Basketball news

• Stephen A. Smith eviscerates Kawhi Leonard in world-class Clippers scandal rant

  15-09-2026 19:51 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Stephen A. Smith has found an unexpected way to describe Kawhi Leonard’s exit from the Clippers’ salary-cap scandal.“He’s a gangster.”The ESPN personality delivered that assessment Tuesday on “First Take,” marveling at the relatively limited punishment Leonard received before completing his return to the Toronto Raptors.Kawhi Leonard attends the Public School New York SS27 show at Starrett-Lehigh in New York City on Thursday, September 10, 2026. Madison
  
  Read more

• New York Knicks signing John Konchar to one-year deal

  16-09-2026 03:21 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Free agent forward John Konchar has agreed to a one-year deal with the New York Knicks, his agent told ESPN.At 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, Konchar is bigger than most guards coach Mike Brown can put on the floor. He guards multiple positions and rebounds like a forward, not a backcourt piece.The signing gets the defending champion Knicks to 14 players on standard contracts, with training camp opening Oct. 1 and roughly $3.2 million of room left below the second apron.Konchar is entering his eighth
  
  Read more

• Adam Silver: ' I would see it as a failure if we did not keep the team in Portland'

  16-09-2026 03:04 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Since he bought the Portland Trail Blazers, Tom Dundon's script has looked very familiar to many in the Pacific Northwest. The complaints about the Moda Center and the lease with the city, plus the penny-pinching and apparent disregard for the fan base, feel a lot like what Clay Bennett and that ownership group did after buying the Seattle SuperSonics, a group that always had the intention of moving them to Oklahoma City.Dundon and the Trail Blazers are negotiating with Portland City officials o
  
  Read more

• Knicks signing forward John Konchar to one-year deal

  16-09-2026 02:47 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  The Knicks are rounding out their bench with a new signing.New York is signing John Konchar, according to GSL Sports Group, which represents the forward. ESPN's Shams Charania reports it's a one-year deal. Konchar spent his first seven seasons with the Grizzlies before landing with the Jazz in the middle of last season. With Memphis, he averaged 14.5 minutes, 3.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 30 games last season, but produced more with Utah. Across 26 games with the Jazz, K
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• NBA owners discussed expansion in Las Vegas, Seattle, amid report of $10 billion bids

  16-09-2026 01:30 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  When NBA owners met in New York this week, they discussed expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle, but no final decision has been made. Yet.While the latest round of bids for Las Vegas are "coming in shortly," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said — those are due Thursday, according to reports — those will not be the final bids for the "several active groups" in the mix to bring a team to Sin City.Those bids could be in the $10 billion range, ESPN’s Shams Charania said on NBA Today."The
  
  Read more

• Anthony Gill re-signs with the Wizards

  16-09-2026 01:21 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 07: Anthony Gill #16 of the Washington Wizards in action against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at Capital One Arena on April 7, 2026 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images On Tuesday, the Washington Wizards announced that they have re-signed f
  
  Read more

• Adam Silver discusses Clippers punishment, NBA expansion, why Blazers leaving Portland would be 'failure'

  15-09-2026 23:50 via cbssports.com
  
  Silver was clear there is no room for re-negotiation by the Clippers, who were hit with severe sanctions for cap circumvention
  
  Read more

• Paul George excited to play for Celtics alongside Jayson Tatum: 'I can play off another superstar wing'

  15-09-2026 23:04 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  More than two months after becoming a member of the Boston Celtics as part of a blockbuster trade with the rival Philadelphia 76ers that shipped out fan favorite forward Jaylen Brown, Paul George says he understands why Celtics fans have spent their summer harboring hard feelings over him arriving to take the place of the beloved homegrown All-Star. And, for what it’s worth, he’s not nursing any of his own. “Listen, I understand the circumstances,” George told reporters a
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Former Lakers owner vetted before purchase; NBA Commish details lack of ‘red flags’

  15-09-2026 23:00 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  During his post Board of Governors news conference in New York, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver made it clear there weren’t any warning signs about the scrutiny surrounding Mark Walter before he became the majority owner of the Lakers.Walter, who had been the Dodgers controlling owner since 2012 and a Lakers minority owner in 2021, agreed to purchase the majority ownership stake of the Lakers from the Buss family in June 2025 at a valuation of $10 billion. Mark Walters had his phone and
  
  Read more

• NBA says it looked at precedent before doling out Clippers' penalties for cap circumvention

  15-09-2026 22:46 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  NEW YORK - NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said the league looked at precedent before taking away five first-round draft picks from the Los Angeles Clippers for circumventing salary cap rules, though noted that the decision was difficult because of the impact it could have on the team’s fans.Silver, speaking Tuesday at the end of a two-day Board of Governors meeting, pointed to how the Minnesota Timberwolves were once docked five picks for cap circumvention as the precedent used in this case.
  
  Read more

• Warriors icon could be dealt in seismic midseason reset: insider

  15-09-2026 22:44 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  The 2026-27 NBA season could determine whether the Golden State Warriors extend their aging foundation or finally tear it down.Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler are all playing on expiring contracts, giving Golden State an opportunity to disband its veteran core if the season begins poorly.Marcus Thompson II, who has covered the Warriors for more than a decade as a beat writer and columnist for The Athletic, raised the possibility of Green being traded during an appearance on &ldquo
  
  Read more

• Adam Silver ready to move on after the Clippers-Kawhi Leonard scandal: 'Discipline is final'

  15-09-2026 22:41 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  The Los Angeles Clippers-Kawhi Leonard scandal, in the eyes of the NBA, is over.NBA commissioner Adam Silver said on Tuesday that the discipline the league handed out earlier this month in the wake of the scandal “is final.” “I think we all agree it’s time to move forward,” Silver said, via The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov.The NBA determined that the Clippers and Leonard circumvented the salary cap through deals with third-party companies, something that was
  
  Read more

• Boston Celtics Daily Links 9/15/26

  15-09-2026 22:35 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: The sneakers worn by Matthew Cleveland #35 of the Dallas Mavericks during the game against the Orlando Magic during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 18, 2025 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Tom O'Co
  
  Read more

• NBA commissioner admits Clippers discipline incidentally 'punishing the fans'

  15-09-2026 22:28 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  NEW YORK — NBA commissioner Adam Silver said the punishment of the Los Angeles Clippers for their role in circumventing the salary cap is final and was meant as a deterrent for other teams not to engage in breaking league rules.Silver discussed some of the league's pressing matters as they concluded the two-day Board of Governors meeting in midtown Manhattan, while preparing for their 81st season starting Oct. 20, when the New York Knicks begin their defense of the championship against the
  
  Read more

• Ducking out: Lindy Waters III leaving NBA to play for Beijing Ducks

  15-09-2026 22:00 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 10: Lindy Waters III #43 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates during the game against the Indiana Pacers on January 10, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by A.J. Mast/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Ge
  
  Read more

• Laying out expectations for Paul George, Mike Conley and Jayson Tatum

  15-09-2026 21:56 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Laying out expectations for Paul George, Mike Conley and Jayson Tatum originally appeared on NBC Sports BostonTuesday marked the first day of a new chapter in Celtics history, when the team introduced Paul George and Mike Conley at the Auerbach Center in Brighton.George entered the league as the 10th overall pick in 2010, and he’s played in 945 regular-season games and 125 playoff games, making nine All-Star teams along the way. Few active players in the NBA could top that kind of experien
  
  Read more

• Adam Silver doesn't want Trail Blazers leaving Portland amid tense negotiations over new arena: 'It would be a failure'

  15-09-2026 21:53 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Adam Silver does not want the Trail Blazers leaving Portland. That, the NBA Commissioner said on Tuesday, would be considered a “failure.”“I would see it as a failure if we did not keep the team in Portland,” Silver said, via KATU’s Guillermo Motta. “I’ve spent a lot of time in that community over hte years, they’ve shown amazing support for the Trail Blazers … We need a state of the art arena. I think by any objective measure, the curr
  
  Read more

• Mike Conley, Paul George share underrated reason they will benefit the Celtics

  15-09-2026 21:35 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 28: Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers talks with Mike Conley #10 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the game on February 28, 2023 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE
  
  Read more

• Where Michael Porter Jr. and Julius will work … or not

  15-09-2026 21:30 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Jan 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) is defended by Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (rear) and guard Russell Westbrook (4) during the second quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con Let’s face it, last June’s big move, the three-team deal that brought Julius Randle to Brooklyn, was a salary dump on behalf of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Nets got the 31-ye
  
  Read more

• Player Preview: Rasheer Fleming is about to get his chance to prove it

  15-09-2026 21:00 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 31: Rasheer Fleming #20 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the game against the Orlando Magic on March 31, 2026 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images Every day, we
  
  Read more

• Today in sports history, November 4

  15-09-2026 20:51 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  <div assetid="591176002" assettype="video"></div>Nov. 4Today in sports historyToday is Nov. 4. On this date in:1923: Chicago Bears founder, co-coach and player George Halas returned a Jim Thorpe fumble 98 yards for a touchdown in a 26-0 victory over the Oorang Indians, setting an NFL record that stood for 49 years.1951: The United States captured the Ryder Cup at Pinehurst, defeating Great Britain 9½-2½ with a team led by Sam Snead.1959: Chicago Cubs slugger Ernie Banks
  
  Read more

• Steve Kerr warns Draymond Green will face ‘frustrating’ Warriors adjustment in 2026

  15-09-2026 20:28 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Steve Kerr is asking Draymond Green for a favor the Warriors star once requested from him: patience.Green thanked Kerr during their postseason exit meeting for remaining patient with him through years of emotional swings, confrontations and suspensions. With Golden State entering a transition season, the coach now wants that patience returned.“He’s going to have to adapt a little bit, and it’s probably going to be a little frustrating at times,” Kerr said on the “To
  
  Read more

• Paul George shares crucial injury update in intro presser

  15-09-2026 19:51 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  \n\n\n\tPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 08: Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers in action during Game Three of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Xfinity Mobile Arena on May 08, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) |
  
  Read more

• Shams Charania reveals why Kawhi Leonard avoided suspension after Clippers probe

  15-09-2026 19:47 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Kawhi Leonard left Los Angeles with his contract intact and a path back to Toronto. The Clippers were left with a $30 million fine, five forfeited first-round picks and a damaged future.ESPN insider Shams Charania said the imbalance was less about the NBA viewing Leonard as innocent than the evidence it found.“They needed every form of evidence to void Kawhi Leonard’s contract or suspend him,” Charania said, in remarks edited for clarity. “Clearly, the league didn’t
  
  Read more

• Samson Folk joins for a Raptors conversation! Team USA wins gold + All-Rookie team candidates

  15-09-2026 19:35 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Subscribe to The Dunker SpotApple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTubeWe have a jam-packed episode of The Dunker Spot coming your way!First, Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones are joined by Samson Folk (Raptors Republic) for a wide-ranging conversation about the Toronto Raptors. They talk through the finally completed Kawhi Leonard trade and how he fits on both ends, Scottie Barnes' growth and two-way usage, the importance of RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, the budding stardom of Collin Murray-Boyles and m
  
  Read more

• Editor-in-chief mailbag: We’re getting close …

  15-09-2026 19:18 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  LUANDA, ANGOLA - SEPTEMBER 13: Will Smith, Owner of Westbrook Racing by Visit Angola and Lebron James, Owner of Team AlUla pose for a photo during the E1 Series Luanda GP on September 13, 2026 in Luanda, Angola. (Photo by Malcolm Griffiths/Getty Images) | Getty Images Sixers media day will take place on Sept. 28. That will be our first chance to hear from LeBron James (who is a Sixer now, by the way). Training camp starts the next day.So, what’s on your mind as we inch closer to the start
  
  Read more

• How the NBA’s updated 2027-28 salary-cap projection could help the Lakers

  15-09-2026 18:30 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 27: Austin Reaves #15 playfully blocks the shot of Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers before an NBA game against the Brooklyn Nets at Crypto.com Arena on March 27, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin Terrell/Getty Images) | Getty Images On Saturday, Fred Katz and Jo
  
  Read more

• Today in sports history, November 3

  15-09-2026 18:26 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  <div assetid="591176002" assettype="video"></div>Nov. 3Today in sports historyToday is Nov. 3. On this date in:1899: Heavyweight champion James J. Jeffries defeated Tom Sharkey by decision after 25 punishing rounds at Coney Island, New York, in one of the era’s most celebrated title fights.1962: Wilt Chamberlain scored 72 points for the San Francisco Warriors in a 127-115 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, producing the fourth-highest single-game total in NBA history at the time.1
  
  Read more

• NBA reportedly lacked sufficient evidence to suspend Kawhi Leonard for role in Clippers' investigation

  15-09-2026 18:25 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  In the wake of the NBA's investigation into whether the Los Angeles Clippers circumvented the salary cap when they signed Kawhi Leonard, one major question has emerged: Did Leonard get off light?After months of looking into the situation, the NBA finally released its judgement in September. The Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer got the worst of the league's punishment. The team was docked five future first-round picks and Ballmer was fined $30 million and suspended from team activities for a year
  
  Read more

• Why Lakers’ defense is vastly improved after offseason construction

  15-09-2026 18:02 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  In the immediate aftermath of his team’s 2025-26 season ending, Lakers coach JJ Redick clearly and plainly laid out one of the biggest points of emphasis for 2026-27. “We clearly need to have a better overall season defensively,” Redick said in May. Walker Kessler is a core reason why the Lakers should have a better defense in 2026-27. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POSTThe critique was sensible.The Lakers were coming off a regular season in which they ranked No. 18 de
  
  Read more

Follow @Newslocker_NBA on Twitter!