Suns Sign Duop Reath, Kennedy Chandler, Phillip Wheeler; Waive John Camden, Corey Camper Jr, Sam Hoiberg
The Phoenix Suns set their roster for training camp with a series of moves. Phoenix signed center Duop Reath, guard Kennedy Chandler and forward Phillip Wheeler to Exhibit 10 contracts. To create room for the three signings, the Suns waived John Camden, Corey Camper Jr. and Sam Hoiberg. That trio was signed to Exhibit 10 deals earlier in the week.
Reath may have a chance to earn a roster spot in light of the injury suffered by center Mark Williams. Phoenix would have to create a regular season roster spot for Reath. The 6-foot-9 center appeared in 32 games for the Portland Trail Blazers last season before suffering a torn ACL in mid-January.
Chandler spent most of last season with the Delaware Blue Coats of the G League. On a pair of 10 Day contracts with the Utah Jazz, the 6-foot point guard averaged 15 points, 3.4 rebounds and 6.7 assists across 11 NBA games.
Wheeler appeared in 46 G League games for the Osceola Magic last season. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 14.3 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
Chandler, Wheeler, Camden, Camper and Hoiberg are all expected to join the Valley Suns for the upcoming G League season. Reath could also join the G League Suns if a roster a spot in Phoenix doesn’t materialize.
Nuggets Sign Dane Goodwin, Coleman Hawkins, Emanuel Miller To Camp Deals
The Denver Nuggets signed a trio of players to training camp contracts. Dane Goodwin, Coleman Hawkins and Emanuel Miller all signed Exhibit 10 deals with Denver.
Goodwin appeared in 50 G League games for the Grand Rapids Gold last season. The 6-foot-6 guard averaged 15.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game.
Hawkins appeared in 48 G League games for the Grand Rapids Gold last season. The 6-foot-10 forward averaged 7.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.5 steals and nearly a block per game.
Miller appeared in 40 G Leagues games last season split between the Cleveland Charge, Austin Spurs and Windy City Bulls. The 6-foot-5 wing averaged 16.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.
Following the NBA preseason, Goodwin, Hawkins and Miller are expected to join the Grand Rapids Gold for the G League season.
Thunder Sign Andrew Holifield, Robert McCray V, Zhaire Smith To Camp Deals
The Oklahoma City Thunder signed a trip of players to Exhibit 10 contracts. Andrew Holifield, Robert McCray V and Zhaire Smith all signed training camp deals.
Holifield went undrafted out of Lamar at the 2026 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-10 center averaged 11.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks for the Cardinals last season.
McCray went undrafted out of Florida State at the 2026 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 16.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.3 steals as a senior for the Seminoles last season.
Smith appeared in 49 G League games split between the Texas Legends and Oklahoma City Blue last season. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 18.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game.
Holifield, McCray and Smith are all expected to join the Oklahoma City Blue for the G League season after the NBA preseason.
We have a jam-packed episode of The Dunker Spot coming your way!
First, Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones are joined by Justin Rowan and Carter Rodriguez (The Chase Down Podcast) for a wide-ranging conversation about the Cleveland Cavaliers. They talk about the team’s perception, what’s needed to make the James Harden/Donovan Mitchell partnership work, next steps for Evan Mobley, the addition of Peyton Watson and much more!
On the WNBA side, the guys preview the first round of the 2026 playoffs! They discuss the matchups, key battlegrounds, potential X-Factors and schematic twists that could determine the winner of each series.
If you ever have NBA or WNBA questions, email us at dunkerspot@yahoo.com
0:47 — Justin & Carter join the show!
56:58 — Aces/Fever
01:12:36 — Lynx/Liberty
01:22:30 — Dream/Mystics
01:30:40 — Valkyries/Wings
CLEVELAND, OHIO – MAY 11: James Harden #1 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrate a basket against the Detroit Pistons during the first quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Rocket Arena on May 11, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Latest NBA news, rumors heading into 2026 training camps: Grizzlies waive D'Angelo Russell
With NBA training camps opening up next week, news around the league is starting to pick up. While a lot of it is the standard signing of players to Exhibit 10 deals then releasing them â targeting said player for the franchise’s G League team â there is some other news of note, here are the highlights.
Grizzlies release DâAngelo Russell
Memphis has a roster crunch, with 19 players on standard contracts heading into camp, but only 15 can make the opening roster. Cuts are coming.
D’Angelo Russell is the first one, the team announced Friday. This was expected around the league, it had been reported back in July that the Grizzlies were working with Russell to find a trade to a new home for him. That didn’t work out, so they waived him, and it was done early enough for Russell to find a new home before the season starts. Russell had a $5.9 million contract for this season that the Grizzlies will likely eat (they could waive and stretch it to lessen the per-year hit, but they are under the salary cap as it is and can afford to just pay it now).
Russell played 26 games for the Mavericks last season, averaging 10.2 points and four assists per game. Dallas traded him to Washington as part of the Anthony Davis trade, but Russell worked it out with the Wizards and never reported there. This offseason, the Wizards traded Russell to Memphis, which has now released him.
Latest on Mavs bigs Powell, Lively
We have a couple of updates on the Dallas Mavericks big man front.
First, and as expected, the Mavericks have signed Dwight Powell to return to the team, something first reported by Marc Stein. Powell, 35, has played the last 12 seasons in Dallas, and while he doesn’t have a huge impact on the court â 3.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in 63 appearances last season â his real value to a young team is as a mentor who shows players how to be professional. This contract is only guaranteed for $500,000 until he makes the opening night roster, Powell will have to stay healthy to get paid.
Dallas may need Powell at the start of the season because center Dereck Lively has not yet been medically cleared, reports Tim MacMahon of ESPN. Lively played in just seven games for Dallas last season before undergoing foot surgery last December. If he can get healthy, he would be an interesting fit next to Cooper Flagg.
Cooper Flagg card sets record
While we’re on the topic of Mavericks star, the Cooper Flagg Topps Rookie Debut Patch Card has officially sold through Fanatics Collect’s September Premier Auction for $8.04 million. The auction drew 83 bids over the two-week process.
BREAKING: The Cooper Flagg NBA Debut Patch autograph card has officially sold in our auction for $8,040,000.
This sets the record for the most expensive Cooper Flagg card of all time, surpassing the previous record of $366,000.
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 Cavaliersâ first preseason game. But first, theyâll 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 Clevelandâs 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. NaeâQwan 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, itâs off to Spain for Training Camp.
Clevelandâs first preseason game is October 8th.
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.
Iâve been on the Falconsâ 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 hereâs a breakdown of the saga that has been the Falconsâ quarterback depth chart in 2026 and why itâs a huge deal that starter Michael Penix is finally able to actually start in Week 3 against the Packers.
And the Falcons thought theyâd 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 Penixâs 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 Falconsâ 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 Penixâs 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 Penixâs and Tagovailoaâs injury histories. Then the very first day of training camp rolled around, and all bets were off.
Penix still wasnât 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 wasnât ready to start Week 1, so Tagovailoa got the nod â 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 teamâs 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 startersâ reps in practice with Penix as the team held out hope that he might be ready to start against Carolina, and that probably didnât help. Rush was benched in favor of Strand, who had zero practice reps with the starters in advance of that game, and that probably didnât 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 everyoneâs mind heading into Thursday night â 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. Heâs medically cleared and the reconstructive process on his knee is supposed to reinforce it so he shouldnât have to worry about a FOURTH ACL tear â 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 theyâve 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 Sundayâs loss to the Panthers with a rib injury, but will he be 100%? Heâll need to be against this Packers pass rush.
Itâs 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 itâll be interesting to see if Atlantaâs 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 wouldnât have to adjust back to a right-handed quarterback â unless catastrophe strikes, which letâs be real, could absolutely happen because itâs the Falcons.
The only slight competitive advantages Atlanta may have here are that Penix is fully rested despite this being a short week, and thereâs zero film of Penix operating in this Tommy Rees offense. Heâs got a bigger arm than Rush, so Iâm hoping weâll 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 wonât be prepared for the speed of the game because he hasnât seen any game action since November 2025. Iâm 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-aidâs got to come off at some point, and if Penix can prevent the Falcons from slipping to 0-3 on Thursday, itâll 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 weekendâs 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 Gabyâs 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 itâs worth.
Gaby noted how, unlike Grant and Zhang, she doesnât 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 womenâs 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 wouldnât 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.
