Monta Ellis has been named the general manager of the Alcorn State men's basketball program, the school announced on Friday, August 7.
The position will include overseeing basketball operations, devising recruiting strategies, handling NIL opportunities and transfer portal decisions and mentoring the student-athletes. The statement said that the Mississippi-based HBCU "expects" the 12-year NBA veteran and Mississippi native "to raise the program's profile on the national recruiting trail."
"Today marks the beginning of an incredible new chapter, and I'm truly honored and excited to be named the General Manager for Men's Basketball at Alcorn State University," Ellis said in the statement. "Alcorn isn't just a university. It's a place built on history, tradition, excellence, and a legacy that has impacted generations."
Ellis entered the NBA straight out of high school as a second round pick in the 2005 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors. He spent six seasons there and was named the 2006-07 Most Improved Player. He also spent time with the Milwaukee Bucks and Dallas Mavericks before finishing his career with the Indiana Pacers.
Known as the "Mississippi Bullet," Ellis starred at Lanier High School in Jackson, Mississippi, 75 miles east of Alcorn State in Lorman. He had 29 points in the 2005 4A basketball championship victory and was a McDonald's All-American. He is also the founder of the Ellis Elite Basketball Academy in Coppell, Texas.
The Braves have won 17 regular season conference championships, seven SWAC tournament championships and have six NCAA tournament appearances. Last season, under first-year coach Jake Morton, Alcorn State went 9-23 overall and 7-11 in the conference.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: Mikel Brown Jr. #0 of Brooklyn Nets poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on July 15, 2026 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Zach Barron/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With the dog days of summer officially here, we turned to Nets World to gauge the community’s perspective on the state of the franchise after the 2026 offseason. The Nets didn’t make any crazy splashes but they still had a relatively busy offseason:
The Nets drafted Mikel Brown Jr. at No. 6 overall.
The Nets also traded Nic Claxton and the No. 33 pick for Julius Randle and the no. 28 overall picks (Joshua Jefferson).
Brooklyn added rotational pieces like Keon Ellis and Moe Wagner.
Still no word on an extension for Michael Porter Jr. While we wait, the NetsDaily community evaluated Brooklyn’s summer moves in our latest SB Nation Reacts poll. Safe to say fans think they got better!
So, what is the community saying about the Nets offseason?
Most say they’re better.
SoggyNetsFan: I’m giving it a much better outlook. It may not result in us doubling our win total, but not tanking, combined with having a rotation that makes more sense, will make a huge improvement. For example, Randell is an upgrade, but having a year-four Clowney coming off the bench is also a huge boost. Egor is better, and MPJ could be much improved too. Not by stats, but improved moral/effort by the fact that we aren’t trying to tank. The other sophomores who have improved over the offseason will also get opportunities to play against bench and garbage-time players rather than NBA starting-caliber ones.
Boomdog23: Just running rotations that aren’t comprised of 5rookies getting solid minutes should make us better. Not having clowney as your starting 4 is another big one.”
Excitement for Mikel Brown Jr. & Randle
BKtoDuval: “I’d say much better but the bar was set so low. Randle is a floor raiser. Demin is gonna be in Most Improved contention. I think the shackles will be removed from Jordi. In a limited capacity we’ve seen point guards do really well under him. Despite what SAS says, Mikel will be box office. Not to toot my horn but the past two seasons my win total futures bets have hit for Nets (and failed miserably for the Mets). So your boy BKdamas is gonna put down big money on a win total somewhere between 30-35 wins.”
NetsFan4Life: “I say adding Mikel Brown alone makes us much better.”
Pessimistic or Realistic?
imranetic: “the opposite is true. they are much worse and will be lucky to win 20 games. This front office ranks the lowest in the league because they don’t do anything to improve the team and have made it worse”
WhatsUp: “Irrational exuberance now that tanking is over.”
whoopdeedamndo: “This. Bulls, Jazz, Memphis, and Wizards are all much better. Nets are somewhat.”
Thanks to everybody who voted and/or participated.
This is a sponsored post. Check out the latest lines, futures, and player props by visiting FanDuel.
It’s NBA 2K season, which means we have officially reached that wonderful part of the NBA calendar where grown adults argue about numbers assigned to digital versions of basketball players. NBA 2K27 is set to release worldwide on September 4, with the deluxe and ultra editions opening the doors a little earlier on August 28. And as we creep closer to release day, 2K has begun pulling back the curtain on player ratings.
Typically, this is where I’d make the case that while these ratings mean absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of basketball, they still provide an interesting window into perception. How does 2K think a team will function? How do they view certain players? Which skills do they value? Which ones have they apparently watched through a dirty windshield while driving 80 miles per hour through the desert?
Make no mistake about it, the players care. Those little numbers next to specific aspects of their game become locker-room ammunition. They get discussed during shootarounds. They get screenshotted. They get sent to group chats.
If you’re an NBA player and 2K gives you a 48 free-throw rating, your teammates are going to find out about it, and you’re going to hear about it. Does anybody on the Phoenix Suns have a 48 free-throw rating? Oh yeah. Ryan Dunn. Sorry, Ryan.
Anyway, I’m not making my usual case for the importance of 2K ratings this year. I can’t. The entire operation has lost my confidence. Burn the spreadsheets and fire the algorithm into the sun. Somebody clearly left the computer running overnight and came back to find that it had started hallucinating. Whatever collection of numbers, formulas, algorithms, statistics, caffeine, and black magic 2K uses to determine these ratings produced one unforgivable result.
Devin Booker is not among the 10 best midrange shooters in NBA 2K27.
It gets worse. They gave him an 86. An 86! At that point, we are no longer dealing with reasonable basketball analysis. We have entered the realm of statistical malpractice. This is an egregiously narrow view of what Devin Booker does from the midrange, one that immediately calls the credibility of the entire exercise into question.
Therefore, I have reached the only rational conclusion available. None of these ratings can be trusted.
Does it sound like I’m making much ado about nothing? Ultimately, the answer is yes. I fully understand that we are arguing about numbers attached to digital basketball players in a video game that hasn’t even been released yet. Still, when you look at the ratings designated for Devin Booker, they’re ridiculous. It’s as if Visual Concepts, the creator of NBA 2K, has no idea how basketball actually occurs on a basketball court. Which feels like a fairly significant problem when your primary business is creating a basketball video game.
If we’re assuming that last season is serving as the foundation for these ratings, and presumably it is, I have questions. Many questions. The kind of questions that require somebody at Visual Concepts to walk me through the laboratory and show me exactly what the hell they’re cooking in there.
Booker attempted the sixth-most midrange shots in the NBA last season, taking 325 of them. Among the players who attempted at least 300, he ranked sixth in field goal percentage, connecting on 45.8% of those attempts. Volume. Efficiency. An entire season of evidence. And somehow, when 2K unveiled its list of the top 10 midrange shooters in the NBA, Booker wasn’t on it.
Do you know who was? Tre Johnson of the Washington Wizards. I’ll hold while I wait for you to finish filling up your barf bag.
Johnson attempted 111 midrange shots last season. Granted, he made 49.5% of them, which is impressive. The kid can shoot. After one rookie season in Washington, however, NBA 2K has apparently seen enough. Forget sample size, forget volume, and forget the hundreds of additional midrange attempts Booker took and made throughout the course of an NBA season.
Tre Johnson is now the fourth-best midrange shooter in basketball. His rating? 98. Ninety-freaking-eight. Meanwhile, Devin Booker, one of the league’s most prolific midrange shooters for the past decade, a player who attempted nearly three times as many shots from that area of the floor last season, checks in at an 86.
Again, are we making too much out of meaningless video game ratings? Absolutely. But if you’re going to give us numbers to argue about, at least make the numbers make some damn sense.
You want more absurdity? I got you.
Devin Booker made 33% of his three-pointers last season. If I asked you to give him a three-point rating out of 100 based on that performance, where would you put him? Probably somewhere that reflects the reality that he was a below-average three-point shooter last season, right? Let’s do a little poll…
Thank you for voting. Have no fear, we already have our answer.
NBA 2K gave him an 86. The same rating they gave him from the midrange. Laughable. Absolutely laughable. Don’t get me wrong, I would love for Devin Booker to be an 86 from beyond the arc. I would love for him to enter next season as the 30th-best three-point shooter in basketball, which is where NBA 2K apparently believes he belongs. That would be fantastic news for the Phoenix Suns. It also has very little connection to what we watched last season.
Normally, I’m an advocate for NBA 2K. It fills the void during that final month and a half before the season begins, when we’re all wandering through the basketball desert searching for something, anything, that resembles meaningful basketball. You fire up 2K, look through the ratings, complain about a couple of them, start a season, and life moves forward. Generally, you can look at the ratings and understand the logic behind them, even when you disagree with the final number.
I can’t get there with this one. They have completely missed Devin Booker’s shot profile and his effectiveness heading into the 2026-27 season. Somehow, one of the most prolific midrange shooters in basketball has the exact same rating from that area as he does from beyond the arc, where he shot 33% last season.
Or perhaps they’re prophetic. Perhaps the people at Visual Concepts have seen the future, and Devin Booker is going to become less effective in the midrange while becoming one of the better three-point shooters in basketball. Maybe that 86/86 combination is trying to tell us something. Who knows? We’ve reached that point of the NBA calendar where nobody knows anything anyway. Training camp remains somewhere beyond the horizon, the transactions have slowed, and here I am arguing about the numerical shooting attributes assigned to a digital Devin Booker.
Brandon Clarke #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies dribbles the ball up court in the third quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on Monday, March 17, 2025, in Sacramento, California. (Getty Images North America)
Former NBA player Brandon Clarke died of a lethal combination of drugs, according to officials.
Former NBA player Brandon Clarke died of a lethal combination of drugs. Getty Images
Clarke died inside of a San Fernando Valley home on May 11, and according to the LA County DME, medical personnel first located him “unresponsive in his bedroom” at around 5 p.m.
He was ultimately pronounced deceased at 5:15 p.m.
Drug paraphernalia was discovered near his body and the initial investigation surrounding his passing centered on the possibility of an overdose, according to multiple reports.
Clarke, who was drafted into the NBA in 2019, played all seven seasons of his pro career with the Memphis Grizzlies, averaging 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
Clarke, who was drafted into the NBA in 2019, played all seven seasons of his pro career with the Memphis Grizzlies, averaging 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brandon Clarke,” the Grizzlies wrote in a statement the day after his death. “Brandon was an outstanding teammate and an even better person whose impact on the organization and the greater Memphis community will not be forgotten.
“We express our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
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Cross County Sheriff’s Office deputies wrote in a probable cause affidavit that after Clarke was stopped for a traffic violation, 235.6 grams of kratom was located in his vehicle.
Brandon Clarke of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on during a game against the Miami Heat on March 15, 2025, at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. (NBAE) NBAE via Getty Images
Clarke allegedly told authorities during the stop that he believed the “stuff is legal.”
Kratom, according to the Mayo Clinic, is a substance that can act as both a stimulant and a sedative.
Clarke’s fiancée, Amber Lorraine, remembered Clarke as “the most special person, with the biggest heart” in an emotional social media post that she penned in the days after his death.
“All I want is to hug you and kiss you,” she added. “This world isn’t the same without you.”
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 12: Taelon Peter #4 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles during the game against the Detroit Pistons at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on April 12, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Michael Hickey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Antonio Spurs are filling out their roster for training camp. Today, the Spurs announced they’ve signed former Indiana Pacer Taelon Peter to an Exhibit-10 contract, meaning he’ll join the Spurs for training camp but isn’t a guarantee to be on the regular-season roster.
Peter played in 38 games for the Pacers last season, averaging 12.6 minutes, 4.5 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists, while shooting 38% from the field and 32.8% from three. Peter is a 6-foot-3 combo guard from Liberty University who was drafted 54th overall in the 2025 draft. While he hasn’t found his three-point stroke in the NBA so far, he was a 45.3% three-point shooter during his senior season at Liberty.
The second-year guard played well in the NBA Summer League just a month ago, averaging 9.5 points on 57.1% shooting from the field, according to RealGM. His play there may be why San Antonio decided to extend Peter a training camp invite.
He will have stiff competition for an NBA deal with the Spurs. San Antonio has already filled its two-way roster spots with second-round picks Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Maliq Brown, and returning two-way player David Jones-Garcia. Even with an open 15th roster spot, Peter will likely need to beat out one of those three players to make the team.
With the Peter signing, San Antonio has 18 players on its training camp roster. The team can carry 21 players during training camp but must cut the roster down to 18 players when the regular season starts. Training camp begins on September 29th.
In 2007, Derek Fisher requested his release from the Utah Jazz so that he could relocate his family back home to Los Angeles to receive medical help for his 11-month-old daughter Tatum, who was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a rare form of eye cancer.
Almost 20 years later, Fisher revealed in an interview that he sacrificed $21 million on the three years left of his contract so that his daughter could receive the medical care she needed in Los Angeles.
“The people that she would need if I was working, they were here,” Derek said. “So the decision to move to back to LA didn’t matter if I was playing basketball or not.”
Derek Fisher surrendered $21 million for his daughter’s medical emergency care. ULOW LONDON FEATURES
Fisher went on to say that he and the Jazz explored a trade opportunity with the team, but due to him and his family being on a short timeline, and his determination to return to Los Angeles, the two sides agreed on a zero-dollar buyout, giving Derek the “freedom of choice.”
With so much uncertainty in the air, Fisher admitted that he wasn’t focused on playing basketball again but was prioritizing the health of his daughter and getting her back to Los Angeles.
“We’re going to have to live in a city that has the hospitals and the medical care that my daughter needs, regardless of basketball,” Fisher said.
The former Lakers point guard added that his wife at the time, [Candace], who is a Los Angeles native, still had family living in the area, and they were available to help with additional treatment for Tatum.
With his family relocated back in Los Angeles, Fisher ended up signing a three-year $14.1 million contract with the Lakers.
In 2004, his first stint with the Lakers came to an end after helping the team three-peat from 2000-2002, while being paired alongside Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.
Derek Fisher as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. AP
During the 2007 Western Conference Semifinals, the Little Rock, Arkansas native was traveling between New York and Utah to see Tatum while she was receiving treatment.
A year after he appeared in 82 games with the Jazz in 2007, Fisher helped Bryant win two more NBA championships in 2009 and 2010.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 05: The Nike basketball shoes Tre White #78 of the Miami Heat during their 2026 California Classic Summer League game at Chase Center on July 05, 2026 in San Francisco, 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 Thien-An Truong/Getty Images) | Getty Images
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 17: Tyler Nickel #55 of the New York Knicks shoots the ball during the game against the Dallas Mavericks during the 2026 NBA Summer League on July 17, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Knicks’ two second-round picks remain without NBA contracts, but each appears to have a clear path forward. The first, Jack Kayil, announced Friday that he’ll spend the 2026-27 season with Alba Berlin rather than join New York immediately.
“I’m staying”
— Knicks 2nd-round pick Jack Kayil announces he’s staying in Europe with his team Alba Berlin on a new 5-year deal
“The NBA remains my big dream – and Alba is just the right place for me to continue on this path” pic.twitter.com/etJtrd09Hv
As reported by Ian Begley (SNY), the move had long been viewed as the most likely outcome, as the Knicks’ second-apron salary constraints made signing the 20-year-old guard difficult. A larger role in Europe should give Kayil valuable developmental minutes while New York retains his NBA rights.
Tyler Nickel, meanwhile, remains unsigned. Although recent reports suggested he could return to college under the NCAA’s new eligibility rules, Begley reports that league sources expect Nickel to begin his professional career. Because the Knicks are tight against the second apron, signing Nickel to a standard NBA contract could complicate their search for a veteran third center, making a two-way deal the most logical outcome.
Begley reports, “In recent weeks, the Knicks have also been in touch with several free agent centers who could fill the third center role. Logic tells you that if they wanted to sign one of these centers on a guaranteed one-year deal, the Knicks would have done so already.”
With Kayil staying overseas, the Knicks have 13 players on standard contracts and all three two-way spots still available as training camp approaches.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 30: Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors looks on from the bench against the Dallas Mavericks during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on December 30, 2023 in San Francisco, 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While the Lakers have been hard at work rebuilding their roster during this summer of optionality, they are still missing a starting-level wing.
This deep into free agency, the best player available at that position is Jonathan Kuminga. While the Lakers have been linked to him all offseason, a deal has yet to be reached and the five-year wing remains on the market.
“The opportunity appealed to Kuminga, but the sign-and-trade contract offer (years, money, package going back to Atlanta) didn’t satisfy all sides. The Lakers remain interested in him, league sources said, but movement toward a deal has remained stalled for weeks.”
It’s been reported before that talks with LA and Kuminga have stalled. So, it’s no surprise that this stalemate continues. The Lakers, as Slater has reported, have remained interested. They have continued calling about the talented wing.
While this Kuminga free agency has been long and tiring for fans, it’s all part of the negotiations.
Until all parties can agree, this will continue to drag on. Ultimately though, this is Kuminga’s decision.
While a trade would give him the most money, he is an unrestricted free agent and can select his destination. The information on what is possible will likely remain the same at this point, and he has to decide what he wants to do.
The Lakers can provide Kuminga with the opportunity for a starting position on a team with title aspirations. If he plays well in a purple and gold uniform, it could do wonders for his stock around the NBA.
It’s been a long odyssey here in the Kuminga sweepstakes, but so far the Lakers have done the right thing. They’ve been patient, remained interested, but haven’t done anything desperate or foolish to acquire him.
In the best-case scenario, Kuminga is a Laker, but that’s his decision to make now. Hopefully, he comes to a conclusion soon so this can all come to an end.
INGLEWOOD, CA - APRIL 15: Brandin Podziemski #2 of the Golden State Warriors smiles during the game against the LA Clippers during the SoFi Play-In Tournament on April 15, 2026 at Intuit Dome 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Wizards and Anthony Davis have agreed to postpone contract extension talks until the regular season.
The Golden State Warriors have made it clear they intend to run it back next season after keeping most of their roster intact. So, with this emphasis on continuity, the organization will have to rely on internal improvement from its current players, specifically 23-year-old guard Brandin Podziemski as he enters his fourth NBA season.
After jumping into a full-time starting role late in the 2025-26 season, Podziemski finished the year averaging 13.8 points, 2.7 assists, and 4.2 rebounds while shooting 45.5% from the field and 37.1% from three-point range. His continued development has not only raised expectations entering next season, but also sparked discussions about what his next contract could look like.
According to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, Podziemski’s next contract could carry an average annual value between $22 million and $24 million. However, Siegel also reports the Warriors would likely prefer a deal in the $15 million to $18 million range.
In terms of what a new deal for Podziemski could possibly look like, it is likely that the AAV would be between $22 million and $24 million. While the sweet spot for the Warriors would be a deal somewhere between $15 million and $18 million, Podziemski and his camp would want to exceed this in their asking price due to his contributions as a starter and improved production during the 2025-26 season.
Siegel also noted there is no urgency for Golden State to reach an extension with Podziemski before the start of the season, particularly with Stephen Curry’s contract situation being a higher priority. As a result, Podziemski could ultimately play out the final year of his rookie contract before becoming a restricted free agent next offseason.
With Curry (38), Draymond Green (36), and Jimmy Butler (36) all in the latter stages of their careers, Podziemski’s youth and durability are becoming increasingly important to the Warriors’ long-term outlook. Whether that ultimately costs $18 million or $24 million per year is up for debate, but it remains clear he has emerged as a key piece of the franchise’s future.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Friday, August 7th:
The rationale for such stagnation traces back to GM Mike Dunleavy’s belief that last year’s issues weren’t so much roster-related as they were a result of injuries and general sloppiness. Additionally, in a vacuum, the free agents available weren’t much more appealing than the internal options, and making a move just to make a move isn’t necessarily a good process. Melton is as valuable as, say, Anfernee Simons (if not more).
Even if the rationale might be sound, the ceiling is low.
What does the best-case scenario look like for running it back?
“Do we need to get better roster-wise? I think so,” the GM acknowledged in May. “But we didn’t get to a point where we played a team where the roster is better than ours. For that reason, we were more focused on the stuff that we can control.
“We’ll always look to be better, talent-wise, roster-wise, all that. But . . . the discussions weren’t really about that. It was more with the team that we have. How can we be better? And what are the things we need to do to build on for long-term success?”
Dub Nation had been warned. The priority was internal development rather than external additions. Do not expect gifts in July.
One source told Charania that this gives both sides the first 20 or so games to marinate over a potential extension and see how the early part of the season goes for the Wizards and for the 10-time All-Star.
Davis became eligible Thursday to sign a contract extension for up to four years and $275 million. The first year of the extension would replace a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28.
“I think it was something that we could have fought over, but it wasn’t worth fighting over,” Green said, as transcribed by NBC Sports Bay Area. “I think if the Warriors want to trade me at some point in the season, they want to trade me. I’ve never been a guy who wants to stay somewhere where I’m not wanted.”
A post to end the week:
Yaxel Lendeborg puts on a show at his childhood park 😮💨
VJ Edgecombe, like many basketball fans, was extremely excited to welcome the four-time NBA champion to the team. The 21-year-old had the chance to speak with James directly after the two-year, $8 million deal was announced, which he detailed during an interview at the ABCD Basketball Camp.
VJ Edgecombe was born two years after LeBron James made his NBA debut in 2003. Now, they’re teammates. NBAE via Getty Images
“I FaceTimed Bron. I was in disbelief, but I had to act cool. I had to act like I’d been there before. I’m on the phone all cool and stuff. My headphones on, I’m playing the game. Had to act all cool, but it’s really Bron. I was really geekin’ I ain’t gone lie,” Edgecombe said.
The ongoing free agency saga surrounding James was the headline story of the NBA summer and the 41-year-old’s decision to join the 76ers was quite the stunning denouement.
The latter of who was born in 2005, two years after James made his NBA debut in 2003. Now, Edgecombe and James are set to be teammates, which makes the guard’s giddiness that much more authentic as he quite literally grew up watching the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
The 76ers face immense pressure to win a championship this upcoming season and Philadelphia’s roster is equipped to do just that. The arrival of James has made Edgecombe the fifth option for the 76ers, but he’s expected to continue developing around some of the league’s biggest stars.
At 41 years old, LeBron James was the top free agent of the summer. Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 19: Alondes Williams #31 of the Washington Wizards celebrates after a play against the Indiana Pacers during the second half at Capital One Arena on February 19, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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 Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards have signed Alondes Williams to an Exhibit-10 contract, sources told to Bullets Forever. Chris Haynes first reported the agreement.
Free agent guard Alondes Williams has reached an agreement on a deal with the Washington Wizards, his agent Daniel Hazan of Hazan Sports tells me. Williams scored a career-high 25 points for Wiz last season. pic.twitter.com/YPcCHtrVVW
The deal, which doesn’t count toward Washington’s 15-man roster, allows Williams to participate in training camp with the Wizards while the team secures his G League rights. The 27-year-old has exhausted his two-way eligibility, so Washington can either sign him to a standard contract or a G league contract following training camp.
If Williams is waived by the Wizards and later signs with their G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go, he can earn a bonus of up to $75,000.
Williams appeared in four games with the Wizards last season and scored 25 points in a win over the Pacers.
BREAKING: The Wizards are signing Alondes Williams (Via @ChrisBHaynes)
Williams returns to the Wizards after impressing on a two-way last season ⬇️
INGLEWOOD, CA - January 14: Kyshawn George #18 of the Washington Wizards, Bilal Coulibaly #0 of the Washington Wizards, Alexandre Sarr #20 of the Washington Wizards, and Tre Johnson #12 of the Washington Wizards looks on during the game against the LA Clippers on January 14, 2026 at Intuit Dome 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards have released their 2026-27 preseason schedule, which features four games in October.
Washington opens preseason play at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 8 at Madison Square Garden against the reigning NBA champion New York Knicks.
The Wizards then return home for two contests at Capital One Arena. The first is against the Detroit Pistons at 7 p.m. on Oct. 10, followed by a 7 p.m. tilt on Oct. 12 against the Brooklyn Nets.
Washington concludes the preseason at 8 p.m. on Oct. 16 against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 31: Walker Kessler #24 of the Utah Jazz handles the ball during the first half of the Emirates NBA Cup game against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 31, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Jazz 118-96. 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 Kelsey Grant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
LA forked over two first-round picks and two swaps to the Utah Jazz for the just turned 25-year-old Walker Kessler. Known primarily as an elite defensive anchor, the 7’2” five-man brings a level of stability and structure to an offense fully leaning into its explosive backcourt.
Today’s NBA is full of pick-and-roll maestros with Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves leading the charge as a duo in total possessions. Both operate at high volume while staying uber-efficient, placing in the 90th and 81st percentiles, respectively. The productive on-ball guards are now set to receive a dangerous dance partner.
The foundation sits on Kessler’s wide base as an excellent screener, making it difficult for defenders to chase around his frame. He blends size with superior feel. Once his primary defender is initiated with the guard, he zips to the rim or open area.
In the clip shown below, he sets up for a dribble handoff with his now fellow Laker teammate Collin Sexton. The on-ball pick obliterates his defender, rendering him completely helpless in the play. He dives in line with his ball handler to collect a bounce pass, leading to the finish at the rim.
Kessler possesses a good understanding of when to set or slip the screen early. The Auburn product leverages his spatial awareness to sneak behind unsuspecting help defenders, commonly finishing with reverse dunks under the rim.
He’s a massive, unmissable target, serving as a useful release valve when guards find themselves in trouble. When he’s not an on-ball screener, he parks himself around the dunker spot and must be accounted for.
During his latest healthy year in the 2024-25 season, Kessler finished 73.6% of his attempts in the restricted area. That ranked sixth among all centers who attempted at least five per game, ahead of players like Jalen Duren and even Nikola Jokić.
Kessler doesn’t possess the same quick-twitch trampoline as the prototypical lob threats, but is effective nonetheless as a vertical spacer. His 9’5” standing reach means his catch radius is infinite. What seem to be dangerous lobs like the one below from near half court are in his wheelhouse where a back screen creates a second of indecision, opening up the alley-oop.
Listed at 245 pounds, Kessler brings a bully ball element that’s been missing from LA’s big man rotation. While not someone commanding a high frequency of post touches, teams can’t needlessly switch their perimeter players onto him. He uses a mix of finishes with either hand and nice touch around the basket to take advantage of smaller defenders.
This really materializes on the glass, where Kessler has a case as the best offensive rebounder in the league. His 4.6 offensive rebounds per game led the league the past two seasons.
When teams switch their bigs out on the perimeter or have them come over for a weak side rotation, Kessler cleans up on the glass every time, as shown in the clip below. Anthony Davis is switched out on the perimeter, leaving Kessler unattended and being boxed out by smaller wings. He easily gobbles the offensive rebound for a putback.
As a play finisher and screener, Kessler will plug in instantly with it easy to envision him next to Luka and Reaves in all their pet actions. On top of that, he’ll add extra possessions on the boards.
The potential of him and, in turn, the team hinges on his continued development on that end. While playing only five games last year, he flashed real growth in skill adds.
He showed the possibility to be an offensive hub, a look more teams are moving towards, by flashing some high-low action passes and nifty bounces to cutters like the one below.
The biggest question mark is whether the 3-point shooting can be real. While only playing five games last season, Kessler hit six of his eight attempts from behind the arc, matching the total from the previous season where he played 58 games.
He’s already said he’s open to taking more shots outside the arc in head coach J.J. Redick’s offense, and it would make him one of the more valuable players in the league. It would give the team a unique five-out look without sacrificing size on the opposite end.
The offense isn’t perfect, as his short roll offense is in question without a real in-between game. Elite defenses will test his ability to make quick, high-level reads outside a Utah situation that aggressively chased losses for most of his tenure. Chemistry with the guards will need tweaking throughout the season, but on a team with so much firepower, it doesn’t need to be perfect.
The Lakers desperately needed a stylistic fit at center who would open the path for the guards to be their dynamic selves. With Kessler, they got it.
LA’s newest big man will no doubt earn the bulk of this four-year contract on the defensive end, raising the floor for wins, while his offensive fit and trajectory determine the ceiling of this locked-in core.
A Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office spokesperson confirmed on Friday, Aug. 7 to USA TODAY Sports that King died June 7 of hypertensive cardiovascular disease, which is a complication of long-term high blood pressure. Obesity was also cited as a contributing factor.
King died in his home in River Forest, Illinois. He was 59.
After his death, tributes poured in from all corners of the basketball world.
In the Chicago neighborhood of Logan Square, which is northwest of downtown, a mural was painted to honor him.
The mural depicts a close-up of King’s face against a black background. To his right, a silhouette of the Bulls logo wears a crown, in homage to King’s last name.
One of King’s broadcast catchphrases – “Too big, too strong, too fast, too good” – is captioned to the left of the mural.
King played eight seasons in the NBA from 1989-97, five of which came with the Bulls. The sixth pick out of Oklahoma in the 1989 draft, King was a 6-foot-11 big man who won three NBA championships alongside Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen in his first five seasons in Chicago.
He later played stints with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics.
King averaged 6.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.9 assists across his 438 career games.
After his playing career ended, he joined the team’s broadcast crew in 2006 and became its color commentator. He was the voice that a generation of Bulls fans grew up hearing, even the reason some tuned in at all during a lot of lean years.
"Stacey King was a cherished member of the Bulls family and one of the truly unique personalities in our organization's history," Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said June 7 in a statement. "His connection to Chicago, the Bulls and our fans spanned more than three decades – first as a player and later as the unmistakable voice that helped bring Bulls basketball into the homes of generations of fans."
