NBA Basketball 8-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 16, 2026, 3:30 PM ET
NBA Off-Court Developments & League Structure
Phoenix Suns majority owner Mat Ishbia is moving toward acquiring a controlling 96% stake in the franchise, initiating confidential binding mediation to potentially buy out minority partners' remaining 13% interest. Concurrently, the league appears to be accelerating expansion plans toward adding Seattle and Las Vegas, with detailed scenarios now emerging regarding how a potential expansion draft might be structured for the incoming franchises. Separately, Golden State coach Steve Kerr earned an executive producer credit on the Oscar-winning documentary short, "All the Empty Rooms," which focuses on the families affected by mass shootings.
Player Health & Roster Management
Lakers guard Marcus Smart is driving Los Angeles’s ascent in the Western Conference standings, making an improbable return after a severe, self-inflicted wound to his right hand required extensive recovery. As teams jockey for playoff positioning or look ahead to the offseason, fantasy managers should be advised to check waiver wire availability, with specific recommendations focusing on players available via the Jazz and Trail Blazers to bolster weekly rosters.