LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: Kam Jones #39 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on July 18, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
And we’re off, starting with a familiar face to the people of Milwaukee. Look, as we sit here today, Jones’ path to NBA minutes seems miles away, given that he has to beat out ~15 guards to even get a sniff. Still, as a pure value play, it was worth the Bucks taking a flyer on someone who not only has NBA bona fides as a former early second-round pick, but also a tangible connection to the city, having played at Marquette—and Fiserv Forum, specifically—for four years.
Unlike most players in his position, Jones already has substantial NBA experience, having gotten a chance to play a decent amount on the Pacers last season (yes, the team was also ruthlessly tanking, but let’s just ignore that). Even after beginning last year with a long stint on the sidelines dealing with a back concern, the 24-year-old appeared in 37 games and posted averages of 4.4 PPG and 3.2 APG. He didn’t shoot the ball well—40.2% from the floor and sub-30% from three—but still, that is great experience for a rookie (even if he may well have been tactically deployed as a tank commander some of the time).
Now, it’s no secret that Jones’ game is slower and relies heavily on feel and craft rather than power and athleticism, but he performed well at Summer League playing that way. Will it work in the NBA? I have my doubts. I referenced Jones struggling from three last year with Indy, but it’s worth noting that he shot nearly 37% from deep throughout his four years as a Golden Eagle. If the Memphis native is to have any chance of locking in a future in the association, he’ll need to rediscover that form, given the other concerns. If Jones can get his shooting to that level, defenses will need to play him tighter, and it’ll open up his passing game, which is a legit strength of his (200 assists in his senior year).
Ultimately, if I were to look into a crystal ball and predict Jones’s future right now, I’d lean toward him having a really solid overseas career; I just find it tough to picture a long-term NBA future given his size, lack of burst, and unproven shot-making ability, but I’d love to be proven wrong. It would be terrific for someone with this man’s connection to the city to succeed there at the highest level. He’d be true fan favourite.
OK, we’ll catch you Monday morning with the next one…
Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla isn’t afraid to shuffle his starting lineup.
Mazzulla utilized 23 different starting combinations during the regular season last year, routinely rotating players at the wing position while Jayson Tatum rehabbed from Achilles surgery. Four five-man combinations started at least 10 games apiece; 18 other combinations played two games or fewer.
In Game 7 of a first-round playoff series against Philadelphia, with Boston on the brink of fumbling away a 3-1 series lead, Mazzulla boldly trotted out a lineup that hadn’t played a single minute together all season.
For Day 4 of our Ramp to Camp series, we asked our panel a question that might not have a firm answer: Predict the Boston Celtics’ starting five for the 2026-27 season.
Last year’s opening-night starting five lasted two games before Mazzulla started making alterations. Sometimes coaches land on their preferred lineup right out of the gate, but most years they spend much of the regular season trying to determine the best mixes of personnel.
The Celtics have some interesting choices to make this season, both with the departure of All-NBA forward Jaylen Brown, and the offseason additions of veterans Paul George and Mitchell Robinson.
Our best September guess for the five that will start on opening day in Detroit: Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Paul George, Jayson Tatum, and Neemias Queta.
Pritchard actually posted slightly better numbers over 29 games as a reserve (17.2 PTS, 42.9 3PT%) than he averaged in 50 games as a starter (16.9 PTS, 34.8 3PT%) but both stat lines were jarringly similar (with only 1.2 minutes more per game as a starter). There’s a case to keep him in the Sixth Man role where he’s clearly comfortable.
The pitch might simply be having another scorer/playmaker on the floor for stretches when Tatum might be off the court. The counterargument is that the Pritchard/Tatum combination has been one of Boston’s most successful two-man combos over the past five seasons while posting a +11.6 net rating in 3,196 minutes together.
Boston’s offensive rating is a robust 122.0 with that tandem on the floor. On a team that needs additional scoring options after Brown’s departure, keeping Pritchard and his rim-attacking ways on the court with the starting group feels important to start the year.
George has started 653 straight NBA appearances. The Celtics will certainly tread cautiously with his games played and minutes played but, when available, it would seem they’ll lean heavily on his ability to fill some of Brown’s void on the wing.
Robinson was Boston’s big offseason splurge, but he’s no stranger to a bench role and averaged 19 minutes per game over his final two seasons in New York. His ability to bring energy and play hard in short shifts might be best utilized in a reserve role. Queta should get every chance to maintain the starting job he held down last season, though he must avoid foul trouble that plagued him during Boston’s first-round exit.
The Celtics need to be mindful of how to stay afloat in non-Tatum minutes. But, over the past five seasons, the Pritchard/White/Tatum triumvirate has posted a +14.4 net rating over 1,138 minutes together. The Celtics should want that trio together as much as possible.
Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images
Baylor Scheierman could get his fair share of starts this season.
If the Celtics elect to eventually utilize Pritchard off the bench, we’re intrigued by the idea of a bigger starting lineup while adding another wing like Sam Hauser, Baylor Scheierman, Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh, or Ron Harper Jr. alongside Tatum and George. The Celtics have some intriguing defensive combos, or can lean on Hauser for his floor spacing.
Ultimately, the more important aspect might be landing on a firm closing five. Which group of players brings out the best basketball in the highest leverage moments? That group almost certainly features Tatum, White, Pritchard, and George when he’s available. Mazzulla is going to have plenty of options for starting and closing five.
And, after Game 7 last season, nothing Mazzulla might decide about how to deploy talent would surprise us.
Jason Levine: Executive Producer, Content Integrations
Derrick White, Baylor Scheierman, Paul George, Jayson Tatum, Neemias Queta
I simply like Pritchard coming off the bench. He gets to be the clear second option with one (or two) of Tatum, PG13, or White resting. I think you have to let Queta start over Mitchell Robinson to begin the season, but that could really change as the season progresses. I like having Scheierman or Hugo Gonzalez start because those guys are high-energy 100 percent of the time, and that’s important to have in the first eight minutes of a game.
Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Paul George, Jayson Tatum, Neemias Queta
Pritchard has been more effective as a Sixth Man, so I could foresee a scenario where he comes off the bench. But the C’s will need his offense with Brown gone. Queta had a breakout season as a starter in 2025-26, so why mess with that? Mitchell Robinson should still see the floor a lot. If Paul George misses a bunch of games, which is a real possibility given his injury history, then I could see Sam Hauser making a bunch of starts.
In summary, I think the Celtics will use a bunch of starting five combinations this season. Joe Mazzulla, as we saw in Game 7 vs. the Sixers, isn’t afraid to mix things up.
Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Payton Pritchard averaged 17.2 PTS and shot 42.9 percent from 3 off the bench last season.
Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Paul George, Jayson Tatum, Neemias Queta
Paul George has started 99 percent of his NBA games after his rookie year, so he’ll start every game he can suit up for this season. I do think coach Joe Mazzulla showed he’ll happily mix and match his starting five as he’ll see fit — nine players started 10 games or more last season, and 16 players started at least one game. And he’ll also pull one of those starters right out of the game if he doesn’t like what he sees in the opening minutes.
Sam Hauser was in the starting lineup on opening night last year but essentially split time as a starter/bench player all year. Jordan Walsh got his run in the starting five, as did Baylor Scheierman — and Josh Minott, and Luka Garza, too. All of that is to say, the starting five may be a bit obvious, but I expect Mazzulla to tinker all season based on current circumstances.
Josh Canu: Editor
Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Paul George, Jayson Tatum, Neemias Queta
I think the best version of the Celtics this season relies heavily on Payton Pritchard in the starting lineup. Without Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum will be seeing a lot of double teams and to make teams pay, Pritchard has to be the best version of himself. He is the one player on the roster that will make other teams think twice about doubling Tatum.
In terms of consistency, with a player like Paul George who misses a lot of games, I would expect Sam Hauser and Baylor Scheierman to get plenty of opportunities in the starting lineup as well this season.
John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Offseason addition Mitchell Robinson is expected to come off Boston’s bench, with Neemias Queta starting at the five.
Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Paul George, Jayson Tatum, Neemias Queta
Perhaps Pritchard will revert to his sixth-man role, but this seems like the most sensible starting five to begin the season. Pritchard started 50 of the 79 games he played in last season, and he excelled in the role with 17.0 points and 5.2 assists per game. He’ll be counted on again to provide a consistent offensive spark with Brown out of the picture.
The only other question mark is the center spot with Mitchell Robinson in the mix, but Robinson should maintain the role he had in New York as the first big off the bench. He’ll provide much-needed depth behind Queta.
Adam Hart: Executive Producer, Content Strategy
Derrick White, Baylor Scheierman, Paul George, Jayson Tatum, Neemias Queta
This starting five creates an impactful second unit that can maintain or grow leads. Putting Scheierman in the starting lineup because he adds a hustle element to the group, and it allows Pritchard to be the lead dog off the bench.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 5: Bismack Biyombo #18 of the San Antonio Spurs arrives to the arena before the game against the New York Knicks during Game Two of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 5, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Bismack Biyombo completed his fifteenth season last June. The Congolese big man was drafted in 2011 and spent a large portion of his career with Charlotte. He’s also played for the Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Memphis Grizzlies, and Oklahoma City Thunder before joining the San Antonio Spurs in February of 2025.
Biyombo has not signed on for the 2026-2027 season as of this writing, but he has his sights set on other opportunities, or more directly, creating opportunities.
As our students begin this new chapter, I want to take you inside Katanga Elite School and share what these classrooms truly represent.
This school is more than a collection of buildings. It is the story of a promise, a journey, and a belief that every child deserves a future… pic.twitter.com/dnbvq2xqJt
Biyombo shared a post announcing the opening of Katanga Elite School, a bilingual college preparatory school located in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo.
“This school is more than a collection of buildings. It is the story of a promise, a journey, and a belief that every child deserves a future without limits.”
This school is not Biyombo’s first foray into philanthropic projects. Biyombo started the Bismack Biyombo Foundation to initiate a positive impact through opportunities in athletics, education, and health. During the pandemic, they donated around $1 million worth of medical supplies to people in his native Democratic Republic of the Congo. Biyombo also pledged his entire salary from the 2021–22 season towards the construction of a hospital in Congo in honor of his father.
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 19: Tony Bradley #13 of the Indiana Pacers dunks the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 19, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Pacers 113-104. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The New York Knicks have Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond positioned atop their center depth chart, but the defending champions remain without a traditional third center as training camp approaches and this saga doesn’t feel any closer to an end.
In yet another update on the situation, according to SNY’s Ian Begley, veteran free agent Tony Bradley has emerged on the Knicks’ radar as New York continues evaluating potential additions for its remaining roster spots, with a competition for those expected to take place throughout camp and the preseason.
“One other note on free agent signings ahead of training camp: veteran center Tony Bradley has also been a player on the Knicks’ radar,” Begley reported.
From @IanBegley: “Note on free agent signings ahead of camp: vet center Tony Bradley has been…on Knicks radar. Knicks do not currently have a 3rd center, but strong degree of confidence internally in KAT- Drummond duo”
If you’re like me, you probably though Bradley was 35 already. Turns out he’s only 28!
Even then, and while Bradley would provide an experienced third option behind Towns and Drummond, don’t expect TB (or whoever ends up landing in New York) to find a clear and open path into coach Mike Brown’s established rotation.
Begley noted that the Knicks are comfortable with their current top two options despite the absence of another traditional center, making it even tougher for Mystery Man to get any potential playing time.
“The Knicks do not currently have a third center, but there is a strong degree of confidence internally in the Karl-Anthony Towns-Andre Drummond duo at the position,” Begley reported.
Bradley spent last season with the Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks, appearing in 41 games and averaging 4.0 points and 2.8 rebounds in 11 minutes per game.
The 6-foot-10 center has eight seasons of NBA experience after entering the league as the No. 28 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Bradley owns career averages of 4.3 points and 3.8 rebounds in 234 regular-season appearances.
Begley previously reported that New York has also shown interest in free agents Drew Eubanks and John Konchar while evaluating its remaining roster openings, hinting at the openness of the Knicks’ brass to land a variety of player types ahead of their title defense.
For now, the Knicks’ next step is opening training camp before they face the Philadelphia 76ers in the first game of the preseason.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 20: Jared McCain #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket against Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks at Xfinity Mobile Arena on December 20, 2025 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. The 76ers defeated the Mavericks 121-114. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s really cool when you can see the Brotherhood in real time.
Flagg and McCain are professionals now, of course, and they are used to a higher level of competition.
Even so, they’re playing against some very talented young players, and it’s a good tune-up for the upcoming season.
As for the current Blue Devils, they get a chance to test their mettle against two guys who are among an elite number of players who not only have played in the NBA, but are valuable pieces on their teams.
And that’s an important distinction. Plenty of guys get to the league, and might play for a year or two, but just can’t stick.
These guys have, and they’re helping the younger members of the Brotherhood understand what it takes to get there, and just as importantly, how hard they’ll need to work.
It’s a great partnership on both sides.
This what I’ve been saying do for awhile! Get our guys in the NBA to come play pick up with the current roster 🤷🏾♂️ https://t.co/RPCnKbAIAS
I did not write anything about the Brooklyn Nets’ play at Las Vegas Summer League. Nor the California Classic, for that matter. Let’s amend that and a look at an assortment of Brooklyn’s young players, examining what we saw during the summer and what we’d like to see in 2026-27. Again, limited to those that played this summer. Sorry, Nolan Traoré. I like the haircut though.
Mikel Brown Jr.
Like you, I cannot wait to watch Mikel Brown Jr. this season.
Mikel hitting this gear with ease vs traps/hedges is not something Nets fans are very familiar with.
I’m most curious about his long-range 3-point shooting. Over four games this summer, the #6 overall pick shot 9-of-26 from deep in 86 minutes of player. At Louisville, he shot a pedestrian 34.4% from deep, but half of his makes were self-created and he took nearly 15 attempts per 100 possessions. It’s the variety, the volume, and the 84.4% from the line that drives optimism for his 3-point shooting.
Brown Jr. wasn’t shy to pull this summer, but I stillfelt like he left opportunities on the table…
Mikel will suffer from a lack of upper body strength as a near-teenage guard in the NBA, no question. He is at his most exciting when he hits second gear going north-to-south, going around/by defenders rather than through them. And Brown Jr. will find more of these opportunities if he proves himself a capable shooter (on pull-ups especially) from 25+ feet, shots we’ve seen on his highlight tapes as well as in summer workouts…
Though Mikel Brown Jr. shot around 65% at the rim (depending on your source) for Louisville, it was on fairly low volume, and I expect his rim-scoring to be subpar in his rookie NBA season. He’s a fine vertical athlete, but he’s lacking the strength to excel down there, for now. Not a long term worry.
As such, I hope to see Brown Jr. stress-test his 3-point shooting for the Nets. Ben Saraf and Nolan Traoré were all but explicitly banned from shooting pull-up threes last season (rightfully so), while Egor Dëmin played off-ball more than Mikel will this season. How much license will the #6 pick have to fire? How many long-distance threes can he shoot while forcing defenses to play up on him?
If defenses feel the need to apply pressure, it gives Mikel Brown Jr. more opportunities to make the type of plays that’ll have you making irresponsible comparisons down in the comments…
Chaney Johnson
It’s always wise to be wary of late-season ballers who do NBA damage in March and April. I’m pretty sure Noah Clowney blocked more shots during the spring of his rookie season than he’s blocked since. Alas, Chaney Johnson was out there hooping for the tanking Nets, enough to earn a two-way contract with Brooklyn heading into 2026-27. He was great at Las Vegas Summer League as well.
There are plenty of reasons to doubt Johnson’s NBA future. He is currently a 24-year-old 6’7” center who hasn’t been a consistent 3-point shooter at any point in his career. Even during his inspiring run of play last season, the Auburn product still had one of the highest foul-rates in the NBA. I appreciate that Johnson tries to dunk everything, but he still wasn’t a great finisher (nor rim protector) at the NBA level, and there’s no reason to think that’ll change with a bigger sample size.
Still, he plays hard as hell. Bucking the lineage of gangly, thin-chested Brooklyn bigs, he is compact and physical, living on the offensive glass but passing and ball-handling well enough to evince his past as a wing. He was the same player — but better — against lesser competition this summer. He made threes and free-throws in a small sample, sure, but he also racked up 15 steals and 24 offensive rebounds in six games!
Chaney Johnson is undersized but he plays hard and physical. Can he outsmart opponents as well?
That’s a great defensive play. I hope Johnson gets some small chance to make an impact for the Brooklyn Nets this season; is he the third-string center right now? I think he’s earned an opportunity, however small, to prove his strength + smarts can play at the highest level, even if there are plenty of reasons to doubt him.
Drake Powell
When is Drake Powell going to play? That’s a serious question. He seems prime to be a victim of perhaps the most interesting team-building storyline following the Brooklyn Nets this season: When do you start to give up on draft picks? The Nets want to take a step toward competitiveness this season, and there’s seemingly a million guys on the roster who have a case for minutes.
I felt bad watching Powell this summer. He had that brutal streak of misses from the field, unable to even get a cheapie in transition. But while his jumper needs improvement, that was a secondary concern. If NBA Combine scores were hidden from the public, would Powell still have a reputation as an elite athlete? I don’t think so. He is laterally explosive, to be sure, though the absence of a threatening handle hides that trait on offense.
Against lesser competition this summer, Drake Powell just didn’t pop as either a player or an athlete. He actually finished pretty well at the rim last season, of course on low volume, but there are still so many plays like this in his catalogue…
Powell has an angle with a live dribble, an opportunity to let his renowned athleticism shine and get up at the rim. Instead, an awkward fading jumper that smears the glass. It’s the lack of explosive finishes, deflections, and rebounds that worry me. I understand Drake Powell is raw, but I’m not sure he’s an elite basketball athlete either.
Egor Dëmin
Egor Dëmin has his jorts, his jewelry, his new haircut, and that wispy mustache + goatee combo, fully assimilated to the North Brooklyn young professional lifestyle. Look at our boy go. He’s also been in the weight room, which he credits for his newfound comfort as a driver and overall 2-point scorer.
I have my reservations, you’ll be thrilled to hear. Dëmin wasn’t just missing strength last season. The Russian then-teen had some other deficiencies, also present this summer and — hey, whatever. He shot 22-of-29 on two-pointers over five games in July. Nets fans should be excited for his sophomore year, even as NBA defender occasionally exploit his relative lack of shake. Still, the most encouraging sign is that Dëmin seems simultaneously stronger and quicker…
Egor can dump that off to Chaney Johnson (who dunks it anyway), but doesn’t he just feel snappier in that clip? Slow-to-fast-to-slow-to-fast.
My hope for Dëmin isn’t solely that he makes more layups and dunks, it’s that his improved ball-handling + strength allow him to explore the paint and make more high-level passes. I harped on the lack of assists leading to shots at the rim last season, and in general, I thought we didn’t see the number of high-level passes commensurate with his reputation as a prospect.
But Dëmin should have the ball in his hands more moving forward, and Mikel Brown Jr. should bring more passing ability and scoring gravity than any backcourt partner Dëmin played with last season. I can’t wait to judge his improvement.
Danny Wolf
Danny Wolf is approaching his age-22 season. He is graded on a stricter curve than any other young Net. Will he find minutes as a third-string center (in addition to playing next to Day’Ron Sharpe + Moe Wagner) instead of Chaney Johnson? Is he strictly a big wing that can shoot and attack closeouts?
It’s easy to get lost in the positional weeds with Wolf, but the key for 2025’s #27 overall pick is finishing at the rim. Then we can talk about everything else. Per Synergy Sports:
Wolf took more shots at the rim (as a % of his overall diet) than 66% of the NBA last season.
Wolf was more efficient at the rim than just 17% of the NBA last season.
Additionally, Wolf shot 9-of-21 on runners and hooks.
His archetype as a multidimensional mismatch just doesn’t work if he’s not scoring on the interior. Wolf shot 16-of-26 from two in Las Vegas Summer League, a more important sign than small-sample frigidity from three, but there were still worrisome, ground-bound plays…
Joshua Jefferson
Brooklyn will presumably start Julius Randle and Day’Ron Sharpe together in the front-court this season. They ran pick-and-roll less frequently than the vast majority of NBA teams last season, but ran more dribble-handoff action than any other team in the league. Now they have both a center and a bulky forward who can get Brooklyn into those actions — I’m curious to see the split, and what Sharpe is doing when, for example, Randle and Dëmin and playing a two-man game. Does Jordi Fernández trust Sharpe to space and shoot corner threes? Dunker spot?
Joshua Jefferson will see plenty of minutes in Long Island early, but I have the same questions about his usage. How often will he play as a dribble-handoff hub, how often will he be attacking closeouts and shooting threes?
In Brooklyn, Jefferson will not be the point-forward he was for Iowa State. I look forward to seeing his vision in the open-court — hopefully he maintains strong defensive rebounding numbers — but I am most excited for plays like this…
Jefferson had the ball in his hands a lot in college. He should get the opportunity to hit cutters and play the DHO game with Brooklyn’s shooters early on. But if Jefferson can make 0.5-second decisions off the catch and read the floor from there, it’ll be a lot easier for Fernández to get him on the floor.
The Brooklyn Nets will hold Media Day on September 28, and NetsDaily will once again have you covered. Training camp and the preseason soon follow, and the Nets tip off preseason on the road against the Charlotte Hornets on October 6. Suddenly, we’re almost there, folks.
U.S. Department of Justice prosecutors have opened a criminal inquiry regarding the matter, according to the New York Times.
News of the federal probe follows the revelation through a separate NBA investigation that the Clippers circumvented the league's salary cap rules, secretly helping arrange sponsorship contracts for Leonard that provided him income beyond the three-year, $150 million contract he signed with the team in 2024.
The U.S. Attorney’s office in Brooklyn is running the investigation, which the Times reported to be in its earliest stages, according to sources familiar with the matter. It remains unclear if criminal charges will result from the federal investigation.
The NBA announced disciplinary action against the Clippers on Sept. 2, after a law firm commissioned by the league shared its findings with Commissioner Adam Silver.
The Clippers were hit with a $30 million fine and have to forfeit five first-round draft picks (2029-2033). Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and two of the team's top executives were suspended for up to a year.
Leonard was fined $700,000 for restitution related to covered personal expenses, but the star player was not suspended from playing during the upcoming 2026-27 season.
The federal investigation began before the league came forward with its findings last week, according to the Times report.
The Clippers were expected to receive forward Brandon Ingram, guard Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks (2031, 2033), two second-round picks (2030, 2033), and a 2027 first-round swap in the trade.
The trade was initially agreed on and reported on June 30. The teams acknowledged the deal but held off on executing it while the NBA investigation was ongoing.
USA TODAY has reached out to the Clippers for comment but has not heard back.
MR. THROWBACK -- "Eric Roth Costs a Fortune, Bro" Episode 106 -- Pictured: (l-r) Stephen Curry as himself, Tien Tran as Lucy -- (Photo by: David Moir/Peacock via Getty Images)
Fresh off of bringing the New York Knicks their first title in more than 50 years, Jalen Brunson has been tapped to host the season premiere of “Saturday Night Live.” It may have to wait until he retires, but Steph Curry should be the next hooper to take the stage at 30 Rock.
The city that never sleeps has been in the midst of a months-long love-fest with the Knicks since they took down the San Antonio Spurs in June. Over two million people attended the team’s victory parade, Karl-Anthony Towns had a star-studded guest list to his wedding, including celebrity super-fans Ben Stiller and Timothee Chalamet, and best of all, owner James Dolan didn’t release a single piece of music.
Brunson will be joined by musical guest Katseye, which is a “global girl group” and not a Third Eye Blind cover band fronted by Karl-Anthony Towns. Don’t be surprised if Brunson’s Villanova buddies Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges cameo in a sketch, probably about Domingo, but Forever Warrior Donte DiVincenzo will probably be too busy rehabbing his Achilles tear to make an appearance.
The reigning Finals MVP will be the fifth NBA player to host the show, following in the footsteps of LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Bill Russell (he was retired), and Charles Barkley, who has hosted four times, one short of legendary Five-Timers’ Club status. He’s following in the footsteps of New York Knicks forward and future U.S. Senator Bill Bradley, who appeared on the show’s second episode ever to present a trophy to host Paul Simon, after a short film featuring Simon defeating Hall of Famer Connie Hawkins in a game of one-on-one.
September 26 2026: Jalen Brunson 1st Knick host SNL
While Brunson is quite popular in NYC, he hasn’t displayed the same kind of comedic chops as Curry, who has hosted the ESPY’s and appeared in his own mockumentary series, “Mr. Throwback.”
Curry has starred in New York for years, going 12-1 at Madison Square Garden. He scored 54 points in a 2013 game and broke the all-time three-point record during a game in 2021. Even as a visiting player, Curry has received a lot of love from the fans of New York, dating back to when his Davidson Wildcats upset West Virginia in the Garden during his final year of college.
More than that, Curry has shown he’s comfortable on camera, and unlike Russell or James, he’s much easier to fit into a camera shot with normal-sized SNL cast members, standing 6-foot-3. He’s got a lot of Li Ning products to promote. Like SNL itself, Curry has had an up-and-down working relationship with Muppets.
But perhaps the biggest motivating factor for Curry to host Saturday Night Live is the chance to best LeBron again. James was only 22 when he hosted the show, but let’s just say he didn’t set a high bar with his acting.
If they’ve both got four rings, the obvious tiebreaker is SNL hosting performance to determine who the greatest of his generation truly is. And when Steph Curry delivers a tour de force performance on “Snack Homiez,” the real G.O.A.T. will be obvious.
The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into the Clippers' efforts to secure "no-show" endorsement deals for Kawhi Leonard, the New York Times reports. This investigation is being run out of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Brooklyn, the office that has traditionally looked into issues with professional sports leagues.
The investigation is in its earliest stages, and it's unclear what, if any, federal charges could come out of it, according to the report.
The Justice Department investigation comes in addition to the Securities and Exchange Commission looking into Daktronics' role in the scandal, as it had an endorsement deal with Leonard despite never having had a celebrity endorser before and there being no evidence Leonard did anything for the company. Daktronics is publicly traded, and the SEC is tasked with protecting shareholders.
The NBA oversaw a year-long investigation of its own into the Clippers working to circumvent the salary cap with Leonard and last month came down with the harshest penalties ever imposed on a team:
• The Clippers surrender five first-round draft picks (2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, and 2033).
• The Clippers are fined $30 million.
• Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is suspended from anything to do with the team or the league for one year.
• Clippers President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker is suspended for one year, while President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank is suspended for six months.
• Kawhi Leonard must pay a $700,000 fine, and his already-fired business manager, Dennis Robertson (better known as "Uncle Dennis"), is banned from conducting NBA business for five years.'
Ballmer and the Clippers have steadfastly denied any wrongdoing and released this statement after the NBA released its findings and punishments.
"We vehemently reject the NBA's findings, which are the result of a heavily biased investigation seeking to justify a predetermined narrative rather than facts and evidence. What the league told us privately differs from what it announced today publicly, and they have not held themselves close to the standard Commissioner [Adam] Silver set at the start of this investigation to ensure its fairness and accuracy."
The Clippers attorney also sent a letter to the league, but the franchise's only recourse now is the courts, and legal experts have suggested that is a serious uphill fight for Ballmer and the Clippers.
Now, that might not even be the worst of their legal troubles.
Stephen Curry intended to turn his post-workout exit in Beijing into an autograph stop. The crowd turned it into an evacuation.
Footage from Curry’s China tour shows the Warriors star emerging from a building in a gray sleeveless shirt, a white towel around his neck and a Curry-branded cap after completing a workout.
Curry initially appeared willing to linger. He briefly stopped as a fan handed him a red jersey to sign, but the opportunity disappeared as dozens of people closed around him with phones, Warriors flags and memorabilia raised overhead.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry gestures after scoring a three-point shot during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament game against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz., Friday, April 17, 2026. San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images
Security and staff attempted to form a moving barrier, guiding Curry through the crowd toward a group of waiting black vehicles. With fans continuing to press closer, the informal autograph session was abandoned and Curry left the area.
Steph Curry was mobbed by fans after a Beijing workout, ending his autograph attempt as new footage appeared to ease concerns about a possible injury.
The encounter provided an emphatic reminder of Curry’s popularity in China, where he is beginning a new commercial chapter after ending his lengthy relationship with Under Armour.
He signed a 10-year agreement with Li-Ning in June reportedly worth $400 million, pairing the Chinese sportswear company with Curry Brand across basketball, lifestyle and golf products.
It also offered Warriors fans a potentially encouraging visual.
An earlier 21-second video of Curry stepping out of a vehicle in Beijing generated concern online because the 38-year-old appeared to walk with a noticeable hitch. Some viewers interpreted it as a possible injury, although neither Curry’s representatives nor the Warriors announced that he was dealing with a new issue.
Stephen Curry attends the 7th Annual Workday Charity Classic hosted by Stephen and Ayesha Curry’s Eat. Learn. Play. and Workday on Monday, August 31, 2026, at Palo Alto Hills Golf & Country Club in Palo Alto, California. Getty Images for Eat. Learn. Play.
In the footage captured after his workout, Curry does not appear to favor either leg or display the same noticeable limp while walking through the crowd. Completing the workout also offers more useful context than the brief clip that triggered the speculation.
The latest video is not a medical report, and crowd-obstructed footage cannot establish Curry’s physical condition. The concern was understandable after knee trouble limited him last season, but there is currently no official indication of a setback.
This time, the fans’ enthusiasm ended a moment Curry appeared prepared to provide. The encouraging part for Golden State was that his exit seemingly became hurried because the crowd could not be controlled — not because Curry could not move comfortably.
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The probe comes just days after the NBA dropped a staggering punishment on the Clippers, fining the team $30 million, suspending owner Steve Ballmer for one year and stripping the franchise of five first-round draft picks.
Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and Kawhi Leonard received different punishments for the Clippers’ circumventing the league’s salary cap. Getty Images
It wasn’t clear as of Thursday what possible crimes federal prosecutors are investigating, or which people are the target of the federal inquiry.
It also wasn’t clear whether criminal charges would come from the investigation.
Spokespeople for the Clippers and the NBA didn’t respond to messages from The California Post on Thursday asking about the investigation.
“The NBA’s collectively bargained system for determining player compensation is a fundamental component of the basketball competition that the league oversees for the benefit of the teams and players and ultimately the fans,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement after the Clippers’ punishments were announced. “I am deeply disappointed by the flagrant violations of our rules and by the Clippers’ institutional and leadership failures that led to this misconduct. The severity of the penalties reflects the seriousness of the violations.”
The Clippers aren’t taking the league’s punishment lying down.
The team said in a statement last week that it intends to “vigorously challenge” the NBA’s findings and penalties.
Kawhi Leonard in action against the Sacramento Kings at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, on Dec. 30, 2025. Getty Images
“We vehemently reject the NBA’s findings, which are the result of a heavily biased investigation seeking to justify a predetermined narrative rather than facts and evidence. What the league told us privately differs from what it announced today publicly, and they have not held themselves close to the standard Commissioner [Adam] Silver set at the start of this investigation to ensure it’s fairness and accuracy,” the statement read.
But now the stakes are considerably higher.
What began as a dispute over NBA rules has moved into the realm of a criminal investigation by federal prosecutors.
LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) dunks in the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on Friday, March 28, 2025, in Brooklyn, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
The league has already delivered a massive blow to the franchise; the federal probe threatens to turn the controversy into an even bigger crisis.
There isn’t an appeal or arbitration process available to the Clippers to challenge the NBA’s findings. In other words, if the Clippers want to fight against the league’s punishments, they’ll have to take it to court.
At the center of the allegations is Leonard, a two-time NBA champion, two-time Finals MVP and seven-time All-Star widely recognized as one of the greatest two-way players in basketball history.
Leonard was forced to pay the NBA $700,000 for restitution for improper benefits provided by the Clippers, while his uncle and former business manager, Dennis Robertson, has been banned by the NBA from all business dealings for five years.
Kawhi Leonard attends the match between Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan and Naomi Osaka of Japan during the quarterfinals of the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto, Ontario. Getty Images
In a statement he issued after the league’s punishments were announced, Leonard stated he accepted “full responsibility for lapses in judgment by people within my inner circle and regret the distraction this situation has caused the fans and my family.”
His statement continued: “I entered into my contract with the Clippers as well as the agreements in question in good faith, fully committed to fulfilling my obligations and with no knowledge of any intent on anyone’s part to circumvent the salary cap.”
Leonard also alluded to returning to Toronto as part of the trade between the Clippers and Raptors that was agreed upon in late June but was halted in light of the investigation.
The Department of Justice is the second government entity to investigate the Clippers-Leonard scandal.
Daktronics, along with Aspiration Partners, Boingo Wireless and Lockton Insurance, was one of the four companies with endorsement deals with Leonard that were at the center of the NBA’s investigation.
DALLAS - NOVEMBER 18: Owner Mark Cuban of the Dallas Mavericks reacts during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on November 18, 2009 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The Mavericks won 99-94. 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 2009 NBAE (Photo by Tim Heitman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Spurs Villain Tournament started with many strong contenders in the Haters, Killers, Former Players, and Dirty Players categories. For the most part, the favorites have advanced. Now things get even more interesting as the heavyweights of each region face each other.
The higher seeds dominated, for the most part, with only a couple of surprises so far. The favorites are clear, but there’s room for upsets as the tournament continues. The Elite 8 round should be a good test of whether the juggernauts that everyone expects to see in the finals will get there without much opposition.
To spice things up, I’ll be playing Devil’s Advocate in the matchup descriptions, trying to make the case for the lower seeds to pull off the upset, but ultimately the choice is yours. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the participants that have made it this far, and don’t forget to vote!
Spurs Killers Finals 1. Derek Fisher vs. 2. Ray Allen
There were no upsets in the Spurs Killers region, with the top two seeds advancing. Two heartbreaking shots, two potential championships snatched away. Derek Fisher robbed the Spurs of a potential repeat. So did Ray Allen, though, if you think about it.
San Antonio was the best team in both 2013 and 2014. Everyone knows that they were ready to roll out the trophy in Game 6, as the Spurs seemed to have it in the bag, before the Allen shot. In 2014, the Spurs got even better, and while the loss is often credited with motivating them, the talent for a repeat was there. It’s not crazy to think the Silver and Black could have won two in a row had Allen missed, getting Tim Duncan the one achievement he couldn’t secure and Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili five titles.
As for Fisher, while other incidents contribute to his title of Spurs villain, 0.4 stands out most, and it was in the Western Conference Semifinals. The Pistons absolutely destroyed that Lakers team in the 2024 Finals. Are we sure San Antonio would have prevailed had they advanced? The context of the Fisher shot (the Big Three’s prime, the rivalry with Los Angeles, the concrete chance of a repeat, the rule change afterwards) all make it seem like the more painful shot. But Allen’s is at least comparable.
Dirty Players Finals: 1. Zaza Pachulia vs. 2. Karl Malone
Pachulia is often credited with ending the longest stretch of success in modern professional sports by taking out Kawhi Leonard in Game 1 of the Conference Finals. For the Spurs, beating the Warriors that year was unlikely but not impossible, and the post-Duncan future was looking bright. Nothing was the same after Leonard’s injury.
What’s often ignored is that it wasn’t Leonard’s ankle that sidelined him to start the next season and, knowing what we know now, it’s possible that Kawhi would have forced his way out anyway. Even back then, there were loud rumors that Leonard’s ultimate goal was always to go back to Los Angeles. While undoubtedly dirty, by sliding under Leonard, Pachulia probably only cost the Spurs a couple of wins against the Warriors in that series.
Without the Kawhi leaving factor, the dirtiness of the Pachulia play pales in comparison to Karl Malone, a notoriously terrible human, knocking David Robinson out with an elbow to the back of the head. Sure, Malone apologized, but the sheer recklessness of the move is shocking, even today. Does being dirtier, doing more damage, and taking down one of the most beloved Spurs of all time make Malone a bigger villain than Zaza? Up for you to decide.
Former Spurs Finals: 1. Kawhi Leonard vs. 2. Stephen Jackson
The unquestionable favorite to win it all advanced with ease to the finals of his region. Kawhi Leonard left the Spurs in the worst possible way, leading to a period of mediocrity the fanbase was not used to. To make things worse, he went on to win a title with the Raptors. His bona fides as a villain can’t be argued.
The one positive thing that can be said for Kawhi, however, is that once he got out, he seemed to completely move on from the Spurs. He didn’t talk much about them, in part because he simply doesn’t talk much about anything, and seemingly maintained a good relationship with Gregg Popovich, who (unsuccessfully) tried to shield him from the boos of the crowd in one of his visits. While he clearly subjected the franchise and the fans to a horrendous year of rumors and had a messy exit, he did his damage once and then went on with his career.
Jackson’s case is the opposite. He simply couldn’t hurt the franchise as much as a superstar could in just one instance, but he had two different stints that ended poorly and has a media career that often involves trashing the franchise or his former teammates. He first left in 2003 after winning a title, weakening a team that would attempt to repeat. He was looking for his first big payday, so that one is forgivable. Jack letting his ego potentially disrupt the locker room in 2014 to the point of having to be waived close to the playoffs in his second stint, however, is harder to stomach. And then there are the many, many times he has badmouthed the Spurs.
Is that enough to beat Kawhi? Probably not, but had Leonard left in more amicable circumstances, Jack would have a case to win the region.
Spurs Haters: 4. Uncle Dennis Robertson vs. 3. Mark Cuban
The Spurs Haters side of the bracket had the big upsets. Top seeds Phil Jackson and David Stern are nowhere to be found, in part because their villainy feels like old news now and in part because there were a lot of strong contenders in their region, like our two finalists, Uncle Dennis and Mark Cuban.
Robertson frankly looks unstoppable. He’s a newer villain, and his name is fresh in everyone’s mind after the Kawhi Leonard salary cap circumvention scandal that was recently resolved, resulting in a five-year ban for Uncle Dennis. The way he handled Kawhi’s exit from San Antonio was terrible, and he was happy to talk once things were going well for his nephew in Toronto. It’s hard to make a case for Cuban, who has said a lot of negative things about the Spurs over the years but couldn’t really seriously hurt them, over someone who did direct damage to the franchise.
But is that how we should look at Uncle Dennis? Kawhi Leonard was 26 years old when he forced his way out, hardly a kid. It was easier then to villainize Robertson because Kawhi was quiet and beloved before his heel turn, and to be fair, Uncle Dennis has not helped his reputation at all since then, but the reality is, he was acting on Kawhi’s behalf. And if Robertson is the actual villain, the man who orchestrated everything in the shadows, unbeknownst to his nephew, then why is Leonard also in this bracket? Something to consider before voting.
The Los Angeles Lakers have a new center, a new supporting cast, and for the first time since 2018, no LeBron James.
That prompted former Lakers and Clippers forward Matt Barnes to give them a new nickname.
Welcome to the “Snowtime Lakers.”
Luka Doncic #77 and Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers hold hands during a time out in the second half of a game against the Chicago Bulls at Crypto.com Arena on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) Getty Images
With James now in Philadelphia and the franchise fully committed to building around Luka Doncic, the Lakers spent the offseason reshaping the roster around him.
They traded two first round picks and two pick swaps for Walker Kessler, giving them the imposing big man to pair with Doncic they’ve coveted for two seasons.
They re-signed Austin Reaves and assembled a supporting cast that has shooting, size, and compliments the new big three nicely.
Barnes took one look at the roster and delivered the line of the summer.
“They’re calling them the ‘Snowtime Lakers,’” Barnes told the California Post in a recent exclusive interview.
The former Lakers forward and current “All the Smoke” co-host laughed at the nickname, a play on the Lakers’ famed “Showtime” era and the collection of white players—seven to be exact—surrounding Doncic.
But beneath the joke was the same question hanging over this roster entering the 2027-28 season that was asked last season.
Can they defend?
“Anytime you’ve got Luka and AR at the head, you’ve got two tremendously score-driven guards,” Barnes said. “I’m someone who looks at defense, so I want to see how they’re able to round out this roster and be able to protect the basket.”
Matt Barnes on Thursday, August 20, 2026. Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
Barnes isn’t the only former Laker asking how this team will defend either.
Four former Lakers — Barnes, Byron Scott, Michael Cooper and Robert Horry — spoke separately with the California Post about the franchise’s first season fully immersed in the Doncic era. All four see considerable offensive firepower. Several also see the potential fault line beneath it.
Scott put it most succinctly.
“You’re going to be able to score, but can you stop anybody?”
That question carries particular weight coming from Scott, a three-time champion with the Lakers who played during the Showtime era and was a formidable perimeter defender. Basketball has evolved dramatically since then, but Scott believes one championship ingredient has survived every stylistic revolution.
“NBA champions — it hasn’t changed in 40 years,” Scott said. “The teams that normally win the NBA championship are normally teams in the top five in defensive efficiency as well.”
Scott praised several of the Lakers’ offseason moves and is particularly intrigued by their first-round draft pick Cameron Carr out of Baylor. The athletic youngster was acquired in a multi-team draft day deal that sent the draft rights to Sergio De Larrea, the 25th overall pick, and cash considerations to the New York Knicks. Scott praised the move, and believes Carr can contribute on both ends of the floor immediately.
Cameron Carr of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Golden State Warriors during the first half of a California Classic NBA Summer League game at Chase Center in San Francisco, California, on July 3, 2026. Getty Images
Still, he cautioned against treating the current roster as a finished product.
“I don’t think the book is totally written,” Scott said. “We’ve just got to wait and see.”
Cooper, an 8-time NBA All Defense selection, and one of the greatest perimeter defenders in Lakers history, was considerably more bullish.
Put this roster on paper, Cooper said, and championship expectations should follow.
“You’ve got two players who can go out and get 50 on any given night in Reaves and Luka,” Cooper said. “They’re going to be the nucleus of what the new Lakers are about as far as winning a championship. I don’t see anything less.”
That leaves the Lakers trying to construct everything else around them — defense, rebounding, rim protection and enough grit to survive the nights when the jumpers aren’t falling.
Horry believes they may have found some of that nastiness.
The seven-time NBA champion jokingly admitted his college allegiance to Alabama initially made embracing former Auburn center Kessler difficult. Purple and gold, apparently, can heal old SEC rivalry wounds.
“My heart says I can’t root for Walker Kessler because he went to Auburn, but now I have to,” Horry said.
Horry was particularly enthusiastic about Quentin Grimes, whom he described as a “nasty, gritty guy.”
“There’s a saying that we like to say: You’ve got to bring some nasty to the game,” Horry said. “I think that’s one of the things that he will do.”
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić leaves the InterContinental Hotel for a team dinner during the Lakers’ team mini camp. Andrej Tarfila/SOPA Images/Shutterstock
For the first time, there is no ambiguity about whose Lakers these are.
James is gone. Doncic is healthy. Reaves is back. Kessler is waiting around the rim and a new roster has been constructed around the superstar the franchise believes can carry it into its next championship era.
Whether the “Snowtime Lakers” can win a championship will ultimately depend on something far less catchy than a hilarious new nickname.
They already know they can score.
Now they have to prove they can play defense.
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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 22: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round One Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 22, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The acquisition of Miles Bridges will undoubtedly change the geometry of the Suns’ offense. He replaces Royce O’Neale in the starting lineup, a player whose primary offensive function was to catch the ball and shoot it. O’Neale averaged 2.63 seconds per touch last season, the fourth-lowest mark on the team among players who appeared in more than 50 games.
Miles Bridges will add a much-needed layer of downhill attacking, rim pressure, and versatility to the Suns’ offense. Yes, Phoenix is going to sacrifice some three-point shooting from the starting five to get there. But as we hypothesize about what this offense will ultimately look like, I can’t help but wonder what that means for Dillon Brooks.
Brooks is coming off a career-high 20.2 points per game while taking 17.1 shots a night. A lot of that was circumstance. The Suns were consistently dealing with injuries to Jalen Green, Devin Booker, or both, and somebody had to step up and take those shots. Brooks willingly did so, and I applaud him for it. The confidence he displayed, combined with his surprising ability to consistently put up 20 points, became one of the biggest surprises of last season and even pushed him into the All-Star conversation.
The challenge with Brooks offensively is that when he gets the ball, he tends to keep it. He likes to work in isolation, using the moves he practices to create his own shot in one-on-one situations. And to his credit, he succeeded. Brooks averaged 0.98 points per possession while using 12.4% of his possessions in isolation.
What worked for Brooks last season could become something that jams up the Suns’ offense this year if it’s used too frequently.
That’s where Miles Bridges changes the equation. His ability to attack downhill gives Phoenix another way to create shots for everyone else. Penetration forces defenses to collapse, and once that happens, the floor opens up. A kickout can create a clean look from three, and if the defense recovers, the next player can attack the closeout and get downhill again. That puts defenses on skates. It forces them into scramble mode, creates rotation after rotation, and generates opportunities both from beyond the arc and at the rim as defenders try to recover.
The expectation is that we’ll see plenty of penetration and kickouts with the addition of Bridges, and if that’s the case, that isn’t exactly a strength of Dillon Brooks. Brooks averaged 20.1 passes per game last season. More importantly, he received 37.3 passes per game, creating a 17.2-pass differential that ranked second-highest on the team. Only Devin Booker received more passes than he dished out.
Holding the ball and dribbling the air out of it probably isn’t the preferred method of attack for this offense anymore. Adjustments will need to happen, both philosophically and in execution, and Brooks may be the player asked to sacrifice the most. Jalen Green and Devin Booker both possess the ability to get downhill in different ways. Green brings elite athleticism and the ability to blow by defenders. Booker relies more on craft and technique to get to his spots.
That likely pushes Brooks into the fourth option offensively. And honestly, that’s a great thing for the Suns. Brooks has already shown that he has the confidence and ability to score when called upon. If Phoenix stays healthy, he shouldn’t need to do it with the same frequency he did last season. But when the offense needs him to step forward, he can still provide that production.
I’d much rather have Dillon Brooks as my fourth option than some of the fourth options that exist around the Western Conference. Would you rather have Jake LaRavia? Or Max Christie? How about the career 21.9% three-point shooting of Amen Thompson? Brooks is more offensively equipped to be productive as a fourth option.
So, as we prepare for the season to begin, it becomes an interesting question to ponder. What does Dillon Brooks look like in this version of the Suns’ offense? He doesn’t need to become a different player. He needs to become a more selective version of the player he already is. If Bridges, Booker, and Green are creating more of the initial action, then Brooks can attack advantages rather than manufacture them. And attack them he will, like a well-trained Kung Fu disciple.
The Los Angeles Lakers spent like Walker Kessler must become much more than a conventional center.
Kevin O’Connor and Raj Chipalu believe he could be the piece that stabilizes the Lakers on both ends — and turns its revamped core into a relentless regular-season operation.
Los Angeles Lakers Walker Kessler throws out the first pitch before a game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday, September 3, 2026, in Los Angeles. Wally Skalij for CA Post
Discussing Kessler on “The Kevin O’Connor Show”, O’Connor said the 7-foot-2 big man was “amazing when he was healthy” and argued that the Lakers’ steep investment reflects how difficult his skill set is to find.
Los Angeles sent Utah unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, plus swaps in 2028 and 2030, to complete the sign-and-trade, then gave Kessler a four-year, $130 million contract.
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O’Connor described him as an “elite interior defender,” lob target, finisher and screener. He also pointed to Kessler’s early experimentation with spot-up 3-pointers, a development that could determine whether the deal eventually resembles an overpay or an underpay.
The immediate fit beside Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves is uncomplicated. Kessler can create advantages without demanding post-ups or midrange touches: set a sturdy screen, roll hard, catch lobs and punish defenses on the offensive glass. He led the NBA with 4.6 offensive rebounds per game in 2024-25.
Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks goes up for a shot as Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz defends in the first half at Madison Square Garden in New York on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
His larger responsibility is covering for breakdowns at the other end. Kessler contested 7.5 shots per game at the rim in 2024-25 and held opponents to 54.8 percent shooting there, placing him behind only Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren among the league’s highest-volume rim defenders.
Chipalu called the Kessler-Dončić-Reaves trio a “regular-season wins machine.”
His reasoning centered on coach JJ Redick, who guided the Lakers to 53 wins last season even though Dončić and Reaves played only 41 games together. Adding a low-maintenance center who blocks shots, rebounds and complements both creators should raise the team’s nightly floor.
The postseason question is harder. Elite defenses can sag away from centers who do not shoot, clogging Dončić’s driving and passing lanes. Kessler made six 3-pointers in only five games last season, but that remains a tiny sample rather than proof of a dependable weapon.
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers hold hands during a timeout in the second half of a game against the Chicago Bulls at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, on Thursday, March 12, 2026. Getty Images
Health carries equal weight after a torn labrum and shoulder surgery ended that season. The Lakers have limited conventional center depth, making availability essential. Robert Horry has already called Kessler the team’s key, while Kessler has said the franchise’s investment makes him want to “run through a brick wall.”
Kessler does not need superstar usage to justify the gamble. If he stays healthy and masters the role around Los Angeles’ two creators, the enormous price may begin to look less like an indulgence and more like infrastructure.
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