Mavericks Notes: Irving, Flagg, Lively, May
Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving entered training camp with no restrictions from the ACL tear in his left knee that forced him to miss all of last season, according to an Associated Press story. Irving began Friday’s media day interview by calling the injury “probably the best thing that happened to me” because it provided time to reflect on his career and his life.
“On where I want to be as a player and most importantly where do I want to be as a man,” he said. “How can people look to me to be a better leader, a better communicator, be more emotional, vulnerable. And also taking the approach of acting like my age finally. Being 34 years old, I’m going on year 16. Been through a lot, been through a lot of ups and downs as a person. But I think me as a competitor out there, you never have to worry about me falling short of (putting) my best foot forward out there.”
Irving returns to a team that has changed significantly since he suffered the injury in March of 2025. Cooper Flagg, who was drafted a few months later, has become the franchise cornerstone, Dusty May replaced Jason Kidd as head coach, and Masai Ujiri took over as team president. The roster underwent major changes this summer, and Irving is hoping to lead Dallas back to playoff contention after a 26-56 season.
“I’m ready to go out there and kick some butt,” he said. “I know that naysayers or some of the questions around where I’m going to be are going to be inevitable. But for me, I have the confidence of a champion. … This is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately type of league, and everybody wants to see it up close. So, I’m looking forward to being able to lace up my shoes and being on the court with my teammates and show everybody what I got again. It’s just like riding a bike.”
There’s more from Dallas:
- Irving was the subject of trade speculation even before the injury, but he told reporters that he wants to stay with the Mavericks and help the franchise rebuild (Twitter video link from Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News). “There’s a lot of guys that just wanna come in here and do the right thing and I think I’m right on board with that,” Irving said. “I’m in love with this place just because of how welcoming it was, not just the franchise aspect, but also the fans. … I just feel confident that whatever we put on the floor this year, we’ll do the best of our ability and we’re building something.”
- Flagg measured at 6’10” during his physical on Thursday, an inch taller than he was during his rookie season, Curtis reveals in a roundup of media day storylines (subscription required). Flagg, who also appears to have gotten stronger over the summer, is looking forward to finally taking the court with Irving. “He just makes it easy to play with him,” Flagg said. “He’s one of the greats in our game and he’s an incredible talent. But I think that, combined with his personality, makes it easy to fit next to and play with.”
- Dereck Lively II provided a health update in the wake of a report this week that he hasn’t been medically cleared for the start of training camp, Curtis states in the same piece. Lively, who underwent season-ending foot surgery last December, said he’s able to run and jump and is happy with the progress he’s made. “I’m very grateful to the team for just giving me the ability to take my time and make sure I’m doing everything right and make sure I’m taking care of my body,” he said. “I’ve been running on the treadmill. I’ve been practicing jumps. I’ve been slowly getting back on the court.”
- May plans an up-tempo style with an emphasis on rebounding during his first season as an NBA coach, Curtis adds. “We have size, we have length, we have youth and good energy,” May said. “That naturally lends itself to playing in transition, and these guys have done well playing in transition to this point in workouts. Also dominating the glass.”
Heat Notes: Thompson, Richards, Baker, Young
Klay Thompson’s outside shooting may give him the edge in the battle for the Heat’s final starting spot, Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald writes in a subscriber-only story. Thompson, who signed with Miami after agreeing to a buyout with Dallas this summer, is by far the most accomplished long-distance shooter on the roster, ranking fourth in NBA history with 2,899 career three-pointers.
Having someone on the floor who can stretch opposing defenses will be critical alongside projected starters Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell. The Heat targeted Thompson for that role throughout most of the offseason and were willing to wait until he was able to negotiate his release from the Mavericks.
Chiang views free agent addition Tim Hardaway Jr. and holdover Pelle Larsson as Thompson’s main competition for the starting shooting guard spot. However, Hardaway proved he was comfortable coming off the bench last season with Denver, while Larsson has been both a starter and reserve during his two NBA seasons.
There’s more from Miami:
- In the same piece, Chiang assesses Nick Richards’ chances of earning a roster spot. The 28-year-old big man signed a one-year, non-guaranteed contract in August, and sources tell Chiang that his $3.1MM salary will become fully guaranteed if he’s still with the team on opening night. Chiang points out that Adebayo and Bobby Portis are the Heat’s only other experienced centers and states that Richards’ skill set could be useful off the bench.
- Vin Baker, who joined Miami’s coaching staff this summer after eight years in Milwaukee, is happy that he’ll get to continue working with Antetokounmpo, Chiang adds in a separate story. Baker has developed a close relationship with Antetokounmpo over the years and helped to officiate at his wedding in 2024. “We share a lot of things in common on the court,” Baker said. “He’s obviously at a different level than I was as a player. But being an All-Star and being an Olympian and an All-NBA player, I do see some of the things that he sees on the court. And I try to help him see those things as well, especially post-ups and double-teams and things like that. But, again, our relationship goes beyond basketball. I’m just very fortunate to be here, part of this journey with him. And hopefully win another championship at some point.”
- The Heat will hold their training camp at Florida Atlantic University, with sessions set from September 29 to October 2, according to Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel (Twitter link).
- Jahmir Young’s G League rights have been traded to the Lakers’ affiliate, Winderman adds (Twitter link). The 25-year-old point guard earned second-team All-G League honors with Sioux Falls last season.
Hornets Waive Ryan Nembhard
6:47 pm: Nembhard has officially been waived, the Hornets announced (via Twitter).
September 26, 6:21 pm: Charlotte plans to waive Nembhard soon, league sources tell Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Twitter link), who adds that the Nuggets remain interested in signing him to a two-way contract if he clears waivers. Nembhard will become a free agent Tuesday at 5 p.m. Eastern Time if he’s not claimed, Stein adds (Twitter link).
September 22: The Hornets are expected to waive Ryan Nembhard after acquiring him in a trade with the Hawks, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports.
The trade was officially completed on Tuesday night with veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith going to Atlanta in exchange for Buddy Hield, Nembhard and cash.
The Hornets now have 18 players on standard contracts, including 17 with guaranteed salaries. They’ll have to trim that number to 15 by opening night. Nembhard is among the players with a guaranteed deal, but he’ll earn just $2,150,917 on his expiring contract in 2026/27, so waiving him wouldn’t significantly impact Charlotte’s salary cap situation.
The club also has a few other options at point guard, with Dennis Schröder and first-round pick Christian Anderson Jr. projected to back up Coby White.
Nembhard was traded earlier this offseason by the Mavericks. He was sent to Atlanta in the three-team Luguentz Dort/Zaccharie Risacher trade in July. After going undrafted last year, Nembhard appeared in 60 games for Dallas, making 27 starts and earning a promotion from his two-way contract to a standard deal. He averaged 6.6 PPG, 5.3 APG, and 2.2 RPG in 19.5 MPG, with a solid shooting line of .415/.356/.806.
Nembhard is expected to have multiple suitors willing to offer a two-way contract if he’s waived, with the Nuggets among the teams interested in the point guard, Marc Stein of The Stein Line tweets. He’d be eligible to sign with any team except Atlanta.
Jake Fischer speculated in his latest Bleacher Report live stream (video link) that Charlotte might also waive Hield. However, that would leave a more substantial amount of dead money on the team’s books. Hield has a fully guaranteed $9.66MM contract this season, and his deal also includes a $10.1MM player option for ’27/28 that would be partially guaranteed for $3.14MM if he’s waived.
Cavaliers Notes: Altman, Watson, Atkinson, Proctor, Hezonja
LeBron James’ decision to sign with Philadelphia prevented Koby Altman from landing his top offseason target, but the Cavaliers’ president of basketball operations believes he still has a team that can compete for a title, writes Joe Reedy of The Associated Press. Speaking at a news conference Friday, Altman said the organization had a productive summer both in terms of adding talent and stabilizing payroll.
“You go through the list and zoom out and say, ‘OK, was this offseason a success? Were we able to get better? Did we look at the future? Did we get more financial flexibility, more sustainability with the roster?’ All of those things lead me to say this was a really good offseason in spite of that one decision,” he said.
Altman’s major addition was Peyton Watson, who was acquired in a five-team trade after a long contract standoff with Denver. Veteran guard James Harden, who put his extension talks on hold while waiting for the team to complete its other business, received a three-year, $97MM deal earlier this month.
“I’m not downplaying the enormity and magnitude of (James’) decision,” Altman added. “I just think the way we’re built as an organization is we have a great foundation and a great sort of ecosystem in terms of talent, coaching staff, our performance staff and we’re built for a sustainable run here regardless of one outcome.”
There’s more from Cleveland:
- Watson has made a strong impression already on coach Kenny Atkinson, Reedy adds. The 24-year-old wing appears to be in a good position to earn a starting spot alongside Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. “What I’ve been seeing in the gym is the defense, first of all,” Atkinson said. “And then he shot 41% from three last year. It’s a one-year sample, but there’s a lot of room for growth in his offensive game, especially the way we play.”
- Atkinson emphasized that he doesn’t consider his starting five to be set going into training camp, but his main concern is deciding who will fill out the rotation, Ethan Sands of Cleveland.com relays in a subscriber-only story. Atkinson listed several players who could be in the mix, adding that he won’t have a clear picture of who should be playing regularly until he sees them in action. “Probably list 13 right now that could be in that top 10,” he said. “As far as our depth, I couldn’t be more pleased. We see the work every day of our offseason work, what we do with our young guys, and how we bring them along and they’re seasoned now. Tyrese Proctor played 500-plus minutes last year, and Nae’Qwan (Tomlin), there’s a stretch there where he was playing starter-type minutes and producing like a starter. We’ve got a lot of pieces we can go to. I’ve just got to figure out how that all fits together.”
- Atkinson said Proctor has put on 15 to 20 pounds since the end of last season, per Mack Perry of the It’s Cavalier podcast (Twitter link).
- Atkinson is also counting on a contribution from Mario Hezonja, who is returning to the NBA after five years in Europe, according to Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops. “I love that we took a different path to obtain a player with the experience and credibility he has,” Atkinson said. “And I think to get the player at the right time in his career. Sometimes it’s about, obviously, a tremendously talented player, but when you get that person in their career at the right time.”
Bulls Trading Rob Dillingham To Hornets For Buddy Hield
The Bulls will acquire Buddy Hield and cash from the Hornets in exchange for Rob Dillingham, sources tell ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter link).
It’s the second trade of the week for Hield, who was sent from Atlanta to Charlotte on Tuesday. He’s eligible to be moved again because his salary isn’t being aggregated with another player, notes Bobby Marks of ESPN (Twitter link).
Chicago takes on a little more salary with Hield, who will make $9.7MM this season and holds a $10.1MM player option for 2027/28. Dillingham, who’s still on his rookie contract, is owed $6.9MM this season and has an $8.8MM team option for the following year that has to be exercised by November 2. The money the Bulls will receive in the trade will help make up the difference in salaries, Marks adds.
The Hornets, who still have 17 fully guaranteed contracts, are gradually cutting payroll to compensate for the dead money they’ll be facing if they have to waive two players to reach the 15-man roster limit, observes Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron (Twitter link). Gozlan expects Charlotte to absorb Dillingham’s contract into its Tyus Jones trade exception and create a new $9.7MM TPE for Hield.
The move pushes the Bulls over the salary cap, at least temporarily, per Keith Smith of Spotrac (Twitter link), but the team is still $34.6MM away from luxury tax territory. The Hornets fall to $25.6MM below the tax.
Hield, 33, provides the Bulls with a veteran shooter who can help space the floor off the bench. He shot 34.9% from three-point range in 51 combined games with Golden State and Atlanta last season while averaging 7.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists. This is the seventh time he has been traded in his 10-year NBA career.
This will be the third stop for Dillingham, who hasn’t lived up to expectations after being selected with the eighth pick in the 2024 draft. He averaged 9.6 PPG in 21.5 minutes per night in 30 games after being shipped from Minnesota to Chicago in February, but he didn’t project to have a future with the Bulls’ new front office, according to KC Johnson of Chicago Sports Network (Twitter link). Dillingham could benefit from being reunited in Charlotte with Naz Reid, who was one of his strongest supporters when they were teammates with the Timberwolves, points out Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Rockets Notes: Sengun, Thompson, Adams, Udoka
Rockets center Alperen Sengun has been an All-Star the past two years, but his below-average three-point shooting remains an obvious weakness in an era of stretch fives. Sengun, who connected at 30.5% from beyond the arc last season, is working to improve that part of his game in training camp, writes Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops.
“Just feeling confident, getting a bunch of reps, and not thinking about it,” Sengun said. “I have said it before, it’s all mental for me. I feel good when I shoot it, but in the game, I kind of feel like I’m rushing a little more. But I’m working on that right now.”
Sengun cites “corner threes” as the spot that he’s been emphasizing so far, and he understands that he can help stretch opposing defenses to benefit his teammates if he can develop a consistent outside shot. He’s been working closely with new Rockets shooting coach Chip Engelland, who has a long history of success in developing shooters.
“He’s amazing. He’s a genius,” Sengun said. “You can already see it. Putting little details in a couple of the stuff that I need to get improved and Chip is really good at it. Watching a lot of clips, telling me all the details, taking videos.”
There’s more from Houston:
- The Rockets showed their belief in Amen Thompson by giving him a five-year, $208MM extension this summer, and he has a chance to take a huge step forward in his fourth NBA season as he returns to his natural position, Varun Shankur of The Houston Chronicle observes in a subscriber-only piece. Called upon to help share the point guard duties with Fred VanVleet sidelined by injury, Thompson handled the ball a career-high 29.4% of the time last season and logged his highest usage rate. He figures to return to a complementary role in the offense, utilizing his exceptional athleticism and his skills as a screener and cutter to create easy baskets.
- Veteran center Steven Adams is also returning from an injury, and coach Ime Udoka doesn’t plan to use him in back-to-back games early in the season, per Will Guillory of The Athletic (Twitter link).
- Udoka believes his team was “overlooked” by the NBA schedule makers after last season’s first-round playoff exit, Guillory adds (Twitter link). “We pointed all those things out to our guys,” Udoka said. “… We played on opening night last year. We played on Christmas last year. Now, we’re not. That says it.”
- Former Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau was seen at a Rockets practice this week, and Udoka explained that he’s “making the rounds” at several training camps, tweets Michael Shapiro of The Houston Chronicle. Udoka added that Thibodeau is a good friend of current Rockets scout Ed Pinckney.
Grizzlies Make Several Roster Moves; Bulls Add Sutton
Former lottery pick Kira Lewis Jr. is the latest roster addition for the Grizzlies, who have made several changes to their 21st spot on Saturday (All Twitter links).
Brendan Hausen, who was signed on Friday after D’Angelo Russell was waived, was cut on Saturday morning to make room for former Warriors guard Yuri Collins. Collins was subsequently waived so Memphis could sign former Villanova standout Eric Dixon, who has now been released to add Lewis.
Hausen, Collins, Dixon and Lewis all likely received Exhibit 10 contracts with the Grizzlies, which will enable them to earn a bonus worth up to $91K if they spend at least 60 days with the G League’s Memphis Hustle in 2026/27.
Lewis, 25, played for the Pelicans, Raptors and Jazz from 2021-25. The four-year veteran spent last season in the NBAGL, averaging 11.5 points, 3.5 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals on .452/.304/.919 shooting in 40 games with the Wisconsin Herd (26.3 minutes per contest).
Hausen went undrafted in June after finishing out his four-year college career at Iowa. Collins played in Israel and the G League last season, while Dixon — who went undrafted last year — spent his first professional season in the NBAGL with the Greensboro Swarm and Memphis Hustle.
In an unrelated move, the Bulls also made a minor change to their training camp roster, having signed Marquel Sutton to a camp deal, per RealGM.
Sutton, a 6’7″ forward, averaged 13.1 PPG and 7.3 RPG on .457/.303/.824 shooting in 32 starts for LSU last season (31.3 MPG). He went undrafted a few months ago.
Mavericks Notes: Biberovic, Risacher, Aldama, De Larrea
Speaking to the media on Friday for the first time since he signed with the Mavericks in July, guard/forward Tarik Biberovic said he’s long wanted to make the move to the NBA, writes Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops.
“I’ve known [general manager] Mike Schmitz since I was very young because he’s like one of the best people who scout players,” Biberovic explained. “He knows all about European players. So, that was kind of like a comfort zone that we had. When the Mavericks [acquired] my rights, I talked with [president] Mr. Masai [Ujiri] and Mike Schmitz. We were on the same page.
“My dream was always to commit to the NBA, and the Dallas Mavericks organization stepped up and gave me that chance.”
A former second-round pick, Biberovic has spent the last eight years playing for Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahce, helping the club win a EuroLeague title in 2025 and capturing multiple domestic championships in recent years. The 6’7″ wing is known as a top-tier shooter, having posted a .524/.419/.952 shooting line in 41 EuroLeague contests in 2025/26. He averaged 11.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 24.3 minutes per game over the course of the season.
Biberovic said he was encouraged to join the NBA by ex-NBA players who are now playing overseas, per Askounis.
“The players who’ve been here, who played in the NBA, and now they’re playing in EuroLeague, all of them were telling me that I should go to the league, because the plays are basically made for players like me that can shoot, that can space the floor, and that can defend, and the energy and enthusiasm,” said Biberovic. “I actually liked the way they talked to me, because I kind of felt empowered and enlightened to take this step.”
Here’s more on the Mavs:
- Small forward Zaccharie Risacher is excited for a fresh start in Dallas after spending his first two seasons in Atlanta, according to Askounis. The 2024 No. 1 overall pick was traded to the Mavs in July. “It’s been good,” Risacher said of the trade. “I’ve learned a lot from my two seasons. Just being able to play at a high level and competing every night has been great. … Just being able to be myself for the team. It’s going to be a huge thing for me. I know what I can do. Like I said, super excited. I’m in the right position to be good, to be great.”
- While Santi Aldama continues to recover from an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee, he said he’s trending in a positive direction, Askounis writes for Eurohoops. The Spanish forward is another offseason addition, having been acquired from Memphis in the same deal that involved Biberovic’s rights. “I think that’s TBD more on the medical side,” Aldama said when asked if he would be a full participant at the start of training camp, which opened Saturday. “I’m feeling better every day. I’m doing a bunch of stuff on the court right now, so yeah, just excited to get there every day, get better every day, and then be at 100% as soon as possible.”
- Aldama’s media session also covered fellow Spaniard Sergio de Larrea, the 25th overall pick in June’s draft. Aldama thinks the pace-and-space style of the NBA suits de Larrea’s game, and the 20-year-old guard agrees, as Askounis relays. “I think it fits very well,” de Larrea said. “This past year in Valencia, we used to play that fast. So, I think I’m a little bit used to it. Probably here it’s faster. But I’m comfortable playing that style of game, trying to play fast, a lot of possessions, trying to shoot the best shot possible, but not in the end, in the first eight seconds. So, I’m very, very comfortable with that.”
Knicks’ McBride ‘A Little Disappointed’ By Extension Talks
Knicks guard Miles McBride is entering the final season of his contract, which will pay him a little under $4MM in 2026/27. He’s also eligible for an extension, but it sounds like those talks haven’t gone the way he hoped.
“I love being in New York. Obviously, I’ve been here my whole career,” McBride told the Kristian Winfield of The New York Daily News. “I’m a little — I’m a little disappointed. Of course, you want to obviously come to the right terms, and I want to be in New York. So yeah, it’s a little hard at times, but I’m gonna be a professional. I want to go out and do my job. So that’s in my ability, and to help the team win for as long as I’m with the team.”
McBride is entering his sixth season with the Knicks after being selected 36th overall in the 2021 draft. He averaged 12.0 points, 2.6 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 0.9 steals while shooting 41.3% from three-point range in 41 regular season games last season, having missed several weeks due to sports hernia surgery. The 26-year-old also appeared in all 19 of New York’s playoff games.
“Not just Quick [Immanuel Quickley], but in the NBA, you see it all the time with [contract disputes leading to trades], and you just have to be a professional. You can’t worry about those things,” McBride said. “I hope we come to some type of agreement. I’ve played through injury. I’ve been through a lot with this team, and I’ve worked my way into being a key guy. So you know, I’d love to get something done.”
McBride, who is considered a strong trade candidate if he isn’t extended, indicated to Winfield that he believes he has untapped upside, noting that players are sometimes boxed into specific roles due to the composition of their team’s roster.
“I feel like in times where guys have been out, I’ve been able to show a lot,” McBride said. “So it’s always — to me — it’s about opportunity. I feel like I’ve continued to grow and improve every single year.”
McBride will remain extension-eligible through June 30, 2027. However, multiple reporters have expressed skepticism about a deal being reached because McBride is seeking a raise from his current team-friendly contract and the Knicks have future salary cap concerns due to their expensive payroll.
Seth Lundy (Mavs), Tristen Newton (Kings) Sign Camp Deals
Former second-round pick Seth Lundy has signed a contract with the Mavericks, the team announced in a press release.
Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, who first reported the news (via Twitter), indicated that Lundy would receiving a training camp deal, which suggests his contract will be non-guaranteed and feature Exhibit 9 and/or Exhibit 10 language.
The 46th overall pick in the 2023 draft, Lundy spent 2023/24 — his rookie season — on a two-way contract with Atlanta, appearing in nine games with modest averages of 1.6 points in 5.8 minutes per contest. The 26-year-old wing put up big numbers in the G League with the College Park Skyhawks that season, averaging 20.4 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.2 BPG and 0.8 SPG on .462/.400/.803 shooting in 25 games.
Although Lundy spent several months during the 2024/25 campaign on two-way deals with the Hawks and Clippers, he didn’t play in any games in either the NBA or the NBAGL. The former Penn State star was recovering from left ankle surgery at the time and ended up missing all of last season too.
Lundy returned to action in July, averaging 20.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.2 APG and 1.8 SPG on .520/.438/1.000 shooting in four games with Toronto’s Summer League squad.
Another former second-rounder, Tristen Newton, has signed a training camp contract with the Kings, per RealGM’s transactions log. Newton has appeared in nine total NBA games over the last two seasons while on two-way deals with Indiana, Minnesota and Houston.
Newton, who helped UConn win a national championship in 2024, was waived by the Rockets in late August. The 25-year-old guard had a huge 2025/26 season in the G League, averaging 25.8 PPG, 5.5 APG, 5.1 RPG and 1.8 SPG on .479/.365/.856 shooting in 49 combined games (36.0 MPG) with the Iowa Wolves and Rio Grand Valley Vipers, Houston’s affiliate.
Sacramento’s NBAGL affiliate in Stockton acquired Newton’s rights earlier this month in a trade. Newton made the All-NBA G League first team last season.
The Kings have an open two-way slot entering training camp and Newton could claim that spot with a strong performance this fall. Dallas’ three two-way spots are currently occupied.
