Contract extension talks between Karl-Anthony Towns and the Knicks are paused. New York management hit that pause button, and while it surprised Towns and he doesn't necessarily love it, he also wants to focus on the season and the Knicks' quest to repeat.
However, one piece of drama remains before the season starts: The Oct. 19 deadline for Karl-Anthony Towns to pick up his $61 million player option for next season. Here is what that means:
• If he declines the option, Towns will be in the final year of his contract (making $57.1 million this season) and would become an unrestricted free agent next summer without an extension. • If he picks up the option, he will be under contract for $61 million for the 2027-28 NBA season and cannot negotiate an extension with the Knicks until after the season.
Towns will likely decline the option, allowing him and his agents to continue negotiating with the Knicks this season once New York management decides to (quietly) reopen those talks. The risk there for the Knicks is that without an extension, Towns can walk out the door for nothing as a free agent next summer.
If he picks up the option and locks himself into the $61 million for next season, it almost unquestionably puts the Knicks into the second apron in a year, a line owner James Dolan said would be "suicidal" to cross, and it would force New York to consider trading him, either at the deadline or in the offseason.
Towns doesn't want to leave New York, and it wants to keep him. As always, it's a question of money, but in the NBA, money = respect, so more emotion is tied to it. Towns feels he's earned that respect after two monster seasons with the Knicks and helping the team win its first title in 53 years.
Towns, 30, is eligible for a four-year, $276 million contract extension, coming off an All-Star season in which he averaged 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds per game while being central to their title run. Towns has been clear: He will take a discount off the max to stay in New York. The Knicks reportedly have offered four years, $200 million, or an average of $50 million per season. Towns has said the sides are not close. A league source not tied to these negotiations suggested to NBC Sports there should be a compromise around $225-$230 million—basically, an average salary at around what Towns will make this season.
As long as Dolan refuses to enter the second apron, the Knicks are facing trouble, especially starting in the 2028-29 season. That's when a new extension for Jalen Brunson could start — and don't expect the same massive discount — as well as OG Anunoby. Josh Hart is in a similar situation to Towns and is extension-eligible right now, but those talks are on hold. Mikal Bridges is under contract for 28-29 at $38.9 million but also is extension eligible. Everyone will want to get paid after winning a title, it may not be that simple.
That's all going to play out over the next couple of years, and be a talking point around a team trying to defend its title this season. As much as the Knicks management wants to avoid that.
They aren't going to be able to avoid the rash of stories that will be written in the next week when Towns does — or more likely, does not — pick up his player option for next season.
Mike Tirico explains why Michael Jordan isn't back for another season of NBC Sports' NBA coverage.
Many were curious of Michael Jordan’s broadcast future after his short stint as a “special on-air contributor” for NBC Sports’ NBA coverage in the 2025–26 season.
The network aired one sit-down interview with NBC Sports’ play-by-play voice Mike Tirico and Jordan, entitled “MJ: Insights To Excellence,” that was spliced into five segments, lasting about three to four minutes apiece, which aired throughout the season — and an August report by Front Office Sports said Jordan was not expected to return to NBC.
During Front Office Sports’s “Tuned In” summit in New York on Tuesday, Tirico explained that Jordan ultimately didn’t want to deal with the day-to-day of a broadcaster at this point in his life.
NBC Sports’ play-by-play voice Mike Tirico interviews Michael Jordan as a “special on-air contributor” for NBC Sports’ NBA coverage in the 2025-26 season. X
“I think Michael Jordan hadn’t been on TV for a long time for a reason,” Tirico said. “He likes being Michael Jordan. There’s an aura, even still, when he’s on camera, there’s an aura about Michael Jordan that is just different.
“Sitting across from him, it’s just a different feel. And I think he is above the day-to-day conversation of ‘Hey, who’s the best point guard in the NBA right now? And who’s best this or the best that?’
“So I think in a controlled setting, talking about topics that he’s still passionate about with the sport, he loved it.”
Tirico defended his sit-down with Jordan after some felt it was underwhelming because it was spread across an entire season and did not match the hype that came with the ballyhooed announcement.
Michael Jordan as a “special on-air contributor” for NBC Sports’ NBA coverage in the 2025–26 season. XMike Tirico talks before the game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Philadelphia 76ers on March 3, 2025 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NBAE via Getty Images
“I love the fact that we did one interview and you can say what you want about it airing once or being spread out over our series of pregame shows during the year,” Tirico said. “It’s a year later and people are still talking about it and people are still asking about it, which is to me, all the reason that it was completely worth it.
“And I will say, it was damn cool to hang with MJ and talk basketball and talk business and golf and all that other stuff. I don’t think he wants to be — if he wanted to be, we would all run to have him on every single day, but that’s just not what he wants to do, I think at this point in his career in life.”
“We have an obligation to pay it forward. That’s part of what this is all about.”
Watch Michael Jordan’s first conversation with Mike Tirico in the first edition of MJ: Insights To Excellence. pic.twitter.com/7tfzGm6SpM
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 12: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks goes up for the rebound during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 12, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Knicks won the championship and then seemingly forgot how to play basketball.
Only, you know, it’s the preseason, so they might as well go 0-5 for all I care.
Here’s the latest from the first half of a back-to-back series of games ending north of the border later today.
"Trying to let the guys understand how important the process is what I'm all about right now."
Mike Brown talks about he and the Knicks focusing on the process in the preseason: pic.twitter.com/9rS4Q3gBLQ
On the competition for the Knicks’ third-string center position:
“They should all be on a roster this year. There’s no experiments, in my opinion. These guys are all legitimate NBA players. They’re all great guys and in some way, shape or form, I can see each of them contributing this way or that way and it’s not gonna be an easy decision.”
On the quality of the Knicks’ centers in training camp:
“I’ve been in a lot of training camps and collectively, this is probably — now when I say the best, I’m not saying the most talented — this is the best group of centers I’ve been around. All of them bring something different to the table.”
On potentially playing Karl-Anthony Towns more minutes at power forward:
“I’m not sure yet. There’s a chance he may play a little bit more at the four, but what does that equate to? Again, I’m not sure. He has a better feel, and I have a better feel of how to use him when he’s there because we have to make some adjustments to what we do. But I couldn’t give you an exact number.”
On the mentality and energy required from the Knicks’ still-unknown, third-string center:
“You hope that there’s a passion, an energy and a focus coming from that spot because, at times, a person can start; at times they can be the No. 2; and at times, they’ll be the No. 3, and with the minutes fluctuating, you’re gonna have to generate some internal energy at times to go play in a low-minute game, to sit there and maybe not play one or two games in a row, maybe three games in a row. So you look for that and then you just look for somebody that’s gonna play hard at the end of the day, try to do the things that you ask on both sides of the floor and can bring something a little different than the two guys in front of you bring.”
On Andre Drummond’s defensive communication against Minnesota:
“The blocks are great, but I’m not a huge shot-blocking guy. His communication right now is unbelievable. Usually your big is the one that sees everything out in front and so he’s usually your quarterback of your defense. A lot of bigs aren’t great talkers though. Like Draymond [Green] is one of the best in the league… and I thought Andre’s communication tonight – and it’s been good [so far] – but tonight it was off the charts.”
On Drummond’s defensive performance against the Wolves and why it excites him:
“The blocks are good, him defending the pick-and-roll the right way, being big, there are a lot of good things that he did, but just watching him, and more importantly listening to him, man that got me really excited.”
On the development of Pacome Dadiet and Mohamed Diawara:
“I thought [Dadiet] had a pretty good game. I thought he had a pretty good game the game before. … Both [Dadiet and Diawara] are long, they’re obviously young and they’re talented and I’m gonna keep coaching them and they’re gonna keep getting better.”
On intentionally keeping the Knicks’ preseason offense simple to test their execution:
“The truth of the matter is I’m kind of hamstringing our guys offensively. Real generic with what we’re running offensively because I want to see if they can execute when a team gets rhythm and they start denying or putting pressure on us because they know what’s coming. Can we execute our counters? Can we still get to our spots offensively and execute our actions? Can we play fast doing it? Those are little things I’m looking at offensively.”
On prioritizing the process over results in the preseason:
“For me, it’s more about the process, not necessarily the end result. Defensively, are we making sure we’re playing with next-play speed? And, for the most part, I thought we did. We had some breakdowns execution-wise in terms of what our assignments were, but those things can be cleaned up in time. We’ll keep watching film and keep drilling it and all that other stuff.”
On his expectations for when things turn ugly in the regular season:
“I want to see how we react when we lose 3 in a row or 4 in a row and you guys are on us and the fans are on us. Let’s see if we can keep trying to [have an upward trajectory] in tough times.”
“I feel like he’s always genuinely himself. He doesn’t really care what people say or think about him.”
On his first meeting with Mike Brown and how the coach established a relationship with him:
“Honestly, Day 1, he kind of set the tone. I remember, I said this like last year: He came down to Jersey in the summer, and [we] sat, had dinner, talked for two, two and a half, three hours, whatever, and just did not talk about basketball or what we were gonna do.”
Josh Hart
On Mike Brown’s personality:
“He’s super chill. He’s more of a ‘Who Let the Dogs Out’ kind of guy.”
On changing his free-throw approach after years of struggling at the line:
“I feel like a lot of people have opinions about what a good free throw looks like, right? So over my career I’ve had different coaches and teams I played for that tried to help me adjust and make it easier for me. Obviously, the stuff they said in practice would work, but when I got in the game, I’d overthink it. So I just simplified it, did a routine I’ve done since a child, and shoot the same shot.”
On simplifying his shooting routine and avoiding overthinking:
“I simplified it and stopped listening to a bunch of people. Just shooting the same shot over and over again and not worrying about the results. Sometimes, in the past, I would get frustrated if I miss, and I would try to overcorrect. Then, it’s a domino effect and more and more misses, and then I’m frustrated and I’m out of whack.”
On why free throws became a struggle throughout his life:
“It’s not something I struggled with growing up. It was more so just having a bunch of people in my ear and not being able to focus on one thing.”
Broadcasting for NBC from the Garden as the Knicks raise the banner Oct 20th: Carmelo Anthony pic.twitter.com/ExwFTR0fQ1
On the Knicks’ upcoming championship banner ceremony and what it means to him:
“It’s hard to put it into words, especially for me as somebody who’s been a part of that organization. I understand what it was like to have to build something over there, and for them to finally do that, it just makes that journey and those years finally mean something.
“We didn’t win it, but now [Jalen Brunson] and them can kind of take that and elongate that and celebrate just the history of what everybody put in.”
On the significance of raising the Knicks’ championship banner:
“It’s validation and completion. Once we raise that up, we got it forever.”
Reggie Miller
On the Knicks postponing contract negotiations with Karl-Anthony Towns:
“You hope behind closed doors the contract stuff doesn’t become an issue. I like the Knicks coming out publicly and saying we’re going to table discussions until a later date. That doesn’t mean they’re not going to negotiate. It basically means you guys [media] can’t ask the players about their contract situation.”
On Towns’ contract situation potentially affecting the Knicks’ chances of repeating:
“If they want to be successful and they want to have a chance to repeat, you’re going to need a healthy KAT, mentally. You don’t want him being a malcontent, worrying about his contract behind closed doors. Because when KAT is at his best and on board, they’re hard to beat. But if he’s worried about his contract situation . . . I think a deal will get done. It’s going to be between the 200 and the 277. So meet in the middle, sign it, and let’s move on.”
On the Knicks’ championship chances and the improved Eastern Conference:
“They have a great chance of repeating. The problem is the East has gotten so much better and now the Knicks will have a bullseye on their back every single game because they’re the champs. Every night they take the floor, they’ve got to play their best. That wasn’t the case the last few years.”
On LaMelo Ball’s shot selection after acquiring him from Charlotte:
“It’s something we talked about coming in. He’s been pretty good, and then when you watch it every day, you see — OK, the one-legged thing, he kind of shoots it like that every time, really. Some are a little more exaggerated than others, so it’s not too unusual when you see it every day.”
On Ball becoming more focused on playmaking with Minnesota:
“He’s been deferential here. He’s not looking just to kind of shoot, shoot, shoot. Sometimes, we [the Wolves] forget how good of a scorer he can actually be. We’ve been asking him to be way more into play-making for us, and then the out-of-context shots, he hasn’t had many of those.
“And the deep 3s, he makes them. No one complains about Steph [Curry’s] deep threes, [so we won’t complain about LaMelo’s]. And then he gives us a guy we can close the game with. You can put the ball in his hands, and he can make shots from different spots on then floor.”
On the Timberwolves’ pursuit and acquisition of LaMelo Ball:
“Of course a talent like that doesn’t often come available especially after the year [the Hornets] had. So when it picked up speed it was real exciting to think about, and it’s been pretty exciting to watch it play out in front of us.”
On Ball’s personality and his chemistry with Anthony Edwards:
“[LaMelo] is always in a great mood, always comes in smiling. He and Anthony have this shared quality that they’re really hard to stay mad at, and they do some things that you want to get mad at, but they have a reflective joy and I think that’s important. They tease the joy out of each other as practice goes along, so that kind of adds to the overall spirit of the group which we really needed.
“We’ve referred to ourselves as a moody team at times. We’ve traded moodiness for giddiness, so we’re happy to get back to some sort of equilibrium.”
Kyle Anderson doesn’t want to ruffle any feathers.
At least, that’s what Slo Mo, the 13 year NBA veteran, said during last Wednesday’s practice.
“I don’t want to be like, ‘oh, I’m the old head. You gotta do it my way,’” said Anderson. The former Timberwolf understands that he’s from a different era of NBA players. “There’s a whole generation after me that came in,” said Anderson. “These guys are 22 years old. That’s crazy to me.”
33 year old Anderson is one of the Raptors’ latest additions to the roster, making his way from Minnesota to Ontario, and the forward seems to be embracing a mentor role on his new team, while not trying to make everyone see his way.
“I don’t like to impose myself like that,” he said, speaking about the young players on the Raptors. “They want to come into my world, then yeah, you know, I’ll show you what I’m listening to,” Anderson explained, drawing the line at telling his teammates to “listen to this Jay-Z or [that they] gotta listen to this Lil Wayne. They gonna be looking at me like I’m crazy.”
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – OCTOBER 10: Kyle Anderson #13 of the Toronto Raptors reacts during the preseason game between Los Angeles Clippers and Toronto Raptors at Rogers Arena on October 10, 2026 in Vancouver, British Columbia. 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 Elizabeth Ruiz Ruiz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Asked about how he gelled with his younger peers on the Raptors, Anderson explained that “we spent, you know, more time, more time than NBA teams, usually… uh, spend together in the summer.” Even beforehand, the forward had kept his eyes on some of Toronto’s guards. “I always got like a group of young guys that I enjoy watching in the league,” he noted, “and Jamal, every time I would watch him, he was able to affect the game without scoring… I just enjoyed watching him, like how they played hard, played together, um, always like in the gaps in the passing lanes.”
When asked about the type of role he might take on the Raptors, the veteran described a conversation with coach Darko Rajaković, where the coach described that Anderson “need[s] to be ready to play the 5… maybe handle the ball, you know, things like that… I’m comfortable there and I think the game is shifted to kind of a small ball 5 at times,” the player said.
The Raptors have struggled publicly with depth at the centre position, and ESPN’s depth chart notes that behind Jakob Poeltl and Collin Murray-Boyles lies Trayce Jackson-Davis followed by Jamison Battle, with Kyle Anderson listed as a third string power forward. It seems that there may be situations in which Anderson is lining up at the pivot instead, however, with Rajaković potentially betting on Anderson’s combination of defensive prowess and experience.
“I think he wants me to come in here and use my veteran experience, you know, help out,” said Anderson. “We have a young team, so help out the young guys. Just be there for them. It’s a long season.” Indeed. The 82 game stretch is a false finish line, with the Raptors likely to make the playoffs this season. Toronto will use Anderson’s depth and veteran presence to take its young core far, and Slo Mo seems happy to be along for the ride.
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 10: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket during the game against the Toronto Raptors on April 10, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The ramp-up to the regular season continues tonight when the World Champion Knicks travel to Scotiabank Arena to face the Raptors. Toronto has split its first two scrimmages, beating the Clippers and falling to Miami, while New York has dropped three straight.
Tonight’s tilt will be a showcase for the reserves, as coach Mike Brown intends to sit his starters. It’s the second night of a back-to-back. How will their bench hold up while, we’re told, Toronto will get its first play from Kawhi Leonard? Methinks trouble be in the cards, prognostication fans.
The two teams last met on April 10 at MSG. The good guys won 112-95. Captain Jalen Brunson dropped 29, Karl-Anthony Towns added 22 and 10. Scottie Barnes and Brandon (no longer with the team) Ingram each posted 15 for Toronto. New York has beaten the Raptors 13 straight times in the regular season! (Probably a good thing that tonight won’t count.)
Last season was a positive step forward for the Toronto. Despite some poorly timed injuries, Darko Rajakovic’s club secured the fifth seed, finished 46-36, and were a top-five defense. Their offense was middle of the pack, a problem addressed with the offseason acquisition of Kawhi (celebrated pitchman) Leonard.
Kawhi was their big move this summer. The blockbuster return of Kawhi Leonard (finalized in mid-September after an NBA investigation delayed a deal originally made inn June) sent Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, second-rounders in 2030 and 2033, and a 2027 first-round swap to the Clippers. He then signed a two-year, $115 million extension. Beyond that, Toronto drafted forward Allen Graves 19th overall and guard Jaden Bradley 50th, added veteran forward Kyle Anderson on a one-year minimum, re-signed Alijah Martin, and extended guard Jamal Shead to a three-year, $24 million deal. They lost Sandro Mamukelashvili and Jonathan Mogbo in free agency.
OAKAAKUYOAKs RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley remain key players in their program, as does Scottie Barnes. A serviceable, but aging, Jakob Poeltl anchors the paint with solid rebounding and rim protection. Leonard, making his preseason debut, will be an upgrade from Ingram, provided he stays healthy.
We’re just as curious as you to see tonight’s starting lineup for New York. Last night, the club fell 122-104 to a Timberwolves team that was determined to pull on Superman’s cape under the bright lights of Broadway. Against the Raps, we should see extended time for Deuce McBride, Tyler Kolek, and Landry Shamet, and hopefully better play from Mohamed Diawara. As for the center battle, James Wiseman, Drew Eubanks, and Tony Bradley will have yet another opportunity to win over coach Brown.
Prediction? Probably a loss, hoss. Enjoy the bonus basketball.
Game Details
Who: New York Knicks (0-3) at Toronto Raptors (1-1) Date: Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Time: 7:00 PM ET Place: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON TV: MSG Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 28: AJ Dybantsa #4 of the Washington Wizards poses for a portrait during Media Day at CareFirst Arena on September 28, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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 Scott Taetsch/Getty Images). | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards are about to begin a new era led by forward AJ Dybantsa, Trae Young and Anthony Davis. Capital One Arena, their home venue, is also nearly done with a major renovation. And fans want a rebrand of the franchise.
When teams are not particularly great on the court, field, ice, etc., I can see why fans want the logo, colors or even a team name to change. But it appears that what fans are clamoring for isn’t simply white noise. Monumental Sports & Entertainment is looking into this as well.
According to Joshua Robbins of The Athletic, Monumental Sports & Entertainment executives are looking closely into the possibility of rebranding the team’s logos and/or color schemes. Here is a snippet from that piece regarding a possible rebrand happening when Capital One Arena’s renovations are complete.
“There’s a commitment to doing the homework and the research and to doing it really, really effectively and not doing things in the moment, so I think a lot of this will be an evolving process,” [MSE Chief Commerical Officer Jim] Van Stone said.
“(The) 2027-28 (season) is a big year for us because the building project will be completed. That’s a major element for us. Certainly, we will be in the mix of looking at uniform designs. … There’s an openness to that. Some of the long-term logos or other changes, probably a little bit of a longer runway. But I do think the feedback that we’re getting from fans puts us in a really good situation to evaluate all of that.”
One thing Monumental Sports isn’t considering is renaming the team. So a return to the Washington Bullets is not happening.
Though the Wizards have various alternates like every NBA team, their traditional red jerseys and white jerseys have largely remained the same since the 2011-12 season when Monumental Sports decided to change the color scheme to red, white and blue.
What do you think about the possibility of a rebrand? Let us know in the comments below.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 22: A view of the ball sitting on the Philadelphia 76ers logo on the court during a game against the Houston Rockets at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA regular season is right around the corner, but it’s not the only level of basketball preparing for a new campaign. As the G League gears up for 2026-27, the Delaware Blue Coats are making a significant front-office change, hiring Brad Jones as their new general manager. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin was the first to report the news.
The Delaware Blue Coats, the Philadelphia 76ers’ G League affiliate, are hiring Brad Jones as their next general manager, team sources told me and @krisrhim1. Jones joins Delaware after working for the G League offices for the last eight years.
McMenamin reported that Jones was selected by Sixers President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey and Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Jameer Nelson. He will take over a role previously held by Ariana Andonian, who departed to become general manager of the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks.
So, who is Jones?
He began his career with the Orlando Magic, where he overlapped with Nelson during the latter’s playing days. Jones worked his way up from an internship to positions on the team’s video and player personnel staffs. Most recently, he has worked in the NBA G League’s New York offices, handling player contracts, transactions, basketball operations and league affairs. Between his past stop(s) and his work with the G League office, he’s well equipped to run this team.
The Delaware Blue Coats’ roster is expected to feature several intriguing names this season, with two-way players Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert likely spending time in Delaware. The roster could become even more notable once NBA teams finalize their cuts, as players such as Tacko Fall, Saint Thomas and potentially Jameer Nelson Jr. could also join the fold. The Sixers also have a vacant two-way contract spot that they could fill in the coming weeks or months.
With a new general manager in place and another season on the horizon, the Blue Coats appear well-positioned to remain one of the G League’s more compelling teams. Delaware has consistently served as an important developmental pipeline for the 76ers, helping players earn opportunities at the NBA level while providing meaningful minutes for young prospects. Players such as Justin Edwards and Adem Bona have logged stints with the Coats in the past.
As roster decisions are finalized and training camps conclude, the Blue Coats’ roster picture will become clearer. Between established G League veterans, two-way players and potential additions following NBA cuts, there should be no shortage of storylines to follow once the season gets underway.
Warriors forward Draymond Green is one of the smartest players in the NBA, and he loves to share his knowledge, even with the opposition.
The cameras caught Green expressively talking to Kings rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr. on Saturday evening during Golden State’s 111-106 preseason victory over the Kings.
Draymond Green gave Darius Acuff Jr. some advice on the sideline during last nights game. You love to see it.
On Tuesday’s episode of “The Draymond Green Show,” the Warriors’ veteran expounded on his interaction with Acuff.
“I saw something in that game on a possession that I was speaking with Acuff about,” Green said. “He had the ball the entire possession. Ultimately, down the stretch, late in the possession, he ended up getting fouled at the rim, but my advice to him was just, ‘Hey man, you remember that possession? … who else touched the ball that possession?’ He’s like ‘Nobody.’ Don’t have many of those because you can end up having a bunch of those.”
Green further stated that rookies on “rebuilding” franchises like the Kings can easily create bad habits through unlimited shots because they still are figuring out a direction.
Now 36, Green harkened back to his early days in the NBA when a former coach gave him a profound suggestion.
“(Former Warriors assistant coach) Pete Meyers said something to me that stuck with me my rookie year,” Green added. “He said, ‘Yo, you owe it to the game to leave it in a better place than it was when you found it.’ What does that mean, right? And for me, that means several different things. But more importantly, I think for me, when I got some knowledge, when I see a young guy doing something that I can maybe help out, that may help him at some point in his career, I always want to try to share that knowledge.”
Green and Acuff also have a hometown connection, with both being from Michigan.
Both were a part of The Family, a Detroit-based AAU team whose high school groups are a part of the Nike Elite Basketball Youth Program (EBYP) Basketball Circuit.
Green said he “always wants to see young guys do well that come from The Family,” and is rooting for Acuff “like nobody’s tomorrow.”
The Kings and Warriors will play each other four times this season, which gives Acuff multiple chances to show Green if he has put his advice into action.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 03: Caris LeVert #8 of the Detroit Pistons shoots the ball against Kyle Kuzma #18 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum on December 03, 2025 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. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Bucks fans and fans across the country.
The elephant has been in the (locker) room all offseason and, despite anticipation of its removal, it remains. Of course, this particular elephant is which players won’t make the final roster. With no two-for-one trades in sight, the Bucks currently carrying 17 standard contracts, and NBA teams only able to roster a maximum of 15 standard contracts during the season, Jon Horst and his staff will likely have to make the very difficult decision to waive two players. And that decision has to come soon—rosters must be set by 4:00 p.m. CT on October 19. So, which approach should they take?
Remove the dead wood
One option for Horst is to rid the roster of veterans who aren’t in the Bucks’ long-term plans. While plenty of fans would like this to include Gary Trent Jr., Milwaukee already has too much dead money on its books, so more likely veteran cut candidates are Kyle Kuzma and Caris LeVert. As the oldest players on the roster, Kuzma and LeVert could be cut without impacting the Bucks much on the court. However, doing so would mean Milwaukee no longer has their very tradable expiring salaries—$20.3m for Kuzma, $14.8m for LeVert—which, attached to draft capital or players with upside, could net the Bucks a quality player come trade deadline (or draft capital if the Bucks took on longer-term “bad” salary).
Bite the bullet on youth
On the other end of the spectrum, Horst could opt to cut youth that, for one reason or another, doesn’t seem to have the place on the roster it once might’ve. In this line of thinking, Bogoljub Marković is a prime candidate as he’s both a developmental project and on an inexpensive four-year, $9.3m contract that includes a team option in the final year. Outside of Marković, the options are less obvious. Kasparas Jakučionis’ name has recently been floated in the comments, but it’s hard to envision that scenario playing out given how insistent the Bucks were on him being included in the Giannis trade. Kevin Porter Jr., on the other hand, returned to the Bucks by exercising his $5.4m player option (i.e., not by negotiating a new deal with the team), has a history of injury, and isn’t likely to bring much back in a trade. Plus, Milwaukee’s guard room is crowded. Of course, he is one of the most talented players on the roster, so cutting him wouldn’t come without risk.
Take the easy way out
Somewhere in between the veteran and youth options is Pete Nance. It’s fitting, too. At 26, he’s not really a prospect anymore—yes, Porter is also 26, but his upside far exceeds Nance’s—and with only 68 career games he’s not exactly an established veteran either. More conveniently, at least from a roster-trimming perspective, he’s on a non-guaranteed deal. Truthfully, cutting Nance would hurt. After all, he’s an ideal third-string big, who makes the right play, spaces the floor, and does no harm. But he’s the easiest first step to solve the Bucks’ roster dilemma and would potentially (likely?) return to the team on a two-way deal anyway. Beyond Nance, things get a little more complicated, but Jericho Sims is the next “easiest” cut. Like Nance, he’s not old—Sims will turn 28 on October 20—but he’s certainly not young either and, at this point, he is who he is. Moreover, he’s on a measly one-year, $2.8m deal.
There you have it, three potential paths the Bucks could take to trim the roster to 15. Which strikes your fancy? Alternatively, you might want a combination of these—or something different entirely. If so, be sure to share your GM wheeling and dealing in the comments.
It didn’t take long for Jaylen Brown to bring one of his new Sixers teammates onto his Twitch stream.
On October 9, just one day before Philadelphia faced Boston in a preseason matchup, V.J. Edgecombe joined Brown on the stream. Brown, who was making his first return to TD Garden since joining the Sixers, did not play in the game and reportedly watched from the locker room.
Jaylen Brown reportedly decided to watch the 76ers-Celtics preseason game in the locker room in his return to Boston 🤔
The Sixers won’t play in Boston again until January 2027 👀 https://t.co/aSnyiLui8h
Although Brown’s return to Boston drew attention, his focus is already on building chemistry with his new teammates in Philadelphia.
He recently spoke about his plans to bring more Sixers players onto his stream, explaining that several teammates had already expressed interest in joining him.
“I can’t wait to introduce you to some of my teammates who have been hitting me up like ‘I want to be on the stream’ so I can’t wait to tap in, for y’all to tap in with some of them.
“For the most part we’ve been vibing, man. Everything’s been smooth, we’ve just been getting acclimated.”
Brown also explained why he sees streaming as an opportunity to connect with his teammates beyond basketball.
“We ain’t gonna be on here doing nothing just letting you get to know us as human beings, being authentic, but also just building team chemistry. I think building chemistry is important for a team to be able to vibe in order to try to accomplish goals. I wasn’t as successful in my attempts of being able to get more guys on my previous team, so hopefully this team I’ll be able to be more successful in getting guys.”
Jaylen Brown says he’ll try to get more Sixers teammates on stream compared to how it went in Boston:
“I wasn’t as successful in my attempts in being able to get more guys on my previous team (on stream). I think it’s the uncomfortably streaming… like you say the wrong thing is taken out of context. I’m not sugarcoating nothing.”
Brown didn’t have to wait long to make good on that plan. Edgecombe soon joined the stream, giving the two an opportunity to get to know each other outside of the practice facility.
After briefly connecting with teammate Justin Edwards on FaceTime, Brown and Edgecombe turned their attention to getting to know each other better. Their conversation touched on Edgecombe’s upbringing in the Bahamas, his family and even a hypothetical question about which teammate he would choose to survive with on a deserted island.
Edgecombe’s answer? Brown.
It might seem like a small, lighthearted moment, but these are the kinds of interactions that can help teammates develop a connection away from the court.
With the regular season still ahead, Brown is already taking steps toward the team chemistry he believes is essential to success. And if his Twitch stream is any indication, those connections are beginning to take shape.
Edgecombe and Brown shared the court for the first time in the Sixers’ preseason opener against the Knicks on October 5. Just one game together was enough for Brown to come away impressed.
Their partnership is still taking shape, but Edgecombe already trusts Brown enough to pick him for a deserted island. Sharing an NBA court should give them plenty more opportunities to build on that.
The pair will put that chemistry to the test when the Sixers open the regular season against the defending champion Knicks on Oct. 20 at Madison Square Garden.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 28: Sam Hauser #30 of the Boston Celtics is introduced before the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 28, 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The 2023, 2024 and 2025 drafts all saw the Celtics select wings with their top pick. In all three cases, they found contributing players in Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman and Hugo Gonzalez. With Jayson Tatum and Paul George being the starters on the wing, it leaves a murky role for Sam Hauser.
Hauser even said that the young wings are looking good.
“Jordan, Baylor, Hugo, Ron [Harper Jr.] all throughout this point in training camp have looked really good,” Hauser said at his media availability on Tuesday. “That’s awesome for our team because those four guys bring a different dynamic to what we’re trying to do. We’re excited to see what they can do for us throughout the year.”
Sam Hauser still matters — he is Boston’s best catch and shoot guy and Jayson Tatum has always elevated his game. According to StatMuse, in games that Jayson Tatum did not play, Hauser shot 40.3% from three. In games that Tatum did play, Hauser shot 41.7% from three.
According to databallr, since the start of the 2022-23 season, the Celtics offensive rating with just Tatum and no Hauser on the court is 121.2; when Hauser and Tatum share the court, that number jumps to 123.7.
The Celtics are going to run their ‘Jayson Tatum plus the bench’ lineups this year. Those lineups should include Hauser, whose spacing helps those lineups a lot.
In the Celtics first preseason game, Hauser came off of the bench. He played 21 minutes and had 11 points on 4/6 from the field and 3/5 from three. Boston used him in different ways than they typically do as well.
Last year was Hauser’s worst 3-point percentage of his career at 39%, still a very good number but not in the 40’s which we have become accustomed to. His shooting is so valuable to this Celtics team. While Walsh, Scheierman and Gonzalez are all good players that could push Hauser out of town eventually, the reason he remains a Celtic is his three-point shot.
His ability to shoot standing still and off of movement is so important to what Boston does. Defenses have to respect him as a shooter because he will burn them if they don’t. For a team that takes as many threes as Boston does, Hauser plays a key role.
However, it does need to be mentioned that Boston’s three young wings do a lot of things that Hauser does not do. They are all better defenders than Hauser is, they all offensive rebound better than Hauser does and both Scheierman and Gonzalez have shown that they can play with the ball in their hands more than Hauser can.
That’s not to say that Hauser is a bad defender — they don’t call it ‘Hauser Island’ for no reason. Or that he can’t dribble at all; it’s just that the younger wings on the roster have proven to be better at it than Sam is.
As Hauser also said at his media availability, everyone is going to have a chance to prove they belong on the court.
“Pretty much throughout Joe’s coaching career to this point, I feel like one through seventeen we’ve all had a chance to play, all have had a chance to play good minutes and contributed to a lot of wins throughout the years,” he said. “The next man up mentality has kind of been our thing.”
Hauser is on a very tradable contract. He is owed $35 million over the next 3 years and $10.8 million this year. Boston is currently $10.3 million under the first apron, where they are hard-capped due to the Mitchell Robinson signing. The C’s have a $27.7 million trade exception from the Anfernee Simons trade last February they can use to acquire someone. If they pair Hauser’s money with the exception and some of the draft capital they got for Jaylen Brown, the Celtics can make a difference making trade at the deadline if they so choose.
The Celtics are going to need Sam Hauser this year. His catch and shoot game is too valuable for him not to be a fact on this team. However, with some younger wings on the roster, Hauser’s time in Boston could be coming to an end sooner rather than later.
Even if most of Hauser’s time as a Celtic is done, he will still help the Celtics win basketball games as long as he is in green.
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 11: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Orlando Magic during a 2026 NBA Preseason game on October 11, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers wrap up their preseason schedule as they head to the Sunshine State to take on the Orlando Magic once again.
The Cavs are expected to play their starters more than they did in Sunday’s game. Then, the regular rotation played through the third quarter before the two-ways and the Exhibit 10 contract players got their shot. Tonight, I’d expect the starters to go into the fourth.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson has talked about wanting to find lineup combinations that work in these preseason games. That would be one thing to keep an eye on in this contest. Particularly, how they split up the core four between Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen with the bench units.
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CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 28: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers poses for a portrait during media day at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex on September 28, 2026 in Camden, New Jersey. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
LeBron James and Jaylen Brown aren’t the only former NBA champions whom the Sixers added to their roster this offseason. Shortly after landing LeBron, they also signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a one-year, veteran-minimum contract.
KCP has largely gotten lost in the shuffle of the Sixers’ offseason overhaul, particularly coming off back-to-back disappointing seasons. But he might wind up being their secret weapon both on and off the court.
Caldwell-Pope won a championship alongside LeBron with the 2019-20 Los Angeles Lakers, and he added a second ring a few years later with Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets. He was a role player on both of those teams, which should give him a unique perspective to add in the Sixers’ locker room this year. Not only has KCP played with two of the greatest players of this generation, but he’s gotten to see the secret sauce behind two recent title teams.
At the Sixers’ media day, Caldwell-Pope spoke about how important it is for the team to build off-court camaraderie, and how that helped fuel both the 19-20 Lakers and 22-23 Nuggets. LeBron’s back-and-forth trips to New York City might not be helping much in that regard right now, but once the season starts and the Sixers start heading out on extended road trips, they’ll have plenty of chances to bond throughout the 82-game grind.
KCP isn’t just the Sixers’ honorary Kyle Lowry this season, though. There’s a chance that he’ll be able to make an impact on the court, too.
From 2019-20 through 2023-24, Caldwell-Pope averaged 10.7 points per game while shooting 45.0 percent overall and 40.3 percent from deep. Over the past two seasons, he averaged only 8.6 points per game while shooting 42.7 percent overall and 33.3 percent from distance.
At media day, KCP declared that his shot is still “great” and that he did a ton of shooting this past summer to get ready for this season. He also explained why he didn’t experience the success in Orlando and Memphis over the last two years that he did in L.A. and Denver.
“For me, I’m a rhythm player,” he said. “I have to be in a rhythm, being able to touch the ball, being able to feel the ball. Last few teams, that wasn’t happening how I wanted it to happen. But I still got there and played my ass off defensively, gave it my all on both ends.
“But I think here, just playing with these types of guys—Bron, JB, Joel, Maxey—it’s gonna be a lot of open shots, a lot of opportunity to be able to get back to shooting 40 percent. That plays a big part in me shooting 40 percent. I’ve gotta be able to get the ball, be in a rhythm. I think this team is gonna create those opportunities for us.”
Caldwell-Pope underwent surgery in February to “address a misalignment” of his right pinkie finger. He said that was “probably the longest I had ever sat out” throughout his 13-plus-year NBA career, but he added that “my game is still there.”
Since KCP is on a one-year, veteran-minimum deal, this was basically a risk-free signing for the Sixers. Anfernee Simons figures to be their sixth man, while Caldwell-Pope and rookie guard Labaron Philon Jr. will battle for any leftover minutes behind Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. If all of them play well, perhaps they’ll be able to convince head coach Nick Nurse to experiment with some three-guard lineups.
That isn’t the only way KCP could help the Sixers on the court, though. If he puts his recent struggles behind him, he could open the door to a larger midseason shakeup, too.
Simons signed a two-year, $12.3 million contract with the Sixers this summer, which includes a second-year player option. If he stays healthy and plays well, the Sixers might not be able to re-sign him next summer.
Since the Sixers are in a win-now window, they aren’t likely to preemptively dump Simons for draft capital at the trade deadline to avoid losing him for nothing in free agency. But if KCP plays well enough to give them confidence in a Maxey-Edgecombe-KCP-Philon backcourt rotation, the Sixers could use Simons’ $6.0 million salary as a way to solve one of their other roster problems. (Such as, say, backup center?)
Of course, last year’s trade deadline is a great example of how quickly such a trade can backfire. Shortly after the Sixers traded Jared McCain for the first-round pick that they’d later use on Philon along with three second-rounders, Maxey suffered a finger injury that sidelined him for two weeks in March. The Sixers were down to Edgecombe, Quentin Grimes, Cameron Payne and Lowry as their only healthy backcourt options.
This year’s Sixers do have Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert on two-way deals as well, and they shouldn’t have to be quite as reliant on their two-way players this season as they were last year. (In other words, they shouldn’t hit their 50-game limit as early.) Either way, their backcourt depth does look like a clear strength for them heading into the season.
If Caldwell-Pope does have a bounce-back year, that could have some quietly huge implications for the Sixers heading into the February trade deadline and the spring.
The NBA regular season is still a week away, but the league is already gearing up for its in-season tournament.
The league on Tuesday unveiled the specialty courts that all 30 teams will use during NBA Cup games this upcoming season.
NBA
All 30 NBA Cup courts for this year’s tournament.
The NBA first installed custom courts during the inaugural in-season tournament in 2023, and it has changed up the design for teams each edition of the competition.
Some court staples have been consistent in recent years, namely the colorful floors and the NBA Cup design at half court and in the paint.
This year’s designs include a handful of new features. There are oversized team wordmarks on both sides of the court, primary logos at center court and the tournament tagline — “30 Teams. 8 Advance. 1 Champion.” — near the 3-point line.
NBA Cup play will begin on Friday, Oct. 30, and run through Friday, Nov. 27, with all 30 teams randomly divided into six groups of five. The winner of each group, along with one additional team in each conference, will advance to the knockout rounds.
Quarterfinal and semifinal matchups will be played in NBA team markets ahead of the NBA Cup Championship at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Friday, Dec. 11. It will be the first NBA Cup Championship played outside of Las Vegas.
The NBA regular season is still a week away, but the league is already gearing up for its in-season tournament.
The league on Tuesday unveiled the specialty courts that all 30 teams will use during NBA Cup games this upcoming season.
NBA
All 30 NBA Cup courts for this year’s tournament.
The NBA first installed custom courts during the inaugural in-season tournament in 2023, and it has changed up the design for teams each edition of the competition.
Some court staples have been consistent in recent years, namely the colorful floors and the NBA Cup design at half court and in the paint.
This year’s designs include a handful of new features. There are oversized team wordmarks on both sides of the court, primary logos at center court and the tournament tagline — “30 Teams. 8 Advance. 1 Champion.” — near the 3-point line.
NBA Cup play will begin on Friday, Oct. 30, and run through Friday, Nov. 27, with all 30 teams randomly divided into six groups of five. The winner of each group, along with one additional team in each conference, will advance to the knockout rounds.
Quarterfinal and semifinal matchups will be played in NBA team markets ahead of the NBA Cup Championship at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Friday, Dec. 11. It will be the first NBA Cup Championship played outside of Las Vegas.
NBA
NBA