Category: Basketball

NBA opening night schedule: Here are the games that will tip off the season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Basketball is still more than two months away, but it’s time to start planning ahead.

The 2026-27 NBA opening night games, which will air on NBC and Peacock, were revealed on Tuesday as the league began to announce portions of its regular-season schedule.

As is tradition, the NBA has two prime-time matchups on the slate for opening night — including the defending champion raising a banner and three other title contenders taking the court. However, this year, there is an additional midday matchup to open the season.

Here’s a look at the three games for this year’s NBA Tip-Off:

Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons

The NBA season will begin a bit earlier than usual, with the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons battling in a matinee matchup.

The teams were the top two seeds in the Eastern Conference standings last season, with the Pistons vaulting to the No. 1 seed and the Celtics coming in at No. 2.

Watch info: 3 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock

Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks

Two Atlantic division foes will face off on the first day of the season, and this game has added stakes.

On the Knicks’ side, the franchise will raise its first championship banner since 1973. Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and the squad will put on their rings in front of what’s sure to be a raucous crowd at Madison Square Garden. All five starters from the championship team were retained this summer, with backup big Mitchell Robinson as the only rotation player departing.

For Philadelphia, the city hopes this game will mark the beginning of their own title run. The Sixers were the most aggressive team over the offseason, trading away Paul George for Jaylen Brown and signing LeBron James. So, while this is a second-round rematch from last year’s playoffs, this game will look completely different than it did in May.

Watch info: 7 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock

Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs

The most tightly-contested series of last season’s playoffs will be revisited on opening night.

The Spurs, fresh off a disappointing Finals loss to the Knicks, will begin their quest to defend the Western Conference title and get over the hump. San Antonio gave Victor Wembanyama some extra help over the offseason — notably Tobias Harris. But the 2026-27 campaign will hinge on internal improvement for young rising stars like Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper.

Oklahoma City will be out for revenge immediately, considering San Antonio took Game 7 on the Thunder’s home court and ended their repeat bid. Sam Presti had a busy offseason rebalancing the roster and shedding salary, cutting ties with key role players in Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins. Two-time reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, meanwhile, is aiming to be the fourth player in NBA history to win three straight MVPs (Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird).

Watch info: 9:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock

Jeff Teague had the same reaction that probably every person on the planet had upon hearing Monta Ellis’ claim.

Ellis, the former high-scoring Golden State Warriors guard, controversially declared on Sunday that the Warriors would’ve had the same success had he replaced Steph Curry.

Teague, Ellis’ teammate with the Indiana Pacers in 2016-2017 wasn’t exactly buying it.

“Imma keep it real with you. He was never better than Steph Curry,” Teague said during a live recording of “The Club 520 Podcast” before saying there was another star guard who he could have seen perhaps replicating the Warriors’ success with Curry.

“…If you said ‘We’re going to take Steph Curry out of there, and put Dame Lillard, then I would be like ‘Okay I could see them get the same results.”

Teague went on to call Ellis “cold” but said he’s not the same type of player as Curry.

Through Curry’s 17-year career in the NBA, he’s built a reputation as the greatest shooter the game has ever seen and one of the greatest players in league history. The two-time MVP owns the career record for most three-pointers made, has shot 42.2% from deep over his 17 seasons and has averaged 24.8 points per game.

A talented player, Ellis played 12 seasons in the NBA and averaged 17.8 points per game, though he shot only 31.4% from three. He also never made a single All-Star team.

Ellis’ best season behind the 3-point line came during the 2010-2011 season when he and Curry were still Warriors teammates. Ellis sank 36.1% from deep.

The following year, the Warriors were reportedly trading Curry to the Milwaukee Bucks until the Bucks backed out due to concern over his ankle. HOW CLOSE WAS THAT? CAN WE CLARIFY? 

The two sides eventually came together on a deal that sent Ellis to Milwaukee instead of Curry.

Since then, Curry has remained with the Warriors and has become the most decorated player in the franchise’s history as he’s led them to four NBA titles, while winning his two MVPs in 2015 and 2016.

Shaquille O’Neal sees a couple of major problems with the NBA’s slumping dunk contest these days.

Too many non-stars. And too many missed dunks. 

“In the last 15 years, we haven’t had a real top guy like LeBron [James], Zion Williamson, participate in a dunk contest,” O’Neal said on Boardroom Cover Stories. “And then you’ve got guys missing three or four dunks.”

The NBA’s annual dunk contest, which takes place over All-Star Weekend and is now officially branded as AT&T Slam Dunk, has grown flat and stagnant following its history of stars either competing against each other (think Michael Jordan versus Dominique Wilkins) or being born in the dunk contest itself (think Dee Brown).

It’s also featured some iconic moments, including Vince Carter’s reverse 360 windmill dunk in 2000, Dwight Howard’s Superman slam in 2008 and Blake Griffin’s jam over a car in 2011.

But in the modern era of basketball, the dunk contest has been steadily declining and criticized for the lack of stars participating in it. 

Consider that some of the winners over the last 15 years have included Keshad Johnson (2026), Mac McClung (the three previous seasons), Hamidou Diallo (2019), Glenn Robinson III (2017) and Jeremy Evans (2012). Not exactly big names.

The winner of O’Neal’s DUNKMAN will receive $500,000, the largest prize in professional dunk history. O’Neal said on the podcast that the money could increase during the competition, depending on how well the talent does.

“If you look online, there are kids who are not good enough to be in the NBA, but they’re unbelievable dunkers, and they’ve got a lot of views [on social media],” O’Neal said. “They get a lot of eyes on them. I was like, maybe we need to put a league together and compensate these guys.”

O’Neal added that DUNKMAN will be a diversified event, as it will feature athletes from England, China, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Ukraine and the United States.

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While the Lakers reshaping their roster was anticipated this summer, the sheer volume of new signings, and particularly in the short amount of time, was overwhelming.

As we circle back to break down some of the new players that will be donning the purple and gold, I figured the best way to get some insight and a scouting report on them was from those who covered their previous teams.

Walker Kessler was the team’s big swing of the offseason. The Lakers are banking on his defense to anchor the team and make it one of the best in the league, while hoping he pairs nicely with Luka Dončić as a pick-and-roll partner.

I reached out to James Hansen, site manager of Salt Lake City Dunk, to ask about Kessler and his fit with the Lakers.

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What are his strengths?

First, rim protection. Opponent scoring at the rim is much lower when Kessler is defending. He is also in the 99th percentile in block percentage, according to Dunks & Threes. Kessler consistently holds down the paint, arguably the most important thing you can do on the defensive end.

Second, scoring at the rim. Kessler shot 68% on 2s in 2026, 67.6% in 2025, and 67.7 in 2024. All three of those seasons were in the 98th percentile or better. Kessler doesn’t have any sort of isolation game but when he gets the ball near the rim, he finishes at an elite level.

Third, offensive rebounding. Part of what makes Kessler such an elite finisher is that he’s such a good offensive rebounder. Kessler was in the 98th percentile last season and the 97th percentile the year before with his offensive rebound rate.

And when he rebounds it, he scores the ball. That ability to put pressure on the rim really ups your team’s offensive efficiency night after night, easily his most effective offensive skill.

What are his weaknesses?

First, free throw shooting. Kessler’s free throw percentage was in the low 50s for two of his four seasons. He played in just five games last season, so I would take his 70% free throw with a grain of salt.

This was one of those things that looks like it can improve for Kessler but he inevitably falls into bad habits just when you think he’ll improve. Maybe with the Lakers, he’ll finally find some consistency on this end, but as of right now, it’s an issue.

Second, skillset. Kessler is more of an advanced analytics darling than he is an eye-test type of player. Kessler has teased a 3-point shot at times but when the Jazz have actually had him let the threes fly, it hasn’t worked.

Whenever the Jazz would throw Kessler the ball in the post, it went…badly. Kessler becomes a great player if he sticks to what he’s great at. It’s when he’s trying to go beyond that when he struggles. Maybe he can develop his game more, but he would be right to emphasize the parts of his game that made him a target for the Lakers.

Third, there’s a little bit of softness to him. Head coach Will Hardy probably yelled at Kessler louder and more often than at anyone else on the Jazz. It’s likely because it always felt like there was another level he should be able to get to. He just never quite got there.

He is also a player that other teams love to challenge. Kessler is a great rim protector but there are a lot of guys that love to go at him. At times, it would get in his head when someone got a huge dunk on him and you could see him dip a little bit. Maybe with the Lakers, playing for wins, and a new contract will help him gain more mental toughness.

From an outsider’s perspective, how do you see him fitting with the Lakers?

I think he’ll fit really well with Luka Dončić, both on the offensive end as a rolling big and as a defender that can make up for some weak perimeter defense. He’s a solid passer as well, so he can move the ball out of the short roll, something Hardy and the Jazz developed well with him.

As long as the Lakers don’t expect Kessler to create his own shot, they’ll be happy with him.

Anything else to know about him?

Walker Kessler has a fun personality and should be a player Laker fans enjoy. I have no doubt he’ll become a fan favorite like he was for Jazz fans.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

The world is still getting used to LeBron James being on the Philadelphia 76ers’ roster.

King James is taking his talents to Philadelphia after what felt like an endless saga of speculation about which team he’ll decide to play with in free agency. This marks the fourth franchise James has played for, and the fifth time he has joined a new NBA team during his legendary career.

It seems that singer-songwriter Hilary Duff seems to think this is too much team-jumping from James, which she referenced during her Lucky Me Tour stop at Philadelphia’s TD Pavilion Sunday night.

When speaking to the crowd about the cities her tour has stopped at, Duff said, “We started in Florida, went to LA, we’ve ended up here [in Philadelphia]. I’m starting to feel like LeBron!”

Hilary Duff at her concert last night in Philly:

“We started in Florida, went to LA, we’ve ended up here… I’m starting to feel like LeBron!” pic.twitter.com/nVpDHragPk

— Josh Reynolds (@JoshReynolds24) August 10, 2026

Duff did indeed begin her tour in West Palm Beach, Fla., on June 21. She performed at the KIA Forum in Inglewood on July 8 and 9 and was in Philadelphia last night.

The one city James played at that isn’t a tour destination for Duff is Cleveland, as the pop singer decided to make a stop at nearby Cincinnati instead.

It would be funny to see what James’ reaction to this comment from Duff might be. While it didn’t seem malicious, Duff was clearly taking a subtle dig at the four-time NBA champion.

But James won’t worry about being the butt of anyone’s jokes if he can secure one last championship during his tenure in Philadelphia.

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The Lakers’ offseason has been a success. 

An overwhelming success? No, that would be a bridge too far. 

Especially when factoring in the holes remaining on their roster seven weeks before training camp starts and some of the details with certain decisions. 

But considering what the Lakers’ goals and options were entering the summer, and what they have been able to accomplish with rebuilding the roster around franchise superstar guard Luka Doncic over the last 1 ½ months, the Lakers have delivered an offseason they should be proud of.

Key Offseason Moves for Lakers

Los Angeles brought back 28-year-old homegrown star Austin Reaves on a lucrative longterm contract (four years, $180 million) that’ll keep Reaves signed to the Lakers for what should be the prime of his career. 

The Lakers filled their biggest need by landing Walker Kessler in a sign-and-trade with the Jazz to pair the 7-foot-2, 245-pound big man alongside Doncic and Reaves, and ending a multiyear saga of attempting to bring Kessler to Los Angeles.

Quentin Grimes (four years, $60 million), Sandro Mamukelashvili (four years, $52 million) and Collin Sexton (two years, $19 million) were complementary additions. 

Ziaire Williams (one year, $2.8 million) and Matisse Thybulle (one year, $3.3 million) were signings made to address the Lakers’ need for wings while clearly also having the upside to outperform their veteran’s minimum deals. 

Cameron Carr (first round draft pick), Kevon Looney (one year, $3.9 million) and Jaden Hardy (acquired from the Wizards) could factor into the Lakers’ rotation for 2026-27 to varying degrees.

The Lakers addressed their biggest needs. 

They got younger and more athletic. They improved their collective perimeter defense while also adding more bench scoring. 

These moves came at a cost, though.

Lakers Roster Gets Shake-Up

LeBron James is no longer a Laker after eight seasons with the franchise, leaving for the 76ers as a free agent.

Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton and Luke Kennard are also no longer on the roster, and were among the eight players that ended last season with the Lakers who won’t return for 2026-27.

The Lakers lost one of their best players in James. They lost their best defender from 2025-26 in Smart. They lost a player in Ayton who could’ve been a strong reserve center behind Kessler. They lost one of the league’s best 3-point accuracy shooting pairings in Hachimura and Kennard. 

A lot of experience and proven production have left the building.

And it was – and will be – worth it. 

Because the Lakers chose a direction, firmly establishing themselves in the Doncic era by surrounding him with a better-fitting roster. 

A roster with a foundation of room for growth and improvement, rather than year-to-year retooling and rentals. 

And they aren’t done yet despite the significant roster reconstruction.

LA Not Done in Free Agency

The Lakers remain interested in Jonathan Kuminga, the unrestricted free agent forward whose free agency has stalled out over the last few weeks. Kuminga would address the Lakers’ last big need, which is a wing/forward who could be a credible starter.

They could also add another big man to back up Kessler. 

Neither move would be likely to close the gap between the Lakers and the top two teams in the Western Conference (Spurs and Thunder). 

At the minimum, they’ll need to drop one player from their roster by the start of the regular season to be compliant with the league’s rules.

But even without another significant addition, president of basketball operations/general manager Rob Pelinka has built a roster that made this offseason successful.

Was the price for Kessler steep? Yes, but the two first-round pick swaps the Lakers sent the Jazz shouldn’t convey. And the pair of unprotected first-round picks were in line with Kessler’s market before he became a restricted free agent.

As for his pay: Kessler’s $30.1 million salary for 2026-27 will make him either the 10th- or 11th-highest paid center in the league next season – in line for a player with All-Defensive upside. 

Similar could be said for Reaves, who could’ve signed a more lucrative contract with another team. 

The criticisms for the long-term nature of the deals for Grimes and Mamukelashvili are fair. But that’s also the prime for locking up good players – players the Lakers believe in – for what could be the prime of their careers. 

And despite the outside noise, the Lakers will still have ways to make moves beyond this summer to improve the roster.

The Lakers weren’t realistically going to be able to make enough moves this summer to become upper-tier NBA title contenders.

But their present and future appears brighter than it did when their 2025-26 season ended.

Which is why the last three months have been a success.

It’s a Spurs reunion! Well, sort of. Two members of the 2014 Spurs Championship and longtime teammates are teaming up again, this time as player and coach over in France. ASVEL of the French LDLC and Euro League has announced it has signed Patty Mills for the 2026-27 season, and he will be coached by none other than his former Spurs teammate, Tony Parker, who is a 20% owner and head coach.

Welcome Patty Mills ! 🇦🇺

LDLC ASVEL est heureux de vous annoncer la signature du meneur australien Patty Mills pour la saison 2026-2027.

Champion NBA avec les San Antonio Spurs en 2014 et figure emblématique des Boomers, "FIBA Patty" apportera au collectif villeurbannais son… pic.twitter.com/o45BynHZ2M

— LDLC ASVEL (@LDLCASVEL) August 10, 2026

Mills even took a video of his call with Parker, with both expressing excitement about the reunion.

Reunited. @tonyparker@LDLCASVELpic.twitter.com/LQYDYOWYbS

— Patrick Mills AM (@Patty_Mills) August 10, 2026

37 years old (I honestly thought he was older by now), Mills was drafted at 55th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2009 before joining the Spurs in 2012, eventually earning the spot of Parker’s back-up and playing a huge role off the bench in their 2014 championship run, averaging 10.2 points while shooting 56.5% from three-point range across the Finals. He ended up spending 10 seasons with the Spurs and was the leader of the team through the 2021-22 season before moving on as the Spurs began the youth movement. He journeyed around from there, with his last NBA appearance being with the Clippers in the 2024-25 season. (That’s another Spurs reunion we won’t talk about.) He is also the general manager of the University of Hawai’i basketball program.

Many Spurs fans believe/hope the Spurs will retire Mills’ #8 jersey someday (last worn by Kelly Olynyk last season), and it’s quite possible once his playing career comes to a end. Hopefully such an event will bring Patty back to San Antonio, but in the meantime, how about some highlights for old time’s sake?

There is a bit more clarity surrounding Tyler Nickel’s Knicks future. 

There is momentum toward the second-round pick joining the team this year rather than returning to college, a league source confirmed to The Post. 

Nickel, whom the Knicks drafted with the No. 47 pick in June, is part of the 2022 class of college athletes who were granted a fifth year of eligibility — after a ruling from U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney late last month — if they’ve already exhausted their four years of eligibility. 

Nickel played four seasons of college basketball — one year at North Carolina, one year at Virginia Tech and then the past two seasons at Vanderbilt.

He could return to play one more season of college basketball.

Since the Knicks issued the required tender for unsigned second-round rookies ahead of the Aug. 5 deadline, they would retain his draft rights if he decided to pursue that route. 

But he is leaning toward starting his pro career with the Knicks. 

An NIL deal back in college would likely see him earn more money than he would make on a two-way deal with the Knicks.

It is not entirely clear if he is set to sign a two-way deal or a more lucrative standard contract with the Knicks, though the latter would prevent the team from signing a third center — a clear need on the roster — to a standard contract and remain under the second apron. 

Nickel, a 22-year-old sharpshooting forward, impressed in five games with the Knicks during summer league.

He averaged 12.2 points per game and shot 41.3 percent from 3-point range.

Josh Hart shouted out his performances on social media as well. 

The Knicks’ only other draft pick, second-rounder (No. 39) Jack Kayil, is returning to Germany to play professionally and continue his development.

The Knicks will retain his draft rights. 

SNY was first to report Nickel’s plan to join the Knicks. 

Three-time MVP Nikola Jokić has been clear about his desire to end his NBA career with the Denver Nuggets. The question is how long that NBA career might last for, given an overseas team’s interest in poaching him.

ESPN reported on Monday that Dimitrios Giannakopoulos, a Greek businessman who owns Panathinaikos Basketball Club in Athens, has made a proposal to buy out the final year of Jokić’s current contract.

While the Nuggets already declined Giannakopoulos’ offer, he still seems to believe that he can convince The Joker to sign with him in free agency next summer. Therefore, this proposal was Giannakopoulos’ attempt to have Denver involved in the deal one year before Jokić’s potential free agency rather than waiting a year to sign Jokić outright.

Jokić (who averaged a triple-double last season with 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists per game) hasn’t signed a contract extension with the Nuggets yet, and has two seasons and $121.8 million left on his current deal. But he has a player option to opt out after the 2027 season, which would make him an unrestricted free agent and technically make him available for Giannakopoulos to court without the need for Denver’s approval.

Given that the 31-year-old center is eligible to sign a five-year, $359.5 million extension with the Nuggets in July 2027, Giannakopoulos’ proposal would presumably need to guarantee more money for Jokić to even consider making such a seismic move.

Then again, Giannakopoulos has an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion, which suggests he has the funds to compete with what would be a record-breaking NBA contract.

Regardless of Giannakoloulos’ interest, Jokić still only seems interested in staying with the Nuggets, which also means staying in the NBA. But money talks — and Giannakoloulos has money in spades.

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Kings' reported Opening Night, home opener games for 2026-27 NBA season revealed originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Kings’ 2026-27 NBA regular season schedule is beginning to take shape.

The Kings will open the season Oct. 21 on the road against the Los Angeles Clippers, KCRA’s Sean Cunningham reported Monday, citing sources. Cunningham also reported Sacramento’s home opener at Golden 1 Center follows three days later, on Oct. 24, against the Golden State Warriors — an early measuring-stick game against one of the league’s most scrutinized rosters heading into the year.

According to sources, the Sacramento Kings will open the 2026-27 NBA season on Oct. 21 in LA against the Clippers.

The home opener at Golden 1 Center is set for Oct. 24 against the Golden State Warriors.

— Sean Cunningham (@SeanCunningham) August 11, 2026

The schedule reveal comes at a pivotal moment for a franchise still searching for its identity after a historically difficult 2025-26 season. The Kings waived longtime veteran DeMar DeRozan this offseason and since have drafted rookies Darius Acuff Jr., Alex Karaban and Emanuel Sharp as the front office leans into a younger core. That youth movement extends to the front court as well, where promising young bigs like Dylan Cardwell and Max Raynaud found themselves in the lineup last season, both part of the same generational reset the front office appears to be building around.

What remains far less settled is the fate of the Kings’ veteran core. Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine and Malik Monk have all been connected to trade rumors this offseason, and it is entirely possible one or more of them is wearing a different jersey by the time Oct. 21 arrives. Not everyone believes that would be the right move — longtime Kings broadcaster Jerry Reynolds has publicly argued the Kings should not feel pressured into moving Sabonis specifically, even amid the swirling speculation.

That tension — a front office rebuilding around youth while still weighing what to do with its most accomplished veterans — is likely to define the Kings’ storyline well before the games even start counting. The full 82-game schedule will be released Thursday, which should offer more clarity on how the Kings plan to build toward respectability after one of the more disappointing seasons in franchise history.

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We’re now into the dog days of the NBA season. 

LeBron James made his decision. Luka Doncic got his center in Walker Kessler. Giannis Antetokounmpo is with the Heat. 

Over the last few months, there have been some seismic changes in the NBA, leaving the landscape looking very different heading into next season. 

Here are the biggest winners and losers so far this summer. 

Winner: Philadelphia 76ers

The 76ers traded Paul George for Jaylen Brown and acquired James in free agency, catapulting them into becoming championship contenders. Brown finished sixth in MVP voting last season. James is easily a top-20 player in the NBA. 

The 76ers have gone from being mired in mediocrity, failing to get past the second round of the playoffs since they drafted Joel Embiid with the No. 3 overall pick in 2014, to becoming the most interesting team in the league.

There are a lot of questions about how this roster will work. There might be too many chefs in the kitchen with Embiid, Brown, James, Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe all needing touches. 

But the 76ers have the potential to move the needle. James went to the opposite coast of his family and joined a team with which he has no history because he believes they give him his best chance of winning his fifth championship.

That says a lot about the 76ers’ prospects. 

Loser: Golden State Warriors 

The Warriors went all in on trying to get James onto their team. Steph Curry, who normally remains mum about front office moves, publicly pitched for James to join the Warriors. Draymond Green declined his $27.7 million player option so the Warriors could pay James more money. 

But James chose to join the 76ers, and the Warriors have pretty much stood pat this offseason. That leaves Curry, who turns 39 next season, running things back with the same roster he had last season— you know, the one that didn’t make the playoffs. Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody will miss the start of the season because of injuries. The Warriors know they’re not title contenders next season. 

That’s a shame for Curry, who wants to play meaningful basketball in the sunset of his career. 

Winner: LeBron James

James mulled over where he would take his talents for his fourth and final stop of his illustrious career for more than three weeks. 

There were many factors to consider. Would he prioritize tying his career into a neat bow by returning to the Cavaliers, who selected him as the No. 1 overall pick in 2003? Would he join forces with Antetokounmpo in Miami and try to win a third ring with the franchise that turned him into an NBA champion in 2012? Would he join Curry and Green on the Warriors to create a geriatric super team?

But James chose to prioritize winning. In retrospect, this all makes so much sense. 

James has devoted his life to basketball since he was in middle school. The reason why he became the first player in NBA history to reach his 23rd season is because of his unparalleled dedication to his craft. If he’s still showing up to arenas five hours before games and missing countless moments with his family and friends, it might as well mean something. 

And in the NBA meaning is defined by winning. 

So James went to where he believes he has his best shot of adding to his legacy. if he’s still pouring his heart into the sport, he might as well go all in on having another trophy to show for it. With the 76ers, he has a real shot of being atop the mountain again. 

Loser: New York Knicks

Jalen Bruson and Co. are coming off of a magical championship run. No one thought they’d be hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy in June. No one thought Brunson would turn into one of the biggest superstars in the NBA. They left their detractors reeling. 

But their path to repeating as champions just got much tougher. The 76ers are loaded. The Heat will be formidable with Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo once they find their rhythm. Tyrese Haliburton is going to be on a revenge mission next season after returning from a torn Achilles’ tendon that he suffered during the 2025 NBA Finals. The East is no longer a cakewalk. 

The Knicks are the team to beat. But there’s now a lot of talent in their conference nipping at their heels, threatening to derail their goal of proving the league wrong once again. 

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

Giannis trade discourse has dominated the summer, and thankfully, it’s over now. I think most Bucks fans would agree that, in the end, Milwaukee did alright in the deal, getting back young players, picks, and other helpful pieces. With that said, the return was still not what you imagine when you trade a two-time MVP still in their prime. It just wasn’t. And the reason it wasn’t is because of one factor: a lack of leverage.

You see, Bucks GM Jon Horst waited until basically the last moment to trade Giannis, who had just one guaranteed year of team control remaining on his deal. The wider basketball media—including ESPN, CBS Sports, and Yahoo Sports—seems to agree that Horst waiting until now was a mistake (and as you’ll see tomorrow, so do I). If Horst had initiated trade talks a year ago—when Dame tore his Achilles and the Bucks’ hopes of contending went up in smoke—he would’ve had all the leverage in negotiations.

Then again, there’s another (completely reasonable) angle that you never, ever trade a top-three player without them demanding it, and Giannis did not do that last offseason. On top of this, you also need to consider what Giannis means to the city of Milwaukee, and how a decision to trade him has more than just on-court reverberations. Obviously, Giannis will always be a cultural icon in Milwaukee and Wisconsin, which is why many Bucks fans have a more nuanced view on the topic than outsiders do. For what it’s worth, I totally understand both sides (even though I happen to agree much more with the former).

Thus, for this week’s Reacts question, we wanted your take:

Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys:

We’ll know more about opening night of the Knicks season on Tuesday morning, when the NBA releases some of its games on Good Morning America. 

I still expect the league to give you Knicks-Sixers on Ring Night. But before we get there, New York still has some business to settle. 

Here are a few decisions the franchise needs to tackle between now and Opening Night: 

FILL OUT ROSTER

The Knicks have 13 players under contract. They can carry as many as 21 players in training camp. So they have several roster spots to fill out.

The biggest opening is at center. New York needs to find a third-string center to replace Ariel Hukporti. To that end, the Knicks spoke to multiple teams about trades for big men under contract earlier in the offseason. One of those big men was New Orleans’ Karlo Matkovic, per league sources; nothing came to fruition.  New York targeted Moussa Cisse as a restricted free agent, but Dallas matched the offer. 

As you’d imagine, the Knicks have also been in touch with free agent centers who would fit the third-center profile. If they liked any of those centers enough to offer them a guaranteed contract, they probably would have done so already. So the most likely route here is to sign a couple of veteran bigs to training camp deals and let them compete for the third center spot. They would be able to add that veteran center and remain under the second apron in team salary. 

EXTEND THE VETS? 

Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, and Miles McBride are all eligible for veteran extensions. My buddy James Edwards III wrote recently in The Athetic that he doesn’t expect the Knicks to offer Towns a max extension. Towns is a forever Knick; his play in New York’s championship season will be celebrated for as long as the franchise exists. But I agree with Edwards on this: I don’t think the Knicks will offer Towns a max in extension talks. 

Also, if I had to take a guess, the two sides will reach an agreement. Towns clearly loves New York. Maybe he can make more money with another team next summer (Towns has a $57 million salary this season and his contract has a $61 million player option for 2027-28). 

But why would he leave? He won a timeless championship with his hometown team. Unless the Knicks make an insultingly-low offer to Towns, I think they get something done here. 

If I’m using the recent Rudy Gobert extension as a baseline, I could see an extension for Towns starting around $45 million. By signing this kind of deal, Towns would obviously lose the opportunity to make more money as a 2027 free agent. But given all of the factors at play (the state of NBA economics, teams’ approach to the second apron, the Knicks’ title), there are reasons for Towns to play it safe and sign an extension. 

Towns leaving New York also would hurt the Knicks. If Towns and the team can’t agree on a deal, New York would have to make a significant pivot to find another front-line center. So from the outside looking in, it seems like it makes sense for both sides to figure out a deal. 

What about Hart? Similar to Towns, I could see the Knicks asking him to take less on his next contract in an effort to create future roster flexibility. What would Hart want to do? I have no idea. But if I had to guess, he wants to be in New York to see how the rest of the years with this core play out. 

McBride’s situation is a bit different due to his contract. McBride is on one of the most team-friendly deals in the NBA. He should be looking for a significant raise on an extension. He’s earned it.

But can the Knicks extend Towns, Hart and McBride while also maintaining some roster flexibility? If they want to stay under the second apron, the answer is probably no. It would be very difficult to build out a roster with all of these new extensions on the books. Don’t forget, the Knicks, presumably, will also be signing Jalen Brunson to a major extension/free agency contract once the time comes. And Brunson has set the precedent for a Knick player taking less on an extension to help build the roster.

Another element of the conversation is owner James Dolan’s decisions on spending. Dolan said on WFAN before free agency that he would not exceed the second apron in team salary next season. Does that apply to the 2027-28 season as well? What about 2028-29? (As an aside: It is unclear if the second apron decision was Dolan’s alone or if it was made in conjunction with Leon Rose and the Knicks front office. If it was Dolan’s alone, that would be a shame because the Knicks’ fan base spends significant money to attend games. It’s worth noting on this that Dolan and Rose have made many important decisions together during Rose’s tenure)

One last note on the extensions: As Jeremy Cohen notes over at KnicksFilmSchool, any extension signed on August 12 or later will likely make that player untradeable at the 2027 deadline.

TWO-WAY SPOTS?

The Knicks have three open two-way spots. Jack Kayil won’t be taking one of them. There are reports that Tyler Nickel is considering going back to college, but, as noted last week, league sources say he is all-in on starting his pro career). If they sign Nickel to a two-way deal, the Knicks will have two other two-way spots to fill. With Trey Jemison III signing in Toronto, you would think the Knicks target a big man for at least one of those two-way spots.

It’s hard to believe that Ben Simmons only just turned 30 years old this summer.

Once an All-NBA player at 23, things sharply and drastically changed for Simmons, who was out of the league entirely last season and hasn’t played relevant basketball in years. However, after taking time to heal physically, Simmons is attempting a comeback, beginning by taking part in a mini-camp for the Australia men’s basketball team this week in Melbourne.

According to Marc Spears of ESPN, Simmons has already drawn interest from teams, including one Western Conference team that has offered him a training camp invite.

Several NBA teams have expressed interest in Simmons, who is open to signing a minimum contract, according to sources. One source said he has a non-guaranteed offer on the table for minicamp with a Western Conference team.

Trying to figure out who that Western Conference team is feels like a fool’s errand. A training camp invite is the lowest-risk offer a team can hand out, so anyone could have given it out.

Does that include the Lakers? Well, perhaps in NBA 2K, it makes sense. The team has a hole at power forward and Simmons, as a once-elite defender, would fill that need. But this isn’t a video game and there’s a lot more going on here.

That being said, there is a notable connection between head coach JJ Redick and Simmons. At Simmons’ best, Redick was playing alongside him in Philadelphia. The two had some of the finest moments of their careers alongside each other.

Throughout their time with the Sixers, Redick was an ardent defender of Simmons, who faced plenty of scrutiny. In 2022, Simmons appeared on Redick’s podcast, “The Old Man & the Three,” in a pretty open interview about lots of things regarding his time with the Sixers.

Having said all that, there are obvious complications here. As much as Redick and Simmons might have a relationship, that doesn’t make the latter a good basketball player anymore. Simmons became more and more a shell of his best self as his career wound down in Brooklyn and then with the Clippers.

There are also plenty of fit concerns. Simmons is a ball-dominant player who can’t shoot. That’s hardly a seamless fit next to Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić.

On top of that, the Lakers don’t even have a roster spot available. A training camp invite can still be extended but if things go well and Simmons actually looks good, the Lakers have one too many guaranteed contracts. They not only have to trim down contracts to have a legal roster, but also get rid of another just to sign Simmons. It’d be a lot of loopholes to jump through for someone who didn’t even play last season.

Even if it’s a buy-low opportunity for the Lakers, it doesn’t seem like one that’d make sense.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

The Cleveland Cavaliers, like every other competitive team in the league, are trying to navigate the new CBA by cutting costs where they can. That’s resulted in an ongoing search to dump Dennis Schroder’s contract. Not because the Cavs can’t use his talents, but because clearing space for financial wiggle-room is more important in today’s NBA.

Per reports, there are multiple potential suitors for Schroder.

“Sources tell Cleveland.com the Cavs continue to discuss various trade packages involving Schroder,” said Chris Fedor. “Seeing if there is an opportunity to slightly reconfigure the roster to gain financial flexibility, which would help their [Cleveland’s] pursuit of Jonathan Kuminga and Peyton Watson.”

Finding a team that’s willing to eat Schroder’s contract is the challenge. Cleveland needs a franchise that’s both willing and capable of absorbing Schroder’s $15 million price tag. Fortunately, a number of teams can fit the bill.

The Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, Memphis Grizzlies, LA Clippers, Detroit Pistons, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz and Milwaukee Bucks are all able to absorb Schroder’s contract without sending anything back.

Of that group, the Pistons might make the most sense for Schroder. There’s a team that needs additional ball-handling and has benefited from Schroder’s skills in the past. It would make sense for both sides to pursue a deal here.

Schroder has been traded eight times in his NBA career, second only to Trevor Ariza, who was traded 11 times throughout his career.

Being traded that many times is somewhat of a compliment. You have to be wanted by other teams to appear in that many trades. On that same note, you have to be expendable enough to be put on the trading block that frequently.

Schroder has had a successful professional career. He’s been a positive contributor at basically every stop he’s made. He even helped the Cavs overcome a handful of adverse games in their run to the Eastern Conference Finals last season.

It just makes sense for the Cavs to pursue a salary dump. They need financial freedom more than a backup point guard. Especially if that additional cap space can allow them to trade for a wing who fits their biggest needs. Cleveland remains in the hunt for both Watson and Kuminga. Trading Schroder is the first step to completing that.