*** OFFICIAL *** NBA 2025-26 Thread

[VaughnP]

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https://twitter.com/FlaggMavs/status/1938667626433265973

ROFL at Nico taking credit for the highly improbable path that lead to Dallas even being in the lottery then winning with a 1.8% chance. This is one of the most disgusting humans alive.


On a side note, one thing continuously overlooked about Flagg is that he graduated a year early - this means he won the Naismith player of the year award and took his team to the final four, they honestly should have won, in what would have been his senior year in high school. Cooper Flagg will play his first NBA games as an 18 year old. This hasn't happened much since the rule change, and I think LeBron was the only other this young to go number one.

[Sloppy Joe]

Cool I guess for the Blazers re-signing Lillard, but doesnt really make sense from a basketball perspective.

Hes going to be worse upon return and Portland will be middling at best, kind of a cuck move but better to cheer for Lillard when the ceiling will be the play-in regardless.

[Dan Druff]

Doncic signed a 3-year extension worth $165m.

From ESPN:

Part of the reason the Lakers were perfectly positioned to take Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks six months ago was that they could be relatively certain he wouldn't depart as an unrestricted free agent in summer 2026. Lakers exceptionalism remains alive and well.

The Lakers reportedly used Doncic's potential to leave to help keep their remaining first-round picks out of the trade package. Still, it quickly became evident that even if he preferred to stay in Dallas, Doncic was willing to sign up beyond the remaining full season on his contract.

Because of restrictions on extensions signed just before or after a trade, Doncic had to wait until Friday to make it official, but his willingness to help the Lakers recruit free agents this offseason had already signaled the inevitability of this outcome.

The lone drama here was how Doncic might structure his new contract. Signing a three-year extension with a player option for 2028-29 ideally positions Doncic to make up for the money he lost when the Mavericks traded him.

Had he remained in Dallas and signed a supermax extension, Doncic could have bumped his salary up to 35% of the cap (a projected $57.9 million) in 2026-27, having already qualified with back-to-back All-NBA appearances in 2022-23 and 2023-24.

Because the supermax is not available to players who change teams after their rookie contracts conclude, Doncic is now limited to 30% of the cap or a 5% raise for 2026-27, whichever is greater. If the salary cap comes in as projected for 2026-27, Doncic will only slightly improve on his existing $49 million player option.

The big payday could come in 2028-29, when Doncic will have achieved 10 seasons of experience and can get to the 35% starting salary either as an unrestricted free agent or by signing another extension in August 2027. By then, the Lakers' roster should look very different.

Doncic is the only player under contract for more than $15 million beyond this season. Carrying that cap flexibility to summer 2027 would require significant sacrifices beyond just LeBron James. The Lakers could probably re-sign Austin Reaves, who can become an unrestricted free agent next offseason, but they will have difficult choices to face with Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton should Ayton decline an $8.1 million player option.

There are still challenges ahead for the Lakers as they continue digging out from under the mistakes made in the wake of the 2020 championship, but the most important piece is in place for the Lakers. In Doncic, the Lakers have their superstar for the future.

I still don't see how this team really goes anywhere. Lebron is yet another year older. They still don't have a center. Doncic lost some weight, but... will that be the cure to his inconsistency?

Hard to see this team bringing another championship to LA unless they make some major midseason moves.

[gut]

Doncic signed a 3-year extension worth $165m.

From ESPN:

Part of the reason the Lakers were perfectly positioned to take Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks six months ago was that they could be relatively certain he wouldn't depart as an unrestricted free agent in summer 2026. Lakers exceptionalism remains alive and well.

The Lakers reportedly used Doncic's potential to leave to help keep their remaining first-round picks out of the trade package. Still, it quickly became evident that even if he preferred to stay in Dallas, Doncic was willing to sign up beyond the remaining full season on his contract.

Because of restrictions on extensions signed just before or after a trade, Doncic had to wait until Friday to make it official, but his willingness to help the Lakers recruit free agents this offseason had already signaled the inevitability of this outcome.

The lone drama here was how Doncic might structure his new contract. Signing a three-year extension with a player option for 2028-29 ideally positions Doncic to make up for the money he lost when the Mavericks traded him.

Had he remained in Dallas and signed a supermax extension, Doncic could have bumped his salary up to 35% of the cap (a projected $57.9 million) in 2026-27, having already qualified with back-to-back All-NBA appearances in 2022-23 and 2023-24.

Because the supermax is not available to players who change teams after their rookie contracts conclude, Doncic is now limited to 30% of the cap or a 5% raise for 2026-27, whichever is greater. If the salary cap comes in as projected for 2026-27, Doncic will only slightly improve on his existing $49 million player option.

The big payday could come in 2028-29, when Doncic will have achieved 10 seasons of experience and can get to the 35% starting salary either as an unrestricted free agent or by signing another extension in August 2027. By then, the Lakers' roster should look very different.

Doncic is the only player under contract for more than $15 million beyond this season. Carrying that cap flexibility to summer 2027 would require significant sacrifices beyond just LeBron James. The Lakers could probably re-sign Austin Reaves, who can become an unrestricted free agent next offseason, but they will have difficult choices to face with Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton should Ayton decline an $8.1 million player option.

There are still challenges ahead for the Lakers as they continue digging out from under the mistakes made in the wake of the 2020 championship, but the most important piece is in place for the Lakers. In Doncic, the Lakers have their superstar for the future.

I still don't see how this team really goes anywhere. Lebron is yet another year older. They still don't have a center. Doncic lost some weight, but... will that be the cure to his inconsistency?

Hard to see this team bringing another championship to LA unless they make some major midseason moves.

Not many moves to be made. LeBron the albatross. Almost untradeable if you're trying to still win. Look what PHX got for Durant, and it will be 2/3rds the return.

Most realistic scenarios the other team is saying no. Allen + Garland for another Lebron homecoming? Lol no. Gobert +Mcdaniels from Minny? Lol no. Wagner + other Magic pieces? Lol no.

Lakers pretty much have luka and lebron, and seemingly few ways to work on the margins of the roster.

[David USF]

They still don't have a center.

Yes, they do.

https://www.nba.com/lakers/news/los-...-deandre-ayton

Do keep up.

[Dan Druff]

They still don't have a center.

Yes, they do.

https://www.nba.com/lakers/news/los-...-deandre-ayton

Do keep up.

Guess I missed that somehow.

He's only an average center, though. So... not going to be enough.

Fortunately for the Lakers, nobody is going to do anything about Lebron's roid habit, so he should continue to perform for a few more years.

[VaughnP]

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She's just not good at her job. The leftwing brainwashing of the entire country has made it impossible to criticize women, especially if in a normally male dominated field, for sucking at what they do. They made a huge mistake in getting rid of Jeff Van Gundy. Ideally commentators should be a net neutral with exceptions for the few like Van Gundy who actually add to the broadcast. Burke was a net negative to the point it was distracting from the games she called.

[gut]

Whether Sterling or Ballmer, Clips gonna Clip. Ballmer about to be in some hot water:

The Los Angeles Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer are accused of paying star Kawhi Leonard $28 million for a "no-show job" as a way to circumvent the NBA salary cap, according to a report by Pablo Torre.

Torre laid out the alleged scandal on his program, "Pablo Torre Finds Out," on Wednesday. The show — which features plenty of direct quotes from legal documents — made the argument Leonard was paid $28 million through a company owned by Ballmer to essentially do nothing. Ballmer is accused of using the agreement as a way to pay Leonard more than his contract, which — if true — is a violation of NBA rules.

The entire situation revolves around a now-bankrupt company called Aspiration, a tree-planting service funded by Ballmer. Aspiration entered a $28 million legal agreement with KL2 Aspire, LLC, a company owned by Leonard.

Torre attempted to find any evidence that Leonard ever marketed for or endorsed the company, but came up empty. A clause in one of the contract documents between Aspiration and KL2 Aspire LLC stated Leonard could "decline to proceed with any action desired by the Company," essentially giving Leonard the ability to get paid without doing anything. Another clause stated Leonard would only be paid if he remained a member of the Clippers.

Hope Clipper fans weren't wishing for any 1st round picks anytime soon.....

[BCR]

Whether Sterling or Ballmer, Clips gonna Clip. Ballmer about to be in some hot water:

The Los Angeles Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer are accused of paying star Kawhi Leonard $28 million for a "no-show job" as a way to circumvent the NBA salary cap, according to a report by Pablo Torre.

Torre laid out the alleged scandal on his program, "Pablo Torre Finds Out," on Wednesday. The show — which features plenty of direct quotes from legal documents — made the argument Leonard was paid $28 million through a company owned by Ballmer to essentially do nothing. Ballmer is accused of using the agreement as a way to pay Leonard more than his contract, which — if true — is a violation of NBA rules.

The entire situation revolves around a now-bankrupt company called Aspiration, a tree-planting service funded by Ballmer. Aspiration entered a $28 million legal agreement with KL2 Aspire, LLC, a company owned by Leonard.

Torre attempted to find any evidence that Leonard ever marketed for or endorsed the company, but came up empty. A clause in one of the contract documents between Aspiration and KL2 Aspire LLC stated Leonard could "decline to proceed with any action desired by the Company," essentially giving Leonard the ability to get paid without doing anything. Another clause stated Leonard would only be paid if he remained a member of the Clippers.

Hope Clipper fans weren't wishing for any 1st round picks anytime soon.....

This is why Lebron was smarter than Kawhi. He did the Entourage model with Rich Paul playing Turtle or Eric. Klutch got clients because of their association with LeBron, but who was going to make an issue out of a young black star giving his childhood friends an opportunity?

Then you exert pressure on your team owner to overpay Klutch clients.

But what percentage of all that $ is filtered to LeBron? They do over $7 billion in contracts and make $350 million in commissions. I don’t know what the valuation of an agency that does that number is, but I know Rich Paul was selling jerseys out of his trunk the year before LeBron was drafted.

[Dan Druff]

Rich Paul also fucked up Adele so badly (emotionally, that is), she wasn't able to continue her Caesars residency, and the whole thing got aborted, before eventually returning in a subsequent year. When she made the statement that her "show is not ready" and then killed the whole thing rather than delay it, she nonsensically blamed COVID, but in reality it was a combo of fights with Paul and creative issues with the set designer.

[Dan Druff]

Anyway the joke is on Ballmer because Kawhi ended up playing 52, 52, 68, and 37 games the past 4 years.

[desertrunner]

I'm not a sport knob, but this story is getting some traction. -DR

https://nypost.com/2025/09/05/sports...ement-scandal/
https://www.11alive.com/video/sports...e-f111713b02cd
https://fadeawayworld.net/nba/la-cli...too-shall-pass
https://www.ktvb.com/video/sports/lo...d-076322f05771



No official money laundering charges have been confirmed against the LA Clippers organization or its owner, Steve Ballmer. However, the team is under an NBA investigation for allegations of salary cap circumvention involving player Kawhi Leonard and a now-bankrupt company, Aspiration, in which

Ballmer was an investor.
Allegations of salary cap circumvention
In September 2025, investigative journalist Pablo Torre reported that the Clippers allegedly helped facilitate a secret $28 million "no-show" endorsement deal for Kawhi Leonard with the fintech company Aspiration, as a way to skirt the NBA's salary cap rules.
The key aspects of the allegations are:

The deal:
Leonard reportedly signed a four-year, $28 million endorsement contract with Aspiration in 2022. This followed a previous NBA investigation into Leonard's 2019 free agency, prompted by rumors that his uncle and business manager, Dennis Robertson, was seeking improper benefits.

Ballmer's investment:
The report alleges that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, through his private LLC, invested $50 million into Aspiration in 2021. This investment occurred a month after Leonard signed a contract extension with the Clippers. No work performed: According to sources, Leonard received payments from Aspiration but performed no promotional services for the company.

Company failure:
Aspiration, which once had a $300 million sponsorship deal with the Clippers, later defaulted on its obligations and filed for bankruptcy in March 2025. One of its co-founders has since pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges.

Minority owner involvement:
A subsequent report revealed that Clippers minority owner Dennis Wong invested $1.99 million in Aspiration in December 2022, shortly before the company made a late $1.75 million payment to Leonard.

The team's response and NBA investigation

Clippers denial: The Clippers organization and Steve Ballmer have denied any wrongdoing. In a statement, they called the allegations "provably false" and asserted that they were unaware of any improper activity by Aspiration until after the government's investigation began.

Ballmer's defense: Ballmer stated that he felt "conned" by Aspiration and denied any involvement in Leonard's endorsement contract, claiming he had no control over the company despite his investment.

NBA investigation: The NBA launched an investigation into the claims. If the league finds that the Clippers violated salary cap rules, potential penalties could include large fines, loss of draft picks, or voiding contracts.

[Ryback_feed_me_more]

I'm not a sport knob, but this story is getting some traction. -DR

Everything about the Clippers' Kawhi Leonard contract scandal explained Everything about the Clippers' Kawhi Leonard contract scandal explained



No official money laundering charges have been confirmed against the LA Clippers organization or its owner, Steve Ballmer. However, the team is under an NBA investigation for allegations of salary cap circumvention involving player Kawhi Leonard and a now-bankrupt company, Aspiration, in which

Ballmer was an investor.
Allegations of salary cap circumvention
In September 2025, investigative journalist Pablo Torre reported that the Clippers allegedly helped facilitate a secret $28 million "no-show" endorsement deal for Kawhi Leonard with the fintech company Aspiration, as a way to skirt the NBA's salary cap rules.
The key aspects of the allegations are:

The deal:
Leonard reportedly signed a four-year, $28 million endorsement contract with Aspiration in 2022. This followed a previous NBA investigation into Leonard's 2019 free agency, prompted by rumors that his uncle and business manager, Dennis Robertson, was seeking improper benefits.

Ballmer's investment:
The report alleges that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, through his private LLC, invested $50 million into Aspiration in 2021. This investment occurred a month after Leonard signed a contract extension with the Clippers. No work performed: According to sources, Leonard received payments from Aspiration but performed no promotional services for the company.

Company failure:
Aspiration, which once had a $300 million sponsorship deal with the Clippers, later defaulted on its obligations and filed for bankruptcy in March 2025. One of its co-founders has since pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges.

Minority owner involvement:
A subsequent report revealed that Clippers minority owner Dennis Wong invested $1.99 million in Aspiration in December 2022, shortly before the company made a late $1.75 million payment to Leonard.

The team's response and NBA investigation

Clippers denial: The Clippers organization and Steve Ballmer have denied any wrongdoing. In a statement, they called the allegations "provably false" and asserted that they were unaware of any improper activity by Aspiration until after the government's investigation began.

Ballmer's defense: Ballmer stated that he felt "conned" by Aspiration and denied any involvement in Leonard's endorsement contract, claiming he had no control over the company despite his investment.

NBA investigation: The NBA launched an investigation into the claims. If the league finds that the Clippers violated salary cap rules, potential penalties could include large fines, loss of draft picks, or voiding contracts.

Dude this story was out on ESPN awhile ago and while I agree it may have been an attempt to circumvent the cap Im not sure Silver and the NBA front office have enough to prove it. He was given an endorsement contract. The company was run like a joke clearly and Balmer is likely going to backdoor litigate against them as the biggest investor. Now I will say if this was the Lakers it wouldve been buried and never wouldve seen the light of day but Clippers are the red head stepchild in LA

[Jayjami]

I'm not a sport knob, but this story is getting some traction. -DR

Everything about the Clippers' Kawhi Leonard contract scandal explained Everything about the Clippers' Kawhi Leonard contract scandal explained



No official money laundering charges have been confirmed against the LA Clippers organization or its owner, Steve Ballmer. However, the team is under an NBA investigation for allegations of salary cap circumvention involving player Kawhi Leonard and a now-bankrupt company, Aspiration, in which

Ballmer was an investor.
Allegations of salary cap circumvention
In September 2025, investigative journalist Pablo Torre reported that the Clippers allegedly helped facilitate a secret $28 million "no-show" endorsement deal for Kawhi Leonard with the fintech company Aspiration, as a way to skirt the NBA's salary cap rules.
The key aspects of the allegations are:

The deal:
Leonard reportedly signed a four-year, $28 million endorsement contract with Aspiration in 2022. This followed a previous NBA investigation into Leonard's 2019 free agency, prompted by rumors that his uncle and business manager, Dennis Robertson, was seeking improper benefits.

Ballmer's investment:
The report alleges that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, through his private LLC, invested $50 million into Aspiration in 2021. This investment occurred a month after Leonard signed a contract extension with the Clippers. No work performed: According to sources, Leonard received payments from Aspiration but performed no promotional services for the company.

Company failure:
Aspiration, which once had a $300 million sponsorship deal with the Clippers, later defaulted on its obligations and filed for bankruptcy in March 2025. One of its co-founders has since pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges.

Minority owner involvement:
A subsequent report revealed that Clippers minority owner Dennis Wong invested $1.99 million in Aspiration in December 2022, shortly before the company made a late $1.75 million payment to Leonard.

The team's response and NBA investigation

Clippers denial: The Clippers organization and Steve Ballmer have denied any wrongdoing. In a statement, they called the allegations "provably false" and asserted that they were unaware of any improper activity by Aspiration until after the government's investigation began.

Ballmer's defense: Ballmer stated that he felt "conned" by Aspiration and denied any involvement in Leonard's endorsement contract, claiming he had no control over the company despite his investment.

NBA investigation: The NBA launched an investigation into the claims. If the league finds that the Clippers violated salary cap rules, potential penalties could include large fines, loss of draft picks, or voiding contracts.

Dude this story was out on ESPN awhile ago and while I agree it may have been an attempt to circumvent the cap Im not sure Silver and the NBA front office have enough to prove it. He was given an endorsement contract. The company was run like a joke clearly and Balmer is likely going to backdoor litigate against them as the biggest investor. Now I will say if this was the Lakers it wouldve been buried and never wouldve seen the light of day but Clippers are the red head stepchild in LA

Back when my mom went to Colorado, they used to hire the football players to water lawns, in Boulder, in the winter.

[Sloppy Joe]

Lakers are trash, good example tonight of the emptiness of DeAndre Ayton. I should have bet the under on them.

[Dan Druff]

Lakers are trash, good example tonight of the emptiness of DeAndre Ayton. I should have bet the under on them.

I bet on Warriors -2.5.

Until Lebron comes back, this team is going to have a lot of trouble.

[Kalam]

I bet Lakers U46.5 wins (made the bet after the Lebron news, line was 49 before that) and am feeling pretty good about that bet.

I watched game last night. Lakers shot poorly from 3 point line and free-throw line, and that was the difference in the game, as Warriors shot better in both categories.
Luka and Reaves where 14-20 from the free throw line and Curry and Butler were 24-24.

It is only one game, but the Ayton thing wasn't working on offense. A lot of their turnovers were either trying to get him the ball in the post or him getting the ball swiped out of his hands once he caught it. They attributed him 4 turnovers, but that doesn't even account for the ones where Reaves or Luka got the turnover trying to pass it to him. We will see how the season progresses, but Luka really needs a center like Lively that is a very active defender and will just screen and roll and you dont have to pass him the ball except for the occasional lobs at the basket. Ayton isn't as good a defender, and wants to work more out of the post, which doesn't complement Luka's game. And on top of that he isn't Embiid or even Anthony Davis, he just isn't good enough at offense to justify feeding him he ball as much as he wants.

The Warriors had a lot of turnover too, which is normal for them. I am not sure they are a particularly good team either. At their respective ages, it isn't going to be sustainable for Butler and Curry being so aggressive and drawing so many fouls. We have seen this story enough the last few years to know both their bodies will break down playing like this over a season.

I also saw the 4th Q and overtimes of the first game. Rockets probably should have won. Shai got a lot of cheap free throw calls in high leverage spots. But I guess he is just going to get the superstar treatment the next 10 years and that is how things are going to go. Also, at the end of regulation and the first OT Rockets final shot both times was Sengun taking a deep contested 2 (the second time he actually got his own rebound and made it, but it still wasn't a good shot). Which is basically what happened where they got knocked out of the playoffs by the Warriors last season. Durant was being face guarded by Dort the whole game, so it was really hard to get him the ball; but at some point the Rockets need to come up with a better last shot of game than a Sengun 15 foot shot.

[Sloppy Joe]

Ayton is a lazy piece of shit, gonna be a rough year for him now with the spotlights of LA on him. Portland has been bad and no one cares nationally anyways but I cant remember a more reviled player since Raymond Felton showed up looking like Druff one training camp.

Really is another transition year for the Lakers; all energy should be focused on building rhythm around Luka and position for future years.

Maybe LeBron signs up for a move to an Eastern contender but no real good fit there either.

[Kalam]

Ayton is a lazy piece of shit, gonna be a rough year for him now with the spotlights of LA on him. Portland has been bad and no one cares nationally anyways but I cant remember a more reviled player since Raymond Felton showed up looking like Druff one training camp.

Really is another transition year for the Lakers; all energy should be focused on building rhythm around Luka and position for future years.

Maybe LeBron signs up for a move to an Eastern contender but no real good fit there either.

This is definitely a transition year where expectations aren't going to be too high. Which is why they gave Reddick the extension this summer instead of making him "earn it" with a good record this year. This year is just an audition for pretty much everyone on the team but Luka of who is going to be on the team next year. And especially if it starts out bad, everyone is potentially on the trade block (except Lebron who has a no trade clause) if management thinks it could set them up better for next year.

I dont really see any scenario where Lebron is traded in season; so he will have to go into free agency this summer looking for a team that feels they are an injury prone (due solely to age, Lebron is actually exceptionally durable) point power forward away from being a championship contender.

[gut]

Ayton is a lazy piece of shit, gonna be a rough year for him now with the spotlights of LA on him. Portland has been bad and no one cares nationally anyways but I cant remember a more reviled player since Raymond Felton showed up looking like Druff one training camp.

Really is another transition year for the Lakers; all energy should be focused on building rhythm around Luka and position for future years.

Maybe LeBron signs up for a move to an Eastern contender but no real good fit there either.

This is definitely a transition year where expectations aren't going to be too high. Which is why they gave Reddick the extension this summer instead of making him "earn it" with a good record this year. This year is just an audition for pretty much everyone on the team but Luka of who is going to be on the team next year. And especially if it starts out bad, everyone is potentially on the trade block (except Lebron who has a no trade clause) if management thinks it could set them up better for next year.

I dont really see any scenario where Lebron is traded in season; so he will have to go into free agency this summer looking for a team that feels they are an injury prone (due solely to age, Lebron is actually exceptionally durable) point power forward away from being a championship contender.

LeBron is untradeable, in the bad way. No contender would get better trading for him, when considering matching salaries.