SACRAMENTO, CA - OCTOBER 5: Jake LaRavia #12 and Sandro Mamukelashvili #54 of the Los Angeles Lakers look on during the game against the Sacramento Kings during a 2026 NBA Preseason game on October 5, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
An exciting new era of Lakers basketball kicked off this preseason with lots of excitement and intrigue.
While we only briefly got a look at the new Big 3 that will guide the team into the future, there were plenty of other players fans got a long look at, for better and for worse.
Let’s dive into some of the preseason winners and losers for the purple and gold.
Winner — Sandro Mamukelashvili
Lakers fans didn’t have to wait long to find their new fan favorite. As a jack-of-all-trades type of player, Mamu found many ways to make an impression.
Some nights, it was knocking down a barrage of threes. Other nights, it was an unexpected reverse dunk. But most often, it was each of those things and more throughout the game.
Pretty quickly, Mamu established himself as someone who is going to be able to come in and change games with his energy and his versatility, all while getting the fans into the game as well.
Loser — Jarred Vanderbilt
A byproduct of the Lakers bringing in multiple new wings this offseason is that Vando became a lot less valuable in that sense. And with head coach JJ Redick already showing his hand in being willing to sit Vando even when there was more of a need for him, it probably shouldn’t have been a shock to see how little he was used in the preseason.
Even with the team shuffling through players and lineups because of injuries and rest, it was not an uncommon occurrence for Vando to have to wait until the fourth quarter to get his first minutes.
He can still bring value to the team as a chemistry and locker room guy as everyone on the team seems to like him. But he’s very far down the pecking order when it comes to actually getting on the court.
Winner — Ziaire Williams
From effectively the first preseason practice on, Williams was mentioned as a standout player. Despite missing time with an injury, Williams seems to be an odds-on favorite for the starting lineup to open the season.
Considering he was waived by the Nets and came to LA on a minimum deal, it’s already a strong start to the season. The goal now is to make that a springboard to a better campaign and not the high point.
Loser — Jaden Hardy and Dalton Knecht
Coming into training camp, there was supposed to be a battle for the final roster spot and most circled Hardy and Knecht as the guys likely duking it out.
Somehow, both lost.
Based on preseason playing time, Knecht seems likely to lose that battle. But Hardy did not paint himself in any sort of glory. The Lakers probably won’t cut both of them, but it wouldn’t be shocking if they did. President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka likes to have an open roster spot going into the season and Hardy certainly didn’t do enough to earn a roster spot.
Winner — Jake LaRavia
LaRavia’s campaign was a roller coaster last year. After a fast start, he hit a funk and struggled for most of the rest of the way. By the postseason, he seemed scared to even look at the basket.
But a revamped jumper and a renewed mindset have him in a much better space this preseason. His shot looks unorthodox, but he’s shooting it with confidence and it’s going on. It doesn’t matter how pretty it looks, just whether he hits it regularly.
If he does, then he’s another wing the Lakers can turn to this season.
That’s all well and good. The Sixers won’t be naive to the bumps and battles that come with an NBA season. Youth and internal improvement should matter plenty, though.
Time and again, Maxey’s teammates have echoed his mantra of “One percent better every day” in press conferences over the past several weeks. It’s a solid default to any sort of team-building question and words are words. Still, it makes plenty of sense for this Sixers squad to be focused on steady growth.
While James, Brown and the other pickups from the Sixers’ very eventful summer are far from strangers, so much newness always presents major challenges. The awkward turnovers and miscommunications won’t stop just because the preseason is over. As James highlighted at media day, patience and day-after-day dedication will be required.
“Look at the team I have around me,” Edgecombe said with a laugh on Sept. 29. “There’s no pressure on me at all. I’m just going to go out there and be myself. Once I’m out there being myself, playing with joy, I think we’ll be good.”
James certainly does not view Edgecombe as an immature youngster.
“He’s just not quiet,” the four-time MVP said on Oct. 3 after the Sixers’ Blue-White scrimmage. “And I’m saying that in a good way. If there’s things that happen on the floor, if there’s things that he sees, if there’s things that we see, we just automatically figure it out right there. … He’s a very cerebral player and he’s always looking for ways to get better on the floor, even at his young age.
“It definitely feels like he’s much older. It definitely feels like he’s not in Year 2. … We have a lot of guys that have been around the block, a lot of guys that have a voice, and a lot of guys that want to get better every day and hold each other accountable. It’s great to see.”
The Sixers will rely on Edgecombe to keep developing defensively, sink open three-pointers, and trust his instincts as the kid in the starting lineup.
He has an abundance of star ingredients.
“VJ’s gotten better every single day,” Maxey said Thursday. “He grows as a player every single day. His mind grows, his athleticism grows. He was dunking last year, but he wasn’t dunking like this. You can tell he got a little bit stronger, a little bit more confident. I’m excited to step on the court and compete with him.”
After averaging career highs last year in points (28.3 per game), assists (6.6), rebounds (4.1) and steals (1.9), what’s on his agenda this season?
“I’m at the point now where I’ve showed what I can do talent-wise, I think,” Maxey said following Day 2 of training camp. “Of course I’m going to get to better, but I want to be judged by winning. If we win, that’s what I want to be judged by. That’s really my main mindset, my whole goal, is finding ways to win.
“And because I’ve played so many different roles, I’m capable of doing so many different things. I think that’s going to be a positive for myself and for this team. I can play on the ball, I can play off the ball, I can play in transition, I can catch and shoot, I can play off pin-downs, I can play in pick-and-roll. I’m going to play however they need me to play.”
Shifting to the bench, the notable young names include 23-year-old backup center Adem Bona and rookie guard Labaron Philon Jr.
However, a world in which Philon eventually seizes a meaningful rotation spot isn’t outlandish to imagine. Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said at training camp that he was “super impressed with his vision and his passing and his offensive creation.”
Philon played 24.3 minutes per game in his first preseason and averaged 9.3 points and 4.5 assists. He’s been curious about all his veteran teammates have to offer, asking questions on topics ranging from Brown’s secrets to making tightly contested shots to Edgecombe’s process for building a personal routine in the NBA.
Philon has maintained a deep belief in his own game, too.
“I would say I’ve always been a great passer,” he said on Oct. 2. “Having the right guys, the right plays and the right mindset. First, you have to be unselfish. Second, you’ve got to have guys that want to move on the floor. And then third, it just comes down to making the best decision. For me, the best decision is making the easiest play.
“Right now I don’t really need any showtime or any flashy plays. The position that I’m in right now, making the right play every time will be great for me. And I’ve been doing it. So just seeing that (in training camp) has been good.”
The Sixers will happily take right play after right play this season.
The hunch here is that the youngsters will make many of them.
Any chance of Ben Simmons making a comeback this season will have to wait until next season.
The Sacramento Kings announced on Sunday that an MRI confirmed Simmons has suffered a torn right Achilles injury during practice.
“Sacramento Kings guard Ben Simmons was injured during a live drill in practice on Sunday, Oct. 18. An MRI revealed a torn right Achilles tendon. Simmons will undergo surgery,” the Kings announced in a press release this afternoon.
Ben Simmons to miss the rest of the season due to a right torn Achilles injury. NBAE via Getty Images
Simmons signed a one-year $3.5 million deal with the Kings last month after spending last year as an unsigned free agent. The deal was reportedly a non-guaranteed contract that would’ve paid him $1 million if he made the opening night roster.
Simmons was once a No.1 overall pick in the NBA Draft in 2016 but spent his career hampered by injuries, including a right foot fracture in 2016-2017, as well as constant knee and leg injuries from 2021-2025.
Simmons was once a No.1 overall pick in the NBA Draft in 2016. AP Photo/Eric GaySimmons signed a one-year $3.5 million deal with the Kings last month after spending last year as an unsigned free agent. NBAE via Getty Images
This season, he was expected to be a backup point guard, behind rookie Darius Acuff Jr., who’s played in four of the Kings’ preseason games.
Simmons has appeared in two preseason games this season and recently had 25 minutes of playing time last Friday when he scored 14 points, with eight rebounds, seven assists, and one steal against the San Antonio Spurs.
The Kings are set to open their season this Wednesday when they travel to Los Angeles to play the Clippers.
“Wherever LeBron [James] went in the East, I figured that’d probably be our opening night [game],” Hart said after Knicks practice Sunday. “That will be good for headlines and box office and those kinds of things.”
With training camp and the preseason over, all attention now turns to the opener against the 76ers on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.
With it being banner/ring night and the opener, there is already plenty of intrigue and attention. But it is impossible to escape all the extras involved.
The NBA, with LeBron and Jaylen Brown joining the 76ers to create a supposed “superteam” this offseason, is clearly interested in making this a rivalry and season-long storyline. The two teams play each other twice in the opening six games — both on national television. In fact, all four matchups this season are on national television.
Most have labeled the 76ers — with a core of James, Brown, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe — as the biggest threat to the Knicks’ chances of repeating as champions.
Add in the close geographical distance, the recent playoff history between the two teams and the fact LeBron has publicly said he envisioned finishing his career with the Knicks had they not won the title (and is living part-time in New York City), and there are all the ingredients of a renewed rivalry.
LeBron James signed with the 76ers in July. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Mike Brown’s first head coaching gig was coaching James with the Cavaliers. He knows that when James is involved, everything is just bigger.
“The reality of it, in coach talk, you want to say every game is the same,” the Knicks coach said Sunday. “That’s what you try to impress upon your guys is, ‘Hey, when we step on the floor, no matter who’s in front of us, you want to give the same focus, energy and effort to the next possession in front of you.’ But because of the talk, because of who he is — he is a large figure not just in life, but in the NBA.
“You also gotta look at the guys they have on the team and the guys they’ve added and the potential of that team and what we accomplished and what we’re trying to accomplish again — all those storylines, with the social media and all that other stuff, it’s pressed upon you, pressed upon you, pressed upon you, so it gets larger than life in general.”
Jaylen Brown was traded to the 76ers this off-season after spending 10 years with the Celtics. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Knicks would like to treat it like any of the other 82 regular-season games. But the reality is that, one way or the other, it will be used as an early statement in what could become a relentless discourse.
“As a coach, you hope it doesn’t, but at times yes, you have to take into account that yes, it can be something that guys think, ‘OK, this is a big game,’” Brown said. “It gives you a little bit more juice, a little bit more energy because of all the stuff around it. Is it gonna be a rivalry at the end of the day? I don’t know. I don’t know where we’re gonna be and where they’re gonna be. … Because of the storylines and all that other stuff with the social media, could it be right now? Yeah, it’s a fun story.”
The two teams also represent opposites of sorts.
The Knicks are a bastion of stability, returning nine of their top 10 players in terms of minutes played last year. It’s a group that knows each other well and has exceptional chemistry.
The 76ers, by contrast, are a newly assembled unit that must come together quickly with immediate championship expectations.
“Obviously, we have the same team, but sometimes individuals’ expectations are different than what they were before,” Hart said. “So it’s different. Especially a team like that, I’m sure they’re gonna have some bumpy times in the beginning of the year because they gotta get used to playing with each other. The media at that point [will say,] ‘They should blow it up and trade everybody’ and those kinds of things. That’s kind of the world we live in.”
The world we live in will have a dramatic reaction to Tuesday’s result.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 05: Oso Ighodaro #11 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball against the Chicago Bulls during the first half at the United Center on April 05, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Jayden Mack/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Phoenix just bet on one of its own. Per Shams Charania, Oso Ighodaro agreed to a three-year, $29 million extension that runs through the 2030-31 season.
Phoenix Suns center Oso Ighodaro has agreed to a three-year, $29 million contract extension through the 2030-31 season, his agent Erika Ruiz of Primera Sports tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/8MiSwgmCdE
ESPN’s Bobby Marks added the key piece of the structure: “To help the Suns financially for next season, Ighodaro’s $2.4M team option for 2027-28 is picked up. Good deal for both sides.” Translation: Phoenix keeps Oso on his bargain rookie number for one more year, and the new money doesn’t kick in until 2028-29.
To help the Suns financially for next season, Ighodaro’s $2.4M team option for 2027-28 is picked up.
That works out to roughly $9.7 million a year for a guy who came into this league as a second-round flyer.
Just on Friday, Ighodaro told reporters: “Yeah, we’re talking about it. We’ll see what happens in the next couple days.”
The timing is the win here. Picking up the $2.4 million option keeps next season’s books clean while the front office works through bigger financial decisions. Oso gets long-term security, Phoenix gets one more year of a rotation big at near-minimum money, then a fair number after that, especially if he continues to progress.
The Suns acquired Ighodaro’s draft rights at No. 40 from the Knicks in exchange for the draft rights to Kevin McCullar Jr., the 56th overall pick, and Boston’s 2028 protected second-round pick. He’s also a hometown kid, a Chandler native who led Desert Vista to a state championship.
He earned it with availability
Ighodaro appeared in all 82 games last season, starting 24, and his role expanded when a foot injury sidelined Mark Williams. In a frontcourt that got banged up, he was the one big the Suns never had to worry about showing up.
This front office keeps telling us what it wants: length, motor, and guys who can switch. Ighodaro checks all three at a backup-big price. Keeping him means the Suns don’t have to overpay in free agency for that profile.
Ighodaro has been in a battle with Khaman Maluach for the Suns’ starting center job with Mark Williams sidelined for the foreseeable future. He will play a major part in their rotation this season.
Phoenix Suns big Oso Ighodaro said he and the team are having talks about contract extension.
"We'll see what happens in the next couple of days."
Sacramento's Ben Simmons has suffered a torn right Achilles and will soon undergo surgery to repair it, the Kings have announced. While no official timetable was given, he will undoubtedly miss the entire 2026-27 season.
This is a devastating blow for Simmons, who had been out of the league for a year getting his body right and his mind in a good place. For years, Simmons had been dealing with a back issue that limited him physically, caused him to miss a lot of games, and that shook his confidence.
Taking a year off seemed to have worked. All the buzz coming out of Sacramento had been overwhelmingly positive, and Simmons, 30, was expected to be a starter on opening night. While it's just the preseason, Simmons was moving well and playing a more attacking style, averaging 10.5 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists in 17.4 minutes per preseason game.
Two seasons ago, the former No. 1 pick played 51 games between the Nets and Clippers, averaging 5 points, 5.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game, while shooting 52%, all from inside the arc. He showed flashes of what he could be as a floor general and leader.
This injury also leaves the Kings and coach Doug Christie scrambling to fill a big hole in his rotation. Don't be surprised if Precious Achiuwa gets a lot of run with the starters, a group expected to include rookie Darius Acuff Jr., Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine and Keegan Murray.
Knicks coach Mike Brown had tremendous praise for Bruce Brown, whom the team waived on Saturday to bring the roster to 14 players.
“Bruce, he’s a winner,” Brown said after practice Sunday. “He shows a level of toughness and versatility — not just defensively, he can guard one through four, but even offensively, he can initiate the offense. Our point guard’s not one that has to come down every play and break his guy down and make the game easier for everyone else. We have a system where we play out of concepts, and Bruce is good enough to initiate the offense, or he’s good enough to be off the ball. So he fits in with how we want to play on both ends, while giving us versatility on both ends. Having a chance to get to know him, he seems like a good guy. He seems like he knows a lot of our guys because he was in the same [draft] class as a few of them. So it was tough from that standpoint.”
Bruce Brown will not be on the Knicks’ opening night roster. NBAE via Getty Images
The Knicks only have room to keep 14 players and stay under the second apron. They wanted to keep both James Wiseman and Bruce Brown, but were unable to make a trade to unload a player — either Pacôme Dadiet or Tyler Kolek — in order to make room for Brown.
And with the Knicks needing a third center behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond, Wiseman won the roster spot over Brown. It is possible the Knicks eventually find a deal and are able to bring back Brown.
“When you have a guy that’s 25 years old, that has the length and the athleticism and the talent as a James Wiseman, because KAT’s not athletic like that and Andre was once that, he still has some of it. But to have that at 25 years old, especially with where we’re at as a group, you look for guys that coulda, shoulda, but at his age maybe he still can be a coulda, shoulda,” Brown said. “That vertical threat at the rim, the vertical threat defensively, how good he runs, you welcome that at his size and age and athleticism.”
Bruce Brown (1) is currently a free agent. NBAE via Getty ImagesKnicks head coach Mike Brown spoke glowingly of Bruce Brown, whom the Knicks waived this week. Jason Szenes for NY Post
Josh Hart, who missed the Knicks preseason finale against the Raptors on Thursday due to a sore right ankle, practiced on Sunday.
SACRAMENTO, CA – The Sacramento Kings were excited to enter the 2026-27 regular-season relatively injury-free but the team received a massive just a few days ahead of the regular-season opener.
Recently signed forward Ben Simmons sustained a torn right Achilles tendon during a live drill in practice on Sunday, Oct. 18, the Kings announced.
"An MRI revealed the torn right Achilles tendon and Simmons will undergo surgery. Further updates will be provided as appropriate," the Kings said.
ESPN reported that the injury is suspected to be a season-ending one for Simmons.
"I've faced challenges before that tested me mentally, physically and emotionally, and I've found a way through every single one of them. This injury is another chapter in my journey, not the end of my story," Simmons wrote on his Instagram story.
"It's never easy being away from the game I love, especially after everything it took to get back here. But if there's one thing I've learned, it's that adversity doesn't define you. How your respond to it does.
"I've been knocked down before, and I've always found a way to get back up. This time will be no different."
Simmons' deal with Sacramento gave him a fresh start in the league as he worked his way back into the feel, and conditioning, of the game.
"Coming to work hard, play the game I know how to play," Simmons told USA TODAY during training camp on what he brings to the Kings. "Communicate, and just lead. Lead how I know how to. So it's been good. We're locked in, focused."
Simmons has missed time throughout his career due to chronic back problems and a series of leg injuries. He took time off last year, missing the entire 2025-26 season to rehabilitate his body from his lingering injuries. He has also battled through mental adversity throughout his career.
Simmons, 30, was entering his eighth NBA season and his first season with the Kings. He was named NBA Rookie of the Year for the 2017-18 season and was twice named to the NBA's All-Defensive first team (in 2019-20 and 2020-21) as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers. He was also named third team All-NBA in 2019-20.
He has career averages of 15.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.9 blocks per game.
There were shades of the three-time NBA All-Star during the Kings preseason games. Simmons averaged 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game in the preseason.
He was projected to make his way into the starting lineup, playing alongside Darius Acuff, Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray and Zach LaVine. The team felt that his acquisition would add versatility to their roster where Simmons could defend every position on the floor, making Sacramento a bigger team.
However, he won't be back on the court in the immediate future and may miss his second consecutive season.
ESPN just featured Simmons in an E60 documentary titled "Being Ben" that premiered Sunday afternoon. The documentary, hosted by ESPN senior writer Marc Spears, follows Simmons, going behind-the-scenes and discussing in-depth Simmons' thoughts and emotions upon his return to the NBA.
Health has been a major concern for Simmons throughout his NBA tenure.
He came into the NBA as a bonafide star, coming out of LSU where he averaged 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, two steals and nearly a block per game as a freshman in 2015-2016.
He always has been looked at as a guy who can do a little bit of anything and everything on the floor. After the 76ers selected him with the No. 1 overall pick the 2016 NBA Draft, Simmons missed the entire 2016-17 season after rolling his ankle in his first practice, fracturing in his right foot and ankle – which did not heal throughout the season.
Simmons then played nearly every game for Philadelphia in his next two seasons earning three consecutive All-Star nods before injuries began to mount again after the 2020-21 season.
First was the fiasco when the Sixers lost a 2021 Eastern Conference semifinal series to Atlanta Hawks in seven games that was infamous for Simmons passing up a wide open layup or a dunk under the basket with 3:30 remaining in the game as Philadelphia trailed 88-86.
During the offseason, Simmons asked for a trade, held out from the team and didn't appear for training camp, stating he was away dealing with his mental health. He ended up missing the entire 2021-22 with a back injury in addition to the mental health hurdles and trade holdout.
Simmons was eventually traded to the Brooklyn Nets in February 2022. He returned the next season but was limited playing only 43 games as he dealt with a number of knee injuries and lingering back issues.
His back issues continued into the next season in 2023-24, where he appeared in 15 games with the Nets before being shut down with continued back pain, eventually required surgery.
During the 2024-25 season, Simmons played 33 games with the Nets before he was waived. He signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in February 2025 but appeared in only 18 games as he struggled with his physical health and athletic mobility. He became a free agent after that season and sat out the entire 2025-26 season to rehab his body.
He felt like he was back, signing with Sacramento in the offseason amid optimism his injuries were behind him.
With Simmons' now out indefinitely, the Kings have a decision to make ahead of their season opener regarding their starting lineup. Sacramento begins the 2026-27 regular season with a game against the Clippers in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
Here is their projected starting lineup following Simmons' injury:
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 08: Adou Thiero #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots the ball against the Sacramento Kings during the first quarter in a preseason game at Crypto.com Arena on October 08, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Injuries not only robbed Adou Thiero of his rookie season, but also the Lakers of getting a chance to really integrate him into their team.
As a team that lacked athleticism on the wing last season, Thiero was the ready-made solution already on the roster. However, most of his season was spent either rehabbing and recovering from various injuries or getting up to speed in the G League.
However, that hasn’t dampened the team’s excitement for Thiero entering his sophomore campaign. Evidenced by his playing time this preseason, the team still has a lot of belief in him.
If you read between the lines, they’re also signaling some of that belief as well. On a recent episode of “The Zach Lowe Show,” Dan Woike of The Athletic spoke about the Lakers’ pursuit of Jonathan Kuminga this summer. In doing so, he also expressed how high the team is on Thiero.
“Another ceiling raiser for them is Adou Thiero. Part of the reason, I think, why they weren’t totally bent out of shape about losing out on Jonathan Kuminga, I mean they were interested but it wasn’t a full-press recruitment, I would say…The version of Kuminga they wanted, they didn’t want the ‘I think I can be T-Mac’ version. They wanted, like, ‘Is there a way I can be some sort of discount Aaron Gordon?’ Hyper athlete who can space the floor a little bit and defend and run in transition and be a monster.
Adou Thiero is one of the best athletes in the NBA. Adou Thiero didn’t play a lot last season because of a knee issue. A knee issue that kept him out of the NCAA Tournament in college. A knee issue that pushed him down a lot of draft boards. A lot of teams had him red-flagged. He’s been healthy for most this preseason…He’s a guy that gives them a level of pop and athleticism that, really, no one else does.”
Seeing how much more controlled and impactful Thiero has been this preseason should give the Lakers even more hope that Thiero can be a meaningful piece of the team this season. It certainly seems like he’s going to get the opportunity to do so once the season starts.
On a team with plenty of wings, Thiero’s incredible athleticism sets him apart. If he can add some of the other skills along the way this season, then the Lakers could be looking at a new, young piece of their core.
PORTLAND, OREGON - OCTOBER 07: Dalen Terry #21 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during the second half of the preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on October 07, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was always going to be a longshot for Dalen Terry to make the Golden State Warriors roster. After Saturday’s roster moves, his best chance might be a spot on the Santa Cruz Warriors.
Terry was waived, along with 26-year-old forward Tyler Burton, and Australian Alex Toohey, a Warriors second-round pick from 2025. All three are candidates for the G League squad.
Burton played 12 games at the end of the season for the injury-decimated Memphis Grizzlies. Toohey played just two games for Santa Cruz last season before undergoing knee surgery in December, a procedure he’s still recovering from. Terry had a big preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers, putting up 23 points, eight rebounds, nine assists and four steals while most of the team didn’t make the trip. However, he has too much NBA experience to sign a two-way contract, so there’s really no spot for him on the roster.
The last spots on the roster still belong to Georges Niang and Brandon Williams, who will have his contract partially-guaranteed when he’s on the opening night roster. Niang and Charles Bassey each have partially-guaranteed deals, though waiving them wouldn’t open up much money to sign a replacement. Bassey figures to be a necessary part of the rotation, particularly while Kristaps Porzingis remains out.
It didn’t appear that there was a real competition for roster spots during training camp, though Williams impressed by scoring in double digits in his first four games, before sitting out the final game with back soreness. The Warriors remain quite close to the salary cap apron, which limits their options, and the team seems focused on staying afloat until Moses Moody and Jimmy Butler can come back from their own knee injuries.
Could there be a change in the team’s two-way contracts, which currently belong to Graham Ike, LJ Cryer and Malevy Leons? It really depends on who might become available during league-wide roster cuts, but the Warriors tend to value continuity, which favors Cryer and Leons. Like Bassey, Ike might play a lot out of sheer necessity, given the fragile center rotation.
The roster appears set. Santa Cruz looks like they have a nice roster as well. Dalen Terry, we’ll always have Portland.
PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 16: Keyonte George #3 of the Utah Jazz handles the ball during the game against the Phoenix Suns on October 16, 2026 at Mortgage Matchup Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In this week’s Utah Jazz Reacts survey, I asked Jazz fans who they would prefer starting: Ace Bailey or Jaxson Hayes. That assumes Keyonte George, Darryn Peterson, Lauri Markkanen, and Jaren Jackson Jr. are locked into the starting unit. Here’s what Jazz fans said:
It’s pretty clear that a majority of Jazz fans want to see Ace Bailey starting over Jaxson Hayes. Obviously, this changes the starting lineup dynamics, but from what we’ve seen in Preseason, it is probably a better dynamic with Bailey starting.
So what are those dynamics? Well, the philosophy of starting a big next to Jaren Jackson Jr. is that it will help with his lack of rebounding and his high foul rate. It should also help defensively by adding size. At least that’s what I assume after listening to Will Hardy’s latest comments about what Tony Bradley brings to the table (“a lot of size”).
My only issue with that is that we’ve seen Jaren Jackson in foul trouble all preseason while playing next to Jaxson Hayes. On top of that, the Jazz also lost the rebounding battle in their latest preseason game against the Suns, where both teams played their main rotations through three quarters, one of the longest stretches of the season.
We’ve also seen what looks like a leap from Ace Bailey. He’s shooting 45% from the field, but that would be higher if he wasn’t shooting just 27% from three, something we know should improve. But it’s far from just the shooting that Bailey brings. Bailey is playing 23 minutes per game at the 3 and averaging 5.3 rebounds per game. He’s also averaging 1.5 assists, 1.8 steals, and 9.5 points, with a 14.1 net rating, the clear best among the Jazz’s main rotation players. The next closest are Svi Mykhailiuk at 9.8, Lauri Markkanen at 5.2, and Keyonte George at 1.5.
Something is working!
At this point, Utah hasn’t seen a center like Hayes play next to Jaren Jackson Jr. and either improve his deficiencies or help the team win more. So it’s time to run Ace Bailey at the three and let Hayes come off the bench if Jaren Jackson gets into foul trouble, which he likely will.
You can always adjust again if you need to, but at this point we’ve seen enough of what we get with Jaxson Hayes starting and Ace Bailey playing off the bench that it’s time to give Bailey a chance to start. It might be what unlocks everything for the Jazz this season.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 06: Josh Minott #00 of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket while guarded by Pat Connaughton #21 of the Charlotte Hornets during their preseason game at Spectrum Center on October 06, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While NBA pundits and others, including fans of the New York Knicks, either ignore the Brooklyn Nets or alternatively dismiss any chances of success, the players and their coaches legitimately believe they can, as Julius Randle said, “shock the world.” Some might roll their eyes at that prediction or the more specific one that Brooklyn can win 50 games this season and think it’s ill-conceived optimism at best, maybe a casual comment at the least. It is not. It’s the driving force, the mantra, for the youngest roster in the NBA at 24.3 years of age. They believe it!
Now that Las Vegas sportsbooks put their season win total at 24.5, only four more than last season, and ESPN predicted they’d win 18 games, two fewer than last season, the reporters who cover the team day in and day out have their opportunity. The New York Post’s Brian Lewis and the New York Daily News’s C.J. Holmes published their season previews this weekend, the Post as part of a 20-page NBA supplement dominated by their take on whether Jalen Brunson and his Knicks can repeat. We should have ND’s annual reporter’s roundtable ready to go before Wednesday night’s opener at Barclays Center.
In general, Lewis and Holmes are not as pessimistic as the national writers, but no where near as optimistic as the Nets players. In different ways, they look at a 30-win season as something reasonable.
For Lewis, the more intriguing questions are how much further will the team travel on its path to contention … and what the roster looks like after 3:15 p.m., Eastern time on February 11, the trade deadline.
He recites what Sean Marks said back on Media Day on September 28,
“Yeah, it’s exciting that we’ve been able to add this youth to this team, watch these guys develop,” the Nets GM for the last decade said. “We’ve always said over the course of the last couple of years, we’re looking for the next Nets. Who are those guys? So we have a training camp and another year to figure this out as we build.
“We’ve kept flexibility over the last couple of years and know that we’re poised when the time is right. [It’s about] having a foundation. There’s certainly some players here on this roster that will be Nets long term. That’s exciting. … [To] see how they develop over the course of this next year is going to be really important. And it’s not just the young guys; it’s everybody we brought in. Jordi [Fernández] has always harped on developing a 28-year-old or developing a 31-year-old, it doesn’t matter. They’ve all got to show that this is an opportunity they’re going to be given, and how can they develop and take their games to the next level.”
There’s no numerical goal in Marks assessment. The tank may be over but the rebuild clearly is not … and while the GM may be setting goals internally, he’s not providing them publicly. His mantra remains development and that’s not limited to just the eight players on rookie deals, the second rounder on a tw0-way but also the 31-year-old Randle and the 28-year-old Porter Jr. (On two occasions when he’s discussed MPJ’s contract extension, Marks pointedly credited Fernandez’s role in putting MPJ in the right place within the Nets offense.)
Randle is both the most senior Net player at 32 (on November 29, six days after his return to Minnesota) and easily the most accomplished — three NBA All-Star selections and two All-NBA teams plus Most Improved Player while playing for the Knicks.) He also said recently that he is at the peak of his game.
“Yeah, I feel like I’m the best I’ve ever been in my career. And I’m in a perfect situation to play my best under Jordi,” Randle told Lewis. “I think accumulation of wisdom and continuing to improve every single year, I feel like I’m at my best version of myself that I’ve been in my career, and I’m excited to be able to utilize that under Jordi and help this team the best way I can.
“Sean brought me here because of that, because it was time to win. … That’s what it is. … I’m not here to lose. I don’t think anybody’s here to lose this year,” Randle told The Post. “We’re playing to win. That’s as simple as I can put it.”
Egor Demin and Mikel Brown Jr., of course, are what the average Nets fan is most excited by. They’re not only the highest ranking Nets draft picks in back-to-back drafts since Ed O’Bannon and Kerry Kittles in 1995-96. They’re also symbolic of the Nets overall strategy: build organically through the draft. As Lewis writes of Brown Jr., he is a rare combination…
As a Louisville freshman last season, Brown joined stars Steph Curry and Trae Young as the only college players since 2008 to have a 30 percent assist rate, 84 percent foul shooting, 35 percent free-throw rate, and high 3-point volume (over 14 attempts per 100 possessions). That rare intersection of elite passing, volume shooting, and on-ball juice teases a potential All-Star. But there are going to be turnovers and rookie growing pains. Brown is going to have to get bigger, stronger, hone his shot selection, and learn when to settle for safe rather than the high-risk home run pass.
Marks adds that MBJ doesn’t play or act like a rookie.
Demin too presents something new and interesting. After proving that he can shoot the three despite the preseason narrative that he couldn’t, his job now is proving he can go for the more traditional two, testing the lane and going to the line.
The lithe Russian wasn’t just a poor driver as a teenaged rookie, but an unwilling one. But added muscle and a more aggressive mindset have put Dëmin in a position to level up. He’s bigger, stronger, and getting downhill more. After going just 1-for-4 on 2-point baskets in summer league as a rookie, Dëmin came back a year later and went 22-for-29. The disclaimer is that it was just Summer League. Dëmin got extended looks at point guard in camp with Brown sidelined, and attacked the paint, but, again, that’s only preseason.
Then again, in limited action, the two 20-year-olds have displayed a great deal of chemistry. And Nolan Traore, who quite frankly looked like he was the fourth youngest player in the NBA last year, also looked so much better.
Lewis also treats at MPJ departure before or at the trade deadline as a given. After all, if he isn’t extended and the Nets have until June 30 to get it done, he’ll be a free agent days later. Marks & co. certainly don’t want to get noting in return. But on the other hand, this isn’t about helping a team like Detroit or Golden State make a playoff push in return for more picks. The Nets currently have a total of eight firsts in 2027, 2028 and 2029.
The Nets’ leading scorer is 28 years old and set for unrestricted free agency, which means he’s going to be a prime trade candidate. The Aug. 11 deadline came and went to extend Porter and still have him eligible to be moved at the trade deadline. General manager Sean Marks has said he wants to see Porter show consistency, leadership, and defense. It also remains to be seen how the Nets perform, and what kind of offers Porter will draw.
The Daily News’ Holmes doesn’t commit to a win prediction, but argues getting from 20 to 50 wins (which would be the second highest total in Nets NBA history) would be extraordinary.
Beating the market would take 25 wins. A meaningful step would look more like 30. Reach the Play-In, and the season gets discussed differently. Getting to 50 would demand all of it at once: the veteran partnership working, the young players growing quickly, and the defense holding up without (Nic) Claxton.
He focuses a lot of his preview on how Randle and MPJ will work together. He thinks they can as do the players.
“We understand each other’s games really well and how we can really complement each other,” Randle told reporters. “We’re two guys that obviously can both really score the ball, but we do it in very different ways.”
Porter has described the same possibility from the perimeter. When Randle pulls a defender into the paint, Porter has room to shoot if the ball comes back out. That one possession obviously can’t account for 30 additional wins, but Brooklyn doesn’t need a historic leap to benefit from it. More paint pressure and higher-percentage looks for its best shooter could lift an offense with plenty of room to grow.
One reason for the optimism, as Holmes writes is that MPJ is as good as it gets in making a 3-pointer while heavily guarded. Just nine percent of Porter’s 3-point attempts were classified as wide open, the lowest share among 307 players who took at least 100 3-pointers. One the other hand, over the past seven seasons, Randle ranks fourth in the NBA in assists leading to 3-pointers, behind only Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Dončić. Heady company.
“We understand each other’s games really well and how we can really complement each other,” Holmes quotes Randle. “We’re two guys that obviously can both really score the ball, but we do it in very different ways.”
There was a little of that in preseason. Who knows, maybe Fernandez was hiding how much he’ll be using said combination. Every smart coach does hide some plays. Despite that, the Nets did lead the league in preseason offensive rating. Over last season with Noah Clowney starting 60 games at power forward, Brooklyn ranked dead last. As Holmes wrote, “Last season gives the Nets little room to pretend the climb is short.”
Still, the optimism is there. “And it’s going to take day by day, step by step,” Brown Jr. said when he first mentioned Randle’s “shock the world” quote to reporters. In the meantime, it’ll be “just getting 1% better every day.”
The Celtics officially converted Devin Carter to a two-way deal. While the team is excited that Carter is sticking around, he won’t be suiting up for a little while.
Carter has mononucleosis, according to multiple reports Sunday. That explains the illness that has kept him out since the preseason opener. There’s no firm timeline for his return, though the Globe’s Gary Washburn reported he could miss a few more weeks.
Devin Carter has been diagnosed with mononucleosis and could miss a few more weeks. #Celtics did announce he has signed their final two-way deal.
That opener was a wonderful introduction. Carter scored 17 points in 25 minutes against Cleveland on 5-of-9 shooting. He went 6-of-6 at the line, putting a ton of pressure on the rim. He also added five rebounds, three assists, and two steals. He showed a lot of the promise that made him a lottery pick for Sacramento two seasons ago.
His audition was unfortunately cut short after one game, but this lone performance was strong enough and his potential is too much for Boston to pass up on.
Joe Mazzulla pointed to Carter’s ceiling as the reason for the deal. “You see the talent, the impact that he could have, and you want to be able to invest in that,” he said.
Mazzulla on the Celtics signing Devin Carter: "Very talented. Has done some good things in the league … but with us, just gotta put his head down. Really impactful on the defensive end of the floor … came in with a great attitude, did what we asked him to do." @CLNSMediapic.twitter.com/JMiKpQEmRN
Carter is on his third team in four months. Sacramento took him 13th in 2024 and traded him to Atlanta in June. The Hawks then waived him in September to get down to 15 players. Mazzulla said Carter has talent and has shown flashes as a pro, but he needs to put his head down in Boston. So far, that’s exactly what he’s done.
“Came in with a great attitude. Did what we asked him to do,” Mazzulla said.
The Celtics have a lot of options in their development pipeline, but the team uses their G League affiliate in Maine about as well as anyone in terms of investing in young talent and guiding their growth. The two-way deal gives Boston more control of Carter’s trajectory. He’ll fill the team’s third two-way slot alongside Dillon Mitchell and Amari Williams.
Carter can also remain available when the Celtics need depth throughout the year, like we saw with Williams last season.
This is a second draft opportunity for both sides. Carter gets a change of scenery, and Boston takes a shot at a player with real NBA skills that has more room for growth.
CLEVELAND, OHIO – OCTOBER 08: Devin Carter #99 celebrates with Mike Conley #45 of the Boston Celtics during the first quarter of a preseason game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on October 08, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Celtics defeated the Cavaliers 124-113. 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
Boston has already hit on Neemias Queta, who came off the Kings’ scrap heap as well. Ron Harper Jr. went from an Exhibit 10, to a two-way, to a three-year extension. Carter could have a similar journey in store for him.
He’s a smart and tenacious defender, and Mazzulla called him “really impactful on the defensive end of the floor.” The shooting is a question mark. He shot 27.4 percent from three over his first two seasons. He has other skills worth betting on, but if the jumper comes along, he could find a home here like Queta, Harper, and others have.
Mono will delay that, but Boston’s guard room is in good shape with Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, and Mike Conley all healthy. While the Celtics might need Carter at some point, getting him healthy and sharpening his tools in Maine is the short-term focus.
The Celtics see the vision with Carter, and hopefully this is just a brief delay before it starts coming together once he returns.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 30: Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics celebrates during player introductions before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on November 30, 2025 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
Payton Pritchard has been a starter and a sixth man. Overlooked and then underpaid. Scouted as too small, then played a big part on a championship team. Now, he’s gone from making about $8 million a year to signing a two-year, $44.2 million extension. Through all of it, he says the starting label matters a lot less than what he does once he’s on the floor.
“To me, a starter is the amount of minutes you play,” Pritchard said after Sunday’s practice. “Do you finish games? Are you playing 30-plus minutes? Then you are a starter. You know what I mean?”
It’s a useful way to think about a lineup spot, especially on a Celtics team that will need to figure out how its pieces fit together. The starting five will get plenty of attention. Pritchard’s point is that the label doesn’t tell you much by itself.
“How do you impact the game is what really matters to me.”
The label matters less than the minutes
Pritchard has seen both sides of the conversation. He started every game through the first half of last season, then moved to the bench in February as Joe Mazzulla adjusted the rotation. He remained an important part of the team in both roles. Boston didn’t suddenly need less from him because he stopped being introduced with the starters.
On the heels of his contract extension, Payton Pritchard reflects on going from being out of the Celtics’ rotation to everything he has accomplished since:
“You go through so many ups and downs, you’ve just gotta keep going, keep getting better every day. You just don’t know how… pic.twitter.com/SNY5Mhe2Dy
Now, the Celtics are working through another version of that question. Jayson Tatum is back, Jaylen Brown is gone, and Paul George joins Derrick White and Pritchard in a backcourt with a lot of responsibility to sort out. Pritchard could start or he could come off the bench. The decision will likely depend on what Mazzulla thinks the group needs at different moments.
Pritchard sounds comfortable leaving that choice to the coach. “If that’s what Joe thinks benefits the team the most,” he said of coming off the bench. He’ll try to be the best player he can in those minutes.
That isn’t the same as saying the role doesn’t matter. Pritchard has been clear about wanting opportunities to play and show what he can do. Rather, he seems less interested in the status attached to a role than in what he can do once he has one. A starting spot is one way to get minutes, but it isn’t the only way to matter. Pritchard knows that better than most.
Boston’s expectations suit him
He has reasons to value the demands that come with playing in Boston. Asked what he loves about the city and organization, Pritchard pointed to the expectations.
“You go for championships,” he said. “They hold you to a high standard. The media holds you to a high standard, organization too, and I appreciate being in an environment like that.”
That standard can make every rotation decision feel loaded. If a player starts, fans can read it as a sign of trust. If he comes off the bench, they might wonder what’s wrong with him. Pritchard is offering a much less dramatic read: look at how much he plays and how he affects the game.
He has earned the right to make that case. Pritchard is coming off the best season of his career, averaging 17 points, 5.2 assists and 3.9 rebounds, a year after winning Sixth Man of the Year. He just recently signed a two-year, $44.2 million extension, giving the Celtics a longer commitment to a guard whose role has grown steadily.
Payton Pritchard on his extension: "It means a lot."
"$22M a year is a lot of money … sometimes I just like to take that and you can always work for the next one, stay hungry, go after the next one, be a better player … and then hopefully I'm awarded like that again." pic.twitter.com/OCakpw8GXO
Still, he isn’t talking like the contract or the award entitles him to a starting spot. His focus is on how good he can become. “I’m going after my personal greatness for basketball,” he said. “I’m not chasing anybody but myself.”
That’s a pretty ambitious goal for someone who also says he doesn’t care about hearing his name during introductions. The two ideas fit together, though. Pritchard wants to keep improving and take on more. He just doesn’t seem to think the starting lineup is the scoreboard for that.
The Celtics will have plenty to sort out before the season gets rolling. Whether Pritchard is in the first group or first off the bench will be one of the easiest things to track, and probably one of the least useful ways to measure his importance. For him, the real question is what he does after the introductions are over.
Ben Simmons tore his right Achilles tendon in practice on Sunday, ending his comeback attempt this season with the Sacramento Kings before the season even started.
The Kings said Simmons hurt himself during a live drill and will need to undergo surgery three days before the season opener on Wednesday night on the road against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Simmons had signed a one-year deal with Sacramento this summer as he tried to revive his career.
The 30-year-old from Australia is a former No. 1 draft pick, three-time All-Star and Rookie of the Year, but he has struggled to perform and stay healthy in recent years. He sat out last season while dealing with back and leg injuries after ending the 2024-25 season in a reserve role for the Los Angeles Clippers.
Simmons was the first overall pick by Philadelphia in 2016 after playing one season in college at LSU. He sat out his first season with an injured foot but quickly developed into a star player for the 76ers once he returned. He was the Rookie of the Year in 2017-18, was an All-Star the following three seasons, as well as a third-team All-NBA player in 2019-20 and a first-team All-Defense selection in 2019-20 and 2020-21.
He was sent to Brooklyn at the 2022 trade deadline but missed the rest of that season with a bad back. He then played 2 1/2 seasons with the Brooklyn before getting cut in February 2025. He finished that season with the Los Angeles Clippers before sitting out last season.
But he never came close to his level of play early in his career in Philadelphia, averaging 5.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists during his time with the Nets and Clippers.
Sacramento is coming off a 22-60 season and is trying to rebuild around rookie Darius Acuff Jr., who was picked seventh in the draft after a stellar freshman season at Arkansas.
