Category: Basketball

LeBron James signing with the Philadelphia 76ers does not directly change anything for the Dallas Mavericks. Philadelphia added him on a two-year, $8 million contract with a player option, giving LeBron another championship opportunity while allowing the Sixers to add him without dismantling the expensive core they had already assembled. He now joins Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid in what may be the most star-studded starting lineup in basketball.

On the surface, this is entirely Philadelphia’s story.

By February, however, it could become extremely relevant to Dallas.

The Sixers now have a legitimate championship ceiling, but they also have a top-heavy roster built around two aging or injury-prone stars and very little financial breathing room. Their five biggest non-LeBron contracts account for roughly $176.6 million this season, with Embiid, Brown and Maxey alone making nearly $156 million. Philadelphia’s total listed payroll was already approximately $207.9 million before accounting for LeBron’s new deal. Behind its stars, the roster quickly reaches players such as Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons, Labaron Philon Jr., Dominick Barlow, Ariel Hukporti, Adem Bona and Johni Broome.

There are useful players in that group, but the Sixers did not sign LeBron to patiently evaluate whether their young reserves are ready for high-leverage playoff minutes. They built this roster to win immediately. If their depth becomes a problem during the regular season, Dallas possesses several veterans who could provide exactly what Philadelphia needs.

Philadelphia’s biggest battle may be reaching April intact

When healthy, Philadelphia’s starting five should overwhelm most opponents with talent. The problem is that the Sixers cannot responsibly assume everyone will remain healthy.

Embiid’s availability has shaped nearly every recent Philadelphia season. Even when he is active, the Sixers must manage his workload with the postseason in mind. LeBron is entering his 24th season at age 41 after seriously considering retirement, and although he remained productive last year, Philadelphia should not expect him to carry an exhausting 82-game workload. (AP News)

That is before considering the normal injuries that affect every team. Brown, Maxey or Edgecombe could also miss time. Philadelphia does not merely need seven or eight players it trusts in May. It needs enough capable veterans to protect its stars between October and April.

The Mavericks have accumulated those kinds of players, even if their own roster remains strangely imbalanced.

Daniel Gafford could protect Embiid during the regular season

Daniel Gafford is probably the most obvious connection.

Philadelphia’s reserve centers are young and largely unproven. Gafford would give the Sixers a dependable starting-caliber option who could protect the rim, screen, rebound and provide vertical spacing without demanding touches. More importantly, he could start whenever Embiid rests and help Philadelphia avoid chasing regular-season wins by overworking its franchise center.

Gafford does not need to close every playoff game to justify the acquisition. His value would come from helping Embiid reach those games healthy.

Dallas has Gafford under contract for roughly $17.3 million this season, followed by approximately $18.1 million and $19 million over the next two years. That is not cheap, but it is reasonable for a proven center entering his prime. With Dereck Lively II, Morez Johnson Jr. and Moussa Cisse also on the roster, center may be the easiest position from which Dallas can trade.

Dallas has the exact wings contenders chase

Naji Marshall might be an even easier basketball fit. Philadelphia already has plenty of star power. It needs players who can defend multiple positions, survive physical playoff possessions and contribute without dominating the ball.

Marshall can do all of that. He could defend alongside Brown and LeBron, attack mismatches and keep the offense moving when one of Philadelphia’s stars rests. His approximately $9.4 million salary also makes him much easier to incorporate into a deal than some of Dallas’ more expensive veterans.

Klay Thompson would offer a more specialized skill. The Sixers will need shooting around Embiid’s post touches and LeBron’s drives, especially in playoff series where opponents aggressively load the paint. Klay no longer needs to be treated as an All-Star to hold value. On this roster, he could be a movement shooter whose presence creates space for everyone else.

P.J. Washington would likely be Philadelphia’s ideal target, but he would also be the most expensive. Washington can defend across the frontcourt, rebound, space the floor and close games without requiring the offense to run through him. Those are championship-level complementary skills. He is also entering the first season of a four-year extension worth nearly $89 million, so Dallas should demand legitimate young talent or draft compensation before considering a deal.

Santi Aldama occupies a slightly different category because Dallas just acquired him and could view him as part of Cooper Flagg’s long-term supporting cast. Still, his combination of size, shooting and passing would make him attractive to Philadelphia. Aldama could play beside Embiid, cover frontcourt minutes when LeBron sits and give the Sixers a more offensively versatile reserve big. His 2027-28 team option also provides contractual flexibility.

Kyrie Irving is the massive possibility in the background

There is also the Kyrie Irving factor.

Before LeBron chose Philadelphia, Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor reported that James had been angling to reunite with Irving in Cleveland and that the Cavaliers and Mavericks had explored whether a deal could be constructed. Dallas reportedly did not make Kyrie available, but the interest confirms that LeBron still wants to play with his former championship teammate.

That does not mean Kyrie will be traded to Philadelphia. His approximately $39.5 million salary would make a deal complicated, and the Sixers already employ several high-usage perimeter players. Dallas should not move him simply because LeBron wants a reunion.

Still, LeBron’s interest matters. If Philadelphia reaches the deadline believing it needs another elite half-court creator, Kyrie could become the ambitious version of this conversation. The more realistic outcome remains the Sixers targeting one or two of Dallas’ role players.

Philadelphia’s urgency can become Dallas’ leverage

The Mavericks should not trade productive players simply to clear their crowded roster. They should wait for contenders to become desperate enough to pay.

Philadelphia could become exactly that kind of buyer.

LeBron’s contract is inexpensive, but his timeline is not patient. Embiid’s health does not allow for patience either. Every injury, losing streak or exposed weakness will increase the pressure on Philadelphia’s front office to improve a roster built specifically to chase a championship now.

Dallas is operating on a completely different schedule. Cooper Flagg is 19. Morez Johnson Jr. is 20. Zaccharie Risacher is 21. The Mavericks can afford to turn older veterans into picks or younger players without abandoning their long-term direction. Their abundance of forwards and centers may look awkward today, but it could become valuable inventory once contenders begin shopping for help.

LeBron James did not sign with the Mavericks.

His decision may still help them.

Philadelphia now has the stars required to win a championship, but it may eventually need Dallas’ depth to survive long enough to do it. The Mavericks should be ready to take advantage when that need becomes urgency.

With LeBron James signing in Philadelphia, it felt like the last major piece of a wild offseason. For the Knicks, their rotation has been long settled, with the team doing little but retaining their championship core early, signing Andre Drummond as a replacement for Mitchell Robinson, and drafting a couple of new prospects. 

But there are still some straggling questions before we enter training camp. 

Here’s three we’ll need answers to before New York kicks off its attempted repeat run...

Who gets the last roster spot?

The Knicks have one open roster spot they can fill using a minimum contract without encroaching on the second apron. They already took a shot at signing restricted free agent Moussa Cisse, but the Mavericks matched their offer sheet. 

Third-string center is their biggest need, with options like Nick Richards, Tony Bradley, Drew Eubanks, and Kevin Love still available. They could bring back Jeremy Sochan as a small-ball five, or live with OG Anunoby sliding up a position more often to take a swing at a better player elsewhere.

Bruce Brown, Bradley Beal, Russell Westbrook, Nicolas Batum, and DeMar DeRozan are still free agents, but New York has yet to be linked to them. Signs point to a big, and the question remains which one ends up in the blue and orange.

Who gets the two-way deals?

Along with the last roster spot, the Knicks get three two-way slots to fill. These are often granted to developmental prospects or fringe veterans, but a couple may be up for grabs in New York’s case.

Their two rookies -- Tyler Nickel and Jack Kayil -- impressed enough at Summer League to warrant two-way deals. However, Kayil is more of a project and would be deep behind a packed guard rotation. Combine that with the earlier reports of the Knicks wanting to stash him overseas, and it’s possible somebody else gets his spot. 

Depending on Kayil, there’s still one or two two-ways to fill. One option is bringing back Kevin McCullar Jr., whom the Knicks drafted in 2024 and saw sparse minutes last season.

They could also return other members of their 2026 championship squad, like Dillon Jones or Trey Jemison III. Another option is bringing in new blood from this year’s Vegas Summer League squad like Liam Robbins, another center. 

How will Karl-Anthony Towns' extension talks play out?

The Knicks have already shown an aversion to going into the second apron by allowing Robinson to walk, and now they’re faced with another tough decision. Towns, a key piece of their championship run, is due for an extension worth up to $68 million annually, with an October deadline and player option for 2027-28 looming.

New York will obviously want a haircut off a maximum offer to retain flexibility and the rest of this core, especially with a new Jalen Brunson payday coming shortly after. How does Towns react to that, and is there middle ground when he could be looking to maximize value on possibly his last large contract in the NBA? 

Fans better hope they can come to a resolution, as the alternative means potentially losing him to free agency as soon as next summer. Worse yet, it could serve as a distraction during this season, which could end in the Knicks trading him instead of risking losing him for nothing, much like they did with Julius Randle and Immanuel Quickley. 

The Houston Rockets have not made as much of a splash this summer as they did last year, when they acquired Kevin Durant in a blockbuster trade with the Phoenix Suns.

This offseason has been all about adding veterans to the mix, which is why the team signed point guard Marcus Smart from the Los Angeles Lakers and Bogdan Bogdanovic from the Los Angeles Clippers. They are also getting Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams back into the mix, which will hopefully make the Rockets a more complete team. Because of this, their lack of major moves shouldn’t be viewed as a negative, at least not yet.

“Houston is banking on Fred VanVleet’s return from injury (torn right ACL) and another year of collective development for its young players to translate into postseason progress. It’s not a terrible bet given that the Thunder, Lakers and Timberwolves all lost key players this summer, but it will require Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun to function more effectively as a partnership in their second season together,” ESPN contributor Ben Golliver wrote.

“This much is clear: The pressure will quickly mount on Stone to make changes if Houston can’t fix its clunky offense, which fell to pieces in the playoffs.”

The Rockets have been building this team together for several years, so their lack of progress from 2025 to 2026 isn’t going to lead to a massive breakup. However, the pressure is now on for the team to perform in the upcoming season.

Houston hopes that VanVleet’s presence back in the lineup will organize the offense and keep the team focused on that end of the floor. In terms of defense, improvements from Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun, Reed Sheppard, Tari Eason and Amen Thompson will be key.

There are still several flaws with the Rockets, but the path is there for them to be one of the best teams in the Western Conference, giving them a chance to compete with the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder to challenge them in a playoff series.

Let’s start this off by being completely honest about New York’s point guard history. For the better part of the last three decades, the position has been a total nightmare. The Knicks spent years wandering through a wasteland, hoping for someone competent enough to run a simple pick-and-roll or bring the ball up without causing a turnover against a press. As fans, we talked ourselves into the Emmanuel Mudiay reclamation project. We lived through the Alexey Shved era. We found ourselves debating Frank Ntilikina’s defensive metrics and trying to convince each other that Chris Duhon was a long-term answer.

However, when you trudge through the muck and zoom out a bit, a different story comes to life. When the Knicks actually have an elite floor general, the team does not just compete. They win championships. 

This Mt. Rushmore is not about empty box scores. It is not a mountain for guys who sold a lot of shoes and put up 20 points a night while the team zombie-walked to 50 losses. Yeah, I am looking at you, Stephon Marbury. It is not even about brief, two-week flashes of global phenomenon status, either. Jeremy Lin, we will always love you, but a fortnight does not make the mountain. Our Mt. Rushmore is reserved for impact on winning, setting the culture, and elevating the franchise when it mattered most. 

Two spots on the mountain are already set. Just look to 1970, 1973, and 2026. Today, we look to carve out the final two faces. Of course, we need to show some love to the undisputed point guard royalty in New York.

Walt “Clyde” Frazier

Walt “Clyde” Frazier may be known by most younger fans as the guy with the cool suits and rhymes for days. But before he blessed the MSG Network with his commentary, he served as the engine behind the Knicks’ only two championships of the 20th century. Without him, New York basketball history looks very different. 

For his era, Frazier’s numbers are insane. Thriving at both ends of the court, he averaged 19.3 points, 6.1 assists, and 6.3 rebounds per game, while also making the All-Defensive First Team seven times. In a time dominated by the likes of Jerry West and Oscar Robertson, Clyde settled in as the premier two-way perimeter player. Consistently turning defense into transition offense, he possessed a top-notch ability to read passing lanes and cause turnovers.

The main reason Frazier’s face is the first one carved into our Mt. Rushmore of Knicks floor generals is Game 7 of the 1970 Finals. Yes, we all know the game because of the Willis Reed injury and the legendary tunnel walk. However, the only reason the Knicks actually won that game was that Walt completely carried the team. On the biggest stage imaginable, he recorded 36 points, 19 assists, 7 rebounds, and 5 steals. To this day, his performance in that game remains one of the most clutch in NBA history.

Jalen Brunson

After Frazier, the next obvious point guard to make the mountain is Jalen Brunson. When Leon Rose signed Brunson away from Dallas, the national media had a field day dubbing the acquisition a massive overpay for an undersized secondary option. Boy were they all wrong. Instead, Brunson pulled the Knicks out of the dark ages and turned New York back into the basketball hotbed it’s supposed to be. 

Brunson’s footwork in the paint, his midrange mastery, and his unmatched will to win late in games transformed New York’s gritty, hard-working roster into an offensive powerhouse. He racked up All-NBA selections, typically kept his point total close to 28 points per game, and took on the heaviest offensive burden. 

Of course, his spot was cemented when he led the Knicks to the 2026 NBA Championship. Breaking the curse that haunted this fanbase for generations, Brunson buried the 90s heartbreaks and 2000s embarrassments for good. There is no debate that his face is right next to Clyde’s on the giant rock.

The Final Two Spots

So who fills the rest of Mt. Rushmore? This is where the real debate begins. There are a few point guards who left their mark on the franchise, but only two can join Clyde and Brunson.

If we consider breathing life back into Madison Square Garden, Mark Jackson has a case. Drafted 18th overall in 1987 out of local St. John’s, Jackson immediately electrified his hometown team after the Knicks suffered through a rough few years in the mid-80s.

Averaging 13.6 points and 10.6 assists a game, Jackson won the 1988 Rookie of the Year. The next season, he made his way to the All-Star team. Flashy, tough, and elite at setting up his teammates, Jackson embodied a true New York point guard. He successfully orchestrated the offense, assisting in the rise of another Knicks legend, Patrick Ewing. Mastering the alley-oop and executing the teardrop floater, Jackson helped build a foundation of success that lasted a decade.

Sometimes, it serves us well to dive back into New York’s deep history, even if the highlights can be tricky to decipher.

Dick McGuire was the original point guard behind Knicks basketball. Another St. John’s product, “Tricky Dick” was a skillful and unselfish playmaker known for his behind-the-back passes. Leading the NBA in assists as a rookie in the 1949-1950 season, McGuire made five All-Star teams during his eight seasons in New York.

Of course, the real argument for including him is the sustained success the Knicks experienced with him at point guard. He led New York to three consecutive NBA Finals, garnering enough respect in the franchise to share in the retirement of his number 15, along with Earl Monroe. Though most of us were not around to watch McGuire strut his stuff, you don’t lead a team to three straight Finals and share the rafters with “The Pearl” for being a slouch.

We cannot have a serious conversation about the point guard position without showing a little love to Charlie Ward. Possessing all the traits of the ’90s Knicks, he was a true glue guy and a fan favorite.

A former Heisman Trophy winner, Ward successfully translated his football player mentality to the basketball court. Never the most athletic or fastest player, he earned his playing time through intelligence and toughness. Ward started 68 games during the lockout-shortened 1999 season and ran the point for the eighth-seeded Knicks as they made a miraculous run to the NBA Finals. A complete pest defensively, he also served as a reliable 3-point shooter for his era.

Will we ever see an athlete like Charlie Ward again?

Long NBA Career
Heisman Trophy
Drafted TWICE in the MLB Draft

ABSOLUTLEY insane

pic.twitter.com/RtVtZh0pim

— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) October 19, 2024

While it’s important to mention Ward, he does fall just short of making the mountain. An elite role player, he lacked the franchise-altering accolades of Jackson or McGuire.

After traveling through the eras, sifting through the stats, and considering the cultural significance and impact on winning, the final Mt. Rushmore for Knicks floor generals is set. At the end of the day, the mountain belongs to Walt Frazier, Jalen Brunson, Dick McGuire, and Mark Jackson. We have our two champions in Clyde and Brunson representing the highest moments in New York basketball. We have a pioneer responsible for building an early foundation and setting the standard in McGuire. Finally, there is the hometown kid who helped bring magic back to the Garden in Jackson.

So, where did I go wrong? Is it right to leave a member of the 1999 run off the mountain, or should Ward replace McGuire? DoesMarbury’ss raw talent warrant deeper consideration, or was it right to write him off completely? Make sure to share your thoughts and your point guard Mt. Rushmore below.

LJ Cryer's small offseason change could benefit him, Warriors in 2026-27 season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

LAS VEGAS — The best ability, in LJ Cryer’s case, really is availability. 

“The main thing for me is just getting my body healthy, because when I’m healthy, I’m able to help the team,” Cryer said to reporters at Chase Center during Warriors Summer League Media Day. “… With me being a younger guy, I just got to be more available. … The more healthy I get, the more I’ll be able to bring to the table.”

Aside from a right foot injury that sidelined him for a large chunk of his sophomore year at Baylor, Cryer was relatively healthy throughout his five-year college career. But the start to his Warriors career didn’t go as smoothly from a health perspective. 

Cryer dealt with a back injury off and on throughout December and January prior to him making his NBA debut with the Warriors on Jan. 19. He didn’t play a single game in February – not in the G League or NBA – because of a recurring hamstring issue. The same problem caused him to miss two games in March. 

An illness in April sidelined him for another two games, and then in the third-to-last game of the regular season on April 10, Cryer sprained his right ankle coming down from a shot when he landed on Jarred Vanderbilt’s left foot in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers. 

LJ Cryer had to be helped off the court after injuring his ankle on this play pic.twitter.com/4mjP4cFKoj

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 10, 2026

All in all, Cryer played in 36 games throughout his rookie year. He appeared in 18 games for Golden State, and another 18 for the Warriors’ G League affiliate in Santa Cruz. That’s a strong number for someone who went undrafted. However, the inconsistency of Cryer’s availability was far from satisfactory in his own self-evaluation. 

So, Cryer got to work. He stayed back in the Bay and could be seen running on the Embarcadero after a long workout at Chase Center. Injuries can often be out of a player’s control. Bad luck, as the Warriors learned all last season, is as real as it gets. Preparation is what athletes can control. 

The change for Cryer started before the weight room. His focus has been how he serves his body, starting with how he fuels it. And he already can feel the results. 

“I changed my diet, that was the main thing,” Cryer said in Las Vegas after the Warriors’ summer league win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. “And then I’ve been tracking my sleep. Those are the two most important things.”

Cryer, 24, played for two prestigious college programs in Baylor and Houston. He comes from a family of athletes, following in the footsteps of his parents who met as collegiate athletes at Grambling State. His younger brother was a college football player at Florida State, and Cryer has a long family lineage of other college athletes as well. 

Discipline always has been a part of Cryer’s DNA. Stepping into the NBA also opened his eyes to a new understanding of what it takes, including the smallest details. 

“Oh, I cut out a lot of foods,” Cryer said. “Just understanding what to put in your body. Obviously I had an idea of what to do, but sitting down with the performance staff and getting the detailed plan has helped me.” 

What he eliminated is what we all could cut back on from time to time.

“Probably sweets, like candy. Stuff like that,” he says.

How did the change in diet and sleep translate to the court? The sharp-shooting point guard lit it up in summer league. 

LJ Cryer poured in 16 points in the second quarter 🔥 pic.twitter.com/MrT4aJJ8Mj

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) July 10, 2026

Cryer’s comments about no longer eating junk food and improving his sleep actually came after his lowest-scoring game of the summer when he tallied eight points, yet led the Warriors in assists (five) without any turnovers and was a game-high plus-17. It was Cryer, not top draft pick Yaxel Lendeborg, who led the Warriors in scoring during their summer league championship run in Las Vegas. Cryer, in six games in Las Vegas, averaged 15 points per game and had a 2.5 assist-to-turnover ratio. 

Cryer’s summer league began with hot shooting at the California Classic on his home court, and it only continued for him in the desert. Cryer, in eight total games, averaged 14.0 points, second to Lendeborg’s 14.9. Each led the Warriors with 32 assists. Beyond the arc is where Cryer made his money, just like he can for Golden State. 

Cryer this summer took 7.9 threes per game and made them at a 41.3 percent clip. His 63 3-point attempts were 26 more than any of his teammates, and they accounted for 75 percent of his total shots. The role Cryer can have on the Warriors in Year 2 is clear, and he’s making sure to show the franchise he’s ready to step into bigger shoes.

The way he can shoot the ball from long distance stands out most, but Cryer feels like a much better overall player as he prepares for his second pro season. 

“Just all around,” Cryer said. “I think it’s due to me to working on my body this summer, just being more healthy. So I feel like I’ve taken a jump in every aspect of my game.”

The microwave scorer the Warriors still need might already be on their roster. Cryer, in his 18 games with the Warriors last season, averaged 5.2 3-point attempts and shot 39.4 percent. He made multiple threes in 11 games, which came after letting it fly in Santa Cruz. In his 18 G League games, Cryer shot 44.9 percent from 3-point range while taking 10.3 threes per game. 

Pat Spencer’s departure opens a spot for Cryer to be the Warriors’ third point guard as the roster is currently constructed, whether he’s on a two-way contract or the 15-man roster. Even if they add another ball-handler, there still needs to be a spot for Cryer, who already is the Warriors’ second-best 3-point shooter, behind only Steph Curry, the greatest of all time. 

Size isn’t on Cryer’s side. Generously listed at 6-foot, Cryer is a strong 202 pounds. Getting his body right and being available as much as possible for an older Warriors team is his ticket to next season and beyond. 

One small change can lead to big results for Cryer and the Warriors.

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Warriors' Steph Curry has matter-of-fact reaction to LeBron James choosing 76ers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steph Curry is not surprised by LeBron James’ long-awaited decision.

Despite the former’s efforts to recruit the latter to join the Warriors in NBA free agency this offseason, James ultimately signed a two-year contract with the Philadelphia 76ers over the weekend after weeks of recruitment by a handful of prominent teams.

Curry, speaking exclusively to The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson for a recent story, shared his reaction to James choosing Philadelphia over other teams, like Golden State.

“That’s why you don’t envision anything until it happens,” Curry told Thompson. “There’s a lot of moving parts.”

When James initially left the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this offseason, the Warriors were believed to be the most likely landing spot, but Golden State adding the 22-time All-Star became less and less likely in the weeks to follow.

James probably was the Warriors’ most realistic big-ticket addition this offseason, and after he chose to sign elsewhere, Golden State now must figure out where it goes from here and how it will improve and round out its roster for the 2026-27 NBA season with key players, like star forward Jimmy Butler and sixth-year wing Moses Moody, likely to miss significant time.

“The through line,” Curry shared with Thompson, “which is hard on anybody in this situation, especially with us keeping this thing together, is knowing that when Jimmy got hurt and Moses got hurt, the whole calculus of everything changes. How do you get through their absence and still stay at a certain level? And then how that goes into this year. It’s the same deal. So I’m a realist on that.”

“You hope that they both come back healthy and we can play at a level that keeps us relevant and competitive and builds a foundation so that we can figure out what it looks like. But that is the situation. We don’t live in any alternative universe.”

Golden State still has multiple roster spots to fill, so additional moves are expected before the start of training camp in late September.

Who will those players be? That remains a mystery to Curry. And probably the Warriors, too.

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Former Blue Devil Wendell Moore has been in the NBA for four years now, and he hasn’t really established himself, and it looks like he’s going to go a different direction.

Moore is reportedly talking to several European teams, including Partizan Belgrade and Hapoel Tel Aviv. However, he may be more interested in BC Roma SPQR.

The ownership includes Donnie Nelson and Luka Doncic, and the team plays in Serie A, which is the highest level in Italy.

The thing about the NBA is that the margin of error is razor-thin. For most of us, Moore would be a stunning athlete, but on the NBA level, as it has turned out, he’s probably marginal.

In Europe though, he could have a long and lucrative career. It’s probably a smart move.

• Partizan reportedly close to deal with former NBA first-round pick Wendell Moore
• Detroit Pistons’ 24-Year-Old Free Agent Could Leave NBA

Go to the DBR Boards to find Blue Healer Auctions || Drop us a line

Welcome to the start of the NBA’s second wave of player movement.

LeBron James’ prolonged free agency seemingly held up other moves around the league while he was making up his mind on where to play next season. Now that James has committed to the Philadelphia 76ers, the rest of the NBA is back open for business, and there’s likely another round of transactions coming. Restricted free agents like Jalen Duren and Peyton Watson will finally get some clarity on their futures in short order, and there are still plenty of possible trade candidates before rosters are finalized for the 2026-27 season.

Training camps around the league don’t open until the final days of September. Buzzer-beater trades have become a regular occurrence over the last few years, with blockbusters like Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Timberwolves trading Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks, immediately coming to mind. With tanking dead and so many teams having dreams of contention in both the East and the West, the regular season could be set for active trade deadline, too. These are the big names who could be available on the trade market over the next year.

Kevin Durant, F, Houston Rockets

Kevin Durant’s first year in Houston checked every box: there was a weird, unresolved Twitter burner scandal, a first-round playoff loss to the Lakers without Luka Doncic, and another hyper-efficient scoring season with 26 points per game on 64.1% true shooting. Durant is about to turn 38 years old, and he’s under contract for this season and next season. The Rockets could be really good this season if everything goes according to plan. Fred VanVleet is back from injury, Amen Thompson again feels like he’s on the verge of a true breakout, and there are multiple other young players who could level up with Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard, and Tari Eason. Then again, the West is loaded, and if Houston doesn’t rise to the challenge, there’s bound to be a fall guy. It could be Sengun, or head coach Ime Udoka, but Durant has a history of wearing out his welcome pretty quickly in the latter stages of his career. KD has become the NBA’s ultimate mercenary, and no one should be surprised if he’s on the move again in the next year.

Kyrie Irving, G, Dallas Mavericks

The Mavs could really use Kyrie Irving’s ball handling to take pressure off Cooper Flagg to begin this season. I just wonder how long that will last with Dallas projecting as a likely lottery team this year. The Mavs need to align everything around the 19-year-old Flagg, and unfortunately for them, they don’t control their own first-round pick until 2031 due to trades originally intended to build around Luka Doncic. I’d expect more changes in Dallas with Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz now running the front office, and Irving should have plenty of suitors if he looks good early as he returns from a torn ACL. At 34 years old, Irving doesn’t fit Flagg’s timeline, and I doubt the Mavs are good enough in a loaded West to reject trade interest when it comes. The Mavs need all the future assets they can get if they hope to build a contender around Flagg by the time he reaches his prime, and trading Kyrie, P.J. Washington, and others is the best way to start that process.

Anthony Davis, C/F, Washington Wizards

Davis is extension eligible on Aug. 6, and that puts the Wizards in a tough spot. You know agent Rich Paul is going to want a lucrative contract, but Davis hasn’t played a game for Washington yet, and his age (33) and lack of durability make him a risky bet into his mid-to-late 30s. The Wizards already gave Trae Young a nonsensical max extension, so maybe Davis will get what he wants. If he doesn’t, I wouldn’t be surprised if the trade winds start blowing with AD aiming to land on a more competitive team. The Wizards could be pretty decent this year if everything comes together, but to me this is probably still a lottery team given the depth of the Eastern Conference. Washington can probably trade Davis for a lot more than they gave up for him if he starts the season strong. I have a hard time believing he’ll be in D.C. long term.

James Harden, G, Cleveland Cavaliers

Harden is still a free agent at the time of writing, but everyone expects he’ll return to the Cavs on a multi-year deal. The veteran guard helped Cleveland reach the conference finals last season, but it’s hard to feel good about that after the rest of the East improved this summer while the Cavs swung-and-missed on a LeBron reunion. Donovan Mitchell is locked in long-term, but the rest of this core shouldn’t be feeling too comfortable, and that’s especially true for Harden. On the brink of his 37th birthday, Harden is still a very good regular season player whose pull-up three-point shooting and playmaking brings value to any contender. If the Cavs take a step back this year, I’d imagine Cleveland tries to move off Harden before it finally listens to offers for Evan Mobley.

Tyler Herro, G, Milwaukee Bucks

Herro is entering the final year of his contract on a team that is just beginning what’s sure to be a long and painful rebuild. The Bucks have other guards who need opportunities with Ryan Rollins, Brayden Burries, and Kasparas Jakucionis. Herro feels likely to be on the trade regardless of whether he inks an extension. His next contract could be a bit dicey from a team perspective, but he’s still an excellent offensive player with true three-level scoring ability who can help juice any offense off the bounce. He’s firmly in his prime as he turns 27 years old in January, and he deserves to be spending these years with a team that is actually building toward something in the short-term. The Bucks would be wise to act quickly, let their young players get reps in a lost season, and help Herro get to his next destination before he hits free agency.

Zion Williamson, F, New Orleans Pelicans

Williamson’s nearly $45 million contract isn’t guaranteed for the 2027-28 season, and that gives New Orleans plenty of options if this season goes off the rails. The main objective for the Pelicans this season should be figuring out if Williamson can play with last year’s lottery picks Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears. Queen and Williamson just feel like an odd match in the front court as two guys who need the ball in their hands and don’t play any defense. It would be nice to fully turn this team over to the young guns, and let Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, and Yves Missi surround them in supporting roles, but that can’t happen until they finally turn the page on the Zion era. New Orleans has some talent, but the West is so unforgiving, and it just feels like the injury bug always hits this team at the worst time. New head coach Jamahl Mosley is known for his demanding defensive principles, and it’s hard to see how Zion and Queen will fit into that. It sure seems like New Orleans’ front office likes Williamson quite a bit, but they fully have an out on his contract, and aren’t going to win many games. That usually signals a breakup is coming eventually.

Michael Porter Jr., F, Brooklyn Nets

Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez helped Porter Jr. turn in the best season of his career at age-27, and it came at a good time with the wing now entering the final year of his contract. Will the Nets want to give MPJ an extension? His always treacherous health situation makes that a risky bet, and there will certainly be suitors for his off-ball scoring and floor spacing if he hits the trade market. If the Nets are scared to give Porter Jr. an extension, then they have to trade him because they can’t afford to lose him for nothing. Brooklyn is expected to be terrible this year, but there’s actually a decent foundation here with Porter Jr., Julius Randle, Egor Demin, Mikel Brown Jr., and Day’Ron Sharpe. It feels like MPJ has been waiting his whole career to play for a coach like Fernandez, so I’d like to see both sides reach a deal. If it doesn’t happen, expect there to be substantial trade interest as a rental.

Sixers formally welcome LeBron James, ‘one of the greatest players to ever play the game'  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers formally welcomed their new No. 23 on Monday morning. 

The team announced the signing of LeBron James, who’s inked a two-year, $8 million deal.

The Sixers also released an image of James’ jersey, which will undoubtedly be a popular purchase in the Philadelphia area. The last Sixer to sport the No. 23 was Tyrese Martin during the 2025-26 season. 

“There is no doubt LeBron is one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball and there are no words to measure the impact he’ll have on this organization,” Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey said in the team’s press release. “I have had the pleasure of knowing LeBron since high school and have seen the high-level impact he’s produced at every stop of his basketball journey. He is a consummate professional, the ultimate competitor, and a tireless worker.

“But he is also an incredible person with natural leadership traits, a family man, and someone who possesses unwavering commitment to community and those around him. We couldn’t be happier that he is officially here and are excited to welcome him, Savannah, and the James family into our 76ers family.” 

James’ near-infinite list of accomplishments includes four NBA championships, the last of which came on the 2019-20 Lakers. He’s aiming for a fifth in Philadelphia and the Sixers’ first since the 1982-83 season. 

“I am thrilled to welcome LeBron James to the Philadelphia 76ers,” Sixers managing partner Josh Harris said. “One of the greatest players in NBA history and one of the best athletes ever. … I cannot wait to see LeBron alongside Jaylen Brown, VJ Edgecombe, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and our talented roster as we work to deliver a championship for Philly. To LeBron and his family: we are grateful you chose the 76ers, and look forward to this next chapter of your legendary career. Welcome to the 76ers!” 

In a recent interview, retires basketball player Pau Gasol sat down and shared that working with Gregg Popovich was a factor in his decision to join the San Antonio Spurs later in his career.

Pau Gasol says one of the main reasons for signing with the Spurs was to be coached by Pop and experience the Spurs culture. On what he appreciated about Coach Pop beyond the Xs and Os:

“Pop was also very caring about the social aspect. Understanding that we all had a platform,… pic.twitter.com/OUnN1onvdO

— Wemby Alien Era (@WembyAlienEra) July 23, 2026

“Pop was also very caring about the social aspect. Understanding that we all had a platform, that that was important to have perspective of what was going on. That basketball was kind of our job, but what’s truly important is family, what’s truly important is giving back and being aware and sensitive to social injustices, to what’s going on and how we can affect our communities. So I appreciated those messages more than the basketball itself.”

Gasol played with the Spurs over three seasons before a stress fracture limited his play in his third year. He won two titles with the Lakers. He’s been celebrated in the NBA as well as overseas. His career is adorned with multiple FIBA and Liga awards. Since retirement, Gasol has increased his involvement UNICEF, St. Jude’s, and his own Gasol Foundation.

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During his playing days, Jerry West was devastated nearly every year when his Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Boston Celtics. He briefly coached, but given his high-strung nature, that really didn’t suit him in his post-player career.

He worked as a scout until 1982, when he took over as GM.

The Lakers had a nice base with Jamaal Wilkes, Norm Nixon, Michael Cooper, and the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but things changed enormously when L.A. drafted Magic Johnson, and Showtime was born.

Johnson was a 6-9 point guard who could play any position on the court. He had immense charisma, and his teams tended to win.

Los Angeles started to run, and while the main focus was winning, the Lakers introduced a level of entertainment that the basketball world had never seen.

When West took over as GM, he truly found his second career. He drafted James Worthy, but he was part of the decision, and he traded Norm Nixon for Byron Scott.

Later, he would draft A.C. Green, who also did very well.

The Lakers became a globally iconic franchise during the Showtime era, and a measuring stick for every team outside of the Celtics, who had their own identity.

Showtime started to wind down when Jabbar retired in 1989, and when Johnson abruptly retired in 1991, after being diagnosed with HIV, it ended.

It’s been 35 years since Showtime officially ended, and the NBA has still not found anything quite as much fun.

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There was a lot of hullabaloo last week when LeBron finally made his free agency decision and chose the Philadelphia 76ers, which was a surprise. Most people expected him to pick either Miami or Cleveland; in fact, Miami had already prepared a social media announcement, which was accidentally posted prematurely.

But it’s Philly, because, as always with James, it’s where he thinks he’s most likely to win a title. Is that going to happen?

Well, maybe, but the odds are against it. Let’s look.

First, there’s James himself. He’s played for 23 seasons already, and give him full credit: he’s done an amazing job of keeping himself in great shape, and still, at 41, remains a tremendous player.

But he’s not the player he once was. Last year, we saw several occasions when he just didn’t react on defense. He’s not nearly as explosive as he once was, and the brutal reality is that he will never be better than he was last season. Time catches up to everyone, even King James.

This is also important: He played 82 regular season games in 2017-18, but since then?

• 2018-19: 55 games
• 2019-20: 67 games
• 2020-21: 45 games
• 2021-22: 56 games
• 2022-23: 55 games
• 2023-24: 71 games
• 2024-25: 70 games
• 2025-26: 60 games

He missed more than a quarter of last season, and he’s missed plenty over the last eight seasons, as noted. But he’s not the biggest problem.

That would be Joel Embiid, who, at 32, has had even more problems.

Over the same period, here’s how his availability has been:

• 2018-19: 64 games
• 2019-20: 51 games
• 2020-21: 51 games
• 2021-22: 68 games
• 2022-23: 66 games
• 2023-24: 39 games
• 2024-25: 19 games
• 2025-26: 38 games

Now, bear in mind that in 2019-20, the season was limited by Covid, and no one played more than 67 games, but still, that’s not a great track record. And don’t forget that Embiid lost his first two seasons to injuries.

On the bright side, the Sixers now have Jaylen Brown, who has been outstanding for his entire career, VJ Edgecombe, who will really benefit from James’s experience, and Tyrese Maxey, who has really proven himself. That’s a great perimeter, but there’s a lot riding on James and Embiid staying healthy.

And if they don’t, who do they have to step in?

There’s not much on the bench.

If you were betting on next year, you’d probably be wise to look to the Spurs. They crashed hard against the Knicks in the finals, but their core is young, talented, and just got socked in the nose. They learned a lot from New York, and our guess is they’ll be highly motivated for another shot.

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Turns out only one ex-Wildcat will get to be part of LeBron James’ latest NBA chapter.

Former Arizona wing Dalen Terry was waived by the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, two days after news broke the Sixers were signing James to a 2-year, $8 million contract.

The 24-year-old Terry appeared in 21 games for Philadelphia, technically his third team during the 2025-26 season after being traded from the Chicago Bulls to New Orleans in February and then waived by the Pelicans the next day. Philly signed Terry to a 2-way deal on Feb. 10, converting it standard deal on April 10 right before the regular season ended.

Terry averaged 4.1 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 11.7 minutes during 14 regular season games with the Sixers, then in the NBA Playoffs had 13 points in 39 minutes over seven games.

Had Philly held onto him Terry would have been one of two ex-UA players on the Sixers in 2026-27, as they signed Caleb Love to a 2-way deal in early July.

Originally drafted by the Bulls with the 18^th overall pick in 2022, Terry played 3-plus seasons in Chicago and started seven games. He spent two years at the UA, starting 14 games as a freshman in Sean Miller’s final season and then all 37 games on Tommy Lloyd’s first Wildcat squad.

The business side threatens to interrupt all the good vibes around the Knicks.

They are able to almost fully run back their championship squad next year, with the only significant loss being Mitchell Robinson going to the Celtics.

But there are certainly questions about the future that will hover over the present.

The modern NBA, with its current CBA, pushes for league parity, making it difficult for champions to keep their cores intact for prolonged periods.

The Knicks have one more year before that might become their reality, but pivotal decisions for their future are already staring them in the face.

Karl-Anthony Towns’ contract situation is the key question this offseason and will likely remain so all year.

He is set to make around $57 million next year.

Then, for the 2027-28 season, he has a $61 million player option.

Towns is already eligible for an extension, with the max deal the Knicks can offer him being four years for $272 million — a staggering average annual value of $68 million.

If they do not reach a deal and Towns decides to decline his player option and test the open market in 2027, the standard veteran max would be a little less, at $266.6 million over four years.

If he plays on that player option, though, and hits free agency in ’28, that number would be higher.

Towns’ value should be well recognized after he helped the Knicks reach the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years in Year 1, then helped them win their first championship in 53 years in Year 2.

The past two seasons have helped him shed some of his lingering reputation that dogged him for much of his career, instead turning into widespread praise and proven-wrong apologies from fans and media.

The Knicks transformed their offense in the postseason via a system that was heavily reliant on Towns and his playmaking ability.

He proved that he could unlock another level defensively, too.

His status as an elite big was cemented.

But that’s the type of salary that usually goes to a team’s best player, not the second best (or at times, maybe even third best).

Towns is currently the highest-paid Knick, but that is because of Jalen Brunson’s well-documented financial sacrifice of leaving roughly $113 million on the table.

Towns will turn 31 next season, meaning any extension would carry him into his mid-30s — at a position that usually sees players age less gracefully than smaller players.

Brunson will be extension eligible in the ’28 offseason and has already hinted at his contract desires, telling Vanity Fair that “obviously we’d love for [the Knicks] to do right by me. I think anyone would. I feel like I sacrificed.”

President Leon Rose and his front office have been clever at manipulating the cap and making things work, but it does not seem feasible — with OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges already locked into long-term contracts — to have both Brunson and Towns on such massive deals.

Josh Hart’s future is also up in the air — he is due to make just under $21 million next year, then has a roughly $22 million team option for the 2027-28 season.

The Knicks were already pinching pennies to stay under the second apron this offseason — there is no way all five starters can be brought back on new, much more expensive contracts.

Unless Towns believes it’s his turn to sacrifice, as Brunson did, he and the Knicks could reach an agreement on an extension below the max amount. But he might also view this championship as validation of the type of player — and most importantly, winner — he spent his whole career trying to prove he is.

Until there is clarity, it will be the new elephant in the room.