NBA Season 2025-26

[ChillyWilly]

The Bulls are 4-0 and currently up 9 vs. New York in the 4th. Huh??

Giddey a beast!

[radiohead]

The Bulls are 4-0 and currently up 9 vs. New York in the 4th. Huh??

They could very well be the last undefeated team in the East! Cavs have now dropped 2 in a row and are ar 3-3. The East is gonna be crazy this year.

[slightly biased bias fan]

The Bulls are 4-0 and currently up 9 vs. New York in the 4th. Huh??

It might be an anomaly, but since Thibs has been sacked, the Knicks have been bleeding points.

They are averaging 115.4 opponent points per game.

[Goldstar88]

The Bulls are 4-0 and currently up 9 vs. New York in the 4th. Huh??

Giddey a beast!

He really is. In tonight?s win over the Knicks, Giddey had 32pts/10rebs/9ast with 0 TO?s. 12-21 from the field.

[Goldstar88]

Doncic is averaging 45pts/12rebs/8ast on 58/35/79 shooting splits.

Also, apparently Luka grew as he is now listed at 6?8. 

[Moranis]

Luka 1st player since Wilt to score at least 40 in each of his first 3 games of a season. Wilt did it twice and each time went past 3 games (5 and 7) 

[Phantom255x]

Trae Young gonna miss at least a month with an MCL injury.

I had Atlanta as a 6 seed but that was also with the idea of KP + Trae playing a "good enough" amount of the season (even if it was just around 60-70%). Now idk. KP has already missed a few games with some "illness" and doesn't have the kind of "durable" health history to begin with either.

[Who]

Trae Young gonna miss at least a month with an MCL injury.

I had Atlanta as a 6 seed but that was also with the idea of KP + Trae playing a "good enough" amount of the season (even if it was just around 60-70%). Now idk. KP has already missed a few games with some "illness" and doesn't have the kind of "durable" health history to begin with either.

Atlanta won the other night without Trae (7min only). They played

G: NAW, Keaton Wallace
G: D Daniels
F: Z Risacher, L Kennard
F: Jalen Johnson, Okongwu
C: Porzingis, Mo Gueye

Tha was their 9 man rotation without Trae.

An interesting starting unit with NAW in there. Light on offensive creativty but heavy on defense. That is a fantastic defensive backcourt with NAW and Dyson Daniels. Good defensive forward combo. Highly athletic and long 1-4. With a long shot blocking center in Porzingis. They will be a difficult team to play against.

I don't know much about Keaton Wallace. He is an unknown. They will need 20mpg out of him. If he can be solid for them, that is a fine 9 man rotation. If he cannot give them solid minutes, that team looks like it could fall apart whenever the starters go off the floor. Just not enough guard depth.

Risacher is athletic enough to play SG minutes. Let Okongwu play more PF minutes and give Mo Gueye more minutes. Let Jalen Johnson shift down to SF at times. That is another way to work around the lack of quality bench guards.

Jalen Johnson was already their primary ball-handler when Trae was off the floor last year. He usually ran the 2nd unit as the PG. Then they played guards who were more off-ball guys. So his ball-handling and passing ability at PF gives them a major asset in working around the lack of offensive creativity in the backcourt (NAW, D Daniels).

They might be able to still play at a .500 level with Trae. If those guys commit. Play hard D. Use their athleticism.

[Who]

Pacers got their 1st win of the season. That leaves New Orleans and Brooklyn as the only teams left without a win.

[Who]

On that Ja Morant fallout from the other day

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania

Suspension comes as a result of Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo challenging Morant's leadership and effort in a postgame exchange after loss to the Lakers on Friday night -- to which Morant responded in a tone deemed inappropriate, sources said.

Mark Giannotto
@mgiannotto

Ja Morant's coach held him accountable for playing like crap and he pouted. I'd argue this will be an encouraging development over time. Morant needs someone in his life to call him on his BS. Doesn't appear to be anyone in his inner circle willing to do it.

Chris Herrington
@ChrisHerrington

1 Nov
A visibly annoyed Ja Morant said "Go ask the coaching staff" when asked about what went wrong for him tonight.

Asked what the team could have done better, he said "according to them, probably don't play me," apparently alluding to something that had been said in the locker room

Some arguing JJJ quit on the team too. Team up double digits at half time. Morant scoreless 2nd half. JJJ 2pts. Both looked disengaged.

I am surprised Morant is having problems with the coach. I thought the coach was famous for having a high paced offense and had a lot of success with a speedy ball-handling PG. You would think his system / ideas would fit Morant well.

[Neurotic Guy]

On that Ja Morant fallout from the other day

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania

Suspension comes as a result of Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo challenging Morant's leadership and effort in a postgame exchange after loss to the Lakers on Friday night -- to which Morant responded in a tone deemed inappropriate, sources said.

Mark Giannotto
@mgiannotto

Ja Morant's coach held him accountable for playing like crap and he pouted. I'd argue this will be an encouraging development over time. Morant needs someone in his life to call him on his BS. Doesn't appear to be anyone in his inner circle willing to do it.

Chris Herrington
@ChrisHerrington

1 Nov
A visibly annoyed Ja Morant said "Go ask the coaching staff" when asked about what went wrong for him tonight.

Asked what the team could have done better, he said "according to them, probably don't play me," apparently alluding to something that had been said in the locker room

Some arguing JJJ quit on the team too. Team up double digits at half time. Morant scoreless 2nd half. JJJ 2pts. Both looked disengaged.

I am surprised Morant is having problems with the coach. I thought the coach was famous for having a high paced offense and had a lot of success with a speedy ball-handling PG. You would think his system / ideas would fit Morant well.

Sometimes people struggle with managing themselves, their stress, their impulses - regardless of the incentives that may be available in their lives.  As Ja moves into his upper twenties you have to hope that brain development takes a leap and he becomes more able to regulate his mind and mood. Money and talent do not solve these things.  A good support system can help, but conversely, a bad support system can prevent growth.  His history doesn?t bode well for getting it together.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

On that Ja Morant fallout from the other day

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania

Suspension comes as a result of Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo challenging Morant's leadership and effort in a postgame exchange after loss to the Lakers on Friday night -- to which Morant responded in a tone deemed inappropriate, sources said.

Mark Giannotto
@mgiannotto

Ja Morant's coach held him accountable for playing like crap and he pouted. I'd argue this will be an encouraging development over time. Morant needs someone in his life to call him on his BS. Doesn't appear to be anyone in his inner circle willing to do it.

Chris Herrington
@ChrisHerrington

1 Nov
A visibly annoyed Ja Morant said "Go ask the coaching staff" when asked about what went wrong for him tonight.

Asked what the team could have done better, he said "according to them, probably don't play me," apparently alluding to something that had been said in the locker room

Some arguing JJJ quit on the team too. Team up double digits at half time. Morant scoreless 2nd half. JJJ 2pts. Both looked disengaged.

I am surprised Morant is having problems with the coach. I thought the coach was famous for having a high paced offense and had a lot of success with a speedy ball-handling PG. You would think his system / ideas would fit Morant well.

My understanding is that the new coach runs an offensive scheme with NO on-ball screens, which obviously doesn't play into Morant's greatest strengths. I thought it was odd when they made that move last year.

It does fit the rest of the team though, including JJJ

[Who]

On that Ja Morant fallout from the other day

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania

Suspension comes as a result of Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo challenging Morant's leadership and effort in a postgame exchange after loss to the Lakers on Friday night -- to which Morant responded in a tone deemed inappropriate, sources said.

Mark Giannotto
@mgiannotto

Ja Morant's coach held him accountable for playing like crap and he pouted. I'd argue this will be an encouraging development over time. Morant needs someone in his life to call him on his BS. Doesn't appear to be anyone in his inner circle willing to do it.

Chris Herrington
@ChrisHerrington

1 Nov
A visibly annoyed Ja Morant said "Go ask the coaching staff" when asked about what went wrong for him tonight.

Asked what the team could have done better, he said "according to them, probably don't play me," apparently alluding to something that had been said in the locker room

Some arguing JJJ quit on the team too. Team up double digits at half time. Morant scoreless 2nd half. JJJ 2pts. Both looked disengaged.

I am surprised Morant is having problems with the coach. I thought the coach was famous for having a high paced offense and had a lot of success with a speedy ball-handling PG. You would think his system / ideas would fit Morant well.

My understanding is that the new coach runs an offensive scheme with NO on-ball screens, which obviously doesn't play into Morant's greatest strengths. I thought it was odd when they made that move last year.

It does fit the rest of the team though, including JJJ

I haven't watched the Grizzlies yet this season.

My understanding last year was that the Grizzlies had 2 assistant coaches preaching this type of basketball. One was inflexible in his system - the American coach. He was either fired or passed over for the head coaching job. I can't remember which one. And that he had more influence over what Taylor Jenkins was doing with the Grizzlies last year up until Jenkins was fired.

The 2nd assistant was the foreign coach who got the head coaching gig. He was more flexible in his offense. He loved the high tempo but had more variety in his actions / system to begin with + was more willing to adjust his system to his players. Which the American coach wasn't willing to do. One of the first things he did when becoming head coach late last season was bring in more PnR actions for Morant.

---------------

On the NBA stat page for PnR ball-handlers, they have Ja Morant 11th in the league for number of possessions per game in the PnR. Luka way out in front but he has played only 3 games. The 2nd-5th place guys are all around 11 per game. Morant is around 9 per game. He is equal to Tyrese Maxey. Just behind Trae Young. Ahead of Donovan Mitchell.

Morant would probably like more. To be up there in that 2nd-5th range but he is still getting a high amount at 9 per / 11th highest in league.

----------

Oh cool. NBA stat page has team stats as well. I don't know how they are judging these PnR ball-handler numbers. They seem way too low to me. Both for individuals and teams. Anyway, Memphis is tied 10th in the NBA for the most PnR ball-handling actions in the league.

So it doesn't look like they are running that offense anymore that had no PnRs. That Taylor Jenkins was (forced) to run. That the American assistant was pushing. I think he was the former head coach of St Josephs. I remember videos about his offense in college revolutionizing basketball about 4-5 years ago before he moved to the NBA.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMdPLhA7drI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEsCcco17ho

[Who]

Brutal twitter post

Morant = 5-32 3PTA for 15.6%
Morant has more air balls from 3 than makes.

Then they put together a video of his airballed 3s.

https://x.com/BrickCenter_/status/1984674354907791409

Actually, I only count 5 airballs. So equal. Not more. The first 2 look like the defender may have gotten a piece of it. So 3 legit airballs and 2 question mark airballs. Still funny.

Morant has this season + two more years left on his contract. $39.5mil this year, $42.2mil next year, $44.9mil final year. I wonder what his trade value is at this point.

[Who]

Morant has this season + two more years left on his contract. $39.5mil this year, $42.2mil next year, $44.9mil final year. I wonder what his trade value is at this point.

ATL = Trae Young
BOS = Jaylen Brown? I doubt BOS do that.

Brooklyn = ownership / front office seem fed up of difficult personalities after dealing with Kyrie, Harden and Durant. I doubt they have any interest in Morant.

CHA = LaMelo? A squad refresh for both teams. Swapping one set of flaws for a different set of flaws. I doubt CHA would want to pair LaMelo + Ja together as they seem committed to the idea that LaMelo is a PG and not a two guard. They could put together interesting packages outside of LaMelo. B Miller. Knueppel. Future picks. But I don't believe they are interested in pursuing that. This would require them to be fed up with LaMelo. They are not currently but depending on how the season goes they may be by midseason. Or they may be all aboard the LaMelo train and have no interest in Ja.

CLE = Darius Garland
CHI = nothing to offer. Buzelis & Coby White?
DAL = nothing there
DEN = doubt they swap J Murray for Morant. Murray's superior shooting is more valuable for them than Morant's driving ability.
DET = nothing to offer outside of Cade. Cade > Morant.
GSW = not enough to offer. Kuminga, Podz.

HOU = package around Amen. Amen likely viewed as too valuable to give up for Morant. Sengun too valuable to give up for Morant. A package around Jabari Smith Jr and Reed Sheppard. That is a possibility if MEM is high on Sheppard.

IND = have a better PG in Hali
LAC = old men, nothing to offer
LAL = bad fit with Luka
MIL = nothing to offer

MIA = Tyler Herro. Package 2 would be built around K Ware, J Jaquez, picks. Not a good package. Herro might be a competitive offer.

MIN = Dillingham, Terrence Shannon, Beringer. Three guys with good potential. Beringer looks a good starting center in the NBA for the next 10-15 years. T Shannon looks a starting caliber SF. Dillingman a high risk / high upside scoring guard. Some cap filler. DiVincenzo. No clear star talent but three good young players. More interesting package than it first appears.

NOP = Fears and other assets. Maybe Trey Murphy but I doubt it. Maybe Herb Jones and future picks. Or J Poole and more future picks. Or J Poole, D Queen, Fears and no future picks.

NYK = Brunson is a king in NYC. Brunson > Morant. Although I would be interested in pursuing that deal if I were NYK. I don't like the fit of their current roster. Morant has a different skill-set to Brunson. He might work better with their other stars (Towns, Anunoby, Mikal). But I don't see NYK pursuing this.

OKC = nothing here. Champs.
PHI = Tyrese Maxey vs Morant. Tough decision.

PHO = they want to keep Devin Booker. They could make a package around Jalen Green. That may be tempting. Jaylen Green, Coward, Jaylen Wells as a wing trio.

POR = I think they will stay away from Morant. They still have nightmares from the Jail-Blazers era in early to mid 00s.

SAS = nope. Character wise he is off the table. Already have a comparable guard in D Fox. Have top young guard talent in S Castle and D Harper.

SAC = Z LaVine. Pair Morant with D Sabonis. Rebuild that D Fox / D Sabonis pairing that worked well for them. Crappy return for MEM. Maybe Keegan Murray could go with LaVine. Or future picks. A weak trade package.

TOR = Package around Quickley and RJ Barrett. Or maybe one of Quickley or RJ Barrett and some assortment of young players. Maybe they prefer more cap flexability. Gradey Dick would be a nice young wing to get. Ja'Kobe Walter.

UTA = I expect Ainge would take a gamble on Morant if the price is low. Not sure what that would look like. Keyonte George has started the season well which could make him the trade bait in this situation. Ainge would likely want to keep Markkanen to pair Morant with Markkanen. Filipowski likely isn't that desireable for MEM given they already have JJJ and Z Edey. MEM want guards or wings. UTA light on both. UTA have lots of picks to put in a trade package though. So if MEM wanted a draft pick heavy offer UTA could be competitive.

WAS = CJ McCollum is an expiring contract. Some youth. Some picks. Keep A Sarr. Everything else is on the table.

-------------------

There are a couple of All-Star guys there who might be gettable for MEM in a Morant trade ... but not many. The trade market could dry up quickly if a few of those teams decide not to do it.

There was a comparison to what Brooklyn got for Kyrie after Kyrie had his locker room concerns there. They got Donney Finney-Smith and a 1st round pick for Kyrie. I expect MEM get more for Morant. Morant is younger. But the market might not be that good.