In the shadows of their crosstown rival Knicks, the Nets are looking to improve on their 20-win season last year.
One of the main pieces in their rebuild is 2025 No. 8 overall pick Egor Dëmin, who showed promising flashes during his rookie year and even more signs of growth during the Summer League.
Dëmin picked up where he left off in Las Vegas on Tuesday night during Brooklyn's first preseason game against the Charlotte Hornets (124-90 win), scoring six points (2-for-3 from three) with five assists in a limited 18 minutes of action. After the win, Dëmin expressed confidence in his development and believes he's ready to take the next step in his career.
"Yeah, my goal is to translate not just a part of what I did in Summer League, but even more, right?" Dëmin told the New York Post's Brian Lewis. "Obviously I had some more time after Summer League, and I kept working on that stuff. And I think I’m even better right now than I was in Summer League."
The BYU product averaged 21.0 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.7 rebounds in three Summer League games and 23.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in the California Classic (two games). By comparison, Dëmin averaged just 10.3 points across 52 games during his rookie season.
Head coach Jordi Fernández said he liked what he saw from the 20-year-old on Tuesday night, noting his improved strength and comfortability on the court.
"Yeah, you see him with five assists in the first group; so he leads that group in assists, which is great," Fernández said. "Egor was good. I want him aggressive to shoot or to touch the paint, and he’s done it the whole summer. He’s worked at it, he’s stronger, and now he’s very comfortable getting there. So, it’s great. He’s got to keep doing it, got to keep finding his teammates or getting good shots."
Teammate Michael Porter Jr. added after the preseason win that he believes Dëmin can "make a humungous jump" in his sophomore season.
"I’m excited to play with Egor," Porter said. "He’s a phenomenal shooter and scorer, but also a great passer. So he can do a lot of things on the court, rebound, push the break, shoot the ball. And now that he’s getting in the paint and finishing around the rim, he’ll make a humongous jump."
When asked about his goals for the 2026-27 season, Dëmin is focused on winning.
"To win as many games as possible," Dëmin said. "Our process is oriented now on getting there each day, at least a little bit, but getting there, no matter whether it’s a game day, practice day, or an update."
Brooklyn gets its first chance at that goal when the team opens the regular season on Wednesday, Oct. 21 against the Hornets.
(Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
LeBron James decided to suit up for the 76ers this season, but that sure doesn’t mean he wants to live in Philadelphia. In fact, he’s going to extraordinary lengths to avoid being there any longer than necessary. News emerged this last week that LeBron has decided to live in New York for the 2026-27 season, commuting to Philly for games and practice. That sounds like a colossal pain on the surface, considering it’s roughly a two-hour trip from city-to-city — but don’t worry, King James isn’t driving, instead he’s taking multiple helicopter trips a week to cut his travel time down to 30 minutes.
This wasteful and frankly ridiculous travel scheme would be one thing if it were on LeBron’s dime, but news that the travel is being paid for by Fanatics raises major questions about how the NBA is allowing a benefit like this. It feels especially hypocritical less than a month after the league announced significant sanctions against the Los Angeles Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer for circumventing the salary cap with improper payments to Kawhi Leonard that exceeded his salary.
LeBron is making the NBA veteran minimum of $3.87M this season — but these arranged helicopter flights are so numerous and prolific that they might as well be baked into his deal. It was reported on Tuesday that James has taken as many as 12 trips via helicopter in a single week, and while it’s difficult to estimate the value of those flights taken on a privately owned helicopter, the service Blade, which is basically Uber for people who want to ride by helicopter, has a listed price of $4,645 one-way for trips from New York City to Philadelphia. This means LeBron would have racked up over $55,000 on trips alone in one week, and if we estimate he will be taking six trips per week during the regular season (and this still might be on the low side), then his benefit from these flights is tantamount to $668,000.
It’s a far cry from the $28M that Kawhi Leonard was paid under the table by sponsors of the Clippers, but it still rolls up to raise questions about how the NBA will deal, not just with direct payments, but questionable benefits that come from signing specific NBA contracts.
Fanatics is throwing up their hands and pleading ignorance, saying that LeBron has “access to corporate aviation,” as part of the endorsement deal he signed with the company in 2024. Most reasonably people would agree that there’s a fundamental difference between chartering a private jet to attend an event as part of an endorsement deal and taking 12 helicopter trips a week to facilitate NBA practices.
The water is made even muddier by the fact that Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin was a former partner of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, owner of the 76ers. While Rubin sold his shares in the company in 2022, he remains extremely close to the 76ers organization. There are no fewer than 50 published photos of Rubin either sitting courtside at Sixers games or in the tunnel with players, all of which were taken after he sold his stake in the team.
Would these flight benefits be extended to LeBron if he signed with the Cavaliers? It’s clear Rubin is not simply a former owner of the Sixers, but a dedicated superfan who attends as many high-profile games as possible, maintaining a close personal relationship with the organization.
It’s not like LeBron couldn’t easily afford the trips with his own money. The charter flight fees are a drop in the bucket for a man who has earned over $575M from basketball alone, and is worth well over $1B when factoring in his endorsement deals. The question is more about how the NBA plans to enforce (or ignore) contracts, in an era where seemingly everyone is finding creative ways to circumvent the cap with extra kickers on deals. It also comes at a time when it’s fair to have scrutiny of any player movement decision when numerous players have deals with predictive marketing (gambling) companies. Giannis Antetokounmpo raised eyebrows by announcing his ownership stake in Kalshi shortly after he wasn’t traded during the 2025-26 NBA Trade Deadline, while it was reported that LeBron James has an agreement with Polymarket, which will pay him more this season than his NBA salary.
LeBron made massive waves when he spurned his long-term agreement with Upper Deck to sign an endorsement deal with Michael Rubin and Fanatics in early 2024. Two years later he signed with the team Rubin has direct ties to, and now he’s getting benefits from this side deal that enable a travel schedule no other team could match. It might not be against the NBA CBA to have agreements like this, but the whole situation feels extremely icky.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 5: Bruce Brown #1 of the New York Knicks shoots the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 5, 2026 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
As we patiently wait for the Knicks to host the Wiz Kiz on Thursday…
…here are the latest quotables from around Tarrytown and elsewhere.
"I think that the safest play is Drew Eubanks" – Ian on the Knicks' final roster spot
On the Knicks’ lack of physicality against Philadelphia:
“What bothers me is our lack of physicality throughout the ball game, and that’s the whole roster up and down. We weren’t great on the ball physically and we weren’t great with our defensive positioning physically.
“The rest of the [issues are] coach talk. It’s real, but it’s coach talk that we’ll clean up watching film and all that stuff. I can’t help with the physicality. That they’ve gotta find individually, which will then turn into collectively, and that’s how you find minutes. That’s how you make the team. That’s how you contribute in a way where some of those other mistakes can be ‘OK, we’ll get better in that area and we’ll get better in this area.’
“But the physicality, we have to do a better job of that from top to bottom.”
On the Knicks making the game easy for the 76ers:
“They got to wherever they wanted to when it comes to getting to their spots and getting good shots. We didn’t contest, we didn’t rear-view challenge and we made the game easy for them. We just turned and took a step to the rim and they came right over our back and got the offensive rebound, so that I’m concerned about and I don’t want to see happen.”
On the Knicks’ poor 3-point shot selection:
“I don’t care if we go 0 for 40. We took 41 and 33 of those [threes] weren’t sprays. And that’s not how we play.”
Jalen Brunson
On the importance of the Knicks’ preseason opener:
“[I put] a good amount [of stock in this preseason game]. Obviously being results-based is not necessarily a focus, but it’s like process-driven and making sure the details are there and doing all the right things. I think those are the things you need to be concerned about, results-based not so much. Obviously we want to win but make sure the process is right.”
Exclusive: Bruce Brown “very surprised” to be fighting a different kind of second apron battle https://t.co/Y8fuMU1n0P
On the second apron being used as an excuse by teams when navigating freeagency:
“I heard that all summer.”
On being surprised by his diminished free-agent market:
“I was very surprised. I played every single game last year, played meaningful minutes the whole year. Thought I did decently or good enough in my role that I was given. But when free agency started, that wasn’t the case.”
On proving himself while competing for a Knicks roster spot:
“You got to prove yourself every year. I’ve been on eight teams in nine years. Every year you got to prove yourself, prove you’ve gotten better. But with this team obviously the first and second units are pretty set, I’d say. So obviously I’d have to provide a winning attitude. I’m fighting for a job right now. So any role they give me, I’d be happy to do it.”
On returning to New York after previously playing for the Nets during the KD era:
“I love New York. Obviously playing in Brooklyn, they’re little brother to the Knicks even if, at the time, they weren’t that good and we were really good. New York’s always a place I loved, loved winning, loved being around. When I got the call, I was like, ‘Yeah, for sure.’ ”
On wanting to play for a contender:
“As you know, at this point in my career, only contending teams look for me. So I’m just trying to compete for a championship. Go back to back and help them win again.”
On fighting for a guaranteed roster spot:
“It is what it is right now. I thought I played well enough last year to be in the running for a guaranteed job. But now I just got to show my work throughout the summer and my veteran leadership somehow.”
Stephen A. Smith
On seeing the 76ers as a threat to the Knicks:
“The Sixers can make a title run. The Sixers are the team to watch out for if you’re the New York Knicks. To me, it’s clearly about the Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers.”
On James Dolan and the lack of extensions for Leon Rose and William Wesley:
“Let me put everybody in New York on blast. That damn James Dolan is getting in the way again. We have some concerns. First of all, I don’t know if it’s news or not. Where the hell is the extension for Leon Rose? Where the hell is the extension for Worldwide Wes, William Wesley? Worldwide Wes and Leon Rose ended a 53-year drought and brought a championship to New York. Where’s their extension? Where is it? That’s number one.”
On the Knicks’ current contract offer to Karl-Anthony Towns:
“Number two, I’m not going to tell you that Karl-Anthony Towns deserves the max. I understand that you got Brunson and Anunoby coming down the pike, but you don’t disrespect that man by cutting him short by $77 million. You don’t do that. You give him a respectable offer.”
“You give him an offer that says, ‘Okay, listen. We need you to take this hit. Jalen Brunson took this hit. We need you to do it, too.’ So, it ain’t $277 million. It might be $225-$227 million, something along those lines because Brunson took a hit, too.”
“You might not like it, but it’s not disrespectful. You’re saying, ‘Listen, I got the cats that you want to keep with you. I’m going to have to touch that second apron. I’m going to have to take care of your other cats.’”
On the Knicks needing to take care of Jalen Brunson first:
“And we know you got to, to use his term, Big Body Brunson. We got to take care of him. That’s what we can’t go to Brunson and ask him to take another cut. The man delivered the chip, and he was the superstar that did it. Okay, he is the franchise. There will be a statue erected outside of Madison Square Garden for that man one day. He erased a 53-year drought.”
“Okay, we got to take care of Brunson. So, we might need y’all to take some hits, but you don’t disrespect him.”
On the Knicks’ history and Towns’ value to the championship team:
“For 53 years, the New York Knicks didn’t do anything but pass gas and try to tell us it was perfume. That’s what they did. They stunk up the joint year after year after year, and they finally won the chip.”
“Karl-Anthony Towns has everything to do with that. I’m not telling you that he ain’t worth—first of all, he’s worth the $277 million in today’s NBA economy. It’s just that, in light of other people you have to take care of, it’s going to call for some level of sacrifice.”
“But you don’t disrespect him. Karl-Anthony Towns deserves more money, and most importantly, he deserves to be respected and appreciated. And I’mma tell you why: New York has a problem.”
On his concerns about James Dolan after the Knicks’ championship:
“They got a problem because that same damn James Dolan that stunk up the joint for years running the New York Knicks franchise finally, after 27 years at the helm, won a chip.”
“It wouldn’t surprise me at all if his mentality is, ‘All right, I delivered a chip. So now we can wait another quarter century before we win it again.’ He’s the kind of person that’ll have that kind of attitude and take that for granted.”
On what he sees as a broader problem with Knicks ownership:
“I’m speaking to a bigger problem. I’m speaking to a level of arrogance and dismissiveness on the part of the ownership that’s focused on the fact that he’s a champion now and not really reflecting on the years of ineptitude that he exercised running this franchise.”
“And if Karl-Anthony Towns isn’t taken care of, it sends the wrong message: ‘we don’t necessarily take care of our own.’ You see what I’m saying? And that’s where it’ll lead to you not winning for the next quarter-century and beyond when you ignore your own.”
“Even when the Lakers struggled, the Buss family always took care of the people who took care of them. That is what James Dolan has to remember.
“Leon Rose deserves his money. Worldwide Wes deserves his money. Brunson and Anunoby deserve their money. Karl-Anthony Towns deserves the money. They clearly made money for James Dolan this past season. Yeah, they made money for him. Let’s be clear.”
Sabonis’ shoe FELL OFF trying to guard Luka. He knocked down a 3 and pointed at his shoe 😭 pic.twitter.com/ah9FpBkW0H
EuroLeague basketball owners have rejected a formal offer from the NBA to merge into a single European operation following a meeting in Italy, Barcelona confirmed Wednesday.
The decision not to accept the NBA’s proposal of a single Europe entity was made Tuesday in Cernobbio during a gathering of the EuroLeague’s 13 shareholder clubs. They include Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Olympiakos, Milan, Tony Parker-owned ASVEL in France and two Istanbul-based clubs.
A statement on the EuroLeague’s website said they met to “discuss and align on key strategic decisions regarding the future of their collective property,” without mentioning the NBA.
Barcelona told The Associated Press in an emailed response that a formal merger offer from the NBA had been rejected. In a statement, the club confirmed that Barcelona president Joan Laporta attended the meeting and that club owners “took several decisions regarding the future of the competition.”
“Among those decisions was the rejection of the NBA’s proposal as it currently stands. Should that proposal be amended in the future, the clubs and the EuroLeague will reconsider it,” the statement read.
It’s not clear how each club voted. The EuroLeague declined to comment and pointed to its initial statement.
The NBA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The 20-team EuroLeague is comprised of 13 shareholder clubs immune from relegation. The rest either qualify through their domestic leagues or through invitation.
The NBA, in partnership with FIBA, is eying a 16-team model.
French sports daily L’Equipe reported that the NBA offered each future member 400 million euros ($448 million).
At Tuesday’s EuroLeague meeting, club owners agreed to move forward with converting the current 10-year licenses into franchises for the shareholder clubs. They also agreed to continue plans to increase the number of franchises.
European ambition
France’s Victor Wembanyama, Greece’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Slovenia’s Luka Doncic are among the biggest basketball stars worldwide.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver reaffirmed in January that the league was pressing forward on plans to bring a new league to Europe.
The NBA was targeting October 2027 as a potential launch date, with franchises paying what is expected to be a substantial entry fee. Media reports indicated the NBA was looking for at least a $500 million fee.
Many European basketball teams, including some in the EuroLeague, have struggled financially. The system has often relied on wealthy owners to cover team debts each year.
EuroLeague basketball owners have rejected a formal offer from the NBA to merge into a single European operation following a meeting in Italy, Barcelona confirmed Wednesday.
The decision not to accept the NBA’s proposal of a single Europe entity was made Tuesday in Cernobbio during a gathering of the EuroLeague’s 13 shareholder clubs. They include Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Olympiakos, Milan, Tony Parker-owned ASVEL in France and two Istanbul-based clubs.
A statement on the EuroLeague’s website said they met to “discuss and align on key strategic decisions regarding the future of their collective property,” without mentioning the NBA.
Barcelona told The Associated Press in an emailed response that a formal merger offer from the NBA had been rejected. In a statement, the club confirmed that Barcelona president Joan Laporta attended the meeting and that club owners “took several decisions regarding the future of the competition.”
“Among those decisions was the rejection of the NBA’s proposal as it currently stands. Should that proposal be amended in the future, the clubs and the EuroLeague will reconsider it,” the statement read.
It’s not clear how each club voted. The EuroLeague declined to comment and pointed to its initial statement.
The NBA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The 20-team EuroLeague is comprised of 13 shareholder clubs immune from relegation. The rest either qualify through their domestic leagues or through invitation.
The NBA, in partnership with FIBA, is eying a 16-team model.
French sports daily L’Equipe reported that the NBA offered each future member 400 million euros ($448 million).
At Tuesday’s EuroLeague meeting, club owners agreed to move forward with converting the current 10-year licenses into franchises for the shareholder clubs. They also agreed to continue plans to increase the number of franchises.
European ambition
France’s Victor Wembanyama, Greece’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Slovenia’s Luka Doncic are among the biggest basketball stars worldwide.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver reaffirmed in January that the league was pressing forward on plans to bring a new league to Europe.
The NBA was targeting October 2027 as a potential launch date, with franchises paying what is expected to be a substantial entry fee. Media reports indicated the NBA was looking for at least a $500 million fee.
Many European basketball teams, including some in the EuroLeague, have struggled financially. The system has often relied on wealthy owners to cover team debts each year.
Dave Portnoy thinks LeBron James is going to be the next Kawhi Leonard.
After shocking the world and joining the Philadelphia 76ers this past offseason, seemingly every basketball mind began double-taking at how James landed in the City of Brotherly Love for what many expect to be his final seasons.
James signed for the league minimum to facilitate the deal and be able to sign wherever he wanted, and reports have trickled out that Michael Rubin, the billionaire owner of Fanatics who used to be a part owner of the 76ers, might have a bit more to do with James’ decision than was previously known.
LeBron James shocked the league with his signing in Philadelphia. NBAE via Getty Images
“He basically took that contract (league minimum deal with the 76ers) because Rubin is doing a side deal with him,” Portnoy said in a post on social media. “He flies in and out. It’s illegal. It’s basically what Kawhi did. But the NBA won’t look into LeBron.”
James signing a league-minimum contract was surprising, as he had been on a max contract for nearly his entire career before that.
LeBron James arrives in New York City via helicopter after his first scrimmage, Saturday, October 3, 2026. James made his public debut with the Philadelphia 76ers, and soon after arrived at a New York heliport. TheImageDirect.com
Front Office Sports’ Dan Roberts reported that James is allowed access to Fanatics Aviation as part of his contract with Rubin’s company, and he revealed his free-agent destination in a collaborative social media post across multiple websites.
“The deal we signed with Fanatics almost three years ago includes access to their corporate aviation,” a James spokesperson told Front Office Sports. “It’s a feature in many of their deals with their largest athletes and we appreciate their partnership as LeBron splits his time between New York and Philadelphia.”
I love Philly. If I’m choosing between living in Philly or NYC I’m choosing Philly every time #DDTGpic.twitter.com/kJ46UGwruh
Dave Portnoy does not love LeBron James in Philadelphia. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Portnoy is pointing to this “side deal” with Rubin’s company as a form of salary cap circumvention, since Fanatics is paying him an undisclosed amount of money that is clearly not a small number if he has unlimited access to private planes and is leaking his free-agent destination to him.
Though this isn’t a “side deal” as Portnoy says, as James has publicly been working with Fanatics since 2024 and hasn’t been hidden from public view as Leonard’s deals with multiple companies were since 2019.
The access to Fanatics’ private jets weren’t previously known and Rubin does have ties to the 76ers organization.
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Rubin, who used to be a part owner of the 76ers, sold his stake in 2022, adding that it is having an effect on the rest of his businesses.
“As our Fanatics business has grown, so too have the obstacles I have to navigate to ensure our new businesses don’t conflict with my responsibilities as part-owner of the Sixers,” Rubin said in 2022. “Given these realities, I will sadly be selling my stake in the Sixers and shifting from part-owner back to life-long fan.”
LeBron James arrives in New York City from Philadelphia via helicopter after his first scrimmage, Saturday, October 3, 2026. . TheImageDirect.comMichael Rubin used to own the 76ers. Getty Images
Salary cap circumvention is a hot topic in the sports world right now, as the Clippers were given a massive penalty of five first round picks – which they have since accepted – for funneling money to Leonard through illegal means in the eyes of the NBA.
The scheme, first pointed out by investigative journalist Pablo Torre, resulted in Leonard getting $7 million in cash and $5 million in stock per year in the company Aspiration.
James is making just $3.87 million for his season in Philadelphia, but he’s made up for it in off-the-court partnerships with Fanatics (undisclosed amount) and Polymarket ($15 million per year).
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 21: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder dribbles the ball against Gary Trent Jr. #5 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the first quarter at Fiserv Forum on January 21, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks play the Oklahoma City Thunder for game two of their preseason campaign tonight. The Bucks fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a disappointing first outing where their lacklustre defence was put on full display, especially in transition. That said, the game also included some real positive flashes from Brayden Burries and Nate Ament, along with solid performances from Ryan Rollins and Kel’el Ware. Sure, the game was nothing to write home about—which is why I am writing all of you instead—but it could have been a lot worse. Jenkins may still be in the phase of throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks tonight, but here’s to hoping we see this team start to find more of its footing.
The Task Ahead
Though not nearly the off-season shake-up that Milwaukee endured, Oklahoma City enters this year with some familiar faces gone: Isaiah Joe, Andrew Wiggins, and perhaps most notably, Lu Dort. This comes after falling in the Western Conference Finals to the San Antonio Spurs, so it stands to reason that this OKC team faces more questions than in previous years. Alex Caruso sensed this additional context and reassured reporters on Media Day that, “Fundamentally, we are still the Oklahoma City Thunder.”
While nobody can deny that the Thunder are still the benchmark, questions are warranted. To many fans, Dort felt like a key piece of their core—what do they look like without him? Between Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace, the Thunder certainly aren’t lacking on the wing, but Dort’s switchability is hard to replace. Of course, they may start the season 24-1 again and make everyone forget these questions, but regardless, the personnel change will be a storyline worth tracking for the Thunder all season long.
Even so, don’t expect many answers against the rebuilding Milwaukee Bucks, especially since there is no real guarantee we will see many, if any, of Oklahoma City’s starters. This will be their second night of a back-to-back, and despite resting many starters last night, OKC may still take a conservative approach, given they expect to be playing into June. Nevertheless, I am hoping to see Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Ryan Rollins battle.
Injury Report
As of this writing, the Milwaukee Bucks have no injuries to report. The Oklahoma City Thunder, as I just mentioned, took a very conservative approach last night, sitting damn near half of their roster. Does that mean a chunk of them play tonight? There’s a decent chance, according to Thunder coach Mark Daigneault: “We make our own preseason schedule, so the back-to-backs are actually by design. We’re not going to play everybody in every game. At least the high-minute rotation guys. We will play some guys five games, but the high-minute guys don’t play in every game.” So yeah, we can expect some Thunder starters to play against the Bucks, but don’t be surprised if some remain out.
Player to Watch
Ousmane Dieng was one of several DNPs on Monday night, which shouldn’t surprise anyone given how large the roster currently is, but after signing a new contract with the Bucks over the summer, many fans and I are eager to see what Dieng can do in year two. While still somewhat unproven, Dieng showed some enticing flashes last year: length and athleticism on the perimeter, secondary and sometimes primary playmaking, and the ability to shoot or finish near the rim. This season, we are all hoping that he can take that next step forward and become a solidified rotational player, and I’d love to see him get started tonight.
Projected Starters
Bucks
Position
Thunder
Ryan Rollins
PG
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Tyler Herro
SG
Cason Wallace
Jaime Jaquez Jr.
SF
Jalen Williams
Kyle Kuzma
PF
Chet Holmgren
Myles Turner
C
Isaiah Hartenstein
Game Details
Who: Milwaukee Bucks (0-1) vs. Oklahoma City (0-1)
We see more from Superman. Kel’el Ware played 24 minutes in the first preseason game and grabbed 12 rebounds. In game two, I think we’ll see the Kryptonian play more minutes and grab more rebounds: 15 boards, six of which come off the offensive glass.
CAA’s co-head of basketball talks Karl-Anthony Towns’s winning moment and what comes after winning a championship.
This story appeared in Boardroom’s Fall Issue print magazine and has been adapted for online publication.
The life of a sports agent is not for the faint of heart. The competition to sign elite players starts earlier and earlier as the years pass, and the competition to keep elite players never ends. What used to be a job focused primarily on on-court contract negotiations now requires a wide range of skills, from understanding the value of equity in a brand sponsorship to building long-term IP through media and content creation, product development, team ownership, and a myriad of other avenues. An agent is often the first call a player makes in situations both professional and personal, from working through a contract extension to needing to change a flight.
The bet that a player and an agent make on each other is not a one-time thing: The agent a player signs with for NIL marketing or ahead of a draft is very unlikely to be the agent a player retires with. It’s a fickle business built off a “what have you done for me lately?” mentality, and reality rarely meets expectations. It’s remarkable, in this context, that CAA co-head of basketball Jessica Holtz has multiple clients, including the Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker and the New York Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns. Following Towns’s incredible sophomore season with the Knicks, culminating in a championship run that galvanized the city, I spoke with Holtz about how an agent and a player meet the moment from a marketing perspective.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
Boardroom: Can you describe your role as co-head of basketball and what that means as opposed to just being an agent?
Jessica Holtz: I have been at CAA for 12 years. I don't remember exactly when I got that title, but I became one of the leaders of the group very quickly into my tenure at CAA. Once Leon Rose left to become president of the New York Knicks [in 2020]. I also became a contract agent. So I have a lane within CAA Basketball where I do both on and off court, and I manage my clients 360. A lot of the other basketball agents work in larger teams -- and they have amazing teams. I just have a different setup with my clients because I do both.
Courtesy of Holtz
You've been with KAT and Devin Booker since they were drafted. It's now been over a decade. In that time working with players of that caliber, what are the biggest changes you've seen in the role that an agent plays?
I love that question, because I think that the agency business is evolving. Karl started in the NBA when he was 19. Devin started in the NBA when he was 18. They are different people than they were when they first started, obviously, in many ways. And then I have to evolve as a person. We have to constantly be figuring out what needs we can best fulfill. You have to cover the basics. You have to do their contracts properly. You have to bring in the off-court deals. But at the same time, what are different avenues of business that they're interested in? What are different streams of revenue that maybe weren' t there before? What are trends in the sports industry?
I really focus on figuring out what do they need today, what are they going to need next, and how does it fulfill their growth pattern? Because staying with NBA players that long, a lot of players switch agencies a couple times in their career, sometimes three, four times. The reason I think I've been able to stay with them so long, and I've been lucky to stay with them so long is that constant evolution and constant check-ins and taking a state of the union. Where can we be pivoting? And where do we see the next five years, the next 10 years going? Are we doing things to lay the groundwork now to get us there?
Even before we knew what this Knicks team was going to look like in reality, did you see and feel an immediate difference in marketing conversations when KAT made the move from Minnesota to New York?
First, I'll say I'm really proud of the work that we did for Karl in Minnesota. He was the No. 1 pick, and he won Rookie of the Year [in the 2015-16 season]. His career took a lot of twists and turns. His mother passed away [in 2020]. Anthony Edwards came to the team [in 2020] as the No. 1 pick. We've had a lot of partners through that time. Gatorade has supported Karl for his entire career, dating back to his high school days when he won the Gatorade Athlete of the Year award, and they've done an amazing job marketing him. He's been with Nike his whole career. He's been with 2K. There was a lot of groundwork laid for who Karl was, the things he was interested in, and the brands he was working with, so that when we got to New York, it wasn't like, "Oh, goody, here we go! Let's start marketing!"
It just felt like we got a higher ceiling in New York for Karl, and so many brands are based there. Obviously, there's a lot of CAA players on the Knicks, and so we kind of see the deal flow amongst us, and it's really helpful because we know the market value, we know what brands are spending, we know what Knicks partners are interested in. I love being part of a larger team where we can all work together and support each other, because just like the guys support each other as teammates, we support each other as their teammates on the back end.
I think it really just raised the ceiling at that moment, and then you win a championship and the ceiling goes even higher. I don't know where the ceiling is right now, and it's been really fun to try to figure it out.
New York is one of the biggest brands in the world just as a place.
Just by existing.
There's this incredibly fine line that you have to walk when you are in a playoff situation as an agent, as a player, where you're trying to map all of the possible scenarios and trying to prepare with Karl's brand partners, with potential opportunities on the horizon. You have to have some level of preparedness for, "Hey, if we go all the way, what happens next?" Can you walk me through a little bit of what that experience was like for you in this scenario and some of those conversations with his partners?
You have to wait until a certain point to have them. If I start in round one saying, "What about if we win a championship? What are you going to do to promote him?" then I sound crazy. So it is a very fine line to walk where you're kind of like, "Now I feel really comfortable just at least putting out feelers so that we're prepared." I would say that the sweep of the Cavs was really helpful for us to be able to prepare because you're going to the Finals. So there is a chance you're going to win this. So that's when you start reaching out and saying, "I want to be prepared, should we win this."
Once that moment happens, you guys were operating from this incredible place of, OK, we all can all coordinate with each other. I feel like there were definitely way more coordinated TV appearances than you usually see from players. Can you talk me through a little bit of what those next steps were once he reached the championship goal?
"It takes a village" is such an understatement. Mind you, it was the five Knicks players that we were working with and then their significant others. We were doing deals as a unit also for Jordyn Woods and Ali Brunson and Shannon Hart. The girls all did Reese's. That layer of it required us all coordinating notes, comparing with each other. OG Anunoby and Karl did Fortnite. Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson had their podcast.
It was all hands on deck. Then it was very easy because the guys really do genuinely love each other and they're all a very likable bunch of people, really good humans. So there was that feeling of, We're a team, let's just do as much of this as possible as a team. Once a couple of them were on board, it made it easy for all of us to just get on board. Luckily, a brand would reach out to CAA and it was easy. If this [player) doesn't want to do it, this one will. These two can do it together. I would say in my probably 20 years of doing this, that was the longest sustained period of quick decision-making I've ever had. You couldn't really hesitate on things for too long. We only had a couple hours to say, "Yes, we're doing this morning show. No, we're not doing this morning show. Yes, we're taking this deal. Can we execute it?"
What was it like getting to celebrate that moment for you personally with Leon Rose, whom you knew so well and had worked so closely with?
On a personal level, I couldn't be more grateful and thankful. When I first started out at CAA and first started working with Karl and Devin, it was me and Leon in the trenches together. We've been through so many situations, so many battles, and he always had my back and has been such an amazing mentor and very much part of the reason why we're even having this conversation right now. So to be able to look at him and be proud of him and be part of his story was really cool. Something that I think gets lost in the agency business is we are people at the end of the day and we share in our client success, we share in our peer success, and are just genuinely happy for one another.
It's very hard to put together a championship team. For Leon to have done that in the amount of time that he's done that is really amazing to watch from afar. When Karl got here two years ago, it's been so much fun to be part of because I just think the world of him and his family.
As you mentioned, the ceiling gets higher, and the fact is that Karl has just achieved the unachievable. How do you prepare in the offseason for what's to come next, and how do you talk about what your goals are off the court?
We talk all the time. I have this Notes file in my phone that I made called "The Wish list." I shouldn't speak for every basketball player, but I think all my clients are like this-always sharing that if they had a dream deal, this is what it would be. Now it's figuring out what are some of those conversations that maybe didn't go our way in the past for whatever reason? What should we revisit? What's your dream partnership?
He's building a trading card business. He's really put his flag in the ground in terms of being a premier athlete in the space. Helping him build that as a huge piece of his brand and capitalizing on this moment is probably the focal point.
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 5: Haywood Highsmith #19 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the game against the Detroit Pistons during a preseason game on October 5, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns have a few new faces, but return the majority of their core from a season ago. Jordan Ott has the tough task of figuring out how to best mix and match this group.
The Suns are on a mission to figure out who to keep and who to give minutes in the rotation on a deep squad. Everything else is just noise.
Context: This trio was hand-selected BEFORE the opening preseason game in Detroit. I will not let one preseason game filled with experimentation sway my opinion too strongly here. We still have four more of these things to go before the regular-season opener.
Here’s who we should all be focused on, outside of the young(er) fellas.
1) Pat Spencer
Pat Spencer played the LEAST amount of minutes on the team in the preseason opener, so I feel good about keeping him number one on this list. He received 7 total minutes and was not much of a factor, attempting just two shots and splitting a pair of free throws for 1 point.
His time will come in the preseason to get a fair look, but ultimately it’s important to remember that he is on a two-way contract. It is unlikely that he will receive playing time in a perfect world where everyone is healthy.
But the reality is, injuries happen. And when they do, Pat Spencer will be ready to go. It’s in his DNA.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – SEPTEMBER 28: PatSpencer #61 of the Phoenix Suns poses for a portrait during NBA media day on September 28, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
2) Haywood Highsmith
Call me crazy, but I still believe in Haywood Highsmith. At least as a useful rotation piece, nothing crazy or anything.
He has battled through a lot and is clearly not 100% the old version of himself, and that’s okay for now. They have the depth for him to build back up to where he needs to be in the meantime.
Rex Chapman says on the Suns broadcast that Haywood Highsmith underwent another minor knee procedure this summer, but is feeling better than ever going into the season.
Highsmith is likely in a battle for the final roster spot with Jamaree Bouyea at this point. Everything points to it being between those two, barring an injury.
He had a rough preseason debut, recording 5 turnovers in 16 minutes, but did rack up 4 boards and connected on his only shot attempt. Let’s see if he can shake off the rust going forward.
3) Ryan Dunn
It’s easy to forget about Ryan Dunn after he flatlined a bit a season ago. It was not the sophomore season many had hoped for, especially offensively.
A rough preseason opener could have many of you already “out” on him. And I wouldn’t blame you. But it’s important to not overreact to one game, especially in the preseason where the rotations and lineups get shuffled, and the play gets sloppy as players shake off rust. But there comes a point where you gain enough of a sample size to combine with the track record to form strong opinions on players, and that puts Dunn on an uphill climb.
The battle between him, Rasheer Fleming and Koa Peat for minutes will be an interesting storyline to track this season.
They’ve raved about his work ethic, but that’s not enough. Dunn has to show improvement and production to get minutes. Plain and simple.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – MARCH 14: Ryan Dunn #0 of the Phoenix Suns celebrates after a slam dunk ahead of Keegan Murray #13 of the Sacramento Kings during the second half of the NBA game at PHX Arena on March 14, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
HM: Jamaree Bouyea
The Skinny: Bouyea will see plenty more run this preseason as Phoenix decides whether or not they will keep him or Highsmith. With Pat Spencer on a two-way contract, it feels like, from a roster flexibility and positional need perspective, that HH has the upper hand, but there is still plenty of basketball to be played until a decision is made.
Expecting to see a lot more minutes for the fringe guys for the rest of the preseason.
Jamaree Bouyea and Haywood Highsmith are the two battling for the final roster spot. Barring injury.
Since Pat Spencer is on a two-way contract, it's likely that Bouyea is the odd man out.
(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Every NBA season is defined in part by the players who take an unexpected leap. The Detroit Pistons went from 44 to 60 wins largely because big man Jalen Duren ascended into an All-NBA player at age-22. The Portland Trail Blazers made an unexpected playoff appearance after Deni Avdija grew into a first-time All-Star. The Atlanta Hawks turned into a plucky playoff team after trading Trae Young in part because Nickeil Alexander-Walker leveled up as a starter in the backcourt. The Phoenix Suns exceeded expectations because they found some hidden gems like Collin Gillespie, who went from a two-way contract to an advanced stats darling in a bigger role. Ryan Rollins went from a totally anonymous end-of-bench guy to one of the league’s better young two-way guards for the Milwaukee Bucks.
There’s going to be more surprises this year. It will only take one or two breakouts to rock our Eastern Conference preseason predictions given how close teams 1-10 appear to be bunched together entering the season. It would be surprising if anyone new can break into the top-6 of our Western Conference rankings, but injuries or a Most Improved Player campaign could turn things quickly. With the 2026-27 NBA season around the corner, here are our picks for breakout players this year.
Collin Murray-Boyles, F, Toronto Raptors
Murray-Boyles has been a cult hero going back to his time at South Carolina that helped make him a lottery pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. He had a solid rookie year for the Toronto Raptors, and seemed to earn the trust of head coach Darko Rajaković more and more as the season went on. Toronto is dreaming of making a darkhorse NBA Finals run with Kawhi Leonard back in town, and it’s only going to happen if Murray-Boyles fully goes mainstream in his second season. CMB is a monster defender with a strong base, quick hands, and elite instincts. He’s a legitimate game-wrecker at the four, but Toronto might need him to play more center this season, where he’s a bit undersized. He has more room for growth offensively. Murray-Boyles is a very low volume three-point shooter at two attempts per 100 possessions as a rookie. Any improvement there would be massive, but he could also make more of an impact as a bully-ball driver and offensive rebounder. I think Murray-Boyles is going to be a staple in Toronto’s best lineups next to Leonard and Scottie Barnes, but it’s only going to happen if he continues to develop his offensive game.
Zach Edey, C, Memphis Grizzlies
Edey changes the complexion of the game every time he’s on the floor. He’s arguably the most powerful player in the NBA at 7’4, 300 pounds, and he proved that he has elite endurance for a player his size during his historic college career at Purdue. The only thing holding Edey back in the NBA so far is injuries, which limited him to just 11 games last year. The hope is that he can finally stay healthy entering his third season to form a destructive frontcourt partnership with rookie Cameron Boozer, who somehow slipped to the third pick despite being the best prospect in June’s draft. Across 77 games in his first two seasons, Edey’s on-off impact has been pretty remarkable with a +11.5 net-rating, fueled by dominant rebounding numbers on both ends. Boozer’s playmaking and shooting should be a perfect match with Edey’s rolls to the rim and elite glass cleaning. The Grizzlies are the easiest ‘over’ on the preseason win totals to me, and the big man’s breakout potential is one reason why.
Day’Ron Sharpe, C, Brooklyn Nets
Sharpe was once the starting center on Montverde’s greatest high school basketball team ever assembled, but his NBA career has gotten off to a slower start. Sharpe backed up Nic Claxton last year in Brooklyn despite being a better scorer, rebounder, and defensive playmaker on a per possession basis. Now he’s set to take over as Brooklyn’s top big man after the team dumped Claxton on the Chicago Bulls over the offseason, and he could be poised for a big leap in production. Sharpe is incredible at generating extra possessions on the offensive glass with a 16.2 percent o-board rate last season. He also has soft hands as a finisher with 63.8 percent true shooting, mostly on rolls, post-ups, and putbacks down low. He’ll need to get more confident with the ball in his hands, because he turned it over way too often last year. While he’s not the bounciest center, Sharpe is still an impactful defender with quick feet (88% stop rate last year) and even better hands (99th percentile in steals per 100 possessions among bigs). There’s nothing flashy about Sharpe’s game, but he’s proven he can be effective by doing the dirty work some bigs shy away from inside.
Khaman Maluach, C, Phoenix Suns
Maluach essentially got redshirted as a rookie, but the same qualities helped him land at No. 3 overall on our 2025 draft board should still help lift him to success in his second season. There should be more of an opportunity for playing time this year with Mark Williams unsurprisingly already out with a torn labrum, meaning Maluach and Oso Ighodaro (another potential breakout candidate) should get the bulk of the minutes inside for the Suns. Maluach looked excellent in Las Vegas Summer League by slamming everything inside, using his length to deter shots at the rim, and even showing the early signs of a reliable three-point stroke. He’s one of the biggest players in the NBA with a nearly 7’7 wingspan and 9′ 6 standing reach, and he’s going to be disruptive defensively on sheer size alone if he can improve his positioning. Maluach isn’t super quick off the ground and his hands are pretty rough, but there’s still an outline of a modern big man who protects the paints, finishes with ease in close, and can threaten the defense from long-range on pick-and-pops. The Suns feel like a gritty, high-floor team entering the season, but Maluach is the one guy who can raise their ceiling. All he needs is a chance.
Pelle Larsson, G, Miami Heat
It’s a safe bet to put a Heat player on this list, because under Erik Spoelstra, no team is better at uncovering diamonds in the rough than Miami. The Heat can tell themselves that they enter the year with the best player in the East in Giannis Antetokounmpo, the best coach in the league in Spo, and the best frontcourt tandem with Bam Adebayo next to Giannis at center. All Miami needs to do is develop more depth around their stars, and that means Larsson should get a big opportunity after already agreeing to a four-year, $60 million extension before training camp. Larsson does a little bit of everything in a connector role, showing off efficient inside-the-arc scoring, high-IQ passing, and the ability to get into the passing lanes defensively when he got on the floor last year. It feels like the Heat need everything he provides — as long as he improves his jumper a little. Larsson only hit 32.8% of his threes on 5.2 attempts per 100 possessions across his first two seasons, which isn’t good enough in terms of volume or accuracy. Miami obviously believes in him by already rewarding him with a contract. If he takes another step forward, the Heat’s depth would suddenly look a lot better.
Brandin Podziemski, G, Golden State
Even Warriors fans can’t agree on if Podziemski is any good after his first three seasons. The 23-year-old is now playing for a contract extension next summer as he enters his fourth pro season, and there’s plenty of low-hanging fruit in his profile that could make him an impactful two-way guard if he can clean it up. Podziemski is already solid on the defensive end, showing a good nose for the ball to force takeaways and provide timely rotations as a helper. His offense has been a little hot-and-cold so far, mostly because he’s not super explosive inside the arc and he can be prone to getting a little too crafty with his ball fakes and hesitations. Podz would benefit from being a bit more decisive when the ball swings to him, either leaning more into his outside shooting or trying to move the ball quicker as a passer. I’m pretty low on the Warriors this season, but I am talking myself into some of their role players this year as a huge Yaxel Lendeborg fan and a Gui Santos respecter. If Podz can take another step forward, maybe Golden State has enough around Stephen Curry for him to carry them across the finish line.
Carter Bryant, F, San Antonio Spurs
Carter Bryant mostly watched from the bench as the Spurs made a run to the NBA Finals in his rookie season. His imminent ascent in the rotation is just one more reason why San Antonio is only going to get scarier in the coming years. Bryant is an elite athlete with a prototypical frame for an NBA wing at 6’8 with a 7-foot wingspan. He already looked good defensively in a small role as a rookie, and should grow into a true terror on that end in the coming years. He’s the definition of a quick-twitch athlete who can move his feet on the perimeter with guards and explode off the floor to challenge shots. His offense is pretty rudimentary for now, but I think he’s going to be a pretty good three-point shooter after hitting 38.6% of his above-the-break threes on 83 attempts as a rookie, per NBA.com. The Spurs have some solid veterans in front of him in the forward room, including newly-signed free agent Tobias Harris, but none of them have Bryant’s athletic explosiveness and defensive upside. As long as Bryant can space the floor offensively, his defense is going to be good enough to get him on the floor.
Joan Beringer, C, Minnesota Timberwolves
The biggest thing young players need to break out is an opportunity, and Beringer should get a big one this season. The Wolves are thin in the front court behind Rudy Gobert after losing Naz Reid and Julius Randle over the offseason, and that means Beringer will actually be counted on to play big minutes off the bench. Minnesota is going to push the tempo to the max after their sharp trade for LaMelo Ball this summer, and Beringer should be perfect for that type of system. He’s one of the most explosive bigs in the entire league, with real speed in the open floor and some quick-twitch flashes in the halfcourt that might remind you of a young Giannis. Beringer should gobble up blocks and offensive rebounds if he can improve his awareness on both ends, and Ball should set him up for some easy finishes inside. Beringer will stay in the rotation if he can leverage his tools into making a defensive impact, and he should run into easy points offensively just by playing within the Wolves’ flow. Chris Finch can be notoriously hard on young players, but Beringer is too talented to keep on the sidelines.
Lendeborg, speaking with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Bob Fitzgerald and Kelenna Azubuike in a postgame interview, credited the veteran leadership of Curry and Draymond Green.
“After last game, I texted Steph and Draymond both to just ask for some advice and some guidance,” Lendeborg recalled. “I was a little scared first game to be aggressive. I was a little shell-shocked and all.
“But getting the word of advice from both of those guys telling me that they believe in me and I have room to make mistakes, just gave me the extra confidence I needed tonight.”
It’s hard to imagine a better motivator than two future Hall of Famers offering validation.
Lendeborg made the most of the gained confidence. He attacked the basket early and scored his first three field goals deep inside the paint, exactly what Kerr wants from his 6-foot-9 rookie.
“We need him to be a scorer,” Kerr told reporters in his postgame press conference. “We need him to get us easy buckets at the rim. And he did a great job of that tonight.”
The Warriors desperately need scoring outside of Curry. Golden State’s two leading scorers behind their superstar last season were Jimmy Butler and Kristaps Porziņģis.
With Butler continuing rehab on his surgically repaired knee and the uncertainty surrounding Porziņģis’ availability, Lendeborg is presented with the opportunity to establish himself as a true second option.
And despite being the leading scorer for the national champion Michigan Wolverines last season, Lendeborg says the need for that aggression will require adjustment.
“It’s hard to learn,” Lendeborg told reporters during his postgame press conference. “I’ve been an unselfish player my whole life. And just coming here and hearing I got to [have a] score first mindset — it’s going to be something that I got to get adjusted to.”
Lendeborg showed his scoring ability earlier this offseason by winning the 2026 NBA Summer League MVP, but his performance Tuesday night proved he has the potential to do it against NBA-level talent.
Kerr will look for that production on a consistent basis. With the support of Curry and Green, Lendeborg will have the boost of confidence he needs to strive for that.
CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 28: Peyton Watson #8 of the Cleveland Cavaliers poses for a portrait during NBA media day on September 28, 2026 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Peyton Watson isn’t the first player that the Cleveland Cavaliers have tried to use to fill this gap.
A long list of names, from Cedi Osman and Isaac Okoro — to Dean Wade and De’Andre Hunter. This team has searched for a starting-caliber wing throughout the decade. And while Max Strus fit the build better than anyone, he was perpetually playing out of position on a team that needed size and athleticism in his place.
This is what made Watson the ideal trade target.
Trading Strus wasn’t easy. He was far and away Cleveland’s best option at small forward during this era. But Watson offers a younger, bigger, and more exciting prospect to ring the bell once and for all. If all goes to plan. Cleveland won’t have to search for another wing for a long time.
Let’s get into why that’s the case.
The Glue
The Cavs’ starting lineup features a dynamic that has led to much success.
The backcourt duo of James Harden and Donovan Mitchell makes for one of the best shot-creating backcourts in basketball. Meanwhile, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley form an elite defensive frontcourt.
Connecting those two duos with the perfect small forward has been the issue.
Allow me to oversimplify things:
Dean Wade was a versatile defender. His skills on that end made him a fantastic fit in the starting lineup. But Wade’s lack of offense ultimately made him a liability once the playoffs began. The bridge between the backcourt and frontcourt was flawed.
Max Strus, on the other hand, brought all of the offensive skills you’d want from the fifth starter. He just wasn’t tall or athletic enough to defend opposing wings.
Cleveland needed someone who could combine the skills of Wade and Strus. Someone who was better on offense than Wade, and more equipped to defend wings than Strus.
This is where Watson has a chance to succeed.
Watson has a 6’8” frame and 7’1” wingspan. He packages that length with elite mobility, placing him in the 97th percentile as a perimeter isolation defender last season — and in the 86th percentile as a screen navigator (according to BBall Index).
On paper, Watson has all of the tools needed to replicate Wade’s success in the starting lineup.
As for replacing Strus, this will be more difficult.
Watson doesn’t attempt three-pointers at nearly the same rate — but he did shoot more efficiently than Strus last season. He was automatic from the corners and should provide a valuable kick-out option to either of Cleveland’s guards.
There’s also potential for Watson to build off a career-best season shooting the ball. He could become a more dynamic perimeter threat, and has flashed some on-ball creation and three-level scoring. This makes Watson a fun player to bet on at 24 years old.
Finally, Watson is a vertical athlete who is more of a threat to get downhill and attack in transition. He can finish above the rim and has a wider catch radius for his teammates to find him on cuts. Overall, this should add a new layer to Cleveland’s offense, as they haven’t had anyone who can be shot out of a cannon like this at small forward
Things to Prove
Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson insists that the starting lineup is not solidified. Watson isn’t walking into this without earning it.
What would that take?
Watson is facing pressure to prove that last season wasn’t a fluke. His 41% three-point shooting is an outlier despite consistent growth throughout his career. He needs to sustain that leap, while also showing he can improve on it even further.
The Cavs would also like to see Watson polish the rest of his game. He has raw potential on defense, some of which came to light last season. But it still wasn’t perfect. His overall game needs some fine-tuning. It’s one thing to feel optimistic; it’s another to have blind faith. Watson needs to show that Cleveland was correct in betting on his development.
Other areas that need buffing include his playmaking and finishing. Watson has consistently ranked high in rim frequency but has never finished above the 50th percentile in accuracy. That’s a lot of looks at the basket that aren’t being converted.
(Note: Watson shot 65% at the rim last season, placing him in the 49th percentile. For comparison, Max Strus shot 59%.)
It feels like Watson is at the tip of the iceberg in terms of his potential. Realizing that is the next step, or Cavs fans could be left feeling like they were promised more than they got.
Conclusion
Barring a disastrous performance, Watson will be the fifth starter. Atkinson would have to be a mad genius to believe otherwise.
From there, this will be Watson’s job to lose. His athletic profile makes him a no-brainer to solve Cleveland’s needs. He provides the blend of offense and defense they’ve been searching for.
Watson’s ripe potential makes him someone the Cavs could rely on long-term, possibly even into a second rebuilding era after Mitchell and Harden are gone. It’s hard to look that far ahead, but it’s something to consider. This was part of the calculation in trading for him.
In the meantime, Watson has the opportunity of a lifetime in front of him. He’s joining a team that has been begging for a player like him to arrive. The only thing left is to save the day and become the hero.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 3: Kelly Olynyk #8 of the San Antonio Spurs arrives to the arena before the game against the New York Knicks during Game One of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 3, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After one season with the San Antonio Spurs, big man Kelly Olynyk is heading to Italy. He joins BC Roma, a club recently founded by Donnie Nelson. Nelson spent twenty-four years with the Dallas Mavericks starting in 1998 when he served as an assistant coach to his father, Hall of Famer Don Nelson. The junior Nelson was essential to the drafting of Dirk Nowitzki and was with the franchise as an executive when they won their 2011 NBA Championship. He also was key in the acquisition of Luka Doncic and drafting Jalen Brunson in 2018, widely considered one of the best draft moves in the modern era. Luka Doncic is also involved in the development of the BC Roma franchise.
Olynyk stayed close to the Spurs this summer traveling to Europe with members to visit Victor Wembanyama in France. He was seen in photos with the Spurs sightseeing and taking in art at the Louvre.
Olynyk joins former NBA and G-League players Nico Mannion, Trentyn Flowers, Erik Stevenson, and Marko Simonović on the fledgling team. The club will compete in the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) as well as in the EuroCup.
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EuroLeague basketball owners have rejected a formal offer from the NBA to merge into a single European operation following a meeting in Italy, Barcelona confirmed Wednesday.
The decision not to accept the NBA’s proposal of a single Europe entity was made Tuesday in Cernobbio during a gathering of the EuroLeague’s 13 shareholder clubs. They include Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Olympiakos, Milan, Tony Parker-owned ASVEL in France and two Istanbul-based clubs.
A statement on the EuroLeague’s website said they met to “discuss and align on key strategic decisions regarding the future of their collective property,” without mentioning the NBA.
Barcelona told The Associated Press in an emailed response that a formal merger offer from the NBA had been rejected. In a statement, the club confirmed that Barcelona president Joan Laporta attended the meeting and that club owners “took several decisions regarding the future of the competition.”
“Among those decisions was the rejection of the NBA’s proposal as it currently stands. Should that proposal be amended in the future, the clubs and the EuroLeague will reconsider it,” the statement read.
It’s not clear how each club voted. The EuroLeague declined to comment and pointed to its initial statement.
The NBA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The 20-team EuroLeague is comprised of 13 shareholder clubs immune from relegation. The rest either qualify through their domestic leagues or through invitation.
The NBA, in partnership with FIBA, is eying a 16-team model.
French sports daily L’Equipe reported that the NBA offered each future member 400 million euros ($448 million).
At Tuesday’s EuroLeague meeting, club owners agreed to move forward with converting the current 10-year licenses into franchises for the shareholder clubs. They also agreed to continue plans to increase the number of franchises.
European ambition
France’s Victor Wembanyama, Greece’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Slovenia’s Luka Doncic are among the biggest basketball stars worldwide.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver reaffirmed in January that the league was pressing forward on plans to bring a new league to Europe.
The NBA was targeting October 2027 as a potential launch date, with franchises paying what is expected to be a substantial entry fee. Media reports indicated the NBA was looking for at least a $500 million fee.
Many European basketball teams, including some in the EuroLeague, have struggled financially. The system has often relied on wealthy owners to cover team debts each year.
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 5: Cameron Boozer #27 of the Memphis Grizzlies drives to the basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks during the NBA preseason on October 5, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Joseph Boatman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
We missed this on Tuesday, but Cameron Boozer had a successful debut in NBA pre-season play, helping the Memphis Grizzlies to defeat the Atlanta Hawks, 132-123.
Boozer scored 11 points, pulled down five rebounds and passed out four assists in 18 minutes. He also shot 5-9, though he missed his three three-point attempts.
Take the threes out though, and Boozer hit 5-6 from the floor, which is impressive for a rookie in his first game. It’s not that hitting threes is easy, but scoring inside against NBA veterans is no day at the beach either.
Memphis plays Orlando Wednesday night, which could be interesting. Aside from Wendell Carter and Paolo Banchero, the Magic features Franz Wagner and some other bigs who will probably give Boozer a bigger challenge than the Hawks did.
