The Sixers are not in a hurry to patch the hole left by Ariel Hukporti’s preseason Achilles tear.
Philadelphia’s frontcourt depth behind Joel Embiid now runs through Adem Bona, Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker, but Marc Stein of The Stein Line reports the team is unlikely to bring in another big man - or any player on a standard NBA contract - before prorated minimum deals open up in early December. The main reason is financial: the Sixers are operating very close to their first-apron hard cap. They could free space with a salary-cutting trade or by waiving Walker, but neither move sounds especially close.
In Orlando, Anthony Black’s next contract also doesn’t appear to be moving anytime soon. Stein reports the Magic and Black have not had meaningful extension talks, and the financial picture helps explain why.
Orlando is already staring down a pricey future built around Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs and Desmond Bane. Black is coming off a breakout year, one that pushed his scoring from 9.4 to 15.0 points per game, but the bigger question hanging over the Magic is whether they can keep both Black and Suggs long-term.
Charlotte, meanwhile, may be preparing for a much bigger number with Brandon Miller. Around the league, Miller is still seen as a strong extension candidate for the Hornets, and Stein reports that some personnel believe his eventual deal could top the five-year, $208 million extension Amen Thompson signed with Houston. That would be a hefty wager on Miller’s offensive ceiling, especially with health and defense still part of the conversation.
Oklahoma City has already started extension talks with Cason Wallace, and the early numbers are in a very different range. Stein reports the discussions have been around $25 million per season, with Dyson Daniels and Christian Braun mentioned as comparisons.
Wallace may be aiming closer to the five-year, $155 million deal Keyonte George got from Utah. With Luguentz Dort gone from the roster, Wallace seems set for a bigger workload in Oklahoma City.
And in Dallas, Dwight Powell is doing whatever he can to keep his place. Stein reports that Powell has waived his right to block a trade if he makes the regular-season roster, which would give the Mavericks the ability to move him after Dec.
- His spot looked shakier once Moussa Cisse’s salary became guaranteed, but Powell has helped himself with a strong preseason and earned praise from Mavericks coach Dusty May.
In the end, that may count for more than the contract mechanics.
In Other News...
Brandon Millers Next Hornets Deal Could Get Very Expensive
Brandon Miller is already moving into the kind of contract conversation that signals a franchise has made its choice. The second-overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft is eligible for a rookie-scale extension with Charlotte, and the expectation is that the sides will work toward a long-term deal that reflects how important he has become to the Hornets future plans.
Head coach Charles Lee has publicly shown confidence in Miller as a foundational piece, which only adds to the sense that this next step is more about timing than uncertainty. Still, when a young wing starts lining up for a premium extension, the cost can climb quickly, and the Hornets are now staring at a negotiation that could shape their books as much as their roster. [Read more 🡒]
Liam McNeeley Has A Real Opening In Charlotte Now
Liam McNeeleys first year in Charlotte did not unfold like a clean arrival story. The rookie spent much of the season in the G League and never really carved out a steady rotation role, leaving him more as a long-term project than an immediate answer for the Hornets.
This season gives him a different kind of opening. With several key players out or unavailable, McNeeley should get a chance to play early, and the opportunity comes with a clear challenge: his shot alone may not be enough to keep him on the floor. The Hornets need wings who can contribute in more than one way, and McNeeleys next step may come from growing as a playmaker or finding ways to stand out defensively, the kind of improvement coaches have been encouraged by as they watch how he handles each new test. [Read more 🡒]
Brandon Miller Just Became Charlottes Most Important Reason For Hope
Brandon Miller has already made himself central to the Hornets long-term picture, and coach Charles Lee is leaning into that idea rather than trying to box it in. After a season in which Miller averaged 20.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists, Lee described him as the kind of player who can grow into an elite two-way force, the sort of foundation a team can build around while it tries to climb back toward relevance.
That vision matters even more because Charlotte is mapping out a future lineup that could feature Miller alongside Coby White, Kon Knueppel, Reid and Moussa Diabat when the 2026-27 season opens. The Hornets are already talking like a team that wants to get back to the playoffs, and Miller sits at the center of that conversation, with his next leap likely to shape how high this group can go. [Read more 🡒]