The NBA preseason has kicked off strong over the last week as we get a glimpse into these new rosters. Surprisingly, we’ve already seen a ton of stars in the early preseason, including the first-ever father-son pairing of LeBron James and Bronny James. Preseason has also come with a fair amount of drama, with a heated exchange between the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves last night. We’ll walk you through the early season highlights and what’s happening around the league!
Usually, we don’t get this much drama in the preseason, but we already have beef forming. For a bit of backstory, several weeks ago, the Knicks and Timberwolves made a trade. This trade sent Karl Anthony Towns to the Knicks in return for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. The move shocked the NBA as no one expected such a massive move so late in the off-season. Especially one man, Donte DiVincenzo.
The move blindsided him after reviving his career in New York. To make the move even harder, the Knicks had just traded for Mikal Bridges and functionally reformed the entire championship Villanova team with Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and DiVincenzo. The crew was finally back together, but we never saw one game before it broke up.
To say DiVincenzo is upset would be an understatement. Donte yelled at his former coach, Tom Thibodeau, during the game. Accusing him of being the reason he was moved. This led to an altercation after the game, with DiVincenzo getting into it with a Knicks staffer. The whole thing comes as Thibodeau played the Knicks’ starting lineup nearly the entire game. It's an odd move in a preseason game where starting players usually only play 20-odd minutes or so. There is some bad blood, which will be a grudge to watch.
Zach Edey, one of the biggest question marks in the drafts is already proving he belongs. Showing he has the chops to play in the NBA. As one of the best players in college basketball, pro basketball seemed like a sure thing for the 7’5 big man. However, skeptics voiced concerns that the lumbering big guy couldn't keep up with the fast pace of the NBA. Now that we've seen a couple of his games; those voices seem quiet as he looks at home on the court.
In his first three preseason games, he's already shown a connection with lead point guard Ja Morant. The two have already developed a potent pick and roll. With Morant's elite speed and Edey's size, the combo is deadly. Edey's touch around the rim makes him different, as he has one of the softed touches we've seen from a guy his size. In his last game on Saturday, Edey put up 15 points and 8 rebounds in just 22 minutes. His ability to shoot over the top of players in the post will create a challenge for teams. We can’t wait to see what this lineup can achieve with more reps!
Ryan Dunn, the forwards out of Virginia, was known for his elite defensive skill. That skill landed him on the Phoenix Suns as the 28th pick in the draft. The 6’7 forward was the perfect choice for a roster that severely lacked any sort of defense. As a defensive specialist, no one expected his offensive games to be much of anything this year, but Suns fans are already in for an early surprise. Hitting 6 of 11 threes Sunday against Denver, he is already ahead of schedule. Will this shooting ability hold up? It's hard to say; it's rare for a complete non-shooter to find his touch suddenly, but only time will tell.
The scoring is just a bonus, as Dunn could have an early impact in the NBA. His defense has remained elite, using his large frame and long wing span to effect plays. In just four preseason games, he has racked up 5 steals 7 blocks, and a handful of deflections. We don’t usually see defensive talent transfer from college hoops into the NBA so efficiently, but Dunn might be the expectation to the rule. We think Phoenix hit it out of the park, taking him. Even if this early offense fades, he looks like a player who could cut out a starting role early in his career. We have high hopes for him and are looking forward to his NBA debut on October 23 against the LA Clippers.
Scoot Henderson has been on the NBA radar for a while now. After two years on the NBA G-League Ignite, he was selected 3rd overall by the Portland Trail Blazers. That summer, long-term NBA PG Damian Lillard requested a trade that landed him in Milwaukee—leaving Scoot as the lead guard in Portland and inheriting the role from one of the best to do it. To say things did not start well would be an understatement. Poor shooting, turnovers, and overall lousy decision-making plagued Henderson. The 19-year-old was clearly in over his head leading an NBA offense. He did make some improvements later in the season, but his overall stats remained near the bottom of the league in terms of efficiency.
With two preseason games on the books, it’s a mixed bag. Obviously, this sample size is far too small to say anything with certainty. However, there were some reasons to feel cautiously optimistic about Henderson. In his second game, he managed to score 17 points and tack on 7 assists. His shooting percentage was nothing to swoon over, but he did show improvements.
Most importantly, he only had 1 turnover and 2 fouls. His ability to attack the rim was also on full display, as he managed to score at the basket and draw fouls. The leading PG in Portland certainly has a long way to go to earn his 3rd overall selection in the draft, but he has time. We’re confident Henderson will be able to find his footing in the league.