Category: NBA

It’s been nearly four months since the Sixers began overhauling their roster. The shock of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown wearing Sixers uniforms has (mostly) worn off. We’ve already had our first taste of the media circus that often follows a LeBron team, and the Sixers have already suffered a quietly impactful injury. 

As Brown would say, it’s now time to throw the ball up and see where the chips fall.

The Sixers tip off their season Tuesday on ring night for the reigning champion New York Knicks. In honor of that, the Liberty Ballers staff gathered to make predictions about how this season will pan out.

And no, no one was asked about “alphas.”  

Who will be the Sixers’ leading scorer?

Josh Grieb: I tackled this question in my own predictions, but that doesn’t mean I’m very confident in my answer. I think Joel Embiid will once again lead the Sixers in scoring.  

While his two preseason games showed that he is going to be standing around in the corner a lot more than he ever has in his career, I still think his game is the most bendable for the other players in the starting five. His ability to draw double-teams is what will make that unit unbelievably deadly on the offensive end. 

Jaylen Brown or Tyrese Maxey could very well end up being the Sixers’ leading scorer, especially if injuries hit hard and they have to carry the team through the regular season. But for now, I think the Big Fella will be the lead the way most of the nights he plays. His third-quarter heater to end the preseason only reinforced that to me. 

Erin Grugan: If we’re talking overall total points this season, I think I’m looking at Maxey to be the guy there. The additions the Sixers made this offseason are monumental on their own, but they should also complement Maxey perfectly and open up the floor to allow him to operate in a way he hasn’t really been able to with some of the lineups he’s been working with in recent years. Between that and how he and LeBron seem to already be focusing on getting out in transition for quick buckets, I expect Maxey to thrive this season.

As far as who will average the most points, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Embiid’s name up there at the top. I don’t expect him to play half of every back-to-back, and I’m sure there will be some other time missed throughout the season, so I’m not sure where he’ll end up on total points. But he looked damn spry to close out the preseason, and if he’s able to keep moving like that, I don’t see why he wouldn’t be able to dominate offensively as he has before. Opposing defenses also may be even more desperate to foul Embiid/the Sixers at times just to try to slow down the talent-packed starting five they’re running with now. We all know how fast those points can add up.

Harrison Grimm: If we’re talking per-game scoring, it might be Embiid. That’s a crazy thing to say considering all the discourse surrounding him and his injuries. If we’re talking total scoring, I have to go with Maxey. He’s going to have the ball a lot, and he should theoretically get more opportunities than he has at any point since James Harden was in town.

I also want to give an honorable mention to Brown, who nearly averaged 30 points per game in Boston last season. I have little doubt about his ability to score. I just think the usage and touches won’t be there to support that level of production here. That being said, if Embiid or LeBron miss a game, don’t be surprised to see JB light it up when called upon.

Paul Hudrick: It’s Maxey. We saw what Maxey did as an off-ball scorer playing next to Harden. He gained valuable experience as a high-usage guard the past two seasons. He’s in a perfect place to blend those styles. One of my bigger concerns for the Sixers is their ability to hit threes. In his only full season playing next to Harden, Maxey had a prolific shooting season, knocking down a career-high 43.4% from deep on 6.2 attempts per game. I anticipate a jump in efficiency this season, but expect the volume to remain high.

Will Rucker: PPG, I’m going with Embiid. Total points, I’m going with Maxey. There’s a chance Embiid sees more single coverage than he’s seen since very early in his career, and he’s been one of the best and most efficient iso scorers in the NBA for over a decade. Maxey won’t be far behind, as he’s also in line for a hyper-efficient season playing more off ball next to LeBron and getting higher-quality shots than he has the past couple of seasons. 

Bryan Toporek: I’m confident that it won’t be LeBron or VJ Edgecombe. From there, it’s anyone’s guess. I’d lean toward Maxey, if only because I expect him to help LeBron run the offense, which means he might lead the team in total touches. We’ve also seen how lethal he can be as an off-ball shooter, which should help his three-point percentage tick back up. But I wouldn’t be shocked if Embiid or even Brown wound up leading the way, either.

How (and when) will the Sixers fill their last open roster spot?

JG: I don’t think this gets dealt with until December, which is when the Sixers can sign someone to a prorated minimum contract without hitting their their first-apron hard cap. I’m growing increasingly concerned about it as more and more injuries pile up in the frontcourt, though.

It’s obvious that spot needs to be used on a big man. If I had to guess right now, my not-very-creative answer would be Kevin Love. 

The Sixers might be forced to act sooner depending on how the centers behind Embiid hold up. Tacko Fall is an interesting idea on a two-way deal, but he hasn’t played in the NBA in four years, and wasn’t a rotation-caliber player back then. Not only has he been out of the league for that long, but he also missed all of preseason with a hip injury and still isn’t back at practice. I think the Sixers wait to deal with this because they pretty much have to, but it makes me increasingly nervous with every passing day. 

EG: I think the Sixers are pretty much handcuffed at this point to wait until that December point (as Josh said) to sign a minimum without going over the first-apron hard cap. I also share Josh’s concerns with being in such a position with some preseason injuries piling up, especially a season-ending one like the Achilles tear suffered by Ariel Hukporti. 

HG: I think the “how” is the easier part of this question, and one most of us already seem to agree on. I’d expect them to fill that final roster spot sometime in mid-December or shortly after, when the prorated salary makes it more feasible. There’s a non-zero chance they wait until after the trade deadline and let the dust settle, but it’s hard to imagine them holding off that long if key rotation players are sidelined. It’s also difficult to map out a realistic trade where they turn one of their larger contracts into multiple contributors.

As for who, or rather what type of player they target, that’s much harder to predict. Their backcourt is loaded with talent, and unless there’s a major injury, I’d be surprised if they added another guard. That leads me to believe the addition will be either a forward or a big. Even after signing Fall, the need for a versatile frontcourt player can’t be understated. They’d be wise to use that final roster spot on a big who can space the floor and/or provide legitimate defensive versatility on switches. Love could provide floor spacing, but I’d like them to be more creative with this type of move in the sense of adding potential value beyond this season. 

PH: Not the sexiest answer, but I think Love will be a Sixer. Look, I think he’s perfectly fine for what they’d need. Love can’t defend anymore (never exactly a strength) and he’s not a rim protector, but he can rebound, take a charge, knock down open threes, make good decisions and set good screens. As a more stable option if guys like Adem Bona, Jabari Walker, etc. struggle, you could do worse than Love for 10-15 minutes in a playoff game. The LeBron factor also looms large here.

WR: Sometime after December 15th and before the trade deadline. I think it will be a backup center probably via trade. I’m looking at OKC and their glut of bigs as a potential trade partner, as well as Jalen Smith of the Chicago Bulls. 

BT: While the Sixers can technically sign someone as early as December, I expect them to take a page out of Daryl Morey’s book and keep it open through the trade deadline to maintain their optionality. That plan is subject to change, particularly if frontcourt injuries keep piling up, but they could (should?) be a premier destination for ring-chasers given the talent in their starting five. Love is the obvious solution–and they wouldn’t have to wait until the trade deadline to sign him–but they should use these first few months to figure out exactly what their biggest needs are before looking to rectify them with that open roster spot.

How successful will they be at tuning out distractions this season?

JG: About as well as any team in their first season of LeBron being on their team has. I agree with the argument made by our EIC last week. Tyrese Maxey is maybe the most equipped star to deal with quote-un-quote distractions in the history of the league. 

Between the amount of trolling Embiid has done this preseason on top of his obvious physical transformation, it seems like he’s the least concerned he’s been about outside noise in his entire career. The pressure will obviously heat up on this team if they get off to a slow start, but just about every one of these stars has dealt with plenty of media circuses in their careers. It’s just one more thing they had to prepare for this season.

EG: I think they will be more than fine in that regard. Guys like Embiid and Maxey have had more than their fair share of distractions in their Philly tenures, so I’m sure they’re used to it. LeBron has dealt with it all since he was a teenager. Brown can sometimes get caught up in what the media is saying/how they are saying it, but that doesn’t seem to distract him from performing. Overall, I’m not worried about that aspect of things. 

HG: Dare I say I actually feel good about their ability to make this work? Wherever LeBron goes, a media circus tends to follow, and that’s been no exception in Philly. But I have to imagine the key players knew exactly what they were signing up for when this team came together.

When Brown was introduced, he touched on a similar point, saying that at this stage of his career, he’s focused on winning championships, not individual accolades. We already know Maxey and Embiid are still chasing their first title. If winning remains the priority–and there’s no reason to think it won’t right now–this group should be fine no matter how many TV talking heads spend the season trying to microanalyze every aspect of the team, including their preferred methods of transportation (helicopters).

At the end of the day, talent isn’t usually what derails teams like this. Ego and competing agendas do. If everyone stays aligned on the ultimate goal, the outside noise will be just that: noise.

PH: My initial thought is they’ve been great at it so far. We know LeBron will be fine. I’m confident Maxey and Edgecombe will be, too. The concerns are with Brown and Embiid, though, I do think both guys are motivated to make this work. Let’s face it – both have had their names dragged through the mud. Winning a championship with this team would shut a lot of people up.

WR: I do not think it will be much of an issue. All of the core guys outside of VJ Edgecombe have been a part of chaotic situations with their teams throughout their careers. Brown dealt with the Jayson Tatum rift in Boston, Embiid and Maxey went through the Harden and Ben Simmons, and LeBron has been in the spotlight and under a microscope his whole life. 

BT: I don’t think the typical circus of a LeBron team will be what derails this year’s Sixers. Health, frontcourt depth and three-point shooting are far bigger concerns. With that said, a slow start to the season could turn up the heat on Nick Nurse’s seat. And unfortunately, with the Eagles’ season already circling the drain, everyone’s attention in Philadelphia will be squarely on the Sixers for the next six months.

What will be the Sixers’ regular-season record? Will they make the playoffs? 

JG: I think they win 48 games this season and earn a top-six seed, but it will not be easy. The East is as deep as it’s ever been as a conference, although there are teams that are built for the playoffs and teams that are built for the regular season without a lot of overlap. 

Teams like Detroit, Boston and Cleveland could all rip off a ton of regular-season wins like they have in recent seasons, but I have big red flags for all three when it comes to the playoffs. The Toronto Raptors may also fit into this category if Kawhi Leonard can’t stay healthy for a postseason run. 

I believe the Sixers will fall into a similar category as the New York Knicks. They could both struggle fighting through the slog of the regular season, but if they get to the playoffs in one piece, no one will want to be matched up with them in the first round. 

With the conference being so crowded, the highest I see the Sixers ending up is probably the fourth seed, but that doesn’t mean I’ll be disappointed in how the regular season went by any means.

EG: With the current lineup, they should be capable of winning close to 50 games this season. Any unexpected injuries to important players could throw this for a loop, but as it stands, I can’t see an excuse to not be pushing 50 wins. 

What position that will earn them in the East is more up in the air. The East is top-heavy coming into this season with no shortage of teams expected to be contending for high finishes. You obviously hope they fall into the top six rather than having to fight through the play-in tournament if they finish somewhere between seventh and 10th, but I think it’s going to take an impressive record to accomplish that in the East this season. Cards on the table, I think they finish within the top six, but not by much. 

HG: That’s a tough one to predict, not because of any reservations about this team, but because of the state of the East. Honestly, it’s as deep as I’ve seen it in my years of covering basketball. There may not be many truly bad teams, which means we’re likely to see a lot of clubs finish in the high-40s to low-50s in wins. Any team that gets to 55-plus victories will probably be right in the mix for the No. 1 seed.

Factoring in LeBron’s age, Embiid’s health and the general weirdness that always seems to follow this franchise, I feel comfortable projecting them around 50 wins. They have some of the best top-end talent in the conference and, unlike past years, now have a competent bench to support those stars. Mike Gansey built a legitimate roster, and if they stay mostly healthy, it’s hard to see them finishing outside the top six despite how deep the conference has become.

The bigger question may not be whether they’re good enough, but whether they can stay on the floor long enough to maximize their potential. If they do, they have the talent to be much more than just a playoff team.

PH: The record is so tricky because of Embiid’s health, LeBron’s age and an improved conference. I’ll go 52-30 because I think even if those two don’t play as much as you’d hope, Maxey, Edgecombe and Brown can carry them to plenty of wins. I could see it being much higher if things come together quickly or much lower if … yeah. I think they secure home-court advantage for the first round. Let’s go with the three seed.

BT: They won 45 games last season even though Embiid and Paul George each missed more than half the year.Yes, the East projects to be far tougher this year, and teams no longer have the same incentive to tank, which means they won’t be able to pick up as many free wins as they did last year. But swapping out George for Brown and adding LeBron, Anfernee Simons, KCP and Dean Wade should help counteract that. Put me down for 51-31 and the No. 4 seed in the East.

How far will they advance in the playoffs? 

JG: To the conference finals. I haven’t broken down my full bracket yet to predict when they’ll play each team in each round, but finally breaking that second-round barrier and still ending the season with a disappointing playoff loss would be a really Sixers way for this to go. 

It normally takes a season for LeBron teams to figure each other out, so I’m trying to add that into my calculus. Even a run that ends in the conference finals would take a lot of health luck going the Sixers’ way as well, which is a bold thing to feel confident about. I think this team can go far, but it’s still likely to end in heartbreak.

EG: At least the conference finals. This is a team that has, under much worse circumstances/with much worse rosters, made it to the second round relatively routinely in recent history. Of course, the competition also changes every year, but they’re in so much better of a spot on paper to be able to finally break the second-round curse that has loomed over them. 

HG: I think they finally break the stubborn barrier that is the Eastern Conference Finals, health permitting. They simply have too much talent and creation to not get there as constructed. Factor in all of their key players having various playoff experience, and there’s no reason they shouldn’t surpass this bar outside of injuries. 

PH: I think they at least make it to the ECF, but, again, health-dependent, this team should be able to compete with anyone. With the right move or two on the margins, they have championship potential.

WR: NBA Finals, I believe this team is being overanalyzed and overscrutinized by a lot of people. This starting five is stacked, and their ability to stagger lineups and keep two superstars on the floor at all times will be their superpower. I trust that between Maxey, Brown and Edgecombe, they will be able to carry the Sixers to wins in games that Embiid and LeBron are out and get the Sixers to a quality seed. I have faith that if there is a weakness in this roster construct that’s glaring, Gansey will rectify at the deadline.

BT: The Eastern Conference Finals. I’m with Will: Skeptics are way overthinking this team. They’re bound to go through growing pains, but this is an outrageous compilation of talent, and they all seem to be at the right point of their respective careers to make it work. The East figures to be a bloodbath this year, but that’s where the Sixers’ combination of high-end talent and reliable bench depth should help separate them from the rest of the conference. Consider this a hedge against health and the Year 1 LeBron experience, but I wouldn’t be shocked if they made it to the Finals this year.

Will they win a championship before LeBron leaves/retires?

JG: My answer is the same as my reaction when they were first taken seriously as LeBron suitors: Screw it, why not? Life’s too short anyways.

EG: Why the hell not? I certainly think it’s the best chance they’ve had in quite some time. 

HG: Regardless of your opinion on LeBron, things just seem to go right for him at one point or another. What’s to say that won’t be the case here? 

PH: They better.

WR: Yes, the final chapter of the LeBron story can’t end any other way. Embiid gets his ring that’s long eluded him, and we celebrate on Broad Street. 

BT: Realistically, they probably have two years at most to get it done. Even if it doesn’t happen this year, financial pressures will force some other title hopefuls–OKC, Cleveland and Orlando in particular–to make some painful calls next offseason. Is it too early to get a “2028 NBA champions” Sixers tattoo?

The Washington Wiards kick off their 2026 campaign when they host the Milwaukee Bucks at Capital One Arena on Wednesday night. But after a the biggest question heading into tipoff for Washington is the status of AJ Dybantsa, who injured his ankle in the Wizards’ pre-season finale.

On to the preview!

Game Info

When: Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. ET

Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.

How to watch: Monumental Sports Network

Injury Report

Wizards: AJ Dybantsa: day-to-day (ankle), Tristan Vikcevic: out (hip), Jamir Watkins: out for season (acl).

Bucks: None listed.

Pregame notes

Dybantsa’ debut — It’s been 117 days since the Washington Wizards selected Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft. 117 days since a Wizards program that won 17 games in 2025-26 found new life behind the hopes of a 6-foot-9, 217-pound 19-year old.

But as Washington prepares to host Milwaukee in its 2026 season opener on Wednesday, October 21, Dybantsa is still dealing with an ankle injury from the end of the preseason and is listed as day-to-day.

The former BYU Cougar averaged 25.5 points 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists in his one-and-done freshman season in Provo, Utah, before delivering 12.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and two assists over four preseason outings with Washington.

The Dallas Mavericks enter year two of the Cooper Flagg era with renewed fire. They are getting Kyrie Irving back after his horrible injury a year and a half ago. Dereck Lively will make his return at some point, and they are adding rookies Morez Johnson Jr. and Sergio De Larrea to their young core alongside Cooper Flagg. P.J. Washington and Naji Marshall will provide veteran wing minutes, and Daniel Gafford will ride a healthy ankle to the starting center role. There will be a mix of the same stuff we saw last season with new wrinkles we have not experienced in some time.

It is hard to gauge the Mavericks’ direction this season. They have a lot of win-now components: Kyrie Irving’s return, Dusty May trying to prove himself, and Masai Ujiri’s commitment to competitive basketball, to name a few. But Ujiri has also talked about focusing on a future revolving around Cooper Flagg, and balancing the two will be tough. A lot of it will hinge on how Dallas looks over the first three months. Some of it will depend on how satisfied their vets are to be here. But ultimately it will come down to what is in the best interest of Cooper Flagg. But in any outcome, we will get something we have not gotten in almost two seasons: fun basketball.

Tyler Edsel, Joe Friedman, and I have done previews of the other teams in the NBA. For all of those, just one of us gave our opinion on the team’s outcome and whether or not they will exceed their win total. This time, we are all pitching in and giving some fun bets to place on this Mavericks team, as well as giving our predictions for the season. Here are our picks:

Dallas Mavericks: Over/Under 33.5 Wins (+100/-125)

Last Season: 26-56, missed playoffs

Key Additions: Kyrie Irving (injury), Morez Johnson Jr., Marcus Sasser, Sergio De Larrea, Santi Aldama

Key Losses: Klay Thompson

David

• Cooper Flagg to average 24 points per game (-105)
• Southwest division third place (+130)
• To make the play-in (+135)

Long shot: Mavericks to win 45+ games (+1000)

Cooper Flagg is not just going to take a step up this year; he is going to take the step. He will be a top 15 player in the NBA. Think 25 points, eight rebounds, and five assists per game, along with a steal and a block. Kyrie Irving will complement Flagg beautifully, and if he can get back to form, that means Dallas will have two top-25 players. Any team with two players of that caliber will find a hard time losing 40 games, regardless of the roster. I am fully leaning in to the best version of this team: a scrappy, fast-paced group that causes problems with the one-two punch of Flagg and Irving. They will make a push to the play-in while finishing behind Houston and San Antonio in the division. I cannot guarantee a playoff berth, as this roster is not built for the playoffs as currently constructed, but they will have a better regular season than a lot of people anticipate. 

David’s Prediction: Over 33.5 wins (+100)

Tyler

• Bulls to have more regular season wins than Mavs (+155) 
• Mavericks to finish 4th in Southwest division (+190) 
• Dallas to have more wins than Washington (+110)
• Mavericks to advance to the knockout stage of the NBA Cup (+700)

Long shot: Cooper Flagg to make any All-NBA team (+290) 

Clearly I am lower on this Mavericks squad than most here on site, but I think the reasoning is pretty sound. This team, even with a new front office, new coach, and very new packaging, is essentially the same unit that won fewer than 30 games last season. Now, Kyrie Irving is back and healthy for the time being, but who knows if he will be here in 4 months. Cooper Flagg will be, and he will take a big leap this season by making an All-NBA team. But the rest of the team is largely the same as they were.

I think the Chicago Bulls will make a play-in tournament push, as Caleb Wilson, Matas Buzelis, and new coach Tiago Splitter will set a culture around there that is much needed. And finally, I think Memphis finishes ahead of Dallas this season, pushing the Mavs to a distant fourth in the division. Cam Boozer will run away with ROTY, and the rest of the group will fall in line with him. 

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Team built around Anthony Davis and the #1 overall pick are thought to be a sleeper playoff contender. FOOL ME ONE TIME? SHAME ON YOU. FOOL ME TWICE? CAN’T PUT THE BLAME ON YOU. My last pick is a bonus bet. The NBA Cup is early in the season, so Kyrie and some of the injury-prone players might not be hurt yet. The team will care, as with a new coach and your best player being so young, they’ll be trying. Plus, maybe no one else does. They’re in a group with Denver, Phoenix, Utah, and Houston. Houston and Denver have eyes on a bigger prize. And while Utah is primed for improvement, I don’t buy it with the Suns. Dallas will care, and that gets them a fun little participation medal.

Tyler’s Prediction: Under 33.5 wins (-125)

Joe

• Mavericks to win 35+ games (+125)
• Mavs to finish higher than the 11 seed (-125)
• Mavericks to win more games than the Blazers (+280) 
• Mavericks to win more games than the Warriors (+140)

Long shot: Cooper Flagg to win Most Improved Player +7000 

Most of these bets come down to the same basic idea: I think the Mavericks will win more games than people expect, and I think Cooper Flagg is about to take a huge Year 2 leap. Dallas getting to 35-plus wins at +125 feels like strong value considering they were basically a 35-win-level team last season before clearly leaning into losses late in the year, and I do not think the roster is bad enough for them to completely fall apart. I also like them to finish third or better in the Southwest division as David does, and above the No. 11 seed because neither bet requires some massive breakout season, just for Dallas to be solid and competitive. The head-to-head win bets against Golden State and Portland are interesting for the opposite reason, because I rate both teams lower than the market seems to. Golden State still depends heavily on Steph Curry staying healthy, while Portland could get messy trying to balance Ja Morant, Damian Lillard, and Deni Avdija on the same roster. The fun long shot is Flagg for Most Improved at +7000, because if he makes the kind of jump I expect and goes from around 21 points per game into the high-20s while Dallas moves up the standings, that case could become very real very quickly. 

Joe’s Prediction: Over 33.5 wins (+100)

What Knicks are saying about LeBron James, new-look Sixers before opener originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Knicks see the same thing everyone else sees when they look at the new Sixers — extraordinary talent and plenty still to figure out.

Philadelphia will unveil LeBron James, Jaylen Brown and its new starting five Tuesday night against a defending champion returning nearly its entire rotation.

From the Knicks’ perspective, that contrast between star power and continuity could shape the season opener after their championship banner reaches the Madison Square Garden rafters.

WHAT THE KNICKS ARE SAYING

Josh Hart anticipated this matchup as soon as James joined an Eastern Conference team.

“Wherever LeBron went in the East, I figured that’d probably be our opening night,” Hart told the New York Post.

Hart knows the Sixers’ talent will attract plenty of attention. He also expects their newness to show at times.

“I’m sure they’re gonna have some bumpy times in the beginning of the year because they gotta get used to playing with each other,” Hart said.

The Knicks do not have that concern. Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns are back after starting throughout New York’s championship run.

Knicks head coach Mike Brown acknowledged that the attention surrounding James and Philadelphia’s revamped roster makes the opener feel bigger than an ordinary October game. Brown, who coached James for five seasons in Cleveland, said everything involving him tends to become “larger than life.”

Brown also believes the teams have the ingredients to develop a rivalry. They are separated by less than 100 miles, will meet four times on national television and already share recent playoff history.

Brunson has also been complimentary of Philadelphia. During an August appearance on NBC’s “Today,” the reigning Finals MVP said the Sixers had “reloaded” and would present a difficult opening test.

New York’s immediate priority, however, is moving past its championship celebration.

“Every year, it’s a new year to attack something,” Brunson said Monday through SNY.

Landry Shamet was more direct about what happens after the rings are distributed and the banner is raised.

“After the ceremony’s over, it’s 0-0,” Shamet said.

Anunoby is the only current Knick who had previously participated in an NBA ring ceremony. He received his first championship ring with the Raptors before their 2019 opener.

“You celebrate with the ring, take pictures, then the game started. It was kind of weird,” Anunoby told the New York Post.

Anunoby said the unusual feeling faded as that game progressed. The Knicks will try to make the same transition Tuesday.

MATCHUP TO WATCH

Andre Drummond spent last season backing up Joel Embiid. He now fills that role behind Towns after Mitchell Robinson left New York for Boston.

Drummond averaged 8.4 rebounds in 19.5 minutes per game for the Sixers. His greatest opportunity Tuesday could come when Embiid leaves the floor.

The Sixers enter the opener with questions behind their starting center. Ariel Hukporti, who backed up Towns and Robinson over the past two seasons, is out for the season with a ruptured Achilles, while Adem Bona and Dean Wade were listed as questionable on the initial injury report.

Brown said the Knicks are not asking Drummond to duplicate Robinson.

“Andre’s going to be Andre,” Brown told the New York Post.

The Sixers’ ability to keep Drummond from controlling the glass during Embiid’s rest could quietly become one of the game’s most important variables.

WHAT VEGAS THINKS

The betting market is siding with New York’s continuity and home court.

The Knicks were favored by approximately 4.5 points as of midday Tuesday, with the total set around 231.5. Some sportsbooks had moved the line to New York by 5.5.

Philadelphia did win both of its regular-season games at Madison Square Garden last season. New York responded by sweeping the Sixers out of the playoffs.

The Sixers now return to the Garden with a considerably different team and an opportunity to make a much better first impression.

The opener tips off at 7 p.m. on NBC10 and Peacock.

There will be competition this season for the proverbial “face of the franchise in Brooklyn, N.Y. There’s the most accomplished player on the roster: Julius Randle, he of the three All-Star appearances and two All-NBA selections; Mikel Brown Jr., the top draft pick since the team moved from Newark to Brooklyn; and when he’s not stirring controversy on Curious Mike, the prodigal Michael Porter Jr.

All that said, there’s a strong argument to be made for Egor Demin, the 6’9” point guard/point forward Egor Demin. Still only 20, Demin may most easily reprsent the franchise, carrying all the requsite responsibilities: the high character player of promise who can articulate where the team is in three languages: his native Russian, Spanish and English. He may not have all the accolades Randle posseses, may not be the shiny new object like Brown Jr. or have the big numbers MPJ put up last year. He is, however, the player whose combination of talent, leadership and confidence brings it all together.

And he knows what is expected of him and accepts it.

“I said it to the coaches the other day in the player development meeting; I want to win and I want to learn how to affect the game, whatever it takes for me to be able to win,” Demin told the media after Monday’s practice.

“As I always say, I want to be everywhere I can help. Whether it’s me on the ball, off the ball, whatever it is. I want to learn everything,” Demin added. “For me, I don’t put any expectations on myself because I know where I’m at and I know what I’m going to be trying to do. Obviously, I have my own goals and that’s what I’m trying to focus on if it’s not about the team. If we’re talking about me personally, I’m just trying to be better every single day.”

The eighth pick in the 2o25 Draft played well enough last season, averaging 10.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 39.9% overall and 38.5% from beyond the arc. He also set an NBA rookie record for most consecutive games with a 3-pointer at 34 and was the second fastest NBA player to reach 100 3-pointers behind only Kon Knueppel of the Hornets (who won’t play in Wednesday’s opener at Barclays.)

And just as he proved to critics that he not only can shoot but at a high level, he showed in Summer League and preseason that he is not just a 3-point shooter. He surprised many by adding strength and a willingness to rush the lane and finish. He knew what he needed to do in the off-season and did it. averaging 21.3 points and 3.8 assists per game while shooting 47.3% from the floor.

Demin’s new found strength is hard to quantify, as his head coach quipped at practice Monday.

“Maybe ask the performance team about his weight and how much bigger his biceps is. Maybe that’s a way to quantify,” Fernández said. “I’m very happy with the way he’s played. …He sees the floor very well, and he’s done a great job getting into the [paint].”

Demin agreed.

“That’s true. There was a growth, a significant growth, in what dumbbells I’m picking up on the arm day, yeah,” Dëmin laughed.

While part of his growth is natural for someone going from age 19 to 2o, But the added strength is also part of a development process with improvement all around his game.

“Yeah, play off two feet and look for the spray or keep your options open. But don’t go in there without a plan,” Fernández said. “He’s done a great job. He’s worked at it, and shown he’s way more comfortable now getting there.

“When you’re 18, 19, the game goes so fast. Now it slows down, because you’re more confident, you’re stronger. We’ve seen it in preseason — he’s just got to continue to do it in the regular season.”

What will we see from the young man starting Wednesday night. He doesn’t talk numbers milestones, but certainly he has goals, starting with showing everyone that strength and its implications wasn’t just a summer fling.

“I haven’t done that for a while, getting to the rim like that actively, and sometimes when I get there it’s hard to believe, where I’m like, ‘I’m actually here,’ and I almost expect something to happen,” Dëmin admitted. “So for me, realize that I’m actually a big body, so… it’s harder to defend for people, especially now. So just having a state of mind that nobody can stop me, and just having that idea of getting there aggressively and finishing with quality and not just to show that I got to the paint.”

There are, of course, issues as there are with any young player. He missed 30 games last year and didn’t play after an early March bout with plantar fasciitis but he and the team say that’s in in the past. Bottom line though is he wants to be great and that matters.

• Nets’ Egor Demin details personal goals heading into 2026-27 NBA season – Shareef Phillips-Keaton – USA TODAY
• Egor Demin’s added muscle is already showing in way he’s playing for Nets – Brian Lewis – New York Post

Monday morning, the Dallas Mavericks announced they were waiving veteran center Dwight Powell. It was a strange, emotional moment for Mavericks fans: with nearly 12 full seasons in Dallas, the Canadian big man was the team’s longest-tenured player, a stabilizing force that was present for the end of Dirk Nowitzki’s reign, the entirety of the Luka Dončić era, and the beginning of Cooper Flagg’s emergence. 

Powell ends his time in Dallas averaging 7/4 in 17 minutes, and with no shortage of franchise accolades—top 10 in rebounds, top 5 in bench scoring, and even top 5 in games played. His departure, though, represents much more than the loss of a steady on-court contributor. It also means the loss of one of the NBA’s only known poets. 

“Poetry and self-expression through the written word for me was around before the ball,” Powell said in a 2024 interview with WFAA. “It’s a great place for me to speak to myself and to learn about myself, and although I may be writing about different things, and exploring different ideas, and talking about different experiences—at the end of the day, it all comes back to me… it’s a place where I can find peace.”

Literature and the arts have seen renewed interest in the NBA in recent years. In 2022, Shareef O’Neal told The Ringer that Scoot Henderson “reads all the time.” Three years later, Victor Wembanyama and Harrison Barnes made headlines with their science-fiction book club.

But Powell’s love of poetry is a bit more personal. More than just a hobby or passing interest, the Canadian big man has identified an important link between the words he writes and the points he scores. 

“Poetry, art, basketball—I honestly don’t see any separation,” said Powell in 2024. “Any time you have love for something, and you’re passionate about something, you’ll find a way to express yourself through it, and you’ll find yourself in it. So, through the written word, through poetry, and through my expression of myself through basketball—they’re all different translations of the same message. To me, they’re one and the same.”

Powell’s love of literature and the arts has previously informed his philanthropy and outreach in the Dallas area. In 2022, the veteran big man hosted the Mavs Reading Challenge at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School, reading from Barbara Barber’s Allie’s Basketball Dream. 

“One of the coolest parts about reading for me is that you can teleport yourself to a different place, to be a different person and view the world in a different way,” Powell said at the event. “You can go on all sorts of adventures without ever leaving your house. So as a child, that was a way for me to really explore with my mind. With every turn of the page, I knew something super exciting awaited.”

Now, poetry may light the way as Powell’s time with the Mavericks comes to a close. At a 2024 Poetry in the Square event hosted by the Thanks-Giving Foundation, the veteran big man reminded listeners that artistic expression is proof that “you can be literally anything—you can be all things.” 

“No matter what your profession is, no matter what circumstances you’re in… the routine of life can kind of get you out of rhythm at times,” said Powell, before reading his work on the virtue of wisdom. “For me to be able to sit down and write, I step away from some of the responsibilities, and step away from some of the stress. I’m able to check in with myself, which I think is super important.”

If you were to look up the words cool, stylish, flair, and all-time great in the dictionary, you would find four distinct definitions, each describing a quality that few individuals can truly embody.

Cool: Very fashionable, impressive, or appealing in a way that is universally admired.

Stylish: Possessing a high degree of quality in appearance, design, or behavior.

Flair: A natural talent or ability to do things in an original, stylish, and captivating manner.

All-Time Great: An individual regarded among the very best to ever perform in a particular field, sport, or profession.

What’s missing alongside each of these definitions in the dictionary is a picture of Walt “Clyde” Frazier. Throughout the storied history of the NBA, countless legends have left their mark on the game, but few, if any, have embodied all four qualities quite like Frazier. From his legendary playing days with the New York Knicks in the 1970s to his continued presence as one of the most recognizable personalities in basketball more than five decades later, Frazier remains in a class of his own, both on and off the court.

A man whose legendary style extends far beyond his flamboyant wardrobe, Frazier helped define an era of New York basketball, captivating fans with his effortless cool, unparalleled court vision, tenacious defense, and undeniable flair.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in New York Knicks franchise history, Frazier’s place among basketball royalty is unquestionable. A two-time NBA champion, seven-time NBA All-Star, and member of both the NBA’s 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams, his legacy is as timeless as the city he helped bring to basketball prominence.

Simply put, there has never been another Walt “Clyde” Frazier. And chances are, there never will be.

Let’s start with his style. Clyde’s style was unlike anybody else’s in the NBA during the ‘70s, and to this day, there still hasn’t been a close second. As a young man in his twenties, Frazier became just as recognizable for driving around New York City in his custom Rolls-Royce while sporting a full-length mink coat and fedora as he was for his play on the court. Today, his fashion sense remains as distinctive as ever. Throughout a broadcasting career spanning nearly 40 years, including almost 30 as a television commentator for MSG and the Knicks, his wardrobe has remained unmistakable, from tiger-print suits to custom blazers reminiscent of Joseph’s Technicolor Dreamcoat. There arguably hasn’t been a more fashionable icon in the NBA’s nearly 80-year history.

Frazier was a trendsetter, one of the first NBA players to truly express his personality through his wardrobe, at a time when players were largely known for what they did on the court rather than what they wore off it. His style became a part of his identity, both during his playing days and throughout his broadcasting career, setting him apart from his contemporaries and the generations of NBA stars who followed.

So, just how did Walt Frazier become Clyde?

“Coming to the Mecca. New York City. Fashion, passion,” Frazier explains. “When we played, we wore suits and ties to the game. We were always trying to outdress each other. Our idols were The Temptations, The Four Tops. So we emulated the way these guys performed.”

As Frazier recalls, the influence of Motown played a significant role in shaping his style, much like hip-hop has influenced today’s NBA players.

“Today you see the guys dressed like the rappers… our style was created from Motown. And I took it to another level with the Clyde. One day I bought this wide-brimmed hat and I wore it to the game and everybody go, hey, look at Clyde. And I used to steal the ball on the court.”

But the nickname would eventually become much more than just a reflection of his wardrobe.

“Then I was blessed enough to be the first guy to endorse a sneaker, the Puma Clyde in 1973. So that was the evolution of the mink coat, the Rolls Royce. So it was just my being around New York and observing people watching the Clyde persona personified.”

On the court, Clyde helped lead the Knicks to their first two NBA championships in 1970 and 1973, with the greatest performance of his career coming in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals. With the championship on the line, Frazier delivered one of the most memorable performances in NBA Finals history, scoring 36 points, dishing out a Game 7-record 19 assists, grabbing seven rebounds, and sinking all 12 of his free throws to help secure the Knicks’ first NBA title.

While Clyde’s performance in Game 7 ultimately helped lead the Knicks to their first-ever NBA championship, Clyde and his teammates also received some unexpected motivation from their captain, Willis Reed, who, despite battling a severe leg injury, famously limped onto the court just before tipoff.

“People thought it was premeditated, but we did not know he was coming. So when we came on the court, we were just as flabbergasted as everybody else when we saw him.”

Frazier recalls how Reed’s unexpected appearance immediately changed the team’s confidence.

“By seeing him, it gave us so much confidence. And obviously, he started the game. He made his first two shots. And I thought the Lakers were psyched out from that point, and I would have the game of my life.”

With two NBA championships, seven All-Star appearances, four All-NBA First Team selections, and numerous other accolades to his name, Frazier was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987. His No. 10 jersey also hangs in the rafters of Madison Square Garden, making him one of just eight Knicks players to have their numbers retired by the franchise.

But while Frazier’s playing days eventually came to an end, his connection to the Knicks and Madison Square Garden was far from over. In 1987, Clyde began a new chapter with the organization, trading his sneakers for a microphone as he transitioned into broadcasting, where his unmistakable personality and signature style would once again make him a fixture in New York basketball.

Clyde became famous for his iconic on-air rhymes, including “razzlin’ and dazzlin’” and “posting and toasting,” the latter of which inspired the name of our very own website. Frazier explained that his signature rhymes developed naturally as he gained experience in broadcasting and began to understand the nuances of being a color commentator.

“The play-by-play guy does most of the talking on radio. So in order to get into sometimes what I had to say, I had to use rhymes and, you know, that’s how I started doing it.”

With our website’s name paying tribute to one of Clyde’s most recognizable catchphrases, it was only fitting to ask him what he thought about Posting and Toasting.

“Yeah, I read you all the time. I enjoy it, man. It’s very good.”

With the Knicks winning their first championship since 1973, when Clyde hoisted his second trophy, Frazier reflected on the similarities between his championship teams and the current roster.

“It’s an uncanny comparison, man. We personify a team. You can’t mention Frazier without Bradley, without Reed, without Barnett. Same thing with this team. You can’t mention Brunson without Hart, without Bridges, without KAT, without OG. So they personify a team. They’re very unselfish. They like each other. And it’s manifested in the way they play the game.”

And when asked which player from the Knicks’ 2026 championship roster would have fit in best alongside his former teammates, Clyde didn’t hesitate to name the Heart of the City, Josh Hart, pointing to his versatility and physical style of play.

“(Hart) rebounds, he defends, he scores, he plays with reckless abandon. So he would be that type of guy that would fit in our era, which was more physical. You know, we could hand check, push guys around the court. So I think Hart would be perfect for that era.”

As the 2026-27 NBA season tips off on Tuesday, October 20, with the players receiving their championship rings and the Knicks raising their third championship banner to the Madison Square Garden rafters, Clyde is teaming up with Spike Lee and AT&T for a special celebration with Knicks fans. As part of AT&T’s Connectivity Partnership, the two New York icons will travel across Manhattan in a taxi, making surprise appearances and giving fans opportunities to win exclusive NBA merchandise, signed memorabilia, and tickets to opening night.

“I’m teaming up with Spike Lee, and we’re going to be going to different stores, giving out prizes for AT&T, commemorating the next championship season, and rewarding the fans as well. So I can’t believe that. It seems like we’re still in it, man. You know, everybody’s still excited about the team winning and perhaps maybe repeating, you know, running it back, which hasn’t been done in about eight years. We’ll be coming, celebrating this season throughout the season, the Knicks accomplishment. And after 53 years, the Knicks are finally back on top. Fans can walk in peace and celebrate a championship.”

And while the excitement surrounding the Knicks’ championship continues into the new season, perhaps no moment captured the city’s celebration quite like the championship parade itself. As the players celebrated atop their floats and Mitchell Robinson made his way through the streets in his truck, it was only fitting that Clyde, who helped bring New York its first two championships, would lead the celebration through the Canyon of Heroes.

But it wasn’t just Clyde’s presence that made the moment special. It was the car he was riding in.

Frazier led the parade in the very same 1952 Chrysler Imperial Parade Phaeton that carried the Apollo 11 astronauts through the streets of Manhattan following their historic moon landing in 1969. Now that’s cool!

Covering the Knicks is difficult. MSG is a fortress with stingy gatekeepers who deny access to earnest bloggers. For a short period, a P&T staff writer used her legitimate newspaper credentials to access the media room and report back for us. When MSG learned of this, they barred her from future pressers.

My recent media day experience felt similar. In previous years, media day was live-streamed, and I blogged about it in real time. This year, a stream was unavailable. Hence, I scoured social media for updates and wrote a shameful amount of “Stef Bondy reports…” based on tweets that were already stiffening by the time I found them.

Making matters worse, everything—the clips from the mic and the interstitials in which the players answer trivia questions or name their top-5 whatever—seemed kind of . . . phony. Staged. The answers to questions about health, expectations, etcetera, all sounded as though read from cards.

This has sat funny with me. And when a friend asked about a recent news item, my opinion surprised him. Allow me to don my tin-foil hat and brace yourself: I believe KAT’s comments about not getting a contract extension, and the subsequent negotiating freeze, are all bogus.

With billions of dollars involved, nothing in the Knickerbocker world is random. Everything that comes out of MSG is managed. Shortly before my interviews with OG and Jose, which were arranged by PR firms and not the Knicks, I received a list of off-limit topics (religion, politics, injuries (his or anyone else’s), etc.). Similarly, most questions at team pressers seem obvious or prompted. Little is spoken into the mic without prior approval from the agent, front office, or coaching staff.

KAT is many things, including a terrible actor:

After the Knicks announced that contract negotiations would be suspended to focus on the impending season, Karl’s response smacked of mock-WWE surprise: “It was news to me. Very disappointed to say the least. Let’s state the obvious. It’s business, but there is business on the court for us to handle.”

Really? Caught completely off guard? Are we to believe that the front office is jerking around a blue-chip asset, the second (and occasionally first) most important player on a championship club? Leon’s crew, which attempts to orchestrate its machinations with shrewd precision, is surrendering to “Guess we’ll see what happens, champ?”

I suspect the freeze is a ruse. Decisions have been made already—contract extensions, trade partners have been engaged—but there’s reason to delay. Possibilities:

• A trade partner must clear salary space or convince their owner.
• NY expects better offers at the midseason deadline.
• NY wants to see which young players take a leap for potential trade partners and loop them into the package.
• NY needs time to convince us that a trade is good for the team despite just winning the championship.

Maybe that’s too much Ancient Aliens-type conspiracy conjecturing for you. Would you allow that there must be, at minimum, a document containing “If X, Then Y” scenarios? Those could be:

• If KAT doesn’t piss off Jalen by December and plays well, offer more.
• If KAT DOES piss off Jalen by December and plays well, execute Chicago trade.
• If KAT gets injured, offer less.
• If KAT underperforms, fake injury report and trade to Atlanta.

It can be true that James Dolan wants to avoid the second apron, and that crossing that dreaded threshold brings about punitive consequences to the team.

Also true? That it was STRANGE for the owner who famously lights money on fire (metaphorically, possibly literally) to go on talk radio RIGHT AFTER WINNING A CHAMPIONSHIP and declare the second apron to be an unbreachable line. And ODD for a front office that has worked hand in glove with King Dolan, and seems to have total impunity of decision-making, to be allegedly caught off guard by his statements. Flummoxed, even!

News to any of them? Probably not.

The league is ripe with phony-baloney antics. Scott Foster refs a Game Four and even the media calls him ‘The Extender.’ LeBron James dangles his talents from coast to coast for weeks before officially joining a team he’d surely chosen long before. Has the league ever formally apologized to the Kings for 2002? That Luka Dončić trade sure was weird, but at least the Mavs got Cooper Flagg. Beyond being shameful, the apparent fixes are so transparent that they’re embarrassing. There’s even some scuttlebutt about a frozen envelope. Can you imagine?

OK, you got me. Karl-Anthony did not know that negotiations would be suspended. Gotcha—Leon Rose has no idea what he will do with the champion All-Star, but his fingers are crossed that they can iron out a deal before KAT declines his player option and hops a Brinks truck to Atlanta. As with any conspiracy, once the endgame is revealed, we can say, “Yes, that was the plan all along. Knew it!” Really, we don’t know what will happen. We can’t. My hunch, though, is that the great reboundin’ Towns is bound out of town, and before his contract expires. The season is about to begin. I suggest savoring all the time you get with the man, fans.

Go Knicks.

The Dallas Mavericks are ready to start the 2026-2027 season on Wednesday October 21, 2026 when they head southeast to Houston to take on the Rockets. The 82-game slate ends on Sunday April 11, 2027 at home against the Memphis Grizzlies.

In between those two dates, the Mavericks will have at least 21 nationally televised games. This is the NBA schedule, however, so nothing is quite that simple. As per usual, some of the nationally televised games will also air on KFAA. We can also expect some flex, which could result in Dallas having nationally televised games either added to the docket, or removed. Barring any speculation for a moment, here is what we currently know.

• 21 games: The number of nationally televised games.
• 8 games: Televised on NBC.
• 6 games: Televised on ESPN.
• 4 games: Televised on Prime.
• 2 games: Televised on Peacock
• 1 game: Televised on ABC.

Aside from the above, KFAA will be your go-to for all other games (with five such games simulcast on WFAA, and more yet to be announced). If you are a non-local Mavs’ fan, NBA League Pass is going to be your access point to the majority of games throughout the year. MavsTV+ will also carry all games that are not nationally televised. 10 total games are exclusively nationally televised, with at least one such game falling under each of the above named stations. That means if you intend to watch all 82 Mavs’ games, you’ll need at least two streaming services (Prime and Peacock) to get the job done.

If you find yourself driving during game time, 105.3 FM The Fan is your way to listen, with 99.1 FM Zona MX featuring your Spanish broadcast.

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

Cooper Flagg famously picked peas as a child to learn about hard work.

Others of us worked retail.

The Dallas Mavericks forward and former Duke standout steps into the shoes of a Foot Locker employee as the star of the company's "Hoops Lives Here" campaign. The ad debuts on Tuesday, Oct. 20 ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season tipoff. It shows Flagg wearing New Balance gear and hanging out playing video games in the backroom of a Foot Locker store. He assists an employee in reaching tall shelves, among other comedic moments.

“For me, basketball is everywhere in my life. Whether I’m playing, training, watching games or just spending time with people who love the sport, I’m always connected to it in some way," Flagg said in a statement of how the campaign concept resonates with him, noting, "It celebrates all the different ways basketball is part of our everyday lives and brings together those who share a passion for the game.”

The Mavericks open their season on Wednesday, Oct. 21 in a road matchup against Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets. Flagg will be playing in his second season after being drafted No. 1 overall in 2025. He averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists en route to earning last season's Rookie of the Year award.

Flagg's ad follows the debut of Foot Locker's "Hoops Lives Here" campaign in May. In the original spot, Payton Pritchard lounges while eating Chinese takeout, Paolo Banchero makes a smoothie, Chet Holmgren gets ready in a mirror and Jewell Loyd prepares to go to sleep all inside a Foot Locker store.

This fall, Foot Locker became the official athletic footwear retailer of the New York Knicks and will help celebrate last year's championship, the team's first title in 53 years. Besides activations and promotions throughout the season, the company will host a one-day Rings ‘N’ Things pop-up with exclusive merchandise to commemorate the NBA Finals victory.

The new "Hoops Lives Here" ad also shows the growth of the popularity of New Balance. Besides Flagg, the athletic company has Shohei Ohtani, Jamal Murray, Coco Gauff and Bukayo Saka on its roster of athletes.

Shannon Sharpe commented on the growth of the company at ComplexCon earlier this month during a Sneaker of the Year panel.

"It took me a while to get used to New Balance because New Balance used to be, you cut grass in New Balance," he said as the crowd erupted in laughter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Watch: Cooper Flagg comically helps stock Foot Locker shelves in new ad

The 2026-27 NBA season is ready to destroy everything you think you know about basketball. It’s so hard to make preseason predictions in this era of the league when parity is at an all-time high and the pace-and-space nature of play puts every athlete in danger of injury. It sure feels like the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, and New York Knicks are the top-3 teams coming into the season, but the NBA has taught us to expect the unexpected for this generation of hoops.

There are so many teams that truly feel like they could either boom or bust. I really liked the LaMelo Ball trade for the Minnesota Timberwolves, but wouldn’t be shocked if the floor completely falls out on the team. I’m buying the Boston Celtics’ reasons for trading Jaylen Brown, but still think it could backfire with the margins being so slim in an improved Eastern Conference. I’m talking myself into the Toronto Raptors as an NBA Finals contender with Kawhi Leonard back in town, but I don’t feel great about it.

With the new season finally here, I thought it would be fun to say one nice thing about every team. Let’s get into it.

Atlanta Hawks

Kingston Flemings will go down as a draft steal: The Hawks were wise to bring back CJ McCollum on a one-year deal while getting an awesome young understudy to one day take over for him in Flemings. I like Flemings for his ability to maximize assist-to-turnover ratio and play bigger than his size defensively. His three-ball might need some time to develop, but the Hawks made a smart pick at No. 8 overall.

Boston Celtics

The Celtics have the best front office in the NBA: Trust Brad Stevens, Mike Zarren, and Dave Lewin. It’s better to make a big move a year too early than a year too late, and Boston’s leadership continues to be on the cutting edge of team-building. They will be right in their evaluations more times than not.

Brooklyn Nets

Jordi Fernandez is an elite head coach who will get this team to overachieve: Everyone expects the Nets to be doormats this season, but it’s not going to happen if they hang on to Michael Porter Jr. all season. Fernandez has more talent to work with this year with Julius Randle and Mikel Brown Jr. arriving, Day’Ron Sharpe joining the starting lineup, and Egor Demin ready to make a year two leap. Brooklyn will be feisty.

Charlotte Hornets

Charles Lee’s system is built to win regular season games: The Hornets just know how to win the margins under Charles Lee, which is no surprise given that he came from Boston’s staff. Charlotte is going to crush the offensive glass, jack tons of threes, and get their hands in the passing lanes to their best of their abilities. I think they will miss LaMelo Ball, but this team is too well coached to completely fall apart.

Chicago Bulls

The Bulls have a sneaky-good bench: Chicago’s bench is going to keep them in games. Leonard Miller is fully on breakout watch after an excellent preseason, Tre Jones is almost as good as Josh Giddey at backup point guard, Isaac Okoro is the team’s best perimeter defender, and Jalen Smith is a legit stretch five with monstrous per-minute production if he returns to a bench role after Nic Claxton gets healthy. That’s not even mentioning Buddy Hield or a pair of recent mid-first round picks in Noa Essengue and Dailyn Swain.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Evan Mobley can still take another step forward: Don’t write off Mobley from taking another jump just because he’s 25 now. He still has some low-hanging fruit to clean up in his game, and he certainly has the natural talent to improve as a driver, outside shooter, offensive rebounder, and defensive playmaker in terms of steals and deflections. The best is still yet to come.

Dallas Mavericks

Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving are going to be awesome together: Flagg is ridiculously good for a 19-year-old, and Kyrie Irving’s creation ability and pull-up shooting is going to make his life so much easier this year. I want to see Flagg get back to being the highly impactful defender he was supposed to be coming out.

Denver Nuggets

Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon just win basketball games together: Gordon is quietly one of the most important injury risks in the league. If he stays healthy, the Nuggets are going to be very, very good.

Detroit Pistons

Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson are still getting better: Both of Cade Cunningham’s co-stars are already really good, and I think they will look even better a year from now. Duren can improve his defense, while Thompson’s offensive impact can keep getting greater even without three-point shooting improvement. Detroit’s young core is in great hands.

Golden State Warriors

Yaxel Lendeborg was a home run draft pick: I had Yaxel at No. 5 overall on my final board. The Warriors got him at No. 11. That’s great value, and Yaxel is going to be awesome from day one. Read my feature from March Madness about his wild journey to get to this point.

Houston Rockets

The Rockets still have so many breakout guys: I would pick Amen Thompson to level up this year, but it could also be Reed Sheppard or Alperen Sengun or Jabari Smith Jr. or Tari Eason. If several of these guys take a leap, Houston will be a Western Conference contender.

Indiana Pacers

Tyrese Haliburton and Ivica Zubac will make magic together: The Pacers are losing some spacing with Zubac replacing Myles Turner from the 2025 NBA Finals team, but Haliburton will figure it out. Zubac’s superior physicality will make a big difference for a Pacers team that could use it.

Los Angeles Clippers

Ty Lue will put Keaton Wagler in position to succeed: Lue is still an elite coach, and he’ll find the right ways to develop the No. 5 overall pick even in tough circumstances.

Los Angeles Lakers

Luka Doncic + JJ Redick = lots of wins: The Lakers have won 50+ games in both seasons with JJ Redick as head coach, and I expect that to continue this year. Redick will make the most out of the defense, and Luka will handle the creation burden as only he can. The Lakers should have homecourt advantage to start the West playoffs.

Memphis Grizzlies

Cameron Boozer and Zach Edey will be a phenomenal pairing: Boozer’s shooting, passing, and driving paired with Edey Hulk Smash’ing everything at the rim make the Grizzlies the easiest pick to exceed their preseason win total.

Miami Heat

I’m already terrified I was way too low on Miami: The Heat are the team I’m most worried I’m wrong about after having them No. 9 in my East predictions. Giannis should be on a mission, Erik Spoelstra is still the best coach in the league for my money, and you know some player (Pelle Larsson?) is going to have a career year. Miami will be a problem come playoff time.

Milwaukee Bucks

Ryan Rollins might be the most underrated guard in the league: He’s not a household name yet, but he will be soon.

Minnesota Timberwolves

The Wolves have the juice to upset the Thunder or Spurs in the playoffs: LaMelo and Ant’s pull-up shooting is a problem without a solution for opposing defenses … as long as they can get hot in a short series.

New Orleans Pelicans

Jeremiah Fears will create some of the NBA’s best highlights: Elite speed + elite ball handling ability is a rare combination. If Fears can improve his shot at all, he’s going to be a really great offensive guard.

New York Knicks

Their playoff run last season was no fluke: This team is loaded again even without Mitchell Robinson, and it’s going to count as an upset if any other team comes out of the East.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder’s rookies add new flair to the rotation: How did the league let Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz both fall to OKC? Sam Presti can’t keep getting away with it.

Orlando Magic

The Magic will the surprise team in the East: They have to get positive injury luck eventually, right? If it happens, new head coach Sean Sweeney can push the right buttons to get this team to the top half of the East playoff picture.

Philadelphia 76ers

The offense is going to be absolutely electric: I don’t give out gambling advice, but if I did, I would bet the over on every Sixers game to start the season. They are going to be capable of some ridiculous runs when everyone is locked in.

Phoenix Suns

The Suns will be a huge pain in the ass to deal with every night: Phoenix crushes the offensive glass and maximizes every ounce of its defensive potential. I’ll just say I like them more with Collin Gillespie in the starting lineup than Jalen Green.

Portland Trail Blazers

Scoot Henderson is finally going to breakout: It’s painfully obvious that the Blazers should bring either Damian Lillard or Ja Morant off the bench to start Scoot. I hope it happens.

Sacramento Kings

They will be better than expected because they can’t possibly be as injured as last year: There are some good players on this team, and I don’t believe they’re destined to be the worst in the league like everyone thinks.

San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs are winning the championship this year: This team is too big, too fast, too strong, and too good.

Toronto Raptors

The Raptors have another Cinderella run to the NBA Finals in them: If Kawhi Leonard can last through the playoffs, I see Toronto as the Knicks’ biggest challenger in the East, and they could be uniquely positioned to slow down New York’s powerful offense.

Utah Jazz

The Jazz will have a top-10 offense: Utah was No. 22 in offense last year. That’s going to change with Darryn Peterson, Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, Lauri Markkanen, and Jaren Jackson Jr. all getting buckets.

Washington Wizards

The Wizards have the most breakout player candidates in the league: Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, Will Riley, Alex Sarr … that’s just the start of it. If Washington’s two veteran stars can hold up their end of the bargain, the rebuild will finally be over.

With training camp and all five preseason games in the books, we have learned a lot about the Bucks as they embark on year one of the rebuild-but-don’t-call-it-a-rebuild. But what one person sees isn’t always the same as what the next person does. So, we thought we’d share pages of our notebooks, highlighting our main observations as Milwaukee heads into the regular season. Obviously, there are storylines galore we haven’t touched on—Brayden Burries’ emergence, for one. But that will come when he truly arrives; in Burries we trust. So, without further ado, let’s get into it!

Trending: How the Bucks have popped (and flopped)

Preseason had me hyped, but the Kyle Kuzma/Jaime Jaquez Jr. frontcourt soon had me wincing—as did Gary Trent Jr.’s shooting. Kel’el Ware starting at the four reinvigorated my enthusiasm, then his “motor” issue reared its head and I found myself questioning everything. But I’m choosing optimism. Thankfully, then, Taylor Jenkins chose Brayden Burries and Ousmane Dieng as his first and second substitutions against the Indiana Pacers, leaving me hopeful for the regular season—that Jenkins has quickly learned these guys need to play and that they’ve already shown the growth to leapfrog more established players. But I digress; I’m here to talk trends.

By the eye test, the Bucks demonstrated the traits many thought (hoped) they’d have under Jenkins’ tutelage. Mainly, they hit the glass. Hard. The numbers back it up too:

2025-26 Regular Season	Category	2026-27 Preseason
48.2% (26th)	Rebounding Percentage	51.1% (10th)
26.3% (30th)	Offensive Rebounding Percentage	35.9% (5th)
69.5% (15th)	Defensive Rebounding Percentage	68.7% (13th)

This additional emphasis on the possession game—especially via the offensive glass—contributed to the Bucks generating more looks at the basket. With 94.2 field goal attempts per game, Milwaukee ranked third in the league, up from their 27th-placed 85.5 attempts last year. They also finished third in three-point attempts per game, hoisting up an average of 46.4 a night (up from 39.1 last year). Signs of Jenkins’ coaching philosophy didn’t stop there. The Bucks finished 10th in pace (104.5), comparing favourably to last year’s 23rd-place finish (98.3) and an indication that this team is going to lean into its youth and athleticism (as it should). Defensively, Milwaukee proved strong at shot-blocking, averaging 5.4 BPG, good for 10th in the league and better than their 4.0 BPG average and 27th placing last season.

Of course, it’s not all roses. Overall, the Bucks finished 28th in offensive rating and 22nd in defensive rating. And there are plenty of individual areas to work on too: shooting accuracy (30th)—which undoubtedly contributed to all those O-boards—fast break defence (29th), and generating steals (27th), among others. But, as I wrote in our staff thread, we can ignore all that—the sample size is too small.

—Zac

Drinking the Kel-Aid or War(e)y of the behaviours?

Kel’el Ware has become a bit of an elephant in the room, I must say. Many fans wanted Ware to start at power forward, and rightfully so—he was a key piece of the Giannis trade and, whatever else you want to say about him, he is as talented as they come. I think we were all drinking the “Kel-Aid” to some degree. But as the saying goes, “hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.” Can we really say that Ware has been working at even an above-average level this preseason? I mean, forget going as hard as you possibly can—like guys such as Cormac Ryan have been doing—Ware rarely looked interested in getting out of second gear. He won’t be starting because he hasn’t earned it, period.

There’s no sugarcoating it: the 22-year-old has disappointed throughout the preseason—both in performance and, seemingly, in attitude—validating all the concerns Heat fans warned us about (and, frankly, his entire career has). It’s not like there’s a laundry list of concerns at this point, but a few things have certainly stood out. For one, Jenkins has stressed repeatedly that this team will play for each other and that no individual agendas will be tolerated. But Ware’s shot selection all preseason calls into question whether he is truly playing for his teammates or for his own numbers.

Sure, Ware has blocked shots and gobbled up rebounds (when they’re in his area)—and he deserves some level of credit for that, to be sure—but he’s also shown a lacklustre willingness to move his feet on the perimeter, letting drivers zip right by him on their way to the rim. Also, I’m trying to separate what’s immediately within the 22-year-old’s control from skill development stuff, but man, it wouldn’t hurt to move a bit faster on some of these post moves against guys he should be able to score easily on. That’s an overarching theme I’ve noticed: he’s a lot slower than I expected.

But then you see Ware cram a massive dunk on the fast break in a way I’ve rarely seen a Buck—other than Giannis—do, and you get a window into the player he could become. You see Ware make one of those ill-advised threes with a full shot clock and a defender right in his grill, and you take note of what a refined understanding of “good shot” and “bad shot” could mean for him. You see how Ware can vacuum up rebounds and scrape the sky for blocks, and you wonder what impact he could have on defence. Still just 22, I’m not off the bus yet. Not even close. But the kid should know by now that talent will only get him so far. Damnit, he needs to want this.

—Jack

Kasparas Jakucionis: The crown jewel?

The very same day that the Milwaukee Bucks traded Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jake Fischer of The Stein Line shed some light on the linchpin that may have kept Giannis out of Boston:

Kasparas Jakucionis was Miami's version of Boston's Hugo Gonzalez hang-up. Had been hearing all day the Heat did not want to part with the Illinois product on top of their Herro-Ware-Jacquez-No. 13 structure. That's an All-Star guard, three recent first-round picks still on…

— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) June 23, 2026

As trade talks dragged on, Miami was weighing whether to include Kasparas Jakucionis in a trade package for Giannis. Admittedly, this detail may have been easy to miss with so much to process after the trade, but it is worth looking at why Pat Riley almost let the 20-year-old Lithuanian decide the trade’s fate.

For starters, Jakucionis presents like an ideal modern point guard: 6’5”, 200 pounds, with a 6’8” wingspan. He arrived at Illinos with a lot of national hype, and early returns had him going as high as 5th overall in certain mock drafts. College basketball fans may recall that Jakucionis started the year averaging 16.1 PPG and 5.6 APG on 42% from deep, but as the season went on, he struggled with turnovers and did not have the speed to beat defenders off the dribble. As a result, the 20-year-old fell to the 20th overall pick and became something of an afterthought in the draft.

So, if Jakucionis is the potential “crown jewel,” then where was the hype over his rookie season? In Miami, he was asked to fill a more two-dimensional role as a spot-up shooter and secondary creator, and was effective in both areas: Jakucionis averaged 6.2 PPG while shooting 42% from deep and averaging 2.6 APG to just 0.9 turnovers—all of this on a 13.7% usage rate. This team-first mindset and willingness to work hard earned praise from head coach Erik Spoelstra, and if Spo’s concerns about Ware’s motor have given you pause, let this praise for KJ serve as a reliable stamp of approval.

Despite the well-documented logjam in the backcourt, Jakucionis showed incredible promise in the preseason. In the final 13 minutes against Indiana, he wasted no time setting the table and getting the engine running, finishing with six assists. In the previous game against Chicago, he finished with 18 points and six assists (plus one sweet shot) even after getting into foul trouble early. These are early returns, but Jakucionis has already shown flashes of what made him, at one point, a highly-touted prospect. While much remains to be determined this season, KJ’s emergence as a true point guard would be a welcome sight for Bucks fans. If he’s ahead of schedule, it could drastically change how the front office approaches the trade deadline and offseason. While the Bucks face a lot of uncertainty, one thing already seems certain: we’ll see many more electric performances from the Lithuanian Lightning Rod! (Still workshopping the nickname).

—Nate

Editor’s note: Forget the trade deadline and next offseason, Jon Horst clearly thinks he already is ahead of schedule.

Accountability is Taylor-made for Milwaukee

After three seasons with Doc Rivers and his snarky, defensive attitude, it’s extremely refreshing to have a coach like Taylor Jenkins who champions accountability in everything he preaches. That was clear in the first postgame press conference after the Timberwolves lashed the Bucks; Jenkins pulled no punches about his team’s willingness to knuckle down defensively, saying they were far from where they need to be.

“Our defence was really lacking for 48 minutes,” Jenkins said. “We had spurts of it. We had some good possessions, but too often we had no pressure on the ball and no shift help. Definitely not the competitive edge that we ought to have.

“I know it’s the first preseason game, but that’s not going to be an excuse at all. We’ve got to embrace the defensive side of the ball way better going forward.”

You can see why Jon Horst—along with ownership—wanted Jenkins so badly. He oozes accountability and authenticity, and I’ve found myself tuning into his pressers much more than I ever did with past coaches (granted, the bar was low: Doc was annoying, and Bud never gave you anything). In any event, Jenkins is the main variable that gives me hope that this rebuild will turn out OK. It won’t be quick or easy, but I trust Jenkins to steer this ship and get this franchise back to where it belongs—and that is a comforting feeling.

—Jack

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What have we missed, Brew Hoop fam? And what notes did you scribble down? Let us know in the comments.