The Toronto Tempo have traded the rights to Maria Kliundikova and a 2028 second-round pick to the Connecticut Sun in exchange for forward Aneesah Morrow, bolstering their frontcourt just a few days before the midseason trade deadline.
Morrow has averaged 11.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.7 ****** ists per game, while shooting 42.1% from the field and 28.4% from three. She has recorded 9 double-doubles, tied for the 8th-most in the league. She is fresh off back-to-back 21-point performances against the Washington Mystics and Toronto Tempo.
Tempo general manager Monica Wright Rogers praised the trade in the official press release.
"We're thrilled to welcome Aneesah to our organization," said Rogers. "She's a relentless competitor who impacts the game in so many ways, particularly with her ability to rebound at a high level. We believe she's one of the emerging frontcourt talents in this league, and we're excited to see her play in a Tempo uniform."
Morrow was drafted 7th overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft, and quickly established herself as one of the league's top rebounders. In an official press release, Connecticut Sun President Jen Rizzotti thanked Morrow for her time in Connecticut.

#morrow #frontcourt

Angel Reese had already established herself as one of the league's top bigs in her first two seasons in Chicago. The former LSU star was named an All-Star in both her rookie and sophomore campaigns, broke a litany of rebounding records, and showcased her force on both ends of the floor.
But this season, she's taken her game to a whole other level. While Reese's individual accolades with the Sky were impressive, the team around her struggled, and the Sky found themselves near the bottom of league standings in back-to-back seasons. In April, Reese was traded to the Atlanta Dream, a team that already found themselves among the league's best last year, but wanted to further bolster their frontcourt.
For the most part, it's been a match made in heaven. Reese is averaging 15.6 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.5 ******* ists, and 1.8 steals per game, and Atlanta is 17-10 and winners of four straight games.
This year, she became the fastest player in league history to record 1,000 rebounds (doing so in 78 games), and the fastest to reach 50 double-doubles (doing so in 65 games).
But, in part due to Reese's play, they've already accrued wins against top teams like the Dallas Wings (who they are 3-0 against) and the Indiana Fever (who are they are 2-1 against), among others. The Dream have outscored opponents by 99 points in Reese's minutes this season, the 21st-best net rating in the WNBA and the third-best on the Dream, per Hoops Junkie. Atlanta has had a rigorous schedule so far, and they have the third-easiest remaining schedule.

#atlanta #dream #best #game

Giannis Antetokounmpo's fit with the Miami Heat gets questioned by former dunk champion originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Getting Giannis Antetokounmpo is a huge triumph for the Miami Heat and team president Pat Riley. They finally have the superstar they have wanted for a long time, and he will be playing in the same frontcourt as mainstay center Bam Adebayo.
While this is an alluring team because of its star power, there might be some question marks surrounding the Heat. They have a strong, talented team with Giannis on board, but there might be some issues with the overall fit.
Former Atlanta Hawks mainstay and All-Defensive team member Josh Smith is excited for the Heat like most people. However, he does have some concerns when it comes to the overall fit with Giannis joining the team this offseason.
For the longest time, the model for succeeding with Giannis has been clear since early in his career with the Milwaukee Bucks, and that is surrounding him with shooters. That is Smith's reasoning because the Heat do not have shooters like that, so they might struggle offensively.

#team #time

Can the Boston Celtics compete with a Philadelphia 76ers that has LeBron James and Jaylen Brown? The Celtics Atlantic Division rival has taken Boston's second-best player in a trade likely motivated as much by the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) as it was by play style, and parlayed that into making their team a desirable landing spot for James in free agency.
With Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe already on the roster and on the cusp of becoming one of the better backcourts in the East if not the league, the addition of Brown likely locks up that status. There are still questions about the health of Joel Embiid and who will play the 4, but a lot of the worries in the frontcourt got boosted by LeBron coming to Philly this summer. Can Boston beat the squad their own choices helped spawn?
The folks behind the "Big 3 NBA" podcast put together a clip from a recent episode of their show. Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what they had to say about where the Celtics stand vs. the new-look Sixers.
Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on:
Blue Wire: https://tiny.ee/CdKp

#celtics #boston #philadelphia

Bobby Portis boldly claims the Miami Heat now have the best frontcourt in the NBA originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After six years of playing alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo on the Milwaukee Bucks, Bobby Portis will now be playing for the Miami Heat alongside his longtime teammate. This is a huge change for both players, but it seems they could massively improve a team that has needed a frontcourt boost.
Now, the Heat have one of the most promising teams ahead of the 2026-27 season. Giannis steps in as the #1 guy for Erik Spoelstra, but he is not alone because he will be starting alongside Bam Adebayo.
Combining Giannis and Bam in the same frontcourt is already dangerous for most opponents. They will struggle scoring against them because these two are arguably the best defenders in the league.
Offensively, they are also elite, with Giannis standing as the #1 option. Adebayo may not be as explosive as him, but he does have an 83-point game under his belt from the 2025-26 season.

#sporting #best

Dream trade target Emily Engstler makes sense next to Angel Reese originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Atlanta Dream have one of the most well-rounded starting lineups in the WNBA.
Despite that, they could still seek an upgrade before the upcoming trade deadline.
As far as well-rounded goes, maybe they could land someone like Emily Engstler from the Portland Fire.
Engstler is a frontcourt player who does a lot of things well, which would allow her to gel well in the Dream's lineup whether she's getting minutes as a backup to Angel Reese or right alongside Reese.

#reese #emily #rounded #preferred

Wings' Alanna Smith update is a trade plan no one saw coming originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Alanna Smith's 2026 season hasn't gone according to plan.
Three months ago, Smith -- fresh off sharing Defensive Player of the Year honors with A'ja Wilson -- signed a three-year max contract to anchor the revamped Dallas Wings' frontcourt.
But just days before the Aug. 2 trade deadline, Smith and the Wings might be headed for a divorce.
MORE: Sparks risk repeating familiar mistake with Kelsey Plum trade plan

#wings #smith #trade #alanna

The countdown until the 2026-27 college basketball season continues to roll on. As it stands now, we are just under 100 days until tipoff for the new campaign.
UNC is entering the first year of the Michael Malone era as he replaces Hubert Davis. Now, Malone has the task of turning this program around and getting it to where it needs to be. Malone and his staff have built the roster using returning players, the 2026 recruiting class, and a good transfer portal class.
UNC's backcourt should be strong, but there are some concerns regarding their height. The Tar Heels were able to add some frontcourt players, but it likely won't be a strength for them. CBS Sports **** yst Isaac Trotter wrote on the Tar Heels, and he has some concerns about their post depth:
I'm getting nervous about UNC's big man situation. 7-footer Sayon Keita is still not on campus as he wades through all the eligibility red tape. I'm in on Matt Able and freshman Maximo Adams, but UNC could have some hairy moments with this frontcourt. I think UNC is more of a top-30ish team than a top-15 unit nationally.
Trotter wrote that in the section of "teams he will be lower on than the consensus," and he mentions that he will have them as a top 30 team. Keita should be on campus soon as **** ysts have said they are not worried about his absence so far.

#heels #getting

Heat's pursuit of Klay Thompson takes surprise turn amid Mavericks trade buzz originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Dallas Mavericks are reportedly very open to moving on from veteran Klay Thompson as the franchise continues to reshape its roster. Dallas is believed to be prioritizing its long-term future around rookie sensation Cooper Flagg while also looking to create more opportunities and minutes in the frontcourt and on the wing.
The entire NBA market continues to wait for LeBron James to make his decision. However, according to Anthony Chiang, the Miami Heat's interest in Thompson does not depend on where James ultimately signs. The franchise is expected to pursue the veteran shooter regardless of LeBron's choice.
"Among other shooters available, the Heat continues to hope that the Mavericks buy out Klay Thompson, who's due $17.1 million this season. But Dallas reportedly remains more inclined to try to trade him," the report read.
Reportedly, there is mutual interest between Thompson and the Heat. However, Miami is only expected to pursue the four-time NBA champion if he first reaches a buyout agreement with the Mavericks, allowing him to become a free agent without requiring a trade.

#thompson #reportedly #trade #james

A new rumor suggests a three-time All-Star is interested in taking his talents to the Boston Celtics because of his friendship with top star Jayson Tatum.
This has been a very interesting offseason for the Celtics, to say the least. Of course, they made the stunning trade that sent MVP contender Jaylen Brown to the same team that beat them in the playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers. However, they also improved their frontcourt by selecting Chris Cenac Jr. in the NBA Draft and poaching Mitchell Robinson from top rival the New York Knicks. They also brought in greybeard guard Mike Conley.
Well, it looks like they could make another notable addition soon because three-time All-Star Bradley Beal could be headed to Boston, according to a new report from Jake Fischer.
"I do think there's some Miami interest there, and I would not rule out Boston for Beal because of the connection with Jayson Tatum."

#celtics #beal

Today in Boston Celtics history, the team officially signed All-Star veteran forward Gordon Hayward from the Utah Jazz in free agency, following a dispute that went down on the Fourth of July holiday regarding his departure from the Jazz after conflicting reports clouded the picture. The Butler alum's contract, which spanned four years and was valued at $128 million with a player option for the final year, started under gruesome circumstances that required several seasons for Hayward to overcome.
A devastating injury to his ankle ended Hayward’s first season with Boston just a few minutes into the 2018-19 NBA season. The Indiana native worked diligently over the next two seasons to get back to his old self and abilities. Unfortunately, by the time he had mostly recovered his game, it was on a team that needed him in less of a starring and more of a supporting role. As a result, Hayward decided to decamp to the Charlotte Hornets in the 2020 offseason.
He averaged 13.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.6 **** ists per game with the Celtics over three seasons.
It is also the anniversary of former Celtic big man Chris Wilcox signing with the team in 2012. Wilcox, a former Maryland standout, had last played for the Detroit Pistons before signing on to reinforce Boston’s aging frontcourt in the latter days of the Banner 17 crew. He played 89 games over two seasons with the franchise. The Raleigh, North Carolina, native averaged 4.6 points and 3.3 boards in his time in green and white.
A pivotal moment in Celtics history came in 1978. Legendary team president Red Auerbach decided to turn down an offer from the New York Knicks, after the Celtics’ new owner, John Y. Brown, had made a mess of his roster by making trades without consulting Auerbach.

Towering over everybody else, Aday Mara's potential is tantalizing. At 7-foot-3, he makes the rest of the NBA look smaller in comparison. It doesn't take long to brainstorm what his size could do for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Especially since he looks like a toddler playing on a Little Tikes indoor hoop.
That said, it's only taken five Summer League games to see Mara is a giant blob of clay. The Thunder will take on another developmental project as they hope he eventually sharpens out his technique on the court. As mystifying as his size is, he'll need to figure out how to finish through contact and better his conditioning.
Of course, none of that should be a shocker. In the predraft process, those were Mara's main concerns. Even with that, he was still viewed as a lottery pick. The Thunder materialized that with the No. 12 pick of the 2026 NBA draft. He helped Michigan bring home a national championship.
Joining the ***** le contender, Mara has full confidence he can reach his NBA ceiling in OKC. The Thunder are one of the better developmental teams in the league. When you're in a small market and a constant winner for nearly two decades, the draft is your lifeblood.
After Mara had his best Summer League outing yet in OKC's 104-79 loss to the Golden State Warriors, he hopes he can replicate his 10 points, nine rebounds and four ***** ists at the next level. The Thunder continue to double down on size with his addition. The hope is that he turns into Chet Holmgren's next frontcourt partner.

The Los Angeles Lakers have officially added a veteran presence to their frontcourt, signing Kevon Looney on Monday.
Looney, 30, joins the Lakers after spending the 2025-26 season with the New Orleans Pelicans. He brings 11 seasons of NBA experience, along with the championship pedigree of a player who helped the Golden State Warriors win three NBA ****** les.
Throughout his career, Looney has built a reputation as a reliable rebounder, defender and ball screener, which will work well with Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.
In 620 career regular-season games with the Warriors and Pelicans, he has averaged 4.9 points and 5.7 rebounds while shooting 57.0% from the field.
The 6-foot-9 big man has been especially effective on the offensive glass. During the 2022-23 season, Looney led the NBA with 274 offensive rebounds and averaged a career-high 9.3 rebounds per game in 82 contests.

It seems that a team looking to acquire LeBron James may have to keep a roster spot open for another player. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, 6-foot-10 forward Kevin Love could be James' plus one in free agency. Love is an end-of-the-bench veteran who may not have much to contribute on the court but would be a solid locker room presence, similar to former Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem.
"I wouldn't be surprised if Kevin Love is considered as a plus 1 to any team that acquires LeBron James," Fischer said on Bleacher Report's stream on Saturday.
Love and James played on the Cavaliers from 2015 to 2018. Love was a key contributor in the frontcourt as the third option. His only championship win came in 2016, when James spearheaded Cleveland's historic 3-1 comeback against the Golden State Warriors.
The duo has remained close over the years and recently took a trip together with other players from the Cavaliers' 2016 championship team. James would benefit from having another veteran who can not only keep him, but also other players, accountable.
LeBron James could reunite with Miami or Cleveland, two frequently mentioned landing spots. If Kevin Love tags along, it would be a reunion for him, too. Love honed his role as a locker room leader with the Cavaliers and Heat between 2022 and 2025.

LAS VEGAS — Nestled in a low-riding chair wearing a sharp white polo and black shorts, it was easy for Magic star forward Paolo Banchero, stationed at Court 11 in the Las Vegas Convention Center, to blend in with the crowd while he supported his beloved Seattle Rotary AAU team.
Such is the nature of the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League, or EYBL for short. The thousands of kids scrimmaging nonstop throughout the day — surrounded by the flurry of activity from parents, scouts, agents and onlookers in between the individual courts — almost make him a secondary figure, allowing him to escape attention.
It’s a much harder task pulling that off at his day job. Banchero, a 6-foot-10 forward entering his fifth year in the NBA, is approaching a pivotal point in his young career. His style of play, a high-usage offensive engine unto himself — with a high motor, processing speed and unique skillset for someone his size — is hopeful of meshing seamlessly with a new head coach. Sean Sweeney, a former ***** istant coach under Mitch Johnson in San Antonio, joined the Orlando Magic following the Finals, looking to take the organization further forward than what his predecessor, Jamahl Mosley, could.
The underlying Banchero question has always been how to marry his versatility with his surroundings, all while producing efficient play. Advanced ***** ytics paint a wide-ranging picture of Banchero’s overall impact, as metrics can be influenced by ***** ing (personnel choices), tactics and strategy. Banchero ranks 97th in LEBRON, 146th in DARKO, 141st in LAKER and 56th in Player Efficiency Rating. Last season was the first, according to Cleaning the Glass, that the Magic weren’t a net negative with Banchero on the floor (Orlando was -17 in his playoff minutes, but was also -19 with him on the bench versus Detroit.)
Orlando is blessed with an abundance of additional playmakers — Jalen Sugs, Desmond Bane and Anthony Black are all capable of creation — but Banchero’s ***** ist rate, combined with how often he possesses the ball in the frontcourt, warrant additional conversations between Banchero and Sweeney for how to improve the Magic’s output.

Lakers trade idea brings in Cavaliers All-Star, and it would be thanks to LeBron James originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Lakers would love to add a player who could come in and make an impact for them on the defensive side of the basketball. They've already attempted to do so this offseason by trading for Walker Kessler in a sign-and-trade deal with the Utah Jazz, but there's certainly a feeling that more could be done.
Even if the Lakers were to add another defensive-minded center, I don't think it's a bad idea, given how dominant some centers are in the Western Conference. That's why the latest prediction that the Lakers will make a move for Jarrett Allen of the Cleveland Cavaliers shouldn't be discredited.
"If the hometown king is actually making his triumphant return to the shores of Lake Erie, someone has to serve as the structural salary ballast. Jarrett Allen remains an elite drop-coverage anchor and a clinical rim-finisher, but Cleveland's front office must sacrifice high-end frontcourt utility to absorb a historic salary-cap footprint. For a Lakers team looking to instantly redefine its physical baseline in a post-LeBron environment, Allen represents the perfect modern defensive centerpiece," Joe Cervenka wrote.
Allen and Kessler are similar players in that both can block shots at an elite level, are high-level defenders, and do many little things that contribute to winning.

The Indiana Fever bounced back in a big way from Wednesday night's disappointing 106-92 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks with a 92-89 win over the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday night. In a night when star point guard Caitlin Clark was out to manage a lingering back issue, her All-Star running mate in the frontcourt, Kelsey Mitchell, stepped up in a big way.
Mitchell ended the night with eight **** ists and 29 points, including a clutch go-ahead lay-up with just over 10 seconds remaining in regulation. After the game, Fever head coach Stephanie White sang her veteran guard's praises.
"You know, she's one of one. She's the fastest player in the league with the ball in her hand," White said of Mitchell. "You know, her ability to get downhill is always great, but her ability to stop and change direction on a dime. You know, now her ability to gear down and then explode again as opposed to just being all one speed, to playing on balance, to be able to find— I thought the kick-out that she made to (Ty Harris) when Ty knocked down that 3. Big shot.
"When she could have, you know, tried to go one-on-one was huge. I mean, I think the game's— it's fast, but it also slowed down for her in a way that, you know, she's become even more deadly of a playmaker, if that's possible.
"I'm just— she puts us on her back. She really does. And she scores while people are hanging on her all the time. She's able to get open while people are hanging on her all the time. I mean, her endurance is incredible. You know, we rely heavily on her, and I'm thankful she's on our team."

As coach Danny Sprinkle and the Washington Huskies look to fill the massive void left in the frontcourt by the departure of Hannes Steinbach for the NBA draft, one of his most promising options has yet to play his first game in purple and gold.
After transferring to the shores of Montlake from Frank Phillips College, where he was ranked as the No. 3 junior college prospect in the nation by 247Sports after averaging 13.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, Traore suffered a torn tendon and was forced to sit out his entire first season in Seattle. Now, after the Huskies had to overhaul their entire roster again, he could prove to be a key piece of the rotation moving forward.
During his time at Frank Phillips, Traore also displayed the ability to bring the ball up the floor at times, while shooting 53.4 percent from the floor and 76.4 percent at the free throw line, which led to some high praise from coach Danny Sprinkle regarding his athleticism.
"He's probably the best athlete on our team," Sprinkle said ahead of the 2025-26 season. "When you're talking about just running and jumping, he's a freak. And he's all of 6-foot-11 and long, he's going to be a really good player here."
With big men Lathan Sommerville and Nikola Dzepina back in the fold, professional additions Wini Braga and Boris Tisma, from Brazil and Croatia, respectively, along with Texas Tech transfer LeJuan Watts, the Huskies have plenty of bodies in the frontcourt, and Traore's ability to rebound and stretch the floor could give Sprinkle a much-needed boost in the Big Ten.

Caitlin Clark returned on Wednesday to play her first game since Jun. 24. However, the Los Angeles Sparks spoiled the superstar's anticipated return by upsetting the Indiana Fever 106-92, without their best player and leading scorer, Kelsey Plum. It was the Fever's eighth game this season in which they conceded 100-plus points.
They have matched the Detroit Shock's record with the second-most games in a season while allowing 100-plus points. With one more loss like this, the Fever will match the Dallas Wings' 2024 record of nine. The Fever still have 23 games left, and with how their defense has looked, they could break the WNBA's record for most losses in a season while their opponents score 100-plus points.
The Fever are average at best on defense when at full strength. They have a 106.4 defensive rating, which is eighth in the league. They are allowing 89.7 points per game, the most among teams with a winning record. Despite barrelling in the lower half of the standings, the Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Phoenix Mercury and Seattle Storm have conceded fewer ppg than Indiana.
On Wednesday, the Fever struggled more as they were missing center Aliyah Boston. The Sparks exploited Indiana's struggles on the interior, making 15 of their 40 field goals at the rim. The Sparks' frontcourt trio of Dearica Hamby, Nneka Ogwumike and Rae Burrell combined to score 67 points between them on 53.0% field goal shooting.
Caitlin Clark failed to find a rhythm in her first game back after two weeks. Clark had nine points, four rebounds, three ***** ists and four turnovers, while shooting 4-for-12 from the field, including 1-for-6 from three-point range. Stephanie White played her in short bursts as the superstar guard was on a minutes restriction, playing only 15:39 minutes.

Celtics predicted to outbid Lakers for $46 million Warriors NBA champion castoff originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
While the Boston Celtics’ head-scratching decision to trade Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-round picks earlier this offseason could easily backfire, the franchise can take solace in knowing they drastically improved their frontcourt by adding Mitchell Robinson.
The former New York Knicks rebounding prodigy is coming off a campaign in which he controlled the boards to near perfection and was undoubtedly the NBA champion franchise’s second-unit MVP.
Are the Celtics finished making moves? In Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale’s opinion, Boston could outbid the Los Angeles Lakers for a 6-foot-7 Golden State Warriors NBA castoff to give them a high-energy wing with star potential.
“Boston Celtics team president Brad Stevens has made it his mission to add rim pressure over the offseason. That largely explains Beantown's dalliance with Giannis Antetokounmpo,” Favale wrote Wednesday.

Coming off an unexpected rise to prominence midway through the 2025-26 NBA season, Julian Reese begins his next chapter in professional basketball. The Maryland men’s basketball alum will return to the Washington Wizards for the 2026 NBA Summer League.
Reese came in on the backend of Washington’s season but quickly made an impact. He played in 13 games and started in 10 of them, averaging 11.8 points and 10.5 rebounds on 30.9 minutes per game. His size and paint presence were much needed for a faltering Wizards team with large portions of their frontcourt sidelined with injuries.
Despite averaging a double-double, Reese was only a part of a single victory in his 13-game stint. That win came in 133-110 fashion over the Golden State Warriors, where he scored 27 points and grabbed 17 boards.
But with those struggles comes an upside, as Reese will now have the chance to play on the same frontcourt as No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybansta and 10-time NBA All-Star Anthony Davis, among other talented pieces. But first, the former Terp will have to once again fight for a roster spot against some of the NBA’s most promising young talent.
In other news

NEW YORK -- The 2026 WNBA All-Star reserves for the Chicago game have been named.
They will join the starters that were selected a few days ago.
The reserves were chosen by WNBA coaches, who could vote for three guards, five frontcourt players, and four others in any position. They could not vote for their own players, though.
Two Sparks were picked as reserves: Kelsey Plum and Nneka Ogwumike.
Plum is currently out with a leg injury but has been phenomenal this entire season. She's averaging a career-best 23.9 points per game as well as 6.4 ******* ists, also the best in her WNBA career. One of the games included a fantastic 43-point performance in double overtime against the Mercury. She was deemed out for approximately four weeks starting at June 24th and with the all-star game on July 25th, she's likely going to be replaced for the midseason exhibition. But it'll be something to watch as the game gets closer. This is Plum's fifth all-star selection of her career.

Lakers, Warriors get big Nikola Jokic news after contract decision originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
While the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors’ respective frontcourts are now set for the upcoming campaign, both franchises were linked to generational Denver Nuggets star center Nikola Jokic when there was speculation that he could delay a contract extension with Denver and potentially become a free agent in 2027.
On June 27, CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn listed the Lakers and Warriors as two of the few franchises that could express interest in Jokic next offseason if he were to become available. Considering the three-time MVP revealed his plan to hold off on an extension this summer, put pen to paper next summer, and ‘stay in Denver for the rest of life,’ Los Angeles and Golden State shouldn’t expect Jokic to reach the free agent market anytime soon.
That said, until Jokic puts his plan into motion, many will continue to envision different scenarios involving the future Hall of Fame big man. For the second time this offseason, Quinn linked Jokic to the Lakers and Warriors, giving fans a clear sense of whether either team has a realistic shot of landing the 30-year-old following his apparent contract decision.
“The two most desirable cap ****** e destinations next offseason on paper were the Miami Heat and LosAngeles Lakers,’ Quinn wrote Tuesday. “Both have spent their money on long-term additions, so it's not as though Jokic would have an easy exit in free agency next offseason.”

Former NBA champion Danny Green believes the Heat will disappoint with the new roster originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Now that Giannis Antetokounmpo is with the Miami Heat, the expectations are high for them. He is now part of a strong frontcourt with Bam Adebayo, which makes them quite possibly the best partnership of its kind in the NBA.
This puts a spotlight on the rest of the team, which is pretty underwhelming when compared to the supporting cast of star duos in the league. The New York Knicks and the Oklahoma City Thunder immediately come to mind, and this Heat team has a supporting cast that is far from the league's top teams.
The Eastern Conference is much better than advertised, especially with how the Knicks dominated on their way to a championship. Since they won the **** le, other teams in the East have made strides with their roster construction. The Philadelphia 76ers look like legitimate threats now, but the same could be said about the Heat.
Unfortunately, they are a bit top-heavy with Adebayo and Antetokounmpo leading the way. They have a decent supporting cast, but they do not have the ceiling that other teams have. The likes of Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell is alright, but they don't hold a candle to players like OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges today.

Jul. 6—The eligibility changes recently implemented by the NCAA could have real effect on the 2027-28 Illinois basketball roster. Jake Davis and Andrej Stojakovic would be eligible to return to the Illini for a fifth season. Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic, by virtue of their Aug. 9, 2003, birthday, would not. Their five-year window, applied retroactively, ends with the conclusion of the coming 2026-27 season.
Expanded eligibility, of course, isn't the only variable Brad Underwood and Co. will have to face next season. Several other players — namely David Mirkovic, Quentin Coleman and Stefan Vaaks — have various levels of draft buzz basically a year out from the 2027 NBA Draft.
"I think we always set out in recruiting to recruit every position," Underwood said. "We've gotten to the point we don't know if guys are going to go in the draft, if guys are going to transfer. I think there's an expectation you need every spot. You have to have the ability to pivot a little bit, as we did this year with a lot of guys back — especially frontcout depth — and we went the high school route and getting guys to be in our program, established in our program and develop.
"We know we've got guys who could potentially come back (in 2027-28), but we also know we've got guys who could be in the draft. It's a nice spot to be in because you've got good players, but it's challenging and you've just got to be prepared and recruit kids at every spot to try to fill every need."
Illinois has a pair of commitments in the Class of 2027 from four-star Monarch Academy (Kan.) guard Quinton Kitt and four-star Neuqua Valley guard Mason Martin. Five-star Bolingbrook guard Brady Pettigrew is another in-state standout — and a potential reclass target — while the Illini have also offered five-star center Lewis Uvwo and other frontcourt options like five-star Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) forward Moussa Kamissoko and four-star Overtime Elite center Caleb Ourigou.

The Golden State Warriors are in jeopardy of losing a key member of their frontcourt. Third-year big man Quinten Post entered the summer as a restricted free agent. Now, the Australian center could be on his way out of Golden State.
According to Shams Charania, Post is signing a three-year, $30 million contract offer sheet with the Memphis Grizzlies. The Warriors will now have until 11:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday to match the offer from Memphis, or Post will join the Grizzlies.
Via ShamsCharania on X:
Post was drafted by the Warriors with the No. 52 overall selection in the 2024 NBA draft. In two seasons with the Warriors, Post has played 109 games, starting 49. As a sophomore in the ****** ociation, Post averaged 7.7 points on 44% shooting from the field with four boards and 1.4 ****** ists per contest. Post provided long-distance shooting in Golden State's frontcourt rotation, averaging 33.6% on shots from beyond the arc with 4.1 attempts per game.
This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

This week, news came out that St. John’s incoming transfer Donnie Freeman will miss the entire 2026-27 season with an Achilles tear.
It is absolutely gut-wrenching for a young man who has already spent so much time on the trainer’s table. Seeing a player’s season end in July just sucks, man.
Freeman played in just 37 games over two seasons at Syracuse, battling foot/toe issues, before becoming one of the most prized recruits in the portal this spring. Heading down the stretch of his recruitment in April, the recruiting battle came down to Kentucky and St. John’s, and a rising price. Mark Pope, fresh off dealing with an oft-injured, big-time transfer of his own, decided to bow out.
It was a risk for Pope at the time. There were fewer frontcourt options available in the portal, and Freeman clearly fit a need for the Wildcats. But the price tag kept going up, the durability concerns lingered, and Rick Pitino ultimately won out.
Since the injury news broke, I’ve seen the argument floating around that Freeman’s Achilles tear justifies Pope’s decision to pass on him. Folks are treating it like Kentucky dodged a bullet.

LAS VEGAS – The Aces showed in Friday's 98-90 overtime win over the Chicago Sky what a luxury it is to have a former No. 2 WNBA Draft pick center to lean on when your superstar forward, former No. 1 selection, goes down.
It doesn't hurt having arguably the greatest point guard in the history of the sport, either.
But in what was A'ja Wilson's second straight game out with an ankle injury, NaLyssa Smith answered the bell in a tough matchup against the Sky's double-big frontcourt of Kamilla Cardoso and Azura Stevens.
Aggressive from the first jump, Smith poured in a season-high 29 points — one shy of her career best — to lead the hosts, delivering a dominant offensive effort reminiscent of her early days in the league when she averaged 15.5 points per game for the Indiana Fever as a sophomore.
Smith went 11-for-14 from the field and 7-for-10 at the free throw line — helping the Aces (15-5) dismantle a Sky defense that led the league in blocked shots coming into the game.

PHOENIX — The WNBA announced Thursday the players who will start this year's All-Star Game, and among them, there isn't a single Phoenix Mercury player selected.
May 29, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) and guard-forward Kahleah Copper (2) talk during the second half against the New York Liberty at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
Though no Mercury player earned a starting spot, one Phoenix star still received significant support in the fan vote. Alyssa Thomas finished No. 32 in frontcourt voting with 173,515 votes.
The veteran forward has continued to be an efficient facilitator for Phoenix despite the team's slow start to the 2026 season, averaging 14.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and a league-leading 8.4 ***** ists. While it wasn't enough to earn a starting nod, the fan support reflects Thomas' impact and recognition around the league as one of the WNBA's premier all-around players.
Jun 24, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) shoots the ball while Indiana Fever center Aliyah Boston (7) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

There weren't many surprises in the 2026 WNBA All-Star starter list released by the WNBA on Thursday. The grouping includes Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Olivia Miles, A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart.
The Indiana Fever's big three all received starter status, a note that lifts a subtle eyebrow but makes sense in a system based 50% on the fan vote. The Lynx and Wings also placed two each among the 10.
But other eyebrow-raising aspects were to some degree expected. That begins with the Atlanta Dream's Rhyne Howard falling short in a crop of guard riches.
A modest proposal: As we discussed on Hoops 360 this week, the WNBA could adjust its All-Star voting format to a more flexible system of four guards, four frontcourt players and two "rovers" who can play in either bucket. This is similar to what the head coaches will do for the group of 12 All-Star reserves. Their ballot consists of three guards, five frontcourt players and four players at either position. The WNBA does not vote based on conference. Coaches cannot vote for their own players.
But that's down the road. Let's get into the various snubs in the first All-Star release ahead of the 2026 game in Chicago on July 25.