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Pre-camp Sixers questions: Can Sixers avoid another disastrous start to season?

Pre-camp Sixers questions: Can Sixers avoid another disastrous start to season? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers will travel to Abu Dhabi for preseason games vs. the Knicks on Oct. 2 and Oct. 4. They’ll begin their regular season by facing the Celtics on Oct. 22. 

Before the action commences, we’re looking at key questions for the 2025-26 Sixers. 

So far, we’ve covered: 

Next up: Can the Sixers avoid another disastrous start to the season? 

In retrospect, the Sixers’ 2024-25 season was over almost as soon as it started. 

The injuries and losses escalated. When they were available, veterans performed poorly. The team’s game-to-game energy was uneven and frigid shooting stretches clearly seeped into the Sixers’ defensive effort. 

“It’s been affecting us all year that way. … It’s hard,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said after a Nov. 24 blowout loss to the Clippers. “Just at the start of the game, when you see that you’re actually doing some good things and some of your better players are getting those looks and they just continually don’t go in, I think it does affect your defense in a couple of ways.

“One, you’re playing off a long rebound. And then you’re playing a little bit off of some disappointment that you did all that work to get a great shot and then it didn’t go in again. But hopefully, those will start going in.”

Nurse’s team dropped to 3-14 in its next game, an overtime defeat to the Rockets. The Sixers then strung together their best month of the season — 10-3 between Nov. 30 and Dec. 30 — but it wasn’t sustainable and the injury deluge never subsided. 

As usual, the most important variable will be the health of the Sixers’ stars. The team has shown Joel Embiid and Paul George out on the floor in recent social media posts. Embiid had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in April, George in July.

Upgraded health is no guarantee, but it’s also a rather low bar to clear after the Embiid-George duo totaled 60 games last season. The Sixers hope their youngsters help mitigate the injuries that inevitably pop up throughout the year. 

As far as the Sixers’ early-season schedule, there’s pros and cons:

  • The Sixers will play the Jayson Tatum-less Celtics three times in their first 11 games.
  • They’ll face bottom-five Eastern Conference teams last year in four of their first nine games.
  • Over the Sixers’ first 15 games, they have four back-to-backs.
  • The Sixers don’t have a road trip over three games until a five-gamer between Dec. 26 and Jan. 3.
  • Their first extended homestand is a six-game stay in Philadelphia from Jan. 14 to Jan. 24. 

It feels like much more than two years ago, but the Sixers had a very strong start to Nurse’s first season. Following an opening-night loss to the Bucks, they won eight games in a row and sat at the top of the Eastern Conference standings. 

While that sort of turnaround would exceed expectations, it’s obvious the Sixers need some sort of bounce-back start. 

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Ramp to Camp: Predicting the Celtics' starting five on opening night

Ramp to Camp: Predicting the Celtics' starting five on opening night originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

With the departures of Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Luke Kornet, and (eventually) Al Horford — combined with the absence of a rehabbing Jayson Tatum to start the season — the Boston Celtics are without a group that combined to start 234 games last season and 474 games over the past two seasons.

The Celtics’ starting five on opening night of the 2025-26 season will feature at least three new players. Will some familiar faces slide into those spots? For the 16th installment of our Ramp to Camp series — and kicking off “Predictions Week” — we asked our panel to predict the opening night starting five for the Celtics.

Our five: Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, and Neemias Queta.

We’re basically trotting out the remaining core of the 2024 title team and leaning heavily into both their familiarity and skill. It’s one of the few groupings that we have some actual data on from past seasons. 

Our starting five has played 67 minutes together over the past two seasons with a +9.6 net rating. That includes a sizzling 144 offensive rating, per PBPstats tracking. That group shot 41 percent on 3-point attempts with a 68.7 true shooting percentage.

The bad news: That five-man unit was pretty rough on defense, giving up 168 points in 125 defended possessions. Opponents shot 41.5 percent on 3s with a 62.2 true shooting percentage.

It’s hard to pluck too much from that sample, especially when you consider their 67 minutes together was over the course of 18 games. This five never played more than nine minutes together in a game.

We have obvious concerns about rebounding with this lineup. It’s rather undersized and puts a lot of pressure on Queta to control the glass (though we’ve often joked that Pritchard might lead the team in total rebounds with his penchant for chasing down offensive caroms).

We like the idea of putting as much shooting as possible around Brown to start games, then letting newcomer Anfernee Simons get ample touches with reserve pairings. If Pritchard elevates to a starting role, the Celtics do need someone who can be the glue for a younger second unit, and it will be intriguing to see who earns Joe Mazzulla’s trust in that bench group. 

Maybe you need to slide Pritchard or Hauser to bench role at some point to best balance the rotation. Maybe the Celtics need to go bigger and add size at the starting power forward spot. But to start the season, this group is getting the first crack and Mazzulla can tinker from there. 

Training camp reps will be vital to figuring out exactly which players accentuate each other’s talents.

Let’s see what our panel came up with for starting fives:

Darren Hartwell, Managing Editor

Derrick White, Anfernee Simons, Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, Neemias Queta.

This was a harder exercise than I expected. In the backcourt, I’m choosing not to mess with a good thing and let Sixth Man of the Year Payton Pritchard be a super-sub, while White can help offset any of Simons’ defensive limitations. You could make the argument for going double-big with Chris Boucher and Queta, but Hauser’s experience earns him the nod as a stretch four for now.

Michael Hurley, Web Producer

I guess I’d go with Derrick White, Anfernee Simons, Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser and Neemias Queta? 

Like many, I’m still not entirely convinced Simons will be in Boston to start the season, but I still like the idea of Payton Pritchard coming off the bench, even if he sees a big bump in minutes.

I’ve had some fairly high expectations for the team in terms of finishing with a winning record and winning a playoff series. But now that you’ve made me spell out the starting five like this, I’m tempted to adjust ever so slightly. Brown is going to have to do so much heavy lifting.

Josh Canu, Media Editor

Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, Jaylen Brown, Neemias Queta.

This seems like the obvious choice with the way this team is constructed. Five carry-over players who Joe Mazzulla will trust and we know all can play together. An undersized lineup for sure, but I think we will have to get used to that this season.

Kevin Miller, VP, Content

Payton Pritchard, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Chris Boucher, Neemias Queta.

A focus on shooting with this lineup. Queta needs to be an aggressive offensive rebounder, while Brown needs to be an aggressive defensive rebounder.

Adam Hart, EP, Content Strategy

Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Chris Boucher, Neemias Queta.

I like the idea of Anfernee Simons leading the second unit and spreading the offensive firepower, versus packing that starting five.

Kayla Burton, Celtics Pregame Live host

Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Sam Hauser, Anfernee Simons, Neemias Queta. 

I struggled coming up with a starting five because I want to throw Payton Pritchard in there, but I think he is such a spark off the bench and thrives in that role. They also need bigger guys out there as a physical presence in the frontcourt.

Joe Mazzulla may play with the lineup early in the season to figure out his puzzle. 

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Jonathan Kuminga’s agent says qualifying offer in play, eventual trade out of Golden State likely

Three things remain true about Jonathan Kuminga and his future: 1) He wants a bigger role with a team, to be a top-two focal point, something not happening in Golden State anytime soon; 2) Kuminga remains at a stalemate with the Golden Warriors over his next contract (an issue that will be resolved by Oct. 1, one way or another); 3) A divorce between the sides seems inevitable.

All of which is why Kuminga's agent, Aaron Turner, made the media rounds recently. He made the case that if the Warriors don't up the offers to the restricted free agent — specifically giving Kuminga a player option rather than a team option on the final year of their offers — he will take the qualifying offer, play for one year, then become a free agent. Here is what Turner said on ESPN's “The Hoop Collective” podcast.

"He wants to pick where he wants to go. So the QO is real for sure."

Golden State has made three offers to Kuminga (that we know of). The most recent and largest contract is a three-year deal worth $75.2 million, with a team option for the third year. The other primary one was a two-year, $45 million offer, but with a team option on the second year and the Warriors are demanding Kuminga give up the no-trade clause that would come with this offer. The third was a three-year, $54 million deal that was well below fair market value for the forward entering his fifth season.

The first two of those are set up to make Kuminga a trade chip — but one where he has no real control. Kuminga's leverage is that he will take the Warriors' qualifying offer — he gets a no-trade clause, likely would play out the season with the Warriors, then become a free agent next summer. That comes with risk and about $16 million left on the table this season, but Turner emphasized it's in play.

"If JK wants to take [the qualifying offer], it does have upside, right? We've talked about that. You're not getting traded. You're going to have unrestricted free agency. People are going to say, 'Well, Aaron, there's not going to be 10 or 12 teams [with cap space].' Fine, there'll be six teams with cap space for the clear-cut under-35 top wing on the market. So there's a lot of upside."

One way or another, it seems the Warriors and Kuminga are headed for a split — on a team aiming to win now with Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green as natural fours, where does Kuminga fit in? Warriors coach Steve Kerr has never fully trusted Kuminga (with reason at times), and it feels like the sides are locked in. The Warriors talked trade with Sacramento and Phoenix, but no deal was reached.

The most likely outcome is a compromise contract between the Warriors and Kuminga that gets him some money, some control, but sets up a trade, something Turner talked about in an appearance on 95.7 The Game in San Francisco.

"Another point is: he's probably... there's a good chance he gets traded. Okay? There's a good chance he gets traded, and that's halfway through the year. And he has to go to some team that he doesn't necessarily know which team that's going to be, or what exactly that's going to entail. So when we look at those factors, and just the fact that he's been there for four years and it's been up and down and up and down... when you look at all that, you go, 'Okay, the player option is the signal to him that like, make this work.' And you know, for us, we view it as we see his market at a certain level right now, you know, $24 million. We could all argue about that or whatnot. But making sure that the [Warriors] can stay under the second apron? No problem. We can help with that."

It's a sticky mess of a situation, but one with an absolute deadline — Kuminga has to take the qualifying offer by Oct. 1. Either a new deal is worked out by then, or Kuminga will pick up the offer and play out this season with the Warriors, eyes forward on next summer. That's not a good situation for Kuminga or the Warriors, which is why some kind of two- or three-year contract likely gets worked out in the coming 10 days.

However it shakes out, by Oct. 1 Kuminga will have a new contract and be on a path to another team. Wherever that might be.

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12-Team, 9-Cat Fantasy Basketball Mock Draft 2025-26: Take Giannis Antetokounmpo and don't look back

Another day, another mock! I joined 11 other analysts in a nine-cat, head-to-head mock draft that was hosted by Adam King on Fantrax, selecting from the fifth spot. The other unique aspect of this draft is that it had a third-round reversal, which flips the draft order after the second round.

The top four picks in every draft should be pretty much locked in, which makes the fifth pick an interesting place to start, leaving you with plenty of options.

Round 1

1. Nikola Jokic (C - DEN)

2. Victor Wembanyama (C - SA)

3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (G - OKC)

4. Luka Doncic (G - LAL)

5. Giannis Antetokounmpo (F - MIL)

6. Anthony Davis (F - DAL)

7. Anthony Edwards (G - MIN)

8. Cade Cunningham (G - DET)

9. James Harden (G - LAC)

10. Trae Young (G - ATL)

11. Devin Booker (G - PHO)

12. Karl-Anthony Towns (C - NY)

To me, Giannis is the way to go, and he’s a fun player to build around, with a clear punt path. He’s dominant in a handful of categories, and his weaknesses are clear, meaning you can either try and make up for it, or lean into them. I opted to lean into his strengths by emphasizing points, rebounds, assists, steals and field goal percentage while largely disregarding the other four categories. The end of the first round feels weak this year, so the third-round reversal helped even out the league.

Round 2

13. Stephen Curry (G - GS)

14. Tyrese Maxey (G - PHI)

15. Evan Mobley (F - CLE)

16. Domantas Sabonis (C - SAC)

17. Kevin Durant (F - HOU)

18. Donovan Mitchell (G - CLE)

19. Amen Thompson (F - HOU)

20. Jalen Johnson (F - ATL)

21. Jalen Williams (G - OKC)

22. Josh Giddey (G - CHI)

23. Jaren Jackson (C - MEM)

24. LaMelo Ball (G - CHA)

I felt comfortable taking Johnson here. I’m expecting him to be an All-Star this year, and he fits in well with Giannis. I would’ve loved to get Thompson, but he went one pick before me, which made my decision regarding Johnson much easier. I also thought about Williams, who I have ranked higher than Johnson, but I opted for the better fit. There are quite a few options I really like in round two.

Round 3

25. Myles Turner (C - MIL)

26. Jamal Murray (G - DEN)

27. Scottie Barnes (F - TOR)

28. LeBron James (F - LAL)

29. Tyler Herro (G - MIA)

30. Chet Holmgren (C - OKC)

31. Dyson Daniels (G - ATL)

32. Alperen Sengun (C - HOU)

33. De'Aaron Fox (G - SA)

34. Jalen Brunson (G - NY)

35. Ja Morant (G - MEM)

36. Deni Avdija (F - POR)

While I love the second round, things start to drop off in round three. However, I really lucked out here in a way that made up for a previous mishap. I have Sengun ranked much higher than this and even higher than Johnson. It was an oversight on my part, but it ended up working out flawlessly. I also would’ve been thrilled with Holmgren or Daniels, but they went right before. Also, I suspect Herro will be drafted later after undergoing a procedure on his foot and ankle on Friday.

Round 4

37. Austin Reaves (G - LAL)

38. Darius Garland (G - CLE)

39. Derrick White (G - BOS)

40. Paolo Banchero (F - ORL)

41. Pascal Siakam (F - IND)

42. Kawhi Leonard (F - LAC)

43. Bam Adebayo (C - MIA)

44. Jimmy Butler (F - GS)

45. Cooper Flagg (F - DAL)

46. Franz Wagner (F - ORL)

47. Trey Murphy (F - NO)

48. Kristaps Porzingis (C - ATL)

I had three players on my mind entering this round, and I opted to go with the veteran player in Siakam, partially because Banchero was taken one pick before me. The other player was Zion Williamson, who went one pick before me in the next round, sadly. However, Siakam fits well and should be in for a monster season with Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) sidelined and Myles Turner now in Milwaukee.

Round 5

49. Payton Pritchard (G - BOS)

50. Desmond Bane (G - ORL)

51. Jaylen Brown (F - BOS)

52. Walker Kessler (C - UTA)

53. Brandon Miller (F - CHA)

54. Coby White (G - CHI)

55. Zion Williamson (F - NO)

56. OG Anunoby (F - NY)

57. Zach LaVine (G - SAC)

58. Ivica Zubac (C - LAC)

59. Immanuel Quickley (G - TOR)

60. Mark Williams (C - PHO)

As I mentioned previously, I was hoping to get Zion, but that just didn’t happen. Anunoby isn’t my favorite fit with the rest of my team, but he is certainly a productive, helpful piece that isn’t going to hurt me anywhere. Plus, he’s a strong source of steals, which I hadn’t really addressed yet. Wasn’t part of my plan, but I’m not upset about it at all. Also, Pritchard in the top-50!

Round 6

61. Jordan Poole (G - NO)

62. Jalen Green (G - PHO)

63. Jakob Poeltl (C - TOR)

64. Fred VanVleet (G - HOU)

65. Ausar Thompson (F - DET)

66. Nikola Vucevic (C - CHI)

67. Rudy Gobert (C - MIN)

68. Lauri Markkanen (F - UTA)

69. Deandre Ayton (C - LAL)

70. Julius Randle (F - MIN)

71. Jalen Duren (C - DET)

72. Joel Embiid (C - PHI)

Yes, this was really early for me to select Thompson, but he fit my team too well for me to risk waiting another round. This Thompson twin is the one I’m hoping to leave every draft with, and I think he’s in for a breakout season like his brother had last year. He may not reach those heights, but he should play more than he ever has, and when he’s been on the floor, he’s been elite. I’m all in on Ausar.

Round 7

73. Miles Bridges (F - CHA)

74. Donovan Clingan (C - POR)

75. Brandon Ingram (F - TOR)

76. Andrew Nembhard (G - IND)

77. Paul George (F - PHI)

78. DeMar DeRozan (F - SAC)

79. Jarrett Allen (C - CLE)

80. Onyeka Okongwu (C - ATL)

81. Josh Hart (G - NY)

82. Matas Buzelis (F - CHI)

83. Alex Sarr (C - WAS)

84. Shaedon Sharpe (G - POR)

I didn’t expect Okongwu to be here, but I certainly wasn’t upset about it. I still think he could start for the Hawks this season at center, and he was producing at an elite level to close out last year. I would’ve loved to get Clingan here, and I was between Allen and Okongwu, though that decision was made for me.

Round 8

85. Isaiah Hartenstein (C - OKC)

86. Mikal Bridges (F - NY)

87. Kel'el Ware (C - MIA)

88. Cameron Johnson (F - DEN)

89. Jalen Suggs (G - ORL)

90. Toumani Camara (F - POR)

91. Keegan Murray (F - SAC)

92. Zach Edey (C - MEM)

93. Michael Porter (F - BKN)

94. Herbert Jones (F - NO)

95. Christian Braun (G - DEN)

96. Bradley Beal (G - LAC)

At this point, I didn’t have a guard, so I really needed to start adding some. I went with Suggs, who will add some defensive stats. He may not provide as many assists as he has in the past with Desmond Bane now in Orlando, but he’ll still be able to produce strong value. I also wanted Edey and Braun, but they didn’t fall to me in the next round.

Round 9

97. Tobias Harris (F - DET)

98. John Collins (F - LAC)

99. Jay Huff (C - IND)

100. Norman Powell (G - MIA)

101. Naz Reid (C - MIN)

102. Draymond Green (F - GS)

103. Kyrie Irving (G - DAL)

104. Brandin Podziemski (G - GS)

105. Devin Vassell (G - SA)

106. Scoot Henderson (G - POR)

107. Anfernee Simons (G - BOS)

108. Kevin Porter (G - MIL)

Podz fits my team perfectly, and I was happy he fell to me here. He’s an excellent rebounder from the guard spot, and he stepped up his play after the Warriors traded for Jimmy Butler. Golden State has a lot of questions left to answer this offseason, but Podz is locked in as a starter. He’ll end up being a bargain outside the top-100.

Round 10

109. Donte DiVincenzo (G - MIN)

110. Jaden McDaniels (F - MIN)

111. Jaden Ivey (G - DET)

112. Kyle Filipowski (C - UTA)

113. Tari Eason (F - HOU)

114. Kyshawn George (G - WAS)

115. Cameron Thomas (G - BKN)

116. Jrue Holiday (G - POR)

117. D'Angelo Russell (G - DAL)

118. RJ Barrett (F - TOR)

119. CJ McCollum (G - WAS)

120. Dennis Schroder (G - SAC)

At this point, I was looking for upside, and nobody fits that better than Eason. The addition of Kevin Durant isn’t going to limit Eason, and there aren’t many players that can contribute defensive stats like Eason. I also considered Schroder to get me some assists, and George is a player I’m hoping to get in the last few rounds of every draft. He just went a tad earlier in this mock.

Round 11

121. Bobby Portis (F - MIL)

122. Dereck Lively (C - DAL)

123. Cam Whitmore (F - WAS)

124. Dejounte Murray (G - NO)

125. Andrew Wiggins (F - MIA)

126. Malik Monk (G - SAC)

127. Nicolas Claxton (C - BKN)

128. Isaiah Collier (G - UTA)

129. Carlton Carrington (G - WAS)

130. Zaccharie Risacher (F - ATL)

131. Jabari Smith (F - HOU)

132. Aaron Nesmith (F - IND)

After missing out on Schroder, I really needed to get some assists in the later rounds, and Collier can certainly provide those. He doesn’t do much scoring, but the rest of my team can help make up for that. I just really needed the dimes.

Round 12

133. De'Andre Hunter (F - CLE)

134. Keyonte George (G - UTA)

135. Scotty Pippen (G - MEM)

136. T.J. McConnell (G - IND)

137. Bennedict Mathurin (F - IND)

138. Jonathan Kuminga (F - GS)

139. Aaron Gordon (F - DEN)

140. Cason Wallace (G - OKC)

141. Mitchell Robinson (C - NY)

142. Kyle Kuzma (F - MIL)

143. Isaiah Jackson (C - IND)

144. Stephon Castle (G - SA)

Mathurin doesn’t fit my team well, but at this point, I don’t really care. This was 20 spots after his Fantrax ADP and 40 spots after his Yahoo! ADP. He’s going to score a ton of points. That’s more than what can be said for most of the other players going in this range.

145. Collin Sexton (G - CHA)

146. Neemias Queta (C - BOS)

147. Lonzo Ball (G - CLE)

148. Ace Bailey (F - UTA)

149. Chris Paul (G - LAC)

150. Moussa Diabate (C - CHA)

151. Bruce Brown (G - DEN)

152. Taylor Hendricks (F - UTA)

153. P.J. Washington (F - DAL)

154. Chris Boucher (F - BOS)

155. Daniel Gafford (C - DAL)

156. Ty Jerome (G - MEM)

The last round is for upside swings, and Hendricks has a ton of upside. He’s the best perimeter defender on the Jazz, and any progression offensively will allow him to be a top-100 producer in nine-cat leagues. He’s not a guarantee, but that’s not what the final round of your draft is for.

Here’s what my full team ended up looking like:

  1. Giannis Antetokounmpo (F - MIL)
  2. Jalen Johnson (F - ATL)
  3. Alperen Sengun (C - HOU)
  4. Pascal Siakam (F - IND)
  5. OG Anunoby (F - NY)
  6. Ausar Thompson (F - DET)
  7. Onyeka Okongwu (C - ATL)
  8. Jalen Suggs (G - ORL)
  9. Brandin Podziemski (G - GS)
  10. Tari Eason (F - HOU)
  11. Isaiah Collier (G - UTA)
  12. Bennedict Mathurin (F - IND)
  13. Taylor Hendricks (F - UTA)

Overall, I was really happy with how this team turned out. The first three rounds were spectacular, and I was able to get a few of my favorite mid-late round targets. As far as the other teams, there was a nice mix of risky swings and value picks, making this an excellent replica of a competitive draft.

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Jimmy Butler reveals unique way he's preparing for first full Warriors season

Jimmy Butler reveals unique way he's preparing for first full Warriors season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Jimmy Butler is locked in and preparing for his 15th NBA season, but not the way you might think.

The Warriors star recently got involved in the rapidly growing sport of padel, a racquet sport played by two or four people on an enclosed court that combines elements of tennis and squash. Butler is Reserve Padel’s honorary chairman of the Reserve Cup, which is an annual padel tournament in Spain.

But Butler’s involvement in the sport isn’t solely for entertainment purposes during the NBA offseason, as he explained how padel actually is helping him become a better basketball player.

“I get to be better on the basketball court because of this, I mean it,” Butler said Friday during an interview on CNBC’s “Power Lunch” from Spain. “Now hear me out: I like to play so many different sports to train for whatever upcoming season. This is another one. So I would like to say that my biggest investment is I kind of get to get better at basketball throughout this entire thing for myself.”

Interesting.

Butler was traded to the Warriors at this past February’s NBA trade deadline, and in 30 games with Golden State, he averaged 17.9 points on 47.6 percent shooting from the field, with 5.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.7 steals in 32.7 minutes.

It’s also no secret that Butler revived the Warriors’ postseason hopes, as the team posted a 23-7 record with the six-time NBA All-Star in the lineup.

But now he’s doing every little thing he can to commit to the Warriors in his first full season with the organization, which apparently includes padel, as he further explained how the sport could help improve his hoop skills.

“Hand-eye coordination, reflexes, being able to pivot when a ball comes off the wall,” Butler said. “All the movement. All the conditioning you do. Seeing these guys work up a sweat, it’s super incredible. I don’t know if I have it in me to do it for that many straight sets, I won’t lie to you. But it looks exhausting and it can definitely help on a basketball floor, I promise you.”

Getting involved in any physical extracurricular activity always poses the risk of potential injury.

And at age 36, Butler can’t take that risk as the Warriors are trying to go all in on their win-now mantra.

But Butler is taking appropriate precautions with padel.

“Yeah, of course. I’m not going super hard,” Butler explained. “I don’t know the ins and outs of the game like these pros that I get the opportunity to be around. Yes, I do play, but I’m not going all out. I’m not trying to hit the ball out of the arena. I’m not trying to run outside and hit it back in.

“But I do like to pretend I’m a pro. I would like to think that sometime soon, I’m going to be ranked No. 1 in the world.”

The Warriors will need that confident mindset to translate from the padel court to the hardwood with the 2025-26 NBA season opener just about one month away.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

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Why Jonathan Kuminga can't ‘be the player he wants to be' on Warriors' roster

Why Jonathan Kuminga can't ‘be the player he wants to be' on Warriors' roster originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Like any agent worth his commission, Aaron Turner is his client’s biggest cheerleader, as he is first among those who believe Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga is a starting role away from becoming a perennial NBA All-Star.

Maybe he is, but that’s not happening in Golden State. Not as long as the core trio – Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler – remains intact. And if there’s no room for Kuminga in the starting lineup, he can’t be the player he wants to be.

“It’s probably true,” Turner said Friday during a guest appearance on “Dubs Talk.” “But that doesn’t mean that it can’t work, or it’s not OK for the time being. JK’s an ambitious 22-year-old. I’m not going to take that away from him. I love that. He should be. (He’s) young. You want to keep growing and get better.

“The way JK moves is he wants to keep pushing the envelope, and I’m not going to take that away from him. I actually agree with it. Can he be the player he wants to be here, right now, with this roster composition? No. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to win and he’s not willing to sacrifice for the group.”

That concession is bound to have an impact on any contract offer. How high are the Warriors willing to go for someone slotted to come off the bench as a sixth or seventh man?

Golden State’s latest offer, roughly $75 million over three years, really is a two-year deal because Year 3 is a team option. That offer was made with considerable reluctance, and bumping up to $100 million or more is does not seem to be on the horizon.

Turner acknowledges that Kuminga’s contract value is lower than most of his fellow lottery picks in the 2021 NBA Draft, largely because he entered the league with a team with an incumbent superstar. A team built not to develop but to chase championships.

“Those other guys didn’t really go to teams that were winning,” Turner said. “If the Warriors didn’t win in ’22, (negotiating a new contract) is probably very fluid and easy. But they did, and that kind of complicated things.”

Five of the six players selected before Kuminga in the 2021 NBA draft signed extensions last summer.

No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham (Pistons), No. 3 pick Evan Mobley (Cavaliers) and No. 4 pick Scottie Barnes (Raptors) received five-year $224 million rookie maximum deals. So, too, did No. 8 pick Franz Wagner (Magic), who was selected right after Kuminga. No. 2 pick Jalen Green (Rockets) took a three-year extension worth $106 million and No. 5 pick Jalen Suggs was extended for five years at $150.5 million.

Each of those players joined a rebuilding team. Cunningham, Green, Mobley, Barnes, Suggs and Wagner were starters from Day 1.

So, too, was Josh Giddey, selected sixth overall by Oklahoma City. The Thunder studied him for three seasons before tapping out last summer and trading him to Chicago. After one season with the Bulls, Giddey received a four-year extension worth $100 million.

Four years into their careers, each has been identified as a cornerstone for his current franchise. The same can’t be said of Kuminga, who also entered with much less experience.

Blame it on the circumstances, if you will, as there is no way to project how high JK might be flying if he had been drafted by a team without an established core.

Kuminga is acutely aware of the nine-figure contracts among his peers and dreams of having one. He is worth it, according to Turner.

“JK does a good job of running his own race,” he said Friday. “He’s not too caught up in what everyone else is doing. He understands his circumstances are unique and accepting of that.

“But does he think he’s on the level of those guys and the money they’ve gotten? Yeah, he does. He does. And, frankly, I do too.”

The Warriors have no desire to offer Kuminga $100 million or more. Four seasons into his NBA career, they do not unanimously perceive him as a franchise cornerstone. They hope he can be the path to acquire a veteran who would be more compatible with their core.

If Kuminga enters next season with the Warriors, he’ll be a reserve. Someone who can come off the bench and change the direction of a game. With so many veterans expected on the final roster, his youthful energy will have tremendous value.

It’s one thing to accept such a modest role, quite another to embrace it with joy.

“If you look at any championship team, sacrifice is required,” Turner said. “It needs to come from somebody with talent. That’s just part of it. JK’s probably got to be that guy. Not saying the other guys don’t have to do it on the team as well, but he’s going to have to sacrifice his personal ambitions and goals, which he’s not gotten a chance to chase yet.

“He hasn’t gotten that part of his career like some of his peers, where he gets to kind of figure out exactly who he is. That’s kind of been suppressed by the first championship the Warriors won in ‘22 and then kind of everything they came after that.”

Coming off the bench doesn’t speak to Kuminga’s heart. Barring a last-minute trade – and such discussions have a way of being revisited – he’ll have to land an opportunity where he can become a starter. And be the player he wants to be.

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Offseason NBA beef watch: Trae Young and Patrick Beverley

Patrick Beverley has never shied away from a beef. With anyone.

Enter Trae Young. Beverley and the Atlanta Hawks' All-Star guard have been going back and forth this week, and it all started over the All-Star Game. It all began on X, when Beverley responded to a question about why players go harder in random summer pick-up games than the All-Star Game — Beverley said the All-Stars take the game for granted — then Young jumped in and said All-Stars should speak on that.

Beverley came back hard at Young on the Pat Bev Podcast. It started with Beverley saying, "I don't think he's won enough to even speak to me like that or tweet me like that," and then added, "I've talked to people who played in Atlanta. They don't wanna play there. Why? They don't think he's a good leader. They don't think he's a good teammate."

Shots fired.

Young came back hard in an almost 12-minute video where he said Beverley was about seeking attention. "You don't know what it's like to be in my position, you don't know what it's like to put my shoes on. I promise you — there's not a selfish bone in my body."

Kevin Durant rallied to Young's defense, calling Beverley "delusional." The Hawks' social media team put together a video of Young scoring on Beverley.

Beverley then came back with shots of his own, saying Young gets coaches and general managers fired because of his play.

In this beef, the ultimate score is that Young is a four-time All-Star, while Beverley played in zero.

Young, however, enters this season feeling some pressure. The Atlanta front office went out and put the best team — on paper — around Young he has ever had with Kristaps Porzingis at the five, shooting and defense in Nickeil Alexander-Walker, more shooting in Luke Kennard, plus Jalen Johnson returns healthy from a breakout year sidelined by injuries, and Zaccharie Risacher should take a step forward in his sophomore year. The Hawks are projected as a top-four team in the East.

Young did not get the contract extension he wanted this summer, and now the pressure is on him to lead this group to a high seed and maybe the second round of the playoffs, or it will not just be Beverley asking questions.

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2025-26 Fantasy Basketball Mock Draft: Building around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

While head-to-head leagues may grant fantasy managers some grace if their teams start slowly, that isn't necessarily the case in roto leagues. Availability, which is critical in any fantasy league regardless of format, is paramount; a star player sitting for an extended period can be crushing to a manager's chances of winning their league.

I recently participated in a 12-team, 9-cat roto mock snake draft, holding the second pick, and there was no third-round reversal. After kicking things off with reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, I looked to craft a roster capable of offering value in all statistical categories. It should be noted that this draft was held before it was learned that Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro would undergo foot/ankle surgery that will sideline him indefinitely.

NBA: Playoffs-Milwaukee Bucks at Indiana Pacers
How to Play Fantasy Basketball 2025-26: Draft tips and beginner’s guide
With fantasy basketball drafts beginning this month, here’s everything first-time players need to know about how to play and win their league.

Round 1

Pick
Position
Player
Team
1
C
Nikola Jokić
Denver Nuggets
2
PG
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Oklahoma City Thunder
3
PF/C
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks
4
C
Victor Wembanyama
San Antonio Spurs
5
PG/SG
Luka Dončić
Los Angeles Lakers
6
PG/SG
Anthony Edwards
Minnesota Timberwolves
7
PG/SG
Cade Cunningham
Detroit Pistons
8
PF/C
Anthony Davis
Dallas Mavericks 
9
C
Domantas Sabonis
Sacramento Kings
10
PF/C
Karl-Anthony Towns
New York Knicks 
11
PG
Trae Young
Atlanta Hawks
12
PG/SG
Devin Booker
Phoenix Suns 

One can't be blamed for considering Victor Wembanyama for the second overall pick. However, Wembanyama returning from a blood clot issue influenced my decision, as did Gilgeous-Alexander playing at least 75 games each of the last two seasons. Giannis Antetokounmpo going third, ahead of Wemby, was a mild surprise. However, given the proven production Milwaukee lost this offseason, it's easy to envision a scenario in which Antetokounmpo's numbers receive a boost.

Round 2

Pick
Position
Player
Team
1
PF/C
Paolo Banchero
Orlando Magic
2
PG/SG
James Harden
LA Clippers
3
SF/PF
LeBron James 
Los Angeles Lakers
4
C
Alperen Şengün
Houston Rockets
5
PG
Tyrese Maxey
Philadelphia 76ers
6
SF/PF
Jalen Williams
Oklahoma City Thunder
7
SG/SF/PF
Scottie Barnes
Toronto Raptors
8
PG/SG
De'Aaron Fox
San Antonio Spurs
9
SF/PF
Jalen Johnson
Atlanta Hawks 
10
PG/SG
LaMelo Ball
Charlotte Hornets
11
PF/C
Pascal Siakam
Indiana Pacers
12
SG/SF
Jaylen Brown
Boston Celtics

With the Pacers already having ruled Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) out for the 2025-26 season, some of their starters will receive a boost to their fantasy values. Siakam, who has center eligibility in Yahoo! leagues, certainly qualifies. He's averaged 20.6 points per game as a Pacer, and I can see putting up a higher number than that this season.

Round 3

Pick
Position
Player
Team
1
PG
Jalen Brunson
New York Knicks
2
PF/C
Evan Mobley
Cleveland Cavaliers
3
PG
Stephen Curry
Golden State Warriors
4
PF/C
Chet Holmgren
Oklahoma City Thunder
5
PG/SG
Donovan Mitchell
Cleveland Cavaliers 
6
PG
Ja Morant
Memphis Grizzlies
7
C 
Ivica Zubac
LA Clippers
8
SF/PF
Kevin Durant
Houston Rockets
9
SF/PF
Franz Wagner
Orlando Magic
10
SF/PF
Trey Murphy
New Orleans Pelicans
11
PG/SG
Josh Giddey
Chicago Bulls
12
SG/SF
Desmond Bane
Orlando Magic

According to the ADP data compiled by Hashtag Basketball, Yahoo! and Fantrax league participants value Mobley far more than ESPN managers do. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year, he increased his scoring by just over three points per game last season and shot 37 percent from three on an average of 3.2 attempts. With Darius Garland (toe) and Max Strus (foot) not expected to be available when the regular season begins, it would be unsurprising if Mobley's offensive output were to increase.

Round 4

Pick
Position
Player
Team
1
SF/PF
Kawhi Leonard
LA Clippers
2
PG/SG/SF
Amen Thompson
Houston Rockets
3
SF/PF
Zion Williamson
New Orleans Pelicans
4
PF/C
Bam Adebayo
Miami Heat
5
PG/SG
Jamal Murray
Denver Nuggets
6
SF/PF
Lauri Markkanen
Utah Jazz
7
PG/SG
Tyler Herro
Miami Heat
8
C
Joel Embiid
Philadelphia 76ers
9
PG/SG/SF
Dyson Daniels
Atlanta Hawks
10
SG/SF/PF
Josh Hart
New York Knicks
11
PG/SG
Derrick White
Boston Celtics 
12
PF/C
Jaren Jackson Jr.
Memphis Grizzlies

Remember a few years ago when people assumed Derrick White's fantasy value would decline after the Celtics acquired Jrue Holiday? Boston won the NBA title that season (2023-24), and White was nearly a top-25 player in fantasy basketball according to Basketball Monster. With Holiday no longer in the picture (traded to Portland, with Anfernee Simons headed to Boston) and Jayson Tatum (Achilles) set to miss a significant chunk of the upcoming season, White feels like a player who can once again offer elite fantasy value.

Round 5

Pick
Position
Player
Team
1
PF/C
Kristaps Porziņģis
Atlanta Hawks
2
SF
Cooper Flagg
Dallas Mavericks
3
SF/PF
Jimmy Butler III
Golden State Warriors
4
C
Walker Kessler
Utah Jazz
5
SF/PF
Brandon Miller
Charlotte Hornets
6
SF/PF
Michael Porter Jr.
Brooklyn Nets
7
SF/PF
Deni Avdija
Portland Trail Blazers
8
SF/PF
Miles Bridges
Charlotte Hornets
9
C
Jarrett Allen
Cleveland Cavaliers 
10
C
Jalen Duren
Detroit Pistons
11
PG/SG
Austin Reaves
Los Angeles Lakers
12
PG
Darius Garland
Cleveland Cavaliers 

At the beginning of the fifth round, there were safer options on the board. However, I was confident enough in the selections made during the first four rounds that it felt like a good time to select Flagg. Plus, he probably would have been off the board by the time my next pick came up. Even with the Mavericks signing D'Angelo Russell, I'm intrigued to see how Kyrie Irving's (knee) being out will impact Flagg's opportunities to play with the ball in his hands.

Round 6

Pick
Position
Player
Team
1
SF
DeMar DeRozan
Sacramento Kings
2
PG/SG
Zach LaVine
Sacramento Kings
3
SG/SF/PF
Paul George 
Philadelphia 76ers
4
SG/SF
Cam Thomas 
Brooklyn Nets
5
PG/SG
Jalen Green
Phoenix Suns
6
C
Nikola Vučević
Chicago Bulls
7
PF/C
Julius Randle
Minnesota Timberwolves
8
PG/SG
Coby White
Chicago Bulls
9
SF/PF
Cameron Johnson
Denver Nuggets
10
PG/SG
Jordan Poole
New Orleans Pelicans
11
PG/SG
Andrew Nembhard
Indiana Pacers
12
SF/PF
RJ Barrett
Toronto Raptors

Like Siakam, Nembhard is a Pacer whose fantasy value may be boosted due to the Haliburton injury. He's primarily been a starter his first three seasons, so that part of Nembhard's role won't change. However, the usage (16.3 last season; 16.2 for his career) stands to increase. Points, assists and steals are three categories I'm tracking in relation to the impact Haliburton's absence will have on Nembhard this season.

Round 7

Pick
Position
Player
Team
1
C
Deandre Ayton
Los Angeles Lakers
2
C
Myles Turner
Milwaukee Bucks
3
C
Alexandre Sarr
Washington Wizards
4
SF/PF
Ausar Thompson
Detroit Pistons
5
SF/PF
OG Anunoby
New York Knicks 
6
SG/SF/PF
Brandon Ingram
Toronto Raptors
7
C
Rudy Gobert
Minnesota Timberwolves
8
PG/SG
Anfernee Simons
Boston Celtics
9
PG/SG
Immanuel Quickley
Toronto Raptors
10
SG/SF
Bennedict Mathurin
Indiana Pacers
11
PF/C
Kel'el Ware
Miami Heat
12
PF/C
John Collins
LA Clippers

I was surprised that Turner was on the board at this point in the draft, especially since he is joining a team whose roster is not as deep as the Pacers' squad he left in free agency. Sure, the Bucks center's scoring has decreased each of the last two seasons. But the Bucks have a lot of question marks on their roster beyond Giannis and Bobby Portis. And if the scoring isn't there, Turner will be good for a few blocked shots on most nights.

Round 8

Pick
Position
Player
Team
1
SG/SF
Devin Vassell 
San Antonio Spurs
2
C
Jakob Poeltl
Toronto Raptors
3
SG
Malik Monk
Sacramento Kings
4
PF/C 
Naz Reid
Minnesota Timberwolves
5
SG/SF
Andrew Wiggins
Miami Heat
6
SG/SF
Norman Powell
Miami Heat
7
C
Isaiah Hartenstein
Oklahoma City Thunder
8
SG/SF
Bradley Beal
LA Clippers
9
PG
Payton Pritchard
Boston Celtics
10
PG 
Fred VanVleet
Houston Rockets
11
SF/PF
Mikal Bridges
New York Knicks
12
C 
Mark Williams
Phoenix Suns

Getting a productive player who has yet to miss a game in seven NBA seasons at this point in the draft felt like a steal. Bridges' first season with the Knicks may have been underwhelming in the eyes of some, but he's capable of getting back to being the near-top 50 player he was during his time with the Suns. If anything, Bridges' first full season with the Nets (2022-23) may have raised the bar too high regarding his fantasy value.

Round 9

Pick
Position
Player
Team
1
SG/SF
Shaedon Sharpe
Portland Trail Blazers
2
C
Donovan Clingan
Portland Trail Blazers
3
C
Onyeka Okongwu
Atlanta Hawks
4
PG
Jalen Suggs
Orlando Magic
5
PG/SG
CJ McCollum
Washington Wizards
6
PG/SG
Keyonte George
Utah Jazz
7
SF/PF 
Jaden McDaniels
Minnesota Timberwolves
8
PF
Tobias Harris
Detroit Pistons
9
SG/SF
Christian Braun
Denver Nuggets
10
PG/SG
Brandin Podziemski
Golden State Warriors
11
SF/PF 
Toumani Camara
Portland Trail Blazers
12
PF/C
Aaron Gordon
Denver Nuggets

In selecting Clingan this round, I decided to target rebounds and blocked shots, not to mention upside. The scoring may not be there due to the number of options within Portland's expected rotation, but rebounds and blocks are two areas where that should not impact Clingan's fantasy potential. Also, rookie Yang Hansen's skill set is such that there could be times when they share the court instead of head coach Chauncey Billups deciding that only one can be on the court at any given time.

Round 10

Pick
Position
Player
Team
1
PG
D'Angelo Russell
Dallas Mavericks
2
PF/C
Draymond Green
Golden State Warriors
3
C
Zach Edey
Memphis Grizzlies
4
C
Nicolas Claxton
Brooklyn Nets
5
C 
Dereck Lively II
Dallas Mavericks
6
PG/SG
Jaden Ivey
Detroit Pistons
7
PF/C
Jeremy Sochan
San Antonio Spurs
8
PF/C
Santi Aldama
Memphis Grizzlies
9
SF/PF
Matas Buzelis
Chicago Bulls 
10
SF/PF
Keegan Murray
Sacramento Kings
11
PG/SG
Stephon Castle
San Antonio Spurs
12
PG
Chris Paul
LA Clippers

Why not go with another UConn product in the 10th round? Castle, the reigning Rookie of the Year, should have more room to "spread his wings" offensively due to the departure of Chris Paul. While San Antonio added Dylan Harper in the draft, adding another guard to the mix, he isn't guaranteed to be fully healthy to start the season after undergoing thumb surgery. Castle does need to be more efficient than he was as a rookie, but that should not have too negative an impact on this team.

Round 11

Pick
Position
Player
Team
1
SF/PF
De'Andre Hunter
Cleveland Cavaliers
2
PF/C
Bobby Portis
Milwaukee Bucks
3
PF/C
Jabari Smith Jr. 
Houston Rockets
4
SG/SF 
Ayo Dosunmu
Chicago Bulls 
5
SF/PF
Tari Eason
Houston Rockets
6
SF/PF
P.J. Washington
Dallas Mavericks
7
SF/PF
Jerami Grant
Portland Trail Blazers
8
PG/SG
Kevin Porter Jr.
Milwaukee Bucks
9
SF/PF
Jonathan Kuminga
Golden State Warriors
10
PF/C
Al Horford
Free Agent
11
C
Daniel Gafford
Dallas Mavericks
12
SG/SF 
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Atlanta Hawks

Portis is unlikely to be a starter, but he will still play plenty for the Bucks. Having only started 99 of the 339 games he's played in Milwaukee, Portis has averaged 13.6 points and 8.3 rebounds in 25.0 minutes. As long as he continues to play 25 minutes, providing reliable fantasy value should not be an issue, regardless of league format.

Round 12

Pick
Position
Player
Team
1
PG/SG
Jrue Holiday
Portland Trail Blazers
2
SF/PF
Zaccharie Risacher
Atlanta Hawks
3
SG
Dylan Harper
San Antonio Spurs
4
PG/SG
Collin Sexton
Charlotte Hornets
5
SG/SF 
Bilal Coulibaly
Washington Wizards
6
SG
VJ Edgecombe
Philadelphia 76ers
7
PG/SG
Donte DiVincenzo
Minnesota Timberwolves
8
SG/SF 
Klay Thompson
Dallas Mavericks
9
C
Brook Lopez
LA Clippers
10
SG/SF 
Caris LeVert
Detroit Pistons
11
SF/PF
Herbert Jones
New Orleans Pelicans
12
SF/PF
Rui Hachimura 
Los Angeles Lakers

Jones only playing 20 games last season due to injury unquestionably impacts his draft position. However, he played at least 66 games in each of his first three seasons, so the concerns should not be at the level of, say, Zion Williamson. One of the NBA's premier wing defenders, Jones has averaged 1.6 steals and 0.7 blocks per game as a pro. If he can offer a consistent perimeter shot as well, getting Jones in the 12th round could be a steal.

Round 13

Pick
Position
Player
Team
1
SG
Tre Johnson
Washington Wizards
2
PF/C
Kyle Filipowski 
Utah Jazz
3
SG/SF
Grayson Allen
Phoenix Suns 
4
PG
Scoot Henderson
Portland Trail Blazers
5
SF
Ace Bailey
Utah Jazz
6
SF
Aaron Nesmith
Indiana Pacers
7
PG/SG
Reed Sheppard
Houston Rockets
8
SF/PF
Kyle Kuzma
Milwaukee Bucks
9
SF/PF
Khris Middleton
Washington Wizards
10
SF
Kon Knueppel
Charlotte Hornets
11
C
Jusuf Nurkić
Utah Jazz
12
PG
Russell Westbrook
Free Agent

Final team:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Pascal Siakam
Evan Mobley
Derrick White
Cooper Flagg
Andrew Nembhard
Myles Turner
Mikal Bridges
Donovan Clingan
Stephon Castle
Bobby Portis
Herbert Jones
Kyle Filipowski

I'm pleased with how this team turned out. Gilgeous-Alexander and Siakam are likely to lead the way scoring-wise, while Mobley and White should also offer excellent value at their respective draft positions. Flagg has gone earlier in the category league mocks I've participated in, and I wasn't going to pass on the opportunity in the fifth round.

The Bridges pick felt like a steal; while he did struggle at times in his first season with the Knicks, availability has not been an issue for him at any point in his NBA career (knock on wood). To get a player you can assume to be available for all 82 games in the eighth round, especially one who logs the minutes that Bridges does, is quite the find.

Jones did not play much last season due to injury, but he can produce excellent defensive stats when healthy. I'm betting on Clingan and Castle taking a step forward in their second seasons in the NBA, while Portis is worth grabbing despite coming off the bench on most nights.

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Miami's Tyler Herro to miss start of NBA season after undergoing foot surgery

The Miami Heat open the season with a tough stretch of the schedule: 11 of their first 15 games are against playoff teams from a season ago, and six of the team's first eight are on the road.

Miami will have to navigate that stretch without its All-Star guard, Tyler Herro, who will miss the start of the season as he recovers from foot surgery, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN. While there is no timetable yet for his recovery, he will miss the start of the season, according to multiple reports.

This is not a new injury (the details of which are not public) but an ankle injury during offseason workouts added to it. Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald detailed what led to Herro's decision.

Herro, 25, first felt discomfort in his left ankle during a workout earlier this offseason, according to a league source. Herro received platelet-rich plasma and cortisone injections in recent weeks in hopes of avoiding surgery, but the discomfort never subsided and surgery was deemed necessary to avoid more issues down the road.

Herro is coming off his best NBA season and his first as an All-Star, averaging 23.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game, with a 60.5 true shooting percentage fueled by him shooting 37.5% from beyond the arc. He was the heart of the Heat attack.

That role likely now falls to Norman Powell, who the Heat acquired this summer. Last season with the Clippers, Powell had a career year (but was not an All-Star in the deep West). Last season, Powell averaged 21.8 points a game while shooting 41.8% from 3-point range.

Miami spent the summer trying to find a trade away Terry Rozier, who is owed $26.6 million — $24.9 million of that is guaranteed — but could find no takers, and buyout talks went nowhere. Now, that may turn out to be fortunate, if more expensive than the Heat hoped, because the veteran moves into a key rotation role until Herro returns. Rozier averaged 10.6 points a game last season but struggled with his shot, hitting 29.5% from 3 and with a true shooting percentage of just 49.7 (for comparison, the league average was closer to 57).

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Jonathan Kuminga's agent hoping to find middle ground in Warriors contract talks

Jonathan Kuminga's agent hoping to find middle ground in Warriors contract talks originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Aaron Turner’s 6-year-old son, Jaxson, is asking the same question on a daily basis as everybody when it comes to Warriors restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga: “Have we got a deal done?” 

The answer remains the same: No deal. 

More than two and a half months have passed since the opening of NBA free agency and Kuminga’s agent, Turner, hasn’t been able to come to terms with the Warriors and general manager Mike Dunleavy. As first reported by ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Shams Charania, and later confirmed by NBC Sports Bay Area, the Warriors currently have three contract offers on the table for Kuminga: Three years and $75.2 million with a team option on the third season, two years and $45 million with a team option on the second season, and three years for $54 million without any options. 

Kuminga so far has turned down all three deals. The reason isn’t so much money in a closed market that didn’t have any teams with proper salary cap space. His request is turning the team option into a player option and he’ll sign the contract. 

The last and final avenue is the qualifying offer. Kuminga has until Oct. 1 to sign a one-year, $7.9 million qualifying offer. Signing the qualifying offer would essentially be turning down over $40 million in guaranteed money from the Warriors’ highest offer, but it also would help Kuminga, who turns 23 on Oct. 6, control his destiny. He would be an unrestricted free agent next summer and assuredly wouldn’t be traded during this upcoming season. 

Understanding the risks of the qualifying offer, Turner and Kuminga are confident multiple teams with more cap space next summer would line up to sign him after such an unprecedented offseason.

“There are teams salivating that JK takes this QO,” Turner says.

Signing the qualifying offer is a very real possibility, though Turner told NBC Sports Bay Area on the latest episode of Dubs Talk that doing so isn’t a desired outcome. If the team option doesn’t turn into a player option, will Kuminga be signing the qualifying offer?

“I mean, I hope not,” Turner said. “I don’t think JK wants that. I don’t think the Warriors want that. Hopefully we figure this out and come to a middle ground that makes sense for everybody and everybody can put their best foot forward. 

“We don’t need all these distractions. … I’m not blaming anybody, but you’ve got to get everybody on the same page going into the year. I think it’s vital for everyone’s sake. I know JK wants that. I hope the Warriors want that. I would think they’d want that. Hopefully we get something done.” 

The Warriors are yet to include a player option on any contract they have offered Kuminga. 

Kuminga joined Turner at the end of his interview Friday with 95.7 The Game’s “Steiny & Guru” and had his agent relay a message to Warriors fans of “I love you guys.”

“He loves the fans, he’d love to stay and be part of it,” Turner says. “Just because he gets a player option, it’s not like he’s leaving necessarily. Everybody is like, ‘Oh, he’s gone.’ Why? You have his Bird Rights, you’re the Warriors, what a platform. But he’d have some say and it would be because he wanted to stay. 

“It’s been a long summer. We’re all tired, but we’re continuing to push through and hopefully we find a solution and cooler heads prevail.” 

While the Warriors have offered more money on a yearly basis, Kuminga received larger contract offers from the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns, both of which featured player options. The Kings and Suns, according to Turner, also have promised more of a basketball investment into Kuminga than the Warriors have through his first four years and in regards to the 2025-26 NBA season with their current roster construction. 

Both the Kings and Suns, Turner says, would have fulfilled Kuminga’s goal of a larger role, starting and closing games. The same can’t be said for the Warriors following last season’s trade of Jimmy Butler. 

None of the six players taken ahead of Kuminga in the 2021 NBA Draft have won a championship like he did as a rookie. None of them have played with multiple futuqualre Hall of Fame players. All of them have received larger opportunities, more leeway to make mistakes and have signed contracts of at least $100 million. 

That’s part of why the player option matters so much to Kuminga. He believes the combination of his fluctuating role his first four seasons, along with the present and future of how he fits the Warriors, and being seen purely as a midseason trade asset deserves the good will of a player option.

“The theory on this has been from the beginning, if we’re going to take a number that keeps the team under the second apron and what matters most is the win-now and maximizing Steph [Curry’s] window and building a roster, fine. That’s great, we will fall in line,” Turner said. “But allow us to have the back end of the deal. JK can still stay on the Warriors. There’s nothing that says he couldn’t. They’ll have his Bird Rights. But it’s his choice.

“And if you believe in yourself, a player option is very, very, very valuable. It’s almost an insurance policy as opposed to having to pick it up. It’s a way to create flexibility. … That’s our theory. Give us the back end for the sacrifices up front of not being able to really chase his personal ambitions and fully expand his game, possibly getting traded in three months and just the back and forth of this for years.” 

The desire is a player option. The threat is signing a qualifying offer. The team option isn’t fully off the table for Kuminga and Turner, too. Turner has even presented hybrid options as well. 

“We’re not opposed to a team option,” Turner said. “A team option has been discussed and we’d be open to it, but then our theory and thinking is to just move the number up on the front end then. I get it, that’s difficult, you might have to make some tough choices but then you have the back end of the deal. I’ve also talked about hybrid deals. Inherently that 1+1 deal you lose your Bird Rights if you get traded. It has an inherent no-trade clause on the first year of it. Let him keep that. 

“Where would that put us? It’s in the same place we’re at right now, but you’re not in the base compensation rule and JK has a seat at the table. I think if you’re JK you have to think about this: He’s been in the same place for four years and the runway has never really been cleared. So he’s looking at it like, ‘Man, I want to make sure the next place I go there’s a runway. There’s a real clear, very defined plan. I don’t want to just get tossed to another team where I don’t really know what the plan is.’ I don’t fault him for that. It’s a fair ask on his part. 

“Those are the deals, that’s why the PO means so much in this certain negotiation.”

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Ramp to Camp: What do you want to see from new C's owner Bill Chisholm?

Ramp to Camp: What do you want to see from new C's owner Bill Chisholm? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Of all the changes the Boston Celtics incurred this offseason, none were bigger than Bill Chisholm becoming the first new owner of the franchise in 22 years.

Chisholm and his ownership group take over as the Celtics begin to chart a new path toward Banner 19 while navigating a series of near-term obstacles, including the absence of superstar Jayson Tatum and the talent squeeze put on the roster by a restrictive collective bargaining agreement.

So how can Chisholm and Co. help shepherd the Celtics forward?

For Day 15 of our Ramp to Camp series, and wrapping up our weeklong look at what’s next for key figures on this year’s team, the spotlight falls on Chisholm and the new ownership group.

It’s our belief that it’s not so much what Chisholm can do, it’s what he shouldn’t do. There’s a value in patience. Take Year 1 and be a fan, be a fly on the wall. Obviously, that’s easy for us to say when we’re not the ones cutting billion-dollar checks as part of a $6.1 billion purchase.

But there are simply too many recent instances of new owners trying to immediately put their stamp on a team. And while it’s completely understandable why these billionaires would want to do such, it’s typically set teams back in their championship quest.

Just google “New Owner Syndrome” and you’ll get a full recap of recent missteps. Hit the images tab and you’ll see a whole lot of Mat Ishbia and the Phoenix Suns, who have already pivoted from their initial changes.

From all accounts, Chisholm seems to have embraced maintaining the status quo. Keeping Wyc Grousbeck on as CEO and alternate governor will help preserve continuity from the last ownership group, and help Chisholm learn exactly what made the last group so successful here.

We love Chisholm’s passion. His fandom is clear. Being courtside will show how invested he is in the players and maintaining the winning culture here. Chisholm and his ownership group will have to deal with the uneducated who will pin the summer cost-cutting on them, instead of acknowledging the second apron. But Boston fans are smart and understand that the Celtics needed to reset a bit this offseason. It’s best to ignore the pundits. 

The last ownership group was willing to spend whenever the team was in position to truly chase a title. If Chisholm maintains that philosophy, he’ll do just fine. Grousbeck and Co. benefitted from putting smart people in charge and letting them do their jobs. They were rewarded with two banners (with trips to two other NBA Finals along the way). 

If the next 22 years are as successful as the previous 22, Chisholm will be revered in this city. 

Let’s find out what our panel wants to see from Chisholm:

Darren Hartwell, Managing Editor

Weekly interviews with Chris Forsberg on the Celtics Talk Podcast. (Just kidding … but consider that an open invite, Bill.)

Boston is in very good hands with president of basketball operations Brad Stevens, so Chisholm’s best tactic is to assure fans that Stevens is still calling the roster shots, and that there’s no mandate from on high to cut costs. 

If Chisholm can stay out of the personnel fray while conveying his passion for the team, he’ll have very high approval ratings.

Michael Hurley, Web Producer

I think just being visible at the Garden and being around Celtics fans is an important acclimation step.

What made Wyc Grousbeck so beloved was, A) He cared deeply about the Celtics, and B) He was always around. Those aspects also helped Robert Kraft earn plenty of goodwill in New England, while John Henry and Jeremy Jacobs have been dealing with accusations of being “absentee owners.”

It’s difficult to climb out of that hole, so it’s best to simply never get in it.

Sean McGuire, Web Producer

I want to see Chisholm uphold his commitment to winning in the near- and long-term.

While Jayson Tatum’s injury has caused expectations to soften, crazy things happen in the NBA. So, if the Celtics are approaching the NBA trade deadline in the playoff mix with title aspirations closer in sight than previously expected, I’d like to see the organization operate like it.

And to the contrary, if the Celtics are not in contention for the playoffs ahead of the deadline, I would like to see the organization operate with a long-term outlook.

Josh Canu, Media Editor

Commitment to winning and maintaining Celtics culture.

My main thought here would be just don’t rock the boat. Definitely take the opportunity to put your stamp on the franchise and take ownership of some things. But the Celtics have so much history and culture that I am just hoping for the status quo of success to remain. 

Max Lederman, Content Producer

I want to see very little from Bill Chisholm. The Celtics franchise has been one of the best-run in all of American sports over the last 25 years, and I hope he continues to let that happen.

Adam Hart, EP, Content Strategy

A joy for ownership of the team. We were blessed with that from the previous regime, and I hope that shows through despite what will likely be some shrewd moves to keep the team competitive given the CBA.

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Dennis Smith Jr. agrees to one-year deal with Mavericks, but without guarantee, roster spot

It sounds like a great story: Former No. 9 pick of the Mavericks Dennis Smith Jr. returns home to Dallas on a one-year contract. He did sign one, a story first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN. The Mavericks need point guard depth until Kyrie Irving returns from his ACL tear, so the franchise reached out to a trusted old friend.

The reality is less of a fairy tale: This is a non-guaranteed contract. Smith is going to have to earn a roster spot, which will not be easy because the Mavericks already have a full roster of 15 players under contract — Smith is going to have to beat someone out to get that job. The point guard depth chart starts with D'Angelo Russell, followed by Dante Exum, and for the third spot there is Brandon Williams, but he does not have a fully guaranteed contract (a $200,000 buyout). To make the roster, Smith likely has to beat out Williams for the third point guard spot (until Irving returns, then it becomes the fourth PG slot).

Another option for the Mavericks is to trade Jaden Hardy to create a roster spot. That's something the Mavericks considered before waiving and stretching Olivier-Maxence Prosper's contract to bring in Exum. If the Mavericks want to keep Smith and Williams, it's an option.

Smith is a seven-year NBA veteran, but one who was out of the NBA last season. He averaged double-digit points a game for the Mavericks and then the Knicks in the first seasons after he was drafted in 2017 out of NC State, but his production declined from there. Smith has been a high-level defensive guard and in the 2022-23 season in Charlotte averaged 8.8 points and 4.8 assists. He played the 2023-24 season in Brooklyn but was not brought back and sat out last season.

He's got a chance at a roster spot in Dallas, but it's going to be tough to earn it.

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As charges mount for Clippers, don’t expect punishment to include voiding Kawhi Leonard’s contract

It has been clear for a year or more that the Los Angeles Clippers knew they were fast approaching the end of the Kawhi Leonard/James Harden era. The Clippers have been looking to pivot, and the report this week of the Clippers’ frustration with Leonard fit the existing pattern. It's not a coincidence that the team is set up to have massive cap space in 2,027 just when Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic and Karl-Anthony Towns (among many others) could become free agents.

That pivot was clearly coming long before accusations started to mount against owner Steve Ballmer and the Los Angeles Clippers — including new ones that dropped Thursday from the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast (more details on that below) — that the team was trying to circumvent the salary cap. Those allegations allege that Ballmer and minority Clippers owner Dennis Wong invested in "green bank" company Aspiration (a Clippers team sponsor), which also signed Leonard to a $48 million endorsement deal. Except there is no evidence Leonard actually did anything to earn that money, making it a "no-show" deal — a way for the Clippers to circumvent the cap.

In the wake of all the evidence in recent weeks, the topic has shifted in part to potential punishments, because it feels like some punishment is coming (once the league's official investigation ends, which likely runs into the middle of the NBA season). The league can fine the Clippers and Ballmer, but only up to a maximum of $7.5 million — Ballmer earned more than that in interest during the time it took you to read this sentence. The league can suspend Ballmer and/or a Clippers executive for up to a year. The league can take away some of the Clippers' future draft picks (the most painful punishment to the franchise).

Also, the league can void Leonard's contract and make him a free agent. Don't expect that one, in part because the Clippers would be good with it.

Latest accusations against Clippers

In his defense of Ballmer and the Clippers, Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban had said that rather than investments and team sponsorships (both of which happened), the easiest way the Clippers could have helped "green bank" company Aspiration was to buy carbon credits from them (which is what the company was fraudulently selling).

Pablo Torre Finds Out released evidence Thursday that the Clippers did just that. Torre has a bank letter signed by the team's Chief Financial Officer — as well as sources inside Aspiration — that say the Clippers fast-tracked a $21 million deal for carbon credits, weeks before the first payment of Leonard's endorsement deal. This is while the Intuit Dome was under construction.

Together, Ballmer and the Clippers invested $118 million in Aspiration. Leonard had a $48 million endorsement deal with the Aspiration ($20 million of that was in now-worthless stock of the bankrupt company), for which there is no evidence he did any work.

Ballmer and the Clippers released a statement both to the podcast and in general about the purchase of these credits, emphasizing that making the new Intuit Dome a green building was very important to Ballmer, and he believed that dealing with Aspiration helped achieve this goal. It's the same idea as when he said he and other investors were "duped" by the company. Here's the statement the Clippers sent to Torre's podcast:

"Our development agreements for the arena included mandates to buy carbon credits, but after studying the issue of neutrality, we went far beyond those requirements, exploring ways to address emissions from our fans and contracting with Aspiration to directly purchase carbon offsets, as well as broker the acquisition of additional offsets. Some of those commitments were built into the sponsorship deal with Aspiration — totally separate of the investment in the company — and we made payments to Aspiration until the company was unable to fulfill their responsibilities."

Leonard’s contract

This latest accusation about carbon credits just adds to the tsunami of circumstantial evidence that has seemed overwhelming. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said the burden was on the league to prove the Clippers violated the CBA and appears to want direct evidence that Ballmer intentionally tried to circumvent the salary cap, which is not going to exist (Ballmer would never have signed something so incriminating). Silver seems more willing to talk about league rule changes around investments and endorsements than punishments, but at this point it feels like the Clippers have to get more than a slap on the wrist.

Could that include voiding Leonard's contract? (Leonard is set to make $50 million this season and $50.3 million next season.) Under the terms of the CBA, yes it could. Silver has that power.

Just don't expect him to exercise it.

As noted in the first paragraph of this story, the Clippers recognize reality, and while they put together a good, veteran team on paper for this season — one better than their 50-win team from last season — it is not a contender. How big a playoff threat it can be depends on two unreliable things: Leonard's health and Harden's playoff performance.

Void Leonard's contract, and the Clippers will have max cap space next summer. They could then chase a star through free agency or a trade, pivoting by the fall of 2026. That would be just fine with the Clippers.

Second, as John Hollinger notes at The Athletic, the NBA's formal investigation is likely to conclude in the middle of the season. Void Leonard's contract at that point and there would be a mad scramble from playoff teams willing to take on the risk of adding him short-term, but none of them would have any more than a veteran minimum or something close to it to offer. As Hollinger notes, Leonard fought to get home to Los Angeles in the first place, would he consider signing with the Lakers for the minimum (which, right now, they can't even offer until mid-January due to being hard-capped at the first tax apron)?

One thing Hollinger suggests that is interesting: Silver putting the money from Leonard's endorsement contract on the Clippers' books, making them pay a luxury tax bill for it.

That is a long shot, but more likely than Silver voiding Leonard's contract. The most likely scenario is the Clippers get fined, lose a first-round draft pick or two, and maybe a Clipper executive gets suspended (but not Ballmer before his new Intuit Dome hosts the All-Star Game in February). Maybe it's more than that, but at this point it all comes down to the league's investigation, which is ongoing and will be for a while.

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Pre-camp Sixers questions: Will 2025-26 Sixers have any bargain role players?

Pre-camp Sixers questions: Will 2025-26 Sixers have any bargain role players?  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers will travel to Abu Dhabi for preseason games vs. the Knicks on Oct. 2 and Oct. 4. They’ll begin their regular season by facing the Celtics on Oct. 22. 

Before the action commences, we’re looking at key questions for the 2025-26 Sixers. 

So far, we’ve dived into: 

Next up: Will the 2025-26 Sixers have any bargain role players? 

A giant chunk of the Sixers’ team salary for 2025-26 is dedicated to Joel Embiid ($55.2 million), Paul George ($51.7 million) and Tyrese Maxey ($38 million). 

That means low-cost, high-quality role players are a necessity. Recent success stories include Guerschon Yabusele and Kelly Oubre Jr., who both signed one-year, minimum-salary deals and became important players for the Sixers. 

This time around, Trendon Watford is a clear contender after he signed a two-year minimum contract with a team option in Year 2. Watford, 24, is coming off of his best NBA season. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 10.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists with the Nets. 

The Sixers’ hope is that Watford keeps doing a little bit of everything — passing, ball handling, defending different positions — and makes meaningful growth as a shooter. Watford shot 2.0 three-pointers per game last season and hit 33.0 percent. 

“I think I’ve made big-time progress, especially the last two years with my attempts continuing to go up,” Watford said at his introductory press conference in July. “Now it’s just continuing to work on it. Having three great players that will draw a lot of attention, I’ll be able to get a lot of wide-open shots. 

“Just stay in the gym, keep working on it and keep getting better year by year. That’s my goal, be better than I was last year.”

Unless a returning veteran such as Eric Gordon or Andre Drummond surprises with a much-improved year thanks to greater health, the next logical place to look is the Sixers’ youth.

Second-year players Justin Edwards and Adem Bona each have approximately $2 million salaries for the 2025-26 campaign. Edwards earned a new contract this offseason by playing like a legitimate NBA two-way wing as a rookie. 

“I feel like it just shows all the hard work I put in,” he said on July 2. “Going undrafted, I didn’t let it determine the rest of my basketball life. I just worked hard and did what I was able to do, and I got a contract out of it.”

Jared McCain ($4.2 million salary) is an obvious player to highlight. He posted 15.3 points, 2.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds per game in a rookie year cruelly ended by a left lateral meniscus tear. McCain’s studied Stephen Curry and sure has some of his special offensive tools. Given McCain’s knack for learning quickly and shooting through slumps, major development in his second season wouldn’t be shocking at all. 

The Sixers inked No. 3 overall pick VJ Edgecombe ($11.1 million) and No. 35 selection Johni Broome ($1.3 million) to rookie contracts this summer. And perhaps one of their two-way contract players — Jabari Walker, Hunter Sallis and Dominick Barlow — can emerge and prove worthy of a standard deal. The Sixers have made a decent amount of two-way conversions in recent years with players like Edwards, Paul Reed, Ricky Council IV and Shake Milton. 

Whoever shines, the Sixers’ reality is that they require a bargain or two.