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Duren, sitting next to Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon – who told reporters Monday he hadn't spoken to Duren all summer – began his press conference by reading a long, written statement accepting his own flaws while also acknowledging that a lot of the rumors about him this summer didn't come from him.
"I am a Detroit Piston," Duren said. "I want to be a Detroit Piston for life. I want to give everything I’ve got to the Pistons and the fans."
"Nothing came from me," Duren said. "Everything that was being heard was speculation. … That's part of the media’s job … I don’t fault anybody for that. I do know that a lot of the things were false and people believe things without it coming from the sources mouth."
Duren averaged a career-high 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds while shooting 65.0% from the field in 70 games last season.
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Box score: https://www.nba.com/game/den-vs-lac-0041900237/box-score
NBA team reactions: https://imgur.com/a/nuggets-defeat-clippers-reaction-8zvh6Os
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The playoffs arrived, and then they ended, far sooner than Denver had ever expected. A 54-win team crash-landed in the first round against Minnesota. Over the six-game series, Denver never publicly ruled out the possibility that Watson might return.
Privately, Watson’s camp had decided he wouldn’t play. The exact state of his health might forever remain murky, as it depends on who you ask. The Nuggets felt strongly that Watson could’ve suited up by the end of the series but was slow-playing his return to protect his contract value, five league sources told The Denver Post both during the playoffs and afterward.
Another source close to Watson, however, said that he was in no position to return at any point during the series, and that Paul had intervened to tell Watson it would be unsafe to play on a bad hamstring with free agency on the horizon. Injury reports suggesting that he might be available throughout the series, the source contends, were merely an example of gamesmanship by Denver in a tightly contested series against a rival. Watson’s plan was to return during a potential second-round series if Denver had advanced, he said on Porter’s podcast.
“I just knew I hadn’t progressed far enough in my rehab,” he explained. “I knew that this is the most intense level of basketball.”
In either case, the upcoming contract negotiation was very much a consideration, leaving people at every level of the Nuggets organization frustrated with how the situation was handled, sources told The Post. It stood in contrast to other recent examples of Denver’s players attempting to play through injuries in the playoffs: Braun in 2026, Porter in 2025, Gordon in both years. The source close to Watson said that Gordon was among the people advising him to be careful with his return.
Source: https://www.denverpost.com/2026/09/06/peyton-watson-trade-contract-nuggets-cavaliers-salary/
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Less than a month after Bob Iger and Josh Kushner agreed to purchase Mark Walter's 64% stake in the Lakers at a whopping $12.5 billion valuation, the internal politics seem to have already begun.
After the Buss family drama put Jeanie Buss' future as team governor in question, another shocking report claims that Bob Iger's role in the Lakers deal was initially exaggerated and that Josh Kushner is expected to take over as team governor once the dust settles.
According to Charles Gasparino of the New York Post, Bob Iger is expected to take a smaller role among the consortium of team owners, while Kushner will take over as the team's ultimate decision-maker, the team governor.
"Media reports of Bob Iger's future 'ownership' of the Los Angeles Lakers appear to have been greatly exaggerated, On The Money has learned," Gasparino wrote in his report.
"Iger is indeed poised to become a major player with the Lakers when it comes to being a face of the team and an executive overseeing its operations – general manager, maybe. But he won't be the 'governor' in NBA parlance who makes the final decisions, a source close to the talks told me," Gasparino further wrote.
"Bob will not be the controlling person," one person close to Kushner told Gasparino. "It is expected that Bob will be a minority owner, an alternate governor, and lead the management of the team day-to-day, but not the governor of the team."
"There can only be one governor per team, and that will be Josh Kushner. He will be putting up the 15% ownership stake," another NBA source reportedly told Gasparino.
It should have been evident from the start that if any of these were in the position to take over from Jeanie Buss, it would be Kushner and not Bob Iger, who previously admitted he loves the Lakers' local rivals, the Clippers.
Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/bob-iger-role-lakers-12-052032210.html?
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Disappointing teams: Which team will take a tumble this season?
Los Angeles Lakers: 32 points
Detroit Pistons: 27 points
Golden State Warriors: 26 points
Miami Heat: 22 points
Boston Celtics: 17 points
There's no more potent formula for disappointment in the NBA than the weight of expectations combined with an organizational standard for perennial championship contention.
That's the scenario facing the Lakers and Heat next season, with L.A. building out its team to fit specifically around 27-year-old superstar Luka Doncic and Miami landing its next face of the franchise: Giannis Antetokounmpo. If L.A. can't build on its last two 50-win seasons, the team's handling of LeBron James' exit will be called into question all over again. And if the Heat can't make a playoff run, the three first-round picks and young talent like Kel'el Ware included in the deal with the Milwaukee Bucks will be reexamined.
The other three teams receiving votes are dealing with only one of the two aforementioned elements. The Pistons are coming off the team's first 60-win season in 20 years, which ended with a Game 7 second-round exit on their home floor. They'll be expected to capitalize while Cade Cunningham enters into his prime. Meanwhile, a quiet offseason of activity by the Warriors could mean the volume will be turned up by a frustrated fanbase if the product doesn't resemble the dynastic teams that Stephen Curry has been a part of in the past. -- Dave McMenamin
Between these players, the next to request a trade will be ...?
Anthony Davis: 10 points
Kyrie Irving: four points
T-3. Kevin Durant: three points
T-3. Zion Williamson: three points
T-5. James Harden: two points
T-5. Jaylen Brown: two points
Davis and the Wizards are essentially opening the season on a trial period. That's quite a stark contrast to the franchise's partnership with Trae Young, the other former All-Star that Washington acquired before last season's trade deadline -- and signed to a four-year, $213 million extension this summer that raised eyebrows around the league.
Davis and his agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, haven't been coy about their desire for a maximum (or close to it) contract extension. That was a driving factor in Dallas' decision to trade Davis a year after he was the headliner in the return of the Luka Doncic deal, and it made finding a market for him difficult.
If Washington isn't willing to pay Davis what he wants, why would he be satisfied to stick around and attempt to help the Wizards snap a six-year playoff drought?
Irving, who played only one game alongside Davis during their short stint together as Mavericks teammates, has given no indication of a desire to leave Dallas. The Mavs have declined to engage teams that have inquired about his availability as Irving prepares to return from the knee injury that sidelined him all of last season.
But front offices across the league anticipate that one or both parties could decide it's in their best interest to part ways, wondering about the long-term fit of the 34-year-old Irving as the Mavs prioritize building around teenage prodigy Cooper Flagg.
Irving, like Davis, has a contract with a player option for the 2027-28 season. So does Durant, who had Houston as his preferred destination when the Suns decided to make him available via trade after the 2024-25 season and signed an extension well south of his max to give the Rockets financial flexibility. -- MacMahon
Will we get a different champion for the ninth straight season?
Yes: 19 points
No: five points
Some of the best teams in the NBA have an opportunity to snap the record streak of eight different champions in as many seasons, including the last three winners in New York, Oklahoma City and Boston, who could each win another title in 2026-27.
But our panel thinks it far more likely that a ninth distinct winner will emerge next season. As ESPN's Ben Golliver outlined recently, the leading candidates to do so are the San Antonio Spurs, who reached the 2026 Finals ahead of schedule; the Philadelphia 76ers, with LeBron James and Jaylen Brown adding star power; and the Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers, who have all reached the conference finals or better within the last two years. Detroit, Houston, Miami and Atlanta are also contenders to make a run next spring. -- Zach Kram
Which team is most likely to make a big move before the trade deadline?
Golden State Warriors: nine points
Detroit Pistons: four points
T-3. Boston Celtics : three points
T-3. Houston Rockets: three points
T-5. Denver Nuggets: one point
T-5. Memphis Grizzlies: one point
T-5. Miami Heat: one point
T-5. Sacramento Kings: one point
T-5. Toronto Raptors: one point
The angst level is rising among Bay Area fans after the Warriors made no major additions via trade or free agency after just their second losing season in the past 14 years. Now that Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James have headed elsewhere, what's the plan to give Stephen Curry, who will turn 39 in March, another shot at the playoffs?
When facing similar stagnation two seasons ago, Golden State made a splashy midseason deal for Jimmy Butler that propelled a run to the second round of the playoffs. The Warriors will have a few options before the deadline in February: They could try to flip Butler's expiring contract and assets for a star or construct a more modest deal around Kristaps Porzingis. This much is clear: It will likely be another frustrating campaign if Warriors executive Mike Dunleavy Jr. doesn't do something of consequence. -- Golliver
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The woman accusing former Los Angeles Lakers star Byron Scott of sexually assaulting her when she was 15 has settled her claims against Campbell Hall, the prestigious Southern California private school where the alleged incident occurred nearly 40 years ago.
Terms of the settlement are under seal until the completion of the civil lawsuit against Scott, according to a ruling issued in the case last week approving the agreement and obtained by USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday, August 26. The trial is set to begin on Sept. 8 in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
According to court documents previously obtained by USA TODAY Sports, the woman accuses the now 65-year-old Scott of sexual battery and false imprisonment. The original lawsuit was filed in 2022 under the California Child Victim's Act, which extended the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse survivors to file civil claims. Scott sought to keep his name out of the documents and requested to use "John Doe."
The lawsuit says in 1987 the Lakers were visiting the accuser's high school, Campbell Hall in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles, where the accuser was taking summer classes, after which she "was sexually assaulted by Byron Scott in a locked janitor’s closet in the high school gymnasium." The team was at the school filming instructional basketball videos in the gym and met with the parents, students and teachers.
Campbell Hall was also named as a defendant, and the lawsuit accused the institution of negligence for not protecting the accuser. The school previously attempted to remove itself from the litigation, but a judge ruled against its motion in January. The lawsuit demanded a jury trial and $25,000 for damages, payment of attorney fees, and loss of wages to be paid by Scott and the high school.
Notable Campbell Hall alumni include director Paul Thomas Anderson, actresses Dakota and Elle Fanning and NBA players Jrue, Justin and Aaron Holiday.
Scott was 26 years old and married to his first wife, Anita, at the time of the alleged sexual assault. He has since divorced and remarried. Scott played for the Lakers from 1983 to 1993, winning three NBA championships during the "Showtime" era, and finished his career with the team in 1996-97. Scott also spent 15 seasons as an NBA head coach, most recently with the Lakers in 2015-16.
"Our client is devastated by this complaint," Scott's attorney Linda Bauermeister said in a statement in May 2025 after the lawsuit was initially filed. "Our client believed the plaintiff to be over 18 and had no idea she would claim otherwise until 35 years later. He respects girls and women, and the claims have blindsided him and his family."
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ATLANTA, Ga. -- The PGA Tour is linking up with LeBron James and his official foundation to launch a new charitable event in James’ hometown of Akron, Ohio, at Firestone Country Club, a longtime former tour host. The LeBron James Family Foundation Invitational will be held at Firestone on July 6-7, 2027, and include both off-course mentorship programs as well as competition.
Students in James’ “I Promise” program will participate in mentorship programs with professional players from the tour’s “Pathway to Progression Pro-Bound Five” program. Players from the “Pro-Bound Five” program will compete in an event on Firestone’s South Course, which for many years hosted an annual PGA Tour event.
Pro-Bound Five is a program in which the top five players from the APGA Collegiate Ranking gain membership access to the APGA Tour. Pro-Bound Five players also receive stipends and other developmental resources as they grow their professional careers.
James has gradually picked up the game of golf in his later years in the NBA and just over a week ago launched his own YouTube channel with a video documenting a golf trip he took to Scotland with former teammates. James’ channel has 585,000 subscribers, and his initial video has more than 2.5 million views.