Pacific Notes: Knecht, Booker, Williams, Schröder
Lakers forward Dalton Knecht got off to a great start as a rookie last season, averaging 12.2 points per game and making 43.9% of his three-pointers in his first 19 outings. However, he averaged just 8.1 PPG and knocked down just 34.8% of his outside shots the rest of the way while struggling defensively.
As Dan Woike of The Athletic writes, a poor Summer League showing in which Knecht shot just 32.1% from the field and 23.7% on three-pointers further exacerbated the concerns that rival scouts and executives have about the 24-year-old, whose trade value has dipped in the past year.
While Knecht has been viewed as a prime trade chip for the Lakers – he was part of the package the team was prepared to give up in February for Mark Williams – sources who spoke to Woike don’t believe the Lakers would be able to extract value comparable to the No. 17 pick they used on him right now. The general consensus, Woike writes, is that he could return multiple second-rounders, or perhaps even a single second-rounder.
However, Knecht is in just the second season of his four-year rookie contract and should still have plenty of time – and opportunities – to work on making his game more well-rounded. Head coach JJ Redick remains optimistic about Knecht’s potential.
“I’m very confident (that) when he’s confident, he’s a high-level offensive player in the NBA,” Redick said last weekend. “It’s the other stuff that he’s got to just do and find that consistency in his defense, on being the low man, or boxing out, or crashing every time or sprinting back and actually talking in transition. When he’s doing those things, he’s an impact player.”
Here’s more from around the Pacific Division:
- With Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal no longer in Phoenix, Devin Booker knows there’s more pressure on him to be the face of the Suns on and off the court, as Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic relays. “(I) think it’s a big responsibility for me to be a leader and continue being a leader and getting everybody on the same page so we can start this thing off the right way,” Booker said within a more extensive Q&A ahead of the team’s preseason games in China.
- New Suns center Mark Williams, who is entering a potential contract year and has dealt with injuries during his first three NBA seasons, was a high-risk, high-reward investment for Phoenix. Doug Haller of The Athletic takes a closer look at the bet the Suns made on Williams and what his ceiling might look like. “He could be one of the better rim protectors in the game, first of all,” former Hornets assistant Tyrone Corbin said. “He could get quicker at setting screens and just rolling to the rim really hard. He’s a threat at the rim always because he can catch the ball. He just has to get there a little quicker. … He’s smart. … He has the potential to be a pretty good starter and a reliable guy in the lane.”
- While the Kings made it an offseason priority to add an experienced point guard like Dennis Schröder in large part to organize the offense, head coach Doug Christie is also asking the 32-year-old to “set the tone” defensively with full-court ball pressure. Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee has the story on Christie’s defensive expectations for Schröder and the rest of the Kings.
Atlantic Notes: Wolf, Nets, China, Tatum, Gordon, Edgecombe
Danny Wolf, the former University of Michigan big man, is already showing off his play-making ability, Bridget Reilly of the New York Post writes. During the Nets’ first preseason game, the 27th overall pick of the draft dished out five assists in 15 minutes.
“I mean, when the coaches trust me with the ball in my hands, it’s up to me to make a play,” Wolf said. “I think a few times, I got a little too sped up and made a few — I made an errant pass and kinda lost the ball on a ball screen. But when coach Jordi [Fernandez] draws me up or tells us to run a play and it breaks off, it’s up to you to make a play, and I tried doing that to the best of my ability.”
Wolf’s 4.2 assists per game with the Wolverines last season represented the second-best average ever for a college player listed at seven feet or taller, according to Reilly.
Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- The Nets are playing the Suns in preseason games at China on Friday and Sunday, the first NBA games in that country in six years. The Nets began their 17-hour journey to China on Monday afternoon. “When you get there, I think it’s a complete time difference overall, so for the first few days you’re on the opposite schedule,” Michael Porter Jr. told C.J. Holmes of the New York Daily News. “That’s a challenge when you go that far, but other than that, I’m excited to bring the NBA to China. I know there’s so many fans, so it’ll be fun. It’ll be fun to get our first taste against another NBA team in the Phoenix Suns, so we’ll really get to see where we’re at.”
- While he mends from a torn Achilles, Celtics star Jayson Tatum will have added duties at the collegiate ranks. He’s been named Duke’s Chief Basketball Officer, according to GoDuke.com. In the newly created position, Tatum will volunteer his time as a special advisor to head coach Jon Scheyer and the Duke program, bringing his insights and professional basketball experience to player development, leadership, and life as an elite athlete. “I am ecstatic about the opportunity to be Duke’s first Chief Basketball Officer,” Tatum said in a statement. “This program means so much to me, and I had an unbelievable time here. I already watch every game, come back whenever I can, and connect with Coach Scheyer often. To have the chance to formalize my relationship with the program and broaden my ability to impact the players and culture means the world to me.”
- Eric Gordon has played with VJ Edgecombe on the Bahamas national team. Gordon, entering his 18th season, is eager to embrace a mentorship role with the Sixers’ lottery pick, as Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer relays (subscription required). “At my age, in my phase of my career, you have to mentor,” Gordon said. “That’s without a doubt. I’ve been around VJ the most. I’ve known him for quite a while. Of course, I will be looking forward to not just helping him, but also all the young guys. … But when I’m in the game, I’m going to have to do my part: Knock down shots, spread the floor, let guys operate the length [of the court] on their own.”
2025/26 NBA Over/Unders: Pacific Division
With the 2025/26 NBA regular season tipping off later this month, we’re getting serious about predictions for the upcoming campaign and continuing an annual Hoops Rumors tradition.
With the help of the lines from a series of sports betting sites – including BetMGM and BetOnline – we’re running through the predicted win totals for each of the NBA’s 30 teams, by division. In a series of team-by-team polls, you’ll get the chance to weigh in on whether you think those forecasts are too optimistic or too pessimistic.
In 2024/25, our voters went 13-17 on their over/under picks. Can we top that in ’25/26?
We’ll continue our series today with the Pacific Division…
Los Angeles Clippers
- 2024/25 record: 50-32
- Over/under for 2025/26: 48.5 wins
- Major offseason moves:
How many games will the Clippers win in 2025/26?
-
Under 48.5 59% (222)
-
Over 48.5 41% (156)
Total votes: 378
Los Angeles Lakers
- 2024/25 record: 50-32
- Over/under for 2025/26: 48.5 wins
- Major offseason moves:
How many games will the Lakers win in 2025/26?
-
Under 48.5 52% (209)
-
Over 48.5 48% (192)
Total votes: 401
Golden State Warriors
- 2024/25 record: 48-34
- Over/under for 2025/26: 46.5 wins
- Major offseason moves:
- Added: Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton, Will Richard
- Lost: Kevon Looney, Braxton Key, Kevin Knox
How many games will the Warriors win in 2025/26?
-
Over 46.5 68% (287)
-
Under 46.5 32% (133)
Total votes: 420
Sacramento Kings
- 2024/25 record: 40-42
- Over/under for 2025/26: 34.5 wins
- Major offseason moves:
How many games will the Kings win in 2025/26?
-
Over 34.5 55% (211)
-
Under 34.5 45% (172)
Total votes: 383
Phoenix Suns
- 2024/25 record: 36-46
- Over/under for 2025/26: 31.5 wins
- Major offseason moves:
How many games will the Suns win in 2025/26?
-
Under 31.5 57% (212)
-
Over 31.5 43% (161)
Total votes: 373
Previous voting results:
- New York Knicks (53.5 wins): Over (63.2%)
- Boston Celtics (42.5 wins): Over (52.7%)
- Philadelphia 76ers (42.5 wins): Under (58.7%)
- Toronto Raptors (37.5 wins): Over (50.2%)
- Brooklyn Nets (20.5 wins): Over (54.4%)
- Cleveland Cavaliers (56.5 wins): Over (58.0%)
- Detroit Pistons (46.5 wins): Over (60.5%)
- Milwaukee Bucks (42.5 wins): Over (74.4%)
- Indiana Pacers (37.5 wins): Over (50.1%)
- Chicago Bulls (32.5 wins): Over (60.8%)
- Oklahoma City Thunder (62.5 wins): Over (62.9%)
- Denver Nuggets (53.5 wins): Over (72.1%)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (49.5 wins): Over (58.7%)
- Portland Trail Blazers (34.5 wins): Over (57.1%)
- Utah Jazz (18.5 wins): Over (55.3%).
Injury Notes: K. Jones, Sheppard, Sarr, Gafford, Suns
Pacers rookie Kam Jones, the 38th overall pick in this year’s draft, will be sidelined for several weeks due to a back injury, head coach Rick Carlisle told reporters on Monday (Twitter link via Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star). Carlisle added that third-year wing Ben Sheppard will miss Tuesday’s preseason opener due to an undisclosed injury.
While Carlisle indicated that Sheppard should be available soon, it sounds as if Jones probably won’t be ready to return by the time Indiana’s regular season schedule tips off on October 23 vs. Oklahoma City.
With a pair of players in the Pacers’ backcourt banged up, it’s possible veteran guard Delon Wright‘s chances of making the regular season roster have increased. Wright and center Tony Bradley are both on non-guaranteed contracts and are believed to be competing for the final spot on the team’s 15-man squad.
Here are a few more injury-related notes and updates from around the NBA:
- Wizards center Alex Sarr, who sustained a right calf injury during EuroBasket, took part in non-contact work in Monday’s practice, tweets Josh Robbins of The Athletic. It was the first time this fall that Sarr had been a partial participant in a practice. Team officials said at the time of the injury that they expected 2024’s No. 2 overall pick to be ready for the start of the regular season.
- Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said on Sunday that injured center Daniel Gafford, who is recovering from an ankle injury, is “trending in the right direction” but still hasn’t been able to practice, per Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal (Twitter link). Besides Gafford and Kyrie Irving (ACL), everyone else is practicing for Dallas, according to Kidd.
- Providing updates on a pair of potential starters, Suns head coach Jordan Ott said on Sunday that Jalen Green (hamstring) is “definitely progressing” and that “every day has been better” for him, while Mark Williams is “in a good place” as he ramps up for the season (Twitter video link via Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic). Ott didn’t commit to either player suiting up for one (or both) of the team’s preseason games in China on Friday and Sunday, but he also didn’t rule out the possibility. For what it’s worth, teammate Jared Butler said he thinks Green is “super close” to returning (Twitter video link via Rankin).
Western Notes: Topic, Rockets, Podziemski, Suns
The rotation the Thunder use this fall will look awfully similar to the one that won a championship earlier in the year, but there could be one notable new addition. Nikola Topic, the 2024 lottery pick who missed his entire rookie season due to a torn ACL, has impressed his teammates in training camp as he makes a bid for regular playing time, writes Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman (subscription required).
“It really stands out the way he sees the game,” Chet Holmgren said of the Serbian point guard. “Even without the ball in his hands, the way he cuts and finds open space. Sees plays up ahead of him and gets the ball out of his hands early. It’s impressive for a young guy, but that’s what got him noticed in the first place is his ability to see and read the game.”
Teammate Jaylin Williams also expressed admiration for Topic’s court vision and awareness: “You can see he really reads the game. Great passer, great facilitator out there.”
All 12 players who averaged at least 16 minutes per game for the Thunder last season are still on the roster, and all 12 except for Kenrich Williams (knee surgery) are healthy, so it remains to be seen whether Topic will be able to crack the regular season rotation.
However, he should get plenty of opportunities to show what he can do during Oklahoma City’s preseason schedule, which tips off on Sunday, Mussatto notes. According to head coach Mark Daigneault (Twitter video link via Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer), several of the Thunder’s top players didn’t travel to South Carolina for Sunday’s preseason opener, the first game in a back-to-back set.
We have more from around the Western Conference:
- The Rockets will likely deploy different starting lineups during the preseason as head coach Ime Udoka gets a feel for how certain groups look in game settings, according to Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle (subscription required). Udoka also said that forward Tari Eason and center Steven Adams will sit out Wednesday’s game vs. Utah after playing on Monday vs. Atlanta for precautionary reasons. Both players returned last season from major injuries.
- Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski spoke to Mark Medina of Sportskeeda about a variety of topics, including how he’d evaluate his 2024/25 season, what he focused on this offseason, and why he thinks incorporating newcomers like Al Horford will make for a “seamless transition.”
- Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic shares his key takeaways from the Suns‘ victory over the Lakers in their preseason opener on Friday, including the fact that second-year wing Ryan Dunn started as the team’s de facto power forward.
New Suns Center Mark Williams Vows He’ll Play Opening Night
The Suns traded for oft-injured young center Mark Williams this summer. They’re taking a cautious approach with him during training camp but Williams says he’ll suit up for the regular season opener, Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic reports.
Williams was famously traded last season to the Lakers, who rescinded the deal for medical reasons. The Hornets successfully dealt Williams this offseason to Phoenix, which gave up this year’s No. 29 overall pick and a 2029 first-rounder as part of the package. Charlotte used the 2025 pick to draft Liam McNeeley.
Williams has participated in everything in training camp except live 5-on-5 action, according to Rankin.
“For me, it’s taking advantage of every opportunity out on the court and letting everything take care of itself,” Williams said. “They traded two first-round picks for me. I’ve talked to everyone from the top down.”
Williams averaged a double-double last season at 15.3 points and 10.2 rebounds per game while making 44 appearances, including 41 starts. He has seen action in a total of just 106 games in three seasons due to injuries to his foot, back, knee, ankle and thumb.
New head coach Jordan Ott said Williams has worked on “developing his strength” this offseason. It’s uncertain whether Williams will appear in a preseason game.
“We’re trying to assess exactly where he is. The goal is there at the end of camp get him as ready as he can. He’s on a good path,” Ott said.
Williams has added motivation to produce and show more durability. He’ll be a restricted free agent after this season if he doesn’t agree to a rookie scale extension on or before October 20.
“I’m in a good place,” he said. “They have a plan in place for me to be ready for opening night. Just doing everything in my power to be able to endure a full season so I’m excited for that.”
Ed Stefanski Joining Suns’ Front Office As Adviser
Veteran NBA executive Ed Stefanski is being hired by the Suns as an adviser, league sources tell Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Twitter link).
John Hollinger of The Athletic reported (via Bluesky) in late August that Stefanski would be joining Phoenix’s front office.
Stefanski has held various basketball operations titles — including senior management positions — with the Nets, Sixers, Raptors and Grizzlies. He most recently served as a senior advisor to Pistons owner Tom Gores, acting as the de facto head of basketball operations for two years until Troy Weaver was hired as GM in 2020.
As Stein observes, Stefanski is the second recent hire to Phoenix’s new-look front office, joining Steve Nash in an advisory role. Following a disappointing 2024/25 campaign, the Suns reshaped their basketball operations department on May 1, when Brian Gregory replaced James Jones as general manager.
Suns Notes: Green, Williams, Maluach, Hayes-Davis
New Suns guard Jalen Green is dealing with a “low grade” hamstring strain and won’t be available on Friday when Phoenix’s preseason schedule tips off, head coach Jordan Ott said on Thursday (Twitter link via Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic).
After facing the Lakers in Palm Springs on Friday, the Suns will travel to Macao, where they’ll face Brooklyn in a pair of preseason contests on October 10 and 12. According to Ott, Green will make that trip with the team, but isn’t necessarily a lock to play in either of those games against the Nets.
“He’ll be with us in China,” Ott said. “He’ll do what he can to see where we’re at in preseason, but we know the goal is that (Oct. 22 season opener).”
We have more on the Suns:
- Another newcomer, center Mark Williams, will also sit out Friday’s preseason opener, Rankin writes for The Arizona Republic. The big man has done everything in training camp except take part in live 5-on-5 action, and the Suns’ plan has always been to bring him along slowly after he was limited to 106 total outings across three seasons in Charlotte due to various health issues. “We’re trying to assess exactly where he is,” Ott said when asked if Williams would play in any of the team’s four preseason games. “The goal is there at the end of camp get him as ready as he can. He’s on a good path. Like I said, every drill work you’ve seen him in. Just not the live 5-on-5.”
- Rookie center Khaman Maluach was listed at 250 pounds during his lone season at Duke and at 253 ahead of Summer League. The 19-year-old confirmed this week that he has made an effort to bulk up in recent months as he prepares to do battle with NBA centers, per Rankin. “I added a little bit of weight, I’m like 263 now, 262,” Maluach said. “… It hasn’t really been (lifting) weights, weights. It’s just like developing and getting strong from like the base. Just working on my weak spots, whether it’s my hips, my knees, my quads and my upper body.”
- Veteran forward Nigel Hayes-Davis, who will be playing in the NBA this season for the first time since 2018, is confident that his game will translate from the EuroLeague to the NBA after he spent the better part of the past decade playing in Turkey, Spain, and Lithuania. “There was a lot of talk that it’s a different game between EuroLeague and the NBA,” Hayes-Davis said (Twitter video link). “Of course it is. But for me, I just need to play basketball and do what I do. I think the way I play basketball on both sides of the ball works in either league, on any continent.”
Suns Pick Up Ryan Dunn’s 2026/27 Option
The Suns have exercised their 2026/27 rookie scale team option for forward Ryan Dunn, Spotrac contributor Keith Smith tweets.
Phoenix had until the end of the month to decide whether to pick up Dunn’s $2,784,240 salary for next season.
Dunn, the 28th pick of the 2024 draft, had a solid rookie season. He appeared in 74 games, including 44 starts, and averaged 6.9 points and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 43.0% from the field. His long-range and free throw shooting need to improve, but he has established himself as a hard-nosed defender.
He’ll likely battle veteran Royce O’Neale for a starting spot in this year’s lineup.
All of the 2026/27 rookie scale option decisions, which must be finalized by October 31, can be found right here.
Suns Notes: Williams, Maluach, Gillespie, Ishbia
An inability to stay healthy has been the biggest impediment to success in Mark Williams‘ NBA career, so the Suns entered training camp with a plan to help him avoid injuries, writes Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. Williams appeared in 43, 19 and 44 games during his three seasons in Charlotte, and Phoenix officials understood they had to try something different after landing him in a draft-night trade.
“We know Mark’s history and we’re trying to change it,” coach Jordan Ott said Friday. “We’re taking an approach. He’s been out here and has been good. This is Sept. 26. Definitely added some strength to him. You can see it when he walks in the building. He definitely has great size. Excited to see where he goes, but we still do have a couple more weeks.”
Although the exact nature of their concerns was never specified, the Lakers opted to rescind a trade for Williams in February. L.A. had viewed Williams as a rim protector and a lob partner for newly acquired Luka Doncic, but something in his physical made the team change its mind. He was able to resume playing for the Hornets after the trade was called off.
Rankin indicates that Williams’ minutes might be limited in the Suns’ four preseason games so they can preserve him for the regular season. Ott noted on Saturday that Nick Richards, Khaman Maluach and Oso Ighodaro have been getting most of the work in training camp, but that doesn’t mean there are concerns about Williams’ physical condition.
“He’s in a good place,” Ott said. “We want Mark to know we care about him this year and going forward so we have a really intentional plan for him.”
There’s more from Phoenix:
- Maluach had a difficult time during Summer League, but fellow Duke alum Grayson Allen sees promise in the rookie big man, Rankin tweets. “He talks non-stop on the court,” Allen said. “Like he’s commanding the defense, calling out coverages, constantly talking. For a rookie, let alone a 19-year-old guy to come into a gym and do that first day of training camp is impressive. He’s already ready in that aspect.”
- Hoping for a larger role in his second season with the Suns, Collin Gillespie spent the summer working to improve his jumper and take better care of the ball (Twitter video link from Rankin). “The way (Ott) talked about smaller guards like myself, we have to be able to shoot off the dribble and be efficient and not turn the ball over,” Gillespie said. “So I just worked on decision making, shooting, shooting from deeper, shooting off the dribble.”
- At Wednesday’s media day, owner Mat Ishbia responded to questions about five workplace discrimination lawsuits recently filed against the Suns and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, per Jason Wolf of The Arizona Republic. Ishbia dismissed the claims as “ridiculous” and “a cash grab,” adding, “We don’t settle. So if we don’t do anything wrong, I’m not paying someone.” ESPN’s Baxter Holmes reported this week that employees were told in the spring that to keep their jobs they had to sign an agreement limiting their ability to sue the team over workforce matters.