Category: Deportes

Cade Cunningham doesn’t get hurt for turnovers or missed threes, making him a worthy top five pick in High Score

The preseason is less than two weeks away, and it’s time to start preparing for Yahoo High Score leagues! A quick reminder that this format rewards more for assists, takes away turnovers, and only counts the highest score from your starters each week. That brings up high-usage players with turnover concerns, and players who have games missed concerns tied to their names due to age or injury history.

Round 1

1. Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets — Eleven assists at two apiece, and nothing clawed back by turnovers. The largest weekly ceiling in the sport.
2. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs — Everything that makes him elite still counts; the only gap to Jokić is passing volume, which is the one thing this format pays a premium for.
3. Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers — He owns the ball with LeBron gone, and his single biggest deduction, averaging over four turnovers a night, has been deleted in High Score.
4. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons — A Round 1 High Score winner: a heavy assist load worth double, and the turnovers that came with it cost nothing.
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Miami Heat — Thirty points, 11 boards and six assists on huge minutes, with the turnovers and free throws both off the sheet.
6. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder — Scoring efficiency and free-throw accuracy don’t score, and his assist total is good rather than great. He’s a faller relative to category leagues and standard points formats.
7. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics — Boston’s clear first option with Jaylen Brown gone, and early-season minutes management does much less damage when only his best game counts.
8. Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks — A 20/10/10 threat, and the games-played bet you’re making shrinks to almost nothing when one game carries the week.
9. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves — Scoring volume is the whole engine, so the assist dip that comes with LaMelo Ball running more offense costs him more here than it would elsewhere.
10. Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks — After a fantastic rookie season, Flagg should be able to take a step up in Year 2. His relative lack of 3-point shooting doesn’t cost you in High Score.
11. Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers — A real touch reduction is coming with Jaylen Brown and LeBron James. He can make up for it with efficiency in category formats, but not here.
12. Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors — Kawhi Leonard trims his usage, but Barnes answers with rebounds, assists and defense.

Round 2

13. Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets — Career-high assists from the center spot with the turnovers that come attached wiped off the scoresheet. One of the best values in the format.
14. Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks — Almost nothing changed with the Knicks, so Towns’ role is secure. He’s a nightly 20-and-10 threat and showed improved playmaking in the postseason.
15. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers — Steady high-volume scoring, but Harden has the playmaking and the thin assist total costs more here.
16. Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets — Remains one of the league’s elite scorers, though his efficiency doesn’t give you a boost on its own in High Score, making him less valuable.
17. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks — Usage leader on the league’s most stable offense, with the assists to match.
18. Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets — Points, rebounds and assists in bulk, and the shooting splits that are his only flaw don’t exist in this format.
19. Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers — An assist monster in an offense built entirely around him, and load management is close to a non-issue when a two-game week still produces one enormous score.
20. Trae Young, Washington Wizards — Ten assists is 20 points before he scores, and the turnovers that always came with them are now free. A significant riser compared to standard points leagues.
21. Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets — Clear second engine on a high-possession offense coming off a career-best campaign.
22. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns — Phoenix’s primary creator and highest-usage player. His declining 3-point rate doesn’t matter in High Score.
23. Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers — A high-volume secondary creator with a green light and neither an efficiency nor a turnover tax.
24. LaMelo Ball, Minnesota Timberwolves — Huge per-game production, a huge turnover rate and spotty availability. This format forgives two of those three.

Round 3

25. Kawhi Leonard, Toronto Raptors — One of the best players in the NBA when available, and you only need one big night out of him for it to pay off in this format.
26. Anthony Davis, Washington Wizards — Twenty games last year attached to a first-round per-game profile, which in a best-game format means the weeks he plays at all pay out nearly in full.
27. Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic — A high-usage forward with a high turnover rate that no longer costs him anything.
28. Josh Giddey, Chicago Bulls — A nightly triple-double threat as the hub of the offense, with the assists worth double and the turnovers free.
29. James Harden, Cleveland Cavaliers — A 20-and-10 threat with the assists worth double and the turnovers erased entirely. A riser in this format compared to other points formats.
30. Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings — Rebounds and assists in bulk from center, with usage returning now that Westbrook and DeRozan are gone.
31. Jaylen Brown, Philadelphia 76ers — Won’t have the volume of touches he saw last season, but is still a better High Score player than category-league one.
32. Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder — His 3-and-D profile as a big man isn’t rewarded here like it is in category formats.
33. Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers — Scoring, rebounding and real playmaking from a forward; Morant and Lillard are the threat to the touches.
34. Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat — The assist volume is what separates him from the other bigs in this range, and he’s one of the safest 30-minute bets at the position.
35. Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons — A nightly 20-and-10 threat whose game is still developing on both ends of the floor.
36. Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers — A quiet 18/10/4 as Cleveland’s third option. Steady rather than explosive.

Round 4

37. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors — 3-point-dependent value in a league with no 3-point category, at 38 years old.
38. Julius Randle, Brooklyn Nets — Expected to lead Brooklyn in combined points, rebounds and assists – which makes him a buy in this format.
39. Walker Kessler, Los Angeles Lakers — Rebounds and dunks off Luka Dončić passes with blocks. There should be plenty of big nights.
40. Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets — The upside is a 20-point scorer with more assists; the base case is efficient shooting, which scores nothing extra in High Score.
41. Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers — A dependable well-rounded statline as Indiana’s clear No. 2 option.
42. LeBron James, Philadelphia 76ers — The per-minute output is absurd and the assists are the most rewarded part of it, so a 28-minute role or a night off costs you far less than the draft price assumes.
43. Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets — Charlotte’s most likely usage winner post-LaMelo, with adequate secondary stats.
44. Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder — A healthy 20-point wing with balanced production, though he gains more in category formats.
45. Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs — His two flaws are shooting efficiency and turnovers, and High Score charges for neither. One of the format’s best buys.
46. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers — An elite producer when he plays, and this is the only format where a 40-game season is close to fine. Draft the upside swing — the rules absorb it.
47. Darius Garland, Los Angeles Clippers — Should have plenty of 20-and-10 nights as the Clippers’ primary playmaker.
48. Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers — Averaged a double-double in 27 minutes; the frontcourt is his to claim.

Round 5

49. Trey Murphy III, New Orleans Pelicans — An efficient high-volume shooter with modest rebounds and assists, and Dejounte Murray’s return trims the usage.
50. Derrick White, Boston Celtics — Solid all-around, but the low turnover rate is no longer an edge and there are fewer shots with Jayson Tatum back and Paul George added.
51. Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz — Scoring and rebounding with very little playmaking, on a roster that just added mouths to feed.
52. Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks — The clean efficiency and league-best turnover rate that make him a standout elsewhere are worth nothing here.
53. Cameron Boozer, Memphis Grizzlies — Immediate minutes and playmaking responsibility, and rookie mistakes don’t cost you here.
54. Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic — A balanced offensive line that’s secure behind Banchero, and two injury-shortened seasons aren’t as scary in High Score.
55. Matas Buzelis, Chicago Bulls — Led every Bull not named Giddey in counting stats in under 30 minutes.
56. Jaren Jackson Jr., Utah Jazz — Utah’s crowded depth chart is the ceiling problem.
57. Onyeka Okongwu, Atlanta Hawks — A double-double baseline on 32 minutes a night.
58. Ivica Zubac, Indiana Pacers — Bounce-back candidate with Haliburton feeding him easy interior looks.
59. Tyler Herro, Milwaukee Bucks — The first true lead-playmaking role of his career, and the injury history that always capped him is much cheaper to carry here.
60. De’Aaron Fox, San Antonio Spurs — Castle and Harper ate into the usage, but a healthy Fox is still a 22-and-6 guard.

Round 6

61. Brandon Ingram, Los Angeles Clippers — A 20/5/5 forward in the clear top two of his offense who typically slips due to injury history, but that matters less in High Score.
62. Keyonte George, Utah Jazz — All-Star-level production in a limited sample, but Darryn Peterson, Jaren Jackson and Lauri Markkanen all need touches.
63. Dejounte Murray, New Orleans Pelicans — Points, assists and steals in bulk when right, though it remains unclear exactly how much his minutes and usage will be pushed.
64. Desmond Bane, Orlando Magic — Safe as Orlando’s No. 3 option, thin outside of scoring and some light supplementary stats.
65. Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies — Excellent per-minute rebounding and scoring. Some managers are concerned about recurring ankle injuries, but that matters less here.
66. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers — Even a diminished Lillard produces points and assists at volume, and a year off an Achilles is a much smaller weekly problem than a seasonal one.
67. Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks — A low-usage wing with a well-rounded line and little playmaking volume to lean on.
68. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta Hawks — A 3-and-D profile with little volume to accumulate.
69. Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans — A volume scorer with rebounds and assists chipped in, and the availability discount that defines his price mostly evaporates here.
70. Ryan Rollins, Milwaukee Bucks — Coming off a breakout campaign, but Milwaukee’s backcourt logjam makes his role less clear than managers would like it to be.
71. Coby White, Charlotte Hornets — Now the unambiguous starting point guard, and the injury-hit final season in Chicago overstates the risk.
72. Michael Porter Jr., Brooklyn Nets — Punished by High Score settings that don’t inherently reward efficiency and 3-point volume.

Round 7

73. Kel’el Ware, Milwaukee Bucks — He just needs the minutes, and a rebuilding Milwaukee will probably supply them.
74. Naz Reid, Charlotte Hornets — Past 30 minutes for the first time, with scoring, rebounding and a bit of playmaking.
75. OG Anunoby, New York Knicks — A secure role, though his 3-and-D profile doesn’t provide as much fantasy potential in High Score.
76. Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves — A clean bill of health despite his age and a walking double-double.
77. Derik Queen, New Orleans Pelicans — Eighty-one games as a rookie with a complete game built for fantasy basketball. Minutes and his role are question marks, but in High Score, the upside drives value.
78. Payton Pritchard, Boston Celtics — 3-point-driven value facing a clear step back in volume.
79. Ja Morant, Portland Trail Blazers — Elite per-game scoring and assists, a high turnover rate and a bad availability record — and High Score waves off two of the three.
80. Paul George, Boston Celtics — Fifty-six or fewer games in six of seven seasons is a far smaller problem here than his price suggests.
81. Caleb Wilson, Chicago Bulls — A starting rookie on a team with minutes to hand out, and neither his efficiency nor his turnovers will be held against him. Defensive upside drives value.
82. AJ Dybantsa, Washington Wizards — The self-creation translates directly and the shaky jumper costs nothing; usage competition with Young and Davis is the catch.
83. Ausar Thompson, Detroit Pistons — Rebounding, steals and transition scoring, with poor shooting that costs him almost nothing. The biggest hurdle is getting to 30 minutes per game.
84. Jaden McDaniels, Minnesota Timberwolves — An improving self-creator whose looks should get easier with LaMelo running the offense.

Round 8

85. Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers — Reliable floor, limited ceiling, eroding minutes. A poor fit for a peaks format.
86. Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs — A second-year jump looks likely; San Antonio’s backcourt logjam is the obstacle.
87. VJ Edgecombe, Philadelphia 76ers — Minutes are secure; a sophomore leap in touches isn’t.
88. Darryn Peterson, Utah Jazz — A promising rookie shooting guard, though he’ll have to fight for touches in a revamped Jazz offense.
89. Ty Jerome, Memphis Grizzlies — Career-high per-game production in 15 healthy games, and a format that only counts the healthy weeks is the right home for that bet.
90. Kristaps Porziņģis, Golden State Warriors — He demolishes this price on a per-game basis, and clearing 65 games twice in a career isn’t as much of a concern in High Score.
91. Miles Bridges, Phoenix Suns — Modest role, secure minutes, third in line behind Booker and Green.
92. Nic Claxton, Chicago Bulls — Rebounds and lobs from Giddey, on a team that acquired him specifically to play him.
93. Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards — Still a starter, but Davis and Dybantsa reshaped the roster around him.
94. Norman Powell, Chicago Bulls — Two straight 20-point seasons and almost nothing else on the sheet.
95. Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets — Elite rebounding rate and expanding offensive game. The per-minute production has always been there, and now he’s expected to start.
96. Cedric Coward, Memphis Grizzlies — Sophomore breakout candidate with more minutes coming on a young roster.

Round 9

97. Josh Hart, New York Knicks — Rebounds and assists from a wing is a good shape, but the minutes dipped and New York’s rotation is set.
98. Jalen Green, Phoenix Suns — He scores in bursts without much else, and bursts are precisely what gets counted.
99. RJ Barrett, Toronto Raptors — A nightly 20 points with some supplementary stats, making him a solid pick in points leagues.
100. CJ McCollum, Atlanta Hawks — Steady, defined role. Atlanta’s No. 2 option behind Jalen Johnson.
101. Andrew Wiggins, Miami Heat — Third scoring option behind Antetokounmpo and Adebayo.
102. Jaime Jaquez Jr., Milwaukee Bucks — Inside track on forward minutes in a wide-open rotation.
103. Darius Acuff Jr., Sacramento Kings — A rookie starting point guard means high assists and high turnovers, and only one of those appears on the scoresheet.
104. Immanuel Quickley, Toronto Raptors — Threes and free-throw shooting are the value, and Toronto’s roster is crowded. He doesn’t pay off here compared to category formats.
105. Mikal Bridges, New York Knicks — The most durable player in basketball, which is worth real money over 82 games of accumulation, but less when only his pop performances count.
106. Myles Turner, Milwaukee Bucks — A rough first year in Milwaukee and an unsettled roster make him hard to trust, and his stats come out better in category formats.
107. Isaiah Hartenstein, Oklahoma City Thunder — Rebounds, assists and efficient interior scoring. Minutes and his role are capped.
108. Ayo Dosunmu, Minnesota Timberwolves — Should approach 30 minutes every game, and provides a well-rounded stat profile.

Round 10

109. Brandin Podziemski, Golden State Warriors — Rebounds and assists from a guard make him more useful than his scoring average suggests.
110. Yaxel Lendeborg, Golden State Warriors — Speculative, but there’s a starting job available.
111. Ajay Mitchell, Oklahoma City Thunder — Sixth Man candidate with starter upside after OKC’s wing exodus.
112. Fred VanVleet, Houston Rockets — The assist volume drives his upside, though he probably won’t have as big of a role compared to years past.
113. Zach LaVine, Sacramento Kings — Heavy usage on a rebuilding team, and the 108 missed games in three years scare drafters more than they should in this format.
114. Jabari Smith Jr., Houston Rockets — High floor, low ceiling, and few shots left behind Durant, Sengun, Thompson and VanVleet.
115. DeMar DeRozan, Denver Nuggets — Could approach 30 minutes per game as a sixth man for Denver with upside for scoring outbursts and solid complementary stats.
116. Neemias Queta, Boston Celtics — Double-double threat now sharing the position with Mitchell Robinson.
117. Khaman Maluach, Phoenix Suns — A double-double with two blocks is the upside case with Mark Williams out.
118. Jeremiah Fears, New Orleans Pelicans — Very high usage in his minutes, though his role isn’t clear cut.
119. Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic — The health question matters less in this format, though so does his 3-and-D profile.
120. Peyton Watson, Cleveland Cavaliers — First clear path to a full-time starting job, though usage will be hard to come by.

Round 11

121. Ace Bailey, Utah Jazz — Rounded into form late in his rookie year, but his role on the re-tooled Jazz is far from obvious.
122. Collin Murray-Boyles, Toronto Raptors — Versatile production across the board, with an open question about minutes.
123. Jusuf Nurkić, Utah Jazz — Rebounds and assists from the center spot is a solid late-round shape even with modest scoring.
124. Kevin Porter Jr., Milwaukee Bucks — Career-best numbers in 38 games, but Milwaukee added Herro and Burries, making Porter’s role murky.
125. Keegan Murray, Sacramento Kings — Twenty-three games last year, but improved health on a rebuilding squad means usage should be available.
126. John Collins, Detroit Pistons — More minutes and touches replacing Tobias Harris than he had with the Clippers.
127. Aaron Gordon, Denver Nuggets — Safe role and good chemistry with Jokić and Murray, and the injuries don’t cost much here.
128. Cameron Johnson, Denver Nuggets — His counting stats collapsed in Denver while the shooting held up, which is the wrong half to keep in High Score.
129. Reed Sheppard, Houston Rockets — The path to minutes narrowed with Marcus Smart added and Fred VanVleet back.
130. Kyshawn George, Washington Wizards — Real Year 2 improvement into a much busier roster.
131. Davion Mitchell, Miami Heat — The tiny turnover rate that carried his case is worth nothing in High Score; what’s left is assists and a safe role.
132. Anthony Black, Orlando Magic — With Orlando healthy, the minutes and touches aren’t obviously there.

Round 12

133. Cason Wallace, Oklahoma City Thunder — A thin offensive profile, though more minutes are expected, and Wallace can rack up steals in bunches.
134. Jrue Holiday, Portland Trail Blazers — The all-around line is respectable, but the offensive workload is shrinking behind Morant and Lillard.
135. Sandro Mamukelashvili, Los Angeles Lakers — Strong per-minute player with sixth-man upside behind a thin Lakers frontcourt.
136. Toumani Camara, Portland Trail Blazers — Minutes are the only real draw.
137. P.J. Washington, Dallas Mavericks — Mid-teens scoring and seven rebounds, with a busy frontcourt as the downside risk.
138. Egor Dëmin, Brooklyn Nets — Fourth in line behind Mikel Brown Jr., Randle and Porter, though should still have the opportunity for some big performances.
139. Christian Braun, Denver Nuggets — Thirty-plus minutes, but last year’s across-the-board regression makes him hard to project.
140. Devin Vassell, San Antonio Spurs — Declining usage on a rising team with no three-point bonus to fall back on.
141. Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers — His 16.9 points and 7.7 assists with Haliburton out is a ceiling, not a baseline — but ceilings are what this format rewards.
142. Saddiq Bey, New Orleans Pelicans — A long line of players competing for the same possessions.
143. Mikel Brown Jr., Brooklyn Nets — A rookie starting point guard on a bad team will pile up assists, and nobody is charging him for the turnovers.
144. Bennedict Mathurin, New Orleans Pelicans — Scoring punch off the bench.

Round 13

145. Quentin Grimes, Los Angeles Lakers — A release valve for Dončić and Reaves, competing for the third-option role.
146. Collin Gillespie, Phoenix Suns — Three-point value that doesn’t translate, likely off the bench once Phoenix is healthy.
147. Tari Eason, Houston Rockets — One of the better per-minute producers in the league, trapped in a deep rotation.
148. Jakob Poeltl, Toronto Raptors — Field-goal percentage was his standout stat last year, and it’s worth nothing here.
149. Grayson Allen, Charlotte Hornets — Could see sixth-man minutes and usage for Charlotte.
150. Maxime Raynaud, Sacramento Kings — Stuck behind a healthy Sabonis, which caps everything.

Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George look to lead the Jazz to a new level this season.

Offseason Recap

• Last season: 22-60 (15th in West, missed postseason)
• Key Additions: Josh Green, Jaxson Hayes, Jusuf Nurkić, Josh Okogie, Darryn Peterson
• Every Jazz move this offseason

Season Outlook

Jumping from fourth to second in the Draft Lottery allowed Utah to grab Kansas guard Darryn Peterson in the Draft, adding a play-ready talent to a young group that has been ripening since the team’s last playoff appearance in 2022.

Coach Will Hardy has enough tent-pole guys like Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Keyonte George to mix ‘n’ match for various sizes, styles and strengths.

Markkanen should aim for a return to All-Star status (despite how crowded the West roster will be). Jackson, back from knee surgery after playing only three games for Utah once he arrived from Memphis, is a consummate help defender and unorthodox scorer. George just solidified his Salt Lake City future with a five-year, $157.5 million extension.

Setting expectations high is easy enough, reaching them is the tough part. Last season, the Jazz climbed from 17 to 22 victories. Now they should be targeting 37 or so to chase a Play-In spot and really boost the culture and the spirits at Delta Center.

Breakout Candidate: Ace Bailey

Bailey played his entire rookie season at age 19, one of the league’s youngest performers. His inexperience was evident in his start – the No. 5 pick from Rutgers made only eight of his first 32 shots and averaged 4.4 points in his first five games. Through December, he was averaging 10.4 points and starting to get a feel for his team and the league.

From Jan. 1, Bailey averaged 16.2 points and 4.9 rebounds, and earned more trust from coach Will Hardy. Now he seems positioned to seize an opportunity to help Utah as its sixth man. Assuming rookie Peterson moves into the starting lineup next to George, Bailey could bring instant offense off the bench. He did start in 61 of his 72 appearances last season but could have more of a green light working with the second unit.

1 Number To Know

45.1% — Jazz opponents took 45.1% of their shots – the league’s highest opponent rate last season – from 3-point range. And 59% of their opponents’ 3-point attempts, also the league’s highest rate, were wide open.

The Jazz allowed 15.3 3-pointers per game, the most for any defense in the 47 seasons of the 3-point line, topping their own mark of 14.9 per game the season prior. There have been other issues, as this team has ranked in the bottom two on defense in each of the last three seasons, but improvement probably needs to include better defense around the arc.

— John Schuhmann

5 Must-See Matchups

• Oct. 25: Lakers vs. Jazz — The third game out of the chute for both teams is a potential clash of big men, Hayes and Walker Kessler, who previously played for the opposition. Kessler, whose 2025-26 season was essentially lost to shoulder surgery, has a four-year, $130 million deal with L.A. Hayes came to Salt Lake City for two years, $12 million.

• Nov. 27: Nuggets vs. Jazz — Utah has lost 10 in a row to Denver, one more than its losing streak against OKC. Beating the Northwest Division’s best, even occasionally, is a necessity for legit improvement.

• Dec. 27: Jazz vs. Kings — This is game No. 7 of 13 against last year’s bottom feeders in the West. Utah, Sacramento, Memphis, Dallas and New Orleans held down the final five spots, all finishing 30+ games under .500. This provides a measuring stick on Utah’s early season.

• Feb. 3: Jazz vs. Rockets — This one begins a stretch in which Utah plays 11 of 14 games away from the Delta Center. When they return from Philadelphia on March 8, the Jazz will play five of their final 16 games on the road.

• Feb. 27: Wizards vs. Jazz — We’ll have to wait until after the All-Star break to get a scheduled matchup of the No. 1 (AJ Dybantsa) and No. 2 (Peterson) picks in the 2026 Draft. But the second one comes exactly one week later in Washington.

> Complete Regular Season Schedule

Preseason Storylines

Shoring up the defense is essential. Utah ranked 22nd in offensive efficiency and was ninth in the NBA in points per game (117.6). But they were dead last in points allowed nightly (126.0) and 29th in defensive efficiency. Losing Kessler to the Lakers would seem to be heading in the wrong direction, but Jackson Jr. is a former Defensive Player of the Year and three-time All-Defense pick. Josh Okogie and Josh Green are new arrivals with defensive chops as well.

Will Jackson log more minutes at center or at power forward? Jusuf Nurkić is huge, a double-double guy and a deft passer, but not a paint protector. Hayes is a shot blocker and changer, but limited in other areas. There might be a lot of position-by-committee with the Jazz this season.

Guard Isaiah Collier got to 500 career assists in just 81 games, faster even than franchise and NBA all-time leader John Stockton (93 games). Collier’s ability to set up teammates, especially when pushing the break, has to earn him additional minutes. On a per-36 basis last season, he averaged 16.3 points and 10 assists.

> Complete Preseason Schedule

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Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.

Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon look to lead the Nuggets back to the top of the Western Conference.

Offseason Recap

• Last Season: 54-28 (3rd in West, lost in First Round)
• Key Additions: Marvin Bagley III, Trevon Brazile, DeMar DeRozan, Alpha Diallo, Bryce Hopkins
• Every Nuggets move this offseason

Season Outlook

Denver has high hopes again this season, reasonable enough for a team that boasts arguably the NBA’s top player in Nikola Jokić, as well as battle-tested cohorts Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon to complete its Big Three. The supporting cast will look different, though, with DeMar DeRozan entering the mix and the departures of Peyton Watson, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown this offseason.

Jokić remains a constant, fascinating to watch in his rare mix of skills and unathletic-looking body. Murray can finally achieve All-Star status 10 years into his career. Gordon should be good for more than the 36 games he played last season, with improved overall health the biggest key to Denver getting where it wants to go by the playoffs’ end. Coach David Adelman’s preferred starting lineup managed only 23 games together but went 18-5.

Breakout Candidate: Alpha Diallo

The Nuggets have ranked 21st defensively for two consecutive seasons, an anchor too many nights on the NBA’s top offense of 2025-26. Without improvement there, Adelman can concoct as many ATO gems as he likes, but Denver will bog down at the other end.

Enter Diallo, an athletic wing with a wide wingspan who should help make up for what Denver lost in Watson. Diallo, officially now a 27-year-old NBA rookie, was the EuroLeague’s defensive player of the year before joining Denver this offseason.

Diallo’s offensive skills are said to lag behind his defense, but if he can hold down opposing shooting guards and small forwards, Adelman will find minutes for him in that high-powered attack. Jokić, Murray, Gordon and others can handle the points if Diallo can smother some scorers.

1 Number To Know

10 — The Nuggets have ranked in the top seven offensively in each of the last 10 seasons, and last season (when they scored 6.4 points per 100 possessions more than the league average) was their best offensive season in that stretch.

Depth and defense will remain big questions, especially with the departure of Watson. But as long as Jokić is in Denver, you can be sure that the Nuggets will have an elite offense. He’s one of the best passers we’ve ever seen and his career true shooting percentage of 64.1% is the highest in NBA history among the 160 players who’ve averaged at least 18 points per game.

Murray also played a big role in the Nuggets’ success last season, playing 75 games and registering career-high marks for both points per game (25.4) and true shooting percentage (62.2%). His load will be no lighter this year.

— John Schuhmann

5 Must-See Matchups

• Dec. 2: Nuggets vs. Sixers — It’s not just that Philadelphia is the NBA’s alleged new “super team,” it’s the fact that the Sixers’ fate likely will rise or fall based on longtime center Joel Embiid’s health and performance. An Embiid-Jokić matchup always is must-see hoops.

• Dec. 15: Nuggets vs. Trail Blazers — Denver opens the regular season playing 14 of its first 22 games on the road. This is No. 14. How the Nuggets come through that gauntlet, with the schedule tilting their mile-high way, could set up any success that follows.

• Jan. 30: Nuggets vs. Thunder — The nitty-gritty of the season brings not just this meeting of West powers but a rematch three nights later in Denver.

• March 3: Spurs vs. Nuggets — The first of two potentially pivotal games, deep enough into the schedule to impact playoff seedings. First, the Nuggets play host to San Antonio, then have Minnesota in their building on March 7.

• March 18: Cavaliers vs. Nuggets — Even if Denver is humming along and not noticeably missing Watson, who left via sign-and-trade deal this summer, the fans at Ball Arena either will show Watson appreciation for his work the past four seasons or crankiness because he’s gone.

> Complete Regular Season Schedule

Preseason Storylines

No one can quibble with DeMar DeRozan’s resume. He ranks 16th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, he’s been a stable, mature locker-room leader for years and he still can get a bucket or 12 (18.4 ppg last season). But at 37, is he up for the sixth-man role that would seem to suit him in the Nuggets’ rotation? The fit will be working itself out early.

Veteran coach Dave Joerger, the former head coach in Memphis and Sacramento, joins Adelman’s staff with an eye on defensive improvement. Plenty of work to be done there, and a lot of metrics to gauge early movement.

Cam Whitmore, the No. 20 pick in 2023, signed a two-way contract with the Nuggets in mid-September. The 6-foot-6 forward was limited to 21 games for Washington last season by a blood-clot condition.

> Complete Preseason Schedule

* * *

Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.

Rudy Gobert and Anthony Edwards welcome LaMelo Ball to the roster this season.

Offseason Recap

• Last Season: 49-33 (6th in West, lost in conference semifinals)
• Key Additions: LaMelo Ball, Isaiah Evans, Jonathan Kuminga, Trey Lyles, Cody Williams
• Every Timberwolves move this offseason

Season Outlook

If desperation and boldness were a sure-fire formula for winning, Minnesota would rank at or near the top of title contenders in 2026-27. After winning just two playoff series in the franchise’s first 34 years, they have won five in the past three. And in Tim Connelly, the team’s president of basketball operations, the Timberwolves have an executive willing to swing from the heels to serve his vision. After trying the twin-tower concept by acquiring Rudy Gobert in 2022 to team with Karl-Anthony Towns, he went big again this offseason, trading Naz Reid and Julius Randle in a 5-team deal for polarizing point guard LaMelo Ball.

Ball is a professional playmaker who stayed healthy and helped Charlotte to a breakthrough season, and in terms of career sweet spots, he is perfectly in sync with star Anthony Edwards. Both are 25, in their early primes, to keep hope alive that the Wolves can break through one postseason soon. Beginning next spring.

Connelly tried to top himself by wooing LeBron James, but had to settle for plugging the power forward spot with Jonathan Kuminga. He had touted Jaden McDaniels’ on-ball defense and Gobert’s rim protection as attributes to ease James’ workload. The veteran didn’t bite, but those two remain, allowing coach Chris Finch to sleep most nights.

Breakout Candidate: Jonathan Kuminga

Kuminga, believe it or not, is already a five-year veteran, but he’s still searching for a comfortable NBA home and a true identity as a pro. He struggled to find a consistent role in Golden State, and he didn’t get much traction in Atlanta last season either (the Hawks declined their team option). His skills are obvious – he has averaged 12.5 points in 22.1 minutes, so he’s at 20.3 points per 36. But the Wolves mostly want him to rebound and defend in plugging their considerable need at power forward. Kuminga, effectively playing for his next contract after turning down the Lakers’ three-year offer, faces a decision: keep trying to showcase his individual talents or do what Minnesota needs for the best team result to boost his reputation.

1 Number To Know

49.6% — Edwards shot 69-for-139 (49.6%) on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers, the best mark among 308 players with at least 75 catch-and-shoot attempts last season and much better than he shot (35.3%) on pull-up 3s.

But only 27% of Edwards’ 3-point attempts were off the catch, with that being the fourth-lowest rate among 307 players with at least 100 total attempts. Edwards has seen a jump in his time of possession every year he’s been in the league, with the jump from 2024-25 (16% of his time on the floor) to ’25-26 (20%) being the largest he’s seen. The ball has increasingly been in his hands and he’s increasingly shot more off the dribble.

Ball is here to reverse that trend, have Edwards shooting more off the catch, and make the Wolves’ star a more efficient scorer.

— John Schuhmann

5 Must-See Matchups

• Oct. 21: Timberwolves vs. Heat — It’s opening night for teams with two of the biggest offseason acquisitions (outside of Philadelphia). Giannis Antetokounmpo makes his Miami debut, while Minnesota counters with Ball.

• Oct. 31: Timberwolves vs. Spurs — The sting of last spring’s elimination in six games remains – three of those defeats were decided by 29+ points – and it’s never too early to face the reality that where Minnesota wants to go, it will need to go through San Antonio.

• Dec. 27: Timberwolves vs. Golden State — The first clash comes Oct. 28, too soon to know Kuminga’s place in the Wolves’ eventual pecking order. But this one back in the Warriors’ building could give him a chance for a little payback to his original team.

• Dec. 31: Nuggets vs. Timberwolves — The two nemeses meet on Dec. 28 in Denver, but that’s the tail end of back-to-backs for both teams. This late-afternoon game before a feisty Minnesota crowd should be more raucous.

• Jan. 29: Hornets vs. Timberwolves — More than three months will have passed before Ball gets to face the team that traded him. Reid will get a video tribute, so Ball will be in the spotlight for turning the night in Minnesota’s direction.

> Complete Regular Season Schedule

Preseason Storylines

Ball’s arrival gives the Timberwolves one of the NBA’s most exciting backcourts, teaming him with fellow Class of 2020 All-Star Edwards. Ball is a highlight-reel passer and a daring shot-taker when he seeks out his own offense, while Edwards should thrive in getting off the ball after covering for Minnesota’s thin point guard options. Slipping back into his potent scoring guard role could make him a favorite to chase his first scoring title.

More of Jaden McDaniels’ game emerges every season, and a concerted effort to have him flourish offensively should get a boost from Ball’s delivery of the basketball. The lanky, laconic defensive specialist continues as the choice against high-scoring opponents.

Donte DiVincenzo’s Achilles absence opens minutes for a variety of reserves, from Ayo Dosunmu and Terrence Shannon Jr. to Jaylen Clark and former lottery pick Cody Williams.

> Complete Preseason Schedule

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