Category: NBA

We are in late July, aka the Dog Days of Summer, or the abyss of the NBA season. Kevin has a great piece about why the Washington Mystics had a great WNBA All-Star Weekend, highlighted by their win in the Shooting Stars Competition. But let’s focus back to the Washington Wizards for this story.

Over the past weekend, LeBron James decided to take his talents to the Philadelphia 76ers, which just happens to be the NBA market geographically closest to Washington. James, who is 41, is still more than capable of being a key starter for a top level team. And that’s going to shake up the power rankings.

John Schuhmann of NBA.com posted his latest power rankings for the Eastern Conference yesterday. After Washington acquired Trae Young and Anthony Davis last winter, wouldn’t that make a Young/Davis/AJ Dybantsa trio a postseason team, which means Top 10 in the East? Nope. He had them at No. 12. Here is Schumann’s blurb.

Key question: Can the young guys keep developing?

The Wizards were the worst team in the league last season, but there were some individual signs of progress with their young core …

• Kyshawn George saw the third biggest jump in points + rebounds + assists per 36 minutes among 290 players that played at least 500 minutes in each of the last two seasons.

• Alex Sarr, George and Bub Carrington saw the second, eighth and 11th biggest jumps, respectively, in effective field goal percentage among 123 players with at least 500 field goal attempts in each of the last two seasons.

Trae Young should help those players get better shots. The Wizards ranked 26th in shot quality last season, but their shot-quality score was much higher (top-five level) off of Young’s passes in the five games he played. However, the offense was still bad (106.6 points scored per 100 possessions) in his 104 minutes on the floor.  The young guards will also have to adjust to getting far fewer touches, and it remains to be seen if Sarr and Davis can fit together offensively.

Dybantsa is the future, but there’s a decent team here if the returners can find their way in what may be a very different offense from what we’ve seen over the last few seasons.

I think Schuhmann is hedging his bets here. If Dybantsa fires on most or all of his cylinders, Young plays all season and Davis remains in Washington for the whole 2025-26 season (not to mention remaining healthy), then the Wizards should be a postseason team. But the Wizards also haven’t shown they can make a jump from worst team in the NBA to just a below average team. Also, it wouldn’t shock me to see Anthony Davis get traded by the deadline in Feb. 2027 for … more draft picks. So I can see why he is skeptical.

In addition to Schumann, Ricky O’Donnell, SB Nation’s NBA Editor is also skeptical of the Wizards’ improvement relative to other NBA teams for the upcoming 2026-27 NBA season. In his latest rankings, post LeBron to Philly, the Wizards are at No.27 (and by extension, 13th in the East). That’s better than No. 30. But the Wizards are still effectively at the bottom of the barrel, even with a potential future All-Star in Dybantsa.

Do you think that the Wizards are ranked too low in the power rankings? Let us know in the comments below. And in case you missed it, our SB Nation Reacts poll is also below, but right above the comments section!

The naming of things can sometimes be funny. A small or cheap item can have a regal name attached that does not fit the size or stature of the actual product. For years, the “Great Lakes Classic” preseason matchup between the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions fit the “big name, small game” typology.

“The Battle for the Barge,” as fans would call the GLC, was regularly played between two teams who were only “Classic” in that they have both been around a long time, both were founded in Ohio (the Lions were originally the Portsmouth Spartans), and both have been classically bad since the Browns returned in 1999.

Detroit has seen a strong turnaround since 2022, with four straight winning records and two playoff appearances, while Cleveland has made the playoffs twice since 2020 but has seen four losing seasons in that timeframe as well.

According to Joel Walkowski, author of the book “Honolulu Blues: How The Detroit Lions Saved My Life,” fans of the Browns and Lions are 1a and 1b in having “the worst go of it of any franchise,” similar to the NBA’s GOAT debate between Michael Jordan and LeBron James:

“I exist on this planet to make the argument that the Lions fans have the WORST go of it of any franchise…”

“I gotta give a hat tip to the Cleveland Browns. That is the Jordan-LeBron debate of this…” 

Do you agree with @theBigWalkowski? https://t.co/HIHqpDYst0pic.twitter.com/v3Hb0DLCbS

— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) July 28, 2026

Obviously, Walkowski has a bias, as we all do.

A look at the historical numbers between each team:

• Record: CLE – 567-560-14, DET – 615-717-34
• Winning %: CLE – 50.3%, DET – 46%
• Championships: CLE – 8, DET – 4

Maybe Walkowski is on to something, big picture and in the long-term. For the more recent history, the Browns have been far more downtrodden and have had an organization that has made mind-numbing decision after mind-numbing decision.

Then again, Detroit and Cleveland are also the only two teams since the strike-shortened season of 1982 to have winless seasons, so both fan bases have gone through a lot.

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Overall, which fan base do you think has it worse? Do you agree with Walkowski because of the whole history of the franchises or do you think it is the Browns given the history since The Return in 1999?

Join the conversation below in our comment section

The FanDuel Sportsbook has put out win totals for all 30 NBA teams for the upcoming 2026-27 season. It’s been quite a fun offseason, as the player and coach movement has been interesting to follow. As the league enters the final stretch of the offseason before camp begins in September, now is a good time to take stock of the league with the season win totals offered by FanDuel.

Dallas Mavericks: O/U 35.5 wins

I suppose there’s no reason to bury the lead here. FanDuel has given the Mavericks an over/under of 35.5 wins for the 2026-27 regular season. This win total places the Mavericks at 11^th in the Western Conference.

Per Basketball Reference, this is the lowest win total that Dallas has been given since Luka Doncic’s rookie year in 2018-19, where the line was also 35.5 (the Mavericks went on to win 33 games that year). This number has also moved in recent days. As recently as last week, the Mavericks win total was 34.5. Perhaps there is some optimism out there amongst bettors.

It’s hard to square exactly what the team is in the odds market. Last year’s team had an over/under of 41.5 wins, and they never once looked like they would go over the total in route to a 26-win campaign. If the Mavericks were to go 36-46, that would hit the over and yet, I’m not sure many of you would be pleased with the result. It’s hard to improve by 10+ wins in just one season, especially when you account for the sheer overhaul that the organization underwent this offseason. As our colleague Matt wrote in recent days, this is setting up to be a gap year(s).

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Full odds via the FanDuel Sportsbook

Western Conference

1. San Antonio: 60.5 wins
2. OKC Thunder: 60.5 wins
3. Minnesota: 48.5 wins
4. Denver: 48.5 wins
5. Houston: 46.5 wins
6. LA Lakers: 45.5 wins
7. Portland: 43.5 wins
8. Golden State: 39.5 wins
9. Phoenix: 39.5 wins
10. Utah: 36.5 wins
11. Dallas: 35.5 wins
12. LA Clippers: 28.5 wins
13. New Orleans: 28.5 wins
14. Memphis: 28.5 wins
15. Sacramento: 21.5 wins

One thing that stands out to me: There are VERY clear tiers among teams in the west. The top two are on a tier of their own, followed by a solid middle class. But the bottom of the West, from the play-in on down, is going to be a complete mess. Prepare accordingly.

First blush, I like Houston over, Portland under and Utah over.

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Eastern Conference

1. New York: 51.5 wins
2. Philadelphia: 50.5 wins
3. Detroit: 49.5 wins
4. Boston: 49.5 wins
5. Cleveland: 47.5 wins
6. Miami: 45.5 wins
7. Toronto: 45.5 wins
8. Orlando: 44.5 wins
9. Atlanta: 44.5 wins
10. Indiana: 43.5 wins
11. Charlotte: 37.5 wins
12. Washington: 35.5 wins
13. Chicago: 29.5 wins
14. Milwaukee: 24.5 wins
15. Brooklyn: 24.5 wins

As tiered as the West is, buddy the entire Eastern Conference is a free-for-all. Of note, the books think the East is far deeper than the west, as Indiana at tenth in the East has a win total that would tie Portland for seventh in the West.

Early on, put me down for the Celtics over, the Knicks and Sixers under, and the Pacers over.

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What do you think about the early odds? Let us know in the comments!

Unsurprisingly, the Cleveland Cavaliers need to add another forward to the roster in the wake of LeBron James going to the Philadelphia 76ers. It seems that the signing of Mario Hezonja is not the only transaction the Cavaliers are pursuing.

In a segment on NBA Today, ESPN’s Shams Charania noted that “DeMar DeRozan has interest from Cleveland”. Charania also mentioned that “Miami, Denver and Cleveland are among the teams interested in DeMar DeRozan”.

Shams Latest On Cavs Offseason:

“Miami & Cleveland have aspirations to compete for a championship in the eastern conference. That’s why they are trying to move swiftly on their next step…both teams have their own business to handle as well. Cleveland has to get James Harden… pic.twitter.com/IO47UVdRTy

— Dylan🔮🎆🪼 (@dillybar2145__) July 27, 2026

The Sacramento Kings bought out DeRozan earlier this month. DeRozan will turn 37 by the time the season tips off in October. Age hasn’t hindered his ability to be a microwave scorer and availability averaging 18.4 points while shooting 49.7% from the field in the 77 games played this past season.

The Cavaliers clearly need wing talent after Dean Wade signed with the 76ers and Keon Ellis signed with the Brooklyn Nets. DeRozan projects as a more awkward fit for Cleveland’s roster given that he has been the primary scoring option for the majority of his career. The unknown of how he will find his spots on a team with the ball primarily in James Harden and Donovan Mitchell is yet to be seen.

A clear benefit for the Cavaliers in a DeRozan addition would be the pressure to the rim DeRozan provides, as well as being a sufficient scorer without support. The warts of the acquisition would be that DeRozan has never established a consistent outside shot.

Kenny Atkinson’s offense really allows three-point shooters to thrive i.e., Sam Merrill and Max Strus. There have not been many players like DeRozan who have come into the Cavaliers’ offense with his iso-mid-range heavy skillet. Caris LeVert was the closest comparison; however, LeVert was much more of a willing three-point shooter.

The common thread between DeRozan and fellow forwards attached to the Cavaliers and others is that the teams interested were those affected by the LeBron James sweepstakes. This could be a common theme for the remainder of the summer as teams try to find suitable replacements at the wing.

It’s worth noting that DeRozan and Harden grew up as childhood friends. We’ll see if that factors at all in these discussions.

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Navigating Warriors' NBA free agency options after LeBron, Draymond decisions originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

As July nears its end, the Warriors remain the only NBA team to not acquire any new players this offseason. 

They have brought back all three centers in Al Horford, Kristaps Porziņģis and Charles Bassey. They also have brought back guard De’Anthony Melton, who officially will be signed in the near future, depending on what kind of exception he falls under. They also have added Yaxel Lendeborg (No. 11 overall) and Lajae Jones (No. 54 overall) through the NBA draft. 

As I was typing this, they brought back Draymond Green, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Most notably, the Warriors whiffed on the LeBron James sweepstakes, leaving them mostly in the same place months after finishing a 37-win season where two of their top players are rehabbing leg injuries. 

What does the free-agent landscape look like nearly a month after its June 30 starting date? How does it fit with the Warriors? 

Another Return

Green opted out of his $27.7 million player option to open financial flexibility for the Warriors’ pursuit of James. He’s now a Philadelphia 76er, and Green now is a Warrior again on the same exact contract. 

The one-year contract he essentially turned down is what he’s returning on. The most interesting part is that despite being eligible for one, Green’s contract does not include a no-trade clause, ESPN’s Anthony Slater reported, per sources. 

Despite being eligible, there is not a no-trade clause in Draymond Green's one-year contract, per source. It's the same as the player option he gave up. Warriors would've given longer-term deal if they landed LeBron James, but didn't. https://t.co/saLoNFa66t

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) July 28, 2026

It always was a matter of when, not if, for Draymond and the Warriors. 

Like last year, Gary Payton II continues waiting as a free agent. Like last year, he also is expected to come back to the Warriors on a veteran’s minimum contract. 

Payton had one of his more productive seasons ever in a year where he averaged a career-high 7.5 points per game. At just 6-foot-2, Payton shot 71.2 percent on 2-pointers as one of the game’s most unique rim attackers. He also shot a lowly 29.1 percent from 3-point range, and his defense hasn’t produced the same impact as years past. But Payton played a career-high 73 games and still has unquestioned chemistry with Steph Curry. 

The Big Names 

James Harden? No. Russell Westbrook? No. DeMar DeRozan? Maybe. 

Look, all the selling points are there with DeRozan. He’s not a star anymore but still is a known name. And he can still get you buckets, too. 

DeRozan averaged 18.4 points per game for the Sacramento Kings last season, his lowest in 13 years when he averaged 18.1 in 2012-13. Those numbers also would make him the Warriors’ second-leading scorer going into next season. Jimmy Butler’s 20 points per game are in rehab mode for many more months, and DeRozan did average more points per game last season than Porziņģis, Brandin Podziemski or anybody else not named Butler and Curry. 

Though DeRozan would be another old player on the Warriors at 37, he’s someone who isn’t often on the injury report. DeRozan played 77 in Year 17, which is what he has averaged the last five seasons. He also could now be out of the Warriors’ price range. 

Restricted Free Agency

Maybe restricted free agency really is that big of a headache for all teams and all sides involved. 

Jalen Duren, Peyton Watson and Bennedict Maturin are going through it right now with their respective teams, and the most likely outcome is all three re-sign with them. A sign-and-trade is a possibility for any of Duren, Peyton and Mathurin, just not with the Warriors. 

Who Else?

Let’s catch up to where the Warriors stand now that Green has agreed to return. The Warriors with Green, and including Melton, are at 12 players. 

That’s not including Jones, their second-round pick. Nothing has been decided on that front. The Warriors could add Jones and his cheap projected contract to the 15-man roster or opt to sign him to their third two-way contract. 

LJ Cryer and Malevy Leons currently own the two occupied two-way contracts. They too could be cheap options. Sorting out two-way contracts doesn’t need to be hurried. 

Wherever the Warriors turn to next, it will have to come on an inexpensive price tag. 

Bradley Beal could have been added to the Big Name category, and the 33-year-old also played in six games last year, and he’s purely a hypothetical right now. Gabe Vincent was mentioned as a veteran ball-handling option, per source, during summer league that would help fill a need. 

Names like point guard Brandon Williams, who scored a career-high 26 points against the Warriors last season, are the ones to monitor. The Warriors aren’t in a position to reject taking flyers on guys like Jett Howard, and there’s still a veteran route of players such as Bruce Brown and Kelly Olynyk. 

From all accounts, the Warriors aren’t in a rush. There weren’t deals lined up waiting for the LeBron news. Green is back, and at least one other familiar name eventually could be too. Free agency is running dry, and the Warriors still have work to round out their roster.

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Now that the dust has settled on the initial shock and excitement of LeBron James announcing his signing with the Philadelphia 76ers, the discussion focus has shifted to how the King will mesh with his new team.

There are a ton of angles to look at this from, but one that has stood out to me as much more prevalent than expected is the prediction that LeBron joining the Sixers — alongside the rest of the now-stacked starting lineup — will be a massive detriment to the development of 2025 No. 3 overall pick VJ Edgecombe in his sophomore season.

Now, before we even dig in to the intricacies here, it is worth noting that some of the people peddling the idea of Edgecombe’s development being ruined by the presence of James are the same people that were certain James would never pick Philadelphia in the first place. So, there may be an element of just searching for the negatives here from some folks.

That being said, though, the development of a younger player like Edgecombe is of course a valid factor to consider when talking about a major shift in a lineup’s makeup. But the conclusion that playing alongside LeBron James (and Jaylen Brown, for that matter) will certainly derail the young guard’s progression… I’m sorry, I just don’t buy it for a number of reasons. In fact, I think the opposite will ultimately be true.

Look at the type of player we saw Edgecombe become throughout his rookie season in the NBA. Offensively, he excelled the most as an off-ball scorer — cutting to open space, scoring off screens, leaving opponents in the dust getting out in transition for quick buckets. The soon-to-be 21-year-old is incredibly speedy and athletic, with a keen awareness to know exactly what gaps to fill with precise timing, as well as a willingness to take advantage of the shot opportunities he gets with no hesitation.

All of these skills combined to make Edgecombe his most efficient when the ball wasn’t in his hands for too long. As his rookie regular season progressed, Edgecombe was a more efficient shooter on catch-and-shoots than he was pull-ups, from everywhere on the floor — he sank 38.7% (99-for-256) on catch-and-shoot triples compared for 31.1% (50-for-161) on pull-ups. On zero dribbles, Edgecombe sank 46.8% (171-for-365) from the floor when he didn’t put the ball on the ground. With a touch time of less than two seconds, he went 45.8% from the floor and 37.7% from long range.

I don’t see how the Sixers’ new stacked starting four around Edgecombe does not enable him to put those skills to immense use and continue to develop into a true sharpshooter. With Tyrese Maxey, Brown, Joel Embiid and Lebron all worthy of drawing a double-team or help defense at any given moment, there should be a lot of gaps created on the offensive floor for Edgecombe to cut to and receive passes from any of the very capable playmakers in the lineup for shooting opportunities. Not to mention that, because of that star quality surrounding him, Edgecombe is likely to be matched with every opponent’s fifth-best defender on the floor. One through four will have their hands full with the other guys.

(Perhaps I will look back on this and reflect differently if all four of his starting-line mates refuse to pass to him when he’s open for some reason, but I genuinely do not believe that will be the case.)

Edgecombe also shined in his debut season as an active, aggressive rebounder with some impressively solid defense. It doesn’t take much deep analysis into this roster to know that Edgecombe will still have plenty of opportunities to hone those specific skills even with the Sixers’ impressive newcomers.

So, in my opinion, the new starting five will work right into Edgecombe’s existing wheelhouse in a number of ways. Of course that begs the question, then, of when will he work on the things that are his existing weaknesses, such as some sloppiness and inefficiency as a ball-handler and facilitating point guard.

It’s true that he’s unlikely to get the best opportunities to work on these skills with the new starting lineup… but one has to remember that that’s not the only lineup he will be playing in. I hardly think Nick Nurse will be doing five subs at a time, and the bench unit will mesh in with the starting guys as the rotation develops throughout games. What Edgecombe doesn’t necessarily work on specifically from tipoff, he can work on more as the bench players get involved.

And none of this is even mentioning that with the addition of guys like LeBron and Brown comes their leadership and mentorship for Edgecombe, a kid that has already shown himself to be extremely coachable and adaptable to teaching. It’s one of those massive intangibles that should be considered just as important as the numbers or hypothetical “fit” on paper when talking about a player like Edgecombe.

It will never show on a stat sheet, but the young guard has already proven himself to have an incredible work ethic, an extremely confident approach to the game as well as an immense willingness to do whatever is asked of him to help his team or his game. Edgecombe wasn’t one to get down or mopey after making a mistake or going on a cold shooting streak. He showed himself able to pivot into different versions of himself based on what a game situation was calling for. He never seemed discouraged by having someone like Maxey or Nurse in his ear about something — in fact, he often seemed eager to learn from every little stumble.

I don’t see why any of those factors in Edgecombe’s personality would be different now that he’s playing alongside one of the greatest to ever do it. If anything, one would think Edgecombe would only be further encouraged to do whatever he can to make himself productive and useful among the best of the best. Hell, he handled the whiplash transition from a 19-year-old college kid to consistent NBA starter logging 3,030 NBA minutes (regular and postseason) in stride — I think he can handle perhaps a shift in expected role. And I bet he does it with a smile on his face.

So, could LeBron, Brown and the others change the way that Edgecombe’s game develops this season? Of course, there’s no doubt. But change — even within a Sixers franchise that has felt fully cursed at times — is not always a negative. The idea that Edgecombe’s development is now completely ruined or derailed by the organization’s recent fortune and the opportunity to learn from some of the best the game has to offer, feels overblown at best and completely disingenuous at worst.

Different? Maybe. Derailed? Not a chance.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rockets fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

The Houston Rockets are underachievers. If you are what you are, then over the last two years, the Rockets were defeated in the first round of the playoffs as a number two seed, and then they were beaten by the shorthanded Lakers last season. Say what you will about the progress made from the Silas years, but the Rockets are currently underachivers.

If the Rockets underachieve again, heads could very well roll. We want to know, if the Rockets flame out again this season, who is the most likey to go? Head coach Ime Udoka, GM Rafael Stone or both?

Cast your vote, tell is in the comments, and we’ll be back soon with the results.

Warriors' lack of NBA offseason additions displayed by jarring graphic originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

If you’re more of a visual learner, a recent graphic posted to X shows how jarringly quiet the Warriors’ NBA offseason has been thus far.

The graphic posted by X user @automaticnba shows all 30 teams and their every addition via free agency and trade heading into the 2026-27 season.

While it’s been quite the offseason for certain teams such as the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers, things have fallen flat, to say the least, for Golden State.

Every new addition officially acquired via trade/free agency through 6 weeks of the offseason.

One of the craziest offseasons EVER pic.twitter.com/pLwFqHp0YK

— Automatic (@automaticnba) July 26, 2026

The Warriors are the only team on the graphic without a new addition.

It comes at a sensitive time for Dub Nation and the Warriors, who just missed out on landing four-time NBA MVP LeBron James, who ultimately chose to take his talents to Philadelphia. But James is just the latest superstar to spurn the Warriors, who have come up short time and time again in pairing a big-name talent alongside Steph Curry to maximize what’s left of his championship window.

Of course, there still is time for offseason additions, but six weeks in, the graphic is quite symbolic of how things have shaped up for the Warriors in recent years.

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Why did LeBron James choose the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency? The answer is starting to come into focus days after James made his “final decision.” Here’s what we know so far.

• LeBron wanted his best chance to win a fifth championship: He decided Philly was a better option to get there than Miami, Cleveland, and Golden State. The opportunity to win another ring took precedent over a reunion with one of his former teams, playing with Steph Curry, or anything else.
• LeBron wanted to play with a fellow Klutch client: Tyrese Maxey is also represented by Rich Paul, and it sure seems like that played into James’ decision. Paul said that Cleveland’s decision to trade Darius Garland last season hurt their chances to land LeBron. It’s no coincidence that the Sixers signed fellow Klutch client Kentavious Caldwell-Pope shortly after LeBron agreed to terms.
• LeBron wants to live in New York: Paul said that LeBron would have signed with the Knicks if they didn’t win the 2026 NBA championship, and I believe him. There are already rumors that James is going to live in New York City and take a helicopter to games in Philly.
• LeBron really wanted to play with Jaylen Brown: The Cavs not trading for Jaylen Brown hurt their chances to land LeBron, according to insider Brian Windhorst. LeBron didn’t take Philly seriously as a potential landing spot until the team traded for Brown, according to Shams Charania.

The Jaylen Brown point is particularly fascinating, and not just because Brown was once caught saying he didn’t think Bronny James was an NBA player.

The Celtics shopped Brown all over the league this summer. The best deal they could get was one from Philadelphia that felt hugely underwhelming at the time. Boston had to take back Paul George’s albatross contract, and got two first-round picks, one of which may turn into a swap instead. I’ve significantly warmed on the trade from the Celtics’ perspective, in part because lead executive Brad Stevens is one of the best in the league. If Stevens didn’t want Brown — and if 28 other teams didn’t really want him, either — then maybe winning with him on his current contract is a lot more difficult than most fans and media believe.

LeBron disagrees. He wouldn’t have gone to Philly without Brown, and heck, he might be in Cleveland or Miami or Golden State right now if one of those teams had traded for him instead. James’ greatest strength might be his basketball IQ, but there’s a reason why superstar players often don’t make great executives. Even if LeBron is the ultimate ball knower, the fit between him and Brown could be clunky even before we get to Brown’s massive cap hit.

Brown obviously had an excellent season in a high-usage role with the Celtics last year, but there are a few truths about his game that Philly will have to overcome. He’s never been a good off-ball defender, and tends to give up a lot of easy points by getting back cut. He’s not a good spot-up three-point shooter after only hitting 31% of his catch-and-shoots triples last year. Brown also has the ball a lot but rarely passes. This graph shows “average seconds per touch” vs. “percentage of touches that end with a pass.” As you can see, Brown doesn’t like to give up the rock. If he gets the ball, he’s either shooting or turning it over.

How do you think the new look 6ers will fit together? pic.twitter.com/fUtpy3qsl2

— ALL NBA Podcast (@ALLCITY_NBA) July 27, 2026

Brown called last season his favorite year of his career, probably because he got to take a lot of shots with Jayson Tatum out. It was a strange quote for a player who won an NBA championship and was named NBA Finals MVP during Boston’s 2024 run to the title. If Brown thought he was getting his own team after the trade to Philly, you can now make the case that he’s actually the fourth option.

The players who need to adjust their game the most after LeBron’s decision are Brown and Embiid. Brown needs to become a better spot-up shooter, a more willing passer, a more attentive off-ball defender, and someone who can find “opportunistic” buckets on cuts and offensive rebounds. Embiid needs to stay as close to “healthy” as possible first and foremost, but then he needs to focus more of his energy on being a monster rim protector, and less on being a great low post scorer.

The NBA didn’t really want Jaylen Brown at his salary. The analytics think he’s overrated and overpaid. LeBron disagrees, and he chose Philly largely because Brown was there.

Brown at $57 million this year might not be a great value, but you know what is? Brown and James for a combined $61 million. That’s what Philly has now, and the team is convinced it gives them a real shot at the 2027 championship.

Jalen Green’s name has been everywhere lately. Not because he’s said anything, not because he’s posted anything, but because the league can’t seem to stop dragging him into hypothetical blockbusters. Markieff Morris tosses out a LeBron‑to‑Cleveland scenario, and suddenly Green is trending again, a Suns player turned trade‑machine prop. It’s become part of his ecosystem: even when he’s quiet, the noise finds him.

But Phoenix isn’t operating in hypotheticals. They’re operating in reality. And the reality is that they’ve barely seen the player they traded for. Last season was a half‑story. A sketch. A trailer. A version of Jalen Green that played through pain, through adjustment, through the weight of expectation. The flashes were real, but the continuity wasn’t.

And that’s why imagining the best‑case Jalen Green isn’t just fun, it’s relevant. It’s clarifying. It’s the kind of exercise that tells you what the Suns actually are when their roster is whole.

So let’s explore the version of Jalen Green that Phoenix believes exists, the one the league keeps trying to poach, and the one the fanbase hasn’t fully met yet.

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The good, the bad, and the ugly of last season…and why none of it defines him

The Good:

Even in limited form, Green gave Phoenix something they desperately needed: downhill pressure. He cracked open defenses with burst alone, forced mismatches, and created pockets of chaos that Devin Booker and Mikal Bridges quietly fed off. His willingness to defend — genuinely defend — was one of the season’s under‑discussed wins. And his buy‑in was unmistakable. He didn’t float. He didn’t freelance. He tried to fit.

The Bad:

The inconsistency. The hesitations. The lower-than-desired percentages from the floor. The possessions where he’d beat his man, pause, and let the advantage evaporate. Some of that was physical. Some of it was learning a system that doesn’t revolve around him. Some of it was simply being 24 in a league that expects 24‑year‑olds to already be finished products.

The Ugly:

The trade chatter. The way his name became a placeholder for “young talent” in every hypothetical blockbuster. The way he was discussed as an asset before he was ever discussed as a Sun. It wasn’t malicious, just lazy. But it created a season where Green was constantly reacting to narratives he didn’t create.

None of those three categories define him. They just explain why the Suns haven’t yet seen the version of Jalen Green they believe they have.

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What a fully healthy Jalen Green actually does for Phoenix

This is the part that isn’t Player Profile territory, because it’s not about his handle, his shot diet, or his defensive metrics. It’s about team geometry. A fully healthy Green changes Phoenix’s shape.

He turns Booker from primary creator into dual‑threat co‑pilot. He gives Bridges a second‑side attacker who punishes tilted defenses. He gives Maluach a guard who can weaponize five‑out spacing. He gives the Suns a transition engine they haven’t had since the Nash era.

Most importantly: he becomes the Suns’ sanctioned chaos agent. Every contender needs one: the player who breaks structure in a way that helps, not hurts. The one who forces defensive rotations, who bends coverages, who makes playoff scouting reports feel incomplete. Green has that in him. Phoenix just hasn’t had the chance to let it breathe. A best‑case Jalen Green isn’t a star in isolation. He’s a multiplier. He makes the Suns harder to guard, harder to predict, harder to scheme for. His run leading into and including the Play-In was special enough to wonder where Phoenix could go from here.

And that’s why imagining him matters.

What the fanbase should expect, and why other teams will be watching

Expect noise. Expect highlights. Expect the occasional “why did he take that shot” moment followed immediately by “oh, that’s why he took that shot.”

Expect growth.

And expect other teams to keep circling. They already are. The trade chatter isn’t random — it’s a reflection of how the league views him: young, moldable, high‑ceiling, and still capable of becoming the kind of player who makes GMs regret not calling sooner.

If he hits his stride, rival fanbases won’t just be watching. They’ll be worrying.

Has Jalen Green said anything? Posted anything? Gone online?

Not really. No end‑of‑season media. No summer‑workout hype clips. No commentary on the trade noise. This article doesn’t cite any quotes from him. He’s quiet. Which usually means one thing: he’s working.

Players who want to reset a narrative don’t talk in June. They show up in October.

If you’re already struggling to find your love for Jalen Green in a Suns uniform, check out this write-up by Shane Young at NBA.com. And revisit Jalen Green showing up and showing out, below.

Question for the readers

• What do you think the ‘best version’ of Jalen Green looks like for the 2026-27 NBA campaign?
• Is he a near-all-star talent showing out in Phoenix, or is he the big piece that gets Phoenix the next piece?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Bucks fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

This is the first of a three-part series examining Myles Turner’s role with the Bucks ahead of the 2026-27 season. Over the coming days, we’ll consider whether Milwaukee should start, bench, or cut (okay, trade) their veteran centre.

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It came as a bombshell. The buzz of a phone, the ding of a tweet. You couldn’t believe your eyes and so you refreshed the page, jumped to the next. Again and again until you knew it to be true.

Myles Turner was a Buck.

In the process, Damian Lillard had been waived and stretched as if on some medieval torture rack. But there was no pain. Not for you or me. Instead, a gentle breeze; a window reopened. And so we summoned the wind, inhaled as much as our lungs could take.

Euphoria.

Just six months later, any breath of wind had petered out. Despite a surprising opening run that had the Bucks sitting 5-2, including wins over the New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors, they soon fell into a stretch of .500 ball. Then our collective lungs collapsed—seven straight losses before a reprieve against the lowly (3-15) Brooklyn Nets to close out November. And by the time they lost by 45 freakin’ points to those same Brooklyn Nets less than two weeks later, a game in which Turner put up an all-too-familiar nine points, three rebounds, and one assist, finishing with a -21 plus/minus in 24 minutes of action, it was clearer than the nosebleed section of the Bradley Center in 2014: this was not the Myles Turner we’d signed up for.

Whether it was Doc Rivers’ deployment, his own inability to adapt, or some combination of the two, Turner’s first year in Milwaukee was rough, arguably his worst as a pro. In terms of expectation, there isn’t even a debate. In all, Turner finished the season with averages of 11.9 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.5 APG, and 1.6 BPG, shooting 44% from the field. Then he hacked the Brew Hoop database and snuck a C on his end-of-year report card (it’s the only possible explanation).

Now, just over one year removed from the hype of his signing, Turner’s status in Milwaukee is up in the air. Doc Rivers is long gone. Giannis is too. So are Bobby Portis and Taurean Prince and Gary Harris. And Turner, having just turned 30 in March, suddenly finds himself an elder statesman on a team full of youth, wondering where he fits in and what will become of him.

As it stands, there are three options.

Start: The reclamation project

For as poorly as he played last season with the Bucks, Turner is not a bad player. Far from it—he has a decade’s worth of quality NBA play behind him. And while he may no longer fit the Bucks’ timeline, he can still help a team win. This—and what it can offer the Bucks down the road—is the rationale to start him.

In his 11-year career, Turner has been to the playoffs seven times. That doesn’t happen by accident, not when you’re one of the team’s core players. In fact, Turner has started 63 of a possible 66 postseason games, including all 40 of the Indiana Pacers’ games as they made the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals and then the 2025 NBA Finals. Bottom line: Turner knows how to win as a starter, and for a Bucks team that is full of youth and has no reason to tank, that’s invaluable.

But Turner’s value as a potential starter doesn’t stop there. At his best, he’s a borderline All-Star (or at least a superstar role player) who’s also among the rarest of players in the league—a 3-and-D centre. Despite his down year, Turner hit a near career-high 2.1 three-pointers per game (and did so on 38%), while also finishing eighth in the league in total blocks (115) and 11th in blocks per game (1.6). This versatility remains at a premium in today’s NBA and can help maximise the play of those around him. Think newly acquired—and projected starters—Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr. wouldn’t benefit from additional territory in which to create? For as good as Bam Adebayo is, he doesn’t offer the offensive spacing Turner does, so there’s reason to believe Turner helps elevate their play, especially Jaquez’s, who we know loves to operate in the paint.

In the process—and arguably more importantly—starting Turner is the best avenue to increasing his trade value. While fans were eager to move off Turner as early as late last season, and certainly throughout the offseason after acquiring Kel’el Ware, doing so would break the cardinal rule of trading: don’t sell stock when it’s at its lowest. Saving this for February’s trade deadline, after Turner has re-established who he is—and teams are looking for an impact acquisition to “put them over the top” as they head into the playoffs—is the shrewd move, enabling the Bucks to maximise their return. If Turner helps raise the play and value of Herro and Jaquez while doing so, even better.

Now, if only he could win a tip-off…

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What say you about a Myles Turner-as-starter redemption tour? Share your thoughts in the comments and stay tuned for Part II: Bench, coming tomorrow.

Draymond Green agrees to Warriors return on one-year, $27.7M contract, per agent originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Draymond Green is back.

Green has agreed to return to the Warriors on a one-year, $27.7 million contract, his agent Rich Paul told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Tuesday morning.

Draymond Green has agreed to return to the Golden State Warriors on a one-year, $27.7 million deal, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul tells ESPN. The contract is the same Green opted out of to give the Warriors flexibility to pursue LeBron James, but the sides land his return Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/Hyf1xruzrx

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 28, 2026

Earlier this offseason, Green declined his $27.7 million player option to become a free agent and give Golden State flexibility to pursue LeBron James in NBA free agency.

But with James choosing the Philadelphia 76ers, the Warriors made sure to secure their guy.

In 14 seasons, Green has averaged 8.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists through 949 games and 794 starts.

Green now will play his 15th consecutive season in the Bay, where he’s won four NBA championships and continues to chase a fifth.

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UNLV basketball coach Josh Pastner clarified comments he made when he said the Runnin’ Rebels were seeking an "owner" for the team, emphasizing that the men’s basketball team is not for sale and belongs to the university.

In a statement, Pastner explained, "the Runnin' Rebels are not for sale, and my reference to an 'owner' was meant to highlight the level of resources, sponsorships, and overall support needed to compete in today's evolving college athletics landscape, not to suggest that anyone could own the program."

He concluded by reaffirming that the men’s basketball team "belongs to UNLV, its students, alumni, fans, and the entire Southern Nevada community."