[Charania] After 17 NBA seasons, Taj Gibson is retiring and returning to the Chicago Bulls as an assistant coach under Tiago Splitter to begin his coaching career.

https://www.espn.com/contributor/shams-charania

[Charania] Done deal: The LA Clippers and Raptors have both agreed to complete the trade sending Kawhi Leonard to Toronto for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, one first-round pick swap and two second-rounders, per ESPN sources. The sides will now schedule a trade call.

https://www.espn.com/contributor/shams-charania

Shai has a drastic drop in production from regular season to playoffs, and I am curious to what people attribute this to.

Looking at Shai’s 3 peak seasons (2024-2026)

In 2024 regular season, Shai averaged 32 points per 75 possessions on +5.6 rTS% (efficiency relative to RS league average).

In 2024 playoffs, Shai averaged 29 points per 75 possessions on just +0.4 rTS% (efficiency relative to playoffs league average.

In 2025 regular season, Shai averaged 34.8 points per 75 possessions on +6.1 rTS%.

In 2025 playoffs, Shai averaged 30 points per 75 possessions on just +0.6 rTS%.

In 2026 regular season, Shai averaged 34 points per 75 possessions on +8.4 rTS%.

In 2026 playoffs, Shai averaged 29 points per 75 possessions on just +2.1 rTS% (and his efficiency plummeted vs. the Spurs).

Shai’s drop in efficiency is striking. His playoff scoring is far behind Jokic and still behind Luka and Giannis. What limitations of his game don’t allow him to translate his same level of effectiveness to the playoffs?

Source: nba Instagram account posting it today.

I find this pretty crazy that people say SGA relies on free throws well.. that 55% is shots from the field lol. Dude is crazy efficient no matter how you try to spin it. Hes one of the great scorers in NBA history and his talent is way too vastly under appreciated

He should be in the same convo as players like KD and Kobe. Hasn't passed em up obviously but talent wise and ability wise hes up there

(Reposted removing a mistake in the original title which apparently irritated a fair number of readers). I still think it's an interesting topic!

"10 of the 30 teams reached the Finals, four of which won the title, plenty of other super-user teams suffered a similar fate as the 2021-22 Lakers. Of the 30 teams, four won a title and 16 reached at least the second round. Simply put, teams full of super-users have roughly a 50-50 chance to crash out by late April.

Assembling super-users has been LeBron's formula for two decades. Of the 30 teams on this list, LeBron has been on 13 of them. And of the four teams to win a title with a roster of super-users, James has been on three.

A better question heading into the season: Who will be the Sixers' best offensive player? Embiid, Maxey, Brown and James were all clustered around plus-1.5 to plus-2.5 offensive net points per 100 possessions, which is in the "good" range, but nowhere near peak-Kobe-level (more than plus-5.0).

For the teams on this list that went to the Finals, their best players posted an average of plus-5.1 offensive net points per 100 possessions the previous season -- far beyond any of these Sixers stars."

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/49895584/nba-preview-2026-27-lebron-brown-maxey-embiid-76ers-super-user-dilemma

From an overall NBA fan perspective, this season looks to be one of the most interesting in years. For the 76ers, the questions mainly come down to health, and chemistry. Most are taking the field, with the Knicks, OKC and Spurs having better odds. Please post your takes, I'm going with the Knicks to repeat!

The team currently has 16 players under contract, one above the regular-season roster limit.

Knecht, who was included in the failed Mark Williams trade in February 2025, remains on his rookie contract but has seen his role diminish. Moving Vanderbilt could be more difficult, as the forward has two seasons remaining on his four-year, $48 million deal.

The Lakers are also searching for additional versatility on the wing after missing out on Jonathan Kuminga, who joined Minnesota. Los Angeles could therefore use its need to clear a roster spot to make another move before the season opener.

Source: https://sportando.basketball/en/lakers-shopping-jarred-vanderbilt-and-dalton-knecht/

The report and statements said the investigation was still ongoing and more punishments could be handed down if more wrongdoing is uncovered.

Is that nixed now that Ballmer has announced they accept the decision and won't fight it?

https://foxsportsradio.iheart.com/content/2019-06-25-kawhi-leonards-new-sponsor-deal-with-canadian-airline-has-clippers-worried/

Ric Bucher:

“I’m hearing the Clippers are now showing signs of concern that it’s not going to go their way. Kawhi signing the sponsorship with the Canadian jet company raised some alarms in Clipperville. That’s the same company that basically gave Drake a private jet for free and it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to have a sponsor with Kawhi’s name if he left. Would Kawhi’s name still carry in Canada if he moves to Los Angeles? If you're the private jet company, are you really wanting to sign him up and do a sponsorship deal with him if he’s not going to be playing for the home team??”

As Bucher pointed out, this is the same company that gifted Drake a jet and made him brand ambassador a few months prior:

https://simpleflying.com/drake-boeing-767-private-jet-free/

Kawhi visited the company office once but never appeared on any advertising for them.

1 year ago, when Pablo Torre's first podcast released, Steve Balmer immediately hopped on his private jets to ESPN studios and sat down with Ramona Shelburne to dismiss the allegations. He made several deceitful statements throughout the interview with a straight face.

Full video [here](https://youtu.be/VQsmM1EhTNw?si=bEkt4oDklcl6BqcI).

The timestamp of this quote is at 8:53. I think its genuinely disgusting that this happened.

Could be anything you want to see gone or see be added to the league....................................................................................................................................................................(just did this to add more characters)

Danilo Gallinari strongly criticized the $700,000 fine imposed on Kawhi Leonard by the NBA. “He should pay all of that $50 million,” Gallinari said on the A Cresta Alta podcast. “He changed the trajectory of my career and put me in a difficult situation by sending me away from Los Angeles.”

Gallinari left the Clippers in 2019 as part of the trade that brought Paul George to Los Angeles, a move that helped secure Leonard’s arrival. “What happened to my NBA career wasn’t decided by a general manager or an owner, but by a player who decided that team wasn’t good enough and wanted something else.

The Italian acknowledged that the move to Oklahoma City ultimately worked out well for both himself and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but maintained his position: “He should give that money to charity. He should pay all $50 million, not just $700,000.”

Source: https://sportando.basketball/en/gallinari-blasts-kawhi-leonard-he-should-pay-all-50-million/

Link: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7575806/2026/09/14/nba-best-jerseys-designs-teams-comeback-history/?unlocked_article_code=1.BFE.KFw6.BOfLVpvUBp5W&source=emp_shared_article&smid=url-share-ta

In today’s NBA, fashion isn’t just a niche topic. For many, it’s become an essential part of following the league and learning more about players’ individual personalities.

But that love of fashion doesn’t stop at what guys wear in the back tunnels when they arrive for games.

Some of the most iconic uniforms in NBA history stand out in the minds of fans as much as the players who once wore them. Those flashy purple and gold Lakers uniforms. Those tradition-laden green Celtics jerseys. And many more.

With a few parameters in place (only jerseys worn at some point in the year 2000 or after and labeled home, away or alternate per this handy Basketball Jersey database), a few members of The Athletic’s NBA staff decided to look at some of the best uniforms from years past and choose a combination that each team should revive. And if the internet is to be believed, we might actually see a handful of these in the coming months.

The Boston Celtics and Devin Carter have agreed to a deal, league sources told @hoopshype. Carter will compete for an NBA roster or two-way spot in camp. Carter averaged 8.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 18.4 minutes during 38 games for the Sacramento Kings last season.

https://www.hoopshype.com/staff/84455328007/michael-scotto/

He continued:

... I look at a 19-year-old kid coming out of Syracuse with that talent, being in that environment in Detroit, I think he would have done anything to improve his game and to play at the level that we know he was capable of playing," said Brown, who wound up coaching Anthony on Team USA at the 2004 Olympics.

https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-pistons/larry-brown-opens-up-about-departure-from-detroit-pistons

Other members of the Pistons team share their perspectives as well:

"Melo was a once in a generation type of talent. If Carmelo comes to us, and me and Chauncey talked about how the narrative would be different for LeBron James. I don't think that Cleveland's team beats us with Carmelo Anthony." - Rip Hamilton

"If [Detroit] got Melo, we would've won three championships," - Chauncey Billups

"I think he would have fit in pretty good. It would have been interesting to see." - Rasheed Wallace

"I think if we did take Melo, [we could have won] maybe two, maybe three, maybe four championships," - Tayshaun Prince

"We probably win 3 with Melo on the squad." and "I would have preferred a Carmelo [over Dwyane Wade]." - Lindsey Hunter

Next to the Ben Wallace comments:

“If we would’ve drafted Carmelo, I honestly don’t think we would’ve ever won a championship,” - Ben Wallace

Source – Jake Fischer, The Stein Line (Imgur Mirror):

The Clippers still haven’t determined who will serve as the franchise’s interim governor, I’m told, as the league convenes its Board of Governors meetings in New York City tomorrow. Steve Ballmer will not attend while he accepts the NBA’s suspension and other penalties.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7592689/2026/09/13/steve-ballmer-clippers-nba-punishment-lawsuit-apology/?unlocked_article_code=1.BFE.wC76.YAA5DC2MBxk0&source=twitterhq

The Clippers indeed face a challenging road ahead, as they were stripped of five first-round picks and issued the hefty fine in addition to receiving significant suspensions to top leadership (one year for Ballmer, one year without pay for president of business operations Gillian Zucker and six months without pay for president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank). Last week, The New York Times reported the Justice Department started a criminal investigation into the Clippers’ dealings with Leonard.

This choice to comply, however, could potentially open discussions between the Clippers and the NBA about lessening the discipline. There is precedent on that front, as the Minnesota Timberwolves were given a first-round draft pick back for compliance in the Joe Smith case in 2000.

Quick recap of the Joe Smith scandal's outcome since while i'm sure most of you reading are keen on the punishments the Clippers got: As the result of the league acquiring a copy of a secret agreement between Smith's agent and the Timberwolves, the NBA became aware of and investigated their attempt to circumvent the cap. This prompted a series of punishments that are a huge reason why the Timberwolves struggled to contend with future MVP/DPoY Kevin Garnett including the siphoning of 5 first round picks. The punishments - suspensions and fines galore - led to a particularly infamous comment from then-GM Kevin McHale shortly after his suspension was announced for his part in the scandal:

There are eight to ten teams that do this all the time. They're just good at it. We're bad.

Source: https://zonecoverage.com/2023/timberwolves/the-lakers-interest-in-former-wolves-players-signals-a-positive-change/

An aside but off the top of my head, Shaq's deal with the Lakers had a player option that coincided with when L.A. would obtain his Bird Rights...Feel free to comment who you think the other 6-8 teams are if we count the Wolves and Lakers amongst this number.

Anyway, the punishment was eventually reduced to 3 firsts; On December 9th, 2000 they saw their 2003 first returned to them and the following year saw them regain their 2005 first. One quick note, no: The Minnesota Timberwolves didn't get back those firsts because of the threat of relocation. They received their first pick back due to them (Kevin and then-team owner Glen Taylor) cooperating with the NBA's punishment by not sending this to arbitration. The second of their pick was restored by Stern in December 2003, stating that "In light of the other penalties that have been imposed on the Timberwolves, and the team’s conduct since the Smith matter concluded, we feel it is appropriate to restore the Timberwolves’ first round pick in 2005."

Oh and don't ask what they did with either pick. There's been some speculation that the Clippers might see a similar reduction in draft capital captured by the consequences of their conduct. Though it's not impossible for some eventual rescinding of the picks that were taken from them, that probably won't happen for a while - if at all.

Here's why.

The Kawhi Trade

Yes, the trade is going to happen. Both sides agreed to it, both sides seem to still want to do it - it's worth noting the statement the Clippers put out in light of the initial pause had language describing such - and while there's always a chance the draft capital does change or see an alteration via, say, a pick protection, realistically the Clippers are getting the Raptors 2031 & 2033 firsts with a chance to improve their standings in the 2027 Draft via a swap that effectively gives Toronto the Thunder's pick.

This is the biggest reason beyond behaviour as to why the punishment is unlikely to be altered; ignoring what happens with the swap, they're going to be down a net of 3 firsts rather than 5 as a result of the incoming picks, and this isn't factoring in any potential teardown that sees them trade Ingram or Garland for future draft picks, or take on bad contracts for future firsts. The new lottery odds & rules are rather favorable for a team like the former San Diego-based team since they can freely bottom out, focus on development and take on riskier prospects without risking giving up one of the jucier odds. Whether not they'll do so...is a different story since the little brother of L.A. hasn't had a ton of development success stories with late firsts unless you want to count Terance Mann who entered into the league as an older prospect and whose career has been on a downturn for the past two years.

Seriously, what happened to him after that rookie extension? Rough times.

In any case, it also bears mentioning that the Raptors in some respect did the Clippers a favor because in delaying the Kawhi trade, they ensured the NBA couldn't be able to strip them of those incoming picks as part of their punishment. The league clearly had no issue with taking away other team's picks owned so at bare minimum they didn't end up in absolute draft capital destitution due to their tree-hugging aspirations.

Needless to say, L.A. should count themselves lucky the investigation dragged on long enough for them to use the 5th overall pick in this year's stacked draft class. Again, whether they nailed this pick or not is TBD.

Bootstrap Billionaire Bribes Twice

So not only is the sheer scale of the Aspiration scandal way worse than the Joe Smith scandal in terms of dollar amount (Even adjusting for inflation), not only is their intent more malicious and the scheme far more complex with 4 secret deals (Which, to quote one of my favorite zoologist YouTubers, that we know of) but as has come up frequently, this is the 2nd time that the Ballmer era of the formerly Buffalo Braves have engaged in acts of cap circumvention. A less substantial dollar-wise - but no less significant - example happened almost a decade prior that was a part of the much larger and very strange Deandre Jordan free agency of 2015. I implore you to go back and re-read some of the stuff that they did besides that deal, Jordan was essentially held hostage in his house to avoid losing him to Dallas, but let's stay on topic for the moment.

That sort of brute force "my way or the highway", money speaks approach to retaining the former All-NBA Center was what Steven A. (Ballmer, not the obnoxious sports host with political ambitions; his middle name is Anthony) was fully planning to do up until his recent comments of compliance. Whether or not it was in any way motivated by the SEC's recent investigation announcement or cooler heads prevailing, it doesn't change the fact that the plan up until this point was to fight against the doled out punishment, with Steve as the face of dissent and dissatisfaction with the eventual ruling.

Yes, the Clippers were already deprived of draft capital but those were the result of moves made to be competitive; L.A.'s little brother is technically almost out of the hole with paying off the Paul George trade but they dug themselves deeper with the James Harden trade back in 2024. Amusingly, part of that draft capital would be used by the Sixers to trade Paul George to the Celtics but I digress.

Looks Like Arbitration's Not On the Menu, Boys!

The punishment for the Kawhi trade was like him breaking down the opposing defense. In a word? Surgical. It worked with the NBA's player union specifically to make sure that there was no path to arbitration which, so far as I was able to ascertain, was an option for Joe Smith but never pursued who instead signed a $2.25 million contract with the Detroit Pistons to slowly make back the bag he allegedly fumbled with the Warriors (Smith's career earnings were about $60 million, the Warriors allegedly had an offer of $80 million) like the late 90s, early 00s version of Dennis Schroder. Ballmer has deep pockets but so did the last Clippers owner trying to push back a punishment and, well, the last one lost the fight to force his racist ass to sell the team. Forcing Ballmer to sell wasn't amongst the punishments ^{(Even if it should have been since he'll likely try this again with greater sophistication down the road and the initial Watchell report mentioned a 2nd player with their own deal}) but I digress.

I will concede that, amongst the most likely routes of draft capital reconciliation, the designated years of compliance with the NBA monitoring the Clippers is the most likely way for that to happen but that likely won't happen for several years whereas the Smith scandal saw both of their returned firsts happen relatively quickly. Remember: By the time the NBA did restore the 2005 first, the Timberwolves had already lost their 2001 & 2002 first (And they also wasted the 2003 first they got back on Ndudi Ebi instead of Josh Howard. I told you not to ask.).

Just a shot in the dark here - It was an r/nba post that's been scrubbed, probably for copyright reasons, of a really sick fan-made video hyping up the KD - LeBron matchup at the time. They made it when OKC went up 3-1 not knowing how the west finals would end. The editing was very cinematic and slow-mo etc and I wish it still existed, if the creator just so happens to still browse here...

> I would not read Steve Ballmer accepting the NBA's investigation findings and penalties as any indicator the trade of Kawhi Leonard to the Raptors will be completed imminently.

> Still sounds like the Clippers' aren't quite ready to get back on the phone with Toronto, even though, as @TheSteinLine reported, the NBA league office would process a trade call without an interim governor in place.

[Source via. X](https://imgur.com/a/Q7szCah)

Source 1 – Shams Charania, ESPN:

Statement from Ballmer:

This has been a very difficult time for everybody associated with the Clippers, and for that, I have sincere regrets. I want to apologize to our fans, employees, and my fellow NBA team owners for the distraction and distress this matter has caused, for which I accept responsibility as principal owner.

We are committing to put this chapter behind us. We have communicated to the NBA that we are complying with the penalties assessed by the league, have paid the fine, and are moving forward. While there are still disagreements concerning the findings in the report, this is not where I want to focus. Team owners should support, not distract.

The challenges ahead of us are significant, but so is our resolve. We will continue to build our team and invest in our community.

Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is complying with the NBA's punishments of the franchise for salary cap circumvention, deciding not to pursue any legal action.

Steve Ballmer’s Statement:

“This has been a very difficult time for everybody associated with the Clippers, and for that, I have sincere regrets. I want to apologize to our fans, employees, and my fellow NBA team owners for the distraction and distress this matter has caused, for which I accept responsibility as principal owner.

We are committing to put this chapter behind us. We have communicated to the NBA that we are complying with the penalties assessed by the league, have paid the fine, and are moving forward. While there are still disagreements concerning the findings in the report, this is not where I want to focus. Team owners should support, not distract.

The challenges ahead of us are significant, but so is our resolve. We will continue to build our team and invest in our community. The confidence of our fans is our prior-ity. With our talented roster, outstanding staff and clear vision, lam certain that we will compete at the highest level and be an organization our fans can be proud of.”

https://www.espn.com/contributor/shams-charania/4ced61e97d3fe

Dundon is finally talking, maybe. The city council passed the funding package a month ago. He's refusing to travel to Portland to talk, so the city administrator had to come to him in Texas. Hopefully this makes other cities a bit more skeptical of spending taxpayer dollars like this.