AROUND the NBA:

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Jason Kidd joins ESPN’s coverage roster this season and will contribute across both game and studio coverage. Widely regarded as one of the greatest point guards in NBA history, Kidd was a 10-time NBA All-Star, five-time All-NBA First Team selection, NBA Champion and member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. Former NBA Champion Jeremy Lin also joins ESPN’s roster after contributing to the network’s coverage of the 2026 NBA Finals and NBA Summer League. Lin will appear across ESPN’s studio programming, including NBA Today.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Hunter Patterson: Cade Cunningham on the Pistons: “I still feel like we’re a little slept on, man. I still feel like people don’t really give us the credit that maybe we’ve earned. But again, that’s the beauty of it. I think that’s part of being in Detroit.” Asked Cade Cunningham about Pistons’ movement offensively during preseason: “I think it makes us be able to play a better tempo and gets us easier shots, no matter who’s on the floor. … I’m excited about it and I’m excited for us to continue to get better at it.” Cade about Ausar playing on ball: “AT is somebody that can pass the ball at a super high level, can handle the ball. It’s just natural for us to use him more in that light and allow him to explore more of that. He hasn’t had enough of that in his time with us.”

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[michaeltex]

Per Tim McMahon via ESPN...

The Spanish club Basket Zaragoza is challenging Oklahoma City Thunder rookie lottery pick Aday Mara's eligibility to play in the NBA this season, stating that he remains under contract with its team for the 2026-27 season, a contention disputed by the Thunder.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

NBA Courtside: Byron Scott on DeMarcus Cousins comments saying Larry Bird wasn’t doing it like Cooper Flagg: “Cooper Flagg don’t got sh*t on Larry Bird. I’m gonna tell you that straight up. Larry Bird to me still is and I even hate saying it like this the coldest white boy I’ve ever seen play basketball because of the fact that he hated for white boys to even guard him because he thought that was disrespectful.” It’s definitely a tough to even compare a guy to Larry Bird that’s only played one season let him play his career out then let’s have this debate at the end of his career.

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[HoosierDaddyKid]

OKC will heave 220+ million for their top 6 players (SGA, Chet, J Dub, Hartenstein, Wallace, Caruso) in 27-28 season...huge pressure to win it all this season imo.

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[windjc]

OKC will heave 220+ million for their top 6 players (SGA, Chet, J Dub, Hartenstein, Wallace, Caruso) in 27-28 season...huge pressure to win it all this season imo.

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Absolutely. And if they fail who is going to pay them to get out if that situation?

[michaeltex]

Absolutely. And if they fail who is going to pay them to get out if that situation?

Given all the upcoming picks OKC has, and knowing they'll need slots for whatever selections they do make, some of their guys may be playing to maximize their trade value. Although we'll hear terms like "key contributor off the bench".

According to BR they, for the 27-28 season are at $237M for 12 contracts, but five of those are TOs (Jay Williams, Topic, Sorber, McCain, Mitchell) worth ~$31M. Wallace is up for a rookie extension after this year or he goes to FA (rFA?). For reference, they are at roughly $215M starting this season with 14 contracts.

For the starting season, Tax line is $200M, 1st Apron is ~$209M and 2nd Apron is ~$222M. NBA is projecting a 6.7% cap increase for next season, which would raise the 2nd Apron to ~$237M.

In the eye-opener category - for the trio of Jalen Williams, Holmgren and SGA, their salary committments are (roughly):

26-27 - $124M
27-28 - $150.5M
28-29 - $161M
29-30 - $174M
30-31 - $185M (SGA has a $75.6M PO)

Note that SGA signed a supermax extension, so his numbers may actually drive the total up. 

If OKC plans on keeping this core together, they HAVE to keep bringing in cheap picks, develop them for a couple seasons, then trade them for future picks to keep fueling the pipeline.

[SkenfromLMF]

Absolutely. And if they fail who is going to pay them to get out if that situation?

There is always New Orleans...

[windjc]

Given all the upcoming picks OKC has, and knowing they'll need slots for whatever selections they do make, some of their guys may be playing to maximize their trade value. Although we'll hear terms like "key contributor off the bench".

According to BR they, for the 27-28 season are at $237M for 12 contracts, but five of those are TOs (Jay Williams, Topic, Sorber, McCain, Mitchell) worth ~$31M. Wallace is up for a rookie extension after this year or he goes to FA (rFA?). For reference, they are at roughly $215M starting this season with 14 contracts.

For the starting season, Tax line is $200M, 1st Apron is ~$209M and 2nd Apron is ~$222M. NBA is projecting a 6.7% cap increase for next season, which would raise the 2nd Apron to ~$237M.

In the eye-opener category - for the trio of Jalen Williams, Holmgren and SGA, their salary committments are (roughly):

26-27 - $124M
27-28 - $150.5M
28-29 - $161M
29-30 - $174M
30-31 - $185M (SGA has a $75.6M PO)

Note that SGA signed a supermax extension, so his numbers may actually drive the total up. 

If OKC plans on keeping this core together, they HAVE to keep bringing in cheap picks, develop them for a couple seasons, then trade them for future picks to keep fueling the pipeline.

What if any of these 4 get injured? What if Wallace under performs this year? We’ve seen teams do not want to take on salary. I wonder if the OK owner is trying to make up for trading Durant, Westbrook and Harding when he had them all?

Now he is going with a super high risk play. If any of these players don’t live up to their salaries OK is stuck with them.

[Chicagojk]

AJ Dybansta is out for the opener with an ankle injury.  A perplexed AD is wondering why someone else can get injured and miss a game.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Absolutely. And if they fail who is going to pay them to get out if that situation?

There are about 28 other teams in the league that would love to have that problem. Oh no, we have too many good players. Someone help us.

[windjc]

There are about 28 other teams in the league that would love to have that problem.  Oh no, we have too many good players.  Someone help us.

How is Denver doing with cap? Just a few years ago they were predicted as the next dynasty. 

My point, try to follow, is that OK is playing a more dangerous game than they need to with the talent they have. 

There is a way they could be just as good without risking everything by extending everyone.

The irony is, since you enjoy playing the grumpy-old-man stique, if the Mavs were in the Thunders shoes, you’d be posting daily about how the walls were going to crash in. And you’d be hating on Chet and Jalin and lamenting that the team only ever won 1 title with multiple hall of famers over the last 15 years.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

I think the East is deeper than the West this season. They may have closed the gap. The only locks out West are the Thunder and Spurs, maybe Denver. Every one else is in the next tier.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I just learned the NBA season is starting right freaking now. Let's go

[KillerLeft]

I just learned the NBA season is starting right freaking now.  Let's go

The Mavs' early schedule is BRUTAL. I'm not looking forward to the atmosphere around here between tomorrow night and mid-November.

[Smitty]

@LegionHoops
Joe Mazzulla on starting lineups: “I think people care too much, it only lasts five minutes.” (@NoaDalzell)

[KillerLeft]

@LegionHoops
Joe Mazzulla on starting lineups: “I think people care too much, it only lasts five minutes.” (@NoaDalzell)

Yeah, it's about matchups, combinations of skillsets and total minutes played, with more importance placed on closing lineups than starting lineups. Any serious NBA fan knows this. 

However, it's also true that this understanding is usually (not always, but usually) baked into debate about the starting lineup, and that this debate is almost always used as an efficient shorthand to discuss variations on the above criteria. Ironically, I think the players, themselves, care who starts and gets their name called more than fans do. Willful semantic stupidity about this phenomenon which for any thinking person is clearly evident is condescending and tiresome, whether it comes from coaches, media or fans.

[Knutsen]

@LegionHoops
Joe Mazzulla on starting lineups: “I think people care too much, it only lasts five minutes.” (@NoaDalzell)

People care a lot about things that only last five minutes.

[windjc]

After today’s game between the Pistons and Celtics it’s pretty obvious that Detroit is going to be a major title contender. That 23-0 dominate run in the 4th quarter - very few teams could do that - showcased their depth and talent.

Meanwhile the Celtics were disappointing. I wouldn’t be surprised if they finished in the bottom 5 in the East.

Ha, just kidding. Figured I’d get NB4 the other 1000+ silly emotional quick takes come pouring in over the next couple of weeks.






(Also waiting for the first ironic response where someone actually agrees with my satirical take)

[rocky164]

The Mavs' early schedule is BRUTAL. I'm not looking forward to the atmosphere around here between tomorrow night and mid-November.

Honestly, looking at the first 6 games 1-5 might be the best we can hope for.  0-6 is DEFINITELY possible.  2-4 would be AMAZING!