Southwest Notes: FVV, Adams, Grizzlies, Pelicans, Mavs
The Rockets‘ trade for Kevin Durant was clearly the most impactful move of the team’s offseason, but extending Steven Adams and re-signing Fred VanVleet on a more team-friendly deal shouldn’t be overlooked, Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle (subscription required) writes in a preview of the club’s season.
As Lerner points out, both VanVleet and Adams are respected locker-room leaders in addition to providing value on the court and were among Houston’s most effective players in the postseason series vs. Golden State.
After winning 52 games last season, the Rockets appear capable of increasing that number in 2025/26, perhaps to the 55-win range, Lerner writes. However, winning in the playoffs will be the ultimate barometer of success in Houston this season — the team hasn’t won a postseason series since 2020.
We have more from around the Southwest:
- In addition to previewing Houston’s 2025/26 campaign, Lerner spoke to beat writers for other Southwest teams within the past week to get a sense of their outlooks for the coming season. Michael Wallace of Grind City Media (Chronicle subscriber link) believes the Grizzlies are capable of competing for a top-six seed in the West after trading away Desmond Bane; Jim Eichenhofer of Pelicans.com (subscriber link) thinks the Pelicans will exceed expectations after having widely been projected as the No. 14 team in the conference; and Eddie Sefko of Mavs.com (subscriber link) forecasts a 48-34 regular season and a playoff berth for the Mavericks.
- While the Mavericks‘ new four-year, $89MM extension with P.J. Washington looks relatively team-friendly in a vacuum, it’s unclear how much sense it makes for Dallas, according to Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron (Substack link), who points to a crowded frontcourt and the team’s increasingly pricey roster going forward as ways the deal could backfire.
- The Memphis Hustle, the Grizzlies‘ G League affiliate, acquired the returning player rights for guard Evan Gilyard from the Raptors 905 in exchange for a 2025 NBAGL first-round pick, according to an announcement from the team (Twitter link). Gilyard, who averaged 12.3 points and 5.4 assists per game during the 2024/25 G League regular season for Toronto’s affiliate, is now a candidate to sign an Exhibit 10 contract with Memphis if the team wants to pay him more than the standard NBAGL salary.
Turkey, Germany Advance To EuroBasket Quarterfinals
After trailing by a slim margin for the majority of the game, Turkey eventually defeated Sweden, 85-79, to advance to the quarterfinals of EuroBasket 2025, writes Semih Tuna of Eurohoops. The game was surprisingly competitive, considering Sweden went just 1-4 during the group phase while Turkey was 5-0, including Wednesday’s victory over Serbia.
Rockets big man Alperen Sengun was once again the standout performer for the Turkish national team, recording game highs of 24 points and 16 rebounds to go along with six assists and two blocks. Heat wing Pelle Larsson finished with 15 points, four rebounds, four assists and a steal in Sweden’s loss.
Head coach Ergin Ataman complained both before and after the game about Turkey having to compete at noon local time despite being the top seed from Group A, as Tuna relays in another story for Eurohoops.
“We didn’t wake up for the beginning of the game. After we understood we were in a difficult situation, in the third quarter, and came back in the game with very good defense, but we gave back this confidence to Sweden,” Ataman said. “Finally, we found a way to win. Now, we will think about the quarterfinal, which I think we will play in regular time, if they don’t want to change again and play in the morning at 11 o’clock.”
Turkey will face the winner of tomorrow’s matchup between Poland and Bosnia-Herzegovina in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.
Germany, which won the 2023 World Cup, was the only other undefeated team during the group phase and is the top seed from Group B. The Germans struggled mightily from three-point range on Saturday against Portugal, starting out just 1-of-24 before finishing 10-of-36, and only had a one-point lead entering the final period, according to Tuna.
However, Germany dominated the final frame, 33-7, to emerge with a 27-point victory.
“Obviously, you can improve in every game. I saw the first game with Sweden; they gave a great fight to Turkey, like Portugal gave a great fight to us,” said AS Monaco center Daniel Theis. “It’s the knockout stage. There are no easy games anymore.”
The German national team had five players — including Dennis Schröder, Franz Wagner, Tristan Da Silva and Isaac Bonga — finish with double-digit points. Portugal was led by Celtics center Neemias Queta, who finished with game highs of 18 points and 11 rebounds in 27 minutes.
Germany will face the winner of Sunday’s matchup between Italy and Slovenia on Wednesday.
Hornets Rookies Optimistic About Future, 2025/26 Season
Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer recently interviewed the Hornets‘ four 2025 draft picks — Kon Knueppel (No. 4), Liam McNeeley (No. 29), Sion James (No. 33) and Ryan Kalkbrenner (No. 34) — to see how they’re adjusting to the city and preparing for their rookie seasons, among other topics.
The Hornets were the only team to go undefeated at the Las Vegas Summer League, finishing 6-0 en route to the championship, with Knueppel named the finale’s MVP. The former Duke wing says he’s happy fans are excited about the Summer League showing, but the team is striving for more.
“I think it’s cool,” Knueppel told Boone. “We want to carry that momentum over a little bit. We’ve been having a good fall so far, playing a bunch with the guys. So, it’s been good so far and hopefully we can carry that momentum toward the season.”
Knueppel is also looking forward to playing for head coach Charles Lee, according to Boone.
“He’s a good person first,” Knueppel said. “It’s real easy to gravitate toward someone who is a good guy. And to see the way he operates with other people, everyone in the organization. And his family, too, he loves being around his family, so that’s just someone you want to play hard for. He takes the Xs and O’s really seriously. So, yeah, I’m really excited.”
Here are a few more highlights from Boone’s interviews:
McNeeley on fan enthusiasm for the 2025/26 season:
“Yeah, Charlotte’s like a big sports city, a big sports town. I think it’s cool to give the fans something to hope for, something to root for. It’s really cool to be part of something that’s building and is going to be at a high level in a couple of years.”
Kalkbrenner on what has stood out most about the team:
“Obviously, I’ve never been in the NBA before, but I think this year’s group is really, really committed to changing the culture, and trying to win and bring a winning culture here. It seems like we all want the same thing. We’re not just here to be here, have a job or whatever. We are all trying to win. So, I’ve been really impressed with that and it makes me really excited to get out there with them.”
James on which part of his game he wants to improve most:
“It will really happen once the games start coming. It’s probably too soon to say now. I want to improve everything in my game is the cop out answer I guess, but in reality I know I’m just going to have to figure out what it means to be in the NBA. And doing that, there will be some ups and downs, but I’m OK with that.”
NBA Hires Law Firm To Investigate Clippers, Leonard
The NBA has hired law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to investigate the allegations that the Clippers and Kawhi Leonard used an endorsement deal with fintech company Aspiration to circumvent the salary cap, a source tells Joe Vardon, Sam Amick and Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic.
While the New York-based firm will lead the investigation, the NBA also has its own investigator who will serve as a consultant, according to The Athletic.
The NBA previously used Wachtell Lipton in a pair of high-profile investigations of ownership misconduct, per The Athletic’s trio, and both resulted in the owners selling the teams. The first case was back in 2014 with former Clippers owner Donald Sterling, and the second occurred in 2022 with ex-Suns owner Robert Sarver.
Wachtell Lipton was also recently employed by the Celtics as part of the team’s sale, Vardon, Amick and Vorkunov add.
On Wednesday, Pablo Torre reported that Leonard signed a $28MM endorsement deal with now-bankrupt Aspiration but performed no work for the company. A follow-up report from Boston Sports Journal stated that Leonard also made a side deal with Aspiration to receive an additional $20MM in company stock.
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer had previously made a $50MM investment in Aspiration — allegedly with “light-to-no diligence” — and at a higher share price than other investors.
Ballmer and the Clippers have denied any wrongdoing and have said they will fully cooperate with the investigation.
Aspiration co-founder Joseph Sanberg pled guilty last month to two counts of wire fraud for a $248MM scheme to defraud lenders and investors.
If the investigation proves the salary cap was circumvented, the NBA has a wide range of possible sanctions it could impose on the Clippers, Ballmer and/or Leonard, the authors note.
In that scenario, Jason Lloyd of The Athletic argues that commissioner Adam Silver should levy severe penalties on the involved parties. However, Lloyd points out that there’s no specific burden of proof that needs to be reached, so there’s no guarantee the investigation will lead to said penalties.
Wolves Notes: Randle, Beringer, DiVincenzo, Identity
The Timberwolves‘ decision last summer to trade Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo ended up being a rare win-win deal, The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski writes in a mailbag article.
Randle not only turned in a very positive second half to the season and first-round series against the Lakers, but thanks to his (relatively) smaller cap hit, he allowed the team to prioritize building its depth in a way it wouldn’t have with Towns’ salary, which was worth $5MM more than Randle and DiVincenzo combined last season.
This flexibility was used this offseason to get under the second apron without having to part with key players like Jaden McDaniels, Rudy Gobert, or recently extended Naz Reid. Doing so with Towns in the fold would have been nearly impossible, and would have forced the Wolves into even harder choices than they already had to make when it came to retaining their players.
We have more from the Wolves:
- Another important pickup from the trade with the Knicks was the Pistons’ lottery-protected pick, which ended up conveying and becoming Joan Beringer, thanks to Detroit exceeding expectations. Krawczynski writes that while it’s likely that Beringer plays some minutes for the G League affiliate in Iowa early in the year, the team has made clear it expects him to spend much of this season with the main club as a depth piece behind Gobert, Randle and Reid.
- While DiVincenzo’s debut season in Minnesota was inconsistent, Krawczynski notes that there were positive moments, especially during a small stretch when he was asked to play point guard for the team. DiVincenzo averaged 17.5 points per game and shot 42% on three-pointers in a six-game run where the Wolves went 4-2. Given Mike Conley‘s age, Krawczynski says it’s entirely possible DiVincenzo gets a crack at the fifth starter spot. The Wolves also have sophomore point guard Rob Dillingham waiting in the wings, but it’s unclear if the 20-year-old is ready to take that leap on a team with title aspirations.
- The Wolves have managed to walk the tightrope of being back-to-back Western Conference Finalists while also building a strong core for the future, led by Anthony Edwards and also including Reid, Jaden McDaniels, Beringer, Terrence Shannon Jr., and Dillingham, each of whom is 26 or younger. Given the team’s flexible outlook and recent track record of success, Krawczynski has deemed this the Golden Age of Timberwolves basketball. While there are still decisions for new owners Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore to figure out moving forward, they have a strong foundation to ensure the team is competitive for years to come.
Suns Waive Alex Schumacher
The Suns have waived Alex Schumacher, reports Keith Smith of Spotrac (Twitter link). The move, which was not unexpected, came just a day after the team officially signed him to an Exhibit 10 contract.
Phoenix already held Schumacher’s G League returning rights, since he finished last season with the Valley Suns. Signing him to an Exhibit 10 deal and then waiving him will allow the organization to give him a bonus on top of his standard NBAGL salary for rejoining the Suns’ G League affiliate this fall.
Schumacher, who played two seasons at Seattle University before going undrafted in the 2024 draft, split time between the Valley Suns and the Windy City Bulls last season, averaging 9.2 points and 3.1 assists per game in his G League rookie year.
The sign-and-waive is a common move for teams to retain the ability to keep players in their programs by creating a pathway to more money than a standard G League contract. If the player spends at least 60 days with the team’s affiliate, he can earn a bonus worth as much as $85,300.
Magic To Sign Phillip Wheeler To Exhibit 10 Deal
The Magic are signing Phillip Wheeler to an Exhibit 10 training camp deal, according to The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer (via Twitter).
Wheeler, 23, played five games for the Sixers last season, averaging 1.6 points and 1.6 rebounds in 8.8 minutes per night. The 6’9″ forward played 19 games for the Texas Legends G League team and averaged 16.9 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 36.2% from three.
Orlando had previously signed four players to Exhibit 10 deals: Justin Minaya, Reece Beekman, Lester Quinones, and Colin Castleton. The Magic currently have one open two-way contract slot, so they may have their training camp invitees compete for that final spot.
If any of the five Magic players are cut ahead of the season and spent at least 60 days with the club’s NBAGL affiliate, the Osceola Magic, they’ll be eligible to earn bonuses worth up to $85,300 on top of their standard G League salaries.
Dylan Harper Undergoes Thumb Surgery, Hopeful For Opener
The Spurs‘ No. 2 pick in the 2025 draft, Dylan Harper, underwent surgery on Friday, reports Shams Charania for ESPN (via Twitter). The procedure addressed a partially torn ligament in the guard’s left thumb.
The hope is that the surgery will allow Harper to return in time for San Antonio’s October 22 season opener against the Mavericks. However, it will prevent the rookie point guard from participating in training camp, a crucial development step for any young player.
According to Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News, Harper sustained the injury during an offseason workout in the Spurs’ practice facility on Wednesday. Team sources suggest Harper is considered unlikely to play during San Antonio’s preseason, McDonald adds.
The highly touted guard was expected to come off the bench behind De’Aaron Fox to start the season. If Harper is forced to miss regular-season time, the team will have to rely on its guard rotation of Jordan McLaughlin and reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle to handle backup point guard duties (Castle also figures to start alongside Fox).
Thomas Sorber Diagnosed With Torn ACL, Will Miss Season
Thunder rookie Thomas Sorber has been diagnosed with a torn ACL in his right knee, which he sustained during an offseason workout on Thursday, reports Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Twitter link). The team announced in a press release that Sorber will miss the entire 2025/26 season while he recovers from the injury.
Sorber averaged 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.0 blocks per game during his one-and-done season at Georgetown before a left foot injury that required surgery caused him to miss the latter part of 2024/25.
The Thunder selected Sorber 15th overall in the 2025 draft. The big man will become the second straight Oklahoma City first-round pick to miss his rookie year, after last season’s 12th overall pick, Nikola Topic, missed his debut season with an ACL injury of his own.
With the Thunder’s extensions for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams signed, Sorber was expected to play a part in determining the future of the big man rotation and Isaiah Hartenstein‘s long-term status with the team.
The Thunder will now have to wait another season to see what he can provide them on the floor, though they have plenty of on-court insurance this season in Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams.
NBA Increases Salary Cap Projection For 2026/27
The NBA informed teams on Friday that its projection for the 2026/27 salary cap has increased from $165MM to $166MM, sources tell Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Twitter link).
When the league set a $154,647,000 cap for 2025/26, it reportedly told teams it was projecting a 7% increase for ’26/27. That would work out to $165,472,000.
It’s unclear, based on Fischer’s reporting, if the NBA’s new cap projection is exactly $166MM or the league bumped up the percentage of the projected increase (perhaps to 7.5%). Either way, it’s a relatively small difference, but it would be good news for teams that will be operating under the cap or navigating in tax/apron territory next season.
Under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, annual cap increases are capped at 10% to avoid another huge single-year jump like the 34.5% increase that occurred in 2016, which allowed the 73-win Warriors to sign Kevin Durant in free agency.
A 10% bump for ’26/27 would result in a $170,112,000 cap. However, unless the NBA’s early estimate is way off, it doesn’t appear that the cap will rise that high next summer.