Category: NBA

Let’s it get it Dub Nation. I’m taking a look around the league this summer division by freakin’ division to see what all the big hubbub is about. Now that the Warriors are apparently playing out the flickering hopes of their dynasty, it’s more important than ever to see who is standing in the way from Stephen Curry and Draymond Green taking ring number five.

As we continue to cruise through the Northwest, let’s go ahead and talk some Minnesota Timberwolves basketball. Last year the Dubs went 1-3 against Minnesota, an abysmal record that contributed to why the Dubs sank to the play-in tournament. This season the Wolves added LaMelo Ball, missed on LeBron James, and are plugging the hole left behind Naz Reid’s departure with a two-year, $13 million flier on Jonathan Kuminga. Remember him???

Kuminga is the presumptive starter at the position that opened up the moment Minnesota traded away Julius Randle and Reid this summer. He has a player option that lets him walk after year one if it doesn’t work out. Kuminga is stepping into that job with career averages of 12/5/2 with four of those seasons coming in Golden State before a half-season stint in Atlanta:

Jonathan Kuminga will step right in to a ready-made power forward slot with a chip on his shoulder, needing to still prove himself in the NBA landscape. More in depth analysis will be needed before projecting his true role with the team, having a player with his athleticism and skill while getting them for so cheap is huge for the Timberwolves aspirations this season. He does come with question marks on the defensive end, as well as figuring out his best place amongst a winning culture, but the talent is undeniable.

With star guards Anthony Edwards and Ball running the show at a presumably high octane pace, Kuminga should be able to slot in as a freak athlete streaking towards the basket and causing havoc. The Wolves are dangerous on paper, and it’s impossible to forget they eliminated Golden State in the second round two seasons ago on their way to back-to-back conference finals appearances. Edwards is entering into “face of the league” conversations while Ball gives Minnesota a shot creator it has never had running next to Edwards and pairs two players capable of turning any given night into chaos:

Ball gives Minnesota something it has lacked for years: a dynamic offensive organizer who can create for others, manipulate defenses, and remove some of the burden from Edwards. The Wolves now possess the most exciting backcourts in the NBA, and perhaps the most unpredictable.

I’m telling you guys,

LaMelo Ball is actually HIM.

The Charlotte Hornets messed up bad, and it’s all going to become clear very soon.

Anthony Edwards & LaMelo Ball will be an all time backcourt duo.

Guaranteed.
pic.twitter.com/ybNAcqF5ixhttps://t.co/vqI9R9Qf4X

— Yaxel LendeBeast (@GMZeroOG) August 21, 2026

Minnesota in recent years has been athletic, rugged, and feisty. Their defense, anchored by the giant rim protector Rudy Gobert, can stifle anybody on a given night. They seemed to lack the top end scoring punch (and health) that champions need to have, but on a night-in and night-out basis they’re absolutely going to force any team to execute at a high level. With Ball and Kuminga in the fold, they’ve got a new look they can throw out there to spice things up. The Dubs will have to be on high alert when these fellas howl into town.

Doesn’t it seem like just yesterday Golden State was up 1-0 on Minnesota in the playoffs by stealing Game 1 on the road before Steph Curry’s body gave out? That was the series Kuminga got a heavy showcase in postseason basketball. And eeven though the Dubs faltered, it appears the Wolves saw something in JK that they liked.

Real Madrid FC announced the team’s basketball squad has signed free agent center Damian Jones to a one-year deal earlier this week. Jones spent eight seasons in the NBA from 2016-2024, but has been unable to return to the most prestigious basketball league. Over the past two years, Jones has primarily played in China with the Zhejian Golden Bulls, but also played with the Vaqueros de Bayamon in Puerto Rico.

The Golden State Warriors drafted Jones with the last pick in the first-round of the 2016 NBA Draft. Jones won two NBA titles during his three seasons with the Dubs, but struggled to ever find a place in the team’s rotation. He joined the starting lineup in his third year, but suffered a torn pectoral injury that kept him sidelined for most of the season. So, began his NBA journeyman career.

Jones would play for seven teams over the next five seasons, playing for three teams in 2020-21. Originally viewed as solely a rim runner, Jones developed some outside touch and was occasionally able to hit a three. Over his NBA career, he averaged 4.9 points and 3.1 rebounds in 13.6 minutes per game (279 games).

Jordan Clarkson has been friend zoned.

When speaking with TMZ, singer-songwriter Bebe Rexha shut down the idea that there was a romantic spark with the Knicks guard after the two spent a day together last month.

While taking pictures with fans, Rexha shook her head, saying “friends” to the outlet.

View this post on Instagram

The two spent a day in New York City together at the end of July, starting with an art session with artist Leopoldo Gout.

The two posed in fun photos together, including one with Clarkson’s arm around Rexha.

Later in the night, they were seen at a Vogue event at Rockefeller Center.

Both wearing black outfits, Rexha and Clarkson posed for pictures at the event as well.

The happenings sparked romance rumors between the two.

Clarkson is on a high after winning an NBA championship with the Knicks in June, marking the franchise’s first title since 1973.

The 34-year-old joined the Knicks only last season and after an inconsistent regular season, he emerged as a reliable bench piece in the playoffs.

Clarkson re-signed with the defending champs on a one-year deal worth $3.9 million in July ahead of his 13th season in the NBA.

The Knicks were also able to bring back Landry Shamet, Jose Alvarado and Mohamed Diawara. Mitchell Robinson went to Boston and free agent Andre Drummond replaced him for a total of $17.5 million against the cap between the four players.

Clarkson recently found himself in the headlines after he was removed from a New York club for stepping in during a bottle throwing fight involving Travis Scott.

He attempted to de-escalate the situation after the rapper’s entourage started throwing bottles. He wound up being escorted out from a star-studded party at Zero Bond, a members-only social club in the city.

Some Houston Rockets fans would call the trade that brought Russell Westbrook to the team the worst in the history of the franchise:

Apparently, not as many as one might have thought.

The results for our last SB Nation Reacts question are in. A resounding 72% of you said that the Westbrook trade wasn’t the worst in the team’s history.

How can this be?

Rockets have made a few questionable deals throughout history

I’ve been a fan of the team since 1997-ish, and this was unequivically the worst deal I’ve seen the team make.

Yet, the Rockets precede my fandom by a large margin. There are realistically three other deals in the team’s history that have a case for the team’s worst.

In 1972, the Rockets traded Elvin Hayes to the Washington Bullets for Jack Marin, who you’ve never heard of if you weren’t alive in 1972. From what I can gather, Hayes and the front office weren’t getting along.

In ’82, they moved Moses Malone for Caldwell Jones and a first-round pick, which they’d spend on Rodney McCray, who I think I’ve heard of, but possibly due to having written similar Rockets trade retrospective pieces. He’s certainly no Moses Malone.

Finally, there’s the 1996 Charles Barkley trade. The Rockets sent Robert Horry, Sam Cassell, Chucky Brown, and Mark Bryant to the Suns for a Barkley that had one more All-Star season in the tank.

Are any of those deals as bad as the Westbrook trade?

Rockets’ Westbrook trade among franchise’s worst

Count me among the 29% – Tentatively.

It sure feels like they gave Hayes away. Perhaps it made more sense at the time, but that could be the worst one.

The Malone deal stinks, but it didn’t compromise the team’s future like the Westbrook trade. Giving up multiple first-round picks for a worse player was the real cardinal sin there.

Don’t crucify me: But I don’t hate the Barkley deal. I can’t. They weren’t going to win another championship anyway, Barkley was still Barkley, and it was worth a shot in my mind.

But to each their own.

Could the Rockets make another trade that joins this list in 2026-27? Let’s certainly hope not! If they do, and you feel lucky, head over to FanDuel. They sponsor these posts, and they’ve got any bet you’d like to make after the team trades Reed Sheppard and two future firsts for Kyrie Irving.

(Joking).

The Phoenix Suns took the NBA by storm last season, catching several teams off guard. They were supposed to be the “easy win” on the schedule for opponents. Instead, they made it a 48-minute battle every time they stepped out on that floor, win or lose.

Towards the end of the year, teams caught on and the Suns started to crash back to reality a bit. Yes, injuries were a factor. But that was part of it. This year, they will not have that same luxury from the jump.

This article is not meant to be doom and gloom, just offering an alternative angle to combat some of the optimism that is oozing out of portions of the fan base. I will argue against myself in the next piece to look more at the… wait for it… bright side. But for now, let’s nitpick.

1) Lack of clearly defined roles

The Suns are asking a lot of guys to do things they normally don’t do. Or maybe things they aren’t particularly known for. Jalen Green as a point guard? Miles Bridges to take on less usage, hit threes, and improve playmaking? Dillon Brooks will not have the same freedom (health permitted to the rest of the roster) as he did last year. How does this quartet adjust together, assuming they are all on the court at the same time.

That’s not to say that it can’t work. We just need to see it first.

The Gillespie/Kennard/Goodwin bench trio is awesome. Jordan Ott will need to find a way to keep every one of these guys happy both from a minutes and field goal attempts standpoint. Injuries can naturally solve some of those issues, but let’s hope that’s not the case, especially with how last year went.

The center rotation is talented, but could be tough to get consistency from depending on Mark Williams’ health. If you are a believer in Khaman Maluach like me, and find Oso as a useful depth piece (also me) then you aren’t as worried about this position overall. Rasheer Fleming and Koa Peat figure to get spotty minutes depending on health.

But for me, it’s really about a team that is built awkwardly. They are talented and deep, but we just need to see how it all meshes together. And some of you may be thinking “they didn’t really change that much,” and you’d be right on the surface. But what I’m assuming is we get more Jalen Green, who we did not see a lot of last year, and with Miles Bridges in the mix plus Allen and O’Neale gone as rotation staples, it opens some discussion for what this team’s identity is at full strength.

The intangibles are on the bench, and the raw talent is starting. Jordan Ottt has to push the right buttons to blend this thing into a masterpiece.

2) Lack of playmaking + floor spacing

This is the one that isn’t just focused on the lack of playmaking, but rather, the mentality/reputation of Green, Brooks, and Bridges all being more “me-first” offensively. I’m not aiming to knock them, but throughout their careers, they have been guys who have looked to create for themselves or feed off others’ creation.

Jalen Green’s playmaking is not a strength. Miles Bridges’ playmaking is not a strength. Dillon Brooks’ playmaking is not a strength. Mark Williams is not a playmaking center, and he cannot space the floor.

That puts a ton of pressure on Devin Booker to playmake, which he is capable of. But then we get into the floor-spacing concerns.

3PT% in 2025-26

• Devin Booker – 33.0%
• Jalen Green – 31.3%
• Dillon Brooks – 34.4%
• Miles Bridges – 33.3%

That is 80% of their projected starting lineup shooting under 35 percent from deep, and their starting center doesn’t shoot threes. It’s not the end of the world, but it’s something that needs to be talked about more. How do they make it work?

3) No element of surprise

As noted, Phoenix caught a lot of teams by surprise a year ago, especially earlier in the season. This year, they will not have that same luxury. They earned the respect of their peers, and that does matter to an extent.

Teams will be better prepared for them both gameplan-wise and from a mentality standpoint. They will have more extensive scouting reports and film on guys like Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin, who snuck up on them last year. Instead of teams coming in on autopilot in a random Tuesday night game in Phoenix, they will be ready for a dogfight. I’m not saying that happens all of the time, but the element of surprise is something that I think we all saw benefit the Suns more than once a year ago.

Can they sustain that level of intensity and outwork their opponents throughout an 82-game season again? It’s a tall task, but if they can stay relatively healthy, their identity should continue to shine through.

The expectations are a bit higher this season, and we’ve seen that lead to disappointment in the past. Let’s hope this season is different, and the Suns build off their momentum from last season.

With the start of the 2026-27 NBA season less than two months away, Dallas Mavericks fans have many reasons to be excited. The continued development and ascension of 19-year-old Cooper Flagg is the biggest, but the return of star point guard Kyrie Irving has to be a close second.

It has been quite a while since we’ve seen Irving in action, as he tore his ACL in a game against the Sacramento Kings on March 3, 2025, and has been recovering ever since. Irving could’ve made his return to the court following the NBA Trade Deadline in February, but given how far back the Mavs were in the playoff race at that point, there was simply no reason to rush him back. Now, though, the nine-time All-Star and future Hall of Famer looks to be 100 percent again and ready to hit the ground running when the season gets underway in late October.

In a video that surfaced on social media earlier this week, Irving was seen putting on a show with his patented wizardry in an offseason open run. Obviously, we’ll have to see how Irving looks when real NBA games get here, but based on how he’s gliding around these open-run courts with ease, that has to give the fan base some added hope for what this upcoming season could potentially become. Right now, most critics aren’t expecting much out of Dallas this year, but with Flagg taking the next big step toward superstardom and Irving looking like this? You can’t tell me good things can’t happen if both of those guys can stay healthy.

On a recent episode of Curious Mike, Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. gave his thoughts on Irving after recently playing in some of those open runs with him.

“I was hooping with [Kyrie] yesterday, and this is off of his ACL. That dude was so cold, bro,” Porter said. “I couldn’t believe how he was moving out there… Bro, it was nutty. It was crazy.”

Irving is 34 years old and has an extensive and well-documented injury history throughout his career, but his last ACL injury was more of a freak deal than anything else, so the hope is that he can avoid that kind of misfortune here in the latter portion of his NBA career. In 128 games played over three years in Dallas, Irving has averaged 25.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 49 percent overall, including 40.4 percent from deep and 91.7 percent from the free-throw line. If the Mavs can even get 75-80 percent of that kind of production in 60-plus games from Irving in 2026-27, they should end up being in better shape in the standings than many are projecting.

The other day I stumbled upon an article on Blazer’s Edge, the Portland Trail Blazers version of Pounding The Rock. The post, Bidding Farewell to the Underappreciated Jerami Grant, is a heartfelt adieu to a solid player who stood with the Blazers during the time when they are struggling.

Jerami Grant, originally drafted 39th overall in 2014 by the Philadelphia 76ers, just completed his twelfth season in the NBA. He’s played with the 76ers, Thunder, Nuggets, and Pistons before landing in Portland. The four years he spent with the Trail Blazers was the longest tenure with one team of his career. After his first season in Rip City, Damian Lillard — the franchise’s centerpiece — requested a trade and left for Milwaukee.

Since then the Trail Blazers have struggled, and although there have been improvements (from 21 wins in 2024 to 36 wins in 2025 to 42 wins last season) they have simply been unable to get over the hump.

The author Adrian Bernecich stated,

“Grant was a Blazer. For a couple of years ensured the franchise wasn’t devastatingly bad. He may have held onto the ball but that was because the young guys hadn’t shown an ability to do it themselves. I think back to the night of the 2024 NBA Trade Deadline when the Blazers hosted the Pistons. Grant finished the overtime loss alongside rookie Toumani Camara, Ashtan Hagans, Matisse Thybulle and Jabari Walker. Anfernee Simons left the game early with injury. Grant was the only guy able to generate any semblance of offense.”

His take on having a player stay with the team took me back to the DeMar DeRozan’s stint with the Spurs from 2018-2021. The Spurs entered a downward spiral after the loss of Kawhi Leonard and the departure of the Big 3. This era brought the first losing records to San Antonio since 1997, and that was in large part due to injuries to David Robinson. Before that, the Spurs had a four year run of losing seasons between 1985 and 1989 when Alvin Robertson was the shining light on an otherwise dark time for the Silver & Black.

After being traded to San Antonio, DeMar DeRozan admitted he was shocked. He’d originally expected to play in Toronto for his entire career. During those three seasons, DeRozan averaged over 21 points per game and had career bests in assists and rebounds. While dishing out to a rebuilding core, he spread institutional knowledge to the young players. His veteran presence was essential to the growth of Dejounte Murray, Derrick White, Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, Lonnie Walker IV, and Tre Jones. Having DeRozan as a mentor made a great number of players better.

It takes a lot to play on, take on leadership, and give it your best when the chance for success seems slim. It’s a special breed of player. And hearing a Trail Blazer’s take on Jerami Grant really brought back the respect and admiration for DeMar DeRozan.

It got me thinking about other teams. From 2010-2014, the Cavaliers went from perennial contenders to nary a playoff berth. This was the period when LeBron James made his “decision” and spent four years in Miami. There had to be a player who attempted to carry the torch. It has to happen when any great team loses their top player.

Can you think of any other players who shone bright for a team during their darkest hour?

Welcome to The Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, do not troll and watch the language.

As the offseason settles into the quiet, I’m taking a Warriors-centric look at Northwest Division. Let’s chat about those Denver Nuggets. They let 23-year old baller Peyton Watson walk and added a 37-year-old DeMar DeRozan. Watson signed a four-year, $22 million deal with Cleveland in a sign-and-trade while Denver told itself Watson’s number was too rich to match.

This is a difficult blow for Nuggets’ supporters who watched Watson develop into a solid piece for a Denver team not far removed from that 2023 NBA title parade:

Losing Watson is tough to swallow, there’s no way around that. Regardless of where one falls on their opinion of whether $22 million a season (and the much larger tax penalties) is worth it for Watson, the immediate return of a first and second round draft pick years in the future doesn’t inspire much hope in Denver’s immediate prospects to get a second ring with Jokic. Nor does it inspire a lot of belief that the organization truly prioritizes winning another championship with the greatest player in franchise history. Certainly those draft picks can help the Nuggets make further moves to improve the roster but the more likely scenario, at this moment at least, feels like those picks will just be used to offload more salary and further reduce the Nuggets tax penalties.

Watson has been establishing himself as a strong defensive option that could be trusted to take on the responsibilities of star assignments. His absence will absolutely be felt on that end. Denver is replacing that on the roster with DeRozan, who averaged better than 18 points a game last season in Sacramento on a team that spent the season in the cellar. He’s a bucket getter, no argument there. But don’t take my word for it, just ask the Denver Stiff blog:

The Nuggets will want DeRozan ready for the playoffs as well so he’ll play plenty next to Joker so that he too can acclimate to having a center as the hub of the offense, but the Nuggets desperately need an on-ball presence with the bench who can score without Jokic – and with almost 27,000 points in his career DeMar can absolutely score. His True Shooting Percentage of .594 last year showed he can keep his efficiency up as well, something else that will play extremely well in Denver.

Honestly I’m not even mad at it.

Demar DeRozan and Nikola Jokic should work extremely well together.

Spacing should be incredible, because DeRozan draws doubles into the post.

And guys DeMar DeRozan is still incredible lol
pic.twitter.com/WMhJOlrkPVhttps://t.co/mYqNAE1Jic

— Yaxel LendeBeast (@GMZeroOG) August 21, 2026

Interestingly, it looks like Denver’s core had a lot to do with DeRozan choosing the Nuggets from among his suitors. Chris Haynes says that Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray all talked with DeRozan about joining the team. Having another vet who has been through big moments will be huge.

Denver still has Jokic and him alone keeps them alive in every series they play. But we’ve seen the Joker can’t do it all without getting impactful support from his teammates. I can imagine Joker operating from the three-point line, firing a great pass to DeRozan on the wing and then clearing out space for him with the defender on an island. It’s definitely gonna be tough for the Dubs to defend that, which could be an important subplot come playoff time if the Warriors actually make it this year.

Defensively though? I’m very curious how they are gonna hold up.

Bummed out by the ticket prices at Madison Square Garden? Head over to the Westchester County Center in White Plains, where the jerseys look familiar and the seats are much more budget-friendly!

The Westchester Knicks released their complete 2026–27 schedule Friday. They open with two road games against the Maine Celtics on November 6 and November 8 before returning to their home gym to face the reigning G League champion Greensboro Swarm on November 14.

The G League season begins with a 14-game Tip-Off Tournament, with regional pods of teams playing one another. That leads into the Winter Showcase, held December 19–22 in Orlando, followed by a 36-game regular season in which every team’s record resets. Regular-season play begins around December 27.

You might be wondering whether G League games are as exciting as the big-league tilts. To which I counter: You would have had fun watching Tyler Kolek do this last season.

Here are a few games we’ll be zeroed in on during the 2026–27 campaign.

November 6 and 8 at Maine: Westchester immediately gets two games against Boston’s affiliate. The opening weekend should offer our first meaningful look at the Knicks’ developmental pecking order.

November 14 vs. Greensboro: The home opener gives us our first chance to see this roster in the flesh locally, while the Swarm arrive fresh off the first championship in franchise history.

Four early games against Long Island: Westchester faces Brooklyn’s affiliate twice during the Tip-Off Tournament and twice immediately after the regular-season reset. Four early games against the same opponent should provide a useful measuring stick, no?

January 18 and 20 vs. Cleveland: The Cavaliers’ affiliate comes to town for consecutive games, providing another useful glimpse at how Westchester compares with one of the Eastern Conference’s stronger developmental pipelines.

Three 11 a.m. School Day games: The annual chorus of several thousand children returns Wednesday, January 27; Tuesday, February 9; and Thursday, March 11. Bring earplugs.

The eventual assignments of Tyler Nickel, selected 47th in this summer’s NBA Draft, and New York’s other prospects will determine how closely we follow each date. Either way, I hope to see you at a few games this season. Go W-Knicks.

View the full schedule here.

There are some givens for next year’s Celtics starting lineup: Jayson Tatum and Derrick White will be part of the opening five and you can pretty much pencil in Paul George at the 3. Joe Mazzulla has options at center. Neemias Queta was a revelation last year and signed a four-year extension to keep in Boston long term, but he’ll compete with the newly signed Mitchell Robinson for playing time.

Heading into training camp, that fifth starter is the bigger mystery. Last year, it was Sam Hauser as the fifth Beatle. Before Tatum’s return, Baylor Scheierman got some run as a point forward with Payton Pritchard moving to the bench after Anfernee Simons was dealt to Chicago for Nikola Vucevic.

So, will Pritchard regain his starting spot or remain the team’s super sixth man?

Here’s reader SpiritofEspiritu on the Pritchard debate:

I voted a shaky ‘no’

Fast PP is a very good starting guard (and I would be certainly support his start of this was the decision). Though in my opinion, I think he is elite when subbing in because (1) he is just far superior off an all rounded player against opposing bench guards, (2) the flow/energy of the game stays positive if the starters are playing well or recalibrates positively when he enters off the start is more flat, and (3) it is possible for him to end all four quarters in rhythm where his play at times has been magical.

I think he recognizes this as well since he repeatedly has shared that he is okay in any role as long as he plays.

Another factor I think is George, Tatum, and Big Country Robinson unlikely playing back to backs (B2B) is what I am guessing (Tatum/George offset the B2B or play together in one and sit together in the other, and we will probably go much smaller when Robinson sits). As a result, I can see Pritchard get starts sprinkled in throughout the season.

Starting or coming off the bench, we can all agree that Pritchard will be a big part of Boston’s success next year and our friends at FanDuel still have the Celtics (+1500) with the fifth highest odds to win a championship behind the Thunder (+230), Spurs (+280), Knicks (+950), and Sixers (+1000).

Rivalries in the NBA might not carry the same weight they once did. Perhaps that’s because, from a Phoenix Suns perspective, we haven’t won a playoff game since 2023. And for rivalries to truly exist, postseason battles usually have to come with them.

But getting to the postseason is a challenge in itself, and part of that means handling your division. Even then, division rivalries don’t carry the same importance they once did. Sure, you still see your division opponents more than any other teams in the league. Four games against each of the other four teams means 16 games on the schedule are tied directly to the division.

Division standings haven’t truly mattered in the same way since 2014–15. That was the season the Portland Trail Blazers won 51 games, which was only the sixth-highest total in the Western Conference. Because they won the Northwest Division, however, they received a higher playoff seed than both Memphis and San Antonio, who each won 55 games. The Board of Governors changed that rule the following offseason.

Division standings still matter to a certain extent, though. They remain part of the playoff tiebreaker process. The hierarchy goes:

1. Head-to-head record
2. Division winner over a non-division winner, even if the teams are in different divisions
3. Division record, but only if the tied teams are in the same division
4. Conference record
5. Record against postseason eligible teams in the conference
6. Record against postseason eligible teams in the opposite conference
7. Point differential

But alas, we really don’t care about division standings. If you’re somebody who likes to sprinkle a little movie money on NBA futures bets, though, they do come in handy. And I think there’s some opportunity here.

The Phoenix Suns began the offseason projected to finish third in the Pacific Division, and that’s not where the Bright Side community believes they belong. In our latest survey, 49% of the community picked Phoenix to win the division, finishing ahead of both the Lakers and the Warriors, who previously had better odds than the Suns.

Those odds have since shifted, and Phoenix now sits second, with the Lakers holding the best odds to win the Pacific.

• Lakers: -110
• Suns: +250
• Warriors: +310
• Clippers: +1500
• Kings: +12500

That’s where I see some opportunity if you’re someone who likes placing a few preseason bets. It’s something I enjoy, especially this time of year when there isn’t much else happening. Why not throw $5 on the Suns to win the division and potentially have something to be very happy about next April? Because I believe Phoenix can absolutely win it.

The Lakers lack continuity and feel like a team that has been patched together like Frankenstein in an effort to build something around Luka Doncic. We still don’t know if it’s going to work, and that uncertainty creates opportunity. There’s also the reality that the Lakers are always overbet. Their fan base has a way of moving the lines.

So do what you will with this information. There’s opportunity there if you want to seize it. Of course, all of this is predicated on the belief that the Suns will actually win the Pacific Division, which clearly isn’t a guarantee This is also the part of the offseason where I probably find myself a little too optimistic and talk myself into believing the Suns might be better than they actually are. On paper, it makes sense to me. Which can be dangerous. Why? Because I talked myself into the idea that this team would win 35 games last season and more than 50 in each of the previous two seasons.

The lesson here is simple. I don’t know shit. The offseason has a way of doing that to you. You buy into a storyline, then time and overanalysis start reinforcing it until eventually you’ve talked yourself into the most extreme version of that belief. We’ll know more once the season tips off on October 21 in Portland against the Trail Blazers.

Nostalgia is coming back to Brooklyn in 2026.

According to the NBA Uniform Tracker, the Brooklyn Nets will bring back their 2018-19 City Edition uniforms for the 2026-27 season.

This will not be the uniform’s first return. The Nets brought back the Coogi-inspired “Brooklyn Camo” design for 11 games last season, beginning with Biggie Night against the Toronto Raptors on November 11.

In 2018, the Nets outperformed the consensus expectations. After an over/under win total set at 31.5, Brooklyn went on to go 42-40 while finishing sixth in the Eastern Conference.

Although they lost in the first round of the playoffs, it was a very fun season that created core memories for the fanbase. D’Angelo Russell had a major breakout, making his first All-Star team while leading the squad in scoring.

Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen emerged as the faces of the team’s young corps, and Spencer Dinwiddie was the scoring punch Brooklyn needed off the bench.

Now, the 2026-27 Nets should look to follow a similar blueprint.

Nobody should expect this team to return to the playoffs immediately, but there are several areas where it compares to the 2018-19 squad.

Egor Dëmin and Mikel Brown Jr. are looking to solidify themselves as the future of the Nets’ backcourt, and Brooklyn has an opportunity to become a scrappy and competitive team under head coach Jordi Fernández that opponents hate playing against.

If the Nets can overachieve while feeling confident that Dëmin and Brown Jr. are long-term building blocks, that would be a successful season for the organization.

Either way, seeing those jerseys back on the court should be a welcome sight for Nets fans.

Shaquille O’Neal never dunked on either Mike Francesa or Chris Russo, but he might have played a small part in breaking up a powerhouse radio duo.

Former “Mike and the Mad Dog” producer Sal Licata, who was working for the show at the end of its run in the summer of 2008, said one of the final straws in the often-tense relationship between the iconic co-hosts had to do with the trade of Shaq to the Suns in February 2008.

“I think there was an issue over the Phoenix Suns’ ‘Over’ win total,” Licata said on the Awful Announcing podcast. “That Mike was on one side of it, Dog [Russo] was on another side of it, and they were fighting because they had the same bet together. And Shaq got traded to the Suns.

“I remember that being a little bit of an issue. I’m not saying that is the straw that broke the camel’s back or whatever, but that was a little bit of an issue.”

Licata explained that Russo thought O’Neal landing in Phoenix was a boost for the Suns’ win total, while Francesa thought the deal was going to lower the win total.

It sounds like a foolish debate.

“I know it sounds crazy,” Licata admitted. “But I’m telling you the truth. Now there was obviously other stuff at play. I don’t think it was all that. But that definitely caused some tension between the two.”

It was Heat executive — and former Knicks coach — Pat Riley who traded O’Neal to the Suns.

Riley is part of the “Mike and the Mad Dog” fabric because he was a regular guest on the show before playoff games in the 1990s, and then the program ripped into him for faxing in his resignation to leave for the Heat after the 1995 playoffs.

Russo left to start his own SiriusXM radio channel, while Francesa remained at WFAN through 2020.

For what it’s worth, the Suns finished 55-27 but were bounced in the first round of the playoffs.

O’Neal was an All-Star during his first full season with the Suns in 2009.

GlobeLowell native Terance Mann is giving back to local players, helping build future for Nets

CelticsBlogHistory Month: When anyone could own a piece of the Celtics

CLNS MediaIs It Time For Payton Pritchard to Be the Starting PG For the Celtics?

NESNWhy Saturday Is Important for Celtics Fans Dreaming of a Stephen Curry Trade

5 Incredible Celtics Records That Will Probably Never Be Broken

Celtics WireJordan Walsh may take his next step this season with Celtics

Portugal coach Mário Gomes on Boston big Neemias Queta injury in Spain win

The Boston Celtics suiting up for FIBA play this summer got after it this week

Boston Celtics Neemias Queta, Portugal defeat Hugo Gonzalez, Spain 95-89 in FIBA play

Celtics history: Dickie Hemric born, John Janisch passes

Answering the big Boston Celtics questions for the 2026-27 NBA season

Predicting the Celtics starters for the 2026-27 NBA regular season

Celtics Luka Garza helps power Bosnia past Italy in FIBA EuroBasket play

NBA not ready for Jayson Tatum Most Valuable Player-caliber season with Boston Celtics

Hardwood HoudiniCeltics have failsafes their 3-point happy predecessors never had

Celtics center Neemias Queta outshines Hugo Gonzalez as FIBA dominance continues

Paul George doesn’t have to turn back the clocks to be what the Celtics need

Celtics must remove Payton Pritchard from his best role after Mike Conley addition

Brad Stevens’ Jaylen Brown decision post-trade should not be questioned

Chowder and ChampionsThe Celtics are asking Paul George to become something he no longer is

Duke WireDuke guard Caleb Foster discusses his workout with NBA star Jayson Tatum

HeavyBoston Celtics Could Strike Gold With Son of Three-Time NBA All-Star

Celtics Starter Leads Historic Upset of FIBA Powerhouse

Fadeaway WorldRanking The 10 Worst Free Agency Contracts Of The 2020s

NBA .com/GLeague Maine Celtics announce schedule for 2026-27 season

Hot Hand Theory/YouTube The Celtics Just Outsmarted the NBA (Again)

SI .comChris Boucher Could Be a Strong Fit With Knicks for a Few Reasons

How Boston Celtics Players Are Doing In FIBA World Cup Qualifiers

Every Jersey Number Retired by Each NBA Franchise, and Who Should Be Next

Clutch PointsWatch Celtics’ Jayson Tatum let fans down with brutal brickfest

Club 520 Podcast/YouTube Jeff Teague says Jayson Tatum has MOST PRESSURE in NBA after Celtics TRADED Jaylen Brown to 76ers

BasketNewsNeemias Queta delivers as Portugal stuns NBA-loaded Spain in World Cup qualifier

Total Pro SportsCeltics Unexpectedly Welcome Back Kyrie Irving In Complicated Three-Team Trade Proposal

Fan RecapCeltics Fans Suddenly Have A Bigger Worry Than One Star Exit

Jayson Tatums Viral Offseason Clips Are Giving Celtics Fans A Debate

Celtics Fans Are Revisiting A Kyrie Debate They Never Expected

Paul George Will Force A Celtics Question Fans Cant Ignore

Jayson Tatum Faces A Brutal Celtics Test In His Comeback

Sam Hauser Faces Real Pressure In A Crowded Celtics Rotation

Jordan Walsh Is Pushing For A Bigger Celtics Role

Celtics History Is Filled With Records Modern NBA May Never Touch

Celtics RoundtableHere’s How Neemias Queta Did in FIBA World Cup Qualifier Game

Here’s How Luka Garza Did in FIBA World Cup Qualifier Game

Jaylen Brown Makes Interesting Revelation About Early Boston Celtics Days

It’s no question that the Lakers made a big gamble this summer.

Gone is not just LeBron James, but the entire starting five for most of the team’s series against the Rockets, which they won in six games. In are not just a lot of fresh faces, but a lot of unexpected names.

The Lakers identified players who can fit around Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves and within head coach JJ Redick’s system. The Lakers have a high floor because of their superstar, but it’s still a risky proposition.

But so risky that they’re set up to be the most disappointing team in the league?

That’s where ESPN has them in their preseason predictions. As part of their preseason predictions, ESPN’s NBA reporters voted on various superlatives, including one titled “Disappointing teams: Which team will take a tumble this season?” The Lakers topped those standings.

1. Los Angeles Lakers: 32 points
2. Detroit Pistons: 27 points
3. Golden State Warriors: 26 points
4. Miami Heat: 22 points
5. Boston Celtics: 17 points

This really just feels like a clickbait category, and I guess they got their clicks here. But the question is what are we really ranking here? Because if it’s simply who is going to take a tumble, not mentioning either the Hornets or Clippers, two teams who traded away their superstars after being in the play-in last year, is crazy work.

Given the teams listed, though, it feels more like a vote on who will be disappointing, which feels both silly and apropo with ESPN’s other predictions this summer, too. Earlier in the week, they projected the Lakers to finish with a 45-37 record this year, an eight-win drop from last season. Perhaps they’re just doubling down on their prediction.

You can point all around at who else should be considered a team to take a tumble, but really, the Lakers are the team everyone loves to predict to be worse than they will be, particularly in the last few years. Summers have been full of hearing how they won’t even be the best team in LA only for everyone to begrudgingly acknowledge that the Lakers are good but not that good.

The only difference this year is no one is pretending the Clippers will be good. Outside of that, we’ll see the same pattern and can revisit this in February or March to point and laugh.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.