BOSTON, MA - MAY 2: The sneakers worn by Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers before the game against the Boston Celtics during Round One Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 2, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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
Ziaire Williams proposes to his girlfriend Paris Timan during a Bruno Mars concert.
Ziarie Williams has yet to play a single minute in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform but has already started to make memories he’ll never forget.
While Mars was playing his hit song, “Marry You,” during the second night of his five-night residency at SoFi Stadium, Williams went for a buzzer-beater shot and hit nothing but net.
With the confetti falling from the ceiling of the stadium, Williams picked the perfect moment to get down on one knee and propose to his then-girlfriend, now fiancée, Paris Timan.
New Laker Ziaire Williams just proposed to his girlfriend at the Bruno mars concert pic.twitter.com/14ojGK3cfa
Los Angeles Lakers forward Ziaire Williams proposes to his girlfriend Paris Timan during a Bruno Mars concert.Los Angeles Lakers forward Ziaire Williams signed a one-year deal with the Lakers over the offseason. NBAE via Getty Images
Williams was once a Top 10 pick in the NBA out of Stanford, after he was drafted by the New Orleans Pelicans and had his draft rights traded to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Ziaire Williams missed an extended amount of time last year due to a back injury. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Williams spent three years in Memphis until he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2024.
Last season, he only appeared in 13 games after missing most of the season due to a small back fracture and lower back contusion from a hard fall in October.
The 2026-27 Sixers showed off their considerable collection of talent for the public on Saturday at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
The scoreboard didn’t matter at the team’s annual Blue-White scrimmage, but fans got a taste of what the star-laden Sixers have to offer. For the first time, public address announcer Matt Cord introduced LeBron James and Jaylen Brown as Sixers.
Some Matt Cord introductions for Blue-White scrimmage, including the first for LeBron James and Jaylen Brown as Sixers: pic.twitter.com/K9ApuAOVw4
There was a pop of noise for just about anything James did — his first touch of the ball, an alley-oop slam, a slick behind-the-back dish.
“It was obviously fun to be able to play in front of some of our Philly faithful for the first time,” he said, “being able to take what we’ve done on the practice floor and bring it to a game floor situation around our fans. It was a great first step in the direction we’re trying to go.”
The Sixers’ Blue team began with a 14-5 spurt fueled by the starting five of James, Brown, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Joel Embiid.
Though the action was mostly casual, everyone delivered highlights and explosive bursts. Embiid moved well and even threw down a powerful lefty dunk on the fast break.
“That’s probably the last dunk of my career,” Embiid joked.
As James noted Saturday, he and Embiid are not starting from scratch as teammates. They earned gold medals with Team USA two years ago at the Paris Olympics.
“The reps have basically picked up from 2024 during the Olympics,” James said. “We have some chemistry. We played a lot of minutes (together); he started a lot of games for us that summer.
“But the difference between ’24 and now is just he’s just so much more healthy. He hasn’t missed a practice. He’s been in everything that we’ve done pretty much. They’ve had to sit him out sometimes when he’s wanted to keep going. You saw (today) how much he played. It’s been good. Actually, it’s been great.”
Outside of his physical gifts, James made an impression at his first Sixers training camp.
Teammates were struck by everything from his early arrivals to his immediate vocal leadership to his deep basketball understanding. Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey on Saturday even commended the 22-time All-Star for “diving on the floor for loose balls.”
“I’m still just making my rounds, getting better and better each day,” James said. “As far as in the building, it’s been smooth. Everybody has been super welcoming. I’ve been able to implement some things with my voice and just my command of how I play the game, my experience playing the game.
“I’m still getting more and more comfortable off the floor without my family, with travel and things of that nature. That’s going to be a little bit of a challenge, but everything has been good so far. Great first week.”
After that, the scoreboard will be worth watching.
“Everybody has to be on the same page,” Embiid said. “Everybody keeps talking about sacrificing, but I don’t really see it as sacrificing. It’s just about being the best version of yourself. I think when you put great players together, there’s standards you should have for yourself … it’s being more efficient.
“Obviously, you might get less touches, but you also might get more space. So what are you going to do with that space? … It’s just about being a star in your role and doing what you do best. I don’t think anybody should be in a box. You should just go out there and be yourself. Good shot, great shot, bad shot, we’ve all got each other’s back. We’ll move on and then we’ll go get a stop.”
Rafael Castro, a 23-year-old big man who was recently signed to a two-way contract back in August, has officially parted company with the Houston Rockets after being waived.
After dismissing Tristen Newton to create a two-way space with Sean Pedulla and Quadir Copeland, Houston first targeted Castro. By taking a low-risk gamble on a developing big man, the front staff saw an opportunity to shift toward frontcourt depth.
It made logical sense to create a new dynamic at the time because all three of their two-way contracts were awarded to guards. I was really aback when I learned that Castro had been waived in part because of this.
It’s difficult to determine how much of a chance he was given considering his brief tenure on the team, and his departure brings an abrupt end to what appeared to be a promising growth player. He was not even able to play for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, an NBA G League Associate team.
Castro looked good throughout the NBA free agency and pre-draft. He was not selected on draft night despite being 6-foot-11, having a wingspan of more than seven feet, and having a 36.5-inch vertical leap at the 2026 NBA Draft Combine. He was soon linked to a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, according to early reports. Although he played for Milwaukee in both the California Classic and the Las Vegas Summer League, a roster jam prevented that deal from being finalized, which allowed Houston to sign him as an unrestricted free agent.
Castro’s raw physical skills, paint finishing, and rim protection were his main selling points at the age of 23. These qualities would complement Ime Udoka’s teaching methods. However according to the Houston Chronicle’s Varun Shankar, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka explained why the franchise decided to cut Castro. Udoka also expressed that the team is considering multiple candidates to fill the open two-way roster spot.
“Our abundance of bigs in camp, having three and then Oscar [Tshiebwe] is here, playing really well.”
The Rockets have quietly put together a strong youth core this offseason, but Castro’s waiver has left their developmental center spot vacant once more. Who will receive the Rockets’ third and last two-way contract?
CAMDEN, NJ - SEPTEMBER 28: Jaylen Brown #7, LeBron James #23, Joel Embiid #21, Tyrese Maxey #0, and VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers pose for a photo during NBA media day on September 28, 2026 at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in Camden, New Jersey. 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 Jim Poorten/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Philadelphia 76ers’ annual Blue x White scrimmage was held at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Saturday afternoon and the event did not disappoint. In addition to clearing the obvious “no one got hurt in a meaningless scrimmage” bar, we witnessed a ton to be excited about with this group heading into the season. Let’s touch on a couple key points:
Joel Embiid looks healthy
Joel is noticeably trimmer this training camp and has spoken about the benefits of only needing to focus on his game this summer and not rehabbing some injury or coming off surgery. Other folks have reiterated he’s been at practice every day, out there doing everything with no need for load management, maintenance days, etc. We saw some of the benefits of the improved health during the scrimmage. Embiid was hard hedging on defense, something he almost never did last season. He looked spry in dunking down the lane and going up for a block attempt of VJ Edgecombe. Basically, he looked like a man able to let his talent do the talking without having to worry about injury limitations.
This point is less discussed than Embiid’s health, but James is a guy turning 42 years old soon who missed time last season with sciatica in his back. It’s fair to be a little trepidatious about how he’ll hold up. But he still looks like LeBron (in a Sixers uniform which still feels surreal). No, not the LeBron of 10 years ago almost singlehandedly taking down the Death lineup Warriors, but the LeBron of the last few years who is still an All-NBA-caliber player. Great to see him out there filling lanes and throwing down dunks; the Sixers in transition are going to be a major problem for the opposition.
LeBron James hits a step-back three and gets up for the alley-oop at Sixers Blue x White scrimmage pic.twitter.com/mEGeFkFRDi
The rookie did not look the least bit out of place taking the floor with former MVPs and All-NBA players. He showed off smooth handles, defensive chops, and a nice-looking shot. Philon could be forcing his way into the rotation from day one.
2026 first round pick Labaron Philon showing off the handles at the Sixers scrimmage pic.twitter.com/GaQ0ViIoLe
Sorry for the Captain Obvious statement, and I don’t really have a specific point, but seeing this starting group together was incredible. They were unselfish, working the ball around to find mismatches, and everyone seemed comfortable with each other and capable of working individual two-man games to find buckets. We’ve been talking about the group for a couple months now, but just seeing them on the court in reality is something else entirely. Barring something extremely Sixersy happening, this should be an extraordinarily fun season.
Here’s a full highlight reel of clips from the scrimmage for your enjoyment:
For those that missed the Sixers Blue x White Scrimmage, here is a highlight reel of clips from the afternoon (no audio). LeBron, Maxey, Embiid, Brown, VJ, Labaron Philon and more! ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ZdWGhpSBgU
With the Knicks ramping up their preparations to defend their NBA title during the coming season, head coach Mike Brown has pinpointed a player who he thinks has what it takes to earn a more significant role this go-around: Mo Diawara.
Diawara, still just 21 years old, returns to Knicks training camp following the "best summer of [his life]" back in his hometown of Paris, France.
Originally drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers with the 51st pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, Diawara was traded to the Knicks ahead of a rookie season that ended with a ring on his finger, but included plenty of learning from the team's veteran core.
"Now I know the physicality I need for this league, how I need to prepare my body," he explained in a news conference on Saturday. "I still look a lot to those vets, just helping me with a routine to get ready for this new year."
"Now that I've been in the league a year, it is a little bit easier," Diawara declared.
Will the Knicks starters see the floor in their preseason opener against the Philadelphia 76ers on the night of Oct. 5?
"Probably, but not much," Brown answered.
With that in mind, Diawara could be one of the players who is given the leash to show off what he's learned in that game.
Brown outlined what he's looking to see on the floor from his guys and how to set the tone ahead of the regular season. The Knicks host the 76ers in that game, too, at Madison Square Garden, which will include raising a banner to the rafters.
"You're going to make some mistakes, and I'm okay with that," Brown explained. "But when someone makes a mistake, how quickly do they try and make up for it?"
"I'm huge on next-play speed. Guys can't drop their heads or hesitate. Boom: right away, move on. It's the little things. Boxing out, competing for offensive rebounds, and sprinting to the corners in transition."
Diawara and Brown seem aligned on the key areas for the young swingman to focus on improving.
"Last year, you could see he was a little jittery when he was out there, because he didn't know what to do."
"His cadence is better, he has a better feel not only for what he should do, but what his teammates should be doing," Brown continued. "He's one of those players who needs to take a step forward."
"I'm shooting a lot of threes, working on that a lot to improve it going into my second year," Diawara added.
During the 2025-26 regular season, the 6'9" forward shot a respectable 36.9 percent from behind the arc on 1.9 attempts per game, averaging 3.6 points and 1.4 rebounds in 9.2 minutes per contest, which included seven starts across 69 games played. However, his role off the bench shrank significantly during the team's title run, as he only played in six of the team's 19 playoff games.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 28: Keon Ellis #1 of the Brooklyn Nets speaks during a press conference at Brooklyn Nets Media Day at Brooklyn Nets HSS Training Center on September 28, 2026 in New York City. 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 Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Keon Ellis is one week into his first Nets training camp, and Jordi Fernández is already seeing what he expected.
“He’s got the best hands in the NBA, and that’s hard to teach,” Jordi Fernández said at Friday’s practice. “At the same time, you want to be disciplined and follow the schemes, whatever the game plan is. I trust him. I know he’s very diligent with his work and everything, and I know he can perform at a high level. He’s going to help us a lot at the defensive end.”
The connection between Ellis and Fernández goes back to Sacramento, where the two were together from 2022-24 while Fernández worked under then-Kings head coach Mike Brown. That familiarity was part of what made Brooklyn an appealing destination for Ellis this offseason, when the Nets signed him to a two-year, $18 million contract with a full mutual option for the second season.
“You have a guy with many intangibles, is a super pro. He has probably the best hands in the NBA, can shoot the ball, can handle, is a good human,” the Nets coach said. “He’s coming here and is about business. It was a no-brainer.”
Ellis knows the mutual respect benefits both of them.
“In this game — and it is a business — having someone like Jordi being the head coach, someone you’re familiar with, [is big]. You know all the schemes, you know what he’s about, you know what they want to run,” Ellis said Friday after practice. “It’s a safe space right there. He’s familiar with my game, I’m familiar with how he rocks. That was the No. 1 thing.”
He added, “He [Jordi] knows how I play, and I know how he wants his team to play. I know I can have a big impact in that way.”
Ellis enters Brooklyn coming off a season in which he averaged 6.7 points while splitting time between Sacramento and Cleveland following a February trade. He also shot 36.3% from three last season after hitting on 42.9% over his first three NBA seasons.
“It’s not for me to say [how much of an impact he will make],” Fernandez said. “It’s for me to believe every time he guards he’s going to be good on that player, and every time he shoots the ball, I believe it’s going to go in.”
Michael Porter Jr. has noticed it, too.
“Strong start. Keon has been hooping these first two days. He plays the right way. He plays defense. He can really shoot the ball, and he’s been just overall very solid,” Porter said at Friday’s practice.
He’s also made an impression on Nets sophomore Drake Powell.
“Keon’s been great overall so far, not just on the court, but off the court as well,” Powell said at Media Day. “I think what I can take from him defensively is just how active he is with his hands and, you know, just being in the right spot. The ball will just naturally come to him defensively, get a steal and from there we’re just out and running.”
The Nets held their first scrimmage of training camp Friday, giving Ellis and the rest of the roster their first chance to compete in a game-like setting.
One week of training camp won’t tell us everything. For now, Ellis has already given Fernández and his teammates plenty to like.
The Memphis Grizzlies, facing a roster crunch with too many guaranteed contracts than they can carry into the season, have waived former lottery pick Jordan Hawkins, the team announced.
Both the Grizzlies and ESPN’s Shams Charania described this as a mutual parting of the ways. Memphis will eat (and Hawkins will get paid) his full $7 million contract for this season.
Hawkins likely will land with another NBA team this season, although likely on a minimum contract.
Hawkins is entering his fourth NBA season, his first three with the Pelicans before being traded to Memphis less than a month ago. The 6'5" two guard was projected as a shooter coming out of UConn and in his second season averaged 10.8 points per game but only shot 33.1% from beyond the arc for the Pelicans. Last season, with a new front office in New Orleans that didn't draft him and didn't feel the same loyalty, his minutes and opportunities dropped considerably. Across his three seasons, he has shot 34.8% from 3-point range.
Expect a few teams to consider taking a shot on Hawkins this season to see if a fresh start in a new situation gets him back to his lottery-pick form.
Memphis still isn't done. It has 16 guaranteed contracts on the roster, plus partially guaranteed Jaylen Wells, who likely sticks around, so a couple more players need to be traded or waived (Memphis has the cap space to eat those contracts if it needs to).
Apparently, no one told Wizards guard Bub Carrington that the first rule of tanking is to never admit to tanking.
The former first-round pick said in an interview this week that the Wizards intentionally “held back” the team last season in order to maximize their odds of landing the No.1 overall pick, which they ultimately used to grab BYU forward AJ Dybantsa.
“We’ve all, in a way, been held back just because, like you said, we were trying to get AJ Dybantsa. That’s no secret,” Carrington, the 14th overall pick in 2024 out of Pitt, told WUSA’s Marshall Kramsky. “But now, no one has handcuffs. Everyone’s shackles-free. So, that alone is already a conversation starter.
Bub Carrington #7 of the Washington Wizards looks on during the second half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center on March 25, 2026 in Salt Lake City. Getty Images
“But then you put that on top of the coaching, on top of the vets that we have. That’s a playoff team, and that’s gonna happen.”
The Wizards finished with the worst record in the NBA last season at 17-65, giving them a 14.0 percent chance to win the draft lottery and a 40.1 percent chance for a top-three selection.
The 6-foot-9 Dybantsa averaged 25.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game as a freshman last year at BYU.
During last season, the Wizards made two significant trades for injured All-Stars Anthony Davis and Trae Young, but they combined for just five appearances (all by Young) for Washington.
Bub Carrington said the quiet part out loud.
“We were trying to get AJ Dybantsa. That’s no secret.”
Carrington says the Wizards’ young core was “held back” last season — but now the “handcuffs” are off. pic.twitter.com/3DxaDeJsTq
The NBA implemented strict rules and fined both the Jazz and the Pacers for alleged tanking violations last season, but The Athletic reported that the league is “not expected” to penalize Carrington or the Wizards.
Davis, a 10-time All-Star and Young, a four-time selection, are currently healthy and participating without limitations during Wizards training camp.
AJ Dybantsa #4 of the Washington Wizards poses for a portrait during NBA media day on Monday, September 28, 2026, at Capital One Arena in Washington. NBAE via Getty Images
Carrington has appeared in all 82 games in each of his first two seasons, averaging 10.7 points and 4.6 assists in 27.7 minutes per game in 2025-26.
DALLAS, TEXAS - JUNE 29: New Dallas Mavericks head coach Dusty May (L) and Dallas Mavericks team president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri stand for photos during a press conference at American Airlines Center on June 29, 2026 in Dallas, 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. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Cooper Flagg had a stellar rookie season, but one blemish on his campaign was his lackluster advanced numbers.
While Flagg had great counting stats, the advanced metrics suggest his impact was below average, but it can definitely be improved. One metric that Flagg can improve on is his lack of offensive rebounding, which Dusty May has already commented on.
“Getting him to take advantage of his offensive rebounding ability,” said May in his media availability after the first training camp practice. “ When we’re connected as a group where we’re playing off of each other, I think it will organically happen.”
Winning the possession battle has become incredibly important in the modern NBA, with offensive rebounds being specifically important. Teams like the Houston Rockets have had tremendous regular season success while being a medicore offense, in large part to winning the possession battle.
It’s simple math, if you shoot more shots than your opponent, it will often lead to more points.
Flagg was in the 38th percentile for his OREB%, a lackluster mark for a 6’9 forward with elite athleticism. Flagg getting on the glass would not only help the team win the possession battle, but also will help him get more easy rim attempts.
“But just playing better basketball, I think it will afford him more opportunities,” said May.
Flagg had to work tremendously hard for most of his scoring opportunities last year, whether it was the terrible spacing or lack of teammate-created buckets.
On the other hand, putback’s are one of the most efficient play types, with players average 1.14 points per-possession on average last season, according to Synergy.
This focus on more analytically-driven basketball is a major departure from the previous coaching staff, with the Mavericks consistently being behind the times.
Last season the Mavericks were towards the top of the league in mid-range attempts, and were towards the bottom in three-point attempts.
But while all Mavericks fans want more three-point attempts, there is nuance in this discussion.
“If we have an elite mid-range shooter, he’s going to shoot the right mid-range shots,” said May. “Obviously, we want as many quality threes as we can get, but if guys are incredibly efficient at something very specific, I’m definitely not going to look at a spreadsheet and overrule guys with what we call mastery shots.”
This approach to team-wide shot diets is the correct approach in the modern NBA.
Forcing all players into threes or rim-attempts can severely limit a star player and prevent them from feeling comfortable in an offense.
The Mavericks are also uniquely affected by this, as both Flagg and Irving are mid-range maestros.
All of this comes back to a simple math equation, if a player can average greater than 1 point-per-possession on any given shot type, they should shoot that shot
May’s approach throughout his career has been to maximize what his players do best, rather than forcing them into an uncomfortable role.
SYMBOL - 25 November 2024, Austria, Innsbruck: A chamois at the Innsbruck Alpine Zoo. Photo: Silas Stein/dpa (Photo by Silas Stein/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Last weekend without basketball, fellas, so here’s a quick summary of a bunch of stuff that popped up recently around the NBA before we get down to (yeah, I know, preseason, but still…) business.
James Wiseman has emerged as the early favorite for the Knicks’ 14th and likely final standard roster spot, according to the New York Post’s Stefan Bondy. Nothing new considering we’ve been talking about New York prioritizing a third center for months on end. In Bondy’s eyes, Tony Bradley and Drew Eubanks are Wiseman’s primary competition up front, while Bruce Brown and Ochai Agbaji are also fighting for the last spot in the Knicks’ roster.
Mike Brown, however, isn’t ready to declare Wiseman—or anybody else—the winner of that roster battle.
“I’m just going to let it unfold. I got no expectations. I’m not trying to forecast anything. I’m just taking this literally one practice at a time, one game at a time. And at the end of the day, when it comes time for us to figure out who’s going to be on the final roster, we’ll do it.”
The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III identified whether the Knicks can maintain their edge after winning the championship as New York’s biggest question entering the new season.
In another piece published over The Athletic, multiple reporters assembled three perspectives on the Knicks’ chances of repeating, and none were especially bullish.
Anne Hathaway would sacrifice another Oscar for another Knicks championship.
New court documents revealed additional allegations behind OAKAAK J.R. Smith’s arrest in Texas.
The Pistons and Jalen Duren finally found common ground, with the big boy and postseason no-shower inking a five-year, $200 million deal… without a weight clause on it.
It looks like the Las Vegas Whatevers are a very real thing and will get a franchise approved before Seattle does, but that could come with the con of having to wait an extra year to enter NBA play, contrary to the SuperSonics 2.0 making their comeback in time for the 2028-29 campaign.
JaVale McGee has joined the Shanghai Sharks, teaming up with D’Angelo Russell in China. Yes, that’s a real headline.
LeBron stans are already aboard the #lbjmvp train. Meanwhile…
El Segundo, CA - September 24, 2026: Lakers general manager/president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka, left, speaks as Lakers coach JJ Redick listens during a press conference at the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo Thursday, September 24, 2026. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
In recent years, the Lakers have run into a problem.
They’ve taken a few successful inexpensive fliers, including Malik Monk and Dennis Schröder, but they’ve lacked the ability to retain those guys after they popped. That might not be the case next summer, which could bode especially well for the likes of Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle.
The NBA recently updated its salary-cap projection for the 2027-28, bumping it up from the initial $174 million to $176 million. The luxury-tax line and the aprons will also rise by roughly $2 million, which will give every team in the league extra financial wiggle room.
That’s particularly valuable for the Lakers, who structured their books to make one more big splash next offseason.
Austin Reaves took $5 million less than a max contract this summer to give the Lakers “more future flexibility.” He did so by taking roughly a 4% raise in 2027-28 rather than the full 8% raise that he was eligible to receive. The Lakers also structured Sandro Mamukelashvili’s contract in a unique fashion, making it dip by $650,000 in 2027-28 before going back up by $650,000 in each of its final two years.
In case you have Windhorst Face right now, the Lakers’ intentions aren’t exactly top-secret.
Reaves’ decision, sources told ESPN, will give LAL more financial flexibility moving forward – making it possible to pursue a player with the non-taxpayer midlevel exception next summer. https://t.co/7AHGDG2Pbu
The new cap projection could make it easier for them to maintain access to the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, too.
Could Ziaire or Matisse stick?
Since both Williams and Thybulle signed one-year deals this offseason, the Lakers will only have non-Bird rights on them next summer. That means they can’t offer them more than 120% of a minimum contract or their previous salary (whichever is greater) without dipping into another salary-cap exception.
If either one has a breakout season in L.A., the Lakers could use either some or all of their MLE to re-sign them next summer. If they do have access to the full non-taxpayer MLE, they could always look to split it between Williams and Thybulle, too. Teams don’t have to spend the full MLE on one player. The Philadelphia 76ers split theirs this past offseason between Dean Wade and Anfernee Simons, for instance.
The Lakers should also have access to the bi-annual exception, which is currently projected to land at roughly $5.85 million. That alone might be enough to re-sign one of Williams or Thybulle, allowing them to preserve the MLE for another target.
However, using either the non-taxpayer MLE or the bi-annual exception will hard-cap the Lakers at the first apron, which is projected to land at roughly $222 million. They’d need to leave themselves with at least $22 million of wiggle room under the first apron to preserve access to both the non-taxpayer MLE and bi-annual exception next summer.
If Jarred Vanderbilt and Collin Sexton pick up their respective player options for 2027-28, the Lakers will already be up to $181.6 million in guaranteed salary. If they pick up their team options on Dalton Knecht ($6.45 million), Jaden Hardy ($6.0 million), Bronny James ($2.5 million) and Adou Thiero ($2.5 million), they’d be up to $199.1 million with 12 players under contract. That would leave them with just enough space under the first apron to spend both the non-tax MLE and the bi-annual exception if the current projections hold.
Granted, the Lakers could easily decline their team option on Hardy next summer if they decide that they need a few extra million dollars in breathing room. They have to decide on Knecht’s option by the end of October, but they have until June 29 to decide on Hardy, Bronny and Thiero.
The Lakers could also wipe out this flexibility with a midseason trade, of course. Just because they’re currently projected to have enough room for the non-taxpayer MLE next summer doesn’t mean that they’ll enter the offseason with the exact same roster.
Still, the way that they structured Reaves and Mamukelashvili’s contracts suggests that they’re eyeing next summer as their chance to make another medium-to-big splash. If that doesn’t pan out, they could at least have those cap exceptions to spend on either Thybulle or Williams if needed.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 03: Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors stands for the national anthem prior to Game Seven of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs assistant coach at Rocket Arena on May 03, 2026 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. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s hard to believe we’ve finally made it through the summer and tonight, the first preseason game of 2026-2027 season tips off for the Toronto Raptors. As is customary, it is one of two NBA Canada Series games, tonight being hosted by Quebec City. This has been a great tradition since 2012, allowing more of the country to be able to watch Canada’s team in person. Previous hosts have included Ottawa, Calgary, Montreal, Edmonton, and Winnipeg, but this will be the first held in Centre Vidéotron.
The new-look Miami Heat has travelled to face them, with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Klay Thompson, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bobby Portis Jr. having joined over the summer.
While preseason games are often about getting organized and making those final roster decisions, we can hope to get a bit of a look at Kawhi, Scottie, Giannis and Bam, a harbinger of what could be an excellent matchup throughout the season.
Miami’s size will undoubtedly be a factor. Their frontcourt includes a near-seven-foot Nick Richards and Giannis, 6’10” Nikola Jovic, and Bam Adebayo and Bobby Portis Jr. who are both 6′ 9” and over 250 pounds. This will be advantageous on both ends of the court, as defensively their size and physicality will be an asset rebounding, but they can also play bully-ball at the other end of the court. The other major change to their roster, adding a pair of excellent veteran shooters in Hardaway Jr. and Thompson mean that if anyone gets jammed up in the paint, there will be one or both of them set from outside the arc and ready to shoot.
Toronto won’t have the size advantage, but can rely on the defensive prowess of Scottie Barnes, Kawhi Leonard, and Collin Murray-Boyles. While undersized, their wingspans and athleticism allow all of them to guard guys bigger than them. Kawhi has already proven he can make life difficult for Giannis, and CMB seems to love to play as an undersized center. The wing defence will need to be on a string tonight to shut down the options outside of the paint. Ja’Kobe Walter, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley will all have to be on top of closeouts and shut down shooting opportunities.
More likely than not, this game will come down to the bench though. Both teams will be interested in seeing what the last few guys on the roster can do. Newly-extended Jamal Shead, rookie Allen Graves, and guys like Tyreke Key, Chucky Hepburn, and Alijah Martin could all see solid minutes. They will have to be the difference makers if they want to win the game.
Luckily for Toronto, they’ve all proven to be solid defenders, with the right mindset to want to go out and win games. Especially in a situation like this where they’re auditioning for minutes during the regular season.
Either way, it’s incredibly exciting to see the Raptors back out on the court, especially in Quebec City!
Injury Report
While it’s a little unclear during the preseason, some of Toronto’s players did sit out of the open scrimmage due to various ailments, but it’s unclear if they’ll be suiting up tonight. This could affect Jamison Battle, Kyle Anderson, and Allen Graves.
For Miami, the only two clear missing players will be Keshad Johnson and Dru Smith, sidelined by a right hamstring strain and a calf strain, respectively.
Probable Starters
Toronto: Kawhi Leonard, Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley
LEESBURG, VA - AUGUST 1996: (L to R) Marcus Camby, Ray Allen, Stephon Marbury, Kobe Bryant, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Jermaine O'Neal, Kerry Kittles, Steve Nash, John Wallace, Antoine Walker, and Samaki Walker poses for a portrait during the 1996 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot in August of 1996 in Leesburg, Virginia. 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 1996 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
CONTINUATION OF THE “WHAT IF” WOLVES SERIES. IN THIS SERIES, I PLAY THE ROLE OF TIMBERWOLVES OVERLORD AND GO BACK IN TIME AND RIGHT SOME OF THE WRONGS OF OUR FAVORITE FRANCHISE. SINCE THIS IS THE TIMBERWOLVES, THERE ARE A LOT OF WRONGS. THIS SERIES MAY GO ON FOREVER.
“What If” Wolves Volume Three: We got our big man, but who will get him the ball?
If you weren’t alive to witness the glory of 90s basketball, you missed out.
Play was dominated by big men in the post, point guards that controlled the game, and the GOAT (don’t get me started with LeBron James and Kobe Bryant talk). Since there was only one Michael Jordan, teams tried to build around the post and the man who could get him the ball. Almost every team was looking for their own version of “John Stockton to Karl Malone”, a dynamic duo that would lead their team to the championship (despite the fact that neither Stockton nor Malone ever won a title, or were remotely decent people, for that matter).
The Wolves had just drafted the greatest player in franchise history, Kevin Garnett. “KG”, “The Kid”, The Big Ticket”, and “The Franchise” (Man, the nicknames for big guys in the 90s were outstanding: “The Dream”, “The Mailman”, “The Round Mound of Rebound, ” and my favorite big man of the time, “The Admiral”).
UNITED STATES – APRIL 18: College Basketball: Closeup portrait of Naval Academy David Robinson (Navy Midshipman 1st Class) with ball aboard ship, Cover, Annapolis, MD 4/18/1986 (Photo by Bill Ballenberg/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images/Getty Images) (SetNumber: X32978)
With the power forward position in good hands after drafting “Ticket”, what the Wolves lacked was any semblance of respectable point guard play. The franchise already crushed my dream of drafting Tim Hardaway when they drafted Pooh Richardson out of UCLA. Pooh was still probably the best PG in franchise history up to the 1996 NBA draft. Granted, the list of point guards that had played for the Wolves up to that point is pretty gross. Let me know if you remember any of these floor generals. Pooh Richardson (only played three seasons with MN), Sidney Lowe (terrible coach), Scott Brooks (better coach), Michael Williams (still holds the NBA record with 97 consecutive free throws made), Corey Williams, Winston Garland, Darrick Martin, Howard Eisley, and my childhood hero, Spud Webb.
That list is hot garbage. The franchise needed better play from the PG spot, and the 1996 draft was a great place to start.
After finishing the 1995-96 season with a 26-56 record, the Timberwolves had the fifth-best odds to win the lottery. Did they get lucky and move up? Uh, no. They ended up with the fifth pick. The Wolves have only moved up once in franchise history (still the best thing any point guard has ever done for the Wolves. Probably the best thing D’Angelo Russell has done in his career as well. Thanks, DLo!).
The real Timberwolves missed out on drafting their franchise point guard with the fifth overall pick. They used the pick to draft future Hall of Fame player and NBA Champion Ray Allen. Allen was awesome coming out of UConn. He was uber-athletic and had an incredible jumper that would only get better throughout his career.
But the Wolves already had JR Rider on the roster, whom the team was still pretty high on at this point, as was I (JR was probably high as well).
The Milwaukee Bucks had the fourth overall pick. Milwaukee knew they wanted Ray Allen. They also knew that the Wolves wanted their PG of the future, so the Bucks did what any smart franchise should do and has done: take advantage of the Wolves’ front office.
The Bucks drafted PG Stephon Marbury from Georgia Tech with pick number four and dangled him in front of the Wolves GM Kevin McHale. McHale would go on to trade Ray Allen and a 1998 first-round pick for Marbury. I watched this draft live with my best friends Dan and Jason.
To be completely honest, we were all thrilled with the trade. I think we even high-fived. Oops.
Outside of watching the draft with my lifelong best friends, what would I do differently as the “What If” Wolves Overlord? The quick fix for the Wolves would be to keep Ray Allen and never have to deal with the future Marbury drama. That fix seems too simple for my taste.
Let’s get into it.
The first move by the “What If” Wolves in the summer of 1996 is to fire Kevin McHale immediately.
I asked him for an autograph once at a Subway sandwich shop. He yelled at me something along the lines of, “Can’t you see I’m having dinner with my family?!” To which I replied, “You are standing in line at a Subway, *&%#@! (Editor’s Note: not quite sure if this breaks the Subway Sandwich code of conduct).”
I left before he had a chance to yell back at me. I was a punk teenager and thought I was tough, but I still hate Kevin McHale despite him being “one of us” and guest starring in the best episode of Cheers.
To be fair, the acting is actually pretty good.
So the “What If” Wolves make some moves. After the Bucks take Marbury at pick #4 and dangle him in front of me, we make a pivot. We got Rider at shooting guard, so we don’t need Ray Allen. Also, Rider had recently won the dunk contest with his “East Bay Funk Dunk”. The dunk contest was super important to me back then, before it descended into whatever we have today (dear NBA guys, please fix this!).
I thought KG and Rider were building something and was excited to see it through, plus we would get the opportunity to hear more stories like this one about MJ. So instead of taking Allen, we trade the #5 pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers for picks #12 and #20.
Tough to move back, but we picked up an extra first-round pick and screwed over the Bucks at the same time. Nice. Cleveland takes Ray Allen at #5, which is a huge upgrade over their current SGs Bobby Phills and Bobby Sura. Phills would pass away a few years later while a member of the Charlotte Hornets in a tragic car accident.
The actual Wolves took a pretty big risk in the 1995 draft by drafting Kevin Garnett. When your franchise has been dreadful for the last few years, you need to take some risks. Now, the easy thing to do is to say that I took the same risk and drafted Kobe Bryant out of high school for the “What If” Wolves.
Again, way too easy, plus I like extra long articles.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs Santa Clara Broncos<br>#11 Steve Nash, Guard for the Santa Clara University Broncos dribbles the basketball around Stephon Marbury #3, Guard for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets who attempts to block during their NCAA Atlantic Coast Conference college basketball game on 30th December 1995 at the Leavey Center Arena in Santa Clara, California, United States. The Broncos won the game 71 – 66. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Allsport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With our newly acquired #12 pick, we take a different type of risk by taking a Canadian point guard from tiny Santa Clara University and future 2-time MVP, Steve Nash.
Coming out of college, the comparisons to John Stockton were everywhere. Small school, played on their respective National Teams, crazy court vision, decent shot, slow defender, and pretty pale. Nash was nowhere near the defender that Stockton was coming out of Gonzaga, but he checked every other box in the Stockton comparison.
Taking Nash at #12 is a bit of a reach and a bit of “drafting for need”. But I’m ok with that here. Take a flyer on a kid who has gotten better each of his four years at Santa Clara. Take a chance on the kid who steps up in the big games. In the NCAA Tournament as a freshman, Nash had 10 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and hit six straight free throws in the final 30 seconds to beat #2 Arizona.
As a senior, Nash had 28 points and 12 assists to upset #7 Maryland. He was clutch when it mattered most. That is what the Wolves need: a guy who can lead a team against all odds and destroy the powerhouse teams of the late 90s and early 2000s.
For pick #20 of the 1996 NBA Draft, the “What If” Wolves make the same pick as the real Cavs made twenty years ago and select Lithuanian center Zyndrunas Ilgauskas.
Ilgauskas was a giant at 7’3″. Couldn’t move all that well, but did well enough to earn two All-Star appearances. Ilgauskas makes it so the Wolves never sign Stojko Vrankovic, whose nickname on basketball-reference.com is actually “The Human Victory Cigar”.
I am sure that KG would have made Ilgauskas cry after being yelled at for moving too slowly, getting in his way, or speaking with broken English. Point is, KG was going to yell and scream at him (KG did this to everyone and we all love him for it). Not sure how I would handle a giant man sobbing, but if anyone can console him, I bet Steve Nash would be up for the task.
My other thought was to draft Derek Fisher out of Little Rock. This pick wouldn’t have been to solidify the point guard posistion with some solid depth. This pick would have been solely to have KG verbally abuse Fisher on a daily basis that he gives up basketball all together. I’m still bitter about him destroying the Timberwolves in the 2003 and 2004 NBA Playoffs.
So, no Marbury complaining about not making enough money. No Jesus Shuttlesworth to pair up with KG. No dynamic high school duo with Kobe. But we do get an actual floor general that is a fierce competitor, can shoot lights out, and fits in with the MN culture with his Hockey Flow haircut.
Two MVPs on the roster? I’ll take that risk.
Shoutout to the boys of the MSHSL for continuing to inspire this 50-year-old bald man. I bet Steve Nash is jealous.
TORONTO, ON - JUNE 17: Kyle Lowry #7 and Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors are photographed with the Championship Trophies on the team bus during the Toronto Raptors Championship Victory Parade on June 17, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
There is only one thing that the 2026 Raptors share in common with the championship team from 2019: Kawhi Leonard.
The first to leave, yet the only one in Toronto today. A man who has never failed to reach the top of the mountain as a Raptor. Granted, he was only a Raptor for one season, but now that he is back, we can ask: do the Raptors have that same championship trajectory once again?
And with Leonard seemingly still in great shape, coming off one of his best regular seasons ever, are the 2026 Raptors arguably better than the 2019 champions?
Top end talent
In 2019, the team’s leader and best player was Kawhi Leonard. Barring an astonishing Scottie Barnes jump, which is totally possible, Leonard will be the team’s frontman for this upcoming season. Obviously, 2019 Kawhi is going to outclass the current 35-year-old Kawhi in almost every facet. 2019 was his prime. However, Leonard’s offence is still top-notch, and his defence is still amazing too. Even with all the injuries, Leonard’s longevity has been impressive. He is one of the higher-end players in the Association.
Kawhi Leonard’s had two main co-stars on his championship run. Kyle Lowry was an All-Star that season and meshed incredibly well with Leonard. Pascal Siakam had his breakout season in 2018-19, averaging over 16 points per game. These two players in that specific season, who are all-time Raptors legends, cannot compare to modern-day Scottie Barnes. Barnes has been getting a lot of positive attention this offseason. Many people are praising not only his regular-season performance but also his incredible playoff production in the series against the Cavaliers. Receiving comparisons to Scottie Pippen and his new teammate Kawhi Leonard, it is fair to say people have high expectations for Scottie Barnes this season.
Role players and depth compared
The projected lineup for the Raptors in the 2026-27 season consists of Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, and Jakob Poeltl around Leonard and Barnes.
Quickley and Barrett are the players that the Raptors got in return for OG Anunoby. Both are early into their primes and have shown promising flashes, but play more selfishly compared to Lowry and Green. They swirled around in trade rumors all of last year and will likely continue to be in the rumour mill, unless they sacrifice their own production for the betterment of the team. As for Poeltl, he has not been the same since he injured his back. Compared to Serge Ibaka, who was having some of his best offensive seasons in Toronto and was still a great defender, Poeltl is quite subpar.
The 2019 champions have a difficult bench to match. Fred VanVleet, Norman Powell, OG Anunoby, and Marc Gasol. There were also all of the quality players who had lesser roles: Jeremy Lin, Chris Boucher, and Patrick McCaw for example.
Collin Murray-Boyles was a great defensive asset for the Raptors last year. Any bench with him will be productive. Rookie Allen Graves should add a fun dynamic this year. Jamal Shead and Ja’Kobe Walter have been good contributors over the last couple of years too. They, especially Walter, will assume bigger roles with Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick shipped off to Los Angeles. There are also other guys, like veteran Kyle Anderson, rejoining Kawhi Leonard. It would not hurt to acquire more depth, especially at centre. This would allow CMB to play a more natural position of forward, instead of in the intense role of a centre.
Could the 2026 Raptors yield the same results?
This article is kind of premature. Right now, this team and its season are a mystery. Once this season starts, we will get a feel for how this ensemble is going to perform, how Darko Rajaković will manage things, how the chemistry develops, and who else the front office can add. According to speculation, there could be a guy like Domantas Sabonis added to the team. Players like Collin Murray-Boyles could get increased roles. Bottom line: there is time for adjustments to be made.
The competition is also much different in the current NBA. Now, the NBA is much deeper than the 2019 NBA landscape, partly due to the new collective bargaining agreement which disperses talent more effectively than ever. There is also the reality of so many new stars. The emerging stars from the time the Raptors won in 2019 have matured and have great squads next to them now. Not to mention, the Eastern Conference is much stronger than it usually has been, arguably more stacked than the Western Conference. The Warriors were a worthy opponent in 2019, but the competition all around the league has become more respectable.
We will see how the year plays out. There will be twists and turns, just as the 2019 champions had when Kevin Durant got injured in the Finals, making victory even more tangible. There will be roster adjustments, just like when the front office traded for Marc Gasol. The team will have to learn how to play together. Kawhi adjusted quickly in 2019 and won a championship in his first year in Toronto, so why wouldn’t he mesh with the squad this year? The road to success will be strenuous, but the ceiling is as high as ever.
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