The ultimate present for NBA fans will feature a host of the league's marquee teams. The matchups, announced on Tuesday, Aug. 11, are highlighted by LeBron James making his return to Los Angeles to face his former team, the Lakers.
đ Wemby, Spurs visit Brunson and the defending champion Knicks in a rematch of last seasonâs NBA Finals đ Tatum, Celtics host Giannis and the Heat in Beantown đ LeBron returns to LA to face Luka and the Lakers đ Shai and Ant go⊠pic.twitter.com/njuWV146ym
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 10: Brett Baty #7 of the New York Mets reacts as he rounds third base after hitting a grand slam in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on August 10, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Meet the Mets
A Brett Baty grand slam capped off a five-run first inning, and the Mets held on for an 8-5 win in the opening game of their three-game set against the Braves at Truist Park.
The Mets placed closer Devin Williams on the IL with a right shoulder strain.
The club wonât name a closer in his absence, and many different guys will get their shot in the ninth.
Kodai Senga picked up his first career save last night, but due to Carson Bengeâs mistake of throwing the final out to a fan, he did not get to keep the ball.
Laura Albanese argued that this is the right time to try Senga out in the closerâs role.
Carson Bengeâs breakout season can partially be attributed to his bat, and partially to his âbig timeâ outfield arm.
Chelsea Janes answered some fan questions related to the Amazins, including inquiries about the plan at first base in 2027 and whether innings limits could result in early ends to Scott and Thorntonâs 2026 seasons.
Mitch Voit has been scorching hot since debuting for the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, and he earned Player of the Week honors for the second consecutive week.
Nicolas Carreño of the Brooklyn Cyclones was named South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week after throwing 5 2/3 hitless innings and striking out eight.
Billy Amick, one of the teamâs newest prospects, is wasting no time making himself right at home with his recent power surge.
Around the National League East
This series between the Phillies and the Cardinals could have major playoff implications.
The Phillies held on to win the first game of the series, 6-5. Andrew Painter took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning for Philadelphia in the win.
Caleb Killian, whom Philadelphia acquired as part of the Luis Arraez trade, has been placed on the IL with a âmoderateâ strain of his left oblique.
Spencer Strider and Hurston Waldrep have been cleared to begin throwing as they look to work their way back from their respective injuries.
The Nationals are baseballâs highest-scoring offense, and are doing so by being historically young (seriously, the team only has one plate appearance all season by someone over the age of 29).
The Blue Jays narrowly beat the Red Sox 2-1. It wasnât all good news for Toronto, who lost starter Jameson Taillon, who was making his Toronto home debut, to right forearm discomfort after just four innings.
The Twins scored five in the seventh and then held on to beat the Orioles 9-5.
The Rangers scored three in the 10th to beat the Angels 4-1.
The Astros, like their Texas counterparts, also put up a three-spot in extras to beat the Giants, 6-3 in 10 innings.
The Diamondbacks blanked the Rockies 9-0.
The Rays used an eight-run eighth to secure their seventh straight win as they topped the Athletics 10-6.
The Padres beat the MLB-best Brewers 3-2. The win was aided by Jackson Merrill, who hit his third home run in as many games.
The Dodgers defeated the Royals 6-5 in Tarik Skubalâs home debut. Skubal discussed feeling the nerves in an outing that he said was âspecialâ to him.
Yesterday at Amazinâ Avenue
Brian Salvatore previewed the teamâs three-game series against the Braves.
Gary Carter, who hit career home run 299 in mid-May, finally connected with career home run number 300 (and ended a career-worst 63-game stretch without a dinger) on this date in 1988.
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 08: Ryan Weathers #40 of the New York Yankees and David Weathers talk during the New York Yankees Old Timers' Day before the game against the Atlanta Braves at Yankee Stadium on August 8, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After three straight series against the Senior Circuit, the Yankees welcome the Mariners to the East Coast. The Bombers had an off day on Monday after dropping the series finale against the National League East-leading Atlanta Braves. The Yankees continue to hold serve as they wait for reinforcements to arrive, posting a 5-5 mark over their last 10 games, including an even 3-3 record thus far on the homestand.
The Mariners dock in New York after being swept at home by the pesky and, at this point, must-be-declared-legit Tampa Bay Rays. Seattleâs season has not gone according to plan, as star catcher Cal Raleigh has struggled and the club enters play Tuesday sitting at 56-63. The Mariners have dropped four straight and are just 3-7 over their last 10 games.
This series features two night games before Thursdayâs getaway game, currently scheduled for 1:35 p.m. ET. Letâs dive into which Mariners will be manning the harpoons and which Yankees white whales will be hoping to avoid the trident.
Tuesday: Ryan Weathers vs. Bryan Woo (7:05 pm ET)
Weathers has had a bit of an up-and-down first season in the Bronx. After opening the year looking solid, the month of June was not kind to the left-hander. However, since the calendar flipped to July, Weathers has found his footing again. Weathers currently has a 5-7 record, 3.79 ERA, and a 1.22 WHIP for the season.
Over his last three starts, he has thrown 18.2 innings while allowing just one earned run. That stretch includes six scoreless innings in his most recent outing against the Cardinals at home. Weathers has had his struggles in pinstripes this season, posting a 4.11 ERA at home compared to a 3.35 ERA on the road, but he will look to keep the ball in the yard and continue building on this recent momentum.
Woo is one of the best young pitchers in baseball, featuring a dominant four-seam fastball, excellent command, and the type of arm slot and tunneling that makes pitching nerds drool. The good news? Woo has been two very different pitchers this season.
At home, he owns an ace-like 7-0 record with a 1.96 ERA. On the road, however, Woo is 1-8 with a 6.71 ERA. That difference has held true recently as well. In his last two home starts, Woo has allowed just two earned runs across 13 innings. In his last two road starts, however, he has been roughed up for 10 earned runs in 10 innings. Those splits bring his overall season numbers to 8-8 with a 4.31 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. Expect Aaron Boone to send as many left-handed hitters to the plate as possible, as Wooâs platoon splits also favor the lefties. Left-handed hitters have posted a .700 OPS against Woo this season compared to .585 from righties.
Wednesday: Will Warren vs. Bryce Miller (7:00 pm ET)
Much like Weathers, Warren has had his ups and downs throughout the 2026 season. Currently sitting at 8-6 with a 4.18 ERA, Warrenâs season has felt a bit like a roller coaster. After starting the year in dominant fashion, he has struggled as the weather has warmed. In July, Warren went 1-2 with a 5.47 ERA.
Warren has looked better in his last two starts. Against the Cubs, he tossed 6.2 scoreless innings, and in his most recent turn against the Cardinals, he allowed three runs over 5.1 innings. As one of the backend guys in this rotation, you have to expect some turbulence with Warren, take the good with the bad, and hope he can grind his way to a quality start.
The Mariners will send another power right-hander to the mound on Wednesday, as Miller gets the ball opposite Warren. On the season, Miller sits at 4-6 with a 3.08 ERA. He features an upper-90s fastball that he pairs with a nasty splitter and sweeper. Miller primarily uses the splitter to attack lefties and the sweeper against righties, and both pitches have been effective enough to produce almost identical platoon splits. Left-handed hitters have posted a .630 OPS against Miller compared to .629 from righties.
The good news for the Yankees is that, much like Woo, Miller has struggled away from the Pacific Northwest this season. At home, he owns a 2.09 ERA, while that number balloons to 4.02 on the road. More good news? The summer months have also been less kind to Miller, who currently finds himself in his worst stretch of the season. He has not made it through the sixth inning of a start since July 2nd.
Thursday: Max Fried vs. Logan Gilbert (1:35 pm ET)
The Yankees sandwich Warren with lefties as Fried takes the ball in the series finale. Fried has been steadily building himself back up after missing about two months of the season. Since returning, he has picked up right where he left off and currently owns a 4-3 record to go along with a tidy 2.88 ERA and 0.97 WHIP.
With two August starts under his belt, Fried looks ready for the postseason push. On the first of the month, he tossed 78 pitches of one-run ball against the Cubs before reaching 90 pitches while throwing 6.1 scoreless innings against his former club, the Braves, in his most recent start. I expect the training wheels to come off soon, and might I add that having a left-handed ace take the ball every fifth day is such an awesome thing to get to watch.
While the Yankees show a little spice of life on the mound, the Mariners roll out their third straight hard-throwing righty in Gilbert for the final game. Seattleâs front office clearly has a type: tall right-handers who throw hard, get extension down the mound, and command all of their offerings. It is a good type, but with no real wrinkle from one day to the next, hopefully the Yankeesâ bats can lock in and light up Gilbert.
Gilbert owns an 8-7 record with a 3.42 ERA and 1.00 WHIP on the season. Unlike his other companions, Gilbert has actually been better on the road this year, posting a 2.50 ERA away from home compared to a 4.01 ERA at T-Mobile Park. In his most recent start against the Rays, Gilbert went 6.2 innings and took a tough 2-1 loss after allowing a pair of solo home runs that proved to be the difference. Tampa Bay also worked four walks, a season high for Gilbert.
The Yankees took two of three when they visited Seattle back in late March and early April. Hereâs hoping for more of the same this time around in the Bronx.
Theyâll host the Warriors at Crypto.com Arena on Oct. 21 in both teamâs season opener as part of ESPNâs opening-week doubleheader on the second day of the regular season.
The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. PT tipoff.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers is double-teamed by Gary Payton II and Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors in the first half at Chase Center in San Francisco, California, on Feb. 28, 2026. Getty Images
The matchup will also mark the first time since the 2018-19 season, Jamesâ first season with the franchise, that the Lakers werenât featured on the leagueâs Opening Night.
Celtics at Pistons, 76ers at Knicks and Thunder at Spurs are scheduled for Oct. 20 as part of a NBC/Peacock Opening Night triple-header.
Lakers-Warriors will be proceeded by Timberwolves at Heat in the team debuts for LaMelo Ball (Minnesota) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (Miami) to kick off the ESPN doubleheader.
This season will mark the second straight season and the fourth time in the last six years the Lakers and Warriors played each other for their season openers.
The Warriors won each of the previous three season-opening matchups.
This will mark the seventh time in eight seasons the Lakers will play their first game of the season in California, with their Opening Night matchup against the Nuggets in 2023 being the lone exception.
The league will release the NBA Cup Group Play schedule on Wednesday before announcing the entire schedule at noon on Thursday.
DETROIT, MI - FEBRUARY 26: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics handles the ball during the game against the Detroit Pistons on February 26, 2025 at Little Caesars Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Celtics will tip off the 2026-2027 NBA season on the road against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday, October 20th at 3pm ET, the NBA has announced.
Itâs the first in a three-game slate, followed by games at the Philadelphia 76ers visiting the New York Knicks at 7pm ET and the Oklahoma City Thunder visiting the San Antonio Spurs at 9:30pm ET. That means Boston will take part in the first official game of the regular season.
The Celtics will then host the Knicks on Friday, October 23rd at 7pm ET for their home opener.
The first four days of the 2026-27 NBA regular season will feature nine national games across NBC/Peacock, ESPN and Prime Video.
The Celtics will host the Miami Heat on Christmas Day
The NBA also announced the leagueâs Christmas Day schedule, and the Celtics will host the new-look Miami Heat in the second game of the day, at 2:30pm ET. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo, and the rest of the squad will face Jayson Tatum and the Celtics at TD Garden.
The rest of the slate includes San Antonio Spurs @ New York Knicks at 12pm ET, Philadelphia 76ers at Los Angeles Lakers at 5pm ET, Oklahoma City Thunder @ Minnesota Timberwolves at 8pm ET, and Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors at 10:30pm ET.
The NBA will feature five games on Christmas Day (Friday, Dec. 25) for the 19th consecutive year, with ABC and ESPN both televising each matchup.
Highlights include the first meeting between the Knicks and Spurs since the 2026 NBA Finals, as well as new 76er LeBron Jamesâ return⊠pic.twitter.com/CgWdaaFJXN
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 13: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs plays defense on Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks during Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant /NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The two biggest regular season games of the defending champion New York Knicksâ schedule have been released, as the NBA revealed Tuesday morning on Good Morning America that the Knicks would open their season by raising the banner on October 20th against the Philadelphia 76ers before squaring off with the San Antonio Spurs in an NBA Finals rematch at MSG on Christmas Day.
The Ring Night matchup against the Sixers was not something that many saw coming after the season concluded, but Phillyâs two blockbuster moves to acquire Jaylen Brown and LeBron James moved them to the front of the line to open their season at the Worldâs Most Famous Arena with their new-look roster.
Weirdly, they will not be the first game of the NBA season, as the league decided to put Pistons-Celtics at 3pm on a Tuesday for some reason, marking the first time since 2022-23 the defending champions werenât playing the first game of the league calendar.
As for Christmas, itâs the juiciest possible matchup between the two teams with probably the best inter-conference rivalry in basketball (Celtics-Lakers hasnât had that feel in a while). Classic matchups the last three years that included Brunsonâs 60-point game, Wembanyamaâs 40-20, a Christmas 2024 clash, Champagnieâs barrage of threes on NYE 2025, the 2025 NBA Cup Final, and of course, the 2026 NBA Finals, the most viewed finals since Michael Jordan still roamed.
Itâs the sixth consecutive year the Knicks will be playing at Madison Square Garden on Christmas, expanding their lead on all-time appearances to 59. Itâs the 11th consecutive time theyâll be playing at MSG, dating back to a clash at Staples Center with the Lakers in 2012-13. Before that, the last time the Knicks spent Christmas on the road was 1999 against Indiana. It will also likely be the 10th consecutive noon appearance for the Knicks, because letâs be real.
Itâs also a return of something that a lot of fans clamor for every year. Itâs the first time since 2018 that Christmas features an NBA Finals rematch, something not seen since the Cavs and Warriors did it three straight years. The lack of true juice in the Finals can contribute to that feeling, but we definitely have a rivalry here to sink our teeth into.
The other matchups on these two nights include the Western Conference champion Spurs hosting the 2025 NBA champion OKC Thunder on Opening Night. On Christmas, itâs Giannis and the Heat heading to Boston to face Jayson Tatum and the Celtics, LeBron returning to Los Angeles to play his former team, the Thunder visiting Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves, and Nikola Jokic squaring off with Steph Curry in the Bay Area.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 10: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks plays defense during the game against Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers during Round Two Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 10, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With Jaylen Brown and LeBron James joining a talented Philadelphia 76ers core that now has legitimate championship aspirations, attention around this Sixers season is going to be ratcheted up to the maximum. We already heard theyâll be slated for the maximum allotted nationally televised games during the upcoming 2026-27 regular season. Tuesday morning, we received news of a few of those high-profile events.
The NBAâs Christmas Day schedule is headlined by LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers visiting Los Angeles to face the Luka DonÄiÄ-led Lakers and a Spurs-at-Knicks NBA Finals rematch.
The Sixers will open the season on Tuesday, October 20 at Madison Square Garden against the defending champion New York Knicks. While I donât relish the idea of seeing a banner-raising ceremony in front of a cheering arena of Knicks fans, a Sixers win to kick off this new era would provide a small measure of consolation. Some are calling this one the Ariel Hukporti revenge game.
Philadelphiaâs home opener will be on Thursday, October 22 at 7:00 pm ET against the Cleveland Cavaliers. With Jaylen Brown and LeBron James taking the court in Philadelphia for the first time as Sixers (not counting possible preseason appearances), those tickets are sure to be sold out and highly sought after on the secondary markets. James Harden in the building should provide some interesting Sliding Doors-like thoughts to run through our heads.
Later, the Sixers will make their return to Christmas Day action as they head west to take on the Lakers in Los Angeles. It will be LeBronâs first time playing against the Lakers since the 2017-18 season during his second stint with the Cavaliers. I would imagine this game will be at or near the beginning of Philadelphiaâs annual Disney on Ice road trip. Seeing the Sixers square up against Luka Doncic should be one fun final present to unwrap that day.
The only surprise is not seeing the Sixers up against the Boston Celtics in one of these slates for the Jaylen Brown return narrative. Regardless, Iâm sure the league will have at least a couple juicy viewing windows across the four meetings between the clubs this season, and these already announced games have plenty of fun star power and storylines. Basketball is nearly back!
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 10: Sean Murphy #12 and Bryce Elder #55 of the Atlanta Braves converse during the first inning against the New York Mets at Truist Park on August 10, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Braves have to be ready to escape this New York Part of the schedule. After some struggles against the Yankees over the weekend, the Braves once again could not figure out the Mets in an 8-5 loss on Monday. A bizarre first inning led to 5 runs allowed by Bryce Elder, and was just too big of a hole for the Braves to climb out of. With a tough part of the schedule upcoming, it would be nice if the Braves could win one or both of the next few games.
Braves News
Both Spencer Strider and Hurston Waldrep will start throwing exercises in the near future. It does not seem to change their outlook for this season that much, as Weiss implied neither should be counted on to contribute this year.
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers in action during a game against the New York Knicks on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Getty Images North America)
The Lakers will face off against a familiar face for their Christmas Day matchup.
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers in action during a game against the New York Knicks on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Getty Images
Itâll be Jamesâ lone visit to Crypto.com Arena as an opposing player during the 2026-27 season after spending eight seasons with the franchise.
The matchup will tip off at 2 p.m. PT, with ABC (Ch. 7) and ESPN televising every Christmas Day game.
The Lakers have played on Christmas every year since 1999, and have played the second-most games on the holiday (52) behind the Knicks (58).
James (20) has appeared in the most Christmas Day games. The leagueâs all-time leading scorer has also scored the most points on Christmas.
The NBA announced the leagueâs Christmas Day slate as part of a release of marquee games.
The five-game Christmas schedule will also feature the Spurs-Knicks NBA Finals rematch at Madison Square Garden, the Celtics hosting Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Heat, the Timberwolves hosting the Thunder and the Warriors hosting the Nuggets.
The league will release the NBA Cup Group Play schedule on Wednesday before announcing the entire schedule at noon on Thursday.
Knicks celebrate championship win over Spurs on June 13, 2026.
The Knicks are firmly the main attraction.
The NBA placed its defending champions front and center, as the Knicks will be showcased on both opening night and Christmas Day.
They will face off with LeBron James and the 76ers on Opening Night at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20, where they will raise their championship banner and collect their rings in front of the King and his new team. It will be LeBron and Jaylen Brownâs debuts with Philadelphia after the teamâs blockbuster moves this offseason.
LeBron James signed with the 76ers this offseason. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
It will be the first time the Knicks raise a championship banner since 1973 â their last title.
The game â at 7 p.m. ET on NBC â will be the second of a triple-header slate on the network, sandwiched between a Celtics-Pistons matchup and Thunder-Spurs showdown.
Knicks celebrate championship win over Spurs on June 13, 2026. Jason Szenes for NY Post
On Christmas Day, the Knicks will host Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs at MSG in a Finals rematch â the first meeting between the two teams since Game 5, when the Knicks secured the championship.
The two teams similarly played each other on Christmas Day two years ago in 2024, providing an exhilarating preview of what they would deliver a year later. Mikal Bridges memorably erupted for 41 points in a 117-114 Knicks win. Wemby put on a show with 42 points, 18 rebounds and four blocks for the Spurs.
This yearâs matchup will kick off the leagueâs Christmas Day slate, at noon on ABC/ESPN. Later in the day, LeBron will return to Los Angeles as the 76ers square off with the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. Heat-Celtics, Thunder-Timberwolves and Thunder-Warriors are the other Christmas Day matchups.
And the Knicks will travel to Boston to play the Celtics as part of Amazon Primeâs first Friday night doubleheader on Oct. 23 â at 7 p.m. ET. before Rockets-Spurs later in the night.
It will be the second nationally televised game the Knicks play in the first week of the season and the first time they will play against Mitchell Robinson, who signed with the Celtics this offseason after eight years in New York.
The Knicks have a long history of playing on Christmas, with more games (58), wins (26) and losses (32) than any other team. Last year, they delivered another memorable win â overcoming a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit (a taste of what would come later in the postseason) to come back and beat the Cavs 126-124 at MSG. Jalen Brunson poured in 34 points while Tyler Kolek and Jordan Clarkson had huge games off the bench.
It was a role reversal the last time the Knicks played on the leagueâs Opening Night two years ago â against the Celtics at TD Garden for Bostonâs banner and ring night after their 2024 title. The Knicks were blown out 132-109.
This time, though, it will be their coronation in front of a national audience. Their banner entering immortality. Their rings sliding onto their fingers.
The New York Knicks will begin their defense of their NBA Championship when they take on the Philadelphia 76ers to open the 2026-27 season on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at Madison Square Garden.
The day begins with the Boston Celtics visiting the Detroit Pistons, tipping off at 3 p.m. ET. Both teams suffered epic flameouts in the playoffs last season. Boston lost in seven games in the first round to the 76ers, and Detroit, as the East's No. 1 seed, also lost in seven games but in the second round to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Knicks will hold their championship banner ceremony before tipping off their title defense against the Sixers and new addition LeBron James at 7 p.m. ET. The nightcap will pit the Oklahoma City Thunder against the Spurs in San Antonio.
New York expects to bring back its starting five of Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby and Karl Anthony Towns for a chance at back-to-back championships. There have been eight different NBA champions in the last eight seasons, with the Golden State Warriors being the last to repeat in 2017 and 2018.
Philadelphia, which hasn't won an NBA title since 1983, brings star power that could challenge the Knicks in the Eastern Conference with the acquisition of Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics and the signing of James, the NBA's all-time leading scorer, who will turn 42 in December. Tyrese Maxey, who averaged 28.3 points and 6.6 assists last season, and oft-injured former MVP Joel Embiid provide the 76ers with a top-heavy roster that hopes to compete for a title.
A CAN'T-MISS TRIPLEHEADER TO OPEN THE SEASON.
đż Jayson Tatum, Paul George and the Celtics visit Cade Cunningham and last year's top-seeded Pistons
đż LeBron James and Jaylen Brown make Sixers debuts vs. Jalen Brunson and the Knicks on their championship banner raising night at⊠pic.twitter.com/jazcOOP8PB
PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 26: Tristan Broz #26 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates during the game against the Buffalo Sabres at PPG PAINTS Arena on November 26, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Top 25 countdown continues with Tristan Broz, who could be hoping to finally see an extended look in the NHL this season after health issues derailed plans to bring him up over the last two years.
Broz was previously presented during the 2024-25 season from making his NHL debutâ despite injuries that opened a potential spot for him in the lineupâ by a diagnosis of mononucleosis that sidelined him for a month and a half.
He ultimately made his NHL debut during the 2025-26 campaign during a Nov. 26 win against the Buffalo Sabres.
Broz played 11 and a half minutes and registered two shots on goal in that game. He was sent back down to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton after a few days and, later in the season, once more saw injuries get in the way of a potential NHL call-up.
Broz was just heating up when the injury bug bit last winter. He had just recorded 10 points (four goals, six assists) in a five-game span, during which he was also named to the AHL All-Star roster, when he suffered an injury that sidelined him for the end of January.
He briefly returned before suffering another injury that again sidelined him, this time for 15 games.
Calvie finds the back of the net, and with that, Tristan Broz has himself a 4-point night! pic.twitter.com/5BmfmGmJ0y
â Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) January 10, 2026
That second injury came at an unlucky moment for both Broz and the Penguins. Sidney Crosby, Blake Lizotte, Noel Acciari and Rickard Rakell were all injured around that time, creating a potential spot in the roster for Broz.
âI could say, pretty definitively I think, that if he hadnât gotten injured on Saturday in Cleveland, he would have been up and playing,â Kyle Dubas said about Broz at his trade deadline press conference March 6.
Broz didnât end up making another NHL appearance last season, although he did return in time to help the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on their conference finals run.
Broz upped his production during the AHL postseason, which he finished having recorded 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 15 games.
He was still overall down on his season-long performance this season when interviewed after the WBS Penguinsâ playoff elimination by the Toronto Marlies (h/t Pittsburgh Hockey Now).
âI think I honestly fell way short of the expectations that I had for myself, for a myriad of different reasons,â Broz said in June.
He added, âI think thereâs obviously a lot more work to be done, and I think I got closer to taking it to the place that I want to go, but like I said, obviously wasnât quite what we needed to have happen.â
The Penguins raised some questions about Brozâs future role with the team by signing Tommy Novak to a three-year deal running through the 2029-30 season.
With Crosby, Novak, Ben Kindel and Blake Lizotte projected to fill up the Penguinsâ center depth chart, Broz may need to wait for another injury need to get his next shot at the NHL.
Staying healthy for if that moment comes could be key to Brozâs hopes at getting another shot at the Penguinsâ roster next season. Until then, heâll likely be expected to play as a center option for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton alongside David Gustafsson, acquired in the trade for Jack St. Ivany, and 2025 first-round pick Bill Zonnon.
When the Bucks acquired Damian Lillard in 2023 at 33 years old, they probably figured they would get three, maybe four years of high-level play from him, and with him and Giannis, could credibly field a contending team during that time. But then in Game 4 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs, everything changed. After valiantly figthing to return from deep vein thrombosis in his calf that had sidelined him for the back-third of the season, Lillard tore his Achilles in devastating fashion.
Almost instantly, plans were thrown into a tailspin, and a pivotal decision faced the franchise. It had not been long enough since the acquisition of Lillard for the team to have replenished enough future draft picks to use in another all-in trade, and it wasnât as if Lillard was an expiring contract either, ruling free agency out. In short, the Bucks were stuck. This triggered rampant speculation about Giannisâ future in Milwaukee, because common sense indicated that after Lillardâs injury, he could no longer contend there. Just about everyone, including me, assumed that Giannis would request a trade.
But, he never did (not forcefully, at least).
Therefore, Jon Horst refused to entertain a deal from the Bucksâ end either, instead reverting to the long-engrained muscle memory heâd developed during the Antetokounmpo era: build around the two-time MVP to the best of your ability.
But as I mentioned, this time was different. This time Horst didnât have the assets or flexibility to know that, if spent correctly, he could make the team a contender. No, this time he needed to scrounge for spare change in between the couch cushionsâand even work outside the rules, allegedlyâjust to give the team a puncherâs chance. At which point, you surely have to ask yourself, âis this really worth it?â I certainly didnât think it was, as I weighed the potential upside against the potential downside.
In this two-part series, Iâll be making the case that Horst messed up by not trading Giannis after the 2024-25 season. More or less, my entire argument can be boiled down to a belief that the core job of a general manager is to maximise assets (and not to sound crass, but at the most basic level, thatâs what players are: assets). GMs need to evaluate, based on a variety of factors, whether a player is maximised as A. part of their team, or B. as a trade asset. We see it all the time, and it is borne out in many different ways.
WASHINGTON, DC â JUNE 29: General manager Will Dawkins of the Washington Wizards addresses the media as the Washington Wizards introduce their 2024 draft picks at Union Station on June 29, 2024 in Washington, DC. 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 Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For example, the Wizardsâas a team whose top priority is peaking 2-4 years from nowâwould probably not entertain trading Kyshawn George. However, Kyle Kuzmaâdespite being Washingtonâs best player when he was thereâwas best maximised as a trade chip because he did not fit their timeline, which, as I mentioned, was the number one factor driving Washingtonâs decision-making. Different teams have different priorities, and these priorities explain why they value certain assets differently. The Thunder would not entertain trading Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at any point in the near future because their top priority is winning right now, and, crucially, that is a very realistic expectation for them to have.
Last summer, due to unforeseen circumstances (and some very foreseen ones), Giannis tipped over into being best maximised as a trade chip for the first time ever, and that looked unlikely to change down the road. Sorry, but that is just the cold, hard reality. We all love the big fella, and in an ideal world, heâd have been a Buck for life, but thereâs a reasonâmany reasons, actuallyâthat we rarely see one-team players anymore, no matter how legendary. Contracts exist. Title windows exist. Aprons exist. Generally, elite players cannot spend most of their career contending on the same team, and, well, elite players want to contend!
Unfortunately, this is just how the NBA goes. You can choose to get ahead of it or let it smack you in the face.
Anyway, before I go any further, the one point I want to stress is that this is not intended to be some âanti-Giannis article.â Iâll always appreciate what Giannis gave to the Bucks, but Iâm also deeply invested in how the team looks long after heâs gone. This article is about strategyânothing more, nothing less. If you come at it more from a sentimental point of view, or were simply in the âdo everything to try to keep Giannis, and if it doesnât work, at least we triedâ camp, youâll get zero pushback from me. I personally happen to view things almost exclusively through an asset-maximisation lens. Maybe thatâs because Iâm not from Milwaukee. Maybe Iâm just soulless!? Is that it? Probably. In any event, respectful difference of opinion is what makes Brew Hoop great.
The 2025 offseason: A redux
So, Giannis didnât request a trade, shocking the basketball worldâletâs go from there. The question you start with is why didnât he ask out? Did GA actually think the roster Horst had assembled could contend? No, he did not. ESPNâs Shams Charaniaâs reporting from later that offseason indicated that Giannis was by no means oblivious to the state of the team. It almost sounds like he just didnât have it in him to ask out at that point in time after Horst had jumped through hoops to reconfigure the team on the fly.
Frankly, fair enough. Giannis hadâhasâa different type of relationship with Milwaukee. He grew up there. He was beloved. It was his home. His city. His state. But reportedly, Giannis was having these conversations about his future; they were just happening with his agent instead of Horst.
âEver since the NBA draft combine in mid-May, Alex Saratsis, Antetokounmpoâs US-based representative, has fielded rampant interest in Antetokounmpo and conducted serious due diligence on best possible outside fits should the star and his reps push to be traded from the Bucks.â
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA â FEBRUARY 17: (L-R) Nick Monroe, Giannis Antetokounmpo, George Panou, and Alex Saratsis attends "Giannis: The Marvelous Journey" World Premiere on February 17, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Prime Video) | Getty Images for Prime Video
Now, whether Horst agreed with the seemingly obvious fact that the team had no shot of contendingâshockingly, ESPNâs reporting states that he did notâthere was clearly no way that heâd be the one to initiate a Giannis trade; the big fella had to do that.
I hate to say it, but if Giannis wasnât going to blink, Horst absolutely should have.
Horst is paid the big bucks (pardon the pun) to weigh risk vs. reward and make informed, responsible decisions that are in the best interests of the franchiseâboth in the short and long term. To me, he did not weigh both of those equally. He prioritised the short term and made a high-risk decision with pretty minimal upsideâeven if everything went perfectlyâinstead of opting for the low-risk option with enormous upside.
Maybe this is a spicy take, but I reckon Horst should have approached Giannis and said, âlook, as hard as it is to accept, we both know this is over. Iâm going to send you somewhere you can compete while compensating Milwaukee in droves; everybody wins.â Based on reporting from the past 12 months, Iâm quite confident that Giannis would have secretly been relieved if that had happened. But Horst didnât do that, and entered the summer going all-out to build around GA, once again. Assets be damned.
The Giannis-and-friends Bucks
By the end of the summer, the team consisted of one superstar and a bunch of role players. âGiannis and friends,â as I liked to call it. Any rational person could tell that this team was never going to be in the title picture. Well, if Shams Charania is to be believed, Horst isnât all that rational.
According to Charaniaâs aformentioned reporting, when Horst flew to Greece in late July last year to meet with Giannis and assuage concerns the franchise legend had over the roster, he told GA that he believed the team could compete for a championship in the Eastern Conference. Eek.
Now, whether you think that was just something the Bucks GM told Giannis to try to keep him invested is up to you; Iâm just relaying what was reported. In any event, Giannis was skeptical, apparently, and had already begun to cast his eyes elsewhere, taking a particular interest in joining the New York Knicks.
âThe Bucks picked up the Knicksâ call on Antetokounmpo, and the sides engaged in conversations for a window of time in August, league sources said, but the teams never got traction on a deal.â
While it would be disingenuous to call this a legitimate âtrade request,â at a minimum, Giannis was clearly questioning whether he could still win in the Cream City. His eyes were wandering, and chances were that if the first half of the season went poorly (which it did), the âeyes wanderingâ would turn into a trade request (which it did).
Horst had to see the oncoming train and get off the tracks while there was still time (provided Giannis would be willing to broaden his list of preferred locations, of course). Maybe it was too late in the offseason to make such a monumental move; I donât know. It should have never gotten to that point anyway. I mean, what did the Bucks GM think was going to happen when he constructed a roster in which Gary Trent Jr. could be ranked the third-best player!? Looking back, the season that ensued was entirely predictable; I should have taken my green-coloured glasses off when I predicted a 47-win season. Sheesh.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN â APRIL 10: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks sits on the bench during the third quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Fiserv Forum on April 10, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Like, we know that Giannis loves Milwaukee, butâagain, approaching the final team-controlled year on his contract and with the team in significant pick debtâif you have even minimal doubts that you canconstruct a legit contender around him, then to me, itâs probably not worth trying. The big fella isnât going to look at your hodgepodge attempt at creating a contender and give you an A for effort. With only so many years left in his career, he demands the real thing, as he has alluded to repeatedly over the years.
As the general manager, if you can no longer give GA the âreal thing,â you need to cut your losses and end things on your terms. You have to. Because if you donât, he will end things on his. Thereâs no blind loyalty in this game. Giannis has always operated under the simple premise that if he can win in Milwaukee, he will stay, and if he canât, he will probably have to leave. Horst allowed himself to be left holding the bag because he was unrealistic about his ability to construct a team that could adhere to this requirement.
These are the moments that separate the great GMs: having the ability to A. be two steps ahead at all times, and B. have the stones to make incredibly tough decisions that may be unpopular in the moment but are in the teamâs best long-term interests. Iâm sure there were plenty of Thunder fans seething at Sam Presti for trading Paul George, which led to Russell Westbrookâs ouster and ended OKCâs title window, but he recognised that his assetsâone of which is a franchise legendâwere best maximised as trade chips, and boy, was he right about that. This same opportunity, more or less, could very well have been sitting in front of Horst, but he was clearly so wedded to the idea that he needed to keep his star player at all costs⊠that he allowed it to pass him by.
Decisions like these show why Presti is widely regarded as the best GM in the game, and Horst is not.
PHOENIX - JANUARY 2: Amare Stoudemire #32 of the Phoenix Suns dunks against Zach Randolph #50 of the Portland Trail Blazers on January 2, 2005 at America West Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Licence Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2005 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Statistical anomalies. One-off games. Things that donât happen very often, and when they do, you stop and take notice. Thatâs what weâre exploring throughout the month of August as we dig into some of the stranger statistical oddities scattered throughout Phoenix Suns history.
Today, weâre looking at something that has happened only twice in franchise history. And seeing as one of the players involved will enter the Hall of Fame later this week, it felt like the perfect time to revisit it. The anomaly? Scoring 50 points in a game while grabbing 10 or more rebounds.
When you hear those two numbers together, your mind probably starts racing through the possibilities. Maybe Charles Barkley. Perhaps a one-off Alvan Adams performance. But the only two players in Suns history to do it both did so at the age of 22.
The first was Amarâe Stoudemire, who finished with 50 points and 11 rebounds on January 2, 2005, in a win over the Portland Trail Blazers. The second came 14 years later, on March 27, 2019, when Devin Booker scored 50 points against the Washington Wizards and grabbed 10 rebounds.
When Stoudemire did it, it was the 30th game of the season, and the Suns walked away with a 26â4 record. It was an exclamation point in the surprising 2004-05 season, one in which the Suns took the league by storm. Bookerâs performance came under very different circumstances. He scored 50 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, but Phoenix lost to the Washington Wizards and fell to 17â59.
For Stoudemire, that night represented the high point of his career from a scoring perspective. Those 50 points were a career high. Booker, meanwhile, has scored 50 or more eight times in his career. In fact, he owns seven of the 10 highest scoring games in franchise history, with Tom Chambers and Tony Delk accounting for the other spots in the top 10.
As for Amarâe, that night was spectacular. I remember watching it at some little dive bar off Scottsdale Road during the first season of the Seven Seconds or Less era, when that team had become unbelievably entertaining to watch. Stoudemire went to work, finishing 20-of-27 from the field and 10-of-17 from the line to get to his 50 points. He did it against Zach Randolph and Darius Miles, who had absolutely no answer for him.
This week, we welcome Amarâe Stoudemire to the Hall of Fame, and performances like this are a big reason why. He looked great playing alongside Stephon Marbury, but when Steve Nash came to town, Stoudemire went to another level. He possessed an aggressiveness and ferocity that paired perfectly with what Nash was as a player, and together they became the engine of one of the most entertaining eras in Suns history. Now, Amarâe is rightfully taking his place in Springfield, Massachusetts.
That 50-point night against Portland is only one snapshot of what made Amarâe special, but it captures him perfectly. The power, the aggression, the efficiency, and the feeling that nobody standing between him and the rim had much say in what happened next. Twenty-one years later, the performance remains a statistical anomaly in Sunsâ history. This week, it becomes something else, too. Another reminder of why Amarâe Stoudemire belongs among basketballâs immortals.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 24: Isaiah Joe #11 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Four of the NBA Western Conference Finals on May 24, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The big names and blockbuster trades have stolen the headlines, but championships are often determined by the under-the-radar moves that were overlooked by other teams. The Knicks might not have won the championship this past season without Landry Shamet, who signed a minimum deal in September and then made the team after Malcolm Brogdon abruptly retired during training camp. Good teams are usually buoyed by a team-friendly signing or a lopsided trade or by discovering a diamond in the rough.
Here are nine NBA moves that didnât get much attention that could pay off big time in the upcoming season.
Pistons acquire Isaiah Joe for two second-round picks
Malik Beasley finished one bucket behind Anthony Edwards for the most made three-pointers in the NBA during the 2024-25 season with the Pistons. Beasley was then indicted on federal sports gambling and wire fraud charges before the Pistons could re-sign him, and Detroit had a noticeable lack of shooting by finishing No. 29 in three-point rate and No. 17 in three-point percentage last season. Isaiah Joe is one of the few shooters in the world on Beasleyâs level, and the Pistonsâ front office did well to pluck him away from the Oklahoma City Thunder for a couple second-round picks so OKC could trim their luxury tax bill. Joe hit 42% from three on six attempts per game last year, but what really makes him good is that heâs a solid screener who can run off pick-and-pops and hit shots off movement. He should be a natural fit between Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson on the perimeter, and Detroit has enough team defense to insulate him on that end when they need to.
Collin Gillespie agrees to four-year, $48 million deal with Phoenix Suns
Gillespie is an inspiring story for future journeymen. He signed a series of two-way deals after going undrafted out of Villanova in 2022, finally got a guaranteed contract with the Suns last season, and immediately popped as one of the best bargains in the league. It feels like Phoenix inked him to another team-friendly extension this year by locking him up for $48 million over four years before he could hit free agency. Gillespie graded out as a 90th percentile offensive player and 75th percentile defensive player in EPM last season, and heâs a fringe top-100 player in the league in RAPM. Heâs a really good shooter who hit 40% of his threes on high volume (12.5 attempts per 100 possessions) last year while also hitting the glass well for his position. Heâs also a solid enough defender to avoid putting extra pressure on Devin Booker on that end. Gillespie is just a smart, well-rounded player who will fit in well with Phoenix regardless of how the roster continues to develop. If Khaman Maluach can take the sophomore leap Iâm expecting this season, the Suns might actually have a nice core around Booker.
Hornets trade Miles Bridges to Suns for an unprotected 2033 first-round pick + two rotation pieces
While I thought Charlotte sold low on LaMelo this offseason, thereâs no doubt their Miles Bridges trade is a highway robbery. The Hornets took advantage of Suns governor Mat Ishbiaâs Michigan State bias by leveraging an unprotected 2033 first-round pick, Grayson Allen, and Royce OâNeale out of Phoenix in return for Bridges. Bridges can put up decent volume scoring numbers, but heâs a mediocre or worse as a shooter and defender, and just isnât really an impact player on both ends. This is amazing value for Charlotte for a player they wonât really miss. The Hornets are loaded with future assets right now, and already have a good young talent base and a sound identity crafted by head coach Charles Lee. This Phoenix pick could eventually be included in a trade that helps them take the next step.
Tari Eason, Houston Rockets agree to five-year, $81.5 million deal
It felt like this was the year teams finally took full advantage of their leverage in restricted free agency. The Rockets were able to keep Tari Eason around on an $81.5 million deal that will pay him about $14.1 million per year when he graded out as a $20.6 million player in Steph Nohâs salary tool. Easonâs offense abandoned him in the second half of last season, but heâs still a big, physical forward who can take on a variety of tough defensive assignments and help his team get out in transition. Heâs a really good rebounder on both ends, and fits in well with the relentless style head coach Ime Udoka wants to play. Eason needs to figure out how to score more efficiently inside the arc, but maybe getting point guard Fred VanVleet back healthy this season will help in that department. Whether heâs part of the Rocketsâ long-term or eventually turns into a trade piece, Eason should be a good player on a value contract for the entirety of his deal.
Hawks sign C.J. McCollum to one-year deal
The Hawks got better after they traded Trae Young midway through last season, eventually giving the Knicks their toughest series in the first-round of the playoffs last year with C.J. McCollum turning into their go-to guy in crunch-time. Atlanta brought back McCollum on a team-friendly one-year, $21 million deal over the summer to keep their conductor in place while maintaining flexibility for a bigger move in the future. McCollum is still really good at creating offense for himself and others, and players in that mold usually get huge contracts after proving they can do it in the playoffs. McCollum is at a point in his career where no one was going to break the bank for him, so returning to Atlanta for a nice pay day on a one-year deal made sense for both sides. Atlanta continued to add pieces (Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins, Kingston Flemings, Zuby Ejiofor) that will make them even more annoying to play against this season. Flemings should take over McCollumâs role eventually, but now he doesnât need to be forced into critical minutes for a team that thinks it can actually win a playoff series this year.
Nets re-sign Dayâron Sharpe and Josh Minott
The Nets are expected to be the worst team in the league by the preseason over/unders, but I wouldnât count on it. Jordi Fernandez is one of the best head coaches in the league, and he has a team that can surprise some people. Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle are a solid one-two veteran punch, and youngsters like Egor Demin and Mikel Brown Jr. give the team some future upside. I thought Brooklyn made a couple smart under-the-radar signings to their supporting cast by bringing back Dayâron Sharpe on a two-year, $20 million deal and landing Josh Minott for $9 million over two years. Sharpe has been better than Nets starting center Nic Claxton the last two years, so he should be an upgrade as he moves into a starting role by crushing the glass and finishing his chances efficiently inside. Minott found a home on the Nets after arriving midseason from Boston, showing off athletic wing defense and an improved three-point stroke. Tanking is dead, and Brooklyn doesnât control its first-round pick in 2027 (owed to Houston) anyway, so they might as well try to be a plucky overachievers while building for the future. I think Fernandez can lead them there.
Dean Wade to the 76ers
The Sixers suddenly have a lot of guys who can score the ball. What they need now is some players who can do the dirty work, and that makes Wade an optimal signing. Wade joined Philly even before they executed the Jaylen Brown trade, let alone the LeBron signing, but he fits perfectly into the Sixersâ completed puzzle. The 29-year-old does his best work on the defensive end. He moves well on the perimeter for someone with his size (6â8, 230 pounds), and he should be Phillyâs go-to wing stopper when heâs on the floor. Offensively, Wade is a low-usage forward who takes 70% of his field goal attempts from three, and knocks them down at a 36% clip. He can conceivably play some small ball five for a Sixers team that will need center options when Joel Embiid canât play, and heâs versatile enough to fit into a variety of lineup structures come playoff time. Wadeâs four-year, $38 million deal is easy to overlook in the Sixersâ star-studded offseason, but heâll be a factor as soon as the season starts.
Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams to the Lakers on 1-year deals
The Lakersâ forward rotation is one of the biggest question marks in the league entering the season. Los Angeles clearly needs defensive-minded wings who can help cover up for Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves and funnel drivers to Walker Kesslerâs rim protection, and they took two good, cheap fliers with free agents Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams. Thybulle has long been one of the great defensive playmakers in the league, but his offense has always bordered on unplayable. He took a nice step forward last year in Portland by improving his three-point shot (43.8% on 3.8 attempts per game), and he could be a super valuable piece for the Lakers as long as heâs not killing their spacing. Williams was a toolsy wing scorer coming out of Stanford who realized his best chance to stick in the league was committing to being a good defender. Heâs excellent at getting into the passing lanes and getting his team out in transition, and he also improved his three-point volume (nearly 10 attempts per 100 possessions) and accuracy (better than 34%) last year in Brooklyn. If anyone can make Thybulle and Williams playable on offense, itâs Luka Doncic, and they could be exactly what he needs to compete defensively.
Grizzlies acquire Isaiah Stewart for three second-round picks
Stewart helped make the Pistons one of the toughest teams in the league last year, and heâs should be a perfect fit into the Memphis Grizzliesâ culture. Heâs an awesome secondary rim protector (7% block rate last season) on defense who can hit the glass and bring some toughness and physicality inside. Heâs a pretty low usage offensive player, but his an efficient interior scorer who has made some progress with his three-point stroke to be a little bit of a floor spacer. Beef Stew can be a bit of a loose cannon on the court, but Memphis will love his personality, and he should be a culture setter for a rebuilder that is going to take off faster than most people realize around Cameron Boozer.
