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Battersea Power Station’s undeveloped estate is being considered as a potential arena site for a London team in the NBA’s planned European competition, sources with knowledge of discussions told The Athletic. The NBA is targeting autumn 2027 for the launch of a 16-team competition in Europe, with London among 12 cities expected to host permanent franchises.
Jaylen Brown is excited for the next chapter of his NBA career for one obvious reason. “Yo, we got ‘Bron, and what an opportunity that is,” Brown said Monday on a Twitch livestream, during which the All-NBA forward provided his first public remarks on LeBron James’ decision to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers this offseason. “Like, obviously, everybody (is) gonna say whatever they want to say, and it’s gonna be a bunch of media this whole entire season,” Brown added. “But like, for me, like, what an opportunity (it) is to learn. I love learning, so to have the opportunity to learn from one of, if not the greatest player of all time.”
Brown also unboxed and tried on his No. 7 Sixers jersey on the stream. “I ain’t gonna lie, this is the first-ever jersey in the NBA besides the Boston jersey that I’ve even put on,” Brown said. “Just now, just right now here on chat. I just realized, this is my first time ever in 10 years I’ve been playing in the NBA, wearing another jersey for another team. “It honestly feels weird, you know what I mean? But it looks fire.”
The Dallas Wings are getting a major upgrade. The Wings will play their 2027 season at American Airlines Center, also home to the NHL’s Dallas Stars and the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks. Since moving to Dallas from Tulsa in 2016, the Wings have played at College Park Center at UT Arlington, which seats 6,251. The American Airlines Center has a capacity of around 20,000 for NBA games and reached 20,409 when the Wings hosted the Indiana Fever there last season.
The Wings had previously planned to move downtown to the Dallas Memorial Auditorium in 2026, but there were construction delays on the renovation project. The Dallas Morning News reported that the renovation is expected to be completed in time for the 2028 season. That space, which used to host the Dallas Chaparrals of the ABA, would only accommodate about 9,000 fans.
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My understanding is that Thompson would welcome a return to Los Angeles, where he spent part of his childhood and still owns a home. The Miami Heat are another team frequently mentioned in NBA circles as a potential landing spot for the future Hall of Famer.
At this point, it remains unclear if Klay Thompson — the Mavericks’ leading 3-point shooter in each of the past two seasons — will be back in Dallas for a third year. The Mavericks have explored his trade market but have yet to find a deal, multiple sources with rival teams told The Athletic on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss any potential negotiations. Thompson is owed $17.5 million this season and is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2027.
But Philon, one of college basketball’s best players last season, will have every chance to contribute to the collective. As Philadelphia’s first-round pick this June, he begins his career on a team with great expectations. And there is a good chance he gets rotation minutes. “I’m lucky and fortunate that I’m coming to a team that’s a contender,” Philon told The Athletic. “I’m grateful for that. I feel like I’m going to have a chance to compete on a team full of veterans. That doesn’t happen to everyone, so I feel lucky with that. My mindset is to continue to work and continue to get better. I want to embrace this, and coming into the league, I want to embrace what’s in front of me.”
American technology billionaire Nikesh Arora is in talks to buy the new London team in the NBA’s European expansion, according to sources with knowledge of the deal who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the sale talks are still ongoing.
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Adebayo also understood the business side of LeBron James choosing what will likely be his final NBA stop, despite hopes for a return to the franchise where he won his first two titles. “I consider LeBron like a brother,” Adebayo said. “We’ve been Olympic teammates, but even before that, we always had down-to-earth conversations. I’m happy for him. You want the best for somebody. That’s really how you go from there.”
Where could the Blazers go if they decide to leave? If the NBA goes to Las Vegas or Seattle, it will be through expansion. The league is exploring that right now, and it wouldn’t pass up $6 billion-$10 billion in expansion fees. So where else could the Blazers go? Raleigh comes to mind. Dundon’s Hurricanes play there and their arena did just get renovated. Raleigh is roughly the same size media market as Portland, but the Hornets play 150 miles away. Austin — about 200 miles from Dallas, where Dundon lives — could make sense but the San Antonio Spurs are trying to expand their market to capture the city. Would the Memphis Grizzlies consent to Nashville accepting a new team?
That has forced the Warriors to find advantages in new places. “Chase South” is one of them. “If you come in here and you haven’t seen it before, you’ll go, ‘Wow, are we at the Chase Center?’” Warriors assistant general manager Larry Harris said. Inside the Las Vegas Basketball Center, pictures of Curry, Draymond Green, Steve Kerr and other current and former team staffers, players and coaches adorn the walls. Warriors and Golden State Valkyries banners hang from the ceiling. Two of the actual courts the Warriors played on over the last few seasons make up part of the Las Vegas facility’s five full-sized courts. A weight room sits in the back of the building. Longtime Warriors public relations maestro Raymond Ridder and his staff have a dedicated workspace. So does the team chef, who puts together made-to-order meals while players get their work in on the courts nearby.
In the NBA arms race for the best facilities that seems to get more competitive each year, the Warriors’ decision to pour money into a facility in Las Vegas that was a go-kart track just a few years ago is a reminder of team owner Joe Lacob’s investment in the pursuit of every possible competitive edge. “I don’t know what the other 29 teams are doing,” Harris said. “I’ve told people that will ever listen, ‘No,’ just doesn’t come out of his mouth. (He’s asking) ‘what can we do to be better? What can we do on the margins to do something that’s a little bit different, gives us an advantage?'”