Taj Gibson has decided it was time to retire as a player after 17 seasons — but he is not stepping away from the NBA.
Gibson has announced his retirement on social media and will join the Chicago Bulls as an assistant coach under Tiago Splitter.
Today is a very emotional day for me.
After 17 seasons in the NBA, I can honestly say I gave this game everything I had.
Basketball gave me the opportunity to live a dream. As a kid from Brooklyn, NY, I was lucky to get a chance to display my talent on the biggest stage. From… pic.twitter.com/tQAgHoUYl6
Gibson was drafted in the first round in 2009 by the Chicago Bulls and played eight seasons for the franchise, finishing fifth in Rookie of the Year voting and being top-10 in Sixth Man of the Year voting three times (including second in 2014). With the Bulls he averaged 9.4 points and 6.4 rebounds a game.
After leaving Chicago he played in New York, Minnesota, Washington, Charlotte, Oklahoma City, Memphis and Detroit. This summer, the Grizzlies traded Gibson to the Pelicans, who then waived him.
Now he returns to Chicago, where he is beloved. Gibson made his mark in Bulls history and ranks fifth all-time in blocks (695), sixth in offensive rebounds (1,336), 10th in defensive rebounds (2,250), 10th in games played (562) and 12th in total rebounds (3,586).
Gibson has always had the basketball IQ and demeanor of a coach, and now he will learn under another former NBA big man turned coach in Tiago Splitter.
After being on hold for months awaiting a resolution in the Clippers salary cap circumvention investigation, the trade of Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors — agreed to back on June 30 — is finally going through, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.
This comes one day after Clippers owner Steve Ballmer released a statement saying he and the franchise would not fight the harsh penalties handed down by Commissioner Adam Silver and the NBA.
While the sides agreed to this trade in June, the Raptors put finalizing the deal on hold, waiting to see the outcome and punishments from the NBA's investigation (they would have been on the hook if Leonard were suspended). Now that the report is done, the punishments have been handed down and accepted, and the Clippers have figured out who is heading basketball operations (though they haven't officially announced it), the trade can and will move forward, as expected.
As a reminder, the trade details are:
• Toronto receives: Kawhi Leonard • The LA Clippers receive: Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks (2031 and 2033), a 2027 first-round pick swap, two second-round picks (2030 and 2033).
This is a win for Leonard, who gets out of the glare of the Los Angeles spotlight and lands in a city where he helped win a title and is beloved. Leonard is expected to reach terms for an extension with the Raptors, although the timing is unclear.
While some pundits wanted to stir up the idea that the Clippers might try to hold up or change the trade — as punishment to Leonard, who got off with a slap on the wrist in all this — league sources had told NBC Sports (and we consistently reported) the deal was going to go through. Beyond the damage to reputations there would be for backing out of an agreed-to deal, this trade also works for both sides.
The Raptors get Leonard, an All-NBA player last year, averaging 27.9 points and 6.4 rebounds a night in 65 games. Putting Leonard at forward with Scottie Barnes (almost an All-NBA player last year, 18th in voting), RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley in what is a potentially dynamic and dangerous roster (if Leonard can stay healthy).
While the Clippers get a quality player in Ingram, the real draw here is the picks — Los Angeles lost five first-round picks in the punishment from the NBA, this brings a couple in the door. Whatever internal frustrations they may have with Leonard, the Clippers needed those picks and with that needed this trade.
Kawhi Leonard is being sent to Toronto, while the Clippers received forward Brandon Ingram, guard Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks (2031, 2033), two second-round picks (2030, 2033), and a 2027 first-round swap in the trade.
The trade was initially agreed on and reported on June 30, 2026. The teams acknowledged the deal but held off on following through because of the ongoing investigation into the Clippers for salary cap circumvention that involved Leonard.
The NBA announced disciplinary action against the Clippers on Sept. 2, after an external law firm completed enough of its investigation and shared its findings with NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
As a result, the Clippers were given a $30 million fine and have to forfeit five first-round draft picks (2029–2033). Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and two of the team’s top executives were given suspensions.
Clippers-Raptors trade winners
Kawhi Leonard
The two-time Finals MVP is among the biggest winners. He managed to get out of Los Angeles and return to a place he’s familiar with in Toronto. He also received very little in terms of punishment from the NBA, being fined $700,000. The Raptors are expected to offer Leonard a contract extension.
Clippers
The team needs to hit the restart button, considering the loss of picks as a result of the investigation findings. The trade helps ease the burden of not having to go without too many first-round picks in the future.
Clippers-Raptors trade losers
Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick
The pair are among the biggest losers in the deal. They were left in limbo, spending most of the summer wondering what their basketball future would look like for the upcoming season and potentially beyond.
Ingram is expected to have a player option for the 2027-28 season.
Ingram is coming off a season wherein he averaged 21.5 points on 47.7% shooting from the field across 77 games played. Dick played in 76 games in his third season, averaging six points and 1.9 rebounds.
The Clippers and Raptors agreed to complete the trade sending Leonard to Toronto for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round draft picks (2031 and 2033), one first-round draft pick swap (2027) and two second-round picks.
LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard drives to the basket against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday, January 28, 2023, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. USA TODAY Sports
The Clippers and Raptors still have to schedule a trade call with the league for the transaction to become official.
The league dropped staggering punishments on the Clippers, fining the franchise $30 million, suspending Ballmer for one year and stripping the franchise of five first-round draft picks on Sept 2.
Ballmer didn’t explicitly apologize for the the Clippers’ cap circumvention, stating “there are still disagreements concerning the findings in the report” but that the franchise was complying with the penalties after the franchise initially issued a statement saying it “vehemently reject the NBA’s findings, which are the result of a heavily biased investigation seeking to justify a predetermined narrative rather than facts and evidence.”
With the main leaders of the Clippers’ front office not permitted to be involved with the franchise, general manager Trent Redden led the Clippers in getting the trade over the finish line.
Toronto Raptors’ Kawhi Leonard celebrates after the buzzer as the Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors 114-110 during Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Friday, June 14, 2019, in Oakland, Calif. The Raptors won the finals. AP
On June 30, two months before the NBA announced the penalties for the Clippers’ violations of the league’s salary cap rules, the Clippers agreed to trade Leonard to the Raptors for Ingram, Dick and the aforementioned draft picks.
The trade was put on hold on July 9 amidst the NBA’s investigation of the Clippers-Leonard scandal, with the Raptors stating it was going to wait until the league’s investigation was complete since they would’ve assumed the risk for any potential outcome of the investigation impacting Leonard.
Leonard was in South Florida last week as part of an organized minicamp with Raptors players, but was a limited participant because the trade wasn’t official yet.
Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer leaves his courtside seat after a game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on Friday, March 28, 2025. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Clippers and Raptors have been able to co-submit the trade for league approval for it to become an official transaction for a while now, and they finally pulled the trigger Monday, 13 days after the league punished the Clippers.
It wasn’t clear what possible crimes federal prosecutors are investigating, or which people are the target of the federal inquiry. It also wasn’t clear whether criminal charges would come from the investigation.
The Department of Justice is the second government entity to investigate the Clippers-Leonard scandal.
Daktronics acting CFO Howard Atkins said during a recent earnings call with investors that the Securities and Exchange Commission is seeking information concerning the South Dakota-based company — which built the $100 million video board inside the Clippers’ Intuit Dome — and its relationship with Leonard. Daktronics, along with Aspiration Partners, Boingo Wireless and Lockton Insurance, was one of the four companies with endorsement deals with Leonard that were at the center of the NBA’s investigation.
Leonard was forced to pay the NBA $700,000 for restitution for improper benefits provided by the Clippers, while his uncle and former business manager, Dennis Robertson, has been banned by the NBA from all business dealings for five years.
Earlier this summer, the two teams agreed to terms on a trade that sent Leonard to Toronto in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, two second-round picks (2030, 2033) and a 2027 first-round swap to Los Angeles. That deal was put on pause to await the conclusion of the NBA's almost year-long investigation into the Clippers and Leonard.
The league investigation reached its conclusion Sept. 2, ruling that the Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer violated the league's collective bargaining agreement by facilitating side deals between Leonard and four companies in an effort to circumvent the salary cap. Severe punishments were handed out, but Leonard emerged relatively unscathed with a $700,000 fine. That cleared the way for the Raptors and what remains of LA's front office to move forward with the trade, which has now gone through according to ESPN.
Done deal: The LA Clippers and Raptors have both agreed to complete the trade sending Kawhi Leonard to Toronto for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, one first-round pick swap and two second-rounders, per ESPN sources. The sides will now schedule a… pic.twitter.com/c0lk5xUGJG
Here's exactly what the Clippers are getting in return for Leonard, and how the NBA's sanctions factor in:
Brandon Ingram
Ingram is no stranger to Los Angeles. The Lakers' No. 2 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft spent much of the early part of his career under the intense microscope that comes with playing for the purple and gold and showed enough flashes of potential that he was considered a centerpiece of the haul the New Orleans Pelicans received from the Lakers in the Anthony Davis trade in 2019. He was an All-Star in his first year with the Pels, but injuries kept him from being a consistent force, and New Orleans eventually shipped him off to Canada at the 2025 trade deadline.
The headliner of the return package, Ingram is coming off of his second career All-Star season after averaging 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 33.8 minutes in 77 games played in his first (and now only) season in Toronto. Those 77 games are notable because it's the most Ingram has played in a season since his rookie year a decade ago (79).
A smooth 6-8 wing, he's shown he can be a walking bucket when healthy and when paired with a true facilitator in the backcourt. Darius Garland checks that second box. As for the first one, that can only be determined in time.
Gradey Dick
Whereas Ingram is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, Gradey Dick is coming off of his worst.
The 6-8 wing out of Kansas was lauded during the 2023 draft as someone who could space the floor on offense and be a lockdown defender. His shooting hasn't exactly translated to the NBA, however. Dick shot a pedestrian 36.5% from 3-point range during his rookie season; that number dropped to 35% in 2024-25 and 30.1% last season as his usage dipped to a career-low 14.0 minutes per game. His player efficiency rating has yet to surpass 10.7 (league average is 15) and he carries a career box plus/minus of minus-4.
Dick has struggled during his first three seasons, but maybe a change of scenery – specifically to a team that has no immediate future of contending – is exactly what he needs to turn his career around.
Draft picks
This is the most important part of the trade for the Clippers. They get back two unprotected first-round picks, one in 2031 and 2033, two second-rounders in 2030 and '33 and a pick-swap in 2027.
How do NBA sanctions affect the trade?
Aside from delaying the trade from being completed for over two months? Significantly.
Arguably the biggest punishment (out of many) announced by commissioner Adam Silver was the forfeiture of five first-round draft picks. Starting in 2029, the Clippers have been stripped of one pick in 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032 and 2033. But since the Leonard trade technically hadn't happened yet, they'll still be able to receive the Raptors' first-rounders in '31 and '33 with no penalty, while forfeiting only their own picks. They also have a top three-protected pick swap with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2029 after forfeiting the unprotected pick they received from the Indiana Pacers that year for Ivica Zubac at last season's trade deadline.
Ingram and Dick are also two tradeable assets that the team has suddenly been strapped with after an offseason of roster overturn. Ingram has two years left on the three-year, $120 million extension he signed with the Raptors and has a player option for 2027-28. Dick is set to be a restricted free agent after this season, but with president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank suspended for six months, any major move seem unlikely.
Jun 17, 2019; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; A fan carrying a Kawhi Leonard poster cheers during the Toronto Raptors Championship Parade on Lakeshore Boulevard. Mandatory Credit: Gerry Angus-USA TODAY Sports
Just in from Shams Charania: ESPN’s senior NBA insider has just announced that after gruelling months and massive league upheaval, the Kawhi Leonard trade has finally been completed, with Kawhi Leonard finally coming back North to rejoin the Raptors.
Done deal: The LA Clippers and Raptors have both agreed to complete the trade sending Kawhi Leonard to Toronto for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, one first-round pick swap and two second-rounders, per ESPN sources. The sides will now schedule a… pic.twitter.com/c0lk5xUGJG
The deal, as reported, remains the same as it was back in June, sending the forward to the Raptors in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and a bevy of picks that will be used to bolster the Clippers’ now depleted war-chest in the wake of the judgement from the NBA that came earlier this September. Charania announced that today marked the date that the Clippers finally submitted their approval for the trade, allowing it to go through.
I have not been this excited since… well, since the trade was first announced. It’s going to be a good season, Raptors fans. While the Toronto Raptors have yet to announce the completion of the trade, more news will be coming, so be sure to check in at Raptors HQ for the most recent developments.
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As is seemingly a yearly tradition at this point, the NBA’s salary cap for next season will rise. This time, though, it’ll do so at an even higher number than anticipated, according to a report from Fred Katz of The Athletic.
“The NBA recently informed teams of its updated salary-cap projections for the 2027-28 season, league sources told The Athletic, with the new projections coming in $2 million higher than the league’s previous numbers,” Katz wrote.
This year, the salary cap is set for $165 million while the luxury tax will sit at $200 million. Both numbers will swell about 7%, according to Katz’s reporting.
“Those sources, speaking on condition of anonymity because the projections have not been made public, said the league is now projecting the 2027-28 salary cap will rise to $176 million and the luxury tax line will be $213 million,” he wrote.
The Los Angeles Lakers are a luxury tax team for 2026-27 and will presumably remain as such in 2027-28, though the increased projections certainly benefits their wiggle room.
If Jarred Vanderbilt exercises his $13.2 million player option, their payroll across just 12 players is $201 million. Granted, that includes team options for Dalton Knecht ($6.4 million), Jaden Hardy ($6 million), Adou Thiero ($2.5 million), and Bronny James ($2.4 million), which total $17.5 million.
Kevon Looney, Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams are all on one-year minimum deals this season. The hope is they play well enough for the Lakers to want to retain their services, even if it pushes them into the luxury tax. They’ll certainly need at least a couple of them to flourish and help bolster the rotation, which may be a bit thin and could stand to have a few players solidify themselves as reliable mainstays.
PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 23: Ziaire Williams #1 of the Brooklyn Nets attempts a layup defended by Donovan Clingan #23 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half at Moda Center on March 23, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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 atZiaire Williams.
A perfect storm of departing contracts afforded the Los Angeles Lakers an opportunity to officially move forward with a revamped team built around superstar Luka Dončić this summer.
Head coach JJ Redick and company had a specific identity in mind when crafting the new-look Lakers: defense, youth and athleticism. A young wing they took a flyer on who projects as a prototype that the franchise (and its fanbase) has desired for a while, Ziaire Williams, fits that mold perfectly.
The 25-year-old wing has spent the better part of his five-year career on middling teams and without a creator as talented as Dončić or Austin Reaves, who possess the ability to enhance the skills of the people around them. Despite the malaise one might play with on a team like the Brooklyn Nets, Williams produced some great tape and the stats back it up.
Defensively, the lanky 6-foot-9 Williams is the exact type of wing stopper you’d want to see next to Los Angeles’ star backcourt. He ranked in the 91st percentile in defensive matchup difficulty, 87th in perimeter isolation defense, 97th in passing lane defense and 96th in deflections per 75 possessions last season, all according to BBall Index.
He’s a consummate disruptor both on and off the ball and causes the exact type of chaos a defense needs to win; it’s just a matter of him doing it while on a team with serious aspirations.
Williams’ shortcomings offensively may just be a result of the lack of creation he’s shared the floor with. Not to mention, while in Brooklyn, he was often tasked with creating offense on his own, which detracted from his ideal role off the ball. The forward has a chance to really flash his skills as an off-ball spacer playing off of the natural gravity Dončić and Reaves create.
Williams shot 34.3% from beyond the arc last season, which ranked just in the middle of the league, and 33.9% on catch-and-shoot threes, which ranked even lower. Those numbers start to look reasonable when you consider the factors under which he was shooting the deep ball. According to BBall Index, he had an overall 3-point openness rating that graded out in the ninth percentile… ninth… along with a catch-and-shoot shot quality rating that slotted him in the 27th percentile. He will see better-quality 3-point opportunities with the Lakers, without question.
It’s natural to herald that Williams, given his skillset, age and physical ability, will turn into a better version of himself when surrounded by better talent, but it’s not a given.
What is his best-case scenario?
Redick has been itching to roster a player of Williams’ potential and ability. And he’s already had plans for him this offseason.
In an ideal world, Williams solidifies his spot on the roster by earning the highly coveted fifth spot in the starting lineup. He’s got a legitimate chance, too. He’s at a similar level defensively as Jarred Vanderbilt, but has a vastly superior offensive repertoire. If Jake LaRavia continues to struggle to knock down the deep ball, he and Williams will be even on that side of the ball, but Williams is significantly better defensively.
Williams has one of the best chances at breaking into the lineup, especially if Redick wants to counter a weak defensive backcourt with a versatile defense by fielding Quentin Grimes, Williams and Walker Kessler alongside Dončić and Reaves.
What is his worst-case scenario?
I don’t expect his defense to be the reason he’s played off the floor moving forward. He’s too gifted in that department for that to be the case. It all comes down to shooting.
How many players coming into Los Angeles with the promise of an ability to space the floor have fallen at the behest of the Crypto.com Arena lighting? LaRavia is a prime example. He arrived as a 42.3% 3-point shooter and had the worst perimeter shooting season of his career last season, shooting 32.1%.
What if all the talk about the subpar shot-creating talent Williams was playing with is all just wishcasting? If he continues to be a low-30s shooter from deep, it will be hard to justify having him out there in the role that many are hoping he can fulfill.
He was, after all, available for the minimum as a 24-year-old former 10th overall pick.
What is his likely role on the team?
Williams is an archetype many teams want. His youth and contract alone make him a justifiable swing to take.
His skillset will be used and needed on the Lakers this season. Williams will most likely have a pretty prominent role as one of the more versatile wings on the roster. Will he actually make a leap playing around supreme talent, or is the player the Nets and Memphis Grizzlies rostered just who he is?
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: Dillon Brooks attends Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Nearly 300 kids showed up Saturday to watch Dillon Brooks set up layup drills at the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa.
This wasn’t a random appearance or a half-hearted community obligation. Suns veteran Dillon Brooks rolled straight from a media availability into on-court work with kids who came because they believe in what he’s building in Phoenix, and look up to him.
One of the instructors nailed it. With Brooks involved, “it just brings more people out.” That’s what star credibility does in a market. Kids show up. Parents pay attention. The Suns organization gets community penetration without forcing it.
This matters because Brooks just signed a three-year, $73 million extension that locks him in Phoenix through 2029-30. That contract is a statement that Phoenix is investing in Brooks long-term, and this camp is a glimpse of proof that he is returning the favor.
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 1: Collin Gillespie #12 and Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns talk to the media after the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on December 1, 2025 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Brooks is one of the most misunderstood players in the league, with the narrative centered on who he is on the court. As a person, you hear nothing but great things from every organization he’s been a part of.
Brooks recently returned from China, where he trained kung fu and worked with UFC fighters because, of course, he did.
This is a man committed to attacking his physical and mental ceiling. But what he emphasized at the camp tells you his real priority: mental wellness alongside basketball fundamentals. He talked directly about teaching kids early that their mental game controls everything, then connecting that to nutrition, body care, and stretch routines.
There are plenty of young Suns fans who look up to Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks in this community, so it’s always great to see players get involved and make a difference. More of this stuff as the headliners, please!
I wonder if he did his patented pre-game staredown at the camp. Will investigate more on this matter.
As the Knicks look to repeat for a championship, the club has a good chance at having three All-Stars during the 2026-27 season.
Jalen Brunson andKarl-Anthony Townsare the two obvious names, with both players having made the All-Star team each of the last three seasons. Looking to join them this season is OG Anunoby.
Entering his 10th NBA season, Anunoby has proven to be one of the more valuable players in the NBA, but he has very little to show for it when it comes to awards -- with Anunoby having only two NBA All-Defensive team appearances for his career accomplishments.
Anunoby was phenomenal during New York’s championship run, with the 6-foot-7 forward averaging 20.1 points throughout the playoffs. In the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, Anunoby rose to the occasion, becoming a franchise legend.
Anunoby’s tip-in that essentially won the Knicks Game 4 is one of the biggest plays in league history. That moment makes it easy to forget his game-saving block of Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox the play before. The two moments were a microcosm of the Knicks' "demon," as Josh Hart calls him. Anunoby can impact the game on both sides of the floor, and is one of the best defenders in the NBA -- both in one-on-one situations and help scenarios.
During the Finals, Anunoby was arguably New York’s most important contributor. In five games, he was second in scoring (21.2 points) and converted 16 of 32 threes. The playoff performance highlighted Anunoby’s value to the Knicks. With that added attention, there will be more awareness of how much Anunoby contributes to New York’s success going into this season.
Jun 10, 2026; New York, New York, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard De'aaron Fox (4) shoots against New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby (8) in the fourth quarter during game four of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. / Geoff Burke - Imagn Images
Non-traditional star
There are a few factors that have worked against Anunoby. He’s never been one to post eye-popping numbers. Anunoby averaged a career-high 18.0 points during the 2025-26 season, but he’s not known as a high-scoring contributor, averaging a combined 16.7 points over the last six seasons with the Knicks and Toronto Raptors. Anunoby is also not a traditional scorer since he’s not attacking off the dribble much. Of the forward’s shot attempts in the postseason, 40.9 percent came without a dribble, per NBA Stats.
Another reason is the Knicks have never had a dominant regular season. Most teams that have produced more than two All-Stars in a season in the modern era have posted dominant records.
New York has won at least 50 games all of the last three seasons, but all three campaigns were in the low-50s. Even the 53-29 mark from the championship season was low for the traditional standard of a title winner. If New York can be a top-three seed and play at a 55-plus win pace, that would help Anunoby’s case.
Luck will also be a factor, since injuries could have an impact either as a positive or a negative. Meanwhile, Anunoby’s role could level up this season after the Knicks discovered alternative styles of play in the postseason. Towns was unlocked as a playmaker, averaging 4.9 assists during the playoffs.
Anunoby’s ability to cut to the basket or spot up from the corner three makes him likely to benefit from more ball movement and have extra scoring opportunities. Also, Brunson is recovering from offseason wrist surgery. While he might not miss games, New York could manage the captain’s minutes throughout the season with an eye toward another playoff run. That might open up more shot attempts across the roster.
If the Knicks have a top record and Anunoby continues his steady production, there’s a very good chance at him earning a well-deserved spot on the All-Star team.
Danilo Gallinari has sent Kawhi Leonard a bill for his career detour.
The total: $50 million.
The proposed recipient: charity.
New York Knicks’ Danillo Gallinari reacts during the third quarter of a game against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, February 2, 2011, at Madison Square Garden. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
The supporting evidence is considerably less tidy.
Speaking on the “A Cresta Alta” podcast, Gallinari blamed Leonard for ending his Clippers tenure in 2019, when Los Angeles included him in the blockbuster trade that brought Paul George from Oklahoma City.
“He changed the trajectory of my career,” Gallinari said. “He should pay all $50 million, not just $700,000.”
The $700,000 refers to the fine Leonard received after the NBA determined that salary-cap rules had been violated through arrangements involving the Clippers. The franchise received a record $30 million fine, lost five first-round selections and watched owner Steve Ballmer receive a one-year suspension.
Gallinari’s attempt to connect that scandal to his own exit is stranger still. The cap case centered partly on a $28 million Aspiration endorsement agreement under which Leonard reportedly performed no promotional work—an arrangement made years after Gallinari had been traded.
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
Whatever the no-show scheme says about Leonard and the Clippers, it did not cost Gallinari his roster spot. Turning a later salary-cap violation into restitution for an earlier personnel decision requires combining two controversies that have little to do with each other.
This seems to be Gallinari’s preferred punishment for a player he believes wielded enough power to redirect his life. Leonard wanted another star before joining the Clippers, prompting the front office to acquire George in a mammoth package that also included Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, five first-round picks and two swaps.
There is something understandable beneath Gallinari’s grievance. Players routinely learn they have been traded after executives make cold calculations. Having another player effectively initiate the process might sting differently.
New York Knicks’ Danillo Gallinari reacts after hitting a three-point shot to give the Knicks the lead late in the fourth quarter against the Miami Heat on Wednesday, January 26, 2011, at Madison Square Garden. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Calling the move responsible for Gallinari’s subsequent career, however, requires some imaginative accounting.
He averaged 18.7 points and 5.2 rebounds during his lone Thunder season, shot 40.6 percent from 3-point range and helped Oklahoma City reach the playoffs. He then signed a three-year, $61.4 million contract with Atlanta.
That is a strange definition of financial ruin.
Gallinari was also 31 during his Oklahoma City season. His eventual decline arrived at an age when most NBA careers begin bending downward, and only after he secured another enormous payday.
Leonard is hardly innocent in the Clippers scandal, but the cold reality of winning in modern sports is not another offense to add to his ledger.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 10: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round Two Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 10, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
For the first time in roughly forever, the Eastern Conference appears to be loaded this year. The reigning champion New York Knicks are atop the conference for now, but the Sixers and others will be nipping at their heels all season as they vie for East supremacy.
The Sixers loaded up by adding LeBron James and Jaylen Brown this offseason, but they were hardly the only East team to make a major splash. The Miami Heat landed Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Toronto Raptors (finally) landed Kawhi Leonard. The Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers didn’t make any additions on that level, but Mitchell Robinson, Peyton Watson and our beloved Kelly Oubre Jr., respectively, are notable adds nevertheless.
Now that the dust has (mostly) settled on the offense, how does the new-look East stack up, and who’s the biggest threat to the Sixers this year? We’ve ranked the top five based on their current rosters and the potential matchup problems that they could present.
Honorable Mention: Miami Heat
Any team with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo can’t be dismissed outright. But with all due respect to Simone Fontecchio, the Heat don’t have much else for the Sixers to fear.
Could the Heat patch together a half-decent rotation with Giannis, Bam, Fontecchio, Andrew Wiggins, Davion Mitchell, Tim Hardaway Jr., Klay Thompson, Bobby Portis and Nick Richards? Sure. Is their rotation a house of cards that will collapse if either Giannis or Bam miss significant time? It sure seems that way.
The Giannis-Bam pairing should give the Heat a formidable defensive backbone, but it’s fair to wonder how they’ll fit together offensively. Bam began firing threes at a relatively high volume last year, but he knocked down only 31.8 percent of them, and Giannis isn’t a great three-point shooter either. Can they avoid getting in one another’s way?
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is the right man to figure out that problem, but the loss of Norman Powell and Tyler Herro could cramp Miami’s offensive spacing, barring a turn-back-the-clock type of season from Thompson. If the Heat and Sixers clashed in the playoffs, the Heat’s best chance to win might be turning the series into a rock fight.
But until Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson shows that he’s willing to bench James Harden in high-leverage moments, it’s hard to have much faith in his squad as a legit threat this year.
The Cavs held a 22-point lead over the Knicks in the fourth quarter of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals last season. Then Jalen Brunson started playing Hunt The Bozo with James Harden, and the rest was history. The Cavs wound up getting swept even though Donovan Mitchell averaged 27.3 points per game while shooting 47.5 percent from the field in that series.
The Cavs did add Watson this offseason, but they also lost Max Strus, Dean Wade and Dennis Schröder, all of whom played roles off the bench for them in the playoffs. Their starting five is solid, and Sam Merill and Jaylon Tyson are nice to have off the bench, but their depth beyond that is largely unproven.
Maybe this is the year that Evan Mobley actually takes The Leap that’s been promised for the last few years and the Cavs are much more of an actual title threat than anticipated this season. But Harden has nowhere to hide defensively against the Sixers in particular, and Atkinson doesn’t have a ton of great options off the bench to replace him, either.
5. Detroit Pistons
The Pistons surged to the top of the East with a 60-win season last year, but they proved to be more of the 82-game juggernaut than the 16-game variety once the playoffs began. They barely squeaked by the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic in the opening round and lost to the Cavaliers in seven games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Jalen Duren, who remains in restricted-free-agency purgatory, went from an All-NBA regular season to looking like Jahlil Okafor 2.0 in the playoffs. His lack of a bag on offense made him a relative non-factor both against Orlando and Cleveland, which could be a major problem against Joel Embiid if the Pistons cross paths with the Sixers in the playoffs.
The Pistons moved on from Tobias Harris, Isaiah Stewart and Caris LeVert this offseason and brought in John Collins, Isaiah Joe, Taurean Prince and Gary Harris to boost their offensive floor spacing. Those additions should help the Pistons be more well-balanced, but they still may be overly reliant on Cade Cunningham.
Cunningham is one of the league’s best young guards, but Detroit is short on players who can help him generate offense. That could prove problematic against the Sixers in particular since they can alternate between throwing Brown, LeBron, Wade and VJ Edgecombe at him.
4. Boston Celtics
The Celtics have been getting buried all offseason for trading Brown to the Sixers for Paul George and a pair of first-round picks, but you know who isn’t burying them? Oddsmakers. They have Boston with the third-best odds to win the East, trailing only the Knicks and Sixers.
It’s easy to see the rationale. George won’t generate as much rim pressure as Brown, but he’s an accurate, high-volume three-point shooter. He should fit perfectly with Joe Mazzulla’s Math Ball. And while Neemias Queta emerged as a legitimate starting-caliber center last year, the Celtics were short on frontcourt depth behind him. That won’t be the case this year after they spent their non-taxpayer mid-level exception on Robinson.
Jayson Tatum will now be roughly 18 months removed from his Achilles tear once the season tips off, and he already got about a month’s worth of games under his belt last year to shake the rust off. He should be all systems go on opening night. And considering that they apparently have Jalen Brunson 2.0 in Payton Pritchard, the Celtics might not even miss Brown this year.
We might be giving too much respect to Boston here, but 40 years worth of trauma—this past spring notwithstanding—does that to a person. But hey, remember when they blew a 3-1 series lead for the first time in franchise history last year? Good times.
Scottie Barnes is already one of the NBA’s most versatile young forwards. He finished fifth in the Defensive Player of the Year race last season and averaged a well-rounded 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game. He might be miscast as a No. 1 option, but he should be a strong No. 2 alongside Leonard.
Between Barnes, Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett, the Raptors would have plenty of supplemental scoring around that duo. But the truly terrifying prospect is the three-man combination of Leonard, Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles. That type of length on defense could give the Sixers’ guards and wings plenty of trouble.
Jakob Poeltl is the wild card for Toronto, particularly with Sandro Mamukelashvili now on the Los Angeles Lakers. Poeltl has missed at least 25 games in each of the past three seasons, and his balky back limited him to a career-low 46 games last year. The Raptors don’t have much (any?) proven frontcourt depth behind him, which perhaps makes this a matchup tailor-made for Embiid in particular to dominate.
Still, with Kawhi back in Toronto, the PTSD from 2019 alone might earn the Raptors a top-three spot here.
2. Indiana Pacers
The perception of the Pacers heading into this season has me feeling like I’m taking crazy pills. They’re below the Orlando Magic in terms of their odds to win the East. What are we doing here?
Yes, Tyrese Haliburton missed the entire 2025-26 season to recover from the torn Achilles that he suffered in the 2025 NBA Finals. He’ll likely need to spend the early part of this season shaking off rust and getting back into rhythm. But as Tatum showed last year, Achilles injuries are hardly the career death sentence that they once were.
Meanwhile, the Pacers are bringing back almost everyone from the roster that was one game away from winning the 2024-25 NBA championship. Bennedict Mathurin and Myles Turner are the only key rotation players from that squad who are no longer in Indiana. The Pacers have since replaced them with Oubre and Ivica Zubac, respectively.
It’s fair to wonder how the more half-court-oriented Zubac will fit with Indiana’s preference to push the pace and fly up and down the floor. He’s also a non-factor from deep, unlike Turner, although he’ll be far more of a lob threat for Haliburton in pick-and-rolls.
The Pacers might not have the top of top-end talent as Cleveland or Miami, and they might not finish with a top-four seed in the East. More than anything else, this is a bet on their style of play. They ran teams ragged in the 2025 playoffs by leaning into their pace and depth. If Nick Nurse falls into the trap of shortening his rotation and overplaying his starters, the Sixers might gas out in the fourth quarter of a series against Indiana.
1. New York Knicks
As the defending champions, the Knicks get this spot by default. After all, they’re fresh off one of the most dominant playoff runs in recent history, which made their roller-coaster regular season a distant memory by June.
Jalen Brunson is one of the best guards in the NBA, bar none. Karl-Anthony Towns’ ability to run the Knicks’ offense from the high post was the changeup that unlocked their title run. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges are both excellent two-way wings. Josh Hart is the Swiss-army-knife glue guy who makes everything click into place for New York.
The Knicks did lose Mitchell Robinson and Ariel Hukporti this offseason, although they signed Andre Drummond to replace them. They also have Landry Shamet, Miles McBride, Jose Alvarado and Jordan Clarkson off the bench. However, they don’t have a ton of forward depth behind Anunoby and Bridges, barring a massive leap from Mo Diawara or Pacôme Dadiet.
The Sixers should be far better equipped to combat the Knicks this season than they were in last year’s playoffs, when they got demoralizingly swept out of the second round. If nothing else, the excitement around this year’s team should (hopefully) convince more Philadelphians not to sell their tickets to Knicks fans.
By mid-April, it’s entirely possible that another team will have supplanted the Knicks as the Sixers’ biggest threat in the East. But as the ancient philosopher Ric Flair once said, to be the man, you’ve gotta beat the man. Until further notice, the reigning champions hold that title.
As expected after Atlanta waived him last week, point guard Devin Carter has agreed to terms and will join the Boston Celtics in training camp, reports Michael Scotto of Hoopshype.
The Boston Celtics and Devin Carter have agreed to a deal, league sources told @hoopshype. Carter will compete for an NBA roster or two-way spot in camp. Carter averaged 8.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 18.4 minutes during 38 games for the Sacramento Kings last season. pic.twitter.com/eo4U82bCg2
Boston has its 15th roster spot open and the cap space to add another player, but Carter also has two-way eligibility. How things go in training camp may determine his status, although the more likely outcome is that he starts the season on a two-way and that contract may convert to a standard one.
Carter, a lottery pick out of Providence, played his two NBA seasons with the Kings (who traded him to Atlanta this summer in a salary dump). Due to a variety of injuries (shoulder, ankle, calf and back), Carter played in 74 games across those two seasons, and last season averaged 8.9 points per game when he did get on the court.
Carter needs to answer two questions in Celtics training camp. First, can he stay healthy and on the court? Second, has he improved his 3-point shooting? Carter has shot 27.4% from beyond the arc in the NBA, and Boston is a 3-point-happy team under Joe Mazzulla, Carter needs to show he can be part of that.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 26: Amen Thompson #1 of the Houston Rockets drives around Jake LaRavia #12 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter of a game in Game Four of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Toyota Center on April 26, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here are four new Lakers and one returning player who look well positioned to obliterate the national media’s low expectations and a cautious local fanbase that’s been burned once too often.
Note: Since cheaper rookie deals are locked in, recent draft picks like Cameron Carr, Bronny James, Dalton Knecht and Adou Thiero were left out.
Matisse Thybulle
Defense-starved Lakers fans have dreamed about adding Matisse for years. Now, an injury-filled career has left him playing for LA on a minimum deal right in the middle of his prime.
Availability will always be a concern. But the former All-NBA defender has one trait that will position him to outplay that minimum deal: He’s the best at what he does on the entire team.
A look at Thybulle’s numbers reveals an impossibly high steal rate combined with an increasingly reliable three-point shot. He’s also shown the ability to defend up and down, offering head coach JJ Redick a level of versatility he had in Marcus Smart, only in a taller and younger package.
Injuries could once again have Matisse in street clothes for much of the upcoming season. But if he can regain some level of health like Smart did last year, LA could end up with a rotation-level wing fighting for one of the team’s 2027 exceptions.
Jake LaRavia
Besides injuries, one sure-fire way to make fans crazy is consistently missing wide-open 3-point shots. So, no one was surprised when many ended last season ready to move on from the once promising “Jake of All Trades.”
Still, there are several reasons to believe LaRavia can have a significant bounceback season.
First, he is still relatively young, with his 25th birthday coming just a few days into the regular season. Second, Jake spent his first three years on relatively aimless teams, forcing him to develop lasting NBA skills and habits in less-than-optimal environments.
Luckily, LA’s new batch of wings and forwards should help shoulder more of the load. Assuming a reasonable minute allotment, consistent defense, motor, availability, and continuity with a coach that trusted him nearly all last season, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Jake regain his shooting stroke and the faith of Laker fans.
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 03: Walker Kessler of the Los Angeles Lakers throws out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, September 3, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Nicole Vasquez/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Walker Kessler
When LA spent two unprotected first-round draft picks and two swaps (which seem less than likely to convey) on Walker, the national media widely panned it as a major overpay. Annoying, but likely the point.
Still, several reasons suggest Walker can outplay those low expectations.
First, Walker is clearly a high-level shot blocker and rim protector. Former Utah Jazz reporter and current Philadelphia Sixers media member Tony Jones, who spent multiple seasons covering Walker, recently told Jovan Buha of Buha’s Block that he believes the former Team USA center has a chance to be a Rudy Gobert-level defender
“Which is essentially a one-man top-10 defense,” Jones explained.
Kessler also offers surprising advantages on the offensive end as well. Although not an elite post player, Jones also stated more than once that Walker is surprisingly fast end-to-end, regularly leading to fast breaks, quick seals, and easy lay-ins. Those points will be extremely valuable for a team that wants to push the pace on offense.
There were also concerns about Kessler’s ‘highest for a non-All-Star center’ payday. However, with the rising cap, it is more than likely that Kessler’s contract will end up in the lower half of starting centers before it ends.
Like many physically massive players, Kessler may turn out to be a valued game-changer who simply can’t stay healthy. If so, the critics might be right.
But given how many games Utah sat him in successive tanking seasons while he was seemingly able to play, and their decision to address his longstanding shoulder issue with surgery at the start of yet another Great Salt Lake tank campaign, his chances of injury don’t seem to be proportionately higher than any NBA player.
And, oh yeah. If the rumors of a 3-point stroke turn out to be real, his sub-max contract and middling draft asset price may become long-forgotten relics of a predetermined narrative meant to satisfy everyone but Lakers fans.
Ziaire Williams
Ziaire Williams isn’t a complete unknown. But given his relative level of obscurity playing for Memphis and Brooklyn, it’s not a surprise that many Laker fans are talking themselves into the idea of Ziaire starting over more well-known, identifiably flawed options like Sandro Mamukelashvili, Jarred Vanderbilt, Matisse, Jake, and Adou.
A quick glance at Ziaire’s youth and athleticism, and his picture-perfect combo-wing size, reveals a player who merited a first-round gamble. His time in the league has been a mix of solid play, spotty effort, and role concerns.
The other common criticism of Ziaire is how thin he is. His light frame might have worked for a player who used his length to smother opposing guards and his quickness to ably navigate screens. But LA needs a combo forward.
It sounds like Ziaire has added significant muscle, revealing recently that he’s up to around 215 pounds, to potentially compete for the open starting forward spot. While that’s not enough added poundage to bang with bigger fours, the up-and-coming wing might have increased his defensive versatility enough to compete for legitimate rotation minutes.
On offense, a quick look at Williams’ shot chart shows a player who is at his best shooting open catch-and-shoot threes. Now, he is joining a backcourt that has been known to generate “butt-naked wide open” threes.
There are scenarios where Ziaire’s lack of hustle, thin frame, or inconsistent shot doom him to the bench. But considering his added weight, upward career trajectory as a shooter, and JJ’s ability to put together defenses that maximize disrupters like him, it feels like Ziaire has a chance to dramatically outperform his minimum contract and force LA to consider spending part of their MLE on him next summer.
Instead of trying to score the most points, the do-it-all role player who’s proven a valuable cog in several championship runs said two-way players should try to forge a role with their G League team that they would most likely play with the big club.
A comfortable on-ball scorer, Arthur often found himself stuck in the corner as a third or fourth scoring option behind guys like Bronny, Nick Smith Jr., and Drew Timme. But when the ball came to him, the bulky wing showed that hitting open threes and attacking close-outs with a savvy Euro-step into the paint followed by a crafty finish at the rim is exactly what he does.
Ultimately, given the limited number of options at power forward and his breakout Summer League performance, Arthur Kaluma may obliterate expectations and force LA to sign him before the season ends.
Christopher Plain has spent the last six years as Associate News Editor and Head Science Reporter at The Debrief. Follow and connect with him on X, learn about his novels at plainfiction.com, or email him at christopher@thedebrief.org.
We have reached the Final Four of our Spurs Villain Tournament, where the winners of each bracket have been determined, and the winners of this round will go head-to-head to determine who is the biggest Spurs villain of all time. The heavy favorites mostly continue to prevail. In the Elite 8 (or Finals for each bracket), three of the top seeds came out on top by varying margins, along with one kinda-but-not-really “upset” in the fourth.
On the “on court” side of the bracket, we had Spurs Killers, which was the closest match-up. Derek Fisher’s 0.4 shot plus other killer plays was just enough to beat out Ray Allen’s “The Shot” by a relatively slim 19% margin. The Dirty Players poll was not as close as expected, with Zaza Pachulia’s slide blowing out Karl Malone’s elbow. The level at which Pachulia won this one, with 72% of the votes, seems pretty wide, but despite Malone’s extensive history as a dirty player (and human being), Pachulia’s play came in the playoffs and ultimately cost the Spurs a chance at a championship, while Malone’s elbow was in the regular season.
On the “off court” side, actions dominated over words. Kawhi Leonard’s dynasty-destroying moves unsurprisingly blew Stephen Jackson’s big mouth out of the water, and our lone “upset” was the one non-1 vs. 2 match-up of the series, where 4th seed Uncle Dennis Robertson continued his “Cinderella” run by blowing out another loudmouth in 3rd seed Mark Cuban. Did recent news and the more recent timeline play a role in his rise over the most notorious haters of the Spurs’ championship era? Quite possible, but the result still means we’ll have a Family Feud in the next round.
1. Derek Fisher vs. 1. Zaza Pachulia
This was the inevitable match-up the instant the brackets were released. Despite a couple of formidable 2nd seeds, they never really stood a chance against these two behemoths of negative Spurs lore. Both left two teams vying for championships wondering “what if,” and both moments are so notorious that the NBA had to make rules in response. Since we have more room with only two polls today, I figured we’d shake things up a bit and actually make you watch two of the more painful moments in Spurs history to burn them back into your brain, as badly as you may want to forget them.
First we have the notorious Derek Fisher, who became a Spurs villain the instant he hit this shot with 0.4 seconds left in Game 5 in Round 2 in 2004. It came right after Tim Duncan had just hit what seemed like an amazing game-winner, there’s still plenty of controversy surrounding the clock, and it caused the “0.4 Rule” to be created, which states it is impossible for a player to get a catch-and-shoot off in less than 0.4 seconds, so anything less means they can only tip the ball.
And lest anyone forget, that wasn’t all the damage Fisher did: there was also the no-call foul on Brent Barry in Game 4 of the 2008 Western Conference Finals, which sent the Spurs back to LA down 3-1, and he was a pest in general for the 2012 Thunder in their WCF victory over the Spurs. Fisher truly was the Repeat Denier for the Spurs at the height of their Lakers rivalry.
And then we have Pachulia, who also got a rule named after him after he carelessly (purposefully?) slid under Leonard in Game 1 of the 2017 WCF against the Warriors, knocking him out while the Spurs were up by 21 and ending their chances at returning to the promised land. After that, any case of a player interfering with a shooter’s landing space became subject to video review and a potential flagrant 1 or 2 foul. Also, unbeknownst at the time, this for all intents and purposes marked the end of Kawhi was a Spur, which we’ll get to in a moment.
1. Kawhi Leonard vs. 4. Uncle Dennis Robertson
And now we get to the Family Feud match-up that is surprisingly relevant today after the NBA just laid the hammer down on the Clippers’ Aspiration Scandal, in which they are accused of circumventing the salary cap to pay Leonard extra money at Uncle Dennis’ behest. Kawhi played the “I’m just a basketball player who trusted the wrong people” card and came away relatively unscathed with “only” a $700k fine, but he also fired Uncle Dennis as his representative, who himself is banned from all NBA activity for five years (should have been for life, in my opinion).
But that’s neither here nor there for Spurs, which is something everyone needs to remember when voting. They won’t come out and say it, so we can’t be sure Uncle Dennis demanded the same impermissible benefits from the Spurs that we know he did from the Raptors, Lakers and Clippers (although I place the odds at likely). What we do know is he was a huge influence on Kawhi even back then and most assuredly played a role in pushing the narrative that the Spurs had mismanaged his injury so he would look less bad when demanding a trade from the “perfect” organization, with the ultimate goal being to get back to LA, and it mostly worked. Leonard followed his lead, stayed away from the team for most of the 2017-18 season and even hid in a closet when they tried to check on him.
It’s hard to imagine he would have done all this without the bad influence of his uncle if “all he cares about is basketball,” but here’s the thing: Leonard is an adult who had already made almost $100 million at that point. I fully understand that after the horrible tragedy he endured as a young teenager — seeing his father murdered right in front of him in a case that has never been solved — he needed a father figure, and that ended up being his maternal uncle. But was there ever a point where he thought, “I don’t like the way this is playing out or how people I care about and have shed blood, sweat and tears with for the last seven years are being portrayed”?
Did he actually not realize he was being used and taken advantage of by his own family? Is he truly a child in an NBA player’s body who is so naive and gullible that he couldn’t differentiate what has happening right in front of him vs. what his uncle was saying? That is ultimately what you have to decide when voting. Do you blame Uncle Dennis for negatively influencing Kawhi against the organization, or do you blame Kawhi for going along with it and allowing things to play out the way they did? Let us know with your vote!
