Category: NBA

This is the second of a series of roundtable questions I’m asking the staff here at Peachtree Hoops about the Hawks this upcoming season. The second question: who will have the biggest breakout performance and why?

Wes: For me, Aaron Wiggins has a chance to shine in a featured bench role. The Thunder were so deep that Wiggins often ended up on the fringe of the rotation, but he has legitimate creation ability off the bounce and a good enough, though shaky, feel to be a CJ McCollum-lite bucket getter. 

I think he’ll be a better team defender and passer than McCollum, however, and play in the screen, move and quick decision offense that Quin Snyder has set up. He’s just 27, the same age as Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s breakout last season. Maybe, just maybe, the Hawks can make it three straight Most Improved Player award winners.

Garrett: I’m going with Aaron Wiggins. The Hawks have shown what they can do when players get the right opportunity — just ask Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. I think Wiggins could be the next player to benefit from that environment. He has the tools to flourish in Quin Snyder’s system, and I like the idea of him becoming a dependable sixth man who provides a spark on both ends.

Graham: A couple Hawks spring to mind. I would agree with the sentiment that Aaron Wiggins has an opportunity to really excel here with Atlanta. There should be ample opportunities for corner threes for him here, and he shot 48% in the right corner from three. If he can swing his left corner threes up from 30% this season he becomes another three-point option for Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, CJ McCollum, and Dyson Daniels to kick out to the corner to.

But in the interest of something different – prior to his injury – I would have enjoyed to see how Mo Gueye’s development would have looked like this season. Gueye’s improved touch from three-point range in addition to his length and athleticism are still interesting elements to monitor this season. I don’t have anything more to really add; I was just really looking forward to seeing more Mo Gueye.

Asa Newell is also someone I’m really interested to see in Year 2; he had a really encouraging touch from three and could roll to the rim, but it just became harder to play him as the Hawks began to zone in on an automatic playoff berth. Jalen Johnson was in a similar boat in his rookie season, and now I wonder if Newell may follow a similar step in Year 2 where he gets real minutes this season. If he does, I expect him to be productive.

The Dallas Mavericks are just a few short days away from the start of the 2026-2027 NBA season. The Mavericks wrapped their preseason slate with a somewhat dismal 1-3 record, but the silver lining is that they welcomed back Kyrie Irving (who looked very much like the player we remember) and suffered no new injuries in the process.

No new injuries does not mean the Mavericks are truly at full strength, of course. Dereck Lively remains sidelined and likely will be for the foreseeable future. Joining him is newly acquired Santi Aldama. Aldama had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee back on March 17 when he was still a member of the Memphis Grizzlies. That ended his season early and resulted in an absence from which he has still not returned. He sat out all four preseason games.

Strangely, there has been relatively little news regarding Aldama’s timetable for return despite the fact he figures on being a significant contributor. Now on the eve of the season, Mike Curtis reports a small update  

Head coach Dusty May said “he doesn’t know yet” if Aldama will be available for Wednesday night’s season opener. The comment is straightforward, yet somewhat puzzling. Wednesday is mere days away at this point, so the comment seems to suggest a return is imminent, even if not for the season opener. May was earlier quoted as saying Aldama was “getting much, much closer” after a solid practice, and he is roughly seven months to the day removed from surgery.

The Mavericks have played injury news very close to the vest under the new regime of Masai Ujiri, Mike Schmitz and May, so we are in somewhat uncharted territory of how to truly read this messaging. Nonetheless, and at the expense of assuming too much, it seems irresponsible for May to suggest favorable progress and a potential return as soon as this week if Aldama is in fact weeks (or more) away.

Aldama is a seven-foot stretch big that should be able to add a meaningful dynamic to the Mavericks on both sides of the ball. Having him back and at full health is critical to the Mavs’ success this season, especially with Lively expected to be out for an extended period. While we can only speculate on the exact return date for Aldama, the facts seem to suggest that it will be sooner than later.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

It’s no secret that backup center is currently the biggest question mark for the Philadelphia 76ers’ roster, a situation exacerbated by Ariel Hukporti’s season-ending Achilles injury. As Mike Gansey surveys the NBA landscape for a solution, one name that has come up is current Dallas Mavericks center Moussa Cisse. Per reporting from Marc Stein:

“If Cissé were to be waived Monday and then clear waivers Wednesday, I’m also told that the 76ers and Lakers would have strong interest in signing him to a two-way deal even though neither team currently has a two-way opening.”

However: “The Stein Line has learned, however, that Cissé is a real candidate to be claimed off waived in the event he is let go. Chicago, sources say, has interest in the high-energy big man. I’m told Atlanta also has interest even though the Hawks don’t currently have an open standard spot.”

Obviously, there are a few if-then’s in play here. The Mavericks would need to waive Cisse, no one would have to pick him up off waivers (something Stein thinks would happen), and he would need to select Philadelphia as his two-way spot destination (something I think would have a good chance of happening given the relatively clear path to some playing time).

On Monday, it became increasingly less likely Dallas would be waiving Cisse, as they instead released veteran Dwight Powell.

The Dallas Mavericks are waiving veteran center Dwight Powell, sources tell ESPN.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 19, 2026

So I wouldn’t be ordering those Cisse custom black Iverson-era jerseys just yet. Still, the 6-foot-11, 24-year-old is highly athletic and fits the rim-running, shot blocker role the Sixers are looking for in a backup. He’s a name to keep an eye on over the next few days.

More broadly looking at the center position, Philadelphia has a few options at the moment. Joel Embiid is healthy and ready to start on opening night against the New York Knicks. The team also feels good about Adem Bona returning from his foot injury to take the floor after missing the entire preseason. Bona recently had this to say to reporters about making his way back to the court the last few weeks:

“Mentally, it’s been great. I’ve been able to come back. Getting back out there, working with the team. I’ve had amazing practices with the team. It’s been great. I’m feeling good and excited to get back out there on the court. It’s been going good so far.”

He added the following on his availability for the opener:

“Yeah. It’s going to come down to the coaches and the medical staff, but I’m just day to day and I’m excited for (Tuesday) night.”

With Jabari Walker and Dean Wade (though he’s also banged up) available as small-ball five options in certain situations, the Sixers appear set as long as everyone is healthy. For games where Embiid is sitting due to load management on a back-to-back, we would expect recent two-way signing Tacko Fall to assume some minutes. The Sixers have five back-to-backs prior to Dec. 4.

Dec. 4 is a significant date because given the pro-rated nature minimum signings against the salary cap, that is when the team would be able to fill the 15th roster spot with a free agent center option and still remain under the salary cap apron. Kevin Love is one name mentioned often due to the LeBron connection. Another option would be to trade for someone making around the minimum, with Justin Edwards a salary-match candidate with a $2.4 million contract this season and a team option next season that would effectively operate as an expiring. Philadelphia could certainly go the trade route with Cisse, for example.

Undoubtedly, the Sixers would like to have more confident options at their disposal. However, given the strength of the rest of the roster, there are certainly worse problems a team could have heading into a season. We know the front office will continue to monitor the market and look for the best path forward in the days and weeks ahead.

LeBron Log: Debut history, taking charge and a limited-edition SLAM cover originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Are you counting down the hours yet?

On Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, LeBron James will make his regular-season debut for the Sixers and begin his record 24th NBA season. Philadelphia is his fourth franchise and fifth NBA stint, counting his two runs in Cleveland.

It’s happening.

This season will bring the obvious milestones and memorable performances. It will also bring smaller moments that help tell the story of James’ time in Philadelphia. The LeBron Log will keep track of both.

Check back throughout the season for new entries. For now, let’s get started with No. 1.

TEAM DEBUTS

Tuesday’s setting carries its own twist.

James told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin at Sixers media day that he had “visions” of playing at Madison Square Garden and finishing his career there. The Knicks’ championship changed those plans.

Instead, James will begin his Philadelphia chapter from the visiting locker room while New York raises its championship banner.

Few road arenas have treated him better. James owns a 24-9 record in 33 games at Madison Square Garden, averaging 28.2 points, 7.4 assists and 6.9 rebounds.

His previous debut games with new teams and stints have not gone nearly as well.

Oct. 29, 2003: Cavaliers at Kings

An 18-year-old James recorded 25 points, nine assists, six rebounds and four steals in his first NBA game. He shot 12 of 20 from the floor, but Sacramento won, 106-92.

Oct. 26, 2010: Heat at Celtics

The highly anticipated debut of Miami’s James-Dwyane Wade-Chris Bosh trio began in Boston. James scored 31 points, but the Celtics held off the Heat, 88-80.

Oct. 30, 2014: Knicks at Cavaliers

This is the closest parallel to Tuesday.

James’ return to Cleveland produced a deafening reception and enormous expectations. The Knicks spoiled the homecoming. James finished with 17 points, five rebounds, four assists and eight turnovers as New York won, 95-90.

Oct. 18, 2018: Lakers at Trail Blazers

James opened his Lakers career with 26 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. Portland still handed Los Angeles a 128-119 loss.

That makes four previous stint debuts and four losses. James averaged 24.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists across those games.

Tuesday gives him his first opportunity to win one. The same franchise that spoiled his Cleveland return will stand in his way again.

TAKING CHARGE

Friday’s preseason finale offered an early example of the smaller moments worth tracking throughout James’ first season in Philadelphia.

With 8:56 remaining in the third quarter and the Sixers leading the Celtics, 69-62, Luka Garza missed a three-pointer. Ron Harper Jr. grabbed the offensive rebound before the ball returned to Garza.

James established position outside the restricted area and absorbed the contact from the 6-foot-10, 243-pound center. The whistle blew for a charge, and the Sixers’ bench erupted.

There was more behind the celebration than one preseason possession.

Maxey said the Sixers had encountered a similar situation during practice. Adem Bona rolled toward the basket with James waiting in his path, but the 41-year-old moved aside. James assured his teammates that he would take the contact once they played an actual game.

“We don’t want Bona running Bron over,” Maxey joked.

James kept his word, putting his body in front of a center during the Sixers’ final exhibition game.

The moment also stood out to 20-year-old rookie Labaron Philon.

“Everybody jumped up off the bench and was pretty happy for him that a guy really that old was still putting his body on the line for us in a preseason game,” Philon said. “That really tells it all. … I hope he can bring that to Tuesday and for the rest of the season. I want to see some more of those.”

EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT

James appeared on a SLAM cover before he played a minute in the NBA.

In August 2002, James and fellow high school star Sebastian Telfair shared the cover of SLAM 62. The issue was titled “The Takeover,” and its cover predicted that the two teenagers were about to rule the basketball world.

More than 24 years later, James is back on the cover.

The Sixers star fronts SLAM 265 in his new No. 23 uniform. The cover reads, “This is my last run. Part II,” followed by the title, “Leaving the Legacy.”

The standard edition costs $13.99. It is the first of five covers for SLAM’s December 2026/January 2027 issue and includes 82 pages and a pullout poster.

SLAM also opened a 48-hour ordering window for a $65 Orange Metal version. It will remain available through Wednesday at 11 a.m. ET. Each copy will be numbered, and 24 customers will randomly receive an even rarer Platinum Metal edition instead. A $125 Gold Metal version, limited to 94 copies, has already sold out.

The first cover announced “The Takeover.” The latest is about “Leaving the Legacy.”

Twenty-four years of James’ basketball life, captured by two covers.

Five reasons for optimism about Celtics, and some lingering questions originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics capped a vibes-filled preseason in the most Celtics way possible: Trotting out a starting five in which four players — likely bound for Maine and waived almost immediately after the team’s final preseason tuneup — toppled a Hall-of-Famer-filled starting five of the new-look Sixers, including old friend Jaylen Brown.

Boston produced a 4-0 preseason. Far more importantly, the team doubled down on an identity it started carving out last season and built around three main tenets: Be the hardest-playing team, win the margins, and do both those things regardless of the personnel combinations that Joe Mazzulla puts on the floor. 

There are still a bunch of lingering questions as the regular season arrives — we’ll tackle a few of those in a bit — but let’s start with five reasons for optimism as the Celtics prepare to dive into the 82-game grind. 

1. Jayson Tatum looks ready to be Jayson Tatum

Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

If a longer-than-expected offseason had only one benefit, it is this: Jayson Tatum looks and sounds like he’s back to his old self. Tatum has admitted that he’s in a far better place, both mentally and physically, than when he first returned to action in March. Entering Year 10, and further removed from the Achilles injury that limited his availability last season, Tatum appears ready to shoulder the hefty load the team will heap upon him after its offseason changes.

Tatum checked all the preseason boxes. The scoring looked effortless. He shot the 3-pointer well (38.9 percent). He routinely generated quality looks for teammates. He was active on the glass. The stat line is going to pop this year. Tatum looked like a player who is ready to muscle back into the MVP conversation.

Tatum has always had a great appreciation for some of the stuff that NBA superstars eventually take for granted. He’s repeatedly noted this preseason how the uncertainty he faced a year ago has made him appreciate the minutiae of NBA life, including simply being on the court with his teammates throughout training camp.

“I think when you’re sitting on the sideline for as long as he did, you kind of see the game a little bit differently,” said teammate Derrick White. “I just think that he’s more confident. I thought he looked pretty good last year and so just getting that confidence, getting over the mental hurdle that everybody says is the toughest part about it.”

The bottom line: A healthy Tatum playing at an All-NBA level is the key to Boston remaining competitive in a beefed-up Eastern Conference. The early returns have been encouraging.

2. Hugo Gonzalez’s jumper could change the conversation

Winslow Townson-Imagn Images

We resisted the urge to put this at No. 1.

Gonzalez finished 11-of-20 shooting (55 percent) from beyond the arc in four preseason appearances. That number should come back down to Earth a bit, but hopefully the confidence with which Gonzalez is chucking those triples will not. 

The release looks quicker. The confidence looks higher. Gonzalez shot 36.2 percent beyond the arc in his rookie season — right around league average — but being able to consistently knock down 3s is only going to help keep Gonzalez on the floor for a team overflowing with wing options. 

Still, we marvel at the confidence in preseason situations. Watching Gonzalez and buddy Baylor Scheierman shoot before training camp practices, Scheierman seemed to make everything he hoisted, while Gonzalez could be a bit more streaky. 

Then the games started, and Gonzalez thrived from distance. 

There was a sequence in the final Philadelphia meeting where Scheierman zipped a pass to the corner in transition and Gonzalez went straight into his shot. No hesitation. Just a confident catch-and-shoot 3 on his way to 21 points.

We already knew that Gonzalez will make good things happen on both ends with his activity. The lasting image from his rookie campaign was his willingness to go joust with Joel Embiid in Game 7 of a playoff series. Adding a dependable jumper will only make it easier for Mazzulla to keep Gonzalez on the floor. 

3. Paul George’s defense can make life easier on the offense

Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

Doc Rivers made this point on a recent Celtics Talk Podcast: You might not fully appreciate how good George can be, defensively, until he’s on your team. The preseason offered a pretty convincing introduction.

George was a constant disruptor. Even at age 36, he’s active in passing lanes, routinely causing deflections and generating seven steals overall in two appearances. Even more importantly, Boston turned many of those takeaways into transition points. 

Generating some easy points off turnovers could be vital as the Celtics carve out an offensive identity without Brown. But the defense, overall, is intriguing considering how good the Celtics were on that end even before adding two guys like George and Mitchell Robinson. 

Slot George and Tatum at the forward spots, then add White doing All-Defense things at the guard position, and you can see the outline of an elite defense. Add in a Boston team that might be the best rebounding group in the NBA and things get real tough for opposing teams on the margins.

4. Payton Pritchard’s next jump might be as a playmaker

Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Pritchard said it himself before the season: Good things happen when you touch the paint. Watching him pile up 11 assists in a preseason game against Charlotte was a firm reminder.

We know Pritchard can score inside despite giving up size. But, going back through the tape, what stuck out was how often his penetration sucked in multiple defenders and created opportunities for teammates around him. 

Neemias Queta was a frequent beneficiary against Charlotte. That leaves us intrigued by how Mazzulla will deploy talent and how much that combo will play together. 

The Celtics need Pritchard’s scoring in the aftermath of Brown’s departure, but part of any leap he makes again this season could be tied to impacting the game even more as a playmaker. 

Maybe the best part is that Pritchard is setting a tone about roles, doubling down on his assertion that it doesn’t matter if he starts or comes off the bench, he simply wants to pile up minutes and impact winning.

“The starting conversation is kind of funny. To me, a starter is the amount of minutes you play,” said Pritchard. “Do you finish games? Are you playing 30-plus minutes? Then you are a starter.

“How do you impact the game is what really matters to me. I don’t really care — this might be an ego thing — I don’t really care to hear my name called at the beginning of the game. The first five minutes of the game really have no effect on the game. So if that is what Joe thinks benefits our team the most, is me coming off the bench and playing those minutes, then I’m going to do it. And I’m going to try to be the best at those minutes. That’s my only thought process.”

5. Depth remains a Boston calling card … 

Tucker DeVries, Hayden Gray, Gabe McGlothan, and Milos Uzan were part of Boston’s starting five that toppled the Sixers. They were waived a few hours later with hopes they will all land in Maine as affiliated players.

But the success of the “red team” — the deepest reserves, most on Exhibit 10 contracts in camp — was a staunch reminder that Mazzulla can and will lean on depth throughout the roster. As his Game 7 lineup versus Philly showed last season, he won’t be afraid to mix and match as the situation requires. 

Which coincides with the second half of this optimism bullet point: 

… and the development pipeline has some intriguing projects

Rookie Chris Cenac Jr. is incredibly raw. But he’s also still a teenager, and you can see all the potential to impact the game with his size, length, and athleticism. Both him and rookie two-way Dillon Mitchell ought to spend a lot of time with Maine this season, but those reps — and time behind the scenes in Boston’s player development factory — could be key in breeding future depth. 

Heck, even the Celtics’ assistant coaches got important reps this season with Mazzulla handing the head coaching reins to Tony Dobbins, DJ MacLeay, and Sam Cassell at various times this preseason. 

The Celtics are getting contributions from every player and coach on the roster. But now the real games begin and we’ll see if they can maintain the vibes.

The big questions going into the year: 

1. Can Boston stay healthy? 

Tatum missed Game 7 while still working his way back from the Achilles injury; George and fellow offseason addition Mitchell Robinson have to prove they can stay on the floor, even if the team will likely manage their overall workloads. Boston has the ability to lean into its depth, but it also needs to keep its main guys on the floor.

2. How does Mazzulla deploy his depth? 

Mazzulla has no shortage of options in how he crafts lineups. Robinson and Neemias Queta should eat the bulk of the 48 minutes at the center position, but who starts game to game could vary. The bigger question might be at the fifth starter spot. Does Mazzulla lean on a defensive-minded wing (like a Jordan Walsh who got multiple preseason starts with the core starters), or does someone like Baylor Scheierman or Sam Hauser elevate to that spot based on matchups. What combos give the bench the best ability to thrive?

3. How will Boston fill the Brown void?

Replacing Brown will be collaborative for the Celtics. Maybe Tatum gets a whole bunch more shots and fills much of the scoring void on his own. But no one can individually replace what Brown brought to both ends. And the team will have to morph a bit in his absence. Can George (or Pritchard or White) be strong secondary scoring options on nights that Tatum is either struggling or defenses are blanketing? Brown routinely loved taking on the challenge of defending the opposing team’s top scoring options. Even on Day 1 against Cade Cunningham and the Pistons, who takes on the lion’s share of that defensive assignment? 

Answers are coming soon. After nearly six months, it’s finally time for real basketball in Boston again. 

The Los Angeles Lakers revamped their roster this offseason, officially making Luka Dončić the focal point.

As Dončić enters his third season in Los Angeles, he has already seen the legendary franchise be sold twice, but the All-Star guard has remained supportive of the ownership changes as the front office has continued to support him.

Dončić has proven he has what it takes to be a franchise star, leading a team to the NBA Finals when he took the Dallas Mavericks to the title series to end the 2023-24 season. The Boston Celtics beat the Mavericks 4-1.

It may take some time before there’s a better idea of what this Lakers team can look like and what that ceiling might be, but there have been some early glimpses during the preseason.

How much better do you think the Spurs are compared to last season? 

Marilyn Dubinski: It’s hard to put a number to it considering it’s almost the exact same team, with only other new talent guaranteed a main rotation spot yet to suit up, but even so, depth and maturity are already big factors that will make this team even better than last year.  There’s still plenty of room for internal growth from three of their best players in Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Caste and Dylan Harper, Tobias Harris brings depth and dimension they lacked last year, and more improvement from Carter Bryant and interior defense from Tarris Reed will help improve bench play.  If nothing else, the Spurs will be less dependent on their stars compared to last season.

Jacob Douglas: From a talent and experience perspective, they are a level above last year’s team. Dylan Harper looks to be making the turn from impressive rookie to a legitimate star guard. Victor Wembanyama’s passing and vision seem to have taken another step forward. Even Carter Bryant looks more confident and aggressive. The additions of Tobias Harris and Tarris Reed Jr. give them more depth and physicality on the interior.

I do expect their regular season record to dip a bit, however. Mitch Johnson seems set on experimenting with the three-guard lineup which will likely have its ups and downs, even if it’s for the best long term. With fewer teams tanking and San Antonio more likely to rest players, I think we will see a rockier regular season that could potentially pay dividends in the postseason and moving forward. 

Bill Huan: The team has leveled up on paper, as the young core continues to develop and gel. Even so, it’s entirely possible (and even likely) that they won’t get as far as they did last season, strictly due to the erratic nature of sports. Everything broke right for the Spurs during the playoff run, such as their core remaining relatively healthy, and things outside of their control went their way too: avoiding Denver in the postseason and facing an OKC team without JDub all contributed to the Finals run. So even if the team doesn’t make it back to the Finals, seeing the young core take another step forward should be considered a success. 

Devon Birdsong: I think the reality is that this team has finally reached the place where how good they are can really only be determined in the postseason. That being said, they bolstered their weaknesses at power forward and big man depth. At this point, it’s hard to figure out exactly what their weakness will be, and they still won 60+ games with obvious flaws last year. Unless Hector Banana Bread ends up out of the picture, I’d be shocked if they won less than 60 games. They could probably sleepwalk to that number, and you definitely couldn’t say that about them last year. 

Jeje Gomez: The big bet is on internal development, and it seems like a solid gamble. The names are largely the same, but several rotation players should be better. How much better and how much more cohesive can they be in a new starting lineup is the real question. I think the three-guard unit is worth exploring, but I don’t think it will necessarily get the team more wins in the short term. The incentive to not tank for the worst teams could also shave off a couple of wins. But ultimately, this seems like a more talented, well-rounded roster that should at least be as good in terms of seeding as last year’s squad.

True or false: Anything other than another Finals appearance would be a disappointment.

Dubinski: Mostly false (but we’d be lying to ourselves if we claimed we’d be fine with it come June). With so much parity in today’s NBA and teams barely even making consecutive Finals appearances, let alone winning consecutive titles, I wouldn’t kill them for missing the Finals.  However, anything less than a competitive Western Conference Finals appearance would be disappointing, especially when they (and the Thunder) are a clear tier above the rest of the West, and the East is now the deeper conference with more contenders.  (Unless of course their reason for missing the Finals is blown double-digit leads, then it would be a massive disappointment no matter which way you slice it.)

Douglas: False. But anything other than a WCF appearance would be. The Spurs and Thunder are clearly the two most talented teams in the NBA and will likely be fighting for the Western Conference crown for years to come. San Antonio won’t win all of those matchups. But failing to meet them in the WCF would be disappointing.  

Huan: Absolutely false. As I said previously, everything broke right for the Spurs last year, and their success this season shouldn’t just be evaluated on whether or not they return to the finals. The team could very well take another step forward without going on as deep a playoff run, as success should also be measured in the individual growth of the young core and how they all gel, especially in the three-guard lineup. 

Birdsong: Somewhat true, in the sense that the goal at this point should be chasing championships. Obviously there’s the reality that even the Duncan-era Spurs only made the Finals six times, but now that these Spurs have made the championship round, that’s going to be the expectation, especially as Wemby and Co. continue to ascend (and even more so in the event that they don’t). Yes, the young Spurs made their leap early, but that doesn’t exempt them from the weight of expectation. You can ask the Durant-era Thunder about that. I would say the difference is that it wouldn’t be a hopeless disappointment. With Timmy, it always felt like next year could still be their year. I think the same will be true with Wemby, even when they fall short. 

Gomez: True, I guess. When you make the Finals, keep your entire core intact, and add a few pieces, it feels like the expectations should be set high. I doubt anyone would be asking for Mitch Johnson’s head or for a big trade (not involving Fox) if the Spurs get to the Conference Finals and lose, but this team, as young as it is, is built to win big. If that doesn’t happen, I don’t think it would be crazy to call it a disappointment.

What’s your boldest prediction about the upcoming Spurs season?

Dubinski: Tarris Reed eventually passes Luke Kornet in the rotation.  Kornet was arguably the best backup center in the NBA last season before a disappointing playoff run, and that falloff from the playoffs would have to continue well into this season (proving it was no fluke and/or a sign that he has past his prime) for Reed to surpass him, but it’s certainly possible if it means not having to be too dependent on Wemby. 

Douglas: Jayden Quaintance plays meaningful minutes in the NBA playoffs. He will come back from knee surgery recovery in mid-February, ramping back up to a full minutes load by the end of the season. His defense behind Wembanyama will be so good that the team is forced to give him a role. His presence eliminates last year’s team’s problem of defensive drop-off when Wemby sits. 

Huan: This might be more of a hot take rather than a bold prediction, but I can see Castle sacrificing the most in the backcourt logjam. It’s clear that Harper will be the #2 option long-term with a ceiling higher than Castle’s, and Fox is still needed for his reliable ball-handling and veteran presence. Naturally, that would leave Castle as the odd man out, and I can see a scenario where he seems to stagnate a bit. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though, as it’s all a part of the growing pains for a young player and letting him develop some off-ball skills will be beneficial for everyone long-term. 

Birdsong: The Spurs will cut through the Western Conference in both the regular season and the postseason like butter, on the way to the title. The preseason is always the preseason, but I think that a lot of Spurs players have largely downplayed how locked in they’re going to be. A lot of the Western contenders have taken roster hits, and the top-heavy contenders in the East still have some chemistry things to figure out. Barring injury and/or the rise of someone or something completely unexpected, I think this is San Antonio’s year. I don’t just think they’re going to win, I think they’re going to dominate. No one is deeper, no one is angrier, and no one else is so obviously on the rise. 

Gomez: One of the three guards will be coming off the bench by All-Star weekend. I love that Coach Johnson is willing to give the combination a try but, at least right now, it seems like the best option is to play a more traditional, bigger lineup, arguably as soon as Tobias Harris is ready to go. The wear and tear that playing four smaller players and Wembanyama during the entire regular season would entail simply doesn’t seem worth it, unless the starting unit blitzes opponents into submission and the stars get to rest in the fourth quarter. I’m not sure that will happen, so I believe there will be an adjustment made midseason.

After two seasons of collecting top picks in the 2025 and 2026 drafts, the Nets seem ready to compete again. Brooklyn has little incentive to lose on purpose, as the Houston Rockets own swap rights to the Nets’ 2027 first-round pick.

Brooklyn already has forward Michael Porter Jr.,who had a career year in 2025-26. With the addition of three-time All-Star Julius Randle via trade, the Nets now have two players to rely on to create shots. But can the rest of the team’s youth join them for the ride? Let’s dive into what this season should look like.

Scoring combo

The addition of Randle should help address Brooklyn’s offense that ranked dead last in offensive efficiency (108.2 points per 100 possessions) last season. Over the last several years, Randle has proven that he can create his own scoring opportunities, averaging over 20 points a night six of his last eight seasons. But where he should have the most impact is creating looks for others. The power forward has averaged at least 4.1 assists in all of the past six seasons.

Brooklyn can run its offense through Randle, who is capable of initiating through pick-and-rolls as a screener or ballhandler. He should also help put Brooklyn’s other players in more advantageous positions to score. A beneficiary from Randle’s presence will be Porter. The small forward is coming off a strong debut season with the Nets, averaging 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 52 games.

Despite the career year, Porter’s efficiency dipped slightly. Adding a scorer and playmaker like Randle should allow Porter to slot into a role as second option with easier scoring opportunities. This year is important for Porter. He’s eligible for a contract extension, so proving that last year wasn’t a flash in the pan will be important for his future with the team.

Despite making three All-Star teams, Randle does have his flaws. He can be careless with the ball, creating turnovers. His defensive effort waxes and wanes on a regular basis. And he’s a career 33.2 percent shooter from the three-point line, making him a suboptimal floor spacer.

But Brooklyn is aiming for respectability, which Randle brings as a proven veteran. And we’ve seen Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez excel in the past despite a limited roster. 

Show-and-prove

The Nets have had seven first-round picks over the past two years. Two of those seven players seem guaranteed to receive consistent minutes: Egor Dëmin and rookie Mikel Brown Jr. 

The sixth pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Brown had a decent Summer League. He only played in Brooklyn’s preseason finale after missing time with an injury. At 20 years old, Brown has potential as a shot creator and playmaker at the point guard position. But it will likely take him time to establish a consistent NBA rotation player. 

Entering his sophomore season, Dëmin was spoon fed minutes in his rookie campaign, where he showed that he makes good reads as a passer. Dëmin also shot 38.5 percent from the three-point line. However, he needs to improve as a driver and finisher around the paint to be a starting caliber player. There are high hopes for his second season.

Brown and Dëmin will be given tons of opportunity. And with Dëmin’s 6-9 frame, they both should be able to play in the backcourt together. 

Outside of Randle, the Nets made a couple of moves in free agency, signing center Moe Wagner and guard Keon Ellis to contracts. Reserves Josh Minott and Terance Mann could also see some time.

With very few veterans on the roster there will be opportunities for the five other recent first-round picks. Nolan Traoré, Ben Saraf,Danny Wolf, Drake Powell and Joshua Jefferson will all have chances to crack the rotation. Specifically, Traoré, Saraf, Wolf, and Powell are all entering their second season. They will have to show some progress to justify a long-term roster spot past this season.

Starting caliber

To acquire Randle, the Nets had to send mainstay Nic Claxton to the Chicago Bulls in a three-team deal. Claxton’s defense and rebounding had dipped over the past few years. The center’s departure creates an opportunity for Day’Ron Sharpe to start at the five. Sharpe re-signed on a two-year, $20 million deal during the offseason.

Sharpe has been a per-minute darling over the past several years, dominating opposing backup centers by feasting on the offensive boards and finishing around the basket. Over five seasons, Sharpe is averaging 16.3 points, 13.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists per 36 minutes. His work on the offensive glass will be a big help to Brooklyn creating more scoring opportunities. When Sharpe is on the floor, the Nets have played better. Teams outscored Brooklyn by 4.3 points per 100 possessions in 1,160 minutes last year, a figure far better than the -12.9 net rating the Nets had in Claxton’s minutes.

The question is can Sharpe be healthy and withstand a bump in minutes? He’s never played more than 62 games in a season and never averaged more than 18.7 minutes in a season. Also, he will now be matched up with the likes of Nikola Jokić, Karl-Anthony Towns and Bam Adebayo, a step up from his days as a backup.

Prediction

The Nets should be better than last year. The addition of a multi-time All-Star like Randle is a step in the right direction. And the NBA’s arrangement to disincentivize tanking of the draft will make the team naturally more competitive. But that also means the competition will also be trying.

Brooklyn’s lack of depth and heavy reliance on unproven youngsters means it’s unlikely the club will be competing for a playoff spot. Dëmin and Brown will need to wildly exceed expectations for a massive leap. Let’s go with 30-52.

The Knicks entered last season with the highest expectations in recent franchise history. This year, they enter the campaign having finally met them for the first time in 53 seasons.

For many that would be enough, but this squad looks intent on repeating, which would break the NBA’s streak of eight consecutive different title winners. 

With the roadmap already laid out for more or less the same roster, there’s no reason New York shouldn’t be right there once again.

Here's SNY's 2026-27 season preview...

What worked

Head coach Mike Brown was brought in for one reason -- to get his team over the hump behind increased communication, a reformed offensive system, and heavier reliance on their depth. He accomplished all of the above, giving the Knicks a blueprint of a championship season they can fall back on if things get tough.

But Brown’s success wasn’t immediately apparent. As promised, he spent much of the regular season experimenting with schemes and rotations. 

At times, that left some members of the team unsure of their roles. At others, the team was stuck in a rut. But everything clicked beginning with Game 4 of the first round of the playoffs in Atlanta.

Everybody comfortably settled into their roles at once, with the big change being how the team utilized Karl-Anthony Towns' playmaking. Each player locked in defensively and flourished as part of the team concept offensively.

Jalen Brunsoncontinued his postseason heroics while mixing in enough off-ball play to keep him fresh.OG Anunoby put together a historically efficient scoring run.

They found basketball nirvana, entering a flow state of ball movement and abandoning any other motives. How much of this can they carry over with the ground shifting underneath them?

What’s changed? 

While the Knicks brought back most of their championship roster, this team isn’t identical to the one that won it all. They lost Mitchell Robinson, their backup center who was a key man all season but especially in slowing down Victor Wembanyama in the NBA Finals. 

Replacing him is Andre Drummond, another rim-runner with a knack for offensive rebounding, though generally considered a tier below Robinson overall. Drummond will bring durability, free throw shooting and a couple other skills Robinson lacked, but this potential downgrade could impact their title hopes. 

While the rest of the core roster is more or less the same, the conference surrounding the Knicks has improved dramatically. Philadelphia added LeBron James and Jaylen Brown after their Eastern Conference Semifinals beatdown at the hands of New York, Indiana is getting a healthy Tyrese Haliburton back, the Heat added Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Toronto added Kawhi Leonard.

This, while contenders like Boston, Cleveland, and Detroit remain in the picture. Even if the Knicks wholly recapture their magic, facing stiffer competition makes repeating much harder. 

But perhaps the biggest year over year difference is the black cloud that’s hung overhead the past few weeks -- extension talks. Towns, Josh Hart, and Miles McBride can all test free agency relatively soon, with the front office shelving extension talks until later in the season.

Playing through uncertain long-term security can be a distraction, and if the Knicks re-engage on talks before the trade deadline unsuccessfully, it could open a much bigger can of worms. But all parties seem to want to come together on this, so there’s reason for optimism. 

Finally, how does Brown adjust to all of this? Fans shouldn’t expect him to stay content with last year’s playbook and approach, and to continue experimenting with options through this regular season.

He’s mentioned evolving the Towns hub package as well as working in additional pick-and-roll reps for Anunoby and Mikal Bridges. There’s sure to be additional twists on the winning formula as well. 

What to watch

The Knicks open up their repeat run against a slew of contenders, so the first month of the season will serve as an early test of the team’s preparedness. How they set the pace - hangover or hunger - will tell us a lot about the season to come.

It’ll be interesting to see how else Brown messes with his talent. One name that deserves added attention is Mohamed Diawara, who had an impressive though short-lived rookie season. 

He’s arguably the team’s most tantalizing prospect, and as a big wing helps address a couple needs. If he can keep up his 40 percent shooting clip from three and show a little more consistency in his dribble and defensive games, watch out. 

Then there’s James Wiseman, the former second overall pick that was brought into training camp and earned himself the third string center spot. That may not seem like a crucial position, but Towns' recurring foul trouble and the scarcity of reliable backups make him a pivotal piece.

Can he shake off his injury history to recapture some of his lottery upside? 

Bench ball handling is another point of emphasis, with Jordan Clarkson moving more into a wing role and McBride potentially on the chopping block. Jose Alvarado has been their go-to but can have rough stretches, leaving Tyler Kolek as the remaining option here.

Whether we see more opportunities for Kolek or a trade, getting Brunson adequate ball-handling help proved invaluable during last year’s playoffs and will be this year, too. 

Finally, the age old question for any contender. Now that everybody’s individual sacrifices paid off, will they continue to sacrifice, or will some guys now look to cash in on their own success, especially with extensions and aprons being a hot button issue? 

Prediction

The Knicks have some concerns on the margins, but this group is returning healthy and largely intact, giving them some of the best title hopes in the league. The Knicks repeat as champions, 4-2 in the NBA Finals over San Antonio. 

This upcoming regular season is the most exciting and anticipated one of this era of Sixers basketball and then some. Not only has Philadelphia loaded up their roster with aspirations of winning the conference and more, but over half the East has done the same.

The word bold would normally go before the word “predictions” in a piece like this. Between the reigning NBA champions, some of the biggest offseason moves in league history, and the potential for former powerhouses to return from injured form, this is one of the hardest seasons to predict. None of these feel like particularly bold predictions, but here are five Sixers things I’m expecting to happen this season.

Joel Embiid leads the Sixers in scoring again

Though I don’t expect him to qualify for any sort of scoring title. The big question for this team is how are they going to spread just the one basketball around such a talented starting five. How often that starting five actually plays together will go a long way in answering that question. At the risk of jinxing him, I do think Embiid will be on the court a lot this season barring something really going wrong (knock on every piece of wood you can see).

When Embiid is on the court, he’s the one starter I see the rest of the team bending their game to the most. Working out of the free throw line area, Embiid makes as much sense as any to operate as a hub from the free throw line area. He proved last season that when he’s going offensively, he’s still plenty dominant to command double teams as he tries to attack the basket.

Those double teams will be deadly with the full starting five on the court — there’s just not going to be anyone on the floor the defense feels comfortable leaving alone. If that premise is true, and Embiid is who the healthy starting five functions around, he will be the leading scorer on this team easily.

After wracking up multiple scoring titles, Embiid’s points per game obviously took a big hit in the 2024-25 season when he was only able to play 19 games. He spent a good part of the first half of last season ramping back up into shape and only got on the floor for 38 games, but he still nearly caught up to Tyrese Maxey in points per game despite Maxey’s torrid start to the season. Embiid finished last year at 26.9 points per game compared to Maxey’s 28.3. With all the messaging from the team, including Maxey himself that he’s going to be playing off the ball more this year, I predict the Sixers to have a new top scorer this season. Well, somewhat new.

Dominick Barlow is the best internal option at backup center

Speaking of messaging, I’m not loving what we’re hearing about Barlow out of training camp so far. He’s one of three Sixers who didn’t play in preseason this year with an injury. While Anfernee Simons and Adem Bona are back on the practice court, the Sixers have yet to provide a timeline on Barlow as he deals with some sort of back issue.

The sooner he’s able to get back on the floor the better, as the season-ending injury to Ariel Hukporti has put stress on the backup center position before the regular season has even started. Barlow didn’t play a ton of minutes at the five last season, only 10% of his minutes, according to Cleaning the Glass.

The biggest sample might have been their second round slaughter by the New York Knicks, where Barlow was thrown in there as a necessity with Embiid and Andre Drummond just unable to keep up with New York’s big men. Barlow acquitted himself fairly well in that time, helping provide some of the only competitive minutes of that series.

He doesn’t give you the option to stretch the floor like Jabari Walker is appearing to, he is not going to protect the rim with the springiness of Bona, but he does meet in the middle of those two in terms of rebounding prowess and athleticism. He’s generally been long enough and strong enough to defend centers bigger than him. There will be nights where the Sixers wish they have a bigger look or one with more rim protection, but Barlow is currently the best option to backup Embiid on any given night, and the Sixers should hope he’s able to get back on the floor sooner rather than later.

Tacko Fall plays real minutes

To that end, hopefully this Barlow injury isn’t serious. The backup center situation is such a conundrum because the Sixers can’t do much about it for quite some time. They can’t sign another free agent until mid December, and then they’ll only have a minimum contract to offer. They can make a trade, but those are difficult with how close the Sixers are to their first apron hard cap.

They’re going to have to get creative to eat innings Embiid is not available for, especially if their supposed backup option is already dealing with an injury. Walker and Bona can hopefully fill a lot of these minutes, but they, as well as Barlow, lack the true size for the biggest matchups in the league. While Fall may not be able to provide anything else, he certainly provides that.

It may become apparent quick that Fall, who hasn’t played in the NBA since 2022, was only on an Exhibit 10 contract that was converted this weekend, and missed most of training camp with a hip injury, isn’t a playable option at all. When the Sixers run into some big teams early, such as the Detroit Pistons on a back-to-back in the first week of the season, they may be pulling out all the stops at the center position.

The Sixers finish exactly as the four seed

This will definitely be the one you can yell at me for. While there will certainly be some growing pains as this group figures each other out, I’m not as concerned with this as others have expressed. Despite the backup center concerns, the roster is objectively improved over the group that won 46 games last year, and there’s enough infrastructure to improve on that.

The problem is the East is loaded and there could be some teams to rack up some wins. It’s been hard to predict the seeding of this conference because I do think the Sixers will win a lot of games — I also think there might be some regular season machines in the East. Of these four teams, I expect three to finish ahead of the Sixers in the standings: the New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Pistons and Toronto Raptors.

The Raptors could very well have the best defense in the league. They are going to be annoying to play no matter how many times Kawhi Leonard is in the lineup. Detroit won the most games last season and while they had a weird offseason, there’s nothing to indicate they can’t come close to replicating that regular season success.

The Celtics have been lock for over 50 wins, and now they’re getting their best player back for what they hope is a full season of health. If there’s one team in this group that might fall behind the Sixers, it might be the reigning champions. The vibes in New York haven’t felt great as they’ve struggled to give contract extensions to some of their biggest pieces. It’s also a group that has coasted through stretches of the regular season in years past.

This season I predict the Sixers to have homecourt in the first round of the playoffs, but it will be a battle to get it, which would create a whole lot of discourse around my next prediction.

Four out of five Sixers’ starters make the All-Star game

This year’s Sixers will come just short of matching the 2015 Hawks. Embiid, Maxey, LeBron James and Jaylen Brown are all going to have really good years. VJ Edgecombe will too, he’ll make the kind of second year leap that will have everyone in the Delaware Valley thanking their lucky stars the ping pong balls fell the right way in 2025.

He’ll fall just short of making his first All-Star game in his second season for one reason: the Sixers won’t be high enough in the standings to justify their entire starting five making an All-Star game. For better or for worse, team record does come into account in close calls when it comes to All-Star voting. The entire starting five will make great cases this year, but voters will have a hard time putting them all in if there are a few teams ahead of the Sixers in the standings.

For the first time since the 2022-23 season, the Washington Wizards will be trying to win games. That’s not an innovative endeavor in professional sports, though it’s not one the franchise has successfully implemented for…well…decades.

The team made a series of moves during the 2025-26 season and in the offseason to boost the overall talent level. The big additions are Trae Young (who appeared in five games last season before getting parked), Anthony Davis (zero games last season), and AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Those three are — at least theoretically — massive talent upgrades. I say “theoretically” because of the health histories of Young and Davis and the perfectly normal “how soon does he get it?” questions about any 19-year-old, even enormously gifted ones like Dybantsa.

They further improved their big man rotation by trading for Deandre Ayton.

The front office made sure they had strong veteran leaders by bringing back Khris Middleton and Anthony Gill. And they shuffled some names at the end of the bench with a trade to absorb the contract of Tre Mann and the selection of Felix Okpara in the second round.

The roster is…interesting. In Davis, Young, Ayton, and Middleton they have a group that might have formed the nucleus of a good team 3-5 years ago. In Dybantsa, Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Bilal Coulibaly, Tre Johnson, and Bub Carrington they have a group of youngsters who could form a good team 3-5 years in the future.

The new try to win strategy will increase scrutiny on Brian Keefe, who sports one of the worst winning percentages in league history. The team made some changes to the coaching staff, promoting Adam Caporn (well respected around the league, and also coach of the Australian national team) to lead assistant, Cody Toppert from his role coaching the Capital City Go-Go, adding Patrick Ewing as a big man coach, and former NBA head coach Steve Clifford as an advisor.

David Vanterpool, who’d been the lead assistant the past three seasons, moves into a front office job.

A Few Words on Minutes

This year’s forecast presented some unique challenges. Biggest of these was guesstimating minutes. For the holdover Wizards, past may not be prelude. More productive youngsters (Sarr, Coulibaly, George) likely missed games and saw reduced minutes because of the team’s commitment to losing — not because the various injuries and ailments would have kept them out of games if they’d been trying to win.

On the other hand, Carrington played more than 2,200 minutes (and all 82 games) in each of his first two seasons. Odds of him playing another 2,000+ minutes this season are minuscule.

Veterans like Young and Davis have missed time throughout the past few seasons due to injury, including huge chunks of last season. Both could have played more last season…if the Wizards had been trying to win. Both have fairly recent seasons with high minutes.

Davis played 2,700 regular season minutes in 2023-24. But he’s missed a lot of time since. Compounding the challenge is that he’s 33-years-old, which is when NBA players typically do two things: get injured and get worse. So, while I anticipate Davis will play more than he has the past couple seasons, I’d be surprised if he cracks 2,000 minutes. My guesstimate for him is 1,650.

Young, on the other hand, has been reasonably healthy. He played 2,739 minutes in 2024-25, and has appeared in less than 2,000 minutes just twice in his career. In one of them, he played 1,942 minutes. He surely would have played much more last year if wasn’t for The Tank. Bottom line: Young has been reasonably healthy throughout his career, and can probably be counted on to be available. I have him guesstimated at 2,375 this season.

2026-27 Player Forecasts

These forecasts use my Player Production Average (PPA) metric. PPA is an all-around rating tool that credits players for things they do that help a team win, and debits for things that don’t — each in proportion to how individual players contribute to NBA wins and losses. PPA is pace neutral and includes accounting for defense, role and the level of competition a player faces when he’s on the floor. In PPA, average is 100, higher is better, and replacement level is 45.

Below are results from four different forecast approaches: one using my Statistical Doppelgänger Machine (DOPP), another using a predicted PPA based on an age-adjusted career curve (dubbed MILK in honor of sports economist David Berri, who wore that NBA players, “…age like milk…”), a simple weighted three-year average PPA (SIMP) and another that applies an aging adjustment to that weighted three-year average (SAGE).

I estimated minutes by using a weighted average of each player’s minutes in recent seasons, as well as my best guess at each player’s role in the team’s rotation this season.

Key

• Last PPA = PPA last season
• DOPP = forecasted PPA using the Doppelgänger approach
• MILK = forecasted PPA using last season’s PPA and an age adjustment
• SIMP = forecasted PPA using a “simple” weighted three-year average PPA
• SAGE = forecasted PPA using a “simple” weighted three-year average and an age adjustment
• BLEND = forecasted PPA using an average of the four approaches above

The *** represents my best guess of which forecast is most probable for each individual.

Before getting into the forecasts, I’m dubious about the SIMP and SAGE approaches, at least for younger players. The SIMP approach (weighted three-year average) forecasts lower scores for young guys, who typically play their worst as rookies and then improve. The age adjustment in the SAGE method improves that estimate somewhat, but still has the same underlying issue.

My feeling based on having done these for a few years is that DOPP and MILK are probably going to be better for players in their first 3-4 seasons, and that SIMP and SAGE will be applicable to established veterans.

Trae Young

Sublime and inventive passer with a ton of skill and craft across his offensive game. Young’s penchant for jacking up long threes is something of a drain on his offensive efficiency, and his adventurous passing leads to a lot of turnovers. Still, he’s a dynamic offensive player, who has a history of generating a high number of trips to the free throw line.

He’s been one of the NBA’s worst defenders for eight seasons because he’s small, slender, and hasn’t played with much alertness or effort on that end. In Washington, he says he’s going to work harder, which seemed to be the case in preseason.

• Last PPA: 137
• DOPP: 131
• MILK: 134
• SIMP: 137
• SAGE: 134
• BLEND: 134***

Kyshawn George

Skillful and competitive player, who improved his shooting last season. He tries hard on defense, and he’s huge — at least 6-8 and getting stronger because of a borderline psycho offseason regimen.

The competitiveness has led to excessive fouling and turnovers, which have undermined his overall impact. He was named a starter at the beginning of trainging camp, and he had a great preseason.

Players most like George tended to improve at this point in their careers, though the improvement was somewhat modest. George seems primed for a major leap, however.

• Last PPA: 87
• DOPP: 88
• MILK: 100***
• SIMP: 68
• SAGE: 78
• BLEND: 84

AJ Dybantsa

The uber talented, hyper-athletic forward was Washington’s prize for sustained losing. He was the No. 1 overall selection in a historically good draft, and he has all the tools to be an elite scorer for the next dozen years.

The Wizards may have to wait to see him in regular season action — he turned an ankle in the final preseason game and is listed as day-to-day. (My guess: he plays. He’s 19-years-old and is probably already fully healed.)

For forecasting rookies, I use a system based on production over the past decade from players in a similar draft position.

• Forecasted Rookie PPA: 121

Anthony Davis

Davis has been a great player, especially on the defensive end in the postseason. His regular season defensive impact has been more hit or miss, which could be said of his shooting away from the basket (though more miss than hit). And he’s tended to get hurt a lot. And he’s aging. And he wants a massive contract extension.

My guess is he’ll miss time again, though not as much as previous seasons. I don’t think he’ll appear in enough games to qualify for awards. The hope is that he’s healthy enough for long enough that Sarr and the other youngsters can learn from his defensive communication.

Don’t be shocked if he’s elsewhere by the trade deadline.

• Last PPA: 157
• DOPP: 143
• MILK: 130
• SIMP: 169
• SAGE: 140
• BLEND: 146***

Alex Sarr

The No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 NBA Draft, Sarr is another of Washington’s tanking prizes. After one of the least efficient offensive seasons in NBA history as a rookie, Sarr improved significantly at that end. He showed off a much improved post game, better shooting from everywhere, and even some passing chops.

His strength seemed to be on defense, where he held his own switching onto perimeter players and was a busy and effective rim protector. The presence of Davis and Ayton should alleviate some of the burden he had to shoulder, which could result in a more efficient and effective player.

Still just 21-years-old, Sarr could develop into a truly great player over the next few seasons. The next two are when NBA players typically make their biggest leaps.

• Last PPA: 132
• DOPP: 140
• MILK: 191
• SIMP: 116
• SAGE: 168
• BLEND: 154***

Bilal Coulibaly

This is a make or break season for French wing. Coulibaly is long, quick, fast, and bouncy, which helps make him into an effective and disruptive defender.

His offensive game has been an adventure. Passive at times, over-aggressive at others. His three-point shooting has been deficient, though defenders have had trouble staying in front of him when he decides to drive.

He’s improved each season of his career and is at a crossroads — he’s a restricted free agent at the end of the season, unless he unexpectedly reaches an agreement on an extension.

• Last PPA: 101
• DOPP: 112***
• MILK: 131
• SIMP: 88
• SAGE: 114
• BLEND: 111

Deandre Ayton

Acquired to be a backup big and an insurance policy against Davis’ frequent outages, Ayton is also at a career crossroads. He’s talented and fairly productive, and his teams keep wanting to get rid of him.

In Washington, he’ll primarily come off the bench for the first time in his career (assuming Davis plays) but should get plenty of minutes. If he buys in and produces, he’ll likely command at least an MLE-level deal going forward. If not, he could be relegated to minimum salary deals.

• Last PPA: 144
• DOPP: 140
• MILK: 141
• SIMP: 137
• SAGE: 134
• BLEND: 138***

Bub Carrington

Carrington has yet to miss a game in his two NBA seasons. He’s competitive and shot above 40% on threes last season. He’s likely to play less this season, and probably wouldn’t have played so much on a better team.

The quality of his play didn’t tick up despite the better shooting. He’ll need to get better at both ends to maintain a spot in the rotation.

• Last PPA: 61
• DOPP: 77***
• MILK: 88
• SIMP: 60
• SAGE: 87
• BLEND: 78

Tre Johnson

Good-maybe-great shooter. The question on Johnson is whether he can show more dimension to his game — some playmaking, a few more rebounds, better defense. It wouldn’t hurt to get a lot stronger, which may take some time since he’s still just 20-years-old.

• Last PPA: 61
• DOPP: 74***
• MILK: 67
• SIMP: 61
• SAGE: 67
• BLEND: 67

Khris Middleton

Entering his age 35 season, Middleton figures to be at the end of the team’s rotation. He’s the team’s elder statesman, and he’s seen it all — winning a title with the Milwaukee Bucks, missing huge chunks of seasons with a series of injuries, battling back to be productive even as he’s aged.

Odds are, Middleton’s days as a productive player are in the rearview mirror. He still has a lot of veteran savvy to contribute, and there will probably a game or three or five where he comes through big time for the team.

• Last PPA: 67
• DOPP: 67
• MILK: 50
• SIMP: 90
• SAGE: 50
• BLEND: 64***

Justin Champagnie

Good player the past couple seasons, but he appears to be the odd man out of the rotation — at least to start the season. My guess is he’ll still get more than a thousand minutes this season, and that he’ll be pretty good again. I would not be surprised to see him end up elsewhere as part of a multi-player and draft pick trade.

• Last PPA: 105
• DOPP: 106***
• MILK: 108
• SIMP: 104
• SAGE: 107
• BLEND: 106

2026-27 Prediction

The good news: this year’s Washington Wizards will be more competitive this season. At least some of the youngsters will improve — perhaps significantly — and the team has some skilled veterans with histories of high-level performances.

The bad news: they’re still not ready to be good. The youngsters are still a few years from their primes. The oldsters are likely past their primes already. That’s a statement that includes Young and Ayton, who are both entering their age 28 season, by the way.

The years of tanking have given the Wizards two potential stars in Dybantsa and Sarr, though both are likely several seasons from achieving that status. George and Coulibaly seem like probable rotation-level players. Davis, Young, and Ayton will outproduce guys previously on the roster, even if they fall short of their previous heights.

The various forecasting approaches yield the following forecasted wins totals:

• DOPP: 32.2 (last season’s forecast 15.6)
• MILK: 34.3 (15.2)
• SIMP: 28.3 (14.8)
• SAGE: 31.8 (15.2)
• BLEND: 32.3 (15.8)

While the above feels kinda disappointing, even the worst of these would mark significant improvement for the Wizards. Last season, they managed just 18 wins.

If everyone reaches their best-case forecast, I guesstimate the team could reach 36 wins. In an all-peaks scenario, they could get to 41.

My prediction is a season of significant improvement. I anticipate the older players will be good, though well short of their previous peaks and that the youngsters will continue improving. I would not be surprised to see a veteran or two departing midseason as the front office tries to position the team to arrive in the postseason as a contender.

Final Prediction: 34-48 and 11th in the Eastern Conference.

Greetings, Knickerbocker fans. As the 81st NBA season draws near, the Posting and Toasting crew has assembled to answer questions and offer predictions as the defending champions pursue a repeat under sophomore skipper Mike Brown.

Commence the speculation!

1) Where will the Knicks finish in offensive and defensive rating, and what will drive the biggest change?

Antonio Losada: Let’s do something not-so-fun and revisit last year’s takes, carrying 53 years (well, not so many in my personal case) of suffering with them. I had the Knicks finishing with both a top-six offense and defense last season, and I nearly got it right, as they posted the third-best ORtg and seventh-best DRtg. Nothing other than losing Mitchell Robinson has changed, I don’t expect anything to deviate a lot from what we saw last postseason, and everybody — including Mike Brown — has been together for a full season, so I’ll ramp up my prediction for a top-three finish in both cats this campaign.

Michael Zeno: As Antonio said, the Knicks gave us a good baseline with third and seventh in offensive and defensive rating, respectively, so my answers will be pretty similar. I’m not sure if they can achieve Celtics-esque offensive harmony from behind the arc, but this offense will reach a new level with their new playmaking hub in the middle. On defense, I wonder if Andre Drummond will be a steep drop-off from Mitchell Robinson, but also if the strides Karl-Anthony Towns made in the postseason will carry over. Whaddya know, the man angling for a max extension is the X-factor for both. I’ll say third and ninth.

Moritz Wollert: If they really wanted to I could see them finishing top three in both categories. The people in Atlanta, Philly, Cleveland and down there in Texas surely remember how dominant this Knicks group can be, even if they lost Mitchell Robinson over the summer. For a veteran championship team like our Bockers (damn, it feels good to type that) though of course there are many things a lot more important than statistical milestones. So I could see them pacing themselves, trying out some things over the course of the year and finish comfortably 5th on O and 8th on the defensive end.

Kento Kato: The Knicks have the roster and ability to be a top three team on both ends of the floor, especially if they play the way they did in the postseason. While they did lose Mitchell Robinson, a full regular season of Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges playing they way did en route to a championship could see them absolutely dominate the regular season. That being said, I do think some early season regression and complacency is natural, even with this group of motivated and focused core. That, along with an improved conference and the fact that teams can’t possible continue putting their centers on Towns like they did at the beginning of last season makes me believe that they’ll be a top five offensive team and top ten defensive team, but not quite top five in both.

Russell Richardson: I hate this question and I wrote it. Prediction: Top 15 defense, top 10 offense . . . like ninth. The loss of Mitch’s gravity drops them defensively (see my A to Q6 below), and I expect Brown to limit the mileage on his best offensive players: they’ve already played a lot of basketball this year and this is an older team. Unless the plan is to burn through them this season and start rebuilding soon after, Mike’s gonna try to keep them fresh. Which would affect the win total (also see below).

2) Which Knick will take the biggest step forward, and who could have trouble matching last season?

Losada: The fact that everybody is familiar with the system, how Brown guides his pupils, and what everyone can and can’t do, I think we’re facing a very real possibility of watching these Knicks level up once again. If I have to pick someone taking a step forward, that’d be Mikal being confident from game one through 82 and beyond. Someone we might start to worry about sooner rather than later is Josh Hart, if only because of what he’s great at — never-tiring chaos causing — and his wheels getting so much run. Talking strictly about performance, I don’t see any clear candidate to regress, roles factored in.

Zeno: I also think a big season is coming for Mikal Bridges. If anyone can benefit from the weight being lifted off his shoulders after a title, it’s Mr. F— Them Picks. OG Anunoby is getting the early hype for All-Star consideration, but why can’t Mikal do it if he can finally blend his scoring and defense? As for regression, it’s either Jose Alvarado or Landry Shamet, just because the two were so incredible last year. I’ll lean Shamet, not because I don’t think he’s a great bench piece for this team, but because he set some lofty expectations in the playoffs.

Wollert: I agree with Michael that Shamet could have trouble matching last season since it’s hard to be a bench superstar for multiple years. My ultimate vote goes to KAT though with his contract situation lurking in the background and the reality that it is hard to keep your focus for an entire season. He gave the Knicks so much mentally in the playoffs and I have a tough time seeing that commitment in January against the Sacramentos of the world. On the other end of the spectrum I really hope Mo Diawara keeps his trajectory going upwards. So many of the other players were so close to their optimum at the end of last year that I could see him being the one guy who can really give more with a more defined role.

Kato: I’m tempted to go with Diawara just because he has arguably the most room to grow of any of the rotation players. And even though I think he’ll be fine, he has had a relatively inconsistent series of exhibition games between Summer League and preseason. I also think Bridges is a fun answer given the confidence boost and the lack of worry he may be playing with. As is Towns, who is coming off of a triumphant postseason run that proved just how impactful he could be on both sides of the ball. That being said, I think Bridges is still going to more or less be the same player in the regular season. And I do think it will be difficult for Towns to be the postseason version of himself for the entirety of the regular season. My vote goes to Anunoby, who we’ve seen be pretty aggressive in preseason. If he can up his free throw rate like he started off preseason doing, and continues to get on-ball initiation reps, I can see him making his first All-Star appearance.

Richardson: OG will have a few more thirty point games this season, so maybe that qualifies for a leap? And Cap will have a hard time. His skills and discipline remain unchanged, but living up to expectations after a championship is a major weight. No NBA player has a bigger target on his back. And I pray every night for his ankles.

3) Which reserve will matter most to the title defense? Who needs a bigger role before the playoffs?

Losada: So much has been made of the third-string center, but right now I’d care the same about having James Wiseman or placing a broomstick on the bench. It’s a clear-cut name here for me, and that’s Deuce McBride. Yes, the Knicks won it all with a poor postseason run from McBride, but I don’t think that can repeat itself, and hey, the better he plays, the better package the Knicks will do in return for him at the deadline, also boosting their title-defense chances! No bigger roles for nobody, status quo on the rotation.

Zeno: Yep, Deuce. I do not care how rough he looked for much of the playoff run. He barely got his conditioning back from a multi-month core injury before ramping up to high-stakes playoff games. He’s a guy who needs to prove he’s worth the $15 million a year that a player of his archetype deserves, and while I’m very skeptical he will be a Knick beyond this year, he is the player who can most expand this team’s ceiling.

Wollert: It clearly is Jordan Clarkson with his voodoo like abilities that healed OG and kept almost the entire team healthy throughout the postseason. No matching that for any opponent. On a serious note I really hope Andre Drummond can give the Knicks a little something of what Mitch gave them off the bench for years. Not only the rebounding but a physical, gigantic presence with elbows, bumps and bruises for the opponent. If he can’t provide it there probably isn’t anyone else who can.

Kato: The backup center position is noteworthy. But one, Robinson wasn’t necessarily a force to be reckoned with in the Finals, and two, the backup center in the postseason may not even be on the roster right now. I still agree with the others and lean McBride. I know the Knicks won it all despite a poor offensive showing from him last Finals, but he’s still so valuable and has the ability to raise the ceiling of the guys he shares the floor with and ultimately, the team, unlike any other reserve.

Richardson: Landry Shamet will get votes for sixth man of the year. But I believe the most important bench player is not yet on the team. (Dun dun dunnnnnhhh)

4) Which Eastern Conference opponent poses the biggest threat, and what about that matchup worries you?

Losada: I will never not fear the Celtics the same I will never trust the Sixers to keep the puzzle together for more than short stretches of games, let alone a playoff series. Perhaps watching Toronto in the last preseason game and how tight things were, the Raps have something big in store for these Knicks when the postseason comes. KAT ate the Raptors alive on Thursday, but not the only one that matters in Scottie Barnes, so we’ll see how that goes when the bright lights are on.

Zeno: If the Sixers somehow find the magic elixir that keeps LeBron youthful and gives Embiid some fresh knee cartilage, it’s them, but they’ll be starting Adem Bona by playoff time most likely. If Kawhi stays healthy (not as much of a guarantee as some seem to believe), the Raptors could move the needle. Maybe if the Celtics’ shooting gets hot in the playoffs, or Miami gets enough from Klay Thompson and Tim Hardaway Jr. You know what? It’s the Pacers. It’s a WWE-esque storyline that’s setting up here if these two meet for a third time in four years. The only team in the last three years to beat the Knicks in a playoff series will have that confidence every time they play them this season.

Wollert: Pacers are a good pick, even if they look vastly different this time around. Philly only worries me because the world is unfair and could have us losing to that group of not exactly likable fellas. From a pure matchup standpoint there isn’t one team in the East that the Knicks can’t handle, they all have major weaknesses and question marks. New York has them aswell obviously but certainly with this group have provided a lot more answers than anybody else.

Kato: The scary and the fun part about the eastern conference this season is that you can argue that eight, maybe nine, teams will consider anything short of a conference finals appearance a failure. But for, the only one I that I think has not just the talent, but the matchup, to beat the Knicks four our of seven times is the Pacers. Maybe it’s just because of recency bias that I feel that way. But I can’t fully trust the 76ers’ ability to stay healthy, defend, or get collective buy in to sacrifice. The Raptors are scary defensively, but do they have enough offensively? The Heat are likely a year or a couple pieces away. The Pistons are still flawed for postseason basketball in my eyes. And the Cavaliers, well, they just aren’t beating the Knicks in a playoff series anytime soon for a myriad of reasons.

Richardson: Everybody’s sleeping on Charlotte, huh? Make mine teal!

5) What is your boldest Knicks prediction for 2026–27? Give us something we can hold against you in April.

Losada: Knowing Leon Rose and writing this against the backdrop of the Dolan-second apron summer, I’m going to go bold and say Rose completes a trade we don’t ever see coming. And no, I’m not talking about the likes of Dadiet, Diawara, or Kolek. Not talking about landing a first-round pick. I’m talking about a foundation-shaking deal, involving one or multiple of KAT, OG, Hart, and Bridges.

Zeno: Josh Hart finishes the season coming off the bench. This starting lineup has been together for two years under two different coaches, has played thousands and thousands of minutes together, and has found a groove in the playoffs. That said, there are limitations, and an injury to Hart (or some complications with his gnarly finger) could push him to the bench for Shamet or McBride.

Wollert: James Wiseman will become an important rotation piece and is a major contributor come playoff time. Opponents will fear him on the offensive glass and have no answers for him as a lob threat – atleast not with their second units. Yes, that preseason kool-aid is still tasting like magic. If it ever wears off in the next few days I’d join Antonio in the “KAT might get traded” camp. Not because they don’t value him but because they don’t want to lose him for nothing down the road. His value is at an all time high too.

Kato: I know the Knicks recently announced that they wouldn’t be negotiating extensions until later in the season. The uneasiness of hearing that have lead many fans to take that as the team saying they won’t be negotiating at all this season. My prediction is that a Towns negotiation happens at some point this season. As I’ve done in the past in pregame and preseason predictions, this is another instance of me trying to speak something into existence. But I do think that the two sides will budge a bit and realize that they not like like each other, but are good for each other, and get some sort of deal done.

Richardson: The NBA goes on strike, not to fight for more equitable treatment of mid-tier employees, but to screw the Knicks out of their repeat bid.

6) What will the Knicks’ final record and playoff seed be, and how will their season end? Would anything short of a repeat feel disappointing?

Losada: I stopped taking John Hollinger seriously or reading his content a few years ago, but I tend to agree with his prediction for the Eastern Conference’s regular season. I see as many as six teams ending within two or three games’ distance, and perhaps none of them winning even 50 games. The Cavaliers or the Pistons will win the 82-game circuit because that’s all they win, if anything, and the Knicks will likely take it easy and finish in the 4-6 seed. Give me a 49-33 record for New York and a first-round matchup against the Raptors or the Celtics. Regarding the back-to-back title: I’m set for life with last year’s chip. That’s it for me.

Zeno: No idea. The East is stacked; this team is built for the playoffs, and they don’t seem to be as gung-ho in the regular season. I have a hard time believing this team will regress that much from their pre-KAT hub days as a 53-win team, but what if someone gets hurt? All bets are off. I’ll stake my claim on 51-31, a No. 3 seed, and a trip to the NBA Finals, where the grown-up Spurs get revenge. I will not be mad if this team doesn’t repeat, especially when I spent much of my life thinking they’d never win one, but if they lose to someone like Indiana or Philly or even Boston? I’ll be annoyed.

Wollert: Top seed in the East, baby, 55 wins and not looking in the rearview mirror. I’ve never been as pleased and happy going into a season, just cool, calm and collected. In due time that will wear off, plenty of things will go wrong and the all out pessimist in me will kick the little angel off my shoulder. But before it’s pitchfork time I believe that these Knicks can do no wrong, will get back to the Finals and beat the Spurs for the repeat. If they fall short I definitely will be dissapointed but will surely get over it quicker than in the past. I should, right? Maybe? No, it will still be awful.

Kato: The east is back to being a beast. The team is one year older and coming off of a championship. And they lost Robinson. I do think a lot of that will be offset with the fact that they unlocked a level of basketball perfection that the team had never previously sniffed. But it’s hard to keep that up for all 82 games, especially when finishing first in the regular season does not mean much for them. They’ve proven they relish playing on the road, and I can see them coming out the gates a bit slow, and taking the regular season slightly lightly. They’ll still be great, but I expect them to win 51 games and finish as a third or fourth seed after the 76ers, Celtics, and maybe the Pistons.

Richardson: Under 50 wins, sixth seed. A winner hasn’t repeated in seven or eight years, and this team won’t break the streak. NY was blessed with health last season. Making Towns an offensive hub in the playoffs added a complexity that opposing teams had no time to prepare for. Mitch was more important in five minute stints than we fully understand. And by confronting the team about their petty dislikes, Brown got everyone pulling in the same direction for the playoffs. Staying healthy is hard, especially with a so-so second unit forcing the starters to play longer; rival teams have added players to counteract NY’s offense; Drummond is good, but will not alter opposing strategies the same way Mitch does; and winning has a way of distorting egos. I could see an ECF. I can’t see the Finals again. And based on my optical prescription, it’s clear I can barely see at all.

Knicks in five.

Simulation Station: Can Celtics make surprise NBA Finals run from loaded East? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The start of the 2026-27 NBA regular season is less than 48 hours away, and the first game is an exciting matchup between the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons.

The Celtics had a very busy offseason, highlighted by the blockbuster trade that sent Jaylen Brown to the rival Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Paul George and two first-round draft picks.

The C’s also signed center Mitchell Robinson and point guard Mike Conley Jr. in free agency, while re-signing Neemias Queta, Ron Harper Jr. and Jordan Walsh. Payton Pritchard reportedly signed a two-year extension last week.

So, the roster will definitely look a bit different for Tuesday’s season opener. Despite the loss of Brown, a lot of experts are bullish on the Celtics’ ability to be a top-three team in the Eastern Conference standings again.

But can the Celtics make a surprise run to the 2027 NBA Finals?

Our friends at Sim Station simulated the entire 2026-27 campaign. Let’s take a look at the results below.

Celtics stats

NBC Sports Boston

Jayson Tatum put up solid all-around stats, but his numbers wouldn’t be good enough to return to first-team All-NBA status.

Part of the reason for Tatum’s lower-than-expected scoring average could be the fact that Paul George averaged just under 18 points per game and Derrick White scored a career-high 17.3 points per game.

Jaylen Brown’s Sixers debut

NBC Sports Boston

Jaylen Brown finished third on the Sixers in scoring with 25.2 points per game.

It would be his third career season averaging 25-plus points per contest.

NBA Cup

NBC Sports Boston

The Celtics finished atop East Group C with a 3-1 record.

They beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup tournament before eliminating the Detroit Pistons in the semifinals.

The Celtics’ rivalry with the Los Angeles Lakers is re-ignited in the NBA Cup final, where L.A. wins its second in-season tournament crown.

Eastern Conference standings

NBC Sports Boston

The Celtics finished with a 47-35 record, good enough for third in the Atlantic Division and fourth in the conference.

They tied the 76ers but owned the tiebreaker, therefore earning homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Two of the best stretches of the season for the C’s were a seven-game win streak from Jan. 16 through Jan. 27. They also went 14-4 from Feb. 9 through March 21.

Awards and leaders

NBC Sports Boston

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won NBA MVP for the third straight year. He becomes the first player to win three straight MVPs since Celtics Hall of Famer Larry Bird in 1984 through 1986.

Utah Jazz guard Darryn Peterson wins Rookie of the Year.

The scoring champion is Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, who averages 32.4 points per game.

2027 NBA Playoffs

NBC Sports Boston

The Celtics get their revenge on the Sixers. Philly beat the Celtics in Game 7 of the first round last season, but in this simulation, it’s Boston advancing in a first-round sweep.

The Celtics meet the Pistons in the conference semifinals, re-igniting a rivalry that hasn’t had a playoff series since the 2008 conference finals. The C’s survive by winning Game 7 on the road in Detroit.

Another rivalry series awaits in the Eastern Conference finals, where the Celtics end the Knicks’ title defense in a short five-game series. The C’s advance to the NBA Finals with a Game 5 victory at Madison Square Garden.

For the first time, despite both teams making a combined 11 NBA Finals appearances since 1999, the Spurs and Celtics finally meet with a championship at stake.

After losing to the Knicks in five games in last season’s Finals, the Spurs prevail and win their sixth championship with a dramatic Game 7 victory in San Antonio.

Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama wins Finals MVP after averaging 26.4 points per game in the series, including a stellar Game 4 performance in which he scored 36 points with 17 rebounds.

Steph Curry to play in Warriors' season opener vs. Lakers after tweaking ankle originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – A collective sigh of relief can be felt throughout the Bay Area and the entire basketball world from Steph Curry avoiding a serious injury on Sunday during Warriors open practice when he limped off the court.

The news got even better the next day. 

Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Monday that Curry will be good to go for Wednesday’s regular-season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. Curry has a sprained right ankle but was a full participant in Monday’s practice. 

“I’m always concerned when Steph limps off,” Kerr said Monday. “But I went down and checked on him and he told me immediately he was fine.” 

Curry rolled his right ankle trying to make a move on De’Anthony Melton as part of Sunday’s light scrimmage in front of thousands of fans. He bounced the ball hard twice in frustration, flapped his arms and limped to the sidelines, where he then continued limping down the hallway and to the Warriors’ locker room.

Curry missed 43 games last season, including more than two months to runner’s knee. He averaged 13 points per game in the preseason in a little under 18 minutes a night, shooting 41.9 percent from 3-point range. 

While Curry appears ready for the regular-season opener, the already shorthanded Warriors continue to battle the injury bug. Brandin Podziemski and Charles Bassey both didn’t participate in Sunday’s open practice, and both are questionable for Wednesday’s game in LA. 

Bassey had his right knee wrapped in ice Sunday and is dealing with tendinitis. Podziemski has lower back soreness he sustained on the practice court ahead of open practice. Neither practiced Monday. 

Kerr is considering them each day-to-day right now. The Warriors will practice Tuesday ahead of their flight to LA and conduct a shootaround Wednesday morning prior to playing the Lakers.

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