NBA Season 2026-27

[dannyboy35]

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving returned to play in a game for the first time in since early March of 2025. Irving made his return for Dallas in a preseason game against the Houston Rockets in Macau, China on Sunday.

In nearly 22 minutes of action, Irving scored 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting. The veteran guard had several finishes near the rim, including a couple through contact. Overall, Irving looked back to being himself throughout the game.

I still remember Jason Kidd talking about Kyrie coming back earlier than people expect early last season. Maybe returning for thanksgiving.

I still think think Dallas intentionally kept him out to tank last year.

   You could be right . But I also think he probably it doesn?t win him that many more games. I would think Dallas would love his money going somewhere else. I realize he has r herb the headache he used to be at all . It seems personality wise he has been fine but he still halts all player movement once he gets into his bag ( I hate that phrase).

[Donoghus]

Feel bad for Porzingis.  This has to be scary & frustrating.

[
Kristaps Porzingis
@kporzee
?
48m
Hello people, I'm working with doctors and experts to figure out how to be fully back to good health asap. Honestly, I'm getting better and better. I just have to stay patient, and I believe I'll be feeling great again soon.

It has definitely been frustrating dealing with some health stuff that you can't exactly pinpoint, on top of injuries throughout my career, so it has added up for sure, but we will get through it 💪🏼

Health is wealth. Thank you for all the support 🙏🏼
Kristaps Porzingis
@kporzee
?
48m
I appreciate all the internet doctors trying to diagnose and help, but I'm in the best hands. So everyone can relax now 😄🙏🏼 and I don?t have hiv or aids./quote]

[SparzWizard]

Poor Kristaps. Hope they can cure this mysterious illness of his soon; keeps coming and going.

He's definitely a beast when healthy as we all saw in 2023-2024.

[Who]

Cason Wallace and the Oklahoma City Thunder have discussed contract structures in the $25 million annual average value range, reports The Stein Line.

Dyson Daniels recently signed a four-year, $100 million contract with the Atlanta Hawks, while Christian Braun and the Denver Nuggets agreed to a five-year, $125 million deal with both contracts containing a $25 million annual average value.

Wallace appeared in 77 games last season, averaging 8.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.9 steals for the Thunder while also making Second Team All-Defense.

[Donoghus]

Sounds painful as heck.

[Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
?
2m
Knicks center Drew Eubanks sustained a torn pectoral muscle and will be sidelined for an extended period of time, sources tell ESPN. New York will waive Eubanks, who was competing for a reserve center spot in training camp.

[Who]

The Bulls have been earning some positive reviews in preseason.

G: Giddey, Tre Jones
G: Norm Powell
F: Buzelis, Okoro
F: Caleb Wilson, Pat Williams
C: Jalen Smith, Leonard Miller

It is an interesting group. Buzelis, C Wilson, J Smith are all more PFs than SFs or Cs. J Giddey is more a forward than a guard in terms of physical size. So you are playing with 4 forwards and 1 SG. They create a bunch of mismatches out there. Lot of speed. High tempo.

I think they are a team that can punch above their weight. Be more difficult to play against than expected because of those matchup issues and because of that athleticism. An awkward team to play against.

Unlikely to be good enough to make the playoffs given the depth of the East but they should be a fun team to watch. Heck, they generally have been fun since Giddey has been there.

[Who]

Minnesota and LA Lakers mirror each other

Defensive big = Gobert vs W Kessler
Two offensive stars = Ant & LaMelo vs Luka & A Reaves

Same foundation. Fit role players around them.

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

Minnesota have more talent in their role players though. Jaden McDaniels, Kuminga, Ayo. Athletic two way guys.

[Vermont Green]

Looking at it this way:

Gobert + Ant + LaMelo
or
Kessler + Luka + Reaves

Who's big 3 is better?

[Goldstar88]

Looking at it this way:

Gobert + Ant + LaMelo
or
Kessler + Luka + Reaves

Who's big 3 is better?

Probably Kessler, Luka and Reaves. Just because Doncic has shown that he can put a team on his back and get to the Finals. Will be interesting to see if Ant can do the same over the next few years.

[Who]

Looking at it this way:

Gobert + Ant + LaMelo
or
Kessler + Luka + Reaves

Who's big 3 is better?

I go back and forth.

I like LAL long term over MIN. Kessler younger than Gobert + LaMelo is highly injury prone. So I'd rate LAL's two guys in those spots over Minny's as long term fixtures. I'd rather be building around LAL's big three over the next 5-7 years.

In the immediate sense, it is harder. Gobert still better Kessler right now. Luka better than Ant. LaMelo better than A Reaves. Ant's defensive edge on Luka & A Reaves makes Minny's Big 3 an easier group to build around. You can plug and play role players easier. LAL has more strict narrow needs in their glue guys (which they do not currently have).

Probably Minny over LAL in the immediate but that is based on having a healthy LaMelo ball. And LaMelo is hardly ever healthy.

LaMelo = 2 seasons with 22 and 36 games played. 2 seasons with 47 and 51 games played. 2 seasons with 72 and 75 games played. So only really 2 years out of 6 has LaMelo been healthy. Which is why Charlotte were so quick to get rid of him after his 1st healthier year in ages.

So if we add the injury risk of LaMelo, I'd go LAL. I trust Luka & A Reaves to be healthy more than I do LaMelo.

[JBcat]

Looking at it this way:

Gobert + Ant + LaMelo
or
Kessler + Luka + Reaves

Who's big 3 is better?

I go back and forth.

I like LAL long term over MIN. Kessler younger than Gobert + LaMelo is highly injury prone. So I'd rate LAL's two guys in those spots over Minny's as long term fixtures. I'd rather be building around LAL's big three over the next 5-7 years.

In the immediate sense, it is harder. Gobert still better Kessler right now. Luka better than Ant. LaMelo better than A Reaves. Ant's defensive edge on Luka & A Reaves makes Minny's Big 3 an easier group to build around. You can plug and play role players easier. LAL has more strict narrow needs in their glue guys (which they do not currently have).

Probably Minny over LAL in the immediate but that is based on having a healthy LaMelo ball. And LaMelo is hardly ever healthy.

LaMelo = 2 seasons with 22 and 36 games played. 2 seasons with 47 and 51 games played. 2 seasons with 72 and 75 games played. So only really 2 years out of 6 has LaMelo been healthy. Which is why Charlotte were so quick to get rid of him after his 1st healthier year in ages.

So if we add the injury risk of LaMelo, I'd go LAL. I trust Luka & A Reaves to be healthy more than I do LaMelo.

I agree with this and Ball is the swing factor. In Ball?s defense on the injury front the Hornets dragged their feet bringing him back from injury during seasons they were clearing tanking. He also just came off a season he played 72 games, and previous injuries is not always predictive of future injuries. He was the driving force for the Hornets success last season. Now 25, it will be interesting to see how his career looks going forward.

Lastly, I wouldn?t discount Joan Beringer as a Gobert replacement continuing the big 3. He is pretty talented only 19.

[Goldstar88]

Minnesota star Anthony Edwards is acutely aware of how this is the NBA?s parity era, with eight different franchises winning the last eight championships. That stat might give some teams hope. Edwards looks at the situation differently. I don?t really have hope. I just got will, Edwards told The Associated Press. I?m just all will. It?s like, I don?t think he?s better than me. I don?t think that they can beat me and my team. It?s just that simple. Whoever we line up against, you just not going to sit here and tell me that their team is going to beat our team. It?s that simple, I don?t hope. I don?t wish for nothing. It?s straight will and determination. And we?re going to show it every night. -Associated Press