The Lakers have signed forward Anton Watson to an Exhibit 10 contract, the team announced Thursday.
The 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward played for the South Bay Lakers last season, averaging 11 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.4 steals in 27.3 minutes.The 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward played for the South Bay Lakers last season, averaging 11 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.4 steals in 27.3 minutes.
Anton Watson (41) of the Los Angeles Lakers plays against the Miami Heat during their 2026 California Classic Summer League game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Sunday, July 5, 2026. Getty Images
Watson was selected 54th by the Celtics in the 2024 NBA Draft. After the Celtics waived him in March 2025, he played nine games for the Knicks.
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Don’t look now, but the NBA season is almost upon us. The Golden State Warriors will converge in Hawaii in just 12 days to get started on the 13th season of the Steve Kerr era and the 18th season of the Steph Curry era. They’ll be plotting and planning and practicing, in hopes of putting forth another 2022-esque surprise season.
On Thursday, the Warriors announced their front office hirings and promotions for the season. The biggest one is just a formality, as it was news that was first reported months ago: the Warriors have added Frank Vogel to Kerr’s coaching staff.
Vogel, who replaces Terry Stotts as the Associate Head Coach, brings a ton of NBA coaching experience to the job. After seven-plus years as an assistant coach, Vogel took over as head coach of the Indiana Pacers during the 2010-11 season, a job he held for five-and-a-half seasons. Following that stint, Vogel served as the head coach of the Orlando Magic for two seasons and then, after a year off, spent three years at the helm of the Los Angeles Lakers, where he led LeBron James and Anthony Davis to an NBA title in 2020.
After being fired by the Lakers, Vogel took a year off before returning as head coach of the Phoenix Suns, a job that last one year. He took the 2024-25 season off, and spent last year as an assistant for the Dallas Mavericks. And now he brings all that experience and expertise to the Dubs.
In addition to Vogel, the Warriors announced that Ben Stelzer, who had been the Head Video Coordinator, had his title enhanced to Head Video Coordinator/Player Development Coach. Also on the development side, Everett Dayton has been promoted from Player Development Coach to Director of Player Development/Assistant Coach, while Tyler Larsen has jumped from being an assistant for the Santa Cruz Warriors to a Player Development Coach with the NBA squad.
Rounding out the player development additions and promotions are a trio of newcomers hired for the role of Video Associate, Player Development: Adam Fravert, John Wade, and Nate Karren.
The Warriors also announced that Tatianna Lampley has been promoted from Specialist of Basketball Development to Specialist of Player Engagement. After working as a Pro Scout, Jason Staudt was promoted to Director of Pro Personnel.
On the team operations side, Eric Housen was promoted from Vice President of Team Operations to Senior Vice President of Team Operations, as he prepares for his 40th season with the franchise. Bert Ortiz Jr., who served as Team Chef, has been promoted to Housen’s old role as Vice President of Team Operations.
Finally, the Warriors announced that Stephanie Weston has been hired as the Team Massage Therapist. It’s a promotion and a new team for Weston, who served as Assistant Massage Therapist for three seasons with the Pacers.
Saddiq Bey quietly had an impressive last season (quiet because who was really watching Pelicans games by the end), averaging 17.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. It was especially impressive considering he had missed the previous season due to a torn ACL.
New Orleans is rewarding him, with the Pelicans and Bey agreeing to a three-year, $55.5 million extension, his agents from Excel Sports Management told Shams Charania of ESPN. This is fully guaranteed and takes him through the summer of 2030.
This is a big raise for Bey, 27, who is set to make $6.4 million this season in the final year of his current contract. The extension's average annual salary of $18.5 million is a little above the mid-level exception right now, but it's not out of line with how Bey produced last season. Also, this is a very tradable contract size if New Orleans ever needs to go that route, though the contract does have a trade kicker.
It's worth noting that new Pelicans general manager Troy Weaver drafted Bey out of Villanova back when Weaver was with the Pistons.
Bey had been a rock-solid role player for the Pistons and Hawks before being traded to the Pelicans in the 2025 offseason. Unfortunately, before he ever set foot on the court that season he tore his ACL and went through a year of rehab.
Last season he bounced back with the best season of his career — he started on the bench and by the eighth game of the season then-coach Willie Green wisely moved him into the starting lineup. He took on more of the offense but kept his efficiency at an all-time high for him (36.7% from 3-point range, .579 true shooting percentage).
If he continues to perform at that level for new Pelicans coach Jamahl Mosley, this is a good deal for both sides.
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 26: James Wiseman #13 of the Detroit Pistons looks to pass the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on February 26, 2024 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The New York Knicks have two vacant roster spots heading into the season as they seek to defend their title, so they’re bringing in a group of veterans to compete for them in training camp. One of them is a former NBA champion and a familiar face to Golden State Warriors fans.
The No. 2 pick from the 2020 draft signed a training camp deal with the Knicks, who appear to once again be auditioning multiple players to fill out the back of their roster. It worked out pretty well last season, with Landry Shamet winning a spot in camp and going on to average 9.3 points in 23 minutes per game, then shooting 47.5% from three-point range during the playoffs.
The Knicks lost centers Mitchell Robinson and Ariel Hukporti in free agency this summer, with Andre Drummond stepping in to take the backup center position. It looks like they’re prepared to add a third center and a wing player, and if that’s the case, Big Jim Wiseman is competing with fellow camp invitee Drew Eubanks for that spot. New York is also bringing in Bruce Brown, John Konchar, and Ochai Agbaji, a veritable who’s-who of the summer’s “Best available free agents” lists.
At the beginning of the summer, Wiseman’s agent announced that he would continue his professional career in Europe. Clearly, the chance to play for the Knicks was more tempting than whatever European opportunities were available. It’s not a guarantee that the Knicks will add another center, but you’d think they’d want someone bigger than Mohamed Diawara to man the pivot, especially with starting power forward OG Anunoby standing just 6-foot-7.
Big Jim earned a spot in the Indiana Pacers rotation to start the 2024-25 season, only to suffer an Achilles tear five minutes into his first game. He played four games for the Pacers last season, who had a huge amount of roster churn last year due to injuries. It got so bad they used seven hardship exceptions before Christmas, with Wiseman spending two brief stints with the team.
Wiseman may not seem like the missing piece for a team that blew through the NBA playoffs last spring, but it seems like he’ll only have to beat out Eubanks to earn a roster spot. Eubanks has played significantly more than Wiseman in the last few seasons, though those totals are trending downward. He suited up for 75 games in 2023-24, 61 games for two teams in 2024-25, and 42 games for the Sacramento Kings last year, tearing a ligament in his thumb late in the season after losing playing time to rookies Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell.
Eubanks, whose nickname is “The Shaq of Troutdale,” has a better track record of success, while Wiseman is four years younger and has a higher ceiling, though a far lower floor. With the general super-sizing of NBA front courts in recent years and the looming presence of Victor Wembanyama, the Knicks might be willing to gamble on Wiseman, who is still only 25.
At worst, Wiseman will get some training camp minutes to show off for other potential employees, in America or across the pond. He’s already proved he can cheer on a championship team from the sidelines in San Francisco. Here’s hoping he gets a chance to do in it NYC.
A former Los Angeles Clippers teammate of Paul George shades him during an interview.
It’s been nearly three years since Paul George wore a Los Angeles Clippers uniform, but it appears his past is still continuing to haunt him.
Former NBA big man and George’s former teammate, Montrezl Harrell, spoke in an interview with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson and was asked about his old teammate during the NBA bubble in 2020.
“I don’t make comments about that boy. Me and that boy don’t see eye-to-eye, and we ain’t on no terms, so I don’t make comments about him,” Harrell said. “Quite frankly, I don’t care. I stated that in the tribute interview I did as well, regarding how me and him got into it in that bubble situation.”
Harrell went on to say that he believes the team didn’t sign him back due to their altercation after they blew a 3-1 lead to the Denver Nuggets during the second round of the playoffs.
During the middle of Game 5 of the playoffs, the two got into a heated exchange after a timeout was taken. The two were reportedly arguing over George refusing to take responsibility for a turnover that happened during Game 2 of the series.
Montrezl Harrell during an NBA playoff against the Denver Nuggerts game during the bubble for the Los Angeles Clippers APPaul George in a Los Angeles Clippers unfirom during an NBA game. Getty Images
Chris Haynes of Yahoo reported that Harrell told George, “You’re always right. Nobody can tell you nothing,” while the two shouted expletives back and forth at each other.
After the game, Kawhi Leonard told reporters that the team needed to build chemistry amongst themselves.
Leonard’s comments don’t appear to be far from the truth. Harrell told Robinson there wasn’t any chemistry among that teammates, but didn’t solely point the blame at his former teammates, by noting the COVID-19 Pandemic played a factor in it.
“What chemistry could you have when we were playing basketball and had to stop playing for a month? People had to stay in their house,” Harrell told Robinson during the interview. “We couldn’t go in the gym or be around each other. Who wouldn’t lose chemistry or cohesion after all that took place? That makes zero sense.”
Harrell went on to say for him, that time in particular was tough on him as he had “zero rhythm.”
“Mentally I wasn’t there,” Harrell said. “I lost my grandmother, and basketball wasn’t the first thing on my mind. The coaching staff and GM were hitting me up so much to come back, and I wanted to make the right decision for my team and not leave them hanging, but a lot went into it.”
Harrell continued and said he wasn’t the only one who was affected, as Patrick Beverly and former three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year winner Lou Williams both lost long-term mentors in their lives.
Paul George during his introductory press conference with the Boston Celtics. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Harrell went on to play four seasons in the NBA until he tore his ACL during a summer workout in 2023.
George was with the Clippers until the 2023-2024 NBA season, and is now about to embark on a new journey with the Boston Celtics after spending the last two years with the Philadelphia 76ers.
LeBron James may be a four-time NBA champion, but he’s also a businessman.
The latest example comes from a Polymarket partnership that will pay James $15 million per year. The deal is nearly worth quadruple of what the 41-year-old is set to earn with the 76ers this season.
LeBron James speaks onstage during the Mind the Game panel at Fanatics Fest NYC 2026. Getty Images for Fanatics
The agreement between James and the sports betting company focuses on promoting football, not basketball. But it’s clear his pay cut with Philadelphia doesn’t look so drastic when weighing the amount of money James will earn from endorsement deals.
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer left money on the table when he informed the Lakers he would not return for the 2026-27 season. But James said it was never about money as he pondered the next and final home of his illustrious NBA career.
James joining the 76ers on a veteran minimum deal was evidence of the superstar’s desire to find complete basketball happiness, rather than make a profit in the twilight of his career.
But the latest deal with Polymarket has raised some eyebrows.
A federal judge issued an injunction placing the ban on hold July 27, three days after James made his long-awaited announcement. If the deal with Polymarket was already in the works, that would have eliminated Minnesota as an option for James in free agency.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns. AP Photo/Jessie AlchehLeBron James speaks onstage during The Shop Live panel at Fanatics Fest NYC 2026 at Jacob Javits Center. Getty Images for Fanatics
Moreover, the Clippers’ scandal has shed light on teams openly violating salary cap circumvention rules. While James’ deal doesn’t interfere with any CBA rules, partnerships with companies could lead directly to smaller contracts in order to help with salary cap relief.
In theory, that would be a method of circumventing the cap.
It’ll be interesting to see how the NBA navigates this new era of partnerships for its athletes.
Any concerns about Steph Curry leaving the Warriors can be put to rest.
During an interview with CNBC, Curry was asked if seeing LeBron James leave the Lakers during free agency was “appealing” to him, to which the future Hall of Famer immediately shut down.
“Not at all. I’ve always stated that I want to be a lifer with Golden State,” Curry said. “What we’ve built there. The fact that I get to run it back this year with Draymond [Green] and Coach [Steve] Kerr.”
Stephen Curry calls himself a Warriors “lifer.” Anadolu via Getty Images
Since James departed from the Lakers in July after an eight-season run, rumors started to emerge that Curry could be entering his final season in a Golden State uniform.
Curry, 38, is entering the final year of his four-year, $215.4 million deal he signed with the team in 2022 and is nearing the end of a Hall of Fame career.
“All the contract stuff, this NBA thing from year-to-year is crazy. Things change really fast,” Curry said. “But I do know my interest and mission is to stay in Golden State and be competitive is there, and the contract stuff will take care of itself.”
Curry is eligible to receive a two-year, $136.7 million contract extension that would keep him with the Warriors through the 2028-2029 season.
Stephen Curry calls himself a Warriors “lifer.” Getty Images
The moves the organization made during the offseason were focused on acquiring depth and building around young talent, such as Yaxel Lendeborg, who was selected by the team with the No.11 pick of the 2026 NBA Draft.
Thompson II added that he doesn’t think the team would trade Curry and called him a “lifer.”
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry calls himself a Warriors “lifer.” Robert Sabo for NY Post
Aside from being considered one of the greatest shooters of all time, Curry is the most iconic Warriors player. He’s led them to four NBA championships, including being Finals MVP in 2022.
Curry was crowned NBA MVP in back-to-back seasons in 2015 and 2016. He also was the league’s scoring champion in 2016 and 2021.
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New York Knicks fans who were outraged at exorbitant ticket prices for home games when they went on sale earlier this week are getting some relief.
Madison Square Garden Corp. (MSG), the parent company of the Knicks, said Thursday, Sept. 17 it made a mistake in its pricing structure when individual game tickets for the 2026-27 NBA seasn went on sale the day prior, resulting in face value seats for the regular-season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers being listed in excess of $1,000.
And those were the prices for tickets in the upper deck of Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks, who in June won their first NBA championship in 53 seasons, had toiled in mediocrity for years during the 2010s, leading to several loyal fans voicing their indignation.
“A multibillion-dollar franchise pricing its own non-wealthy fans out of the Garden on a night the fanbase has been dreaming about for 50 years,” one fan wrote on social media. “Shameful.”
In some cases, the ticket prices represented increases of 400% from last season. As a result, the company has decided to pause sales so that it can correct the issue.
“We are pausing Knicks individual ticket sales due to a mistake in our pricing,” MSG said Thursday, Sept. 17 in a statement. “We are rolling back to last year’s prices plus an average increase of 12%. We will restart sales with new prices shortly, and anyone who already purchased individual tickets will be refunded for the difference. Our intention was never to overcharge our loyal fans, and we thank everyone for their support of the Knicks and their patience as we get this right.”
The Knicks have increased prices in the past, particularly as they have had recent success, making the postseason five of the last six seasons.
The regular-season opener against Philadelphia is scheduled for Oct. 20, when the team will raise the banner to commemorate New York’s championship.
The Lakers, who won their first championship in 10 years in 2020, are trying to climb back atop the league after acquiring Dončić in a stunning trade in February 2025.
Meanwhile the Warriors, the league’s modern-day dynasty after winning four championships in eight years from 2015-2022, are trying to enable Steph Curry to play meaningful basketball amid the sunset of his career in a league that has gotten younger and faster, passing them by.
So, where will the Lakers and Warriors rank next season in the very crowded Western Conference?
Here are our predictions:
The Lakers have Luka Doncic as their centerpiece now. Corey Sipkin / NY Post
Lakers: No. 3
The Thunder and Spurs are head and shoulders above the Lakers.
Those teams have no obvious weaknesses. They have youth. They have superstars. They have depth. They have incredible defense. And they’ve proven they have the chemistry and mental fortitude to go deep in the playoffs.
They need an elite perimeter defender. They need time to jell. They’re a few tweaks away from being considered real contenders.
Could the Lakers finish higher than Nikola Jokic and his Nuggets? Yes. The Nuggets had a disappointing offseason following a first-round playoff exit in April, including losing Peyton Watson, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown.
As for the Timberwolves? They could give the Lakers fits behind perennial All-Star Anthony Edwards and four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert. The Timberwolves added LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga to their roster and could be a fringe contender.
The Rockets are also a team to watch. Sure, the Lakers jumped to a 3-0 series lead over them last postseason without Doncic and Austin Reaves, but both teams are going to look completely different in October. Kevin Durant is expected to be healthy, and Fred VanVleet is returning from injury. As for the Lakers, they’re only returning two starters from last season in Doncic and Reaves.
If the Lakers finish third in the West over the Timberwolves and Rockets that would be an incredible showing for Doncic, who’s eager to prove he can be the Lakers’ next superstar. He wants to win his first championship. He wants to prove his detractors wrong. And now he’s backed by a 17-time championship organization that views anything short of a title as a failure.
Here’s to betting Doncic is able to carry the Lakers to a third-place finish in the highly competitive West.
Steph Curry and his Warriors teammates might surprise but won’t dominate the Western Conference. Getty Images
Warriors: No. 8
We held our breath when the Warriors were pursuing Giannis Antetokounmpo. Bust.
We were on the edge of our seat when they were pursuing James in an attempt to pair him with the team he faced in four straight NBA Finals from 2015-2018. Slump.
The league is more fun when the Warriors are good. Curry is the greatest shooter ever. Draymond Green is a fiery defender who’s endlessly exciting to watch. Warriors coach Steve Kerr is brilliant.
But alas, all of the Warriors’ attempts to become contenders flatlined.
So, as of now, the Warriors are a fringe playoff team. It’s a shame for Curry, who’s turning 39 next season and is still one of the NBA’s top players. Last season, he became the oldest point guard in NBA history to be named a starter on the All-Star team.
The Warriors are expected to try to work some magic ahead of the trade deadline to breathe some life into Curry’s 18th season.
But until then, with Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody set to miss the start of the season due to injuries, the Warriors aren’t expected to make much noise.
That said, if Curry, Green and Kristaps Porzingis are healthy, this team can’t be counted out. Remember what they did in their first play-in game against the Clippers, when Curry went unconscious finishing with 35 points (27 of which he scored in the second half), Green bottled up Kawhi Leonard (holding him to just two points in the fourth quarter) and Porzingis had 20 points, five rebounds and five assists.
If you add Butler and Moody to that mix, the Warriors could be tough.
But as of now, too many questions surround their health and durability and too many teams with fresh legs are looking to sprint past them, including the Thunder, Spurs, Lakers, Timberwolves, Rockets, Nuggets and Mavericks.
Michael Sweetney, an All-American big man for the Georgetown men’s basketball team who went on to be a top-10 NBA draft pick, has died, his wife, India, announced on social media on Thursday, Sept. 17.
He was 43 years old. No cause of death was specified.
“No one loved him more and he loved no one more than his family,” India Murray Sweetney wrote in a message on Facebook. “His children were the light of his life, and he lived every day to give them the best life possible. He’s been my best friend for 30 years and my husband for almost 20. I’m not sure what we or I will do without him.”
Sweetney made his greatest on-court mark in the college game, where the 6-foot-8, 275-pound forward averaged 18.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game over three seasons at Georgetown. As a junior during the 2002-03 season, he averaged 22.8 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game for the Hoyas. His production that season earned him All-American distinction from the Associated Press, the National Association of Basketball Coaches and The Sporting News.
Despite playing only three seasons at Georgetown, he remains ninth on the program’s all-time scoring list and fifth on its all-time rebounding list.
Prayers to the family of Georgetown men’s basketball alum Michael Sweetney.
His size and college accolades made him a prized NBA prospect, with the New York Knicks selecting him with the No. 9 overall pick in the famed 2003 NBA Draft that also included LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh. In four NBA seasons — two with the Knicks and two with the Chicago Bulls — he averaged 6.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
He played professionally, primarily in South America and the Caribbean, until 2017.
Heading into his first season with the Knicks, Sweetney struggled with depression, maintaining his playing weight and suicidal thoughts after his father suffered a fatal heart attack in 2003, about a month after Sweetney was drafted.
“I was going through depression,” he said to the New York Post in 2019. “I honestly thought I would never get out of it,” Sweetney said. “When I share the story, as I’m talking, it’s still amazing to me this was going on. As an athlete, pride got in the way. I was fighting myself. I didn’t speak up. I kept it hidden and it became a snowball effect.
“Before my father(’s death), life was great. He came to every game. He was always there. I buried my father like two days before training camp. There was no time to digest it at all. Losing him, then coming to a basketball situation that wasn’t going the way I wanted, I’d never dealt with adversity.”
He remained in basketball after his playing days, serving as an assistant coach at Yeshiva University, a Division III school in Manhattan. With Sweetney on staff, the Maccabees won two conference championships and racked up a 50-game win streak from 2019-21.
“It’s not just about X’s and O’s,” Sweetney said to the Post in 2019. “Sometimes you need to see if a guy is going through something and pick them up. It’s been a great experience. I’m happy here. I’m comfortable here. I’m treated well here. It’s been amazing. To be happy and be at peace, I would’ve been shocked. I wouldn’t have thought it was possible.”
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 30: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in action during a game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center on March 30, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
They spent weeks waiting for LeBron James to make a decision, only for the King to choose Philly over returning home. This put Cleveland’s offseason on the brink of disaster. They needed a wing — and with the free agency pool drained, the Cavs had almost nothing to show for it.
James Harden not only paused his contract extension to allow them to keep searching, but also played an active role in recruiting their biggest splash of the summer, Peyton Watson.
“Getting a call or text from [Harden] throughout my process to let me know the Cleveland Cavaliers are interested,” said Watson during his introductory press conference.
“ That matters a lot because obviously he has one of the great basketball minds we’ve ever seen. Being embraced by him immediately was something that was very flattering to me.”
Watson was one of the hottest sign-and-trade candidates on the market this summer. The 6’8” wing had a career-best season shooting the ball and fit the mold of what the Cavs have been missing.
Meanwhile, Harden waited until September to sign an extension that he could have signed in July. This gave Cleveland the financial flexibility to go big game hunting.
More importantly, Harden used his reputation as one of the game’s greatest playmakers to reel in an organizational assist.
“I was super, super blessed to hear from him, and it made me more excited about what my role could be on the team,” said Watson. “It was early on when he had first talked to me… when I got that call and was informed that I was gonna be a Cleveland Cavalier, it just made it mean that much more to me because I knew I was being embraced day one by the team and front office. That just matters.”
Vibes matter. Enthusiasm is what leads to chemistry. Watson is excited about being in Cleveland and building a relationship with Harden. That’s some of the best news that you can hear leading into training camp.
Harden can’t pick up the phone and make the trade himself. But he did everything else in his power to facilitate this deal.
Steph Curry shared his thoughts on the Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer’s punishment for circumventing the NBA’s salary cap.
“I wasn’t surprised,” Curry said. “I think the reason the investigation took as long as it did and the idea that Steve Ballmer, who I’ve gotten to know and is a great guy, is standing by the punishment. So there’s a reason it’s happened the way that it has.
“At the end of the day, Adam Silver had a job to do, and I think the punishment makes sense. And we all move forward.”
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry is seen during an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets. AP
"I wasn't surprised. … Adam Silver had a job to do, and I think the punishment makes sense, and we all move forward."
Steph Curry on Steve Ballmer and the Clippers being punished for circumventing the NBA's salary cap
The Clippers were stripped of five first-round picks and fined $30 million for their violations. Ballmer faces a yearlong suspension, but after initially disputing the NBA’s findings, he has accepted the league’s punishment.
“This has been a very difficult time for everybody associated with the Clippers, and for that, I have sincere regrets,” Ballmer said in a statement. “I want to apologize to our fans, employees, and my fellow NBA team owners for the distraction and distress this matter has caused, for which I accept responsibility as principal owner.
“We are committing to put this chapter behind us. We have communicated to the NBA that we are complying with the penalties assessed by the league, have paid the fine, and are moving forward.”
As for Kawhi Leonard, he is officially a Raptor after he was given a $700,000 fine for his involvement in the scandal.
Who will run the Clippers’ day-to-day operations while owner/chairman Steve Ballmer is suspended? APKawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers in action during a game against the Sacramento Kings. Getty Images
Mike Sweetney, a Georgetown star whom the Knicks selected with the No. 9 pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, died at 43 years old.
The news was announced by his wife, India, in a Facebook post Thursday.
“With the heaviest hearts, we are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our beloved Michael,” India wrote. “To know Mike Sweetney was love to him. No one loved him more and he loved no one more than his family. His children were the light of his life, and he lived every day to give them the best life possible. He’s been my best friend for 30 years and my husband for almost 20. I’m not sure what we or I will do without him.”
Mike Sweetney #50 of the New York Knicks slam dunks the ball during the first quarter of a game against the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden, Wednesday, March 23, 2005. Charles Wenzelberg/NY Post
No cause of death was announced.
India recently set up a GoFundMe that simply said, “God Bless and thank you,” with a goal of $10,000. “He was the best son, brother, family member, friend, father and husband ANYONE could ask for,” India wrote. “We appreciate every call and text of love and support. We just asked that right now You give us all a little time before you start to reach out because it’s been pretty overwhelming. Thank you and God bless.”
Sweetney, who battled weight issues throughout his NBA career, played two seasons for the Knicks and showed improvement in Year 2, averaging 8.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
Mike Sweetney #50 of the New York Knicks grabs his jersey during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden, Sunday, January 23, 2005. Susan May Tell for NY Post
He was traded that offseason to the Bulls, though, in a deal that brought Eddy Curry and Antonio Davis to New York.
After two seasons in Chicago, Sweetney continued his basketball career overseas.
The Washington native played in China, Puerto Rico and South America before retiring in 2017.
Shaquille O’Neal #32 of the Miami Heat looks for an opening as Mike Sweetney #50 of the New York Knicks plays defense during the first quarter of a game at Madison Square Garden, Tuesday, March 15, 2005. Charles Wenzelberg/NY PostMike Sweetney #50 of the New York Knicks, Jerome Williams #31 of the New York Knicks, and Stephon Marbury #3 of the New York Knicks sit during a game against the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden, Wednesday, March 23, 2005. Charles Wenzelberg/NY Post
“The world lost a giant today. I lost a close friend,” Yeshiva head coach Elliot Steinmetz said on X. “The basketball world lost a beloved star. Our Jewish community lost an ally and someone who knew exactly how to show up.
“Mike Sweetney wasn’t just a friend. He was family. When you needed him, he was there. Always. You didn’t even have to ask.”
New York Knicks draft picks, from left, Slavko Vranes, Mike Sweetney and Maciej Lampe pose for photos outside of Madison Square Garden, Wednesday, June 25, 2003. Jim Alcorn for NY PostNew York Knicks 1st round draft pick Mike Sweetney attends a press conference at Madison Square Garden after being introduced to the press, Wednesday, June 25, 2003. Jim Alcorn for NY Post
Sweetney spoke to The Post’s Stefan Bondy in June about conquering his past mental health struggles and anxiety after not living up to the expectations that come with being a top draft pick in New York.
He said the Knicks invited him to three games this past season as they were on their way to the franchise’s first championship in 53 years.
“It means a lot,” Sweetney, who had moved to New Jersey five years ago, said. “I didn’t have the career I could have had. But for them to have me back and welcome me with open arms.”
Former New York Knick Mike Sweetney, center, and assistant coaches for Yeshiva University men’s basketball, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019, in New York. Corey Sipkin for NY Post
The world lost a giant today. I lost a close friend. The basketball world lost a beloved star. Our Jewish community lost an ally and someone who knew exactly how to show up.
Mike Sweetney wasn’t just a friend. He was family. When you needed him, he was there. Always. You didn’t… pic.twitter.com/mwRh9UQgjA
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 11: Duop Reath #26 of the Portland Trail Blazers drives to the basket during the first half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on December 11, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
No sooner did I publish an article saying the Phoenix Suns didn’t need an immediate solution to their center depth following the injury to Mark Williams than the team went out and acquired Duop Reath. Timing, am I right?
On the surface, the addition of Reath appears to provide a stopgap at center while Williams works his way back from his torn labrum. Ultimately, however, that might not be what this is. According to Suns insider Duane Rankin, Reath will join the Suns on a non-guaranteed contract as a training camp invite. So while Phoenix has added another center to the mix, his roster spot is far from guaranteed.
Still on vacation. Still working.
Sources inform @azcentral Duop Reath is a training camp invite for Phoenix Suns, who begin camp Sept. 29.
Mark Williams has shoulder injury that'll sideline him for months.
Haywood Highsmith signing put Suns at 15 players for standard roster.…
I think that makes this a great move by the Suns because it invites healthy competition into the third-string center role. Phoenix already has CJ Huntley on a two-way contract, and he could fill that role if needed. The expectation isn’t for the third center to play 23 minutes a night, after all. It’s to provide depth when necessary, especially when foul trouble presents itself.
Rather than simply hand that role to Huntley, the Suns are bringing in competition. Huntley still has plenty of development ahead of him after missing Summer League with hamstring issues. Reath, meanwhile, is 30 years old and preparing for his fourth NBA season. And that fourth season matters. Reath is still eligible for a two-way contract. So if the Suns like what they see in him but don’t believe he’s done enough to earn a guaranteed roster spot, there is another path available.
A guaranteed spot would likely require Phoenix to move off Jamaree Bouyea, whose contract doesn’t become fully guaranteed until January 10. The Suns still value Bouyea and would like to keep him within the organization, so there’s no reason to force that decision right now. Phoenix also already has all three two-way spots occupied by Koby Brea, Pat Spencer, and CJ Huntley, which puts more pressure on those players to perform as well.
That’s what I like about this acquisition. It creates competition at the back end of the roster. It allows iron to sharpen iron and reinforces the idea that the best man wins. It’s a shrewd move and another example of Brian Gregory thinking ahead rather than waiting until he absolutely has to make a decision.
And while I wrote previously that the Suns didn’t need to make an immediate move at center, I still believe that. They haven’t really made a decision yet. They’ve created competition. Training camp will determine what happens next, and from there, the organization can decide how it wants to move forward.
