Latest news with #ShaiGilgeousAlexander
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
2026 NBA Finals contenders: Which teams elevated themselves this offseason?
Without question and rightfully so, the Oklahoma City Thunder are heavy favorites to repeat as NBA champions in 2025-26. They return all their key players, including regular-season and Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. However, there hasn't been a repeat NBA champion since Golden State in 2017 and 2018, and a team hasn't even played in back-to-back Finals since the Warriors in 2018 and 2019. The NBA has never been more wide open. Several teams in the West will push the Thunder. On paper, the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets all improved in the offseason. And the East is for the taking. Consider that 2025 finalist Indiana is without Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles); 2024 champion Boston is without Jayson Tatum (Achilles), Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis (both traded); and 2023 finalist Miami is far from contention. Which teams made offseason moves that elevated themselves to contender status for the 2025-26 NBA season? Houston Rockets This is as obvious a team as you'll find on this list. The Rockets added Kevin Durant, 3-and-D wing Dorian Finney-Smith, guard Josh Okogie and center Clint Capela, while re-signing center Steven Adams — who thrived in Houston's double-big lineup — and key contributors Fred VanVleet and Jabari Smith Jr. (rookie extension). All the while, Houston didn't lose much. With their size, length and athleticism at the wing, and with their ferocious defensive identity, the Rockets are built to stop a team like the Thunder. Now, with Durant's scoring, they have the offense to match, too. Denver Nuggets Since winning the title in 2023, the Nuggets failed to advance past the second round in 2024 and 2025, and the team is intent on trying to win another title while center Nikola Jokic is playing at an MVP level. With a new coach (David Adelman) and new front-office leadership (Ben Tenzer and Jonathan Wallace), the Nuggets made the moves that can put them back in the Finals (they lost in seven games to Oklahoma City in 2025). Denver traded for Cam Johnson in a deal that sent Michael Porter Jr. to Brooklyn, brought back Bruce Brown, signed Tim Hardaway Jr., and acquired Jonas Valanciunas, giving the Nuggets depth and versatility to better compete with the Thunder and other top teams in the West. New York Knicks They were already a conference finals team, and — while they didn't necessarily add that much — their roster continuity should go a long way, particularly in a wide-open Eastern Conference. Getting veteran bench scorer Jordan Clarkson on the cheap should ease the scoring burden and help the team put up points during the non-Jalen Brunson minutes. But, more than anything, new coach Mike Brown should have no reservations about relying on Clarkson and New York's bench, something Tom Thibodeau was hesitant to do. Los Angeles Clippers "Thirtysomething" was a popular TV drama in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It's also how Clippers front-office executives Lawrence Frank and Trent Redden believe the team can contend for a title – with thirtysomethings James Harden, 35; Kawhi Leonard, 34; Nic Batum, 36; Bradley Beal, 32; Kris Dunn 31; and Brook Lopez, 37, plus one fortysomething in Chris Paul. They also have John Collins, Ivica Zubac, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Derrick Jones Jr. The Clippers are fast approaching a rebuild with the contracts of Leonard and Harden expiring after the 2026-27 season and trying to maximize these two seasons. Detroit Pistons The Pistons minimized the losses of Tim Hardaway Jr. and Dennis Schroder in the offseason by acquiring Duncan Robinson, signing Caris LeVert, re-signing Paul Reed and getting Jaden Ivey back in the rotation after an injury sidelined him for 52 games last season. The growth of Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, Ron Holland II, Ausar Thompson and veterans such as Tobias Harris could make the Pistons the breakout team in a wide-open East. The Pistons made a giant leap from 14 victories in 2023-24 to 44 victories in 2024-25 and should be moving into the 50-win territory in 2025-26. Orlando Magic Again, in a wide-open East, the Magic might have done just enough to elevate into a contender. The big move was to find another shooter and scorer in Desmond Bane, who averaged 19.2 points per game for Memphis last season. Orlando's identity has been on defense, and Bane instantly takes the pressure off of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Getting Tyus Jones was another solid move, one that shores up the backup point guard slot. And No. 25 overall selection Jase Richardson could also provide a little scoring bump off the bench. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA Finals 2026: Which teams elevated themselves into contenders?
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Breaking Down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's Massive New Contract: Will Almost Earn $1 Million Per Game In 2030
Breaking Down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's Massive New Contract: Will Almost Earn $1 Million Per Game In 2030 originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is coming out of a historic NBA season, especially in terms of individual accomplishments, where he won the Michael Jordan regular season MVP Award, the NBA scoring title, the Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals MVP Award, as well as the Bill Russell Finals MVP Award. He led the Thunder to their first NBA championship. He signed a four-year, $285 million extension with the Thunder following this season, which put him in the NBA history books. Gilgeous-Alexander is set to earn $78.8 million in the final season (2030-31) of his extension, making it the largest annual contract signed in NBA history. Let's break down what this whole contract would look like in layman's terms. Over four years, earning $285 million means an average of $71.25 million per year of that extension. Breaking it down further: - $5.94M per month - $1.48M per week - $868.9K per game - $212.1K per day - $8.84K per hour - $147.26 per minute - $2.45 per second The man will be breathing money, essentially. Gilgeous-Alexander could've waited until next summer to sign a larger contract. The superstar guard, who represents himself, could've signed a projected five-year, $379 million contract, which would have had a little higher average yearly value. But he decided to secure his future and focus on the team's goals instead. The superstar shooting guard has averaged 31.4 points, 6.0 assists, and 5.1 rebounds in the regular season over the past three seasons. Consistently averaging over 30 points per game over a 200+ game stretch, let alone just one season. Something that was marveled at in Michael Jordan's era cannot just be underrated news in today's NBA. It is an undeniable truth that we are witnessing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's prime in the form of one of the greatest seasons in NBA history. Gilgeous-Alexander will play the next two seasons under his current contract, which will pay him $38.3 million in 2025-26 and $40.8 million in 2026-27. The four-year extension will take effect from 2027-28, when Gilgeous-Alexander will make $63.5 million. By the end of his extension, in the 2030-31 season, Gilgeous-Alexander will make $78.8 million, which, throughout an 82-game season, is nearly $1 million per game. As a result of this extension, the Thunder owe Gilgeous-Alexander $346 million in salaries over the next six years. Before him, the largest annual contract belonged to Jayson Tatum, who signed the highest overall value contract extension following the Celtics' championship run last season. He is set to earn $71.4 million in 2029-30. Had Gilgeous-Alexander waited another season, he could've broken this record with an $80 million+ salary in the season. But at the pinnacle of basketball, I guess money is no longer the motivating story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Times
NBA Power Rankings, summer edition: Knicks, Nuggets are contenders; Celtics, Pacers slide
The exodus from Las Vegas is behind us, and now that we are almost at the point where all of the needle-moving free agents are accounted for (any day now, restricted free agents…), we're going to offer up some post-free agency Power Rankings! Only a real fiend is going to use summer league to truly assess the offseason or the draft or anything else. (That may be a spoiler alert, you'll have to stay tuned!) Advertisement We're just here to give you completely agreeable standings updates that will absolutely determine how the 2025-26 NBA season will go down. All we have for three months is paper, so we're going to evaluate the league while all of these teams are in a kumbaya state that comes with not losing any games. These rankings will also break down the most relevant offseason moves. I'll retain the tiers as we break down each team's outlook: Here are The Athletic's last NBA Power Rankings until October! Previous rankings are from last month, following the end of the NBA Finals. Last ranking: 1 Free agency: C Jaylin Williams (re-signed), PG Ajay Mitchell (re-signed) Additions: C Thomas Sorber (draft) Departures: SF Dillon Jones (trade) Midsummer summary: This is as strong a 'run it back' as you can ask for. The entire rotation returns for the reigning champions. They paid the stars, with MVP/Finals MVP point guard Shai Gilgeous Alexander, All-NBA/All-Defense small forward Jalen Williams and center Chet Holmgren getting massive extensions. Jaylin Williams and Mitchell were retained, and to make room for first-round pick Thomas Sorber, Oklahoma City traded last year's first-round pick Dillon Jones to Washington. The Thunder even have last year's lottery pick Nikola Topić healthy after a redshirt year. The only concerns are Jalen Williams' recovery from wrist surgery and Sorber's readiness after he rested for summer league while he recovers from the injury that ended his season in February. Last ranking: 3 Free agency: PF Precious Achiuwa (unrestricted), SF Landry Shamet (unrestricted), PG Cameron Payne (unrestricted), PF P.J. Tucker (unrestricted), SG Delon Wright (unrestricted), C Ariel Hukporti (option exercised) Additions: SG Jordan Clarkson, PF Guerschon Yabusele Departures: TBD Advertisement Midsummer summary: It's all about new coach Mike Brown and how he may reimagine what is largely the same team that went to the Eastern Conference finals. Clarkson should be an upgrade on Payne, while Yabusele should be an upgrade on Achiuwa. The offense could be even better, though the question of how well this team can defend with Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns will persist. New York should still add a couple more players, especially in the frontcourt and on the wing. Last ranking: 5 Free agency: SG Sam Merrill (re-signed), C Tristan Thompson (unrestricted), SF Javonte Green (unrestricted), PF Chuma Okeke (unrestricted) Additions: C Larry Nance Jr., PG Lonzo Ball (trade) Departures: PG Ty Jerome, SF Isaac Okoro Midsummer summary: The biggest move the Cavaliers made was to acquire Lonzo Ball in exchange for Isaac Okoro, a move that should help Cleveland account for the loss of key reserve Ty Jerome while giving Cleveland a player who can handle the ball, pass, shoot and make plays defensively. Ball might be needed a lot early in the season with All-Star point guard Darius Garland recovering from surgery on his toe. Like New York, Cleveland could stand to add another player or two to help protect against injury to the frontcourt and wing. Last ranking: 4 Free agency: PF Julius Randle (re-signed), C Naz Reid (re-signed), PG Joe Ingles (re-signed) Additions: C Joan Beringer (draft) Departures: SG Nickeil Alexander-Walker (trade), C Luka Garza, SF Josh Minott Midsummer summary: Two out of three isn't bad. Minnesota kept the frontcourt together by re-signing Randle and Reid. It wound up losing Alexander-Walker, but Minnesota has three players who could vie for Alexander-Walker's minutes in Terrence Shannon Jr., Jaylen Clark and Rob Dillingham. Minnesota also used a first-round pick on center Joan Beringer to replace Garza. Minnesota lost combo forward Minott, so there's a spot for another forward that Minnesota should look to add. Overall, Minnesota is in a good position to attempt to win the West after losing back-to-back conference finals. Last ranking: 6 Free agency: PG Russell Westbrook (unrestricted), C DeAndre Jordan (unrestricted), PF Vlatko Cancar (unrestricted) Additions: SG Tim Hardaway Jr., SF Bruce Brown, C Jonas Valančiūnas (trade), SF Cameron Johnson (trade) Departures: PF Dario Šarić (trade), SF Michael Porter Jr. (trade) Advertisement Midsummer summary: The Nuggets have had a well-received offseason. Johnson is older, shorter and less athletic than Porter, and while Porter has durability concerns due to his back, he has only missed 26 total games the last three seasons. Johnson has missed an average of 30 games per season the last three years. But Johnson should be a better playmaker than Porter while being a more versatile defensive option, and he seems less likely to be a player whom head coach David Adelman needs to call out in the middle of a playoff series. It's all about the fit. Elsewhere, Denver is counting on Brown to rediscover the form that made him an integral part of the 2023 champion Nuggets, as his last two seasons spent on three other teams were underwhelming. Hardaway may be an upgrade over Julian Strawther, but he is 33 and has shot 35.7 percent from the field in the last two postseasons. Getting a year from Valančiūnas is certainly an upgrade on what Denver got out of Šarić last season. Denver is also getting 2024 first-round pick DaRon Holmes II back after Holmes had to redshirt last year due to an Achilles tendon rupture. Last ranking: 9 Free agency: PG Fred VanVleet (re-signed), PG Aaron Holiday (re-signed), C Steven Adams (re-signed), PF Jeff Green (re-signed), PF Jae'Sean Tate (re-signed) Additions: SF Dorian Finney-Smith, C Clint Capela (trade), PF Kevin Durant (trade), SF Josh Okogie Departures: C Jock Landale, SG Nate Williams (waived), SG Jalen Green (trade), SF Cam Whitmore (trade), SF Dillon Brooks (trade) Midsummer summary: The first big move that the Rockets made was getting Durant in exchange for Brooks and Green. The second big move was to backfill Brooks' defense by getting Finney-Smith from the conference rival Lakers. This defense should be at least as good as it was last season. And Houston tripled down on depth at center by getting Capela back to replace Landale. The Rockets are counting on a leap from 2024 lottery pick Reed Sheppard, as Houston is going to need some shooting and ballhandling even when Durant is available. And for all of Green's weaknesses, he only missed 21 games in four seasons, including none the last two years. Durant will be 37 in September and has missed an average of 22 games per season the last four years. Last ranking: 11 Free agency: PG James Harden (re-signed), PF Nicolas Batum (re-signed), C Ben Simmons (unrestricted), SG Amir Coffey (unrestricted), PG Patty Mills (unrestricted) Additions: C Yanic Konan Niederhäuser (draft), C Brook Lopez, PF John Collins (trade), SG Bradley Beal, PG Chris Paul Departures: C Drew Eubanks, SF Jordan Miller (waived), SG Norman Powell (trade) Midsummer summary: Beal becoming available via buyout gave the Clippers a major advantage. They were able to use Powell's expiring contract to upgrade the frontcourt, seizing Collins for their first athletic power forward with size since Blake Griffin was last with the team nearly a decade ago. Beal's addition backfills Powell's departure while actually upgrading the team's ballhandling options next to James Harden. LA also replaced Simmons with Lopez, giving it a relatively sure thing behind Ivica Zubac after trying to experiment with what Simmons could be on this roster. Paul may be 40 and 6-feet tall, but now LA has a much better option in case Harden needs to miss time. Most importantly, Kawhi Leonard is healthy. LA has certainly upgraded its postseason optionality. The question is how long it will take for the new pieces to find their way with the new look Clippers. Last ranking: 13 Free agency: C Moritz Wagner (re-signed), PF Caleb Houstan (unrestricted), PG Cory Joseph (unrestricted) Additions: PG Jase Richardson (draft), PG Tyus Jones, SG Desmond Bane (trade) Departures: SG Gary Harris, PG Cole Anthony (trade), SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (trade) Advertisement Midsummer summary: Orlando made one of the earliest moves of the offseason when it traded Caldwell-Pope to Memphis in exchange for Bane, going from a 34.2 percent 3-point shooter to a 39.2 percent 3-point shooter. Now, Caldwell-Pope made 38.3 percent of his 3s in the previous eight seasons before joining the Magic, so Bane will be a test case of whether Caldwell-Pope's off year was due simply to player decline or the annually atrocious shooting environment Orlando seems to be in. Time will tell, and it is a big swing factor in the East. Orlando got another strong shooter in Jones, who replaces Joseph, while first-round pick Richardson takes Anthony's combo guard spot on the roster. Ultimately, the Magic should feel good about their chances of making noise in the East as long as they're done tearing obliques. Last ranking: 7 Free agency: SF Jonathan Kuminga (restricted), C Quinten Post (option exercised), PG Gary Payton II (unrestricted), PG Pat Spencer (unrestricted), PF Braxton Key (unrestricted), PF Gui Santos (option exercised), SF Kevin Knox II (unrestricted) Additions: TBD Departures: C Kevon Looney Midsummer summary: Unlike the other teams mired in a restricted free agency holding pattern, the Warriors actually did something last spring, finishing the season with a winning record while winning a playoff series. Among the key restricted free agents, Kuminga may be the least ideal fit with his incumbent team, which naturally makes him the player who should want to leave the most. The Warriors haven't completed a single transaction in July while the Kuminga proceedings progress, and Looney left the franchise after 10 seasons. Once Kuminga is resolved, the Warriors should be at least as good as they were last season once they added Jimmy Butler III to Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, especially if they acquire a big who can credibly shoot. Last ranking: 12 Free agency: SG Malik Beasley (unrestricted), C Paul Reed (re-signed), SG Lindy Waters III (unrestricted) Additions: PG Caris LeVert, SG Duncan Robinson (trade) Departures: SG Tim Hardaway Jr., PG Dennis Schröder, PF Simone Fontecchio (trade) Midsummer summary: Detroit lost Hardaway in free agency, and Beasley's off-court concerns may have cost him a contract. The Pistons also lost Schröder, who was key in addressing the Pistons' shaky ballhandling last winter. LeVert's shooting fluctuates every year, but he's an on-ball option for Detroit, while Robinson should be a helpful shooter. When it comes to East swing factors, the return to health of Jaden Ivey is a major one, as he represents a secondary ballhandler next to All-NBA point guard Cade Cunningham. Detroit could use another power forward, as Bobi Klintman is slated for that role behind starter Tobias Harris. Last ranking: 10 Free agency: PF LeBron James (option exercised), C Jaxson Hayes (re-signed), PF Markieff Morris (unrestricted), C Alex Len (unrestricted) Additions: C Deandre Ayton, PF Jake LaRavia, SG Marcus Smart Departures: PF Dorian Finney-Smith, PG Jordan Goodwin (waived), SG Shake Milton (waived) Midsummer summary: James opted in and doesn't have a contract beyond this season, so that's been loud. For now, he's on the team, which should be considered Luka Dončić's team going forward. And Dončić is now teammates with the top pick of his draft, Ayton, who can certainly do the baseline tasks of a Dončić center: screen, roll, catch lob. Ayton is a good rim protector and an elite rebounder. The concern with Ayton is his motor and availability; when he is out of the play, he stays out of the play. LaRavia is much younger than Finney-Smith, but also a much less renowned defender who is about to step into a 25-minute role for the first time in his career. Smart, LaRavia's former teammate in Memphis, will be looking to show that he can still contribute after playing in only 54 games in the last two seasons. Last ranking: 14 Free agency: SF Taurean Prince (re-signed), SG Gary Trent Jr. (re-signed), PF Bobby Portis (re-signed), C Jericho Sims (re-signed), PG Kevin Porter Jr. (re-signed), PG Ryan Rollins (re-signed), SF Chris Livingston (re-signed) Additions: C Myles Turner, SG Gary Harris, PG Cole Anthony Departures: C Brook Lopez, SF Pat Connaughton (trade), PG Damian Lillard Advertisement Midsummer summary: Where to begin? The obvious is that Giannis Antetokounmpo is still there. Lillard was shockingly waived and stretched, which is going to be an issue for years to come. But Lillard was already not going to contribute on the floor to the 2025-26 Bucks, and they swiped Turner from the team that ended their season the last two years. Turner replaces longtime starter Lopez, while Anthony replaces Lillard's roster spot. Harris replaces Connaughton, leaving Antetokounmpo and the re-signed Portis as the only members of the 2021 championship team on the roster. Milwaukee retained the remaining rotation pieces from a team that went 16-8 with Lillard out of the lineup last season. If nothing else, Antetokounmpo will be in MVP discussions if he can keep the Bucks out of the Play-In Tournament. Last ranking: 18 Free agency: SG Garrison Mathews (unrestricted) Additions: PF Asa Newell (draft), SF Nickeil Alexander-Walker (trade), C Kristaps Porziņģis (trade), SG Luke Kennard Departures: C Clint Capela (trade), SG Caris LeVert, C Larry Nance Jr., C Dominick Barlow, SF Terance Mann (trade), PF Georges Niang (trade) Midsummer summary: The Hawks are another team that has had a well-received offseason, and they'll certainly be an interesting playoff team. But Atlanta has to get there first. Porziņģis represents a range of possibilities: when he is physically able to be his best, the center is a difference-maker on both ends of the floor and a clear upgrade on the departed Capela due to his shooting and standing reach. But Porziņģis joins Jalen Johnson to form a talented but injury-prone front line. Porziņģis has missed an average of 28 games per season in the last four years, while Johnson has averaged 36 missed games per season in his four-year career. The big get for the Hawks was Alexander-Walker, who the team hopes is an upgrade on Mann, while first-round rookie Newell replaces the traded Niang. Kennard replaces LeVert, a possible downgrade on the ball but a major shooting upgrade. Now we wait to see if Trae Young, who still doesn't have a clear backup, gets paid. Last ranking: 15 Free agency: PF Santi Aldama (re-signed), SF Lamar Stevens (unrestricted), SG Cam Spencer (re-signed) Additions: SF Cedric Coward (draft), SG Ty Jerome, C Jock Landale, SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (trade) Departures: SG Luke Kennard, C Marvin Bagley III, SG Desmond Bane (trade), C Jay Huff (trade) Midsummer summary: The biggest move the Grizzlies made is trading Bane to Orlando and hoping that Caldwell-Pope can bounce back after a down shooting year. The rest of Memphis' starting lineup is intact, though All-Star power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (turf toe) and Zach Edey (ankle) both underwent surgery to address offseason injuries that threaten their availability for the start of next season. Jerome replaced Kennard, a sign that Memphis should run significantly more pick-and-rolls than last season; Cleveland led the league in pick-and-roll volume, while Memphis was dead last. The Grizzlies moved up in the lottery to select Coward, who missed summer league to protect his surgically repaired shoulder. Coward represents a major upgrade in wing talent (he replaces Lamar Stevens on the roster). Landale replaces Huff, and his importance is tied to Edey's recovery. Last ranking: 2 Free agency: C Thomas Bryant (unrestricted), C Tony Bradley (option exercised), C Isaiah Jackson (re-signed), PF James Johnson (unrestricted) Additions: C James Wiseman, C Jay Huff (trade) Departures: C Myles Turner Advertisement Midsummer summary: I hinted in the previous Power Rankings that I wanted to respect the Pacers' accomplishments while acknowledging that they likely won't contend with Tyrese Haliburton recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. Since then, the Pacers watched Turner leave after 10 seasons to go to the rival Bucks. Cold. The Pacers have plenty of ballhandling options in Haliburton's stead: Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, Pascal Siakam in the starting lineup, with T.J. McConnell off the bench. There is still plenty of depth, except at Turner's vacated position. Huff is probably the best option to replace Turner as a 3-point shooting shot blocker. Bradley is back as a reserve center, as are two players (Wiseman, Jackson) who injured their Achilles tendons in the autumn. Rick Carlisle has enough talent to keep the Pacers afloat in the East, but this team doesn't have much of a ceiling. Last ranking: 8 Free agency: C Al Horford (unrestricted), SF Torrey Craig (unrestricted), PG JD Davison (option exercised) Additions: PG Anfernee Simons (trade), PF Georges Niang (trade), C Luka Garza, PF Josh Minott, SF Hugo Gonzalez (draft) Departures: PG Jrue Holiday (trade), C Kristaps Porziņģis (trade), C Luke Kornet Midsummer summary: Like the Pacers, the Celtics have a major Achilles tendon patient. Like the Pacers, the Celtics have lost their 3-point shooting, shot-blocking center to an Eastern Conference rival. Unlike the Pacers, the Celtics didn't stop there. Holiday was traded for Simons, a player who should fit Boston's 3-point heavy offense while taking on many of the touches that Tatum vacates, but who also projects to tank the Celtics' defense. Niang, acquired in the Porziņģis trade, may be the team's best option to start at power forward. Who starts at center? Neemias Queta? Who replaces Horford? Garza? Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and reigning Sixth Man of the Year Payton Pritchard are still here. But Boston doesn't look like a team with enough reliable size, and this defense looks significantly less formidable. Last ranking: 25 Free agency: SG Quentin Grimes (restricted), SG Kelly Oubre Jr. (option exercised), SF Justin Edwards (re-signed), C Andre Drummond (option exercised), SG Eric Gordon (re-signed), PG Kyle Lowry (re-signed), PG Jared Butler (unrestricted), SG Lonnie Walker IV (unrestricted) Additions: SG VJ Edgecombe (draft), PF Trendon Watford Departures: PF Guerschon Yabusele Midsummer summary: The best version of this team is formidable. A recent MVP center. A recent All-Star forward. A recent Most Improved Player at point guard. A top-three pick in this year's draft. A solid group of sophomores. But we know the issue with this team is who will be available and whether the pieces fit. Joel Embiid is hoping to be able to start the season. Paul George just underwent knee surgery. Tyrese Maxey is arguably this team's most reliable player, and the Sixers are trying to determine who can play next to him among third pick VJ Edgecombe, last year's first-round pick Jared McCain and restricted free agent Grimes. Newcomer Watford is Yabusele's replacement at power forward. There's a lot of talent here if everyone can play. But last year showed how bad things can get, and no one should trust Embiid's or George's health right now. Last ranking: 16 Free agency: PG Davion Mitchell (re-signed), SG Alec Burks (unrestricted), PF Keshad Johnson (option exercised) Additions: SG Kasparas Jakučionis (draft), SG Norman Powell (trade), PF Simone Fontecchio (trade) Departures: SG Duncan Robinson (trade), PF Kyle Anderson (trade), C Kevin Love (trade) Midsummer summary: The Heat haven't had back-to-back losing seasons since 2003, when they drafted Dwyane Wade. Miami drafted Jakučionis this year. He's probably not going to be the difference between a winning and losing season, but Powell might be. The contract-year guard only cost Miami Kyle Anderson and Kevin Love, and he should more than replace the shot-making lost when Robinson departed for Detroit; Robinson's exit allowed Miami to acquire Simone Fontecchio. Miami was able to retain Davion Mitchell, who should continue to come off the bench unless Powell, Tyler Herro and Andrew Wiggins prove to be incompatible together. There is a concern about Miami's ballhandling in the first unit, while the second unit lacks size (Nikola Jović and Jamie Jaquez Jr. would be the team's biggest rotation players off the bench). Advertisement Last ranking: 17 Free agency: PG Kyrie Irving (re-signed), SF Dante Exum (re-signed), C Dwight Powell (exercised option) Additions: SF Cooper Flagg (draft), PG D'Angelo Russell Departures: PG Spencer Dinwiddie Midsummer summary: Dallas has something of a crowded roster and needs to shed a standard contract. But whoever that player might be, No. 1 pick Flagg replaces them. Automatic upgrade! The only other roster change of note is that Russell is here to replace Dinwiddie, which should be another upgrade for the Mavericks, although Russell had a forgettable season that saw him drop below 40 percent from the field for the first time in his career. It will be up to Flagg and Russell to run Dallas' offense and find Anthony Davis, who is recovering from surgery to repair a detached retina. Elsewhere in the surgery department, center Dereck Lively II had foot surgery this month. While Davis and Lively should be ready for camp, it underscores the lack of availability both players have had. Availability, of course, is a major concern for Kyrie Irving as well, who re-signed about four months after tearing his ACL. There is more than enough size here, but Irving isn't saving the shaky guard play that this team projects to have. Last ranking: 21 Free agency: C Bismack Biyombo (unrestricted), C Charles Bassey (unrestricted), PG Jordan McLaughlin (unrestricted) Additions: SG Dylan Harper (draft), SF Carter Bryant (draft), C Luke Kornet, PF Kelly Olynyk Departures: PF Sandro Mamukelashvili, SG Blake Wesley (trade), SF Malaki Branham (trade), PG Chris Paul Midsummer summary: Wemby's revenge? Injuries to Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox allowed 2024 lottery pick Stephon Castle to secure Rookie of the Year honors, then the Spurs were gifted the second pick in 2025 and used it on Harper, who essentially replaced Paul. The young talent is exciting. The fit is not. Someone isn't going to start between Fox, Castle, Harper and Devin Vassell, a player the Spurs extended for five years and $146 million two years ago. San Antonio used its other lottery pick on Bryant, who should be a talent upgrade on Branham. Up front, Kornet and Olynyk replace Biyombo and Mamukelashvili, making the team taller and more skilled offensively. Wembanyama has been cleared to begin next season on time, and his individual possibilities are endless. But coach Mitch Johnson has to figure out how to make sure all of these pieces will elevate the whole team's performance. Last ranking: 20 Free agency: SG Keon Ellis (option exercised), PF Trey Lyles (unrestricted), C Isaac Jones (option exercised), PG Markelle Fultz (unrestricted), SF Doug McDermott (re-signed), PF Jae Crowder (unrestricted) Additions: SF Nique Clifford (draft), PF Dario Šarić (trade), C Drew Eubanks, PG Dennis Schröder (trade) Departures: SF Jake LaRavia, C Jonas Valančiūnas (trade) Midsummer summary: This is the most top-heavy team in the league that has no business being top-heavy. Let's be kind first. I'm a big fan of Clifford, and he takes LaRavia's spot. Don't be surprised if he is contributing early. The rest? I have concerns. Schröder might be the new starting point guard. He takes Fultz's roster spot. But that creates a real logjam at guard with Ellis returning, and that means that Carter, last year's lottery pick, might be the odd man out. None of these guards are going to touch the ball much anyway with Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan continuing Chicago Bulls West. And then the backup big rotation is somehow even less inspiring than before, with Šarić and Eubanks replacing Lyles and Valančiūnas. If anything happens to Keegan Murray or Domantas Sabonis, the elevator plummets in the Capital City. Last ranking: 19 Free agency: PG Josh Giddey (restricted), PG Tre Jones (re-signed), SG Talen Horton-Tucker (unrestricted), PG Jevon Carter (option exercised) Additions: PF Noa Essengue (draft), SF Isaac Okoro (trade) Departures: SF Lonzo Ball (trade) Advertisement Midsummer summary: We return to restricted free agency hell, where Giddey is keeping the Bulls from doing anything except repeat their 2024 trade where they send a former Laker defender to a No. 1 seed in exchange for a lottery pick. Last year, it was Giddey from Oklahoma City in exchange for now two-time NBA champion Alex Caruso. This year, the Bulls sent Ball to the Cavaliers for Okoro. At least Okoro comes equipped with a multi-year contract this time. Horton-Tucker's contract expired before the Bulls could trade him to Oklahoma City, while Carter opted in to keep his money. Jones is back. And the Bulls drafted Essengue to be Matas Buzelis' twin; Essengue essentially replaces Horton-Tucker on a roster that otherwise hasn't changed. Last ranking: 24 Free agency: PF Chris Boucher (unrestricted), SG Garrett Temple (re-signed) Additions: PF Collin Murray-Boyles (draft), C Sandro Mamukelashvili Departures: TBD Midsummer summary: The big story from the Raptors is the departure of Masai Ujiri, architect of the 2019 champions. The Raptors have had a quiet offseason, but it will be interesting to see how Ujiri's last big trade turns out, as Brandon Ingram will debut in the fall after being unable to suit up following his exit from New Orleans in February. Toronto drafted Murray-Boyles and signed Mamukelashvili from San Antonio, giving the Raptors two more reserve bigs while signaling that Boucher's run is up after seven seasons. Temple is also back, meaning someone else has to go between AJ Lawson, Colin Castleton and Jamison Battle. Given Battle's shooting and the logjam of bigs, it would be a surprise if Castleton is on the roster in November. Last ranking: 22 Free agency: SF Matisse Thybulle (option exercised), PG Dalano Banton (unrestricted), SG Rayan Rupert (option exercised) Additions: C Yang Hansen (draft), PG Damian Lillard, PG Jrue Holiday (trade), SG Blake Wesley Departures: PF Jabari Walker, C Deandre Ayton, PG Anfernee Simons Midsummer summary: I mentioned in last month's Power Rankings that the Trail Blazers were better without Simons and Ayton. And what do you know, both are off the team now. Ayton was waived, clearing room for Donovan Clingan to start. And for arguably the most shocking move of the draft, Portland traded down with Memphis to select Yang Hansen. Simons was traded for Holiday, who was a Blazer for about a weekend two years ago after Lillard was traded. Remember Lillard?! Remember how Portland was supposed to have drafted his replacement in Scoot Henderson? Well, now it's Dame Time again! Lillard has a no-trade clause and is back in Portland to rehab for a year, make a comeback, then have the choice to re-enter free agency in 2027. The Blazers are going to be a chore to play against with their defense, but offensively, this projects to be a team that struggles to create advantages consistently. Last ranking: 23 Free agency: PG Monte Morris (unrestricted), PF Bol Bol (unrestricted), SF Damion Lee (unrestricted), PG Collin Gillespie (re-signed) Additions: C Khaman Maluach (draft), SG Jalen Green (trade), C Mark Williams (trade), PF Dillon Brooks (trade), PF Nigel Hayes-Davis Departures: PG Tyus Jones, C Mason Plumlee, PG Vasilije Micić (traded), SF Cody Martin (waived), SG Bradley Beal, PF Kevin Durant (trade) Midsummer summary: This team was in the NBA Finals four years ago and was the top seed in the West three years ago. The Suns traded for Durant and Beal about four months apart two years ago. It's all over now. Durant's traded, and they ate Beal's contract because that's what happens when you acquire a no-trade clause and slaughter a player's value afterward. The assist-turnover merchants whom Phoenix brought in last year, Jones and Morris, were not retained. Phoenix replaced one former Hornets center (Mason Plumlee) with another (Mark Williams), and the Suns decided Khaman Maluach played at Duke like Plumlee and Williams, so they drafted him too. (For those wondering, yes, former Hornets center Nick Richards is still here.) Brooks (not MarShon Brooks) replaces Durant at power forward, while Green essentially backfills Beal, bumping Devin Booker to point guard yet again. As it stands now, the promoted Gillespie is the only traditional point guard on the roster. Advertisement Last ranking: 27 Free agency: SG Brandon Boston Jr. (unrestricted), PF Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (unrestricted), PG Elfrid Payton (unrestricted) Additions: PG Jeremiah Fears (draft), PF Derik Queen (draft), C Kevon Looney, PG Jordan Poole (trade), SF Saddiq Bey (trade) Departures: SF Bruce Brown, SG Antonio Reeves (waived), CJ McCollum (trade), PF Kelly Olynyk (trade) Midsummer summary: It's already rough when you give up a potential 2026 lottery pick for the right to draft Queen, a talented big whom New Orleans likely sees as a power forward more than a center. Then Queen suffered a wrist injury that may delay the start of his rookie season. Such is the torture that is the Pelicans. Dejounte Murray won't begin the season while recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, which should allow lottery pick Fears to get plenty of minutes. Poole was acquired in place of McCollum, and Poole should probably start at point guard in a lineup that includes Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Herbert Jones and Yves Missi. Looney left Golden State after a decade, and he should be the replacement for Robinson-Earl as a backup center. Queen replaces Olynyk, while Fears replaces Payton. Bey, who did not play last year in Washington while recovering from a torn ACL, replaces Brown. There is plenty of size here, but the defense will be a concern, and so will the offense when Williamson starts to miss time. Last ranking: 28 Free agency: SG Seth Curry (unrestricted), PF Taj Gibson (unrestricted), PG Tre Mann (re-signed) Additions: SF Kon Knueppel, SF Liam McNeeley, SG Pat Connaughton (trade), C Mason Plumlee, PG Spencer Dinwiddie, SG Collin Sexton (trade) Departures: C Mark Williams (trade), C Jusuf Nurkić (trade), SG Josh Okogie Midsummer summary: The summer league champions! The most important addition to the team is fourth pick Knueppel, who replaces Okogie and could have a pathway to starting considering Josh Green's shoulder surgery. It should be between Knueppel and Sexton, who was acquired in a trade that sent Nurkić to Utah. Sexton replaces Curry, while Plumlee replaces Nurkić. Charlotte acquired first-round rookie McNeeley in a draft-day deal that sent center Williams to Phoenix, while signing Dinwiddie, who takes Gibson's vacated roster spot. Charlotte also acquired Connaughton and re-signed Mann, so something has to give. There are way too many guards on this team, like Nick Smith Jr. It remains to be seen how DaQuan Jeffries and Moussa Diabaté remain with the Hornets considering their non-guaranteed contracts and the excess contracts on the team, even before they consider what to do with their second-round picks. Last ranking: 30 Free agency: TBD Additions: SF Ace Bailey (draft), PG Walter Clayton Jr. (draft), PF Kyle Anderson (trade), C Kevin Love (trade), C Jusuf Nurkić (trade) Departures: PF John Collins (trade), SG Johnny Juzang (waived), SG Jordan Clarkson, SG Collin Sexton (trade) Midsummer summary: The Jazz went with the high-ceiling player in the draft, selecting Bailey fifth. Bailey basically replaces Clarkson on the roster. Later in the first round, Utah went with national champion Clayton, who takes Sexton's vacated roster spot. Sexton was traded to Charlotte for Nurkić, the appetizer to a three-team trade that sent Collins to LA and Kyle Anderson to Utah. There must have been a UCLA quota on the roster, because Johnny Juzang has been waived and Kevin Love is not expected to play in Utah. Taylor Hendricks is still recovering from his gruesome leg injury suffered early last season. Utah is somehow even bigger than last season's team, but how much better the Jazz can expect to be will come down to the progression of their growing developmental corps. Nine of Utah's top 13 players were in the last four drafts. Last ranking: 29 Free agency: PF Khris Middleton (option exercised), PG Malcolm Brogdon (unrestricted) Additions: PG Tre Johnson (draft), SF Will Riley (draft), C Marvin Bagley III, SF Cam Whitmore (trade), SG CJ McCollum (trade), SF Dillon Jones (trade), SG Malaki Branham (trade) Departures: SG Colby Jones (trade), PG Anthony Gill (waived), C Richaun Holmes (waived), SG Marcus Smart (waived), PG Jordan Poole (trade), SF Saddiq Bey (trade) Advertisement Midsummer summary: How's this for a youth movement: 10 of Washington's 15 standard contracts are occupied by first-round picks from the last four drafts. The exceptions are Middleton, who opted in to the final year of his contract; McCollum, who was traded by New Orleans to Washington for Poole; Corey Kispert, who finally has a shooting friend on this roster in the form of sixth pick Johnson; Justin Champagnie, who has a non-guaranteed contract; and Bagley, who replaces Holmes and is the only true big on a standard contract besides Alex Sarr. Johnson and Riley replace Brogdon and Smart, while 2023 Rockets first-round pick Whitmore and 2024 Thunder first-round pick Jones replace Gill and Jones. A top training camp battle will be determining who should start next to McCollum between Johnson and Carrington. Last ranking: 26 Free agency: SG Cam Thomas (restricted), SF Jalen Wilson (option exercised), SG Keon Johnson (option exercised), C Day'Ron Sharpe (re-signed), PG Tyrese Martin (option exercised), SF Maxwell Lewis (waived), C Drew Timme (option exercised), SG De'Anthony Melton (unrestricted) Additions: PG Egor Demin (draft), PG Nolan Traoré (draft), SG Drake Powell (draft), PG Ben Saraf (draft), PF Danny Wolf (draft), PF Michael Porter Jr. (trade), SF Terance Mann (trade) Departures: PG D'Angelo Russell, SF Cameron Johnson, PF Trendon Watford Midsummer summary: This team used five first-round picks in June, all on players who are highly unlikely to be efficient offensive players throughout most of the 2025-26 season. Denim, Traoré and Saraf are all point guards. Denim is tall, Traoré is fast and Saraf is left-handed. There will be a quiz in the afternoon. Wolf would be a point guard if he had never grown. Powell will never be a point guard; he is here because he has elite physical attributes for a perimeter defender. As far as the serious 'veteran' affairs: Thomas is a restricted free agent. I'm not going to comment on his passing ability, but I will point out that if he is back with the Nets, he is going to score a lot of points if he can stay on the floor; Thomas played in only 25 games last season. Brooklyn traded Johnson to Denver for Porter, who might be the only other player on the team who averages more than 10 shots per game. The Brooklyn-born Mann is also here now. This team is built to tank aggressively, especially if it finds minutes for all of the ballhandling rookies. (Top photo of Mike Brown: Ishika Samant / Getty Images)
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Clippers rookie ties Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's NBA record without even playing a game
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander just won the NBA MVP and NBA Finals for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He's got company. Los Angeles Clippers rookie Yanic Konan-Niederhauser has tied SGA atop an NBA leaderboard without even playing a game. Both players have 18 characters on the backs of their jerseys, counting the hyphen and the 17 letters in their elongated last names. MORE: Meet Yanic Konan-Niederhauser, Clippers' first-round pick who is a giant in the paint The Clippers picked Konan-Niederhauser with the No. 30 overall pick in last month's NBA Draft to end the first round. He was born in Switzerland and played pro ball in Germany. YKN's college career began at Northern Illinois before finishing up at Penn State. MORE: LeBron James trade, buyout rumors take 180-degree turn He's a 7-footer who averaged 12.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting 61 percent from the field with the Nittany Lions. Now, he can learn from Ivica Zubac and Brook Lopez with the Clippers. Their five-letter last names don't even add up close to Konan-Niederhauser, so he'll have to figure out how to carry that many letters on his back by himself. MORE NBA NEWS: Syracuse legend Carmelo Anthony named greatest college basketball player of the millenium Lakers don't want former No. 1 pick in a trade Victor Wembanyama's real reason for training with Chinese monks revealed Pacers' All-Star seeking NBA comeback after 2 years missed from injury Bradley Beal's price was right for the Clippers Knicks haven't given up on Giannis Antetokounmpo trade
CTV News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
ADVERTISEMENT Video Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to be honoured by hometown of Hamilton on Aug. 7 City of Hamilton Director of Tourism and Culture Lisa Abbott talks about how NBA superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be honoured on Shai Rally Day on Aug. 7.
Video City of Hamilton Director of Tourism and Culture Lisa Abbott talks about how NBA superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be honoured on Shai Rally Day on Aug. 7.
