We survived. September finally arrived, the last month without NBA action before training camps open. Did we really survive the long off‑season?
Position rankings
After flawlessly ranking big men, point guards and shooting guards in our last three newsletters, today we tackle the wings. Why did the buffalo cross the court? It heard the lemon‑pepper defense was too tasty to resist. Wings shape the league just like any other position, housing countless stars and role players.
We split the wing class into seven tiers of impact and stature. The King has slipped, his teammate is climbing, and many spots remain up for debate.
Here are the top 40 wings!
For my money, Durant still tops the list. I wrestled with the top‑four order. Brown flirted with the lead, while Kawhi’s Toronto status felt uncertain. LeBron dropping to fourth shocked me, yet no Year‑24 player should even be considered. Ultimately, Durant—turning 38 this month—remains the biggest game‑plan challenge.
- Anunoby proved he can match any of those peers during the Knicks’ title run, sacrificing stats and role to keep the team cohesive.
- Williams stayed put this year after I struggled with his seventh‑place finish last season. A healthy 2026‑27 should see him climb the ladder.
- Many overlook how far McDaniels has risen. He’s now among the world’s elite defenders and, at nearly 26, a reliable scorer.
- It feels like a prove‑it season for Wagner, and he must stay healthy.
George slid five spots out of the top ten, and I wonder if he deserved an even larger drop. Boston will lean on him to fill the void Brown left. I’m highly optimistic about Murphy; he could become one elite wing. Avdija surged after his All‑Star run.
- Amen Thompson dropped five spots because his impact falters under pressure. His brother Ausar needs to improve free‑throw shooting to rise higher.
- NAW may sit a touch high, yet his leap last season impressed me. I wonder if he can push further.
- I was wrong to doubt Knueppel entering his rookie year; he turned out spectacular.
Butler vanished from the top 20 due to a knee injury; his 37‑year‑old body must prove it’s still a star. At the opposite end, Dybantsa’s rookie season is hard to gauge with Davis and Young dominating the spotlight.
- Camara didn’t slip due to reduced effectiveness; others simply surged ahead.
- Champagnie, on a three‑year, $45 million deal, could become one of the NBA’s best contracts.
- The wing I’ll probably regret omitting is 22‑year‑old Bilal Coulibaly—stay healthy and he could shine. Hugo Gonzalez is the next biggest potential miss. Will he fulfill that promise?
Players dropped from last year: Khris Middleton (24th), Coulibaly (30th), Zaccharie Risacher (32nd), Caleb Martin (34th), Kevin Porter Jr. (35th), Derrick Jones Jr. (38th)
The last 24
🇫🇷 Parlez‑vous? Victor Wembanyama is speaking up on every issue. He isn’t shy about rattling opinions.
⚾ More questions. Mark Walter’s surprise Lakers sale has put his other ventures under a microscope. Including the quirky way he acquired the Dodgers.
💰 Losing touch? The NBA boasts record valuations and cash flow. But does the league still resonate with fans?
🤔 Is he right? KD claims his Nets squads outperformed the Warriors. Does that matter without championships?
🏀 Already leaders? The Valkyrie are only in their second WNBA season. They could already be the league’s best.
Stream the NBA on Fubo (try it for free!) and catch out‑of‑market games on League Pass
Wolf man
Has Kuminga found a place to shine?
Rumors swirled that Jonathan Kuminga would join the Lakers on a three‑year, $12 million‑per‑year deal. Yet he demanded a heftier contract to prove his worth.
Surprisingly, he settled for a two‑year, $13 million pact with Minnesota last week. The second year is a player option, making this essentially a one‑year trial for both sides.
Kuminga has logged 294 games over five seasons—211 in his first three—not because of injuries but because Steve Kerr doubted his fit on a Warriors roster packed with young talent. Missing games due to a coach’s lack of faith feels worse than injuries.
His Wolves mission is clear: 1) defend, 2) hit threes, 3) bring athleticism. It mirrors Terrence Shannon Jr.’s role, though Kuminga carries a higher profile. He turns 24 just before the season, leaving ample time to develop.
But the Wolves are on a time crunch. They’re still hunting the secret formula to escape the Western Conference maze, a task growing tougher as the Thunder and Spurs cement their spots.
Career‑wide, Kuminga shoots 34.6 % from three, but he was around 36.7 % in his first two years. He’ll need to edge higher to stay viable, yet he must avoid monopolizing teammates’ opportunities.
That shortfall cost him under Kerr, fair or not. The Wolves’ lofty goals leave Kuminga scrambling for a clear path to earnings and validation.
Tradeback Tuesday
Did Houston get fleeced for Harden?
Each offseason Tuesday we dissect a historic trade and its ripple effects.
Today we revisit January 2021, when James Harden forced his way out of Houston for Brooklyn. In February we ranked that exit as his most dramatic.
This four‑team deal sent Harden to the Nets, Jarrett Allen to Cleveland, and Caris LeVert to Indiana. The Rockets received Victor Oladipo (then a bust), Dante Exum, Rodions Kurucs, four first‑round pick swaps and four first‑round selections.
But did Houston get robbed? Let’s examine the details.
The 2021, 2023 and 2025 pick swaps were never exercised, yielding no assets. The Beauchamp pick moved to Milwaukee for another swap (exercised, delivering Josh Christopher), plus D.J. Augustin, D.J. Wilson and a 2023 first. That 2023 pick became Cam Whitmore, who was later flipped for two seconds.
The Rockets kept Eason and Sheppard. Eason turned into a solid role player and re‑signed this summer. Sheppard’s rookie year was rough; he improved but remained inconsistent last season.
Houston sent the 2026 pick from Brooklyn back to the Nets, who used it to select Mikel Brown at No. 6 this year.
The Rockets receive a 2027 first from Phoenix, a 2029 first (most favorable among Dallas, Houston and Phoenix), and another 2029 first (second‑most favorable of the trio).
Overall, Houston acquired a decent role player, a liability they passed over Stephon Castle, and three future firsts that could someday yield a star.
Brooklyn got 80 games over two half‑seasons with Harden. He suffered a hamstring injury in the playoffs and wanted out by mid‑next season. They traded him to Philadelphia for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry and two picks—one still pending, the other turned into Royce O’Neale.
Cleveland still has Allen anchoring the paint, while Indiana flipped LeVert to the Cavs for Ricky Rubio, a second‑rounder that became Andrew Nembhard, and a first that turned into Ben Sheppard.
Rafael Stone faced a daunting task taking over the Rockets and has largely navigated it well. Some missteps occurred, yet he still holds future first‑round picks after the franchise’s most successful star since Hakeem Olajuwon. So far, tangible results remain scarce.
At least he can console himself that the Nets’ haul a year later amounted to Simmons and “that lousy t‑shirt.”