High stakes Rockets season in three parts: Coaching

THEY have failed me AGAIN! | NBAE via Getty Images

Now we come to the part of the Rockets that I think needed to change at the end of the previous playoffs: coaching. This isn’t because I dislike Ime Udoka on a personal level (as much as a stranger to the man can), although I do. It’s because he’s given everyone plenty of evidence that he’s simply not up to the job of taking the Rockets to the next phase of their (hoped for!) ascent to the upper echelons of the NBA. I’d like to say “return to the upper echelons” but it’s been a while since the Rockets were there. We’re long past the “going out for a six pack, back soon” stage of things, I’m afraid.

Unfortunately the coach that management extended for big money last season isn’t the guy to lead that ascent. If you read my article on The Players, asking if they were suited to running the systems they are required to run by their coach, you’ll know where I’m coming from on that score.

Here’s the problem: Udoka’s lack of recognition that the team he actually has isn’t capable of running the offensive scheme he insists upon. You may be a defense first coach, but if you can’t score (or stop opponent scoring, or let’s be honest, coach) when the chips are down and a Godawful (and historic for a winning team!) 19 blown fourth quarter or OT leads says you can’t (this isn’t new, it happened in Boston, btw), you’d better pay more attention to offense. Or maybe you’re not really fit to be a top level NBA head coach. 19 blown leads for a 52 win team isn’t some weird randomness in my view (as there’s not previous example of such that I’ve been able to find – only truly terrible teams blow that many leads normally), it’s a deep flaw in coaching.

It’s one thing to run an incompatible offense for a season, but we now have a three year sample. At no point in those three years has a James Harden Tribute Band level initiator played for the Rockets. The closest the Rockets have come to that are: Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet. There’s a real problem with each, as you probably have noticed.

In Green’s case, he’s simply a terribly inefficient offensive player, despite occasional outbursts of All NBA level offense. If he’s consuming a ton of shots, your offense has a serious problem. On the other hand, at least he COULD get to the rim off the dribble. Fred VanVleet can’t do that. I’m sorry, but it’s true. I love Fred VanVleet as a player. I think almost no other player that I’ve seen in the NBA (except maybe Jalen Brunson) has maximized the talent and body he was given more than FVV. While Fred is a steady and low risk passer, and a great floor general, he’s not really much of an offensive threat, especially if you look at his last season.

Isn’t three years of running a scheme without the key player necessary for that scheme enough of a sample? What more do you need to see? If the most stubborn, unreflective, coach I’ve ever seen with the Rockets will change his tune?

And yet, the Rockets have been a good team anyway! The talent on the team, in my opinion, is essentially masking Udoka’s incompetence to a great degree. Except when the playoffs come. Then the mask comes off, and Udoka’s lack of any sort of adaptability very evidently dooms them. If you don’t think it did against Golden State, I can almost see it, but what the hell was that against the shell of a Lakers team with a rookie head coach?

If you look at the Rockets lineup and think you can run a James Harden style, heliocentric attack without James Harden, but also without a center who is either a rim runner or a 3pt shooter, and with another almost total non 3pt shooter on the court to go with your non 3pt shooting center (though it would have been better to put Alpie in the corner than Amen Thompson) then you are simply not fit for your job.

If a coach can, or will, only run one system, no matter his personnel, despite the terrible fits almost across the board for that system, that coach is honestly not fit to be an NBA head coach in the modern game. The competition is too good, too versatile, too swift to punish mistakes. If a coach can’t change what isn’t working, despite ample evidence, what chance does he have against the upper echelons of NBA coaching? As the playoffs have demonstrated: not much.

Maybe Ime Udoka, like Mike Brown, will learn from his mistake, and build a title winner. I can’t imagine that happening in Houston, and I can’t imagine it happening while he’s still a head coach. If I’m honest, I don’t see that happening at all. I expect Ime Udoka to get fired in season, or after another humiliating playoff loss. I expect he will either vanish without a trace, or become an assistant somewhere. If you were a GM, seeing this, would you hire him?

If you were a GM, would you keep a coach who never, at any point, takes responsibility for anything? I’ve watched nearly three years of Udoka post game pressers. He’s got a linguistic tell that indicates to me that he never believes he’s responsible for anything bad. It’s pretty simple. When he’s talking about a Rockets game “We” win, and “They” lose. Listen and you’ll hear it, unless someone’s told him about it, and he stops, I guess.

I have come to believe the Rockets in Rafael Stone and Ime Udoka are an NBA basketball example of The Peter Principle, which (briefly) states that people in a hierarchical system rise to the level of their incompetence. Stone might have an excuse, to some degree, in terms ownership wishes leading to decisions he wouldn’t have chosen. It’s impossible for the likes of me to know for sure, but it’s easy to see other mistakes outside of that anyhow. Also it makes me question how much Stone actually knows about NBA basketball, instead of lawyering and contract negotiation? What does he think he’s seeing out there? This isn’t some subtle thing that only the most experienced basketball minds can understand, a tiny but dangerous flaw in approach, this is obvious stuff.

Ime Udoka, though? It’s straight up incompetence at this point. Whatever got Boston to the Finals with him is looking more and more like a one off event. It’s nice that he got the Rockets to take a level of responsibility for their play, and it’s great he got them to try much harder than they had been trying. On the other hand, the Rockets also got an infusion of sound veterans to provide a leadership backbone on the court, and the slip in in defensive intensity without Dillon Brooks was evident last year.

I wish I had any hope, any positivity about Ime Udoka and His Black Clad Cultists (hear about any head coach interviews for any of them this off season?) but I simply don’t. Ime Udoka has shown what he’s capable of doing, and it’s not good enough for a team that wants, well I was going to say contend, but I’ll go with “win a playoff series” until proven otherwise.

Maybe he’ll surprise me. Stranger things have happened.

PS – You want some positive Rockets coaching news? The Houston Rockets have disbanded their Shooting Coach Committee and hired the consensus best shooting coach in the NBA, Chip Engelland. This might be due mostly to pressing need for Amen Thompson to shoot better, but it should help the entire team. In a summer of Mr. Adequate moves from Rafael Stone, this was a great one.

PPS – Ok, so what should the Rockets be doing on offense? Lots of teams are running some version of the heliocentric Hardenesque offense, what happens if you don’t have that guy? That will be coming up in September.

Mark Mitchell passes on Nuggets training camp, reenrolls at Missouri

After an All-SEC season at Missouri where he averaged 18.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game while shooting 38.8% from 3-point range, four-year college player Mark Mitchell entered the NBA draft process. After going undrafted, he played for the Nuggets at Summer League and was set to head to their training camp on an Exhibit 10 deal (which includes a bonus to join the Nuggets G League team).

Instead, he has re-enrolled at Missouri — a surprise as he was expected to transfer to Kentucky — and is looking to play a disputed fifth college season, a story broken by Jeff Goodman of The Field of 68 and confirmed by ESPN’s Jeff Borzello, who spoke to Mitchell's agent.

Ultimately, Mitchell's fate will be in the hands of judges. He is one of more than 25 four-year men's college basketball players who agreed to non-guaranteed NBA contracts but now could be eligible to return to college for a fifth season after a judge's ruling. In the wake of the NCAA’s new “five-for-five” rule for college sports, some players in last year's class who used up their eligibility under the old rules but were not grandfathered into the new one went to court. There have been a host of court rulings on this,, for Mitchell it is Colorado-based U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney granting four-year college athletes from the high school class of 2022 a fifth year of eligibility (if they had not signed a professional contract). The NCAA has appealed to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, seeking to overturn the ruling. Also, the SEC is fighting the return of players in this situation (right now, that is more focused on football).

For Mitchell, this is the smart financial play. The standard G-League contract paid $45,000 last season, and Mitchell would get an Exhibit 10 bonus for going through camp with the Nuggets (up to $85,000, but likely less). That is far less than his NIL contract with Missouri or any major college.

If the ruling permitting players to return is allowed to stand, there will be a lot more players following this path in the coming weeks.

Knicks Domino Effects: What if Jalen Brunson stayed in Dallas?

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 12: Jalen Brunson #13 of the Dallas Mavericks dribbles the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on January 12, 2022 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 2022 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Domino effects are meant to start relatively small. The first two editions of the series, I feel like, encompassed that. We got really niche with the Mike Brown Kings saga and less niche with Julius Randle’s injury, but both of them required a lot of outside-the-box thinking to see directly what a reversal would’ve caused to the Knicks’ long-term hopes.

This one is anything but niche.

To wrap up this mini-series I’ve had fun with over the dog days of the summer, we’re going to look at possibly the biggest domino effect of them all, one that was scarily realistic and only didn’t occur because of the hubris of a certain front office that later made one of the worst trades in NBA history.

You saw the title. This is a scenario that Jalen Brunson, the birthday boy and the man who has exceeded every expectation and has spearheaded a revival of Knicks basketball so grand that all of us have spent way too much money on championship merch, never puts on the orange and blue.

DALLAS, TX – MAY 24: Jalen Brunson #13 of the Dallas Mavericks walks off the court after Game 4 of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Finals on May 24, 2022 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. 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 2022 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Following his third season in Dallas, Brunson and his agents at CAA wanted to negotiate a contract extension with the Mavericks’ brass. The number that they decided on was more than reasonable for a player of his current production: four years and $55 million. After all, he was coming off finishing fourth in Sixth Man of the Year voting with plausible upward mobility.

Dallas said no. Fast forward a few months: as Brunson began what turned out to be a breakout campaign, he and his agent approached the Mavs again about the same framework and were again told no.

Brunson kept working and gradually improving to the point where the Mavs themselves approached him about the $55 million deal after the trade deadline, but at that point, he had outgrown that offer as he was barreling towards free agency. Four months later, he landed in New York on a four-year, $104 million pact.

But what if Dallas realized what they had in Brunson at either one of those points, particularly the in-season extension? What if they took a guy that the Knicks had long been looking at off the market? Such a deal would’ve been more than reasonable for their current cap structure as a sixth man or starter next to Luka Doncic, even if the fit was potentially difficult due to both of their defensive shortcomings. Frankly, it was nonsensical for them to be that blind. This was a good player.

December 1, 2021. Jalen Brunson and the Dallas Mavericks announce a four-year, $55 million extension that will begin the following season. Let’s see where the dominoes fall.

Nothing changes from this point forward on any side for the rest of the 2021-22 season. Brunson still balls out and gets on the national radar with his incredible performance in the postseason; the Knicks still miss the playoffs, etc. Instead of the media clowning the Knicks for giving Brunson a nine-figure deal in June, the offseason is spent lauding Nico Harrison and company for their wherewithal to lock down this impact player for cheap.

Of course, this creates a gigantic path of divergence for the Knicks, who were always infatuated with Brunson because of his family connections. I still think Rick Brunson gets hired onto Tom Thibodeau’s staff to replace the outgoing Kenny Payne (who had a truly disastrous tenure at Louisville). The hiring was definitely motivated by his son’s free agency, but he had also served as an assistant under Thibs in Chicago and Minnesota, so it still happens.

The real question, though, is what happens in that offseason. Our first major question revolves around the strategy for the 2022 NBA Draft, particularly with the No. 11 overall pick.

2022 NBA Draft

BROOKLYN, NY – JUNE 23: NBA Draft Prospects pose for a group portrait before the 2022 NBA Draft on June 23, 2022 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 2022 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

For those who don’t remember, the Knicks selected Ousmane Dieng, traded him to the Thunder in exchange for three first-round picks, traded up to No. 13 in exchange for two picks, selected Jalen Duren, and shipped him to Detroit alongside Kemba Walker in an effective salary dump. The team came out with solid assets and cleared up some cash.

The motivation behind punting a lottery pick? Signing Jalen Brunson. A later trade with Detroit shipped Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel to the Motor City and cleared up just enough space for the Villanova alum and Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency. It’s why I never cared about people saying “the Knicks traded Jalen Duren for nothing” because it’s false. You don’t get Brunson (most likely) without trading Duren, his cap hit, and the salary attached.

But with Brunson off the table and no clear reason to use cap space, the Knicks are dead set on picking in the lottery. You might think it’s as simple as drafting Dieng or Duren, but the Knicks almost certainly made both selections on behalf of the teams they were actively negotiating with. After all, if they wanted them, they wouldn’t trade them.

There were a few plans for this draft leading up to it. After the Knicks were once again denied a chance at lottery luck, they constantly rang the phones to try to trade up for Jaden Ivey. They may get over the line for this. After all, with no Brunson on the way, there are no schematic issues.

It would still be a very difficult trade to make, so I lean toward it not happening. After Ivey, they seemed quite enamored with Wisconsin guard Johnny Davis, but the Wizards took him 10th overall. That’s two major bullets dodged, but who’s on the clock at No. 11?

The available players who had a pre-draft workout in New York were AJ Griffin, Tari Eason, MarJon Beauchamp, and Mark Williams. I would think it would be one of these guys, even if the extremely talented Jalen Williams and Duren were on the board. In typical Leon Rose fashion, he probably does the first two trades of the night, where he trades out and comes back in, ultimately scooping up two conditional firsts from Detroit and Washington while trading four seconds.

With the 13th pick, they select Duke wing AJ Griffin.

2022 Offseason

CLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 15: Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks ignores Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 15, 2023 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. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

With no Brunson and an unsuccessful pursuit of both Davis and Ivey in the draft, the Knicks badly need a point guard. I’d assume they still look to offload salary, particularly with Kemba, to open cap space, but the extent of this is unclear due to the lack of a clear alternative in free agency. There’s restricted free agent Collin Sexton, of course, but the direction that needs to be taken appears to be in the trade market.

Fortunately, there are two lead guards available.

Dejounte Murray is on the block in San Antonio and could be had for a reasonable package. His defensive fortitude makes him a welcome fit for a team that has major defensive questions, and his offense has also proven capable of a leap forward. There’s also that New York native out in Utah who could be of use…

For Murray, the Knicks never seemed that motivated to make that move, even if he would’ve been a decent fit next to Brunson in real life. They were always more focused on adding Donovan Mitchell and figuring it out later. In this timeline, Murray still goes to Atlanta, but it’s a full-court press on bringing Spida home.

With no Brunson, there’s nothing holding them back from adding a small guard into the fray. The fit concerns aren’t there. When Danny Ainge and the Jazz ask for a ridiculous package, it’s eventually negotiated down into something the team can agree on.

In mid-August 2022, Mitchell comes home for a package centered around RJ Barrett and Quentin Grimes, depleting the team’s draft capital to keep further players out of the deal. As much as fans want to play the kids, the Knicks see an opportunity to compete and take it.

Thus, here’s the rotation we have heading into the 2022-23 season:

Donovan Mitchell – Derrick Rose
Evan Fournier – Immanuel Quickley
Alec Burks – Cam Reddish/AJ Griffin
Julius Randle – Obi Toppin
Mitchell Robinson – Isaiah Hartenstein

Yes, in this reality, we assume that the Knicks still find a way to get off Noel’s contract but keep Burks as wing depth after trading Barrett and Grimes. Hartenstein was always a target for the front office and still comes to New York.

The Future

This lineup, as you might imagine, would’ve been rather erratic. You have some brilliant shotmakers in there, but not enough defenders. Tom Thibodeau’s seat gets hot again; he’s forced to bench some players permanently, and the mini-revival still happens… to an extent.

Quickley gets a chance to start with Spida, Deuce McBride’s emergence happens a year sooner, Randle enjoys his bounce-back season. The foundation of the start of the Brunson era would’ve likely been similar, but the real repercussions come later.

At the deadline, the team needs wing depth, having iced Reddish out of the rotation. With Brunson no longer on the team, I can’t imagine the interest in Josh Hart is any more pronounced. It’s still possible that the trade happens. I’m instead going to involve the Knicks in the multi-team trade with the Warriors and Pistons that got Gary Payton II back to the Bay. The Knicks send a bucket of seconds and Cam Reddish to Detroit for Saddiq Bey.

With Mitchell, the Knicks win 48 games and slide into the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, where they host a Cavs team that never got the New York native and instead had to continue building around Darius Garland, Sexton, and Evan Mobley. The Knicks still win in five.

In the second round, the Bucks still get slayed by the wrath of Jimmy Butler and the Heat, and although many fans are optimistic about the prospects of facing the No. 8 seed, Butler waxes the Knicks in a six-game defeat.

Heading into the following season, the Knicks are content with what they got, planning to use it as a building year. Burks never being traded means there’s not enough space to sign Donte DiVincenzo, who was also likely going to be someone Brunson pitched signing. There’s no big move to be made here, so we keep going into a shaky start to the 2023-24 season, which leaves them at an inflection point around the New Year.

As you might recall, OG Anunoby was acquired in real life on December 30, 2023, for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and a second-round pick. In this reality, Barrett is already gone, but Quickley is becoming a foundational piece after being started out of necessity midway through the prior season. The financials still work if the Knicks add Burks to the trade, but with Barrett not included, the rest of the team’s excess draft capital goes with it.

The Big 3 of Spida-Anunoby-Randle destroy the competition in January 2024 until injuries take out both Randle and Anunoby. Mitchell does his best to imitate 2024 Brunson and gets First-Team All-NBA for his troubles, but it’s certainly an uphill climb. Without DiVincenzo to help with off-ball scoring, the Knicks only win 46 games, dropping them to the play-in tournament. Remember, the No. 2 and No. 7 seeds were just three games apart that year.

The Knicks get revenge on the Heat in the 7-8 game, but have to fare with a road series against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks in the first round, one that just doesn’t go well. With no Randle to physically match up, Toppin (who I believe doesn’t get traded with the team’s worst depth the prior season) and Precious Achiuwa are overwhelmed in a six-game defeat. The front office blames injuries and doesn’t make any drastic moves… yet.

The Mikal Bridges trade never happens. They had to use a boatload of draft assets to get Anunoby and Mitchell, so the Nets aren’t interested. Anunoby extends, Spida gets his three-year, $150 million extension, and the Knicks seem prepared to run it back in 2024-25.

Now, you might wonder: what about KAT?

The Knicks badly wanted him, but they lacked a guy who Minnesota really valued in DiVincenzo to get it done. Further, the fact that Mitchell took a max extension puts the team eerily close to the second apron, something they avoided with Brunson’s pay cut. There’s a very realistic world that this trade doesn’t happen, but Leon Rose always gets his guy, so they trade Mitchell Robinson and the last bits of draft capital to get it done.

All-in.

It’s not worth prognosticating who fills the Hart and Bridges gaps in the lineup, but the Knicks are built around Mitchell, Anunoby, and Towns. That Big 3 would get two seasons to work everything out, going into the second apron in 2025-26 before James Dolan would order a restructuring. They had to win. They had no choice.

In the first year, they get bounced in the second round by the Celtics after a 52-win season. The poise of the Brunson-led Knicks was a big part of why they came back from all those deficits, plus the team would be utterly devoid of defensive length without Robinson or Bridges. This also means that the Knicks and Pacers never rekindle their rivalry in either season, which is fun to think about.

In 2025-26, the year we all rejoiced in real life, they had a real chance. They fortified the depth; they hired Mike Brown to replace Thibs; they waltzed into an extremely weak East and grabbed the bull by the horns.

50 wins in the regular season, enough for the No. 3 seed. They survived a seven-game war with Atlanta, took out Philadelphia in six games, and went face-to-face with the Pistons in the ECF. Remember, no Mitchell likely dooms the Cavs to mediocrity and no ECF berth.

It’s hard to say for sure if the Pistons give the Knicks the same fits they did in real life, but let’s look at the facts. The Knicks were still a major question mark defensively and had no answer for Cade Cunningham. Additionally, they lacked the presence of Robinson (even in a backup role) to fluster Duren. In a tense, seven-game series, the Pistons prevailed. It’s over.

Mitchell would not be extended again by the Knicks, as his playoff shortcomings would not be worth the $270 million extension he got in real life. I’d think the front office would side with the Big Bodega in this, and the team would be built around the fleeting prime of Towns from here.

Safe to say, no banners. Sad stuff. But how’s Jalen doing in Dallas?

Brunson’s New Life In Dallas

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – FEBRUARY 18: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Western Conference All-Stars handles the ball against Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks and Eastern Conference All-Stars in the fourth quarter during the 2024 NBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on February 18, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Dallas did basically nothing that offseason to replace Brunson, leaving them inherently weaker entering the 2022-23 season. They still acquire Christian Wood after retaining Brunson, but they feel pretty stagnant.

The big change in the 2022-23 season is that the Mavericks never traded for Kyrie Irving, as the fit with him, Brunson, and Luka would’ve been quite bizarre. They also wouldn’t feel the need to, as when Doncic goes down with injury right before the deadline, we see glimpses of Knicks Brunson in the emerging Villanova alum.

Dallas was quite bad this season, flaming out in the play-in tournament, but an interesting trickle-down effect from this is that they wouldn’t be able to properly tank to keep their draft pick, so a parting gift from Brunson would give the Knicks a lottery pick in 2023, which they’d use on a guy like Jordan Hawkins. Not a needle mover, so I didn’t feel the need to mention until now.

The reverb would be no Dereck Lively II in Dallas, but the supporting cast from guys like PJ Washington and eventually Daniel Gafford would provide enough for the Mavericks to still go deep in the postseason in 2024, maybe making the NBA Finals but still not coming that close to a title.

At the same time that all appears to be well in Dallas, Nico Harrison is stirring. He doesn’t like the frequent unavailability of Doncic, who still suffers a major hamstring injury on Christmas 2024. In his absence, unlike in real life where Kyrie suffered a multi-week injury as well, the Mavericks experience the joy of 2024 Jalen Brunson, who carries Dallas through January to the point where Harrison has an epiphany.

“What if I fortify my defense and Jalen can give me Luka-esque production?”

Brunson’s explosion dooms Doncic’s tenure, as the controversial trade with the Lakers still occurs. Anthony Davis would now be paired with a head of the snake in Brunson, a match seemingly made in heaven.

Except Davis is still injury-prone. Dallas never has the death spiral they had with Davis and Irving’s season-ending injuries because Brunson would be there trying to play hero ball. He does just enough to win them 45 games to take the No. 9 seed. After defeating Sacramento in the 9-10 game, a heroic 40-ball sees them stun the Grizzlies to steal a playoff spot, only to get eviscerated by the powerhouse Thunder.

This turns out to be an utter disaster, as Cooper Flagg will no longer become a Maverick. It was possible to have a core of Brunson, Davis, and Flagg, but now? Brunson hits his 30th birthday with Davis shipped to Washington and a band of merrymen around him.

That’s right. The real twist of all of this? Nobody wins.

The Knicks lose because they don’t have Brunson. They never sniff the NBA Finals.

The Mavericks lose because the domino effect takes two lottery picks away, and JB’s hyper-competitiveness doesn’t allow them to get younger.

Jalen Brunson loses. Instead of being the King of New York, he’s got a microscope on him in lowly Dallas as the guy Nico traded Luka to feature.

It’s a lose-lose situation. What a nightmare. I need my nightlight; someone turn on some highlights.

That’s better. Happy Birthday, Cap. We’re so glad this never happened.

Cavs Reacts Survey: How many All-Stars will Cleveland have next season?

CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 19: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers smiles during the game against the Houston Rockets on November 19, 2025 at Rocket Arena 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cavaliers fans and fans across the country.

It’s time for another poll. We trust you, Fear the Sword reader, to respond to our survey in the feed.

This week, we want to know how many All-Stars the Cleveland Cavaliers will have next season. To respond, simply make a free account and vote in our feed below.

For bonus points, leave a comment letting us know who on the roster will be an All-Star. (Note: all points, including bonus ones, are imaginary).


The Cavs are one of the more interesting teams in the conference from this perspective. They have four players in their starting lineup who have all been All-Stars. Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, James Harden, and Donovan Mitchell are all capable of making it to the big game.

It isn’t far-fetched to say any of those four could deliver another All-Star caliber season. Mitchell is the most likely. But injuries to anyone would open the door for increased opportunities.

Would it be that surprising if Harden took on more usage and notched another All-Star appearance if Mitchell was hurt in December? Likewise for Allen, who has put up monster numbers in Mobley’s absence in years previous.

Of course, racking up multiple All-Stars on the same team requires regular season success. Two years ago, Mitchell and Mobley made it to All-Star weekend alongside Darius Garland. That was made possible by their 15-0 start to the year.

A lot has changed since then. The Cavs aren’t likely to win 64 games like they did that season. And the rest of the Eastern Conference has improved. I don’t know if Cleveland can garner enough regular-season success to net three (or more) All-Stars again.

Still, there’s a case to be made for multiple All-Stars in Cleveland again. In all honesty, Mitchell and Mobley should both be expected to make the game. From there, I wouldn’t hold anyone else to that standard.

Though even Peyton Watson could be a long-shot option as a 23-year-old wing ripe for a breakout.

Either way, let us know in the feed how many stars the Cavs will have, and who you believe will take the honors.

Which Lakers benefit from Jonathan Kuminga going to Timberwolves?

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Adou Thiero of the Los Angeles Lakers poses for a portrait during the 2025 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus in Las Vegas, Nevada, Image 2 shows Los Angeles Lakers' Colin Sexton and Jake LaRavia are seen as the team visits Ljubljana, Slovenia, for camp on Friday, August 21, 2026

The Lakers may have come up short on signing Jonathan Kuminga, who’s joining the Timberwolves, and the opportunity to add a wing/forward who’d be a Day 1 starter. 

But the missed opportunity should create other opportunities for players already on the roster. 

With the Lakers unlikely to make a significant move before training camp starts at the end of September, the answer to the question of who will be the fifth starter alongside Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler and (presumably) Quentin Grimes is probably already on the roster. 

And the trickle-down effect of who’ll grab that final starting spot will be felt throughout the roster. 

Here are a few players who should directly benefit from the Lakers not adding Kuminga:

Jake LaRavia

LaRavia’s prominence on last season’s Lakers team shouldn’t be overlooked. 

He not only played in all 82 regular season games, but his 2,061 total regular-season minutes played ranked No. 2 among all Lakers for 2025-26 behind Doncic (2,289 minutes).

Among players Nos. 3-11, only Austin Reaves (1,762 minutes for No. 7) and Jarred Vanderbilt (1,128 minutes for No. 9) are still on the team after a summer of roster reconstruction.

LaRavia will be an important part of the Lakers’ 2026-27 season.

Lakers forward Jake LaRavia (right) could compete for a starting job once training camp starts. REUTERS

If Kumimga was in the fold, it would’ve been reasonable to expect LaRavia’s playing time (he averaged a career-high 25.1 minutes last season) to dip in 2026-27. 

But without Kuminga, the 6-foot-7 LaRavia should be a part of the competition to figure out the last starting spot, and have opportunities to build off last season. 

At 24 years old (he turns 25 in November) and entering his fifth season in the league, LaRavia should have room to grow in multiple areas.

And with the talented youngster on the final season of the two-year deal he signed with the Lakers last year, it’ll be a crucial season before he’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Adou Thiero

From a physical profile standpoint, Thiero (6-foot-8, 220 pounds) and Kuminga (6-foot-7, 225 pounds) have similarities.

Including elite athleticism and quickness for their size. 

But Kuminga is far ahead of Thiero when it comes to offensive skill and production. Without Kuminga though, there’s a pathway for Thiero to be on the fringes of the rotation. 

Adou Thiero should be in line to receive more playing time opportunities in his second season. NBAE via Getty Images

The second-year Lakers forward, who was sidelined for parts of last season because of lower-body injuries and spent most of 2025-26 in the G League, ended the year getting consistent minutes in the playoffs.

Thiero’s performances in July during summer league in San Francisco and Las Vegas showed he’s still pretty raw and has plenty of development ahead of him.

And that playing time should be easier to come by if the Lakers are looking for a bigger wing who can be a lob threat, strong rebounder and hold their own defensively against bigger forwards – all things that would’ve been asked of Kuminga that Thiero is equipped to handle.  

Jarred Vanderbilt  

If Thiero isn’t ready to handle a bigger role yet, Vanderbilt would be in line for more playing time opportunities.

The ninth-year forward wasn’t a consistent part of the rotation when the Lakers were healthy last season. 

Jarred Vanderbilt could be on the fringes of the rotation if Adou Thiero isn’t ready to contribute. Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

But he still played 65 regular games in 2025-26, and was on the court for seven of the 10 playoff games. 

It’s assumed around the league that Vanderbilt will pick up his $13.3 million player option for 2027-28, so this upcoming season won’t be a make-or-break season. 

But potentially having more chances to contribute on the court will help him rebuild his value.

Too-early season predictions: Insiders see a slim but real chance the Raptors make a ‘big’ move before the trade deadline

Sep 28, 2019; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Raptors center Marc Gasol (33) at the podium during Media Day at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

The 2026-27 season is a couple of months away from tip-off, yet striking parallels, sometimes uncanny, to the 2018-19 season are hard not to notice, even to the ‘casual’ eye. For one, LeBron James will be playing for a different team come October after spending the last eight years under the bright lights of LA, marking the end of his longest stint with a franchise. The Raptors, on the other hand, are still awaiting the conclusion of the league’s investigation regarding the trade that would reunite them with the 2019 Finals MVP, Kawhi Leonard.

As similar as the storylines are from seven years ago, context should be taken into consideration, given the drastic difference in the landscape of the league and the reality of aging. Leonard will be entering his 15th season in the league, joining a Raptors roster that has yet to hit their summit, as players and as a unit. 

That is not to say that these parallels are superficial, as there are some similarities worth noting for their relevance and substance. LeBron might have signed for a discounted veteran’s minimum, but the whole free-agency saga was built around his impending decision at that time because he’s still a high-end talent, and any team that gets him will automatically be tagged as championship contenders. 

The same goes for the Raptors. Kawhi raises expectations for Toronto, just as his arrival did eight years ago. One thing that flew under the radar for non-Raptors fans, however, was how the roster differed from the start of the season to its climactic conclusion in June that year. The Raptors traded for Memphis Grizzlies’ long-time centre, Marc Gasol, at the deadline.  

Insiders’ insights   

ESPN’s annual summer forecast allowed NBA insiders to weigh in on hypothetical scenarios and how likely they are to occur in this upcoming season. Such scenarios include teams that are likely to outperform expectations, or do the complete opposite and underachieve. Out of the bunch, the Raptors were listed in just one category — teams that will likely pursue a ‘big’ trade before the trade deadline.

Toronto placed fifth in a five-way tie, having received one vote among the panelists. Needless to say, teams like the Golden State Warriors, who ranked first league-wide, are expected to be major buyers come February, given their missed opportunities to add franchise-altering names like James and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who were said to have been pursued by the team to pair with Stephen Curry for one last-ditch effort at opening another contention window.

The Raptors are not expected to be at this level of conversation come February, but a vote indicates that there’s a real possibility they make a subtle yet impactful deal midseason. While Leonard was the driving force and the central piece of the 2019 championship, Gasol allowed them to realize their ceiling.

The last domino to fall for the 2019 Raptors

Gasol, at 34 years old, was still one of the league’s premier passing big men, with a newly developed three-point shot that commanded coverage, stretching defences in the process. Given his age, he was still an elite defender, an effective anchor in the paint and, at the same time, managed occasional switches with quicker perimeter players. Some, however, thought that the Raptors gave too much depth after trading away rotation pieces C.J. Miles and Delon Wright, and settling for an older big man than the one they had in Jonas Valanciunas. 

This move would eventually pay dividends for Toronto as Gasol’s passing ability provided another point of concern for opposing defences, as he threaded the needle to open teammates, seemingly operating as a point guard in a big man’s body. His defense, however, was the real game changer during their title run. Golden State’s depleted big-man rotation proved no match for Gasol, as he adjusted comfortably to any matchups he was put on. He also played a crucial role in limiting Curry’s attempts from beyond the arc through blitz coverages. Against the Bucks, Gasol was a key component of the Raptors’ ‘Wall’ that proved effective in deterring Antetokounmpo from taking shots within close range. His most notable contribution, however, came in the grueling seven-game series against the Philadelphia 76ers, where he was matched up with arguably the league’s best center at the time, Joel Embiid.

Gasol held Embiid to just 17.6 points a game, coupled with an inefficient 37.1% field goal percentage, as Toronto outlasted Philadelphia in a thrilling Game 7 buzzer-beater by Leonard over Embiid himself.

What could the 2026-27 Raptors learn from this trade?

Barring Kawhi’s second coming, the Raptors are not the same team they were seven years ago. The roster’s youth is a glaring distinction from the 2019 squad, composed mostly of seasoned veterans with playoff experience. Not to mention, the head coaches’ philosophies are opposites of each other: Nick Nurse had a heavy reliance on individual skills, while Darko Rajakovic’s takes a committee approach. 

Likewise, team needs vary in both iterations, considering the difference in player utilization and how they mesh with each other. Front-court depth and perimeter shooting emerge as the most concerning gaps for this year’s team. While hybrid centre-forwards like Collin Murray-Boyles emerged as effective small-ball options, it won’t be sustainable long-term given the increasing prevalence of skilled big men. While the Raptors could experiment more on recent acquisitions like Trayce Jackson-Davis and Trey Jamison III, a trade surrounding a center is something to keep an eye on, especially if rebounding deficits and interior mismatches persist. 

Rajakovic utilizes his wings as secondary playmakers, switchable defenders, and as floor-spacing and cutting options. With the impending departure of Gradey Dick, the minutes allocation will be distributed between two breakout rotation pieces from last season. Jamison Battle and Ja’Kobe Walter both received their fair share of playing time last year, as Dick and Ochai Agbaji gradually faded out of the picture. With Dick expected to be moved regardless of the trade’s completion, Battle and Walter are expected to fill in those minutes and provide a well-needed boost on three-point shooting and perimeter defence.

The potential acquisition of Kawhi does not mean the team figures out everything from the get-go. Compromises from the roster and coaching staff alike will have to be made as the season progresses and players settle into their roles. Take the 2019 squad for example, where players like Fred VanVleet spoke about uncertainty with fit, particularly Kawhi’s 60-game limit for the entire season, which he deemed insufficient for Leonard and his teammates to develop familiarity with each other’s play. 

However, the front office saw enough from that 60-game window that warranted them making a deal for the Grizzlies’ big man, given the team’s needs and his potential fit with the rest of the roster. If the trade for Gasol taught us anything, it’s that a team may take until the midseason to reveal its true identity. Toronto took 55 games into the regular season before eventually trading for their starting big man, as their real gaps began to show. The Raptors don’t necessarily need another Gasol; what it needs is a keen eye from the scouting department and front office to identify team flaws and search for personnel who solve those problems.   

Southwest division watch: Mavericks planting their Flagg

Hey folks we’re back at it, going division by division figuring out just who the Golden State Warriors should be concerned about this season. And after the way things turned out last year when the wounded Dubs didn’t even make the postseason, that answer could easily be anybody. But one of the teams GSW had success against last year comes from the Southwest Division. I’m talking about the Dallas Mavericks, a team that floundered with the injury absence of Kyrie Irving, the rookie lessons of Cooper Flagg, and the inconsistent play of former Warrior Klay Thompson. The Warriors took two out of three from Dallas last season, including a big win on Christmas. Unfortunately one of those battles cost them the knee of Moses Moody.

Dallas spent this offseason trying to convince everybody it finally has its act together, and for about five minutes in the spring, I believed it. They fired Nico Harrison, allegedly the brains behind the PR disaster that was the Luka Doncic trade. They hired Masai Ujiri, the guy who built a championship team in Toronto, to run the whole operation. They brought in Dusty May off an NCAA title at Michigan to replace Bay Area legend Jason Kidd as head coach. On paper that’s the best offseason of competent decision-making this franchise has had in years, and it’s happening around Flagg who just won Rookie of the Year doing things nobody his age should be able to do.

Then the actual roster-building started, and I need somebody in Dallas to explain something to me.

We already know what Flagg is. Nobody in the Bay needs a stat sheet to tell them he’s the problem. What Dallas doesn’t have is anybody to take some of that creation load off him, because right now the only reliable ballhandler on the roster is Kyrie Irving, who’s 34 and coming off a torn ACL that’s kept him out since March of last year. Everybody assumed Dallas would use the ninth pick on a guard. They took Morez Johnson Jr., a forward out of Michigan, where Dusty May coached him. I like the player but I don’t understand the team.

And then they waived Klay Thompson, ending a very bland first chapter of the ex-Splash Bro’s post-Dubs career.

Our friends over at Mavs Money Ball were guardedly optimistic in their roundtable of the Mavericks’ offseason moves, but one quote stood out for me:

The problem is that Dallas chose to work around the margins instead of truly reforming the roster. The Mavericks still have too many overlapping forwards, not enough reliable ball-handling and several veterans who do not clearly fit Flagg’s timeline. Other young teams have been more aggressive in defining their direction, whether by collecting draft assets, clearing veterans or building a cleaner developmental roster. The individual moves mostly make sense, but they do not yet form a coherent plan.

What kinda team is this? Dallas’ answer at backup guard last season was Brandon Williams, who averaged 13 points and 4 assists for them and even dropped 26 off the bench in the Christmas game against Golden State. The Warriors just signed him though!

Cooper Flagg is a ridiculous young talent surrounded by a roster that has hella question marks. That young supertalent scares me. The Mavericks do not.

Deni Avdija says Portland would not clear him to play in FIBA World Cup qualifiers

More than 30 NBA players have suited up for their nations this summer in FIBA World Cup qualifying matches, including about two dozen in Europe alone (a tough region to qualify from). Victor Wembanyama has put on a show, but there is also Nikola Jokic (Serbia), Rudy Gobert (France), Lauri Markkanen (Finland), Dennis Schröder (Germany) and many more.

Deni Avdija is not one of them.

Israel's best player said in a social media post that the Trail Blazers had not cleared him, via Aris Barkas of Eurohoops. In January, Avdija missed time with back tightness, and when he tried to return in February, he injured it again. He missed 16 of the Trail Blazers' 24 games through that stretch. While he did return for the team's final 18 games after the All-Star break, his minutes, scoring numbers and efficiency all dipped slightly as he still dealt with the lingering issue.

"I usually don't feel the need to explain myself, but this time it's important to me to say a few words. Anyone who knows me and my way with the Israeli national team knows what this shirt means to me. I came to the team when I was in pain. I came when I wasn't at 100%. I came during summers when maybe the 'right' thing for my personal career was to rest. I came even when I was facing a contract year, a time when any injury could change a career...

"This time, I wanted to be there just as much. But this summer I dealt with a complex back injury. An injury that those who haven't gone through it really can't understand what it demands, and the decision not to participate in this window wasn't one I made alone. Portland wasn't willing to take a risk with my health, and in the situation that arose, I simply didn't have the option to step up and play.

"I understand disappointment. I understand criticism. When you represent a country, and there are expectations of you, that's part of it, and I accept that. But one thing I'm not willing to have questioned is my commitment to the national team and my country. I don't need to tell you how much I care. I think I've proven it time and again with actions. There's nothing I want more than to be healthy, get back on the court, and wear Israel's shirt again. And until then, even when I can't be on the floor, my heart is there."

What Portland has done here is fairly common. Giannis Antetokounmpo and many others have faced it, the demands of a marathon NBA season on top of national team commitments in the summer will wear any player down. Throw in an injury, and it's not surprising we're here.

That said, Israel is struggling in World Cup qualifying, going 2-6 through eight games, with recent losses to Poland and Latvia, and now needs wins in future games to get in the door. Not having their star player for those losses has understandably frustrated fans, but it's out of Avdija's hands.

Boston Celtics Daily Links 8/31/26

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: The sneakers worn by Jaylin Williams #47 of the Dallas Mavericks during the game against the Orlando Magic during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 18, 2025 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Tom O'Connor/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

HeraldJaylen Brown’s farewell block party draws thousands to Boston Common

GlobeJaylen Brown receives key to the city at 741 Frequency Fest

CelticsBlog History Month: The Red Auerbach Coaching Tree

Jaylen Brown’s fanfest turnout showed he earned respect few in Boston ever do

NESNNeemias Queta Injury Update Brings Good News for Celtics

Jalen Brunson Opens Up About Mitchell Robinson’s Decision to Leave Knicks for ‘Rival’ Celtics

Why Paul George Becomes Easier for Celtics to Trade This Week

Jaylen Brown Receives Special Boston Honor After Celtics Trade

Mass Live Jaylen Brown bids farewell to Boston community: ‘Boston, I love you, thank you’

Celtics Wire Jaylen Brown said goodbye to Celtics fans at a block party this weekend

Celtics history: Thompson passes; Russell signs; Tsioropoulos, Gotham born

Jaylen Brown celebrates Celtics fans with block party finale

Every NBA 2K27 rating for the Boston Celtics ahead of the 226-27 NBA regular season

A peek into how Celtics President Brad Stevens makes trades

Did Celtics big Neemias Queta get hurt with Portugal in FIBA play?

Hardwood Houdini 3 Celtics who must step up when Paul George misses time

Celtics’ role for Mitchell Robinson should be clear after Knicks’ title

Another Payton Pritchard breakout is coming no matter what role he plays

Dillon Mitchell should have edge over Amari Williams in earning new Celtics’ deal

Chowder and ChampionsDerrick White is in the perfect spot to bounce back for the Celtics

CLNS Media/YouTubeJaylen Brown Says FINAL GOODBYE to Celtics and Boston | Garden Report

Will Jaylen Brown Get His Number Retired?

Jaylen Brown Thanks Celtics Fans: “Thank You to Boston … I Love You.” | FULL SPEECH from 741 Fest

Locked on Celtics Mailbag: Jaylen Brown FAREWELL, Celtics DEPTH, A Kyrie Irving RETURN?

Bleacher ReportJaylen Brown Thanks Celtics After 76ers Trade, Fans Hold NBA Trophy in Viral Videos of Block Party

Jalen Brunson Reacts to Mitchell Robinson Signing Celtics Contract After Knicks’ NBA Championship

HeavyJaylen Brown Delivers Emotional Message in Boston Return After Shocking Celtics Trade

Celtics Proposed to Trade Derrick White to Pistons in Blockbuster 3-Player Deal

Knicks’ Jalen Brunson Sends Strong Message to Mitchell Robinson After Celtics Move

Essentially Sports Jaylen Brown Still Ranks Jayson Tatum Above Every Teammate in One Area Despite Ugly Celtics Split

“They Said I Had a Disease”: Jaylen Brown Reveals How NBA Players Are Being Steered Away From Helping Their Communities

Al Horford’s Sister Makes NSFW Query to Celtics After Jaylen Brown Receives Key to the City

CBS Boston/YouTubeCrowd packs Boston Common to bid farewell to Jaylen Brown

ESPNJaylen Brown receives key to city in farewell party to Boston

SI .comWhat the Boston Celtics can expect from Derrick White

CBS Sports Celtics’ Luka Garza: Effective in limited run

Hoops Rumors Jaylen Brown Says Goodbye To Boston At Farewell Party

Barstool Sports Jaylen Brown Was Rightfully Given A Key To The City During His Farewell Celebration With The City Of Boston

PFSN‘So Corny,’ ‘Revenge Season’ — NBA World Clashes As Jaylen Brown Declares He ‘Wants Blood’ in Year 1 With LeBron James’ 76ers

‘They Be Lying’ — 76ers Star Jaylen Brown Fires Back at Colin Cowherd and Co. for Spreading ‘False Statements’ and ‘Propaganda’

Fan Recap Celtics Got An Eye-Opening Summer Read On Neemias Queta

Celtics May Have A Mitchell Robinson Problem In Big Games

Celtics Still Face One Lineup Call That Could Reshape The Rotation

Joe Mazzulla Just Framed The Celtics Season In A Telling Way

Celtics Can Chase A Star But Zion Looks Like The Wrong Risk

Celtics Final Roster Spot Could Become An Early Two-Way Battle

Jaylen Browns Boston Goodbye Just Made His Next Chapter Feel Bigger

Payton Pritchard Is Forcing A Bigger Celtics Role Than Ever

Sportskeeda“Jayson Tatum never getting this type of love” – NBA Fans Abuzz As Jaylen Brown Gets Street Named After Him At His Boston Farewell Party

Fadeaway World ‘I Want Blood This Year’: Jaylen Brown On His Mentality With 76ers In 2026-27

Celtics RoundtableIs This a Rebuilding Year For Boston Celtics?

Boston Celtics Predicted to be Disappointing Team

Boston Celtics Bringing Back Old City Connect Jerseys

Clutch Points 76ers star Jaylen Brown leaves fans cheering with Jayson Tatum answer to fun question

76ers’ Jaylen Brown shares incredible moment with viral fan who lost it after trade

Collin Sexton brings much needed scoring off the bench

DALLAS, TEXAS - APRIL 12: Collin Sexton #2 of the Chicago Bulls handles the ball during a game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on April 12, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. 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 GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Parting ways with every free agent not named Austin Reaves this summer opened up positions across the roster. Shot creation and guard threats were thin behind the backcourt, leading them to come to terms with Collin Sexton on a two-year, $19 million deal.

He brings a dynamic scoring punch and a much-needed on-ball operator off the bench when Luka Dončić or Reaves miss any time.

Roster-building decision-makers constantly wrestle with where to invest their resources. Under a capped salary, those choices and ramifications are even more magnified. With the money handed out, teams are letting you know which archetypes they deem replaceable.

​Sexton is a 6’3, 190-pound guard whose main value is on offense. These measurables aren’t particularly sought after in the modern game, which values versatility and switching on defense with an emphasis on size one through five.

​Those ideas can clash at the highest level of basketball, and fully dependent offensive players get played off the floor. Jalen Brunson of the Knicks is the extreme case of a short ball handler still bringing enormous value in winning time.

​Sexton is not Brunson by any means whatsoever, but to be effective at that size, you must be efficient. You need to be able to put pressure on the rim as a playmaker while hitting off-ball shots. He fits the bill, sitting just under the elusive 50-40-90 club.

​Splitting time with the Charlotte Hornets and the Chicago Bulls, Sexton averaged 15.4 points and 3.3 assists in just under 24 minutes per game. An efficient 49% from the field, 40% on 3-pointers, and 86% from the free-throw line.

​The typical offensive jitterbug, Sexton leverages quick downhill speed to be an offensive engine. He’s a high-volume pick-and-roll player, with 32.5% of his possessions involving a ball screen. Those numbers are up there with both Luka (34.7%) and Reaves (35.1%), who are among the league’s leaders.

​Any slip-up by the opposing screen defenders and Sexton gets to his elite first step. Watch below in semi-transition where he notices the opposing big in the wrong defensive position. A quick crossover gets him to the rim for the finish.

Sexton shows good patience at the top of the key. He’s defended by one of the best point-of-attack guards in Cason Wallace below. He methodically puts him in jail and uses the Gortat screen to finish the and-one.

He has all the passes in the toolbox you need from an on-ball guard. He reads skip passes well and a positive lob pairing with LA’s biggest add in Walker Kessler. The two played three seasons together on the Utah Jazz and over 2000 minutes on the court, bringing some instant chemistry to a new group.

​Sexton is a fearless driver to the rim at over 9.5 per game and will fit right next to the star backcourt’s propensity to put pressure on the basket. It’s a huge boost to a team that lacked any guard scoring juice off the bench last season. He pairs that attack with elite efficiency, finishing 64.5% in the restricted area.

When teams switch a screen or a big naturally ends up on the guard, he’s one of the best isolation scorers by efficiency with 1.19 points per possession, placing him in the 87th percentile league-wide.

​Watch below as he has one of the better switchable bigs in the league on him in Neemias Queta. After a couple of in-and-out dribbles, he gets to his spot and rises.

A concern is that the pull-up 3-point shooting is subpar for a player that handles the ball as much as he does. Sexton shot just 34% on his off-the-dribble attempts from behind the arc and 36% overall.

​That said, the guard should be paired with either Luka or Reaves at all times, letting him attack compromised defenses. Sexton worked off of both LaMelo Ball and Josh Giddey last season, and has turned himself into a more than useful off-ball player, hitting 44.5% of his catch-and-shoot 3-pointers.

​The concerns, as with much of this roster, are how he fares on defense. He’s a pit bull who brings a 6’7 wingspan, quick hands, and overall effort. Following his trade to the Bulls, Sexton averaged 1.5 steals per game, leading the team.

​Luka and Austin already need defensive protection, and Sexton is another player who will be picked on with his size. How the Lakers manage the lineups will be crucial, along with whether they can add another defensive backup center or forward to fill out the rotation.

​At 27, Sexton continues the summer theme of getting younger at all positions. Concerns remain, as Sexton has never played in the playoffs, but he should bring instant scoring punch and playmaking to a team that desperately needs to lessen the load on its star guards.

You can follow Raj on X at @RajChipalu.

Bright Side of the Sun Reacts Survey: How did the Suns do this offseason?

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 20: Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott talks to Devin Booker #1 during a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 20, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Suns fans and fans across the country.


You can feel it, can’t you? That little tinge of excitement is creeping in as we inch closer to another season of NBA basketball.

The NBA Draft was more than 2 months ago. Summer League is nearly 2 months in the rearview mirror. We are now less than a month away from Phoenix Suns Media Day. Yes, we have officially entered that awkward portion of the calendar where you desperately want to get excited, but you know better. There is still some road left to travel before basketball actually returns.

Still, when you look back at what we thought the Suns needed to accomplish this offseason, it feels like quite a few boxes were checked.

They needed to bring back Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin, and Mark Williams. Done. Dillon Brooks needed an extension. Done. A team that entered the offseason without a first-round draft pick somehow ended up making one. And for a fan base that spent plenty of time talking about moving off the contracts of Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale, well, that happened too.

Whether you agree with all of those moves is entirely up to you. Maybe you loved them. Maybe you hated them. Maybe you are somewhere in the middle, staring at the roster like a man examining a suspicious stain on the carpet and wondering how exactly it got there.

Either way, your opinion on those decisions is probably going to determine how you grade the Suns’ offseason. And that is the subject of this week’s Bright Side Reacts survey.

If you were standing at the front of the classroom with a red pen in your hand, what grade would you give the Phoenix Suns for the way they operated this offseason? What moves made sense? Which ones left you scratching your head? Cast your vote, then let us know in the comments why you landed where you did.


2026 Fantasy Basketball Mock Draft: Drafting from the No. 6 pick in a 16-team league

Standard fantasy basketball leagues consist of 12 teams, but there are plenty who compete in larger ones. And in those larger leagues, the task of drafting a team can get tricky. For many, that may mean reaching for a player earlier than you would in a standard league, as there's a higher likelihood that your desired target won't be available in the following round. Recently, Rotoworld writer Raphielle Johnson participated in a 16-team mock draft hosted by Menace Podmen's Steve St-Pierre.

Picking either early or late in a larger draft is preferable to being stuck in the middle, and I held the sixth pick in this mock exercise. Starting with Philadelphia guard Tyrese Maxey, the hope was to put together a team that would only punt on assists. Below are the round-by-round results and some analysis.

Round 1

Pick

Position

Player

Team

1

C

Victor Wembanyama

San Antonio Spurs

2

C

Nikola Jokić

Denver Nuggets

3

G

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Oklahoma City Thunder

4

G

Luka Dončić

Los Angeles Lakers

5

G

Cade Cunningham

Detroit Pistons

6

G

Tyrese Maxey

Philadelphia 76ers

7

F

Jayson Tatum

Boston Celtics

8

G/F

Kawhi Leonard

LA Clippers

9

G

Anthony Edwards

Minnesota Timberwolves

10

G

Donovan Mitchell

Cleveland Cavaliers

11

F

Jalen Johnson

Atlanta Hawks

12

G/F 

Cooper Flagg

Dallas Mavericks

13

G

Tyrese Haliburton

Indiana Pacers

14

F/C

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Miami Heat

15

F/C

Scottie Barnes

Toronto Raptors

16

G/F

Kevin Durant

Houston Rockets

According to Hashtag Basketball, Maxey currently has an ADP of 16.9 in Yahoo! leagues, which would put him right at the first/second round turn in a 16-team league. While there is clearly concern on the part of some managers about how the additions of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown will affect his production, Maxey is well worth the risk in the middle of the first round. Having two additional offensive weapons should keep defenses from loading up too much to slow Maxey down. Also, he'll be healthy after a finger injury limited his productivity in the postseason. And the players selected immediately after him in this mock draft, Tatum and Leonard, have some health questions of their own.

Round 2

Pick

Position

Player

Team

1

F/C

Karl-Anthony Towns

New York Knicks

2

G

Amen Thompson 

Houston Rockets

3

F/C

Anthony Davis

Washington Wizards

4

G

Stephen Curry

Golden State Warriors

5

G

LaMelo Ball

Minnesota Timberwolves

6

G

Jamal Murray

Denver Nuggets

7

F/C

Chet Holmgren

Oklahoma City Thunder

8

F/C

Austin Reaves

Los Angeles Lakers

9

G

Kyrie Irving

Dallas Mavericks

10

G

Trae Young

Washington Wizards

11

C

Walker Kessler

Los Angeles Lakers

12

G

James Harden

Cleveland Cavaliers

13

C

Jalen Duren

Detroit Pistons

14

G

Josh Giddey

Chicago Bulls

15

G/F

Trey Murphy

New Orleans Pelicans

16

F/C

Alperen Şengün

Houston Rockets

With 76ers head coach Nick Nurse saying earlier this offseason that LeBron will initiate much of the team's offense, Maxey may take the biggest hit in assists. Also, adding quality bigs in a 16-team draft is not something that I'm willing to hesitate on. Even with him coming off a season in which he played just five games, Kessler was the second-round pick for me. Given the Lakers' lack of true big men and the defensive frailties of their starting guards, he could be in for a big debut season in Los Angeles regarding rebounds and blocks. And playing off Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves should positively impact Kessler's field goal percentage.

Round 3

Pick

Position

Player

Team

1

G

Jalen Brunson

New York Knicks

2

F

Lauri Markkanen

Utah Jazz

3

F/C

Jaren Jackson Jr. 

Utah Jazz

4

F/C

Bam Adebayo

Miami Heat

5

C

Onyeka Okongwu

Atlanta Hawks

6

F/C

Evan Mobley

Cleveland Cavaliers

7

G

Devin Booker

Phoenix Suns

8

G/F

Dyson Daniels

Atlanta Hawks

9

G

Derrick White

Boston Celtics

10

F/C

Domantas Sabonis

Sacramento Kings

11

G

Dejounte Murray

New Orleans Pelicans

12

F

Paolo Banchero

Orlando Magic

13

G

Darius Garland 

LA Clippers

14

F

Jalen Williams 

Oklahoma City Thunder

15

C

Donovan Clingan

Portland Trail Blazers

16

F

Brandon Miller

Charlotte Hornets

If you use an early pick on a player with injury concerns, selecting another player who can help compensate for a potential absence is key. And in a 16-team league, the pickings are likely to be slim if you find yourself counting on the waiver wire for help during the season. As a result, I went with Mobley in the third round, and his forward eligibility is a bonus. His 2025-26 numbers were similar to the prior season, with slight increases in assists and blocks. With Mobley and Kessler in the fold, I should be highly competitive in blocks every week.

Round 4

Pick

Position

Player

Team

1

C

Kel'el Ware

Milwaukee Bucks

2

G/F

Deni Avdija

Portland Trail Blazers

3

G/F

Jaylen Brown

Philadelphia 76ers

4

G

Nickeil Alexander-Walker

Atlanta Hawks

5

G/F

Kon Knueppel

Charlotte Hornets

6

F

LeBron James

Philadelphia 76ers

7

C

Joel Embiid

Philadelphia 76ers

8

G/F

Desmond Bane

Orlando Magic

9

F

Jaden McDaniels

Minnesota Timberwolves

10

F

Franz Wagner

Orlando Magic

11

F/C

Pascal Siakam

Indiana Pacers

12

G

Tyler Herro

Milwaukee Bucks

13

G

Keyonte George

Utah Jazz

14

F

Matas Buzelis

Chicago Bulls

15

F

OG Anunoby

New York Knicks

16

G

Stephon Castle

San Antonio Spurs

The fourth round is where many managers take a swing, hoping to land a player with significant upside. Among those selected in this mock draft, Joel Embiid would certainly qualify, as he can offer first-round value when on the court. Keyonte George, Matas Buzelis, and Stephon Castle represent fourth-round picks in this draft, where managers are betting on them to step up in a major way. I went with Siakam, betting that Tyrese Haliburton's return from an Achilles tendon rupture will give Spicy P the playmaker he needs to get back into the top-50 in fantasy basketball.

Round 5

Pick

Position

Player

Team

1

G

Damian Lillard

Portland Trail Blazers

2

G

Ryan Rollins

Milwaukee Bucks

3

F/C

Naz Reid

Charlotte Hornets

4

C

Alex Sarr

Washington Wizards

5

C

Myles Turner

Milwaukee Bucks

6

G

VJ Edgecombe

Philadelphia 76ers

7

C

Zach Edey

Memphis Grizzlies

8

F

Paul George

Boston Celtics

9

F

Cameron Boozer

Memphis Grizzlies

10

G/F

Brandon Ingram

Toronto Raptors

11

G

Immanuel Quickley

Toronto Raptors

12

C

Ivica Zubac

Indiana Pacers

13

F

Michael Porter Jr.

Brooklyn Nets

14

F

Julius Randle

Brooklyn Nets

15

C

Jarrett Allen

Cleveland Cavaliers

16

G

De'Aaron Fox

San Antonio Spurs

If there's a 76ers player who stands to see his fantasy value take a hit with the roster changes, it may be Edgecombe. He's the youngest of the five starters, so assuming that he'll be the one asked to sacrifice early on is not a wild position to take. However, those additions could make Edgecombe a more dangerous offensive weapon due to increased opportunities to attack closeouts. Also, he averaged 5.6 rebounds and 1.9 steals+blocks per game as a rookie. Those are categories where Edgecombe can provide added value, regardless of how many shots he gets. I'm willing to bet that will be the case next season.

As for some of the other picks in this round, Turner was the eye-opener, given his struggles during his first season in Milwaukee. With the players acquired in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, the backcourt situation is even more jumbled, and the Bucks also received center Kel'el Ware in the deal. Maybe Turner bounces back, but I'm not convinced, especially considering his limited rebounding numbers.

Round 6

Pick

Position

Player

Team

1

G

Coby White

Charlotte Hornets

2

G

Dylan Harper

San Antonio Spurs

3

G

Ty Jerome

Memphis Grizzlies

4

G

Ja Morant

Portland Trail Blazers

5

F

Mikal Bridges

New York Knicks

6

C

Rudy Gobert

Minnesota Timberwolves

7

G

Payton Pritchard

Boston Celtics

8

F

AJ Dybantsa

Washington Wizards

9

G

Jalen Suggs

Orlando Magic

10

G/F

Norman Powell

Chicago Bulls

11

G/F

Ausar Thompson

Detroit Pistons

12

F

Caleb Wilson

Chicago Bulls

13

F/C

Zion Williamson

New Orleans Pelicans

14

C

Day'Ron Sharpe

Brooklyn Nets

15

G/F

Josh Hart

New York Knicks

16

C

Nic Claxton

Chicago Bulls 

While he does not offer much in the way of three-point production and his free-throw percentage remains poor, Thompson's ability to fill an entire stat line makes him an asset in category leagues. Last season, the Pistons wing averaged 5.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.0 steals and 0.9 blocks per game, and he made a career-best 73 appearances. I chose him in the sixth round because of his rebounds and defensive stats; I highly doubt Ausar would have been on the board in the seventh.

Round 7

Pick

Position

Player

Team

1

F/C

John Collins

Detroit Pistons

2

G

Brandin Podziemski 

Golden State Warriors

3

G/F

Anthony Black

Orlando Magic

4

G

Darryn Peterson

Utah Jazz

5

G

Fred VanVleet

Houston Rockets

6

G

Ayo Dosunmu

Minnesota Timberwolves

7

F/C

Derik Queen

New Orleans Pelicans

8

C

Neemias Queta

Boston Celtics

9

C

Mark Williams

Phoenix Suns

10

F

Miles Bridges

Phoenix Suns

11

G/F

Andrew Wiggins

Miami Heat

12

C

Isaiah Hartenstein

Oklahoma City Thunder

13

C

Kristaps Porziņǵis

Golden State Warriors

14

F/C

Collin Murray-Boyles

Toronto Raptors

15

F

Keegan Murray

Sacramento Kings

16

G/F

Cedric Coward

Memphis Grizzlies

Dosunmu's fantasy prospects looked better before the Timberwolves signed Jonathan Kuminga, as he could now be relegated to a sixth-man role. However, that's still a spot in which he can offer quality fantasy value, especially with Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) expected to miss most of next season, if not all of it. Also, Dosunmu averaged nearly 29 minutes per game in his 24 regular-season appearances for the Timberwolves, making nine starts. As he showed last season, Ayo has top-100 potential, whether he starts or comes off the bench.

Round 8

Pick

Position

Player

Team

1

G/F

Zach LaVine

Sacramento Kings

2

F/C

Jabari Smith Jr. 

Houston Rockets

3

G

Ajay Mitchell

Oklahoma City Thunder

4

G/F

Cason Wallace

Oklahoma City Thunder

5

G/F

Aaron Wiggins

Atlanta Hawks

6

F/C

Sandro Mamukelashvili

Los Angeles Lakers

7

C

Wendell Carter Jr. 

Orlando Magic

8

G

Kevin Porter Jr. 

Milwaukee Bucks 

9

F

Toumani Camara

Portland Trail Blazers

10

F

Peyton Watson

Cleveland Cavaliers

11

F

Saddiq Bey

New Orleans Pelicans

12

F

DeMar DeRozan

Denver Nuggets

13

G/F

RJ Barrett

Toronto Raptors

14

G

Reed Sheppard

Houston Rockets

15

C

Jakob Poeltl

Toronto Raptors

16

G/F

Jalen Green

Phoenix Suns

Was Saddiq Bey's career year simply a product of the Pelicans' many injuries? Or can he provide similar value in 2026-27 under a new head coach? I'm better on the latter, even with the rotation even more crowded due to Dejounte Murray and Herb Jones being healthy. Given their respective résumés, DeRozan would have been the safer pick, but what's the fun in that? And the Pelicans could be a team to watch at the February trade deadline, especially if they aren't in the mix for a postseason spot, because of the veterans on that roster.

Round 9

Pick

Position

Player

Team

1

C

Maxime Raynaud

Sacramento Kings

2

G/F

Grayson Allen

Charlotte Hornets

3

C

Jusuf Nurkić

Utah Jazz

4

F

Jimmy Butler III

Golden State Warriors

5

G

Jrue Holiday

Portland Trail Blazers

6

G

CJ McCollum

Atlanta Hawks

7

G

Andrew Nembhard

Indiana Pacers

8

F/C

Paul Reed

Detroit Pistons

9

G/F

Jaime Jaquez Jr. 

Milwaukee Bucks

10

G

Darius Acuff Jr. 

Sacramento Kings

11

F

Cameron Johnson

Denver Nuggets

12

G/F

Kyshawn George

Washington Wizards

13

G

Jeremiah Fears

New Orleans Pelicans

14

C

Moussa Diabaté

Charlotte Hornets

15

G/F

Quentin Grimes

Los Angeles Lakers

16

C

Mitchell Robinson

Boston Celtics

McCollum may not be a "sexy" pick at this point in the draft, but I wanted proven offensive production. Once the Hawks moved him into the starting lineup, his production increased and the team played better. I expect that to remain the case in 2026-27, and McCollum has shown in the past that he has a top-100 floor when used as one of his team's primary offensive options. He averaged just over four assists per game for the Hawks last season, but that isn't a category that I was too concerned with in this build.

Round 10

Pick

Position

Player

Team

1

G

Egor Dëmin

Brooklyn Nets

2

F/C

PJ Washington

Dallas Mavericks

3

G

Davion Mitchell

Miami Heat

4

F

Dillon Brooks

Phoenix Suns

5

G

Collin Gillespie

Phoenix Suns

6

G

Daniss Jenkins

Detroit Pistons

7

F

Yaxel Lendeborg

Golden State Warriors

8

F

Julian Champagnie

San Antonio Spurs

9

G/F

Devin Vassell

San Antonio Spurs

10

C

Daniel Gafford

Dallas Mavericks

11

F

Ace Bailey

Utah Jazz

12

G

Mikel Brown Jr.

Brooklyn Nets

13

C

Brook Lopez

LA Clippers

14

G/F

Tari Eason

Houston Rockets

15

G

Tre Jones

Chicago Bulls

16

F/C

Isaiah Stewart

Memphis Grizzlies

So, what should fantasy managers make of Ace Bailey as he goes into his second NBA season? He put up quality numbers after the All-Star break as a rookie, averaging 18.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.1 blocks and 2.8 three-pointers per game. However, much of that production came without key players on the floor, most notably Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. Add in lottery pick Darryn Peterson, and Bailey's numbers are likely to take a hit. However, the upside can't be ignored, especially if the Jazz decide to start Bailey as part of a bigger lineup.

Round 11

Pick

Position

Player

Team

1

G/F

Isaiah Joe

Detroit Pistons

2

G/F

Christian Braun

Denver Nuggets

3

G

Cam Spencer

Memphis Grizzlies

4

F

Kelly Oubre Jr.

Indiana Pacers

5

F

Morez Johnson Jr. 

Dallas Mavericks

6

F/C

Bobby Portis

Miami Heat

7

G

Shaedon Sharpe

Portland Trail Blazers

8

C

Robert Williams III

Portland Trail Blazers

9

G

Keaton Wagler

LA Clippers

10

C

Deandre Ayton

Washington Wizards

11

F

Jonathan Kuminga

Minnesota Timberwolves

12

F

Rui Hachimura

LA Clippers

13

G

Scoot Henderson

Portland Trail Blazers

14

F/C

Joan Beringer

Minnesota Timberwolves

15

F

Gui Santos

Golden State Warriors

16

F

Tobias Harris

San Antonio Spurs

Portis was a relatively safe pick; in hindsight, I wish I had considered Robert Williams III because of what he can bring as a shot-blocker, even as the backup center in Portland. However, even with the Heat adding Nick Richards to their roster, Portis is someone they're going to count on consistently to supplement the efforts of Giannis and Bam Adebayo in the frontcourt. And his three-point production has increased over the years, with Portis most recently averaging 2.0 makes per game in 2025-26 while making 45.6 percent of his attempts.

Round 12

Pick

Position

Player

Team

1

G

Scotty Pippen Jr.

Memphis Grizzlies

2

F/C

Aaron Gordon

Denver Nuggets

3

F/C

Draymond Green

Golden State Warriors

4

G

De'Anthony Melton

Golden State Warriors

5

G/F

Luke Kennard

Phoenix Suns

6

G/F

Aaron Nesmith

Indiana Pacers

7

G

Isaiah Collier

Utah Jazz

8

F/C

Kyle Filipowski

Utah Jazz

9

G

Jamal Shead

Toronto Raptors

10

F

Hannes Steinbach

Charlotte Hornets

11

G/F

Bennedict Mathurin

New Orleans Pelicans

12

C

Nikola Vučević

Orlando Magic

13

C

Jay Huff

Indiana Pacers

14

C

Khaman Maluach

Phoenix Suns

15

F

De'Andre Hunter

Sacramento Kings

16

C

Dereck Lively II 

Dallas Mavericks

It's always fun when the player you wanted to use your final pick on goes off the board one spot before you come up. That's what happened here, as I hoped to use my final pick on Charlotte's Hannes Steinbach. Even with the Hornets having Moussa Diabaté and Ryan Kalkbrenner, the rookie out of Washington is the best rebounder in this rookie class and can provide immediate value in that category.

With Steinbach off the board, I went with Mathurin, who has been a better option in points leagues than category leagues throughout his career. As noted above, the Pelicans' rotation is a bit crowded, but Mathurin is a player the team holds in high regard after signing him recently. And one could do far worse than him with their final pick in a draft.

Final Team

G Tyrese Maxey
C Walker Kessler
F/C Evan Mobley
F/C Pascal Siakam
G VJ Edgecombe
G/F Ausar Thompson
G Ayo Dosunmu
F Saddiq Bey
G CJ McCollum
F Ace Bailey
F/C Bobby Portis
G/F Bennedict Mathurin

While assists and free-throw percentage are weaknesses for this team, it has multiple strengths. Points, rebounds, steals and blocks should be strengths for this roster, and turnovers shouldn't be a major concern. The Kessler pick could determine this team's ceiling. If he can stay healthy and mesh well with the Lakers' stars, the 7-footer can be a highly valuable fantasy asset. If not, this group could be in some trouble, even with Mobley, Siakam and Portis all having center eligibility.

Kevin Durant: USA Basketball GM is 'one of my main goals'

Kevin Durant is already a USA Basketball legend. He wants to continue to contribute to the program's success after his playing career.

"One of my main goals is to be the GM of the Team USA, one of these Olympics one of these years," Durant said on the Boardroom show, which he co-founded. "I want to do that job one time."

Grant Hill is the current U.S. men's national team GM — or managing director — serving in that role since 2021.

Hill, with input from coaches, recommended the 12 players for the 2024 Olympic roster that were then submitted to the USA Basketball Board of Directors for approval. Hill also recommended head coach and assistant coach candidates to the USA Basketball board for approval.

Durant, who will be 39 come the 2028 Olympics, has repeatedly said he wants to play in a fifth Games in Los Angeles. If he makes it, he will break LeBron James' record as the oldest U.S. Olympic men's basketball player in history.

Durant already owns the Olympic men's basketball record of four gold medals, plus the most points for a American man or woman in Olympic history — 518.

He led the U.S. in points per game in 2012, 2016 and 2021 and was third in 2024 behind Stephen Curry and James.

Olympics: Basketball-Men Quarterfinal - BRA-USA
No LeBron James? Stephen Curry? Team USA is going to look different from what it did in Paris.

Jaylen Brown’s fanfest turnout showed he earned respect few in Boston ever do

Boston, MA - March 18: Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown signals for an and-one. The Celtics played the Golden State Warriors at TD Garden on March 18, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images

Surrounded by thousands at Boston Common, Jaylen Brown took his final bow in the city he’s called home for the last decade Sunday afternoon.

Brown held his “741 Frequency Fest” block party in downtown Boston to celebrate his 10 seasons with the Boston Celtics. It was his last chance to say goodbye before officially embarking on his debut season alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers following this offseason’s blockbuster trade.

“Listen, I’m at a loss for words,” Brown told a sea of Bostonians. “When I got to this city, I said I’m going to go to war for this city. I met so many great people here. People that helped me in the community, that motivated me on my journey. People that have supported me even when I didn’t support myself at times.”

Brown continued: “I just want to say thank you to Boston, thank you to the city, and I love you.”

The entire time, he sported his 2024 Celtics championship ring.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and rappers A$AP Ferg, Joyner Lucas and Lil Baby were among those in attendance for the emotional gathering. Wu presented Brown with a “Jaylen Brown Way” Boston street sign, while Ferg joined him on stage to perform his debut single, “Just Do It,” which the two released in 2024.

There were food trucks, a 741 Performance pop-up shop set up, and a large sign that read “Thank You, Jaylen,” which hundreds of fans plastered with messages of gratitude for the 2024 NBA Finals MVP. It was as sentimental as it was a difficult day for the city, which has embraced Brown as one of its own, to reflect on everything he’s meant since becoming a Celtic over 10 years ago.

Brown went from a split reception filled with both cheers and boos on draft night to undergoing 119 playoff battles before helping Boston raise its record 18th championship banner. He began his career as a rookie rummaging for minutes off the bench to signing a historic $304 million contract extension in 2023 — all while remaining committed to his promise to impact the community through various initiatives aimed at leaving Boston a little bit better than when he arrived.

That he did.

Not only did Brown help the Celtics reclaim their place as the most winning franchise in league history, but he also became Boston’s most authentic athlete. He was as visible on the court as he was in classrooms across Boston’s inner-city neighborhoods, stopping by schools in Dorchester and Roxbury to connect with kids who rarely got the chance to watch their heroes perform live.

Brown went the extra mile, even when it wasn’t required to, making it his own obligation as someone who never forgot where he came from. From draft night to his farewell, Brown always carried the lessons taught by his mother, Mechalle Brown, and his late grandmother, Dianne Varnado, who passed away in 2023.

Few athletes succeed in Boston, whether homegrown or acquired through trade or free agency. Fewer earn the kind of respect fans across New England will forever hold for Brown. Plenty make their stop here, win a title, take their duckboat ride across the city and go about their business at the end of the pit stop. But that isn’t the case with Brown. He became much more than an honorary Bostonian. He wasn’t born here, but in a matter of a few years, it was as if he’d been here from the very beginning of his journey.

That’s rare.

There aren’t many whose impact spanned so far it could rally an entire army at Boston Common for one final goodbye.

Brown is now in Philadelphia, playing for one of Boston’s most historic rivals and joining forces with one of its most hated villains in James. Still, it doesn’t matter. When the time comes, and the tribute video draws the attention of 19,000-plus people inside TD Garden, that respect will once again become apparent.

As deserved, Brown will receive his flowers, his applause, and the unwavering love he secured through a decade of living up to the standard of the Celtics uniform. That’ll always be here waiting for him, regardless of however many trips he makes back to Boston or what uniform he’s wearing.

That’s the bond he forged, and it will live on long beyond his departure from Boston.

Where do things stand with Clippers, Kawhi Leonard, Aspiration investigation? League, Ballmer talking

Nearly a year ago, the NBA formally launched its investigation into whether the Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer circumvented the salary cap through a team sponsor called Aspiration.

That's a long investigation, and one that has stalled a trade to send Leonard to Toronto. While Pablo Torre and other reporters have done their part to keep the story going, the most common reaction now is, "What is going on with that? Is the NBA just trying to sweep it under the rug?"

No, although the league certainly would like this all to go away and not be a dark cloud hanging over the opening of a new season. While the investigation is technically still open, the findings from the report (done by the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz) have been turned over, and the Clippers, Ballmer and the league are talking, potentially moving toward a settlement, league sources have told NBC Sports. Here is now ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne described the situation last week in an appearance on ESPN 710 radio in Los Angeles (hat tip ClutchPoints).

"I know that the investigators have presented initial findings, but they're still making calls and putting things together. But they are having conversations with Balmer and his lawyers already. They're talking about it. I don't know if you would call it a settlement or some kind of negotiation, but that's already happening...

"The conversations have been more about this failure to supervise and the nature of the introductions that were made between the Clippers and Kawhi's people rather than direct evidence of salary cap circumvention done by Steve Ballmer. If you're doing the easy parlance, that would be the murder charge. That's a really serious charge that's very hard to prove."

What we could see is something not unlike what we have seen in far more serious cases before, such as when the government convicts a mob boss for federal income tax evasion — everyone knew that wasn't his actual biggest crime, but it's what the government could prove and lock him away for.

If the NBA wants to come hard for Ballmer he would fight, and the process would be lengthy. Under the CBA, with any punishment the league might hand down against the Clippers, Ballmer or Leonard would have to go before a neutral arbitrator, who would decide whether the punishments were appropriate. That decision could be appealed — and you can be sure Ballmer would. He has the means to drag this out for a long time, potentially moving into the court system. Also, you can be sure that if Leonard faces any punishment, the players' union will step in on his behalf and fight it.

Which is why the sides are talking, but finding a settlement has the league walking a tightrope. On one side, they would need a punishment Ballmer would accept and not fight. On the other side, if the punishment is too lenient, every other owner would say, "If that's the price to pay to get a superstar extra money to come to my team, I'm in." Much like with tampering in free agency, it would quickly become the league norm.

What are the potential punishments for the Clippers? First, a fine for Ballmer and the organization, but also a suspension for Ballmer and/or other Clippers executives. The Clippers almost certainly lost draft picks through this process, but how many and what rounds? Finally, what, if anything, is the punishment for Leonard?

While there is no official deadline for the investigation to wrap up and the announcement of charges or a settlement, the on-hold Leonard trade to Toronto kind of creates one around training camps starting in about a month. Both the Raptors and Clippers either need that trade to go through or be called off early in camp, they can't go into the season like this.

All of which means we may see some action later this month, but this also could well drag into 2027. This investigation, which started in September 2025, could drag well into the new NBA season. And it would be a talking point.