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Yet, all that said, everyone is chasing the New York Knicks, who went on a historic postseason run in June to snap a 53-year championship drought. Fans in New York celebrated the Knicks all summer long, and players have said the right things about not being satisfied with one title and wanting another. The core remains in place, but the reality is no team has repeated as NBA champions in eight seasons, since the Golden State Warriors did so in 2018.
But the real work starts now, with NBA training camps set to open in late September.
The NBA crew at USA TODAY Sports prepared season previews for every team. Six will be published each day beginning Monday, Sept. 21 through Friday, Sept. 25. This page will be updated daily with links to new previews. Clink the link on each team's name below to be taken to the preview page and check back for updates.
Coach Tyronn Lue and the Los Angeles Clippers could struggle to make a significant run during the 2026-27 season.
The organization has fallen from playoff contention to a team likely dropping near the bottom of the Western Conference as a result of its offseason.
The NBA announced disciplinary action against the team on Sept. 2 after an external law firm completed enough of its investigation and shared its findings with league commissioner Adam Silver.
The Clippers were fined $30 million and were told to forfeit five first-round draft picks (2029–2033). Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and two of the team’s executives were also suspended.
The Clippers also used the offseason to create a younger roster. The team traded Kawhi Leonard, who is 35 years old, and moved on from Nicolas Batum (37) in free agency while adding players such as Brandon Ingram (29) and Gradey Dick (22). The Clippers were one of the oldest teams in the league, with an average age of 33.2 years last season.
The team will have signs of inexperience, but it could create an opportunity for players such as first-round pick Keaton Wagler to get significant playing time early and often.
Here's a breakdown of the Los Angeles Clippers' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:
The Clippers traded Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors, officially ending a chapter in the organization's history. The Clippers will start the season without a bona fide star player and MVP contender on its roster. Newly acquired Brandon Ingram will have an opportunity to fill the role, but he will have to show he can be durable, which was something that worked against Leonard at times as well. Leonard did play 65 or more games in two of the last three seasons, but was limited to just 37 games played during the 2024-25 season. Ingram did take a step forward, playing in 77 games for the Raptors last season, just two games shy of his career-high during his rookie season. The forward was limited to just 18 games played with the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2024-25 season.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Darius Garland
G Keaton Wagler
F Brandon Ingram
F Rui Hachimura
C Brook Lopez
Rotation players
C Yanic Konan Niederhauser
C Isaiah Jackson
G Kris Dunn
G Max Strus
G Bradley Beal
G Gradey Dick
G Kobe Sanders
F Derrick Jones Jr.
F Jordan Miller
F Baba Miller
What to expect in 2026-27 season
Expectations won’t be high for the Clippers for the upcoming season. The Clippers already took a step back with a 42-40 record last season after making the playoffs in 2025. The Clippers are likely to take another step back. The team is projected to win just 31 games this season.
The team had championship expectations after acquiring Leonard and Paul George in 2019. Both players are now back in the Eastern Conference, while Los Angeles will battle for a chance at the play-in tournament.
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LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 11: Quadir Copeland #25 of the Houston Rockets plays defense during the game against the Toronto Raptors during a 2026 NBA Summer League game on July 11, 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With training camp about to begin, our 2026-2027 Houston Rockets Players Previews kick off with their trio of two-way contracts. These are some new names among the two-way group this year, so pay keep your eye on these three this preseason.
Quadir Copeland
Copeland is a 23-year-old 6’6” guard who came over to the team after being undrafted this summer. He averaged 13.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 6.5 assists as a senior last year at NC State. He also shot 49.4 percent from the field and 39.7 percent from deep. Copeland is an Ime Udoka special — a defense-first guard that can control games with his size and athleticism. He’s not a bad shooter, but is not a volume shooter, and while his size allows him to see over defenses when running point, he also averaged 2.8 turnovers per game his senior season, meaning he can be prone to turnovers. Still, his size and athleticism make him an intruguing prospect for the Rockets.
Sean Pedulla
Pedulla went undrafted in 2025 NBA Draft, but the 6’1” point guard linked up first with the Portland Trail Blazers last season, then spent some time with the L.A. Clippers and the Minnesota Timberwolves. With the Wolves, Pedulla earned G League Rookie of the Year honors, averaging 23.6 points, 6.7 assists, 5 rebounds and 1.6 steals with Minny’s G League affiliate. The 23-year-old now links up with the Rockets on a two-way deal. He’s a solid shooter who shot 39.2 percent from deep his senior season and replicated that by shooting 39.6 percent last year in the G League. He also has some good playmaking chops, though his size has him struggling some as a defender. Not exactly the way to get on the floor for Udoka.
Rafael Castro
Castro is a 23-year-old, 6’10” center, finalizing a complete overhaul of Houston’s two-way deals. Castro went undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft after averaging 15.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in his senior season for George Washington. He is smart, athletic and fast, and he plays that way, with plenty of rim running and pick-and-roll action. Despite averaging just 1.7 assists per game his senior year, he is well-regarded as a passer, but he is mostly a traditional big man without shooting range. He’s also slight, at just 224 pounds, which could be an issue until he puts on his big boy muscle with an NBA strength program, but Castro is an intruging prospect you’ll want to keep an eye on.
Year one with Kevin Durant didn't go as the Houston Rockets hoped. The 2026-27 NBA season is shaping up as a basketball do-over.
The Rockets will largely run it back with their roster mostly intact after a disappointing first-round playoff exit in the wake of their much-hyped Durant acquisition. Houston is hopeful the return of veteran point guard Fred VanVleet, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, can unlock a talented core that never seemed to fit together consistently without an established primary ballhandler.
The Rockets have locked up young stars Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson to long-term deals in recent offseasons, but this may be their last chance to maximize the Durant era in Houston. The 37-year-old has a player option in his contract for next year. There's enough talent for the Rockets to contend with the best teams in the Western Conference if they've sorted out the chemistry issues with Durant a season later than expected.
Here's a breakdown of the Houston Rockets' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:
Can the return of Fred VanVleet solve the Rockets' point guard woes?
The Rockets never actually settled on a full-time replacement for VanVleet last season, turning to 2024 first-round pick Reed Sheppard and 23-year-old Amen Thompson at point guard while embracing oversized lineups and a bully ball approach. The strategy fizzled in the most important games of the season, particularly after a season-ending ankle injury suffered by center Steven Adams. VanVleet expects to be ready for the start of the 2026-27 season, and the Rockets added veteran Marcus Smart and rookie Bruce Thornton to bolster their backcourt depth. But this team's ceiling will depend on how VanVleet looks at age 32 coming back from a torn ACL.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Fred VanVleet
G Amen Thompson
F Jabari Smith Jr.
F Kevin Durant
C Alperen Sengun
Rotation players
G Reed Sheppard
G Marcus Smart
G Bogdan Bogdanovic
F Tari Eason
C Steven Adams
C Clint Capela
What to expect in 2026-27 season
The Rockets theoretically have the roster best-positioned to challenge the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder among the next tier of Western Conference contenders. If VanVleet is still capable of being a major contributor at point guard, it should facilitate better offense in crunch time where placing the burden completely on Durant is too much at this point in his career. Expect the Rockets to eclipse 50 wins again and make a deeper playoff run than they did a year ago.
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The Dallas Mavericks are in the process of reinventing themselves after the disastrous Luka Doncic trade, and the past few months have reshaped the franchise ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season.
On the court, Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II are expected to return from lengthy injury absences, and they're set to play alongside reigning NBA rookie of the year Cooper Flagg. They'll be surrounded by a mixture of reliable veterans and an intriguing collection of newcomers, including four drafted rookies, that could force May into some tough (and awkward) lineup decisions.
There's enough talent to return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2024 NBA Finals but also a lot of variables to overcome.
Here's a breakdown of the Dallas Mavericks offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:
G Vsevolod Ishchenko (No. 56 pick, 2026 NBA Draft)
Key roster losses
G Klay Thompson (contract buyout)
G Khris Middleton (trade)
G Ryan Nembhard (trade)
G A.J. Johnson (trade)
G Brandon Williams (free agent)
F Marvin Bagley (free agent)
Biggest question entering training camp
How will Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II perform coming back from major injuries?
Though the Mavericks are building around Flagg for the long term, their ability to exceed expectations during the 2026-27 season could hinge on the effectiveness of Irving and Lively. Both were key starters when Dallas went to the NBA Finals in 2024, but injuries have largely sidelined them since. Lively has played in just 43 games since then (including only seven appearances last season) due to a foot injury, while Irving missed the entire 2025-26 campaign recovering from a torn ACL. Their health, and Irving's partnership with Flagg, will be a focal point early on this season.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Kyrie Irving
G Max Christie
F Cooper Flagg
F P.J. Washington
C Dereck Lively II
Rotation players
G Marcus Sasser
F Naji Marshall
F Santi Aldama
F Zaccharie Risacher
F Morez Johnson Jr.
C Daniel Gafford
What to expect in 2026-27 season
If Irving and Lively can return close to the form they showed before being derailed by injuries over the past year, and Flagg builds upon his intriguing rookie campaign, the Mavericks are positioned to be a dangerous team that should compete for a play-in tournament spot and finish with a much better record than a season ago. But a first-time NBA head coach, health concerns and several newcomers with uncertain roster fits behind Flagg make Dallas a risky team to trust as a legitimate contender this year.
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Miami then let Norman Powell, its only All-Star last season, sign with Chicago then filled in its roster with veterans on short money.
Tim Hardaway Jr., a Sixth Man of the Year finalist in Denver last season, took one year and $6 million. Klay Thompson arrived in late August after a buyout in Dallas. Nick Richards signed a few days later. The Heat still have one roster spot open with camp weeks away.
All of it follows a season that ended in a 127-126 overtime loss to Charlotte in a play-in elimination game, Miami's first missed postseason since 2019.
Here's a breakdown of the Miami Heat's offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:
Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo will smother people, but the offense is the puzzle. Davion Mitchell is the nominal point guard, Thompson is 36, Hardaway is 34, and behind Antetokounmpo there is almost no one who can create a shot out of nothing. Spoelstra will likely stagger Antetokounmpo and Adebayo so one of them is always at center, with Portis covering the rest.
Miami is also short on size. That was the argument for Richards, and it may not be the last move.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Davion Mitchell
G Klay Thompson
F Andrew Wiggins
F Giannis Antetokounmpo
C Bam Adebayo
Rotation players
G Tim Hardaway Hr.
G Dru Smith
F. Pelle Larsson
Simone Fontecchio
F Nikola Jovic
C Bobby Portis
What to expect in 2026-27 season
Miami is the division favorite and nobody is arguing. BetMGM lists the Heat at +160 to win the Southeast, with Orlando next at +250.
The Heat scored 120.9 points per game last season, most in the division, and gave up 118.5, worst among the four teams that competed for anything. Antetokounmpo and Adebayo should erase a good deal of that second number by themselves. Whether Miami can survive a seven-game series against Philadelphia or Toronto depends on health and on finding one more creator, probably at the deadline.
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This was a team that finished with the third-worst record in the NBA and one that has won just 78 of 246 games (.317) over its last three seasons.
The problem for the Brooklyn Nets is that the short-term future doesn’t look all that much better.
Since the team’s experiment with Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden imploded, the Nets have struggled to find any semblance of competitiveness. The big move of the offseason was a trade that brought in three-time All-Star Julius Randle – taking on his contract – and shipped out center Nic Claxton. Will that be enough for Brooklyn to finally course correct?
Here's a breakdown of the Brooklyn Nets' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:
Can their veterans lead this young team to relevance?
With Michael Porter Jr., who played his first season in Brooklyn last year, and Julius Randle, acquired in a three-team trade with the Timberwolves and Bulls, the Nets now have a pair of veterans who are expected to carry the offense. But this is a team that has failed to make the postseason in the last three years and one that remains in a rebuild. At a certain point, at least some of the young players on this roster — Egor Dëmin, rookie Mikel Brown Jr., Ben Saraf, Noah Clowney and Danny Wolf chief among them — will need to take considerable leaps forward for the Nets to be relevant.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Mikel Brown Jr.
G Egor Dëmin
F Michael Porter Jr.
F Julius Randle
C Day’Ron Sharpe
Rotation players
G Ben Saraf
G Keon Ellis
F Noah Clowney
C Danny Wolf
F Moritz Wagner
G Drake Powell
G Nolan Traore
G Terance Mann
F Josh Minott
What to expect in 2026-27 season
Honestly, this looks like a roster that continues to be a season or two away from competing. Randle is a fine addition, but his best days are behind him. Porter took a step forward and showed his efficiency numbers could remain solidly respectable despite a far higher usage. But unless the Nets solve their shooting woes — Brooklyn tied for dead last in 3-point percentage (34%) last season — it’s hard to see the Nets being contenders for even the play-in picture. Brooklyn had amassed draft capital for its rebuild. The Nets still need a legitimate star (or two). Making matters worse, they saw the entire city of New York celebrate the Knicks, even outside of the Barclays Center, the home venue where the Nets play.
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Can Kawhi Leonard once again carry the Raptors to a title, and how will he gel with his new teammates?
Toronto was one of the bigger surprises last year, posting a 16-win improvement over the prior season. Some of the team’s younger players were starting to develop. Yet, after failing to get past the first round, the Raptors clearly felt they needed to take a big swing in the offseason to take the next step. In comes Kawhi Leonard, who helped lead Toronto to a championship in 2019. And though he’s several years older, Leonard remains a superb two-way threat when healthy. He scores with efficiency and continues to be a defensive stopper. And now that the investigation about salary cap circumvention has been completed and Leonard was able to get off somewhat unscathed, he can focus on basketball. For the Raptors, that’s excellent news.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Immanuel Quickley
G RJ Barrett
F Kawhi Leonard
F Scottie Barnes
C Jakob Poeltl
Rotation players
G Jamal Shead
G Ja’Kobe Walter
F Allen Graves
F Collin Murray-Boyles
F Jamison Battle
C Trayce Jackson-Davis
What to expect in 2026-27 season
The Raptors exceeded expectations last season. They can do so once more, but the Eastern Conference suddenly became quite crowded with an offseason full of player movement. The Raptors, though, have a very solid starting five, though their depth is something of an issue — especially if injuries or foul trouble crop up. A duo of Leonard and Barnes is intriguing, particularly because of their defensive versatility. Toronto tied for fifth last season in defensive rating, allowing 112.1 points per 100 possessions. With Leonard in the fold, that figure should only improve. And they’ll need it, too; the East figures to have plenty of difficult, high-potency offenses.
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LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: Anton Watson #41 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during the game against the Golden State Warriors during the Semifinals on July 18, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center 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 Tom O'Connor/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Similar to what the Phoenix Suns did with point guard David Stockton, the Los Angeles Lakers signed forward Anton Watson to a training camp deal on Thursday, Sept. 17, but later waived the former Gonzaga Bulldog on Friday, Sept. 18. He will most likely join the G League’s Coachella Valley Lakers.
Lakers announce they have signed Meechie Johnson and Chase Ross while waiving Anton Watson. These are more training camp moves for LA pic.twitter.com/jFmWdVifN7
Over the course of seven games with the Lakers in the California Classic in San Francisco, California, and NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Nevada, Watson averaged 7.6 points on a shooting split of 34.0 field goal percentage/19.2 three-point percentage/100 free throw percentage, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.0 assists across 20.7 minutes per contest.
The Spokane, Washington native was drafted with the No. 54 overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics. In March of 2025, Watson was claimed off waivers by the New York Knicks on a two-way contract. In nine appearances for New York, he averaged 0.9 points, 0.3 rebounds, and 0.2 assists per game.
After the conclusion of the 2025 season, Watson was signed by Los Angeles in September of 2025.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: Graham Ike #45 of the Golden State Warriors handles the ball during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on July 9, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center 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 Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If any Gonzaga Bulldog deserves this opportunity in the NBA, it’s forward/center Graham Ike, after going undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft and grinding on an Exhibit 10 contract over the summer.
According to Luca Evans of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Golden State Warriors have signed the former big man on campus to their third and final two-way contract. The agreement is expected to be a two-year deal. Ike will split his time with the big club and their G League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors.
Across nine contests in the month of July, his strong post presence, toughness, and leadership value helped push Golden State to an NBA Summer League title in Las Vegas, Nevada. For the duration of the California Classic at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California, plus his time spent in Sin City, Ike averaged 10.0 points on a shooting split of 48.4 field goal percentage/25.0 three-point percentage/78.9 free throw percentage, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in 21.2 minutes per game.
The Warriors’ training camp in the Bay Area will begin on Sept. 29.
As of right now, 11 Gonzaga alums will be in the NBA at the start of the 2026-27 season.
In hopes of making an opening-day roster, shooting guard Malachi Smith signed a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 training camp contract with the Toronto Raptors through the work of his agent, Michael Lelchitski of SIG Sports. He was previously waived by the Brooklyn Nets after spending the tail end of the 2025-26 campaign with the organization.
Forward/center Drew Timme, who was on a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers this past season, wasn’t picked for the open roster spot before the 2026 NBA Playoffs. He’s still searching for his next professional destination as Los Angeles has all three of their two-way spots filled.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
Mar 2, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Portland Trail Blazers center Duop Reath (26) dunks during the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
First and foremost, I want to start today’s session by saying that I like the acquisition of Duop Reath. It shows that Brian Gregory consistently looks for ways to create competition throughout the roster, and that’s a good thing. Iron sharpens iron, as they say in blacksmith houses.
I like that Reath brings the archetype of a stretch five, something the Suns don’t necessarily have right now, although I believe Khaman Maluach can eventually develop into that kind of player. I also like the potential mentorship aspect with Maluach. Both are Sudanese and have taken their own journeys to reach the NBA. And guess what? Maluach’s developmental timeline got bumped up pretty significantly following the injury to Mark Williams. That comes with added responsibility. Having somebody around, even at the front end of this journey, who can provide some mentorship is an astute way to utilize the roster while helping the young kid navigate what’s ahead.
All of that is good. But everybody needs to drink some settle-down juice when it comes to Duop Reath.
We have to remember who and what he is as a player. He’s 30 years old, so developmentally, his best years are most likely behind him. And truth be told, he really has one transferable NBA skill that everyone seems to be salivating over. He can shoot.
When I say everyone, I’m talking about what I’m seeing on social media. We’re essentially getting tribute videos breaking down the 23 total three-pointers he made last season. People are excited because he chose Phoenix over the Knicks.
We gotta stop this. We can’t fall in love with players simply because they bat their eyes at us. We did that with Bradley Beal, remember? How did that work out? Simply because somebody chooses Phoenix doesn’t mean they instantly need to become a fan favorite or somebody we have undying loyalty to. Of course Reath chose Phoenix. Phoenix has the lower ceiling of those two teams. There’s more opportunity for him here, so why wouldn’t he choose us?
At the end of the day, he’s being brought in to generate competition at the back of the roster. Best-case scenario, he makes the roster. That most likely means the Suns move off either Haywood Highsmith or Jamaree Bouyea, and I’d much rather have either of them. Middle case scenario: Reath takes a two-way contract. That would most likely mean CJ Huntley or Koby Brea is no longer occupying one of those spots. Again, I’d rather have the younger players with more developmental upside. Worst-case scenario, Reath doesn’t make the team. He’s this year’s Jared Butler, the player brought in during training camp who the fan base latches onto before he ultimately fades into the abyss, never to be seen again.
So again, I like the idea of Duop Reath with the Phoenix Suns. What I don’t understand is losing our minds over an unbelievably one-dimensional player. He isn’t a good rebounder for a big. He’s undersized. He can’t defend the perimeter particularly well. He’s average at defending the interior. He isn’t a playmaker or distributor. He can stroke a few three-pointers. That has value. It doesn’t mean we have to be obtuse about everything else. We can recognize what the Suns are trying to accomplish by bringing Reath in. We can respect the process and appreciate the competition it creates. We don’t need to fall in love with him simply because he chose us.
Maybe he shoots his way onto the roster and becomes useful when Phoenix needs to stretch the floor. Maybe his presence helps Maluach navigate an unexpectedly accelerated developmental timeline. Or maybe we forget he was ever here by Christmas. All of those outcomes are possible. Appreciate what Reath could provide, but save the love affair for someone who actually earns it.
But let’s take a second to think about what that entailed.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, left, reacts next to guard Stephen Curry during the first half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA playoff basketball series against the Memphis Grizzlies in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, May 5, 2015. AP
He was smart enough to allow Curry to shoot from anywhere, which forever changed the game of basketball.
He was genuine enough to gain the respect of Draymond Green, who trusted him so much that they could share heated words and then Kerr could turn around and guide Green during his most vulnerable moments.
He was skilled enough to unlock the team’s role players, including helping Andre Iguodala become the 2015 Finals MVP.
But overall, Kerr is one of the best coaches the NBA has seen.
He’s smart. He has a special way of getting through to players. And he’s deeply competitive.
Kerr’s superpower is he can relate to anyone on the roster, players one through 15. He knows what it takes to be a role player after winning five championships alongside such names as Michael Jordan, David Robinson and Tim Duncan.
He learned how to sacrifice. And he learned how to stand up for himself. (Remember when he shoved Jordan in the chest during a very intense scrimmage and then took a punch from the megastar?)
The Warriors quickly transformed into a dynasty after Kerr took over the helm in May 2014, winning their first championship in 2015. The following season, they finished with the best record in NBA history, winning 73 games before blowing a 3-1 series lead in the Finals against the Cavaliers.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, left, laughs with Warriors coach Steve Kerr during the first half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Thursday, March 1, 2018, in Washington. AP
The Warriors remained atop the league for years, something that’s stunningly difficult. The proof? Over the last eight seasons, there have been eight different NBA champions.
Over the last four years, things have changed for the Warriors.
Since winning their last title in 2022, they haven’t gotten past the second round of the playoffs. In two of those seasons, they missed the postseason altogether.
When Kerr’s contract expired after last season, he spent a lot of time reflecting on whether returning was right for the Warriors and him.
But ultimately, he decided he still genuinely loved coaching. The team’s brass wanted him back. And he knew this was his last chance to work with Curry, who turns 39 next season, and Green, who turns 37, both of whom wanted Kerr to return to the helm.
Kerr, who’s introspective and self-deprecating, acknowledged a lot of things need to improve next season, including his coaching. He said he rewatched every turnover the Warriors committed. He wants to revisit the fundamentals. He wants to impart mental sharpness.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, left, looks on from the bench as head coach Steve Kerr, right, yells out to the floor during the first half of an NBA game against the San Antonio Spurs at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, Saturday, February 10, 2018. EPA
Saying those things in front of reporters was notable. In a league where coaches are scapegoats, he’s not afraid to take responsibility. To admit weakness. To recalibrate.
So, both Kerr and the Warriors are going into next season with a new mentality.
They know they’re not going to be champions next season, barring something extraordinary happening ahead of the trade deadline. But they’re deeply competitive, and there’s something beautiful about them beginning their dynastic run together and closing that chapter alongside one another. Still fighting. Still championing each other.
Kerr did some soul-searching. He decided he wasn’t done. He tapped into his fire again. His why.
We’re lucky we get to witness Kerr, Curry and Green again. They’ve been together for 12 seasons. That’s unheard of in the modern NBA, where loyalty has become as valued as snail mail.
Curry is the greatest shooter ever. Green is a Hall of Fame defender. And Kerr has been the fearless captain of the ship, patching up more holes than we’ll ever know.
For at least two more seasons, we’ll get to witness Kerr’s basketball intellect, his humor and his leadership.
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 19: A basketball sits on the court during a break in the action between the Brooklyn Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers during preseason action at the Barclays Center on October 19, 2012 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The 76ers defeated the Nets 106-76. 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 Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Only one more Off-Season Report left! Don’t tell us about this being a quiet off-season! It hasn’t been easy finding a lot to write home about! There was big news like Mikel Brown Jr.‘s debut and Egor Demin’s growth. The arrival of Julius Randle is intriguing. He does have a habit of exploding when joining a new team after all. Sean Marks & co. also made some moves like re-signing Day’Ron Sharpe and Josh Minott to more than reasonable deals.
But for the most part it was stay-the-course, show resolve, call for patience, build for that “sustainable” future. You know: the tank may be over but the rebuild continues. They added another first rounder in another salary dump. They still have 13 firsts in the next seven drafts, most in the league. The 18-man roster continues to be development-centric with nine players 22 or younger and 14 under 25, retaining their position as the NBA’s youngest team in a generation. Winning may be the goal now but hoping to contend for anything other than a play-in spot seems like folly … despite what Michael Porter Jr. has said.
And ICYMI, the Knicks threw themselves a parade that attracted two million people! So there’s that.
All that said, we’ll know more over the next two weeks or so about the internal view of the team. We’ll get state-of-the-team assessments from Sean Marks and Jordi Fernandez a week from Monday at Media Day. Players will be available too of course. No word yet on how much of it will be televised on YES and the Nets website. Then, from September 29 through October 5, there will be daily practices at the facility as well the Nets Fan Fest — apparently the Practice-in-the-Park replacement — in Crown Heights on October 4. Fernandez will be available to the media (including ND) at the end of each practice to provide updates. The preseason opener is October 6 in Charlotte. Two days later, the Nets will be at home vs. the 76ers for their only home game this preseason.
A positive at least for now: we know of no injuries or health issues … although the Nets have a history of not publicizing them till the last minute. We learned about Demin’s plantar fascia issue (which had put him in a wheelchair!) at last year’s Media Day, months after it had been diagnosed and treated. Similarly Nolan Traore’s ankle scope was only revealed the day before the Nets flew out to Sacramento for Summer League. Same with Grant Nelson’s patella tendinitis.
The only contract situation outstanding remains MPJ’s extension. Nothing new that we know of there. Just a lot of speculation. Porter seems quite happy with the organization otherwise, promoting the improvements made by the young players and offering his enthusiasm and optimistic assessment of how he and Randle can work together.
A different kind of preview
In the meantime, we’ll be “treated” to preseason previews that no doubt will be continue to be mostly negative. It remains the narrative with just a little relief. If you’re looking for one preview that we thought captured things without being overly pollyannish or gloomy was the No Ceilings preview which is the most recent, having been published Saturday.
No Ceilings’ Tyler Rucker and Tyler Metcalf say Nets fans should be excited about team, particularly its future, while admitting the team has a “long way to go” before they contend. Sounds fair.
Metcalf starts off the preview with a comment that reflects what a lot of fans think: “I don’t even know where to start with this team (pause.) They are so weird.”
“I love Mikel Brown Jr. I love that they swung on him in the first round,” he continued. “I think they got a couple of really intriguing forwards in the draft in Joshua Jefferson and Tyler Bilodeau. I think Egor Demin is in for a massive second year. I loved the style they played last year with the quick decision-making, ball movement, player movement … and then there’s Julius Randle. When he’s good, he’s really good. Then there’s the other part.”
Rucker generally agrees.
“I’m sort of intrigued with …” he started off, with his own pause, his face just a tad contorted. “The team is weird enough that I like sort of like it. You know what I’m trying to say. I’m like, they’re sort of finding the path.”
Much of the positive elements of the preview are based on their excitement about the two 20-year-olds and their belief that Randle and Porter Jr., while flawed are “bucket-getters.”
“It starts with Mikel and Egor. I think Nets fans should be optimistically excited with this team. They’ve got two young pieces that they can build around,” said Rucker before defending Randle and Porter Jr. to Metcalf. “Say what you want Randle and Michael Porter Jr. They’re going to produce. You know they’re going to have games.”
Metcalf grudgingly agrees re Randle, saying “you know he’s going to get his on that Brooklyn team. He’s getting his numbers” and Rucker arguing that maybe the two players will love it in Brooklyn. (Both have certainly said so publicly.)
Metcalf also talked about the possibilities of Demin, Brown Jr. and Porter Jr. working together.
“I think Egor is going to be in for a big year. I love, theoretically, just what the trio and the floor spacing and the decision-making and scoring versatility of what he, Mikel and Michael Porter Jr. could look like together. I think those three on the court with their shooting, with their decision-making, and with their off-ball movement could be really, really fun ” he added.
He is not so sure how Randle fits. While conceding the veteran’s skills, Metcalf also wondered about the 6’9” forward’s offensive game.
“We talked about the Nets last year played such a fun style and really moved the ball. That’s not what Julius Randle really does. He’s a good passer, really skilled for his position, but it’s grab, pound, pound, pound, throw your body into someone, throw your body into someone, then make a decision. There’s very little quick decision-making. So I’m curious to see how works.“
Rucker, however, offered the other side of Randle’s game: he knows how to score.
“Randle’s going to be toughness. and he’s almost been what, nearly 20 points a game since 2019! That’s amazing.” (Editor’s note: The actual number is 21.7 points a game since 2018-19: 11,965 points in 551 games over eight seasons.)
Rucker addresses one big criticism of the last two years, that other than Demin, the 2025 Draft class aka the Flatbush 5, has underperformed, including during this year’s Summer League. Still he thinks that some of the criticism is unwarranted or premature.
“If Egor is awesome, I feel like we’re gonna to ignore the rest of the picks,” he argued. “almost. almost.”
Metcalf takes a similar tack.
“If you get one of those guys to hit at a super high level, especially the first one who’s a top 10 pick, then the rest is gravy … ‘We got one!’… and realistically, how many picks in the twenties actually hit?” said Metcalf of the Nets other picks taken at Nos. 19, 22, 26 and 27. “Typically, you’re either taking a seasoned upper classman to fill a very specific need or you’re taking a big homerun swing and they swung.”
Rucker thinks that it’s too early to give up on what else they got.
“Ben Saraf, I think, is going to be a good backup. Nolan Traore, we didn’t see at Summer League, but we saw him walking and I turned to you and said, ‘Traore looks like he gained two inches of height.’ He looked gigantic. So we’ll wait and see, but I’m with you.
“I like (Noah) Clowney, (Day’Ron) Sharpe and you get Joshua Jefferson and what are you going to get from Danny Wolf this year? I don’t know, but I really like Tyler Bilodeau in the second round. I thought that was a really sneaky add for them. He looked good in Summer League.”
Rucker summed up his thoughts this way:
“Am I saying the Nets are going to make the playoffs? NO! Am I saying this could be a year step forward? Sure for the Nets development? Absolutely!”
Rucker also left Nets fans with a wondrous best case scenario.
“This could be one of those funny teams that … there’s always one team that starts red hot, that’s we’re like ‘where did this come from?!?’ They’re 8-2 to start the year and all of sudden, we’re like, Oh! Okay! There it is!”
To which Metcalf adds, “they’re already done that.” Indeed, this is the 25th anniversary of Jason Kidd joining the Nets. Despite Kidd’s record of achievement prior to his arrival in New Jersey, virtually no one picked the Nets to even make the playoffs. They started 7-2 in 2001-02 and look where they wound up.
Tyler Bilodeau’s unlikely round trip
It was interesting to hear Rucker praise the Nets for taking Tyler Bilodeau at No. 43 in the second round. The 6’9” UCLA sharpshooter was not high on any draftnik’s big board until last June when ESPN pegged him in at No. 60 in their last two mock drafts.
We’ve written about Bilodeau’s possibilities, but also admitted that when he was selected, all of us who followed the draft reacted with one variation or another of “who dat??” when Mark Tatum called his name midway through the second round. Metcalf was correct in that he played well (enough) in the Summer League. And he had the highest 3-point percentage —46.0% — of any player in the Draft.
But what interested us this weekend when doing some research on the Nets draft history was the route he — or should we say the pick used to take him — traveled. It’s an example of how picks, particularly second rounders, wander… in this case four times in eight years.
The story starts in June 2018 when the Nets and Hawks were talking about a trade — a salary dump to be specific. Brooklyn sent Jeremy Lin; a Nets second rounder in 2025; the right to swap second rounders with the Hawks in 2023 in return for the draft rights to injured 21-year-old French guard Isaia Cordiner and Portland’s second rounder in 2020, which is protected top 55. The deal freed up $12.5 million in cap space which when added to the $10.5 million the Nets already had, giving Marks enough to make other moves in the third year of his first rebuild. Move No. 1.
This was the trade that Joe Tsai mentioned in his interview for David M. Rubenstein’s for his book, “In the Owners Box.” the one the Nets owner feared would cause millions if not tens of millions of basketball fans in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. to “hate me forever.”
Then, in January 2022, the Hawks made a deal with the Knicks centered on Kevin Knox for Cam Reddish. Talk about a trade that no one won! Atlanta traded Reddish, Solomon Hill and the Nets’ 2025 second round pick for Knox and draft pick — a first round pick protected top 18 in 2022, top 16 in 2023, top 14 in 2024 or if not transferred, seconds in 2026 and 2027. Move No. 2.
The Knicks held on to it until June 2024 and the Mikal Bridges trade. Sean Marks took advantage of Leon Rose’s desire to add Mikel Bridges by asking not just for the five first rounders — four Knicks and one Bucks — but also his 2025 second rounder back. Done deal. Move No. 3
A year later, the Nets still controlled the pick and four firsts. Then, the day before the 2025 Draft, Brooklyn became part of a three-team deal — for them a salary dump — with the Hawks and Boston Celtics who needed help to complete a deal centered on Kristaps Porzingis and Georges Niang. In return for that help, the Nets acquired Atlanta’s first rounder, at No. 22, which became Drake Powell, and Terance Mann. Did the Nets want to develop five firsts AND a second? Nope.
So they shopped their wayward second, sending it to the Phoenix Suns and winding up with a 2026 second from the Los Angeles Clippers and a 2030 second from the Celtics in return. Move No. 4. That 2026 Clipper pick became Bilodeau. (What happened to the Nets 2025 pick? The Suns traded it to the Lakers and it became Adou Thiero.)
Other than a nerdy trip through eight years of draft boards, what is the value of this exercise? For one thing, it shows that second round picks have worth and the Nets lead the league in seconds with 19. Also, it shows that Bilodeau should be counted as part of the Nets haul for Bridges, not that it means much after that parade.
So let’s hope that Rucker was right in calling Bilodeau a steal. It’s taken enough time for him to get here.
Final Note
Another sign that the off-season is ending is what you just read. As we noted, not much out there. We are still waiting for the final Exhibit 10’s to get done. We’d expect that’ll happen this week.
But rather than dwelling on that, we’d like to point to something that Joe Tsai told David Rubenstein for his book on billionaires buying sports teams. Not what he said about his concerns over the 2018 Jeremy Lin trade nor how he set up a Twitter account to have direct access to fans now how Supreme Court Justice Brett Cavanaugh had a “decent game” when the two played pick-up with Yale Law students. Nope. it was what he said about his priority in running the Nets.
“We need to win a championship,” Tsai told Rubenstein. “We need to prove ourselves.”
The Lakers season is around the corner and Luka Dončić is returning to Los Angeles.
Dončić, who led the league in scoring last season (33.5 points) and was third in assists (8.3) is expected to leave Europe for Los Angeles on Sunday ahead of Media Day on September 28, according to Sportklub.
On Sunday, the Lakers superstar took to Instagram with a heartbreaking post. He posted images of his two daughters (Gabriela, who was born November 2023, and Olivia, who was born last December) in Slovenia spending time with him, while recognizing he had to leave them at home for the time being while he returns to America.
Luka Doncic signs an autograph for a fan during the Los Angeles Lakers’ visit to Slovenia, Sunday, August 23, 2026. Andrej Tarfila/Shutterstock
Dončić finished fourth in MVP voting last season and helped the Lakers finish fourth in the Western Conference with a record of 53-29. He had a stunning March in which he averaged 37.5 points, 8 rebounds and 7.4 assists, carrying the Lakers to a 15-2 record over that period, before he suffered a strained hamstring on April 2 that sidelined him for the entire postseason.
Dončić, who said doctors told him he’d have to miss eight weeks with the injury, is expected to be healthy when training camp opens September 29.
Dončić had input on the Lakers’ roster moves this offseason, including re-signing Austin Reaves (four years, $180 million) and adding center Walker Kessler (four years, $130 million).
The Lakers completely overhauled their roster, including adding Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Kevon Looney, Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams and Cameron Carr.
For the first time in his career, Dončić hosted a minicamp in Slovenia last month to help build team chemistry. He paid for the team to come out to his home country for four days, where the Lakers played basketball, golf and did sightseeing activities.
Since the Mavericks stunningly traded Dončić to the Lakers in February 2025, they were eliminated by the Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 playoffs, followed by being swept by the Thunder last season.
Dončić, who has never won a championship over his eight-season career, will try to lead the Lakers to their first title since 2020.
Luka Doncic and a Los Angeles Lakers player are on the basketball court during the team’s visit to Slovenia on Sunday, August 23, 2026. Andrej Tarfila/ShutterstockLuka Doncic (77) of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan, Monday, March 23, 2026. Getty Images
