Category: Basketball

NBA history spans 80 seasons, and as CelticsBlog readers well know, the Boston Celtics have won a league-high 18 championships. This month, we are recapping each of those title years.

Elite Three-Peat

The Boston Celtics reached an elite milestone by winning the NBA Finals in 1961, adding to their 1959 and 1960 banners. They became just the second franchise to collect a trio of consecutive titles. The first was the Minneapolis Lakers from 1952 to 1954.

Since then, the Chicago Bulls won three straight championships from 1991 to 1993, and a second time, 1996 to 1998, and the Los Angeles Lakers won from 2000 to 2002. No team has won more than three straight years except the Celtics, who went for eight in a row. as we know.

The MVP

A large factor in Boston’s success, literally, was 6-foot-10 center Bill Russell, who in five seasons changed the Celtics from a pretty good team to a dynasty with four titles. Russell was awarded Most Valuable Player of the 1960-61 season in a vote by players, which was the process then. Oddly, Russell was chosen to only second team All-NBA, behind Wilt Chamberlain, but that vote was by sportswriters. (Insert pondering-face emoji.)

This was Russell’s second MVP (1957-58 was the first). He would win five in his career because of his defense, rebounding, passing and intellect. To this day, he is universally known as the best defensive player of all time. In fact, as calculated by basketball-reference.com, he has the highest Regular Season Defensive Win Share, the highest Playoff DWS and the highest Total DWS of anyone who’s ever played in the NBA or ABA. By far.

Unfortunately, the Defensive Player of the Year award was created more than a decade after Russell retired.

The regular season

In 1960-61, NBA conventional wisdom was that the Celtics had gotten too good for the rest of the league. The results supported that theory, as both the regular season and postseason were nearly drama-free for the two-time defending champs.

The season began with an adjusted schedule, going from 75 games per team to 79. The Celtics’ final record was 57-22, which was 11 games ahead of the Eastern second-place Philadelphia Warriors and six games better than the West-leading St. Louis Hawks. Boston was third in scoring at 119.4 points per game while allowing a league-low 114.1. The Celtics also easily won the season series against all of the other teams, the only one close being St. Louis (6-4).

The blueprint to success

The rest of the league had to be wondering when they would ever beat Boston again. But as the saying goes, there were levels to this, and head coach and general manager Red Auerbach knew it.

First, the Celtics were fortunate that free agency was not yet a factor in building a roster. There were no expiring contracts that would allow players to change teams at will.

Succession plans were vital, as well. Careers were generally shorter in the early NBA than today, first because players stayed in college for four years, and later because their bodies wore down more quickly than today’s athletes. Modern training methods and medical treatments were still in the future, and travel was done on commercial airlines, trains and even buses, not in the comfort of private jets we see today. Scheduling quirks such as three games in three nights — with load management not yet invented — also had an adverse effect.

In Boston, MVP Russell and leading scorer Tommy Heinsohn were both entering their prime at age 26. Star guards Bob Cousy (age 32) and Bill Sharman (34), were aging but still highly effective, and Red Auerbach had developed supremely talented shooter Sam Jones (27) and defensive ace K.C. Jones (28) to step into their roles and not miss a beat when the time came.

Hard-nosed rebounder and defender Jim Loscutoff had turned 30, but 6-6 forward Tom Sanders from NYU was the eighth pick in the 1960 Draft. The man known as Satch would soon be ready to succeed the legendary “Loscy.”

By all indications, Auerbach had all that figured out before the rest of the league caught on, and the proof was in the results.

Eastern playoffs

The postseason was as stress-free as the regular season. The Celtics had a first-round bye while the Syracuse Nationals swept the Philadelphia Warriors, 3-0. Wilt Chamberlain averaged 37 points and 23 rebounds for naught, and Boston would not have to contend with him.

The Celtics handled Syracuse with ease, 4-1, with a 19-point average margin of victory. They won Game 1 at home by 13 points, lost game 2 away by 17, then finished off the series with three straight routs. Russell was the leading rebounder in each contest and topped the Celtics in all three main stat categories: 20.6 points, 31 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game. It’s a shame that blocked shots weren’t tracked until well after Russell’s career ended.

NBA Finals

Not even the St. Louis Hawks could slow down the Celtics juggernaut in 1961. Meeting for the fourth time in five years, the Hawks had twice taken Boston to seven games. Not this time. Celtics in five.

Game 1 in Boston went to the home team, 129-95, and they also won Game 2 on the parquet, 116-108. After the Hawks squeaked out a four-point win at home, the Celtics seized control by winning Game 4, 119-104. Back in Boston, Russell dominated Game 5 with an MVP performance of 30 points and 38 boards. The Celtics took the lead with a 37-23 third quarter, then held the Hawks at arm’s length to claim Banner #4.

Turning point

Bob Pettit dropped 40 points in the Hawks’ must-win Game 4, yet the Celtics ran away in the second half to win by 15.

It was over when…

Pettit and Cliff Hagan combined to average nearly 58 points per game, but Boston more than offset that with six players averaging between 12 and 22 points. Boston also demolished the Hawks in total rebounds, 369-304, thanks mostly to Russell’s 28.8 per game.

Notable facts and stats

• Tommy Heinsohn again led Boston in Finals scoring, averaging 22.0 points per game.
• Bill Sharman retired after this season, and a few years later began a successful coaching career. He led the Utah Stars to the 1971 championship of the American Basketball Association (ABA). The very next year, he coached the LA Lakers to their first ever NBA championship. His assistant coach was K.C. Jones.
• After playing them in the NBA Finals four times in five years, the Celtics and Hawks did not meet again in the playoffs until 1972, when Atlanta had moved to the Eastern Conference. Boston is now 11-2 in playoff series vs. the Hawks. 1958 remains the only championship year in Hawks’ history.

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Notable changes elsewhere

1961 brought a few major changes across the NBA that would make a significant impact.

• The Lakers moved from Minneapolis to Los Angeles.
• Oscar Robertson (who won Rookie of the Year) was drafted No. 1 overall by the Cincinnati Royals, and Jerry West was selected no. 2 by the Lakers. Both would dominate statistically, be named to double-digit All-NBA teams and All-Star Games, win one championship, and when their careers ended would be widely considered the two best guards in NBA history. Both also had numerous playoff battles with the Celtics (spoiler alert: all unsuccessful).
• Lenny Wilkens also entered the league as the sixth overall pick by the Hawks, becoming a nine-time All-Star. He went on to coach the Seattle SuperSonics to the 1979 crown, and his 1,332 coaching wins ranks third all-time. He’s been inducted into the Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach. Wilkens would’ve been a perfect fit for the Auerbach Celtics.

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Banner Years continues tomorrow with a review of the 1961-62 season and the road to winning Banner #5.

How Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy foreshadowed the team's quiet NBA offseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

July is annual moving month in the NBA, 31 days of recruitment and negotiations, with many deals discussed and a few consummated. Except for the Warriors, who approached July 2026 with barely a whisper and nothing close to a roar.

It is profoundly disappointing. To their credit, though, they indicated 46 days earlier that this could be the case.

General manager Mike Dunleavy put Dub Nation on alert on May 15. Golden State’s offseason priority, he said, was to curb its maddening habit of self-destructive turnovers. To be less reckless. Smarter with the basketball.

“The top priority is to take care of the ball, limit turnovers,” Dunleavy said on the afternoon it was announced that Steve Kerr would be returning as head coach.

“And then after that, we’ll try and get better in every which way.”

As if that alone would be enough for the Warriors to make a full recovery from a 37-45 season that ended with an NBA play-in tournament dud. It was difficult to believe such a soft vision would suffice under CEO Joe Lacob, whose ambition is unlimited. Dunleavy surely was underplaying his hand. They would bait hooks, chase stars and peer under stones to improve the roster.

Wouldn’t the Warriors respond to such a disappointing season by scouring the trade market? Even if it meant parting with some future draft capital. While window-shopping around the league, however, Dunleavy & Co. quickly discovered potential trade partners were unimpressed with the available options on the roster.

The bulk of the roster consists mostly of replaceable talent. The Warriors needed a couple younger but established veterans to support the aging core. They needed, one would think, to address the acute shortage of elite athleticism.

“In the grand scheme of things, not a lot about the roster,” Dunleavy said of last season. “This just isn’t about the roster, frankly. I don’t think we came up short because of the talent on the roster. It was injuries and things we could control.”

Injuries brought an abrupt halt to the momentum generated while winning nine of 12 as the calendar flipped to 2026. Jimmy Butler III sustained a season-ending torn right ACL on Jan 19. Stephen Curry was sidelined 11 days later with runner’s knee. Moses Moody missed the final 10 games after sustaining a torn patellar tendon on March 23.

Golden State opened the 2025-26 NBA season with two elite talents, Curry and Butler, on its roster. The surrounding talent was, on its own, barely competitive. The Warriors were 12-26 – 11th in the Western Conference standings – after Butler went down. They were 9-18 without Curry and 3-7 over the final 10 games without Moody. Kerr spent the second half of the season coaching a bottom-five NBA roster, getting sporadic appearances from Kristaps Porziņģis and rare glimpses of Al Horford.

But Golden State, it must be said, spent the first three months dancing on the edge of mediocrity – before the injuries struck. The Warriors were 25-19, eighth in the West, before Butler left the lineup. A play-in tournament team.

Which is why the front office took measures to improve the roster, most notably a tepid effort to recruit LeBron James.

“Do we need to get better roster-wise? I think so,” the GM acknowledged in May. “But we didn’t get to a point where we played a team where the roster is better than ours. For that reason, we were more focused on the stuff that we can control.

“We’ll always look to be better, talent-wise, roster-wise, all that. But . . . the discussions weren’t really about that. It was more with the team that we have. How can we be better? And what are the things we need to do to build on for long-term success?”

Dub Nation had been warned. The priority was internal development rather than external additions. Do not expect gifts in July.

And none came.

The Warriors were instead content to bring back Porziņģis and Horford, hoping their bodies allow them to suit up for 50-60 games each. They brought back De’Anthony Melton, hoping his first healthy summer in three years can launch him toward 70 games, which also is a reasonable goal for Curry. They brought back Gary Payton II because he has a unique set of skills and is great for the culture.

The only new face with a chance to immediately improve the roster is forward Yaxel Lendeborg. He brings the spirit of a veteran, but it’s best to remember that he is a rookie.

The Warriors anticipate evaluating the first half of the season while awaiting the midseason returns of Butler and Moody. Meanwhile, Dunleavy & Co. still have some latitude with the roster. But it’s hard to fathom striking gold in August or September.

Dub Nation had been warned that 2026-27 was lining up as a “gap year.” The offseason focus would be on internal development rather than external additions. Do not expect gifts in July. None came.

Austerity always is disappointing, as it lays a welcome mat for ennui.

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Dillon Brooks has agreed to a three-year, $73 million contract extension with the Suns that will keep him in Phoenix through the 2029-30 season, according to multiple reports. 

The deal is fully guaranteed and does not include any options, according to Arizona Sports.

The first year of the deal will pay Brooks $22 million. 

ESPN’s Shams Charania was the first to report Brooks’ contract extension. 

The 30-year-old Suns star is coming off a season in which he averaged a career-high 20.2 points per game and helped the team reach the postseason after missing out the previous season, a team that had Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal all on the roster. 

“Villain is here to stay,” Brooks told The Arizona Republic. “Championship is all on my mind.”

Brooks had arrived in the desert last offseason after the Rockets included him as part of a deal to acquire Kevin Durant from Phoenix. 

Brooks, who is going into his 10th season in the NBA, averaged a team-high 26 points during the postseason while shooting 43.8 percent from 3-point range. The Suns’ run in the playoffs was brief and ended in a 4-0 series sweep by the Thunder. 

A former standout at Oregon, Brooks began his career with the Grizzlies after he was drafted in the second round of the 2017 NBA Draft by the Rockets and then traded to Memphis on draft night. 

He went on to play six seasons in Memphis before ending up in Houston once again as part of a five-team trade in 2023. 

Brooks played two seasons before being moved to Phoenix. 

He has a reputation for being a bit of a pest in the league with his hard-nosed play. 

Brooks even went as far as to sit courtside at a game during the Lakers series against the Thunder to troll LeBron James.

Dillon Brooks will be bothering the NBA on behalf of the Phoenix Suns for years to come.

The veteran has signed a contract extension with the Suns, he confirmed to the Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network, on Wednesday, Aug. 5. The Republic confirmed Brooks' deal is a three-year, $73 million extension that ties him to Phoenix through the 2029-30 season.

"Villain is here to stay," Brooks told The Republic. "Championship is all on my mind."

ESPN's Shams Charania first reported the news, via Brooks' Klutch Sports agent.

The forward joined the Suns last offseason as part of the massive trade that sent Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets. Phoenix, which is led by five-time All-Star Devin Booker, also got Jalen Green in the deal.

Brooks played in 56 games last season for the Suns, averaging a career-high 20.2 points with 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 steals per outing. Phoenix was swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

The former Oregon standout was drafted by the Rockets in the second round of the 2017 draft. He was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies on draft night, where he spent six seasons.

Brooks landed back in Houston in 2023 as part of a five-team trade. He played two seasons there.

Brooks has developed a reputation as an antagonist in the NBA because of his gritty style of play and bold expression of his competitive nature. During the Thunder's playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers in May, he sat courtside to troll LeBron James.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dillon Brooks contract extension details: Suns lock in NBA 'villain'

The Phoenix Suns acquired Dillon Brooks as part of the Kevin Durant trade, and on the surface, many of us viewed him primarily as salary filler. Then we witnessed the profound effect he had on the culture and direction of the team last season.

With Brooks entering the final year of his contract, it became important for the Suns to work with him on an extension and ensure that he remained part of what they are building. That extension officially came through Wednesday evening, as Phoenix agreed to a three-year, $73 million deal with Brooks, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks has agreed to a three-year, $73 million contract extension through 2029-30, Mike George of Klutch Sports tells ESPN. Brooks has become a key part of the Suns two-way, hard-nosed culture under Jordan Ott and lands a new guaranteed long-term deal. pic.twitter.com/loV1DWs2z5

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 6, 2026

He will now remain with the Suns through 2030, allowing the organization to retain one of the pillars of its culture moving forward.

This is a fantastic deal for both Dillon Brooks and the Phoenix Suns. The 30-year-old Brooks was eligible for a much larger veteran extension, one that could begin at 140% of his current salary and include 8% annual raises. That placed the maximum value at approximately $125 million over four years, with an average annual value of $31.3 million. Instead, the Suns retained him on a far more manageable and team-friendly contract, one that carries an average annual value of roughly $24.3 million.

Two weeks ago, I wrote that the ideal contract for Dillon Brooks would be three years and $75 million. The Suns did even better than that.

It’s also a great signing because Phoenix has several young wing players developing within the organization, and they’ll now have Brooks as one of the veterans guiding them in the locker room. That kind of influence is nearly impossible to quantify. These young players possess size and physicality, and now they’ll learn from one of the NBA’s best irritants about how to become more effective on the defensive end. We saw Jordan Goodwin and Collin Gillespie elevate their games while playing alongside Brooks last season. The same opportunity now exists for Rasheer Fleming and Koa Peat, who are waiting in the wings.

This extension is about far more than keeping a productive rotation player. It’s a bet on identity. The Suns have spent the past year trying to establish a culture built on toughness, accountability, and competitiveness, and Brooks has been at the center of that effort. The contract preserves flexibility, rewards one of the team’s emotional leaders, and keeps an important veteran in place as the next generation develops. If Phoenix is serious about building something sustainable, this deal checks every box.

There's a chance that four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson sees his time with the Dallas Mavericks come to an end after two seasons.

Thompson, 36, joined the team in July 2024 as a result of a six-team trade, signing a three-year, $50 million contract after spending the first 13 seasons of his career with the Golden State Warriors.

Last season, Thompson appeared in 69 games for the Mavericks and started eight. He averaged career-lows in multiple statistical categories including points (11.7), field goal percentage (39.3%), 3-point percentage (38.3%), free throw percentage (76.6%), rebounds (2.1), assists (1.4) and minutes played (21.7).

If indeed the 2026 season was Thompson's final season in Dallas, the aging sharpshooter and his agent will soon field calls from teams around the league ready for his services. He has one year left on his contract and the Mavericks owe him $17.5 million.

They could opt to put Thompson in trade negotiations, but given the season of career-lows he's coming off of, some could view it as a risk to trade for the 36-year-old and likely give up assets. The other option would be via buyout clause in which Thompson would become a free agent and choose his destination.

In that scenario, Thompson would have multiple potential landing spots including some familiar to him. USA TODAY Sports' NBA reporter Lorenzo Reyes wrote that two possible places for Thompson to land are the Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers.

Either of the two would make complete sense.

Klay Thompson to Golden State Warriors?

Thompson began his career with the Warriors when he was drafted in 2011. He helped them to become one of the league's dynasties, while he became a five-time All-Star, Olympic gold medalist and recognized as one of the best shooters in NBA history.

He and Stephen Curry formed the dynamic, sharp-shooting backcourt duo nicknamed the "Splash Brothers." And with Draymond Green as an enforcer, the big three would be back together again, albeit a lot older than their initial stint together. A reunion amongst them would be the full-circle moment that many want to see, maybe with the exception of rival opponents.

As Reyes wrote, "there would be no fit better for Thompson than Golden State. Coach Steve Kerr is still there. Stephen Curry is still there. Thompson knows the system intimately and the Warriors — who tied for 17th last season in 3-point percentage (35.6%) — could definitely use a shooter like him."

The Warriors might not be a championship contending team leaning on Curry and company. Adding Thompson may not move the needle in wins but nostalgia itself will provide enough energy to make due with however things played out.

Klay Thompson plays for the same franchise as his dad

The other possible landing spot for Thompson is another familiar place in La-La Land. The Lakers could be an intriguing destination if Thompson became available for multiple reasons.

The most obvious one is that Thompson was born in Los Angeles, has ties to the area and his dad, Mychal Thompson, played four seasons with the Lakers, helping them win back-to-back titles in 1987 and 1988. Before Thompson signed with the Mavericks in 2024, his pops was very vocal in his desire for his son to play for the same legendary franchise as him. And even voiced his disappointment when his son didn't choose the Lakers. If bought out, this could be a second chance to make things right and go back to the place he once called home growing up.

He'd also join a team with ball-dominant guards that command defensive attention in Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. The spacing on the floor that they would create would fair well for Thompson who would be the ultimate catch-and-shoot player.

Additionally, Reyes wrote, "Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves will dominate ball-handling duties, and Thompson excels at slipping past defenders without the ball in his hands. Coach JJ Redick, who was a sharpshooter in his own right, also knows how to maximize a talented sniper like Thompson."

Reyes added that when Thompson signed with the Mavericks in July 2024, one of the main reasons he chose Dallas over his hometown LA was to play alongside Dončić.

Things in Dallas changed for Thompson once Doncic was traded to the Lakers in February 2025, now he has a chance to rejoin the Slovenian superstar. If Doncic needs another shooter, Thompson is the guy.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Klay Thompson could opt to return to home, if Dallas doesn't work out

The biggest talk around the Golden State Warriors lately has been Draymond Green’s contract. Shortly after LeBron James announced that he would be signing with the Philadelphia 76ers, the Warriors re-signed Green for one year and $27.7 million.

For some fans, this was seen as an overpay, but the reality is very simple: Green was always going to get that deal, unless James joined the Dubs. Green had the opportunity to opt into a one-year deal that would pay him that same figure, but chose to opt out to allow the Warriors maximum flexibility as they chased the NBA’s all-time scoring leader. There was, without question, an understanding and a handshake that the Warriors would allow Green to recoup all that money should James sign elsewhere, barring another move that Draymond signed off on.

But there was one part that some people found a little more surprising. Green did not negotiate for a no-trade clause when he re-signed, but does receive a 15% trade kicker, which. means he’ll receive roughly $4.2 million should the Warriors trade him at any point during the season. Both the trade kicker and the lack of a no-trade clause were in the previous deal that the four-time All-Star opted out of.

Anyone who knows Green is probably not surprised by this. And on his popular podcast and YouTube show, The Draymond Green Show, the defensive star explained himself:

“I think it was something that we could have fought over, but it wasn’t worth fighting over,” Green said, as transcribed by NBC Sports Bay Area. “I think if the Warriors want to trade me at some point in the season, they want to trade me. I’ve never been a guy who wants to stay somewhere where I’m not wanted.”

That makes perfect sense, and it’s very in line with how Green has approached these things in the past. He’s made it abundantly clear that he wants to be a Warrior for the rest of his career, but only if he’s actually wanted.

Barring a superstar becoming available, it is almost a guarantee that the Warriors won’t trade Green this year. He’ll enter free agency next offseason, and likely re-sign on a more modest deal that aligns with Steph Curry’s future.

Legendary ESPN commentator Dick Vitale announced Wednesday, Aug. 5 that he's progressing positively as he battles his fifth cancer diagnosis.

The 87-year-old college basketball personality shared the message on X, noting that he's responding well to treatments.

"Just received good news from my oncologist that my bloodwork results were very good," Vitale wrote. "I keep (praying) that the Immuno Therapy treatments are very effective in wiping out the cancer."

REQUIRED READING: Dick Vitale health update: College basketball analyst confirms melanoma diagnosis

Dicky V made a few broadcast appearances for ESPN last year, but was diagnosed with melanoma for the second time in April. He signed a contract extension with ESPN through the 2027-28 season in June 2025.

Vitale was first diagnosed with melanoma and lymphoma in 2021, before being declared cancer-free in 2023. He then was diagnosed with vocal-cord cancer in 2023 and lymph node cancer in 2024, before again being declared cancer free in May 2025.

Vitale won the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance in 2022 amid his cancer battle and has helped keep the V Foundation alive in Jim Valvano's honor. Valvano, a close friend of Vitale's, died of adenocarcinoma in 1993.

"I've beaten melanoma," Vitale wrote in April upon announcing his latest fight with melanoma. "I've beaten lymphoma. I've beaten vocal cord cancer. I've beaten lymph node cancer. I'm four-for-four and I'm fully confident I'm going to make it five-for-five."

Vitale has yet to announce a timetable for a return to broadcasting games.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dick Vitale announces he's progressing well in latest cancer battle

Just days after questions surfaced about whether Dillon Mitchell could return to St. John’s for another collegiate season, the Boston Celtics have put any uncertainty to rest.

The team announced Wednesday that it has signed the No. 40 overall pick to a two-way contract, officially bringing one of its Summer League standouts into the organization.

Mitchell’s status had become an unexpected storyline this week after reports surfaced that the NCAA appeal process could allow the 6-foot-8 forward to return to St. John’s for a fifth season. Because Mitchell remained unsigned, there was at least some uncertainty about whether he would pursue another year in college, where a lucrative NIL deal may have awaited him.

That speculation only intensified after CLNS’ Bobby Manning noted that if Mitchell returned to school, the Celtics’ ability to retain his draft rights beyond next year’s draft wasn’t guaranteed.

Instead, Mitchell is staying in Boston.

Celtics now have 14 roster players, two on two-ways, and two training camp invites for 18 players to begin the preseason. Camp roster should grow over the next month-plus. https://t.co/iXiuX7PpSW

— Bobby Manning (@RealBobManning) August 5, 2026

The athletic forward made a strong impression during Las Vegas Summer League, averaging 13.0 points, 2.7 steals and 1.3 blocks while flashing the defensive versatility and relentless motor that made him an intriguing second-round selection. He also knocked down 37.5 percent of his three-point attempts, albeit on limited volume, offering another encouraging sign as he continues to round out his offensive game.

While Mitchell remains a developmental prospect, his archetype is one the Celtics have shown a willingness to invest in. Boston has prioritized long, switchable defenders under Brad Stevens, and the organization has already seen encouraging returns from similar young wings such as Jordan Walsh and Hugo González.

Dillon Mitchell had some HIGHLIGHTS last night: pic.twitter.com/wGK4cycFBB

— Tomek Kordylewski (@Timi_093) July 11, 2026

The two-way contract gives Mitchell the opportunity to split time between Boston and the Maine Celtics while continuing his development without the uncertainty that surrounded his future earlier this week.

Mitchell now becomes Boston’s second player on a two-way deal alongside center Amari Williams. The Celtics still have one remaining two-way roster spot available entering training camp.

For Boston, the move also provides some welcome clarity.

Rather than navigating questions about Mitchell’s eligibility, draft rights, or a possible return to college, the Celtics can now begin developing one of the more intriguing young athletes from this year’s draft class. After the flashes he showed in Las Vegas, that’s likely the outcome the organization was hoping for all along.

With marquee players signed and most impact moves already made, the NBA offseason is deep into a lull.

Yet, that doesn’t mean there are still some difference makers who could find new homes.

One of those players with an unresolved future is current Dallas Mavericks shooter Klay Thompson. As Dallas is looking to build for the future around soon-to-be second-year forward Cooper Flagg, Thompson might not figure into the team’s plans. That’s only magnified, given he has one year left on his deal, worth $17.5 million.

That makes Thompson a prime trade or buyout candidate. The tricky part about a trade is that teams might be reluctant to part with assets — whether draft capital or personnel — for a 36-year-old who shot a career low in 3-point percentage last season.

Granted, that was still a very respectable 38.3%, but it’s clear Thompson is more of a role-playing shooting specialist at this point of his career. A buyout, however, would allow Thompson to pick his preferred destination. But the Mavericks likely don’t want to let him walk without getting anything in return.

Here are the top landing spots for Klay Thompson:

Los Angeles Lakers

Thompson was born in Los Angeles and still has ties to the area, so this would be a nice fit. The roster is very different from last season’s, but the Lakers ranked just 23rd  in made 3-point field goals per game (11.8). Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves will dominate ball-handling duties, and Thompson excels at slipping past defenders without the ball in his hands. Coach JJ Redick, who was a sharpshooter in his own right, also knows how to maximize a talented sniper like Thompson. When Thompson signed with the Mavericks in July 2024, Thompson acknowledged that playing alongside Dončić was a big reason why.

Miami Heat

When Thompson is at his best, he has plenty of space to find soft spots in opposing defenses. Now that Miami landed Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Heat should have far better spacing, given Antetokounmpo’s ability to slash into the paint and draw multiple defenders. Miami also needs shooting help, though the Heat don’t have a lot of cap space to work with so this would appear to be more of a buyout scenario, unless Miami makes a player like Nikola Jović available.

Golden State Warriors

After failing to land Antetokounmpo and LeBron James, the Warriors are very clearly running it back. Why not, then, really run it back? The money would have to work, but there would be no fit better for Thompson than Golden State. Coach Steve Kerr is still there. Stephen Curry is still there. Thompson knows the system intimately and the Warriors — who tied for 17th last season in 3-point percentage (35.6%) — could definitely use a shooter like him. Highlighting that point: No team took more 3s per game (44.1) last season than the Warriors. Golden State, however, needs to get younger.

Dallas Mavericks

If teams don’t bite with any trade offers, and if a buyout becomes the only option, there is the case to be made for Thompson to stay with the Mavericks. His deal will expire at the end of the season, so Dallas will clear his cap space when that time comes. But, Thompson’s market could intensify closer to the trading deadline; perhaps a possible contender will need to add a shooter, or perhaps a team looking ahead to the 2027 offseason will want to enter free agency with more financial flexibility. If the objective for Dallas is to get something in return, patience might prove to be worthwhile.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Klay Thompson in Mavericks' plans? Landing spots if he's traded

What's left for open roster spots after Celtics sign rookie Dillon Mitchell? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics announced Wednesday that they have signed rookie forward Dillon Mitchell to a two-way contract.

The signing of Mitchell, the 40th pick in the 2026 draft, comes on the heels of reports that he was pondering a return to St. John’s for a potentially more lucrative fifth college season. Instead, Mitchell fills the second of three available two-way slots on Boston’s roster.

Amari Williams, the 46th pick in the 2025 draft, signed his second two-way contract with Boston in July. Williams earned a call-up to the parent roster while the Celtics played salary-cap Tetris last season before finishing below the luxury tax line.

Mitchell, who turns 23 before the start of the 2026-27 season, might hope there’s a similar pathway to a bigger rookie payday. The Celtics currently have only 14 players on the parent roster, and any in-season movement could open a door to in-season call-ups for two-way players.

The Celtics will likely enter the new season with an open 15th roster spot. The team can reset pesky luxury tax repeater penalties by finishing below the tax this season and is set to enter the year just $1.7 million below that line, per Spotrac’s contract tracking.

The team still needs to fill its third two-way slot before the season but can be patient in that process. Players on two-way deals can earn up to $678,882 per season but do not count towards the team’s salary cap.

John Tonje, acquired from the Utah Jazz in a trade last season, seemed like a prime candidate for a two-way spot but signed a two-way deal with the Portland Trail Blazers last month. Max Shulga, the 57th pick in the 2025 draft who started last season on a two-way deal with Boston before being converted to a standard deal, will reportedly sign overseas with Real Madrid. 

Boston is set to bring undrafted rookies Milos Uzan and Tucker DeVries to training camp. Those players might be two-way options but could also be funneled to Maine as affiliated players if waived before the start of the season. Some intriguing two-way options could emerge as teams finalize their rosters in October. 

Mitchell appeared in three games at Vegas Summer League, averaging 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2.7 steals, and 1.3 blocks over 26 minutes per game. Mitchell showcased his explosive athleticism, including his potential to impact the game with both his height (6-foot-8) and length (6-10.5 wingspan). 

Boston is well-stocked with young wings, but Mitchell will get every opportunity to distinguish himself starting at training camp in September. He’ll get valuable reps in Maine with an ability to be called up for up to 50 games with the parent club.

Here’s a look at Boston’s projected depth chart:

Ball-handlers: Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Mike Conley

Wings: Jayson Tatum, Paul George, Sam Hauser, Baylor Scheierman, Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh, Ron Harper Jr., Chris Cenac Jr.

Bigs: Neemias Queta, Mitchell Robinson, Luka Garza

Two-way: Amari Williams, Dillon Mitchell 

The Houston Rockets are waiving guard JD Davison, it was announced today by the team.

The Houston Rockets have waived guard JD Davison. Per Rockets pic.twitter.com/j2Z519dxnI

— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) August 5, 2026

Davison was on a two-way deal last year, playing in 28 games with the varsity, but getting just 7 minutes per night in those contests. He averaged 2.5 points and 1.3 assists. In his most extended action of the year in the season finale against the Memphis Grizzlies, Davison scored 9 points with 10 boards, 7 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks in 26 minutes of playing time.

During the offseason, Davison upgraded his two-way deal to a standard NBA contract, with the Rockets giving him $2.5 million over two years. However, only $82k of that was guaranteed according to Spotrac, making this not that huge of a loss financially for Houston.

Davison did flash at times, so it made sense for the Rockets to think 23-year-old guard had a possible bright future, but with the offseason signing of Marcus Smart into the guard rotation, Davison became expendable. In addition, Fred VanVleet will be back this year, and the Rockets will be looking for 20-25 minutes per night from Reed Sheppard as well, leaving little room for Davison at point guard. And at just 6’1”, minutes at the two aren’t an option either. The Rockets also signed two-guard Bogdan Bogdanovich this offseason, making the overall backcourt even more crowded. So this move does make sense for the Rockets.

With Davison being so young and with some of the flashes he’s shown, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him catch on elsewhere. He’s an ideal young guard on a two-way for a team that needs some depth.

Good luck, JD!

The Golden State Warriors have entered a new chapter of the organization and its far from what was originally envisioned.

After losing out in the LeBron James free agent sweepstakes, the Warriors look like a team once again leaning on its veteran star. Stephen Curry’s loyalty to Golden State could change if frustrations with the organization reach a breaking point, according to Nick Friedell of The Athletic.

“Now, a few months later, with little improvement to the roster, the league wonders whether Curry’s mindset will change. Speculation continues from both fans and the media that Curry may become so frustrated that he eventually asks out during the final year or two of his career,” Friedell writes.

“But that’s still hard to envision given that he has been so consistent in both his messaging about wanting to stay with the Warriors and in expressing his love for the Bay Area.”

In 2016, owner Joe Lacob famously said the Warriors were lightyears ahead of the rest of the league. A decade later, the Warriors are entering the 2026-27 season with major question marks surrounding the direction of the franchise.

Golden State’s aging veteran core can’t be the future for the team, but the uncertainty surrounding its success throughout the upcoming season is not for lack of effort. The Warriors have pursued superstars — most recently James who was the top free agent of the summer.

But the Warriors have consistently come up short.

That has put immense pressure on Curry to carry the offense night after night; and the trend looks to continue after the Warriors’ quiet offseason that was headlined by the selection of No. 11 overall pick Yaxel Lendeborg in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Curry has voiced his ongoing support for the organization, and it would be a heartfelt curtain call if he remained with the Warriors. The 38 year old is entering his 18th season in the league, but his devotion to the team appears to be as strong as ever.

Could that ever change as Curry enters the twilight of his career? Possibly.

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