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NBA 2025 Offseason Check-In: Indiana Pacers

August 27th, 2025 at 2:36pm CST by Luke Adams

Hoops Rumors is checking in on the 2025 offseason for all 30 NBA teams, recapping the summer’s free agent signings, trades, draft picks, departures, and more. We’ll take a look at each team’s offseason moves and consider what might still be coming before the regular season begins. Today, we’re focusing on the Indiana Pacers.

Free agent signings

  • Isaiah Jackson: Three years, $21,000,000. Includes Achilles-related injury protection. Re-signed using Bird rights.
  • James Wiseman: Two years, minimum salary. First year partially guaranteed ($1MM). Second-year team option. Signed using minimum salary exception.

Trades

  • Acquired their own 2026 first-round pick from the Pelicans in exchange for the No. 23 pick in the 2025 draft and the draft rights to Mojave King.
    • Note: The Pelicans had acquired the Pacers’ 2026 first-round pick (with top-four protection) in a previous trade; the Pacers got it back in this deal.
  • Acquired the draft rights to Kam Jones (No. 38 pick) from the Spurs in exchange for the Kings’ 2030 second-round pick and cash ($2.5MM).
  • Acquired Jay Huff from the Grizzlies in exchange for the Trail Blazers’ 2029 second-round pick and the right to swap their 2031 second-round pick for either the Pacers’ or Heat’s 2031 second-round pick (whichever is least favorable).

Draft picks

  • 2-38: Kam Jones
    • Signed to four-year, $8,685,386 contract. First year guaranteed. Second year partially guaranteed ($1,075,459). Third year non-guaranteed. Fourth-year team option.
  • 2-54: Taelon Peter
    • Signed to two-way contract.

Two-way signings

  • Quenton Jackson
    • One year, $85,300 partial guarantee (will increase to $318,218 at start of regular season).
  • Taelon Peter
    • Two years, $85,300 partial guarantee (will increase to $318,218 at start of regular season); second year non-guaranteed.

Note: The Pacers carried over RayJ Dennis on a two-way contract from 2024/25.

Departed/unsigned free agents

Other roster moves

Salary cap situation

  • Operating over the cap ($154.6MM) and below the luxury tax line ($187.9MM).
  • Carrying approximately $181.8MM in salary.
  • Hard-capped at $195,945,000.
  • Full non-taxpayer mid-level exception ($14,104,000) available.
  • Full bi-annual exception ($5,134,000) available.

The offseason so far

Through 82 regular season contests and 22 of 23 total playoff games, 2024/25 was a dream season for the Pacers, who improbably overcame a 10-15 start to win three playoff series and then went toe-to-toe with the 68-win Thunder in the NBA Finals. But with Indiana looking to seize control of Game 7, star point guard Tyrese Haliburton – who was coming off a calf injury – tore his right Achilles tendon, ending his night, his season, and ultimately the team’s championship hopes.

Haliburton’s injury didn’t invalidate all the memorable performances, comebacks, and series victories that came before it, but it put a serious damper on one of the greatest years in team history — and it will have a lasting impact beyond the spring of 2025.

Even if the Pacers hadn’t won Game 7 in Oklahoma City, getting through that night without any serious injuries likely would’ve given the front office confidence to heavily invest in the roster going forward. Team owner Herb Simon hardly ever pays the luxury tax, but for a team that came within one win of a title and was in position to bring back its entire core, I think he would’ve been comfortable doing so.

However, with Haliburton ruled out for the entire 2025/26 season, Indiana’s outlook for the coming year isn’t nearly as promising. Without their star player available, the Pacers almost certainly won’t be a serious championship contender next spring. That likely made Simon much more reluctant to become a taxpayer, which – in turn – resulted in the loss of longtime center Myles Turner in free agency to the division-rival Bucks.

To be clear, the Pacers and Turner were very much engaged in contract talks when free agency started, and president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard later insisted that ownership was willing to go “deep into the tax” to bring back the 29-year-old. Still, I have to think Indiana’s front office wasn’t quite as aggressive as it would have been if Haliburton were healthy.

While there were conflicting reports on exactly what the Pacers’ final offer to Turner was, most of those reports suggested the team hadn’t gone beyond a three-year bid worth about $22-23MM per year. That’s comfortably below what rival Eastern Conference centers like Jarrett Allen ($30MM per year), Jakob Poeltl ($28MM per year), and even Nic Claxton ($24.3MM per year) received on their most recent long-term contracts.

It seemed as if the Pacers were playing hardball with Turner to some extent, recognizing that no rival suitor had $20MM+ in cap room available and perhaps hoping that his price would come in low enough that they could duck under the tax line with a cost-cutting move elsewhere on the roster. Public remarks from Pritchard and general manager Chad Buchanan in the wake of Turner’s departure certainly suggested they weren’t expecting Milwaukee to find a way to open up the cap space necessary to give the big man a four-year contract worth in excess of $27MM annually. Turner reportedly accepted that offer without giving the Pacers a chance to match it.

With the rest of their starters and top reserves already under contract for the 2025/26 season, the Pacers dedicated much of their summer to finding a way to fill the new Turner-shaped hole in their frontcourt. They picked up Tony Bradley‘s non-guaranteed minimum-salary option and re-signed the centers who opened last season second and third on the depth chart behind Turner: Isaiah Jackson and James Wiseman.

Both Jackson and Wiseman suffered early-season Achilles tears of their own last fall, but Indiana clearly still believes both players are capable of providing positive minutes and is confident about how their recoveries are progressing.

I was pretty convinced that Jackson wouldn’t even get a qualifying offer, but the Pacers not only made him a restricted free agent, they re-signed him to a three-year, $21MM contract that will be fully guaranteed as long as he doesn’t have any recurring Achilles issues. As for Wiseman, he got a deal similar to the one he signed last year, a two-year, minimum-salary pact with a partially guaranteed first-year salary and a second-year team option.

Relying on a pair of big men coming off Achilles tears and a veteran journeyman would be risky, so the Pacers were also active on the trade market addressing the center position, acquiring Jay Huff from the Grizzlies in exchange for a future second-round pick and a second-round swap.

Huff is an intriguing pickup. He has put up monster numbers in the G League in recent years, and that production began to translate to the NBA level in 2024/25, as he averaged 6.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks in 11.7 minutes per game across 64 outings for Memphis, with a .515/.405/.786 shooting line. I get the sense that the Pacers have high hopes for Huff, having brought in an assistant coach who worked closely with him at Virginia and reportedly helped convince the Grizzlies to take a shot on him a year ago.

Huff and Jackson will likely be fighting for the top spot on the Pacers’ depth chart at the five, with Wiseman and Bradley possibly vying for a spot on the 15-man regular season roster — neither player has a fully guaranteed deal, so if Jackson and Wiseman look healthy and effective, Bradley could be the odd man out.

Up next

With 15 players on standard contracts and three on two-way deals, the Pacers’ roster looks ready for the regular season, but there’s a little wiggle room there. As noted above, neither Wiseman nor Bradley has a guaranteed contract, so Indiana could waive one of them this fall in order to open up its 15th roster slot. In that scenario, Bradley would be the more likely release candidate, since he’s not owed any guaranteed money, whereas Wiseman has a $1MM partial guarantee.

If the Pacers do open up a roster spot, they wouldn’t be obligated to fill it right away and could create some additional roster and financial flexibility by leaving it open at the start of the season. But it’s also worth keeping an eye on veteran forward James Johnson, who remains unsigned. Buchanan said last month that Johnson hopes to continue his playing career, and Indiana has found room for him on its roster after the start of the season in the past.

The more pressing items on the Pacers’ to-do list this fall will be a pair of potential contract extensions — Bennedict Mathurin is eligible for a rookie scale extension, while Aaron Nesmith is up for a veteran extension.

Both players will face an October 20 deadline, though Nesmith has two years left on his current deal and would become extension-eligible again starting in July 2026 if he doesn’t sign a new contract at this point. Mathurin, conversely, would be headed for restricted free agency next summer if he enters the season without an extension in place.

Nesmith has a more clearly defined role and more clearly defined extension parameters — the Pacers are limited to offering him up to three years and approximately $63MM on top of the $22MM he’s still owed over the next two seasons. That price seems reasonable for a player who has emerged as one of the club’s most reliable wings — Nesmith has averaged 12.1 points per game and made 42.3% of his three-point attempts over the past two seasons while admirably handling tough defensive assignments.

Mathurin has more upside than Nesmith as a scorer and an all-around offensive weapon, but his fit in Indiana’s Haliburton-led offense hasn’t exactly been seamless, so it’s unclear exactly how hard the team will push to get something done.

On one hand, it may make sense to extend Mathurin now before he takes on a larger role with Haliburton out and potentially has a career year in 2025/26. On the other hand, the Pacers simply may not be convinced he’s part of their long-term plans, especially if he’s seeking a deal north of $20MM per year — they avoided the tax this year, but a lucrative new contract for Mathurin would put them in danger of surpassing that threshold in 2026/27.

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Suns Sued By Two Minority Shareholders

August 27th, 2025 at 1:16pm CST by Luke Adams

A pair of Suns minority shareholders – Andy Kohlberg of Kisco WC Sports and Scott Seldin of Kent Circle Investments – have sued the team in a Delaware Chancery Court, reports Michael McCann of Sportico. The minority owners say in their complaint that they’re “dissatisfied” with the way Suns Capital Group LLC (Mat Ishbia‘s group) has managed the team.

As McCann details, Kisco and Kent Circle claim they haven’t been allowed to view records and financial information that would help them understand how the franchise is being run and how much their shares are worth. They’re demanding a court order that would allow them to look into alleged “potential breaches of a limited liability company agreement, mismanagement of the team and conflicts of interest,” McCainn writes.

According to Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports, when Ishbia took over as the Suns’ controlling owner in 2023, he gave the team’s 16 limited partners the opportunity to sell their stakes in the team at the same $4 billion valuation that applied to his majority stake. Fourteen of the 16 partners took that buyout offer, with Kisco and Kent Circle representing the only two holdouts.

Kisco has since sought a buyout from Ishbia’s group; there are conflicting reports on whether Kent Circle has done the same. Bourguet’s report suggests both minority stakeholders have looked to be bought out, while McCann says Kent Circle hasn’t done so but has expressed “growing concerns” about management.

The price that Kisco and Kent Circle are demanding from Suns Capital Group LLC to buy them out is based on a valuation in excess of $6 billion, according to Bourguet. The complaint, per McCann, alleges that Ishbia’s LLC didn’t respond in good faith to Kisco’s efforts to divest its shares by June 1 and instead issued a capital call for June 2 with “no advance notice.” The per-unit valuation conveyed on that call was “strikingly low and bears no relationship to the actual value of the company which is worth billions,” according to the plaintiffs.

In a letter to Kisco and Kent Circle, Suns Capital Group LLC indicated it has no objections to the minority partners finding another buyer for their shares, per Bourguet. However, the majority ownership groups insists that the minority stakeholders have no right to demand Ishbia’s LLC be the one to buy them out at a significantly higher valuation than the 2023 price.

Kisco and Kent Circle, meanwhile, argue in their complaint that the majority ownership group has been putting pressure on and diluting the team’s minority owners, citing “mismanagement and lack of transparency.”

According to Bourguet, the plaintiffs suspect Ishbia’s group of entering into undisclosed side deals and also raised questions about the funding of a practice facility for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury. As McCann writes, the complaint states that facility was “seemingly paid for using” team funds but that the minority stakeholders were “provided virtually no information” about how it was funded or the process used to determine its funding.

Attorneys for Suns Capital Group LLC will have the opportunity to respond to the complaint, McCann notes.

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Traded First-Round Picks For 2026 NBA Draft

August 27th, 2025 at 11:53am CST by Luke Adams

The 2026 NBA draft is still nearly 10 months away, but a number of teams have already traded away their first-round picks for ’26, and more clubs may do so before this season’s trade deadline.

We’ll use the space below to keep tabs on each team’s first-round pick for 2026, continually updating it as necessary throughout the year.

We’ve listed all 30 teams here, so even if a team hasn’t traded its first-round pick, that will be noted. We’ll also provide details on the protections for each traded pick, including what happens to the pick in 2027 if it doesn’t change hands in 2026.

Here’s the full breakdown on the status of each 2026 first-round pick:

Note: Teams marked with an asterisk (*) have traded away their 2027 first-round pick (either unprotected or with protection) and can’t freely trade away their 2026 first-rounder due to the Stepien Rule.

Atlantic

  • Boston Celtics: Own pick.
  • Brooklyn Nets: Own pick.
  • New York Knicks (*): Own pick.
  • Philadelphia 76ers: Traded to Thunder (top-four protected).
    • If this pick lands in its protected range, the Sixers would instead owe the Thunder their 2027 first-round pick (top-four protected).
  • Toronto Raptors: Own pick.

Central

  • Chicago Bulls: Own pick.
  • Cleveland Cavaliers (*): Traded swap rights to Jazz and Hawks.
    • Details outlined at bottom of article.
  • Detroit Pistons: Own pick.
  • Indiana Pacers: Own pick.
  • Milwaukee Bucks (*): Traded swap rights to Hawks.
    • The Hawks will receive the most favorable pick of the Bucks and Pelicans’ first-rounders; the Bucks will receive the least favorable of the two.

Southeast

  • Atlanta Hawks (*): Traded swap rights to Spurs.
    • Details outlined at bottom of article.
  • Charlotte Hornets: Own pick.
  • Miami Heat (*): Own pick.
  • Orlando Magic: Traded to Grizzlies or Hornets.
    • Details outlined at bottom of article.
  • Washington Wizards: Traded to Knicks (top-eight protected).
    • If this pick lands in its protected range, the Wizards would instead send the Knicks their 2026 second-round pick and 2027 second-round pick, and Washington would have swap rights on its pick (details outlined at bottom of article).

Northwest

  • Denver Nuggets (*): Own pick.
  • Minnesota Timberwolves (*): Traded swap rights to Jazz.
    • Details outlined at bottom of article.
  • Oklahoma City Thunder: Own pick.
  • Portland Trail Blazers: Traded to Bulls (top-14 protected).
    • If this pick lands in its protected range, the Trail Blazers would instead owe the Bulls their 2027 first-round pick (top-14 protected).
  • Utah Jazz: Traded to Thunder (top-eight protected).
    • If this pick lands in its protected range, the Jazz’s obligation to the Thunder would be extinguished and Utah would have swap rights on its pick (details outlined at bottom of article).

Pacific

  • Golden State Warriors: Own pick.
  • Los Angeles Clippers: Traded to Thunder or Wizards.
    • The Thunder will receive the two most favorable picks of their own, the Rockets’ (top-four protected), and the Clippers’ first-rounders. The Wizards will receive the least favorable of the three.
  • Los Angeles Lakers (*): Own pick.
  • Phoenix Suns (*): Traded to Wizards, Grizzlies, or Hornets.
    • Details outlined at bottom of article.
  • Sacramento Kings: Own pick.

Southwest

  • Dallas Mavericks (*): Own pick.
  • Houston Rockets: Traded to Thunder or Wizards (top-four protected).
    • The Thunder will receive the two most favorable picks of their own, the Rockets’ (top-four protected), and the Clippers’ first-rounders. The Wizards will receive the least favorable of the three.
    • If this pick lands in its protected range, the Rockets would instead send the Thunder their 2026 second-round pick and Oklahoma City would only receive one of the above picks instead of two.
  • Memphis Grizzlies: Own pick.
    • The Grizzlies have swap rights on their pick. Details outlined at bottom of article.
  • New Orleans Pelicans: Traded to Hawks or Bucks.
    • The Hawks will receive the most favorable pick of the Bucks and Pelicans’ first-rounders; the Bucks will receive the least favorable of the two.
  • San Antonio Spurs: Own pick.
    • The Spurs have swap rights on their pick. Details outlined at bottom of article.

A series of 2026 first-round picks are tied up in a pair of convoluted trade/swap scenarios. The first of those situations involves the Spurs‘, Hawks‘, Jazz‘s, Timberwolves‘ and Cavaliers‘ first-rounders, while the second involves the Suns‘, Wizards‘, Magic‘s, and Grizzlies‘ picks.

Here are the details on how the first set of picks will be distributed:

The Spurs will receive the most favorable of the following picks:

  1. The Spurs’ own first-round pick.
  2. The Hawks’ first-round pick.

The Jazz will receive the most favorable of the following picks if their own first-rounder is in the top eight:

  1. The Jazz’s own first-round pick.
  2. The Timberwolves’ first-round pick.
  3. The Cavaliers’ first-round pick.

The Timberwolves will receive the least favorable of the following picks:

  1. The Timberwolves’ own first-round pick.
  2. The Jazz’s first-round pick (if in the top eight).

The Hawks will receive the most favorable of the following picks, while the Cavaliers will receive the least favorable:

  1. The least favorable of the Hawks’ own first-round pick and the Spurs’ first-round pick.
  2. The least favorable of the Cavaliers’ first-round pick and either the Jazz’s first-round pick (if in the top eight) and the Timberwolves’ first-round pick (whichever is most favorable).

If the Jazz’s pick lands outside the top eight, it will be sent to the Thunder, and the Timberwolves will keep their own first-round pick. In that scenario, the Jazz/Timberwolves picks would not be in play for the Hawks and Cavaliers — and Utah wouldn’t control a first-rounder.

Here are the details on how the second set of picks will be distributed:

The Wizards will receive the most favorable of the following picks if their own first-rounder is in the top eight:

  1. The Wizards’ own first-round pick.
  2. The Suns’ first-round pick.

The Grizzlies will receive the two most favorable of the following picks, while the Hornets will receive the least favorable:

  1. The Grizzlies’ own first-round pick.
  2. The Magic’s first-round pick.
  3. The least favorable of the Wizards’ first-round pick (if in the top eight) and the Suns’ first-round pick.

If the Wizards’ pick lands outside the top eight, it will be sent to the Knicks. In that scenario, the Wizards pick wouldn’t be in play for the Grizzlies and Hornets — and Washington wouldn’t control a first-rounder.

Information from RealGM was used in the creation of this post.

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Mavs Reportedly Shopping Olivier-Maxence Prosper

August 27th, 2025 at 10:24am CST by Luke Adams

The Mavericks have intensified their efforts to open up room below a second-apron hard cap to sign free agent guard Dante Exum, according to NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, who report (via Twitter) that those efforts have centered around finding a new home via trade for forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper.

Dallas reached an agreement to re-sign Exum to a one-year deal way back in July 2, but the transaction still hasn’t been officially finalized. That’s because the Mavericks’ team salary for apron purposes currently sits at approximately $206.2MM, which is about $1.6MM below the second tax apron ($207,824,000).

The Mavs hard-capped themselves at the second apron by using the taxpayer mid-level exception to sign D’Angelo Russell last month. That means their team salary can’t surpass $207,824,000 at any point for the rest of the 2025/26 league year. A minimum-salary deal for Exum would carry a $2,296,274 cap hit.

With training camps still over a month from getting underway, there has been little urgency for the Mavs to resolve the apron crunch to this point. However, it sounds as if they’re ramping up their attempts to find a solution, and trading Prosper has long been considered a path they’ll explore.

The 24th overall pick in the 2023 draft, Prosper has played a very limited role during his first two years in Dallas, averaging 3.5 points and 2.2 rebounds in 10.0 minutes per game across 92 regular season outings, with a .396/.260/.658 shooting line. Given that he’s buried on the depth chart and isn’t owed any guaranteed money beyond his $3MM salary for 2025/26 (his deal includes a $5.3MM rookie scale team option for ’26/27), the 23-year-old is the team’s most obvious trade candidate to make room for Exum.

Dallas has the ability to send out up to nearly $8MM in cash in a trade, which would more than cover Prosper’s 2025/26 salary, but potential trade partners will likely be seeking a second-round draft pick in order to take on that $3MM cap hit. The most recent trade completed this summer, for example, saw the Heat send a future second-rounder to the Nets along with Haywood Highsmith and his $5.6MM expiring salary in order to get below the tax.

The Mavs only have two tradable second-round picks: Philadelphia’s 2030 selection and their own 2032 second-rounder. If they don’t want to give up any draft equity and can’t find a trade partner willing to accept cash, waiving and stretching Prosper’s $3MM salary would be an option, though it would have to be done by this Friday to ensure he clears waivers on August 31. That would spread his cap hit across three seasons at approximately $1MM per year, opening up an extra $2MM in room below the 2025/26 second apron.

The Mavs are currently carrying 15 players on guaranteed or partially guaranteed contracts for ’25/26, so moving off Prosper (or another player) is also necessary to open up a spot for Exum on their projected 15-man regular season roster.

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Timberwolves Hire NHL Panthers’ Caldwell As CEO

August 27th, 2025 at 9:45am CST by Dana Gauruder

The Timberwolves have hired Matthew Caldwell as Chief Executive Officer of the organization, effective Sept. 2, according to a team press release.

Caldwell will oversee day-to-day business operations and high-level strategic initiatives for the Timberwolves, WNBA Lynx, and G League Iowa Wolves. New team owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez gave Caldwell, who had served as President and CEO of the NHL Florida Panthers the past nine years, a 10-year contract.

Caldwell is the first major hire by Lore and Rodriguez since the NBA’s Board of Governors unanimously approved the sale of the franchise following a lengthy legal battle with previous majority owner Glen Taylor. The Panthers have won the last two Stanley Cups.

“I’m honored and humbled to join the Timberwolves and Lynx organization at such a pivotal moment in its history,” Caldwell said in a statement. “I am inspired by Marc and Alex’s vision and passion for Minnesota basketball and their commitment to excellence. I look forward to making my mark across the organization, and to building a lasting foundation that gives Minnesota basketball fans what they deserve – the best experience in sports, bar none.”

Caldwell’s leadership played an instrumental role behind the Panthers’ most successful period in franchise history which culminated with the organization being named 2025 Sports Business Journal Team of the Year. Caldwell first joined the Panthers in 2014 as Chief Operating Officer, before being appointed CEO in 2016, at which time he was the youngest CEO in U.S. professional sports at age 36.

“Our vision is for the Timberwolves and Lynx to set a new standard of excellence in pro sports and we’re confident that Matthew is the leader needed to make that a reality,” Lore and Rodriguez said in a joint statement. “Leading our organization into an innovative new era requires an exceptional individual at the helm and Matthew’s proven track record leading the business of the Florida Panthers is undeniable. We can’t wait to see the remarkable impact his bold leadership will have on this organization.”

Panthers owner Vincent Viola calls Caldwell’s departure “bittersweet,” according to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic (Twitter link).

“There are very few opportunities I would advise him to pursue, but working with Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore on a global platform like the NBA is at the top of that list,” Voila said.

Caldwell will take over responsibilities from interim CEO Kelly Laferriere, who has led the organization during its ownership transition period. Laferriere will assume the role of senior advisor to ownership. Tim Connelly will continue to oversee oversee basketball operations.

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Pistons President Langdon: Young Core Remains Top Priority

August 27th, 2025 at 8:45am CST by Dana Gauruder

Building and developing the team’s young core remains the top priority for the Pistons, president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon told The Athletic’s Hunter Patterson.

Despite their surprising resurgence last season in which the Pistons — who had the worst record in the league in 2023/24 — made the playoffs, Langdon didn’t feel this offseason was the right time to make a splashy move for a big-time player.

Langdon planned to re-sign Malik Beasley before the sixth man was investigated as part of a federal gambling probe. Langdon then pivoted in free agency, signing Caris LeVert and acquiring Duncan Robinson in a sign-and-trade. He also re-signed backup big Paul Reed.

Langdon opted not to trade away any of his young regulars for a star-level player.

“We want to see what those guys’ ceilings are. It’s continuing to put players with them that can continue to help them grow, develop and reach their potential,” Langdon said. “That’s one thing we try to be as cognizant as possible of, which is something at times that can be challenging. Of course, you want to continue to get better, but we’re very aware of what the timing of that is. We want our guys to continue to develop and at least get close to their ceiling or potential. Then maybe at that point is when we realize, OK, what is the proper player fit for these guys when it’s time to really go?”

Once Langdon and the Pistons can assess how those young pieces fit, they’ll have a better idea what kind of player can lift the team to a higher echelon.

“I don’t think we truly understand who our players can be at this point,” he said. “I just think it’s too early for us to truly understand what the best way to press the proverbial gas pedal is right now. So, we’re gonna try to be patient with that and let our young guys continue to develop.”

Here’s more from Patterson’s interview with Langdon:

On potential rookie scale extensions for Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren:

“I’ll never speak to that. We’re happy to have them as Pistons, and we’ll continue to help them be the best possible versions of themselves and reach their potential. I thought (Duren) had a tremendous year last season, especially in the second half when we made the run. And (Ivey) got off to a great start before getting injured. We’re excited to have them both back at the start of this season.

On Cade Cunningham‘s leadership:

“He uses his voice well, in terms of holding them accountable and driving them in the right direction when he needs to. He’s also very supportive of them and allows them to be who they are as human beings, but also as basketball players.”

On not having any long-term commitments beyond Cunningham’s extension:

“Having optionality with your group, that’s all it is at the end of the day. You can’t predict how your team’s going to be from year to year. You want to make sure that if it’s going well, you can continue. Or, if there’s a way that you can get better, you want to be able to pivot. That’s how it is with us and not getting locked into something that you can’t get out of if it doesn’t go well. That’s always a difficult thing, for every team, for every organization, for every decision maker, because you can go either way. If you have a really good player that you don’t lock in long-term and then he leaves … well, that’s on you.”

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28 Current NBA Players Competing In FIBA EuroBasket 2025

August 27th, 2025 at 7:07am CST by Luke Adams

On the heels of the FIBA World Cup in 2023 and the Paris Olympics in 2024, the 2025 NBA offseason doesn’t feature a major international tournament in which the United States’ top stars are competing.

However, several of the league’s biggest names – including three-time Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, and five-time All-NBA first-teamer Luka Doncic – are taking part in FIBA EuroBasket 2025, which tipped off on Wednesday.

The tournament, also known as the European Basketball Championship, takes place every four years and features 24 European countries vying for a gold medal. The 24 teams who qualified for EuroBasket are split up into four groups and will face the other teams in their group across five games from August 27 to September 4.

At the end of group play, the top four teams from each group will advance to the knockout round, which is a single-elimination tournament featuring the remaining 16 countries.

By our count, 28 active NBA players are taking part in EuroBasket 2025, along with 30 former NBA players and several more who were selected in an NBA draft but have yet to play in the league.

Here’s the full list of current and former NBA players set to compete in EuroBasket, sorted by group and country:

Group A

Czechia (Czech Republic)

  • Current NBA players: Vit Krejci (Hawks)
  • Former NBA players: None

Estonia

  • Current NBA players: None
  • Former NBA players: Henri Drell

Latvia

Portugal

  • Current NBA players: Neemias Queta (Celtics)
  • Former NBA players: None

Serbia

Serbia’s roster also includes Nikola Milutinov and Vanja Marinkovic, who are former NBA draft picks but have never played in the league.

Turkey

Group B

Finland

Germany

Great Britain

Lithuania

Lithuania’s roster also includes Rokas Jokubaitis, a former NBA draft pick who has never played in the league, and Azuolas Tubelis, who was on a two-way contract with the Sixers during the 2023 offseason but was waived before the season began.

Montenegro

Sweden

  • Current NBA players: Pelle Larsson (Heat)
  • Former NBA players: None

Group C

Bosnia and Herzegovina

  • Current NBA players: Jusuf Nurkic (Jazz)
  • Former NBA players: None

Cyprus

  • Current NBA players: None
  • Former NBA players: None

Georgia

Greece

Italy

Italy’s roster also includes Matteo Spagnolo, Gabriele Procida, and Saliou Niang, who are former NBA draft picks but have never played in the league.

Spain

Group D

Belgium

  • Current NBA players: None
  • Former NBA players: None

France

France’s roster also includes Isaia Cordinier, a former NBA draft pick who has never played in the league.

Iceland

  • Current NBA players: None
  • Former NBA players: None

Israel

  • Current NBA players: Deni Avdija (Trail Blazers)
  • Former NBA players: None

Israel’s roster also includes Yam Madar, a former NBA draft pick who has never played in the league.

Poland

  • Current NBA players: None
  • Former NBA players: Jordan Loyd

Slovenia

  • Current NBA players: Luka Doncic (Lakers)
  • Former NBA players: None
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Which Veteran Free Agent Should Knicks Sign?

August 26th, 2025 at 8:47pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Knicks have been identified as one of the teams interested in free agent guard Malik Beasley. However, it’s not entirely clear whether teams are prepared to move forward on Beasley while he remains a subject of a federal gambling investigation. If they are, he may receive more than a minimum-salary contract, which is all New York can offer.

Besides Beasley, who might make sense for the Knicks’ open veteran’s minimum roster slot? James Edwards III of The Athletic explores this topic in depth.

Edwards’ list includes a pair of guards who played for the Knicks last season under former coach Tom Thibodeau — Landry Shamet and Delon Wright. The issue with signing Shamet or Beasley is that the Knicks already added shooting guard Jordan Clarkson in free agency after he was waived by Utah. Wright might be a more logical choice, since the team is lacking in true point guards beyond Jalen Brunson and Tyler Kolek.

Edwards also identifies a handful of other players who could end up filling New York’s open veteran-minimum roster slot, including Alec Burks, Monte Morris, Ben Simmons, Seth Curry and Malcolm Brogdon.

Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News believes Shamet or Wright would make the most sense, given their familiarity within the organization. Winfield argues that either one could be the kind of low-maintenance finishing piece a title team might end up leaning on in a crucial situation.

Speaking of Kolek, Edwards believes that only one of the young players on the current roster, a group which also includes Pacome Dadiet and Ariel Hukporti, will crack Mike Brown‘s rotation, given that there are already nine solid proven veterans at the new head coach’s disposal.

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And-Ones: Award Predictions, Top Forwards, Free Agency, Cui

August 26th, 2025 at 7:15pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Will Nikola Jokic win a fourth Most Valuable Player award in 2025/26? He’s the top choice among a panel of ESPN Insiders to capture the league’s top individual honor next season. Luka Doncic ranks as the second pick, with reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander getting the third-most votes.

The panel also offers their predictions on five other major awards, including Rookie of the Year (no surprise, they picked No. 1 draft choice Cooper Flagg) and Sixth Man of the Year (Alex Caruso and Naz Reid received the most votes}.

We have more from around the international basketball world:

  • Who’s the top forward in the NBA? Giannis Antetokounmpo is in a class of his own, according to The Athletic’s Zach Harper. The Bucks superstar holds the tier-one level all by himself in “The Bounce’s Top 40 Forwards.” Jayson Tatum, Paolo Banchero and Zion Williamson are in the tier-two “Still Elite, Just Not Giannis” level. Heading up the group of six players who round out the top 10 and start the tier-three level is Draymond Green.
  • Free agency isn’t what it used to be in the NBA, with most star players signing extensions before they ever reach that point. HoopsHype’s Alberto De Roa examines the decline in free agency’s importance, noting that only one player this summer who changed teams — new Bucks center Myles Turner — secured a contract with at least $100MM in guaranteed money.
  • Cui Yongxi – also known as Jacky Cui – is working toward an NBA comeback after tearing his ACL in December with the G League’s Long Island Nets, Brian Lewis of the New York Post tweets. He has been working out in Brooklyn and is now participating in 5-on-5 scrimmages in Los Angeles. The 22-year-old free agent guard had been on a two-way contract and appeared in five games with the Nets but was waived by Brooklyn in December following the injury.
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Cuban Regrets Not Opening Bidding Process During Mavs’ Sale

August 26th, 2025 at 5:50pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Former Mavericks majority owner Mark Cuban doesn’t regret his decision to sell a large portion of his stake in the team but wishes he’d have opened up the process, he stated during an interview on the DLLS podcast (hat tips to Jasmyn Wimbish of CBSSports.com and Tim Cato of AllDllls.com).

“I don’t regret selling the team, I regret how I did it,” Cuban said. “Would I still sell the team? Yes, for all the same reasons I’ve said 100 times. Would I do it the same way? Absolutely not. I would have put it out to bid, but I didn’t so it doesn’t matter.”

Mavericks are now primarily owned by Miriam Adelson and Patrick Dumont, her son-in-law and the team’s governor.

Dumont’s role as team governor wasn’t in Cuban’s plans. Cuban kept a 27% stake in the Mavericks intentionally, since a part owner needs at least a 15% stake to remain governor of the team. When the sale was made official, there was nothing to indicate Cuban would continue his role in running the team’s basketball operations. He blames the league for losing his governor title.

“I did have it in writing,” Cuban said. “… Like I said before, there was a clause in there that gave me the right to be in every meeting, every trade discussion, everything, and the NBA took that out.”

Commission Adam Silver denied earlier this year that it was a league decision.

“Any decision as to what Mark’s role would be in basketball operations was a function of an arrangement to be made between Mark Cuban and Patrick,” Silver said in March.

But Cuban reiterated during the podcast that the league was to blame.

“Who the hell do you think took it out?” Cuban said. “I’ve got a letter from my lawyer saying the NBA made us remove it.”

However, Cuban says he has a good relationship with Dumont.

“I still talk to (him) a fair amount,” Cuban said. “He does care. And he cares when we lose. He’s spending time to learn. He’s learn a ton in time. Now I can talk to him about analytics. I can talk to him about our roster.”

However, Cuban says he doesn’t stay in contact with general manager Nico Harrison, who made the controversial trade that sent fan favorite and franchise player Luka Doncic to the Lakers. Cuban made it known publicly shortly after the trade occurred that he had no say in the matter and was against the idea of dealing Doncic.

“We all were hurt when Luka got traded — me as much as anyone, because I felt like I let people down by not being there,” Cuban said. “But what’s done is done. And we got Cooper (Flagg) — the basketball gods were looking down on us and he’s the real deal.”

The entire interview with Cuban can be accessed here.

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