The Los Angeles Clippers took one big step in addressing that problem when news broke that they had signed 7’5″ center Jamarion Sharp to a two-way contract.
Jamarion Sharp of the Toronto Raptors shoots a free throw during a game against the Indiana Pacers during the 2026 NBA Las Vegas Summer League. NBAE via Getty Images
Sharp played college basketball for John A. Logan College, Western Kentucky, and Ole Miss, with his final collegiate season being the 2023-24 campaign.
He wasn’t selected in the 2024 NBA Draft but joined the Dallas Mavericks’ NBA Summer League team. he then spent that 2024 season and the 2025 season after it playing for the Texas Legends, who are the Mavericks’ G League affiliate, and won the Defensive Player of the Year award for the 2025–2026 season.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama reacts on the court during a foul shot in the fourth quarter of Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Sharp averaged a staggering 3.9 blocks per game that season (leading the G League), along with 7.3 rebounds per game in 24.9 minutes per game. But Sharp also showed elite offensive efficiency, as his 71.2% field goal percentage also led the league.
Sharp spent the 2026 NBA Summer League with the Toronto Raptors before the Clippers signed him.
Granted, Wemby’s elite ability isn’t just owed to his height. It’s his height combined with his guard-level skills, excellent shooting, and world-class athleticism. Therefore, Sharp (who doesn’t have any of those other traits) can’t be expected to stop Wemby just because he’s taller.
But having a guy who is taller than Wemby certainly doesn’t hurt when trying to slow him down. It also means the first Spurs vs. Clippers matchup this season will be must-see TV.
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Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki is one of the nicest human beings you’ll ever meet. During his playing days, Nowitzki was always a fierce competitor, but he still found a way to be nice and respectful toward most guys he played against. According to one former NBA player, that aspect of Nowitzki’s game used to make him mad due to the conflicting mind games it created.
On a recent episode of the Roadtrippin podcast, Channing Frye was asked this question by a fan: In your 14-year career as a player, who pissed you off the most on the court, and what did he do to piss you off? Frye’s answer probably wasn’t what the fan was expecting.
“Probably Dirk,” Frye said. “Because he’s so damn nice. … I watched a lot of Dirk. I loved his game. He was just unguardable. I mean, it was literally like, ‘What am I gonna do?’ He’s an inch taller than me and shoots the way he does. He was smart. He’s a big dude, strong. I mean, it was just like, ‘God, I’m so tired of having to guard this guy.’ And I was like, ‘What are you gonna do?’ And then he’d be the nicest guy, and I’d be like, ‘Shut up, Dirk… I hate that you’re nice and I like you. You’re a good dude… and you just gave me 40.”
Nowitzki may not have been mean to anybody verbally or physically most of the time, but he was certainly mean to a lot of people in the form of bucket-getting. One glaring example that sticks out to me is after Game 4 of the 2011 NBA Finals, when Nowitzki, despite battling a 102-degree fever, pushed through and helped the Mavs tie the series at 2-2. Afterward, Miami Heat stars Dwyane Wade and LeBron James were seen mocking Nowitzki’s sickness with fake coughing in the American Airlines Center hallways.
Nowitzki never showed any visible anger from that incident; He simply stayed the course, continued to torch Miami, and got the last laugh by winning the championship in six games on the Heat’s home court. I’m sure that pissed D-Wade and LeBron off too.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 04: Allison Howard, President of Business Operations of the Cleveland Sirens, helps reveal the new WNBA team's name and logo at Rocket Arena on August 04, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cavaliers fans and fans across the country.
We’re still just under two years out from tip-off, but we do finally have a name for Cleveland’s WNBA expansion franchise. The Cleveland Sirens will be the newest professional sports team coming to Cleveland.
The new WNBA team decided to forge its own path with this branding. Instead of using the name of Cleveland’s previous teams, the Rockers, or tying their identity closely to the NBA team, as we’ve seen with the Minnesota Lynx, Washington Mystics, etc., the Sirens are going ahead with something completely new and original. Their all blue logo and word marks are distinct in a city with a storied professional sports history.
Designed to make waves.
Our logo suite is more than a collection of icons — it's a reflection of Cleveland, the power of Lake Erie, and the future of women's basketball in The Land. Explore every detail below. #HearTheCall📢 pic.twitter.com/AltMoBEopV
Distinct and unique doesn’t always mean great. While I personally like the direction that the team is heading, I would understand if you thought otherwise. Casting aside tradition — even one that wasn’t necessarily great — is always a risky move. It would’ve been easier to just resurrect the Rockers’ name and just update the logo and uniform.
It also would’ve been just as easy to tie the team to the Cavs — similar to what we saw with the G League team, the Cleveland Charge. There is some value in tying all these related professional basketball teams together. Especially one that will be playing in the same arena as the Cavs.
So, what do you think of the new name and branding? Is this an A+ success? Or, are you more lukewarm to the new team name?
Let us know what you think in the survey and comments below.
March 17, 2014: Two fans read the paper during an NBA game between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX Dallas defeated Boston 94-89 (Photo by Albert Pena/Icon SMI/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Believe it or not, but it has been over 3 months since the Celtics were eliminated from the playoffs. We’re still over 2 months away from training camp opening. So hopefully you have some additional hobbies and past times that keep you busy during these slow summer months.
Perhaps you watch other (inferior) sports. Maybe you are into movies or TV. You like to read blogs (apparently) so maybe you like to read books as well. Or maybe you like to travel or cook or jump out of airplanes.
We are all unique personalities that have our own separate lives and experiences. However, we all share a passion for the Boston Celtics (which of course unites us as superior intellects). Part of the fun is sharing those experiences with each other, so here’s your chance.
This is a mailbag, so I offer up my services to answer questions you might be interested in. However, I’m also giving you the chance to start topics and conversations by sharing your passions (no question necessary) with the rest of the group. [Disclaimer: Please keep everything PG13 at most. Thanks!]
So leave your questions and statements in the comments below and I will share my answers and thoughts in a separate post. Enjoy your summers!
This rivalry always felt a little forced, but now that LeBron James is with the 76ers, the whole James-Stephen Curry draw is no longer there. Another element that may take the juice out of this matchup is that Warriors forward Jimmy Butler may not be back from his torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in January.
This will be Philadelphia’s second game of the season, so fans will have already seen the new-look Sixers. And the Cavs are running it back, so we have a pretty good idea of what they’ll be. Still, this could be the eventual battle between teams vying for second place in the East (if not better), so it should be revelatory one way or another.
The problem here isn’t the matchup – it should be an intriguing game – it’s more about the time slot and the fact that this will be the first game to tip off the regular season. Typically, the defending champion is the team to get the first game of the year. Yet, the NBA is seemingly testing a late afternoon slot ahead of the primetime draw. Call me a traditionalist, but this feels like it steals some of the thunder from the Knicks raising a banner, and this very good matchup might get lost in the middle of the workday.
The Rockets underwhelmed last season, mostly because they could not find consistent play at point guard. Enter Fred Van Vleet, who is now healthy after the torn anterior cruciate ligament that robbed him of the entire season, and Houston could be significantly improved. As long as the Rockets have settled their internal tensions, they should compete. A test against the Spurs should be an excellent barometer.
Any time you get to see a matchup that features a pair of players – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić – who have combined to win five of the last six NBA Most Valuable Player awards, it’s appointment viewing. Adding that the Nuggets are looking to reset after a disappointing first-round exit and that the Thunder are looking to reclaim their status as a dominant force only makes it better.
While the Celtics-Pistons opener will be the first chance for fans to see the effects of the Jaylen Brown-Paul George trade, this matchup – the home opener in Boston – may reveal whether these Celtics can truly compete with Jayson Tatum taking on even more responsibility. Plus, these are two of the iconic franchises with an intense regional rivalry, so it’s always a fun watch.
This one is ranked this highly mostly because of the novelty and the intrigue. This will be the first chance we get to see Giannis Antetokounmpo under coach Erik Spoelstra and the Heat. It’s also the first time we get to see the LaMelo Ball experiment in Minnesota with Anthony Edwards. Both these squads may not initially be ranked in the top tier of their respective conferences, but they have the potential to climb up the ladder. That starts with this game.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs
■ Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 9:30 p.m. | NBC and Peacock
This is probably the best rivalry in the NBA, and it’s pretty clear the teams each dislike each other. Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs dominated this matchup last year, both in regular season and the playoffs. But the Thunder, even with a few losses, should be fully healthy. These are the two best teams in the West. Let’s see how the offseason impacted them.
1. Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks
■ Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. | NBC and Peacock
This is the crown jewel. You’ve got Jalen Brunson and the defending champion Knicks raising their first banner in Madison Square Garden in 53 years and receiving their rings, and you’ve got the new-look Sixers, who added LeBron James and Jaylen Brown. Philadelphia won the offseason; this will be the first glimpse to see how it stacks up against the best team in the NBA.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 20: the sneakers of Nique Clifford #5 of the Sacramento Kings against the Charlotte Hornets during the 2025 NBA Summer League Championship game on July 20, 2025 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
There was no winking, no flinching, no nodding and no detectable sarcasm Tuesday when the optimism of Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy blasted into overdrive.
Asked if Golden State’s current roster has the potential to win an NBA championship next season, Dunleavy floored it.
“I see a path because you have Steph Curry,” Dunleavy said. “Steve Kerr is a proven championship coach. We’ve got really good players. We need to get healthy. We need to stay healthy, and then we need to evaluate and see where we’re at. And if we need to get better, I know we can get better. So, there’s a path.”
“It may not be clear to a lot of people, but there’s a path.”
Please, no giggling. Just because you can’t visualize a parade in San Francisco next June doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Any clear-eyed glance would conclude that it’s highly, highly, highly improbable.
But it’s reasonable to wonder where on this earth Dunleavy found a pair of glasses that allows him, on Aug. 11, 2026, to see these Warriors looking down on the NBA next June.
The Warriors last season finished 10th in the Western Conference, with a 37-45 record that trailed 19 other teams. They were the best of the league’s 11 sub-.500 squads. They were slowed by age, derailed by injuries, limping over the second half of the season with roster whose quality depth turned out to be a mirage.
Dunleavy and his front-office crew, led by CEO Joe Lacob, saw enough last season to realize they needed to re-arm the roster. They peeped out Celtics star Jaylen Brown before he was traded to the 76ers, and purposely positioned themselves to receive consideration from LeBron James before he opted to sign with Philadelphia.
They knew in April that they lacked the goods to compete at the highest levels of the league.
And yet, four months later, without any appreciable roster upgrades – and knowing Golden State could be without Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody for the first half of next season – Dunleavy can see “a path” to the top.
If the Warriors somehow win the 2027 NBA Finals, it would be a shocker for the ages. It would rank alongside The Miracle on Ice, Buster Douglas humiliating Mike Tyson and, yes, the underdog 1975 Warriors sweeping the Washington Bullets in The Finals.
Dunleavy’s words would hold their own against, say, Joe Namath’s prediction that his AFL champion New York Jets would take down the NFL champion Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III, who were 18-point favorites.
“That’s kind of what you’re aiming for,” Dunleavy said of a title. “You need some good luck. You need some good fortune. You need some things to bounce your way. But I think we’re in a position right now where there’s a path.
“We’re not going to be the No. 1 favorites in Vegas on the books right now, but that’s not what we’re trying to do. We’re not trying to win the championship in August. We’re trying to put ourselves in a position to compete the postseason, come April, May, and June.”
Dunleavy is right about Vegas. The Warriors are listed 15th on Vegas Insider’s 2027 championship odds, below the Houston Rockets and above the Atlanta Hawks. Kalshi is giving Golden State a two-percent chance to win it all, with 12 teams claiming better odds.
The “path” of which Dunleavy speaks looks a lot like the path through a shiver of sharks. The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder sit not only atop the odds for the West but also the entire league. They are followed by the defending champion New York Knicks and absurdly reloaded 76ers.
Put simply, there are countless legitimate reasons why Golden State is projected to post another sub-.500 finish.
For the Warriors to finish among the top six in the West – which would be a rousing success – it will require almost everything going splendidly for them while identifiable contenders are coping with considerable ill fate.
The Warriors would need vastly improved availability from veterans often sidelined last season.
They’d need Curry to summon the best season ever submitted by a man who will be 39 years old. They’d need Butler, who will be 37 and coming off surgery to repair a torn ACL, to return by midseason and make a similar impact to that when he was acquired in February 2025. They’d need Al Horford and Kristaps Porziņģis to be healthy enough to combine for 125 games.
They’d need rookie Yaxel Lendeborg to deliver a season worthy of Rookie of the Year votes.
Yes, there is a path. Fantasy Lane. And it takes illusory vision to see the Warriors making it all the way to the end of the road.
Basketball: Phoenix Suns Tom Chambers (24) in action vs New York Knicks Mark Jackson (13) at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.Phoenix, AZ 1/27/1989CREDIT: John W. McDonough (Photo by John W. McDonough /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)(Set Number: X37759 )
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Suns fans and fans across the country.
It’s Hall of Fame week here at Bright Side of the Sun as we prepare for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame to welcome a new class into its sacred halls. Among those being inducted, the Seven Seconds or Less era will be well represented, as Mike D’Antoni and Amar’e Stoudemire are set to be enshrined in Springfield, Massachusetts.
And we’ll do our celebrating. Make no mistake about that. But Hall of Fame week also creates another conversation, one centered around the players who still haven’t made it.
On the most recent episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, Simmons went through a list of 7 players he believes should be in the Hall of Fame but currently aren’t. And well represented among that group were three former members of the Phoenix Suns.
The first was Paul Silas, the man who still sits atop the Suns’ single-season rebounding leaderboard after averaging 12.5 rebounds per game in 1971. He spent three seasons in Phoenix and was a pit bull in all the right ways, earning an All-Star nod and two All-Defensive Second team honors. Holistically, he played 16 years, won three championships, and was a five-time All-Defensive player in the era of Redwood trees roaming the paint. At 6’7”, Silas was pound-for-pound one of the best interior players of his generation.
Then there’s Kevin Johnson, my favorite player growing up, and someone who was an absolute force before his body began to fail him in the mid 90s. When you look at his 12-year career and see averages of 17.9 points and 9.1 assists per game, it’s hard to understand why he still isn’t in the Hall of Fame. Of course, there may be off-court factors that play into that discussion.
And then there’s Tom Chambers. Chambers spent five seasons with the Suns and averaged 20.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game during his time in Phoenix. He still holds the franchise record for points per game in a single season after averaging 27.2 in 1989–90. He’s also most notably remembered as the first unrestricted free agent in NBA history, something you would think deserves recognition in Springfield.
Chambers was a four-time All-Star, with three of those selections coming as a member of the Suns, and he also holds the unenviable distinction of being one of only four players in NBA history to score more than 20,000 career points and not be in the Hall of Fame.
Perhaps this is a biased question, but it also sets up a point I plan to make later this week. So for this week’s Suns Reacts survey, I’ll ask you this: Should Tom Chambers be in the Hall of Fame?
Cast your vote, then let me know why or why not in the comments below. And while you’re there, share your favorite Tom Chambers memory.
Do you have an extra $2,000 lying around or burning a hole in your pocket?
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If you do and you want to enjoy either the Philadelphia 76ers or the New York Knicks, you will have to pay at least that much to get inside Madison Square Garden when those teams open the 2026-27 regular season.
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The NBA released part of its regular season schedule this week, and the world champion Knicks, featuring NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, will receive their championship rings and get a banner raised to the rafters of the "World's Most Famous Arena" when the visiting 76ers, featuring LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, come calling on Oct. 20.
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Despite the roster turnover, the 76ers are still salty after New York humiliated them on the way to a four-game series sweep in the second round on their way to breaking a 53-year-old championship drought.
According to TickPick, the get-in price for the season opener is currently at $1,999. For that price, you will get the privilege of sitting nowhere near Celebrity Row, but in Section 400, where you can squint your eyes to enjoy four quarters of basketball and, on your way out of the arena, you can look through the large windows to watch people file in and out of Penn Station. A few rows behind courtside, two tickets are listed at $166,109 each.
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By comparison, for New York's Game 3 of the NBA Finals at MSG against the San Antonio Spurs, tickets were hovering around $8,000 on the secondary market.
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At Vivid Seats, the price is just as steep, where sitting in the same section will set you back at least $2,092, and for the average price of a used car, you can sit where you can at least see the jersey numbers on the players.
Steph Curry never wanted to be drafted by the Warriors. His eyes were set on being selected one pick later, with the chance of playing his career in a New York Knicks jersey at Madison Square Garden.
Four NBA championships and a Hall of Fame career created in a Warriors jersey later, Curry wouldn’t change a thing. As he closes in on nearly two decades with Golden State, Curry has maintained his hope and goal of spending his entire playing career playing for one franchise.
He wants to be the Warriors’ Tim Duncan. Their Dirk Nowitzki, their Kobe Bryant. An icon that didn’t wear a rainbow of jerseys, but just different versions for the same team. Nothing in that department has changed, according to Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy, and Curry hasn’t indicated that will change in the future.
“Not to me. No, he hasn’t,” Dunleavy said Tuesday in a video press conference with local media. “That’s always been the message. That’s always been sort of what we have discussed, and I think that’s tracking quite well. Obviously he’s eligible for an extension coming up at the end of the month and we’ll talk through all that stuff and can’t speak on it much right now, but I’m pretty confident Steph will finish his career here.”
Curry, 38, is eligible for a two-year contract extension worth more than $136 million starting Aug. 29.
When the Warriors’ 2025-26 season ended in Phoenix with a loss to the Suns in the NBA play-in tournament, Curry said he’s open to an extension and wants to play multiple more years. He made the Warriors wait a bit the last time he was extension eligible, and ultimately signed a one-year extension instead of the two years he could have added.
The Warriors expect Curry to sign some form of a contract extension this offseason as opposed to entering next summer as an unrestricted free agent. They also expect him to be a Warrior until he retires but know he’s the one in control of that ultimate decision.
“It’s his call, his decision,” Dunleavy said. “Whether that’s allowing his contract to run out and move on – look, if he comes to me and wants to be moved, [Warriors owner Joe Lacob] and I will talk it through. We wouldn’t love it, but he’s earned the right if he wants to do those things.
“But as far as the messaging or any idea that he would be anywhere else, that’s not a thing we’re looking at or he’s looking at.”
Rumors have run rampant on social media that Curry one day could want out. Those are nothing more than speculation clicks in the quiet period of the summer. The reasons those uninformed voices have been loud regarding Curry’s future are because of the Warriors’ lack of improvements in NBA free agency and the trade market while the rest of the league saw major shifts.
Aside from drafting Yaxel Lendeborg in the first round and Lajae Jones in the second, the Warriors, up to this point, have not brought in any outside additions to the roster after winning 37 games last season as the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference. Missing out in their pursuit of LeBron James, the Warriors brought back Draymond Green, Kristaps Porziņģis, Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II.
This is the same offseason where James joined the Philadelphia 76ers weeks after they acquired Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics, Giannis Antetokounmpo was traded to the Miami Heat and LaMelo Ball was dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Superstars always are on the move in the modern NBA.
The Warriors aren’t worried their biggest superstar ever will join that trend, and aren’t sweating the upcoming date for Curry’s contract extension.
“I think there’s two things I’m confident about Steph: He really, really wants to win, and he wants to finish his career as a Warrior,” Dunleavy said. “I don’t think that changes tomorrow, August 29th, the start of the season, middle of the season or the end of next season. I think those things are going to be consistent.”
Curry averaged 26.6 points per game in 43 games last season, shooting 39.3 percent on 11.3 3-point attempts per game. He missed 39 games to injury, including two months to runner’s knee.
Sep 23, 2025; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks speaks at Media Day. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Brian Lewis on Tuesday examines the slow pace of the Nets rebuild which as of this past weekend has been underway in some form or another for three and half years since Kevin Durant became the final piece of the Big Three to be traded back on February 9, 2023.
As Lewis writes, there’s no hope of anything dramatic happening his coming season, which will begin October 21 somewhere in North America, the details of which will be made known on Thursday at 3:00 p.m. ET.
After going 20-62 last season (with a preseason over/under win total of 19.5), the Nets are tabbed to be one of the league’s worst teams again. They’re listed with the second-lowest wins over/under by FanDuel and BetMGM at 24.5.
Jordi Fernandez may think his charges can produce more wins than anyone inside or outside the organization, but other than the head coach, the consensus is the Nets will, um, struggle … for the want of a better word than another that also begins with “S.”
Lewis enumerates all the issues the Nets have as they prepare for Thursday’s announcements, Media Day questions and training camp: Is Julius Randle as short-term hire bound for a contender? Will the Nets extend Michael Porter Jr., or trade him for even more assets? How will they handle the team’s “extreme youth” — with nine players 22 years old or younger on the roster? Not to mention how the East is now a mad house, with the defending NBA champions across the river, big new faces in Philadelphia, Toronto and Miami and an old one returning in Indiana, etc., etc.
The answer to the first question is apparently no. Jake Fischer said late Tuesday that an extension is “unlikely.”
Jake Fischer says he’s “not expecting an extension for Michael Porter Jr.” No details on whether he’s talking about today’s semi-deadline or long term. Nets have until next July to extend him. MPJ’s agent has said Porter will have “to chart his own course.” https://t.co/rkysB9PtAc
The Nets are under no pressure. They have all season to extend him if they want to. He’s under contract through the end of this season and can extend him at any point. His agent, Mark Bartelstein has said that while Porter is happy with Brooklyn, he will have have to “chart his own course” depending on what Marks & co. do.
Lewis also delves into his analytic bag and finds some hope for the most patient of what has been a generally patient fanbase. Specifically, he looks at what other organic, pick-heavy rebuilds have produced, history offering hope.
With eight rookies on the Nets’ roster last season — including a record five first-round picks — they played those first-year pros a league-high 6,716 minutes. The Hornets were the next-closest at 6,241. (Editor’s note: It was not, despite comments by Marks and Fernandez the most minutes in the NBA ever.)
Over the past decade, only four other teams had as many minutes played by rookies: the 2017-18 Kings, 2021-22 Thunder, 2023-24 Trail Blazers and 2024-25 Wizards. And like last season’s Nets, that entire quartet was horrid, struggling to a combined .274 winning percentage or 22.5 win pace. But their lessons paid off.
The next year, those same four teams improved to a .402 percentage, or 33 wins, even with that average dragged down by the Wizards having tanked again this past season to get the top overall pick.
Those teams’ quantum leaps to contention came in Year 2 after the investment in rookie playing time. The first three examples vaulted to an average .528 win percentage, or 43-win pace. The Wizards are expected to improve in their Year 2 with Dybantsa, Trae Young and Anthony Davis.
A couple of those teams — the aforementioned Wizards and the Trail Blazers — are still works in progress but the Thunder of course remains the model. Get smart, get young, get lucky … as OKC did with Shai Gilegous-Alexander.
Marks and Joe Tsai continue to be in lock-step on the plan to use flexibility (which Lewis notes flexibility “is like air for the GM.”) He quotes Marks most recent comment on its value when opportunity arises.
“You just never know what’s going to come your way. So for us to have that optionality is going to be really important. But at the same time, I like the roster we have. I love seeing what I’m seeing out there. The guys are guys are playing hard, they’re playing the right way and they’re playing for each other. So I don’t think we’re in any immediate rush to do anything there, from adding more pieces.”
And of course they didn’t. They don’t seem to be interested in Peyton Watson, didn’t make any real effort to deal for Jaylen Brown — and one report noted he was not interested in them, preferring a contender; seemingly felt that Giannis Antetokounmpo was getting older (32 in a few months) but not cheaper; Austin Reaves was never leaving LA. and they didn’t want to pay the Pelicans an exorbitant three first rounders for Trey Murphy III.
Remember what Marks said back on Media Day last September that the Nets wouldn’t be making big moves unless the player “automatically and absolutely” changed the franchise’s projection. No more spending to get the fifth or sixth seed.
We will probably know more soon about how at least in the short run what the Nets are thinking. The end of business Tuesday is sort of a deadline for MPJ’s future. If they sign him to a extension of more than two years and a five percent raise, he can’t be traded this season, limiting their options.
They also have to decide by October 19 whether to sign Noah Clowney to a rookie-scale extension or let him become a restricted free agent next July. Twelve days after that, they have to decide whether to guarantee a third year for last year’s rookie class — Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf. Terance Mann is also eligible for an extension October 1.
Of course, they haven’t started to play games yet and everyone, fans to management to ownership — was thrilled by what they saw in Summer League from Demin and Mikel Brown Jr., who are the team’s first top 10 lottery picks taken in back-to-back drafts since 1995 and 1996 when they took Ed O’Bannon and Kerry Kittles. There’s enthusiasm as well about Day’Ron Sharpe getting his big chance, etc. Then, there’s all those draft assets and cap space and Tsai’s willingness to spend when it feels right.
Anyone who listened closely to Sean Marks or watched what he’s done or didn’t do over the past two years should’ve been prepared for all this to some extent. Being happy with it is a whole other conversation, one which goes on and on.
“Anytime you’re in a hurry, that’s when people make mistakes,” Marks said when asked about Porter, which Lewis notes can apply to their entire plan. “We’ve got a well thought-out plan here over not only the last couple of years, but the couple of years ahead. We’re going to try and find who the next Nets are going to be. I don’t think we want to do anything hastily or in a rush here.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 21: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a jump shot against Gary Payton II #0 and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors in the first quarter of the game at Crypto.com Arena on October 21, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Lakers fans and fans across the country.
With the Lakers completely overhauling their roster this summer, it’s made predicting just how good they’ll be difficult. Most of last year’s rotation is gone, and it’s not fringe players that only played a shift or two. It’s starters like LeBron James, Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smart.
Are the new players like Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Walker Kessler upgrades and a better fit around Luka?
Last season, the Lakers won 53 games. Can they repeat that success, or will these changes and adjusting to so many new pieces mean growing pains and additional losses?
For our SB Nation Reacts survey this week, we’re keeping it simple and asking if the Lakers will win at least 45 games.
Whether your take is positive or negative about the 2026-27 Lakers, the one thing I do know is that you don’t have enough data to support it.
We don’t know how good the Austin Reaves, Luka, Kessler three-man rotation is going to be. We haven’t seen Mamu as Kessler’s backup big, or as the four next to him. Collin Sexton running the backup unit? We haven’t seen that either.
So, any take one has is fair until we can actually see some of these players together and get a better understanding of their fit.
However, experts consistently predict the Lakers will win far fewer games than they actually do.
Yes, there are a ton of roster changes, but Luka is their top player, which fixes a lot of things. During his career, Dončić has only had two seasons where his team didn’t have a winning year.
As long as he’s healthy, Luka is a shoo-in for All-NBA First Team, and the Lakers should easily reach 45 wins. During JJ Redick’s time as head coach, LA has won at least 50 games each season, even with massive roster changes.
Also, let’s not forget Reaves. He is Luka’s running mate and every year he has gotten better as a player. If he makes another jump this season, he’ll be an All-Star.
The only issue here is that health is never guaranteed. Luka played in 64 games last season and had a slew of injuries, including a hamstring strain that ended his year early. Reaves also missed a ton of contests, playing in just 51 games.
So with LeBron no longer here to carry an extra load when necessary, perhaps LA can’t win as much when Luka misses time. The Lakers went 10-8 in games Dončić missed last season.
With a lower ceiling, maybe voting for under 45 wins is an indication of one’s skepticism on Luka being healthy and the Lakers figuring out how to optimize all these new pieces.
So, if you trust Luka to be available and perform like he usually does, vote for 44-plus wins. But if you are worried about LA’s overhaul and Luka’s availability, then select under 44 victories. And as always, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
Twenty-five days before its first game, Northwestern’s 2026 football season is off to a fine start.
The university has received a three-year, $35 million commitment from the Uihlein family to "support the continued growth and success of its football program," the school announced on Tuesday, August 11.
According to a release, the funding will be used for athlete development, operational priorities, recruiting and strategic investments "designed to position Northwestern Football for sustained success in the Big Ten and on the national stage."
"We are deeply grateful to the Uihlein family for their extraordinary generosity and commitment to Northwestern University," Northwestern athletic director Mark Jackson said in a statement. "Their support will help us continue building a program that delivers an exceptional student-athlete experience while competing at the highest level of college football."
The donation from Liz and Dick Uihlein comes as the Wildcats are preparing to play their first season in Ryan Field after an $862 million, privately funded renovation that shrunk capacity, and completely overhauled and modernized the aging venue.
The Uihleins are the billionaire owners of Uline, a business supply company, and are heirs to the Schlitz Brewing Company fortune. The couple lives in the Chicago area.
Northwestern is entering its fourth season under coach David Braun, who has led the program to bowl games in two of his first three seasons after taking over for Pat Fitzgerald in 2023. Last season, the Wildcats went 7-6 and won the GameAbove Sports Bowl.
In the years since college sports have been dramatically reshaped by NIL and the transfer portal, Northwestern has struggled at times, going 23-39 overall and 13-32 in the Big Ten since 2021. The donation it received should help in its efforts to stay financially competitive in the Big Ten, a league in which it has by far the smallest undergraduate enrollment.
"We are so grateful for Pat and Shirley Ryan’s contributions to Northwestern and Chicago and want to follow their lead. Northwestern is one of the nation's premier institutions, developing future leaders through its world-class academic programs, including the Kellogg School of Management," Liz and Dick Uihlein said in a statement. "As multigenerational Chicagoans, we love this city and want to see it thrive. To us, Northwestern University is Chicago. Chicago loves sports and we need Wildcat Football to be competitive. We are pleased to support the university as it enters an exciting new era."
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 16: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers walks by Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers before the first half at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 16, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The date is officially set.
The Cleveland Cavaliers will open their season on the road against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 22nd.
This is the sixth consecutive season that Cleveland will begin away from home. The Cavs previously played the Knicks last season.
Cleveland will have a chance to measure itself against a team that they have been intrinsically linked to this offseason. Not only did the 76ers beat them in the hunt for LeBron James, but they also made the second-biggest splash of the offseason by trading for Jaylen Brown, as well. Many have speculated that Philly’s moves to upgrade their roster are what put them ahead of the Cavs in acquiring LeBron.
It’s unclear if the Cavs actually had a chance to sign James this summer. There’s no concrete evidence that James would have landed in Cleveland if they had been the ones to trade for Brown instead. That’s only speculation. But in this league, even the most unreliable rumor can be used as fuel for the fire.
The Cavs should view this opening game as an opportunity to make a statement. Even more than usual. This is their chance to flex their continuity and deliver a message to the league that Philly hasn’t passed them overnight. Cleveland’s been one of the best teams in the league for five consecutive seasons. They shouldn’t be prepared to fall behind the race just because another Eastern Conference team made a splash this summer.
A few other games for the 2026-27 season were announced today.
The NBA’s opening week National TV schedule + Christmas games.
The season will formally tip off on Tuesday, October 20th. The Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons start things at 3 PM, while the New York Knicks will have their championship ceremony later in the evening at 7 PM against the 76ers. The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs cap off the first triple-header of the season.
Christmas Day has also been revealed.
We have an NBA Finals rematch between the Knicks and Spurs, followed by the Miami Heat taking on the Boston Celtics, before we see LeBron James and the 76ers head to Los Angeles to face the Lakers. The Thunder then play against the Minnesota Timberwolves before the night is concluded by Denver versus Golden State.
Cleveland will not be active this Holiday season.
The NBA Cup schedule will be released tomorrow, while the full regular season schedule is set to be revealed on Thursday.
LeBron James is expected to make his debut with the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, October 20, at Madison Square Garden, where the Sixers will face the defending champion New York Knicks on the opening night of the 2026 NBA season.
"This is my last decision. I’m not going for money. I’m not going for family. What am I really playing for at this point? I still want to sacrifice. I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win, and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship," James said in a thread on X on July 24.
"I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team, and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time."
The 2026 NBA season tips off with a tripleheader on NBC and Peacock, featuring a star-studded lineup. First at 3:00 PM ET, Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics face Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons. Then at 7:00 PM, Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks receive their championship rings before hosting James, Jaylen Brown, and the 76ers at the Garden. At 9:30 PM, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder go head-to-head with Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs in a rematch of the 2026 Western Conference Finals.
See below for additional information on how to watch the 2026 NBA season on NBC and Peacock.
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Kurt Helin