Category: Basketball

On Saturday, Fred Katz and John Hollinger of The Athletic broke the news that the NBA recently increased its projections for the 2027-28 salary cap by $2 million. Initial projections had the cap landing at $174 million, but the latest projections are a $176 million salary cap and a $213 million luxury-tax line.

Katz and Hollinger explained why that could provide some much-needed financial relief to teams around the league:

“The latest national TV contract was supposed to usher in an era of 10 percent annual salary-cap increases, more than enough to cover the 8 percent raises in contracts given to most star players. Instead, the local TV market crashed so hard that the annual raise was barely half that a year ago (5.2 percent) and was forecast to be similar in 2027-28 (5.5 percent). The projected raise for 2027-28 is now 6.7 percent — still a far cry from the maximal 10 percent, but closer to the raises in player contracts.”

That’s particularly welcome news for the Lakers given their free-agent spending spree this past offseason.

Since Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Collin Sexton all changed teams this summer, they were limited to 5% annual raises in their contracts rather than 8%. That means the projected cap growth in 2027-28 is now expected to (slightly) outpace their annual raises.

While Grimes and Kessler each have standard 5% annual raises in their contracts, Mamu’s deal was uniquely structured. He’s earning $13 million this year, goes down to $12.35 million in 2027-28, goes back up to $13.0 million in 2028-29 and has a $13.65 million player option in 2029-30.

Austin Reaves also did the Lakers a solid by taking $5 million less than what was initially reported. He could have received full 8% annual raises every year, but instead, he took only a roughly 4% raise in 2027-28, which also slightly reduced the amount he could receive in the final two years of his contract.

That all begs the question of what the Lakers might have up their sleeves next offseason.

In all likelihood, they’re eyeing access to the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception. They’re now projected to have an additional $2 million in financial wiggle room because of this higher cap projection.

The final piece of the puzzle?

All salary-cap exceptions increase at the same rate as the salary cap itself. So, if the cap goes up by roughly 6.7%, the non-taxpayer MLE will go up by that same amount. Based on the new $176 million projection for the 2027-28 salary cap, the non-taxpayer MLE would be roughly $16.05 million next year, which is a slight increase over the previous $15.869 million projection. The taxpayer MLE would be nearly $6.5 million instead of $6.4 million.

Any team that uses the non-taxpayer MLE gets hard-capped at the first apron, which would also rise by roughly $2 million based on the latest projections. It should now land in the neighborhood of $222 million, while the second apron should be around $236 million.

Between Reaves, Kessler, Grimes, Mamu, Luka Dončić and Cameron Carr, the Lakers already have $158.5 million in guaranteed salary on their books for 2027-28. It feels relatively safe to assume that Jarred Vanderbilt will be picking up his $13.3 million player option, while Sexton could go either way on his $9.8 million player option.

If Vanderbilt and Sexton both pick up their player options, the Lakers would be up to $181.6 million in salary. They also have team options on Jaden Hardy ($6.0 million), Dalton Knecht ($6.45 million), Bronny James ($2.5 million) and Adou Thiero ($2.5 million). The Lakers must decide on Knecht’s option by Oct. 31, but they have until June 29, 2027, to decide on the other three.

If the Lakers picked up all of those options, they’d be up to $199.1 million in salary with 12 players under contract. That would leave them roughly $22.9 million under the first apron, which would give them enough room to spend the full $16.05 million non-taxpayer MLE and round out their roster with a pair of minimum contracts.

The Lakers owe their 2027 first-round pick to Memphis if it falls outside of the top four and owe their 2027 second-round pick to either Memphis or Brooklyn, so they likely won’t have to budget for 2027-28 with those picks in mind.

Either way, the Lakers have enough financial flexibility on the fringes of their roster — at least for now — to give themselves a real shot at having access to the full non-taxpayer MLE next summer. They could look to spend it all on one player, or they could divide it between two or more players, much like the Philadelphia 76ers did with Dean Wade and Anfernee Simons this past offseason.

The Lakers have almost a full calendar year to plan ahead for that. In the meantime, don’t be surprised if they’re wary about taking on additional long-term salary this year, particularly if it cuts into their ability to maintain access to the non-taxpayer MLE next summer.

Unless otherwise noted, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball Reference. All salary information via Spotrac and salary-cap information via RealGM.

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Nov. 3

Today in sports history

Today is Nov. 3. On this date in:

1899: Heavyweight champion James J. Jeffries defeated Tom Sharkey by decision after 25 punishing rounds at Coney Island, New York, in one of the era’s most celebrated title fights.

1962: Wilt Chamberlain scored 72 points for the San Francisco Warriors in a 127-115 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, producing the fourth-highest single-game total in NBA history at the time.

1968: Graham Hill won the season-ending Mexican Grand Prix and clinched his second Formula 1 world championship.

1974: Boston Bruins forward Johnny Bucyk collected two assists in a 10-1 victory over Minnesota and passed Bobby Hull as the highest-scoring left wing in NHL history.

1982: Randy Smith appeared in his 845th consecutive NBA game, surpassing Johnny “Red” Kerr’s league record; Smith ultimately extended the streak to 906 games.

1987: New York Rangers center Marcel Dionne became the second NHL player to reach 1,700 career points when he scored in a 5-3 loss to Calgary.

1989: Šarūnas Marčiulionis and Alexander Volkov became the first players from the Soviet Union to appear in NBA regular-season games.

1989: The expansion Minnesota Timberwolves played their first NBA game, losing 106-94 to the Seattle SuperSonics.

1995: The Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies won their inaugural games, marking the regular-season debuts of the NBA’s first Canadian franchises since the Toronto Huskies folded in 1947.

1995: Kevin Garnett made his NBA debut for the Minnesota Timberwolves in a loss to Sacramento, beginning a Hall of Fame career.

1996: Kobe Bryant made his NBA debut at age 18, playing six minutes in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 91-85 victory over Minnesota.

2007: Hall of Fame coach Al Arbour returned from retirement for one game and recorded his 1,500th appearance behind the New York Islanders’ bench as they rallied past Pittsburgh 3-2.

2008: The Detroit Pistons traded Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb to the Denver Nuggets for Allen Iverson in a blockbuster exchange of All-Star guards.

2010: Paul Pierce scored his 20,000th career point on a late-overtime free throw and helped the Boston Celtics defeat the Milwaukee Bucks 105-102.

2011: Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne signed a seven-year, $49 million contract extension on his 29th birthday, then made 35 saves in a 3-0 shutout of Phoenix.

2018: Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury made 34 saves in a 3-0 victory over Carolina and became the 29th goalie in NHL history to record 50 career shutouts.

2023: The NBA began group play in its inaugural In-Season Tournament, later renamed the NBA Cup, with seven games and specially designed tournament courts.

— USA TODAY Network

This story was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of information gathering, review, editing and publishing. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Today in sports history, November 3

In the immediate aftermath of his team’s 2025-26 season ending, Lakers coach JJ Redick clearly and plainly laid out one of the biggest points of emphasis for 2026-27. 

“We clearly need to have a better overall season defensively,” Redick said in May. 

The critique was sensible.

The Lakers were coming off a regular season in which they ranked No. 18 defensively despite ranking No. 12 in the second half of the season.

“We had flashes of that,” Redick added. “I have said this numerous times: Our improvement defensively is a big credit to our staff, [assistant coaches] Bob [Beyer] and Greg [St. Jean], and the work they did in film and in walk-throughs. But we gotta do better defensively.”

And after their offseason roster reconstruction, the Lakers will be better defensively in 2026-27 than they were last season despite external narratives that state the contrary. 

The heart of their improved defense will come from the marquee addition of Walker Kessler, who already showed in his first four seasons in the NBA with the Jazz that he’s one of the league’s premier rim protectors. 

It’s universally accepted throughout the NBA that the Lakers should be a better rim protecting team (they finished second-to-last in defensive field goal percentage at the rim in 2025-26) with Kessler starting at center instead of Deandre Ayton.

But it’s been their perimeter defense that has been questioned.

Despite losing Marcus Smart, who was the team’s best defender last season, the Lakers actually improved their point-of-attack defense significantly. 

Smart may be a better perimeter defender than anyone currently on the Lakers, but the issue with last season’s team was the lack of strong perimeter defenders behind him. 

That won’t be an issue in 2026-27.

Not only did the Lakers keep their second- and third-best perimeter defenders from last season’s team in Jarred Vanderbilt and Jake LaRavia, but Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams are all upgrades over most of the team’s perimeter defense options in 2025-26. 

They may not have the All-Defensive team caliber perimeter defender, but Redick will have more options at his disposal to build a credible defense in front of Kessler and around star guards Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. 

The Lakers not only should have be at least an average defensive team, but they have the potential to be above average on that end of the floor for the first time in a few years.

Possession battle

A significant reason why the Lakers should be a better defensive team next season won’t just be because they’re better equipped to contain ball handlers.

Or even funnel plays to Kessler for him to shut down. 

It’ll also come from their improved ability to generate turnovers after being average in that area last season. 

Williams and Thybulle will be especially helpful in this area.

Thybulle’s 2 steals per game last season was tied for the second-most in the league with Hawks wing Dyson Daniels and Pistons wing Ausar Thompson among players who appeared in at least 20 regular season games despite averaging just 16 minutes.

He led the league in steals (4.5) and deflections (8.7) per 36 minutes in 2025–26 among players who appeared in at least 20 games.

Williams led the Nets in deflections per 36 minutes in 2024-25 (3.9) and 2025-26 (4.9), and averaged a career-high 1.4 steals last season.

And with Kessler on the backline, the Lakers will be able to afford to be more aggressive with their perimeter defenders compared to last season. 

The offensive rebounding from Kessler and Kevon Looney will also help generate more possessions for the Lakers.

Driving 

Another one of Redick’s desired areas of improvement was the collective ability to drive, dribble and pass.

With Doncic and Reaves still on the team, the Lakers are already starting from a great place. 

But the additions of Grimes, Collin Sexton and Sandro Mamukelashvili will uplift the collective’s abilities to excel in these areas.

Losing LeBron James will hurt in these areas.

As should development from LaRavia and additions of Cameron Carr.

This offseason, new Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey turned lemons into fresh-squeezed lemonade. Not only did the Sixers flip Paul George for Jaylen Brown and sign LeBron James to a minimum contract, but they also rounded out their depth by splitting the non-taxpayer mid-level exception between Anfernee Simons and Dean Wade and spending part of their bi-annual exception on Ariel Hukporti.

As long as they have all three of Brown, Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid on max contracts, the Sixers can’t be big offseason spenders. But the NBA’s latest salary-cap projection for the 2027-28 season could give them some unexpected financial wiggle room.

On Saturday, Fred Katz and John Hollinger of The Athletic reported that the latest cap projection jumped from the initial $174 million up to $176 million. The luxury-tax line is now projected to be $213 million instead of $211 million, and both the first and second aprons would increase by roughly $2 million as well.

That comes out to a roughly 6.7 percent increase, which still doesn’t fully cover the 8 percent annual raises in Embiid, Brown and Maxey contracts. But it’s better than the previous projection (5.5 percent), which could have put the Sixers into a tight financial bind next offseason.

If the $176 million projection holds—or even goes up further—the Sixers could start dreaming bigger about their free-agent plans in 2027.

Which MLE will the Sixers have?

Between Embiid, Brown, Maxey and VJ Edgecombe alone, the Sixers already have $180.1 million tied up in 2027-28. Add in Wade ($9.45 million) and Labaron Philon Jr. ($3.8 million), and they’re at roughly $193.3 million in guaranteed salary.

Simons has a $6.3 million player option for the 2027-28 season and LeBron has a $4.1 million player option. Both figure to decline those options, barring something catastrophic.

The Sixers also have relatively inexpensive team options on Justin Edwards ($2.6 million) and Adem Bona ($2.5 million). Edwards’ salary is almost identical to the projected minimum salary for 2027-28, while Bona’s is more than $100,000 below that. The Sixers therefore figure to pick up their team option on Bona, while Edwards’ roster spot may come down to how he performs this year and what other options they have next summer.

In the incredibly unlikely event that Simons and James both opt in and the Sixers pick up their options on both Edwards and Bona, they’d be at $208.8 million in total salary. That would leave them roughly $13.2 million below the projected $222.0 million first apron and $27.2 million below the $236 million second apron.

Every salary-cap exception increases by the same percentage as the salary cap itself. So, if the cap rises by roughly 6.7 percent in 2027-28, the non-taxpayer MLE will jump to around $16.05 million, while the taxpayer MLE will be about $6.5 million.

As the Sixers learned the hard way this past offseason, teams that spend the non-taxpayer MLE get hard-capped at the first apron. If Simons and LeBron both opt out, the Sixers would have enough room under the first apron to spend the full non-taxpayer MLE, but they’d have to remain mindful of leaving themselves enough spending power to fill out the rest of their roster with minimum deals.

The Sixers could spend some or all of their MLE to re-sign LeBron to repay him for the massive pay cut he took this season, provided he wants to keep playing in 2027-28. But if LeBron wants to maximize his chances of winning a fifth championship—or hopefully a sixth by that point—he’d re-sign on another minimum deal and allow the Sixers to spend their MLE elsewhere. It’d be even better if he took a one-year deal instead of a one-plus-one, so his cap hit would be around $2.6 million instead of above $4 million.

If LeBron is willing to take another minimum contract—or a 5 percent raise via his non-Bird rights—the Sixers could instead save their MLE for Simons if so desired. Otherwise, they could peruse the free-agent market and see whether anyone merited that type of payday. However, the first-apron hard cap could wind up costing them Hukporti and/or Dominick Barlow if they go that route.

The Sixers need to get through this season before they fully turn their attention free agency next year. We still have no idea what this team will look like, what it’s biggest needs are, if all of the main pieces will mesh, etc. It’s admittedly premature to look this far ahead at this juncture.

However, front offices don’t only get to operate on a one-year timeline. The Sixers have undoubtedly begun planning ahead not only for next offseason, but for the next few years. In particular, circle your calendars for the summer of 2029, as the contracts for all four of Embiid, Maxey, Brown and Edgecombe are currently set to expire simultaneously then.

In the meantime, keep your fingers crossed that NBA business keeps booming and sends the cap even higher. Having three max players with 8 percent annual raises puts the Sixers in a tricky financial spot, so the more that the salary cap rises year-over-year, the better.

Welcome to our Lakers Season Preview Series! For the next several weeks, we’ll be writing columns every weekday breaking down the biggest questions we have about every player the Lakers added this offseason. Today, we look at Matisse Thybulle.

When Marcus Smart signed with the Houston Rockets over the summer, the Lakers lost more than just their best perimeter defender. They lost their defensive identity, spirit and chaos agent. 

Regardless of why Smart wasn’t retained, it was clear the Lakers had to find a way to replicate the tangible and intangible value he added. 

Walker Kessler being the interior anchor will go a long way, but to help shore up the perimeter, the Lakers will be betting on Matisse Thybulle being Smart’s proxy. As they did with Smart, the Lakers are adding Thybulle in hopes he stays healthy and rejuvenated while playing for a team with championship aspirations.  

The gamble, albeit mostly safe given Thybulle signed at the minimum, is one that could pay off huge, or one that forces the Lakers back on the market in search of help. 

What is his best-case scenario?

At the top of Thybulle’s priority list for a successful season is to be on the floor. 

Although his reputation of being injury-prone is probably overstated at this point, he has recently simply been unable to stay healthy. This is a major reason why he was even available at the price the Lakers paid. 

Thybulle has appeared in just a combined 45 games over the past two seasons. Fortunately, reports say he is fully healthy ahead of the new season. 

If that is the case and he can remain that way for the majority of the year, that could be a major development for the Lakers’ defensive upside. Because when he’s on the floor, there are few — if any — more disruptive players in the NBA.  

When comparing his activity to other wings, Thybulle has finished lower than the 98th percentile in steal percentage once, and never worse than the 92nd percentile in block percentage in his career.

Perhaps more important than Thybulle’s staggering disruption ability is the impact he has on his entire team’s defense. 

Last year, the Portland Trail Blazers were an incredible 11.1 points better defensively with him on the floor than off. They also forced teams to turn over the ball 6.4% more in those minutes as well (the best on/off differential in the league in that category). 

The other area Thybulle must prove proficient in if he hopes to bid for a major role is his 3-point shot. After early career struggles with his outside game, Thybulle has steadily improved. He has converted his chances at a 37% clip over the last three seasons. 

If he can keep defenses honest and help shore up the perimeter on the other end, a best-case outcome could see Thybulle have a Smart-type year that the Lakers need. 

What is his worst-case scenario?

If the key for a successful season for Thybulle is remaining healthy, the inverse is missing time again. 

Although early indications are that he’ll enter the year ready to go, history has shown there may be a higher likelihood of follow-up incidents occurring. If they do, and he misses significant time, Thybulle could end up being a wasted roster spot. 

Beyond health concerns, there is also a scenario where he experiences some defensive slippage after two years of lengthy absence. If his superpower is diminished at all, that could drastically impact his value. 

The same could be said about his aforementioned improved 3-point stroke. 

If he suffers any type of regression or is simply seen as a non-threat by the opposition, Thybulle could tumble down the depth chart. The prime example of this is Jarred Vanderbilt’s diminished role playing under JJ Redick. 

This could especially be the case with the number of wings who will all be vying for minutes already on the roster. All of whom are younger and may be hungrier to secure a future in Los Angeles than the 29-year-old. 

What is his most likely role on the team?

The safest outcome for Thybulle is likely somewhere in the middle. 

Even if there is some slippage or games missed baked into the contract, he still possesses the highest upside to be the 3-and-D answer the team needs to surround Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. 

If he doesn’t reach that ceiling, he still likely will be able to play a similar role as he did in Portland. Whether that’s him being the steady veteran who could mentor the young wings on and off the court or being trusted to defend the opposing team’s best backcourt players, Thybulle’s floor will be comfortably high as long as he can stay on it. 

All stats courtesy of Cleaning the Glass unless otherwise stated. You can follow Alex on Bluesky at @alexregla.bsky.social

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The official meteorological end of summer is approaching. I felt a crispness in the air this weekend as I stepped outside and sighed, “Ahh, yes, basketball season is coming!” We’re almost there, y’all!

Tradeback Tuesday

How a small trade led to a big star in Cleveland

Did you know that Mo Williams and Jamario Moon led to Donovan Mitchell starring for the Cleveland Cavaliers? It’s true.

Back in February 2011, the Cavs traded Williams and Moon to the Clippers for what was left of Baron Davis and a 2011 first-round pick. That pick turned out to be No. 1 in the lottery, and the Cavs landed Kyrie Irving.

Irving played for the Cavs for six seasons, helping lure LeBron James back to The Land and win the 2016 NBA championship. But Irving saw the writing on the wall. He seemed to know LeBron wasn’t going to stick around past his 2018 free agency, and he wanted to test out his newfound winning knowledge with his own team.

Before the 2017-18 season, the Cavs traded Irving to the Boston Celtics for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, a 2018 first-rounder and a 2020 second. Out of those three players, Zizic played the most for the Cavs, logging 113 games over three seasons.

Thomas was moved before the 2018 trade deadline with Channing Frye and a first for Larry Nance Jr. and Jordan Clarkson.

Crowder was also moved in a massive 2018 deadline deal that moved Rodney Hood and George Hill to Cleveland.

The big part of that original haul for Kyrie was the 2018 first. It came from Brooklyn, via the Celtics. It was the eighth pick in the 2018 lottery, and the Cavs selected Collin Sexton. And that helped lead the Cavs to Mitchell:

It’s unreal that the Cavs acquired Lauri Markkanen in 2021 for Nance and a 2023 second-round pick. The Bulls received Derrick Jones Jr. and a first that became Dailyn Swan this year. The Blazers received Nance. The Cavs eventually flipped Sexton, Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, three firsts and two pick swaps for Mitchell.

Funny enough, the trades of Thomas and Crowder helped the Cavs acquire players they eventually flipped to absorb Jarrett Allen’s contract in the infamous three-team James Harden trade to Brooklyn in 2021. So moving on from Williams and Moon tipped over the first domino, which led to 40 percent of Cleveland’s current starting lineup.

The moral of the story? No trade is too small

The last 24

🏀 On the agenda. The NBA’s Board of Governors is meeting in New York. Among the big-ticket items: expansion, NBA Europe and fallout from the Clippers punishment. 

🇨🇦 Canadian-bound. Speaking of the Clippers, the Kawhi-to-Toronto trade is officially official.Leonard is heading to the Raptors.

👕 Fashion forward. What are some of the best NBA uniforms that need to make a comeback?Here’s a team-by-team breakdown.

🏀 New role. Longtime Bulls forward Taj Gibson has retired — as a player, at least.He’s joining Chicago’s coaching staff.

Sole sisters

As I was watching the FIBA World Cup games last week, particularly Team USA, I was struck by the number of players wearing their own signature shoes. Captain Breanna Stewart and newcomers Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese were wearing red-and-white versions of their Pumas, Nikes and Reeboks, respectively.

Clyde Frazier was the first NBA player with a signature shoe when the Puma Clyde was released in 1973. Sheryl Swoopes, the first woman with a signature shoe, released the Air Swoopes in October 1995, nearly a year and a half before the WNBA’s inaugural season.

For decades, even after Swoopes’ sneaker debut, men’s hoops shoes were most popular. Michael Jordan’s Jordan Brand shoes are perhaps considered the gold standard of hoops shoes as casual fashion. Anthony Edwards and Ja Morant probably have two of the most socially popular men’s basketball shoes out right now.

But in the last five years or so, women’s basketball shoes have emerged right alongside the popularity of the WNBA. 

Players like A’ja Wilson, Sabrina Ionescu, Reese and Stewart have some of the most popular hoops shoes currently. I see them at games, and not just on the court fans are clamoring for as much women’s basketball player-related merchandise as possible and wearing whatever they can get their hands on. And, of course, Fever star Clark has a signature shoe on the way.

Sport crosses fashion on a daily basis, and sneaker culture is an extension of basketball culture. Players not only want to showcase their game, they want to do it in fly sneakers. It’s been really cool to see the women having a moment.

Stretch run

As the W returns after a two-week FIBA World Cup break, I got together with The Athletic’s women’s hoops expert, Annie Costabile, to look ahead at the playoffs and awards season. This is Part 1 of our Q&A; the second part, which will look at the future of the league beyond this season, will run soon.

The WNBA regular season concludes Sept. 24, and the playoffs begin Sept. 27.

Annie, with just a few games left, the playoff field is set. What playoff team is most intriguing to you? What about them stands out?

Annie: The Minnesota Lynx are the most intriguing team to me, which is maybe not the most exciting answer given that they’ve been the No. 1 team for most of the year. But the reason I’m dialed into this storyline is because of the history that’s on the table for the Lynx. They have a chance to become the first team in league history to win five WNBA titles. Doing so with Olivia Miles, who has captivated so many with her style of play but also her aura off the court, just feels special.

That being said, I think the Lynx and Miles looked more human heading into the FIBA World Cup break. So, it’s by no means going to be an easy road to the finals.

Speaking of potential Rookie of the Year Miles, a lot of people didn’t have her in their top three, and her talent seemed to catch quite a few fans by surprise. Could you have predicted that she would be the front-runner before the season began? 

Annie: From the beginning, I was saying she should be the No. 1 pick. The way coaches and GMs were describing her IQ and court vision, plus her scoring ability and pro demeanor, I just thought that all-encompassing skill set is so rare. However, I did NOT think she would be in the MVP conversation. I did not think she would have the Lynx atop the league standings without reigning MVP contender Napheesa Collier. She has exceeded all expectations.

We all know once the postseason begins, anything can happen. What player can be the sleeper/X factor on the playoff teams?

Annie: Hmm, good question. I think there are a lot of different names I could use to answer this question, but the one that’s immediately jumping out is Leonie Fiebich. The New York Liberty have had a lackluster season. They came into the year with title expectations and are instead tied for sixth in the league standings with just four games remaining in the regular season.

But when they’re at their best, Fiebich is at her best. We saw that in their game against the Indiana Fever on Aug. 22. I still think the Liberty can make a deep playoff run. Fiebich will have a big hand in it if they do.

Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell has helped lead the franchise to its best year in more than a decade. Mitchell leads the Fever in scoring, averaging 25 points along with 2.8 assists and 1.1 steals. She signed a one-year, $1.4 million supermax ahead of the 2026 season. Do you see Mitchell re-signing with the Fever or going somewhere else next year?

Annie: Kelsey has always been super forthcoming about the importance of playing close to family. Hers is Cincinnati, which is less than two hours from Indianapolis. But at the end of the day, money talks, and the Fever are going to have a lot to figure out with the accelerators to Clark’s contract under the WNBA’s new EPIC provision. Aliyah Boston is set to receive the supermax in 2027, tightening the Fever’s pockets even further.

I don’t say any of that to say the Fever can’t pay Mitchell; they’re just going to have to do some cap gymnastics to make it all work. 

All of that to say, it’s too early for me to speculate. My gut keeps flip-flopping between the Fever figuring it out and Mitchell leaving because they can’t.

Reigning league MVP A’ja Wilson withdrew from the Team USA World Cup squad just days ahead of the competition for rest. With the news came much conversation about Wilson and her value and contributions to both the national team and her own team, the Las Vegas Aces. What are the chances Wilson repeats for a history-making fifth MVP?

Annie: I think voter fatigue is a real thing, and this year there is a pool of candidates that have made the conversation all the more interesting. But none of them are as impactful on both ends of the floor as A’ja. In fact, the one player who makes the best argument for being the best all-around player is Stewart, and she’s largely faded from the conversation because of what players like Miles, Clark and Mitchell are doing on offense.

The last four games of the regular season stand to impact the final vote. As of now, my vote belongs to Wilson, but I’m not ready to say it’s final.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

NBA, WNBA, The Bounce

2026 The Athletic Media Company

Paul George addresses negative reaction to Jaylen Brown trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Paul George is well aware of how Boston Celtics fans feel about him essentially replacing Jaylen Brown as a result of the team’s shocking offseason trade with the Philadelphia 76ers.

On July 1, the NBA world was stunned as the C’s shipped Brown to their storied rival in exchange for George, two first-round draft picks, and two second-round picks. Boston’s move was heavily scrutinized and considered lopsided in Philly’s favor, largely because of George’s contract ($52.9M in 2026-27, $56.6M player option for 2027-28) and age (36). George has also missed significant time over the last few seasons due to injuries.

As for Brown, the 2024 NBA Finals MVP became one of Boston’s most beloved athletes during his 10 years in the city. He was a perennial All-Star for the C’s and a pillar in the community with numerous charitable contributions, including his 7uice Foundation.

The Celtics’ decision to part ways with Brown upset many within the fanbase. On Tuesday, George empathized with those who reacted negatively to the deal.

“Listen, I understand the circumstances. I understand how huge JB was not only for the organization, but here in the city,” George said during his introductory press conference with Boston. ” So, I didn’t take it personal. To be honest, they should have a relationship emotionally to that trade. But my job here is to kind of come into a great opportunity for me. Obviously, the last two years have been rough just with injuries. But for myself personally, I feel great again. I feel like I’ve turned that corner of dealing with injuries and now, kind of reestablishing myself from a physical standpoint again. And with that, I can carry it over to the court.

“Again, no personal feelings towards the initial — how it (was) received here in Boston. To be honest, it’s fair, but just one foot in front of the other. Hopefully, with how we start this year, they understand this is a new team and something that they can be proud of.”

George added that while he isn’t necessarily trying to replace Brown, he believes he still can play a key role on a championship-caliber team.

“It’s fair to live with that emotion, given what JB stood for and what he brought, and the history. He was a part of raising a banner and winning a championship here,” he said.

“But it’s a new group, a new opportunity. I think you’re getting someone that’s ready to not fill the shoes or fill the void of JB, but I think from a personal standpoint, I think I can come in and kind of still keep us in that contention and give us a chance to win.”

A nine-time All-Star, George showed upon returning to the Sixers last season that he still has something left in the tank. He averaged 21.9 points in 10 regular-season games after rejoining Philly in March, then torched the Celtics from 3-point range (22-40) in their first-round playoff series. He’s still a legitimate scoring threat despite his age.

That said, George’s knows his role with the new-look C’s. He’ll look to complement Jayson Tatum, who will be counted on to play at an MVP level in his first full season since his Achilles tear.

“We have a superstar and that’s JT,” George said. “I’m not here to not necessarily steal the shine or try to reinvent who I am. I’m here to help JT, and he’s the guy. I’ve played alongside another superstar wing, and we coexisted beautifully.”

George was referring to his four seasons spent alongside Kawhi Leonard on the Los Angeles Clippers. During that time, the duo made one Western Conference Finals appearance (2020-21).

Even without Brown, the Celtics will have bigger aspirations this upcoming season. They’re still considered a favorite in the Eastern Conference, though the loaded Sixers will remain a serious threat after knocking them out in the first round.

Watch George’s full press conference below:

Editor's note: This story has been updated with a statement from Chad Baker-Mazara via his representation.

Former Southern California men's basketball guard Chad Baker-Mazara has filed a lawsuit against USC and coach Eric Musselman regarding his abrupt and bizarre exit from the program.

The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Sept. 14 and first reported by the California Post, alleges Musselman removed Baker-Mazara from the team after the Trojans were eliminated from NCAA tournament contention to avoid paying the remainder of his NIL contract.

The complaint also alleges Musselman directed racially charged remarks at Baker-Mazara following a Feb. 28 loss to Nebraska, the fifth of eight straight losses to end the season.

REQUIRED READING: From USC’s leading scorer to gone overnight. Chad Baker-Mazara tells his side of story

Baker-Mazara is suing for breach of contract, conversion and intentional interference with prospective economic advantage.

"The decision to remove the student-athlete from the men's basketball roster was based on a number of considerations, none having to do with race. We look forward to defeating this action in court," a USC spokesperson said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports.

The lawsuit alleges USC has not paid the remainder of the promised NIL earnings. Baker-Mazara claims the Trojans terminated his NIL agreements with the program the day after he was removed from the roster, stating he had violated a "morals clause."

"I gave everything I had to USC. I played through injuries, showed up for my teammates every day, and honored my commitments. Filing this lawsuit was not an easy decision, but I believe it is important to stand up for what you were promised and what you are owed," Baker-Mazara said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports through a representative.

"I am proud of what I accomplished throughout my college career, and I remained focused on my professional basketball career, my family, and the opportunities ahead. I look forward to letting the fact speak for themselves through the legal process."

Baker-Mazara, who transferred from Auburn to USC before the 2025-26 season, sustained an injury while blocking a shot in the opening minutes of the second half against Nebraska on Feb. 28. That was his final play and game in a Trojans uniform: USC announced Baker-Mazara was no longer with the team the following day.

"My body was telling me, 'No, buddy. As bad as you want to play, it’s a no-go,'" Baker-Mazara told USA TODAY Sports' Andres Soto in June.

Per The Athletic, the lawsuit claims USC's NIL collective told Baker-Mazara’s representatives on Feb. 13 — two weeks before he was kicked off the team — that the originally missed February payment would be forthcoming. Then, on Feb. 24, before USC's crosstown rivalry game vs. UCLA, Baker-Mazara’s representatives were told the cutoff date to process the February NIL payment had passed and that it would be included with the March one.

Baker-Mazara went undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft. He averaged 18.5 points and shot 44.4% from the field in 26 games last season for the Trojans.

REQUIRED READING: Former Purdue basketball star Trey Kaufman-Renn can return to college for sixth season

The lawsuit also touches on a locker room incident after the Trojans' loss to the Cornhuskers in which Baker-Mazara claimed Musselman "lost his mind." It states that, after Baker-Mazara attempted to address his teammates in the locker room, Musselman erupted and said, "You shut the (expletive) up! You are one of the worst teammates anyone can ever have!"

Per the California Post, Baker-Mazara asked Musselman if he wanted him to leave as he did not "understand this animosity." Musselman's response to that, according to the lawsuit, was: "Yes, leave! Go back to the (expletive) Dominican Republic! Nobody wants you here!! (Expletive) you!"

"The words 'Go back to the (expletive) Dominican Republic' are generally understood by persons of color in the United States originating from the Dominican Republic — and were in fact taken by Baker-Mazara — to be racist and discriminatory, akin to telling an African-American to ‘go back to Africa,'" the lawsuit stated, per The California Post.

"Coach Musselman’s outburst was a direct attack on Baker-Mazara’s national origin and Dominican heritage, made from a position of authority and power by the head coach of the team, in front of all of Baker-Mazara’s teammates. The tirade was unprovoked, vicious, and discriminatory."

REQUIRED READING: Protect College Sports Act nears Senate vote. Why not everyone wants it passed

Speaking to USA TODAY Sports in that exclusive interview in June, Baker-Mazara said he was unable to comment on the specifics of the locker room discussion due to pending litigation. Former Trojans guard Ryan Cornish corroborated USC forward Terrance Williams II's retelling of events to USA TODAY Sports, saying "people's emotions flared up" but that it never went beyond the normal emotions that come with playing the game.

"It was all healthy though," Williams told USA TODAY Sports. "It wasn’t nothing negative."

Baker-Mazara told USA TODAY Sports he still has not heard from Musselman since the day he was removed from the team.

"It’s really hurtful. Because I thought I had a strong enough relationship that we could just sit down and talk about anything. At least that’s what it was throughout the whole year," Baker-Mazara told USA TODAY Sports. "... Me and him didn’t see eye to eye on everything, but at the end of the day, I feel like we had a strong enough relationship, or nothing bad enough happened, to where I should’ve been dismissed from the team."

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chad Baker-Mazara alleges Eric Musselman racist 'tirade,' unpaid NIL from USC in lawsuit

Nike unveils new NBA ‘Specter' uniforms for historic franchises: See them here originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Another year, another new set of NBA uniforms.

Nike and the NBA unveiled a fresh batch of jerseys for the upcoming 2026-27 season, plus a collection of merchandise that went on sale Tuesday.

The new “Specter” threads will be for eight of the league’s most historic franchises. They’ll be worn for select games along with the usual Association, Icon, Statement and City editions.

The teams with new uniforms include the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks.

Here’s a look at each jersey, which were shown off at the Nike “End of Ordinary” Fashion Show:

Boston Celtics

Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images

Los Angeles Lakers

Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images

Golden State Warriors

Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images

New York Knicks

Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images

Philadelphia 76ers

Sacramento Kings

Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images

Detroit Pistons

Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images

Atlanta Hawks

Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images

As you might have seen, a little while back, we put out a call for new writers. Well, we’re thrilled to finally be able to introduce you to them all. And what better way to do so than by giving them the mic, err, floor, err…

Enjoy their wordsmithery!

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Nate O.

Hey folks! I’m Nate, and we previously may have talked on here while I was “Knuckles”. Definitely excited to keep the conversations going with our corner of the Bucks and NBA fanbase here at Brew Hoop! I grew up in the Milwaukee area and have been an avid Bucks and Brewers fan my whole life. I can remember going to watch both teams with my dad and brother and family, and then eventually my friends and now my wife, whom I was able to convert to both fandoms. My love of the Bucks runs deep: the Ray Allen trade still stings, l blast out “FEAR THE DEER” texts like its 2010, (a bigger deal back when the family plan came with 100 texts per month) and like many of you steadily rode the highs of the last decade and are excited/anxious/intrigued to see what comes next. I will aim to cover the team with my love of Milwaukee sports in mind and really cannot wait to kick the season off! Excited to enjoy another season of Bucks basketball and have the opportunity to do so here at Brew Hoop with Jack, Zac, the new writers, and all of you!

Editor’s note: Technically, you’ve already been introduced to Nate—but you might’ve had your beer goggles on and need the “next day” reminder.

Aiden Fermaner

Hey Bucks fans! My name is Aiden, and I’m super excited to be joining the Brew Hoop team. Basketball has been my whole life for as long as I can remember, and the Bucks have been at the centre of it since 2014. I’m from Melbourne, Australia and recently started my own personal blog, bucksdownunder.com. I wanted to use my blog to connect with other Bucks fans around the world, and at the same time I also had the opportunity to join Brew Hoop. I couldn’t be more excited about this opportunity and to be a part of this amazing community!

Owen Jury

What’s going on, Bucks fans! New to the staff over here at Brew Hoop, but in no way am I new to the Bucks fandom. I’ve been a Wisconsin sports fan for my entire life, and I attribute Brandon Knight of all people to sparking my love for basketball and the Bucks specifically. The first-ever sports game I went to happened to be one in which Knight hit a go-ahead shot at the end of regulation. Fast forward to today, and I have committed myself to covering and analyzing the sport of basketball. My roots lie within my personal Substack that I started to cover the NBA Draft, which helped land me a gig at a Mizzou (the school I attend) school newspaper covering men’s basketball. From there, I was able to make some connections and find my way onto the Sports Illustrated staff covering the Washington Wizards, which, as I’m sure you could imagine, was a riveting eight-month experience. Throughout that entire process, I stayed up to date covering the draft, which in turn landed me a gig at the Draftstack and eventually No Ceilings. Somewhere along the way, I found myself interviewing for Badger of Honor as well, covering all things Wisconsin sports—which has been nothing short of a great time. Now, as part of the crew over here, I can flash my fandom for my favorite team, hopefully providing some insight along the way. Super excited to get things moving!

Dax Ruplinger

What’s up, Bucks faithful! I’m beyond excited to be joining the Brew Hoop staff in covering our young but promising Bucks squad! Growing up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, I was born into the Packer family. However, my Bucks fandom also began at a young age. At nine years old, I watched the Bucks select a young Blue Devil named Jabari Parker, and the rest was history. While Jabari didn’t become the future I’d dreamed of (there’s still time, I swear), I suppose the 2021 Finals did enough to keep me around. Jokes aside, I can’t wait to kick off my rookie season with Brew Hoop’s vets and new writers! Hopefully, Brayden Burries, Nate Ament and I can provide the future for the Bucks community that Jabari sadly couldn’t.

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Please join us in welcoming our new staff! We’re really looking forward to reading their work, which you’ll start seeing as part of the Ranking the Roster series. Stay tuned.

As this series has tackled, the Sixers did pretty well on the two-way market in the 2025 offseason. Jabari Walker, along with Dominick Barlow, was picked up and eventually given a standard contract by the Sixers. Last season Walker played 64 games and started six of them. He averaged 11 minutes a game and put up 4.3 points and 1.9 rebounds per game.

He shot 45% from the field and 33% from three on 1.5 attempts per game. The highlight of his season was a 22-point outburst against the Utah Jazz in early March. Back under contract for another year in Philadelphia, Walker finds himself in a similar situation to last season and that is on the fringes of the rotation.

Nagging injuries to forwards like Paul George and Trendon Watford helped keep Walker steadily in the mix, even though he didn’t feel like he was the most trusted reserve by Nick Nurse. Walker’s best skill is one that’s been sorely needed on this team for several years now: defensive rebounding.

Walker has always posted a strong rebounding rate on that end of the floor and last year was no different as he posted a defensive rebounding rate at 32.5%. For as splashy of an offseason as the Sixers had, the only big they brought in, Ariel Hukporti, had a poor rebounding season in his limited time last year. It’s always good to have someone on the bench who can just grab a board.

That impact on the offensive glass isn’t felt quite as much, which is unfortunate, but Walker’s 3.3% offensive rebounding rate still puts him the 66th percentile across the league. He isn’t the fleetest of foot, which can make it tough to find the right spot defensively. At 6-foot-10, he can only challenge big centers so much vertically, and he can have trouble staying with certain forwards.

With that being said, Walker’s been a capable innings eater at times who is also now someone who can occasionally step out and hit an open three. Neither the volume or percentage are anything to write home about, but his big game against the Jazz, as well his 38.9% three-point percentage in his final season in Portland, show proof of concept. His shot is something the team does believe in and encourages him to keep shooting. He at least gives you the idea of a stretch-five in certain matchups, another look the Sixers haven’t had a ton of in the Joel Embiid era.

Walker will also again coming into this season motivated to keep his spot. On top the perpetual drive to earn the next contract, only $250,000 of Walker’s $2.5 million dollar salary is guaranteed before Jan. 15. The Sixers of course have an open roster spot, but have to wait until December to be able to use it while not going over the first apron.

If, for some reason, the Sixers really need to sign someone before then, Walker’s non-guaranteed deal is the only contract that could make that work. Knock on wood, but something would have to go really, really terrible for the Sixers to feel that desperate just to clear up another veteran’s minimum spot.

The Sixers have also already taken measures to be able to retain Walker while adding the veterans they did bring in this summer. The team attached a second-round draft pick to be able to trade Johni Broome away, allowing the Sixers to sign Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. That felt like a pretty clear message that the Sixers do value Walker for the time being.

These additions, especially now that Dean Wade will be coming off the bench, may have pushed Walker even further down on the depth chart. At the same time, there are just as many concerns about the playability of both true backup centers on the roster in Hukporti and Adem Bona. As rim-running pogo sticks, they are certainly a different look. Once again this season, Walker’s minutes may not come consistently, but he should get some chances to earn them.

Using the latest release in the NBA2K franchise to simulate Mavericks Year Two scenarios for Cooper Flagg? It can get weird. And I’m talking Nathan Fielder movie trailer — compelling weird.

We all know how Flagg’s rookie year went — incredible for the individual, slow-moving car crash for the team.

With NBA 2K27 finally out, it seemed like a good time to do some projections on what comes next. Originally, I was going to do a five-year projection — until Cooper’s Year 2 fully pulled me in, heart first.

First off: I didn’t alter any settings or change anything that would make the Mavericks any better than what NBA 2K created them to be. No trades. No roster moves. Nothing. I let the computer cook.

I hit “Sim Regular Season” and waited for the first stop.

The NBA Cup was over — and guess who won?

That’s right, Mavs fans. Dallas hangs its first Cup banner in this simulation.

And who might be the Cup MVP, you ask?

Ooof. Those 3-point numbers.

But I can’t deny the results.

As I continued the sim, I had to deny somewhere between 25 and 30 trade offers for Kyrie Irving, but especially with the early success, I felt like we had to let the team ride it out. No meddling. No panic. We were staying the course.

Next stop: the All-Star Game.

I located Cooper in the Rising Stars Game, where he dropped 25 points, but he didn’t make the actual All-Star Game. Which, honestly, reminded me of everything I find dumb about the All-Star Game in the first place.

So I kept simming.

I noticed the wins were beginning to pile up, but I wanted to let the season play out before checking the standings.

And then, at the end of the regular season, there the little Mavericks sat:

The No. 2 seed in the West.

No end-of-season awards for Flagg, but Naji Marshall was named Sixth Man of the Year. Flagg, meanwhile, averaged a solid 22 points per game and pushed his 3-point percentage up to 35% — respectable considering he was launching eight attempts from deep per game.

Then came the playoffs.

First matchup: the Denver Nuggets.

And somehow — amazingly — the Mavericks pulled it out in seven games.

A successful season. I would have taken that result 10 out of 10 times.

But Round 2 was against our dear friends, the San Antonio Cowboy Accessories.

I braced myself for the inevitable disappointment.

Instead, the Mavs beat them in six.

At this point, I started to really believe.

I started imagining what I would do if this were happening in real life. Would I survive the glee? Would my body be physically capable of processing this much unexpected joy?

And then came the question I probably shouldn’t have allowed myself to ask:

Could my digital Mavericks make it to the Fake NBA Finals?

The Western Conference Finals wasn’t even against the Thunder. They had already been bounced in Round 2.

Instead, it was the Minnesota Timberwolves.

And suddenly, this wasn’t just a fun little NBA 2K experiment anymore.

So let me ask: Would you consider this a successful season?

A No. 2 seed in the West. A first-ever NBA Cup. Cooper averaging 22 points a game and shooting 35% from three. A playoff series win over Denver. Beating the Spurs in six. Naji Marshall winning Sixth Man of the Year.

At what point does this go beyond “successful” and into “wildest dreams” territory? The playoff berth? The first-round win?

But for now, the Mavericks were staring down the Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals, with the Thunder already gone. Ultimately, the Mavs bowed out in five games after Digital Flagg picked up an injury in Game 2 of the Fake WCF.

If this happened in real life — if Cooper’s second season actually played out this way — what would you do?

Would you be thrilled and call the season a massive success regardless of what happens next? Would you start believing this team is actually ready to contend? Or would you be sitting there, like me, thinking, wait a minute… are we really two wins away from the NBA Finals?

Because at this point, I wasn’t simulating the rest of the season to see what happened.

I was simulating because I needed to know. And because this offseason will not end.

Take a quick look at FanDuel’s listed odds for the Eastern Conference Champion and you’ll see the defending-champion New York Knicks there at +340. After them, you have the Philadelphia 76ers (+400), Boston Celtics (+500), Detroit Pistons (+850), and Cleveland Cavaliers (+900) rounding out the top five. 

However, there is one team missing from that top five that may just be better than all of those championship hopefuls, and that is the Toronto Raptors, who currently sit at sixth-place in the Eastern Conference title race at +950 (an implied probability of 9.5%). If you ask me, this is a gross underestimation of their abilities, and the basketball world is going to rue the day they counted out the Raptors.

There’s a reason SB Nation considers Toronto a top-5 championship contender in the entire league entering the season. Now that they have finally officially landed Kawhi Leonard, the Raptors all the pieces necessary to be a darkhorse for the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

Why the Raptors are so good 

I may be as bullish as anyone I know on the Raptors, but it’s hard not to be after seeing the unique way they were able to improve their team this offseason.

Let me explain. The Raptors and Pistons are not too dissimilar in the sense that they were both elite defensive teams (Raptors were 5th in defensive rating, Pistons were second), lead by their top five picks from the 2021 NBA Draft (Scottie Barnes, Cade Cunningham), who were using this offseason to find ways to get over the hump offensively (15th in offensive rating, 10th). 

For the Pistons, they had to go about this in a very orthodox way. Additions like Isaiah Joe, John Collins, and Ebuka Okorie helped improve their offense. But to get these guys they got rid of Isaiah Stewart (arguably the team’s second-best per minute defender), Tobias Harris (a metronomic veteran presence), and Caris LeVert (67th percentile Defensive Estimated Plus-Minus, per Dunks & Threes). Simply put, they improved their offense, but had to take a hit on defense to do so.

The Raptors’ big offseason acquisition (which looks like it won’t be getting rescinded by the league front office) involved trading Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and first/second round draft capital in exchange for two-time NBA champion Kawhi Leonard. 

Dick, while still a promising player in my opinion, hardly factored into head coach Darko Rajakovic’s rotation last season (averaging just 14 minutes per game), so his loss won’t really be felt. That means that from an on-court perspective, the Raptors swapped Ingram for Leonard – a player who is not only a far superior offensive player, but a marginally better defender as well. 

Not only is Leonard an upgrade on both ends of the floor, but he is also an easier fit alongside other high-usage players. Last season, the Raptors were better with Scottie Barnes on the floor on his own than they were when he shared the floor with Ingram. Meanwhile, the 2018-19 Raptors were better with Leonard and Pascal Siakam (a player with similar offensive shortcomings to Barnes) on the floor together than they were when just one of them was on the court. 

The Raptors’ other marquee edition was Allen Graves, who they took with the 19th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. I’m not going to pretend to be some draft aficionado, but everything I’ve seen from Graves thus far screams immediate two-way impact player. At the very least, he certainly doesn’t tilt their team one way or the other.

Allen Graves…

The analytics darling of the 2026 NBA Draft. 6'9, 7'0 wing. Crazy STL% and BLK%. Soft touch. Elite offensive rebounder. Can shoot it. Never turns it over. Plays a hyper-efficient brand of basketball. pic.twitter.com/jE0z6vXfezhttps://t.co/TewtChUvCr

— Basketball University (@UofBasketball) June 1, 2026

Unlike the Pistons, the Raptors were able to build upon their weakness while also avoiding diminishing from their strength. This is without noting that, even with the 35-year-old Leonard, the Raptors are still fairly young. If Rajakovic’s head is in the same place as mine, it’ll mean that the other four players in Toronto’s starting lineup (Barnes, Collin-Murray Boyles, Immanuel Quickley, and RJ Barrett) will all be 27 years old or younger. Then, off the bench they’ll have Graves, Jamal Shead, and Ja’Kobe Walter (all of whom are under 24); plus Jakob Poeltl and Kyle Anderson there to provide some much-needed veteran experience. Tons of room for in-house improvement, but also enough steadiness to survive the rigors of the NBA season.

Yes, all of this hinges on Leonard’s health, which, before last season, was as reliable as a restroom soap dispenser. Prior to 2025-26, Leonard had only played over 60 games once since the last time he called Air Canada home. But is that any more risky than the Celtics relying on Jayson Tatum and Paul George, or a playstyle that keeps leading to upsets in the playoffs? Is it more risky than the 76ers starting a lineup with a 42-year-old, the basketball analytics equivalent of a flat Earther, and Joel Embiid (who has an even more checkered availability history than Leonard)? What about a Cavaliers team with three non-shooters in their opening five and two guards with durability concerns and a huge target hovering over them on defense? Is it riskier than that? I don’t think so. 

All the teams favored over the Raptors have some glaring holes (heck, even the Knicks have to overcome the loss of Mitchell Robinson). On paper, the Raptors have the fewest flaws of any Eastern Conference team. And in the playoffs, the team that comes out alive is usually the one with the least amount of weaknesses. 

When the Washington Wizards started their rebuild in 2023, rotation debates centered around Deni Avdija versus Corey Kispert for a starting spot and whether Mike Muscala or Danilo Gallinari would back up Daniel Gafford. 

Three years later, Bilal Coulibaly is the lone holdover from a roster that’s undergone a complete overhaul. Washington’s new-look squad of talented veterans and ascending young players presents head coach Brian Keefe with several questions surrounding his starting lineup and rotation.

But considering the team’s 50-196 record since the start of the 2023-24 season, Keefe’s dilemma is one Washington appreciates the ability to solve.

While Keefe hasn’t formally spoken on his 2026-27 rotation, an educated guess would tab Trae Young, Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr as likely starters when Washington opens against the Milwaukee Bucks on Oct. 21.

AJ Dybantsa, the team’s No. 1 selection in June’s draft who general manager Will Dawkins hinted could play both shooting guard and small forward, likely slots into one of the openings. That leaves three players — Kyshawn George, Bilal Coulibaly and Tre Johnson — vying for one starting spot.

Each player boasts a compelling case. The decision comes down to what Keefe values most: elite defense, knockdown shooting, or the best combination of both.

Bilal Coulibaly

Over the last two seasons, Coulibaly has started all 115 games he’s played in.

The French wing is the team’s best perimeter defender. His 86.5-inch wingspan, which ranks in the 99th percentile among NBA guards, allows him to disrupt passing lanes and deny shots. His 1.3 steals, 1.0 blocks and 3.1 deflections per game all ranked in the 90th percentile or better at his position last season.

Coulibaly’s ability to defend the opponent’s top offensive threat could best complement Young, whose elite offensive production often overshadows his lackluster defense.

As the primary defender, Coulibaly held Giannis Antetokounmpo to just seven points on 2-for-7 shooting in Washington’s 129-126 win over the Milwaukee Bucks last December. For reference, Antetokounmpo scored 19 points on 8-for-10 shooting against all other defenders.

(Video via Youtube.com/Byvarunshankar)

Coulibaly’s 41.4% 3-point clip in five games alongside Young provides some additional promise.

But the sample size next to Young — just 29 3-point attempts — is small compared to a relatively poor body of work. Coulibaly is a career 31% 3-point shooter whose inconsistent jumper presents potential spacing issues when paired with other non-shooters like Davis (27% 3PT), Sarr (33.3% 3PT) and Dybantsa (33.1% 3PT).

If Coulibaly outduels George and Johnson, Washington’s starters wouldn’t include a single player who shot over 34% 3PT last season.

Does Coulibaly’s defense outweigh his offensive limitations and the spacing issues those might bring? That’s a question for Keefe to assess and eventually answer.

Tre Johnson

Johnson is a lethal outside jumpshooter who struggles on defense. He’s essentially the opposite of Coulibaly.

The 6-foot-5 guard shot nearly 40% from three before a hip injury sidelined him in November. His percentage dipped after that setback and further dropped following a January ankle injury. He finished his rookie season at 35.8% 3PT.

Tre Johnson, SHOOTER pic.twitter.com/zxfqfsarcN

— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) January 28, 2026

Johnson’s jumper would solve Washington’s spacing issues. But his 125.7 defensive rating, which would’ve ranked dead last in the NBA if he played enough games to qualify, suggests a vulnerable defensive backcourt between him and Young.

Alex Sarr defended the most rim attempts per game last season in part because Washington’s poor perimeter defense funneled many drives into their 7-foot center. A starting backcourt of Young and Johnson wouldn’t necessarily solve that problem — if anything, it could worsen it.

While starting Johnson remains possible, it wouldn’t align with the franchise’s goal of overhauling one of the league’s worst defensive units. Starting Coulibaly or George better supports that objective.

Kyshawn George

George is the perfect middle ground.

The third-year wing offers the best combination of size (6-foot-8), shooting (38.1% 3PT), offensive creation (4.5 assists per game), and defensive ability (1.9 stocks per game) among this trio. And unlike the other candidates, George’s game doesn’t include a major deficiency.

Kyshawn George 23-5-5-2-1 (10/24), 1 TOV pic.twitter.com/1yOsL0ge2h

— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) January 30, 2026

After an offseason of growth — in both strength and skills — George’s physical defense holds up against guards, forwards and possibly some smaller centers. He offers the defensive versatility that Wizards general manager Will Dawkins preaches.

His 42.8% clip on catch-and-shoot threes last season showed he can space the floor. In a lineup with Young, one of the league’s prolific passers, that percentage could solve potential spacing issues.

The argument against starting George centers around a few things, none of which are indictments of his game. One of those arguments: George’s on-ball play was so promising last season that bringing him off the bench to run the second unit makes more sense.

According to databallr.com, George created 25.4 points per game last season. While impressive, his 2.6 turnovers per contest showcased room for growth in both court vision and decision-making.

Washington’s lack of a true backup point guard has opened the door for George to assume similar offensive creation responsibilities, which might overlap with Young if deployed in the same lineups.

But after acquiring Tre Mann to presumably compete with Bub Carrington for the backup point guard role, George’s on-ball duties no longer appear as vital to the second unit’s success as some previously imagined.

The decision

Keefe’s philosophy will show through this choice.

Are Washington’s spacing or defense concerns so great that it warrants leaving the team vulnerable on one of those ends? Or are those holes so vast that a partial fix to both is better than completely solving one?

The former favors Coulibaly and Johnson. The latter sides with George.

Keefe’s decision looms as training camp approaches.

After being drafted and stashed, then going on to win MVP and, for the second year in a row, the Top Prospect Award in Serbia’s Adriatic League, the Milwaukee Bucks committed to Bogoljub Markovic early this offseason, signing him to a four-year, $9.3m rookie contract. 

The timing was both right and wrong. Markovic does have talent (more on that in a moment), plays a position of need, and, at just 21 years old, fits the Bucks’ current timeline. So, if he’s ever going to become an NBA player, now, while the Bucks have no pressure to win, is the time to find out. On the other hand, signing Markovic so early in the offseason undoubtedly contributed to the Bucks’ roster logjam, leaving them in the position they are now, needing to trim two players without many appealing pathways to do so. In hindsight, waiting until after his Summer League evaluation would’ve retained at least some roster flexibility. But I digress; Markovic is here—at least for now. 

In Summer League, Markovic put up decent counting stats: 8.8 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.2 APG, 0.2 SPG, 1.0 BPG, and 1.2 TPG, to go along with .381/.364/.667 shooting splits. He had some moments too, including a 16-point, eight-rebound showing against the Phoenix Suns. But he also went MIA for stretches—or even entire games, like the 1/9 stinker against the Philadelphia 76ers to wrap up SL play. In the end, his play earned him a C- on our official Summer League report card.

Offensively, Markovic has some chops. He’s a gifted passer who can create from the high and low post and, under the right circumstances, even off the dribble. He’s more explosive than you’d think too—no, I’m not going to call his athleticism “sneaky”—able to quickly flush home dunks. He’s also a capable shooter, though he needs to improve his consistency to become a legitimate floor-spacing big in the NBA. This, it seems, is his most likely avenue to a real NBA role. 

On the defensive end, it’s a different story. If Markovic was a cricket bat, he’d be applauded for his defensive stroke play—how vertical he is. Unfortunately, he’s a basketballer and he’s just far too upright as a defender to make much of an impact. Like a cricket bat, he’s also still far too thin and narrow, meaning he’s too easily pushed around. He’ll get some boards and blocks by nature of his length, but he’s no deterrent at the rim and gives up far too many second chance opportunities. Put it this way, Markovic is strictly a four and should only ever see minutes at the five in blowouts. 

Looking ahead, a successful season for Markovic would be one in which he hits the gym, hard, and polishes the stroke enough to earn semi-consistent court time; 40 games at about 10 minutes per would mean he’s made significant strides. Anything more would be a bonus. 

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With Markovic snicking one to slips and on his way back to the changerooms, which Buck will be next to join him?