Chris Spatola, a former Duke staffer from 2007 to 2012 and the son-in-law of legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski, died suddenly at age 47 on Monday, Sept. 21, Duke and ESPN confirmed in separate statements.
Spatola, who was also a college basketball analyst for ESPN and SiriusXM for more than a decade, played college basketball at Army, where his father-in-law got his coaching start. Spatola was a four-year starter who served in the Army upon his graduation before joining Coach K's staff. The Blue Devils won a championship in that span, in 2010, with now-Duke head coach Jon Scheyer as part of that team.
We write to you to share the incredibly difficult news that Chris Spatola passed away unexpectedly yesterday. Many of you have gotten to know Chris over the years as our funny and sharp witted K Academy emcee and hugely passionate and dedicated coach.
Chris was married to Coach K and Mickie's daughter, Jamie, and they shared 3 bright and delightful children. Chris served for the US Army, was a former member of our coaching staff, and a truly gifted basketball commentator. Chris was a huge part of our Duke Basketball and K Academy family.
Please see below for a statement from the Krzyzewski Family:
“There are no words to adequately express our heartbreak over the loss of our beloved Chris Spatola. Chris served our country, was a devoted husband and father, and was such an important part of our family. We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, thoughts, and prayers we have received during this incredibly difficult time. We respectfully ask for privacy as our entire family, particularly Jamie and her three beautiful children, grieve and process this unimaginable loss.”
ESPN also published a statement on Spatola's passing.
“Chris Spatola brought a unique perspective to ESPN’s college basketball coverage, shaped by his experiences as a student-athlete, Army veteran, coach and broadcaster," the network wrote. "He was thoughtful, prepared and passionate about the sport, earning the respect of colleagues, coaches, players and fans alike. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his loved ones during this difficult time.”
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 29: Dorian Finney-Smith of Rockets warms up before the NBA playoffs game 5 between Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets at the Crypto.com Arena on April 29, 2026 in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
The Atlanta Hawks have acquired forward Dorian Finney-Smith from the Charlotte Hornets, in exchange for guards Buddy Hield, Ryan Nembhard and cash considerations, the team announced today.
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Hield was acquired by the Hawks on Feb. 5, 2026, from the Golden State Warriors, along with Jonathan Kuminga, in exchange for Kristaps Porzingis.
Nembhard was acquired by the Hawks on July 19, 2026, from the Dallas Mavericks, as part of a three-team transaction.
Finney-Smith is a veteran 3-and-D forward who can play multiple positions and provide defensive versatility. He’s coming off a season with the Rockets where he only managed 37 appearances due to a left ankle surgery last offseason.
He is owed around $14.2 million for this season with his next season’s $13.3 million figure completely unguaranteed. Hield and Nembhard make a combined total of around $11.8 million meaning the Hawks pushed themselves up towards the luxury tax line — but in the process they did shed $3 million in future money.
If Finney-Smith can rediscover his form he showed in previous stops in Dallas and Brooklyn, he could be a very valuable bench contributor.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 09: Head Coach Jordi Fernandez of the Brooklyn Nets instructs his team against the Chicago Bulls in the second half at Barclays Center on February 09, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What marks the first day of autumn on most people’s calendars is just another checkpoint for the Brooklyn Nets, but it’s a key one at that.
As of today, September 22, the Nets are one month removed from the start of their 2026-27 season, which will tip off in the Barclays Center against the Charlotte Hornets on October 21. It’ll mark the team’s 60th season as a franchise, which will also be celebrated all year long.
But while the one month break is significant point to surpass, and we’ll be crossing days off with little-to-no reserve from now until October 21st, several other big days are on deck first. Here’s everything you need to keep an eye out for as we come down this home stretch:
Media Day & Fan Fest
This coming Monday, on September 28th, the media will meet with Sean Marks, Jordi Fernández, and Nets players for their annual media day at HSS Training Center in Brooklyn. It’ll be the first time Marks and Fernández will be made available since the days following the NBA draft. In years past, Media Day has been nothing short of eventful…
Soon after, on October 4th, the Nets will host Fan Fest in Crown Heights. The event looks like an upgraded version of Practice in the Park, though more concentrated on the team’s 60th anniversary rather than the upcoming season alone. There will be panels, interviews, fan Q&As, skills clinics, 3-point contests.
The Preseason
Two days after that, on October 6th, the Nets will play their preseason opener, also against the Hornets but on the road. There, Brooklyn has a shot to get the first look at Naz Reid and former Net Dennis Schröder on their new teams.
Dennis Schröder Nets highlights so good, you’d think it’s a 10-minute feature film 🎬 pic.twitter.com/hp0wnFqqff
Then, on October 8th, the Nets will have their only preseason game at home, hosting the Philadelphia 76ers at the Barclays Center. It’s unlikely the 41-year-old LeBron James plays in that one, but you never know.
On October 12th, they’ll hit the road again to get their first look at AJ Dybantsa and the Washington Wizards. Brooklyn will then wrap things up two days later in Miami on October 14th against the new look Heat, possibly facing old rival Giannis Antetokounmpo in his new threads.
The Charlotte and Washington games will be broadcasted exclusively on DAZN. The Miami and Philadelphia games will be on both DAZN and the YES Network, the two networks announced Tuesday.
Final Steps
After the preseason, Brooklyn will need to make any final roster cut down decisions by October 19th. However, the team already appears set with 15 players on standard contracts and their three two-way slots filled. There will be announceement
Then, on October 21st, it’s game time. As mentioned, the Nets will host the Hornets at the Barclays Center, with the opener scheduled to tip off at 7:30 p.m. EST. The starting line-up? Don’t expect much until Jordi Fernandez meets the media just before tipoff. With that, the wait will be over.
PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 22: Collin Gillespie #12 and Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns look on after the game against the Toronto Raptors on March 22, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Many NBA teams can look you in the eye and say they have talented bench units, and they’d be right. The Oklahoma City Thunder, with Ajay Mitchell, Jared McCain, and Jaylin Williams; the New York Knicks, with Deuce McBride, Landry Shamet, and Jose Alvarado; and the San Antonio Spurs, with Keldon Johnson and Dylan Harper, all have cases for boasting some of the deepest rosters in the league. But how many of them think they have six starters?
Steve Kerr used that term to describe the 2023-24 Golden State Warriors heading into the season after the team traded for Chris Paul. Paul was coming off a season in which he helped the Suns finish fourth in the West and ranked fifth in the NBA in assists per game. Despite their struggles on the road the season before, the Warriors had one of the best starting lineups in the league and were adding a player who had made his third straight All-Star appearance in 2021-22. While the Suns’ starting lineup during the 2025-26 campaign wasn’t as strong as the Warriors’ was before they added Paul, one major contributor to Phoenix’s surprising success last year is slated to start this season on the bench.
Collin Gillespie.
Gillespie started 70% of the team’s games last season and averaged career highs in nearly every statistical category. He’s now slated to be the Suns’ first man off the bench, with Jalen Green taking his place in the starting backcourt alongside Devin Booker. While the team had a better record when Gillespie didn’t start (Phoenix was 30-28 in his starts and 15-9 when he didn’t), he played an integral part in the team’s rotations and helped Phoenix reach the playoffs in a season expected to be marked by regression. The Suns also had a higher winning percentage when Gillespie started than when Green did, and their worst stretch of the season came while Green was starting.
Some of Gillespie’s best games of the 2025-26 season came in starts: his 28-point, eight-three-pointer game against the Lakers, his 30-point double-double against the Trail Blazers, and his 25-point outing against the Wizards. With Green out for most of the season, Gillespie took on many of his starting guard responsibilities and provided floor spacing and another ballhandler alongside Booker.
With Green playing a major role for the 2024-25 Houston Rockets, who finished second in the Western Conference with 52 wins, and averaging at least 17 points in four straight seasons, he has proven himself as a consistent scorer. While his efficiency remains a concern, his upside and experience as a starter helping teams develop put him firmly in the starting guard spot next to Booker. But this isn’t about comparing Green to Gillespie; it’s about whether Gillespie is a starting-level guard.
At the end of last season, Gillespie struggled mightily, averaging 7.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists on 34.1/28.1/85.7 shooting splits in his final 15 games of the regular season. But his body of work for the season is more important than how he ended it, considering the injuries Phoenix dealt with late in the season and the adjustment of reinserting Dillon Brooks and Booker into the starting lineup after their injuries.
The biggest difference for Collin Gillespie from last year to this year (outside of his paycheck) is that the team knows he’s capable of playing heavy minutes and contributing to winning. The question, however, is whether his performance a season ago showed he’s ready for a larger role and capable of consistently starting, rather than doing so out of necessity.
When it comes to the Lakers’ lineup rotation for 2026-27, it’ll look a lot different for the team and coach JJ Redick compared to when the 2025-26 season ended just a few months ago.
While there are multiple players guaranteed to be featured in the Lakers’ rotation as long as they’re healthy and available, there are still several spots to fill.
In light of training camp starting next week, and preseason games kicking off in 1 ½ weeks, here is the California Post’s best projection for what the Lakers’ rotation will look like once the regular season tips off in a month:
Starting lineup locks
Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic are locks to start as the Lakers’ star players. NBAE via Getty Images
Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler
Let’s get the easy decisions out of the way.
Doncic and Reaves are the Lakers’ star players, and were the league’s highest-scoring duo during the 2025-26 regular season.
In addition to sending the Jazz two unprotected first-round draft picks and two protected first–round picks, the Lakers are paying Kessler at least $30 million in each of the next few seasons after having interest in him the last few years.
They didn’t make that investment to bring him off of the bench.
Doncic, Reaves and Kessler are sharpied as starters.
He played in all 82 regular season games for the Lakers in 2025-26, but started nearly half of the season when one (or multiple) of the regular starters were sidelined. It’s clear he won the trust of the Lakers’ coaching staff. And at 25 years old, he has room to grow as a player. His familiarity with Doncic and Reaves helps, too.
Jake LaRavia should be the Lakers’ fifth starter. NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers made a significant investment in Mamukelashvili, signing the 6-foot-9 big man to a four-year, $52 million contract. He’ll be the first or second option off of the bench for the power forward or small-ball center looks.
Redick mentioned in May that the team needed to improve with dribbling, passing and shooting.
Collin Sexton (left) and Jake LaRavia (right) should be locks for the Lakers’ regular rotation. REUTERS
Outside of Doncic and Reaves, Sexton and Mamukelashvili provide the best combination of all three skills.
Williams, a lottery pick in 2021, has untapped potential entering his sixth season in the NBA.
Thybulle is the Lakers’ best perimeter defender, even if there are questions about his durability after playing a combined 45 regular season games the last two seasons.
The Lakers have used nine- and 10-men rotations under Redick.
If the plan is to have a 10-man rotation, there will be a fierce competition for the final spot.
Each player brings distinct strengths and weaknesses.
Vanderbilt is the best defender, but his lack of shooting can cramp the offensive spacing alongside a traditional big man.
Jarred Vanderbilt should have a legitimate shot at being in the Lakers’ rotation as the 10th man. Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Looney remains a high-level screener and rebounder, but he’s coming off of playing 21 regular season games for a Pelicans team that chose to have multiple big men ahead of him in the depth chart.
Carr is the best shooter of the group and provides vertical athleticism, but needs to get stronger to be a reliable defender on the wings.
Thiero is the best athlete but needs to refine his skills.
Mamukelashvili’s ability to be a floor-spacing center opens up an opportunity for Vanderbilt to be the swiss-army knife defender the Lakers would benefit from in the frontcourt next to Mamukelashvili.
Thiero may be the Lakers’ long-term focus, but Vanderbilt should be ready to contribute more to winning from Day 1 and be in the rotation to start the season.
There should be opportunities for Thiero and Carr to get minutes, but they’ll have to earn that playing time, starting with next week’s camp.
The person spoke under the condition of anonymity because the trade had not been publicly announced.
Finney-Smith, 33, had been known as a 3-and-D perimeter option, but he posted career lows in points (3.3 per game), rebounds (2.5), field goal percentage (33.3%) and 3-point percentage (27%) across 37 games last season for the Houston Rockets.
The Hornets had only acquired Finney-Smith in July, in a trade for cash considerations.
In exchange, Charlotte, which also plays in the Southeast Division, is getting another two players to boost its recent emphasis on shooting.
Hield, 33, is a career 39.5% 3-point shooter, but could not crack the rotation in Atlanta after the Hawks acquired him in the February deal that also brought Jonathan Kuminga to Atlanta and sent center Kristaps Porziņģis to the Golden State Warriors.
Nembhard was an undrafted rookie last season but shot 35.6% from beyond the arc. He averaged 6.6 points per game. He had similarly just been acquired in a July trade that sent 2024 No. 1 overall selection Zaccharie Risacher to the Mavericks.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 01: The DAZN logo is seen on a microphone prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between England and Congo DR at Atlanta Stadium on July 01, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I know we are all rejoicing that we never have to listen to the awful ambient crowd noise interstitial during commercial breaks that was a key, heinous feature of the FanDuel Sports Network app. That is dead in a ditch. But what is taking its place? For those with access to free over-the-air TV, the Pistons previously announced a partnership with Detroit TV 20 and other regional affiliates throughout Michigan. Today, they announced their new streaming platform provider — DAZN.
If you’re a fan of boxing, you might already be familiar with DAZN, but the upstart sports provider has been slowly building out its portfolio for the past few years. The Pistons join other NBA teams, including the Timberwolves, Pacers, Cavaliers, Spurs, and Hornets, who have teamed with DAZN to provide a streaming platform alternative for the true cord-cutters among us.
DAZN will provide monthly an annual streaming options to watch the Pistons during the 2026-27 NBA season. Subscribers will be able to watch live and on-demand, and have access to additional pre- and post-game content.
There are monthly and annual plans. The cheapest monthly plan is $19.99 per month, while the cheapest annual plan is $119.99. Subscribers could upgrade to expanded plans of $24.99 per month and $139.99 per year, respectively, and enjoy a one-time discount at the Pistons team store, have access to alternative streams, and stream the game on more devices at once.
For the Lakers to be great next season, one thing needs to happen.
The Lakers’ Big 3 needs to be dominant.
Luka Doncic needs to play MVP-level basketball. Austin Reaves needs to be a borderline All-Star. And Walker Kessler needs to transform into an All-Defensive player.
If those things happen, the Lakers could be fringe contenders.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic reacts after scoring a basket during the first quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, on Monday, March 16, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
For the Lakers to be among the elite NBA teams, Kessler needs to be a screen-setting, rim-running big who helps get Doncic and Reaves open on offense, in addition to being a defensive beast down low.
He needs to be the type of player who Rudy Gobert is for the Timberwolves or Chet Holmgren is for the Thunder.
Nic Claxton (33) of the Brooklyn Nets reverse slams in front of Walker Kessler (24) of the Utah Jazz during the first half of a game, Saturday, December 21, 2024, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Robert Sabo / NY Post
Kessler has already shown that he’s one of the top rebounders and rim patrollers in the league. According to NBA.com, he contested 7.5 shots per game at the rim in 2024-2025, which tied him for the fifth most in the NBA.
Now he’s more mature and motivated considering he’s playing for the 17-time championship Lakers instead of a team that hasn’t made the playoffs the last four years. And he’s playing alongside a top-four player instead of being on a roster that hasn’t had an All-Star the last three years.
Not to mention, the Lakers mortgaged their future on him (giving up two unprotected first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps in a sign-and-trade with the Jazz), which means they don’t have a tradable first-round draft pick for the next seven years.
So, Kessler needs to be the perfect complement to Doncic and Reaves. He needs to round out the Big 3. Or this all wildly falls apart.
As for the pairing of Doncic and Reaves? There aren’t many questions there. Those two stunned at the top of last season (when LeBron James was sidelined because of sciatica), carrying the Lakers to a 15-4 record.
And then the magic happened again last March when James was sidelined for three games because of various ailments, permanently silencing any glimmers of doubt that remained about that pairing.
Austin Reaves (15) of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates during a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, May 9, 2026. The game was Game 3 of the second round of the NBA playoffs. NBAE via Getty Images
After seeing the fluidity and ease in which Doncic and Reaves ran the offense together, James returned to the Lakers as the team’s third offensive option, a role he hadn’t played previously in his 23-season career.
As for Doncic, he’s now the head of the snake after James left for the 76ers in free agency this offseason.
Doncic chose Reaves and Kessler to be his running mates. That means something. Reaves and Kessler know it.
Reaves penned the richest contract for a player who went undrafted this summer (four years, $180 million). And Kessler is well aware that the Lakers laid their cards on the table for him with cash (four years, $130 million) and assets, prompting him to say he’d run through a wall for them.
The Lakers’ competition is going to be steep this season.
The Western Conference alone is filled with great Big 3s, including the Thunder (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Holmgren), Spurs (Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle) and Nuggets (Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon).
Not to mention, those guys all have experience playing together.
The Thunder won the championship in 2025. The Spurs reached the Finals last season. And the Nuggets’ core won a title in 2023.
The Lakers still have to figure things out.
Kessler needs to prove himself. The three of them need to develop chemistry.
But if those things happen, the Lakers could knock on the championship door soon.
The Atlanta Hawks have agreed to trade Buddy Hield, Ryan Nembhard and cash to the Charlotte Hornets for Dorian Finney-Smith, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN and confirmed by other reports.
The Hawks have been trying to get off Hield's salary — $9.7 million this season, a $10.1 million player option for next season — all summer, as well as deal with a roster crunch of too many standard contracts. This two-for-one trade, plus the waiving of Devin Carter, solves all of that.
Atlanta also gets to take a flier on Finney-Smith. The 33-year-old played just 37 games last season for the Rockets due to ankle surgery, and put up career-low numbers in the games when he did get on the court (which is why the Rockets spent three second-round picks in a salary dump trade with Charlotte earlier this summer). If he bounces back, this is a plus for the Hawks because every team could use more quality 3&D wings. As for the financial end, Finney-Smith will make $13.3 million this season and has two years, $26.7 million on the books after that, but none of that future salary is guaranteed. If they choose, Atlanta can walk away from Finney-Smith after this season.
Charlotte adds Hield, 33, who played in 51 games last season between Golden State and Atlanta, and averaged 7.6 points per game while shooting 34.9% from 3-point range (the lowest percentage of his career). Charlotte now heads into training camp with a roster crunch of its own and essentially has one spot to give between Hield, Nembhard, Pat Connaughton and Tidjane Salaün. Nembhard, who showed promise as a rookie with Dallas last season, might be the guy to go with because of his future potential.
Don't be surprised to see another trade from Charlotte to deal with that crunch.
Multiple, very obvious reasons made it clear it was time for the Clippers and Kawhi Leonard to part ways, but one kind of flew under the radar: Los Angeles wasn't about to give Leonard, 35, the kind of extension he wanted.
The Toronto Raptors will.
In a deal that was expected, Leonard and the Raptors have agreed to a two-year, $115 million contract extension for the two-time Finals MVP, a deal first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN. The second year of the extension, 2028-29, is a player option, but Leonard also waived his trade kicker.
While this extension was expected, and the two sides stayed in contact all summer, it was delayed because Toronto put the trade of Leonard on hold for a couple of months. It wanted to see the outcome of the NBA’s investigation into the Clippers for circumventing the salary cap to get Leonard "no-show" endorsement deals, before signing off. Leonard got off with a slap on the wrist (a $700,000 fine), and the trade went through just more than a week ago. The extension was always likely to follow.
Leonard has said he wants to finish his career in Toronto and this contract would take him through his age 38 season. This extension kicks in for the 2027-28 season, Leonard will make $50.3 million this season in the final year of a deal signed with the Clippers (which drew a lot of attention).
This is largely a bet on Leonard's health. When he is consistently on the court, as he was last season when he played 65 games — averaging 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals per game and still playing elite defense — he is a top-10 player in the league. However, in the previous eight seasons, Leonard played in 65+ games just once. He has played in Toronto before, leading the franchise to its 2019 championship, and he trusts the medical staff there, which kept him fresh that year for a playoff run.
Toronto adds Leonard to a stacked roster with another All-NBA-level player in Scottie Barnes, plus RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and a group of solid role players. If Leonard stays healthy, Toronto could be a top-four seed and make some noise in the East. But it's all a bet on Leonard's health.
Boston, MA - April 21: Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona rejects a shot attempt by Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum in the third quarter. The Boston Celtics played the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden in the first round of the NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
It feels like a make-or-break year for Adem Bona.
With all the excitement and anticipation around the 2026-27 Sixers squad on top of the fact that he is entering his third year as an NBA center, there is going to be a lot of pressure on Bona’s shoulders this season to actually solidify himself as rotation-worthy at this level.
With two years in the NBA under Bona’s belt, there have been ups and there have certainly been downs. That feels like the crux of the issue for Bona, actually. There have been moments that he shows incredible promise to be an impactful player with his high level of energy… but other times, he has looked completely lost, making more than his fair share of unforced errors. The balance, as it stands, is not exactly in Bona’s favor.
For what it’s worth, the 23-year-old has likely featured more heavily in NBA play than he might have ever expected to as a young center (making 71 appearances and 18 starts in 2025-26) simply due to the context of being on the Sixers. The backup five position in Philadelphia in the era of Joel Embiid has been and will continue to be an absolutely critical one. Even at his healthiest, Embiid is simply not going to be out there every game. Even if he was, he can’t be out there every minute. Having someone reliable to step in off the bench and even to start in those Embiid-less moments has been a continuing story (and struggle) for this team for years.
And going into this campaign, he’ll have some competition for the role with 7’0”, 246-pound Ariel Hukporti, whom the Sixers signed with a portion of their bi-annual exception this offseason, joining the squad.
And to this point, Bona hasn’t exactly found the footing to really establish himself as the reliable backup big for Philadelphia by any means. He is an energetic young player and is one of the best shot blockers you could ask for, but he’s virtually inconsequential (at best) on the offensive end minus a few dunks, struggles with defensive rebounding and is no stranger to unforced errors like moving screens and silly fouls.
The one most puzzling (and I think most detrimental to his value overall) won’t necessarily show on a stat sheet, but you know it’s true if you’ve watched him play: Bona cannot catch a basketball at times. His hands seem to suddenly lose the ability to grip, and instead become two completely flat surfaces for the ball to bounce right off of. That is a really bad quality in a 6-foot-10 center (with a 7-foor-4 wingspan) that you’d hope could make up for some of the Sixers’ lack of rebounding, especially on the defensive end.
It’s an especially bad quality when Bona’s game has so many other weaknesses. Now, that might sound harsher or meaner than intended, but it actually just displays something that — if Bona could do it just a bit better — could really balance out his value on the floor even against some of his sloppier moments. As it stands right now, he just doesn’t do enough well.
That being said, I can’t imagine there’s anything that motivates quite like the idea of playing alongside LeBron James, and Bona is going to have to establish himself quickly to earn the trust of the likes of LeBron… or he may fall out of the rotation fast and find himself replaced by the February trade deadline.
I think a large key for Bona is going to be not trying to do too much, which is when he seems to get out of sorts and commits questionable mistakes, and instead work on improving some seemingly-small but hugely-impactful fundamentals — like defensive rebounding — to solidify himself as a guy Nick Nurse can really trust to help stem the tide of the Embiid-less minutes on the floor.
They say pressure is what turns coal into diamond. Enterting year three with more at stake than ever personally and for the Sixers team, it’s up to Bona now to try to make that happen.
(A final note that Bona is currently dealing with a left foot sprain suffered during World Cup qualifiers, but is reportedly expected to return within the first two weeks of camp.)
Kawhi Leonard’s future in Toronto has been revealed.
The Raptors and Leonard agreed on a two-year, $115 million contract extension with a player option for the 2028-29 season.
The Clippers traded Kawhi Leonard back to the Raptors. Getty Images
Just in: Toronto Raptors All-NBA star Kawhi Leonard has agreed on a two-year, $115 million contract extension with the franchise, plus a player option for the 2028-29 season, his agent Harrison Gaines of SLASH Sports tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/naqrW8jBV3
Leonard is entering his second stint with the organization. He previously spent the 2018-19 season with the Raptors and led the franchise to its first and only NBA championship.
After being fined $700,000 for his involvement in the Clippers scandal, Leonard was traded to the Raptors after the transaction was previously put on hold amid the investigation. The two-time Finals MVP made his first public comments since the trade last week, when he explained why he chose to return to Toronto.
“I’m not really championship chasing, trying to find the best team I could win [with],” Leonard said on the Raptors’ Open Gym YouTube channel.
“I didn’t want to put on a thousand jerseys. The city took a liking to my family, I took a liking to the city. Really enjoyed it. My son was born here, and he’s been asking me forever when he’s going to come back.”
In Toronto, Leonard joins Scottie Barnes in the frontcourt. The Raptors are positioned to make a deep playoff run after securing a top-five seed last season in the Eastern Conference.
Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard speaks to reporters before a team practice. APToronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard holds Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy after the Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors 114-110 in Game 6. AP
DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 16: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors huddles up with his team before the game against the Denver Nuggets on December 16, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The dust is finally settling around the Kawhi Leonard trade, as the forward has put the finishing touches on a $165 million dollar deal for three years with the Toronto Raptors. Shams Charania reported today that Leonard has signed a two-year extension for $115 million dollars, offering the team a slight discount of $11 million dollars, while waiving his trade kicker of $7.45 million dollars.
Both sides maintained consistent dialogue on Leonard’s long-term Raptors future since July after the reunion via trade — and the two-time Finals MVP expects to finish his career in Toronto. Leonard, 35, now has a total of three years and $165 million on his Raptors deal. https://t.co/kIvWY6859y
Leaving several million dollars on the table demonstrates a newfound willingness to pursue team success, and an early show of commitment to Toronto. Leonard retains a level of personal control with the addition of a player option in the third year of his contract, where he would be 37 years old.
Charania went on to note that Leonard believes that his second stint in Toronto will mark the end of his career in the NBA, reporting that he had been told that the Klaw’s insistence that he will retire a Raptor was a notable component of the agreement between the two parties.
Just in on NBA Today — Kawhi Leonard expects to finish his career in Toronto after signing a new $115M extension in his Raptors reunion: pic.twitter.com/V2dJAaxVh5
Leonard may be turning over a new leaf as he re-enters the Canadian market, seemingly moving past the pursuit of a paycheque that seems to have dominated his time in Los Angeles. As the superstar’s career is winding down, Kawhi’s unfinished business in Toronto seems that it will go on to dominate the latter half of the 2020s for this franchise, perhaps ushering the team into a golden age. Only time — and championships — will tell.
Kawhi Leonard spent most of his summer waiting on the NBA to let him go back to Toronto. Now he's seemingly not going anywhere else.
Leonard agreed to a two-year, $115 million contract extension with the Raptors that includes a player option for the 2028-29 season a person with knowledge confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. The person requested anonymity because the deal was not yet publicly announced.
Leonard is in the last year of a contract that pays him $50.3 million this season. To get the trade done, he waived his full 15% trade kicker, a bonus some players get when they're dealt.
He's coming off a 65-game season, up from 37 the year before. He averaged 27.9 points and 1.9 steals and made the All-NBA second team.
The last time Toronto had him, he gave the city a championship and left a month later.
Why the Raptors paused the Kawhi Leonard trade
Toronto went 46-36 last season and lost to Cleveland in seven games in the first round of the playoffs. The Raptors agreed to send Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, a 2027 pick swap and second-round picks in 2030 and 2033 to the Clippers for Leonard.
On July 9, Toronto hit pause. The investigation was still open and nobody could say yet whether Leonard would be suspended. The Raptors did not comment publicly the rest of the summer.
The report that started the NBA investigation
In September 2025, reporter Pablo Torre reported that Leonard had a $28 million endorsement deal with Aspiration, a climate-focused financial company, that asked almost nothing of him. Former employees told Torre the deal was a way around the salary cap. Investors tied to Clippers owner Steve Ballmer had put money in Aspiration.
What the NBA found
The league released its findings Sept. 2. Investigators found a "pattern of misconduct and multiple significant rules violations." The Clippers had lined up deals for Leonard with four companies, pushed those companies to sign him by offering them team business and paid personal expenses for him.
The Clippers lost five first-round picks, 2029 through 2033, and were fined $30 million. Ballmer was suspended for a year. Gillian Zucker, president of business operations, got a one-year unpaid suspension. Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations, got six months unpaid. Dennis Robertson, Leonard's uncle and business manager, was banned from dealing with NBA teams for five years.
Leonard was fined $700,000 and was not suspended.
"I accept full responsibility for lapses in judgement by people within my inner circle," Leonard said in a statement. He also said he signed his Clippers contract and the endorsement deals in good faith.
What's next for Kawhi Leonard and the Raptors?
The trade became official Sept. 14. The extension means Leonard is signed for more than one season in Toronto this time. He joins Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley under coach Darko Rajakovic. General manager Bobby Webster, promoted to executive vice president this summer, made the deal.
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