Category: NBA

In his first real move running the Sixers, new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey took Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr. out of Alabama with the 22nd pick.

His first free agency move was to reunite with Dean Wade, a player Gansey helped find as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ front office. He moved quickly on signing former New York Knick Ariel Hukporti, a young big man with some upside. Then, after pulling the trigger on the Jaylen Brown blockbuster, he inked guard Anfernee Simons to a deal.

Upon successfully recruiting LeBron James to the Sixers, Gansey then signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, a former LeBron teammate and two-time NBA champ.

While Gansey has (rightfully) been praised for his splashy offseason moves, don’t overlook what he did to fortify the Sixers’ bench. Now the question becomes — how will head coach Nick Nurse use his bench pieces?

The starting lineup is set with Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Brown, James and Joel Embiid all locked into their spots. Based on their experience and when they were signed, you’d have to imagine Wade and Simons will be the first guys off the bench. Wade provides defensively versatility, good decision-making and decent spot-up shooting. Simons is arguably the best shooter on the roster and will provide some supplemental ball-handling and shot creation. It’s easy to see how both will play alongside the team’s starters.

With those two seemingly locked into the sixth and seventh spots in the rotation, the rest of the rotation is a bit murkier, with multiple competitions taking place.

One of the most intriguing competitions will be for the chance to back up Embiid. Adem Bona returns for his third season after the Sixers selected him in the second round in 2024. The team also signed third-year big man Hukporti away from the defending champion New York Knicks. It’s fair to say both players have their flaws and are to this point largely unproven. Can Bona improve his hands, finishing, defensive rebounding and fouling enough for his defensive impact to be felt? Will Hukporti unlock some untapped potential he didn’t get to show as the third-string big man with the Knicks? No matter who gets the first crack, the Sixers will need both big men to play — or perhaps Gansey will be looking for a more proven Embiid backup around the deadline.

Maybe a more under-the-radar competition could be for wing minutes. Justin Edwards also returns for his third season after signing a two-way deal with the Sixers after going undrafted in 2024. After signing LeBron, the Sixers quickly signed Caldwell-Pope. Edwards has long been a favorite of Nick Nurse. He plays hard, can get hot from three and isn’t a liability defensively. KCP is a proven veteran and two-time NBA champion, but he’s struggled with injuries and inconsistency the last two seasons. The guess here is the veteran gets the early nod, but Edwards will be in the mix.

It’s tricky to forecast Philon’s place. Before the blockbuster moves, Philon looked poised to take on a massive role. Things change. Still, the rookie should have a chance to earn minutes. All of Maxey, Edgecombe and Simons will miss time here and there. Plus, there still could be room for another lead ball-handler to take a few minutes. The big thing for Philon is finding the balance of his two seasons at Alabama. As a freshman, he was a guard stopper. As a sophomore, he took on a massive offensive role. Defense will be what gets him on the floor this season.

And don’t forget about Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker.

Surely Barlow won’t start 59 games like he did last season, but he can be a valuable player. His size, defensive versatility, cutting and rebounding could be enormous assets. Barlow has also been lauded for his basketball IQ, something that should endear him to a player like James quickly. There isn’t an obvious role for Barlow, but Nurse will likely find spots for him to contribute. If his three-ball improves — something he knows he needs to work on — it could change his trajectory entirely.

Walker is the one guy it’s probably safe to assume will be firmly on the outside of the rotation looking in. Still, guys like Walker have value. As the 14th man, you know he’ll be ready when his number is called. He’ll play hard, rebound, make some open shots and will never complain about his role. By all accounts, he’s also a great teammate.

This is unfamiliar territory for the Sixers. Yes, they’re still top-heavy, but this might be the best bench they’ve had during the Embiid era. They’re deep, versatile and have optionality.

The starting group will be exciting to watch, but don’t sleep on this bench.

We are just two weeks away from the Cleveland Cavaliers’ first preseason game. But first, they’ll be conducting training camp in Spain. The Cavs announced their roster for camp today.

The standard roster, headlined by stars like James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and Evan Mobley, will, of course, be there. Newcomer Peyton Watson, as well.

In total, 21 players will be in Spain. This includes the full standard roster, as well as three two-way players and a handful of training camp invites.

📝 Our Training Camp roster is here! @ClevelandClinic | #LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/pgeVvcM0tk

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) September 24, 2026

Tristan Enaruna, Riley Minix, and Ernest Udeh Jr. make up the two-way spots. Minix and Enaruna have been with the organization since last year, while Udeh is their newest two-way player.

Rashaun Agee, Zack Austin, Curtis Jones and Kadary Richmond are the camp invitees.

Training camp is an opportunity to set the tone for the upcoming season. The building blocks of who this team will become should be laid during their trip to Spain. This not only allows them to learn the systems but also to form a closer bond as teammates.

Cleveland reached the Eastern Conference Finals last season after winning 52 games. The Cavs hope to replicate that success and go even further this year.

A full offseason of integrating Harden should help them. The 17-year veteran hardly had time to unpack his bags before the playoff run began. This season allows him more time to adapt and learn his role. That should help everyone around him.

Trading for Watson was Cleveland’s biggest move of the summer. The franchise is excited about the potential for Watson to help them in the immediate short term and in the future. Training camp will give them their first glimpse of how he fits with the roster.

As for the others, younger prospects such as Meleek Thomas and Tyrese Proctor have a chance to prove they belong. Training camp and preseason will be their time to step up. Nae’Qwan Tomlin, as well.

The Cavs are hosting media day for Koby Altman and Kenny Atkinson on Friday afternoon. The players will have their own media day on Monday. After that, it’s off to Spain for Training Camp.

Cleveland’s first preseason game is October 8th.

Welcome to our Lakers Season Preview Series! For the next several weeks, we’ll be writing columns every weekday breaking down the biggest questions we have about every player the Lakers added this offseason. Today, we look at Luka Dončić.

Luka Dončić keeps playing at a ridiculous level season after season. He has a slew of accolades in his NBA, European and international careers, but one thing is missing.

He still hasn’t won an MVP award.

Last season, he finished fourth in MVP voting, receiving one first-place vote. We’ve seen him lead his former team to the NBA Finals in 2024, winning Western Conference Finals MVP along the way. He finished as the leading scorer during the 2024 and 2026 seasons, and pulled off incredible performances like scoring 100 points in 24 hours last season.

He also helped the Lakers put together an incredible March last season, finishing the month with a 15-2 record.  Now, with a team full of new faces and him holding the keys to the franchise, is this the season he finally gets the actual MVP? 

What is his best-case scenario?

In August, Luka arranged a trip to Slovenia for his teammates, where they not only played basketball and golfed, but also bonded in other ways. Luka’s best-case scenario would be building on the chemistry he created with the team, which would, in turn, strengthen his MVP case.

We’ve seen how well he plays alongside his BFF Austin Reaves, as they finished last season as the league’s highest-scoring duo, averaging 56.8 points per game. Luka also turned Jaxson Hayes into a serviceable backup big, mostly by connecting on alley-oops. LA’s new big, Walker Kessler, is significantly better and will be part of the future to develop something special with Luka.

Opposing teams will always focus on stopping Luka, leaving teammates open for plenty of scoring opportunities. Luka averaged 8.3 assists per game last season. That number could rise as he’ll have the ball more after LeBron James’s departure and with a team built to get the best out of him.

The team has many new players, several of whom haven’t been under the bright lights before. If Luka can turn a Lakers team that many don’t see as legit championship threats into a contender, his MVP case won’t be ignorable.

What is his worst-case scenario?

Luka’s worst-case scenario would be having to do too much heavy lifting, causing him to miss an extended period of time… just like last season. The talent surrounding him now is built to take some of the pressure off his workload, which could hopefully give him an extended stay on the bench when he’s taken out for rest.

However, he has a history of hamstring injuries. The Lakers didn’t have a bench that could produce enough to give Luka more rest.

They’re going into a new season with a younger bench, but the pressure still remains on Luka. Even if they have more ball handlers this season, like Collin Sexton and Quentin Grimes, Luka determines the Lakers’ ceiling. And if some of those bench players aren’t up to snuff and the minutes start piling up for Luka again, it could be déjà vu all over again.

He’s a superstar, so it’s not shocking that he will always have a heavy workload, as all MVPs do. But if it doesn’t result in the Lakers having a good record, that will his worst-case for MVP.

What is his most likely role on the team?

Well, that’s pretty obvious, isn’t it? He’s the leader. The MVP, if you will. 

For all eight of LeBron’s years in the purple and gold, he was always considered the leader. Now Luka enters his first season tasked with guiding LA back to the promised land. He’s got a team with players signed to multi-year deals that will create continuity,and his sidekick in Reaves, so the ball is in his court to do something exceptional. 

Luka is the point guard and maestro of the team. He’ll have the scoring responsibilityon his shoulders. He will facilitate. He’ll knock down insane triples and do whatever else is asked of him.

If he can do that while leading the Lakers toward the top of the Western Conference, then an MVP might finally be added to his trophy cabinet.

You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.

Every friend group has that one couple. You can see the red flags from a mile away. The two sides seem miserable together, but insist there is still love there. Or each person stews in silence publicly and tells you how miserable they are privately. You never push too hard because it’s not your place.

That feels like the stage we have reached with the Detroit Pistons and free agent big man Jalen Duren.

Maybe all this animosity leaking through press sources is just gamesmanship and negotiating tactics, and none of it resembles reality. But from my limited vantage point, I think it’s time to break up this toxic relationship.

Nothing about the actions from the Duren camp nor the Pistons camp indicates that either is seriously invested in a long-term relationship. Every single move seems like a form of self-sabotage designed to force the other side to formally declare this union dissolved.

In a matter of days, maybe both sides will secretly get what they want, but neither side is willing to admit — Jalen Duren playing for a basketball team that is not the Detroit Pistons.

It might seem like the hostilities began on the eve of free agency when it became known that Duren was interested in talking to other teams with the potential cap space to sign him to the max contract he sought. However, the issues stretch back a year prior, when the Pistons weren’t interested in signing him to a post-rookie extension and were comfortable entering into restricted free agency.

It seems that, to paraphrase Michael Jordan, Duren took that personally.

Since then, we’ve had a seemingly endless series of leaks from Duren’s camp about various teams’ interest, and his interest in other teams. Nobody ever said, “Duren has no interest in playing for the Pistons,” but maybe that’s where we’ve always been.

The Pistons are not blameless. The post-rookie extension numbers they were interested in seemed low at the time and are laughably low in hindsight; reportedly, closer to $20 million per year than the $40 million per year Duren was seeking. Duren then delivered the best season of his career as a 22-year-old and earned an All-Star berth and All-NBA honors. Detroit upped offers into the low $30 millions while Duren was technically eligible for a $287-million, five-year extension.

Detroit has moved, but seemingly done so kicking and screaming. It’s almost like they like Duren, but they’re not in love with Duren.

Certainly not to the level they love Ausar Thompson. To the discerning Pistons fan, Ausar is the team’s second most important player behind Cade Cunningham. Unlike with Duren, Detroit was much more eager to secure the defensive wing on a post-rookie max, and announced a five-year, $155 million pact even while the Duren drama drags on.

Thompson is far from a perfect player, and his paycheck is counting on a level of needed improvement on the offensive end. I think he’ll improve offensively to the point he can’t be paid off the floor. When that happens, this deal will look like a steal. But from Duren’s perspective, it seems like just one more slight.

The latest salvo comes from recent reports that Detroit is looking at adding a weight clause as an incentive to Duren’s deal. Duren, reportedly, finds it disrespectful. Now, sometimes these incentive clauses are more face-saving moves. Either unlikely incentives so a player (and his agent) can say he got a deal higher than he did in reality, or a clause to give the Pistons the plausible deniability of smart fiscal management.

This might be that. Or it might be the kind of ultimatum that is the hallmark of the late stages of a relationship doomed to end.

The Pistons feel like a team that knows intellectually that investing gigantic sums of money in a player who lacks range and defensive dominance is risky. Doubly so if you’ve already committed to Ausar Thompson during what could be your entire title window.

Perhaps Trajan Langdon is a guy who, all else being equal, would have been much more interested in a center who fit the scheme and was the fifth-best player on the floor. Instead, he inherited a great young prospect. It’s the kind of talent that’s hard to walk away from, even as every move you’re making gives away that your heart just isn’t into it like it should be.

We are going to know where the truth lies in a matter of days. Duren is either going to sign a long-term deal with Detroit, or he is going to get sign-and-traded for a return that includes a more workmanlike center.

We’ll see if this was the kind of relationship where people are working the media for favorable coverage or if this is a truly dysfunctional couple headed for divorce. I’m finally starting to think it’s the latter.

WASHINGTON — Washington Wizards general manager Will Dawkins called the 2026-27 campaign a “season of growth” when he met with the media on Thursday.

Dawkins said that while the Wizards want to increase moments of competitive basketball, player development remains the No. 1 goal.

“We want to take meaningful strides as an organization towards building towards sustained success,” Dawkins said. “It definitely won’t be linear … But we’ll chip away as we’ve done in previous seasons … We just want our team to have expectations of being more competitive.”

Alex Sarr expected back by opener

Alex Sarr, who in June underwent surgery to repair a fractured left foot, is expected to return for Washington’s season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks on Oct. 21.

“We expect [Alex] to be a partial participant at the start of camp. He’s progressing really, really well. And I anticipate that he’ll be able to play opening night.

Dawkins lauded Sarr’s maturity and discipline during his recovery process, which continues to progress as training camp nears.

Sarr blossomed in his second NBA season, averaging 16.3 points and 7.4 rebounds while shooting 48.2% from the field — an 8.8% improvement from the season before. He defended the most rim attempts per game (9.7) while blocking two shots per contest.

“The paint is going to be a tough place for people to score on us,” Dawkins said. “Alex was second in the blocks last year, and that’s without having Anthony Davis and DeAndre Ayton.”

Dawkins said Jamir Watkins, who in July underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL, is out “a good amount of time.”

Anthony Davis ‘motivated’ to start season

On August 6 — the same day Davis became eligible to sign a four-year, $285 million max extension with the Wizards — The Athletic’s Joshua Robbins reported the sides had agreed to wait until the season to have extension talks.

Dawkins, as he does with all players, declined Thursday to discuss the team’s ongoing negotiations with Davis. But he said Davis is ready to start the season when Washington opens against Milwaukee.

“AD is in a great frame of mind,” Dawkins said. “He’s focused and ready to start the season. I would say he’s very much a motivated player right now, and I expect that he will remind the basketball world who he really is.”

Davis has played just 71 games over the previous two seasons due to various injuries, including a left hand injury that sidelined him from early January through the end of last season. When healthy, Davis is a perennial NBA All-Star and Top-75 player who protects the rim and scores from multiple levels.

Tempered expectations

After a 50-196 record across three rebuilding seasons, Wizards fans have lofty expectations entering the 2026-27 season. But the Wizards —players, coaches, and front office members alike —have declined to set expectations for the upcoming campaign.

While it’s certainly not another chapter in the “deconstruction phase,” Dawkins declined to place a threshold on Washington’s ceiling or floor this year.

“I won’t really put a number on our season or our wins. I won’t put a cap on our potential for our team,” Dawkins said. “The East has gotten better. I think there’s a lot of teams competing and trying to win, which we are doing.”

Dawkins said he feels “comfortable” with his team’s growth entering his fourth year in charge. He said the team has several “carry-forward” players that will take the team into the next phase of the rebuild, and now it’s about continuing that development in more competitive environments. 

“[This season is] about taking that proper growth so that we can continue to move toward the same success,” Dawkins said. “We’re still at the infancy of building. I think we just added a really really important pillar to that build in AJ [Dybantsa] … We feel like we have a lot of other carry-forward players in the building right now, and we’re excited to see that all come together.”

@GregFinberg asks Will to evaluate where this team is after 3 years on the job

I also thought it was super cool that Ben Strober, Abdullah Ayubi & Greg all were able to ask Dawkins questions in this presser

These 3 super young Wiz media leaders are just killing it 👏🚀👏🚀 pic.twitter.com/YN7YF3UQ3t

— Jared (@Free_Thinking1) September 24, 2026

Confidence in Keefe

Brian Keefe inherited a near-impossible situation when he was named Washington’s interim head coach in January 2024 before his promotion to full-time duties five months later. 

The 50-year-old head coach navigated the Wizards through a tough rebuild, spearheading key player development strides with Sarr, Kyshawn George and more. But his .212 winning percentage — a 43-160 record — is the worst among active head coaches across that span.

On Thursday, Dawkins reiterated his confidence in Keefe and his ability to lead Washington into more competitive basketball.

“I have a lot of confidence in Brian Keefe,” Dawkins said. “Full confidence in him to develop the roster and continue to take us into the next phase of Wizards basketball.”

Will Dawkins on HC Brian Keefe: "I have full confidence in him to develop the roster and continue to take us into the next phase of Wizards basketball”

Also mentions bringing in Steve Clifford, Patrick Ewing, and Cody Toppert were KEY additions

(Question: Henry J. Brown @SInow) https://t.co/NqOxRmjvk5pic.twitter.com/OzUjb2WA7x

— SleeperWizards (@SleeperWizards) September 24, 2026

Dawkins noted the offseason hires of Steve Clifford and Patrick Ewing as experienced coaches that will bolster Keefe’s staff. Clifford was hired as an advisor in July. Ewing joined as an assistant later that month.

“I have to commend [Keefe] for the summer he had internally … [Clifford] has a wealth of knowledge and experience. [He] will be someone really good, not only in Brian’s ear, but helping develop our coaching staff. Bringing in someone like Patrick Ewing, who knows the city, who knows being a No. 1 pick, who knows the pressures of trying to win at a high level, a Hall of Famer, a top 75 player — that experience is really important to us.”

Backup PG duties

If it wasn’t already clear when the Wizards handed Trae Young a four year, $212 million max contract extension in June, Dawkins reiterated that the four-time All-Star will start at point guard. Who backs him up remains unknown.

Washington has several candidates, ranging from sharpshooting guards like Bub Carrington to 6-foot-9 wings like Kyshawn George and AJ Dybantsa. Dawkins said the Wizards have “multiple ball handlers.”

“We got multiple ball handlers that can make decisions,” Dawkins said. “Bilal [Coulibaly] Paul can handle, Kyshawn can handle, Bub can handle, AJ can handle and create … I like having multiple decision makers, multiple initiators, because it’s harder to defend.”

Dawkins praised Dybantsa’s commitment to working on his game this summer, lauding his work ethic and ability to retain information as he enters his first NBA season.

”We got some guys here that bring sleeping bags to the gym because they’re here all the time. And [Dybantsa] is one of those guys that adopted that right away and kind of fell in line with some of our other guys,“ Dawkins said.

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For those who prefer podcasts, here’s a 30-minute breakdown of everything Dawkins said in Thursday’s presser:

The Lakers lost one of its longest-tenured employees.

Lawrence Tanter died at 76 after spending more than 40 years as the Lakers public announcer. Tanter, known as LT by fans, retired in June after suffering a stroke late in the regular season and missing the team’s final six home games plus the postseason.

Luka Dončić posted the Lakers’ tribute to Tanter on his Instagram story.

“We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of legendary Lakers public address announcer Lawrence Tanter,” the team wrote in a statement. “For 43 years, LT’s voice served as the soundtrack to Lakers games at the arena. He will be remembered as a cherished member of the Lakers family.”

Jeanie Buss also paid respects to the person who had manned the microphone since the Lakers’ “Showtime” era.

“A true original that added his unique style to Showtime. Rest in peace, LT,” Buss wrote in a post on X.

A true original that added his unique style to Showtime. Rest in peace, LT. https://t.co/GTDopukHGs

— Jeanie Buss (@JeanieBuss) September 24, 2026

Tanter had several memorable moments from his career, including his signature call of announced “The Laker girrlllssss” after the dance team finished its routine and ran off the court. For many fans, the unforgettable Tanter highlight came during the Lakers’ 2020 championship seaso.

The Lakers played their first game after Kobe Bryant’s death in January 2020, where Tanter introduced all five starters with the same line: “6-6, 20th year out of Lower Merion High School, Kobeeeeee Bryant!”

The Lakers would go on to win the championship in the NBA bubble.

Several notable figures have paid their respects for Tanter, a beloved LA fixture, including former Laker LeBron James.

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Ever since the Sixers traded for Jaylen Brown—and especially ever since they signed LeBron James a few weeks later—one question has repeatedly popped up: Who will take the last shot for them?

NBA teams typically have an established pecking order in crunch time. The Denver Nuggets are going to run their offense through Nikola Jokić, the Los Angeles Lakers are going to run theirs through Luka Dončić, so on and so forth.

The Sixers might be the rare outlier in that regard. When they have all five of Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James and Joel Embiid out on the floor, they’ll have five legitimate go-to options. Allocating one of them as the primary last-shot-taker would be a grievous misuse of their unique roster.

It would also be anathema to LeBron’s ethos.

As strange as this is to say about the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, LeBron’s greatest gift is his passing ability. He’ll likely be handling the ball and running the offense plenty during crunch time, but that doesn’t mean he’ll always be taking the last shot. Quite the contrary, in fact.

“You always make the right play,” James told reporters last December after his streak of 1,297 straight games with 10-plus points came to an end. (Instead of trying to extend his streak, he passed to Rui Hachimura for a game-winning three-pointer.) “That’s just been my M.O. That’s how I was taught the game. I’ve done that my whole career.”

The Sixers’ collection of talent this season should afford them a rare opportunity, particularly once the playoffs roll around. They’ll be able to mismatch-hunt like few (if any?) other teams.

When Jalen Brunson went into seek-and-destroy mode against James Harden in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals this past spring, he single-handedly flipped that game back in favor of the Knicks. An apathetic defender like Harden will have nowhere to hide against the Sixers’ starting lineup. They can hunt him with whomever he’s guarding, even if that changes on a possession-by-possession basis.

You’re guarding Edgecombe? Great! Oh, you’re gonna try to guard Maxey now? Good luck. You’re shifting over to Brown or LeBron? LOL.

If the Sixers are facing an overmatched frontcourt, they can funnel their offense through Embiid. If they’re going against a defensively challenged backcourt, Maxey and Edgecombe can take the reins. And if they’re matched up against a team without strong wing defenders, Brown and LeBron can take turns bullying their way to the basket.

The “who takes the last shot?” mentality is the exact wrong way to think about this year’s Sixers team. That’s the sort of ego-driven madness that they need to avoid like the plague.

They’re well aware of that, too.

“Obviously, on paper, we’re excellent,” Brown said during his introductory press conference in August. “We have a lot of talent compared to other teams in the league. But I’ve been around a long time, long enough to know that just what you have on paper don’t really mean nothing. It can, if you put the work in. But it also, if you allow distractions, if you allow the media to get into your locker room, if you allow certain things and personalities don’t work, it can be a detriment.”

Whenever the Sixers’ crunch-time offense bogs down, critiques are bound to come flooding in. Stephen A. Smith and Kendrick Perkins will be blabbing on ESPN about why the Sixers made the wrong choice—regardless of who actually takes the last shot—and why it means they’re doomed to fail. Given his well-documented hatred of LeBron, Skip Bayless’ part-time return to First Take could not be coming at a worse time.

Luckily, it’s easier than ever to entirely tune that nonsense out. Step 1: Just log off Twitter for a while. Your brain will thank you.

The good news is that the Sixers’ party line heading into training camp is all about sacrifice.

“As far as the chemistry off the court, guys are communicating, guys are having a good time doing it, guys are really pumping each other up, and guys are also willing to sacrifice,” Maxey told ClutchPoints’ Tomer Azarly. “It’s just what they’ve said. So when we step on the court, we have to kind of embody all those things that we’ve been talking about.

“Sacrificing, coming together as one, and going out there competing every single night. Those are the three things that we really have to focus on.”

The architect of this roster, Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey, echoed that sentiment during an August appearance on Midday With Marks.

“It’s gonna be exciting just because we have so much talent,” Gansey said. “The guys, I think want to sacrifice. We’ve gotta get to camp. We haven’t even had a practice or played a game. So we’ve gotta see if this thing works, obviously. I like the pieces and the talent we have, but we’ve gotta get to a practice first to see how this works. I think it’s gonna work because these guys are gonna wanna be together, and they see the big picture, I think. And that’s what’s exciting.”

If the Sixers’ starters keep their egos in check this season, the last-shot question won’t be a question at all. There shouldn’t be a single go-to option in those situations. It should vary on a game-by-game basis depending on where their opponent is weakest, no matter what the likes of Smith, Perkins and Bayless will inevitably say whenever they come up short.

LeBron’s make-the-right-play mentality is the way forward for the Sixers this season. Trust the process.

Unless otherwise noted, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball Reference. All salary information via Spotrac and salary-cap information via RealGM.

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ESPN released the latest bunch in its yearly effort to rank the top 100 NBA players. Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg both made the top 50, and, in quite a shocking revelation, Flagg is 16 (!) spots higher than the veteran guard. Irving comes in at 39, just ahead of former Maverick Anthony Davis and right behind San Antonio guard Stephon Castle. Flagg ranks ahead of NBA champion Chet Holmgren and just shy of Hawks forward Jalen Johnson. Assuming no other Mavericks will crack the top 10, Cooper Flagg is, convincingly, the best Mavericks player, according to ESPN.

The last time we saw Kyrie Irving play basketball was over a year and a half ago. Training camp murmurs have been overwhelmingly positive, and if you tend to believe the people who are around him every day, it sounds like he won’t skip a beat when he returns. He was producing 25 points and five assists nightly when he got injured, which would be more than incredible if he were to recreate that this season. Irving ranked 25th two seasons ago, coming off a trip to the NBA Finals, so only dropping 14 spots after extended time off and a major knee surgery is indicative of the sentiment that he won’t see a harsh decline in ability. 

Flagg’s position on this list is a bit shocking, but only because of how the narrative around him shook out at the end of last year. Ultimately, Flagg took home the Rookie of the Year award. But for a few months there were plenty of pundits who campaigned for Kon Knueppel. Knueppel, without playing basketball since losing the award by just 12 votes, is a whopping 25 slots behind Flagg on this list. This shows that despite the talk online, a lot of people feel the way Mavericks fans do, having watched all of his games: that he is a top 25 player in the NBA. In fact, by the end of this season, this may even be too low for him.

All signs point to the two Mavericks standouts justifying their ranks. And if things go well, they may push it even higher on the list next year.

General Manager of the Raptors, Bobby Webster, addressed members of the press this morning ahead of the upcoming media day. He fielded questions on the proverbial summer of love between the Raptors, Clippers, and Kawhi Leonard, as well as giving his thoughts on both the off-season and the season ahead. Here are four key takeaways.

The Kawhi Leonard deal was a matter of trust

Webster pointed to his personal relationship with the general manager of the Clippers as being instrumental to completing the deal for Leonard. He said that the trade took a “huge amount of trust and respect”, where the Raptors refrained from taking advantage of the Clippers’ disarray in the wake of the NBA’s punitive measures.

“I think when you agree to the deal, you agree to the deal,” he opined.

When asked about potential issues regarding Kawhi’s character, Webster again spoke about the importance of human relationships in the business, saying that “from a person and a player [standpoint], we were really comfortable.”

To make the deal happen amidst the chaos of the Aspiration Scandal and the NBA’s investigation, Webster and the Raptors leaned on the person-to-person connection that can sometimes be disregarded when private deals enter the public eye.

Bobby is looking ahead, not to the past

As important as pre-existing relationships are, Webster doesn’t seem particularly focused on nostalgia about the Raptors’ last title run.

“I think there’s gonna be so many times where we’re gonna be tempted to sort of compare this to ‘19,” he said, responding to a question about Kawhi’s load management at the end of the last decade. “I think probably we need to focus mainly on moving forward.” Speaking about Leonard’s health, Webster said that “as we move forward, we’ll have a better sense. But I think… the biggest thing is he’s coming off the healthy season.”

Indeed, Leonard played 65 games last season, 5 more than in the 2018-19 season. It seems that while the Raptors are still monitoring the health of their new star, it’s not the immediate concern that it was once upon a time.

Centre concerns perhaps overblown?

In further regards to player health, Webster gave an update on the state of Jakob Poeltl, the first update on the Austrian big man’s health in some time. The GM described Poeltl is being in “good spirits, good shape,” with time at home being particularly important to his wellbeing.

There has been a level of doom and gloom surrounding the Raptors’ reality at centre, but if Poeltl is healthy going into the next season, he’ll bringing respectable offensive presence and massive size that the Raptors are in dear need of.

Roster stability, roster development

When asked about Kawhi Leonard’s extension potentially impacting the Raptors’ ability to retain RJ Barrett from a financial perspective, Webster dismissed concerns, noting that “ownership has been incredibly supportive” and that the Raptors retained some financial flexibility to potentially let their spending take them over the cap if the situation required it.

Even with the big fish that is Kawhi Leonard joining the roster, it seems that the structure of the team will continue relatively unchanged. Webster noted that “Scottie continues to mature,” and that when seeing him and Kawhi together “there’s a natural basketball chemistry” that is evident.

Webster seems positive about the upcoming season, and this discussion about the trade with the Clippers may be the last time that the executive takes the time to really look in hindsight. The Raptors seem to be all about transcending their current state. In Bobby’s words, last year was all about the question “can we compete every night?” but this year, the question has changed to “can we win every night?”

And with the season starting in October, the latter question will have an answer soon.

LeBron James used to salute Lakers public address announce Lawrence Tanter at every home game.

Tanter died at 76 years old, the Lakers announced Wednesday. James shared a heartfelt tribute for Tanter on social media the following day.

“REST IN PARADISE Lawrence Tanter! Loved seeing you pretty much every single home game for the past 8 years at the scores table and always acknowledging you with a cause you deserved the while you were living! Your voice command and echoed throughout the entire arena,” James wrote in a post on X.

“You made home games SPECIAL! You will be truly missed! Glad we got to share some time together my man! My heart and prayers goes to your family and loved ones! Love you LT! ”

pic.twitter.com/qHzdn7Xpzf

— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 24, 2026

While James is no longer with the Lakers, it’s evident Tanter’s influence even reached the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.

Tanter became a fixture for the Lakers, when he began working as the P.A. announcer during the 1982-83 season. His smooth delivery and baritone voice became signature for Lakers home games spanning more than 40 years.

Tanter was apart of 10 NBA championships throughout his storied Lakers tenure. He retired in June after a 43-year long run as the team’s P.A. announcer.

“We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of legendary Lakers public address announcer Lawrence Tanter,” the Lakers said in a statement Wednesday. “For 43 years, LT’s voice served as the soundtrack to Lakers games at the arena. He will be remembered as a cherished member of the Lakers family.”

Karl-Anthony Towns and the New York Knicks are approaching training camp without a contract extension, and one of the biggest financial questions surrounding their championship core remains widely unresolved.

ESPN’s Shams Charania and Vincent Goodwill first reported Wednesday that extension talks have stagnated following extensive offseason discussions. An agreement is considered unlikely before training camp, with media day scheduled for Monday.

“Talks have been described to me as cordial, there just has not been movement on a deal — especially as of late,” Charania reported.

Reporting for NBA Today — extension negotiations have stagnated between the reigning champion Knicks and All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns: pic.twitter.com/JbeNpz9TJP

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 23, 2026

Towns is eligible for an extension worth up to four years and $276 million, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. He will earn $57 million this season and holds a $61 million player option for 2027-28.

Newsday’s Steve Popper confirmed that the Knicks and Towns remain far enough apart that negotiations could linger into the regular season and potentially beyond.

New York has made it clear that the franchise wants to keep Towns, and league sources have indicated Towns is willing to accept less than his maximum contract to re-sign with the Knicks.

League source on KAT negotations: "There have been plenty of conversations with KAT and his camp. Everything is positive, (the organziation) loves him, think really highly of him. Just because deal's not done doesn’t mean it’s not going to done."

— Steve Popper (@StevePopper) September 23, 2026

The central disagreement appears to be how large that discount will be. New York is attempting to preserve flexibility while owner James Dolan has publicly pushed to keep the franchise below the punitive second apron, but there might be a breaking point Towns is not willing to get past.

Even then, SNY’s Ian Begley reported that conversations have remained positive and that the Knicks have made clear they want Towns long-term. Begley also revealed that New York has discussed extension structures with Towns beginning in the $45 million-to-$50 million annual range.

ESPN reported that talks have hit a snag and that an extension before the season is unlikely. Josh Hart also eligible for an extension as is Miles McBride.

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) September 23, 2026

Those figures would leave Towns well below his maximum, yet The New York Post’s Stefan Bondy also emphasized that neither side has abandoned an agreement even though talks have stalled a bit.

“There’s been plenty of conversations with KAT, all cordial, all positive,” Bondy reported, citing a league source. “(Knicks) want KAT to be (there) for a long time. And just because a deal isn’t done now doesn’t mean it can’t get done.”

League source on KAT extension negotiations:

"There’s been plenty of conversations with KAT and it's all been cordial, all positive. We want KAT to be here long time and just cause a deal isn't done now doesn’t mean it can't get done."

— Stefan Bondy (@SbondyNBA) September 23, 2026

Towns, meanwhile, publicly expressed the same desire to stay in New York last winter. “Hell yeah I want to stay here,” Towns told The New York Post in December. “Obviously, get a chance to be home, see my family. It means more than the money, you know. So just to be able to be here with the fans, be with the family. It means a lot. I would like it to continue.”

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst identified Towns’ $61 million option and the Knicks’ self-imposed second apron restriction as the heart of the negotiations and the main hurdle to clear before an agreement is reached.

“What KAT does will determine if Knicks core can stay together,” Windhorst said. “He’s got a $61 million option for not this season, next season. Knicks have said, ‘We don’t wanna be in second apron.’ If he picks up that option, they’re gonna be in the second apron.”

Windhorst: “What KAT does will determine if Knicks core can stay together…He's got a $61 million option for (not this season) next season. Knicks have said ‘we don't wanna be in 2nd apron.’ If he picks up that option they're gonna be in the 2nd apron. So what they are gonna… pic.twitter.com/4c5jflwfeM

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) September 23, 2026

Windhorst believes the relationship between Towns’ agency, CAA, and the Knicks increases the chances of a deal. Knicks president Leon Rose previously represented Towns, while CAA also represents Jalen Brunson and other New York players.

“I honestly believe this is all gonna work out even if, again, you hear a little bit of wavering in the first couple of days of camp,” Windhorst said. “If James Dolan messes this up. Let Leon Rose and CAA do their business, and I think Karl-Anthony Towns will figure it out.”

The Knicks already allowed Mitchell Robinson to leave in free agency while managing their second-apron restriction. Josh Hart is also extension-eligible, while Brunson and OG Anunoby will become eligible next offseason, making for a tight cap situation in New York.

For now, Towns will report to training camp without a new agreement but ready to help the Knicks defend the title it took the franchise 53 years to reclaim.

Send in your questions now for this week’s episode of The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast to discuss everything Pistons. Submit your question in the comments section here or on Twitter to @TheRealWesD3 and/or @RobbieBettelon. If you’re on BlueSky, you can also send to @RobbieBettelon.bksy.social.

Join us live on Friday afternoon as Wes and Robbie discuss Pistons news late into September. What questions would you like to add to the show?

Plus, The Pindown has a phone line where you can leave a message and hear your voice on the show. Call (313) 355-2717 and leave us a voicemail with your question. Please try to keep the message around 45 seconds or less so we can fit everyone into the show.

The podcast will be uploaded to all audio platforms the following morning.

The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast Vitals:

When: Friday, September 25th at 2:45 p.m. ET

Where: Detroit Bad Boys YouTube Channel

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• Detroit Bad Boys Website: Comment section of the weekly Pindown episode articles.
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As always, leave any questions or topics you want to be discussed in the comment section below.

Go Stones.

Mavericks’ big man Dereck Lively II has not been cleared for training camp as he continues to recover from right foot surgery, per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. His status for the season’s start is still under review as he continues his rehabilitation.

The reporting emphasizes that the Mavericks are not discouraged by his progress. It is important to note that Lively wore a boot throughout the season and hadn’t progressed to running as of June 26. Dallas has erred on the side of caution with Lively’s recovery under the front office’s new structure.

Dallas starts its training camp on Saturday. The Mavericks preseason commences on Oct. 9 in Macao, China.

Lively, who has appeared in 98 of 246 eligible games since being drafted in 2023, was a key piece in Dallas’ run to the NBA Finals in 2024. After making an early impact for the Mavericks in his rookie season as the 12th overall pick in the draft, he suffered multiple foot injuries and setbacks that have kept him off the floor since Nov. 2025.

The beginning of Lively’s injury woes started with an ankle stress fracture in January 2025 that was previously misdiagnosed as an ankle sprain. Mismanagement of his injury eventually required surgery to remove bone spurs in his foot in July 2025, and he returned to action for just seven games last season. He continued to deal with foot soreness and swelling through those seven games before being shut down for the season in December.

The defensive-minded center is heading into a contract year, where the Mavericks will have to decide where Lively fits within their future around Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg and company. The 7’1” big man’s size and versatility as a defender allow him an opportunity to be in Dallas’ long-term plans, health permitting. His finishing abilities and promise shown as a passer can allow him to carve a significant role in building a contender around Flagg. Lively averaged 8.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game in his 98 career games.

The additions of Lively, Kyrie Irving, and other Mavericks offseason acquisitions gives the team a new look moving forward around their budding star in Flagg.