Central Notes: White, Jackson, Allen, Hunter
Coby White has added motivation to return swiftly from a calf strain that’s plagued him ahead of the 2025/26 season, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times writes. White is on track to be an unrestricted free agent next summer and will be looking to build on the best two years of his career.
According to Cowley, early indications are that both the Bulls and White are interested in getting a deal done next summer. Both sides are expected to proceed with caution when it comes to his return from his calf injury.
With White sidelined in Chicago’s preseason opener on Tuesday, Kevin Huerter took the bulk of his minutes and started in his stead. If White is to miss any regular season time, Huerter would be the prime candidate to assume a larger role.
We have more from the Central Division:
- After missing all but five games last season due to an Achilles injury, Pacers center Isaiah Jackson seems to have the inside track to the starting center role, according to Dustin Dopirak of IndyStar, who details the big man’s recovery and conditioning process. “I can use my weight,” Jackson said. “I was always physical but I couldn’t move guys how I wanted to. I couldn’t play my brand of basketball. I’d get up to the offensive rim and I’d have to go straight up. Now I can bump people and move people out the way and I don’t really affected by it. Strength wise, I can play defense a little better. I can hold my own.“
- The tandem of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley has proven to be effective, but Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated speculates that Allen could be a name to watch at the deadline depending on how the Cavaliers open the season. According to Mannix, most evaluators view Mobley as a long-term center, so there’s a sense that the team could be open to moving Allen at some point for the right return.
- De’Andre Hunter had his most successful NBA season in 2024/25 across stints with the Hawks and Cavaliers, averaging a career-high 17.0 points per game and finishing fourth in Sixth Player of the Year voting. He looks poised to carry over that momentum this fall and take another step forward, having recorded 17 points and seven rebounds in Cleveland’s preseason opener. In a subscriber-only piece, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com examines why Hunter’s teammates are expecting a “huge year” from the forward and why head coach Kenny Atkinson has referred to him as the club’s “offseason MVP.”
Timberwolves Notes: Ingles, Hyland, Shannon, Gershon, Barton
Timberwolves forward Joe Ingles suffered a left groin strain and will be reevaluated in one week, the franchise announced in a release.
The Wolves don’t open the regular season until October 22, so it’s entirely possible Ingles won’t miss any regular season time due to the injury. Even if he does, it shouldn’t impact Minnesota’s rotation — the veteran appeared in just 19 games last season for the Wolves, making one start and logging 114 total minutes.
Ingles, 38, re-signed with the Timberwolves this offseason and is gearing up for his second year in Minneapolis. He has appeared in 723 career games, averaging 7.9 points per contest.
We have more from the Timberwolves:
- Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly was with the Nuggets when they selected Bones Hyland with the 26th overall pick in the 2021 draft. Now leading the Wolves’ front office, Connelly oversaw Minnesota adding Hyland on a two-way deal late last season and then re-signing him to a standard contract last month. Chris Hine of The Star Tribune takes a deeper dive into the relationship between the two, exploring the kind of role Hyland could be in store for this year. “We just had a different connection, a real close connection,” Hyland said. “Just that belief he has in me. He’s always had my back. That’s a guy I’m really appreciative of. Every time I see Tim, it’s always a big hug. I’m very thankful for him just believing in me.”
- With Nickeil Alexander-Walker having left Minnesota for the Hawks this offseason, 2024 first-rounder Terrence Shannon Jr. is in line for a larger role on the contending Timberwolves. Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic takes a deep dive into what’s in store this season for Shannon, who will join Rob Dillingham and Jaylen Clark as young players aiming for bigger roles.
- Minnesota’s G League affiliate, the Iowa Wolves, has named Josh Gershon its general manager, per a press release. Gershon has previously served as the Timberwolves’ college scouting coordinator, as well as the Iowa Wolves’ assistant GM.
- Iowa also announced several other front office and coaching additions, including that of 11-year NBA veteran Will Barton as an assistant coach. Barton spent several years playing for the Nuggets during Connelly’s time in Denver.
Nuggets Sign, Waive Terrence Hargrove Jr., Coleman Hawkins
October 9: Denver has waived both Hargrove and Hawkins, according to the NBA’s official transaction log. They’re now set up to join the Grand Rapids Gold.
October 8: The Nuggets have signed Terrence Hargrove Jr. and Coleman Hawkins to Exhibit 10 contracts, per Keith Smith of Spotrac (Twitter link).
Hargrove, a 6’4″ wing, played for Denver in the Las Vegas Summer League, averaging 5.3 points and 2.0 rebounds in three games. He went undrafted out of St. Louis in 2024 after spending five seasons with the Billikens.
Hawkins is a 6’11” forward who went undrafted out of Kansas State after playing the previous four years at Illinois. A report following the draft said he was expected to go to training camp with Golden State, but that didn’t work out, although he played for the Warriors during Summer League.
Denver will acquire G League rights to both players, who will likely end up with the team’s affiliate in Grand Rapids. The Exhibit 10 contracts make them eligible for bonuses worth up to $85,300 if they spent at least 60 days with the club.
The Nuggets had been carrying 19 players on their roster, so they’re now at the 21-man preseason limit.
LeBron James To Miss Start Of 2025/26 Season
LeBron James will miss the beginning of the 2025/26 season, according to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link), who reports that the Lakers star is dealing with sciatica on his left side that will keep him out for at least three to four weeks.
The Lakers open the season in 12 days, on Oct. 21 against the Warriors. If he returned at the very earliest of his projected timeline, James could be back for the team’s first NBA Cup game on Oct. 31. However, his return seems more likely to occur in early- to mid-November, barring any setbacks.
James, who has appeared in 1,884 total regular season and playoff games, played 71 regular season games in 2023/24 and 70 in his age-40 season in ’24/25. NBA insider Marc Stein adds that this will be the first time in James’ career that he’ll be out for opening night. He was previously 22 for 22 in that regard.
The 21-time All-Star kept up with his elite production in his age-40 season last year, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists per contest.
James missed the Lakers’ first two preseason games and all of training camp with what coach JJ Redick referred to as nerve irritation in his glute. Jake LaRavia started both of L.A.’s first two preseason games and is a candidate to fill in for James and keep an extended role once he returns.
Knicks Notes: Giannis, Towns, Yabusele, Robinson, Tyndale
In a subscriber-only mailbag, Stefan Bondy of The New York Post confirms the Knicks and Bucks discussed a trade involving two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer, but cautions those negotiations went “nowhere productive” beyond revealing the Greek superstar would prefer to play in New York if he ever leaves Milwaukee.
According to Bondy, the Knicks don’t have a realistic pathway to acquire Antetokounmpo unless the 30-year-old specifically demands a trade to New York. And even if Milwaukee struggles this season, there’s no indication that Antetokounmpo would go that route.
Unless the Knicks would be willing to trade Jalen Brunson in a possible multi-team construct, they simply lack the draft assets to compete with other teams in a potential bidding war, Bondy explains.
While it’s a positive development that Antetokounmpo reportedly wants to play for the Knicks after they have been spurned by other stars in the past, the situation could be a distraction if New York gets off to a slow start, Bondy writes. It will also be an important “measuring stick” for the current front office regime, according to Bondy, who points out that the Knicks spent most of their previous draft capital to trade for Mikal Bridges — a move that may or may not pay off in the long run.
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- Big men Karl-Anthony Towns and Guerschon Yabusele have been faced with the difficult task of adjusting to the unique requirements of playing in Mike Brown‘s offensive system, writes Andrew Crane of The New York Post. How Towns in particular acclimates may determine the Knicks’ ceiling this season, Crane notes. “They’re both doing a fantastic job trying to adjust,” Brown said of Towns and Yabusele, “but it’s going to take them a little longer than everybody else just because they’re playing both of the positions within the framework of our offense — and so their learning curve’s gonna have to be a lot steeper than anybody else’s.”
- Towns has been impressed with Mitchell Robinson in training camp and is looking forward to building chemistry with him in the frontcourt, according to Crane. “He’s very gifted with his feet, just the way he can maneuver around the court,” Towns said of Robinson. “I had good expectations of what I thought of Mitch walking in, especially on the offensive end, how I can maximize his offensive game. But even he surprised me with his ability.”
- Brown is excited to be the home coach at Madison Square Garden for the first time on Thursday, per Kristian Winfield of The New York Daily News. “MSG is such an iconic venue,” Brown said. “And whether it’s a preseason game or regular-season game, to be able to know that that’s your home court every night and to do it for the first time, it gives you goosebumps.”
- Brown’s coaching staff continues to grow, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, who reports (via Twitter) that the Knicks are hiring Mark Tyndale as a player development assistant. Tyndale had previous stops in Portland and Toronto, Scotto notes.
NBA GMs Expect Thunder To Repeat, Jokic To Win Fourth MVP
NBA general managers view the Thunder as the overwhelming favorite to repeat as champions this season, according to the 24th annual GM survey conducted by John Schuhmann of NBA.com. GMs were not allowed to vote for their own team or personnel.
Eighty percent of general managers predicted Oklahoma City to win the 2026 NBA Finals, with the Cavaliers and Nuggets tied for second at 7% each. The Rockets and Knicks were the only other teams to receive votes.
If the Thunder do go back-to-back, they would be the first repeat champions since Golden State in 2018.
Still, it’s worth noting that 83% of GMs thought Boston would win its second consecutive title in 2025 during last year’s edition of the survey, and the Celtics wound up being eliminated in the second round of the playoffs.
Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic is heavily favored to win his fourth award in 2025/26. The Nuggets superstar received 67% of the vote and was also tabbed as the league’s best center (maximum possible 97%), best international player (93%), best passer (80%), the player with the best basketball IQ (80%), and the player who forces opposing coaches to make the most adjustments (57%).
NBA GMs view Rockets guard/forward Amen Thompson as the league’s most athletic player (58%) and most versatile defender (18%), as well as the player most likely to have a breakout season (30%).
For the second straight year, Spurs center Victor Wembanyama was tabbed as the best player to build a franchise around, receiving 83% of the vote. The French center was also voted the league’s best defender (80%) and tied with Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo for the league’s most versatile player (30% apiece).
Unsurprisingly, Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg is the runaway favorite to win Rookie of the Year, claiming the maximum 97% of the vote. General managers also think he’s the rookie who will be the best player five years from now (93%).
Fifty-three percent of GMs surveyed think the Hawks made the best offseason moves, while 47% believe the Magic will be the most improved team this season.
According to general managers, Milwaukee made by far the two most surprising offseason moves: waiving and stretching Damian Lillard (43%), and subsequently signing Myles Turner in free agency (30%).
Schuhmann’s survey is worth checking out in full and can be found right here.
Hoops Rumors Chat Transcript: 10/9/2025
Hoops Rumors hosted a live chat today at 2:00 pm Central time (3:00 pm Eastern).
Kings Sign, Waive Dexter Dennis
October 9: Dennis has been waived, the Kings announced (Twitter link via James Ham of The Kings Beat). As noted below, he’ll likely be headed back to Stockton this season.
September 28: The Kings have signed free agent shooting guard Dexter Dennis to a non-guaranteed contract, per Paul Garcia of The Spot Up Shot (Twitter link). It’s an Exhibit 10 deal, confirms Keith Smith of Spotrac (Twitter link).
Dennis, 26, has spent the majority of the past two seasons in the G League after going undrafted out of Texas A&M in 2023. He was on a two-way contract with the Mavericks for the first couple months of 2023/24, but appeared in just four NBA games for Dallas and was with the Texas Legends and Cleveland Charge for most of that season.
Dennis appeared in 44 G League games as a rookie, then played 47 times in 2024/25 for the Stockton Kings, Sacramento’s affiliate. The 6’5″ guard was a key part of Stockton’s rotation, averaging 13.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 31.1 minutes per contest, with a shooting line of .428/.350/.780. He helped lead the team to an NBAGL title in April.
In all likelihood, Dennis will only be under contract briefly with the Kings, with this deal designed to ensure he receives an Exhibit 10 bonus worth up to $85,300 if he returns to Stockton and spends at least 60 days with the team.
The Kings now have a full 21-man preseason roster. If they intend to complete their reported camp deal with forward Daniel Batcho in the coming days, Dennis or another player on a non-guaranteed contract will have to be cut.
T.J. McConnell Out At Least One Month With Hamstring Strain
Pacers point guard T.J. McConnell will be sidelined for at least one month after suffering a left hamstring strain, head coach Rick Carlisle announced today (Twitter link via the team).
McConnell was forced to leave Tuesday’s preseason opener in the second quarter due to the injury.
Obviously, it’s a disappointing development for the Pacers, who will be without star point guard Tyrese Haliburton for the entire season after he sustained a torn Achilles tendon in the first quarter of Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. Second-round pick Kam Jones, another guard, is expected to miss multiple weeks with a back injury.
McConnell, 33, is entering his 11th NBA season and seventh with Indiana.
The veteran backup appeared in 79 regular season contests in 2024/25, averaging 9.1 points, 4.4 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 17.9 minutes per game. He also had a strong playoff showing, with very similar averages — 9.5 PPG, 4.0 APG, 3.3 RPG, 0.9 SPG — in 23 games (17.5 MPG).
Indiana originally intended to sign Monte Morris to compete for a spot as the third-string point guard behind Andrew Nembhard and McConnell, but the deal fell through when Morris suffered a calf strain. Veteran Delon Wright was signed instead, but was released Thursday morning in favor of Cameron Payne after Wright took two brutal blows to the head during Tuesday’s preseason opener.
Wright announced on social media (Twitter link) that he needed 10 stitches above his right eye and four on his right elbow, but is “doing good” otherwise.
According to Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star, Payne will likely be the second-string point guard while McConnell recovers. Carlisle discussed the transactions this afternoon.
“It just didn’t work out with Delon,” Carlisle said, per Dopirak. “Cam’s here. We’ve seen a lot of Cam the last two years with Milwaukee and New York. He’s a guy we always had to account for in scouts and what not. It’s a great opportunity for him.”
“His speed, his long-range shooting ability is high level,” Carlisle said when asked what he likes about Payne’s game. “He’s experienced, knows the game, has good feel, and he’s a play-maker.”
And-Ones: Westbrook, Durant, WNBA Coaches, Caboclo, Fournier, More
Russell Westbrook remains an unsigned free agent and Rockets forward Kevin Durant wouldn’t mind a reunion with his former teammate, he said on the “Up & Adams” show (video link).
“Russ is a legend. He deserves to be in the NBA right now,” Durant said. “I think he deserves to walk out of the NBA on his terms. That would be dope.”
If Westbrook is signed in the short term, it won’t be with the Rockets. They’re hard-capped and can’t sign a veteran right now, even if it’s a minimum contract.
Here’s more from around the basketball world:
- There are five current openings for WNBA head coaches. Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link) hears that several of those teams are considering NBA assistant coaches with G League head coaching experience for those positions. Fischer notes that Nate Tibbets had that type of background and is the head coach of the Phoenix Mercury, who are currently in the WNBA Finals. Former Clippers assistant Natalie Nakase guided Golden State’s WNBA franchise to a winning record in the team’s inaugural season, earning Coach of the Year honors.
- Hapoel Tel Aviv’s Bruno Caboclo will miss several months of action after undergoing back surgery, Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops.net reports. The NBA veteran big man joined the Reds ahead of last season and appeared in 23 games, including three starts, averaging 7.4 points and 3.7 rebounds per contest. Caboclo, 30, appeared in 105 NBA games, mostly recently a six-game stint with Houston during the 2020/21 season.
- Longtime NBA forward Evan Fournier would like to finish his career with Olympiacos, he said in a recent TV interview as relayed by Askounis. “I feel very good here and I want to finish my career here,” he said, “I don’t know if that’s going to happen, but for me that’s the goal.” Fournier signed a three-year extension in July. Fournier appeared in 704 regular season games throughout his NBA career, making 504 starts and averaging 13.6 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 27.7 minutes per night.
- ESPN’s Kevin Pelton has unveiled his win total projections for each NBA team, from the Thunder (59.2) at the top to the Wizards (14.2) at the bottom.