NBA Season 2025-26

[SparzWizard]

Anyone see this Luka-Goga beef involving them basically saying something inappropriate or rude about their families leading to technicals? Apparently that was also Luka?s 16th so he would be suspended if the appeal is upheld. Both guys seem to claim the other said some vicious stuff so who is lying? And will the NBA rescind the techs or no?

Against the Pistons next game, I'm sure they will rescind Luka's so they can make sure Luka plays that game.

[Celtics2021]

Anyone see this Luka-Goga beef involving them basically saying something inappropriate or rude about their families leading to technicals? Apparently that was also Luka?s 16th so he would be suspended if the appeal is upheld. Both guys seem to claim the other said some vicious stuff so who is lying? And will the NBA rescind the techs or no?

Against the Pistons next game, I'm sure they will rescind Luka's so they can make sure Luka plays that game.

Which is fine with me because I would like the Pistons to lose.  Also, if Goga had said what he supposedly said in English instead of Serbian, it is likely that only he would have received a T to begin with, so I would not find it completely unfair.

[Moranis]

Is the Lakers team right now better than the Mavs team that Luka lead to the finals against Boston?

Yeah I think so, but not by a huge margin and I think the Mavericks frontcourt might be slightly better than the Lakers even though I was never super high on Lively/Gafford. And idk, can Ayton keep it up consistently? If not, it's back to Hayes and relying on Lebron playing center for prolong stretches. I still think good centers can give the Lakers fits in the West, and we even saw it last year vs. Minnesota (Gobert)

2nd and 3rd options went from Kyrie and PJ Washington to LeBron James and Austin Reeves. I think Ayton (if motivated) is better than the bigs in Dallas.

Smart, Reeves, Luka, LeBron, and Ayton is a strong starting 5. Kennard, Rui, and LaRavia would round out the playoff rotation. I still think SAS and OKC are a tier above everyone else in the West, but I?d put the Lakers at the top of that next grouping. They are in 3rd place in the west for a reason.

There's no question right now the Lakers are trending upwards and look dangerous, while Denver for some reason is trending the opposite direction. Cam Johnson hasn't worked out for them at all and Murray has been too inconsistent. I don't take the Rockets seriously. Timberwolves are without Ant for the forseeable future. It very well could be OKC + SAS Tier 1, then Tier 2 which is headlined by LAL, with DEN and MIN behind them.

There could be a path too where LAL avoids both of DEN/OKC until the WCF if DEN is in the 4-5 bracket. That might be their best chance. They'd still face SAS in the 2nd round but SAS is a bit inexperienced in the postseason. Meanwhile DEN always gives OKC trouble too, they took them to 7 games last year with a much worse bench.

the Spurs don't have a real #1 scorer. I think that could cause them real issues in the playoffs.They remind me a lot of the KG Timberwolves teams that always lost early. Really great HOF big man defender, but not a #1 scorer.  Wemby, like KG, isn't going to consistently take over a game offensively and that is what teams often need in the post season. I think they need Harper to turn into that guy really unlock their full potential. Also, why I think they've made a mistake in not playing Harper more this year.

Except Wemby isn?t like KG offensively. He?s much more aggressive and isn?t pass first. If he was, he?d average more than 3ast per game. Victor averages 24pts per game in only 29 minutes of play. His per 36 is 30ppg. He absolutely is a number one option.

Fox is also an elite scorer. He averaged 25ppg for Sacramento.

it is interesting you listed the per 36 for scoring but not passing.  Wemby's ap36 and AST% is inline with KG.   Wemby shoots more 3's, but that is about it.  His game is more secondary.  He isn't a #1 scorer. 

[moiso]

Is the Lakers team right now better than the Mavs team that Luka lead to the finals against Boston?

Yeah I think so, but not by a huge margin and I think the Mavericks frontcourt might be slightly better than the Lakers even though I was never super high on Lively/Gafford. And idk, can Ayton keep it up consistently? If not, it's back to Hayes and relying on Lebron playing center for prolong stretches. I still think good centers can give the Lakers fits in the West, and we even saw it last year vs. Minnesota (Gobert)

2nd and 3rd options went from Kyrie and PJ Washington to LeBron James and Austin Reeves. I think Ayton (if motivated) is better than the bigs in Dallas.

Smart, Reeves, Luka, LeBron, and Ayton is a strong starting 5. Kennard, Rui, and LaRavia would round out the playoff rotation. I still think SAS and OKC are a tier above everyone else in the West, but I?d put the Lakers at the top of that next grouping. They are in 3rd place in the west for a reason.

There's no question right now the Lakers are trending upwards and look dangerous, while Denver for some reason is trending the opposite direction. Cam Johnson hasn't worked out for them at all and Murray has been too inconsistent. I don't take the Rockets seriously. Timberwolves are without Ant for the forseeable future. It very well could be OKC + SAS Tier 1, then Tier 2 which is headlined by LAL, with DEN and MIN behind them.

There could be a path too where LAL avoids both of DEN/OKC until the WCF if DEN is in the 4-5 bracket. That might be their best chance. They'd still face SAS in the 2nd round but SAS is a bit inexperienced in the postseason. Meanwhile DEN always gives OKC trouble too, they took them to 7 games last year with a much worse bench.

the Spurs don't have a real #1 scorer. I think that could cause them real issues in the playoffs.They remind me a lot of the KG Timberwolves teams that always lost early. Really great HOF big man defender, but not a #1 scorer.  Wemby, like KG, isn't going to consistently take over a game offensively and that is what teams often need in the post season. I think they need Harper to turn into that guy really unlock their full potential. Also, why I think they've made a mistake in not playing Harper more this year.

Except Wemby isn?t like KG offensively. He?s much more aggressive and isn?t pass first. If he was, he?d average more than 3ast per game. Victor averages 24pts per game in only 29 minutes of play. His per 36 is 30ppg. He absolutely is a number one option.

Fox is also an elite scorer. He averaged 25ppg for Sacramento.

it is interesting you listed the per 36 for scoring but not passing.  Wemby's ap36 and AST% is inline with KG.   Wemby shoots more 3's, but that is about it.  His game is more secondary.  He isn't a #1 scorer.

Wemby is a #1 scorer already.  He's not a secondary guy.  He's very aggressive with the ball.

[Goldstar88]

Is the Lakers team right now better than the Mavs team that Luka lead to the finals against Boston?

Yeah I think so, but not by a huge margin and I think the Mavericks frontcourt might be slightly better than the Lakers even though I was never super high on Lively/Gafford. And idk, can Ayton keep it up consistently? If not, it's back to Hayes and relying on Lebron playing center for prolong stretches. I still think good centers can give the Lakers fits in the West, and we even saw it last year vs. Minnesota (Gobert)

2nd and 3rd options went from Kyrie and PJ Washington to LeBron James and Austin Reeves. I think Ayton (if motivated) is better than the bigs in Dallas.

Smart, Reeves, Luka, LeBron, and Ayton is a strong starting 5. Kennard, Rui, and LaRavia would round out the playoff rotation. I still think SAS and OKC are a tier above everyone else in the West, but I?d put the Lakers at the top of that next grouping. They are in 3rd place in the west for a reason.

There's no question right now the Lakers are trending upwards and look dangerous, while Denver for some reason is trending the opposite direction. Cam Johnson hasn't worked out for them at all and Murray has been too inconsistent. I don't take the Rockets seriously. Timberwolves are without Ant for the forseeable future. It very well could be OKC + SAS Tier 1, then Tier 2 which is headlined by LAL, with DEN and MIN behind them.

There could be a path too where LAL avoids both of DEN/OKC until the WCF if DEN is in the 4-5 bracket. That might be their best chance. They'd still face SAS in the 2nd round but SAS is a bit inexperienced in the postseason. Meanwhile DEN always gives OKC trouble too, they took them to 7 games last year with a much worse bench.

the Spurs don't have a real #1 scorer. I think that could cause them real issues in the playoffs.They remind me a lot of the KG Timberwolves teams that always lost early. Really great HOF big man defender, but not a #1 scorer.  Wemby, like KG, isn't going to consistently take over a game offensively and that is what teams often need in the post season. I think they need Harper to turn into that guy really unlock their full potential. Also, why I think they've made a mistake in not playing Harper more this year.

Except Wemby isn?t like KG offensively. He?s much more aggressive and isn?t pass first. If he was, he?d average more than 3ast per game. Victor averages 24pts per game in only 29 minutes of play. His per 36 is 30ppg. He absolutely is a number one option.

Fox is also an elite scorer. He averaged 25ppg for Sacramento.

it is interesting you listed the per 36 for scoring but not passing.  Wemby's ap36 and AST% is inline with KG.   Wemby shoots more 3's, but that is about it.  His game is more secondary.  He isn't a #1 scorer.

Wemby is looking to score first when he gets the ball. He?s not like KG on that end. If you think he is, you must not be watching Spurs games.

[Neurotic Guy]

Scary good team developing in SA. Wemby is only just getting started. The only thing that can stop him is injury.  Will that highly unusual body stand the strain?  If it does, he is an all-timer. I haven?t seen enough of him to discern where he is in the SA scoring pecking order, but he seems like he has to be the number one focus of the defense whenever he?s on the court. He is like no one I?ve seen before. Or maybe he is, but 6 inches to a foot taller.  Which makes him like nobody else.

[Who]

LeBron passed Dennis Rodman in career rebounds a few days ago. LeBron now has 12,000+ rebounds.

Impressive for longevity, but I find it more crazy Rodman had 12,000 rebounds in just 911 games whereas Lebron has played 1,610 games.

Took him 700 games extra games (equivalent to 8.5 seasons) to reach that same feat.

LeBron is just under 12,000 assists at 11,925. So he will likely break that mark before the end of the season.

43k points
12k rebounds
12k assists
2.4k steals
1.18k blocks

23 seasons.

[Celtics4ever]

Scary good team developing in SA. Wemby is only just getting started. The only thing that can stop him is injury.  Will that highly unusual body stand the strain

 I am not rooting for it, but I doubt it.

It is also not a huge market being 24th in market size.  Good luck keeping that core together.

LeBron is just under 12,000 assists at 11,925. So he will likely break that mark before the end of the season.

43k points
12k rebounds
12k assists
2.4k steals
1.18k blocks

23 seasons.

NBA finals record  4-6, he is the Wilt Chamberlain of the modern game.

[RMO]

Anyone see this Luka-Goga beef involving them basically saying something inappropriate or rude about their families leading to technicals? Apparently that was also Luka?s 16th so he would be suspended if the appeal is upheld. Both guys seem to claim the other said some vicious stuff so who is lying? And will the NBA rescind the techs or no?

Against the Pistons next game, I'm sure they will rescind Luka's so they can make sure Luka plays that game.

They did

[Donoghus]

Do your thing Celtics2021

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
The NBA has informed teams that the league is projecting a $165 million salary cap for 2026-27 -- $1M lower than previous outlooks due to a reduction in local media revenue, sources tell ESPN. Minimum salary $149M, tax level $201M, first apron $209M, second apron $222M also $1M lower each.

[Goldstar88]

Spurs are just abusing the Heat right now. Yeesh

[angryguy77]

Can't count on the Lakers for anything.

[Goldstar88]

Wemby in 26 mins of play: 26pts/15rebs/5blks/4ast. 11-21 from the field.

[Moranis]

LeBron passed Dennis Rodman in career rebounds a few days ago. LeBron now has 12,000+ rebounds.

Impressive for longevity, but I find it more crazy Rodman had 12,000 rebounds in just 911 games whereas Lebron has played 1,610 games.

Took him 700 games extra games (equivalent to 8.5 seasons) to reach that same feat.

LeBron is just under 12,000 assists at 11,925. So he will likely break that mark before the end of the season.

43k points
12k rebounds
12k assists
2.4k steals
1.18k blocks
23 seasons.

Rodman was just so good.  Greatest rebounder ever when adjusting for pace.  Not sure it is particularly close either.  Just an amazing skill set.  Also amazing, he had nearly twice as many rebounds as points.  Dude probably couldn't have scored if the hoop was twice as big.  He just stayed in his defensive/rebounding lane and did nothing else.  Probably why he was so good at that stuff.

If Lebron plays next year, he will probably end up in 2nd all time in assists.  Depends on how many he ends up this year, but Kidd and Paul are very much in play with 1 more year (he can get pretty close to Kidd this year if he doesn't miss more games).  If he plays next year, he will almost certainly pass Payton for 5th all time in steals.  He'd have to play a lot of games and really go steal hunting to catch Jordan in 4th.  He'd also likely pass Dikembe and move into 20th all time in rebounds. 

So 1 more season and Lebron could fairly realistically end his career, 1st in points, 2nd in assists, 5th in steals, and 20th in rebounds.  Blocks he'd be in the 60's somewhere around Marion and Catchings who are 64th and 65th.  Sure he played a long time, but he really did do it all at a very high level for that very long time.  In the playoffs he is 1st in points (by 2302 on MJ), 1st in steals, 2nd in assists, 4th in rebounds, and 9th in blocks. 

[Celtics2021]

Do your thing Celtics2021

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
The NBA has informed teams that the league is projecting a $165 million salary cap for 2026-27 -- $1M lower than previous outlooks due to a reduction in local media revenue, sources tell ESPN. Minimum salary $149M, tax level $201M, first apron $209M, second apron $222M also $1M lower each.

Not much to do.  We are still in essentially the same place we were before.  If we want to use the entire Simons TPE we will need to send out a larger salary, most likely Hauser.  Barring a trade we will be able to either use the MLE or resign Vooch if the goal is to stay under the tax, unless Vooch comes in very close to the minimum.  It gives the Celtics a little less room to work with, but the situation is not too different than it was before.