LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 13: Trey Kaufman-Renn #14 of the Minnesota Timberwolves handles the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on July 13, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Trey Kaufman-Renn accomplished just about everything a men’s college basketball player can do during his five seasons on the Purdue Boilermakers’ roster. Kaufman-Renn came off the bench as a redshirt freshman for the Boilermakers in the 2023 NCAA tournament when they became the second No. 1 seed to ever lose to a No. 16 seed in the first-round. The next year, he was a sophomore starter next to Zach Edey on a team that reached the national championship game before falling to UConn. Kaufman-Renn stepped into a starring role as the Boilermakers made a Sweet 16 run in 2025, and an Elite Eight run in 2026 after winning the Big Ten tournament championship.
Kaufman-Renn’s development into a powerful interior scorer was enough to make him the No. 59 overall pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2026 NBA Draft, which felt like an inspiring story for a player who grew so much during his time in college basketball. Now Kaufman-Renn is trying to get back to college, and he scored a major victory in court on Wednesday that suddenly makes that realistic.
Kaufman-Renn was granted a temporary restraining order against the NCAA in the No. 6 Circuit Court by Judge Kyle P. Williams, allowing him to join a college basketball team while awaiting a preliminary injunction hearing. It sure feels like Kaufman-Renn could be headed back to Purdue — or another school — instead of going to training camp with the Timberwolves.
Why would Kaufman-Renn rather play in college than the NBA? The money is better at the university level right now. Kaufman-Renn likely would have commanded a top-tier NIL payment worth multiple millions if he had another year of eligibility left. The Timberwolves don’t even have an open two-way spot at the moment with Enrique Freeman, Zyon Pullin, and Rocco Zikarsky all on deals that would split time between the NBA and G League. It’s possible Zikarsky could land an official 15-man roster spot in camp, opening up a two-way deal for Kaufman-Renn. Otherwise, the former Purdue star would likely be on a G League contract to start the NBA season.
Kaufman-Renn redshirted his freshman year as he recovered from a knee injury. Then he played four seasons. He would be ineligible even under the incoming five-for-five system. It seems there’s a decent chance he can get back into college basketball, though. The Big Ten passed a rule that stops former NFL players from returning to college. It said nothing about former NBA players, and the fact that Kaufman-Renn still hasn’t signed an NBA contract could be another loophole. The SEC sued LSU for trying to bring former NFL players back to college.
Kaufman-Renn played in five games with the Timberwolves at Las Vegas Summer League after the draft. The Wolves aren’t the first team to lose a potential player back to college. The Chicago Bulls signed Donovan Atwell as a priority undrafted free agent, and he could have landed a two-way deal after a strong summer league. Instead, he’s fighting to get back to college to again play for Texas Tech with an Oct. 15 court date.
College basketball is becoming an absolute mess with so many players challenging the system this summer for an extra year of eligibility — and an extra year of an NIL payday. There are players all around the country going to court for an extra year of eligibility, and Kaufman-Renn is just the latest example. These players take away opportunities from incoming freshmen, and they will take starting spots away from younger players who have waited years for their chance at a bigger role.
It doesn’t feel fair that Kaufman-Renn might be able to return to college this year after being drafted into the NBA, and the same can be said for all the other players trying to cheat to the system in the same way. College sports are broken right now.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - DECEMBER 11: The Los Angeles Lakers logo is pictured on a uniform against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on December 11, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As you guys recently saw, we were looking to add to our staff here at Silver Screen & Roll as we head into a new season. We’ve found some exciting folks — whose bylines you might have seen popping up this wekk — who will be joining the site, some of which you may not know about and one you probably will.
Connor Moreno will provide on-site coverage during training camp, at practices and, most often, at games this season. He spent a year covering the Phoenix Suns, so he’s already been through a lot. But he’s a Lakers fan, so we get to bring him back home to cover the purple and gold this season.
Jackson Frank will be helping out with all the news and rumors and everything in between for us this season. He was the final piece coming our way in the unofficial LeBron James-Quentin Grimes swap. He spent many years covering the Sixers, including over at Liberty Ballers, and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the staff.
Lastly, a name many of our longtime readers are familiar with, Plain Fiction will be joining the staff as a contributor. Many of us have seen his detailed comments, blogs in our FanPosts (RIP) or posts in The Feed. They’re as detailed as anything we’re writing on the site, so it was an easy decision to add him to the staff.
I’m excited to welcome all three to our already great staff, giving us even more intelligent voices to help cover the best franchise in the NBA.
"Saturday Night Live" announced that their 52nd season will premiere on Sept. 26, and Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson will be the host.
Brunson, of course, is coming off a magical season in which he earned his third career All-Star appearance and led the Knicks to their first NBA championship in 53 years, earning Finals MVP honors as the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games.
Brunson won’t be the first New York athlete to host the show, as he’ll join a group that includes Eli Manning in 2012 and Derek Jeter in 2001.
The 30-year-old Brunson is often very stoic when speaking to reporters, but he's got experience in front of the mic, hosting his "Roommates Show" podcast with longtime teammate Josh Hart.
Brunson is the fifth NBA star to be tapped as a host by the long-running late-night sketch comedy show, joining only Bill Russell, Charles Barkley, Michael Jordan and LeBron James.
Girl group KATSEYE will serve as the musical guest on Brunson's Saturday Night Live episode.
Brunson averaged 28.4 points, 6.1 assists and 3.2 rebounds in 19 playoff games last season for the Knicks before leading the franchise to its first NBA title since 1973. Brunson underwent wrist surgery earlier this offseason, but is expected to return to basketball-related activities in time for the start of training camp.
Brunson has previously appeared in a non-wrestling guest performer role with WWE, mostly in conjunction with Indiana Pacers star and fellow pro wrestling fan Tyrese Haliburton.
Pikiell announced on Wednesday, Sept. 9 he was not feeling 100% a few months ago and visited the team doctors, and after undergoing testing, he learned he has cancer. He did not disclose what type of cancer it was.
"I am incredibly grateful to my team of doctors at RWJBarnabas Health and Memorial Sloan Kettering for guiding and supporting us through this difficult time," he said in a statement. "After a successful surgery, my doctors and I have a kick-ass game plan to finish treatment."
Pikiell still plans to be involved with the team "to the best of my ability" as he undergoes chemotherapy in the coming months, but associate head coach Brandin Knight will be at the helm when Pikiell is unable to.
Rutgers athletic director Keli Zinn said there is no set timeline for when Pikiell will be able to fully return to the team.
"We are grateful to Coach Knight for his willingness to step up during this challenging time and to our entire staff for their great care and compassion for Coach and our student-athletes," Zinn said.
Pikiell arrived at Rutgers in 2016 and led the Scarlet Knights to the NCAA Tournament in 2021, their first apperance in 30 years, and winning its first tournament game in 38 years. Rutgers again made the tournament the following season.
In 10 seasons in Piscataway, Pikiell is 161–160.
Knight has been at Rutgers since Pikiell's arrival in 2016, elevating his way from assistant to associate coach.
Rutgers opens the 2026-27 season against New Haven on Nov. 6.
BROOKLYN, NY - NOVEMBER 28: Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots the ball as Ziaire Williams #1 of the Brooklyn Nets plays defense during the 2025-26 Emirates Cup on November 28, 2025 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Los Angeles Lakers are not lacking for offensive firepower throughout their perimeter rotation. Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves are among the NBA’s foremost backcourts overall, especially offensively. Collin Sexton is a dynamite scorer off the bench. Quentin Grimes is a valuable floor-spacer who capably attacks closeouts.
To compete for home-court advantage and a top-four seed out West, though, they must prove they can competently defend on the perimeter. That is not a strength for Dončić, Reaves or Sexton. Grimes’ on-ball defense has ebbed and flowed throughout his career. Reinforcements in that department must arise elsewhere for Los Angeles to properly complement what should be a potent offensive unit led by Dončić and Reaves.
Enter Ziaire Williams, whom the Lakers inked to a one-year, $2.8 million deal earlier this summer. During a recent interview with Benjamin Royer of The Orange County Register, Williams laid out the role Lakers head coach JJ Redick and President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka envision for him. Their priority, according to initial conversations he’s had with them, centers on “first and foremost, being a main defender, point-of-attack defender.”
Thus far in his career, Williams has shown some standout lateral agility and ability to navigate screens effectively. But he’ll need to find consistency on offense to amplify his defensive flashes.
Throughout his first five NBA seasons, he’s largely struggled as a shot-maker. He’s knocked down 42.2% of his field goals, including 32.2% beyond the arc, which compose more than half (55.4%) of his total attempts. He has, however, flashed keen off-ball movement, converted a career-high 34.3% of his triples last season and is a career 54.6% shooter inside the arc. He’s hoping all of those skills fit seamlessly alongside the Lakers’ primary creators.
“Obviously Luka (Doncic) and AR (Austin Reaves) are going to be the main primary ball handlers,” Williams told Royer. “So just playing off them, being able to shoot, cut, make plays in transition, stuff like that. They thought it was a great fit for me to be here, and the feeling was mutual.”
Williams will have the chance to compete for heavy minutes in the Lakers’ crowded, yet mostly unproven wing rotation this upcoming season. While the likes of Grimes, Jake LaRavia, Jarred Vanderbilt Matisse Thybulle, Adou Thiero, Dalton Knecht and rookie Cameron Carr will all similarly look to earn significant playing time, any definitive claim to minutes — save for maybe Grimes — seems dubious currently. If Williams expands upon his career-best year in 2025-26, the chance to carve out a prominent role is absolutely available.
“I just thought it was a great opportunity,” Williams said of why he chose to sign with the Lakers after averaging a career-high 10.2 points per game for the Brooklyn Nets last season. “Being that big wing, versatile player that they needed, I just thought it was a great opportunity for me to be a Laker. Even if the same team was in New Orleans or Milwaukee, wherever – just the opportunity that was here and the team that they had, I just thought it was the best fit. And then just being back home in L.A. is the cherry on top. Being able to play in front of my family and my friends, and I’m super excited.”
Jalen Brunson is taking another legendary step, joining Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Charles Barkley in another rare milestone for an NBA career:
Brunson will host the season opener of Saturday Night Live on Sept. 26 with musical guest KATSEYE.
Brunson became a New York legend and icon as the NBA Finals MVP, leading the Knicks to their first title in 53 years last June, setting off wild celebrations around the city that might still be going on. With plenty of Knicks fans on staff with SNL, this was not going to be a hard sell.
Technically, this does come a few days after the start of Knicks training camp, but like anybody was going to tell Brunson no here. If there was one thing I would be sure of, it's other Knicks appearing on that show in some capacity.
The list of professional athletes who have hosted Saturday Night Live is long and storied, and includes Joe Montana and Walter Payton (as co-hosts in 1987 before the Super Bowl), Wayne Gretzky, Dion Sanders, Derek Jeter, Jeff Gordon, Tom Brady, Michael Phelps, Peyton Manning, and Travis Kelce, just to name a few. Charles Barkley has hosted four times.
In addition to the broadcast on NBC (11:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. PT), "SNL" streams live on Peacock. Stream every season of SNL now on Peacock.
The “Savage” rapper admitted in a recent interview with InStyle that her split from the former Golden State Warriors superstar has caused her to “feel like I’ve been put through the washing machine and the dryer with tins, shovels, and a cactus.”
Music artist Megan Thee Stallion kisses her boyfriend, Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson, at the end of a game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Megan began dating Thompson last year, and for months, they looked to be on the path of marriage. The two were constantly together, and she even showed up to a number of his NBA games to cheer him on from a courtside chair.
However, in April, Megan announced the pair had separated, writing in an Instagram post that Thompson had cheated on her.
During her chat with InStyle, Megan called the whole situation “very rough.”
Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson, right, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers’ Rodney Hood defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, in Los Angeles. AP
“How do I want to say this gently?” she said. “What’s meant for you is always going to work out. And if something is constantly making you feel uncomfortable, just on edge all the time, you probably are not supposed to be there.
“God will always make you uncomfortable when something is not meant for you. I think I just kept trying to make pieces fit that didn’t belong, trying to fit myself into someone else’s life. I was losing myself a little bit. I am now in the space of finding me again.”
Megan added that she’s now seeking a relationship in which she and her boyfriend are on the same pedestal.
Megan Thee Stallion performs onstage during night 3 of the 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture at Caesars Superdome on Sunday, July 2, 2023, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Getty Images
“I cannot be minimized,” she said. “I will not be behind any man. I will have a partner. I will be equals with my partner. I’m never gonna take the backseat to anything. So just going forward, I think I’ve just learned this is the type of person that I want to be with, this is what I will tolerate, this is what I won’t tolerate. And if you can’t take that, we just gotta respectfully go our separate ways.”
As for how the single life is treating her, Megan said she’s learning that “being by yourself is OK.”
“Like, I ain’t smiled so much in so long,” she said. “Like, I’m outside twirling in the grass like, ‘Wow, it’s a beautiful day outside!’
CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 11: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the first half against the Washington Wizards at Rocket Arena on February 11, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
All-time great players achieve that status by continually defying norms, yet Father Time remains undefeated.
James Harden will be remembered as one of the ten best guards in league history when all is said and done. His peak as a one-man offense in the 2010s with the Houston Rockets hasn’t been topped by many; neither has his incredible longevity. He’s 189 assists away from becoming the only player besides LeBron James to rank in the top ten all-time in both points and assists. But even all-time greats have an expiration date.
Harden’s game has aged gracefully over the last handful of years. He isn’t the one-man offense he was in his prime, yet he has continually found ways to fit into and elevate groups as a supporting piece.
That carried over this past season to Cleveland. The Cavaliers played their best in the playoffs when Harden was on the floor. His ability to orchestrate the offense and take over late in games when needed is one of the reasons why the Cavs were able to advance to the Conference Finals for the first time in eight seasons.
If we judge his new contract on how he just played, this would be a good deal for Cleveland.
Every dollar matters in a salary cap league. That’s especially true for a team like the Cavs that has been doing everything in its power to cut costs after spending last season in the second apron. However, you aren’t going to get a guard playing at or near an All-Star level that isn’t on a rookie deal for cheaper.
To evaluate the contract, let’s first try to pinpoint where exactly Harden is from a skill perspective going into this season.
Player ranking guides shouldn’t be taken as gospel truth, but they do provide a general consensus for where someone stands in the league hierarchy. Currently, The Ringer and NBA 2K27 have him as the 31st-best player. HoopsHype lists him as the ninth-best guard.
This is in line with where some of the catch-all stats have him as well. Dunks and Threes’ actual estimated-plus minus has him at 38th (93rd percentile) last season. Basketball-Reference’s catch-all stats view him a little more favorably, as he was 21st in player efficiency rating (20.7), 19th in box-plus-minus (3.9), and 14th in value of replacement player (3.6).
How much stock you want to put into any of that is up to you. What we can comfortably say is that ranking him as the 31st-best player in the league is completely reasonable.
Now, let’s look at where he stacks up in annual value on his contract. Harden’s contract is expected to start just below $30 million for this upcoming season and should escalate to $34.9 million on the third and final year of his deal.
The $29.7 million he is expected to earn next season would give him the 64th-highest annual salary in the league. That placement is good value for what you’re expecting to get from him, especially considering the quality of many of the players making more than him. Jimmy Butler ($56.8 million), Trae Young ($49.5 million), Zach LaVine ($50 million), Domantas Sabonis ($45.5 million), and Brandon Ingram ($40 million) are all set to make $10 million more than Harden next season. This list puts into perspective how bad some contracts are, and how this isn’t one of them, based on how Harden has been playing.
However, that evaluation is contingent on Harden still being at or near his recent level. NBA history suggests that he won’t continue to do so over the next three years.
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 3: James Harden #1 and Chris Paul #3 of the LA Clippers looks on during the game against the Miami Heat on November 3, 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 Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Finding a recent comparison for Harden is difficult. Few guards have sustained the consistent level of play for as long as he has. One that comes to mind is Chris Paul.
Catch-all stats are flawed, but they can be used as guideposts for where a career is going. Harden finished 32nd in ESPN’s Player Efficiency this past season at age 36. At the same point in his career, Paul ranked 38th.
Paul made his final All-Star appearance at age 36. He was coming off another impressive season, helping lead the Phoenix Suns to 64 wins. There wasn’t much in his game at that time that would suggest he would begin to decline. That inevitably started during his age-37 season.
Paul was still good at 37. His overall points, assists, and efficiency were down from the year before, but he was still a high-quality player. However, a closer look at some of the advanced stats would suggest a noticeable drop-off that would continue
Paul went from 38th to 76th in ESPN’s Player Efficiency Rating between his age-36 and age-37 seasons. That slide continued as he finished 148th in Player Efficiency Rating during his age-38 season and then 170th in his last full season at age 39.
Harden has more size than Paul, which should help him age better. However, there’s no denying the simple fact that we don’t typically see good guard play from guys at this point in their careers.
There aren’t many examples of someone playing at or near an All-Star level at age 37. Only 12 players in league history have been on an All-Star team at age 37. The list keeps getting smaller the older you get. Only five players have been All-Stars at age 38 (LeBron, Tim Duncan, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), and just three at age 39 (LeBron, Jordan, and Abdul-Jabbar).
More to that point, it’s rare for 39-year-olds to even be in the league. There are only three currently rostered players who will be 39 or older at the start of the season: Mike Conley, Al Horford, and LeBron.
Just because there isn’t a historical precedent for guys playing at a high level in their late 30s doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Last season, Kevin Durant made the All-NBA Second Team, and Steph Curry was still playing at an elite level at age 37. Both are expected to be All-Star-quality players again this upcoming season. Harden certainly has the talent to follow in their footsteps.
Overall, history isn’t on Harden’s or the Cavs side. A significant drop-off in play comes for everyone at some point. That’s true even for all-time great guards like Harden. Odds are this happens for Harden sometime over the lifetime of this new contract.
Still, this is a deal the Cavs felt they had to make. They mortgaged future money in 2028 for more flexibility now to get out from under the second apron and execute a sign-and-trade for Peyton Watson. Neither of those things would’ve been possible if Harden had simply opted in to his $42.3 million player option.
Now, we’ll wait and see whether or not this short-term gamble ages like Harden’s gas station wine or a French Sauvignon Blanc.
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 16: Tacko Fall #99 and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics warm up before the game against the Denver Nuggets on February 16, 2021 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 2021 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
I’m back this week and ready to answer your Sixers-related questions.
It’s been relatively quiet, but the Sixers did make a series of Exhibit 10 signings. For those unfamiliar, an Exhibit 10 deal is essentially a training camp contract with an added financial incentive for the player to join the signing team’s G League affiliate. So, these guys will likely end up in Delaware suiting up for the Blue Coats, but it’s worth noting the Sixers have an open two-way spot and an open standard spot (though they can’t fill the latter until December).
The four players include the 7-foot-6 Tacko Fall, Jameer Nelson, Jr., the son of Sixers executive Jameer Nelson, Saint Thomas, who spent last season with the Blue Coats, and Dillon Jones, the former first-round pick and two-time NBA champion with the Thunder and Knicks. Since none of the aforementioned players have more than four years of NBA experience, they’re all technically two-way eligible. While this could be a competition for that final slot, the Sixers could still look at outside candidates as well.
Hit me in the comments below and I’ll do my best to answer as many questions as possible.
Kawhi Leonard got off with a slap on the wrist while the NBA brought the hammer down on the Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer for circumventing the salary cap to pay him more.
An agreement was in place to trade Leonard to Toronto, but the Raptors put that 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, for example). Now that the report is (largely) finished and the punishments handed down, the trade can move forward.
So why hasn't the trade happened yet?
First, the trade absolutely will go through, multiple league sources told NBC Sports. That is considered a given. Nobody is pulling out of this deal, both because it would crush reputations to agree to something and then pull out, and also because both sides get things they want out of this trade.
Why the delay in making it official? A couple of reasons. One is that there is no real deadline pressure to do it right now, so long as it gets done in the next couple of weeks, before training camps open Sept. 22.
The other reason: the Clippers have to reorganize their front office in the wake of the suspensions — including president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank — something first reported by Marc Stein at The Stein Line. The expectation is that general manager Trent Redden will step into the big chair for the Clippers for six months, but that is not yet formally in place.
With the Clippers scrambling a little bit to get their ducks in a row, the trade has yet to go through. Expect it to become official in the coming weeks.
As a reminder, that trade sends Leonard to the Raptors, while the Clippers get Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-rounders, two first-round pick swaps and a second-round pick. Make no mistake, the Clippers want this trade to go through, they now need and are counting on those picks after having five of their first-round picks taken away by the league. The Raptors want Leonard, who, paired at forward with Scottie Barnes, forms an interesting and potentially dangerous team in the East.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 12: Jarred Vanderbilt #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks against the Dallas Mavericks in the second half at Crypto.com Arena on February 12, 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 Wally Skalij/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 at Jarred Vanderbilt.
It might be hard to believe, but with the massive overhaul of the Lakers roster this offseason, Jarred Vanderbilt is now the second-longest tenured Laker behind only Austin Reaves. After being traded to the Lakers in February 2023, this will be the fifth season in which Vando’s rocked the Forum blue and gold, outlasting every other player who was acquired with him in the trade that shipped Russell Westbrook out and catapulted the team on their run to the conference finals later that spring.
All these seasons later, though, it’s fair to say that Vanderbilt has lost ground in his pursuit of a lasting role commensurate with his salary. After solidifying a spot in Darvin Ham’s rotation as a chaos-inducing defensive ace, Vando has never gained a footing under JJ Redick, going stretches of seeing two to three shifts a game and then racking up DNP-CD’s after his production (and skill set) on both sides of the ball proved a bit too inconsistent and lacking to not chase an alternative.
With a remade roster that still lacks an established starter at the forward spot opposite Luka Dončić, however, Vanderbilt might not be buried yet. Yes, there are alternatives in-house who, at first blush, feel like they’d have the upper hand in the race for a role. But as long as he’s on the roster, Vanderbilt should not be counted out. Particularly when roster changes might make Vando a better fit than he was the previous two seasons under Redick.
What is his best-case scenario?
When it comes to how Vanderbilt can best find a role, it feels easiest to point to any sort of improvement offensively — especially as a shooter from behind the arc — as the key to him finally sticking. And while I won’t argue against the importance of Vando knocking down shots as being meaningful for his overall utility, I think it’s disingenuous to put all the emphasis on an improvement on that side of the ball leading to him playing more.
Instead, I turn the focus to Vando’s defense and how finding the right role — and the right scheme — can do more for his place in the pecking order than his ability to hit a handful more threes in his minutes. This isn’t an exaggeration, either.
Last year, Vanderbilt connected on just 29 of his 99 threes on the season, 29.3%. If he’d made just six more of his attempts from deep, his percentage would have gone up to 35.3%. Does anyone believe six more makes would have changed his reputation at all as a shooter or that it would have impacted the way defenses treated him? Yeah, me neither.
I’d argue, then, what really impacted Vanderbilt was that he never really found a way to be the impact defender he’s billed as. There are many reasons for this, including his penchant for over-aggressiveness at the point of attack, his gambling in passing lanes, and a general lack of off-ball discipline. But, even more than those things, I’d argue that the Lakers’ penchant to switch as much as they did and the fact that their big man rotation did not have much shot blocking proved to be a poor fit for Vando’s defensive approach and allowed defenses to remove him from the action too easily.
This season, with Walker Kessler now in the fold, not only do I imagine that the team will switch less, but I also believe the coaches can move from a more contain defense at the point of attack to a more aggressive approach that encourages ball pressure and disruption. These are the exact sorts of shifts in defensive identity that would suit Vanderbilt’s style.
And with Vanderbilt having another healthy offseason to further work on his body and his game, I don’t think it’s out of the question that he could return to the form he showed in his first season and a half in Los Angeles.
In getting back to the offense, I don’t think there will ever be a point where Vanderbilt’s skill level and overall utility as a finisher will clear the bar Redick wants. That said, if Redick does commit to playing him a couple of shifts a game in lineups that can somewhat protect him offensively while catering to what he does best defensively, there’s a real possibility Vanderbilt can play as the best version of himself.
There’s a precedent for this, though the samples are not large at all. Last season, per Cleaning the Glass, Vando played 79 possessions while flanking both Luka and Austin Reaves. In those minutes, the Lakers had a +5.1 net rating.
However, 32 of those possessions had Luke Kennard on the floor, which makes sense since his shooting can serve as a counterbalance to Vando’s struggles in that area. However, when you remove Kennard from the data, the Lakers net rating jumps to +33.2 in those remaining 47 possessions, with many of the best-performing groups having either Marcus Smart or Jake LaRavia as the other perimeter defender.
In other words, pair Vando with another perimeter defender and then put them next to Luka and Austin and those groups showed some viability, albeit in small samples. Vando getting more chances in those sorts of lineups next season feels like something to at least try out in order to see if they can find something more lasting.
What is his worst-case scenario?
If the above feels too optimistic, I don’t blame you. There’s a reason Vanderbilt has consistently fallen out of the rotation for Redick and to act as though those same circumstances won’t reappear simply because the roster has changed to the degree it has is could simply be wish-casting.
After all, Redick is still the coach and while there’s a likelihood the schemes on both sides of the ball will shift some to account for the new players and what they do best, until we see new playbooks on both sides of the ball (or least the sorts of shifts that cater more to him), I envision Vanderbilt running into some of the same challenges he’s experienced.
Namely, that even if they don’t switch all screens one through five, they still switch enough screens that don’t involve the center for offenses to manipulate matchups and get Vanderbilt off their biggest offensive threats, neutralizing him in the process. And then, on the other side of the ball, his overall lack of finishing and poor outside shooting prove too frustrating for Redick to invest in with a real role.
Ultimately, then, the team goes in a different direction, investing minutes into Zaire Williams, Matisse Thybulle, and even Adou Thiero instead of Vando. And while he might get spot minutes here or there, Vando mostly becomes a fixture on the bench whose salary makes it unlikely he even gets traded this season because of the remaining season still on his contract.
What is his most likely role on the team?
If having to choose between the two scenarios above, I have to admit the latter feels much more likely than the former. We simply have too much history with Vanderbilt under Redick to forecast that he’s suddenly going to shift into a more prominent role.
That said, I truly do believe that the circumstances of this team are the most conducive they have been for Vanderbilt to have a successful season with Redick as head coach. And while it feels like a stretch for Vanderbilt to be a starter or to be a guy relied on to play three to four shifts a game, I do think that in the sorts of lineups where he can play to his strengths defensively while also having enough offensive talent around him where he can be a connecting player more than a finisher, he can play 10 to 12 minutes a night and be a positive player.
And while I’m not going to advocate that he jump to the front of the line or that he should be prioritized over other players at that spot, I do hope he’s able to compete with the other wings and forwards on this roster to show that he’s capable of helping this team.
Because if he does get that chance, I do think he’ll show he can do something with it.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 24: General Manager Bryan Colangelo attends a press conference after the Philadelphia 76ers introduce Ben Simmons and Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot from the 2016 NBA Draft on June 24, 2016 in Philadelphia, PA. 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 2016 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Things are going well for the Philadelphia 76ers this offseason, so I think it’s safe to touch on a topic from a time when things were much more…turbulent. The reason? Former Sixers president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo has been hired as an advisor by Italian professional club BC Roma.
Two-time NBA Executive of the Year Bryan Colangelo and Hall of Famer Chris Mullin are now advisors to the BC Roma team co-founded by Donnie Nelson and Luka Dončić.
Colangelo and Mullin join an advisory board also featuring ex-Spanish NT coach/Raptors assistant Sergio Scariolo. pic.twitter.com/JD7Jj2kgSF
First off, it’s nice for Bryan to still get the “Two-time NBA Executive of the Year” lead-in and not, you know, the other stuff which we’ll touch on momentarily. If you’re recalling a strong tie between Colangelo and Italy, you are correct. While the lead executive for the Toronto Raptors, he famously selected Italian Andrea Bargnani with the first overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, rather than seven-time All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge, taken second overall by the Chicago Bulls and traded to Portland. As Sixers fans unfortunately know, poor decisions with the first overall pick were not limited to Colangelo’s time in Toronto; in 2017, he traded with Boston to move up and select Markelle Fultz first overall, with the Celtics taking Jayson Tatum with the third overall pick.
In addition to getting absolutely schooled by Danny Ainge, Colangelo made a pair of trades during his time in Philadelphia that if not for divine intervention and other people picking up the pieces, would have cost the Sixers Tyrese Maxey. Back in 2016, he traded Jerami Grant and a top-20 protected 2020 first-round pick to Oklahoma City for Ersan Ilyasova. Of course, Mike Muscala’s heroics in the bubble meant that the Thunder moved up into the top-20 and the Sixers were able to retain that pick and select Maxey.
However, Colangelo had even traded that top-20 protected pick away in 2017 in order to draft Anzejs Pasecniks 25th overall (!!!!). Pasecniks played 28 career NBA games (all for the Wizards), while the Sixers could have drafted Derrick White or local favorite Josh Hart. Thankfully, in 2019, Elton Brand would get that Thunder pick back by trading Fultz to Orlando, cleaning up two Colangelo messes in one fell swoop. In my opinion, Brand does not get enough credit for ensuring Maxey eventually arrived in Philadelphia.
Before we go though, one more Colangelo-Italy connection to recall. His wife, Barbara Bottini, is from Northern Italy (as a side note, Colangelo’s famous high collars were credited to his wife’s Italian fashion influence). It’s strange that every Sixers fan reading this knows the name of a former executive’s wife, but then, she’s the only one I know of who ran secret burner Twitter accounts disparaging players and revealing team-sensitive information. We can take Bryan’s word that he knew absolutely nothing about the activities by Barbara (aka Eric Jr, Honest Abe, and Still Balling), but I’ll personally always be skeptical. Still, he had to resign as a result in one of the more embarrassing NBA sagas in recent history.
With that strong draft record and drama-free home life, I can see why BC Roma came to Colangelo in search of advice. I’m just glad the Sixers have brighter days ahead.
While the addition of the 30-year-old might not be a season-altering move for Sacramento, Warriors forward Draymond Green believes the signing could play a significant role in helping the Kings’ first-round 2026 NBA Draft selection Darius Acuff Jr.
“When I look at this signing, I think this is great for Darius Acuff,” Green said on “The Draymond Green Show.” “You have a Ben Simmons who’s eager to make it right, he’s going to give you the game. And he’s going to work his ass off. I think this is great for Darius Acuff. Let’s face it, Ben Simmons is Ben Simmons.
“This will take some of the pressure off Darius Acuff. If Ben Simmons isn’t playing well, people are going to want to point to Ben Simmons and say, ‘Hey, he’s not playing well,’ and if he is playing well, people are going to point to Ben Simmons and say, ‘Yo, look, he’s back.’ And so, I think this ultimately takes a lot of pressure off Darius Auff going into a Sacramento Kings situation that is not as great as one would like.”
The Kings finished the 2025-26 NBA season 22-60, but went 8-10 the final 18 games of the campaign to push themselves out of a top-five lottery spot.
Sacramento selected Acuff with the No. 7 selection in the draft. With Russell Westbrook retiring, the Kings likely will slot Acuff into the starting point guard role and give him the keys to proverbial castle.
”I think this is a good move for Darius Auff that will allow some of the pressure to come off of Acuff and allow him to grow like rookies need to grow,” Green continued. “This is not the most ideal situation for a rookie to be in. Obviously, you got the ball alot. That could be good or bad, right? But, you know, this is a good move and I don’t think people will value this move enough.”
Simmons was the 2018 NBA Rookie of the Year and played on three straight All-Star teams from 2018-2021 while with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 2016 No. 1 overall pick also is a two-time All-Defensive selection and, in addition to helping Acuff’s growth, could help a Sacramento team that has struggled on that side of the court for several seasons.
Tyler Herro is in the middle of a custody battle in court with ex-girlfriend Katya Henry, TMZ reported Tuesday, after the couple split up this month.
The two share a daughter, Zya, born in 2021 and a son, Harlem, born in 2023.
Before dismissing his case all together, Herro, who claimed he had been voluntarily paying Henry since she gave birth, asked the court for a parenting schedule. The former All-Star also asked the court to determine how much he should be giving in child support.
In her own filing, Henry has asked for primary custody as she claimed she has been the primary caregiver and has been making most of the decisions surrounding the children.
Tyler Herro of the Miami Heat and his girlfriend, Katya Henry, pose for a photo during the 15th Annual Miami Heat Charitable Gala at Kaseya Center on Feb. 8, 2025, in Miami, Florida. Getty Images
Additionally, she “intentionally omitted” information about Herro’s “historical conduct” out of repect for the Milwaukee player as Henry insisted to the court that “safeguards and parameters should be implemented on a temporary and permanent basis in order to ensure the safety and well-being” of the two children.
The case remains ongoing.
Henry, a fitness model and founder of VelAura, connected with Herro on social media during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
A year later, the former couple welcomed their daughter before breakup rumors hit the fan in 2022.
Tyler Herro of the Miami Heat and Katya Elise Henry pose for a photo on the red carpet prior to the 14th Annual Miami HEAT Gala at Kaseya Center on Jan. 22, 2024, in Miami, Florida. Getty Images
During that time, Henry posted on social media alleging Herro’s cheating.
“If you cheat on someone willing to do anything for you, you cheated yourself out of loyalty,” she wrote before deleting it, per Yahoo.
The Bucks also sent Bobby Portis in exchange for Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis along with unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, the No. 13 pick in the 2026 draft, and a 2033 second-round pick and a pick swap in 2030.
Herro was in Paris when he heard the news he was being shipped off to his hometown team.
Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro goes up for a shot as New York Knicks guard Landry Shamet defends during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden on Monday, March 17, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“Back to the motherf–king crib, dog. Y’all did lost your motherf–king mind,” he said as a warning to the Heat on his YouTube channel.
The 26-year-old guard went to Whitnall High School in Greenfield, Wis. where he earned a four-star ranking and finished his career with over 2,000 points. He was also named the Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year.
He went on to play at Kentucky under John Calipari before he was chosen at 13th overall by the Heat in 2019.
Last season, Herro averaged 20.5 points on 48 percent percent shooting.
