NBA Basketball 3d Briefing
×Last updated: August 21, 2026, 1:47 PM ET
NBA Basketball Briefing
Ownership & Front Office
Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, one of the Lakers' minority owners espn.com, has no plans to sell his 4% stake in the franchise, his attorney told ESPN. The decision eliminates any lingering uncertainty within the ownership group espn.com as Los Angeles heads into the new campaign with its financial structure settled.
Trade & Free Agency
The Cavaliers, Nuggets and Clippers agreed to a five-team trade that sends Peyton Watson espn.com to Cleveland and Max Strus to Los Angeles, with Watson signing a new four-year, $88M deal as part of the arrangement. Cleveland also locked down its backcourt, as James Harden espn.com agreed to a three-year, $97M contract to remain with the Cavaliers, his agency, Equity Sports, confirmed Thursday.
Western Conference Previews
The Nuggets espn.com finally resolved their biggest piece of offseason business, and the central question in Denver is whether Nikola Jokic now has enough help for another championship run in 2026-27. The Thunder espn.com face concerns of their own, as significant depth losses could prove costly despite the retention of their stars. In Minnesota, everything hinges on chemistry, because the new Timberwolves espn.com backcourt of Anthony Edwards and Lonzo Ball must mesh quickly for the team to become a genuine threat in the West.
International Stage & Farewells
France named Victor Wembanyama espn.com its national team captain on Wednesday as preparations begin for the FIBA World Cup European qualifiers. Domestically, Russell Westbrook espn.com announced his retirement after 18 NBA seasons, closing a career that featured nine All-Star selections and an MVP award, and he had foreshadowed the decision in conversations during camp.
Business of Basketball
The Suns espn.com said Tuesday they are installing the NBA's largest exterior video display, an LED board measuring 226 feet wide by 41 feet tall on the outside of Mortgage Matchup Center ahead of the 2027 All-Star Game. San Antonio's city council voted 6-5 to reject a proposed public vote on the city's $489M contribution espn.com toward a new downtown arena for the Spurs.
Legal Briefs
A former assistant athletic trainer for the Kings espn.com has filed a civil lawsuit against the organization and its senior director of athlete health, alleging pregnancy discrimination and sexual harassment. The case adds an off-court distraction for a Sacramento franchise espn.com preparing for the upcoming season.
Style & Culture
Anthony Edwards' espn.com latest signature shoe puts Filipino artistry on full display, with the design built around bayanihan, the distinctly Filipino value of communal unity, cooperation and helpfulness.
Prospect Radar
Draft analyst Jeremy Woo capped a summer of scouting by identifying the early names to follow for the 2027 and 2028 drafts espn.com, giving front offices a head start on their boards. Separately, NBA insiders forecast which members of the incoming class can become the league's next faces, projecting the top rookies espn.com with the greatest long-term impact and clearest paths to stardom.
Season Retrospective
ESPN analyst Zach Kram examined the single moment that will define the 2025-26 season espn.com for years, if not decades, weighing candidates such as the Knicks capturing a title in five games and Adebayo delivering an unforgettable 83-point performance.