Category: NBA

There is only one thing that the 2026 Raptors share in common with the championship team from 2019: Kawhi Leonard.

The first to leave, yet the only one in Toronto today. A man who has never failed to reach the top of the mountain as a Raptor. Granted, he was only a Raptor for one season, but now that he is back, we can ask: do the Raptors have that same championship trajectory once again?

And with Leonard seemingly still in great shape, coming off one of his best regular seasons ever, are the 2026 Raptors arguably better than the 2019 champions?

Top end talent

In 2019, the team’s leader and best player was Kawhi Leonard. Barring an astonishing Scottie Barnes jump, which is totally possible, Leonard will be the team’s frontman for this upcoming season. Obviously, 2019 Kawhi is going to outclass the current 35-year-old Kawhi in almost every facet. 2019 was his prime. However, Leonard’s offence is still top-notch, and his defence is still amazing too. Even with all the injuries, Leonard’s longevity has been impressive. He is one of the higher-end players in the Association.

Kawhi Leonard’s had two main co-stars on his championship run. Kyle Lowry was an All-Star that season and meshed incredibly well with Leonard. Pascal Siakam had his breakout season in 2018-19, averaging over 16 points per game. These two players in that specific season, who are all-time Raptors legends, cannot compare to modern-day Scottie Barnes. Barnes has been getting a lot of positive attention this offseason. Many people are praising not only his regular-season performance but also his incredible playoff production in the series against the Cavaliers. Receiving comparisons to Scottie Pippen and his new teammate Kawhi Leonard, it is fair to say people have high expectations for Scottie Barnes this season.

Role players and depth compared

The projected lineup for the Raptors in the 2026-27 season consists of Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, and Jakob Poeltl around Leonard and Barnes.

Quickley and Barrett are the players that the Raptors got in return for OG Anunoby. Both are early into their primes and have shown promising flashes, but play more selfishly compared to Lowry and Green. They swirled around in trade rumors all of last year and will likely continue to be in the rumour mill, unless they sacrifice their own production for the betterment of the team. As for Poeltl, he has not been the same since he injured his back. Compared to Serge Ibaka, who was having some of his best offensive seasons in Toronto and was still a great defender, Poeltl is quite subpar.

The 2019 champions have a difficult bench to match. Fred VanVleet, Norman Powell, OG Anunoby, and Marc Gasol. There were also all of the quality players who had lesser roles: Jeremy Lin, Chris Boucher, and Patrick McCaw for example.

Collin Murray-Boyles was a great defensive asset for the Raptors last year. Any bench with him will be productive. Rookie Allen Graves should add a fun dynamic this year. Jamal Shead and Ja’Kobe Walter have been good contributors over the last couple of years too. They, especially Walter, will assume bigger roles with Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick shipped off to Los Angeles. There are also other guys, like veteran Kyle Anderson, rejoining Kawhi Leonard. It would not hurt to acquire more depth, especially at centre. This would allow CMB to play a more natural position of forward, instead of in the intense role of a centre.

Could the 2026 Raptors yield the same results?

This article is kind of premature. Right now, this team and its season are a mystery. Once this season starts, we will get a feel for how this ensemble is going to perform, how Darko Rajaković will manage things, how the chemistry develops, and who else the front office can add. According to speculation, there could be a guy like Domantas Sabonis added to the team. Players like Collin Murray-Boyles could get increased roles. Bottom line: there is time for adjustments to be made.

The competition is also much different in the current NBA. Now, the NBA is much deeper than the 2019 NBA landscape, partly due to the new collective bargaining agreement which disperses talent more effectively than ever. There is also the reality of so many new stars. The emerging stars from the time the Raptors won in 2019 have matured and have great squads next to them now. Not to mention, the Eastern Conference is much stronger than it usually has been, arguably more stacked than the Western Conference. The Warriors were a worthy opponent in 2019, but the competition all around the league has become more respectable.

We will see how the year plays out. There will be twists and turns, just as the 2019 champions had when Kevin Durant got injured in the Finals, making victory even more tangible. There will be roster adjustments, just like when the front office traded for Marc Gasol. The team will have to learn how to play together. Kawhi adjusted quickly in 2019 and won a championship in his first year in Toronto, so why wouldn’t he mesh with the squad this year? The road to success will be strenuous, but the ceiling is as high as ever.

Media Day is often filled with empty or generic quotes, buzzwords, and clichés. It’s inevitable every year.

But sometimes, if you read between the lines after getting to know players over the years, you pick up on things. Oddities. New perspectives. Previews of what could be to come through words converted straight into action. These things can be hard to spot to the naked eye, but if you pay close enough attention, you can see them.

Devin Booker had several quotes that stood out to me in a way that I haven’t really heard before. Book is usually more reserved and doesn’t really throw out quotes like this one too often. In the most nonchalant tone of voice possible, Book sounds as excited as we’ve heard him sound since… the CP3 days? It would be remiss to not mention the early days of KD as well, because there was some buzz then too. But it’s been a minute.

Booker said: “I love the game more than ever. Honestly, my body feels better than it’s ever felt going into a training camp. So, I think, you know, as you get older you know, you learn new ways to train, new ways to take care of your body… I’ve been a sponge to, you know, a lot of guys that have had success and played a lot of years in their career.”

"I love the game more than ever." – Devin Booker

Training Camp presented by @Verizonpic.twitter.com/FtVMnAko6y

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 2, 2026

Booker’s body feeling the best it ever has means something. He played in 64 games a season ago, and over the course of his 11-year career, he averages 67 games played per season. He typically hovers in the mid-60s, so if we can get that number closer to the mid-70s, that would be great. Those extra 10 games could be the difference between fighting in the play-in and securing a spot outright.

This next quote also spoke to me. Devin said he wants to “fall into shooting too much,” which is quite an unusual comment from him. When Booker is in “killer” mode, that’s when the Suns are at their best. It doesn’t mean forcing bad shots, dribbling into traps, or over-dribbling. Quite the opposite.

Every time he touches the ball, he is making quick, decisive moves to either attack downhill in a straight line or use one or two dribbles to get into his spot and put defenders on his hip in the midrange.

“Sometimes I fall into passing too much and this year, hopefully, I fall into shooting too much.” – Phoenix Suns superstar Devin Booker (@DevinBook) on how he hopes to play this season. pic.twitter.com/bcH4ytvuMI

— Wolf & Luke on Arizona Sports (@WolfandLuke) September 29, 2026

Another gripe that I mentioned in the comments of a recent article was that whenever he gets cold, he can oftentimes settle for jumpers. We’ve seen those dry spells; they can be rough.

What I’d like to see more of in those early-game situations, especially, is for him to go straight into attack mode if his first two jumpers don’t fall. Get to the line and make a pair of free throws, or make an easy shot at the rim to build confidence. That’s how you get a rhythm going.

Because once he hits his stride and he sees it go in, it can snowball in a positive way.

“To start the season, we’re gonna be definitely ahead of where we were to start the season last year,” said Booker.

This team sounds fired up. The energy is right. The talent is there. Who else is ready for some Phoenix Suns basketball?

Complex? Somewhat. All-encompassing? Yes. Personalised? Definitively. This week, following all the change the Milwaukee Bucks have undergone this offseason, we asked you who you want them to become. More specifically, we sought clarification regarding what identity you want for this new era of Bucks basketball. Well, it turns out the ghost of P.J. Tucker still lingers over Milwaukee.

We want dawgs.

Yes, with 43% of the vote, fans want a return to the days where playing against the Bucks was tough. Think 48 minutes of Eric Bledsoe hounding every dribble. Then upgrading to Jrue Holiday. Think Wes Matthews getting into your chest. Think getting by perimeter defenders only to meetBrook Lopez at the rim—and then watching as he directs the scorers to record his block. Think Giannis tracking you on the fast break, prepping to eviscerate your dreams. And, yes, think P.J. Tucker’s fleet feet, quick hands, bruising physicality—and dawg mentality.

Of course, these Bucks aren’t those Bucks. But they certainly have some defensive upside. On the court, this mainly comes in the form of moldable youth and athleticism—Kel’el Ware, Jericho Sims, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Ousmane Dieng, Brayden Burries, Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr., and even Nate Ament—but they also have one of the league’s best rim protectors in Myles Turner. Kyle Kuzma, Pete Nance, and AJ Green are all willing, albeit limited, defenders too.

More importantly, in Taylor Jenkins they’ve got a self-proclaimed “teacher” who prioritises effort and accountability, winning the possession battle, and working as a team, things the Bucks, much to the chagrin of fans, have struggled with in recent times. And in case you missed it, all of this is captured in the team’s new mantra: Compete. Together. Get Better.

But it’s not just a defensive identity fans want from the Bucks. In fact, 33% of voters long for a game predicated on ball movement and fluidity, while 12% would like to see Milwaukee push the pace. Notably, just 2% want to see the Bucks imitate the Lob City Los Angeles Clippers. Given their lack of success in comparison to the other stylistic examples—those Clippers never made it past the Western Conference semifinals—this is completely understandable.

Beyond these stylistic archetypes, 10% of fans want something else, a sentiment captured in the comments:

Mitchell Maurer: There is no one existing model to adopt that would make sense to emulate; Coach Jenkins needs to see what he has and what he can make work, knowing that there will be some trial-and-error.

retired janitor: One of my biggest mistakes as an early coach was trying to have the players fit my system, vs finding the system that fits them best. It is the coach’s job to nurture improvement, and put them in the best situation to succeed. Basketball is a game of unconscious competence. Do, don’t think… To the question of what I want to see? The staff figures out the strengths and weaknesses of the clay, and small victories are repeated through good habits.

GBFanBoy: It has to be a blend of all of those if it makes sense. 7 seconds is ideal, but we have the versatile pieces that can defend at a high level. 

Lockdown terrors, offensive maestros, or something else, the good news is we don’t have long to wait to start to see who these Bucks are—preseason ball begins Monday!

Julius Randle is saying all the right things.

On his leadership style: “I’ve always been somebody that kind of just prefers to lead by example with how I play and how I approach the game. So I don’t have to do anything different with that. But I’m, you know, 13th year in. I’m comfortable speaking up when I see something, or if something needs to be said. But I don’t have to overdo it.”

On camp thus far: “The communication has been really, really good, along with the effort and the competition. So, you know, I’m impressed. I’m never gonna put a cap or a limit on our team. We’re gonna achieve whatever we believe we can achieve. So, that’s just how I live my life, and you know, that’s what I expect from our team.”

When I tell outsiders that Julius Randle was the star of Nets Media day, even beyond the golf anecdote, and that he’s given textbook answers to questions about his leadership capabilities and vision for himself under Jordi Fernandez, I invariably get the same response: Just you wait.

It could be the Brooklyn Nets’ first four-game losing streak of the season, after which Randle skips out on talking to the media. Or it could be the subsequent fifth loss, during which Randle doesn’t touch the ball enough and his effort on defense wanes as a result. Fans and reporters of the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves consider such situations essential to the Julius Randle Experience. It’s not that he isn’t truly a pleasant, hard-working, spirited teammate, the kind of teammate he has appeared to be at Nets camp. It’s just that, additionally, he doesn’t take losing or personal struggles very well.

He earned the “moody” moniker over in Manhattan, famously giving a thumbs-down to fans that had booed earlier in the game. When asked what the gesture meant, the Texas native simply said, “Shut the f*** up,” which I personally think is hilarious, particularly because the Knicks won that game. Still, that tag followed him to Minnesota, and ex-teammate Naz Reid didn’t help matters when asked why the team kept falling short in the playoffs: “Probably just moodiness … I think we have more than enough guys bringing it to the table and can compete at a high level, but just being less moody. I think that’s just the name of the game for us, just being less moody and more selfless and just carrying ourselves with championship aspirations like we’ve done before.”

Reputations, eh? Easy to earn, hard to shake.

Julius Randle is now the veteran leader of a Brooklyn Nets team with both legitimate young talent and higher expectations than tanking to twenty wins. Michael Porter Jr., NBA champion, led the team in scoring last season, but he has yet to agree to a contract extension and will once again be in trade rumors this season. Randle, the 13-year veteran, is Brooklyn’s North Star in 2026-27. Not the franchise, not their long-term savior, not even guaranteed to be on the roster past the 2028 expiration of his contract, but likely the most important player in determining the success of this season’s Nets team. Should we be worried?

I spoke to Andrew Dukowitz, an excellent Wolves reporter, about the man of the hour. Dukowitz said, “I’m fascinated to see how it turns out. Julius comes to Minnesota, right, and they have Rudy Gobert, they have Mike Conley, they have Nickeil [Alexander-Walker], who was a big part of that locker room, Jaden [McDaniels] and Ant [Edwards] are finding their way. Joe Ingles is in that locker room. He didn’t really speak up a ton in terms of the rah-rah stuff … but what I would say is everybody in that locker room liked him. He was a liked teammate.”

Dukowitz added that “That ‘moodiness’ also existed in Ant and Jaden and Naz [Reid], really everybody but Rudy … I am interested to see how he is with young guys. He is a guy that takes a ton of pride in his work, he is a guy that is approachable, you ask him questions and he gives thoughtful answers. There were dozens of times last year where he’s sitting there with an assistant coach and Joan [Beringer], working on post-moves. I do think he’ll be a willing leader.”

Now that’s one key similarity between the Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle acquisitions. For whatever their (dissimilar) misgivings are, both are renowned workers. It appears Sean Marks & Co. target the same intangible qualities in their trade targets as they do in the NBA Draft, work ethic being a pillar of their ideal culture.

Randle, now in year 13, professes that he is still ready to work, particularly under a demanding, player-development-focused head coach: “I love to be coached, and I think there’s different ways [Fernández] can challenge me in parts of the game, whether it’s my rebounding or if it’s running the floor or if it’s being better on defense, stuff like that. Like, I’m not afraid to be coached, and you know, whatever he needs to do, I feel like you should coach your best players the hardest. And he’s not afraid to speak up, if he sees something or if he needs something from me, like, he’ll call me.”

There is also the question of how Randle will be used. Brooklyn was 27th in post-up frequency last season, 19th in isolation frequency. These play-types, of course, have been fundamental to Randle’s production in his career. How far in the middle will he and Fernández meet?

A play like this is encouraging:

Minnesota plays through the top of the key into a handoff, but Milwaukee switches the action. But a guard defending Julius Randle in that mid-post area is a mismatch, and even though the burly lefty takes a tough one, it’s two on the board. The Nets leaned heavy into that ‘delay’ offense —playing through the top of the key and finding handoff opportunities — so much so that Nic Claxton recorded triple-doubles last season. Randle, clearly, adds another dynamic to such offense.

The big question I have is how Julius Randle and Day’Ron Sharpe coexist offensively. Who is initiating these actions? If it’s Randle, what is Sharpe doing off the ball, spacing in the corner? Will Randle, a good screener and an obvious threat to keep these handoffs himself and drive it, lean more into ball-handling creation? It is encouraging that, unprompted at Media Day, he mentioned wanting to take a career-high number of 3-pointers (particularly catch-and-shoots). None of this, please:

And something tells me Nets fans, if nothing else, will love the combined strength from their front court this season. Day’Ron and Julius are strong dudes; throw in MPJ and that’s a nice rebounding trio on paper.

“The main thing is physicality,” said Sharpe of his newest teammate. “He’s a strong, strong guy. When he’s playing on offense, he’s just bumping guys out of the way and getting to the rim, like it’s no problem … I feel like he’s going to be a great help for us, I feel like his physicality and the energy, leadership, it’ll be a huge part of our team.”

I suspect we’ll see Randle play some center as well, particular if/when Moe Wagner or Sharpe misses a game. Over his two seasons in Minneapolis, Randle played over 1800 minutes (excluding low leverage) without a true center next to him, most often pairing with Naz Reid. Those offensively tilted lineups had about a 118 oRTG and 117 dRTG, per PBP Stats. I wouldn’t be surprised if something like Randle-Wolf-Clowney-Minott is a bench unit the Nets explore, with willing 3-point shooters and length around Randle at the top of the key.

I think it’s gonna go well, to be honest. Julius Randle is better than you think, and the curse of high expectations is what led to his sour exits in New York and Minny. The Nets do not have such expectations. Let’s try and approach .500 first.

“Fans midway through the season are gonna be like, ‘Holy cow, why would Minnesota get rid of him?’ It’s more so the ceiling you get with him,” says Dukowitz.

As for Randle himself, he’s happy to be living back in New York City after spending five years with the Knicks. His eldest son, yes, the one who burst into rage at the sight of a Kevin Durant poster in Barclays Center, is back at his old school. He and his wife have their old friend groups back together.

Point being, Julius Randle is content: “When things are easier off the court, when they’re great at home and they’re happy and all of those things, it makes the basketball part, the work part that much easier. I don’t even consider it work, but it makes the basketball part that much easier. So I feel really balanced, really happy, at peace.”

Let’s hope it lasts.

• Julius Randle’s true feelings on Knicks’ NBA title come with bold Nets plan – Erik Slater – Clutch Points

The Spurs are back to having fun with each other. After surpassing expectations and making the NBA Finals in 2026, the core of the team have returned for training camp looking closer than they did before having a break. Overall, there always seemed to be camaraderie in some form or fashion all summer long. From the group that met Wemby in France to the GQ article that released at the end of September, these guys have been bonding when many take time to themselves.

Apparently someone on the team is giving out nicknames, and Harrison Barnes received the name “Drizz.”

That’s Hector Ledesma of Clutch Points relaying Julian Champagnie’s question “what’s it like to be referred to as Drizz?”

Harrison’s response sent Champagnie into the locker room in haste. Are they messing with each other or do I detect a hint of beef? An obscure and interesting joust to say the least.

Let the interpretations begin.

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The Celtics have developed a reputation as one of the NBA’s best player-development organizations, and that has extended to improving the shooting of players who arrived with questions about their jumper. Over the years, Boston has helped several players very recently make significant strides from three, and the results speak for themselves. 

It’s safe to say the Celtics already have a proven track record of developing shooters. But if Boston can turn Dillon Mitchell into a 32-percent-or-better three-point shooter, it could be the organization’s most impressive shooting-development success yet regarding the starting point. 

The 23-year-old Mitchell (22 on Draft Night) was selected with the 40^th overall pick in this year’s draft. He spent four years in college, with stops at Texas and Cincinnati before finishing his career at St. John’s. The 6-foot-7 forward was undoubtedly one of the better defenders and athletes in his draft class, using those traits to be a disruptive defender and reliable rebounder on both ends of the floor. However, after diving into his college film following the draft, it became clear that some of the more understated aspects of his game were intriguing as well. 

Mitchell is really good with the ball in his hands, an underrated passer that averaged a career high-three assists per game in his final year and is someone that consistently showed an ability to read the game at a high level. On offense, that high basketball IQ manifests itself through timely cuts, a strong understanding of spacing, and freelanced screen setting. On defense though, it’s the anticipation skills that lead to him being able to cut off drives and get steals in passing lanes.  

So, if Mitchell was an elite athlete and defender in his class, a strong rebounder and high-level processor of the game, and a capable handler and passer, what ultimately pushed him to the middle of the second round? 

The answer is simple: his jumper. 

Mitchell shot just 6.7 percent from three on 15 attempts during his senior season and connected on only 49.4 percent of his free throws. Those numbers weren’t much of an isolated dip, either. He finished his college career shooting just 13 percent from three and 47 percent from the free-throw line, leaving a glaring question for NBA teams. Some questions possibly revolve around the concern of him ever being able to shoot.  

Although the numbers are more than damning, Celtics Vice President of Basketball Operations Mike Zarren had no reservations about Mitchell’s ability to improve as a shooter. 

“He’ll get better at his shot. We don’t have any doubt about that,” Zarren said after the Celtics drafted Mitchell.  

Guaranteeing the upgrade of someone with the priors of Mitchell was very bold, but the progress the rookie seems to be making already has Zarren looking like a genius.  

I definitely understood how far the staff would have to go with Mitchell as a shooter, but I never viewed his shot as a broken one.  

The first moment that caught the attention of Celtics fans came during Summer League, when Mitchell knocked down 2-of-5 three-point attempts in his second game after again, only hitting one his entire senior season.  

Even some of his misses offered encouraging signs, suggesting subtle changes to his shot, the fluidity, and a growing confidence in it. 

Mitchell gave reporters some insight into that exact topic during a Summer League practice saying, “Yeah, I think so,” when asked if his jumper has changed since being drafted. He then elaborated, pointing to two key areas: “I think as far as just shooting on the way up, and then just having confidence with it.”  

Across the three games he played during the summer, Mitchell shot 3-of-8 from beyond the arc while also displaying unexpected comfort with the in-between game, knocking down several mid-range jumpers. 

Fast forward to training camp and his work with development coach Craig Luschenat has his shot looking even better.  

Dillon Mitchell’s turn: https://t.co/sxJFjw8TdWpic.twitter.com/6D7tzEqE5n

— Justin Turpin (@JustinmTurpin) October 2, 2026

The Celtics rookies, Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell, working together with Director of Player Development, Craig Luschenat pic.twitter.com/2zy3k9CQbw

— Justin Turpin (@JustinmTurpin) September 29, 2026

At yesterday’s practice, Mitchell offered some valuable insight into what he has been working on and how he feels about his progress. Shooting has been a major focus of his workouts, and he said his confidence has grown alongside the changes he has made to his form. 

“Even [in] the little time we’ve had how much I feel like my form has changed it’s helping me with a lot of confidence just moving forward.”  

Most importantly, we still need to see that progress come to fruition in real games, but the strides Mitchell has already made, especially given where he started, are extremely encouraging. 

Now, it’s no secret that I love watching Steven Adams. I mean, who else has written all his season previews and season reviews? I mean, how can you not love the guy? He’s a great teammate, and he was even kind enough to warn media about the drop in production due to the release of GTA 6.

Houston Rockets center Steven Adams on GTA VI releasing during the NFL and NBA seasons:

“For the month of November, performance is gonna go down.” pic.twitter.com/hQ6Aj4dcZe

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) September 22, 2026

However, despite my fandom, I will do my very best to keep this as objective as possible.

To recap last season, load management and a season-ending injury in 2025-2026 unfortunately hampered Adams last season. He averaged 22.8 minutes per game, scoring 5.8 points and bringing down 8.6 rebounds in 58 regular-season games. Even though he only played limited minutes, he made an impression. He produced one of his best offensive rebounding percentages of his career.

Adams will undoubtedly back up Şengün at center, but he’ll get similar opportunities compared to 2025-2026, pending health. I expect to see more Adams, particularly in games when Houston wants more rebounding or physicality. He can also space the floor a bit, especially if Houston wants to play Adams and Şengün together. He will be used sparingly, especially in big inside matchups or in the second unit.

Adams is a great screen setter and physical presence on the paint. His intangibles — boxing out, getting help, changing shots — should add value beyond the box score, even if his counting stats are low. With Şengün, he can anchor the rim defensively, giving more switching or help with perimeter defense. Houston will probably be on a minutes restriction — coming off a couple of injury-plagued seasons and easing back last season — especially in back-to-backs.

He’ll undoubtedly have “maintenance” or rest days, particularly in less critical games to safeguard his body for the rest of the season. This is because for the Rockets to be successful, Adams has to stay in good health. Any hiccup might see his role shrink or other guys (Clint Capela) may need pick up more minutes, who is esentailly just a worse Steven Adams, or cause a roster move to happen (this is unlikely in my opinion). Adams isn’t a star, but he’s a tough, industrious veteran who can make a difference. The Rockets will gain from having him in He can aid on the boards, offer toughness to the paint and reinforce center depth if Houston uses him smartly (controlling his load, using him in favorable matchups and playing to his strengths).

If all goes to plan, Adams could see a largely similar amount of playing time, and hopefully some increased counting stats, especially in postseason games or against teams with little interior strength. But his biggest impact will likely come in those intangible areas, like screens, boxouts, speeding up the game, and giving Şengün a breather without sacrificing interior defense.

Be sure to check back here at The Dream Shake for more Rockets player season previews.

It almost feels fake to be able to call the New York Knicks the defending champions, but here we are. The orange and blue are looking to be a repeat champ for the first time since 2018, and they are looking to do it the same way the Warriors did: by running it back. They are returning their entire starting five, and nearly the only guy from their rotation last season who left is Mitchell Robinson. It is a true “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it” situation.

Unfortunately for them, the East got better. Where their rivals made moves, they did not. They were able to roll through a very weak Eastern Conference last season and caught a young San Antonio team who made many inexperienced mistakes that led directly to the Knicks taking home the Larry O’Brien. As crazy as it is to say, this will be a “prove it” year for New York. Was 2026 lightning in a bottle? Or was it something more sustainable? We are going to find out. 

New York Knicks: Over/Under 51.5 wins (-115/-110)

To win the NBA Finals: +1000

Last Season: 53-29, won NBA Finals

Key Additions: Bruce Brown

Key Losses: Mitchell Robinson

The Knicks enter the season tied with Philadelphia for the third-lowest odds to win the championship. This is more of a reflection of how good Oklahoma City and San Antonio are and how hard it is to repeat, rather than an indictment of the Knicks. This is still a very good roster. I am a (sad) Jalen Brunson believer, and their wings are still in their primes. Bruce Brown should be a nice addition off the bench, adding another player who has been at the mountaintop. The East will be tough on a nightly basis. It has overtaken the West as the conference with talent everywhere. Despite this, continuity after an accomplishment like that bodes well for winning in the following year. Look at the Thunder last season; they started 24-1 after winning the title in 2025. The Knicks should not lose a step and will be motivated to show the league they should be taken seriously as a threat to win again.

Prediction: Over 51.5 wins (-115)

1. The Jaylen question: The Celtics’ stated reason for moving on from Jaylen Brown is that they didn’t believe that they could build around two players each making 35% of the Cap. Yet the end result of the trade is that the Celtics have two players each making 35% of the cap. Without using the word “optionality” can you describe the bigger picture strategic rationale behind the Jaylen Brown trade. (Note that I’m not asking you to defend or endorse the move)

Can I use the word “flexibility” instead? Please don’t make me dig out the thesaurus to go deeper than that! Being serious, flexibility is what it was really about. In the NBA’s apron era, it’s really hard to build long-term around two max players, especially two 35% of the cap max players who are moving into their 30s. You’re either going to end up over the second apron, with all the penalties and restrictions that can come with that (as we’ve already seen for the Celtics), or your roster is going to be somewhat weaker with a lot of players on rookie deals or minimum deals.

To be clear: Trading Jaylen Brown right now didn’t really save the Celtics any money. Brown and Paul George make roughly the same amount this season, and will for the 2027-28 season too, assuming George picks up his option. It was about 2028-29 and beyond for the Celtics. When extension discussions could have started with Brown, he was likely going to ask for a 35% of the cap max, as he should have and as he earned. If the Celtics said no, or delayed the conversation, there was a chance things could have gotten ugly. With the goal to have long-term flexibility with the cap/tax/aprons, and the idea of not extending Brown at his asking price (either at 35% of the cap or at all) and that turning sideways, it was best to make the move now. You remove any drama (well, kind of. There was plenty of drama!) and you can start your long-range planning knowing your cap sheet will be a lot more flexible.

Also, I believe Brad Stevens, and the rest of the team’s leadership, when they say that they believe Paul George has a lot of good basketball in him. Jaylen Brown was immensely popular in Boston for great reasons. That meant trading him hurt. But the way some of taken it out on George and acted as if he’s a washed-up bum, is comically wrong. Yes, he has very real injury concerns, but George can still play. He’s a more consistent shooter and better passer than Brown. And their defensive gap isn’t nearly as large as some would have you believe, if there is one at all.

2. Big picture question: The Celtics have some great ingredients. Namely a top level superstar, some high level support stars, and a deep bench of talented players on rookie (or manageable) contracts.  What archetype of player or players do you think the Celtics should focus on adding to the roster in the next year or so?

I think the Celtics focus since Brad Stevens came in as a coach has been to acquire versatile players with good size that can dribble, pass, shoot and defend. I know that sounds cliche, but I think that’s what Boston has looked for over the last decade-plus. Sometimes you sacrifice one skill for others, but generally they want well-rounded players. Since I’m answering these questions on Media Day, I’ll also reference something that Stevens said during his availability: The team is always focused on fit. It’s not just about talent. The players they acquire have to fit. That’s both together as a team and in Boston.

Even if no one is saying it directly, and he dodged the question himself, this is Jayson Tatum’s team now. He’s the guy. Everything Boston does is now going to orbit around Tatum. That’s not so different from the team building around both Tatum and Jaylen Brown, but now it’s about finding players who fit with Tatum and lift up his skillset.

I think in the next couple of transaction cycles (the 2027 trade deadline and the 2027 offseason), Stevens and the front office will be focused on adding high-end, established talent. That could involve trading Paul George, plus draft capital, to acquire another star-level player. Or it could be about building depth. I’m a firm believer that you need 100-plus games of depth to win a title. You have to get through the regular season and the playoffs. The good news is that the Celtics depth is already pretty good. One thing to keep an eye on: Whoever the Celtics acquire, expect there to be a good level of team control with that player’s, or those players’, contracts.

3. The parameters around the 2028 Clippers pick still hurt my head. In plain terms, what teams and standings should we be focusing on in the next couple of years?

Yeah, it’s a doozy! Basically, the Celtics want the Clippers to be bad. But maybe not so bad that they lose out on the extra lottery balls by dropping into the relegation zone. So, bad, but not truly awful? Either way, that Clippers pick is a pretty good asset.

The alternative, and this is probably a natural rooting interest anyway, is to root for the Sixers to be bad. The Celtics are getting the better of the Sixers or the Clippers pick, so rooting for one of them to be bad is the play.

4. What are some extension decisions that the Celtics have coming up (and what do recent extensions for Queta and Walsh tell us about their thought process)?

Paul George is extension-eligible, but that’s not happening barring something really unexpected. I don’t expect Paul George to be with the Celtics past this season, unless he’s an incredible fit and has a great season. If that happens, then maybe an extension comes where George opts out, takes less per year (something down around $20-$30 million AAV) but adds three years. That could be the play.

Payton Pritchard is also eligible to extend. The thing with Pritchard’s deal is that he has two seasons left. So, this isn’t that pressing of an issue. Boston and Pritchard both may want one more year of seeing how things go before locking into a new contract. Waiting would also allow for an additional year, as Pritchard could only add three years to his current deal by extending now.

As for Neemias Queta and Jordan Walsh, this continues the idea that if you develop into a rotation-level player in Boston, the team is going to try to keep you around. Queta earned his extension by improving enough that he was not only a viable starting center, but a good one. Walsh still hasn’t quite locked in that every-night rotation spot, but he’s been valuable when he’s played. Improving his jumper and focusing on defense have turned him into a solid 3&D wing. Both guys got paid more than they have ever made, which is great for them. But for the Celtics, these were pretty team-friendly contracts, and, just as importantly, these contracts are very tradable down the line.

TL/DR version: I don’t expect either Paul George or Payton Pritchard to sign an extension before the season starts. And the Neemias Queta and Jordan Walsh extensions were good values at team-friendly prices.

5. Give us a prediction for the upcoming season. This can be related to transactions or the on-court product – totally up to you.

I think some of the doom and gloom about the Celtics is off base. I think they’ll have a good to very good regular season. Yes, Jaylen Brown is gone, but the team will have Jayson Tatum healthy for the whole season. Paul George is good. Mitchell Robinson is good. Hugo Gonzalez and Baylor Scheierman continue to improve. Neemias Queta proved he’s a good starting center. Payton Pritchard and Derrick White are back, and White almost has to shoot better this season.

I think Boston will finish as a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference once again. And I think they may actually have more playoff upside, because the team is more versatile on both ends of the flood. Maybe I’m being overly optimistic, but the suggestion that this isn’t even a playoff team by some seems really silly. They aren’t likely to be much worse than a year ago, even in an Eastern Conference that is much improved.

6. Tell us what you are working on and remind the readers where they can read, hear, and see you on a regular basis!

The best places to find my written work are on Spotrac if you like roster, cap, CBA-related articles. If you want more general hoops coverage, you can find that on The Basketball Bulletin. When the regular season starts, I’ll be relaunching my NBA Game Notes, which is a broader around-the-NBA version of the 10 Takeaways I used to do on Celtics Blog. You get a taste of each post, and every Friday is Free Friday, where the entire piece is free. The plan is to post every day of the week with coverage of the previous night’s games. During the preseason, I’ll have a handful of articles up as well. Working on that planning as I write this.

We’re also going strong with NBA Front Office Show. You can catch us on YouTube if you want to watch. Or if listening is more your thing, you can find the show on any major podcast player that’s out there.

The 1980s were defined by the Larry Bird-Magic Johnson rivalry, as those two greats led the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers to repeated trips to the Finals.

For the Celtics though, their first great challenge in the early part of the 1980s was always the Philadelphia 76ers.

By 1980, the Sixers had almost all the pieces in place for an historically great team: Julius Erving, Bobby Jones, Doug Collins,and Maurice Cheeks. They would get Andrew Toney in the 1980 draft, and would trade for Moses Malone in 1982.

In 1980, though, they had enough to knock off Bird’s Celtics, 4-1, in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Bird was just a rookie, but he helped guide Boston to a massive turnaround, finishing 61-21 after a 29-53 record the year before. At the time it was the best single-season turnaround in NBA history (the record belongs to Boston again, after a +42 game turnaround in 2006-07).

In this video of Game 5, you see the mature brilliance of Erving, and the rising star that was Bird.

There were also three Duke connections here: Jim Spanarkel was a 76er, while Doug Collins would later send his son Chris to Duke, as did Boston’s Gerald Henderson, as Gerald Jr. also chose the Brotherhood.

Go to the DBR Boards to find Blue Healer Auctions || Drop us a line

Another day, another disrespect!

In a recent interview, Bub Carrington revealed that the Wizards held back to try to draft AJ Dybantsa last season. You can see the exchange below.

Bub Carrington says the Wizards held back to try to draft AJ Dybantsa 👀👀

"We haven't been told to be the best version of ourselves. We were held back because we were trying to get AJ Dybantsa. That's no secret" pic.twitter.com/yASjsgnUWD

— WizardsMuse (@WizardsMuse1) October 2, 2026

That should mean a fine, right? I mean, that’s what they did with the Utah Jazz? Turns out that they will not be fining the Wizards, according to Sam Amick.

Per source, the NBA will not discipline Wizards guard Bub Carrington (or the team) for his candid comments about tanking.

More here, with @JoshuaBRobbins, on the quiet part being said out loud, at @TheAthletichttps://t.co/Onw6W4cN5q

— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) October 2, 2026

This disrespect is not new, remember when the Jazz wanted to give Keyonte George a chance to coach during summer league? It was going to be a lot of fun and help connect Keyonte George to the young rosters. But no, the NBA couldn’t let the Jazz do that.

There was a ton of excitement about this from Keyonte George and the Jazz coaching staff, but the NBA reviewed the situation and informed the team that George will not be able to coach at Summer League https://t.co/Ufza1CUXyf

— Sarah Todd (@NBASarah) July 9, 2026

Was Adam Silver consistent with that? No, actually. Because he let the Celtics do the exact same thing days later.

NEW STORY: Derrick White is officially undefeated as a coach, and Amile Jefferson is grateful he took the time to share some wisdom with the Summer League Celtics.

"That breeds Celtics culture. That’s what it’s about.”https://t.co/qAUqiTLXno

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) July 13, 2026

So it’s okay for the Celtics, but not the Jazz? So disrespectful!

I guess the consolation is that it obviously bugged the NBA that the Jazz wanted to do the right thing to win a title by tanking. Winning the lottery after that fine is hilarious. What would be even more funny is Utah becoming an NBA champion because of that tanking. That $500K could be the best money ever spent by Ryan Smith.

Chandler Holt of KSL Sports was kind enough to join me on the Hoops Nerd Podcast to talk about the upcoming season. We discussed a wide range of topics, including but not limited to:

• Who will be in the Jazz starting lineup?
• What should we expect from Darryn Peterson? Will he be starting?
• What type of role will Keyonte George play? Can he be the point guard the Jazz need?
• Where does Ace Bailey fit in? Is he happy in camp?
• How does Lauri Markkanen fit into a packed roster? Can he score at the level he did before? What is his role?
• What impact does Jaren Jackson Jr have? Will he play center? What other things will he do in the Jazz offense?
• Will the Jazz make some sort of trade this year? What would that look like?
• How many wins will the Jazz get?

Also, make sure to download the new SB Nation sports app. It’s a great way to keep up with all our stories and discussion boards.

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić has filed a petition under international rules to have his two children brought to the United States, according to a report from The Athletic.

Dončić’s two daughters, Gabriela and Olivia, live in their home country of Slovenia with their mother, Dončić's former fiancée.

“Nothing is more important to me than my daughters,” Dončić said in a statement to The Athletic. “I will do whatever it takes to make sure they have both parents present in their lives.”

Dončić and his longtime girlfriend ended their engagement in March, leading to an ongoing custody battle over the daughters.

The two began dating in 2016 and were engaged in 2023.

STORYLINES AS NBA PRESEASON BEGINS: Heat vibes, Alpha Sixers, Doncic domination top our list

His then-fiancée, Anamaria Goltes, had filed for child support from Dončić last March, but later withdrew her suit. According to The Athletic, Dončić filed his petition in Slovenia, where he lives in the offseason, but local laws prevent it from being made public.

In August, Dončić hosted his teammates for a minicamp in an attempt to build team chemistry after the team overhauled the roster during the offseason. The All-NBA player’s decision to have the minicamp in the home country allowed him to remain close to his two daughters.

He did not compete with the Slovenia national team this summer, as he focused on the legal matters while also recovering from a Grade 2 left hamstring strain.

“I love my daughters more than anything, and they will always come first in my life,” Dončić wrote in a post on Instagram in May. “As I continue working toward joint custody of my daughters, I have been forced to make a difficult decision between traveling and playing for the Slovenian national team and being with my daughters this summer. Unfortunately, it has been made extremely difficult for me to see them over the past eight months.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Luka Doncic files international petition to bring his daughters back to US

Given how divisive it is, there will never be a uniform opinion on the Lakers’ 2020 title.

For some — like basically any respectable NBA player who was there — the title is one of the most impressive, given the circumstances. For loud wrong people, it’s a lesser-than title.

What shouldn’t be up for debate, regardless of the validity of the title, though, is that it’s a shame they never got to properly celebrate it. Because of everything going on in the world in 2020, a parade was never a viable option.

And that’s something that still bothers LeBron James.

In his return to his Mind the Game podcast prior to training camp kicking off around the league, LeBron James spoke about his time in Los Angeles and brought up the fact that the Lakers never really got to celebrate their title.

“It bothers me, [on a scale of] 1-10, 20. Just to be able to celebrate with the Laker faithful. I don’t know what the route would have been. I’m thinking go down Olympic, just all the way down Olympic and then end up downtown right by Staples Center. Everybody want to call it Crypto but it’s Staples Center to me. It would have been super, duper dope. But we did that. We did that and that banner’s up there. That banner’s in that arena forever along with the other ones that’s been able to go up in the history of the Lakers franchise.”

Even if the Lakers wanted to celebrate, the league didn’t exactly give them much time to do it. Their six-week offseason didn’t exactly lend itself to much time to plan things.

Now, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where they get to ever truly celebrate the title. Perhaps in the future if/when the Lakers win another title, they can have members of the 2020 team tag along. But would it feel the same?

It would likely have to happen in the distant future as it’s hard to imagine LeBron being on a different team and celebrating a title in LA with the Lakers. Hopefully, though, it’s something the team has to contemplate in the future because that 2020 team does deserve to be celebrated and given it’s flowers.

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

When it’s Big Blue Madness, basketball season is officially underway in the Bluegrass.

Friday night, a sold-out Rupp Arena welcomed the men’s and women’s teams in their first looks at both of them ahead of their upcoming seasons. It was a raucous crowd, with excitement building for the season.

Women’s Team shows off shooting ahead of highly anticipated season

The Women’s Basketball team tipped off the festivities as they entered the arena. Coming off a Sweet 16 berth last year, Kenny Brooks and the Cats have a lot of momentum coming into this season. The crowd at Rupp Arena clearly concurs, giving each player and Brooks a rousing ovation when they were introduced.

In the “Hot Shot” competition, Team 1 featured Asia Boone, Me’Arah O’Neal, Gabby Brooks, and Savvy Swords. They put up a solid 16 points to tip off the drill. They were followed by Team 2, featuring Clara Strack, Diana Collins, Emily McDonald, and Jemma Amoore. Behind a blistering start, they started draining shots from deep to take the lead.

On Team 3, a fan joined Ajša Sivka, Maddyn Greenway, and Dominika Paurová. They tied Team 1 with 16 points, meaning Team 2 won the drill.

Then came everybody’s favorite: The 3-point shooting contest. Asia Boone tipped it off with a solid 15 points, with Me’Arah O’Neal draining her final two shots to put up 18 points. A confident Emily McDonald made six in a row early and came up just one point shy of the lead with 17. All three advanced to the final round; Boone made all five shots on the final rack to accumulate 20 points.

McDonald responded by hitting her final shot to tie the score. It came down to O’Neal, who made all five from straightaway and then her final two shots on the last rack to tie the score at 20. That brought the tiebreaker to half-court, with a moneyball rack and the first player to make a shot winning the contest. Boone rattled one in after multiple rounds of attempts to take home the trophy.

Mark Pope welcomes back Karl-Anthony Towns

First of all, the thunderous applause started when Malachi Moreno was introduced. Then, things got real. A tall white sheet acted as a projector screen to play an intro video for Mark Pope, who appeared on a gigantic pedestal to address the crowd in Rupp Arena. Dressed in all black, including a Kentucky varsity jacket, Pope then said he had one more Cat to introduce. Pope unveiled that he was wearing a Karl-Anthony Towns No. 12 jersey, a fitting welcome home for one of the greatest Cats of all time.

Coming off winning the 2026 NBA Championship with the New York Knicks, Towns was greeted to a raucous ovation from the Rupp Arena crowd. In just one season with Kentucky, Towns averaged 10.3 points per game and 6.7 rebounds per game. Keep in mind, he played on Kentucky’s platoon squad. NBA scouts knew what Towns had, and he was drafted No. 1 overall in the 2015 NBA Draft.

In the NBA Playoffs this past Spring, Towns averaged 15.9 points per game and 10.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 55.1% from the field and 45.6% from 3-point range. Towns tipped San Antonio Spurs’ Dylan Harper’s final inbounds pass in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, enabling Josh Hart to hold serve underneath the basket against the Spurs’ Stephon Castle and cement the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history, with the Knicks coming back from down 29 points in the second half.

Mark Pope Shines Spotlight on coaching staff

I think it’s great that Pope took several minutes to highlight his assistant coaches and staff, particularly what each of their roles are. Pope introduced each of them, with all of the members in various entrances to different sections in the upper deck of Rupp Arena.

Earlier this week, Pope said there’s great synergy with this current coaching and basketball staff. That was on display Friday night at Big Blue Madness.

Lighting it up from deep

Mark Pope said earlier this week that he thinks this Wildcats’ team’s shooting will be elite and they have a depth of shooters. In the 3-point shooting competition, we saw glimpses of what that can look like. Mason Williams tipped off the competition with 24 points. Then, Alex Wilkins showed off his shooting potential with a blistering 31 points. Milan Momcilovic participated and got hot at the end to finish with 22 points.

Then, it was reigning 3-point champion Trent Noah, who went 4-5 on the final rack to finish with 18 points.

The final round came down to Wilkins and Ousmane N’Diaye. N’Diaye finished with eight points, with Wilkins following it with a raining performance at 21 points and deciding to dunk in the final ball for the win.

Milan wins fan $10,000

A fan named Jake from the crowd got two half-court shots to win $10,000. He missed both, but he was able to select one player on the team to shoot from half-court to win him the money. He chose Milan Momcilovic. Wise choice. Momcilovic calmly let it fly, banking it in and winning Jake $10,000.

McBride and N’Diaye WOW in dunk contest

Justin McBride started off the dunk contest with an explosive between-the-legs dunk. In the final round, Ousmane N’Diaye threw a pass off the backboard that he put back for an emphatic slam. McBride followed with a thunderous windmill reverse dunk that netted him a 50 score from the judges.

A 7-foot big man that can shoot! Sign me up!

Ousmane N’Diaye is going to be REAL NICE for KENTUCKY! 😼🎯 #BBNpic.twitter.com/oMLkFPVWlo

— Chris Beasmore (@CBeasmoreSports) October 3, 2026

That's how you win a dunk contest 🤯🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/t3DTSXd6XE

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) October 3, 2026

Twitter Reactions to Big Blue Madness

Kentucky players lit up the Blue Carpet and then made it a memorable night in Rupp Arena. Here are some Twitter reactions from Big Blue Madness.

Trent Noah and Mason Williams have arrived pic.twitter.com/pU5lQRhonX

— Wyatt Huff (@Wildcat_wave) October 2, 2026

A couple of WNBA Cats return for BBM.

Shoutout Tonie Morgan and Teonni Key. pic.twitter.com/YLdpAtUTVa

— Zack Geoghegan (@ZGeogheganKSR) October 2, 2026

Your 2026-2027 Wildcats pic.twitter.com/4FD12CPZbS

— Dylan Ballard (@DylanBallard_UK) October 2, 2026

Our champ!!!! ☔️☔️☔️ pic.twitter.com/6pw8J1AAXg

— Kentucky Women’s Basketball (@KentuckyWBB) October 3, 2026

Coach Brooks is a cool cat man 🔥 pic.twitter.com/1sAFmoRio9

— Mario A Maitland (@MarioMaitland_3) October 2, 2026

Every Zoom Diallo made basket in Rupp this season shall henceforth be immediately followed by a collective "ZOOOOOOOM" from BBN.

You have been informed. Spread the word.

— WT – Mase Enthusiast (@WildcatsTongue) October 3, 2026

MASON WILLIAMS is going to be NICE this year! 😼🎯 #BBNpic.twitter.com/2qOrlKPA1F

— Chris Beasmore (@CBeasmoreSports) October 3, 2026

Mark Pope makes an entrance with Karl Anthony Towns for Big Blue Madness

SICK 🔥 pic.twitter.com/NNaDT9Et5i

— Mario A Maitland (@MarioMaitland_3) October 3, 2026

Alex Wilkins is going to be a FAN FAVORITE for KENTUCKY! 😼🥳 #BBNpic.twitter.com/uSaVaoei48

— Chris Beasmore (@CBeasmoreSports) October 3, 2026

Alex Wilkins plays for my basketball team pic.twitter.com/DuwkSsmnb1

— WT – Mase Enthusiast (@WildcatsTongue) October 3, 2026

I like my team. Don't switch up.

So forth and so on.

— Rare Rookies (@rarerookies) October 3, 2026