NBA Basketball 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: October 10, 2026, 3:50 PM ET
Contracts & Roster Moves
The Golden State Warriors locked up guard Brandin Podziemski espn.com on a five-year, $110M extension. Detroit faces its own financial and roster question after Jalen Duren espn.com agreed to a five-year, $200M deal, raising the stakes for how the Pistons build around him.
Philadelphia 76ers
LeBron James espn.com made his Philadelphia debut in the preseason, finishing with 10 points and five assists. He said he is still adjusting to his new team but described the game as the game, a sign of his familiar composure. Elsewhere, Joel Embiid espn.com called himself an "easy target" after a report claiming LeBron had pressed him about his conditioning, which he called not true.
Warriors Youth Movement
Golden State is counting on rookie Yaxel Lendeborg espn.com, the No. 11 pick, to become a key piece of the future after several failed development efforts elsewhere on the roster.
Rivalries & Off-Court Stories
Tyrese Haliburton espn.com said he hopes to repair his relationship with Damian Lillard after a stolen "Dame Time" celebration created friction between the two. Retired star Russell Westbrook espn.com said he wants to carry the torch for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. In Portland, embattled owner Tom Dundon espn.com told season-ticket holders he intends to bring a championship to the Trail Blazers.
Preseason Scenes & Fantasy Prep
The Rockets and Mavericks wrapped a preseason trip to Macao, China, with highlights from the games, as covered in the trip recap espn.com. For fantasy managers, ESPN has published a full draft guide espn.com with rankings and sleepers, a cheat sheet espn.com of key names, and an ultimate draft board espn.com that factors in average draft position. Finally, a roster-needs breakdown espn.com identifies the biggest hole on all 30 rosters, noting that even the leading title contenders have gaps to address.