Mid-August is an allegedly sleepy time in the NBA.
Emphasis on allegedly.
So much happened this week that I haven’t had a chance to process or comment on all of it yet. The full schedule for the 2026-27 season was released in three parts Tuesday through Thursday. On Wednesday alone we learned that Los Angeles Lakers were being sold — just nine months after Mark Walter was officially approved by the league’s Board of Governors as the successor taking over for Jeanie Buss — and that future Hall of Fame Russell Westbrook is abruptly retiring.
Then the weekend, after Dennis Schröder was traded for the ninth time, belonged to the Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2026 … right on the heels of the NBA community in Dallas where I live having spent several days mourning the passing of legendary coach Don Nelson.
It’s been a lot.
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