Grades are an imperfect metric, but they are a widely shared cultural reference point. As a former teacher, the A-F grading system is baked into my brain. A few years ago, I created a grading system for the Minnesota Timberwolves because I thought it would be fun to try and channel each player’s contribution to the team into an easy-to-sum-up format by focusing on key stats based inplayer role.

After a couple seasons away, I’m thrilled to be back diving deep into the numbers with my favorite team, hoping that these grades lead to good conversation, debate, and all the fun that comes with processing the upcoming 82 game rollercoaster ride.

A handful of quick reminders about how the grades work:

1. These grades are roles-based, so the stats I’m looking at for each player are different and meant to highlight their team role. 
2. Roles on the team can change as the roster and playing time changes —I will alter or add statistical categories throughout the season as needed. Especially in a preseason article, the expectation is that some of these initial stats will change as we get to know the team better.
3. The grade ranges and their correlation to stats are educated speculation based on previous career averages, team role, and minutes expectation. Like the categories themselves, if there is a range that is clearly missing the eye test, expect some tweaks as the season goes along.
4. The season is divided into four quarters; twenty to twenty-one game increments. There will be mid quarter (10ish games), quarter (20ish games), semester (41 games) and final grades (82 games) throughout the regular season and series grades in the playoffs.

Let’s get to it!

LaMelo Ball: The Mixologist

The Stats: Team Offensive Rating, Games Missed, Defensive Rebounds Per Game

The Why Behind Them: Having Mike Conley as a point guard is like drinking an Old Fashioned with lifelong friends. There is safety, comfort, and familiarity. Having LaMelo Ball as your point guard is going to be like going to a fancy new bar that doesn’t have a menu, and behind the bar is a mixologist that takes a long, studious look at you, starts working behind the bar, and then places a whole new concoction in front of you. 

It could be a terrible experience, but it also might be one of the best drinks you’ve ever had. You just will never know unless you actually walk out the door and try it.

Also the mixologist was traded to your city because he has a history of tripping over barstools and missing nights at the bar so there’s a decent chance he might not be in the night you go out for drinks and… I think I’ve stretched this metaphor too thin so let’s get back to basketball.

Here’s the thesis on LaMelo: he was brought here to unlock the offense and set up Anthony Edwards to be the best version of himself (more on that soon). If things go according to plan, this is phase one of a long relationship as LaMelo injects pace, creativity and joy back into Minnesota’s offense. The best signs that this project is working? Overall offensive numbers and Ball being healthy and available for the majority of the season.

The final stat is all about his role on the other end of the floor: defensive rebounding. Ball is never going to be expected to be a defensive stalwart, but where he can best contribute is in helping to close out defensive possessions and start offensive ones.

For those that are unaware, the Wolves’ new 6’7’’ point guard is one of the best defensive rebounding guards in the NBA. Last season, Cleaning the Glass had him as a 95th percentile defensive rebounder as he averaged 4.8 rebounds per game, a career low overall number. However that coincided with about four less minutes per game.

For a player like Rudy Gobert, a defensive rebound means closing out a possession. But for a player like LaMelo, it means that the ball gets in his hands as quickly as possible for a hit-ahead pass or initiating a fast break. It’s an immediate adrenaline boost to a starting group that has had a habit of playing slow the last few years. It is a desperate team need meeting an elite player strength.

Anthony Edwards: The Charizard

The Stats: True Shooting Percentage, Personal Fouls Drawn, Conference Standing

The Why Behind Them: Welcome to the Anthony Edwards final evolution.

So much of the offseason talk by president of basketball operations Tim Connelly and head coach Chris Finch has been about shaping the roster around what Edwards does best. A recurring theme throughout any longform interview (special shoutout to Britt Robson’s interview with Chris Finch) was about the weight of point guard duties and the effect that had on the all-star guard’s defensive energy. Ant is more Kobe Bryant than James Harden, and the big bet the team is making is that this shift will allow him to find his final form as he enters the prime of his career.

The first stat is simple: If Anthony Edwards is in his ideal offensive role, this should be the most efficient shooting season of his career. His previous career high TS% last season was 61.7%, so that’s the highwater mark that he needs to get over.

On the second stat, personal fouls drawn (PFD), I feel compelled to elaborate more. I have multiple doctorates from Foul-Baiting-Ruins-Basketball University. I’ve gotten into a fight with one of my best friends after saying, “I’d rather watch Julius Randle on my team than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander” because of how much I hate that style of play. I cannot stress enough my credentials in this department.

This is not a plea for four-time All-Star to overexaggerate contact, flop, or spend large portions of TV timeouts working the officials. This stat came about because the more I dug into Edwards’ numbers and the final step he needs to take into the MVP conversation, the reality is he is the worst among his superstar peers at drawing contact.

He was 29th in the league at drawing fouls with 4.5 PFD per game. Every single player that received an MVP vote comfortably drew more fouls per game than Ant:

• Giannis Antetokounmpo: 8.1 (not eligible for MVP last season, just the high standard mark for this stat)
• Luka Dončić: 7.3
• Nikola Jokić: 6.7
• Jaylen Brown: 6.3
• Victor Wembanyama: 6.3
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 6.1
• Jalen Brunson: 5.1
• Kawhi Leonard 5.1

Edwards doesn’t need to be in the top tier, but when you look at a player with a similar build to him like Jaylen Brown it does point to room for improvement. Drawing contact forces good defenders into foul trouble, puts your team in the bonus, and often is an outcome of attacking shifting/off-balance defenses. With LaMelo taking over point guard duties this season, part of the Atlanta native’s final alpha form evolution needs to involve him doing the thing he was built in a basketball lab for; getting downhill and punishing rotating defenses with his once-in-a-generation athleticism.

The final stat I’ll be tracking is the most obvious one: is Anthony Edwards’ team a threat to win the Western Conference? One third of Edwards’ overall grade will be pulled in the direction of the team’s standing – a fair next step for a player looking to plant his flag in the MVP conversation for the next decade in the league.

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Jaden McDaniels: The “Whose Car Are We Going To Take?” Guy

The Stats: 3-Point Percentage, Points Per Shot Attempt, Defensive Estimated Plus/Minus

The Why Behind Them: You cannot win a title in the NBA without a player like Jaden McDaniels.

If I were in charge of building an all-time Timberwolves Mount Rushmore, Mr. “They’re all bad defenders” has earned his place on my monument. He does the little things, the big things when asked, and if something is going down and you need some backup, simply asks “Whose car we taking?”

In fact, when things go down, there is no time to even ask that question because he’s already charged headlong into the fray like Leeroy Jenkins.

In order for this team’s offense to reach its full potential, McDaniels has to be a capable shooter from deep to help offset the heretofore streakiness of Jonathan Kuminga and Rudy Gobert’s lack of spacing. The most common three-point look that Jaden gets? Wide open: no defender within six feet when he shoots the ball. If Jaden can hit these at a consistent clip, the whole offense opens up.

You know the stat that consistently bumps up to an elite level (playoffs) vs a good level (regular season) as the calendar turns to April? Jaden McDaniel’s points per shot attempt (PPSA). Besides the San Antonio series last season, McDaniels offensive efficiency with his PPSA goes from above league average (60th percentile) to 97th, 96th, and 82nd percentile in his three previous playoff runs. Like so many of the offensive stats I’m looking at for the starters, this is all about efficiency and making regular season monotony look more like post season excellence.

The final stat is McDaniels overall defensive EPM, a number where he finished at in the 90th percentile in the league last season. I’ve set the “A” season grade at a number that would have finished in the 95th percentile, and presumably be the marker of an all-defense team.

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Jonathan Kuminga: The Knife-Wrench

The Stats:Rebounds Per Game, Contested Shots Per Game, Offensive Estimated Plus/Minus

The Why Behind Them: Perhaps my millennial is showing with a Dr. Ján Ïtor reference, but alas, it was the first place my mind went. Much like Jonathan Kuminga, the knife-wrench is an out of the box idea; a combination of two common tools (a toolsy prospect if you will!) that in theory could solve multiple problems at once. It also, in theory, could stab you in your thigh if placed at the wrong angle on your toolbelt. While the answer to his fit will come in time, the more you get to know him, the more you’ll find yourself pulling for him to succeed.

So what are the tools that this team most needs to see? Defense, rebounding and finding his niche as a slice of the offensive pie.

If Kuminga is committed to the defensive side of the floor, the ceiling of this roster completely changes. Presuming Gobert anchoring his presence in the paint, the DRC-native has the same opportunity Nickeil Alexander-Walker did when he came over in the trade from Utah: Re-invent yourself as a defensive dog and go into the offseason and get paid.

The departure of Julius Randle (6.7) and Naz Reid (6.2) opens up 13 rebounds per game that are up for grabs for the regular rotation guys. As mentioned above, I expect LaMelo Ball to get his fair share of the defensive boards, so the number reflected for Kuminga’s “A”  rebounding grade comes with an expectation that the best version of himself  is a weapon on the offensive glass. 

According to Cleaning The Glass, Kuminga has been anywhere from a 61st-88th percentile offensive rebounder at the forward position since his rookie season. It’s a real part of his skillset and one I expect to be intentionally utilized to offset a lower usage number.

As for Kuminga’s final stat, offensive EPM, this is all about his offensive effectiveness as a role player. There aren’t a lot of pieces of the offensive pie left, but if he’s able to fit into the flow of offense and find his moments, it will be reflected in his offensive EPM as the team scores and thrives. The 0.5 “A” grade number would him around a 75th percentile.

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Rudy Gobert: The GOAT-ee

The Stats: Screen Assist Points Per Game, Dunks Per Game, Team Defensive Ranking

The Why Behind Them: Did you know that the facial hair formation known as the goatee derives its name from bearing a resemblance to a billy goat? The look is literally goaty.

Did you know that the goatee’s first rise in popularity is connected to a seventeenth century Flemish painter due to the widespread popularity of his self-portraits?

Did you know that after disappearing for centuries the goatee re-emerged hundreds of years later, made famous by Napoleon III and eventually being immortalized on the faces of “The Three Musketeers” by French author Alexander Dumas?

You may find yourself asking, “what does any of this have to do with Rudy Gobert’s upcoming basketball season?” And the answer to that is so simple you should frankly feel embarrassed for asking. Before the ball has bounced even one single time on the practice floor at Mayo Clinic, that tuft of hair on the Frenchman’s face has made a louder statement than any media day quote ever could: “All for one, and one for all. United we stand, divided we fall.”

And speaking of being united, Gobert has always been one of the best screen setters in basketball, finishing in the top five in screen assists for the past decade (seriously, he was #2 in the ‘16-‘17 season!). While you can debate LaMelo Ball being the best point guard that Gobert has played with, LaMelo is the most dynamic point guard of Gobert’s career. The French Big is a hall of fame screener and this season could be the pièce de résistance of his storied career.

The last two stats are short and sweet. Continuing on the same thesis of playing with the most dynamic passing point guard he’s ever played with, the goateed Frenchman should have a little bit of rejuvenation in dunking around the basket. And finally, team defensive ranking as a season long stat. Rudy Gobert has long been said to be a top ten defense in and of himself. The Wolves will once again test that theory and rely on his prowess to anchor the team on that end.

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That’s it for now! Comment below if there is a potentially better category or stat to track  – I’ve adjusted metrics based on ideas from the comment section in past seasons and will look closely at it if it falls within the date-oriented stat systems I can use for tracking.

I’ll be back soon with a preview of the bench, until then, may Rudy Gobert’s goatee offer us all peace and comfort while we wait for the preseason to start.

Welcome to Inside the Suns, a deep-down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team in which the Fantable — a round table of Bright Siders — give their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.

Fantable Questions of the Week

Q1: What grabbed your attention the most from the information that came out on Media Day?

zenzino: Let’s call it what it is. Media Day is a hype day to get us excited about the season. From that standpoint, it was hugely successful as far as I’m concerned. Color me excited.

There was a genuine positivity and excitement to get the season going. Starting with the head cheerleader and team owner, Mat Ishbia. Do I take everything he says as gospel? Nope. Do I love his rosy outlook and enthusiasm for the team and the city? Hells yeah!!! And it went from the top down.

I’ll limit my takeaways to three (more).

1. While training camp officially started on Tuesday, it definitely sounds like training camp has been going on all summer long for them. This group could rival the 21-23 team in terms of teammates who genuinely like each other and love playing together. These guys have each other’s backs and have been working out together almost since they got knocked out by the Thunder, anxious to get back to it. My wish that the Suns hit the ground running when the season starts instead of working themselves into shape at the beginning seems likely to come true.
2. We only caught a glimpse of what Jalen Green was capable of last season. So much raw talent, desperately needing the right coaches to harness. He didn’t have a lot of that in his first few years. Now he’s spent some quality time with the coaching staff this summer and, notably, practice and film sessions with Steve Nash. I expect to see a leap forward from Green this season.
3. Finally, under the radar, when Goodie was asked who surprised him the most this summer, without hesitation, he said Book. Goodie says he guards Book most of the time, and he was surprised at how much stronger Book has gotten and that he’s shooting even better. There were a couple other stories/comments about how much Book was in the gym this summer. Not an ounce of complacency there.

Ashton: I was all jacked and jazzed to catch the livestream on Monday, but I decided to run an errand before and ran out of gas. Not like Booker running out of gas because he played too many minutes, but a faulty fuel gauge led to me getting my steps in. It was like I was back in high school. So, I missed the livestream and could have caught it post-hoc, but at that time the write-ups were in with most of the main talking points, leaving me with breadcrumbs. John Voita summarized it just fine here.

And apparently a lot of smoke was in the air.

I would turn to Dillon Brooks answer about studying Kung Fu while meditating in the Wudang Mountains over the summer. I have watched a lot of martial arts movies over the years, but the one thing I never saw was a basketball court in the Chinese scenic backdrops. And all of that was to learn to how to drop-kick an official?

Dillon, maybe you should have meditated on your upcoming court case because, knowing Arizona’s tough DUI laws, a suspension from the NBA seems inevitable before you get to performing your inner Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on an official. That, or you could have just hit the practice court with Booker and KM. Also, as a former martial artist, Kung Fu really is not the way to go. You could have practiced thumb or finger locks before the official reaches for his whistle. Which will happen.

OldAz: I was out of town during media day, so I only caught the write-ups and X highlights. For my biggest takeaway, see question #2. I was struck by how many comments were all about Maluach. It seemed each and every player made it a point to call out his hard work, his physical transformation, or his on-court development. Everything else I heard sounded like typical media day blabber.

Rod: One thing that stood out to me was that both Khaman and Oso said that which one of them starts should depend on what’s best for the team. Khaman spoke about matchups and how, against different opponents, different players might need to start. Oso also talked about how he worked well with the 2nd unit last season, which was a good role for him. They both just seemed more interested in team success than feeding their own egos. They both seemed more mature than their ages might suggest, and I love the “team first” attitude from them.

Q2:Khaman Maluach received a lot of praise from just about everyone on Media Day. What are your thoughts on this?

zenzino: I hated that. Felt like they were blowing smoke. Ha! Just kidding.

Loved it! It really sounds like he has made a huge leap forward. The patience and sticking to his development could really pay off. Teammates talked about him ‘brightening up the room’ with his presence and enthusiasm. We’re seeing the beginnings of Khaman being the future of the Suns, and it sounds like he’s impressing everyone, on and off the court.

It’s going to be fun to watch him play and develop through the season. Hopefully, everyone will stay patient and understand that this is a journey, and even if he’s just playing significant minutes this season, he’ll be right on schedule. If he works his way to starting, he’ll be ahead of schedule.

Ashton: It sounds great and it led to the Suns using those references to pick up his third year. And it is really a glimpse of what players are working on over the summer, something that is lacking in written articles during the dead times. Yes, practices are closed, but you would think there would be a leak here and there. Learning that Book and KM were working on the court together and then having a cacophony of other players chime in shows there is truly some dedication to training on the court over the summer. To be honest, I am never sure if the players are on a permanent vacay, fishing, or hitting the links around the world.

Except for Brooks. He was trying to overtake Wemby in a future Kung Fu competition (Wemby has also trained in China in Kung Fu – great article on ESPN if you want to look it up). But all that meditation does not lead to better playmaking; as Brooks has stated himself, he was working on improving those skills.

OldAz: Like I said in Q1, the sheer quantity of comments from other players pointing to Maluach was eye-opening. With Williams down for much of the season, the hope is that this is not just more Media Day spin. If Maluach truly is both growing into his body, while also working on his game, and showing a Booker-like commitment to being great, then Maluach may turn out to be the most consequential addition since, well, since Booker.

It’s especially encouraging to hear about all the time working with Booker because a real two man game between those two would be great to see. We have talked before in this space about who will start in Williams’ absence. If the comments on KM were legitimate and based in reality, then I suspect we will see him get a real shot at starting during the preseason.

Rod: It actually got me a little more excited to see him on the court. I thought he played very well in Summer League but…that was Summer League, not really the NBA. Hearing all the praise coming from his teammates, old and new, is quite encouraging as was he and Book spending time working out together over the Summer. The more in sync he and Book are on the court, the higher the ceiling of this team in my opinion.

All this just blends into what I’ve heard all along about Khaman, that he’s a sponge, working to soak up every bit of basketball knowledge he can, and to work as hard as he can, to become the best basketball player he can possibly be. Hopefully, that will turn out to be someone special.

Q3: One of the reasons Luke Kennard said he was excited to be in Phoenix was, “This is going to be an opportunity to be a basketball player, not just a shooter.” What are your thoughts on this?

zenzino: Settle down, Sparky. Nobody is asking you to play basketball.

Kidding. It’s great! We saw some surprisingly good play from him when he was starting in place of the injured Reaves in the first round of the playoffs. If that’s something he can build on, that’s great news for the Suns.

I’m firmly in the camp that we are going to feel the absence of GA and Royce in a not-so-good way. Anything extra Kennard can bring to his game will help to mitigate that.

I also love that Ott told him that his three-point percentage is going to go down because he will be shooting more threes.

Finally, it was very cool how he said that he wanted to come to Phoenix because he’s seen players have career years here and he wants to have a breakout year. I think that’s proof of concept to what the Suns are building.

Ashton: What an odd response. It almost seems like he made a dig at his former team’s coaching staff in LA (and others) for utilizing him heavily on the perimeter. And this is exactly what the Suns should do.

Look, I get it. NBA players want to be an NBA All-Star and view themselves in that light. I do not fault Kennard for wanting to improve in all the facets of the game and applaud it. But not every player can be an NBA All-Star, and his bench role is to provide spot-up perimeter shooting when called upon.

Like with Q1 on media day, there was a lot of smoke.

OldAz: After I finished rolling my eyes, I realized that “In Brian Gregory we trust.”  It is possible BG saw the potential to replace more of Grayson Allen’s game than just shooting. If so, it would be a coup for the Suns to replace those elements of GA’s game at a much lower price point. On the other hand, this is a middle-of-the-bench signing and these comments sound a whole lot more like Media Day spin and typical overestimation of one athlete’s own abilities.

Rod: It’s interesting because I’ve read that the team has also given him the green light to shoot more. It sounds as though someone’s recognized that he can be more than just someone who stands at the three-point line waiting for the ball to come to him. I haven’t really watched him play much, but there have been comments that he can do much more and could be a Grayson Allen replacement in more than just three-point shooting.

I did watch some of his playoff highlights with the Lakers and saw he had pretty good ball-handling skills and a nice midrange game, which should get him rotation minutes even on this deep Suns team. If he can bring even close to what Grayson gave the Suns in areas other than three-point shooting, he’ll be an even nicer addition than I initially thought he would be.

As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!

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Quotes of the Week

“It’s not like, oh who’s gonna start or who’s gonna play this kind of minutes. It’s what the team needs. If that night Oso is a good matchup for whatever center we’re playing, then if coach thinks it’s the best thing also we’ll play. If the other night I’m the better matchup, I will play. I don’t see it like an individual competitive thing. I see it like a team thing, what the team needs.” – Khaman Maluach

“They want me to shoot, and they want me to shoot a lot. Whether it’s wide open or it’s more difficult shots.” – Luke Kennard

“It’s going to be great and super competitive. All of the guys work hard. We all have the same goal.” – Rasheer Fleming (on training camp)

“We have no reason, no excuse not to be in elite shape.” – Jordan Ott

For those who enjoyed the Suns picking up full court and applying early defensive pressure, this season will be even more electric

After ranking Top 10 last year in pickup distance and ball pressure, one of Jordan Ott’s goals now? Double down and increase that frequency: pic.twitter.com/7II7cthFQw

— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) October 1, 2026

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Suns Trivia/History

Fun fact: Since making his NBA debut in 2015, Devin Booker has been responsible for 29% of the Suns’ points scored or created. pic.twitter.com/XUUK75R4ZI

— Booker Muse (@DevinBookerMuse) September 29, 2026

The Suns are returning 76.2% of their player minutes from last season, which is the sixth-highest continuity rating in the league behind San Antonio (93.8%), Orlando (90.2%), New York (87.7%), Houston (85.0%), and New Orleans (84.6%).

On October 8, 2018, the Suns fired former GM Ryan McDonough and appointed James Jones and Trevor Bukstein as interim co-GMs.

On October 9, 1972, the Suns waived SG/SF John Wetzel who was picked up by the Atlanta Hawks. Three years later, the Suns claimed Wetzel after he was waived by the Hawks on Oct. 24, 1975.

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Important Future Dates

Oct. 5 – Suns @ Pistons (preseason) 4:00 PM
Oct. 7 – Suns @ Bulls (preseason) 5:00 PM
Oct. 10 – Suns vs. Spurs (preseason) 7:00 PM (ESPN2)
Oct. 14 – Suns @ Spurs (preseason) 5:00 PM
Oct. 16 – Suns vs. Jazz (preseason) 7:00 PM
Oct. 20 – 2026-27 NBA Season Begins
Oct. 24 – NBA G League Draft
Oct. 26-Nov. 5 – NBA G League Training Camp
Nov. 6 – NBA G League Tip-Off Tournament begins
Dec. 15 – Most players signed to new contracts can be traded
Jan. 5 – 10-day contracts may now be signed
Jan. 10 – All NBA contracts are guaranteed for the remainder of the season
Jan. 15 – All players signed to new contracts can be traded
Feb. 11 – Trade Deadline
Feb. 19-21 – NBA All-Star 2027

As we embark on a new Hawks season, it’s time to preview the members that will shape the next nine months or so.

The Hawks have all three of their two-way spots filled, but these contracts don’t count against the salary cap and so these spots are often subject to movement throughout the season. Still, two players are familiar faces to the organization, and a third has a decent amount of NBA experience for young player.

As such all three possess enough tangible upside that they could earn themselves a full standard contract before the end of this upcoming season.

PG — RayJ Dennis

RayJ Dennis is back after signing a two-way contract with the team last December. He only appeared in four games with the Hawks, but in 31 games with the College Park Skyhawks, he averaged 24.3 points, 10.3 assists, and 2.1 steals per game while shooting 45% from the field and 37% from three.

Had Dennis had enough games to qualify for the G League leaderboard, his points per game and assists per game marks would have ranked sixth and second in the league respectively.

As a 6’1” point guard with no issue getting buckets against G League competition, the real question is how his skillset translates to the NBA level. There’s no doubt that his size is an obstacle to overcome on both ends of the floor, but after waiving Devin Carter and trading away Ryan Nembhard, there could be minutes available for the young point guard.

At media day, Dennis had this to say about how the Hawks are approaching his development, “[h]elping me get better and making sure I’m ready for any opportunity and hopefully a bigger role coming this year.”

PG/SG — Keshon Gilbert

The off guard to Dennis’ primacy on the ball, Gilbert is an athletic, downhill scorer who averaged 20.1 points per game in nine games with the Skyhawks.

“Me and RayJ [Dennis], we been knowing each other for a while,” he had to say at media day about his College Park backcourt partnership. “I worked out with him in St. Louis before. Played against him in college. Me and RayJ, we got history, so it was easy. We [are] two unselfish players, and at the end of the day both of us want to win. That’s why we click so good on the court, I feel.”

Gilbert signed a two-way contract with the Hawks just ahead of the deadline to do so on March 3rd. From that date until the end of the Skyhawks’ season, the team went 8-2 largely behind their explosive guard duo.

Can that carry over to the Hawks this season?

The biggest worry is that Gilbert is just a career 24% shooter from three in the G League as a 6’4” guard and often needs the ball in his hands to be most effective. I think he’s slated for another year mainly in the lower league, but his familiarity with the program should give him a leg up in his development journey.

SF/PF — Jalen Wilson

You can never have enough forwards named Jalen.

Wilson was drafted 51st overall to the Nets in 2023 after a standout career at Kansas before spending three seasons with the team — first on a two-way contract then later on a standard contract.

Wilson brings 176 games of NBA experience to Atlanta, all with the Nets. He wasn’t asked to do much with the ball in his hands other than to shoot catch-and-shoot threes (career 36% shooter from deep). Often deployed as a small ball power forward with Brooklyn, at 6’6” he may shift up and defend more opposing wings with the Hawks and Skyhawks going forward.

On why he chose to sign with the Hawks this offseason, Wilson responded at media day, “I just saw the group of guys and saw the work ethic. I saw how hard they played in the playoffs. The type of fit that I can have. A lot of good wings here. Playing around guys like Jalen [Johnson], he’s been able to be in a in a position to make guys better.”

If I had to choose, Wilson would be the player of this trio that has the best path to rotation minutes because of his prior NBA experience as well as his ability to fit into lineups as a 3-and-D wing or forward. Wilson even went so far as to label himself ‘3-and-D’ later on at the same press availability.

New additions like Lu Dort and Dorian Finney-Smith are among the most well-regarded NBA players of that archetype, so there may be no better examples than the ones he’ll be practicing every day against going forward.

I like Minnesota’s roster a lot. I also think this is one of those teams where the over could look great for two months and then completely fall apart because one injury changes everything. The LaMelo Ball trade raised Minnesota’s ceiling, but it also came at a real cost. The Timberwolves traded Naz Reid, Julius Randle, and major draft capital to get him, then added Jonathan Kuminga and Cody Williams to rebuild the forward rotation.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Over/Under 48.5 wins

Over: -110
Under: -115
To win NBA Championship: +3000
To win Western Conference: +1400
To win Northwest Division: +1100

Last season: 49-33, sixth in the West, lost in the second round

Key additions: LaMelo Ball, Jonathan Kuminga, Trey Lyles, Cody Williams, Isaiah Evans
Key losses: Julius Randle, Naz Reid, Mike Conley, Kyle Anderson, Sandro Mamukelashvili

The under case really comes down to how much Minnesota lost and how much it is now relying on two stars who have had injury problems.

Edwards only played 61 games last season after being much more durable in previous years. LaMelo has struggled to stay on the floor throughout his career. Minnesota is now counting on both of them not only to stay healthy, but to carry a huge amount of the offense.

That is risky when the line is 48.5.

The other thing I keep coming back to is the loss of Reid and Randle. Reid gave Minnesota shooting, size and lineup flexibility. Randle gave them another legitimate creator and rebounder. Those are not small departures. Kuminga is talented, but he has never really found a consistent role, and Cody Williams is still young. SB Nation’s preseason look at Minnesota basically framed this roster as boom-or-bust for that exact reason: the Wolves traded proven depth for more upside.

I still think Minnesota is good. LaMelo should make Edwards better, Gobert keeps the defensive floor high, and McDaniels is still one of the league’s better defenders.

I just think this roster has less margin for error than last year’s.

If Edwards or LaMelo misses 15 or 20 games, or if Kuminga does not fit cleanly, this could easily become a 45- or 46-win team in a loaded West.

That would still make Minnesota dangerous in the playoffs.

It would also cash the under.

Prediction: Under 48.5 wins (-115)

After a brutal stretch of losing by design, the Wizards are going to try to start winning this year. The past three seasons, the team totaled 50 wins — tied with the 2021-24 Detroit Pistons for the 10th worst three-year stretch in NBA history.

The worst stretch belongs to The Process Philadelphia 76ers, which went 37-109 from 2013-16. That’s a .150 winning percentage. That got them six trips to the second round of the playoffs in the years since. The last player still around from all that tanking is the creaking, disintegrating, brittle Joel Embiid.

While cratering the franchise for multiple seasons had become such a prevalent rebuilding strategy that the league finally imposed draft lottery rules to put an end to the practice, the reality is it takes a long string of roster moves (draft, sign, trade) that work and a liberal dose of good luck to build any team into a title contender.

This isn’t me just tapping away — rebuilds are difficult and complex, and big leaps from a bottom dweller are relatively rare. Last season, the Wizards had the NBA’s worst record — just 17 wins. Based on history, what’s realistic for the team this season? Scanning back through time, three paths emerge:

1. The Stagnanation — Think the multiyear tank — where the Wizards, Jazz, and process Sixers were. This is what Washington is hoping to graduate from. Another sub-20 win season would be unbearable. Teams in this phase would typically “improve” by up to three wins, though another season at the bottom of the rankings would be fairly normal.
2. The Norm — Teams that finish at the bottom get high draft picks and accumulate young talent. Where building a title contender takes a long sequence of good decisions and good luck, continuing to lose when given prime opportunities to add top-shelf talent takes the opposite. That said, it takes a special rookie to transform a persistent loser into a winner, though normal improvement from young teammates and some well-time veteran additions can yield a meaningful uptick in team record — from 4-9 wins.
3. The Transformation — This happens in two (and only two) situations — if a previously good team fell because their star player (or players) missed all (or virtually all) of a season due to injuries, OR if a team gets freakishly lucky in the draft lottery. The Indiana Pacers are likely prime candidates for this kind of bounceback. The San Antonio Spurs famously hit both these criteria when David Robinson missed a season with a back injury, and they landed Tim Duncan in the lottery. Teams in this category could add 15-25 wins the following season.

Which scenario is most likely? We can safely dismiss scenario No. 1. The Wizards are going to try to win, and it would take an incredible string of injuries to several players for them not to improve. It’s possible though extremely unlikely they’ll manage just 15-20 wins again.

That leaves the other two — normal improvement or a major step forward. My lean is towards a hybrid of scenarios No. 2 and 3. The team has accumulated talented youngsters, at least some of whom should improve to some degree this season. That’s The Norm.

It’s also added three significant veterans without giving up any core youngsters — Anthony Davis, Trae Young, and DeAndre Ayton. That’s akin to adding back star players who missed the previous season. Last year’s team wouldn’t have gone 17-65 if they’d had Davis, Young, and Ayton available. Not no way, not no how.

Adding those three plus top pick AJ Dybantsa adds a lot of firepower to the roster, and should allow youngsters to slot into more natural roles. This should give the team a significant boost on both ends of the floor. But, Davis has missed a lot time due to injury throughout his career, and Young appeared in just 15 games last season.

Davis’ health is The Wildcard. If he manages 65 games, the Wizards could enjoy a transformative change. If it’s 45-50 games…they’re more likely in The Norm range.

So what does that mean? Last season, the Wizards managed 17 victories.

1. The Stagnation | 17-20 wins — This would be brutal — it would mean many injuries, and youngsters regressing instead of improving. It might well mean wholesale changes to the roster, coaching staff, and front office.
2. The Norm | 21-26 wins — This range would also be painful, but there’d be positive signs and fnas would have reason for hope. The most likely way this happens is if Davis and Young get hurt, and the team rides normal incremental improvement from the kids. Watching Alex Sarr, Dybantsa, and Kyshawn George or Bilal Coulibaly lead the team to 25 wins could be somewhat rewarding.
3. The Transformation | 32-42 wins — This would take good health and career norm performances from the veteran stars plus normal development from the kids. This is also what it would take for the Wizards to even make the play-in this season, especially in a deeper and more competitive Eastern Conference.

Sports books are anticipating scenario No. 3 — the over/under for wins is 34.5. They’re usually in the right ballpark, though it’s worth mention that this scenario is rare. Improving by 25 wins from one season to the next has happened just 16 times in NBA history.

The San Antonio Spurs have done it three times! Leaping by 35 wins when they got David Robinson onto the floor, by 36 wins when they drafted Duncan and got Robinson back from injury, and by 28 wins last season.

The biggest single season improvement was 42 wins by the 2007-08 Boston Celtics, which traded for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. The Celtics also have a 33-win leap, which happened when Larry Bird joined the team.

The only other team to jump by 30+ wins in a single season was the 2004-05 Phoenix Suns, which added free agent guard Steve Nash.

With some freakish good health, the Wizards could conceivably improve by 30 wins or more next season. History says 12-15 is more in the realm for the optimistic realist. That probably leaves the Wizards just outside the play-in, though with a more entertaining and interesting product on the floor.

Tobias Harris joining the Spurs seems like a perfect summer acquisition, and it just got better.

Tobias Harris contó como es su vínculo con George Gervin:

“Cuando era pequeño, venía a San Antonio a entrenar con George Gervin. Él y mi padre (Torrel Harris, agente de la NBA) son muy cercanos. George es prácticamente como un tío para mí.

Entonces, cuando firmé aquí, fue una… pic.twitter.com/BQMILAW8nX

— SPURS LATAM (@Spurs_Latam) October 3, 2026

Tobias Harris described his bond with George Gervin:

“When I was young, I used to come to San Antonio to train with George Gervin. He and my father (Torrel Harris, an NBA agent) are very close. George is practically like an uncle to me.

So, when I signed here, he was one of the first people I called. I told him, ‘I’m coming to San Antonio.’

He’s my guy. I’ve been in touch with him since I was really young—probably since I was 5 or 6. I used to come here to train with him at his academy.

I’d say he’s probably my only real connection to San Antonio, but now, I’m looking forward to my family and me becoming part of the community.”

Torrel Harris started Unique Sports Management, now Unique Sports Management International (USMI) in 1988. Tobias grew up around the game and was drafted nineteenth overall in 2011.

Looks like San Antonio may be an excellent fit on multiple levels.

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The Jazz will face off against the Nuggets Sunday evening at 5:00 PM MT. It’s been a long offseason, but unlike the past few seasons, there’s been a different feel this summer. The excitement has been building higher and higher, exceeding any level the Jazz fanbase has had at any point in a long time. It all started back in May when the jumped up to number two overall in one of the most stacked draft classes in recent history. The excitement continued to build when the Jazz selected Darryn Peterson, regarded as the most talented draft pick in franchise history. Then summer league came and the excitement only went higher, followed by training camp ramping up and the Jazz providing so much content that the hype is sky high.

building something special 🤫#TakeNotepic.twitter.com/TIap6uvVFJ

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) October 2, 2026

When you combine a player like Peterson with the rest of the assets and players the Jazz have accumulated over the past few years, you have a team that can make some serious noise in the west. but if you’re reading this, you already know that. This will be an awesome season for the Jazz and the first chapter begins now.

making strides 👏

training camp notebook: day 4 ➡️ https://t.co/HM4bdvPDedpic.twitter.com/NODIa4tm6k

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) October 3, 2026

It’s unclear at this point who will be playing for the Jazz and the Nuggets considering it’s just a preseason game, but I’d expect lighter minutes from the veterans and established stars, while also hoping for guys like Peterson and Ace Bailey to get some real playing time and showcase what they’re capable of doing.

Will Hardy and the Jazz hope to start the preseason strong tomorrow with a win over a perennial playoff opponent in the Nuggets. The game is in Denver and will start at 5:00 PM MT, and air locally and on NBA TV.

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Utah Jazz vs Denver Nuggets | How to Watch

Who: Utah Jazz vs Denver Nuggets

When: 5:00 PM MT

Where: CU Events Center, Boulder, CO

How to watch: KJZZ, Jazz+

The Centre Videotron in Quebec City finally was able to host its first NBA Canada Series game, a matchup between the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat. It didn’t go in the home team’s favour, as Toronto fell 129-105 to the heat. Regardless, it was a fun matchup that will prove to be great all season. 

RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes were the biggest contributors for the Raptors tonight with 15-3-1 and 11-2-2 respectively despite playing less than half of what they usually do. Collin Murray-Boyles also had a great night, seeing some challenging defensive matchups but staying engaged, and scoring 6-9-1. As expected, he had a tetrad of offensive rebounds as well. Unfortunately, Kawhi was noticeably absent as he adjusts back to being in game shape. Alongside him on the bench were Jamison Battle and rookie Allen Graves who are both nursing minor injuries. 

CMB GETS IT DONE 💪 pic.twitter.com/7xhQkiHTJ5

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) October 4, 2026

For Miami, Giannis Antetokounmpo looked phenomenal in his new threads, finishing with a statline of 9-4-7 in only 14 minutes. Andrew Wiggins and Tim Hardaway Jr. feasted from the three point line as they were provided lots of space to shoot and sophomore Pelle Larson chipped in 13-2-2 from the bench. 

The flow of the game was almost entirely in Miami’s favour, indicative of the stage we are in at this point in the season. Plenty of mistakes may have plagued Toronto, but there’s a whole season ahead of them to work out the kinks.

Canadian RJ Barrett opened up scoring with a tough take to the rim. He had an excellent first quarter, showing his ability to operate in the paint through contact. Early on, Toronto picked up a couple of offensive fouls. There’s always little adjustments during the offseason, with push-offs seemingly a point of focus for referees. The extra possessions for Miami allowed them to build a lead. Toronto struggled a bit on the offensive end of the floor as well, watching shots rim out and despite second opportunities by Collin Murray-Boyles on the boards, they weren’t able to capitalize.

It’s early going, but 0/8 from long range to start,missing open shots and putbacks on the offensive end, and reckless defensive closeouts seem to be the trademark of preseason basketball that plagued the Raptors early on. 

After scoring 41 points in the opening frame, Miami continued with the gritty defence and drive-and-kick offense that will likely be their bread and butter this season. Toronto looked a little off-kilter still, turning the ball over, and struggling to find their shot. By comparison, the Raptors were far less polished, and as a result, held a 21-point advantage heading into the locker room. 

In the third quarter Toronto made a few efforts to recover the deficit, but still trailed by double digits. Some of the decision making offensively left a bit to be desired, having them come up empty on many occasions. As the frame progressed, the benches emptied, each team trying to get a look at who will see significant minutes and roster spots this year. 

Tyreke Key looked solid with 15 points and fairly efficient defence in the final quarter of the game. His decision making stood out in comparison to the other bench players he shared the floor with, especially in terms of making the right call. Chucky Hepburn also looked good, with his excellent defensive motor always on display and contributing 11 points. 

Maybe not the way Toronto would have wanted to start the preseason, but with plenty of time to figure things out and not even at full strength yet, we can just take a breath and celebrate that the Raptors are finally back.

Eventually, the Knicks will need one of them to break through.

Mohamed Diawara is the most likely.

It’s been a while — really, since Miles McBride — since a Knicks draft pick has developed into a consistent mainstay in the rotation.

A big part of that is due to the Knicks not having high picks and often trading out of the first round entirely. But in the apron era, finding value in young, cheap players is critical.

Pacôme Dadiet has done nothing to establish himself the past two years.

Tyler Kolek has shown flashes and become a fan favorite, but he continues to be buried in the pecking order and the Knicks clearly were not comfortable trusting him to be the primary backup point guard last year, trading for Jose Alvarado.

Kevin McCullar Jr. is hanging on with a two-way deal. Ariel Hukporti was used only in emergencies last year and departed for Philadelphia during the offseason.

Diawara, more than any of the others, had spells during his first NBA regular season in which he had a sustained spot in head coach Mike Brown’s rotation.

During the postseason, though, he was on the outside looking in as the rotation condensed.

“We have a great team with big players, so if I was in the rotation and I’m not in the rotation anymore, I think it’s just part of the game for the whole team,” Diawara said after practice Saturday. “I just gotta [play] my role, especially as a rookie, that was my first year. I wasn’t really thinking about that, I was just ready to take any opportunity. I wasn’t thinking about not playing and stuff.”

Diawara, when given playing time, showcased an offensive game that was a bit more polished than expected when the Knicks drafted him with the No. 51 overall pick in 2025.

At 6-foot-9 with long arms, he already is a strong defender with the type of frame that offers exciting potential.

“I think he has endless upside,” OG Anunoby said. “He’s very talented, can do a lot: shoot, defend, pass. He can do everything; a really versatile player. I’m excited to see him grow. I think he’s going to keep getting better and better, so I’m really excited for him.”

Diawara identified two areas in which he most needs to improve: physicality and 3-point shooting.

“Now that I know a little bit more the physicality that I need in the league, how I need to prepare my body,” Diawara said. “… I think now that I have a year in the league, it’s a little bit easier to see how I can prepare for the new season.”

There is clear belief in Diawara’s development, as the Knicks made it a priority to bring him back with a four-year, $11.2 million contract this past offseason.

He struggled in summer league, however, where he also suffered an injury to his left ring finger that required a minor procedure.

He’s fine now and already showing signs of growth.

A Year 2 breakout could cement Diawara as a Knicks mainstay.

“Last year, you could see he was a little jittery when he was out there,” Brown said Saturday, “because he didn’t quite know what to do, and he knew when he did it, he just had to go hard. So a lot of times, he would just play at one speed. There’s a comfort level now, so his cadence is better, especially offensively. His ability to communicate on the floor is at a little bit of a higher level, because he has a better feel not just offensively, but defensively — not just what he should do, but what he should be telling his teammates to do, especially if he’s on the backside or bottom side of the defense, because he sees everything in front of him.

“He’s one of those players that needs to take a step forward.”

Given how much money the Knicks have invested in their starting lineup — and with extension decisions to make regarding Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart and McBride — the bench is composed of budget options or veterans on minimum deals that the Knicks expect to perform above their pay grade, which they certainly did during their championship run last year.

It would be extremely helpful, with the Knicks operating under an edict from owner James Dolan to stay under the second apron, if Diawara becomes part of that group.

Bronny James laughed at the comment, because he found it funny to have a reporter tell him he’s tied for the third-longest tenure with the Lakers.

He is entering his third season, tied with Dalton Knecht and right behind Austin Reaves (entering his sixth season) and Jarred Vanderbilt (going on four-plus).

James is a veteran now and is looking to find his role with the Lakers.

“Crazy, right? AR keeps calling me a vet,” James said, chuckling. “I’m like, ‘I guess.’”

James is a naturally reserved person. But as a point guard, he admits his job is to speak up more, to help organize the offense, to make sure some of his nine new teammates understand what Lakers coach JJ Redick expects.

For his first two years with the Lakers, James didn’t say much because his dad, LeBron James, was the leader and powerful voice on the team.

Read more:Lakers' early defensive prowess impresses Austin Reaves, JJ Redick

As a 21-year-old, Bronny James leads in his own way, just as Redick wants all his players to do.

“Definitely coming in every day trying to get better and better myself as a point guard,” James said. “Just taking those steps, encouraging my guys, getting them in the right spots and stuff like that. Making sure we’re organized.

“For sure, that’s what a point guard is. You’ve got to be talking to your guys, got to be helping people get to where they need to be. I take pride in that, for sure. If anyone goes out — God forbid anyone goes out — I’ve got to be the guy to step up and be the primary ballhandler, and get my guys in the right spots. So, yeah, I’ve definitely got to lock in on that.”

James played in 42 regular-season games last season, averaging 2.9 points and shooting 40.9% from the field.

Though he didn’t put up big numbers in the playoffs, James was solid in his role, especially on defense. He played in eight postseason games, averaging 1.5 points and shooting 50% from the field.

This current Lakers team has depth and talent throughout the lineup.

Read more:Lakers select Derrin Horton to be new public-address announcer

James knows it’s going to take a lot of work to find a role on the team.

“Continuing to come in the gym and stay after practice, just working, competing, playing, just trying to make my mark,” James said. “I think just building on defensive instinct, how I was in the playoffs, picking up full court. They’ve been emphasizing that so I’ve been one of the guys that is picking up full court every possession, every time we get a bucket, just picking up full court.

“And then just being a primary ballhandler for my team. We’re playing against Luka [Doncic] and AR today, so me, Q[uentin Grimes], or J[aden] Hardy, guys were on the team, being primary ballhandlers, giving us confidence.”

Being a top-notched defender is what James strives to be for the Lakers.

Every day during these training camp sessions, James gets tested when he has to defend Doncic and Reaves, two of the NBA’s most dynamic guards.

But that can only help James.

“For sure, it’s going to make me better on the defensive end just picking them up full court,” James said. “I’m annoyed by them, they get annoyed with me in practice. Just continuing to do that will make me better for sure.”

James has worked on his jump shot. He looks more defined, a sign that he has worked on his body as well.

“Just continuing to come in and work on it. The jumper, I’ve been in the gym all summer working on fluidity and the speed of my release, stuff like that, moving,” James said. “Tied into that, just running a lot. I’m the same weight, 215 or 220-ish, but still slim so I can move fast. Just getting in the gym every day and continuing to keep a routine.”

The Lakers have had four days of practice, all of them intense, all of them full of energy.

They will play their first preseason games Monday at Sacramento and then Tuesday at Golden State.

That will give James and the rest of his teammates a chance to carve out roles.

“I definitely think it’s still a process. It’s definitely going to take a few games to get everyone situated,” James said. “We’re trying to figure out our own roles and those things, but also just trying to experiment with lineups. I’ve been here for a minute now, so I know kind of what my role is, but definitely for the new guys.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Lakers star guard Austin Reaves gave the team’s group of wings one of the best compliments they can hear.

“They all annoy the hell out of me,” Reaves said after the first few days of training camp. 

With Reaves referring to the rigor of defense he’s had to go up against during each of the Lakers’ practices, the praise couldn’t have been any higher. 

Adou Thiero’s combination of size and athleticism, with Reaves saying the second-year forward is already “one of the best athletes in the league”.  

Matisse Thybulle’s anticipation and active hands, having been one of the NBA’s most disruptive defenders since entering the league in 2019.

And that’s before addressing Jarred Vanderbilt and Quentin Grimes, the latter of whom the Lakers are expecting to get back to embracing the defensive side of the ball after standing out on that end early in his career with the Knicks.

Or Jake LaRavia, who’s improved significantly on that end of the floor since entering the NBA in 2022. 

These are the types of defensive challenges the Lakers stars have been going up against on a daily basis. 

“It’s going to be a healthy competition and it gets you better,” coach JJ Redick said Saturday. “It’s going to make Austin better when Ziaire is picking them up full court every possession and Matisse is in the passing lane trying to blow things up. Adou, with his physicality…those guys are getting better from practicing that way.”

But the challenge, and benefits, go both ways. 

Just like the Lakers wings are helping make the team’s stars better, Doncic and Reaves are also making the Lakers’ best perimeter defenders even better.

Ironing sharpening iron.

“I mean, you have to work so hard – they’re so talented,” Thybulle said Saturday. “For me it’s great because getting to play against two of the best offensive players in the NBA every day just primes you for – it primes all of us, but me specifically – just primes you for what to expect.

“It was a big thing when you’re growing up that practice should be harder than the games. And I think in the NBA it’s a little different because you just have to pace yourself for such a long season, but guarding Luka and AR, practice is definitely going to be harder than the games.”

As a two-time All-Defensive team honoree in 2021 and ‘22, Thybulle has been one of the most impactful perimeter defenders for a while now. 

But he’s still learning. 

And going against Doncic and Reaves have helped provide lessons. 

“The importance of just being solid,” Thybulle responded when asked what he’s learned defensively during his career. “The best offensive players in the league, Luka being probably one of the best, changes pace so well. As I’m growing in this league, growing as a defender, learning when to change pace and go for steals vs. [sitting] back, [being] solid and [making] it more of a cat-and-mouse game as opposed to trying to be in every passing lane every single time.”

With the Lakers set to travel up north for preseason exhibitions against the Kings (Monday) and Warriors (Tuesday), players will soon be able to showcase how much it’s helped against each other over the last week. 

And with the Lakers hoping to have a significant defensive improvement from last season, Doncic and Reaves have been helping the team with the challenges they’ve brought offensively.

“It’s going to make me better on the defensive end just picking them up full court,” Bronny James said. “I’m annoyed by them, they get annoyed with me in practice. Just continuing to do that will make me better for sure.”

48 hours. That’s all that stands between you, me, and Phoenix Suns basketball. Sure, preseason basketball doesn’t count toward the standings, but Monday afternoon will provide our first opportunity to see the 2026–27 Phoenix Suns in action as they take on the Detroit Pistons in the Motor City.

With every new season comes excitement. With every preseason comes curiosity. So what am I looking forward to this preseason?

Who survives the Suns’ center competition?

The battle at center will be at the heart of plenty of conversations. There will undoubtedly be some overanalysis of every performance from Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach, and perhaps one of them will solidify his place in the starting five based on what we see throughout the five preseason games. But I’m also interested in what the minutes look like for CJ Huntley and Duop Reath.

Both are essentially fighting for an opportunity to remain with the organization during the regular season, with the ceiling perhaps being a two-way contract. I know who I’d prefer Phoenix to keep based on youth, long-term viability, and developmental upside. But ultimately, how they perform throughout training camp and the preseason could determine who remains on the roster.

Will the Suns let Koa Peat create?

Speaking of youth, this could be our first opportunity to see first-round pick Koa Peat in a Suns uniform. And seeing as it’s the preseason, especially during these first three games, we should see plenty of him.

I’m interested in what role he’ll ultimately be asked to play because Peat possesses the ability to handle the ball, even from the power forward position. Will the Suns allow him to explore that part of his game, or will they ask him to fulfill a specific role within their scheme that doesn’t necessarily complement everything he can do as a prospect?

Think about Ryan Dunn. Dunn showcased during Summer League that when he’s allowed to be more aggressive with the ball, he can get downhill and be effective. But that isn’t the role he’s asked to play with the Suns. He’s primarily a three-and-D player, somebody who spaces the floor, hits three-pointers, and isn’t asked to dribble very often. Peat is somewhat similar, although he hasn’t shown an affinity for shooting the three-ball, much like Dunn hadn’t coming out of Virginia.

So throughout the preseason, I’ll be interested to see what role the young rookie is given and how the Suns begin utilizing the different aspects of his skill set.

What does continuity actually look like?

The corporate buzzword this offseason, and rightfully so, has been “continuity”. If you look across a long enough timeline, however, this team hasn’t possessed much of it. The longest-tenured players outside of Devin Booker are Oso Ighodaro, Ryan Dunn, and Collin Gillespie, all entering their third seasons with Phoenix.

How many current members of the Suns were on the 2023-24 team? Devin Booker and Jordan Goodwin. Thats it. And Goodwin was eventually traded and played with 2 other teams before returning.

The 2nd longest tenured players on the Suns are Ryan Dunn, Oso Ighodaro & Collin Gillespie

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) October 3, 2026

But there is continuity from last season, and as the preseason progresses into the fourth and fifth games, when rotations and minutes begin stabilizing in preparation for the regular season, it will be interesting to see what that continuity actually looks like on the court.

Connectivity and comfort should be natural byproducts of having players who spent last season together. Still, 20% of the starting lineup has changed with the addition of Miles Bridges, while another 20% is currently injured in Mark Williams. So continuity exists, but not necessarily within the confines of the roles and expectations these players will have this season.

With the influx of youth, that continuity will have to be directed from the top and become something tangible as the preseason progresses into the regular season.

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The results won’t matter, but the clues will. We’ll begin learning who wins the center battle, how Peat fits into the developmental puzzle, whether Huntley or Reath can force their way into the organization’s plans, and what continuity actually looks like when roles begin changing. Five preseason games won’t answer every question. They shouldn’t. But after months of projecting what this team could become, we finally get to watch the answers begin revealing themselves.

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers play basketball in just two days when they travel to Sacramento for their first preseason game on Monday. While the team has been hard at work through the first week of training camp, some of the two-way guys are starting to make an impression, most notably Chris Mañon.

“Particularly the first two days, I thought both [Arthur Kaluma and AK Okereke] were (a) really physical part of that wing group,” Redick said after practice on Saturday. “Chris on Thursday and Chris again today in live play — he’s gotten some exposure with the purple team because we wanted to have scoring balance on both sides — he’s been fantastic the last two days in live play and scrimmages.”

Redick added that he views Kaluma and Okereke as 3-and-D wings within the structure of the Lakers system and Mañon as a guard-wing hybrid.

“There’s a little bit of redundancy with our two-ways this year, which we view as a really good thing because, if we can develop Adou [Thiero] and develop Cam [Carr] and develop these guys into functional rotation NBA players over the next 12 to 24 months, it changes our ceiling,” Redick said.

More practice, more defined roles

The Lakers have five preseason games this season, which is down from six last year. While Redick doesn’t like a shortened preseason, he admits having one less game this year gives the team more time to practice and go into the regular season with a better pace.

“I want to say we had six real practices in preseason last year. This year we’ll have at least 12,” Redick said. “Generally, we could get a more productive preseason and training camp … we can actually space things out a little bit more, get these guys more live play, really take our time with teaching.”

On that note, more time gives the coaching staff and players more opportunity to define roles. It’s an interesting situation for someone like Bronny James, who, despite entering just his third season, is the third-longest tenured Laker on the team behind Austin Reaves and Jarred Vanderbilt. James is balancing fighting for a rotation spot while also stepping into a role where he’s viewed as a leader to many of the fresh faces in the locker room.

“Crazy, right? AR keeps calling me a vet. I’m like, ‘I guess,’” James said. “I come in every day trying to get better and better myself as a point guard. Just taking those steps and encouraging my guys and getting them in the right spot.”

Matisse Thybulle has been the source of much of the praise coming out of training camp for his defensive ability. He, too, is in the competition for the fifth starting spot as one of the team’s best point-of-attack defenders.

Before Los Angeles, he’s traveled around the league playing in varying roles either in the starting lineup or on the bench, but he’s maintained that, regardless of where he’s slotted, he’ll impact winning.

“I leave those decisions up to the coaches,” Thybulle said Saturday on whether he believes he should start. “For me, if my teammates are happy with how I’m playing, if the coaches are happy with how I’m playing, that’s a good sign to me that I’m doing a good job. But if that means I’m coming off the bench, if that means I’m starting, I trust that the coaches know how to use me best to create the most impact and go with that.”

Kessler from deep

Towards the end of practice on Saturday, we were able to see Walker Kessler work on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers and pick-and-roll/pick-and-pop drills. From what I saw — and brace yourselves, Lakers fans — his jump shot doesn’t look bad at all.

Here’s Walker Kessler in some PnR/Pop drills. pic.twitter.com/V8xQwbVtkd

— Connor Moreno (@cmorenoNBA) October 3, 2026

Kessler upped his 3-point attempts per game from 0.3 in his first three seasons to 1.6 in the five games he played last year before missing the rest of the year with a shoulder injury. He’s noted multiple times this offseason that spacing the floor has been a focus in his game.

Coming in as one of the best archetypes to play alongside Luka Dončić, an ability to space the floor only elevates Los Angeles’ offense.

Other Notes:

• JJ Redick still hasn’t revealed the availability of any player going into Monday’s preseason game. He says they are “still working stuff.”
• Bronny is still weighing 215-220 pounds, but attributes his slimmer frame to a better diet and more running.
• Thybulle says Cameron Carr has been really eager to learn and receptive to the coaches. He said that he thinks Carr can really improve as reps increase.

California quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele exited the Golden Bears' game against the UNLV Rebels just before the end of the first half after taking a hit that caused a collision to his head.

Sagapolutele was evaluated on the sideline after being taken down by UNLV linebacker Elias Rudolph just after getting a pass off. The Cal sophomore quarterback hit his head on the turf as he was wrestled to the ground.

He attempted to go back to the huddle for the next play, but teammate Ian Strong, a transfer wide receiver, waved in the medical staff, who provided immediate attention to Sagapolutele.

Sagapolutele had completed 19-of-27 passes for 195 yards with a touchdown and a pick. Jackson Brousseau ended the first half in his place. Cal trailed the Rebels, 24-7, at the time of the injury.

Coach Lupoi gives JKS injury update for Cal QB

Sagapolutele was seen on the sideline at the start of the second half with his helmet off. A sign that the Golden Bears' play caller would end his day.

It would take a few plays but Sagapolutele looked ready to get back into the fire, especially as he stood on the sidelines in the second half.

That's because he was. Cal head coach Tosh Lupoi told reporters that his sophomore quarterback was medically cleared to return to the game. But instead, Lupoi wasn't taking any chances. He made a judgement call to keep Sagapolutele out for the remainder of the contest.

"Jaron, when we came out, was medically cleared. I personally was not comfortable with the way he came off the field. (He was) literally wobbling," Lupoi said told reporters postgame. "He was medically cleared to go in. I made that decision to start out with Jackson and not jeopardize Jaron’s health."

"Instead of just throwing him back out there into the fold, I was not going to jeopardize him," Lupoi added. "Much more important than any game is his health, his life, his career. So sure enough as he went out there we had a drive then he was re-checked throughout after that and I think there was enough symptoms there to just, for me, no matter what I'm not going to jeopardize that young man. So, I made that decision, not going to put anybody in harm's way."

Lupoi hasn't ruled him out for the next game but assured that Sagapolutele would be re-evaluated for the next week against Virginia Tech.

"We'll reassess everything, health wise, and see where we're at going into this next week. If Jaron's ready to rock, then awesome," Lupoi said. "But if he has any symptoms, just like any one of our players, we'll reassess there and make sure we're not going to put anyone in harms way."

Cal lose star defensive back Kingston Lopa

Cal saw its starting quarterback go down with an injury, but he wasn't the only star on the Golden Bears' football team to have gone out injured.

Star defensive back and Defensive Player of the Year candidate Kingston Lopa left the game against UNLV early with an upper body injury. He was evaluated on the sideline after walking off the field on his own merit.

He did not return to the game as he was seen on the sideline in street clothes in the second half. Lopa leads the nation with five interceptions in the 2026 season.

Earlier in the game Cal lost defensive back Cam Sidney who was ejected due to targeting.

How did Cal finish without their rising quarterback?

Brousseau got his feel for the game and delivered a short pass to Carson Perry-Smith, who took the ball the length of the field for a 53-yard touchdown with 4:40 left in the third quarter. It was his first collegiate touchdown in his career.

The Golden Bears converted a two-point conversion to cut the lead down, 24-15.

A turn of momentum happened for Cal. On the ensuing kickoff, UNLV returner Peyton Zachary fumbled and it was recovered by Cal freshman Niles Davis.

The Golden Bears offense turned it into three points, connecting on a 38-yard field goal from Towns McGough. Cal trailed 24-18, making it a one-possession game with 3:36 left in the third quarter.

Cal took a lead after their fourth-string running back Ashten Emory found the end zone on a seven-yard rush after a critical pass interference penalty backed UNLV at their own goal. Emory has 48 yards and a touchdown on 12 attempts.

Cal led 25-24 with 11:38 left in the game.

Cal lost another defensive back, this time, Daniel Harris after he was ejected from the game due to targeting.

UNLV responded with a scoring drive of their own after Rebels quarterback Jackson Arnold threw a 10-yard touchdown to Keyan Burnett. Arnold converted a two-point conversion, taking a quarterback sneak up the middle to give UNLV a 32-25 lead with 9:31 left in the game.

Another gritty possession from UNLV put them up late, 39-25. Cal answered with too little, too late. The Golden Bears produced an impressive 86-yard drive on 14 plays, ending in a 10-yard TD to Strong. It would not be enough, and Cal would fall, 39-31.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cal QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele injury update: Coach Lupoi 'made that decision'

It was just a scrimmage. Sure, that’s all. Sorta in the same way that Ben Franklin was just a bald, fat guy with a kite.

Saturday afternoon’s proceedings represented the first public appearance of the Sixers as we now know them, the first time LeBron James and Jaylen Brown appeared alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.

And sure, you couldn’t tell much, considering it was played at three-quarters speed, in an arena that was perhaps two-thirds full. Also considering the regular season is still over two weeks away, and the playoffs aren’t even a blip on the horizon.

It was, as James said afterward, a “great first step in the direction we want to go.”

So everything needs to be framed in that light. It was just a faint outline of what they hope to be, and what they can be. It was an unveiling, with much more yet to be revealed.

Here are some takeaways:

Happy Camper

As everyone has said throughout training camp, Embiid was moving well, seemingly unencumbered by the knee issues that have slowed him in recent years. He dunked early on, off a feed from Edgecombe, then nailed a three-pointer. Later he slammed with the left hand, not long after Ariel Hukporti had blocked his shot.

“He’s so much more healthy (than at the 2024 Olympics),” James said of Embiid, a teammate then and now. “He hasn’t missed a practice. He’s been in every drill.”

Embiid kinda/sorta acknowledged as much, and certainly his frame of mind seems good – something else his teammates have mentioned.

As an example, consider his thoughts on the lefty slam: “”(Hukporti) did block me the first time, so I was kinda pissed off about it.”

Then he joked that it was “probably the last dunk of my career.”

Hey, we’ve missed that guy. Nice to have him back.

Space Cadets

When the starters took the court to open the day, they played the five-out style that might be expected, which opens the court for slashing by Maxey and Edgecombe, mid-range magic from Brown and Embiid and James’ all-around excellence. There were back cuts and dribble handoffs. There was movement and energy.

Embiid said he has heard a great deal about sacrifice, but in his mind it’s not so much about that as “being the best version of yourself” or “being a star in your role.”

He also said that his Olympic experience with James does not have as big an impact on the two of them jelling as some have said. Rather, he said, they would have meshed no matter what, given their experience and basketball IQ.

There were some interesting wrinkles. When Brown was on the floor in the second quarter with Edgecombe, backups Dean Wade and Labaron Philon Jr. and roster longshot Dillon Jones, he really went to work, rattling off 12 points in a scalding stretch. So it certainly appears that everybody will be able to eat, that opportunities will present themselves in various ways.

Edgier Edgecombe

He is in his second year, and he is clearly more sure of himself, more apt to assert himself than he was during his promising rookie year. On one second-quarter possession he got a step on Embiid, then switched hands in midair as he attacked the rim, enabling him to lay the ball in and draw the foul.

Moments later he tried to dunk on Embiid. Embiid was called for the foul, though he argued the call in the moment and later said he had “all ball,” something the replay seemed to confirm.

But the point is, Edgecombe’s training wheels are completely off. President of basketball operations Mike Gansey mentioned before the scrimmage that the soph plays with “no fear,” and afterward James said Edgecombe is “not quiet, in a good way.” LBJ also called him “a very cerebral player, and always looking for ways to get better.”

That is readily apparent.

Backup Plan

Gansey was reluctant to say how many games the team hopes to get from Embiid, only that everyone wants to “stick to the plan.” But figure the veteran center plays no more than 60 in the regular season. That leaves ample opportunity for Adem Bona and Hukporti. And while Bona is out with a sprained foot, Hukporti showed Saturday he might have more to offer than was first thought.

Early on the former Knick knocked down three short jumpers, and later he deftly fed Philon and Edgecombe for backdoor buckets – all while continuing to ply his trade on the defensive end. Besides his block on Embiid, he also denied Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

One Last Thought

There has been an accent on defense in the early days of camp, and James declared that the Sixers “can be a top five defensive team if we compete every time.”

That, in fact, might really tell the tale of their season. They will put up points in bunches; that seems clear. But can they get stops when they really need them? That bears watching.