CLEVELAND, OHIO – MARCH 27: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates during the first quarter against the Miami Heat at Rocket Arena on March 27, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We are just two weeks away from the Cleveland Cavaliers’ first preseason game. But first, they’ll be conducting training camp in Spain. The Cavs announced their roster for camp today.
The standard roster, headlined by stars like James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and Evan Mobley, will, of course, be there. Newcomer Peyton Watson, as well.
In total, 21 players will be in Spain. This includes the full standard roster, as well as three two-way players and a handful of training camp invites.
Tristan Enaruna, Riley Minix, and Ernest Udeh Jr. make up the two-way spots. Minix and Enaruna have been with the organization since last year, while Udeh is their newest two-way player.
Rashaun Agee, Zack Austin, Curtis Jones and Kadary Richmond are the camp invitees.
Training camp is an opportunity to set the tone for the upcoming season. The building blocks of who this team will become should be laid during their trip to Spain. This not only allows them to learn the systems but also to form a closer bond as teammates.
Cleveland reached the Eastern Conference Finals last season after winning 52 games. The Cavs hope to replicate that success and go even further this year.
A full offseason of integrating Harden should help them. The 17-year veteran hardly had time to unpack his bags before the playoff run began. This season allows him more time to adapt and learn his role. That should help everyone around him.
Trading for Watson was Cleveland’s biggest move of the summer. The franchise is excited about the potential for Watson to help them in the immediate short term and in the future. Training camp will give them their first glimpse of how he fits with the roster.
As for the others, younger prospects such as Meleek Thomas and Tyrese Proctor have a chance to prove they belong. Training camp and preseason will be their time to step up. Nae’Qwan Tomlin, as well.
The Cavs are hosting media day for Koby Altman and Kenny Atkinson on Friday afternoon. The players will have their own media day on Monday. After that, it’s off to Spain for Training Camp.
Julian Reese and the New Orleans Pelicans have signed a Two-Way contract. Reese was acquired by the Denver Nuggets’ G League affiliate in August and subsequently waived.
Reese appeared in 13 games last season with the Washington Wizards, averaging 11.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.4 steals in 30.9 minutes.
Reese also appeared in 42 G League games, averaging 8.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 18.0 minutes.
I’ve been on the Falcons’ beat for 14 years now, and while a rocky start to the season is nothing new for Atlanta, the national narrative around this team is missing some important context. So here’s a breakdown of the saga that has been the Falcons’ quarterback depth chart in 2026 and why it’s a huge deal that starter Michael Penix is finally able to actually start in Week 3 against the Packers.
And the Falcons thought they’d have time to let Penix develop and adjust to the pro game before he had to take over as the starter. The Falcons signed the top free agent QB on the market that year, a post-Achilles tear Kirk Cousins, expecting to roll with the veteran as a starter. Cousins was not as healthy as the team thought, and it showed on the field. Penix started five games in his rookie season as a result, and he won the starting job in 2025, handing it back over to Cousins when Penix suffered the season-ending ACL tear that required complete reconstructive surgery. It was Penix’s third ACL tear and surgical repair.
Penix was medically cleared prior to the final preseason game, but Penix told the media in Week 2 that he had yet to hit some of the physical benchmarks (he declined to elaborate on those benchmarks) the medical team wanted him to hit to feel comfortable taking full-speed contact, so he was unable to start either Week 1 or Week 2. Penix was named the starting quarterback for Week 3 against the Packers on Thursday Night Football on Monday afternoon.
What was the Falcons’ plan at QB this season?
I promise that the Falcons DID have a plan for the quarterback position this season, even though there was always a question as to what Penix’s recovery timetable would be. The team signed Tua Tagovailoa as an experienced veteran backup and stopgap starter, with Trevor Siemian waiting in the wings given both Penix’s and Tagovailoa’s injury histories. Then the very first day of training camp rolled around, and all bets were off.
Penix still wasn’t medically cleared to participate fully. Tagovailoa was having back spasms and was unable to practice. And Siemian was waived with an injury settlement that very morning, leaving Atlanta with one healthy quarterback on the first day of practice: Undrafted free agent rookie Jack Strand out of Minnesota-Moorhead. The Falcons brought in Cooper Rush for a workout early that morning and signed him just before that first training camp practice began.
Tagovailoa, Rush, and Strand all got plenty of reps in training camp and the preseason with Penix sidelined. Penix wasn’t ready to start Week 1, so Tagovailoa got the nod — and then he hurt his oblique, forcing the Falcons to pass the baton to Rush. And then, because the football gods apparently hate the Atlanta Falcons, Rush hurt his back during the team’s final walk-through of the week.
Rush started in Week 1 against the Steelers anyway out of pure necessity, and he looked abysmal, finishing 12 of 22 for 143 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. In Week 2 against the Panthers, Rush went 10 of 17 for 86 yards, two picks, and no touchdowns. Rush split starters’ reps in practice with Penix as the team held out hope that he might be ready to start against Carolina, and that probably didn’t help. Rush was benched in favor of Strand, who had zero practice reps with the starters in advance of that game, and that probably didn’t help either.
Which brings us to Week 3, Thursday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers.
What to expect from Michael Penix vs. the Packers
This is the question on everyone’s mind heading into Thursday night — including mine.
During training camp, the Falcons got creative about getting Penix prepared for the pass rush without risking his health, using an exercise ball rolled toward him at the snap to simulate pressure. Penix will have gotten starter reps throughout this lighter week of practice. He’s medically cleared and the reconstructive process on his knee is supposed to reinforce it so he shouldn’t have to worry about a FOURTH ACL tear — but also, how could he not worry about that?
The Packers have seven sacks on the season over the first two games, which ties them for second in the league, and they’ve been effective at pressuring the opposing quarterback and they rank first in the NFL heading into Week 3 for forcing negative-yardage plays. The Falcons offensive line is still finding its way after longtime right tackle Kaleb McGary retired. Jawaan Taylor was signed this offseason to fill that role, but his ability to integrate with that unit was delayed by injury. Taylor is expected to play on Thursday after leaving Sunday’s loss to the Panthers with a rib injury, but will he be 100%? He’ll need to be against this Packers pass rush.
It’s a bit of an adjustment for the offensive line in particular to adjust to Penix, a lefty, after protecting righties Rush and Strand the first two weeks of the season. It changes the direction of each play, so it’ll be interesting to see if Atlanta’s offense has a smooth transition with that. If Penix is unable to finish the game, Tagovailoa is expected to be active and available tonight, so the rest of the offense wouldn’t have to adjust back to a right-handed quarterback — unless catastrophe strikes, which let’s be real, could absolutely happen because it’s the Falcons.
The only slight competitive advantages Atlanta may have here are that Penix is fully rested despite this being a short week, and there’s zero film of Penix operating in this Tommy Rees offense. He’s got a bigger arm than Rush, so I’m hoping we’ll see Atlanta pushing the ball down the field more, taking advantage of the size and speed of guys like Drake London and Kyle Pitts, and that this will create more opportunities for Bijan Robinson to make plays.
Will Penix be better than Rush has been over the first two games of the season? I have a hard time believing he could be worse.
I am concerned that Penix won’t be prepared for the speed of the game because he hasn’t seen any game action since November 2025. I’m not worried about him re-injuring the repaired knee, but I am concerned he may be a step slow, rusty, and could put himself at risk for new injuries.
But the band-aid’s got to come off at some point, and if Penix can prevent the Falcons from slipping to 0-3 on Thursday, it’ll be worth it for Atlanta.
LYTHAM ST ANNES, ENGLAND – JULY 30: Gaby Lopez of Mexico tees off on hole 2 during the first round of the AIG Women’s Open 2026 at Royal Lytham & St. Annes on July 30, 2026 in Lytham St Annes, England. (Photo by Jason Butler/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There is nothing like team golf.
We are in the middle of the fall which means it is happening all over the place. Europe won the Solheim Cup, time will tell hos this weekend’s Presidents Cup unfolds, and the college golf season is already rocking and rolling.
Golf is an individual game, but team inclusion makes the stakes different. We say this all of the time as fans, but players talk about it themselves.
Consider Gaby Lopez, one of the new members of Los Angeles Golf Club in the WTGL, and what she had to say about starting a new venture with team golf happening all of the time by way of WTGL. She caught up with us earlier this week and raved about how excited she is and how the energy of her new team is so much fun.
WTGL kicks off on November 8th and Gaby’s team will be taking on New York Golf Club in the first match. Fellow friends of SB Nation Linn Grant and Rose Zhang will also be a part of the fun, for what it’s worth.
Gaby noted how, unlike Grant and Zhang, she doesn’t have an opportunity to compete in the Solheim Cup as it is a team of Europeans and she hails from Mexico. WTGL is offering her a chance at team golf for the first time since her days in college at Arkansas, and you can tell in speaking with her how much she is looking forward to it.
That is part of what is so exciting about WTGL in an overall sort of sense. It is offering something new and exciting to players who have not had this sort of opportunity. It serves as the latest example of women’s sports doing what it can to capitalize on the proverbial moment.
If Gaby has anything to say about it, WTGL is going to be a huge success and the team element of it is going to be fully on display.
I wouldn’t be against Los Angeles under her watch.
Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks Unlikely To Sign Extension Before Start Of Camp
Karl-Anthony Towns and the New York Knicks have “stagnated” on their contract extension discussions and a deal before the start of training camp is considered unlikely. Despite the lack of progress, the talks have been described as “cordial.”
Towns has been eligible for a contract extension during the offseason that could reach $276 million over four seasons.
“This is a cloud going into training camp,” said Shams Charania.
Towns has a $61 million player option for the 2027-28 season and could become a free agent in 2027.
There is no deadline for an extension between Towns and the Knicks. Towns will turn 31 in November.
James Dolan has been clear that he wants to avoid the Knicks going into the second apron.
Natalie Nakase deserves WNBA Coach of the Year — again
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 19: Head coach Natalie Nakase of the Golden State Valkyries reacts against the Seattle Storm in the first half of a WNBA basketball game at Chase Center on September 19, 2026 in San Francisco, 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Coach of the Year is one of the most peculiar awards in sports. The award is typically given to a coach who exceeded external expectations, and due to the media’s limited inside-access to teams and locker rooms, it’s sometimes difficult to discern exactly who to credit and who to blame for a team’s performance.
Still, it’s our job to try.
Last year, Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase was the near-universal winner of the WNBA’s Coach of the Year award. Normally, that would mean she probably wouldn’t win it again, at least for a few years.
But after much consideration, I’m once again voting for Nakase, who has turned the Valkyries from a fringe playoff team in Year 1 to one of the most dominant teams in the WNBA.
The Valkyries have maximized their roster and have the second-best record in the WNBA at 31-12. They also have the best point differential in the league, outscoring opponents by an average of 7.2 points per game (which even outpaces the Minnesota Lynx’s +6.9 net rating).
A lot of their success has been powered by their defense — the Valkyries have by far the best defensive rating in the WNBA at 99.4. (For reference, the second-best defensive rating in the WNBA is the Mystics’ 103.8. It’s not close). The Valkyries hold opponents to 75.1 points per game; the next-lowest opponent points per game is the Mystics’ 82.5 average.
Natalie Nakase won Coach of the Year last year, too, and typically, voters don’t reward coaches in back-to-back seasons. But I’ve mulled this over quite a bit, and if A’ja Wilson can win MVP year after year, why can’t Nakase be rewarded for outdoing her exceptional Year 1 performance?
The Valkyries were awesome in their first year post-expansion. In the early days of the season, it seemed that the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo might follow in their footsteps. But both teams now have bottom-three records, finishing their season vastly differently than the Valkyries did last year, when they secured the 8th seed with a 23-21 record.
Instead of remaining stagnant or even backsliding, Nakase and her staff ensured the team would take another massive step forward in Year 2, building upon an already-strong defensive identity to become an absolute powerhouse on that end of the floor. Now, the Valkyries are not just a playoff team — they’re a legitimate championship contender, despite not having a single player who averages 15 or more points per game.
Nakase has masterfully managed the minutes and loads of a deep Golden State roster. She’s helped instill confidence in backup point guard Kaitlyn Chen, who is having a career year. She’s continued to entrust Veronica Burton as a franchise player, and Burton has consequently been one of the most effective players in the games, based on numerous advanced analytics. She’s figured out how to get the most out of veterans like Tiffany Hayes and Kayla Thornton, who have seen more reduced on-court roles this season but continue to be absolutely critical components of the team’s success. And she’s helped turn Kiah Stokes into a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
Are the Valkyries poised for postseason success, or are they just a regular-season juggernaut? Right now, it’s too soon to tell, though the next couple of weeks will provide those answers. Still, this is a regular-season award, and no one has done a better job of maximizing their roster than the second-year Valkyries head coach.
Other candidates I considered for WNBA Coach of the Year
While I ultimately went with Nakase, there were several other strong candidates for the award.
Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve deserves a ton of credit for how she manages to empower rookie point guard Olivia Miles, deal with Napheesa Collier’s extended absence, and help Natasha Howard achieve a career year. The Lynx were the best team in the league all season long, and had they finished the year far ahead of the Valkyries, Reeve’s case would have been particularly salient. Ultimately, Reeve was working with a far more talented roster than Nakase’s — Napheesa Collier, Olivia Miles, Natasha Howard, Kayla McBride, and Courtney Williams have all been All-Stars in the past two seasons — and the Lynx currently sit just a game ahead of the Valkyries in the standings.
Washington Mystics head coach Sydney Johnson also deserves consideration for this award. Few could have projected that the Mystics would be where they’re at right now, and it’s clear that Johnson has been the perfect fit for a young squad headlined by Shakira Austin, Sonia Citron, and Kiki Iriafen. The Mystics have had the second-best defense in the WNBA and have gotten the most out of role players like Michaela Onyenwere and Cotie McMahon.
And Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon is a perennial candidate for this award. The Aces are once again among the WNBA’s best teams (currently holding a 30-13 record), despite losing Chennedy Carter midseason and NaLyssa Smith to an ACL tear. But Las Vegas will be rewarded elsewhere on the ballot, and given that so much of this award historically centers around exceeding expectations, Hammon is in a tough spot considering she coaches two Team USA Olympic guards in Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray, and the best player in the game in A’ja Wilson.
Sources on extension talks between Karl-Anthony Towns and Knicks
Talks between the Knicks and Karl-Anthony Towns over an extension have been ongoing this offseason after Towns played a huge role in helping New York capture its first championship in 53 years.
According to SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley, there’s been plenty of dialogue between both sides and those conversations have been positive, with the Knicks making it known that they think highly of KAT and want him to stay in New York for a long time.
As far as numbers go, Begley reports that the Knicks have discussed deals ranging between $45-$55 million a year. Meanwhile, Begley also notes that Josh Hart and Miles McBride are also eligible for extensions.
Contract talks between Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks are reportedly at a standstill after NBA title
Karl-Anthony Towns and the New York Knicks are apparently very far apart on a new contract extension ahead of training camp next week.
Talks between the Knicks and Towns have “stagnated” and an agreement is now considered unlikely, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania and Vincent Goodwill. The two sides have spent extensive time discussing the extension this offseason, “but there has been no movement lately in negotiations.”
It’s unclear if a deal will end up getting done, or what it would look like. Towns is eligible for an extension worth up to four years and $273 million. He is owed $57 million for this season on his current deal, and he has a player option for the 2027-28 campaign that would pay him $61 million. Currently, Towns is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2028.
Towns averaged 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds per game last season, his second with the Knicks, while earning his sixth All-Star nod. The 30-year-old was a key piece in the Knicks’ playoff run, and he shot 55% from the field while averaging 15.9 points and 10.6 rebounds in the postseason while helping the Knicks win the NBA Finals. It marked the team’s first championship since 1973.
Towns is one of several Knicks players either currently facing a contract decision or preparing to. Josh Hart is currently eligible for a new deal, and both Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby will be eligible for extensions next offseason.
To be clear, Towns and the Knicks could come together and reach a new extension at any point. But as it stands, according to ESPN, a new extension is not imminent and appears unlikely in the short-term.
The Knicks will open the regular season against LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers on Oct. 20 at Madison Square Garden.
Kawhi Leonard to reportedly sign 2-year, $115 million extension with Raptors
Kawhi Leonard is staying put. The Toronto Raptors decided to keep the 35-year-old around for multiple seasons, reportedly signing him to a two-year, $115 million extension Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The move comes as Leonard was set to enter the final year of the three-year, $149 million extension he signed with the Clippers in 2024. Under his previous deal, Leonard was set to make $50.3 million during the 2026-27 NBA season.
Just in: Toronto Raptors All-NBA star Kawhi Leonard has agreed on a two-year, $115 million contract extension with the franchise, plus a player option for the 2028-29 season, his agent Harrison Gaines of SLASH Sports tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/naqrW8jBV3
Leonard’s new deal is worth slightly less than the max. The forward was eligible to sign a two-year, $126 million deal, but ultimately decided to take a little bit less from the team, per TSN Sports.
The deal also comes after a tumultuous offseason for Leonard, one that resulted in the forward being traded back to the Raptors, only to have that trade put on hold thanks to an NBA investigation looking into whether he received impermissible benefits from the Clippers when he originally signed with the team.
The NBA came down hard on the Clippers as a result of that investigation, docking the team five first-round draft picks, fining owner Steve Ballmer $30 million and suspending him for a year. Leonard was not suspended as part of the investigation, though was fined $700,000.
With Leonard eligible to play during the 2026-27 NBA season, the Raptors decided to move forward with the trade, which was completed in September. The team then decided to ink Leonard for the long haul.
The move marks a long-term commitment between the Raptors and Leonard, something neither side could agree on the last time the two linked up.
That turned out to be an extremely productive season, as Leonard helped lead the Raptors to an NBA championship. While Leonard reportedly entertained offers from the Raptors during that stint in free agency, he ultimately joined the Clippers in a deal that resulted in the NBA’s investigation.
For the most part, it wasn’t a highly productive pairing between Leonard and the Clippers. While the franchise made the playoffs multiple times and Leonard has turned in All-Star performances, the Clippers have yet to win an NBA championship.
That was the main goal when the Clippers originally signed Leonard ahead of the 2019-20 NBA season. Leonard was supposed to come to the Clippers, bring another superstar along with him and immediately vault the team into a championship contender.
Things looked good early on, as Leonard and Paul George led the Clippers on two deep playoff runs in their first two years in Los Angeles. Leonard, however, missed the entire 2021-22 season due to an ACL injury.
He returned to action the following year, leading the Clippers back to the playoffs the next three seasons. The Clippers, however, lost in the first round in each of those playoff appearances.
Despite Leonard posting a career-high 27.9 points per game and garnering MVP votes for the first time in four seasons, he failed to lead the Clippers back to the postseason last year. At 42-40, the team was forced to take part in the play-in tournament, where it was eliminated by the Golden State Warriors.
Given Leonard’s age, and the team’s declining performance in recent years, it was unclear which path the Clippers would take in the offseason. Given the investigation, punishment and Leonard’s age and contract situation, the team ultimately decided to ship Leonard out. While that deal was on hold briefly, the Clippers and Raptors decided to complete the deal after the NBA’s investigation concluded.
Considering all that, the extension is a risk. But given Leonard’s production, it also might not be the worst idea. In his six seasons with the Clippers, Leonard averaged 25.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. He made four All-Star teams and received MVP votes three times. While Leonard is no longer in his prime, he proved he could still play at a high level last season.
The Raptors know how valuable Leonard’s on-court production can be. This time around, the team isn’t willing to let him walk after just one season.
Hawks reportedly trading Buddy Hield, Ryan Nembhard to Hornets for Dorian Finney-Smith
The Atlanta Hawks are trading Buddy Hield, Ryan Nembhard and cash to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for forward Dorian Finney-Smith, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports.
Finney-Smith, 32, is a veteran 3-and-D forward who could earn a rotation spot in Atlanta. For his career, he’s averaged 8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 0.8 steals and 0.4 blocks while shooting 35.9% from 3 in 27.3 minutes per game.
He played a limited role with the Houston Rockets last season, averaging 3.3 points and 2.5 rebounds in 16.8 minutes per game.
The Hornets, meanwhile, add backcourt depth after trading starting point guard LaMelo Ball in the offseason.
Hield, 33, has seen a significant production dropoff in recent years from his prime, but he remains an effective 3-point shooter when given playing time. A 39.5% career shooter from 3, Hield shot 34.9.% on 4.2 attempts per game while averaging 7.6 points and 2.3 rebounds in 51 games with the Warriors and Hawks last season. He’ll provide the Hornets with 3-point shooting off the bench.
The Hawks acquired Nembhard and and Luguentz Dort in the offseason trade that sent Zaccharie Risacher to the Dallas Mavericks. Nembhard did not play for the Hawks.
In 60 appearances including 27 starts with Dallas last season, the undrafted rookie point guard out of Gonzaga averaged 6.6 points and 5.3 assists while shooting 41.5% from the field and 35.6% from 3. He’ll provide Charlotte with depth behind starting point guard Coby White.
