But while appearing on the “Numbers On The Board” podcast this week, Haliburton unleashed his emotions after learning that the Pacers would begin their 2026 campaign in, of all places, New Orleans.
Tyrese Haliburton has a bone to pick with the NBA schedule. NBAE via Getty Images
The Pelicans are expected to be among the weaker teams in the Western Conference, with an over/under of 27.5 wins on DraftKings.
“Name any other person that you compare to my level of a basketball player, wherever you have me ranked. If they tore their Achilles and missed 16 months, do you think that game would be on national television?” Haliburton asked the hosts, all of whom said yes.
“Do you think that game would be at home, if not on national television?” Haliburton followed up, as the hosts again agreed.
“Do you think that that game would be at New Orleans?” Haliburton added, with a smirk on his face.
Haliburton continued after the panel reacted to his questioning.
“When I saw the schedule, I was like, ‘Oh wow!” he said. “Shoutout [Pelicans star] Trey Murphy [III], love my boy, Trey. Love New Orleans. But I was shocked to see that.”
Tyrese Haliburton reacts after tearing his Achilles during Game 7 of the NBA Finals. His return is expected to come at the beginning of the 2026-27 season. Getty Images
Yes, the Pacers are starting their season with the Pelicans.
Not with the Knicks, Cavaliers, Thunder, Pistons, Celtics, Heat or Hawks.
Nope — the Pelicans.
Tyrese Haliburton has been an All-NBA player and All-Star twice. NBAE via Getty Images
The Pacers and Pelicans don’t have a rivalry, nor do they have a recent high-profile trade.
They’re not even in the same conference, to Haliburton’s point.
The two-time All-NBA and All-Star guard averaged 18.6 points and 9.2 assists, shooting 47.3 percent from the field and 38.8 percent from three last we saw him in 2024-25.
Memorably, he pushed the Pacers into Game 7 of the NBA Finals, where the team pulled off several dramatic comebacks and signature performances en route to a near-championship.
Even in Game 7, before Haliburton’s injury, he drained three 3-pointers in just seven minutes of play.
With the Cleveland Cavaliers sending Dennis Schröder and cash considerations to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Tre Mann, per ESPN, the 32-year-old guard now adds a dubious distinction to his NBA resume.
It marks the ninth time Schröder has been traded, making him the second-most moved player in league history. First on the list? That honor belongs to Trevor Ariza, who was traded 11 times in 18 years from 2004 to 2022 and played for 10 different teams. The Hornets will be the 12th team Schröder, entering his 14th NBA season, suits up for.
There's also a couple of more coincidences that tie the two well-traveled journeymen together: most notably, they both had multiple stints with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Ariza arrived in LA via trade in 2007, and though a fractured bone in his right foot kept him from contributing heavily to the Lakers' Finals run that saw them lose to the Boston Celtics in six games that season, he played in all 82 games for the only time in his career in 2008-09 and emerged as a key role player in the playoffs, averaging 11.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and shooting 47.6% from 3-point range as the Lakers brought home their 15th NBA championship. He left that offseason in free agency, signing a five-year, $33 million contract with the Houston Rockets.
He later returned to the Lakers for one more run in purple and gold in 2021-22, though a right ankle injury that he underwent a procedure for in October ended up derailing his season. Ariza was waived on April 7, 2022, after playing in just 24 games, starting 11 of them, and averaging just four points while shooting 33.3% from the floor and 27% from deep. He never played in the NBA again.
While Schröder never overlapped with Ariza in LA, he missed him by just a year on both ends. The Lakers traded for Schröder, in a deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Danny Green and the draft rights to Jaden McDaniels, just ahead of the 2020-21 season as part of a retooling in their ill-fated title defense. He averaged 15.4 points and 5.8 assists on a 43.7% field-goal percentage and 33.5% from 3-point range in 61 games played. But in the postseason those numbers dipped to 14.3 points and 2.8 assists on 40% shooting (30.8% from 3) as the Lakers were bounced in the first round by the Phoenix Suns in six games.
There were rumors (and many, many memes) about Schröder reportedly turning down an $84 million contract extension with the Lakers, but he later claimed that wasn't true. He eventually signed a one-year, $5.9 million deal with the Celtics in the 2021 offseason but returned to the Lakers a year later, telling ESPN's Dave McMenamin he had "unfinished business."
His individual numbers took another small dip in 2022-23 as he averaged 12 points and 4.5 assists on 41.5% shooting, but Schröder had arguably his biggest moment in purple and gold in their play-in game against the Minnesota Timberwolves when LeBron James, driving under the basket, dished the ball to Schröder in the corner and he drained a tiebreaking 3 with 2.4 seconds left in regulation. The Wolves still managed to force overtime, where Schröder again came up clutch with two game-winning free throws to complete LA's unlikely rise from 13th in the West at the trade deadline to the seventh seed.
Since that 2023 Western Conference finals run, Schröder has played for the Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Detroit Pistons, Sacramento Kings, Cavaliers and now, the Hornets. He's one team away from tying Ish Smith's NBA record of playing for 13 different teams in his NBA career.
But it's not like the latest move doesn't make sense; it does, for all parties involved. The Cavs are now $32 million under the first apron and have more flexibility to fill out their roster as they pursue a new deal for James Harden, while Charlotte adds a veteran ball handler to a young but talented locker room that includes Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, Coby White and Naz Reid, who they acquired earlier this summer in the LaMelo Ball trade.
More importantly, Schröder brings playoff experience — something the Hornets haven't experienced since 2016.
“It’s just premature to speculate at all about what we plan to do,” Iger told the Post. “Because frankly, we haven’t made any plans yet.”
More than understandable considering the opportunity to buy the Lakers didn’t make itself available to Iger and Kushner until very recently. The agreement came together within three days, according to Iger.
Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, attends The Wallis Delivers: A Benefit Evening To Support Wildfire Recovery at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Beverly Hills, California. (Getty Images North America) Getty Images
Immediate questions swirled about Jeanie Buss and whether she would remain the franchise’s governor after having an agreement with Walter to remain in the role for at least five years.
Iger told the Post he and Kushner intend to honor that agreement.
But an ESPN story fueled more speculation, with the outlet reporting Thursday multiple people around the league suggested that the recently retired NBA legend Chris Paul could have a role in the Lakers’ front office if there are changes.
Iger, who was a longtime season-ticket holder for the Clippers, and Paul built a strong relationship while CP3 played for the Clippers from 2011-17, and have remained close since.
It’s too early to tell whether Paul would be interested in a front office role with the Lakers. It also isn’t certain whether the Lakers would be interested in adding Paul to their front office.
But if Paul did join the Lakers in any capacity, it would be an ironic next chapter for his NBA life.
Chris Paul of the San Antonio Spurs looks on after Game Two of the 2025 NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, June 8, 2025, at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (NBAE) NBAE via Getty Images
Chris Paul ––– a Laker?
It’s almost been 15 years since Paul was nearly traded to the Lakers in December 2011.
At the time, the hope was that a then- 26-year-old Paul would help the Lakers contend for championships during the backend of Kobe Bryant’s prime, while also being the player they could build around in the 2010s.
But the trade was infamously nixed.
And Paul spent the next six years revitalizing the Clippers, the Lakers’ cross-town rival, while the Lakers slowly started to struggle until LeBron James joined the franchise in 2018.
But if Paul is able to join the Lakers in any capacity, it could provide him with the opportunity to contribute to a franchise he could’ve been with – albeit in a significantly different way.
But people around the league see the potential fit for Paul in a front office role.
A front office member on an Eastern Conference team told the Post they could see Paul, at least initially, best fitting in as a consultant as someone who people around the organization can pick the brain of the 12-time All-Star.
Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade attend a game between the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder during the Emirates NBA Cup 2025 Semifinals on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (NBAE) NBAE via Getty Images
“Just comes down to commitment and how much he listens,” the front office member told the Post of Paul’s fit as an executive. “Understanding [the] game at such a higher level goes such a long way.”
Another front office member for another team speculated going into coaching could be a better option for Paul, citing his playing career accolades.
“Such a student of the game, he’s used to leading on [the] floor and in a locker room,” they told the Post. “Could just see it translating well, in my opinion.”
They added: “But I could see either front office or coaching in his future.”
The next step for Paul – and the Lakers – aren’t known.
But Paul joining the Lakers could be a fascinating twist in a journey for the legendary point guard and franchise that have witnessed several of them.
We've reached the point of the offseason where there is minimal movement on the free agency and trade market — outside of Cleveland trading Dennis Schroder to clear a little cap space to make another move later — but there is some. Here is some of the latest chatter.
Klay Thompson seeks contender
It's been reported for months that the Dallas Mavericks have been looking for a trade for Klay Thompson, while at the same time denying they plan to buy him out (because teams would rather get him for nothing on the cheap than have to give up players and picks to land him).
"I want to compete for a championship, not necessarily win one, but... have the chance to go and try and get another one. I want to play a role on a team. Whether it's this season or next season, that's really my only goal."
Dallas, while trying to build toward that around Cooper Flagg, is not there yet. Some contenders may like the idea of him on the roster, but Thompson, 36, is set to make $17.5 million this season in the final year of his contract, and that's more money than contending teams want to spend considering Thompson's production at this point in his career.
Maybe something happens closer to the start of training camp or at the deadline, but for now things are quiet.
Along those lines, team general manager Mike Dunleavy told reporters he expects the sides to reach a deal on an extension.
Mike Dunleavy's quotes today on Steph Curry's future and extension eligibility with the Warriors.
On the extension: "I'm pretty confident Steph will finish his career (with the Warriors). Ultimately it's his call, his decision, whether that's allowing his contract to run out and…
Curry is in the final year of his contract, making $62.6 million. The only real question is whether Curry and the Warriors would agree to delay signing the extension to give the franchise more cap room next offseason to make aggressive roster changes. But expect the deal to happen.
Is Cleveland closer to Peyton Watson deal?
A few days ago, NBA insider Marc Stein called the Cleveland Cavaliers a "team to watch" in the chase for Nuggets restricted free agent wing Peyton Watson. As Stein noted, to make that happen the Cavaliers would have to clear out cap space by trading Dennis Schroder and likely also Max Strus.
Well, half of that is now done, Schroder is headed to Charlotte. Does that move Cleveland closer to a move for Watson? Yes. Him or Jonathan Kuminga (also a free agent).
The Cavaliers continue to look at potential Strus trade options, however, at this point in the offseason it's generally difficult to get trades done. Rosters are largely locked in, and teams want to see what they have, not make another big move before training camp.
Still, this is something to watch. Watson is reportedly seeking a deal close to the $25 million a year Christian Braun got from Denver last season, and for Cleveland to pay him and re-sign James Harden gets expensive, so the trades are needed. The Clippers and Bucks also remain interested in Watson, and Denver would like to re-sign him but would need to trade Braun or Cam Johnson to clear out cap space themselves (the Nuggets are currently over the second apron).
Other news, rumors
• Last summer it was hanging with Shaolin Monks. This summer, Victor Wembanyama seems to be practicing with a rugby team.
Victor Wembanyama has been training with a pro rugby team in the south of France this week, according to @RugbyramaFR.
“To everyone’s surprise, the Frenchman took part in several drills during on-field training sessions, but also fully immersed himself alongside the Provence…
• Several teams are open to signing Ben Simmons and bringing him into training camp, reports Jake Fischer in a Bleacher Report stream. Maybe that happens, but it would be on a non-guaranteed contract. The other unfortunate reality: Any team that brings Simmons into camp will face a daily question from the media for the coach and other players about Simmons, and it will soak up much of the conversation around that team. Do teams want to deal with that?
• Sacramento is looking for a veteran point guard to play behind rookie Darius Acuff Jr. Victor Oladipo would like that role and in an appearance on Yahoo Sports Daily said there is mutual interest between him and Sacramento. Just something to monitor.
Bob Iger, left, and Joshua Kushner jumped at the chance to acquire the Los Angeles Lakers. (Getty Images)
Mark Walter said he loved owning the Lakers but decided recently it was time to sell.
Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner wanted to own an NBA franchise and had the money for a big purchase.
The framework for a deal was consummated in a matter of days, Iger said, although the sale needs to be approved by the NBA Board of Governors.
Iger and Kushner paid $12.5 billion for the Lakers. Walter’s flipping of the franchise netted him a $2.5-billion profit after only 14 months of ownership. It is the highest-ever price paid for a sports team and comes as Walter’s business is facing a federal probe.
Kushner, whose older brother Jared is President Trump’s son-in-law, founded the Thrive Capital firm in 2009 and has amassed a net worth estimated by Forbes at more than $5 billion.
One of Thrive’s subsidiaries, Thrive Eternal, focuses on sports acquisitions, purchasing and selling a stake in the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies before acquiring stakes in the Miami Heat and the MLB’s San Francisco Giants , among others.
Kushner and Iger were also championing a potential NBA expansion team in Las Vegas through Thrive Eternal until the opportunity to simply pay cash for the league’s most iconic franchise presented itself.
Mark Walter (Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
Iger befriended the Lakers’ current head coach JJ Redick when Redick played for the L.A. Clippers from 2013 to 2017. Iger has long been a Clippers fan, telling Redick on a podcast in 2021 that he grew up a New York Knicks fan and their rivalry with the Lakers made rooting for the purple and gold when he moved to L.A. in 2000 “not in my DNA.”
Why would he, without hesitation, become keen on the Lakers?
The Lakers are the “epitome of an eternal asset,” Iger told Bloomberg this week.
A spokesperson for Iger and Kushner said neither were available to speak to The Times until the sale of the Lakers is completed.
In April, Kushner wrote on social media that Iger “leads with boldness and conviction because he knows what he is building and why.” Their mutual admiration began in 2018 when their wives — former models who went on to have successful business careers — became friends.
Iger joined Thrive for a short time in 2022 after resigning from the Walt Disney Co., and returned to Kushner’s firm in March after serving a second stretch as Disney’s chief executive from late 2022 to earlier this year.
Iger is a close friend of NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who introduced Iger to his wife, Willow Bay, in the 1990s when she hosted the television show “NBA Inside Stuff.” Bay is now dean of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.
Iger and Bay married in 1995 and moved from New York to Los Angeles in 2000. Soon, he was regularly attending Clippers home games. Owning the Lakers may never have crossed his mind until a week or so ago. Now he’s all in.
“Grateful, appreciative, excited to own something that’s as iconic as the L.A. Lakers,” Iger told the California Post. “Josh and I are avid NBA fans. And [to] have an opportunity to own not just any NBA team, but the L.A. Lakers is extraordinary from a life experience perspective and business perspective. It’s still sinking in. We’re very excited.”
Bob Iger and Willow Bay married in 1995 and moved to Los Angeles in 2000. (Ashley Landis / Invision / AP)
Iger acknowledged it is too soon to articulate a strategic plan.
“We are fans,” Iger told the outlet. “We respect the value that’s been created, both on the court and off. Our intention is to build this great franchise from a position of strength in many respects as an organization.
“It’s just premature to speculate at all about what we plan to do, because frankly, we haven’t made any plans yet. Again, we go into this with an appreciation of who the Lakers are. And we just want to build value from today on.”
Walter’s decision to sell the Lakers shocked the sports world. In his short tenure as owner, the team said goodbye to LeBron James, gave Austin Reaves a long contract extension, traded for impact center Walker Kessler and signed several complementary players.
Walter is also majority owner of the Dodgers and the L.A. Sparks of the WNBA. He owns minority stakes in professional soccer teams Chelsea FC and RC Strasbourg Alsace and the Cadillac Formula One team. And he owns the entire Professional Women’s Hockey League, which named its championship trophy after Walter.
It became public recently that federal officials were investigating his business empire. The investigations by the U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Delaware insurance regulator are focused on $21 billion in possibly fraudulent loans made by two Delaware life insurers that Walter owns to companies also tied to him. Such potential conflicts of interest must be reported to regulators.
Walter and his firm have denied any wrongdoing. He has declined to answer questions about the sale and whether it was connected to the probe.
The Dodgers have said Walter has no intention of selling that team.
Iger, in interviews this week, described the deal as happening very quickly.
“We were involved in pursuing the new franchise in Vegas,” Iger told the California Post. “And while that happened, it was suggested to us that maybe Mark Walter would be interested in selling his stake in the Lakers. And we immediately decided that given the value of the franchise and the iconic nature of the team, that we would be really smart to pursue it. The deal came together in three days. It’s that simple.”
A former Golden State Warriors point guard receives backlash from the internet after leaving Steph Curry off of his top-5 all-time list.
When it comes to basketball conversations about who is the greatest of all time, it’s often a debate between Michael Jordan and LeBron James. But when it comes down to top five of all time, both of them are usually a sure thing to be in it.
Klay Thompson revealing his top 5 all-time with streamer PlaqueBoyMax
Thompson began the list by listing former Lakers great Shaquille O’Neal as his center, then put Tim Duncan and LeBron James as his two forwards.
Struggling to decide with his hand rubbing against his head, Thompson ended up choosing Kobe Bryant over Jordan at shooting guard.
“I gotta go with Kobe at the two,” Thompson said. “I love Mike, but I just grew up watching Kobe. I got to play against him. 81 [point game,] twelve threes, you know, gold medals. God, I love MJ, but Kobe is like a carbon copy of Mike. Imma go, Kobe just cause that’s my era.”
Thompson then said he would put Steph Curry at point guard, and added that he is “loyal to my PG of the past.”
Immediately after Thompson’s top 5 was revealed, basketball fans across the internet commented on the post that had over 457.7 thousand views in a day and had mixed reactions about Thompson’s list.
Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry react after scoring during the first quarter of a game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. (Jason Szenes for New York Post) Jason Szenes for New York Post
“stayed loyal to steph” no he just has common sense and knows steph is the greatest player ever at the position and it’s not relatively close
The X account @Kypsiw responded to the video and said: ” ‘Stayed loyal to steph’ no he just has common sense and knows steph is the greatest player ever at the position and it’s not relatively close.”
The account @GrindHard0990 commented, “NO JORDAN FOR A REASON…DUDE A– FR…”
The backlash on Thompson continued when the account @ThehoopCentral reposted the video, and the account @ItsMichaelJ commented a GIF of Jordan hysterically laughing with a tablet in his lap.
@AriiKruse1 commented, “Great lineup, but who takes the final shot in clutch moments?”
Thompson wasn’t the only one receiving backlash, as the account @Jay_Jay9517 commented on it, and took a shot at PlaqueBoyMax by saying, “These streamers are so lame, dude looks like he would rather be anywhere else than sitting next to one of the greatest NBA players of all time. .. not even engaged in the conversation.”
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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 24: Bob Iger (L) and Chris Paul attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Denver Nuggets at Intuit Dome on April 24, 2025 in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images) | Getty Images
MIAMI, FLORIDA - JULY 16: Giannis Antetokounmpo #7 of the Miami Heat speaks to the media during an introductory press conference at Kaseya Center on July 16, 2026 in Miami, Florida. 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 Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This week, we finally touched on the elephant in the room re. Giannis: the notion that Bucks GM Jon Horst waited too long to trade him. This week’s polling results were fascinating because, to me, they showed how being a team fan and having a deeper connection to its players can change how people view the choices the team makes, compared with how an outsider views those choices.
Outside the fanbase, the prevailing view is that Horst messed up by waiting too long and losing much of his leverage when he traded Giannis. But inside the fanbase—while many accept that, in a nutshell, Horst could have done better strategically—most fans (59%) were fine with the Bucks GM waiting because they preferred he try everything to keep Giannis and fail than not exhaust all options. That said, a substantial portion of the fanbase (41%) still thought he waited too long. Each to their own!
Many of the fans who sat in the majority had other critiques of Horst—along with nuances they pointed out—but were ultimately steadfast that he did the right thing in his handling of Giannis, specifically:
BenDranklin3000: I will always stand by the opinion that when you have an absolute generational talent, you do everything you can to try to build around him. Even more so when he is actually a good dude and also actually likes the city of Milwaukee. Watching Giannis get teary-eyed while watching videos of fans thanking him and wishing him well while he is adjusting to his new surroundings is unheard of… And while there were some ugly moments, I will always love him, and that is all the justification I need to say we did the right thing in trying to make things work
LombardiStanleyO’Brian: Looking back at this… 100% yes. But at the present moment of that summer, equally 100% no. The Bucks were coming off a slim playoff exit at the hands of a magical Pacers run. After that, we waived and stretched Dame to steal a massive piece of their team in Myles Turner, and within a weak East, we looked like on paper title contenders. Sadly, a combination of bad Doc Rivers, Giannis’ injury, and just plain poor basketball doomed us. At the moment then, it looked like a great move on the surface, but like so many of Horst’s moves, it didn’t end up panning out.
Now for those who stood more toward the opposing opinion:
Harms: I voted No. I agreed with Sam Vecenie on the Game Theory podcast that Giannis should have been traded a year ago to extract more value. I can’t really fathom, with the benefits of hindsight, why anyone would choose the route we took as being better than potentially getting a better package and a quicker start to moving on. I get the sentimental feelings about it, but had I known that Giannis had been that aggressive with wanting out of Milwaukee, I would have moved him last year.
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SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 22: Ziaire Williams #1 of the Brooklyn Nets warms up before the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on March 22, 2026 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Chemistry with this iteration of the Lakers will be an uphill challenge. Many of them have never played together and will need to learn one another quickly to succeed on the court.
Though there are a ton of new faces in Los Angeles, some already have connections, including Bronny James and Ziaire Williams.
On the Lakers’ YouTube channel, Williams discussed how he’s been teammates with Bronny before.
“Shoutout fellow Laker Bronny in the cut. That was my freshman right there. It’s going to be fun playing with Bronny again. We grew a lot together at Sierra Canyon and we’ve been friends ever since. So, it’s been cool to see him make it to the big leagues and keep progressing, keep getting better. I’m excited to be back on his team again.”
It’s going to be pretty cool for Sierra Canyon, and really all of California, when these two are on the floor at the same time.
While the degrees of separation in the NBA are small, it’s still rare for high school teammates to be on the same team at this level. The fact that the Lakers play just 31 miles from their high school is amazing and shows how small this world can be.
As a Californian, Williams has always loved the Lakers. So joining this iconic franchise certainly feels like a full-circle moment for him, which he described further in the aforementioned video.
“Seeing my name on the Lakers jersey was super surreal. A blessing. I can’t even explain it in words. I’m just so excited to be back home, play in front of the fans, my family. I would have never imagined this day would come true.”
With a bond to the city, the franchise and even one of his teammates, things are starting pretty well for Williams as a Laker.
This will be his third team in six years, but if Williams makes the most of this opportunity, it could be the place where he solidifies himself as a quality wing player.
Williams joined LA on a modest deal, and if he can be a solid defender and 3-point shooter, exceeding expectations is certainly on the table.
Agent Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, who represented Clarke, confirmed to USA TODAY Sports Friday, Aug. 14 that Clarke’s contract was fully protected for death through a life insurance policy purchased by the Grizzlies. The full $12.5 million amount will be disbursed to Clarke’s estate tax-free.
There are multiple ways players and their representatives can negotiate life insurance policies and post-death protections in player contracts. From no coverage whatsoever, to standard death protections that count a player’s salary as a taxable event, agents can also negotiate to have the player’s team purchase the life insurance policy. This last option allows for a player’s full salary to be paid out tax-free, providing a massive benefit to the player’s estate.
As for the remaining portion of Clarke’s $12.5 million salary for the 2025-26 season that had been owed at the time of his death, Bartelstein confirmed that amount is being paid out to his estate through October 2026; NBA contracts are paid in installments, so the remaining amount will be disbursed in those regular installments.
There had been conflicting reports concerning the remaining salary on Clarke’s contract, which was set to expire at the end of the 2026-27 season. Front Office Sports reported Thursday, Aug. 13 that Clarke’s estate would not receive the $12.5 million that had been owed to him next season.
On May 12, the Grizzlies and Clarke’s representatives at Priority Sports each issued separate statements announcing Clarke’s death. He was 29 years old.
Clarke was pronounced dead by authorities on May 11 after being found unresponsive in his bedroom, according to the announcement. A deputy medical examiner conducted an examination of Clarke at the DME’s Forensic Science Center on May 12 and the cause and manner of death were certified Aug. 7.
Clarke was the No. 21 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Gonzaga and enjoyed initial success in the league, earning all-rookie honors while averaging a career-high 12.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. He signed a four-year, $50 million contract extension with Memphis in 2022.
Clarke's sudden death happened almost six weeks after he was arrested in Arkansas for improper passing, possession of a controlled substance, fleeing and exceeding the speed limit and trafficking a controlled substance. He had just finished his seventh NBA season, all of which he spent with the Grizzlies.Clarke allegedly led Cross County Sheriff's Office deputies on a miles-long chase on April 1, with speeds reaching over 100 mph, and was found with over 230 grams of kratom in his possession, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by The Memphis Commercial Appeal, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Clarke's career had been derailed in recent years by injuries. He played in just six games during the 2023-24 season due to a torn Achilles and missed all but two games this past season due to calf and knee ailments.
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San Diego Padres (65-57) at Cleveland Guardians (59-63), August 14, 2026, 4:10 p.m. PST
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A general overall view of the branding announcement for the new WNBA team the Cleveland Sirens at Rocket Arena on August 04, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Picking a name for a new professional sports team is tricky. You want to do something creative, but also tie into the fabric of the city. Cleveland’s new WNBA team tried to do that when they unveiled their name as the Sirens. And according to those we surveyed, they were successful.
Earlier this week, we asked people to grade the name of the Sirens. Almost two-thirds of those surveyed gave the new team name either an “A” or “B” grade, with 39% giving it an “A.”
It’s worth pointing out that 21% gave the Sirens name a “D” or an “F” grade.
Doing something new and creative is a risk. Resurrecting a name like the Rockers or one that ties closely into the Cleveland Cavaliers would’ve been safer. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that there were a number of people who didn’t like the bold choice.
Overall, it’s hard to criticize the Cleveland WNBA team for their brand rollout. They’ve done an excellent job of messaging their position and explaining why they went in this direction. They’ve made it clear that they want to be their own team, separate from the Cavs. And they’ve done that in an interesting and creative way.
“We don’t want to be the Lady Cavaliers.”
Cleveland Sirens exec Allison Howard explains why the city’s new #WNBA franchise chose to go a different direction from the Cavs brand and colors. pic.twitter.com/tDwzvKfcQa
The Sirens will start playing at the start of the 2028 season.
The Cavs open up their regular season in just about two months. FanDuel currently gives them the sixth-highest odds to win the Eastern Conference at +1000. They’re behind the New York Knicks (+300), Philadelphia 76ers (+400), Boston Celtics (+500), Detroit Pistons (+800), and Toronto Raptors (+1000).
Dennis Schröder is staying in the Eastern Conference — but he’s no longer a Cavalier.
The crafty veteran point guard has been traded to the Hornets, sending Tre Mann back to the Cavs, according to ESPN, in what is ultimately a cost-cutting move.
In executing this deal, Cleveland will reportedly move off Schröder’s remaining two years and $30 million-plus, taking back Mann, who will make $8 million this season, which is a little under half of Schröder’s $14.8 million for the 2026-27 season.
Mann, 25, will also have a team option for 2027-28 at the same $8 million.
Dennis Schroder drives against Josh Hart during Game 1 of the 2026 Eastern Conference finals. Getty Images
The Hornets are also acquiring cash considerations as part of the deal, per ESPN.
The Cavs also added former fifth-overall draft pick Mario Hezonja in free agency this summer, who spent his last four seasons starring at Real Madrid, winning the prestigious EuroLeague title in 2023 and Liga ACB titles in Spain during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Individually, he secured an MVP award in 2026.
Schröder, a 2023 FIBA World Cup MVP and 2025 EuroBasket MVP, will turn 33 on Sept. 15 as he heads into his 14th NBA season.
Tre Mann will be going back to the Cavs in the Dennis Schroder trade. Getty Images
The long-time veteran floor general spent time with Hornets head coach Charles Lee while he was an assistant on Mike Budenholzer’s staff from 2014-18, coinciding with four of Schröder’s first five seasons in the league.
Schröder also overlapped with Hornets general manager Jeff Peterson, who was the Nets’ assistant GM before getting hired by Charlotte in March 2024.
Schröder played with the Nets from February through December of that year.
The 6-foot-1 guard, who is just 88 games away from making 1,000 career regular season NBA appearances — a feat only achieved by 156 other players — will be joining his 12th team in the league upon reporting to Charlotte.
Dennis Schroder recently played with the German National Team during the 2026 FIBA World qualifying window in July. dpa/picture alliance via Getty I
Last season, Schröder averaged just 8.2 points and 4.3 assists while shooting 40 percent from the field and 29 percent from deep — his least productive season since his rookie year, though he also averaged just 21.4 minutes, his lowest in a decade.
Though the Hornets emerged as one of the league’s most fun stories, dominating their way to a play-in spot by recording the league’s best net rating for the final four months of the regular season, Mann had little to do with the turnaround.
He was largely out of the rotation and logged just 12.6 minutes per contest, averaging 5.5 points and 1.6 assists, shooting 36 percent from the field and just 32.3 percent from 3.
This is the ninth time Schröder has been traded in his career, second only to Trevor Ariza, who was dealt a record 11 times.
Apr 1, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan (10) drives to the basket against the Toronto Raptors in the first half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
DeMar DeRozan, the Raptors’ all-time leader in games played, minutes, played, and points scored, will not be making his way back to Toronto, after all. DeRozan parted way with the Kings and there was wild speculation as to where he might end up. Rumours abounded that he was destined for a return to the 6ix, or perhaps headed to Miami, but in a cruel twist of irony, he is going to join the team that the Raptors beat for the 2019 Championship to play alongside Stephen Curry, as DeRozan enters his 17th season in the league.
Free Agent and Six-time NBA All-Star DeMar DeRozan has agreed to a two-year, $8.4 million deal with the Golden State Warriors, his agent Aaron Goodwin of @GoodwinSports tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/4EoouhEgKE
Shams Charania reported the news today on August 13th, conveying information from DeRozan’s agent. The 8.4 million dollars is far from the veteran’s minimum, but is a far cry from the more than 24 million he earned last year. This will be his lowest earning year since the 2012-13 season when he was on the Raptors.
This fresh start for DeRozan will see him stay in his home state of California, close to his native Los Angeles. While I personally believe that it’ll be good for the shooting guard to be both close to his roots and in a new city, it stings that we won’t see him play in Toronto at this juncture. Am I blaming the Kawhi uncertainty for this? Yes, and no. I don’t think it helped the Raptors’ position that they don’t have any clear idea of whether or not they’ll have a starting small forward in Leonard this season, but regardless, I didn’t see DeRozan playing a massive role in Toronto — at most, leading the bench mob — so it certainly makes sense that the wing would be happier in some different pastures.
While it’s currently unknown what type of role he’ll play in Golden State, the Warriors are indeed in need of some veteran presence and a baseline level of competency, considering how rough things were last year when Stephen Curry was out, a disadvantage even more pronounced now that Jimmy Butler remains out with a torn ACL. It’s likely that DeRozan will be in a starting role, one where he’ll be able to play off against Curry, his best teammate in years, and certainly his most pedigreed co-star.
I’d like to see DeMar get back to a 20+ppg form on the Warriors, even if he’s not with us. I think legacy is what comes to mind the most in the latter years of NBA stars, so I wish DeRozan the best in the twilight years, even if they’re not in the red and black.
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