Dunc’d On: Nuggets and Cavs Offseason Grades, Wolves Sold
Nate and Danny can finally sum up the offseasons for the Nuggets and Cavs, improbably through a trade with each other! We put the Peyton Watson deal into context for both teams and give them offseason grades, while also discussing DeMar DeRozan to the Nuggets. We also break down Klay Thompson’s fit in Miami and whether they should have prioritized him over DeRozan or Bradley Beal.
Sylvain Francisco Missed Opportunity To Sign With Bulls
Veteran EuroLeague guard Sylvain Francisco thought he would be making the jump the NBA this season. However, transaction holdups around the NBA, while teams waited on LeBron James to make a decision, led to Francisco missing his window.
In particular, the 6-foot-2 guard said he missed out on signing with the Chicago Bulls. Unfortunately for Francisco and the Bulls, his deadline to exercised his NBA out with ASVEL came before James decided to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers.
“Yes, in the NBA, there were openings, at least five or six teams, many on guaranteed two-year contracts,” Francisco said. “I had the opportunity with the Chicago Bulls, but the trade they wanted to make before stalled because in the NBA, everyone was waiting for LeBron’s decision. However, my deadline (to active his NBA out clause from ASVEL) was until July 20, and LeBron signed… four days later.
“So, that’s where all the teams really started to transfer players, make more trades. It’s a shame,” Francisco continued. “I was a little angry, let’s say. But it’s something I don’t have control over. In the end, it can be a blessing in disguise. I stay in Europe.”
Francisco has since moved to Panathinaikos in Greece. He’s happy to be with the EuroLeague power now.
IndyCar qualifying results: Who takes pole at the Freedom 250?
WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 22: Kyle Kirkwood, driver of the #27 Sam’s Club Honda drives to practice for the NTT INDYCAR Series Freedom 250 on August 22, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Two practice sessions are in the books on the streets of the nation’s capital.
But who will take pole position for the IndyCar Freedom 250?
Kyle Kirkwood topped the timing sheets during the first practice session, ahead of Alex Palou, the driver he is chasing in the IndyCar standings. But it was Palou who led the way in the second session, just 0.0766 seconds ahead of Kirkwood.
Scott Dixon and the Arrow McLaren pair of Nolan Siegel and Pato O’Ward rounded out the top five from the second practice session. Their Arrow McLaren teammate Christian Lundgaard posted the sixth-fastest time.
Speaking with the media, including SB Nation, following the first practice session Palou talked at length about the 1.7-mile track that winds around the National Mall, with landmarks such as the Washington Monument and the United States Capitol Building helping to round out the backdrop.
“It’s a blast, super fun. Very bumpy, huge bumps heading into turn two and turn six. Massive bumps that are going to spice things up,” described Palou.
“I think it’s actually going to create good racing just because it’s quite tough to go over there and have good braking and also have good traction when the bumps are on exits. Yeah, really fun. Incredible to see the Capitol Hill, exit of seven, just incredible experience. Yeah, so far super happy.”
Now focus turns to the qualifying session later today. How will the grid line up at the start tomorrow? We will find out in a few short hours.
Freedom 250 provisional starting order
Here is the provisional starting order for the Freedom 250, which will be filled in throughout the session:
Klay Thompson To Sign With Heat After Buyout With Mavericks
Klay Thompson and the Dallas Mavericks have agreed to a contract buyout. Thompson will become a free agent once he clears waivers and plans to sign with the Miami Heat.
Thompson joined the Mavericks during the 2024 offseason on a three-year, $50 million sign-and-trade with the Golden State Warriors. With the Mavericks’ trade of Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers to 2025 and subsequent injuries to Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis, the team quickly went from a Finals contender to a rebuilding one around Thompson.
Thompson was on a $17.46 million contract for the 2026-27 season.
Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong Not Selling Lakers’ Stake Amid Buss Family Dispute
Los Angeles Lakers minority owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong has no plans to sell his stake in the franchise, according to his attorney. The announcement comes as a dispute unfolds within the Buss family following Mark Walter’s agreement to sell his majority ownership to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner.
“Dr. Patrick is absolutely not selling his minority share of the Lakers,” family attorney Chuck “Tiger” Kenworthy told ESPN Thursday. “Bob Iger and Josh Kushner are good friends, and we will be joining them as supportive, active and engaged partners once they close the transaction with Mr. Walter. We are extremely excited about the Lakers’ future and look forward to many more championship years.”
Soon-Shiong, 74, purchased a four percent stake in the team from Magic Johnson in 2010. The businessman and surgeon holds a net worth exceeding $15 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
The Buss family retains a collective 17.8 percent ownership stake following their earlier sale of majority control to Walter, a deal ratified by the NBA board of governors in October. Five of the six siblings, Johnny, Jimmy, Janie, Joey and Jesse, have voted to sell their remaining shares to Iger and Kushner at the $12.5 billion valuation.
“Johnny, Jimmy, Janie, Joey and Jesse have made the decision to sell the family’s remaining stake, and we remain united in that decision,” the siblings said in a joint statement provided to ESPN’s Shams Charania. “We intend to move forward thoughtfully, respectfully and through the appropriate process.”
Jeanie Buss, the team’s current governor, remains the lone holdout and is contesting the planned sale. Her attorney has cited a 2017 court ruling requiring co-trustee approval, specifically from Jeanie, Janie and Joey Buss, before any family shares can be sold.
Iger indicated he intends to honor Walter’s prior agreement keeping Jeanie in her governor role for at least five years, though he left room for future changes.
“If something changes, then it changes,” Iger told the California Post.
Should the siblings’ sale proceed, Jeanie would retain just under 3 percent ownership and would need to acquire an additional 12 percent to meet the NBA’s 15 percent threshold for governance.
The Athletic reported Wednesday that Buss would be interested in pursuing that path, though doing so could prove difficult without cooperation from Iger, Kushner or her own siblings. With Soon-Shiong’s shares now off the table, Ed Roski Jr., who owns roughly 3 percent of the team, would be the only other minority owner available to approach.
Stefan Joksimovic Emerges As Contender For No. 1 Pick In 2027 NBA Draft
Baskonia guard Stefan Joksimovic gained more momentum than any other 2027 NBA Draft prospect this summer, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Woo. Evaluators around the league now view him as a legitimate contender for the No. 1 overall pick next year. In June, Woo identified Tyran Stokes as the early favorite for No. 1 in 2027.
Joksimovic has clearly separated himself as the top international prospect in his class following a standout stretch of performances. He won MVP honors at Adidas Eurocamp in the spring before leading Slovenia to a gold medal at the FIBA Under-18 EuroBasket earlier this month.
The 6-foot-7 guard earned tournament MVP at EuroBasket, averaging 23.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 54.2 percent on twos, 35.6 percent on threes and 78.1 percent from the free-throw line. He also scored 22 points against Sweden while playing for Slovenia’s senior national team in a World Cup qualifier in June.
Joksimovic is the son of former Slovenian national team player Nebojsa Joksimovic. He projects as a jumbo playmaking guard capable of facilitating offense and navigating ball screens at an NBA level, with left-handed scoring ability, strong vision and smooth changes of speed.
While not an explosive athlete, Joksimovic uses his size advantage effectively driving downhill. He will need continued development as a shooter and finisher around the rim to sustain heavy offensive usage long-term.
Scouts remain uncertain what role Joksimovic will carve out at Baskonia, where he made his senior debut last year on a team that finished third in Spain’s ACB and is unlikely to prioritize his individual development. Regardless, teams seeking a lead playmaker are expected to continue closely tracking him in a draft class currently lacking a clear consensus top prospect.
The 6-foot-8 small forward showed a different side of his game at Nike Academy this summer, focusing heavily on distributing the ball rather than dominating individually as he did at the same event a year earlier. Scouts noted his ability to handle the ball and make reads despite his powerful frame.
Stokes’ draft trajectory will hinge on his performance at Kansas, where he will lead a supporting cast that does not currently project as particularly strong. Evaluators see him as a potential supersized shot creator with two-way versatility, an uncommon archetype that has kept him near the top of early draft boards.
Scouts have also flagged concerns about consistency in Stokes’ game, including his shooting, turnovers, defensive engagement and on-court demeanor. His ability to address those issues while helping Kansas win will play a significant role in determining where he ultimately lands in the draft.
Jacksonville Jaguars fans celebrate after a stop on third down during the watch party for the wild-card playoff game against the Buffalo Bills at Greenwood Sports Pub and Kitchen in London, England, on January 11, 2026. (Photo by Austin DeSisto/Capital News Service/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
Roger Goodell is hell-bent on making international expansion his NFL legacy. It’s a topic the commissioner has spoken about year, after year, after year — all the while more and more games are scheduled overseas. This past week Goodell was asked about the possibility of permanent international expansion, i.e. having a team permanently located outside the United States, and his response could not be clearer.
“At some point, there will be NFL teams outside the USA,” Goodell said. “I have no doubt that this will happen one day.”
Goodell made a point of saying, “NFL teams outside the USA.” In his vision, this won’t be a reboot of NFL Europe, or a half-hearted attempt to launch the sport abroad, but rather throwing football in the deep end and going all-in with legitimate teams in the main competition. This raises myriad questions about international travel, scheduling feasibility, and competitive balance — which have long been the biggest sticking points about putting teams abroad. Well, that and assuming that people will care and come to games beyond once-a-year spectacles.
Let’s dive into which cities make the most sense for this expansion and rank every city that is even a remote possibility for a team to be located.
No. 1: Toronto — Canada
At the very top of the list is Canada, which has already been supporting a standalone American football league since 1958 in the CFL. The goal here wouldn’t be to supplant the CFL as a whole, but rather allow the Canadian league to be a feeder of sorts, and an incubator of talent.
Travel issues are functionally non-existent with Toronto. The tricky part is working out where they belong in the divisional picture. The natural solution is the AFC East, either adding to the division or supplanting the Miami Dolphins in the divisional shuffle. This would make a true Northeastern division, adding another brutal proximity rivalry to the slate with Toronto and Buffalo being a stone’s throw from each other.
No. 2: Mexico City — Mexico
If we look at a two-team solution (for now) then Mexico City fits the bill as the western team to add to the slate. The NFL has successfully run games in Mexico for a while now, and they have been received incredibly well. A natural fit here would be to put a Mexico City team in the NFC West, where a natural rivalry could build with the Los Angeles Rams.
How we fit together the division is tricky, but again, what makes Mexico City so appealing is the lack of travel complexity. Yes, there’s international immigration and customs, but we’re not looking at a trip that would be backbreaking for a team.
No. 3: London — England
Cue up your stale old Jaguars jokes. In all honesty, there is zero chance a team moves to London — but the city makes so much sense in terms of expansion. International games sell out so quickly, and there’s already some inbuilt infrastructure both at Wembley Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium where a team could functionally just move in.
The big issue here is travel. It would be outright unfair to a London team and its opponents to have west coast travel as part of their regular-season routine, with 13+ hour travel required to get from California to London. Similarly we would need to balance any team traveling to London for games. Perhaps this can be ameliorated with long road trips and home stands, but there’s also angst about how you fit London into a division. The NFC East is storied and shouldn’t really be messed with, which makes this a fairly difficult prospect.
We have continued discussion on this topic in the NFL Feed:
No. 4: Munich — Germany
One of the things that the NFL did so intelligently was target Munich as its German base of operations, rather than Berlin. The city has a reputation for being even more sports-crazed as a city, and fans have loved the NFL games which have been played there.
Essentially the same issues as London exist, just turned up a few degrees. It’s difficult to justify the travel, and hard to see how they fit into divisions. If a European division was established then it feels like the best way, but what would be decades in the making.
No. 5: Rio de Janeiro — Brazil
The NFL has attempted to hold games in Brazil a few times now, and it’s a bit of a mess if we’re being entirely honest. There are socioeconomic issues inside the country which are deep seated, and the ever-present duality of the exceedingly wealthy and impoverished make it difficult to imagine how the NFL and teams could consistently guarantee the safety of players.
No. 6: Melbourne — Australia
Sure, the season is kicking off in Australia this year, but putting a team down there is so monumentally stupid it’s not really worth discussing. The big issue is that the travel is utterly impossible, and then there’s the climate. A team deep in the Southern Hemisphere would play the majority of the season in Summer. It would be such an irresponsible idea that even as much as Australia might love football, there’s just no scenario where it makes sense.
TORONTO, CANADA – APRIL 29: Elizabeth Balogun #4 of the Toronto Tempo drives to the basket during the game against the Connecticut Sun during a 2026 preseason game on April 29, 2026 at Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Canada. 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 Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The New York Liberty have signed Elizabeth Balogun to a developmental player contract, the team announced on Wednesday. Balogun, who formerly starred at Duke University, most recently played for the French LFB team.
The New York Liberty have signed Elizabeth Balogun to a developmental player contract, the team announced today.✍️
Balogun is a 6’1 forward who can shoot and defend the perimeter — needs that have become particularly important in the wake of standout perimeter defender Leonie Fiebich missing the majority of the season. How much of an on-court opportunity she’ll get will remain to be seen, but at the very least, Balogun begins to address those needs.
Balogun has also been a standout for the Nigerian national team; in five games at the 2026 FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament, she averaged 10.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 blocks per game while shooting 36 percent from beyond the arc.
In college, she averaged 9.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.1 blocks across 5 seasons — one playing for Georgia Tech (2018-2019), two for Louisville (2019-2021), and two for Duke (2021-2023).
Balogun spent training camp with the Toronto Tempo and appeared in two preseason games, tallying 6 points and 4 rebounds in the first and 12 points and a steal in the second.
The Liberty’s other developmental player is Anneli Maley, who signed with the team in May. Maley has appeared in 8 games this season for New York, averaging 0.8 points and 1.4 rebounds per night. The 28-year-old was recently named the MVP of the WNBL, Australia’s professional women’s basketball league.
The Liberty are 22-14 on the season, currently owners of the league’s 6th-best record.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 11: Maddy Westbeld #21 celebrates hitting a three pointer with her teammate Rachel Banham #24 of the Chicago Sky during the second half against the New York Liberty at Wintrust Arena on September 11, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Michael Hirschuber/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s been an up-and-down couple of years for Maddy Westbeld, who began her WNBA career in the Chicago Sky’s rotation last year but has seen more limited opportunities this season as a developmental contract player.
Now, Westbeld has signed a rest-of-season contract with the Phoenix Mercury, meaning that a greater on-court role could be looming.
Westbeld was drafted 16th overall by the Sky in 2025 and averaged 13.6 minutes per game in her rookie season in Chicago. She averaged 4.1 points and 2.4 rebounds per game, while shooting 39.5% from beyond the arc. But this year, Westbeld was waived and later signed to a developmental contract. After appearing in 26 games in her rookie season, she played just 3 games for the Sky in 2026.
Before her pro career, Westbeld was a standout at Notre Dame, having averaged 12.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals across five seasons, while shooting 34.9% from beyond the arc. The 6’3 forward was a three-time member of the All-ACC team.
Maddy Westbeld could see a more significant opportunity with the Phoenix Mercury
Now, Westbeld will see an increased opportunity playing on a rest-of-season contract with the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury, who are 13-23, have had a difficult season on the heels of a finals appearance.
Phoenix traded Monique Akoa Makani and future draft compensation for Kelsey Plum ahead of the midseason trade deadline, but despite the upgrade at guard, they’re unlikely to make the playoffs. The Mercury are currently 7 games behind the Dallas Wings, who currently hold onto the 8th and final playoff spot.
As such, the rest of the season will likely center around player development — of which Westbeld could be a major part — and convincing Plum to re-sign with the team in free agency.
