Category: Basketball

Next in the series of roundtables is a question about what’s coming next. Specifically I asked them to predict the next major roster move between now and the trade deadline (something beyond 2-ways or camp invites). Here’s what we came up with.

Ian Inangelo

Between now and the trade deadline I think the next major roster move will be the addition of another guard coming off the bench. I don’t see a major move like trading for a Trey Murphy in the cards as of now but if there’s a scoring guard on the market that can provide bench scoring I feel that is the route the Celtics should go.

Trevor Hass

I’ll predict that the Celtics will trade Sam Hauser, Luka Garza and a pick for Cameron Johnson. Johnson would fit in well from a stylistic standpoint and is one of the more underrated players in the league.

Jake Issenberg

I’m sorry to disappoint with this one. Unless Steph Curry becomes available I don’t see the Celtics doing anything of note until next offseason. They should remain under the luxury tax for one more season to allow them to achieve maximum optionality going into next offseason.  Though, I would ecstatic if Payton Pritchard signs the three year $67 million contract extension he will be eligible for in October.  (edited) 

Nate Moskowitz

To avoid the boring answer of nothing, I will offer that a Sam Hauser trade could be on the table. My rationale is that they might just need the minutes to give Hugo, Walsh, Scheierman, Harper Jr. sufficient playing time. They’re investing in each of those guys, and Hauser’s 25MPG is a reasonable place to pull from.

Grant Burfeind

My real answer would be nothing, but where’s the fun in that? Instead, I’ll throw out Sam Hauser to OKC for Cason Wallace, plus one or two of those draft picks Sam Presti keeps collecting like Pokémon cards.

Wallace feels like such a Celtics player. Imagine rolling out Derrick White and Cason Wallace against guards like Brunson, Mitchell and Cade every night. Good luck. Wallace is already one of the better young perimeter defenders in the league, and his shot has come a long way. During the Thunder’s playoff run last year, Wallace made 2.0 threes per game at a 48.4% clip. The thought of rolling out a lineup with White, Wallace, Paul George, Tatum and Mitchell Robinson brings a smile to my face.

Jeff Clark

Yeah, you guys are all being boring. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that the Celtics are poised and ready to use Paul George’s contract and a handful of picks to go get the next star that hits the market. Either because he’s upset with his current situation or (more likely) because the team finds itself in the same 2nd Apron purgatory that started the Celtics “optionality” moves a year ago.  Which player will that be? I’m not holding my breath for Jokic or Curry, but I’d keep an eye on the Cavs, Magic, Rockets, and even the T-Wolves. And yeah, keep the Pelicans on speed dial, just in case.

“Not good enough” you say? I can see the comments already: “You call people boring then you don’t give us a name?” Ok fine. I predict things go sideways in Cleveland and we add Evan Mobley for George and 2 first rounders and a pick swap.

Robby Fletcher

I think Boston’s done with major moves in the near-future, at least until next offseason, but I am expecting one championship piece to be on the move in Sam Hauser.

This felt like something that’d get done this offseason, but this general post-LeBron calm feels like a good indication that the Celtics like their current personnel and intend for Hauser to be a Celtic on opening night. That’s far from a bad thing. He’ll more than likely return to the bench and provide his usual sharpshooting influence off-ball. However, his departure makes sense financially and in a team-sense, paving the way for more opportunities for Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh and Baylor Scheierman. At the deadline, Hauser’s shooting could convince a playoff hopeful to give up valuable, cost-effective draft capital to help the team’s long-term outlook.

Bill Sy

I’m thinking something like Sam Hauser and Mike Conley Jr. for Ty Jerome and D’Angelo Russell.  Grizzlies needs some shooting, Celtics get a better option off the dribble, and Conley retires where it all started for him in Memphis.

Mike Dynon

Nothing expected before the trade deadline (sorry!), unless Brad Stevens decides more help is needed at point guard. Mike Conley should be a perfect fit as a backup, but how much does he have left for his 20th season? He appeared in just 54 games last year, averaging only 18 minutes per game. (Really hope Conley stays, however. The way he plays the game is classic Celtics, and he’ll be the veteran leader in the locker room.)

Ryan Paice

Sorry guys, I gotta be boring here: we ain’t doin’ anything before the trade deadline. The C’s are under the luxury tax and will want to stay that way throughout the 2026-27 season in order to reset the repeater tax moving forward. And, if we do make a move, I’m afraid it’ll only disappoint Boston fans since it’ll probably mean shipping out Hauser for negative value in order to clear up space for the young wings while staying under the luxury tax. I’d love to get a Cason Wallace or Cameron Johnson or Ty Jerome for Hauser, but I have a hard time seeing that realistically happening.

Rich Jensen

I am convinced of only one thing: That anything I predict will be wrong.

Your Turn – How would you answer this question?

Gary Payton II, Warriors reportedly agree to one-year, $3.9M free-agent contract originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors are running it back with one fan favorite.

Gary Payton II and Golden State have agreed on a one-year, $3.9 million contract in NBA free agency, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Saturday, citing sources.

Free agent Gary Payton II has agreed on a one-year, $3.9 million deal to return to the Golden State Warriors, sources tell ESPN. Payton returns to the Warriors for his seventh year in the Bay Area — and his 11th NBA season. pic.twitter.com/TJQWvxEKXd

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 1, 2026

Payton II has spent six of his 10 NBA seasons in the Bay, and he’ll spend Year 11 back with the Warriors.

Last season with Golden State, Payton II averaged 7.5 points on 58.3-percent shooting, with 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 15.6 minutes through 73 games.

The Warriors just re-signed Draymond Green this past week, and now they’re bringing back another member of the band for the 2026-27 NBA season.

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The Indiana Pacers just unveiled their new “statement” jerseys for the 2026-27 season. For anyone who has not kept up with the naming conventions Nike introduced a decade ago, the old “home”, “away”, and “alternate” jerseys are now called “association”, “icon”, and “statement”. The Pacers’ new threads are an ode to the 90’s and look fantastic. With Tyrese Haliburton coming back from injury and a revamped squad in a wide-open East, it makes sense why they would switch it up now. I love the new (old?) look of the pinstripes, and, honestly, it makes me a little jealous. The Mavericks have not made any such jersey announcement, which got me thinking: when was the last time Dallas changed their “core three” uniforms?

The answer is 2022-23, when they swapped their navy “statement” jerseys for… navy jerseys with bigger letters? And that is just the last time they literally changed a uniform. Per basketballjerseyarchive.com, their home and away jerseys have been nearly identical white and baby blue threads since 2010-11. And their alternate (which has been referred to as the statement jersey previously) has been some version of navy since the year after. If you quickly scroll through that website, the first three jerseys dating back 15 seasons are nearly indistinguishable. To say Dallas is in need of new uniforms would be underselling the desperation.

To be fair, new is not always better. I look at the Raptors’ rebrand in 2020-21 as a prime example. Who asked for a triangular band across the chest, and why were they not shut down? But Dallas’ jerseys are growing stale, and the blues (both navy and light blue) are uninspiring and boring. The whites are okay, but we have been looking at them for over 20 years (they are the longest unchanged uniform the Mavericks have, introduced in 2001). Something new, even with the risk of pulling a 2011 Wizards or 2020 Raptors, is long overdue for the city and fans of Dallas.

The Mavericks aren’t the only team that has had little turnover through the years, however. San Antonio has effectively had the same white and black home and away outfits since 1978. But the Spurs have won many rings in those jerseys. They are a pillar in the history of the NBA, and it is understandable why not changing them due to legacy would make sense. The Mavericks won a championship in their light blues, of course, but their most recent Finals appearance will be remembered in the city edition black jerseys, and their first Finals loss was in the white ones. The legacy and tradition are not there as consistently to justify keeping the three colorways for years to come.

Plus, they have a chance for something most teams do not: redemption. No, I am not talking about winning a championship, though of course those expectations will come with time. I am talking about the opportunity to rebrand between eras. They had a layup marketing pitch when Dirk Nowitzki retired. New jerseys to be associated with young Luka Doncic made too much sense. Yet, they kept the same ones Dirk wore nearly his whole career. Now, as the franchise transitions from Doncic to Cooper Flagg, they can right their wrongs. 

What the players wear matters. When you see the home whites or the light blues, you think of Dirk. When the navy jerseys with comically large letters are out, Luka Doncic comes to mind. Flagg deserves the same opportunity. Get him something fresh and memorable and wear them in big games so we will always be reminded of the good times he brought. Plus, the fans deserve something new to look at on a nightly basis.

It wasn’t that long ago that you could define Devin Booker’s place in the hierarchy of the NBA as a “superstar”. He was winning in the postseason, on the cover of NBA2K, and had the inside track in the “best shooting guard in the NBA” argument. But times have changed, the waters around him have risen, and he now resides in the HOA where the stars live.

Devin Booker is a “star”, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Unless you make the argument that he’s being paid like a superstar, and therefore should perform like one. That’s a completely fair point, and one that I agree with. At the same time, he is still a star. If you want your team to be successful in this league, you need at least one of those.

It’s one of the primary reasons I don’t believe trading Devin Booker at this point is a reasonable or prudent move for the Phoenix Suns. What you’re likely getting back in a trade is a player (or two, or three) who isn’t a star, but rather a collection of assets that satisfy financial needs. You’ll receive draft picks, but they’re unlikely to become lottery selections. Considering the Suns don’t control enough of their own draft capital, there’s very little benefit in trying to survive a few losing seasons while waiting for those picks to return and for the dead money to come off the books. You’d be stuck in a state of perpetual losing. And that’s not good for your youth movement. You need a star, and Booker is that.

Booker is still a perennial All-Star and made an All-NBA Team just two seasons ago. But he’s also someone who hasn’t won a playoff game since 2023. Because of that, I can’t currently place the “superstar” label on him at this point in time.

The question is whether he can earn it back. And if so, what would it take?

The opportunity with the 2026-27 Suns will be there. With the addition of Miles Bridges and (hopefully) a healthy Jalen Green for the entire season, there should be more opportunities for Booker to score in an uncontested manner. Defenses have to account for gravity, and the door will be open for Booker, but he needs to do so more efficiently. That’s the key. If he can regain his efficient shooting, a return to superstar status is definitely in the cards.

Take last season, for example. I think everyone would agree it was a down year for Devin Booker from an efficiency standpoint. His 45.6% shooting from the field was his lowest since the 2017–18 season. He shot 33% from beyond the arc, marking the second consecutive season he finished in that range. But this is also a player who has shot 38.3% from three multiple times during his career, so it’s hardly outside the realm of possibility that he returns to that level.

What’s interesting is how small the margin really is between being viewed as a below-average three-point shooter and an above-average one. The average three-point average in the NBA last season? 36%. It would’ve taken only 15 more made three-pointers to raise his percentage from 33% to a very respectable 37%. That’s 45 additional points over the course of an entire season. Those 45 points would’ve increased his scoring average from 26.1 to 26.8 points per game. That’s it. That’s how thin the margin is between an underwhelming shooting season and one that’s viewed as efficient.

Perspective:

For Booker to go from a 33% three-point shooter last season to 37%, he would’ve needed to make just 15 more threes

That’s 45 points over an 82-game season

Sometimes the difference between a “down shooting year” & a “great shooting year” is smaller than you think pic.twitter.com/B2WQKY5wSo

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) July 26, 2026

My point? It wouldn’t take much for Devin Booker to regain that efficiency. It’s only a few shots here and there. Granted, it’s the offseason, so we’re looking at this strictly through the lens of numbers, not situations. That’s an important distinction because there’s another area where Booker has an opportunity to improve, and that’s in the clutch. That’s where superstars separate themselves.

It’s also an area where Booker has faced challenges in recent seasons. When clutch time arrives, the weight of the offense too often falls solely on his shoulders, and opposing defenses know it. They load up on him, force difficult decisions, and make every possession as challenging as possible. That’s another opportunity for Booker to reclaim that superstar designation. Not to survive those situations. Thrive in them.

Theorizing how this offense should function next season, as the team could improve in the clutch by relying more on interior penetration and less on chuckin’ three-balls late. We must remember that the Suns were second in the NBA in three-pointers attempted during clutch moments. And they were 17th in points in the paint.

With Miles Bridges providing more penetration and Jalen Green playing more than 32 games and consistently attacking the paint, it’s reasonable to believe Booker will see more clean looks from beyond the arc. Defenses have to respect both Green and Bridges when they put the ball on the floor. As they penetrate, defensive gravity follows them. And that creates open opportunities for Devin Booker. If he capitalizes on a few more of those looks, the conversation surrounding his efficiency could change in a hurry.

The challenge is whether he can knock down those shots. Last season, Booker shot 30-of-92 on wide-open three-pointers, good for 32.6%. That number has to rise if his statistical output is going to rise with it. If it does, he’ll find himself back in the conversation as a superstar, at least from the standpoint of how he’s performing and the numbers that support that discussion.

But it’s important to remember that superstar status isn’t driven solely by statistics. It’s driven by production. It’s driven by the ability to elevate the players around you. Above all else, it’s driven by winning. Can Booker push the Suns far past their 38.5 projected win total this season? There isn’t a long list of superstars on losing teams. Players who put up gaudy numbers while their teams consistently lose tend to receive different labels. Like… looters in a riot?

I think he can. I’m part of the 42% who believe Devin Booker can regain that superstar status. Part of that is the optimism that naturally comes with being a fan. Part of it is because I believe the environment around him is going to create opportunities for him to elevate both his own game and the players around him.

Let’s not forget that Steve Nash didn’t win his first MVP until he was 30 years old. I’m not saying Booker is going to win an MVP. But I believe Booker can become a top-10 player in the league again if the pieces around him come together the way I think they can.

The path back to superstardom is there, but it runs through more than a percentage point or two. Booker has to rediscover his efficiency, elevate the talent around him, and push Phoenix back toward the top of the Western Conference. The numbers can reopen the conversation. Winning is what settles it. He doesn’t need to become a different player. He needs to remind everyone why the label once fit so comfortably and justify the 34.6% of the salary cap attached to his name. Because that is what superstars do. They make the production match the compensation.

Thanks everyone for voting in our SB Nation Reacts poll this week. Going forward, these polls will also be posted separately in The Feed, which is the evolution of FanPosts and FanShots before our migration to WordPress just one year ago.

First, let’s get to the most important question. How do you feel about AJ Dybantsa only playing two Summer League games? Though Kevin Broom and I feel like he should have played more, we were the minority.

Just 36 percent of respondents felt the rookie needed to play more Summer League games, suggesting that most fans were satisfied with what they saw in two games. Rather than chasing extra minutes in July where Dybantsa would have likely been among the best players on the court anyway, most fans would probably prefer that he minimize risk for injury and get ready for the season this fall.

Here are our SB Nation Reacts results pic.twitter.com/aONgURoCQi

— Bullets Forever (@BulletsForever) August 1, 2026

Meanwhile, league-wide perceptions in the East have shifted dramatically. The New York Knicks received 49 percent of the vote as the conference’s best team, comfortably ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers at 35 percent. FanDuel would also add that the Wizards’ odds of winning the East are like your odds of winning Powerball. Not surprising because the Power Rankings project that the Wizards will still be at the bottom. They just won’t be … as bad talent-wise as last year.

Gulp.

Or … let’s just see AJ, AD and Trae prove everyone wrong!

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

There is a lot going on this off season for Victor Wembanyama. Earlier this week he was in France cutting ribbon on the refurbished Nanterre court. Yesterday it was announced he signed a long-term contract with Nike.

San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama has signed a new long-term contract extension with Nike — including a new signature shoe line, per sources. After 3 NBA seasons, Wembanyama has run to the Finals, MVP finalist season, Defensive Player of the Year, max deal and a signature shoe.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 31, 2026

The deal includes a signature shoe line. Nike posted this:

The game looks different from here. pic.twitter.com/AVHEztAvHZ

— Nike Basketball (@nikebasketball) July 31, 2026

The shoe brand and The Alien have already shared in a fruitful partnership, but this deal is next level. Wembanyama’s deal includes a new signature shoe line.

“We are proud to continue supporting Victor Wembanyama’s journey with Nike,” the company said, via Jared Weiss of The Athletic. “As one of the most unique and influential athletes in the world, Victor is a generational talent who continues to inspire the game’s next generation. We are excited about all that we’ve built together and look forward to more wins ahead.”

With all the accolades accumulating, Wemby should be raring to go into the next season. The opportunity to extend beyond the successes of 2025-2026 has elevated. The enlarged shoe deal just reflects Wemby’s global appeal both on and off the court.

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For a day smacked in the middle of the summer, kicking off August, and with most definitely nothing going around, I can’t believe I got this thing to go past 850 words. Links and notes.

• James Dolan expects the Knicks’ title defense to be the most enjoyable season of his ownership, following a summer in which New York’s squad is “coming back pretty much intact.” Keywords: Pretty much.
• In the eyes of everybody reading this and also New York Post pundit Jared Schwartz’s, the Knicks are now the team everyone else is building to beat. After using Boston as a blueprint during their own rise, New York will now have to adjust to fresh challenges from across the League as the 76ers, Heat, and other contenders all made moves to try and counter the Knicks’ greatness. Schwartz discussed them all and highlighted the main thing that might prove the biggest challenge for New York to deal with from each of those new contenders. An example:

“The 76ers’ length: The ‘Wingstop’ duo of OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges was brought in with the Celtics’ wing duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in mind. The need to stop elite wings has become increasingly pivotal in the modern NBA, and the Knicks ensured they had the personnel to do so.

Now, it’s the 76ers — not the Celtics — who present potential wing problems in LeBron James and Jaylen Brown. In a matchup between the two teams, Anunoby assuredly would guard one of those, though the other is a bit more of an open question. Bridges spent much of the postseason as the Knicks’ point-of-attack defender, guarding opposing guards rather than wings. Against the 76ers in particular, he did a terrific job on Tyrese Maxey.”

• Kendrick Perkins didn’t rank the Knicks as the No. 1 team in the Eastern Conference heading into the 2027 NBA season.
• Same Perk didn’t call Jalen Brunson the Knicks’ “most important player” after he led New York to its first championship in 53 years.
• ESPN’s Vince Goodwill said Towns was and still is “disappointed” that the Knicks did not offer him an extension during the season nor in the early days of the offseason, although the situation is obviously expected to be resolved sooner rather than later.

“Go back to during the season when Karl-Anthony Towns wanted an extension from the Knicks. The Knicks did not offer him one. He was disappointed, but he says he wants to be a Knick for life. He said, ‘These are the things that handle themselves in the offseason as long as I handle myself on the floor. The Knicks won the championship. Karl-Anthony Towns was a hub. He’s expecting some resolution to that soon.”

• Could an overperforming Miles McBride put the Knicks in a difficult position? That’s what Daily Knicks’ Jack Simone believes, with Deuce coming off a disappointing end to the postseason and is entering his final year under contract in New York.
• Fellow Daily Knicks scribe Kenny Kluska thinks Tyler Kolek — and the Knicks’ needs — might have played his way out of New York.
• Per ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, Minnesota has an interest in signing former end-of-pine Knick Jeremy Sochan. Alright, then. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
• Siegel also reported that Golden State would welcome Kevin Durant back if he becomes available at some point next season.
• Shaquille O’Neal is convinced the Knicks’ championship came down to “a lot of luck” during their run. At least he called out the Spurs and, namely, De’Aaron Fox for their fooliness.
• On a positive note, Shaq also compared Brunson’s postseason mindset to Kobe’s Mamba Mentality.

“Kenny and I cornered (Brunson). We had a show right before the playoffs, and I like to mess with guys. I said, ‘Hey man, you going to win a championship this year?’ He had that look in his eye like when I used to ask Kobe. Like he really had that look where I was like ‘Hey, they were going to do it.’ And then when they played Atlanta and lost those games, I got nervous. But the way they stepped up, came back, and were beating teams, they actually did it the right way.”

• Now welcome to the Dillon Brooks corner.
  • Brooks accused LeBron of doing “everything he can” to secure another championship and “get more footage” for his own Last Dance documentary. For context, LeBron and Maverick Carter had already pushed back (falsely, likely) on the reports that they are nearing an agreement with ESPN to film such a thing. Related to this, Rich Paul has suggested that playing in Philadelphia could energize James enough to play anywhere from two to four more seasons.
  • Brooks named the only player he cannot hate on, believe it or not. “Nothing you can hate about him,” he said.
  • Brooks also wants to fight Jimmy Butler in a boxing match. “I always feel the animosity.”
  • Brooks described Russell Westbrook as an uncoachable dude, for not entirely bad reasons.
  • Brooks claimed the delayed Kawhi Leonard trade to Toronto will never happen.
• The BIG3 is now valued at approximately $290 million and is targeting major expansion. Ice Cube revealed the league will eventually expand to between 24 and 34 teams, although he emphasized that growth must happen responsibly.

In case you didn't know… @McNuttMonica was a BALLER back in college @GeorgetownWBB 🏀🔥#FlashbackFriday x #HoyaSaxapic.twitter.com/lv6AvSzILG

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) July 28, 2023

Every time Klay Thompson’s name shows up in a trade rumor that doesn’t involve Golden State, there’s a version of me that flinches a little. Watching him drain threes in a Mavericks jersey on Christmas Day was already enough of an adjustment for one lifetime. But if the sharpshooter with the quickest release we’ve ever seen is headed somewhere else this time, Miami might be the one address on the list that doesn’t feel like a betrayal.

Here’s why. Andre Iguodala left Golden State’s launch pad and found a second wind in Miami, helping drag that Heat team to the Bubble Finals against all logic. Andrew Wiggins, a guy this fanbase watched grow up in real time, has planted his own flag down there too. A landing spot like the Lakers or Celtics would always feel like Klay playing in someone else’s shadow. Miami is different. Pat Riley’s organization has a track record of taking a Warriors name that needed a reset and building a role around what still works, not what used to.

If Andre Iguodala ever ran a franchise, he's taking the culture from the Miami Heat. 💯

"You don’t hear players get in trouble in Miami. That’s all you need to know…in MIAMI. Out of all the places."

(via @GilsArenaShow)pic.twitter.com/VVDYPYYH9r

— Ball Don’t Lie (@Balldontlie) August 17, 2023

The forgotten man in Dallas may be getting a lifeline out of town.

The Dallas Mavericks would prefer to trade veteran sharpshooter Klay Thompson this offseason, longtime NBA writer Marc Stein reported this week. Stein also adds that the Miami Heat are one of the teams hoping… pic.twitter.com/5bnhArGmCS

— KLEIN (@KleinHOWARD23) July 12, 2026

The reporting on how this actually happens is simple once you strip out the accounting. Klay takes a buyout from Dallas. Miami signs him using what’s left of its midlevel exception. Dallas doesn’t want that. That’s the whole standoff, according to Anthony Chiang’s mailbag for the Miami Herald.

Dallas believes a team built around Cooper Flagg can hang around the play-in picture, and a shooter like Thompson still has value to them, whether that’s minutes or a trade chip down the line. There’s no reason for Dallas to rush toward giving that away for nothing.

Strip away the money and the standoff for a second, because the basketball logic here writes itself. Bam Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo are two players who live in the paint. They need someone defenses have to honor beyond the arc without needing plays run for him. That’s the exact profile Thompson has spent his whole career perfecting, going back to a Warriors era where he built his game around cutting and relocating rather than dribbling into pull-ups.

The decline is real and worth naming honestly. His overall game slipped last season as he posted career lows across the board with Dallas. But he still knocked down 38 percent of his threes, and there just aren’t many players alive who scare a defense standing still the way Klay Thompson does.

On ESPN’s “NBA Today” this past Wednesday, Shams Charania said flatly, “Klay is the Heat’s number one priority right now to acquire,” while noting that several other contending teams are reportedly still monitoring the situation, keeping both a trade and a buyout in play.

Shams reiterates Klay Thompson being Miami’s top priority.

The Heat are clearly sending Klay’s camp they got the money for him and to work out that buyout 👀 pic.twitter.com/cP7jUQfKui

— 𝙃𝙀𝘼𝙏 𝙉𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 (@HeatvsHaters) July 28, 2026

So here’s where it sits. Dallas has rejected Miami’s preferred mechanism. Miami has no obvious next move beyond waiting it out. And somewhere in the Bay, there’s a fanbase that will be checking up on the younger Splash Bro, rooting for a next chapter that finally feels like Klay’s story again.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Lakers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

LeBron James.

Say that name to anyone, and it’s going to garner a response. Sometimes it will be overwhelmingly positive, and in other scenarios it will be very negative.

Given how long LeBron played for the Lakers, his era had plenty of highs and lows that can alter how one evaluates his time in LA.

The best moment has to be the 2020 title. He got it done and left a legacy. In such a tough situation, he helped LA dominate in the bubble and was named Finals MVP.

The lows have to be the losses.

Despite his All-Star-level play, the Lakers were unable to make it out of the Western Conference again after 2020. They had two losing seasons, three postseason first-round exits, four different head coaches and too much drama to ever count.

Now that the Lakers chapters are completed in the book of LeBron’s career, for our SB Nation Reacts survey this week, we asked fans if his time in LA was a success. The answer was an emphatic yes.

Winning matters. It’s so hard to do.

The list of great teams and players who never won it all is enormous, and the number that got it done is finite.

LeBron talked about championships, and he hung a banner inside Crypto.com Arena. He ended the Lakers’ title drought and arrived in LA when the franchise was at a low point.

Thanks to his arrival, they became winners. With LeBron on the Lakers, they attracted stars like Anthony Davis and remained one of the better teams in the NBA.

LeBron left the Lakers better than he found them. If that’s not a success, then I don’t know what is.

Should the Lakers have won more? Maybe.

In hindsight, the Russell Westbrook trade was a disaster. It broke up a team that should’ve been left alone. The blame game involving that move and how much of it falls on the Lakers front office, or LeBron, is still debated today and remains a touchy subject.

Still, the good far outweighed the bad.

He won’t retire a Laker, but he left his mark. Now that it’s done, the only thing left to say is goodbye LeBron, and thanks for the memories.

Now it’s Luka Dončić’s turn. Let’s see what he does with it.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

Mike Boynton Jr. continues to fill out his coaching staff in Ann Arbor, as he has hired Dylan Murphy as an assistant coach for the Michigan men’s basketball program. The news was first reported by 247Sports.

Michigan men’s basketball is hiring Dylan Murphy, most recently the head coach of the Osceola Magic NBA G League Team, as an assistant coach, I’ve learned.

Murphy is a promising offensive mind who has led the Orlando Magic affiliate to two first-place conference finishes in his…

— Alejandro Zúñiga (@ByAZuniga) July 31, 2026

Murphy brings a diverse background in both NBA and G League coaching and analytics to a Wolverines staff that is working to defend a national championship in 2026-27.

He spent the last five seasons in the NBA with the Orlando Magic organization, serving in two distinct capacities. From 2018-20, he worked as a basketball operations analyst, providing analytics support to the coaching staff. He then transitioned into a full-time assistant coaching role from 2020-23, giving him three seasons of NBA bench experience at one of the league’s franchises.

His path to Orlando was built on a strong foundation in the G League. Murphy spent three seasons from 2013-16 as an assistant coach with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants — the Indiana Pacers’ G League affiliate — where he was part of one of the more successful runs in league history. The Mad Ants posted a league-best 34-16 record in 2013-14 and went a perfect 6-0 in the playoffs to win the G League championship.

After his time in Fort Wayne, Murphy spent the 2016-17 season as an NBA G League scout for the Atlanta Hawks, where he was responsible for identifying potential call-up candidates, a role that sharpened his eye for talent evaluation and player development at the professional level. He then served as a graduate assistant at Ball State in 2018 before joining the Magic organization.

Murphy’s background is particularly well-suited to what Boynton is building at Michigan. His blend of NBA analytics experience and on-court coaching provide him with a versatile skillset that can impact both the strategic and developmental sides of the program.

The analytics component of his profile is especially worth highlighting. Murphy spent two seasons as a dedicated analytics support staffer with Orlando before moving to the bench, meaning he very likely understands the data side of the game. In an era where analytics are playing an increasingly significant role in roster construction, game planning and player development, someone being on the coaching staff who has lived that world in the NBA is a great asset to have.

Boynton is assembling a staff with diverse backgrounds and complementary skillsets as he works to keep the Wolverines competitive at the highest level, and Murphy’s hire is another piece of that puzzle.

In 2022 when the Warriors won their last title, if you told me that one day LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, and D(ean) Wade would be on the 76ers I’d be like hell to the naw naw. (Also, where is Ben Simmons?!) And yet here we are!

Here’s the part that should scare the rest of the league ladies and gentlemen. This isn’t LeBron joining a team that needs him to be the engine. This is LeBron sliding into a group that already has an MVP-caliber big, a bucket-getter who just spent the summer proving he belongs in the “best two-way wing” conversation, and two young guards who play like they’ve been doing this for a decade already. Tyrese Maxey. VJ Edgecombe. Joel Embiid. Jaylen Brown. Now DA KING?! Five players who’ve either made an All-NBA team or are trending toward one, all wearing the same jersey.

So I’ll ask the obvious question before anyone else does it for me. Is this the best team LeBron has ever played on?

Iman Shumpert was NOT having it when Shaq said the 76ers are winning the championship next season because the New York Knick’s were “lucky” to win this year 😳🏀👀

“I have 4 championships, 2 of them were luck. You don’t think the Knicks championship was a bit lucky this year? If… pic.twitter.com/9aFKHi3Ril

— Slime🐍 (@ItsKingSlime) July 31, 2026

I know how that sounds given the résumé. Kyrie and prime Love in Cleveland. AD and a bubble run in LA. A Heatles trio that basically broke the sport for a few summers. But from a pure roster construction standpoint, I don’t remember one walking into training camp with this many legitimate creators, this much size, and this many lineup combinations. Embiid at the 5, when healthy, is still one of the toughest covers alive. Brown gives you another player who can take over a game. Maxey and Edgecombe give you two guards who get downhill and shoot it from range. And LeBron, even at 42, still reads a defense like he’s got the whole floor mapped out before you’ve decided where you’re going.

He’s walking on as a stabilizer, a guy who can captain possessions, punish mismatches in the post against smaller wings, and make the right read out of a double team on instinct. Philadelphia didn’t sign a farewell tour, rather we are looking at them adding a chess piece that still sees three moves ahead.

Now, the questions immediately arise when you talk about what could go wrong with that starting lineup.

Start with health. Embiid staying on the floor has been the same conversation forever, and I’m not going to sit here and pretend a new co-star fixes a body that’s fought him this long.

Joel Embiid assured LeBron during his pitch he’s healthy and ready to go this season, per @mcten 😤 pic.twitter.com/TvQiq80gEC

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 29, 2026

Then there’s hierarchy. Brown spent years in Boston fighting for respect, got his Finals MVP, and still ended up on a plane to a division rival where he’s probably not the first read on most nights. Going from “the guy everyone questioned but who proved it” to “one of five options” creates its own pressure, even if the results end up better.

And then there’s expectations. Maxey and Edgecombe were just building their own identities as young stars. Now they’re getting thrown into a spotlight that comes with real championship demands instead of just “how good can these kids be.”

Brian Windhorst called the 76ers having LeBron, Embiid, Jaylen Brown, Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe on the same team "preposterous" due to having too many alpha personalities.

"The idea of having five alphas is preposterous." pic.twitter.com/bjLp6Yi2DE

— NBABase (@TheNBABase) July 28, 2026

But here’s why none of that changes how I feel about this roster from a pure basketball standpoint. Go back and watch the Sixers’ offseason moves as a whole. Anfernee Simons is an instant scoring punch off the bench for pennies compared to what other teams paid for less. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is a proven championship wing. Labaron Philon might take ballhandling pressure off Maxey and Edgecombe as a rookie. They didn’t stop after LeBron, and that wasn’t just my takeaway. Paul Hudrick at Liberty Ballers looked at the same depth chart and came away with the same conclusion: “The depth chart looks legit.”

That’s what makes this team a nightmare to simulate. Most title contenders pick a lane. Fast and loose, or slow and physical. Philadelphia might make you prepare for two. This roster can do both, and with Embiid and LeBron on the floor together, I’d bet they lean into slowing the game down and daring you to match their size. But flip in Maxey, Edgecombe, and Simons off the bench, and suddenly you’re getting attacked in transition too. Ask anyone who’s tried fighting this roster in 2K how miserable it is to game plan for a team that can beat you at two different speeds depending on who’s on the floor.

Look, I’m not saying banners are guaranteed. Health matters, chemistry takes time, and pressure does strange things to teams that haven’t won together yet. But if you’re a rival executive right now, you’re not sleeping easy. This is must see TV starting in October. And if this group stays healthy, the conversation won’t be whether LeBron can still chase one more title. It’ll be whether anyone in the East has enough answers for everything Philadelphia can throw at them.

I can’t wait to see this team come to Chase Center.

Last season defense was hard to come by for the Utah Jazz as they allowed an NBA worst 126 points per game. How will they fare this year with Walker Kessler’s departure and a retooled roster with its sights set on a playoff spot?

There’s no question that losing Kessler to the Lakers is a blow to the team’s defensive potential. In his last full season with the Jazz (2024-2025), Walker posted a gaudy 12.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. By comparison, Kyle Filipowski led last year’s squad in rebounds with 7.2 per game, and Ace Bailey led the team in blocks with 0.7. One of the big questions for the upcoming season is are there enough deputies to replace The Sheriff?

The projected starting lineup for 2026-2027 certainly has more than enough height to battle for rebounds and affect an opponent’s shots. Both Markkanen and Jackson Jr. are bruisers at 7’1” and 6’10” respectively and have physiques like NFL tight ends. The three games they shared the front court last season hinted at their potential defensive partnership. The Jazz won two out of the three games, including an impressive away win against the Miami Heat, in which the pair combined for 11 defensive rebounds and the team as a whole held the Heat to 111 points. Jackson Jr. also showcased his ability to pick the other team’s pocket and create additional possessions for his teammates, averaging 2 steals a game.

But neither big man is known as a shot blocker nor is expected to consistently produce double digit rebounds. Other players will need to step in to make up the deficit. Ace Bailey at 6’9” has added muscle in the off season, which will help his ability to contend in the paint and build on his team leading block totals from last year. There is also the option of starting Jusuf Nurkic at center, who showed last season that his ability to rebound the ball is underrated. He didn’t play enough games for his statistics to count in team leading averages, but in the 41 games he did play, he pulled in an impressive 10.4 rebounds a game, including 7.8 on the defensive end. The Jazz would give up some athleticism starting Nurkic over Bailey, but they would also benefit from having a savvy veteran with a nose for the basketball.

One of the most intriguing questions for the upcoming season is how Darryn Peterson and Keyonte George will mesh in the backcourt. This will be especially important defensively as the Jazz’s perimeter defense last year was like a sieve. As a 6’5” 199 lb guard, Peterson brings size to the position and a defensive intensity which produced 15 blocks and 34 steals in 24 games at Kansas. The big question is how this will translate in the NBA and whether he can maintain that intensity without getting in foul trouble. And if as a tandem, he and George can provide some consistent resistance to the skilled ball handlers and three-point assassins on opposing teams.

The supporting cast’s defensive development will also go a long way in how successful the Jazz are this season. John Konchar made a name for himself as an all-round defensive pest, averaging 2 steals and 1 block in the 26 games he played last season. Bez Mbeng showed glimpses of his defensive prowess in the short time he’s been with the Jazz. Will Kyle Filipowski and Cody Williams take a step forward defensively? What roles will new additions Jaxson Hayes and Josh Okogie play in the defensive development of the team? Will the second coming of Mo Bamba provide a much-needed boost from the bench? So many questions…

The key is that one player is not the answer in turning arguably the worst defensive team in the league last year into a coordinated group which can hold its own when it matters most. Coach Hardy’s challenge is molding the players’ defensive strengths into a cohesive unit, one that will bend, but not break. Games often come down to key defensive moments—who can forget Lebron racing the length of the court to block Iguodala’s shot in the 2016 NBA Finals?—and the Jazz have an opportunity to use them as momentum to finally propel them into the post season.

After a European tour, Mario Hezonja is making an NBA comeback.

The Cavaliers signed Hezonja, 31, to a one-year contract, marking his return to the NBA for the first time since the 2019-20 season. Hezonja played pro ball in Greece, Russia, and Spain over the last six years.

Hezonja played for Real Madrid this past season, where he won the Liga ACB Most Valuable Player award after averaging 15 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. Hezonja spent four years with Real Madrid and won a EuroLeague championship with the team in 2023, along with consecutive Liga ACB titles in 2024 and 2025.

Hezonja was selected fifth overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2015 NBA Draft and played 330 games for the Magic, Knicks, and Trail Blazers in his first NBA stint. Hezonja, who was born in Dubrovnik, is one of the highest-drafted Croatian-born players in league history.

On Friday, Hezonja spoke out about his new organization.

“Never liked how I left the NBA but these past 5 years have been exactly what I wanted and much needed!” Hezonja posted to X while tagging the Cavaliers. “I am super happy that my new chapter is with a team and organization that I have always admired and respected!”

Hezonja had a couple of memorable moments as a Knick — who he spent the 2018-19 season with — including a game-winning block against LeBron James and the Lakers in March 2019 and recording his first career triple-double the following month.

Hezonja then signed with Portland before being traded to Memphis in 2020.

The Grizzlies waived him less than a month later, and then Hezonja began his overseas career for Greek club Panathinaikos.

From there, Hezonja signed with Russian team UNICS Kazan and then headed to Real Madrid for four seasons, where he became one of the most accomplished players in Europe during his tenure.

The Cavs signed Hezonja after missing out on a James return when he signed with the Sixers earlier this month.

A heartfelt congratulations from The Slipper Still Fits to forward/center Zach Collins on his two-year, $17 million contract extension to stay with the Chicago Bulls through the 2027-28 season. The injury bug has unfortunately hit the Gonzaga Bulldog quite a lot throughout his time with the Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, and with Chicago, so this new deal is a major victory for Collins as he enters his ninth season in the NBA.

The site appreciates the 2016 McDonald’s All-American out of powerhouse Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas, Nevada, sharing some of his offseason time to discuss his lone season with the Zags back in 2016-17, senior center Przemek Karnowski being his vet, his standout performance against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Final Four in Phoenix, Arizona.

Just an entertaining conversation with the big man from top to bottom. Check it out below.

Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho

The Golden State Warriors are set to run it back with the same group as last season, but are reportedly monitoring a potential reunion.

According to Brett Siegel of Clutch Points, his sources have confirmed that if Kevin Durant were to become available next season, the Warriors would welcome him back.

“The organization has not completely moved on from the idea of one day reuniting [Steph] Curry with former Warrior and two-time Finals MVP Kevin Durant,” Siegel wrote. “Lacob and the Warriors would welcome Durant back with open arms, much like they were prepared to do in 2025 before he and his business partner Rich Kleiman stopped the trade deadline deal in its tracks.”

Siegel went on to note that the reason Durant stopped a potential reunion in 2025 was because he was looking for stability in Phoenix.

That obviously never materialized. Durant was traded by the Suns to the Houston Rockets. The Warriors, meanwhile, were left to deal for Jimmy Butler, who missed significant time due to injury.

Butler tore his ACL in January, setting back the franchise by the bay. The expectation is for Butler to return to the Warriors roster, but a return date is still unknown.

The narrative of the Warriors’ offseason has been a swing and miss, as they’ve consistently missed out on acquiring another star to pair alongside Curry, Butler, Draymond Green, and Kristaps Porzingis.

On Thursday, head coach Steve Kerr admitted he is content with his current group and didn’t even think the team had a chance to land LeBron James, who signed with the Philadelphia 76ers a week ago.

Golden State’s roster does have one key addition. The Warriors selected Yaxel Lendeborg out of Michigan with the 11th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and is expected to play a major role.

Lendeborg has been impressive in his short time with the team, as he led Golden State’s Summer League team to a championship earlier this month. He was crowned the series MVP for a 21 point, 10 rebound, and 2 steal performance.

Despite the team reportedly being content, the reality of the Warriors is that it’s an aging group that has been decimated by injuries, and Curry is only getting older.

Curry, 38, who is considered the greatest shooter of this era of basketball, missed 39 games for the Warriors last season as he was dealing with runner’s knee.

When Durant was a member of Golden State from 2016-2019, it was some of the best basketball of his career. The future Hall of Famer helped the team win two NBA championships and was crowned Finals MVP both times, while averaging 25.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game.