National Basketball Association

Okongwu, extension-eligible since the start of October, faced an Oct. 19 deadline to lock in a new deal before free-agency conversations move to next summer; no dollar figures or contract length have been reported.

The No. 8 overall pick recorded six assists and zero turnovers in the preseason finale against Dallas, raising the question of whether he starts over the 34-year-old McCollum to open the season.

Head coach Quin Snyder used the 6-foot-4 wing at backup power forward against Dallas, a move meant to let Jalen Johnson conserve energy for offense and add perimeter shooting at the position; Dort shot 34.4% from three last season.

Boston added 2024 first-round pick Devin Carter on a two-way contract and waived forwards Tucker DeVries and Gabe McGlothan and guards Hayden Gray and Milos Uzan to finalize the roster ahead of Tuesday's opener at Detroit. Carter averaged 8.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists across two seasons with Sacramento and is expected to also play for the Maine Celtics.

Carter will remain with Boston on his new two-way deal but is out for the immediate future with mononucleosis, according to Celtics podcast coverage; no official team injury designation has been located.

Miller, Charlotte's No. 2 overall pick in 2023 who averaged 20 points and nearly five rebounds per game last season, has agreed to a five-year, $209 million extension, according to sources confirmed to Channel 9; the move had not been formally announced by the team at the time of reporting.

Claxton's hamstring injury from training camp was extended roughly two more weeks after a re-evaluation, and Jalen Smith is expected to start at center in his place for Wednesday's opener at Toronto. Zach Collins was a full practice participant Monday, and Matas Buzelis is expected to start at forward alongside rookie Caleb Wilson.

The No. 4 overall pick makes his regular-season debut against a Raptors team that includes a returning Kawhi Leonard, Scottie Barnes and a healthy Jakob Poeltl. First-time full-time head coach Tiago Splitter says his focus is on preparation and habits.

Chicago has left its final roster spot open; one outlet floated Mavericks center Moussa Cisse as a possible waiver target, while another frames the opening as a cost-saving move tied to the NBA's third-lowest payroll, more than $34 million below the luxury tax, and to GM Bryson Graham's broader asset-conservative approach.

Giddey said the team won't know its true level until it faces adversity such as a losing streak, stopping short of predicting a playoff berth but saying the roster is good enough to be competitive every night.

Irving said he does not see himself playing in the league at 42 or 43, contrasting himself with peers who have played into their late 30s and 40s. He said the league has changed since his 2011 entry and that he still loves competing but is weighing the surrounding spectacle and his desire to be present for his family.

Strawther suffered a knee injury in Denver's 122-110 preseason loss to the Clippers, with the severity described as unclear. Jamal Murray missed Denver's preseason opener against Utah before playing in the team's second preseason game; no reason for the absence was given.

Denver lost to the Clippers 122-110 with 17 turnovers leading to 27 Clippers points. Aaron Gordon scored 25 points on 9-of-12 shooting in a preseason win over Chicago, and Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double in a later meeting with Chicago after taking just one shot in the preseason opener against Utah while recording seven assists.

Head coach David Adelman said he wants to carry a 10-man rotation through the season; more than 10 players are now making a case to play after he had worried the roster might not have enough ready for real minutes.

Curry rolled his right ankle in a light scrimmage at Sunday's open practice and briefly left, reviving concern after the knee injury that cost him roughly nine weeks last season. The team diagnosed a sprained ankle, not a recurrence of the knee injury, and head coach Steve Kerr confirmed Monday that Curry fully practiced and will play Wednesday's opener at the Lakers. Guard Brandin Podziemski and center Charles Bassey also sat out practice and are questionable for the opener.

Podziemski agreed to a five-year, $110 million extension on Oct. 10, averaging about $22 million per year. He played all 82 games last season with a career-high 13.8 points per game, and said the deal shows the organization's faith and trust in him.

With Kristaps Porzingis out indefinitely and 40-year-old Al Horford on a minutes and back-to-back limit, Green has emerged as Golden State's most reliable center option, averaging 6.3 assists and 1.5 turnovers across four preseason games. Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg and center Charles Bassey are also in the frontcourt mix.

Robinson, Kerr's special assistant since 2018, made the in-game coaching call to insert guard Deivon Smith in a Summer League title-game win over Memphis and has introduced the team's new five-out offense concepts to younger players.

Haliburton aggravated his right ankle in the preseason opener, sat out the following game against Atlanta, then chose to play in the third exhibition at Oklahoma City, scoring 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting in 18 first-half minutes. He said the injury was more like a mental hurdle than anything after missing 16 months following his Achilles tear, and coach Rick Carlisle said he treated it professionally.

Indiana lost its preseason finale to Milwaukee 127-128 in overtime after also losing to Atlanta 117-119 and at Oklahoma City 112-114 in overtime, three straight losses by a combined five points after opening the exhibition slate with a 123-112 win over Minnesota. The regular season opens Wednesday at New Orleans, with a gold-out home opener Friday against Dallas.

Indiana waived forward James Johnson, Keba Keita and Rienk Mast over the weekend; Keita and Mast will join G League affiliate Noblesville Boom under head coach Bryce Taylor, who also hired Herman Mandole, previously an assistant with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, as a Boom assistant.

Larry Nance Jr., Quenton Jackson and Aaron Nesmith each dealt with hamstring strains during camp and preseason, all three appearing in at least one exhibition. T.J. McConnell also has a hamstring strain and did not play in any preseason game, the same injury he had last preseason. Indiana's first official regular-season injury report is due Tuesday afternoon.

The rookie-extension deadline passed without Indiana reaching extensions with 2023 first-round picks Jarace Walker or Ben Sheppard, putting both on expiring rookie-scale contracts ahead of restricted free agency next summer.

Ingram, the centerpiece of the offseason trade that sent Kawhi Leonard to Toronto, had offseason surgery for a partially torn Achilles and will not be ready for the start of the regular season. Max Strus and Jordan Miller are also described as injured, further thinning the Clippers' perimeter rotation; Ingram is in year two of a three-year, $120 million contract.

Wagler, 19, a first-round rookie out of Illinois who averaged 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 37 starts last season, is projected for a bench role to start the year with a possible move into the starting lineup after the trade deadline.

The Lakers tried a consolidation trade first, could not complete one, then waived Knecht on his expiring $4.2 million deal. His production fell from 9.6 points per game as a rookie to 4.2 in year two, with minutes dropping from 19.2 to 10.2 per game; an in-season trade to Charlotte for Mark Williams had been rescinded earlier after Knecht failed his physical.

Sexton missed the entire preseason with a lower-leg injury and returned to full practice Monday for the first time, describing the issue as tightness and saying he's unsure he'll play Wednesday's opener. He and Sandro Mamukelashvili are expected to be the Lakers' main bench scoring options.

Kessler finished with 6 points on 2-of-8 shooting, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks and a steal while guarding Nikola Jokic in a preseason loss to Denver. Head coach JJ Redick attributed the uneven performance to a long layoff, not a lack of ability.

Williams has played two preseason games as a slasher next to Luka Doncic and looks likely to start against Golden State; Redick cited two years of liking his defensive intent and willingness to guard star players.

According to a podcast report, the Lakers were interested in finding an offensive-minded four this summer and inquired about Naz Reid, but never made a serious offer; Minnesota later traded Reid to Charlotte as part of the package for LaMelo Ball. The Lakers instead signed Sandro Mamukelashvili in free agency.

Memphis subtracted a guard and a forward to finalize its roster ahead of the regular season.

Memphis's marquee rookie is set to make his NBA debut against the Utah Jazz; a local columnist frames the moment as significant despite Boozer's low-key personality.

Miami waived Ezra Ausar, Kylor Kelley, Gabe Madsen and Bez Mbeng, all expected to sign with G League affiliate Sioux Falls Skyforce. The final roster carries 14 standard-contract players plus three two-way players: Vladislav Goldin, Tre Donaldson and Keshad Johnson. Projected starters: Davion Mitchell, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.

Adebayo is dealing with a groin injury but practiced Sunday and is expected to start Wednesday's 7:30 p.m. opener against Minnesota. Reserve guard Pelle Larsson sat three of Miami's final four preseason games with an undisclosed illness but is expected available.

Smith, the presumed backup point guard entering camp, is currently sidelined by an injury with only a small chance of being back for the opener, while strong preseason showings from Ryan Conwell and Pelle Larsson have increased competition for his role.

No general manager picked the Heat to finish top-two in the Eastern Conference in the league's annual GM survey, with Miami ranking eighth in the East by share of the vote. A local columnist argued Erik Spoelstra's track record of outperforming roster talent undercuts the survey's skepticism.

With Dru Smith's availability uncertain, local reporting frames the Heat's one open roster spot as likely going to point-guard depth; named options include Bruce Brown, Cam Christie and former Heat guard Gabe Vincent. The report frames any addition as a marginal move, not a difference-maker.

Evans scored 21 points and made five three-pointers in Minnesota's preseason finale, a bounce-back performance after what the local beat described as a rocky stretch earlier in camp.

Lyles is reported to be making a case for more minutes, with coach Chris Finch potentially relying on him early in the season.

Clark scored 18 points in the preseason finale but may still begin the season outside Minnesota's main rotation.

A local columnist argues Shannon's strengths don't match what the team needs and raises the possibility he could be traded, framed as the writer's own analysis, not reported sourcing.

New Orleans's opening-night roster includes two-way deals for Malik Dia, Julian Reese and Jaron Pierre Jr., alongside a standard group featuring Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Jeremiah Fears, Dejounte Murray, Jordan Poole, Bennedict Mathurin, Yves Missi, Derik Queen, Karlo Matkovic, DeAndre Jordan, Herb Jones, Bryce McGowens, AJ Johnson, Saddiq Bey and Trendon Watford. The team waived center Hunter Dickinson on Oct. 16, then guard Kobe Bufkin and forward Jalon Moore on Oct. 17. The season opener is Wednesday at home against Indiana.

A local columnist argues Missi's case to start at center remains the strongest on the roster despite a shaky preseason-finale performance, ahead of a center group that also includes Derik Queen, Karlo Matkovic and DeAndre Jordan.

Bey, who missed all of last season recovering from a torn ACL and signed a multi-year extension with New Orleans in September, turned in his best preseason performance in the finale, immediately before the regular-season opener.

After Monday's practice, head coach Mike Brown, Jalen Brunson and Landry Shamet discussed moving past last season's championship run with largely the same core group. Brown said defending a title is harder than winning one, cautioned that back-to-back champions are rare, and said he wants the group focused on process rather than outcome, noting opponents always raise their game against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

A local preview piece reports that owner James Dolan hosted a fundraiser for a New York gubernatorial candidate at Madison Square Garden during a preseason game, and frames Dolan's stated refusal to exceed the NBA's second tax apron as a bigger practical risk than any opponent, linking the cap stance to Mitchell Robinson's offseason move to Boston and stalled extension talks with Josh Hart. The piece also notes Jalen Brunson becomes max-extension eligible next summer. Dolan has not commented publicly on the fundraiser.

Oweh ruptured his right Achilles in an Oct. 13 preseason game against Indiana and underwent successful surgery two days later in New York; the team says he is out for the remainder of the season, with no replacement roster move yet announced.

Basket Zaragoza says 12th overall pick Aday Mara, 21, remains under contract for 2026-27 and says it has not received a formal international-transfer request from Oklahoma City but will formally oppose one if filed; the club says it previously stated its position to FIBA, the Spanish federation, the NBA and the Thunder. A Thunder spokesperson disputes the claim, citing NBA guidance that Mara's three years of NCAA play mean no clearance from the Spanish club is required. The matter remains unresolved.

Wallace, an All-Defensive second-teamer who led the NBA with 150 steals last season, agreed to a five-year, $139 million rookie-scale extension. He was acquired by Oklahoma City in a draft-night trade with Dallas and has played 227 regular-season and 48 playoff games, including the 2024-25 championship run; he turns 23 on Nov. 7.

Penda suffered a partial right hamstring tear in the preseason finale against Miami, with the diagnosis confirmed the following Saturday; no firm return date has been set, with an estimate of several weeks to possibly a month-plus. The injury is unrelated to earlier hamstring soreness that had kept him out of the start of training camp. Franz Wagner injured his right shoulder in the same game and is still being evaluated, while Jase Richardson is day-to-day with a sore lower back; Anthony Black, recovering from a sprained ankle, is now practicing in full.

No extension was reached before the deadline, putting Black on track for restricted free agency next summer with Orlando retaining the right to match. The report cites Orlando's payroll nearing the second tax apron and says the two sides never engaged in meaningful extension talks, framing both as unconfirmed reporting. Team president Jeff Weltman said at media day that the team will not be able to maintain this level of continuity next season.

Dominick Barlow is out at least two weeks with a lumbar spine bone stress response after not practicing at all during training camp. Tacko Fall, signed to a two-way deal days earlier, will miss the opener with a left quad strain. Adem Bona, Dean Wade and Anfernee Simons are all questionable for tonight's opener; VJ Edgecombe sat out Friday's preseason finale as a precaution. The projected starting five played together in only one preseason game.

Philadelphia converted 7-foot-6 center Tacko Fall from an Exhibit 10 deal to a two-way contract, citing Ariel Hukporti's Achilles tear as the reason for added size need. Fall, 30, hasn't played in the NBA since 2021-22. The team also waived Cris Carroll, Taye Fields, Dillon Jones and Jameer Nelson Jr., son of Sixers EVP of basketball operations Jameer Nelson Sr. The remaining two-way slots belong to Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert.

Delaware's G League affiliate hired Brad Jones, an eight-year G League league-office veteran, as general manager; he will also serve as a Sixers pro scout. He replaces Ariana Andonian, who left in September to become GM of the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks. CJ Marchesani was promoted to assistant GM.

LeBron James and Anfernee Simons embraced the word sacrifice as a positive framing for blending four high-usage scorers, while Nick Nurse and Joel Embiid pushed back on the word itself even as they agree on the underlying goals. Tyrese Maxey called VJ Edgecombe the team's most important player for his two-way impact, and Knicks coach Mike Brown compared the Sixers' roster to LeBron's 2012-13 Miami Heat teams.

Minnesota waived Timme after training camp, and Phoenix claimed him two days later. Timme, undrafted out of Gonzaga in 2023, has 36 NBA games with the Lakers and Nets and has averaged 20.6 points and 9.0 rebounds across 54 G League games; the claim fills the two-way slot opened by waiving Koby Brea and CJ Huntley.

Brea, a 2025 second-round pick who shot 43.3% from three in 12 NBA games last season, and Huntley, who played four NBA games last season, were both waived, leaving one of Phoenix's three two-way slots open, the slot Drew Timme's claim fills.

Kennard left an Oct. 14 game against San Antonio in the second quarter after landing awkwardly on a drive and will sit out the preseason finale against Utah while the team awaits MRI results; head coach Jordan Ott described it as a sore left knee.

Head coach Jordan Ott pushed a decision he'd signaled for Monday to shortly before Wednesday's opener at Portland; Oso Ighodaro has taken the most reps with the starters in camp and is expected to get the nod, with 2025 lottery pick Khaman Maluach developing toward the job later in the season.

Ighodaro's extension runs through 2030-31, with Phoenix also exercising his 2027-28 team option; he averaged 6.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists last season while playing all 82 games and is expected to open the season as starting center with Mark Williams out for an extended period after a shoulder injury.

Harris, San Antonio's most notable offseason addition, will miss tonight's opener against Oklahoma City with a calf strain first suffered in training camp; head coach Mitch Johnson has said the team will not rush him back.

Simmons tore his Achilles in practice shortly before his planned season debut, after having impressed in camp and preseason as the presumptive starting point guard. In response, Sacramento waived two-way guard Adam Flagler to open a roster spot and is reportedly exploring free-agent point guard options including Walter Clayton Jr., Kevin Porter Jr. and Elfrid Payton.

Raynaud played this summer for the senior French national team alongside Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert, saying the daily practice against elite size raised his game and confidence heading into his second NBA season; he described a long friendship with Wembanyama dating back to junior national teams.

Utah claimed Bradley off waivers after the Knicks released him, reuniting him with the team that originally drafted him in 2017 before trading for him on draft night. He played 70 games across his first three seasons in Utah before stints with Philadelphia, Oklahoma City, Chicago, Indiana and Atlanta, and appeared in the 2025 NBA Finals with Indiana. Current Jazz bigs: Jusuf Nurkic, Jaxson Hayes, Kyle Filipowski, Mo Bamba and now Bradley.

Utah beat Phoenix 119-116 in its preseason finale, with Lauri Markkanen (19 points) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (17 points) combining for 30 of the Jazz's 59 first-half points. Rookie Darryn Peterson had 13 points, six rebounds and six assists, and Kyle Filipowski made his preseason debut after offseason back surgery, playing eight fourth-quarter minutes for six points, seven rebounds and a steal.

Nurkic is expected to miss Utah's final two preseason games and roughly the first eight games of the regular season with a partial plantar plate tear in his right foot, with the team planning to re-evaluate him before a Nov. 6 game at Dallas.