Category: Basketball

You may look at the Suns re-signing Mark Williams to a three-year, $38 million contract as unnecessary. He hasn’t exactly been the picture of health throughout his career. And while he played 60 games last season, 15 more than his previous career high, that still left him 22 games short of a full 82-game season.

So why pay him $11.7 million for 2026–27? You have second-year center Khaman Maluach waiting in the wings, along with third-year big Oso Ighodaro providing versatility behind him. On the surface, you could make the argument that Phoenix didn’t need to spend that money on Williams.

I’ve talked ad nauseam about the optionality his contract provides in both the short and long term. If he plays well, you have a quality center on a team that isn’t going to be center-centric. If he struggles, or if Maluach exceeds expectations early, you have a highly tradable contract.

But I’m not worried about any of that today. What stands out right now is how versatile the Suns suddenly are at center. Between Williams, Maluach, and Oso, Phoenix has options depending on what a matchup calls for, and that is one area of the roster that doesn’t feel like it should create much anxiety entering the season.

Phoenix is not a city, or a franchise, that has known much stability at center. Three seasons ago, it was Jusuf Nurkic and Drew Eubanks. Two seasons ago, it was Nurkic and Mason Plumlee. And before that, you had a player with all of the promise but none of the mental toughness to allow it to come to fruition. Too often, the Suns have been stuck with lumbering, limited bigs who check only a couple of the boxes you want from a productive center.

Those boxes? Rim protection. Rebounding. Finishing. Screening. Athleticism. And if you want to add a bonus skill, the ability to stretch the floor. Throughout the organization’s history, Phoenix has gotten two of those six attributes and had to make do.

The beauty of this year’s roster is that Williams, Khaman Maluach, and Oso Ighodaro each check multiple boxes, which gives Jordan Ott the ability to play chess rather than checkers.

Williams graded in the 91st percentile with an A in rim protection, according to BBall Index. He also earned an A in defensive rebounds per 75 possessions, an A- in offensive rebounding talent, an A in offensive rebounds per 75 possessions, and an A in finishing talent, where he ranked in the 93rd percentile.

There is still room for improvement as a screener. His screening talent graded out at a C+, although he earned an A in both screen assists per 75 possessions and roll man possessions per 75.

What Williams did last season was play within the confines of the offense and complement what was happening around him. At times, it felt like he was underutilized, especially when certain mismatches presented themselves, and Phoenix continued to lean heavily into perimeter play.

Still, there’s a reason the Suns paid him. Mark Williams is a quality NBA center. Is he top 15 at the position? Probably not. But when you look at his contract within the context of the league, the value becomes much easier to understand. At an average annual value of $12.7 million, Williams ranks 34th among NBA centers. When you start talking about production relative to price, that is where Mark Williams can provide real value.

Maluach is your wild card, the kid who will be 20 years old when the season starts and showcased plenty of potential this summer in Las Vegas. He still has a lot of work to do, but he already possesses the rim protection, rebounding, finishing, and athleticism you want from a lottery pick. And screening? Stretching the floor? He might eventually be able to do both of those effectively as well. Heck, he shot 40% from deep in Las Vegas this past Summer League, and did so on 20 attempts.

If the progression continues and the opportunity follows, Maluach could become something special, not only as a prospect, but potentially as a franchise cornerstone. We don’t want to put the cart before the horse, but the skill set he brings gives Jordan Ott another piece he can weave in and out of games to disrupt opposing teams.

I think back to last season against the Denver Nuggets, when Ott put Maluach on Nikola Jokic after Jokic had been dissecting Phoenix from the high post all game. Maluach didn’t stop him, but he slowed him down. He forced Jokić to look at different angles and work harder to complete passes because of the length, tenacity, and disruption Maluach brought. That matters because disruption was a major part of what made the Suns successful last season. Maluach fits directly into that identity.

And then you have the advanced metrics darling, Oso Ighodaro.

When you look at the six attributes of a quality big, he doesn’t check every box. His rim protection graded as an A, according to BBall Index, while his defensive rebounding came in at a B plus. His offensive rebounding talent, however, ranked in the 12th percentile and earned an F. As for stretching the floor? That probably isn’t entering his repertoire anytime soon.

What Oso does possess is athleticism, finishing ability, elite screening for the position, and the versatility to switch onto the perimeter. That last part makes him an especially useful defensive option for Jordan Ott. In the modern NBA, having a big who can survive away from the rim and defend multiple types of players is incredibly valuable. Oso gives Phoenix exactly that.

When you put those three players together, you get a level of optionality at center that Phoenix hasn’t had in quite some time. I guess technically since last season, although the hope is that we see much more of Maluach this year.

When all three are healthy, the Suns can dictate pace, adjust to matchups, or respond to whatever an opponent throws at them. And if they aren’t all healthy, there is still viable depth behind whoever is available. You don’t have to sprinkle in starts for Chimezie Metu simply to survive the NBA calendar.

That versatility could end up being one of the unsung strengths of this roster because center is not the featured position in Phoenix. This isn’t Denver or Philadelphia. It’s a complementary position, one that needs to be occupied by capable players who understand their role, embrace it, and thrive within it. Williams, Maluach, and Ighodaro all have the ability to do exactly that.

Phoenix doesn’t need one center to do everything. It needs the position as a whole to provide enough answers over the course of 82 games. Williams gives you proven production. Maluach gives you upside and disruption. Oso gives you versatility and mobility. None of them is perfect, but together they cover a hell of a lot of ground. For a team built around Booker, Green, Bridges, and Brooks, that may be exactly what the position is supposed to look like.

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The Sixers have signed Dillon Jones to an Exhibit 10 contract.

Jones was the 26th overall pick back in 2024, selected by the Washington Wizards before being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder on draft night. He made 54 appearances for the Thunder in his rookie season, playing 10 minutes a game averaging 2.5 points and 2.2 rebounds on 38% field goal shooting.

After being traded back to and waived by the Wizards, he bounced around several G League teams last season before signing a two-way deal with the New York Knicks in January. He made just seven appearances for the Knicks and only averaged five minutes a game per appearance. In 18 games for the Westchester Knicks, he averaged 15.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game, shooting 43% from the field and 38% from three.

Jones was a 32% three-point shooter in his four college seasons at Weber State and hasn’t shot over 25% from deep in his limited NBA opportunities. He did though make a big shooting leap in the G League, going 27.5% from three in his first season to 37% over the course of his second season with three teams.

This is the fourth Exhibit 10 contract the Sixers have signed this offseason. Jones will join Tacko Fall, Jameer Nelson Jr., and Saint Thomas on the team’s training camp roster. It could be a sign of good fortune if Jones somehow is able to make the roster, as every team he’s made an NBA appearance for has gone on to win the Finals. It’s hard to argue with a 100% success rate.

Last week, we came on here to ask you all, off the backs of the Jonathan Kuminga signing and Cody Williams trade, which newcomer to the Minnesota Timberwolves you were most excited to see on the court. With such an action packed summer, filled with a full restructuring of the roster around Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels, it was set to be an interesting conversation.

Wolves fans, we want to hear from you!! The Wolves have had a very active offseason, but who are you most excited to watch?

Let us know on this episode of Canis Hoopus Reacts:https://t.co/SCyUTXmWEm

— Canis Hoopus (@canishoopus) September 1, 2026

Maybe Isaiah Evans, a second-round pick from Duke who disappointed in Summer League, or Cody Williams, universally seen as the worst rotation player in the NBA last year, or even the confounding “Other” who never shows up on the box score aren’t big enough draws to be added to that list, but the idea was that there would be some difference in opinions.

Well, apparently not, as all of you are in consensus that the Spectacle’s NBA equivalent, the ever mercurial, sporadic but never boring LaMelo Ball is the player most Canis Hoopus readers can’t wait to see.

We haven’t seen a blowout this bad since the Wolves demolished the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Play-In a few years ago. Sheesh.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, though. Star players are always going to get the most eyes, and even if I voted for Cody Williams, I also understand that in this site full of basketball degenerates, I may be the most degenerate.

Ball is also an easy player to be excited about. Over the past five years, the Timberwolves have been looking for a solid point guard option next to Anthony Edwards. D’Angelo Russell flamed out after being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers during a hot stretch that brought back maybe the best heist the Wolves have ever pulled off. Mike Conley Jr. was excellent, but age ultimately caught up with him, before he was dumped in Chicago and then returned to Minnesota, only to head to Boston this offseason.

The graveyard of failed guards next to Ant still holds some excellent players. Nickeil Alexander-Walker was one of the best developmental stories in Wolves history, but a point guard, he was not. Bones Hyland has far too many nights in which he destroys his own value with shot-chucking to be considered a solution.

Even the most recent hope, Ayo Dosunmu, is a quality wing off the bench, but he cannot be a point guard. He simply does not make the players around him sufficiently better.

Enter LaMelo Ball, who is expected to be a revelation for a team that has lacked ball-handling and playmaking to an extreme ever since Conley’s decline.

If the already excellent Wolves can fix their biggest hole without losing their defensive identity – one which has always been set by Rudy Gobert, who remains on the roster – they’re set to re-enter contention status after a Mickey Mouse Conference Finals run in 2024-25 and a disappointing collapse last year.

The Timberwolves are currently +1500 to win the West, the fourth-highest odds in the conference, and +3000 to win the franchise’s first title, according to FanSided, in case you want to take a gamble.

This season is set to be a pretty massive one for the Wolves. As the offseason comes to a close and the Los Angeles Clippers are moved to the G-League, it’s worth looking at just how much depends on this year for Minnesota.

pic.twitter.com/dVsIId6wuu

— Canis Hoopus (@canishoopus) September 2, 2026

They’ve tapped out their assets for a trio of young stars, all drafted in 2020. They’ve exhausted their draft picks and their movable deals.

If the Anthony Edwards era is supposed to last as long as many fans want it to, the Wolves will need to take a big step forward from a team that had reached its peak to one that can dream once again.

With that in mind, how could the answer ever have been anyone outside of the one and only LaMelo Ball?

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 Jaden Hardy.

Every start of the NBA season, most teams have at least one roster spot occupied by a player they’re uncertain about. For the purple and gold, it’s hard to imagine anyone fitting that description more than Jaden Hardy.

After being acquired from the Wizards along with much-needed draft capital in exchange for Deandre Ayton, the 24-year-old Hardy joined an already crowded guard rotation. He may be coming off a career year with the Wizards where he averaged 12.6 points in 23 games, but his addition didn’t really address a need.

Given that the Lakers’ two best players already occupy the guard rotation and they have options like Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, Matisse Thybulle and Bronny James, it’s hard to see Hardy standing out. That’s why right now, Hardy may hold more value as a tradable asset.

But that’s not to say that the five-year guard won’t have the opportunity to prove that he’s more than that. Hardy can still crack the rotation and the best way he can do that is to surprise everybody, especially JJ Redick.

What is his best-case scenario?

The best-case scenario for the 6’3” guard is to be a serviceable option off the bench, which would mean overtaking the other guards in the rotation. Hardy will have to fit very well in Redick’s system. He has the potential to do so because of his ability to shoot, create his own shot, execute pick-and-rolls and push the pace in transition. This is the type of skillset that bodes well around Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, and Walker Kessler.

Note that across his time with the Dallas Mavericks and Wizards, Hardy shot 38.6% from the 3-point line in 3.6 attempts per game. He doesn’t need to dominate the ball to be useful. Ideally, he becomes a spark plug off the bench or a spot-starter when the superstars sit.

If he can replicate what Malik Monk was for the Lakers in the 2021-22 season, then that’s the best possible outcome.

What is his worst-case scenario?

The worst-case scenario for Hardy is if he’s traded before deadline in February without having the opportunity to prove himself. Not only would that put the 24-year-old on his third team in three years, but it could also leave him entering the final stretch of his three-year contract without establishing himself as a long-term piece, since his team option will be looming ahead of next season.

It’ll also be a shame for the Lakers to be spending $6 million on another guard whose role is to simply warm the bench. For as useful as his offensive upside is, the question is whether Hardy can provide enough value in other areas such as defense, playmaking, decision-making and off-ball impact.

What is his most likely role on the team?

Realistically speaking, Hardy is a third-string scoring guard. He can carve out a role for himself as the team’s microwave scorer and spark plug but that’ll depend on whether he earns Redick’s trust.

The Lakers have had their fair share of undersized, one-dimensional guards in recent seasons and too many of them have ultimately become liabilities rather than assets. Hardy’s challenge will be to avoid falling into that same category. If he can provide consistent scoring without becoming a weakness elsewhere, he has a chance to be a pleasant surprise rather than another player taking up a valuable roster spot.

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.

Sixers sign Dillon Jones to Exhibit 10 deal originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers have added Dillon Jones to their training camp roster.

The team announced Tuesday that it has signed Jones, who won NBA championships in his first two professional seasons with the Thunder and then the Knicks.

The deal is an Exhibit 10 contract, according to a source. Jones is expected to join the Sixers at camp and be in the mix for the team’s one open two-way contract slot. Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert inked two-way deals this summer. 

Exhibit 10 contracts are one-year, non-guaranteed agreements at the minimum salary. They can be converted to two-ways before the start of the regular season. Many players on Exhibit 10 deals are waived and then stick with the organization’s G League affiliate because of a corresponding bonus within the contract. 

The 24-year-old Jones is listed at a sturdy 6-foot-5, 235 pounds. He was selected with the 26th overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft after a highly productive, versatile end to his four-year college career at Weber State. As a senior, Jones racked up 20.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game.

Jones has appeared in 61 NBA games over the last two years and averaged 2.4 points and 2.1 rebounds in 9.7 minutes per game. He played 42 times in the G League last season and posted 15.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.8 steals per contest.

The Sixers have also signed Duke Miles,Jameer Nelson Jr., Tacko Fall and Saint Thomas to Exhibit 10 contracts this offseason. 

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Bucks fans and fans across the country.

For most of the last ~eight seasons, the Bucks have entered the year with the realistic expectation that they can compete for a title. Naturally, that brings a lot of excitement and enthusiasm. However, with Dame tearing his Achilles in the 2025 playoffs, last year was really the first preseason in a while where nobody held that same expectation. Now, did people think the team would be good? Yeah. And man, don’t we all look silly now? But as far as going all the way, nobody expected that.

Still, after the stunning acquisition of Myles Turner and the retention of some key role players, most fans were relatively excited about the team, ‘chip equity notwithstanding. There was significant intrigue about how it would all work. Could Myles Turner be a superior version of Brook Lopez? Who was the second banana to Giannis? And so on. I mean, I know I was still very excited to watch.

But this season presents a whole new kettle of fish to break down. Yes, it seems unlikely that Milwaukee makes the playoffs, but that doesn’t mean there’s no reason to watch. The novelty of this team is off the charts! Just to name a few reasons for intrigue:

• Two new lottery picks to monitor (the org’s first lotto selections since 2016)
• What do the Heat recruits look like?
• What changes will we see with a new coach (and coaching staff)

Therefore, for this week’s Reacts question, we wanted you to compare how you felt last year with how you feel this year in terms of excitement for the season. As always, let us know why you voted the way you did in the comment section.

Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick was an elite sharpshooter during his NBA career. But he doesn’t crack his own top five greatest shooters in NBA history.

Long before taking the head coaching role with the Lakers, Redick joined Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green on his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show,” and was asked to name his five best three-point shooters ever.

“Oh, that’s easy. That’s easy. Steph [Curry] is first. Everybody else is way down the list to me,” Redick said, which Green agreed with.

“In no particular order, the other four, it’s Klay [Thompson], Kyle Korver, Ray Allen, Reggie Miller. To me, those are the guys.”

J.J. Redick names the 5 greatest 3-point shooters in NBA history

“Steph is first. Everybody else is way down the list to me. In no particular order, the other four it’s Klay Thompson, Kyle Korver, Ray Allen, Reggie Miller”

“I don't want to disparage the previous iteration of… pic.twitter.com/URfg76vQzp

— dank (@cptdankkk) September 7, 2026

Until the splash brothers surfaced, both Allen and Miller were put near the top of everyone’s list. So, those four make sense to just about everyone.

But Kyle Korver is a somewhat surprising pick, if only because his career accolades don’t come close to the other four legends on Redick’s list.

True basketball fans know though that Korver was one of the purest shooters of his generation, including one season with the Atlanta Hawks where he shot a staggering 49.2% from three-point range.

Korver finished his career with a 42.9% three-point percentage, which is 10th-best all-time and actually better than Steph Curry’s current 42.2% career three-point percentage.

Korver’s 2,450 career three-pointers made is eighth-most ever. But Paul George is one three away from tying him, and Kevin Durant is less than 100 away from his final tally.

Draymond Green didn’t seem to have any issue with Redick including Korver, as he was nodding his head while the Lakers coach gave his list.

Some other notables that were omitted include Damian Lillard, James Harden, and possibly Redick himself.

Behind Will Richard's offseason hunger for regular Warriors role entering Year 2 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Will Richard’s rookie year with the Warriors was solid by any rational standard. Selected late in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft, he spent much of the season in the team’s rotation, making 21 starts and even posting his first 30-point game.

What Richard took into the offseason was the last two games: A play-in tournament win over the Los Angeles Clippers, followed by a loss to the Phoenix Suns that eliminated the Warriors from playoff contention.

Richard was among four designated spectators for both games, with a DNP-CD against the Clippers and glued to the bench until the final 66 seconds of the 15-point loss to the Suns.

Which only increases his hunger as he approaches Year 2.

“I didn’t play the last few games of the season, and that was kind of my motivational drive towards the offseason,” Richard told NBC Sports Bay Area. “Just working on things that I know will get me on the floor in those playoff (and) play-in games next year.”

On a Warriors roster listing eight guards – Stephen Curry, De’Anthony Melton, Gary Payton II, Brandin Podziemski, Brandon Williams, LJ Cryer, Lajae Jones and Richard – expected at training camp, the second-year NBA guard considers the summer as a launchpad to earn more consistent playing time.

“A lot of my focus has been on, like, ball-handling, with a lot of movement shooting, just my catch-and-shoot reps and stuff like that,” Richard said. Catching on the move, shooting on the move . . . different kind of finishes. That’s been a lot of the emphasis on sprinting in transition, getting shots through that, and attacking closeouts.”

Richard made a statement toward that end during Summer League activity, making two starts in the California Classic at Chase Center and then starting five in Las Vegas. Adjustments to his 3-point shot led to a quicker, smoother release and impressive accuracy. After shooting 33.5 percent from deep as a rookie, he vaulted to 48.3 percent in seven Summer League games.

If Richard, an active defender, can shoot around 40 percent from beyond the arc, it will be hard to keep him out of the rotation.

“He ran into the rookie wall,” Kerr told NBC Sports Bay Area. “He had a great season, and then the last 20 games or so, he looked like a rookie. He looked tired, and he didn’t have the same pop that he had earlier. That’s almost to be expected.

“But he’s had a great summer, and he’s been in the gym and constantly in the weight room. He’s putting in the work, so I’m excited about Will.”

Richard’s thirst for more action is evident in his quizzing of Golden State’s leaders, active and retired. He goes to Draymond Green to discuss ways to improve on defense, and goes to Stephen Curry to talk conditioning and offense. He even sidled up to Andre Iguodala for tips.

“He told me what I can work on right now is just talking,” Richard said of Iguodala’s advice. “If you’re talking on the court, it helps everyone and it helps you as well. So, just hearing stuff like that from a guy that’s been successful, has his jersey in the rafters. That is something I can do, something I can work on every day.”

Curry’s workouts are legendary for their intensity and duration. He has modified things to account for the “runner’s knee” that caused him to miss much of last season, but the sessions remain demanding. As Richard learned during those workouts.

“That changed my viewpoint on how to work out,” Richard said. “How serious he takes everything. Every rep matters, and it’s all in the details. But with Steph, every single rep is like a game rep. Even when he’s tired, it’s still a game rep. As athletes get tired, stuff starts to fade, your mentals, you get less locked in.

“But when he gets tired, he takes it up even another notch in terms of his focus and his attention to detail in every rep.”

Richard has spent most of his offseason on the Chase Center practice court working with player-development coaches, recently spending about 90 minutes on the court with PD coach Noel Hightower. It’s the work that comes before and after picking up a ball that matters just as much.

Dietary changes – he frequents local restaurants known for their protein options – and hours sweating in the weight room have led to Richard adding nearly 10 pounds of muscle. He engages in multiple sessions of hot yoga each week, something that began while closing out his college career at the University of Florida.

Richard’s dedication is commendable, but it’s also the physical and emotional requirement of someone trying to rise from being the No. 5 pick in the draft into a bona fide NBA player capable of a long and productive career.

Three weeks before training camp, Richard looks and feels like an exemplar of what Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy was saying about the team expecting – and needed to see – internal development from its young players.

“It’s just so much that comes into being a good professional and having to be successful in this league,” Richard said. “Luckily for me, I got some great vets to look up to and learn from.”

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Monumental Sports & Entertainment — which owns the Washington Wizards, Capitals and Mystics — on Tuesday announced a multi-year partnership with bet365, an online sports betting and gaming company.

The partnership comes as bet365 officially launches to customers 18+ across Washington, D.C. on Tuesday. Bet365 will be integrated into “D.C. fan experiences” across Monumental Sports Network, which streams Wizards, Capitals and Mystics games.

Viewers will see virtual “bet365” signage during Capitals games. Similar signage will appear during pregame and in-game commercials across Capitals, Wizards and Mystics broadcasts.

“Our partnership with Monumental Sports & Entertainment gives us an exciting opportunity to introduce bet365 to Capitals, Wizards and Mystics fans and build lasting connections across Washington, D.C.,” said Trip Stoddard, the head of development at bet365.

Bet365 will serve as the presenting sponsor of Monumental Game Center, which allows users to “integrate real-time sports betting odds and gamification options into live game streams” during Capitals, Wizards, and Mystics games.

MSE partnered with BetMGM, one of the leading sportsbooks in the United States, in a 2025 deal that introduced live BetMGM odds through Monumental Game Center during Wizards and Capitals streams on the Monumental+ app. It appears this new deal replaces BetMGM odds with bet365 odds, although that detail hasn’t been confirmed by bet365.

Bet365 has partnered with several NBA and WNBA teams in recent years, including the Charlotte Hornets, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers and Chicago Sky. 

The Nuggets’ deal included “bet365” signage on the baseline of the team’s floor, plus additional signage throughout Ball Arena. It’s unclear whether “bet365” signage will be displayed on the baseline of the Wizards’ court at Capital One Arena or the Mystics’ court at CareFirst Arena.

While much of the post-championship celebrations, the fanfare of the offseason, the roster moves, and their subsequent reactions have died down, one New York Knicks player and his future remain very much in flux.

Deuce McBride, coming off a humbling Finals that saw him struggle offensively, has been involved in some trade rumors due to the uncertainty of his extension. But while fans and reporters have pondered potential trades and have lamented his postseason performance, some have forgotten just how good and valuable McBride has been. 

Gone are the days when every team’s best bench players are just prolific microwave scorers. McBride never has, and likely never will put up the kind of shot volume or record the sort of counting stats that garner traditional Sixth Man of the Year considerations. But the former West Virginia Mountaineer is a true “if you know, you know” ball player. In fact, he’s probably one of the more useful names in gauging an NBA fan’s knowledge of true winning basketball players and the non-star analytical darlings of the league. Yet, he wasn’t always like that. 

While McBride has become one of the more constant and stable rocks of this Knicks team, it wasn’t even that long ago that he was an afterthought on the bench. Stuck behind franchise star Jalen Brunson and fan favorite Immanuel Quickley, McBride began his career racking up DNPs and spending many a night putting on a Westchester Knicks jersey. Like so many players in the rotation, he strived to be in, though McBride never quit. He didn’t ask for a trade. He didn’t pout. Instead, he just worked tirelessly on his game. And the biggest example of just how far he’s come can be seen in his jump shot. While it was notably a major weakness of his early on in his career, the high release, high-arcing shot has now become a signature skill of his.

Some of the credit also belongs to the front office. McBride put in the work, but the front office didn’t just stumble into the now backup guard by accident. They drafted him, believed in his development, and his presence was reportedly one of the reasons the Knicks felt comfortable parting ways with the aforementioned Quickley. It’s true that Quickley’s impending free agency and the Knicks’ reluctance to pay him were a big factor. As was the fact that the front office viewed OG Anunoby as the quintessential role player to put next to Brunson. But New York had the utmost confidence that they had a capable bench guard in McBride to fill in after Quickley’s departure. 

And that’s exactly what he did. Now, he isn’t the playmaker or scorer Quickley is. There’s a chance that McBride never gets there. But his much improved catch-and-shoot ability combined with his elite point-of-attack defense quickly turned him into an irreplaceable piece of the Knicks’ puzzle. He, much like Anunoby but in a much smaller package, was the kind of defender and shooter that could play with anyone in any system. A kin to the reserve guard he replaced, the fans quickly grew to adore him, resulting in the now-famous Deuuuuce chant that can be heard even in road arenas. 

What made McBride an anomaly, though, was the almost unthinkably team-friendly deal he was on. As the rest of the league and its analysts caught on, he became a mainstay on numerous lists. McBride’s name would show up on the most valuable contracts in the league and best bench players in the league list, amongst others, all while continuing to improve. He was starting some games, closing a lot of games, and regardless of where and when he played, the results were often positive. Very positive. So much that it became hard to find a Knicks lineup with a good net rating that didn’t have his name on it. 

McBride has had an interesting last couple of years, though. He was rumored to be one of the most vocal supporters of moving on from Tom Thibodeau- a very controversial decision at the time-although that hasn’t been fully confirmed. And he’s been relatively injury-prone during that time. Then there’s the aforementioned Finals performance where his shot had left him and his dribbling, or lack thereof, was put on full display against an incredibly physical and aggressive Spurs perimeter defense. Evaluating McBride on that series alone, and not the multiple seasons of excellent play, is unfair, especially when factoring in the injury he recently revealed he was still dealing with in that series. But all of that has put him and, quite frankly, the Knicks, in an interesting dilemma. 

The Knicks are clearly better with McBride on their roster than without him. And as of now, he remains one of the most impactful bench players in the league, who also happens to be on one of the best contracts in the league. Barring an unexpected extension, he’s going to hit free agency where the Knicks will likely lose him for nothing. But if New York’s priorities are to win another championship, they should risk that and ride out the year with him regardless of how flawed his offense can look against the elite defenses. But there’s also a possibility they try to prioritize finding another center mid-season by shipping out the backup guard. 

Regardless of what ends up happening though, it’ll be nice to start the season with McBride. And a fully healthy version of him at that. He’s a damn good player, and he’s now the longest-tenured Knick with Mitchell Robinson up north in Boston. It may very well be his last season in New York, so cherish it and celebrate just how far he’s come.

Here’s to Deuce McBride. Happy 26th birthday, champ!

Happy 26th birthday Deuce McBride 🎂 pic.twitter.com/sNjNhEdD6k

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) September 8, 2026

When the NBA announced the findings and penalties from the investigation into the Clippers’ alleged salary cap circumvention for star forward Kawhi Leonard, the summary report prepared by Wachtell Lipton had a clear statement toward the end of the 36-page report.

Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank and President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker were the three individuals most responsible for the Clippers’ rule-breaking.

Ballmer’s punishment: a one-year suspension from all league and team activities, in addition to his franchise being fined $30 million for “knowingly seeking to help” Leonard obtain off-court income opportunities, approving a business deal that he knew was a “precondition for Aspiration” to enter an endorsement deal with Leonard and for failing “to create conditions under which his organization abided by the NBA’s circumvention rules.”

Frank’s punishment: a six-month suspension for his involvement with the “impermissible endorsement arrangements” and approving Leonard’s and his family’s “impermissible expenses.”

And Zucker’s punishment: a one-year suspension for being “primarily and directly culpable for the impermissible endorsement arrangements” and for “providing false and misleading statements to investigators.”

The nature of Zucker’s suspension — twice as long as Frank’s — and the frequency in which she was in the report put her at the center of the Clippers’ scandal in which the investigation concluded the Clippers violated the league’s rules by “initiating off-court income opportunities” for Leonard with four different companies that did business with the team. 

Zucker’s name was mentioned in the summary report more times (57) than Ballmer’s (32) and Frank’s (22) combined.

The report stated Zucker was the most involved from the Clippers’ side in facilitating the endorsement deals for Leonard with Aspiration Partners, Boingo Wireless, Daktronics and Lockton Insurance.

“Ms. Zucker was the point person on all four deals between these companies and the Clippers, and directly initiated, facilitated, and induced each of Mr. Leonard’s endorsement agreements with those companies,” the report stated. “Ms. Zucker acted on Mr. [Dennis] Robertson’s demands to help Mr. Leonard achieve lucrative endorsement opportunities, and when interviewed, she made misleading and false statements to investigators about her and the Clippers’ role in doing so.”

Ballmer, the former Microsoft CEO, and Frank, a former NBA head/assistant coach who’s been a Clippers executive for a decade, have been household names within Clippers fandom.

But who is Zucker?

Before joining the Clippers in 2014, Zucker was a longtime auto racing executive, having previously served as the president of Auto Club Speedway in Fontana for nine years (2005-14). 

She was previously Daytona International Speedway’s vice president of business and development and a former Triple-A baseball assistant general manager.

Zucker joined the Clippers in November 2014 as Ballmer’s first major hire after he purchased the franchise earlier that year.

“I am extremely happy to add a leader like Gillian to our team,” Ballmer said in a 2014 statement. “Her clear and creative business vision, innovative approach to marketing and experience working in the Los Angeles sports market make her the perfect fit to lead the Clippers during this transcendent time.”

Less than a year later, the Clippers were fined $250,000 for violating the league’s cap circumvention rules when the franchise tried facilitating an endorsement deal between DeAndre Jordan — a top free agent they were hoping to re-sign — and an incoming team sponsor.

The Athletic reported Zucker came up with the idea at the time. 

And nearly a decade later, Zucker’s name was in the spotlight for her role in the franchise’s latest scandal, which according to the report, included Zucker writing phony introductory emails to show that the companies requested to meet with Leonard (the report states the Clippers started the deals to increase Leonard’s off-court earnings), suggesting that Daktronics’ “spend back” deal with the Clippers could be satisfied with an endorsement deal with Leonard and lying about her and the franchise’s involvement in Leonard’s endorsement deals.

Some voices become so familiar they feel like family. Camille Davis, co-host of Locked On Bucks and the TECKnical Foul Podcast, has quickly become one of those. A Milwaukee native, Davis covers the Bucks and the NBA (along with the NFL and WWE) in a soft-spoken style that blends insightful analysis with passion and humour. But that’s just the half of it. A hoop-head since childhood—from MJ to NBA Live to winning an “Eat and Greet” with Malcolm Brogdon—Davis knows the game not just as a media member, but as a fan.

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Zac: Let’s start early. How did you fall in love with the game of basketball?

Camille: Watching games with my uncles. When I was a kid, if I wanted to hang out with them then I was also watching what they watched. They weren’t putting on cartoons for me (laughs). I liked being around them so I started watching basketball and football with them. Next thing I knew, I was enjoying the game itself and my uncles or big cousin being around was just the cherry on top. Also, playing NBA Live ‘97 helped solidify my love for the game and helped to “teach” me things about the game.  

“I have a lot of great memories of the BC because of that time. Shoutout to Carlos Delfino… I had a Delfino T-shirt jersey that I wore out!”

Camille Davis

Zac: What about the Bucks? As a Wisconsinite, you grew up in some pretty dire times as far as Bucks fandom goes, at least around that 2001 run. What formative memories and/or players stand out for you?

Camille: Admittedly, I grew up as a Michael Jordan fan and when he retired the second time, that’s when I started to watch more Bucks games. In particular, it was the 2000-01 team that got me interested. I remember very clearly watching a playoff game against the Hornets during a middle school dance. The DJ had a little TV at his booth with the game on and I was watching that with some other guys instead of dancing (laughs). But the 2009-10 season made me a fanatic. During Brandon Jennings’ rookie year, I was in college with a little disposable income and Bucks games were cheap and fun entertainment. I spent a lot of time in the Bradley Center during that time and really locked in with the team. I have a lot of great memories of the BC because of that time. Shoutout to Carlos Delfino… I had a Delfino T-shirt jersey that I wore out!

Zac: Beyond loving the game as a fan, were you a hooper?

Camille: Only in my mind (laughs). We had a hoop in my backyard for a few years and I’d go outside to shoot around with my uncle Tony and cousins. My middle school was really small, it was one of those schools that went from K-5 to 8th grade. Really small—like my graduating class was like 11 kids. We didn’t have enough girls to field a basketball team so I never played organized ball. When I got to high school, I wanted to be around the game, so instead of playing I was the manager for the boys team from my sophomore year up until I graduated. I loved being in practice, learning from the coaches, and choppin’ it up with the players about what we saw. 

Zac: You won a meet and greet—technically anEat and Greet—with none other than “The President” himself, Malcolm Brogdon, in 2017. What was that experience like—and did it influence your path into covering the NBA and the Bucks?

Camille: It was really smooth. I was really nervous but Brogdon was such a nice guy. It was a fun meet and greet and I loved getting a year of Cousins Subs for free (laughs). I was super popular in my family after winning that. It didn’t influence my pathway to talk sports for a living, but was a peak moment in my fandom. 

Zac: In the same year, your media career began with the launch of the TECKnical Foul Podcast. Tell us how that came to fruition and how you blend the seriousness of sports coverage with humour (I love your episode titles).

Camille: I was working full time at a local foundation while attending graduate school to get my Master’s in Sports Management. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to do something in the realm of sports. I couldn’t get an internship because I had a job and responsibilities and thought that maybe a podcast could be a good entry point. It felt like something I could do on the side while still working.

Assembling the cast… I had prior conversations with Ken and Tim, separately, about doing a podcast. I’ve known Ken since middle school and Tim since my junior year in college. I asked those two if they’d want to do a show together with me and they were both in; they met each other maybe once or twice before that.

Thinking about our trio, I felt like a certain dynamic was missing and reached out to another college friend, Eric, about joining and he was game. The idea behind TECK Foul was to be able to bring the type of conversations that would live in a group chat to the masses. We try to have a more relaxed, lighthearted approach while still talking about the nuts and bolts of the games we love. Plus we all grew up wrestling fans and having this outlet to also talk and nerd out about WWE is great. 

Zac: I remember hearing you on Locked On Bucks talk about your excitement when you were first followed by Kane Pitman or Frank Madden on social media. Talk us through that experience and how you came to become the show’s co-host.

Camille: I joined Twitter back in 2009 because one of my Communication professors said we had to. Back then, Bucks Twitter wasn’t a huge thing—it was a pretty small but passionate group. I really grew to respect the opinions of Frank and Eric Nehm after listening to Locked On Bucks. I interacted with them and eventually Kane on Twitter pretty consistently and I guess my takes weren’t terrible so they followed me back eventually (laughs). During COVID, Kane reached out to me and asked if I’d like to do a guest spot on LOB after hearing me on TECKnical Foul and following me on Twitter. After that first guest spot, I got invited to do another guest spot, which led to me having a regular weekly guest spot on the podcast. Once Kane was leaving, I interviewed with the Locked On network and got the gig full time. I’m forever thankful to Kane for inviting me on the pod, which helped put me on Locked On’s radar. 

Zac: You’ve now spent several years covering the Bucks for Locked On. What’s something about covering the team day in, day out that you think is often overlooked?

Camille: The amount of time that goes into a season. There’s a whole lot of late nights of podcasting and editing to get the show out. I have a crazy note system now and each season covering the team, they get more detailed. I take a lot of time with my prep and thoughts, especially on postgame pods. Also, something that’s different with covering the team for LOB is that I watch games differently, in large part because I’m taking notes and trying to organize the biggest stories from the game in real time. I’m now consuming the game to talk about it rather than just my personal enjoyment. 

Zac: You completed your master’s degree in Sports Management at Cardinal Stritch University. How has that helped shape your coverage of the Bucks and, I’ve got to ask, do you have player management aspirations?

Camille: My thesis was around the importance of sports in youth development. My initial thought process was thinking I could use my degree with the job I had at that local foundation—use that knowledge for grant-making if I couldn’t break into the world of sports straight up. I enjoyed having the flexibility of using that knowledge where I was or somewhere new.

Using that framework at my 9-to-5 never quite came into alignment, but that degree helped give me a solid network and some vital information on what I was—and wasn’t—interested in doing with my life going forward. As for the player management aspirations… nah (laughs). Player management isn’t in my future. I like being on this side of things, talking about the game and reacting to what I see. 

“I loved the Giannis era and everything that came with it and, in retrospect, the most fun part of it for me was the climb to contention.”

Camille Davis

Zac: We’ve heard your thoughts on the Giannis trade from a Bucks perspective. But what does covering the Bucks mean to you now that the player who defined arguably the best era of Milwaukee basketball is gone?

Camille: It means that I get to be a voice that’s part of this new era, whatever that turns into, which is special. I loved the Giannis era and everything that came with it and, in retrospect, the most fun part of it for me was the climb to contention—waiting for the rest of the world to see what we saw blossoming in Milwaukee, cheering on the first All-Star appearances, and watching a young team find itself.

Like, the 2014-15 Bucks team was one of my favorite seasons of fandom. I loved that team. Having that perspective has me really excited for what’s next because we have the chance to once again get in on the ground floor. It’s once again feeling like “Milwaukee vs. everybody else.” It’s time to earn respect again and I love that chase. It might end up being a lot of losing along the way—there probably will be some frustrations and heartbreak—but I just know there’s going to be a lot of exciting memories and that’ll all start getting built this year. I can’t wait to watch and talk about the growth we see in this team over the season and the coming years. 

“No one wants to hear you doing your best impression of someone else. If they wanted to hear that person, they’d watch their show.”

Camille Davis

Zac: The podcasting industry has boomed in recent years. How do you see it continuing to evolve and what advice would you give to all the aspiring sports podcasters out there?

Camille: I think the industry is going to continue to boom. As time goes on, the barriers to entry in the field continue to shrink. So, with so many voices out there, the best advice I have is to make sure you’re genuine. Be yourself. No one wants to hear you doing your best impression of someone else. If they wanted to hear that person, they’d watch their show. Whether it’s a small audience or a large one, stay true to you and be consistent with your show. The community you organically build is super rewarding. And don’t fret if everyone doesn’t like it. Everything isn’t going to be for everybody and that’s okay. Don’t focus on the comments, focus on your work and your prep. As long as you can be true to yourself and feel at peace when your head hits the pillow, you’re on the right path.  

Zac: Okay, some quick hitters: favourite current Buck, favourite all-time Buck, and Buck you were just wrong on for whatever reason?

Camille: Current Buck… I honestly don’t know yet. I like what I’ve seen from Ryan Rollins last season and Brayden Burries in Summer League, but I can’t call either a favorite yet. This season will be an audition for the role of my favorite Buck—ever since Middleton left there’s been an opening, so we’ll see who can take it (laughs).

My favorite all-time Buck is Khris Middleton. And if you would’ve told me that would end up being the case 10 years ago, I wouldn’t have believed you. Again, this is why getting in on the ground floor is so fun for me. 

And the Buck I was wrong on was Nate Wolters. I thought that kid was gonna be part of this team for a long time. He wasn’t, but that’s alright ‘cause Naters always gonna Nate.  

Zac: Before we go, we have to touch on the season ahead. First, how do you see the rest of the offseason playing out?

Camille: I think it’ll be relatively uneventful for the Bucks. The roster sits at 17, so we know something has to happen before the season kicks off, but that something might just end up being waiving two players instead of another trade. We’ll see though! 

“I truly believe that this Bucks team will be a really fun watch, whether they surprise and win more games than expected or find themselves at the bottom of the East.”

Camille Davis

Zac: What are you most looking forward to about the year ahead?

Camille: I think it’s a tie between watching the development of the young Bucks on the roster and seeing how Taylor Jenkins decides to run things. I truly believe that this Bucks team will be a really fun watch, whether they surprise and win more games than expected or find themselves at the bottom of the East. Why? ‘Cause I expect a lot more consistent effort from this team. I expect them to play hard. Too many times last season it felt like the effort and intentionality wasn’t there for the Bucks. Based on everything we’ve heard this offseason, that shouldn’t be the case this season and that will be a breath of fresh air. 

Zac: Taylor Jenkins is sick and you get the call-up to coach on opening night. Who’s in your rotation—starters, bench—and who gets a DNP-CD?

Camille: Ooooh. Okay. It’s been reported that the Bucks will lean on the vets heavily to start the season but that the roster will look different after the trade deadline. So, on opening night, I expect more vets starting and in the rotation. But this is about what I would do and not what I’m projecting the Bucks to do. 

So, I’d start Rollins, Burries, Jaquez, Sims, Ware. KPJ and Herro lead the bench mob that also features Dieng, Turner, Jakučionis and Ament. That’s already a 12-man rotation before even getting to Green, Markovic, and Kuzma. I don’t know how Jenkins is going to handle these rotations; there’s a lot of mouths to feed to start. My only for sure DNPs, if I had my way, would be Trent and LeVert. No disrespect, there’s just a lot of guards!

Zac: Let’s finish on one I posed to our readers. Finish the sentence: I will judge the 2026-27 season a success if…

Camille: I can clearly tell you what the identity of this team is. If we walk away with an understanding of what Bucks basketball is under Taylor Jenkins, we’ve already made so much progress after three rudderless seasons. 

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To hear more from Davis, make sure you check out her work on Locked On Bucks and the TECKnical Foul Podcast. If they aren’t already, they’ll soon become part of your regular Bucks rotation.

The Phoenix Suns are a mixed bag from a zoomed-out national perspective.

On one hand, they exceeded expectations a year ago and became something of an underdog darling. Now, with their element of surprise a thing of the past, the Suns will have to prove themselves all over again. Every single night.

The identity they want in Phoenix is clear at this point, but it’s one that is proven every game and earned over time. It’s predicated on intangibles over talent. Don’t get me wrong, they have talent… but their effort and doing the little things is what got them to where they are today.

Can they do it all over again this season? Could the ceiling be even higher than we’re giving them credit for?

I wrote about why they could disappoint in my most recent piece, so now it’s time to get more optimistic. Let’s jump in.

1) Improved Chemistry

Last season, they had a carousel of injuries and plenty of “breakout” players who were more focused on proving they belong on the floor than doing anything “extra”. Here’s how that could work in their favor.

Collin Gillespie, for example, was constantly doing the little things, focused on intense pressure defensively, making the right reads, playing selfless, smart basketball as we expect out of a Villanova Wildcat.

Now, with a season under his belt and the “prove it” shadow not lurking as heavily around everything he does, it could feel like he has more freedom. Freedom to be aggressive and take more calculated risks on the basketball floor. And then you have Jordan Goodwin. He is a staple in the rotation now, and he knows exactly what his role is. All the extensions to bring back the glue guys, plus Mark Williams down low, give them some continuity they did not have a year ago.

Jordan Ott is one year wiser. No longer is he a rookie coach. He is a coach with a year under his belt and the respect of this locker room. And most importantly, all of these guys are more familiar with playing alongside Devin Booker, the Phoenix Suns’ engine.

2) More talent + Hopefully more availability

Look, talent wins games. I’m also being optimistic on the health front, and not in a naive way. I understand injuries will happen. Let’s just hope it doesn’t take the same toll as it did last year.

Last season, this roster lost:

• Jalen Green for 50 games
• Devin Booker for 18 games
• Mark Williams and Dillon Brooks to multiple injuries after the All-Star break
• Grayson Allen for over 30 games
• And still won 45 games

It was a resilient group. But let’s be clear about what actually happened. They finished 14-17 down the stretch. The second half of the season was rough. They got swept in the first round by OKC despite overachieving by ~15 wins in the regular season, depending on the pundit/oddsmakers.

The margin of error was razor-thin because the depth was tested every single night. Now, if Jalen Green stays on the floor for more than 32 games? If Mark Williams and Dillon Brooks aren’t playing through chronic pain? This team’s ceiling shoots up. Not because of better talent, but because role players can play their role instead of overextending themselves.

Even a modest health improvement targets the exact weakness that nearly derailed them in April. Every team has a time of year where they limp. It’s about minimizing that damage and entering the playoffs peaking, at as close to full strength as possible.

3) One year wiser, but still youthful

The youth movement is underway in Phoenix, and it’s not a bad thing to be young and spry. Devin Booker is the grizzled, grumpy veteran surrounded by a ton of youth.

What a sentence to type out after watching him arrive as a wide-eyed baby face 18-year old. Okay, maybe not wide-eyed, but man, has he grown before our eyes.

This Suns team still has the youthful energy, but a lot of experience and reps to go with it.

Jordan Ott’s system doesn’t reward ball-stopping isolation basketball. It rewards active defenders who can hunt assignments, make weak-side rotations, and sprint the floor in transition. That’s executable with young players because it’s repeatable. It’s coachable. It’s not dependent on 10 years of NBA experience. As long as Booker takes on the veteran leader role along with Dillon Brooks, the rest of the guys can focus on doing their jobs.

This offseason, the Suns felt they needed complementary scoring and positional versatility. Enter Miles Bridges and Luke Kennard.

Bridges gives them another wing who can attack a closeout and make plays off the bounce. Luke Kennard is spacing the floor and taking dribble handoffs in the short roll. Neither guy requires the ball constantly. Both fit the structural DNA that worked last season. With improved chemistry around those two additions, this could be a very dangerous Suns team.

This team has the same core and foundation that helped them exceed expectations a season ago. And now they have a little more experience, talent and upside to go with it. If it all clicks and they stay even a little more healthy than they were a year ago, there’s no reason to think this team doesn’t have another gear.

Doubt them at your own risk.