I’m in a really good spot,” VanVleet said. “Being able to play some five-on-five over the last couple weeks, build some strength and some conditioning and things like that. But yeah, considering 12 months ago I wasn’t able to walk at this point in the year, I’d say I’m doing pretty good right now.”
Adams added, “Pretty confident in the position right now, but still got to just take your time with it because there’s one thing getting back from the injury, but then getting to an NBA level, it’s a different ask.”
Biles said he preaches patience to athletes who are returning from a long layoff.
“Give yourself some grace,” he said. “I’ll let them know to be patient but also encourage them to get them to have confidence in the work they’ve already put in, and to trust that process. You keep stacking days and it’s really all about habit formation and bringing it every day. And then next thing you know, the end is in sight and then you’re back to who you want to be on the court.”
VanVleet and Adams return with great expectations placed upon them, but VanVleet doesn’t feel pressure to suddenly fix all the Rockets’ problems.
“I like pressure, so I’m not running from that. It’s not that simple, quite frankly,” he said. “But I think that we will look like a different group and my identity is not tied to the result, but I’m confident that it’ll look better.”
Basketball: NBA Playoffs: Cincinnati Royals Oscar Robertson (14) in action, pass vs Boston Celtics Bill Russell (6) and Tom Sanders (16) at Cincinnati Gardens. Game 4. Cincinnati, OH 3/30/1966 CREDIT: Walter Iooss Jr. (Photo by Walter Iooss Jr. /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X11537 )
It’s (mostly) in amazing condition, and, aside from the various great Celtics like Bill Russell, John Havlicek, Sam Jones, K.C. Jones, and Satch Sanders, you also get to see vintage Oscar Robertson and Jerry Lucas. Jack Twyman was also on the team, as was Wayne Embry, who would later become a really talented general manager with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
He put together a roster with Brad Daugherty, Mark Price, Craig Ehlo, and others, that was talented enough to give Michael Jordan and the Bulls some trouble.
The Royals, now the Sacramento Kings after a befuddling stop as the Kansas City-Omaha Kings (then just the Kansas City Kings), were always undersized, and Russell-led Boston won this game, to tie the series 2-2.
It was a five-game series, and Boston would ultimately go on to win its eighth straight championship, knocking off the Los Angeles Lakers, 4-3 in the finals.
HOUSTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 22: Clint Capela #30 of the Houston Rockets poses for a portrait during NBA Media Day on September 22, 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
If you happen to have spent a certain amount of you life as foolishly as I have, writing about the Rockets, you, too, might have a sense that certain Rockets players are “yours” in a sense. It’s silly, I know, but the sense of it is very present. One of those players is Clint Capela. I liked him from the start, and I think he’ll probably never get the correct assessment of his career, which to me is “a star in his role”.
He’s also one of several Rockets non American bigs who looked absolutely fantastic in terms of his stats and advanced measures, but seemed to garner little general draft interest (joining Alperen Sengun in that). Leading to one of my rules of drafting, which is, if a foreign big has amazing predictive stats, and will come cheap in a draft, just draft him. The other is, the rule for guards is “spray and pray” or, rather, draft a lot of them, you never know which one really can do things at the NBA level. Even just a decent guard, cheap, is a very valuable player in the NBA.
Anyhow, to Clint Capela. It seems like the comings and goings of Capela have marked significant milestones for the Rockets. The drafting of Capela back in 2014, was a decisive moment for the Rockets, even if nobody much knew it at the time. He’d be the perfect center partner for James Harden (find me one in all Harden’s wanderings he’s done better with) and also a very fine defensive center, and especially, rebounder. When Capela became the starter, the Harden Rockets really took off.
The trade of Capela, to Atlanta, in the 2020-21 season really marked the end of the Rockets ambitions as a serious title contender. There are intellectual reasons for the move, I suppose, but doubling down on Russell Westbrook never really worked for any team.
The return of Capela, through no fault of Clint’s, marked another watershed, in my mind, as it exposed flaws in both the front office and coaching. Hard capping a team in the summer is, well, a smug lawyerly thing to do. Let me explain. Law types are most often not the “adjust on the fly, finger tip feel for the moment” types. They are bad at improv for the most part. At their best, they’re thoughtful, and try to plan for contingencies. So contracts lawyer Rafael Stone had a lovely team in the off season of 2025. All tidy and ready to go. Then Fred VanVleet got hurt and Stone…froze? Chose to give up? Was hard capped by his “perfect lawyerly construction” of a team in the off season?
Then there’s Ime Udoka. Stone thoughtfully provided the Rockets with three playable centers, two of whom, Capela and Adams are in the top ten, ALL TIME, in offensive rebounding rates. When one center, Adams, completely unshockingly, got hurt early the season, you’d think the move would be just slot in Clint Capela. That’s exactly what Ime Udoka didn’t do. This despite the metrics of Capela in the few minutes he played (926) holding up well, career wise.
But you know, the vibes were wrong. Capela was heavier than his usual playing weight, and couldn’t move like the Baby Deer of old. If you’re a Vibes Coach, who just does stuff like not play shooters when the team absolutely needs a three, because of the vibes, then that means Capela is just bad. Play his way into shape? Figure out who he needs to play with to be effective, because he’s still grabbing boards like a demon? Nope. Absolutely not, unless forced to do so.
Capela said at Media Day that he’d dropped 4% off his total body fat number. That means he probably looks better in a uniform and can move better. So he’ll probably play more, right? Who knows? I certainly don’t. If Clint does play, expect roughly a repeat of last season (per36): 11pts/13rbs (6.2 offensive)/2ast/1.4blk/2.4stl if not a shade better, due to better conditioning than Clint had in Atlanta.
That looks like a great stat line for a backup center to me, but vibes, bro, vibes.
