Every day, we’ll take a closer look at another member of the 2026-27 Phoenix Suns, examining what they bring to the roster and what their role could mean for the season ahead as we count down to training camp and the preseason.

Luke Kennard

Shooting Guard, 6’4”, 190 lbs., 30 years old, 9 years of experience

Luke Kennard signed with Phoenix this summer and brings one immediate specialty: elite shooting. Phoenix lost two of its best (and most reliable) shooters in Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale in the Miles Bridges trade. So, adding a sniper from deep like Kennard had to be a priority for this front office.

The smooth-shooting lefty brings a quick release and high basketball IQ to the mix. Phoenix could desperately need his floor spacing, with some of the concerns about who will reliably spread the floor in their projected starting lineup.

Kennard figures to slot into the second unit alongside Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin as a dynamic three-man group that all bring different attributes to the table.

Last Season

Kennard appeared in 78 games for the Lakers last season. He led the NBA in three-point shooting percentage at an eye-popping 47.8%.

The Duke product played his role to a T. He doesn’t force it if it’s not there – he is wired to make the correct basketball play over anything. Which sometimes can frustrate you if he’s on your team, because sometimes you WANT him to force it.

He is one of the best movement shooters over the past half-decade and counting. (the strikethrough text was intentional)

Lakers fans will always remember Kennard for his Game 1 performanceagainst the Rockets when he put up 27 points on 5-for-5 shooting from three and 9-13 overall from the field.

He has ice in his veins, as some might recall this clutch game-winner he hit against the Magic in March to keep the Lakers’ win streak going at the time. He joins Jalen Green in the club of knocking down game-winning threes against Orlando… how about that?

Contract and Roster Context

Kennard is set to potentially spend two seasons in the Valley after inking a two-year, $13 million deal with Phoenix in late June.

Full details: 2-year, $12,431,200 contract, all guaranteed, with an average annual salary of $6,215,600.

In 2026-27, Kennard will earn a base salary of $6,064,000, while carrying a cap hit of $6,064,000 and a dead cap value of $6,064,000, per Spotrac.

He does carry a player option after this season, so he can hit the open market if he desires.

What He Brings

Let’s get this out of the way now. Luke Kennard is more than just a shooter.

His ability to make quick reads, cut, relocate, handle the ball, and move without it are some of his most underrated qualities. He is a high-IQ, plug-and-play guard who knows his role and doesn’t often play outside of it.

He doesn’t have the same downhill attack and athleticism as Grasyon Allen, for example, but he will shed some of the misconceptions about his game just as Grasyon did during his time here, to a lesser extent. He is great at attacking closeouts and can slice and dice in the midrange or drop in a little floater. Defenses respect his range and close out hard on him, and he has those counters mastered by now.

A Luke Kennard three (47.8%) was more accurate than an Oso Ighodaro free-throw (45.7%) last season. I repeat. A Luke Kennard three had a higher chance of going in than Oso shooting from the charity stripe. That statistic blew my mind a little.

Phoenix needs Luke Kennard to bring the same elite shooting he has brought everywhere he’s gone. He can shoot with the best of them; we all know that. He led the NBA in 3PT% a season ago at an astounding 47.8% clip.

What Needs to Improve

Phoenix will likely ask him not to be as shy as he has been in other stops on his per-game attempts from deep. He has only attempted more than 6 threes per game.

Last season, he only attempted 3.1 threes per game. I get it being in his DNA to not force it, but he needs to let it fly far more often this season in Phoenix. I am hoping he can double that and get back to the per-game numbers he had in Memphis.

And of course, we move on to the primary concern for Kennard, his defense. He is not someone they signed to defend, but it would be remiss not to mention that he can often be the “pigeon” in others’ game plan of who to single out and attack. As long as he competes and makes the right defensive rotations (team defense + help), then he should be passable enough, which is all you can ask for.

Prediction

I expect Kennard to play a similar role to what he did for the Lakers a season ago, and what he’s done for most of his career. He figures to slot in for about 18-22 minutes per night and provide quality minutes and give opponents fits alongside Collin Gillespie in the backcourt. Kennard will have the occasional flamethrower game that carries you to a win.

There will be some matchups he may not be a perfect fit for in Ott’s rotation, but more often than not, he will be a reliable rotation piece, and you know exactly what you’re going to get from him.

He will also get run with the starting unit or at least some sort of combination of bench and starters for floor spacing purposes.

Stat Prediction: 77 Games, 9.1 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 2.2 APG, 52/44/89 shooting

Final Word

A successful season for Luke Kennard is a continuation of doing what he’s done throughout his career. If he provides another elite shooting season and ticks up the volume a bit, then we’re talking.

I look forward to watching the lefty quick release. Kennard will be needed this season with the lack of shooting in the starting five. Give him the green light, Jordan Ott.

Training camp is here, and the Minnesota Timberwolves have reported. The starting lineup looks to be locked up with Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, and Jonathan Kuminga.

Level of play, injuries, and selective rest will shift that lineup as the season goes on, but those starters are more vital than ever. In past seasons, Coach Chris Finch has been near dogmatic about sticking with his rotation and playing sparingly with players on the far end of it. With 14 players rostered and 3 players signed to two-way contracts, there are over 6,000 potential combinations for Finch and the coaching staff to play with.

(Side note: how many players on two-way contracts would be considered two-way players, as in productive on both sides of the ball?)

With that in mind, I wanted to play with some lineups that, while unlikely, we could potentially see.

The Jaden Show

• Jaden McDaniels
• Isaiah Evans (Donte DiVincenzo if/when he comes back)
• Ayo Dosunmu
• Trey Lyles
• Rudy Gobert

The Vision: I want to see Jaden run the show. In this lineup, McDaniels is the primary dude in half-court sets with some additional ball-handling from Ayo as needed. I see him getting the action going, driving off a Rudy pick to the hoop for a pull-up middy or finding Rudy with a lob or a bounce pass. If the defense collapses, the ball springs out to Evans, Ayo, or Lyles on the wings for an open three.

Some Data: McDaniels USG% has risen each of the past three seasons from 15.7% in 2024, to 16.4% in 2025 and finishing last season with 18.5%. His points per game have increased roughly 40% in that time, and his assists per game have nearly doubled from 1.4 to 2.7 per contest.

In his “They’re All Bad Defenders” two-game stretch against the Denver Nuggets, we got a glimpse of what he can do with a small uptick in touches.

• ​Game 4: 19.1% 12 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists
• Game 4: 26.1% 13 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist
• ​Game 5: 26.3% 32 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists

Reality of the Situation: So long as Jaden shares his court time with either Ant or LaMelo, the ball will not be in his hands as much. For this lineup, or any lineup where Jaden is the straw that stirs the drink, an injury or foul trouble will be the triggering event. The only other reason I could see Finch turn to on-ball Jaden is if he looks across the court at the opponent and sees nothing but bad defenders.

Track Meet

• Bones Hyland
• Ayo Dosunmu
• Anthony Edwards
• TJ Shannon
• Jaden McDaniels

The Vision:

But really though, that lineup is full of speedy dudes looking to get to the rim. There isn’t much size. Defensive rebounds would be hard-won, but if any semblance of a fast break sparks… Boom goes the dynamite.

Some Data: In their pre-draft workouts:

• Bones Hyland ran a 3.15 3/4 Court Sprint (baseline-to-opposite-free-throw-line sprint) and was the fastest guard at the 2021 combine in the lane agility drill.
• Edwards ran a 2.75-second 3/4 Court Sprint. Per Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, “The team didn’t believe the stopwatch and made him do it twice more; he followed it up with times of 2.75 and 2.80 seconds.“
• TJ Shannon ran a 3.06 seconds 3/4 Court Sprint. (Top time in the 2023 combine class)
• Ayo Dosunmu ran a 3.23 seconds 3/4 Court Sprint.
• Jaden McDaniels did not post a 3/4 Court Sprint in any public workouts (someone on this unit needs to defend the point of attack)

Reality of the Situation: The only way this lineup sees the floor is if the Wolves bring back a Dunks After Dark showcase during pre-season.

Lob City 2.0: Lobo City

• LaMelo Ball
• TJ Shannon
• Jaden McDaniels
• Jonathan Kuminga
• Joan Beringer

The Vision: The freedom of movement rules were made to allow for the Steph Currys of the world (there are very few of these) to run literal circles in the half-court. Desperate defenders chased after him or asked, while breathing out mist like in some horror film, “Where’s Steph?” Curry would then appear, the ball suddenly in his hands and out in the same instant, splashing through the net.

This era has largely seen players ground-bound, hunting for shots on the perimeter. In this lineup, LaMelo Ball would look to the heavens to find a squadron of Wolves ready for pinpoint passes to cascade down on defenders unable to prevent the sudden liftoff.

Some Data: I have none. I just have NBA.com’s Advanced Stats/LaMelo Ball/Assists and then scrolling the feed for alley oops.

Let me tell you, every single one of them had my imagination running wild. I just superimposed the faces of Shannon, McDaniels, Kuminga, or Beringer over Brandon Miller, Moussa Diabate, and LaMelo’s other former teammates.

I dreamt of them snatching the ball from the air in one motion and yamming it through the cylinder the next as the Target Center collective leapt to their feet in euphoric wonder.

Reality of the Situation: Maybe this lineup can get some burn. All five players figure to be in Finch’s top eight. A lineup like this could get burn in the second half for a few minutes of a Wolves blowout victory. Just after the opponent has sent in the garbage-time lineup but before Finch matches with his own.

Ant Highway

• Bones Hyland (Donte if/when he returns)
• Anthony Edwards
• Ayo Dosunmu
• Trey Lyles
• Rudy Gobert

The Vision: Ant with a familiar pick-and-roll partner and shooters. Make the simple read: if doubled, get to the rack or kick out for a catch-and-shoot three if not. This is Finch letting Ant play heliocentric Luka Dončić or James Harden ball.

I don’t want the Wolves to go to a look like this often. It is not fun to watch, but I do concede that on many a night in the regular season, this is a winning formula.

SomeData: There is no easily available (free) tracking data on the frequency with which a player sees a double team. All we have is the eye test and our memory of Ant crossing half-court and suddenly having double vision. With reliable release valves like Bones/Donte, Ayo, and Lyles, and a center who waits for the body to hit on the pick before rolling, Ant’s life gets a lot easier.

Reality of the Situation: If LaMelo has any extended period of injury, then this lineup, or one very much like it, will see some run. Edwards is one of the most lethal scorers in the league, and his combination of burst and outside shooting creates difficulties for the best defenders. Forcing the opponent to weigh the risk of leaving a shooter open to help on Ant is just the analysis paralysis he needs to make them pay.

Blow Out Brigade

• Bones Hyland
• Isaiah Evans
• Jaylen Clark
• Trey Lyles
• Rocco Zikarsky

The Vision: Hopefully this lineup gets a lot of fourth-quarter burn after the Wolves have built a sizable lead. There is enough manic energy here to power the greater Twin Cities metro. Every player has at least one thing they do well in theory. Every player knows they have to prove something to stick in the league.

Some Data: You want data on this? I’m as much a Wolves sicko as the next but even that is beyond the mid-January, has not gone outside except to shovel in the bleak morning or bitter night, pale.

Let’s just hope that if the Wolves use this lineup, it is with victory cigars and not a recipe game (though I’ve got plenty of these that could be celebratory in nature)

Reality of the Situation: If the Wolves really show up this season and put away the teams they view as lesser, a lineup like this could see some burn.

So Canis: What lineups, strange or otherwise, do you want to see this season?

Kasparas Jakučionis—still just 20 years old—arrives in the Cream City via the Giannis trade as a young, intriguing guard prospect. Jakučionis is a 6’5” second-year guard who averaged 6.2 PPG, 2.6 RPG, and 2.6 APG in just under 18 minutes per contest for Miami. Except for his three-point percentage (42%), most of his stats don’t jump off the page. That said, in games where KJ played over 25 minutes, he averaged 12.5 PPG and 4.5 APG. I hope that the (presumed) increase in usage and minutes with Milwaukee will allow him to flourish.

We saw Jakučionis debut for the Lithuanian senior national team before Summer League; he looked great, with 16 points, eight assists, and five rebounds. Jakučionis dominated in the pick-and-roll and showed some great potential as a lead guard. However, he struggled in Vegas, having major issues controlling the ball and getting quality looks at the rim.

Still, I think the Bucks have found something in Jakučionis; he has a solid baseline and a high ceiling. Unfortunately, considering the logjam at the guard positions, I don’t think we’ll see as much of him as we should early on. Hopefully he gets into the 15-20 minute range each game, and that can grow throughout the season as he proves his worth. There will be plenty of opportunities as the roster changes throughout the season, and if Jakučionis proves himself as a spark off the bench and a good point guard option, his role should expand from there.

Overall, I don’t see KJ playing a major role in Milwaukee immediately; young guys need time to grow and learn. I reckon we’ll see some of his best games in matchups where the main guards are out. We also need to be prepared for the highs and lows, and even the high moments won’t necessarily translate into immediate success and wins, but they are a key part of building for the future.

With Jakučionis now gone, who’s next?

Warriors draft pick Lajae Jones signs with Italian team Pallacanestro Trieste originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

After filling their final NBA roster spot with forward Graham Ike on a two-way contract, the Warriors have agreed to let their second-round draft selection develop overseas.

Lajae Jones, selected by Golden State with the No. 54 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft out of Florida State, officially has signed with Italian basketball team Pallacanestro Trieste of Lega Basket Serie A, the team announced on Monday.

The Warriors still retain Jones’ rights in any potential trades.

“His decision to proudly wear our Trieste uniform and pursue his basketball dreams and evolution as a player with us is evidence of his great belief in our team, staff, fans and the potential for a very special season in 2026-27,” Pallacanestro Trieste general manager Michael Arcieri wrote in a statement.

“Our collaboration throughout the season with (the) staff of the Golden State Warriors as regards (to) Lajae’s development is an incredibly exciting development and opportunity for our own staff and organization.”

Jones averaged a decent 12.7 points and 5.7 assists per game as a senior during his only season as a Seminole, but his measurables at 6-foot-7, 215 pounds clearly piqued the Warriors’ interest. In 16.3 minutes of summer league action, Jones scored 8.7 points per game on 48.8-percent shooting as a part of the Warriors’ title-winning roster 

Jones is the latest Golden State second-rounder to begin his career in Italy, following Arizona guard Nico Mannion, who also played in Italy during the 2021-2022 season after the Warriors selected him in the second round of the 2020 draft.

Another Golden State connection, is fan favorite Juan Toscano-Anderson, who also plays for Pallacanestro Trieste and will be teammate with Jones.

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You and a buddy are watching the Knicks game at home when the refs make an egregiously erroneous call. The two of you hurl obscenities and whatever’s handy at the TV. Meanwhile, on the sideline, coach Mike Brown flaps his arms as if trying to fly, but he’s unsure of whether to call a challenge. He cranes his neck toward someone in the second row behind his bench. Your buddy asks, “Who’s the dork with the iPad?”

Dork? No. That’s a hero. 

In Game 2 of the Finals, the eagle eyes of assistant coach Jordan Brink led to a challenge that became three OG Anunoby free throws with 2:37 remaining in the Knicks’ 105-104 victory over San Antonio. One assistant coach watching an iPad helped alter an NBA Finals game. I didn’t spot Brink at the victory parade—frankly, I couldn’t pick him out of a lineup—but he deserved a prominent spot among the celebration. 

Brink’s official title was a lot to fit on a business card: Assistant Coach / Director of Video Services and Player Development. Unfortunately, his contract expired after last season, and he accepted an assistant-coaching position on Tiago Splitter’s Chicago staff. Seems like a nice promotion. 

According to Stefan Bondy of the New York Post, the Knicks have hired Ed Flynn to fill the job. He was formerly the head video coordinator for New Orleans. Like Brink, Flynn will serve as Brown’s primary “challenge guy,” monitoring replay and advising Brown in real time on whether to challenge officials’ calls.

Before his three seasons with the Pelicans organization, he did video work with Charlotte and a graduate-assistant stint at Miami.

Don’t sleep on these video guys. Many prominent NBA head coaches and assistants began their careers chewing up film in dark backrooms as video coordinators or video interns. Spoelstra, Vogel, Malone, Budenholzer, Clifford all spring to mind. And even Mike Brown started as an unpaid video intern with the Nuggets.

One day you’re eating stale pizza way past midnight to get a series of clips ready for the coach in the morning. A few years later, you’re getting showered with confetti in the Canyon of Heroes.

After the addition of Flynn, the Knicks’ primary assistants otherwise remain intact: Chris Jent, Rick Brunson, Brendan O’Connor, Maurice Cheeks, and Darren Erman are returning, as are development coaches Kwadzo Ahelegbe and Peter Patton.

Welcome Ed! You’ll never be just a dork with an iPad to us.

Go Knicks!

Four years after being drafted, Khalifa Diop is gearing up for his rookie season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Diop has spent the last few years as a stashed prospect overseas, but will finally make his debut in the 2026 season.

What should we expect?

Diop is a mobile 6’11” big who can block shots and run the floor. He is a hulking presence with broad shoulders that can clear space for rebounds — while also being agile enough to soar above the rim for highlight plays on either side of the action.

His athletic profile, alone, makes Diop an interesting prospect.

The floor for players like this is much higher than other archetypes. He simply has more to work with than some of his peers. But piecing the full puzzle together has always been key.

Diop’s game is still raw.

He’s limited outside the paint and isn’t a threat to dribble or create for himself. He hasn’t notably improved either part of that overseas.

Diop’s defensive impact isn’t consistent, either. He’s often a step behind the play — and is still working to establish the core fundamentals that separate good athletes from good basketball players.

His averages of 3.5 points and 4.3 rebounds last season reflect this. Diop is too gifted athletically to be scoring fewer than two baskets a game.

There’s an art to running the pick-and-roll, and the details are what’s holding him back.

Finishing a lob pass is great, but there’s just as much reward in catching in the short-roll and nailing a jump-hook. Not as flashy, but worth the same amount of points. Diop can make a big difference by becoming a more well-rounded finisher who can convert in multiple scenarios.

Other aspects of Diop’s game that need polishing include defensive positioning and timing.

He isn’t always great at containing the ball or executing the correct rotation. Again, the simplicity of deterring a shot is just as valuable as rejecting one off the backboard. Diop can benefit from consistently sealing off the paint more so than making the recovery to block shots.

Cleveland won’t expect Diop to achieve this overnight. He’ll spend his rookie season developing behind the scenes, both in practice and potentially with the Charge. This will allow Diop to work on his game without being needlessly thrown into the fire.

When on the court, Diop should keep things simple.

The Cavs won’t ask him to anchor their defense or create for himself. Instead, his job will be to hustle, grab rebounds, and try to be a force in the paint. Those are things Diop can bring on paper. And if he does, he’ll be a fan favorite in Cleveland.

Diop’s raw ability to run the floor and play above the rim could translate well to the NBA. The league thrives on energy guys like him. Diop might be able to exceed expectations if he embraces the junkyard dog mentality that Cleveland originally wanted to mold this team around.

He can learn behind two elite bigs in Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Diop should also soak up as much insight from James Harden’s PNR mastery as possible. Even just watching those guys from afar will give Diop the blueprint he needs.

Meanwhile, Diop joins an organization that has numerous developmental success stories under its belt. Prospects like Craig Porter, Sam Merrill, and Nae’Qwan Tomlin are recent examples. Diop will look to join that group this season.

Still, I’d practice patience.

The Cavs can give Diop a quality path towards improvement, but I wouldn’t expect him to play meaningful minutes in his rookie season. Most of his development will happen behind closed doors, where Cleveland will be able to place the building blocks right in front of him.