Category: Basketball

Though the San Antonio Spurs ended the 2026 NBA Finals with a loss to the New York Knicks, the run to get there felt like a beginning for Victor Wembanyama.

The NBA's reigning defensive player of the year enters the 2026-27 NBA season as the early betting favorite to win MVP honors. Wembanyama also agreed to a new contract extension in July in which he took less money than he could have received had he waited until next year to sign. This will help San Antonio maintain a young core that showed during last year's postseason run it's capable of being a title contender for the next decade.

The emergence of 2025 No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper and the addition of veteran forward Tobias Harris have further fueled optimism (and expectations) concerning the Spurs' future. But their immediate NBA title hopes, and long-term dreams of forging another franchise dynasty, ultimately hinge on Wembanyama.

Is this the year he officially becomes the NBA's best player?

Here's a breakdown of the San Antonio Spurs' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:

SAN ANTONIO SPURS SCHEDULE: Dates, times and opponents for 2026-27 season

San Antonio Spurs offseason review

• Record last season: 62-20 (2nd in Western Conference)
• Playoff finish: Lost in NBA Finals to New York Knicks (4-2)
• Coach: Mitch Johnson (3rd season)
• 2026-27 title odds: +260 (per BetMGM)
• Projected record: 60-22
• Offseason grade: B-

Key roster additions

• F Tobias Harris
• F Jayden Quantenance (No. 20 pick in 2026 NBA Draft)
• C Tarris Reed Jr. (No. 26 pick in 2026 NBA Draft)

Key roster losses

• C Kelly Olynyk

Biggest question entering training camp

Is the Spurs' backcourt too crowded?

• Dylan Harper's ascent during the Spurs' postseason run has intensified speculation about whether the Spurs can effectively divvy up minutes between Harper, Stephon Castle and De'Aaron Fox, and whether the franchise can afford to keep Fox in the fold with both young players emerging as stars. Harper needs more than the 22.6 minutes per game he received as a rookie, and Fox could be the player most affected. It will be a delicate balance for coach Mitch Johnson this season if all three players are healthy.

Projected starting lineup and rotation

Starters

• G De'Aaron Fox
• G Stephon Castle
• G/F Devin Vassell
• F Tobias Harris
• C Victor Wembanyama

Rotation players

• G Dylan Harper
• F Carter Bryant
• F Julian Champagnie
• F Keldon Johnson
• F Harrison Barnes
• F/C Luke Kornet

What to expect in 2026-27 season

The Spurs will have a target on them in the Western Conference after making the NBA Finals, but that should matter little if Wembanyama's evolution into perhaps the sport's most dominant player continues. The reigning NBA defensive player of the year still has room to grow offensively, and the added scoring punch from Harris, combined with the expected development of Harper and Castle, make San Antonio a trendy NBA title pick again. Anything less than a run to the Western Conference finals would be viewed as a disappointment.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: San Antonio Spurs season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

Information in this article was imported automatically into a template written and reviewed by a USA TODAY Sports editor. You can send feedback using this form.

The Oklahoma City Thunder appeared poised to become the first team to repeat as NBA champions since 2018 before injuries took their toll.

And it was the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City’s newest rival, who were ready to capitalize.

But now it’s a new season for the Thunder, who have most of their core returning for what should be another push for a title. Much of that will depend on two-time consecutive Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. But for the Thunder to get back to the NBA Finals, role players will have to do their part, too.

Here's a breakdown of the Oklahoma City Thunder's offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER SCHEDULE: Dates, times and opponents for 2026-27 season

Oklahoma City Thunder offseason review

• Record last season: 64-18 (1st in Western Conference)
• Playoff finish: Eliminated in Western Conference finals (3-4, against Spurs)
• Coach: Mark Daigneault (seventh season)
• 2026-27 title odds: +260 (per BetMGM)
• Projected record: 65-17
• Offseason grade: B+

Key roster additions

• C Aday Mara (NBA draft)
• G Bennett Stirtz (NBA draft)

Key roster losses

• G Luguentz Dort (trade)
• G Isaiah Joe (trade)
• G Aaron Wiggins (trade)
• C Branden Carlson (free agency)

Biggest question entering training camp

With the Spurs still lingering, can the Thunder reclaim dominance in the West?

In what’s becoming the best rivalry in the NBA, the Spurs had Oklahoma City’s number last year, beating the Thunder four of the five times they played in the regular season. Then, in the Western Conference finals, a brutally physical series went seven games. Injuries played a crucial role for the Thunder, as both Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell — key offensive threats — missed significant time. That put immense pressure on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, significantly restricting Oklahoma City’s offense. Now, the Thunder rotation will look a little different, after tough decisions needed to be made to stay under the apron. That also means younger players — ones like Mitchell, Cason Wallace and Jared McCain — will need to step up.

Projected starting lineup and rotation

Starters

• G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
• G Cason Wallace
• F Jalen Williams
• F Chet Holmgren
• C Isaiah Hartenstein

Rotation players

• G Jared McCain
• G Ajay Mitchell
• G Alex Caruso
• C Jaylin Williams
• F Kenrich Williams
• G Bennett Stirtz
• G Nikola Topić
• C Thomas Sorber

What to expect in 2026-27 season

Expect one of the best teams in the NBA to have a laser focus on returning to the top of the league. Even though they paid their top stars, the Thunder are still built to compete with the NBA’s very best. Gilgeous-Alexander is a perennial Most Valuable Player candidate, the Thunder play a smothering brand of defense that has led the league in rating the last two seasons and they have an established culture in which players selflessly embrace their roles. Despite that, some of Oklahoma City’s supporting stars, players like forward Chet Holmgren, have disappeared in the playoffs. With plenty of elite teams, that can no longer happen. The Thunder were the most dominant team for large parts of the last two seasons. Will they be able to return to championship form? As long as they stay healthy, there’s no reason to expect them not to.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Oklahoma City Thunder season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

Information in this article was imported automatically into a template written and reviewed by a USA TODAY Sports editor. You can send feedback using this form.

Jalen Johnson averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists for the Atlanta Hawks last season, a career year that came together as the franchise stopped trying to build around anyone else.

The Hawks were 19-21 and ninth in the East when they dealt Trae Young to Washington. They went 27-15 the rest of the way and took the eventual champion Knicks to six games, the only team in the postseason to beat New York twice.

So Onsi Saleh, Atlanta's president of basketball operations, left it alone.

The Hawks made no move this summer for a starter. They shopped the clearance rack instead, taking Luguentz Dort and Aaron Wiggins off a Thunder team drowning in luxury tax, at a cost of five second-round picks between the two deals. Wiggins alone cut $61 million off Oklahoma City's tax bill. Atlanta stayed at No. 8 in the 2026 NBA Draft and selected Houston point guard Kingston Flemings, brought back CJ McCollum for one year and $21 million and declined Jonathan Kuminga's $24.3 million option.

Here's a breakdown of the Atlanta Hawks' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:

ATLANTA HAWKS SCHEDULE: Dates, times and opponents for 2026-27 season

Atlanta Hawks offseason review

• Record last season: 46-36 (6th in Eastern Conference)
• Playoff finish: Eliminated in the first round by the New York Knicks
• Coach: Quin Snyder (fifth season)
• 2026-27 title odds: +6600 (per BetMGM)
• Projected record : 43-39
• Offseason grade : B+

Key roster additions

• G Luguentz Dort (trade)
• G Aaron Wiggins (trade)
• G Devin Carter (trade)
• G Kingston Flemings (draft, No.8)
• G Ryan Nembhard (trade)
• F/C Zuby Ejiofor (draft, No.23)
• C Henri Veesaar (draft, No.52)

Key roster losses

• F Zaccharie Risacher (trade)
• F Jonathan Kuminga (free agency)
• G Gabe Vincent (free agency)
• G Keaton Wallace (free agency)

Biggest question entering training camp

Who scores in a playoff half court?

• Atlanta got outscored by 51 points in the closeout game against New York, the version of this team nobody in the building wants to talk about. Johnson is the engine, Dyson Daniels finished as runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker just won Most Improved Player after averaging 20.8 points as a starter. But, none of them has ever been the guy a defense builds its game plan around in May. McCollum, who turns 35 this month, was that guy three teams ago.

Projected starting lineup and rotation

Starters

• G CJ McCollum
• G Dyson Daniels
• G Nickeil Alexander-Walker
• F Jalen Johnson
• C Onyeka Okongwu

Rotation players

• G Luguentz Dort
• Aaron Wiggins
• Kingston Flemings
• Ryan Nembhard
• F Asa Newell
• C Jock Landale

What to expect in 2026-27 season

Atlanta is going to be miserable to play against. Daniels and Dort on one roster gives Snyder two of the five best on-ball defenders alive, and Okongwu and Jock Landale can both shoot enough at center to keep the lane open for Johnson.

The shooting behind them is a real question. Atlanta gave up 116.0 points a game last season, and an offense that lives on drive-and-kick needs shooters standing in the corners. The Hawks also have more players than roster spots and will have to cut somewhere before opening night. Fifth seed feels about right in a conference that got considerably heavier at the top.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Atlanta Hawks season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

Information in this article was imported automatically into a template written and reviewed by a USA TODAY Sports editor. You can send feedback using this form.

The Cleveland Cavaliers entered the LeBron James sweepstakes this offseason before having to pivot to other options to maximize their championship window. But after being swept by the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals last season, the pressure is mounting on this Cavaliers core.

Donovan Mitchell and James Harden are back with new contracts to lead the Cavaliers, and Peyton Watson arrives on the wing via sign-and-trade after a breakthrough season with the Denver Nuggets. The continued pairing of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen inside gives Cleveland a potent lineup capable of competing with the NBA's elite.

But the Cavaliers can't prove much else in the regular season at this point. They're banking on Mitchell's long-term viability as a premier scorer, internal improvement and Watson's potential to turn this conference finalist into a real contender once the playoffs start again.

Here's a breakdown of the Cleveland Cavaliers' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS SCHEDULE: Dates, times and opponents for 2026-27 season

Cleveland Cavaliers offseason review

• Record last season: 52-30 (4th in Eastern Conference)
• Playoff finish: Lost to Knicks in Eastern Conference Finals
• Coach: Kenny Atkinson (3rd season)
• 2026-27 title odds: +2500 (per BetMGM)
• Projected record: 44-38
• Offseason grade: C-

Key roster additions

• G Meleek Thomas (No. 34 pick in 2026 NBA Draft)
• F Peyton Watson (trade)
• F Mario Hezonja (free agent signing)
• C Khalifa Diop (No. 39 pick in 2022 NBA Draft)

Key roster losses

• G Max Strus (trade)
• G Dennis Schroder (trade)
• G Keon Ellis (free agent)
• G Lonzo Ball (free agent)
• F Dean Wade (free agent)
• F Larry Nance Jr. (free agent)

Biggest question entering training camp

Can Donovan Mitchell be the best player on a championship team?

• Though concerns about Mitchell's capabilities as a No. 1 option in the playoffs aren't new, they were amplified by the Cavaliers' disappointing exit from the playoffs and the massive contract extension he signed this offseason. Mitchell's four-year, $273 million deal ties him to the Cavaliers for the foreseeable future, but will also limit the front office's flexibility given the restrictive NBA salary cap rules.

Projected starting lineup and rotation

Starters

• G James Harden
• G Donovan Mitchell
• F Peyton Watson
• F Evan Mobley
• C Jarrett Allen

Rotation players

• G Tyrese Proctor
• G Sam Merrill
• G Meleek Thomas
• G/F Jaylon Tyson
• F Mario Hezonja
• F Nae'Qwan Tomlin

What to expect in 2026-27 season

The Cavaliers gave up some of their depth in order to add Watson to the fold and re-sign Mitchell and Harden, but they should have one of the best records in the Eastern Conference again if their core stays healthy. The challenge remains the playoffs, where Watson's help on the wing won't fix that the team's title hopes still ultimately hinge on Mitchell and an aging Harden.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cleveland Cavaliers season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

Information in this article was imported automatically into a template written and reviewed by a USA TODAY Sports editor. You can send feedback using this form.

The New York Knicks, for the past three months, have been on top of the NBA world.

The franchise snapped a 53-year championship drought during a historic run that concluded with the dispatching of the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals, in five games. New York City erupted and fêted the Knicks with a celebration that is still lingering any time one of the team’s players makes a public appearance.

But. now it’s time to turn the page.

The Knicks did suffer some roster losses this offseason, but the core remains in place. Another thing that remains in place are expectations. And now that this fan base has tasted a title, it’s clear Knicks faithful will want another — and soon.

Here's a breakdown of the New York Knicks' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:

NEW YORK KNICKS SCHEDULE: Dates, times and opponents for 2026-27 season

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN: Vows to fix 'mistake in our pricing' after Knicks fans condemn ticket costs

New York Knicks offseason review

• Record last season: 53-29 (3rd in Eastern Conference)
• Playoff finish: NBA champions (4-1, over Spurs)
• Coach: Mike Brown (second season)
• 2026-27 title odds: +900 (per BetMGM)
• Projected record : 52-26
• Offseason grade : B

Key roster additions

• C Andre Drummond (free agent signing)

Key roster losses

• C Ariel Hukporti (free agency)
• C Mitchell Robinson (free agency)
• F Jeremy Sochan (free agency)

Biggest question entering training camp

Will there be a post-title hangover?

• The roster is returning nearly all its key contributors, with Robinson being the lone departure of the core rotation. So, after New York celebrated a championship all summer, where does this team go from here? The NBA hasn’t seen a repeat champion since 2018, so the Knicks have a tall task. Players have publicly said all the right things about maintaining their desire to compete and their hunger to win, but that is much harder in practice, especially when they’re just months removed from an emotional championship run. A bit of a hangover or letdown might be in order, if not expected. But with the roster boasting the best continuity in the NBA, perhaps fans won’t have to wait that long for another banner.

Projected starting lineup and rotation

Starters

• G Jalen Brunson
• G OG Anunoby
• F Mikal Bridges
• F Josh Hart
• C Karl-Anthony Towns

Rotation players

• G Miles McBride
• G Landry Shamet
• G Jose Alvarado
• G Tyler Kole
• G/F Jordan Clarkson
• C Andre Drummond
• C Mohamed Diawara

What to expect in 2026-27 season

In short: a highly competitive team, looking to capitalize on a shrinking window to win championships. The Knicks, aside from the offseason coaching change over the summer of 2025 that ushered in Mike Brown, have been the roster with most continuity in the entire NBA. The problem for New York, however, is that it’s incredibly challenging to win a title in the NBA, and it’s even more difficult to do so in consecutive seasons. We are in an era of parity in the league that has failed to produce back-to-back champions since the Golden State Warriors did so in 2018. So, the odds are indeed somewhat against the Knicks to repeat. Either way, the facts remain: New York has a star guard and closer in Jalen Brunson, a nightmare matchup in center Karl-Anthony Towns and role players who understand their respective duties. The Knicks may not win another championship, but they should be elite competitors.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New York Knicks season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

Information in this article was imported automatically into a template written and reviewed by a USA TODAY Sports editor. You can send feedback using this form.

I think we all remember rookie Jae’Sean Tate as one of the few bright spots of the 2020-2021 season, but now, six seasons later, his role looks very different, so what can we expect from the captain of The Stay-Ready Crew this year?

Throughout his Rockets career, Jae’Sean has frequently struggled with injuries, but when he has been available, he has demonstrated consistency. You are aware of what Jae’Sean Tate will give you. You won’t see Tate whining about not receiving playing time, and Ime Udoka won’t ever have to bench him for lacking consistent effort. He had the option to leave the Rockets in free agency, but he made the decision to see the process through to the end, which he and the rest of us hope will result in an NBA title. The ultimate “Ime Udoka Guy” is him.

Last season, Tate barely saw playing time, and only played more than 20 minutes in a game during the last game of the NBA season where the Rockets took on the Grizzlies. Jae’Sean Tate did, however, score 13 points and 6 rebounds in that game, but it was mostly due to the Rockets having rested their starters. Tate did also see some playing time post all star break, but again that was likely due to the season-ending injury of Center Steven Adams.

As usual, Tate’s health will be crucial to helping the Rockets achieve their goal of a championship. He will have opportunities if he can stay healthy. With Kevin Durant turning 38, Steven Adams recovering from a season-ending ankle injury, and Fred VanVleet recovering from an ACL rupture, there will unavoidably be more ailments that give Tate more playing time, which is why having him on the team is such a luxury.

So if Tate somehow happens to be reading this, I recommend lots of yoga, stretching, and, if it calls for it, a nice ice bath to get those joints loose.

That’s all we have for today, but for more Rockets player season previews, make sure to check back here at The Dream Shake.

I play in dozens of fantasy basketball leagues every year, and my favorite format is the 9-cat head-to-head (H2H) league. Some experts call it a psycho format because of the weekly volatility, but it's where I've always had the most success. Building a winning 9-category roster is like solving a puzzle: you need players who contribute in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, 3-pointers, field-goal percentage, free-throw percentage and turnovers. Ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season, here are my top 9-cat fantasy draft strategies, mid-to-late-round stat-stuffers to target and inefficient scorers to fade, plus why punting categories is usually a mistake.

9-Cat Strategies

Don't Punt

If you've read any articles about 9-cat leagues, you've surely seen writers talk about punting. It's something you should only do if a draft completely falls apart, because punting a category is usually a poor decision. Imagine starting every week needing to win five of the remaining eight categories just to squeak out a 5-4 victory. That strategy can put you in a major hole, and it's a flawed way to build a team.

Target Stat-Stuffers

This one's obvious, but rostering players who contribute across the board is a major asset in a 9-cat league. Some of you might be thinking of a guy like Nikola Jokic, but low-end stat-stuffers can help round out a roster too. The most important factor is finding guards who won't kill you in field-goal percentage and big men who won't hurt your free-throw percentage. We also love guards who rebound and big men who dish out assists or hit 3-pointers. Being above average in any of those areas from a position where you don't expect it can be a major boost.

Limit Your Losses

Every fantasy manager is going to lose some weeks in 9-cat leagues, but limiting the damage is key. You'll undoubtedly face a juggernaut who goes off on you, but keeping that to a 3-6 loss instead of a 1-8 blowout can make the difference over a season. You can do this by streaming or targeting specific categories in a given week. Mastering that skill is one of the most important factors over a long season, because digging out of a 1-8 hole can set you back for a month.

9-Cat Targets

It would be easy to recommend 9-cat studs like Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kawhi Leonard and Jalen Johnson, but let's look at some stat-stuffers you can find deeper in drafts.

Jaren Jackson Jr., Utah Jazz

Jackson played only 48 games last season, which was a surprise given that he averaged 70 games per season over the previous four. That track record of reliability is a big part of JJJ's fantasy profile. The big man has one of the most diverse stat lines in the NBA, averaging 19.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.1 steals, 2.0 blocks and 1.8 3-pointers over the last five seasons. He has almost no holes in a 9-cat format, especially since he also shoots 46 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free-throw line.

Dejounte Murray, New Orleans Pelicans

Murray missed most of last season with an Achilles injury, but he's been a 9-cat stud throughout his career. The Pelicans' primary playmaker has averaged 19.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.3 blocks and 1.8 3-pointers over the last five years. Some managers might be worried about him coming off an Achilles injury, but his per-minute numbers last season were close to those averages. It's also nice to have a guard who can flirt with 50 percent from the field while stuffing the stat sheet like that.

Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors

Green goes late in drafts, but he's been a 9-cat staple throughout his career. The All-Star has never lit up the scoreboard, but he's averaged 9.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.0 blocks and 0.9 3-pointers since 2014. He's slipped a bit recently, but it's rare to find a player this deep in drafts who's a net positive in almost every category outside of scoring.

9-Cat Fades

These are all good basketball players, but they're simply impossible to trust in a 9-cat league. And trust me, I have no bias against left-handers, even though all three of these guys are southpaws!

Julius Randle, Brooklyn Nets

Randle was actually one of Minnesota's best players last season, but his lack of stat-stuffing and poor efficiency make him a tough sell in 9-cat leagues. He's averaged 18.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.3 blocks and 1.1 3-pointers across his 12-year career, while shooting 47 percent from the field, 77 percent from the free-throw line and 33 percent from 3-point range and committing 2.7 turnovers per game. Those numbers are decent, but he has too many deficiencies to justify a high pick in 9-cat leagues, especially since his efficiency could dip as one of Brooklyn's primary playmakers.

Miles Bridges, Phoenix Suns

Bridges is essentially a poor man's Randle. The issue is his lack of across-the-board production: he averaged 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.4 blocks per game last season. Scoring is the only real positive there, and even that looks worse given that he's shot 45 percent from the field over the last two years. Limited production outside of scoring paired with poor shooting for a forward is a recipe for disaster in a 9-cat league.

RJ Barrett, Toronto Raptors

Barrett might be the worst-shooting scorer I've ever seen. That might sound contradictory, but his inefficiency is terrifying. The lefty has averaged 18.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.3 blocks on 45 percent from the field and 70 percent from the free-throw line throughout his career. It's one thing to provide little outside of scoring, but doing it with minimal defensive stats and poor shooting is inexcusable. A "scorer" who shoots 70 percent from the line is hard to manage, and his role could shrink even more now that Toronto has acquired Kawhi.

Why Warriors might hold competitions in training camp to determine starting five originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors can enter the 2026-27 NBA season with the same starting lineup as they closed last season. 

Should they? Some spots already are set in stone. At least two others might be more in pencil than pen going into training camp at BYU-Hawaii and throughout the preseason. 

Steph Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos, Draymond Green and Kristaps Porziņģis rounded out the Warriors’ first five on the floor in a season that included 43 different starting lineups. Those five gave a bit of everything to beat the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA play-in tournament to keep their playoff hopes alive. Curry scored 35 points with seven threes, Green’s defense down the stretch was as good as it gets, Porziņģis and Santos both scored 20 points, and Podziemski added 17. 

But two days later in Phoenix, the Warriors fell short of the playoffs for the fourth time in the last seven seasons. 

A tired squad saw Curry struggle to find his shot, scoring an inefficient 17 points. Green had as many turnovers (five) as points and was called for one more foul, including an ejection. Instead of each scoring 20 points, Porziņģis (11) and Santos (nine) combined for that much. Podziemski was the Warriors’ best player and the only to reach the 20-point mark with 23. 

Before looking at last season, we first have to look at how this even became the Warriors’ starting lineup. Santos was part of it because of his emergence after Jimmy Butler’s season-ending torn ACL. Podziemski’s part in the starting lineup was twofold: Curry missed two months to runner’s knee, and Moses Moody ruptured his left patellar tendon with 11 games left in the regular season. 

Will Steve Kerr turn to continuity as he calls the Warriors a team in a transition phase? There’s no point in mentioning Curry and Green as part of this exercise. Curry is still Steph, and Green’s spot remains secure until told otherwise. Porziņģis started the final 10 regular-season games he played, as well as both play-in games, and he provides the most advantages on both sides of the floor among Warriors centers. 

Re-signing De’Anthony Melton again can create competition between him and Podziemski to start next to Curry in the backcourt. Santos also could feel competition from a rookie Yaxel Lendeborg after the Warriors used their top pick in the draft to select a pro-ready forward who is only three months younger than him.

Either way, all four figure to be high on Kerr’s pecking order of minutes. There will be games where one starts and the other closes. Who begins next to Curry always is the bigger question, especially years removed from the Splash Brothers of Curry and Klay Thompson. 

Podziemski played 43 games and 601 minutes alongside Curry last season, and the two produced a 115.4 offensive rating. Melton didn’t make his season debut until Dec. 4, playing 250 minutes with Curry in 25 games, and producing an almost identical 115.2 offensive rating. The difference lies on defense. 

A Curry-Podziemski tandem tallied a 110.3 defensive rating. A Curry-Melton duo was much better with a 106.3 defensive rating. That always has been the argument for Melton to start next to Curry, and it’s his best case to secure a starting spot this upcoming season. 

Curry has called Melton a “prototypical” starting shooting guard. His 6-foot-8.5 wingspan and defensive acumen make it less likely for a team to pick on Curry. Podziemski can’t be questioned for his effort, but he isn’t the same point-of-attack defender as Melton. 

Podziemski does have a higher offensive upside than Melton, which could be used to make an argument for him to start — or for him to lead the second unit. That brings us to Lendeborg’s chances to start from Day 1. 

After starting two games his first two years in the NBA, Santos started 30 games last season as one of the best breakout stories in the league. He averaged 14.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game as a starter with a 49.2 field goal percentage. But he also shot a lowly 33.8 percent from three in those 30 starts with a 110 offensive rating, 118 defensive rating and a 1.45 assist-to-turnover ratio, compared to a 1.86 ratio coming off the bench. 

It wouldn’t be fair to underplay Santos’ ascension last season. The truth also is somewhere in the middle. Santos established himself as someone who has a permanent spot in the rotation, but Lendeborg’s potential is higher, and hopes for the future rest on his shoulders as opposed to the other way around. 

Lendeborg will make mistakes, and the Warriors’ coaching staff will have to live with them. He and Santos are probably better served at the four than the three defensively, and power forward might be his long-term position while Green’s Golden State career winds down. But there’s a glaring hole at the three right now, and the Warriors don’t have time to hold Lendeborg’s hand and slowly bring him into the fold. 

Like Melton and Podziemski, Santos and Lendeborg both will receive ample playing time. And all four could find themselves competing for a spot in the starting lineup to open the season. The way the grind of an 82-game season goes, and with the Warriors’ ages and injuries, they’ll each find their names in the starting five a large number of times.

The Warriors aren’t who they once were, and they aren’t pretending to be. Competition is king, and it’s the fuel this team could need to quiet all the doubt coming from outside their orbit.

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Jalen Brunson started his live podcast Thursday with an injury update. 

“I am,” Brunson paused, “fully cleared.” 

The Knicks captain was referring to his left shooting wrist, which required surgery in early July to repair a tendon issue. 

Brunson, who played through the injury in the playoffs — earning NBA Finals MVP in the process — spent much of his summer in a cast but is ready for when it matters. 

New York’s title-defending training camp starts Tuesday in Tarrytown. 

“I was told that I am cleared,” Brunson said when asked if he can play five-on-five. “Just in time for training camp.” 

The news sent the crowd into “MVP” chants at Icahn Stadium in Randall’s Island, where Brunson and Josh Hart hosted their third annual Roommates Show Block Party. 

Much of the discussions on the stage — which included guests Jose Alvarado, Landry Shamet and Spike Lee — were happy trips down recent memory lane. 

After all, the Knicks won the title and the celebration turned NYC into chaos even though the Game 5 clincher was in San Antonio. 

“I’m really happy we didn’t clinch it here,” Brunson admitted. “Because I probably wouldn’t have gotten home that night.” 

It was also the first time Alvarado and Shamet discussed their free-agent re-signings with Knicks. Alvarado took a three-year, $14 million deal this summer, while Shamet inked a four-year, $24 million contract. 

Both had pivotal moments in the playoffs. 

“The Knicks changed my life,” said Alvarado, who was acquired by New York via trade in February from the hard-luck Pelicans. 

A rise in demand and popularity for the Roommates Show podcast — boosted, undoubtedly, by the Knicks championship run — pushed the block party to bigger venue. After two years at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park — including a rain-soaked but enthusiastic crowd last year — Icahn Stadium represented a much bigger, albeit less intimate, space. 

Ticket prices grew, too. Thursday’s standing-room-only get-in ticket was $135 on the event’s website, with VIPs going for $600 a pop. 

The podcast business has turned lucrative for Brunson and Hart. It was also a live-audience rehearsal for Brunson, who is hosting “Saturday Night Live” this weekend. 

He and Hart traded barbs about their hairlines and salaries (Brunson has the advantage over Hart in the latter, not the former). 

And the point guard did it, as he announced in the opening remarks, while medically cleared.

The 2026-27 NBA season is quickly approaching, and Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick still has questions to answer before training camps begin Monday, Sept. 29.

Redick and Rob Pelinka, the team's President of Basketball Operations, spoke reporters to address where things stand from a roster reconstruction standpoint within the organization.

Redick was clear that guards Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves along with center Walker Kessler are all penciled in as starters for the upcoming season, but position battles remain.

As for the rest of the starting lineup? Redick joked, "The other spots will not be two white guys."

More: Did Lakers lose or win free agency? Grading massive roster overhaul.

Pelinka stated that the team has three clear objectives for the roster this offseason.

The first was re-signing Reaves, who agreed to a four-year, $180 million max contract in July. The team also had aspirations of acquiring a “franchise center” to play alongside Dončić. 

Kessler signed a four-year, $130 million deal with the Lakers, but in order to secure the big man, the Lakers needed to send multiple draft assets to the Utah Jazz as part of the trade, including unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 and first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030.

Los Angeles went with a youth movement after LeBron James, the NBA's oldest active player and arguably still the league's biggest star, departed and signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Kessler is 25 years old, and wing Ziaire Williams is 24. Guard Quentin Grimes is 26, while guard Collin Sexton and forward Sandro Mamukelashvili are both 27.

Quentin Grimes is expected to serve as the small forward in the lineup while Jake LaRavia and Sandro Mamukelashvili will compete for the role as the starting power forward.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: JJ Redick addresses Lakers starting lineup then drops viral quote

Good news, Knicks fans. Jalen Brunson is good to go for the start of the regular season.

The Knicks guard told attendees at a live edition of his and teammate Josh Hart's Roommates Show, that he is healthy and ready for the regular season.

"As you guys know, I had surgery this offseason," Brunson told the crowd. "And I just wanted to tell you guys that I am fully cleared."

Brunson underwent surgery back in July after playing through a good portion of the playoffs with it. At the time, SNY's Ian Begley reported that the rehab/recovery process would take about two months.

Brunson revealed this summer -- not long after undergoing surgery -- that he suffered the injury late in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. He scored 19 points in 40 minutes in the Knicks' 109-93 win to take a 2-0 series lead -- a series they wound up sweeping. 

The Knicks' unofficial captain would go through the rest of the postseason with his injured wrist en route to leading New York to its first NBA Championship in 53 years. He averaged 28 points and six assists in the postseason. His 45 points in Game 5 of the NBA Finals helped the Knicks clinch the title and earned him NBA Finals MVP.

A fully healthy Brunson will now look to go back-to-back when the season starts Oct. 5 on the road against the 76ers. 

Jalen Brunson shared at The Roommates Show he’s fully cleared after his offseason wrist surgery pic.twitter.com/j4SxLycexl

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) September 25, 2026

For the second consecutive preseason media availability, Rob Pelinka was limited with what he could say about a pending Lakers’ ownership change.

Last year, it was the $10 billion sale of the Lakers from the Buss family to Dodgers controlling owner Mark Walter. 

This summer, it was the historic $12.5 billion sale from Walter to businessman Josh Kushner and ex-Disney executive Bob Iger.

With the sale not official yet, the Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager didn’t say too much about the sale, citing league rules.

But he’s been encouraged by the initial impressions of Kushner and Iger. 

“We have had introductory meetings with Bob and Josh, and those have been excellent,” Pelinka said Thursday during his preseason media availability alongside coach JJ Redick. “With a pending transaction, we’re not at liberty to talk more about that under league rules. But we’ve had preliminary discussions with them that have been really, really positive.” 

Even with the sale pending, and the Buss family drama surrounding their potential sale still looming, Pelinka noted nothing has tangibly changed in terms of the franchise’s day-to-day operations. 

“We’re operating with Lakers excellence,” Pelinka said. “We’re continuing to build out a world-class front office. Proud of the people we’ve added, incredibly proud of the energy we’ve had upstairs. We’re super excited about the people upstairs, the coaching staff, the support staff, the roster. Nothing’s changed day-to-day.”

Among the people the Lakers added to their front office were two assistant general managers: Eric Amsler (player personnel) and Rohan Ramadas (cap, analytics and data).

The additions of Amsler and Ramadas were among the 15-plus front office hires the Lakers made over the last few months, Pelinka added. 

“Super appreciative of the support from Jeanie [Buss] and ownership to build out,” Pelinka said. “Really built out our strategy and analytics department, have hired two assistant general managers. Have more to do, and we’re actually continuing to do that. And then in terms of player services, as JJ said, we’ve really rebuilt our player experience and player development arm. With that comes new equipment, new recovery and modalities. We’ve worked with our training department to do that.”

When asked what other additions the Lakers were looking to make, Pelinka mentioned wanting to make more hires to support Amsler’s side of the front office.

Amsler will focus on the “player draft and evaluation processes,” which will include pro scouting, draft scouting and player development. 

He spent 22 years in the Heat organization, most recently serving as the vice president of player personnel before the Lakers hired him.

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“You guys saw we hired Eric Amsler, who was with two decades with the Heat to kind of see over our player personnel, our draft scouting, our G League scouting and NBA scouting – we’re gonna be adding more scouts in those departments,” Pelinka said. “That’s just one example of a sort of a vertical that we’ll continue to build. And there are others, too. But it’s been a really robust last two months. The players are already seeing the differences. And we’ll continue, like I said, to set the gold standard with the people we have upstairs.”

It’s clear there’s a lot more to come when it comes to building out the Lakers’ infrastructure.

What isn’t clear amidst the ownership change is how involved the Dodgers will be in those changes to come. 

Dodgers executives Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi took on special advisory roles with the Lakers last fall following Walter’s purchase of the franchise.

Their influence included being involved in the assistant general manager hiring process.

But with Walter’s ownership tenure coming to an end soon, it isn’t clear what roles Friedman and Zaidi will have with the Lakers future.

“We can’t really talk in this interim period,” Pelinka said. “There’s just a transaction that’s going on. I will say this, I’m super grateful for the opportunity to learn from incredible leaders like Andrew Friedman. And the reps and time and conversations we’ve had have been enriching for me. He does an incredible job. Good luck to the Dodgers in three-peating. So, we’ll see.”

The Los Angeles Lakers are about to embark on a new era of basketball, as they are set to endure a full season without LeBron James as a member of the roster for the first time in eight years.

During Thursday’s media availability, Lakers head coach JJ Reddick might’ve accidentally taken a shot at James when he told reporters that he believes this year’s “group is probably the first time in my three years that I feel like the pieces actually fit together.”

It’s unknown if Reddick was actually taking a shot at James or not, but what is true is this year’s roster was constructed around creating role players to play alongside Luka Doncic, whereas in the past it was constructed to fit around James.

“There is a very clear ask for you to be able to play. And if you don’t do those things, then you’re not gonna play,” Reddick said. “That’s just the reality.”

Reddick went on to say that he’s already spoken with players on the roster about his vision for the team, and the reception has been positive.

In July, the Lakers were informed by James that he would be departing from the team — to which he would later go and sign a veteran minimum, two-year $7.95 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Team President of basketball operations and general manager, Rob Pelinka, started to clean house by getting rid of veterans like Rui Hachimura, Marcus Smart, Deandre Ayton, Jaxson Hayes, and Luke Kennard.

As he began the reconstruction process, Austin Reaves was handed out a max contract extension. They then went and acquired Walker Kessler through a sign-and-trade-deal with the Utah Jazz.

With a key building block put together, the team went and added Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Collin Sexton to help with offense, while Matisse Thybulle and Ziarie Williams were brought in to help the defense.

“We have high confidence in these guys that they’re going to buy into that, “Reddick said. “It’s going to create naturally healthy competition, and everybody at some point will inevitably get a chance to impact our team and impact winning.”