The star forward posted a video on Instagram with highlights throughout his time in LA with the phrase “thank you” centered in the frame.
“I truly appreciate your unwavering support during both the highs and lows. Thank you, Clip Nation,” Leonard wrote in his Instagram caption.
Kawhi Leonard attends the Public School New York SS27 show at Starrett-Lehigh in New York City on Thursday, September 10, 2026. Madison McGaw/BFA.com/Shutterstock
Kawhi Leonard on Instagram:
“I truly appreciate your unwavering support during both the highs and lows. Thank you, Clip Nation.” pic.twitter.com/GZvW11wrCE
The 35-year-old notably turned off comments on the post.
Leonard’s departure comes at a nightmarish period for the Clippers organization. After the NBA’s investigation, the team was stripped of five first-round picks and fined $30 million. Owner Steve Ballmer faces a yearlong suspension for violating the league’s salary cap circumvention rules.
Leonard was also punished for his involvement in the scandal and was fined $700k. The Clippers initially traded the star forward to Toronto in June, but the trade was put on hold amid the NBA’s investigation.
Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers in action during a game against the Sacramento Kings. Getty ImagesKawhi Leonard sent a message to Clippers fans. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
After the findings were released, the NBA approved the deal and the trade became official.
Leonard returned to the Raptors at a convenient time as the Clippers will have to navigate uncertain times for the future of the franchise. Moreover, the organization is facing a potential federal criminal probe for circumventing the salary cap.
There are several question marks surrounding the Clippers following the league’s punishments. But Leonard will have no part in the team’s recovery from the scandal.
But he did manage to send one final message to Clippers fans.
As Jalen Duren remains a restricted free agent, the Pistons have agreed to terms with Ausar Thompson.
Thompson, already one of the NBA’s elite perimeter defenders, signed a $155 million extension over five seasons, averaging $31 million per season, according to multiple reports.
Thompson, 23, was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, one spot after his twin Amen, who agreed to a five-year, $208 million extension with the Rockets in early September, making them the highest-paid set of twins in NBA history.
The Pistons and Duren remain at a summer-long standstill, with reports that the center is tied to a possible deal with the Kings, although Detroit remains keen on retaining the All-Star center.
Ausar Thompson finished No. 3 in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2026 behind Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama and Thunder standout Chet Holmgren.
Ausar Thompson has re-signed to a five-year, $155 million deal with the Pistons. Getty Images
The Oakland, Calif., native was also named to the All-Defensive First Team, becoming the Pistons’ All-Defense honoree since Tayshaun Prince in 2008, and the first to achieve the coveted first team distinction since 2006.
Thompson averaged 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game last season while leading the NBA with 2.0 steals per contest.
In the playoffs, he dropped to 8.2 points per game, although his rebounds soared to 7.9 per contest, with his assists and steals remaining at 3.1 and 2.0, respectively.
The uber-athletic wing shot 52.5 percent from the field during the regular season and still hit over 50 percent from the field during the postseason.
Jalen Duren remains without a long-term commitment from the Pistons. Getty Images
Duren, who capped off his fourth season, finished 2026 as the runner-up for Most Improved Player to winner Nickeil Alexander-Walker of the Hawks.
Duren finished with 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game on 65 percent shooting last season while earning his first All-Star bid.
The 22-year-old averaged 11.5 points and 10.2 rebounds in his first three seasons.
Duren, however, dropped off significantly in the playoffs, finishing with averages of 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds and just 51.4 percent shooting, a notable step-down from even his showing in a six-game series against the Knicks in 2025, where he posted 11.8 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.5 dimes on a nightly basis.
Detroit and Ausar Thompson have agreed to a fully guaranteed five-year, $155 million contract extension, news first broken by Shams Charania of ESPN and since confirmed by other reports.
Thompson is one of the NBA's elite perimeter defenders and was named First Team All-Defense last season, while averaging 9.9 points per game and starting 73 games for a 60-win team. He averaged a league-leading two steals a game plus nearly one blocked shot a night. The Pistons see Thompson as a core part of their future (some would argue more critical than Duren) and getting him locked down at this price is a good deal.
That said, a contract averaging $31 million a season is a bet on Thompson's offensive game — especially his outside shot (25% from 3-point range last season, and that was an improvement) — taking some steps forward. Right now, Thompson is considered a non-shooter and that can clog the offense at times, even though the Pistons were an impressive +7.5 points per 100 possessions better when he was on the court last season.
Ausar's twin brother, Amen Thompson, signed a five-year, $208 million extension with the Rockets this summer. The twins were selected back-to-back in the 2023 NBA Draft, Amen at No. 4 to Houston, then Ausar at No. 5 to Detroit. Both are considered freak athletes, even by NBA standards. While Ausar has proven to be the better defender (although Amen made an All-Defensive team two seasons ago), Amen has considerably more offensive pop.
While the Pistons have worked things out with Thompson, they are still negotiating with Duren, who is a restricted free agent. The Pistons reportedly have put a deal in the five-year, $190 million range on the table, but Duren, coming off an All-NBA and All-Star season, wants an average salary of at least $40 million a season.
Detroit is trying to lock down its core with Duren, Thompson and already under contract Cade Cunningham. That group won 60 games last season, but learned some hard lessons in the playoffs, where they exited in the second round. While Duren has taken a lot of criticism for his postseason struggles, part of the issue is that playing him with Thompson at the same time put two non-shooters on the floor, which allowed both the Magic and Cavaliers to pack the paint and make life especially difficult for Duren. Detroit is doing the right thing locking up this core, it has championship potential, but if Thompson doesn't become at least a threat from beyond the arc, Detroit could face tough roster construction decisions down the line.
Pelle Larsson drives on Hornets wing Kon Knueppel during the NBA Play-In Tournament on April 14, 2026.
Pelle Larsson is a name NBA fans should get used to this season.
The Swedish wing just agreed to a four-year, $60 million extension to remain in Miami, where the Heat are coming off a transformative summer, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Friday.
The last year of the deal, which would be for the 2030-31 season, is a mutual option.
The deal will see Larsson — who will still bank a rookie-scale $2.3 million for the upcoming 2026-27 season — reportedly make $13.5 million in 2027-28 to begin the extension before getting annual increases.
Pelle Larsson drives on Hornets wing Kon Knueppel during the NBA Play-In Tournament on April 14, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Larsson is expected to play a huge role in his third season on a Heat team looking to contend once again.
The team executed a blockbuster for Giannis Antetokounmpo in late June, a deal which also netted Bobby Portis.
Miami sent an extensive package in the deal, highlighted by former All-Star Tyler Herro, Sixth Man of the Year contender Jaime Jaquez Jr., recent first-rounders Kel’el Ware and Kasparas Jakucionis and a combination of first-round picks, including No. 13 overall in 2026, which Milwaukee used to select Nate Ament out of Tennessee.
Larsson, 25, made a big leap in his second season, jumping from 4.6 to 11.4 points per game in 2025-26, starting in 54 of his 70 appearances.
Pelle Larsson is the leader of the Swedish National Team. FIBA via Getty Images
The two-way swingman also saw his rebounds climb from 1.7 to 3.5 and his assists from 1.2 to 3.4 per game in his increased role.
The 6-foot-5 glue guy also shot nearly 50 percent from the field for the season and 32.3 percent from 3, going 62-for-192 from beyond the arc.
Larsson is also the top player on the Swedish National Team.
This offseason, he averaged 26 points per game across four contests with Sweden in FIBA 2027 World Cup qualifiers, where the team went 3-1 and pulled off an upset against Lauri Markkanen and Finland in Helsinki on Aug. 27. Larsson had 31 points in the game.
In last summer’s EuroBasket tournament, he averaged 18.8 points and 4.4 rebounds while leading Sweden, though it went 1-4 and was eliminated in Group Play.
The Warriors didn’t have an eye-popping offseason.
But they had an under-the-radar acquisition that could help them: They added Frank Vogel to their coaching staff as an assistant.
Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Frank Vogel looks on during a game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center in Chicago, Jan. 10, 2026. Getty Images
Vogel is bright. He’s defensive-minded. He led the Lakers to an NBA championship in the 2020 bubble at Walt Disney World.
When Steve Kerr (who won five championships as a player and four as coach) decided to return to Golden State’s helm this summer, he made it clear that the team and the coaching staff had some major areas in which they needed to improve.
Kerr added that he recently rewatched every turnover the Warriors committed last season. He believes they need to tighten the ship, bolster their decision-making and work on their fundamentals.
Vogel can help with all of that.
He’s known for transforming defenses. When he was the head coach of the Pacers from 2011-2016, he helped lead them to consecutive Eastern Conference finals in 2013 and 2014, in large part because of their discipline on the less glamorous side of the court.
Kerr has long been one of the league’s top coaches. He has a great staff. They helped the Warriors become the league’s modern-day dynasty, winning four championships in eight years from 2015-2018.
But it’s clear the Warriors could use some fresh eyes, too.
And Vogel will be very helpful with that.
Since the Warriors won their last championship in 2022, they’ve struggled. They haven’t made it past the second round of the playoffs the last four seasons. In two of those seasons, they missed the postseason altogether.
That said, those are guys who have lived atop the league the last decade and are used to winning.
Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd, left, and assistant coach Frank Vogel look on during a game against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena in Denver, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
The Warriors will surely look to make some major moves ahead of the trade deadline to shore up their roster holes. And Vogel will be there to help oversee it all.
Vogel has a keen eye. In many ways, he got the raw end of the deal when he was fired by the Lakers in 2022 after the team was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in 2021 and missed the postseason in 2022.
But that wasn’t Vogel’s fault.
After the Lakers won their first championship in a decade in 2020, they parted ways with some key pieces of their championship squad to acquire Russell Westbrook, a move that will live in franchise infamy. Someone had to take the fall for the Lakers’ dysfunction. Vogel was first in line, a fate many coaches around the league have suffered in a role that often resembles a carousel.
After coaching the Suns from 2023-24 and serving as an assistant for the Mavericks last season, Vogel has landed with a veteran-laden team and a future Hall of Fame coach who will surely appreciate his skills.
A pairing of Kerr and Vogel just seems right.
There’s old blood. There’s new blood. And there are two great minds who have independently carried teams across the finish line now working in tandem.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - APRIL 10: Ausar Thompson #9 of the Detroit Pistons looks on during the first half of a basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on April 10, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons finally came to terms with a core member of its young core … and it wasn’t Jalen Duren. While the extended standoff between the All-NBA center and the Pistons continues, the Pistons swooped in and took care of a different kind of business, signing young forward Ausar Thomspon to a five-year, $155 million rookie extension, per Shams Charania of ESPN.
Thompson has already established himself in the upper echelon of defenders in the NBA. At first blush, it might seem crazy to give a player who has averaged less than 10 points per game and isn’t a threat from deep a $31 million average annual contract. However, talk to any Pistons fan, or anyone who watches Pistons games regularly, and this truly feels like a steal.
Thompson thrived last season and set a high bar as a premier wing defender. He was an All-NBA First Team selection and finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
And consider Ausar’s twin brother, Amen, who was picked one spot ahead of Ausar and signed a $208 million deal with the Houston Rockets earlier this offseason. Amen is certainly the superior offensive player thanks to his distribution skills, but he is also not quite the defensive presence of Ausar. To get Ausar at nearly $50 million less than Amen is a bit shocking to me, to be honest.
That doesn’t mean that Thompson can be a finished product. He certainly needs to become a legitimate offensive threat in some form or fashion. But he’s an S-tier perimeter defender, rebounds the hell out of the ball, can run the floor, and he’s just 22 years old. To be able to lock up Thompson through his age 28 season to play alongside star Cade Cunningham is a commitment to building a championship-level team for the Pistons.
You can’t ask for much better by way of complementary building blocks than Thompson and Cunningham. However, you know what is even better than a great two-person core as you try to build your way to a championship roster? A three-person core. And therein lies the Jalen Duren conundrum.
It has been widely reported and confirmed by sources close to the team that the Pistons are eager to sign Duren to a contract that would significantly exceed the $155 million Thompson deal. But Detroit is offering a deal between $185 million and $190 million, and Duren wants a deal exceeding $200 million.
I have no reason to believe either side is disputing this, representing the gulf in negotiations, and somehow neither can reach a deal. In fact, if you’re willing to believe Duren’s side, their player is willing to take his $9.6 million qualifying offer in order to chase a max contract next offseason. That would amount to him netting less than what the Pistons are reportedly offering over the same five-year window, but pride can do funny things to a guy.
While we wait for the inevitable conclusion to the Jalen Duren saga, at least we can take comfort in the knowledge that one of the NBA’s three best defenders is locked up long term with the Pistons.
CHARLOTTE, NC - APRIL 14: Pelle Larsson #9 of the Miami Heat drives to the basket during the game against the Charlotte Hornets during the 2026 SoFi Play-In Tournament on April 14, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Miami Heat think highly of Pelle Larsson, and they’re backing up their belief in the former Arizona Wildcats guard with a major extension.
Larsson has agreed to a four-year, $60 million extension with the Heat, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The deal comes with a mutual option for the 2030-31 season.
Miami Heat guard Pelle Larsson has agreed to a new four-year, $60 million contract extension, with a mutual option for the 2030-31 season, Austin Brown and Steven Heumann of CAA Sports tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/wVsi86w9yY
The contract extension makes Larsson one of the highest-paid players from the 2024 NBA Draft class despite being taken midway through the second round. Larsson has outperformed his draft selection (No. 44 overall) through two seasons in the NBA, becoming a vital part of Miami’s rotation.
Last season Larsson averaged 11.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists. Larsson started 54 of the 70 games he appeared in after only starting eight games as a rookie.
The extension comes as a huge payday for Larsson, who was projected to earn $2.3 million this coming season. For Miami, the extension gives the team control of a young guard who was otherwise poised to enter restricted free agency next summer.
Miami is in win-now mode after trading for superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo in early July. The Heat also signed Klay Thompson this offseason.
Larsson’s former Arizona teammate Keshad Johnson enters his third season with the team after signing as an undrafted free agent.
The Detroit Pistons have locked up one of their core players.
Just not the one people thought would sign first.
The Pistons and Ausar Thompson agreed on a five-year contract extension worth $155 million on Friday, Sept. 18, a person with knowledge of the deal confirmed to the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the extension has not yet been announced publicly.
The deal, which does not have any opt-outs, kicks in next season and secures Thompson's future with the team that drafted him fifth overall in 2023.
Thompson took another step in 2025-26, his third NBA season. His otherworldly defense was validated during awards season. He finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting, behind two centers – winner Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren. Thompson was later named to the All-Defensive first team, becoming the first Pistons player to receive the honor since Ben Wallace in 2005-06.
Thompson and the Pistons beat the 6 p.m. ET, Oct. 19 deadline to sign a rookie extension. He will make $11.1 million in his fourth season to complete his four-year, $36.2 million rookie contract.
Thompson's new contract kicks in for the 2027-28 season and ends in 2032, and will play him $31 million per season. NBA contracts are guaranteed, unless otherwise stipulated.
Ausar Thompson stats in NBA with Pistons
Thompson's per-game averages and stats during the 2025-26 regular season:
73 games (72 starts)
9.9 points
5.7 rebounds
3.1 assists
2.0 steals (NBA-best)
0.9 blocks
1.5 turnovers
26 minutes
52.5% field goals (7.9 attempts – 303-for-577)
25% 3-pointers (0.3 attempts – 6-for-24)
57.1% free throws (2.6 attempts – 109-for-191)
54.5% true shooting percentage
Thompson was the leader of the league's No. 2 defense, which forced more turnovers and blocked more shots per game than any other team.
Ausar Thompson playoff stats
Thompson's per game averages and stats during the 2025-26 playoffs:
14 games
8.2 points
7.9 rebounds
3.1 assists
2.0 steals
1.8 blocks
1.6 turnovers
30.5 minutes
50.5% field goals (6.9 attempts – 49-for-97)
14.3% 3-pointers (0.5 attempts – 1-for-7)
51.6% free throws (2.2 attempts – 16-for-31)
52% true shooting percentage
Ausar Thompson draft pick
Thompson was drafted by then-Pistons general manager Troy Weaver in 2023 at No. 5 overall out of Overtime Elite in Atlanta – at the time, a new professional basketball league for up-and-coming prospects aged 16-20.
Ausar Thompson height and weight
Thompson, born Jan. 30, 1993, in San Leandro, California, will turn 24 years old on Jan. 30, 2026. His height is listed at 6 feet 7 in shoes, his weight is listed at 205 pounds and he measured with a 7-foot wingspan at the 2023 NBA Draft Combine. His twin brother, Amen, plays for the Houston Rockets.
Miami Heat guard Pelle Larsson was a standout for Sweden in FIBA World Cup qualifying this summer. He scored 23 points against France (not enough for the win, but he outscored Victor Wembanyama). He completely outplayed Lauri Markkanen, leading Sweden past Finland with 31 points on 9-of-17 shooting and adding five boards.
Miami is banking on more of that kind of play from Larsson around Giannis Antetokounmpo in the coming years, which is why they have locked him up with a four-year, $60 million contract extension, something first reported by ESPN's Shams Charania and confirmed by other sources. The final year of this deal is a mutual option. That extension kicks in for the 2027-28 season, Larson will make $2.3 million this season on the remainder of his rookie contract.
Larsson was a second-round pick out of Arizona in 2024 and has shown real growth in his game in his two NBA seasons. In 70 games last season, 54 as a starter, Larsson averaged 11.4 points and 3.5 rebounds a game, and while he's not a great 3-point shooter yet (32.3% last season), he is an efficient scorer overall, with a 60.5 true shooting percentage last season. Erik Spoelstra is a big fan and called him the ultimate glue guy. While he started last season, it's expected he will begin this season coming off the bench behind Klay Thompson.
Larsson has sort of taken over the role Miami hoped Nikola Jovic would fill, but Jovic fell out of Spoelstra's rotation last season. About a year ago, the Heat and Jovic agreed to a four-year, $62.5 million extension that kicks in this season. On that front, the Larsson contract is a real value (the Heat are hoping for more from Jovic this season).
The Warriors are locking in for the 2026-27 NBA season, where their goal is to return to being true title contenders. But they will run things back with virtually the same roster as last season, with players like Draymond Green set to play a big role once again. Things could look much different for Green this season, though.
Golden State has a lot to prove this season and used the offseason to regroup and reset, understanding that players’ roles will have to change if the franchise wants to be a part of the playoff conversation. Over the offseason, head coach Steve Kerr shared what a new role could look like for Green on The Tom Tolbert Show.
Green spoke about Kerr’s comments on his podcast, The Draymond Green Show, and gave a candid response about how the team wants him to play this coming season.
“As far as shooting threes, for the first time in my career, Coach Kerr told me towards the end of last year, he pulled me to the side and he’s like, ‘Draymond, I want you shooting the three.’ And I was like, ‘Oh s—.’ It was like an out of body experience, because I had never really heard him like confidently look me in my eye and say to me, ‘Yo, I want you shooting the basketball,” Green said on his podcast. “Even when I was shooting the ball great. It was just something that I had never heard. When he told me, the confidence level rose immediately.
“That was great for me, and now being able to go into the season with that mindset of like, I catch, I’m open, I’m firing. For me, ultimately, it’s going to help my shooting percentages, because it’s a lot different shooting the three when you catch and you’re not sure if you should shoot the three, or when you catch and you’re looking for the next action because that’s kind of your role in the offense. It’s a lot different shooting that three, because then it’s no longer a rhythm three.”
Green, a second-round pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, is one of the greatest defensive players to ever grace a basketball court but is not the most effective scorer. Averaging a career high of 14 points per game back in 2015-16, he has not averaged double figures in scoring since 2017-18. Steph Curry has been the Warriors’ top scorer in this era, but nearing the twilight of his career, the Warriors need to find ways to help Curry and take some pressure off of his shoulders.
Green has shown signs that he can shoot the ball well over the course of his career and has a career 3-point percentage of .321. The Warriors will face very good scoring teams this season, so if Green is able to work on his shooting ability even more, Golden State could be even more competitive in a wide-open NBA.
Green is entering his 15th season in the NBA and with the Warriors, hungrier than ever to add a fifth ring to his collection. A four-time All-Star, nine-time NBA All-Defensive team pick and the 2017 Defensive Player of the Year, Green’s career is Hall of Fame worthy, and a fifth ring would surely cement his status. Re-signing with the Warriors on a one-year deal this offseason, it is safe to say that Green and the Warriors are going all-in.
So, who is this guy the Lakers mortgaged their future on?
Here’s what we know about Walker Kessler.
The 7-foot-2, 245-pound center is considered one of the NBA’s elite rim protectors and rebounders. Luka Dončić made it clear to the Lakers he wanted him as his center.
And the Lakers responded by emptying their treasure trove, giving up two unprotected first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps in a sign-and-trade with the Jazz, signing Kessler to a four-year, $130 million deal.
Los Angeles Lakers Walker Kessler throws out the first pitch before a game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in Los Angeles. Wally Skalij for CA Post
That means the Lakers don’t have a tradable first-round draft pick for the next seven years.
How should Lakers fans feel about this?
They should be relieved.
The Lakers needed to make Dončić happy. They had to get an elite center. And they needed to pay whatever it cost. It’s a gamble they had to take.
The 25-year-old Kessler only played five games last season after suffering a torn labrum in his left shoulder that required season-ending surgery.
So, we don’t have a large enough recent sample size to judge Kessler’s growth.
Kessler, who was selected by the Grizzlies with the 22nd pick in the 2022 draft before he was traded to the Jazz, has career averages of 9.5 points on 68.1% shooting, 9.3 rebounds and 2.4 blocks.
Having him down low makes the Lakers much better defensively. He’s the type of player who takes up space and has great footwork. According to NBA.com, he contested 7.5 shots per game at the rim in 2024-2025, which tied him for the fifth most in the NBA.
Los Angeles Lakers’ Walker Kessler is seen as the team visits Ljubljana, Slovenia, for camp on Friday, August 21, 2026. REUTERS
But with the price tag the Lakers paid, they don’t just need a solid center. They need a star down low.
In order for Kessler to make good on the deal, he needs to turn into an All-Defensive player. He needs to be a borderline All-Star. He needs to be great.
The good news is that Kessler is fully aware of what his development means to the Purple-and-Gold.
“It definitely makes you feel a certain way when you know an organization believes in you,” Kessler said during his introductory news conference in Las Vegas in July.
“And I think what they’ve invested, they’re showing that belief in a monetary value, not just with money, but … assets. And for me, I’m somebody that if I know that they have that belief in me, I’m gonna run through a brick wall for them. That’s just how I’ve been wired my whole life.”
Kessler has a lot to prove.
He needs to be the team’s defensive anchor. He needs to set screens that open up Dončić and Austin Reaves. He needs to become a pivotal piece of the Lakers’ Big Three.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 18: Kylor Kelley #61 of the Orlando Magic wears Nike shoes against the Dallas Mavericks in the first half of a 2025 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 18, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Mavericks defeated the Magic 92-69. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images) | Getty Images
DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 6: Matisse Thybulle #4 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts to a play in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on April 6, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After the Lakers’ four presumed starters, all other spots in the rotation are up for grabs as training camp begins. A summer defined by change and considerable turnover moved in a hopeful direction toward more defense with some key acquisitions.
Veteran Marcus Smart walked to Houston in free agency, leaving behind a clear position of need. Enter Matisse Thybulle, who on arrival instantly becomes the highest-pedigree perimeter defender on the roster. Health permitting, he brings elite disruption ability with an improved outside shot for much-needed two-way play around Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.
Thybulle entered just 30 games last season for the Trail Blazers and 15 the season before that. That’s why he was available to LA to sign on a minimum contract. While still just 29 years old, he’s a player LA will need to manage throughout the regular season.
When he’s on the floor, he’s no short of a defensive monster. The 6’5” wing boasts a 7’1” wingspan to terrorize offensive players. He made Second Team All-Defense in 2021 and 2022 as a Philadelphia 76er.
One of the league’s most chaos-inducing defensive playmakers. His excellent hands help obstruct diverse offensive actions. Watch below as he defends the guard-to-guard screen against superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The screener slips the screen to counter the switch. Thybulle not only reads it, but also times it to put his hand out, deflect the pass and catch the turnover.
He can also prey on unsuspecting offensive players. Watch below as Giannis Antetokounmpo looks to take advantage in the post near the baseline. Thybulle quickly rushes over to swarm and his cat-like swipe pokes the ball out of his hands before he can begin his attack.
For players averaging under 20 minutes per game, Thybulle led the league with 3.9 deflections per game. Alex Caruso came in second with 3.1. He also led the Blazers’ talented perimeter defensive personnel with two steals per night.
Throughout his career, Thybulle has been a thorn in the side of the league’s top ball-handling playmakers. In his limited games, Portland matched him up on all types of stars and he held his own. Whether it’s against isolation or ball screen actions, his wingspan and textbook technique give him the tools to be an elite on-ball defender.
In the clip below, he’s matched up with Jaylen Brown. He chases him around the screen, negating any first-step advantage. While attached to the hip, he contests with his right hand and blocks the shot, forcing a jump ball.
In the next clip, he does the same to Jamal Murray coming off a dribble handoff action. Thybulle goes under the screen, beats Murray to the spot, and gets the block.
Thybulle gave up just 0.54 points per possession when defending pick-and-roll ball handlers, putting him in the 100th percentile league-wide. He has a knack for getting timely blocks on contests from behind when players think they’ve created separation.
Portland had a 113.5 defensive rating, good for 12th in the league last year. It shifted to an elite 99.8 when Thybulle was on the floor, where he led the team in overall net rating at a +9.
Not only the numbers, but his reputation and resume have Thybulle as one of the best defenders on the roster, if not at the top behind big-man addition Walker Kessler. The offense is where he, like many others vying for minutes, will need to be serviceable to earn ample playing time.
He will not be asked to do anything outside of his comfort zone. Playmaking and shot creation are accounted for, allowing him to do what he does best. He shot 38.8% on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers last season, including 44% on wide-open attempts.
Thybulle should get more of those attempts than he could dream of on this roster. Defensive schemes haven’t caught up to or respected the percentages, and he will likely still be the guy teams leave wide open when given the choice.
He has limited offensive versatility, as 69% of his shot attempts came from behind the arc. He drives less than three times per game and doesn’t get to the line often.
Even with those offensive limitations, the Lakers desperately need a player with his skill set and playoff experience. With the offensive load Luka and Reaves will carry, finding defensive talent to pair around them was crucial this summer. Thybulle slides in as an elite option…if he can stay relatively healthy.
Mar 30, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers executives Jason Hillman (left), Koby Altman (center) and Brandon Weems (right) watch a game against the Dallas Mavericks in the third quarter at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Cavaliers are not done making off season moves. This time the changes are coming in the front office. It was reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania on Friday morning that the Cavaliers are promoting Brandon Weems to the role of General Manager under President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are promoting executive Brandon Weems to General Manager under President Koby Altman, sources tell ESPN. Weems has been in the Cavaliers organization for the last decade, rising through scouting and personnel roles before becoming assistant GM in 2022, and…
Weems, who has been with the Cavaliers organization since 2015, has taken the long road to becoming the Cavaliers GM. In the past decade, Weems has held the roles of director of scouting, director of player personnel, and most recently assistant general manager.
With Mike Gansey joining the Philadelphia 76ers this past offseason as their president of basketball operations, there became a vacancy for the Cavaliers GM role. Having served under Gansey, it became a natural transition for Weems as the team would look to continue the trajectory of the franchise and maintain consistency in their approach.
During the offseason there was the narrative that the Cavaliers would use Weems’s pre-existing relationship with LeBron James to lure him back to his third stint to Cleveland. This, as pointed out by Brian Windhorst, is a disservice to the body of work that Weems has put together and his standing within the organization. With LeBron taking his talents to the city of brotherly love, it only has become apparent that Weems’s rise in the organization is based on his own merit and not who he happened to play basketball in high school with.
Weems’s promotion already seems to be making waves across the local fan base.
Suns head coach Jordan Ott high-fives guard Jordan Goodwin (23) during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, on Feb. 5, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
How do you define an X-factor? When you look up and down a roster, what skills or characteristics are you searching for in a player before giving them that designation? As we prepare for the 2026–27 Phoenix Suns season, our writing staff decided to take on that question. What makes someone an X-factor? And who will fill that role for the Suns this season?
I’ll start with my own definition. Pulling out my personal basketball dictionary, an X-factor isn’t one of your primary stars. Yes, your season may ultimately sink or swim based on how those players perform, but that doesn’t make them X-factors. That makes them primary factors. An X-factor, at least in my mind, is a role player who has the ability to significantly alter the outcome of a game or even the direction of a season. They are the needle movers; those opposing teams don’t gameplan against but wish they did. And when you look at this Suns roster, there are plenty of candidates.
Last year, in my opinion, it was Collin Gillespie. He took a real step forward as a player, and while he faded down the stretch, what he gave Phoenix through the first two-thirds of the season changed the energy, effort, and outcomes of games on a consistent basis. He was given the opportunity to become an X-factor, and for most of the season, he ran with it. When opposing fanbases are asking who you are, you did the right thing.
So when I look up and down this roster and ask who can be this year’s X-factor, and certainly no opposing fan doesn’t know who he is (for unfortunate reasons), I keep coming back to Miles Bridges. I think what he brings has the potential to change the Suns’ entire offensive ecosystem. You can also make the argument that he sits just outside the primary core, with Devin Booker, Jalen Green, and Dillon Brooks representing the main trio. Our recent SunsRank rankings reflected that as well, with Bridges landing outside that group. So, yes, Miles Bridges absolutely qualifies as an X-factor.
Bridges adds another layer of complexity, gravity, and pressure to the offense. He can attack downhill, create advantages, and force defenses to account for him in ways that should open the floor for everyone else. And if he can turn that into 18 or more points per game while remaining an efficient threat, it raises the ceiling of what this offense can become. Because if Bridges plays well enough that defenses have to treat him like a legitimate scoring threat, it creates more room for your primary factors. That means better opportunities for Devin Booker. Better opportunities for Jalen Green. And potentially a much more dynamic Suns offense.
Phoenix doesn’t need him to be its best player. It needs him to make life easier for the players who are. If his downhill pressure, physicality, and scoring force defenses to give him additional attention, the ripple effect could touch everything around him. Booker and Green get cleaner opportunities. The offense gains another dimension. And Miles Bridges becomes exactly what an X-factor should be, the variable that changes the equation.
Now, onto the rest of our Bright Side writing team. Let’s see how they define the term and who they’ve identified as their X-factors for the season.
Holden Sherman: An X-factor is the player who has the largest impact on driving your team’s wins and losses. Typically, that is your squad’s best player, but not always. Take the KD Warriors as an example. Steph Curry was the player who drove the most winning but Durant was the best.
For the Phoenix Suns, however, the team’s X-factor also happens to be their best player, which is Devin Booker. Turning 30 at the start of the season, he’s in the middle of his prime, and if he plays closer to the player we saw in 2023 than the one we’ve seen the past few seasons, the Suns could potentially be a top-six seed in an uncertain Western Conference. Along with staying healthy after not qualifying for All-NBA awards this past season, he needs to be an offensive engine not just for himself but for the team. While the roster has a good amount of continuity from a season ago, there will at minimum be two new starters from a season ago to begin the year, with Miles Bridges at the four and whoever replaces Mark Williams while he deals with his shoulder injury.
Booker needs to be the team’s leader off the court, find his own offense, especially late in games, put Dillon Brooks in a position to build off his offensive career year, allow Jalen Green to fully acclimate himself after an injury-packed first season on the Suns, and work in the team’s new starters around him, Green and Brooks
Brandon Duenas: The X-Factor term has so many different meanings. To me, it is someone who doesn’t jump off the page as a headliner. They are not the person you go to an arena to watch play. It is not Devin Booker (sorry Holden). It’s not even Dillon Brooks anymore.
It’s the player who can not only swing a game, but it’s the player who does the little things throughout. It’s the player who doesn’t get the recognition they deserve. It’s the player that mimics the phrase “you don’t know what you got til it’s gone.” To me, that is Jordan Goodwin.
We all saw what happened to the Suns’ perimeter defense without him against OKC. He is indispensable. He is the heart and soul of this team, and when he’s on offensively, very few can impact the game on both ends as he does. The silent assassin. When he goes, boy are the Suns tough to beat.
Bruce Veliz: An X-Factor for me is someone who will truly change or help shape a better season for this team. Last year, the X-Factor made that clear when he got here and shook up the culture and stepped up to the plate when injuries came to play. That is someone I am looking for this year to really help change the narrative once again on what people expect for this team, and the X-Factor to me is the person who changes that trajectory.
That’s why this year for me the X-Factor has to be Khaman Maluach, and even more so, I think now with the recent injury to Mark Williams. Maluach has to step out and really show some signs of progress after his rookie year, where he didn’t get as much of an opportunity as people may have expected/wanted. Now, after a solid summer league and being a lottery pick, the eyes are all on him to truly help this team make it to the next level, even if it’s not immediate. He will be the true catalyst in a lot of discussions surrounding this team, regardless of whether he does or doesn’t pan out.
If he can pan out, he’s that center the Suns have been wanting since the Ayton draft pick and someone who can truly be that dominant big man to Booker’s game, bringing a solid 1-2 punch. If he can reach that, not only does the future look bright for Phoenix, but the KD trade looks even better in hindsight for the team’s direction it pivoted to.
Kevin Humphries: An X-factor to me is a role player, often unproven, that will swing games for the Suns in their favor consistently. Last season, Oso Ighodaro was the ultimate X-factor to me because he was not a star player but arguably starred in his role better than anyone else on the team. He was one of the Suns’ top 5 players last season and won many games for Phoenix.
While I want to go with Ighodaro again, I believe Collin Gillespie is this year’s X-factor for Phoenix. Gillespie started 58 games last season and logged heavy minutes throughout the season, often playing through visible discomfort. In 2025-26, he had the 7th-most made threes in the NBA and was 10th in attempts. He shot a blistering 40.1% from long distance. He also averaged 4.6 assists, which was second on the team.
He will most likely start this season on the bench, but will be the first player off it and will start games when any non-center is injured. He will be the head of the snake for the bench this season, which will once again swing games. The Suns could have the best bench unit in the NBA because of Gillespie, and he could easily earn 6th Man of the Year award votes at season’s end. The big question for Gillespie is whether he can repeat his level of shooting and playmaking again this season. And if he maintains or improves his play this season, there is a case for him to start over Jalen Green to balance out the rotation for Jordan Ott. If that happens, it could force the front office’s hand to move on from Green because Gillespie is the better player.
Tom Mildenberger: X-factor means to me someone who, if they do well or play poorly, can affect the Suns’ win totals. My X-factor is Jordan Ott.
There were a lot of things to love about Ott’s first season in terms of buy-in and culture. He was not able to scheme even a game in the postseason where Devin Booker was free to be the number one scoring option. In his second year, he needs to be more intentional about which players he wants taking shots.
Mark Bowser: I am framing an X-factor as someone who is less predictable, and could also sway the season with a high-end outcome. I considered Man Man because of the extended time on the court he’s likely to get. I understand Booker, but I feel like we mostly know what we’re getting with him.
While not probable, let me submit that a best-case Jalen Green playing a high fraction of the 82 games, being a better distributor (not saying CP3 or KJ here), quicker ball movement, and improving three-point accuracy with improved chemistry year two in the system would easily be our #2 player and a likely All-Star. It would have positive ripple effects on other players, including Book. While also not likely, another injury-plagued season and reduced efficiency, potentially even pouting if there are fewer shots for him with the Bridges addition, could weigh down the team’s hopes. High variance player and our 2026-27 X-factor.
What did members of our community say?
There’s probably no single right way to define an X-factor, and that’s what makes the conversation interesting. It can be the role player who swings a game, the player whose absence exposes a weakness, the guy who takes a leap, or even the coach responsible for putting everyone in the right position. For the Suns, there are plenty of candidates, and everyone has a different reason for putting their name on the list.
So now we want to hear from you. How do you define an X-factor, and who is your X-factor for the 2026–27 Phoenix Suns? Is it one of the names mentioned above, or is there someone we overlooked? Let us know in the comments.
