Category: Basketball

ESPN’s Marc Spears has reported a coaching addition in Philadelphia. Phil Handy will be leaving the Dallas Mavericks and join the Sixers under Nick Nurse. Handy is familiar with a couple key members of the Sixers, he was an assistant in Nurse’s first season with the Toronto Raptors in 2018-19. He was also a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers (2013-2018) and Los Angeles Lakers (2019-2024) at the same time as LeBron James.

Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Phil Handy is finalizing a deal to become an assistant coach with Philadelphia Sixers head coach Nick Nurse, a source said. Handy previously worked with Nurse in Toronto and with LeBron James with the Cavs and Lakers. Great addition for Nurse. pic.twitter.com/uzD9hYu4Fn

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) August 21, 2026

Handy had a brief stint as the head coach of Mist Basketball Club in the Unrivaled basketball league before returning to the NBA in the summer of 2025 to be an assistant for the Mavericks under Jason Kidd. With Kidd now gone a year later and Dusty May now running the ship in Dallas, Handy heads to a new team with familiar faces. An interesting non-Sixers nugget from Marc Stein is that all of Kidd’s staff has been turned over with the recent departures of Handy and Josh Broghamer.

This is now the second personnel move the Sixers organization has made in this later stage of the offseason. The team reportedly added Tommy Balcetis to the front office coming over from Denver. Now they add another well-known assistant coach to the bench and one with familiarity with both the head coach and one of their biggest stars.

One of the greatest shooters of all time seemingly won’t be available for long.

The Dallas Mavericks and guard Klay Thompson agreed to a buyout Friday, Aug. 21 for the final year of his contract, worth $17.5 million. And though Thompson still has to go through the waivers process, he’s expected to sign with the Miami Heat, if not claimed, according to ESPN.

ESPN reported the deal would be two years for $13 million, with a player option in the second season..

A person with direct knowledge of the matter confirmed to USA TODAY Sports that Miami is a very attractive option for Thompson and one of his top choices. The person spoke under the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly comment on Thompson’s thinking.

Thompson, 36, is a five-time All-Star and four-time NBA champion known for his precision and accuracy as a perimeter shooter. With Miami, he brings much-needed shooting to a roster that underwent an overhaul after the June acquisition of star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.

While the Heat are set to roll out a stout defensive team, perimeter shooting had been one of the clear weaknesses, and Thompson fills that need. Given that Antetokounmpo is a player who commands enormous defensive attention, a shooter like Thompson should presumably have ample space to operate if opposing teams send double-teams and extra pressure toward Antetokounmpo.

After Masai Ujiri took over the Mavericks, the franchise fired former coach Jason Kidd and replaced him with Dusty May, the former Michigan Wolverines coach fresh off of an NCAA championship. Dallas is undergoing a youth movement built around Rookie of the Year forward Cooper Flagg.

“Klay is one of the great players and competitors of this generation, and we are grateful for everything he brought to the Mavericks organization,” Ujiri said Friday in a statement. “We have tremendous respect for Klay and all that he has accomplished throughout his career, and we wish him nothing but the best moving forward.”

Thompson, whose contract was set to expire at the end of the 2026-27 season, didn’t fit that timeline, so the franchise opted to move on after it could not find a trade partner.

Thank you, Klay Thompson 🫡#MFFLpic.twitter.com/audf1uA6bQ

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) August 21, 2026

Thompson rose to fame during his 11 seasons with the Golden State Warriors, when he was paired alongside Stephen Curry to form the “Splash Brothers,” the most prolific shooting duo in NBA history.

Thompson averaged 11.7 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists last season across 69 appearances. He converted 38.3% of his 3-point attempts.

Klay Thompson buyout winners

Giannis Antetokounmpo

He’s at his best with the ball in his hands, going coast-to-coast in transition, where he can either attack the rim or kick out to open players once defenders crash in on him. If Thompson joins the Heat, Antetokounmpo suddenly has a pair of knockdown perimeter shooters, alongside fellow guard Tim Hardaway Jr.

The flip side is that opposing teams won’t be able to afford to leave Thompson and Hardaway so wide open; that should only improve spacing and clear up gaps for Antetokounmpo to attack.

Klay Thompson

He gets the best of both worlds; at 36, he’s able to depart a rebuilding team that wasn’t set to compete for championships and can join a contender. He also gets the chance — assuming he clears waivers, which is very likely given any claiming team would need to pick up his $17.5 million salary — to pick his preferred destination while recouping a portion of his salary for 2026-27.

And in Miami, which has a number of premier defenders on the roster, there’s more than enough low-post help that can mask Thompson’s weaknesses on defense.

Klay Thompson buyout losers

Los Angeles Lakers

Thompson is from Los Angeles and the other team that was seemingly in the running for his services was the Lakers. Though Los Angeles is clearly building around Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, both of whom are excellent shooters in their own right, the Lakers could certainly still use another consistent knock-down threat along the perimeter.

The feud with Heat reserve Myron Gardner

Back in November, during a Mavericks game at Miami, Thompson got into a bit of a dustup with reserve Heat forward Myron Gardner, who had repeatedly chirped at Thompson throughout the game. After the game ended, Heat assistant Caron Butler made Gardner go over to Thompson to clear the air. That apparently squashed the beef, but now the two will share a locker room.

Miami Heat roster

Although the proposed Thompson addition would be a significant get for the Heat, at 36 years old, Thompson is unlikely to serve as a starter. Rather, he’s more likely to provide a shooting and scoring spark off the bench, with a possible increase in minutes late in close games. With that said, here’s a look at the Heat’s projected lineup if Thompson signs in Miami:

Miami Heat starting lineup

PG: Davion MitchellSG: Tim Hardaway Jr.SF: Andrew WigginsPF: Giannis AntetokounmpoC: Bam Adebayo

Miami Heat bench

F: Bobby PortisG: Klay ThompsonG: Pelle LarssonG: Dru SmithF: Nikola JovićG: Ryan Conwell (rookie)G: Simone FontecchioG: Tre DonaldsonF: Myron GardnerC: Vladislav Goldin

Klay Thompson age

Klay Thompson was born Feb. 8, 1990, making him 36 years old. It also means he will turn 37 just before the All-Star break, which begins Feb. 19, 2027.

Klay Thompson stats

In 69 games for the Mavericks last season, Thompson averaged 11.7 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists. He converted 38.3% of his 3-point attempts.

He is a 40.9% career 3-point shooter, having made 2,899 attempts from beyond the arc, fourth-most all-time behind Stephen Curry (4,248), James Harden (3,390) and Ray Allen (2,973).

Klay Thompson contract

Buyouts are when a player and his team negotiate to terminate a player’s contract earlier than its initial expiration date. Typically the player and his agent will agree to receive a portion of his salary for the exchange of giving the team financial flexibility. This happens most often with rebuilding teams like the Mavericks and veteran players like Thompson.

Thompson’s salary for the 2026-27 season was set to be $17.5 million. He will still need to clear waivers; if a team scoops him before the 48-hour deadline, then that team will be on the hook for Thompson’s salary. Otherwise, he will become an unrestricted free agent.

Per ESPN, the contract Thompson intends to sign with the Heat is a two-year deal worth $13 million, with the final year being a player option.

Dallas Mavericks roster

Here is a projection for what the Mavericks roster will look like next season

Dallas Mavericks starting lineup

PG: Kyrie IrvingSG: Max ChristieSF: Cooper FlaggPF: P.J. WashingtonC: Derek Lively II

Dallas Mavericks bench

F: Naji MarshallG: Zaccharie RisacherF: Santi AldamaG: Marcus SasserF: Morez Johnson Jr. (rookie)F: Caleb MartinC: Daniel GaffordG: Sergio de Larrea (rookie)C: Moussa Cisse

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Klay Thompson gets Mavericks buyout, expected to join Heat: report

Klay Thompson’s tenure with the Mavericks has ended — and he’s expected to join an Eastern Conference contender.

Thompson and the Mavericks agreed to a buyout agreement, the team announced Friday, and one of the greatest 3-point shooters in NBA history is expected to sign a two-year, $13 million deal with the Heat — who won the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes back in June — after clearing waivers, according to ESPN.

His stint in Dallas concluded after two seasons, and Thompson had one year remaining on his three-year, $50 million deal from back in 2024.

“Klay is one of the great players and competitors of his generation, and we are grateful for everything he brought to the Mavericks organization,” Mavericks president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri said in a release. “We have tremendous respect for Klay and all that he has accomplished throughout his career, and we wish him nothing but the best moving forward.”

Thompson, a five-time All-Star four-time champion while playing alongside Stephen Curry with the Warriors, joined the Mavericks ahead of the 2024-25 campaign as part of a sign-and-trade.

He struggled while averaging just 11.7 points per game last year, shot 38.3% from behind the arc and mostly settled into a role as a Dallas reserve — only starting eight games.

It marked a stark difference — for both role and production — from when he averaged 21.9 points per game and shot 41.2% from 3 during the 2022-23 campaign with Golden State.

But once he signs with the Heat, he’ll instantly join another contender serving as one of the Knicks’ most daunting obstacles in their quest to repeat and have a chance to carve out a sizable role again.

Miami landed Antetokounmpo from the Bucks in exchange for three first-round picks, a pick swap, a second-rounder, Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported in July that the Heat were interested in pairing Thompson with both Antetokounmpo and center Bam Adebayo.

And while he’s not the same star he once was with Golden State, Thompson has still made the fourth-most 3-pointers in NBA history — passing Damian Lillard during a January game and now sits just 74 behind Ray Allen for the third-most in league history.

For the second time in nine days, an NBA owner’s stake in their franchise has been flipped after a period of brief control.

Marc Lore is selling his majority stake in the Minnesota Timberwolves and the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx to businessman Marc Stad, making Stad the controlling owner of the franchise. This comes just 14 months after Lore bought the Timberwolves alongside former Major League Baseball star Alex Rodriguez.

Lore will retain a minority stake in the franchise, and Rodriguez will also increase his minority shares in the Timberwolves with the transaction. Stad had been a minority investor in the team.

According to ESPN, the transaction was agreed to with a $4.5 billion valuation.

“We have been working together for years with a shared goal of building the Timberwolves and Lynx into the best organization in basketball on and off the floor,” Stad, Rodriguez and Lore said Friday, Aug. 21 in a joint statement. “Our priority is and always will be championships. Our new agreement, pending league approval, is an evolution of the partnership we have built together and strengthening of our commitment to our team and our culture.”

Stad is the founder of a California investment management firm, Dragoneer Investment Group.

According to ESPN, Lore opted to reduce his exposure and involvement in the Timberwolves and Lynx as his company, the Wonder Group, plans to make a push for an initial public offering.

This also follows a new trend of owners flipping their investment in a very short period to net a significant profit.

On Aug. 12, Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner and TWG Global CEO Mark Walter agreed to sell his shares of the Los Angeles Lakers to businessman Joshua Kushner and former Disney CEO Robert Iger at a record $12.5 billion valuation. This was just 10 months after Walter’s purchase of the Lakers had been approved at a valuation of $10 billion, generating a 25% return on his investment in his short tenure.

The Lore and Rodriguez purchase of the Timberwolves was unanimously approved in June 2025, at a valuation of $1.5 billion. Given that Lore sold his stake at the $4.5 billion valuation — which ranks fourth-most in NBA history — Lore stands to make a massive 200% return on his investment in just 14 months.

“One of the great joys I’ve had in my career is spending the last few years helping build the Timberwolves and Lynx with my friend and partner Marc Lore. I’m very excited to announce that this incredible journey reaches a new level today,” Rodriguez said on Friday, Aug. 21 in a statement posted on social media.

“Marc and Elisa Stad, who have been our partners and friends since we bought the teams, will be increasing their investment and joining me as Co-Chairman. I will also be increasing my investment and spending even more time with the teams as Co-Chairman, Governor of the Lynx, and alternate Governor of the Timberwolves, pending league approval.”

The NBA will hold its annual fall board of governors meeting in September in New York, when the transaction might be put up for a vote of approval.

“While Marc Lore will be reducing his role and ownership to focus on his business, he remains an investor and a key part of our partnership,” Rodriguez continued. “I could not be more energized about this evolution and what we’re all going to do together for the Twin Cities.”

The Timberwolves have been a consistent threat in the Western Conference playoffs, though they have failed to break through to the NBA Finals. The team underwent a minor overhaul this offseason after it traded away Julius Randle and Naz Reid in separate deals that returned former Hornets guard LaMelo Ball. The move is meant to provide some offensive relief for star guard Anthony Edwards, who has become one of the more dynamic scorers in the NBA.

The Lynx currently have the best record in the WNBA at 30-7, which is four games clear of the next closest team, the Golden State Valkyries. Minnesota has been one of the more consistent franchises in the WNBA, having won four championships from 2011-17.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Marc Lore selling majority stake in Timberwolves, Lynx to Marc Stad

The Dallas Mavericks are buying out veteran guard Klay Thompson, the team announced Friday afternoon. Thompson will become a free agent, and reportedly sign with the Miami Heat.

This was a long-rumored scenario, especially when it became clear the Mavericks were moving in a new direction around Cooper Flagg when ownership hired Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz to run the basketball operations, fired Jason Kidd and hired college coach Dusty May.

Thompson played two seasons in Dallas, and they were far from the memorable experiences that Mavericks fans envisioned when it felt like a coup the Mavericks signed him in the first place away from the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers in 2024. Dallas was fresh off an NBA Finals loss to the Celtics that featured multiple role players failing to knock down shots or properly space the floor around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

Enter Thompson: statistically the second-greatest three point shooter of all time, someone with championship experience to help Doncic and the Mavericks get over the hump. We all know what happened next, and the team Thompson signed up for was very much not that team after the trade of Doncic last February.

Despite it all, Thompson was a good soldier. We didn’t hear too many whiffs of discontent from Dallas media, and Thompson took on the role of veteran leader as the Mavericks cycled through various young players in the last two seasons due to the Doncic trade and injuries. Thompson never played a playoff game with the Mavericks, that’s a damn shame. But it was fun to see him continue to light it up regularly.

Thompson wasn’t his old self after the two major leg injuries, but he still provided the shooting and spacing the Mavericks desperately needed. Thompson shot 38.7 percent on threes in his two seasons with the Mavericks on 7.7 three point attempts per game. At times he was the entire floor gravity for a Mavericks team that was injured and cramped with inconsistent shooters.

Mavericks fans might lament Thompson being let go for nothing, but it’s the right call: Dallas is fully rebuilding around Flagg, and it’ll be hard to give younger guys more burn if all the veterans hang around the roster. Obviously there needs to be a balance, and teams need adults in the room, but the Mavericks have adults in large supply — moving on and freeing up some of the wing logjam will only help Dallas get a better picture of their roster and evaluate it as time moves on.

First we must start with the image. All the best photos of NBA Hall of Fame coach Mike D’antoni feature him with a mustache. I would call this a Mike D’Antoni Mustache Mandate. With that out of the way, we can discuss these results.

Mike D’Antoni has defeated Rick Adelman by a fairly wide margin. I wouldn’t call it a D’Antoni voter mandate, but it’s close to one. I think this is a fair result for two reasons.

One, the Houston Rockets best ever season in terms of wins, 65, came under MDA’s coaching. Adelman’s best season only saw the Rockets notch 55 wins. That’s good for a tie (with D’Antoni) for 4th highest regular season wins by the Rockets (57 is 2nd under Rudy T, 56th is 3rd, under Kevin McHale). A ten win margin is pretty significant, but you might look to post season performance as your standard. Again, MDA wins, with his teams reaching the NBA Western Conference Finals in a series most of us (and MDA in a recent interview) remember painfully. If you are going by titles, well, it’s Rudy T and no one else.

Do you want to wager on NBA win totals? Is such wagering legal where you are? Can you afford a small flutter? Well, you can bet on win totals for the upcoming season here, in that case.

Two, I’d pick MDA because he utterly changed how NBA basketball is played. Rick Adelman was an excellent coach, with a deep well of NBA stratagems in his bag. So excellent he, too, is in the NBA Hall of Fame. His motion offense could be a wonder when it was working well, and it was a good offense for getting more out of limited players.

MDA did something else. He broke the NBA paradigm of fixed positions, and inside, post dominant, play. Even if Mike D’Antoni didn’t win an NBA teams that bear his imprint (particularly the Warriors with MDA disciple Steve Kerr) have wib quite a few. The “No Jump Shooting, Small Ball, Team Can Win A Title” mantra is long dead. I’ve always thought of MDA as the basketball equivalent of Earl Weaver.

Earl Weaver was a Baltimore Orioles manager long ago when the Baltimore Orioles fairly regularly won World Series. Weaver essentially intuited almost all of the basic, original, conclusions of the baseball analytics movement. (Bunts waste outs, getting on base, with power in the lineup, is key, etc). We know he did this because he wrote a book about it

MDA did much the same. Early shot clock offense is generally more successful. Higher pace leads to more points. Three is more than two, and there’s no law that says you can’t shoot a lot of threes. The offensive advantages of a lot of smaller players on the court are quite often superior to the other advantages provided by bigger players. You don’t necessarily need the center under the basket, or need a center at all. Pulling a center away from the basket, on offense, provides more space to attack the paint. Pulling defenses away from the paint doesn’t necessarily make long range shooting harder, but it does make defending the paint harder. Scoring is best either at the rim, from three point range, or at the free throw line.

You can see all of these ideas start to bloom with his Seven Seconds or Less Phoenix Suns (perhaps the team most beloved of all time by neutral fans, unless it’s the Showtime Lakers). The ideas bore fruit with the Houston Rockets, and James Harden, a player who could push MDA theories to what seemed at the time, extremes. (Those vaunted offenses would only count as middling at best today. That’s how much the MDA Way has taken over the NBA.)

Some of these ideas have been countered, as all innovations in competitive endeavors are countered, but that doesn’t mean they were wrong.

So to me, Adelman was excellent as a coach, but Mike D’Antoni was a visionary, and that’s a fair result.

Herald What Brad Stevens expects from Celtics’ three offseason additions

GlobeBill Chisholm isn’t ruling out the possibility of a new arena for the Celtics

Chris Cenac Jr. was discouraged he went 27th. Kelvin Sampson, his college coach, thinks the Celtics are an ideal fit.

CelticsBlog Banner Years: 1984, Bird vs. Magic—at last

Banner Years: 1981, The Legend Arrives

Mitchell Robinson’s Defense Deserves More Attention

What if Gordon Hayward stayed healthy in Boston?

Banner Years: 1976, triple the tension with Celtics-Suns 3 OTs

Why Doc Rivers’ Hall of Fame induction felt so important

CLNS Media Derrick White Season Preview: What Happened to his Shot?

Can Payton Pritchard Make Major Leap this Season with Jaylen Brown Gone?

NBA Scouts High on Hugo Gonzalez Making Leap

Celtics .com Mike Conley’s Top 5 Career Performances

NESNFormer Celtic Jaylen Brown ‘Offended’ by His New NBA 2K27 Rating

Celtics Receive Sobering Ranking After Jaylen Brown Trade

Celtics Again Ranked as Top DeMar DeRozan Landing Spot, This Time Because of Jaylen Brown

Former Celtic Says Kyrie Irving Would’ve Been Better Than Michael Jordan Under One Condition

Paul George’s Celtics Ceiling and Floor Are Miles Apart

Celtics and Warriors Will See 11-Year Streak End This Season

Celtics’ 2026-27 Season Is the Most Important of the Jayson Tatum Era

Mass LiveCeltics Mailbag: Paul George trade creates new intriguing choice

After A.J. Brown and Jaylen Brown trades, Philadelphia is now Boston’s biggest rival

Celtics WireCeltics have a strategic move they should use next season

Was the Celtics trade of Jaylen Brown to the 76ers a panic move?

Which two Boston Celtics players are most likely to take a major leap forward next season?

Was Boston Celtics owner Bill Chisholm initially against trading Jaylen Brown to the 76ers?

Celtics history: Dozier signs two way deal; win G3 of Bubble 1st round vs. 76ers

Celtics center Luka Garza held youth basketball camp in Iowa

Joe Mazzulla continues summer tour with visits to Luka Garza, Ron Harper Jr., Mitchell Robinson

A different look for the Celtics is not a bad thing

Boston Sports Journal Neemias Queta could be gearing up for an offensive leap

Simone: It’s the rest of the Celtics that matter most

Hardwood HoudiniWhy Brandon Williams is an intriguing target for the Celtics

Jaylen Brown could be Celtics’ best Trojan Horse for Sixers since Al Horford

Celtics have left door wide open for Payton Pritchard to make leap to stardom

Paul George is a perfect fit with Celtics if you ignore the Jaylen Brown context

Celtics made offseason steal as Mitchell Robinson unlocks key to title roster

Payton Pritchard keeps it real on Paul George and Celtics’ new signings

Peyton Watson trade another reminder of Brad Stevens’ masterful work with Celtics

Peyton Watson trade spells tough news for Celtics in an already loaded East

Neemias Queta sends Celtics fans the exact message they’re hoping to hear

Bullish Celtics outlook includes Jayson Tatum change, Joe Mazzulla’s historic edge

Chowder and Champions Celtics shouldn’t overthink Payton Pritchard’s role after breakout season

Celtics are taking a major Paul George risk that could derail their season

Hugo Gonzalez has a great opportunity to validate Celtics’ big offseason gamble

CLNS Media/YouTubeWould Doc Rivers Even Be a Hall of Famer Without 2008 Celtics? Bob Ryan Weighs In

What are Jayson Tatum’s MVP Chances? | Still Poddable

Derrick White Season Preview: What Happened to his Shot? | Celtics Daily

Celtics owner makes candid admission on Jaylen Brown trade | Still Poddable

Locked on CelticsWhat Should Boston Celtics EXPECT from Paul George?

Bill Chisholm SAYS Right Things, But Will He Follow Through For Boston Celtics?

BasketNewsJaylen Brown trade gets more clarity from Celtics president

Clutch Points Watch Celtics’ Jayson Tatum’s intense offseason training with Joe Mazzulla

Celtics’ Brad Stevens drops more insight on ‘tough’ Jaylen Brown trade decision

Celtics reveal Paul George’s ‘surreal’ message from first visit to training facility

Sixer Sense Paul George’s Celtics fit could come back to haunt the 76ers

Air Jordan Chronicles Jayson Tatum reveals why it’s tough parenting as a millionaire sports star

HeavyCeltics’ Mitchell Robinson Gets Candid After Leaving Knicks

Celtics’ Paul George Sends Strong Message After Blockbuster Jaylen Brown Trade

Celtics Put Brad Stevens ‘On the Line’ After Jaylen Brown Trade

Celtics’ Derrick White Earns Interesting Ranking In Latest Guard List

Celtics’ Payton Pritchard Earns Surprising Ranking In Latest Guard List

Celtics Two-Way Standout Nears Major Opportunity Ahead of Training Camp

Sportskeeda “They scared of Jaylen Brown”, “We playing prison ball next season” – NBA Fans Go Wild As Jayson Tatum Goes Full Boxing Mode Alongside Joe Mazzulla

Bleacher Report Paul George Reacts to Celtics Trade in Behind-The-Scenes Video, Brad Stevens Talks Jaylen Brown Deal

TalkBasket Paul George says he is “ecstatic” to join Celtics

Celtics RoundtableBoston Celtics Executive Praises Paul George

Boston Celtics Big Man Has High Praise For Head Coach Joe Mazzulla

How Do Boston Celtics Want to Play in 2026-27?

Basketball Network“I get a long off-season to really get back to a 110%” – Jayson Tatum finds the silver lining after Celtics trade Jaylen Brown

All he knows is paradise, new sneakers and all that” – Jayson Tatum talks about the parenting challenge of instilling toughness into his son

“Does it make sense to explore other pathways?” – Brad Stevens breaks down decision to trade Jaylen Brown to Philly

Brian Windhorst shares why the Boston Celtics shouldn’t expect much from Paul George: “I have no idea how he’s gonna hold up”

Brian Windhorst predicts the Boston Celtics will have more regular-season wins than the NY Knicks: “If that’s what that guy does, I’m ready to go”

Fadeaway WorldJayson Tatum’s Father Reveals The “Dark Side” Of The NBA’s Single-Mother Narrative

10 Active NBA Players With The Most Career Points Who Haven’t Won A Championship

Larry Brown Sports Fans mock Jayson Tatum after seeing him train with Joe Mazzulla

Essentially Sports “I Got the Top 3 Players”: Jayson Tatum’s Father Responds to Jaylen Brown’s Dad Crowning His Son No. 1

PFSN ‘Brutally Washed,’ ‘He Can Still Hoop’ — NBA World Divided As Paul George Links Up With Jayson Tatum, Vows To ‘Represent For’ Celtics

Hoops HabitThe greatest NBA player from all 50 states

The Sporting NewsPaul George is ecstatic to be playing for the Boston Celtics after his first visit

Future NBA Power Rankings: Which teams have brightest future in three years, and which will be at the bottom

ESPNNBA offseason recap, early 2026-27 season previews by team

Liberty Ballers Jaylen Brown will be the most motivated player in the NBA

SI .comWhat the Boston Celtics Can Expect From Jordan Walsh

What the Boston Celtics Can Expect From Baylor Scheierman

Hoops RumorsNBA 2026 Offseason Check-In: Boston Celtics

Duke Wire Old highlights show Jon Scheyer torching this NBA coach in 2010 Final Four

Celtics ChronicleWhy Mike Conley Makes More Sense Than I Thought

TalkSport$6.1bn NBA franchise may leave historic home after being forced to trade $235m superstar

CBS SportsRanking the NBA’s 12 best duos: Three new-look pairs make the list, but familiar names are at the top

Fan RecapJoe Mazzulla Is Setting A New Tone As Celtics Adjust

Derrick White Just Spotlighted A Real Celtics Offensive Dilemma

Payton Pritchard Just Framed What Bostons New Veterans Could Change

Paul George Gives Celtics A Risk They Can’t Ignore

FIBA Basketball10 rising stars to watch in Window 4 of the European Qualifiers

NBA .comDerrick White’s Best Blocks from the 2025-26 NBA Season

The Lakers and Timberwolves may share Minnesota roots, but one is a worth a heck of a lot more than the other.

Businessman Marc Stad will become the controlling owner and largest shareholder of the Timberwolves and the WNBA’s Lynx in a deal valued at $4.5 billion, according to ESPN.

The move comes shortly after last week’s bombshell that the Lakers would be sold to businessman Josh Kushner and ex-Disney executive Bob Iger for an American sports record $12.5 billion.

The $4.5 billion figure ranks fourth in NBA history among ownership pacts and is pending approval from the Board of Governors, with its next meetings set for Sept. 15-16, per ESPN.

“We have been working together for years with a shared goal of building the Timberwolves and Lynx into the best organization in basketball on and off the floor,” Stad and co-owners Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore said in a joint statement Friday, per ESPN. “Our priority is and always will be championships.

“Our new agreement, pending league approval, is an evolution of the partnership we have built together and strengthening of our commitment to our team and our culture. While we’re proud of the great work we’ve done, there’s so much more to do and we’re just getting started.”

Stad reportedly is buying the majority of Lore’s stake. Lore will remain a minority investor in the franchises.

He opted to sell the team to focus on his Wonder Group company with the hope of establishing the best foot forward for the franchise in the long term, per ESPN.

Rodriguez is increasing his equity percentages, and it’s uncertain what percentage he and Lore will own once the deal is finalized.

“One of the great joys I’ve had in my career is spending the last few years helping build the Timberwolves and Lynx with my friend and partner Marc Lore,” Rodriguez wrote Friday afternoon on X. “Marc and Elisa Stad, who have been our partners and friends since we bought the teams, will be increasing their investment and joining me as Co-Chairman. I will also be increasing my investment and spending even more time with the teams as Co-Chairman, Governor of the Lynx, and alternate Governor of the Timberwolves, pending league approval. While Marc Lore will be reducing his role and ownership to focus on his business, he remains an investor and a key part of our partnership. I could not be more energized about this evolution and what we’re all going to do together for the Twin Cities.”

The Timberwolves have changed hands twice in short succession.

Rodriguez and Lore previously agreed to purchase the team for a $1.5 billion valuation in 2021 before they officially assumed ownership last year.

Stad, 47, is the founder of Dragoneer Investment Group, which Forbes lists as one of the “largest growth investment firms,” and previously served as a minority investor for the two Minnesota franchises and joined the ownership group of the Kraken of the NHL, according to ESPN.

His wife, Elisa, reportedly will serve as the team’s governor once the transaction is finalized, with Rodriguez acting as the alternate governor.

Stad inherits a Timberwolves team featuring one of the sport’s best players in Anthony Edwards, but Minnesota has yet to make the NBA Finals.

Last year’s team went 49-33 and finished sixth in the Western Conference before bowing out against the second-seeded Spurs in the conference semifinals.

Throughout Aaron Holiday’s NBA career, he was known as a reliable guard, a great locker-room presence, and, of course, one of the three Holiday brothers in the NBA.

Even though Holiday never reached the heights of his older brother Jrue, he was always a sought-after player throughout his eight-year career because of his ability to be not only a reliable ball handler but also an above-average 3-point shooter and, as mentioned before, a great teammate. Even though he never averaged double digits in a season, he was the type of player any contender would love to have on their bench.

That’s exactly what Holiday provided for the Rockets in his three seasons with the team. Holiday only started five games during that time, but Ime Udoka knew Holiday would come in and provide steady play even if he hadn’t played meaningful minutes in weeks.

It isn’t easy finding players like that in today’s NBA, and that is why Udoka trusted him in some late-game situations. Holiday’s best season with the Rockets was the first season in 2023 when he averaged 16.3 minutes, 6.6 points, and 1.8 assists per game.

The Rockets called on Holiday when they wanted a veteran presence on the court or were dealing with injuries, especially in his first season with the team. That is why the Rockets brought him back year after year. However, with Fred VanVleet returning this season, the addition of Marcus Smart, and the emergence of Reed Sheppard, there wasn’t much room left in the backcourt.

Aaron Holiday to play overseas this upcoming season

Holiday entered the 2026 offseason as a free agent, and after weighing his options, the veteran decided to take his talent to Europe, signing with Maxima Roma in Italy’s top league. Even though it hasn’t been reported why Holiday decided to forgo the NBA for the time being, the opportunity to play more minutes more than likely factored into his decision.

Holiday will join other former NBA player Xavier Moon, who played a few seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers but mostly with their G League team before eventually making his way to Maxima Roma, signing earlier this month.

Holiday, however, has not closed the door on an NBA return, as several NBA teams reportedly showed interest in the guard this offseason. Holiday has an out clause in his current contract that lets him return to the NBA if all requirements are met, so there is a chance we see Aaron Holiday back in the NBA at some point in the 2026-27 season. Holiday is still only 29, and with his willingness to play any role a team needs and his reliability when called upon, dont be surprised if Holiday isn’t back contributing in the NBA next season.

Report: Sixers ‘finalizing a deal' to hire Phil Handy as assistant coach originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers are reportedly poised to add Phil Handy to their coaching staff.

Andscape and ESPN’s Marc J. Spears reported Friday that Handy is “finalizing a deal” to join the Sixers as an assistant coach.

Handy had been with the Mavericks since last summer. He goes way back with Sixers head coach Nick Nurse; Handy played for Nurse as a member of the British Basketball League’s Manchester Giants. Nurse had Handy on his staff with the NBA champion 2018-19 Toronto Raptors. That title is one of three on Handy’s résumé.  

He’s worked closely with many stars, including new Sixer LeBron James.

“I’ve always felt like the best players, they want to be coached,” Handy told Spears in 2020 after the Lakers clinched the championship. “They want to be challenged, too. And I think it’s a two-way street, so our job is to coach. It’s not about necessarily being friends. It’s about coaching the game. Stick to the facts of what it is.” 

Like Sixers assistant coach Rico Hines, Handy has become a well-known, highly respected name over the years in the player development world. Hines ran the Sixers’ player development program in Nurse’s first three years as head coach.

Dice Yoshimoto is another recent addition to the Sixers’ staff. The team’s website lists Yoshimoto as “assistant coach/head video coordinator.”

Yoshimoto was on the Sixers’ sideline during summer league. He’s previously worked in the NBA for the Nets, Nuggets, Bulls, Timberwolves and Knicks. Yoshimoto also has experience with the Ukraine and Japan national teams.

The Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx have a new majority owner after founder and partner of the Dragoneer Investment group, Marc Stad, bought majority shares from Marc Lore to become the controlling owner.

American business leader Marc Stad has completed a deal to become the controlling owner and largest shareholder of the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx by buying the majority of co-owner Marc Lore’s stake at a $4.5 billion valuation, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/EUvuf9SGkQ

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 21, 2026

In a sale that seemingly came out of nowhere in the eyes of the general public, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Marc Stad bought Marc Lore’s shares to become the majority owner of both Minnesota pro basketball franchices. Lore and Alex Rodriguez started their multiple-year purchase of these teams in 2021 in a unique process from long-time owner Glen Taylor in sections. After the drama that ensued with this agreement between the two groups, culminating in full control of the team just over a year ago, Minnesota will undergo another ownership change.

Marc Stad was a part of the initial group as a minority investor with Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez to purchase the team and has been working for the last few months to become the majority owner per Sharania.

According to The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski, Alex Rodriguez is staying on in his same role with the teams and will work in tandem with Marc Stad in a similar capacity to the Lore-Rodriguez pairing. He will remain the “front-facing” member of the ownership group. Another wrinkle, as Krawczynki reported, is that Stad’s wife, Elisa, would be the “designated governor” for the Timberwolves, while Rodriguez remains in that same role with the Lynx.

Marc Lore is expected to stay on as a minority owner.

The franchise valuation was at $4.5 billion dollars which was three times the amount that Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez bought the team for in 2021.

Full joint statement on stunning Timberwolves sale:

“We have been working together for years with a shared goal of building the Timberwolves and Lynx into the best organization in basketball on and off the floor. Our priority is and always will be championships.  Our new…

— Ben Horney (@BenHorney) August 21, 2026

While it is always a bit scary when new owners take over, especially with the recent drama coming from other organizations such as the Portland Trail Blazers and their new owner, or the Los Angeles Lakers Buss Family saga.

Minnesota fans should be encouraged with the continuity of Rodriguez staying on in the same capacity, and the fact that Stad was already a minority owner in the organization. Keeping some semblance of the leadership structure that has been guiding the Timberwolves massive offseason and the Lynx dominant season could be key.

In mid-August, we’re still a little far away from nailing down precisely how the Wizards will set up their rotation. The question remains as to how the Wizards will fill their final roster spot, whether with DeMar DeRozan, Anthony Gill, or somebody else.

But with a new-look roster likely featuring three new starters, there are some interesting questions lingering about how the Wizards will align their rotation. They are now attempting to toe the tricky line of rising up the standings quickly while also empowering a group of young players.

Let’s talk through some of the most interesting questions.

How often do they pair Trae Young and Tre Johnson?

Depending on Johnson’s development, this question could quickly become a defining one for this era of the Wizards. It is harder than ever now in the NBA to put two small guards who are below-average defensively on the court together for heavy minutes. 

Young’s defense comes and goes, to be charitable, and Johnson faces an uphill battle to reach a passable level on that end given his slight frame. But Johnson is also likely too good to be shunted off to play only when Young sits, which might only be for around 15 minutes a game. 

The most interesting (temporary) solution here is stealing a few minutes each game where Young and Johnson play alongside as many good defenders as the Wizards can muster at a time. This could even mean pulling a Cleveland Cavaliers and pairing the two guards with the two star bigs, though with Johnson coming off the bench, it could be difficult for Brian Keefe to organize the rotation that way.

Still, the idea of Johnson playing alongside a distributor like Young is an intriguing one. Johnson often worked off the ball last season as a movement shooter, coming off pindowns and dragging his defender around. By heavily staggering the two, Johnson would naturally step into a role as the backup point guard, which could orient him away from his strengths as a shooter.

Could Bub Carrington’s role diminish?

There is a crowded group of Wizards that need and deserve minutes off the bench. I wonder if Carrington and his unusual set of strengths and weaknesses could be minimized.

The central question of Bub Carrington is whether it’s possible for an on-ball guard to make a positive impact while treating the paint like lava. (This is very Pelicans-era Lonzo Ball coded.) Carrington shoots 40 percent from three on good volume and managed 4.6 assists last season, but he almost never shot the ball near the rim. 

Instead, he often hot-potatoed the ball away or launched a (relatively efficient) pull-up. He shot just 0.8 times per game inside five feet, one of the lowest numbers in the league. Most of the others in that range are low-usage role players or specialty shooters. Carrington, by contrast, was running frequent pick-and-rolls.

The Wizards need more offensive diversity and off-the-dribble creation that empowers the collective. Carrington works hard on defense, but he’s only 6’4 and can have trouble staying attached to the elites of the league. He’ll have to expand his game and settle into a different niche to fit into a Wizards team that wants to play winning basketball.

How does Bilal Coulibaly fit into the new-look set-up?

The status of Coulibaly, whose development has somewhat disappointingly stalled, is now in question as the Wizards plan to start Alex Sarr and Anthony Davis. Coulibaly’s struggles to space the floor make his fit dicey in the Wizards’ best lineups.

Of course, no one is assuming that Davis is going to be healthy all year. Despite the presence of Deandre Ayton, there will be plenty of single-big minutes to go around. Keefe will have decisions to make about how he’ll integrate Coulibaly, but it would make sense to pair him with Sarr and minimize the impacts on spacing.

Kyshawn George and Will Riley, though, are going to get their shares of minutes around AJ Dybantsa. That’s a lot of forwards. Coulibaly is more defense-oriented and a more natural power forward than those guys, but he’ll likely have to show more juice offensively to beat out those guys for minutes. 

The constant turmoil of the Buss family feud continues to linger around the Lakers franchise, but as they say, the show, or in this case the basketball, must go on.

Amid the noise, superstar Luka Dončić’s mini camp begins this week. All the participating players were pictured boarding and taking off to Slovenia on Wednesday.

Lakers are headed to Ljubljana ✈️ pic.twitter.com/WZ1ESlAFBD

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) August 20, 2026

A hopeful key contributor this season on board is Sandro Mamukelashvili, general manager Rob Pelinka’s most out-of-the-box signing of the summer. Listed at 6’9 and 240 pounds, the sharpshooting big man brings an essential stretch-five element with versatility at the forward position the Lakers have been in dire need of.

This summer, both starting forwards Rui Hachimura and LeBron James walked out the door in free agency. It leaves Mamu as the most important forward on the roster as currently constructed.

The heavily offensively-lenient big man comes in immediately as a dream fit around Luka and Austin Reaves. As with any supporting player, it starts with his ability to shoot and spread the floor. In a career year with the Raptors last season, Mamu shot 38.9% from 3-point range on 3.7 attempts per game.

He gives the Lakers a pick-and-pop option they didn’t have. In the clip below, Mamu is the center in a small-ball group for the Raptors, something he did often.

Toronto is spaced five out to maximize driving lanes. Mamu sets a ball screen up high with the opposing big man in drop coverage, sitting back in the paint waiting for the ball handler to engage. It’s an easy drive and kick back pass for a spot-up 3-pointer against a late contest.

He hits 3-pointers from all over the floor in any situation. He has a quick release with solid footwork on relocation and movement shots on off-ball screen actions. Playing with constant downhill forces like Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram, he used their attention to become a release valve.

The shooting opens the door for Mamu to show off his versatility. Modern big men not only must hit shots from the perimeter but handle the ball and make quick dribble-pass-shoot decisions. Mamu fits the bill.

In the Raptors system, he’d have offense run through him as the ball handler, showing comfort in coming up and making decisions in a variety of inverted actions. He collected dribble hand-offs like shown in the clip below, able to put the ball on the floor for drives and attacking closeouts.

Mamu finished 71% of his shots in the restricted area for the Raptors, second best on the team.

He also averaged just under two assists per game last season, exhibiting the ability to read and take advantage of defenses. He found teammates on kick-out passes or nifty back door bounces on overplays like the one below.

LA clearly opted for more youth and athleticism this summer, hoping to play a faster style with their dynamic backcourt. Mamu is an elite finisher in transition and brings an uptempo flair with his push-the-pace game.

He scores 21.7% of his points on the break and is in the 85th percentile in efficiency. He changes ends seamlessly as a fluid athlete and is versatile, able to hit 3-pointers as the trailer or collect posters, as shown on the unsuspecting Derrick White.

Mamu had career numbers across the board for the Raptors last season in 21.9 minutes per game, including 4.9 rebounds a night. At 27, the Lakers hope those numbers scale up with a bigger role and more minutes.

LA signed Mamu to a four-year, $52 million deal, and most, if not all, is tied to his offense.

Defense is where the question marks arise, and it’s the main reason his minutes dropped precipitously in the playoffs. He was targeted in the postseason on switches and ended up earning just under nine minutes in the Game 7 loss to the Cavs.

​Toronto finished with a top-10 defense last season and was better on that end overall with Mamu on the court. All the smarts he uses on the offensive end transfer over when he crosses the half-court line. As a team defender, he has good hands, quick feet and fits an overall scheme. However, he can get in trouble when matched up against top-level playmakers on switches and can’t be relied on as a rim protector in high-leverage games.

The vision for LA is the small ball groups do just enough on defense while being an inferno on the other end. In two big lineups, the hope is he’s protected playing next to LA’s biggest addition this summer, Walker Kessler, as the defensive anchor in the middle while he spaces the floor.

Even with the defensive concerns, Mamu is an elite fit next to the star backcourt, and his stretch ability can be a main catalyst in taking a Lakers offense from good to great.

You can follow Raj on X at @RajChipalu