We have reached the summer doldrums in the NBA — there is no wind filling the sails of teams pushing them toward completing. Put another way: There is no immediate deadline.
For restricted free agents, the real pressure comes when training camps start at the end of September, that's when teams and players have to have a deal. Teams also look at the remaining free agents out there and think, "Why do I have to commit to a deal now? Let's see what the market looks like closer to the start of camp." So we wait. Here is where things stand with the nine biggest-name free agents on the board.
1) Jalen Duran (restricted)
Jalen Duren's situation remains unchanged. He is the best free agent on the board — an All-NBA and All-Star player last season who averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game while playing elite defense in the paint — but he and the Pistons remain well apart on a contract extension.
The Pistons are not considering sign-and-trade options, something league sources have told NBC Sports all offseason. ESPN's Anthony Slater echoed that sentiment on the Hoop Collective Podcast: "Detroit has nixed that idea completely."
The question now is money. After a rough playoffs, Duren cost himself money. Detroit reportedly opened with an offer in the mid-$30 million-a-year range (maybe something like five years, $180 million), while Duren is looking for something closer to the same deal Victor Wembanyama just signed (five years, $251 million, a $50 million a year average). Right now, there is little pressure for either side to compromise, but as we move into mid- and late-September, that changes.
Duren can play for the $9.5 million qualifying offer and become an unrestricted free agent next offseason, but that is a massive risk, leaving maybe a couple hundred million dollars on the table.
2) James Harden
Harden opted out of his $42.3 million player option to give the Cavaliers more cap flexibility to upgrade the roster, or more specifically, chase LeBron James. That didn't exactly work out. Now the two sides will eventually come to a deal that sees Harden take a haircut next season but get a longer-term deal worth more total money.
The Cavaliers are currently $35.5 million below the second apron with 13 roster spots filled. Harden will make 14, but again there is no rush as the Cavaliers have poked around a sign-and-trade for Jonathan Kuminga — or just outright signing him for the taxpayer midlevel exception of $6.1 million — which would impact what Cleveland can offer Harden. (Cleveland also was tied at points to a Peyton Watson sign-and-trade but that seems to have cooled down.)
So this is dragging out, with no real pressure to get a deal done.
3) Peyton Watson (restricted)
Denver is stuck, in part because they paid Christian Braun five years, $125 million last summer, then matched the Spencer Jones offer sheet from Oklahoma City. The real issue is that Braun didn't live up to his new deal last season, Watson stepped in and outplayed him, and is now looking for a contract in the same ballpark. Watson earned that, but the Nuggets are currently the only team in the league over the second apron — with an ownership group not known for paying that level of tax — and giving Watson a similar deal would lead to a massive tax bill.
Which is why a sign-and-trade of Watson may be the final outcome, and Denver is open to it. Atlanta, Cleveland, Milwaukee and the LA Clippers are the teams that have reportedly expressed interest. However, the Hawks and Cavaliers have cooled of late because of the asking price (both from Watson and the Nuggets), reports Brett Siegel at ClutchPoints.. The Bucks are hesitant to throw in a first-round pick to get the deal done, reports Eric Nehm of The Athletic. Complicating matters is the second apron. With the Nuggets currently over that line they are limited in what they can take back (it has to be less salary, players can't be aggregated and more). The Clippers reportedly want to offer Derrick Jones Jr. to Denver in a trade, but the apron makes that very difficult.
It's possible Denver just signs Watson, but that means it will have found a trade partner to take on Braun and his contract, or Cameron Johnson and his larger $23.1 million contract.
4) Jonathan Kuminga
Didn't we just do this extended free agency with Jonathan Kuminga last summer?
Atlanta didn't pick up the $23.4 million team option on Kuminga, and he originally was hoping to make in that ballpark again with a new team, but that's not happening. He's going to make considerably less, very possibly on a short-term deal where he will have to prove his worth — not just as a scorer, but as a guy who can fit into a team system and play a role. That was at the core of his clashes with Steve Kerr in Golden State.
Cleveland and the Los Angeles Lakers have been regularly mentioned as the primary suitors for Kuminga, but neither is offering near what Kuminga wants per year in a new deal, and any sign-and-trade contract has to be for at least three years under the CBA. Which is why Kuminga taking less — maybe the $6.1 million taxpayer mid-level exception from Cleveland — to get a shorter deal that gets him back on the market more quickly might be the answer. Kuminga's athleticism, defense and scoring would help the Lakers or Cavaliers — as long as he played a role.
It feels like next summer, or the one after, we could be right back here with Kuminga.
5) DeMar DeRozan
This is one of those veteran signings that likely happens closer to the start of training camp. There is no urgency now, as teams will choose to keep their options open and not commit until they have to.
Miami and DeRozan have mutual interest, according to multiple reports. Cleveland has been mentioned as another landing spot, as have Denver and Washington. Other teams could jump in the mix close to the start of camp. DeRozan, 36, can help a team off the bench, he averaged 18.4 points and 4.1 assists per game in Sacramento last season.
6) Bennedict Mathurin (restricted)
Mathurin and the Clippers remain apart on a contract, but a lot of things feel up in the air with the Clippers right now as everyone waits for the Aspiration/Kawhi Leonard investigation to take a next step (and the Leonard trade to Toronto to go through). LA wants to re-sign Mathurin, who averaged 17.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in the 26 games he played for them last season after coming over in the Ivica Zubac trade.
The Clippers are open to a sign-and-trade. Detroit called and talked to the Clippers, but that is now dead, reports Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. New Orleans is known to have called. The Clippers would be open to a deal with the Bulls (Isaac Okoro and some second-round picks, Siegel reports), but those talks also seem cold.
Mathurin may just re-sign with the Clippers, the question is the money and years. Mathurin could play for his $8.8 million qualifying offer and become a free agent next offseason, but he'd be leaving money on the table and teams want to pay him. Eventually. This is likely wrapped up closer to training camp.
7) Russell Westbrook
Does Westbrook get signed before the start of training camp? Or is this a case where a team goes into camp and realizes it needs point guard depth (or gets hit with an injury) and reaches out to the future Hall of Famer?
Wherever he lands, Westbrook very likely would be asked to come off the bench (something he did not do in Sacramento a year ago) and play for the minimum, but if he's willing to do that, there will be teams calling. Eventually. Last season with the Kings, he averaged 15.2 points, 6.7 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game, although he is not efficient, is inconsistent and is limited defensively.
The Kings would be open to a reunion, reports ESPN’s Anthony Slater, but rookie Darius Acuff will be the starter in Sacramento and Westbrook would be his backup and play more of a mentor role.
nba schedule drop lakers knicks lebron james jalen brunson
Adam Silver and Co., we tip our hat to you.
The schedule for opening night and Christmas were released Tuesday and there’s no shortage of juicy storylines to anticipate while we’re stuck in the doldrums of August.
Here are our seven takeaways from the first batch of games that have been posted.
Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks handles the ball against the San Antonio Spurs during the fourth quarter in Game Three of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Monday, June 8, 2026. (Getty Images North America) Getty Images
1. Heck yes on LeBron James and the 76ers vs. the Knicks on opening night
It’s the greatest team in the league versus one of the greatest players of all-time. It’s James facing the team he would’ve joined in free agency if they hadn’t won a championship. It’s the Knicks receiving their rings in front of James, who moved across the country from his family in pursuit of his fifth title in his unprecedented 24th NBA season.
It’s the face of the league versus a guy who had to claw his way into the national consciousness in Jalen Bruson. It’s the team atop the mountain versus the team with the best chances of usurping their spot. It’s a team that oozes chemistry versus a team that’s desperate to build it.
It’s Madison Square Garden. It’s New York. It’s…why do we have to wait so long for this?
2. A conspicuous absence on opening night
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to a call during the second half against the Chicago Bulls on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, at the United Center in Chicago. (Icon Sportswire) Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Opening night features the following slate: Celtics vs. Pistons, Knicks vs. 76ers and Thunder vs. Spurs.
There’s a notable omission, eh?
The Lakers have played on opening night seven straight years before James left in free agency this summer. That speaks volumes about James’ star power. The 17-time championship Lakers are the darlings of the league, sitting in one of the biggest media markets. They have Luka Doncic, who finished fourth in MVP voting last season. But without James, none of that mattered. They didn’t secure one of the league’s most coveted windows.
3. Thunder vs. Spurs should be fun
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) looks for an opening during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at Madison Square Garden. (Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post) Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs left us stunned when they eliminated the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals in a thrilling seven-game series. The Thunder were the reigning champions at the time. They had reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. No one expected the Spurs to rise that quickly.
The joke’s on us.
Wembanyama has proven that the league is his for the taking. He’s only 22. He’s already smashing through glass ceilings. This will be Gilgeous-Alexander’s turn to respond.
4. Lakers fans better give LeBron the love he deserves on Christmas
LeBron James will play the Lakers on Christmas, the team with which he spent the longest consecutive stretch of his career in eight seasons.
James put the Lakers back on the map. He snapped a six-season playoff drought. He led them to their first championship in 10 years in 2020. He carried them to two Western Conference Finals appearances.
This will be Lakers fans’ chance to show him their appreciation.
While it’s clear they never connected with James on the same level as superstars who spent their entire careers in Los Angeles, such as Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant, James made the franchise relevant again. This will be their opportunity to thank him.
5. Here’s to guessing Wembanyama plays out of his mind against the Knicks
The anguish was painted all over Wembanyama’s face after his Spurs were eliminated by the Knicks in the Finals. The Spurs blew too many fourth quarter leads. They made too many critical mistakes down the stretch.
One can only imagine how many times Game 4 has played through his head, you know, when the Spurs squandered a 29-point lead to fall to the Knicks, 107-106.
Wembanyama has vowed to be better. He has acknowledged he has a lot to learn. When he plays the Knicks next, watch out. It’s no secret how much he wants this. He deeply cares. He’s going to be out for a vengeance.
6. There’s a “what if’ with the Warriors
Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors reacts on the court during the second half of a game against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. (Robert Sabo for NY Post) Robert Sabo for NY Post
The Warriors aren’t playing on opening night for the second time since 2019. Steph Curry is the greatest shooter of all time and even though he’s turning 39 next season, he’s still one of the best players in the league.
So why isn’t the league’s modern day dynasty playing on that coveted day?
It’s clear they’re not championship contenders. Now, if James had gone to the Warriors, things would’ve been very different. Curry and James would’ve been must-watch television, regardless of whether they were competing in June. They won a gold medal together at the 2024 Olympic Games, with James winning MVP of the tournament and Curry stealing the show in the final few games. If they had teamed up again, it would’ve meant an entire season of wide grins and shimmies and incredible basketball.
It’s hard not to think…what if.
7. Glad we get to watch Ant on Christmas
Sure, Gilgeous-Alexander is the MVP. And Wembanyama is the future face of the league. But Anthony Edwards has something else going for him.
He’s the most charismatic guy in the NBA.
Edwards and his Timberwolves will play the Thunder on Christmas. That means we get to spend the holiday watching one of the most fun guys in the league. Edwards isn’t only a thrilling scorer, he’s a Class 1A trash talker.
Gilgeous-Alexander likes to let his game do the talking.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 04: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles against Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets in the fourth quarter at Chase Center on April 04, 2025 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images) | Getty Images
They’ll be stocking the luxury suites and personal wine cellars of the Chase Center with milk and cookies again this year. For the 14th season in a row, Steph Curry and Draymond Green will be working on Christmas Day, as the Golden State Warriors host Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in the final game of the NBA’s annual December 25th basketball marathon.
The NBA generally tries to showcase the best possible matchups and its biggest stars for the annual event, and for over a decade, that’s meant Steph Curry and the Warriors. Curry himself is 5-7 on Christmas, averaging 18.1 points, though the Dubs have gone 3-0 in Curry-era games where the Baby-Faced Assassin sits.
The league almost always opens the holiday slate with a game at Madison Square Garden, a rare place where there’s a guaranteed rabid sellout crowd for a noon game on Christmas. This season, they’re making it an NBA Finals rematch, with the Knicks hosting Harrison “The Black Falcon” Barnes and the rest of the San Antonio Spurs. Tobias Harris fans are pumped!
The Boston Celtics host the Miami Heat in the next game, an intense rivalry that shouldn’t change even with Jaylen Brown gone and Giannis Antetokounmpo in South Beach. The annual LeBron James game has his new tea, the Philadelphia 76ers, visiting his old team, the Los Angeles Lakers, which could feature the first time an NBA player even dunks on his own son!
Just kidding, Bronny isn’t going to play.
Then two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder visit the Minnesota Timberwolves in what could be a fun rivalry game but is also slated in the East Coast dinner/West Coast nap slot, traditionally the place reserved for the small-market yuletide game.
Why does Curry underperform on Santa’s big day, scoring 6.7 points below his career averages? It might be the level of competition, as the Warriors tend to be matched up against other powerhouses on the holiday. It could be that Curry tires himself out wrapping presents for four children, not to mention whatever he gets for Ayesha, Dell, Sonia, Sydel, Damion Lee, David Lee, Kent Bazemore, Gary Payton II, Doc Rivers, Mark Jackson, and the rest of the extended Curry clan. Or perhaps it’s the crushing disappointment of knowing that his annual Christmas wish of the Warriors getting him help is once again not going to come true.
We like to think that Curry simply gets too excited about the holiday, finding it hard to fall asleep or snooze past dawn, and thus plays sleep-deprived every Christmas. By contrast, Dec. 25 happens long after the horse racing season ends, so Nikola Jokic won’t be distracted at all by his true favorite sport. And Canadian Jamal Murray should be a calm, cool, and collected since he’s more pumped about all the Boxing Day hockey waiting for him the next day.
Nuggets! Warriors! Christmas! Don’t fall into a turkey coma before it’s over!
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 29: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Stephen Curry #30 and Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors in action against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on February 29, 2024 in New York City. The Warriors defeated the Knicks 110-99. 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 Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’re deep in the offseason and, well … the Golden State Warriors still really haven’t done anything. Seems like a good time for a mailbag. The community had some great questions!
Warriorrallis: How to save the NBA
I ain’t streaming sporting events so likely a mute point as my sports fandom is likely nearing its end
On court/screen animation is annoying as hell
The kersey’s are going the way of NASCAR
The NBA, like NASCAR, is in a fantastic place economically. The jersey patches are ugly, the court advertisements are distracting, and it’s infuriating that you have to subscribe to 17 different streaming platforms to watch every game. But the sport is reaching more fans than ever before and making more money than ever before. I don’t think it’s particularly in need of saving, even if it’s at times frustrating.
NorthStateWarrior530: Is this roster better than their record last season would suggest?
Talent wise, absolutely. There’s no way that you can look at a team with Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler III, Draymond Green, Kristaps Porziņģis, and a solid bench, with Steve Kerr coaching it, and think the true talent level is 37 wins. But the annual question with the Warriors is: how healthy can they be to actualize the talent that’s on the roster?
If the question is, “Will they win more games than last year?” then I’m still saying “yes,” though. Sure, Butler and Moses Moody are going to play fewer games this season than last, but they’ll have a full season of Porziņģis, and even with his many health issues, he should far exceed the 15 games he played with Golden State a year ago. More importantly, Curry should play more than 43 games this year … and, as a reminder, the team went 24-19 when Curry played last year, and 13-26 when he didn’t.
So yeah. Even with Butler’s injury, I think this roster is better than a 37-45 team … there are just abounding questions about actualizing that.
NorthStateWarrior530: Is 2nd place in the Pacific Division a realistic expectation? With the Clippers clearly sinking to the bottom and the Kings with their general ineptitude, it’s really a 3-way race to the top of the Pacific Division between the Suns, Warriors, and Lakers. I imagine the Lakers will be at the top, but is Bridges really that much of a difference maker for the Suns?
Perhaps this is me being overly semantic, but I would change the word “expectation” to “goal.” The Lakers, Suns, and Warriors could shake out in any combination, and heck, the Clippers could even get into that group depending on how the Kawhi Leonard situation shakes out.
I’m skeptical that Miles Bridges will make a big difference on the Suns (other than making them the easiest team in the league to hate), but Phoenix did win eight more games than the Dubs last season. The goal should be to finish ahead of the Suns — and maybe even the Lakers, depending on how the post-LeBron era goes — but I’m not sure if it’s an expectation, per se. It should be close, though. I would predict Golden State to finish second, but I’m always a little higher on the Warriors than I should be.
ScottWarrior: 1. where do you think JK will end up next season and for how much? 2. Given the Warriors admitted not really contending, just playing hard and with dignity, do you think it is safe to assume they are not going to do any trades during the season? 3. What two teams in the East are you looking forward to see playing against each other next season? 4. What Warriors player will be discussed the most on this blog next season?
Thank you for your answers. Feel free to answer as few or as many as you want, but if other people don’t have much to ask, I may get lucky to see all my questions answered.
I always appreciate the great questions, ScottWarrior! Let’s take them in order…
I think Jonathan Kuminga ends up on the Lakers. That’s where the bulk of the smoke has been, and I tend to believe that, more often than not, things get resolved where the smoke is wafting. Especially since there aren’t exactly teams lining up to sign JK. The Lakers also make the most sense, both for the team and for Kuminga. From LA’s standpoint, they’re in desperate need of athleticism and someone who can replace Rui Hachimura; from Kuminga’s standpoint, there’s a clear opening in the starting lineup and limited options on the bench, meaning he has an avenue towards the playing time he covets.
The biggest hold up has been, as it was last year, a disagreement between Kuminga’s camp and the rest of the basketball world with regards to what he’s worth. Last year Kuminga and his agent held out and won that disagreement, due to Golden State’s unique situation. This year? I don’t think they win, and will have to settle for a modest contract.
One of the big issues, though, is that the Lakers don’t have the cap space to sign Kuminga outright, and would likely have to execute a sign-and-trade. But sign-and-trades have to be for a minimum of three years. It’s a little hard to imagine anyone agreeing with Kuminga on what a fair value over the life of a three-year deal would be. So I’d expect something in the $8-12 million annually range, with opt-outs so that Kuminga can once again test a market that his agent seems eternally convinced will materialize.
As for your second question, Golden State’s openness to making a midseason trade will, I think, depend on two huge facters: how they’re playing, and who is available. The Dubs are open about not being a contending team right now, but getting back to contention as quickly as possible is always the goal. They might be content to go into the season aiming for the back end of the playoffs (what other option do they have?), but they’re not giving up on contending while Curry and Butler are still around.
If the Warriors overachieve and are comfortably above .500 in January as they prepare for Butler’s return, then they’ll be hitting the trade market hard. If a disgruntled star becomes available, they’ll make a run … as they did for LeBron James, and Kevin Durant, and LeBron James, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, and LeBron James. But I certainly wouldn’t expect any notable trades.
Great question about Eastern Conference matchups. From a theatrical standpoint, the Philadelphia 76ers vs. the Boston Celtics will be the most must-watch games of the season. Two of the best teams in the East, already rivals, both fully revamped for a contending year, and you add in the Jaylen Brown storyline? Might as well get Netfliux there for the documentary.
From a pure basketball standpoint, though, I think I’m most curious about watching the Sixers face the Miami Heat. Seeing how those teams match up against each other is going to be absolutely fascinating, if we’re ever lucky enough to watch them play when everyone is healthy.
And finally, the player that will be discussed most on Golden State of Mind this year: Brandin Podziemski. Between the inconsistent play, the personality that has stans and haters alike, and the large payday that he is coveting (and likely to receive), there will be no shortage of talking points for Podz this year. The discourse will run wild!
greg156: do you see curry, green or even klay embracing a ginobili-type future (2027-28+) where they sign for peanuts, come off the bench, play 15-20’ and help the team go forward?
Klay yes, Draymond maybe, Steph no.
It’s taken a while for Klay Thompson to get there … his final year with the Warriors was awkward, as was his first with the Mavericks. But last year he started to embrace a smaller role. He started just eight games, and played fewer than 22 minutes per night. His performance, admittedly, was quite poor, but his attitude wasn’t. Klay is the epitome of a basketball lover: every chance he gets, he gushes about how much he loves to play basketball. It’s all he wants to do.
There’s a stark contrast there between he and the other two. Green and Curry have wives, kids, and countless ventures outside of basketball. Klay? He’s basketball first, second, and, now that Rocco is sadly no longer with us, third. There aren’t many players in sports who have made the type of money and amassed the type of accolades that these three have, who still want to squeeze every last drop of basketball out of their life that they can … but I suspect Klay is one of them. He’s the guy who’s still going to be playing pickup at 60. If there’s a ball and a court, he’s lacing up his Antas and hooping … and if someone’s willing to pay him some money to do it, all the better.
Green is a maybe because he’s already trending towards that role. During the brief period where it looked like Kuminga was breaking out, Draymond embraced a bench role. A dip in minutes is not going to come without a few fights with Kerr, but Green is pretty aware of his limitations. I don’t think he’s going to hold on for as long as he can, but he’s enough of a team player to take a smaller role if it means getting to keep competing, especially with Curry.
As for Steph? I just don’t see it. He’s climbed too high on the mountain to have any interest in the view from basecamp. It’s not easy to go from being arguably the best player in the league, and a top-10 all-time player, to someone who comes off the bench for 15-20 minutes. Even if the ego can handle it, the competitive juices often can’t.
And even setting that aside, Curry is a family man with numerous business ventures, more money than anyone will ever know what to do with, philanthropic foundations, and a potential career in golf awaiting him. He’s not gonna waste any years trying to hang on to a career that’s slipping away.
Hamster Ball: 1) There is a contingent of people who want to start the rebuild now vs just running it back each year. I don’t see Lacob trading Steph, unless Steph requests it. So, for fun, let’s say next year Steph signs for 4 million a year, just like LeBron did this year. What moves could the Warriors then do to make it a contending team?
2) Warrior fans are really spoiled. Most years, there is some sort of hope that the Dubs can do a deep run in the playoffs. However, this season, it is harder to come up with a reason to believe. The Dubs only won 37 games in a season where many teams were tanking and are running it back with an old squad. Give us a reason to believe in this team next year.
That hypothetical is fun! The Warriors would have basically no money on the books … Butler and Green will also have reached free agency, while Porziņģis’ deal is only partially guaranteed for $3 million. Golden State’s books will basically be Moody ($13.4 million), Yaxel Lendeborg ($6.4 million) and whatever Podziemski potentially signs for (if he does). So basically, in this hypothetical, the Warriors can throw a bag at absolutely anybody.
Which brings us to the critical part: who is available? Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokić can both opt out of the final years of their deals, but, even if they do, it will likely be to sign an extension with their current teams. Those two would represent the surefire way to contention, but it seems deeply unlikely that they would sign with Golden State. Could they sign two players from the next bucket, which includes Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Paul George, and Karl-Anthony Towns (all but Leonard also have player options they’d have to opt out of)?
Probably the best way to get something done would be to have a poor season, get a decent draft pick, and trade a haul of picks + Podziemski for a star, and then sign one other high-caliber player. A lot easier said than done.
As for a reason to believe in the team next year, well … the biggest reason for belief is to look at how good they were at the end of the 2024-25 season. From the time that Butler debuted on February 8, 2025, until the end of the regular season, the Warriors were third in the NBA in both record (23-8) and garbage time adjusted net rating (+9.5), per Cleaning The Glass. They were second in the West in both cases, behind only the eventual champion Thunder. They beat the No. 2 seeded Rockets in the postseason and, had Curry not suffered an injury, likely would have made the Western Conference Finals.
That core is still here, and now they’ve added Porziņģis, with hopes that Lendeborg can be a difference-maker. The cold water, of course, is that Curry, Green, and Butler are all two years older, and Butler is no guarantee to be the same player post-ACL tear. But on paper, this team is more talented than one that spent two months being one of the three-best teams in the NBA. It will take a lot of things going right for that to materialize, but there’s something in there worth dreaming on.
FringyLooneyTic: With his “runner’s knees,” do you think it is likely that Curry will make it to the playoffs this year? ALSO: Has everybody forgotten that Draymond Green suffered a lower back injury during the 2021-22 NBA season involving a herniated disc at his L5-S1 vertebrae levels, which irritated his sciatic nerve and caused severe calf weakness and leg pain? It seems quite likely that all this speculation about team-building is for naught, with players who are likely to NOT be available for a full season load.
Well, I don’t think you’re breaking any news here, FringyLooneyTic. Even if people have forgotten the specificity of Green’s injury during the championship run, no one is laboring under the disillusion that Green, Curry, Butler, Porziņģis, or Al Horford are young players with sterling health histories. The Warriors will almost surely have multiple players miss significant time this year. How much time — and which players — will answer your question about returning to the playoffs.
oaklandwarrior1: What’s going on with Demar Derozan? Was he never a target for the Warriors even after the Lebron strike out? Is he too expensive? He seems to be just what we need – a secondary scoring threat.
DeMar DeRozan would definitely be a huge addition for the Warriors. He’s not exactly the prototypical Kerr-ball player — he scores mostly in isolation, isn’t a good three-point shooter, and isn’t much on the defensive side of the ball — but the Dubs are desperate for scoring, especially while Butler is sidelined.
That said, these things usually work very slowly. DeRozan is in no rush, because finances aren’t really an issue here. When players are bought out, they sign for either the minimum or whatever the amount they forfeited in the buyout is, which is always a small amount. Unlike other free agents, DeRozan isn’t trying to create a bidding war or needing to pounce on a team that has cap space. He can basically pick from any team that wants his services.
Which means the Warriors have to convince him to join them, which I’d guess they’ve started the groundwork for. But so often, these types of players wait until deep in the offseason, just in case something changes. If DeRozan has a team he’d like to play for but they don’t need him, it would behoove him to wait a month or so, in case that team has a player suffer a serious injury. I would guess that DeRozan is chasing an opportunity to compete for a championship, and thus will look at other teams before turning to the Dubs.
Cosmo4gsw: How would you define a successful season for the Warriors?
I just want everyone to get along and have a good time. That seems successful enough to me.
Jokes aside, I think two things need to happen for the season to be successful: they need to be reasonably competitive, and they need to show signs that point to being even more competitive in 2027-28 when, critically, Curry, Green, and Butler will all be a year older … and, as things currently stand, headed for free agency.
On the competitive front, that means making the playoffs and having a competitive showing. I don’t think going 40-42, winning in the play-in tournament, and getting swept in the first round is a successful season. Being the fifth or sixth seed and having a competitive first-round series? Now we’re at least getting somewhere.
On the looking-forward front, that can occur in a few ways. The most straightforward path to envision is that Lendeborg looks like a slam dunk pick. Remember, once upon a time Klay Thompson and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander were No. 11 picks, too. The Warriors are expecting Lendeborg to be a quality role player, but if he’s a whole lot more? Well, that’s setting the table for future years.
It also could come from Podziemski taking a big step forward, or the team acquiring a star at the deadline. But those are the keys to success: put up a good fight this year, while leaving no doubt that next year will be even better.
The Los Angeles Clippers took one big step in addressing that problem when news broke that they had signed 7’5″ center Jamarion Sharp to a two-way contract.
Jamarion Sharp of the Toronto Raptors shoots a free throw during a game against the Indiana Pacers during the 2026 NBA Las Vegas Summer League. NBAE via Getty Images
Sharp played college basketball for John A. Logan College, Western Kentucky, and Ole Miss, with his final collegiate season being the 2023-24 campaign.
He wasn’t selected in the 2024 NBA Draft but joined the Dallas Mavericks’ NBA Summer League team. he then spent that 2024 season and the 2025 season after it playing for the Texas Legends, who are the Mavericks’ G League affiliate, and won the Defensive Player of the Year award for the 2025–2026 season.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama reacts on the court during a foul shot in the fourth quarter of Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Sharp averaged a staggering 3.9 blocks per game that season (leading the G League), along with 7.3 rebounds per game in 24.9 minutes per game. But Sharp also showed elite offensive efficiency, as his 71.2% field goal percentage also led the league.
Sharp spent the 2026 NBA Summer League with the Toronto Raptors before the Clippers signed him.
Granted, Wemby’s elite ability isn’t just owed to his height. It’s his height combined with his guard-level skills, excellent shooting, and world-class athleticism. Therefore, Sharp (who doesn’t have any of those other traits) can’t be expected to stop Wemby just because he’s taller.
But having a guy who is taller than Wemby certainly doesn’t hurt when trying to slow him down. It also means the first Spurs vs. Clippers matchup this season will be must-see TV.
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Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki is one of the nicest human beings you’ll ever meet. During his playing days, Nowitzki was always a fierce competitor, but he still found a way to be nice and respectful toward most guys he played against. According to one former NBA player, that aspect of Nowitzki’s game used to make him mad due to the conflicting mind games it created.
On a recent episode of the Roadtrippin podcast, Channing Frye was asked this question by a fan: In your 14-year career as a player, who pissed you off the most on the court, and what did he do to piss you off? Frye’s answer probably wasn’t what the fan was expecting.
“Probably Dirk,” Frye said. “Because he’s so damn nice. … I watched a lot of Dirk. I loved his game. He was just unguardable. I mean, it was literally like, ‘What am I gonna do?’ He’s an inch taller than me and shoots the way he does. He was smart. He’s a big dude, strong. I mean, it was just like, ‘God, I’m so tired of having to guard this guy.’ And I was like, ‘What are you gonna do?’ And then he’d be the nicest guy, and I’d be like, ‘Shut up, Dirk… I hate that you’re nice and I like you. You’re a good dude… and you just gave me 40.”
Nowitzki may not have been mean to anybody verbally or physically most of the time, but he was certainly mean to a lot of people in the form of bucket-getting. One glaring example that sticks out to me is after Game 4 of the 2011 NBA Finals, when Nowitzki, despite battling a 102-degree fever, pushed through and helped the Mavs tie the series at 2-2. Afterward, Miami Heat stars Dwyane Wade and LeBron James were seen mocking Nowitzki’s sickness with fake coughing in the American Airlines Center hallways.
Nowitzki never showed any visible anger from that incident; He simply stayed the course, continued to torch Miami, and got the last laugh by winning the championship in six games on the Heat’s home court. I’m sure that pissed D-Wade and LeBron off too.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 04: Allison Howard, President of Business Operations of the Cleveland Sirens, helps reveal the new WNBA team's name and logo at Rocket Arena on August 04, 2026, 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 Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via 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 Cavaliers fans and fans across the country.
We’re still just under two years out from tip-off, but we do finally have a name for Cleveland’s WNBA expansion franchise. The Cleveland Sirens will be the newest professional sports team coming to Cleveland.
The new WNBA team decided to forge its own path with this branding. Instead of using the name of Cleveland’s previous teams, the Rockers, or tying their identity closely to the NBA team, as we’ve seen with the Minnesota Lynx, Washington Mystics, etc., the Sirens are going ahead with something completely new and original. Their all blue logo and word marks are distinct in a city with a storied professional sports history.
Designed to make waves.
Our logo suite is more than a collection of icons — it's a reflection of Cleveland, the power of Lake Erie, and the future of women's basketball in The Land. Explore every detail below. #HearTheCall📢 pic.twitter.com/AltMoBEopV
Distinct and unique doesn’t always mean great. While I personally like the direction that the team is heading, I would understand if you thought otherwise. Casting aside tradition — even one that wasn’t necessarily great — is always a risky move. It would’ve been easier to just resurrect the Rockers’ name and just update the logo and uniform.
It also would’ve been just as easy to tie the team to the Cavs — similar to what we saw with the G League team, the Cleveland Charge. There is some value in tying all these related professional basketball teams together. Especially one that will be playing in the same arena as the Cavs.
So, what do you think of the new name and branding? Is this an A+ success? Or, are you more lukewarm to the new team name?
Let us know what you think in the survey and comments below.
March 17, 2014: Two fans read the paper during an NBA game between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX Dallas defeated Boston 94-89 (Photo by Albert Pena/Icon SMI/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Believe it or not, but it has been over 3 months since the Celtics were eliminated from the playoffs. We’re still over 2 months away from training camp opening. So hopefully you have some additional hobbies and past times that keep you busy during these slow summer months.
Perhaps you watch other (inferior) sports. Maybe you are into movies or TV. You like to read blogs (apparently) so maybe you like to read books as well. Or maybe you like to travel or cook or jump out of airplanes.
We are all unique personalities that have our own separate lives and experiences. However, we all share a passion for the Boston Celtics (which of course unites us as superior intellects). Part of the fun is sharing those experiences with each other, so here’s your chance.
This is a mailbag, so I offer up my services to answer questions you might be interested in. However, I’m also giving you the chance to start topics and conversations by sharing your passions (no question necessary) with the rest of the group. [Disclaimer: Please keep everything PG13 at most. Thanks!]
So leave your questions and statements in the comments below and I will share my answers and thoughts in a separate post. Enjoy your summers!
This rivalry always felt a little forced, but now that LeBron James is with the 76ers, the whole James-Stephen Curry draw is no longer there. Another element that may take the juice out of this matchup is that Warriors forward Jimmy Butler may not be back from his torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in January.
This will be Philadelphia’s second game of the season, so fans will have already seen the new-look Sixers. And the Cavs are running it back, so we have a pretty good idea of what they’ll be. Still, this could be the eventual battle between teams vying for second place in the East (if not better), so it should be revelatory one way or another.
The problem here isn’t the matchup – it should be an intriguing game – it’s more about the time slot and the fact that this will be the first game to tip off the regular season. Typically, the defending champion is the team to get the first game of the year. Yet, the NBA is seemingly testing a late afternoon slot ahead of the primetime draw. Call me a traditionalist, but this feels like it steals some of the thunder from the Knicks raising a banner, and this very good matchup might get lost in the middle of the workday.
The Rockets underwhelmed last season, mostly because they could not find consistent play at point guard. Enter Fred Van Vleet, who is now healthy after the torn anterior cruciate ligament that robbed him of the entire season, and Houston could be significantly improved. As long as the Rockets have settled their internal tensions, they should compete. A test against the Spurs should be an excellent barometer.
Any time you get to see a matchup that features a pair of players – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić – who have combined to win five of the last six NBA Most Valuable Player awards, it’s appointment viewing. Adding that the Nuggets are looking to reset after a disappointing first-round exit and that the Thunder are looking to reclaim their status as a dominant force only makes it better.
While the Celtics-Pistons opener will be the first chance for fans to see the effects of the Jaylen Brown-Paul George trade, this matchup – the home opener in Boston – may reveal whether these Celtics can truly compete with Jayson Tatum taking on even more responsibility. Plus, these are two of the iconic franchises with an intense regional rivalry, so it’s always a fun watch.
This one is ranked this highly mostly because of the novelty and the intrigue. This will be the first chance we get to see Giannis Antetokounmpo under coach Erik Spoelstra and the Heat. It’s also the first time we get to see the LaMelo Ball experiment in Minnesota with Anthony Edwards. Both these squads may not initially be ranked in the top tier of their respective conferences, but they have the potential to climb up the ladder. That starts with this game.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs
■ Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 9:30 p.m. | NBC and Peacock
This is probably the best rivalry in the NBA, and it’s pretty clear the teams each dislike each other. Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs dominated this matchup last year, both in regular season and the playoffs. But the Thunder, even with a few losses, should be fully healthy. These are the two best teams in the West. Let’s see how the offseason impacted them.
1. Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks
■ Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. | NBC and Peacock
This is the crown jewel. You’ve got Jalen Brunson and the defending champion Knicks raising their first banner in Madison Square Garden in 53 years and receiving their rings, and you’ve got the new-look Sixers, who added LeBron James and Jaylen Brown. Philadelphia won the offseason; this will be the first glimpse to see how it stacks up against the best team in the NBA.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 20: the sneakers of Nique Clifford #5 of the Sacramento Kings against the Charlotte Hornets during the 2025 NBA Summer League Championship game on July 20, 2025 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
There was no winking, no flinching, no nodding and no detectable sarcasm Tuesday when the optimism of Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy blasted into overdrive.
Asked if Golden State’s current roster has the potential to win an NBA championship next season, Dunleavy floored it.
“I see a path because you have Steph Curry,” Dunleavy said. “Steve Kerr is a proven championship coach. We’ve got really good players. We need to get healthy. We need to stay healthy, and then we need to evaluate and see where we’re at. And if we need to get better, I know we can get better. So, there’s a path.”
“It may not be clear to a lot of people, but there’s a path.”
Please, no giggling. Just because you can’t visualize a parade in San Francisco next June doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Any clear-eyed glance would conclude that it’s highly, highly, highly improbable.
But it’s reasonable to wonder where on this earth Dunleavy found a pair of glasses that allows him, on Aug. 11, 2026, to see these Warriors looking down on the NBA next June.
The Warriors last season finished 10th in the Western Conference, with a 37-45 record that trailed 19 other teams. They were the best of the league’s 11 sub-.500 squads. They were slowed by age, derailed by injuries, limping over the second half of the season with roster whose quality depth turned out to be a mirage.
Dunleavy and his front-office crew, led by CEO Joe Lacob, saw enough last season to realize they needed to re-arm the roster. They peeped out Celtics star Jaylen Brown before he was traded to the 76ers, and purposely positioned themselves to receive consideration from LeBron James before he opted to sign with Philadelphia.
They knew in April that they lacked the goods to compete at the highest levels of the league.
And yet, four months later, without any appreciable roster upgrades – and knowing Golden State could be without Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody for the first half of next season – Dunleavy can see “a path” to the top.
If the Warriors somehow win the 2027 NBA Finals, it would be a shocker for the ages. It would rank alongside The Miracle on Ice, Buster Douglas humiliating Mike Tyson and, yes, the underdog 1975 Warriors sweeping the Washington Bullets in The Finals.
Dunleavy’s words would hold their own against, say, Joe Namath’s prediction that his AFL champion New York Jets would take down the NFL champion Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III, who were 18-point favorites.
“That’s kind of what you’re aiming for,” Dunleavy said of a title. “You need some good luck. You need some good fortune. You need some things to bounce your way. But I think we’re in a position right now where there’s a path.
“We’re not going to be the No. 1 favorites in Vegas on the books right now, but that’s not what we’re trying to do. We’re not trying to win the championship in August. We’re trying to put ourselves in a position to compete the postseason, come April, May, and June.”
Dunleavy is right about Vegas. The Warriors are listed 15th on Vegas Insider’s 2027 championship odds, below the Houston Rockets and above the Atlanta Hawks. Kalshi is giving Golden State a two-percent chance to win it all, with 12 teams claiming better odds.
The “path” of which Dunleavy speaks looks a lot like the path through a shiver of sharks. The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder sit not only atop the odds for the West but also the entire league. They are followed by the defending champion New York Knicks and absurdly reloaded 76ers.
Put simply, there are countless legitimate reasons why Golden State is projected to post another sub-.500 finish.
For the Warriors to finish among the top six in the West – which would be a rousing success – it will require almost everything going splendidly for them while identifiable contenders are coping with considerable ill fate.
The Warriors would need vastly improved availability from veterans often sidelined last season.
They’d need Curry to summon the best season ever submitted by a man who will be 39 years old. They’d need Butler, who will be 37 and coming off surgery to repair a torn ACL, to return by midseason and make a similar impact to that when he was acquired in February 2025. They’d need Al Horford and Kristaps Porziņģis to be healthy enough to combine for 125 games.
They’d need rookie Yaxel Lendeborg to deliver a season worthy of Rookie of the Year votes.
Yes, there is a path. Fantasy Lane. And it takes illusory vision to see the Warriors making it all the way to the end of the road.
Basketball: Phoenix Suns Tom Chambers (24) in action vs New York Knicks Mark Jackson (13) at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.Phoenix, AZ 1/27/1989CREDIT: John W. McDonough (Photo by John W. McDonough /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)(Set Number: X37759 )
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Suns fans and fans across the country.
It’s Hall of Fame week here at Bright Side of the Sun as we prepare for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame to welcome a new class into its sacred halls. Among those being inducted, the Seven Seconds or Less era will be well represented, as Mike D’Antoni and Amar’e Stoudemire are set to be enshrined in Springfield, Massachusetts.
And we’ll do our celebrating. Make no mistake about that. But Hall of Fame week also creates another conversation, one centered around the players who still haven’t made it.
On the most recent episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, Simmons went through a list of 7 players he believes should be in the Hall of Fame but currently aren’t. And well represented among that group were three former members of the Phoenix Suns.
The first was Paul Silas, the man who still sits atop the Suns’ single-season rebounding leaderboard after averaging 12.5 rebounds per game in 1971. He spent three seasons in Phoenix and was a pit bull in all the right ways, earning an All-Star nod and two All-Defensive Second team honors. Holistically, he played 16 years, won three championships, and was a five-time All-Defensive player in the era of Redwood trees roaming the paint. At 6’7”, Silas was pound-for-pound one of the best interior players of his generation.
Then there’s Kevin Johnson, my favorite player growing up, and someone who was an absolute force before his body began to fail him in the mid 90s. When you look at his 12-year career and see averages of 17.9 points and 9.1 assists per game, it’s hard to understand why he still isn’t in the Hall of Fame. Of course, there may be off-court factors that play into that discussion.
And then there’s Tom Chambers. Chambers spent five seasons with the Suns and averaged 20.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game during his time in Phoenix. He still holds the franchise record for points per game in a single season after averaging 27.2 in 1989–90. He’s also most notably remembered as the first unrestricted free agent in NBA history, something you would think deserves recognition in Springfield.
Chambers was a four-time All-Star, with three of those selections coming as a member of the Suns, and he also holds the unenviable distinction of being one of only four players in NBA history to score more than 20,000 career points and not be in the Hall of Fame.
Perhaps this is a biased question, but it also sets up a point I plan to make later this week. So for this week’s Suns Reacts survey, I’ll ask you this: Should Tom Chambers be in the Hall of Fame?
Cast your vote, then let me know why or why not in the comments below. And while you’re there, share your favorite Tom Chambers memory.
Do you have an extra $2,000 lying around or burning a hole in your pocket?
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If you do and you want to enjoy either the Philadelphia 76ers or the New York Knicks, you will have to pay at least that much to get inside Madison Square Garden when those teams open the 2026-27 regular season.
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The NBA released part of its regular season schedule this week, and the world champion Knicks, featuring NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, will receive their championship rings and get a banner raised to the rafters of the "World's Most Famous Arena" when the visiting 76ers, featuring LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, come calling on Oct. 20.
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Despite the roster turnover, the 76ers are still salty after New York humiliated them on the way to a four-game series sweep in the second round on their way to breaking a 53-year-old championship drought.
According to TickPick, the get-in price for the season opener is currently at $1,999. For that price, you will get the privilege of sitting nowhere near Celebrity Row, but in Section 400, where you can squint your eyes to enjoy four quarters of basketball and, on your way out of the arena, you can look through the large windows to watch people file in and out of Penn Station. A few rows behind courtside, two tickets are listed at $166,109 each.
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By comparison, for New York's Game 3 of the NBA Finals at MSG against the San Antonio Spurs, tickets were hovering around $8,000 on the secondary market.
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At Vivid Seats, the price is just as steep, where sitting in the same section will set you back at least $2,092, and for the average price of a used car, you can sit where you can at least see the jersey numbers on the players.
Steph Curry never wanted to be drafted by the Warriors. His eyes were set on being selected one pick later, with the chance of playing his career in a New York Knicks jersey at Madison Square Garden.
Four NBA championships and a Hall of Fame career created in a Warriors jersey later, Curry wouldn’t change a thing. As he closes in on nearly two decades with Golden State, Curry has maintained his hope and goal of spending his entire playing career playing for one franchise.
He wants to be the Warriors’ Tim Duncan. Their Dirk Nowitzki, their Kobe Bryant. An icon that didn’t wear a rainbow of jerseys, but just different versions for the same team. Nothing in that department has changed, according to Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy, and Curry hasn’t indicated that will change in the future.
“Not to me. No, he hasn’t,” Dunleavy said Tuesday in a video press conference with local media. “That’s always been the message. That’s always been sort of what we have discussed, and I think that’s tracking quite well. Obviously he’s eligible for an extension coming up at the end of the month and we’ll talk through all that stuff and can’t speak on it much right now, but I’m pretty confident Steph will finish his career here.”
Curry, 38, is eligible for a two-year contract extension worth more than $136 million starting Aug. 29.
When the Warriors’ 2025-26 season ended in Phoenix with a loss to the Suns in the NBA play-in tournament, Curry said he’s open to an extension and wants to play multiple more years. He made the Warriors wait a bit the last time he was extension eligible, and ultimately signed a one-year extension instead of the two years he could have added.
The Warriors expect Curry to sign some form of a contract extension this offseason as opposed to entering next summer as an unrestricted free agent. They also expect him to be a Warrior until he retires but know he’s the one in control of that ultimate decision.
“It’s his call, his decision,” Dunleavy said. “Whether that’s allowing his contract to run out and move on – look, if he comes to me and wants to be moved, [Warriors owner Joe Lacob] and I will talk it through. We wouldn’t love it, but he’s earned the right if he wants to do those things.
“But as far as the messaging or any idea that he would be anywhere else, that’s not a thing we’re looking at or he’s looking at.”
Rumors have run rampant on social media that Curry one day could want out. Those are nothing more than speculation clicks in the quiet period of the summer. The reasons those uninformed voices have been loud regarding Curry’s future are because of the Warriors’ lack of improvements in NBA free agency and the trade market while the rest of the league saw major shifts.
Aside from drafting Yaxel Lendeborg in the first round and Lajae Jones in the second, the Warriors, up to this point, have not brought in any outside additions to the roster after winning 37 games last season as the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference. Missing out in their pursuit of LeBron James, the Warriors brought back Draymond Green, Kristaps Porziņģis, Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II.
This is the same offseason where James joined the Philadelphia 76ers weeks after they acquired Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics, Giannis Antetokounmpo was traded to the Miami Heat and LaMelo Ball was dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Superstars always are on the move in the modern NBA.
The Warriors aren’t worried their biggest superstar ever will join that trend, and aren’t sweating the upcoming date for Curry’s contract extension.
“I think there’s two things I’m confident about Steph: He really, really wants to win, and he wants to finish his career as a Warrior,” Dunleavy said. “I don’t think that changes tomorrow, August 29th, the start of the season, middle of the season or the end of next season. I think those things are going to be consistent.”
Curry averaged 26.6 points per game in 43 games last season, shooting 39.3 percent on 11.3 3-point attempts per game. He missed 39 games to injury, including two months to runner’s knee.
Sep 23, 2025; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks speaks at Media Day. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Brian Lewis on Tuesday examines the slow pace of the Nets rebuild which as of this past weekend has been underway in some form or another for three and half years since Kevin Durant became the final piece of the Big Three to be traded back on February 9, 2023.
As Lewis writes, there’s no hope of anything dramatic happening his coming season, which will begin October 21 somewhere in North America, the details of which will be made known on Thursday at 3:00 p.m. ET.
After going 20-62 last season (with a preseason over/under win total of 19.5), the Nets are tabbed to be one of the league’s worst teams again. They’re listed with the second-lowest wins over/under by FanDuel and BetMGM at 24.5.
Jordi Fernandez may think his charges can produce more wins than anyone inside or outside the organization, but other than the head coach, the consensus is the Nets will, um, struggle … for the want of a better word than another that also begins with “S.”
Lewis enumerates all the issues the Nets have as they prepare for Thursday’s announcements, Media Day questions and training camp: Is Julius Randle as short-term hire bound for a contender? Will the Nets extend Michael Porter Jr., or trade him for even more assets? How will they handle the team’s “extreme youth” — with nine players 22 years old or younger on the roster? Not to mention how the East is now a mad house, with the defending NBA champions across the river, big new faces in Philadelphia, Toronto and Miami and an old one returning in Indiana, etc., etc.
The answer to the first question is apparently no. Jake Fischer said late Tuesday that an extension is “unlikely.”
Jake Fischer says he’s “not expecting an extension for Michael Porter Jr.” No details on whether he’s talking about today’s semi-deadline or long term. Nets have until next July to extend him. MPJ’s agent has said Porter will have “to chart his own course.” https://t.co/rkysB9PtAc
The Nets are under no pressure. They have all season to extend him if they want to. He’s under contract through the end of this season and can extend him at any point. His agent, Mark Bartelstein has said that while Porter is happy with Brooklyn, he will have have to “chart his own course” depending on what Marks & co. do.
Lewis also delves into his analytic bag and finds some hope for the most patient of what has been a generally patient fanbase. Specifically, he looks at what other organic, pick-heavy rebuilds have produced, history offering hope.
With eight rookies on the Nets’ roster last season — including a record five first-round picks — they played those first-year pros a league-high 6,716 minutes. The Hornets were the next-closest at 6,241. (Editor’s note: It was not, despite comments by Marks and Fernandez the most minutes in the NBA ever.)
Over the past decade, only four other teams had as many minutes played by rookies: the 2017-18 Kings, 2021-22 Thunder, 2023-24 Trail Blazers and 2024-25 Wizards. And like last season’s Nets, that entire quartet was horrid, struggling to a combined .274 winning percentage or 22.5 win pace. But their lessons paid off.
The next year, those same four teams improved to a .402 percentage, or 33 wins, even with that average dragged down by the Wizards having tanked again this past season to get the top overall pick.
Those teams’ quantum leaps to contention came in Year 2 after the investment in rookie playing time. The first three examples vaulted to an average .528 win percentage, or 43-win pace. The Wizards are expected to improve in their Year 2 with Dybantsa, Trae Young and Anthony Davis.
A couple of those teams — the aforementioned Wizards and the Trail Blazers — are still works in progress but the Thunder of course remains the model. Get smart, get young, get lucky … as OKC did with Shai Gilegous-Alexander.
Marks and Joe Tsai continue to be in lock-step on the plan to use flexibility (which Lewis notes flexibility “is like air for the GM.”) He quotes Marks most recent comment on its value when opportunity arises.
“You just never know what’s going to come your way. So for us to have that optionality is going to be really important. But at the same time, I like the roster we have. I love seeing what I’m seeing out there. The guys are guys are playing hard, they’re playing the right way and they’re playing for each other. So I don’t think we’re in any immediate rush to do anything there, from adding more pieces.”
And of course they didn’t. They don’t seem to be interested in Peyton Watson, didn’t make any real effort to deal for Jaylen Brown — and one report noted he was not interested in them, preferring a contender; seemingly felt that Giannis Antetokounmpo was getting older (32 in a few months) but not cheaper; Austin Reaves was never leaving LA. and they didn’t want to pay the Pelicans an exorbitant three first rounders for Trey Murphy III.
Remember what Marks said back on Media Day last September that the Nets wouldn’t be making big moves unless the player “automatically and absolutely” changed the franchise’s projection. No more spending to get the fifth or sixth seed.
We will probably know more soon about how at least in the short run what the Nets are thinking. The end of business Tuesday is sort of a deadline for MPJ’s future. If they sign him to a extension of more than two years and a five percent raise, he can’t be traded this season, limiting their options.
They also have to decide by October 19 whether to sign Noah Clowney to a rookie-scale extension or let him become a restricted free agent next July. Twelve days after that, they have to decide whether to guarantee a third year for last year’s rookie class — Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf. Terance Mann is also eligible for an extension October 1.
Of course, they haven’t started to play games yet and everyone, fans to management to ownership — was thrilled by what they saw in Summer League from Demin and Mikel Brown Jr., who are the team’s first top 10 lottery picks taken in back-to-back drafts since 1995 and 1996 when they took Ed O’Bannon and Kerry Kittles. There’s enthusiasm as well about Day’Ron Sharpe getting his big chance, etc. Then, there’s all those draft assets and cap space and Tsai’s willingness to spend when it feels right.
Anyone who listened closely to Sean Marks or watched what he’s done or didn’t do over the past two years should’ve been prepared for all this to some extent. Being happy with it is a whole other conversation, one which goes on and on.
“Anytime you’re in a hurry, that’s when people make mistakes,” Marks said when asked about Porter, which Lewis notes can apply to their entire plan. “We’ve got a well thought-out plan here over not only the last couple of years, but the couple of years ahead. We’re going to try and find who the next Nets are going to be. I don’t think we want to do anything hastily or in a rush here.”
