Basketball news

• The mysterious erasure of RJ Barrett

  01-09-2026 14:24 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 8: RJ Barrett #9 of the New York Knicks shoots the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics on January 8, 2022 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 2022 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images Really,
  
  Read more

• Why Ben Simmons, Sacramento Kings are exactly what each other need

  04-09-2026 18:29 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Ben Simmons needed a team, any NBA team, willing to give him one more chance.The Sacramento Kings needed a player, any player, to fill out a 2026-27 roster that, until Sept. 4, had not added a free agent from outside the organization this offseason.In that way, the Kings always made sense as the landing spot for Simmons' NBA comeback attempt. Only a team searching for answers would think the 2016 No. 1 pick can still provide value after sitting out last season and dabbling in professional fishin
  
  Read more

• Ben Simmons returning to NBA, joining Kings on one-year minimum deal

  04-09-2026 16:49 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Sacramento was looking for a veteran point guard to back up and mentor rookie Darius Acuff. They have their guy, and it's an eyebrow-raising choice:Ben Simmons.Simmons agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Kings, which is the veteran minimum, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. It's not yet clear whether this contract is fully guaranteed.Simmons, the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers and a three-time All-Star, did not play in the NBA last season — he was
  
  Read more

• Miles McBride may have played his way out of New York

  04-09-2026 16:30 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 18: Miles McBride speaks onstage during "Knicks Film School" podcast the Fanatics Fest NYC 2026 at Jacob Javits Center on July 18, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by John Nacion/Getty Images for Fanatics) | Getty Images for Fanatics Miles “Deuce” McBride arrived in New York as the 36th pick in the 2021 draft, a short-ish, square-jawed defender with a shaky jump shot. The inconsistent three-ball never worried Tom Thibodeau. The grizzled skipper loved watching a
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Friday Posted & Toasted Notes: King JB, Tacko Tuesday, GM KD

  04-09-2026 16:00 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  26 August 2026, North Rhine-Westphalia, Cologne: A bumblebee flies into the flower of a dahlia at Flora. Photo: Oliver Berg/dpa (Photo by Oliver Berg/picture alliance via Getty Images) I thought I had a ton of content to include in the notes, then realized there were just a handful of bullet points to it, so I needed to wait a few days to pad it further. Maybe we’re not so close to the new season as I initially thought.Mayor Zohran Mamdani has his own answer to the “King of New York&
  
  Read more

• Ben Simmons reportedly agrees to 1-year, $3.5M deal with Kings

  04-09-2026 15:42 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Ben Simmons is returning to the NBA after reportedly signing a one-year, $3.5 million contract to join the Sacramento Kings, according to ESPN’s Marc Spears and Shams Charania.The 30-year-old Simmons last played in the NBA during the 2024-25 season with the Los Angeles Clippers. After his contract expired following that season, he did not sign anywhere in free agency and reportedly turned down a one-year minimum contract offer from the New York Knicks.Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Footbal
  
  Read more

• NBA 2K27 predicts the season: LeBron's shocking start with 76ers, a new MVP and an NBA Finals rematch

  04-09-2026 15:40 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  For the third year in a row, Yahoo Sports is simulating a full NBA season in the latest entry in the NBA 2K franchise — NBA 2K27.Last year's simulation proved to be shockingly accurate. Not only did NBA 2K26 predict the Knicks to win the NBA Finals and Jalen Brunson to be named NBA Finals MVP, it also nailed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's repeat bid for MVP, Victor Wembanyama's Defensive Player of the Year nod and Cooper Flagg's Rookie of the Year victory. It even had the Wizards as the league'
  
  Read more

• Three keys to success for the Houston Rockets 2026-2027 season

  04-09-2026 15:33 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Barring a catastrophe, the Houston Rockets will make the playoffs in 2026-27.Making the playoffs is no longer enough.If they don’t win a series this year, they’ll need major systemic changes. It isn’t even up for debate. It might start with firing Ime Udoka, but that’s actually my next article.(In the industry, that’s called a plug).For now, let’s drink a half-full glass of optimism juice. The Rockets certainly have the talent to advance to (at least) the seco
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• College football picks for Week 1; how Clippers can rebound from Kawhi Leonard saga

  04-09-2026 14:58 via cbssports.com
  
  Plus Ryan Wilson's preseason 2027 NFL Draft big board
  
  Read more

• About that 2028 L.A. Clippers pick

  04-09-2026 14:36 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 4: Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Balmer before a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Intuit Dome on February 4, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Wally Skalij/Getty Images) 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. | Getty Images In case you missed it (or were sitting under a rock for the last couple of
  
  Read more

• The Euro Mavs, part III: The American perspective. NBA coaches on European player development

  04-09-2026 14:22 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 30: Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics speaks to the media after Game Six of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 30, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Boston Celtics 106-93. 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 E
  
  Read more

• Questions & Antlers: An offseason chinwag with Jack and Zac

  04-09-2026 14:00 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  MILWAUKEE, WI - JUNE 25: The Milwaukee Bucks head coach Taylor Jenkins talks to the media with the 2026 draft picks Nate Ament and Brayden Burries of the Milwaukee Bucks during the Bucks Draft Press Conference on June 25, 2026 at the Pieper-Hillside Boys & Girls Club in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Cop
  
  Read more

• Joel Embiid’s Best Playoff Games, Part II: Game 5 vs Celtics in 2026

  04-09-2026 14:00 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  We started this series by looking back on one of Joel Embiid’s early postseasons with the Sixers, as the big man had a dominant Game 3 in 2019 against Toronto. At that time, fans were viewing the Sixers in a very positive light. Fast forward seven years to 2026, and fans had all but tapped out on the team’s chances of making any noise in the postseason. Then, Embiid and company found a way back into a series they appeared to have no chance in.Final Score: Sixers 113, Celtics 97Series
  
  Read more

• 7 ways the Clippers can rebuild after their historic NBA punishment

  04-09-2026 14:00 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 17: Keaton Wagler #1 of the LA Clippers looks on during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on July 17, 2026 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
  
  Read more

• Open Thread: The Los Angeles Clippers could offer trades in hopes of picking up draft capital

  04-09-2026 13:00 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Feb 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Team USA Stripes forward Kawhi Leonard (2) of the LA Clippers and Team USA Stripes guard De'Aaron Fox of the San Antonio Spurs (4) celebrate after game two during the 75th NBA All Star Game at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect In the wake of the NBA doling out punishment for the Aspiration salary circumvention scandal involving the Los Angeles Clippers, Kawhi Leonard, and his uncle Dennis Rob
  
  Read more

• Could Tre Johnson be the next…

  04-09-2026 13:00 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  What does the Statistical Doppelganger Machine say about Tre Johnson’s rookie season? | NBAE via Getty Images One the Tre Johnson comps produced by The Statistical Doppelganger Machine has me…hmm…the words “kinda stoked” flowed from brain to fingers to keyboard to screen. But “kinda” and “stoked” don’t really go together, so…let’s just go with “stoked.”Editor’s Note: Kevin, you just used the words togeth
  
  Read more

• The Celtics offense could use a little more chaos this season

  04-09-2026 12:00 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Philadelphia, PA - April 24: Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla diagrams a play before the game. The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers played in the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 24, 2026. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images There are few phrases in basketball that sound more universally agreeable than “win the margins.” About as agreeable as, “you want players who really kn
  
  Read more

• Former All-Star Ben Simmons agrees to one-year contract with Kings, per agents

  04-09-2026 11:55 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Former All-Star Ben Simmons agrees to one-year contract with Kings, per agents originally appeared on NBC Sports PhiladelphiaThe Kings have had interest in former NBA All-Star Ben Simmons for more than a year, and Sacramento finally got its guy.Simmons and the Kings have agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million free-agent contract, ESPN’s Shams Charania and Marc J. Spears reported Friday, citing agents Max Wiepking, Sean Tribe and Ryan Arney.Just in: Three-time All-Star Ben Simmons has agreed on
  
  Read more

• SNY’s Ian Begley Reveals Two Knicks Free-Agent Targets for Final Roster Spots

  04-09-2026 11:00 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 5: Drew Eubanks #19 of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on March 5, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images The New York
  
  Read more

• Steve Kerr optimistic about upcoming Warriors season, but avoids projections

  04-09-2026 10:10 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Steve Kerr optimistic about upcoming Warriors season, but avoids projections originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay AreaThe question posed to Warriors coach Steve Kerr was simple: “What would you consider satisfactory next season?” He dodged it like a world-class middleweight.“You get into the danger zone when you start trying to predict stuff,” Kerr told NBC Sports Bay Area on Thursday. “For me, this is all about the process and what we’re doing day in and day
  
  Read more

• Former All-Star Ben Simmons, Kings agree to one-year, $3.5M contract, per agents

  04-09-2026 08:55 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Former All-Star Ben Simmons, Kings agree to one-year, $3.5M contract, per agents originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay AreaThe Kings have had interest in former NBA All-Star Ben Simmons for more than a year, and Sacramento finally got its guy.Simmons and the Kings have agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million free-agent contract, ESPN’s Shams Charania and Marc J. Spears reported Friday, citing agents Max Wiepking, Sean Tribe and Ryan Arney.Just in: Three-time All-Star Ben Simmons has agreed on a
  
  Read more

• Proof that Keyonte George will evolve into an all-star next season

  04-09-2026 06:04 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 24: Keyonte George #3 of the Utah Jazz smiles during the game against the Miami Heat on January 24, 2025 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images Keyonte Geor
  
  Read more

• Epstein reporter erupts at media over Pablo Torre slight after his Clippers vindication

  04-09-2026 04:10 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  After the NBA handed the Clippers a historic punishment, one of the country’s most decorated investigative journalists believes Pablo Torre still isn’t getting enough credit.Miami Herald reporter Julie K. Brown, whose “Perversion of Justice” investigation helped expose Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse and the system that protected him, ripped The New York Times and The Athletic for what she viewed as minimizing Torre’s role in uncovering the Clippers scandal.“It
  
  Read more

• The Kawhi Leonard Clippers scandal won’t heal Spurs fans’ old wounds

  04-09-2026 03:41 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 07: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Los Angeles Clippers reacts to a play during the first quarter of the NBA game against the Dallas Mavericks at Intuit Dome on April 07, 2026 in Inglewood, 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images The NBA concluded its investig
  
  Read more

• Lakers’ next target could be snatched away by defending champs

  04-09-2026 03:09 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  The Lakers may have found their post-Jonathan Kuminga fallback plan.The reigning NBA champions could spoil that one, too.Veteran guard Bruce Brown has emerged as a potential Lakers target following Los Angeles’ failed pursuit of Kuminga, but NBA insider Brett Siegel believes the Knicks are currently the more realistic landing spot.Bruce Brown of the Denver Nuggets goes up for a shot between Day’Ron Sharpe and Cam Thomas of the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, March 19, 2023, at Barclays Cent
  
  Read more

• Pablo Torre on the Largest Punishment in N.B.A. History

  04-09-2026 03:01 via nytimes.com
  Pablo Torre’s groundbreaking investigation into the Clippers revealed that the owner Steve Ballmer funneled millions of dollars in secret to player Kawhi Leonard to avoid league salary cap rules. Now the Clippers are facing the largest punishment in N.B.A. history. Torre joins Natalie Kitroeff on “The Call” to unpack what happens next.
  
  Read more

• Pablo Torre: We’re in a ‘Dysmorphic’ Era in Sports

  04-09-2026 02:52 via nytimes.com
  Pablo Torre joins Natalie Kitroeff on “The Call” to talk about how his bombshell investigation into the Clippers and Steve Ballmer has resulted in the largest punishment in N.B.A. history.
  
  Read more

• The Clippers just lost 5 first-round draft picks as punishment from the Kawhi Leonard scandal. What do they have left?

  04-09-2026 01:06 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  The decision by NBA commissioner Adam Silver to take five future first-round draft picks from the Los Angeles Clippers for circumventing the salary cap to help funnel additional income to Kawhi Leonard was obviously the most damaging element of the punishment doled out by the league.Clippers owner Steve Ballmer can stomach a $30 million fine. Teams also rountinely weather executive exits or suspensions. Losing half a decade's worth of draft picks? The Clippers now have decidedly fewer roster-sha
  
  Read more

• Bill Simmons in disbelief of Clippers, Steve Ballmer hitting ‘new rock bottom’

  04-09-2026 00:44 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has been suspended for one year by the NBA.The league’s investigation found Ballmer and the Clippers were guilty of violating the salary cap circumvention rules. The Clippers have been stripped of five first-round picks and have been fined $30 million.Los Angeles Clippers owner and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer talks to reporters during a news conference in Los Angeles on Monday, August 18, 2014. Ballmer said on Friday, Oct. 16, 2015, that he b
  
  Read more

• Clippers' laziness led to 2015 hand slap. Their recklessness brought NBA's ire | Opinion

  04-09-2026 00:09 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Let me get this right: The Los Angeles Clippers got busted by the NBA for offering improper benefits to a player it was trying to sign, apologized and promised not to do it again, and then … did?These folks aren’t just shady, they’re reckless. Or lazy. Or stupid. Or some combination of the three. That alone makes them deserving of all those harsh penalties the NBA dropped on them for setting up side hustles between Kawhi Leonard and four companies."The Clippers were especially
  
  Read more

Follow @Newslocker_NBA on Twitter!