NBA Rumors: Cam Reddish suffers ankle sprain in Lakers' preseason opener

The Los Angeles Lakers signed former top-10 pick Cam Reddish to a minimum contract over the summer. He is expected to compete for backup wing minutes in a crowded rotation, but his LA stint is off to the worst possible start.

Reddish went to the ground with an ankle injury in the Lakers' preseason opener against the Golden State Warriors. The play happened with roughly 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Reddish rotated from the corner to defend a drive and quickly crumpled to the ground.

Reddish walked gingerly to the locker room and was later diagnosed with a right ankle sprain. The timeline for Reddish's return is uncertain, but one has to imagine the Lakers will tread carefully in preseason. Reddish is something of a known commodity at this point, so there's no reason to rush him back.

The Duke product split last season between the New York Knicks and Portland Trail Blazers, averaging 9.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists on .446/.313/.853 splits in 24.8 minutes. Reddish has always oozed natural talent, but for every silky-smooth scoring flourish, there's a defensive breakdown or an instance where he simply lacks the burst to generate space on a shot attempt.

The Lakers bet on talent, but there's a reason the 24-year-old only signed a minimum contract. He's fighting for his career; hopefully this injury is only a minor setback.

NBA Rumors: 76ers looking ahead to 2024 free agency with grand ambitions

The Philadelphia 76ers open the preseason Sunday against a familiar foe in the Boston Celtics. Several questions linger when it comes to the Sixers, none more than when will James Harden get traded? The Sixers' point guard has been a good sport in training camp and he's questionable for the preseason opener, but with the Clippers on the prowl, it's only a matter of time until the Beard gets his wish — a one-way ticket out of Philly.

If the Sixers trade Harden for picks and Terance Mann, for example, there's really no chance the team can compete with the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference. There's barely a chance even with a fully happy and healthy Harden. It's never wise to count out a player of Joel Embiid's caliber and there's a chance Nick Nurse profoundly alters Philadelphia's execution for the better. Still, the Sixers are an inevitable Harden trade away from momentary irrelevance.

That's why it should come as no surprise that Daryl Morey and the front office are already focused on next summer. Ramona Shelburne went on 'NBA Today' to discuss Philadelphia's master plan.

"I had the chance to talk to Josh Harris. He said flat out that he talks to Joel Embiid about this stuff. Sixers have a plan which they have set forth which is to retain as much cap space as they can for next year. They didn't sign guys beyond this year. They have expiring deals... Joel Embiid knows where this strategy is. He understands what they're trying to do, but they gotta pull it off."

The plan is simple — to clear the books for 2024 and attempt to lure another star (or two) to Philadelphia. The Sixers have been operating carefully all summer, going as far as to not sign Tyrese Maxey to the customary rookie contract extension many of his NBA Draft peers have already signed.

It is, as Shelburne notes, a very risky strategy. It all but guarantees the Sixers will spend another season outside the championship circle and it could all fall apart in an instant. The 2024 free agent class isn't particularly strong and there's no guarantee the few high-profile names on the market will take an interest in Philadelphia. The Sixers can hold out hope for a trade, but Philadelphia is in a position to get outbid for any true superstar.

NBA Rumors: Nets confident Ben Simmons is back to full speed

There is palpable excitement coming out of Brooklyn Nets training camp about the condition of three-time All-Star Ben Simmons, who appears to be starting in the backcourt next to Spencer Dinwiddie. Last season was the worst of Simmons' tumultuous career, with a nagging back injury and questions of confidence hanging over him like a wet blanket.

Now, that all appears to be in the rearview mirror. Simmons is as healthy as he's been since before the trade, and Brooklyn is pedaling the renaissance narrative early.

Jacque Vaughn spoke to Brian Lewis of the New York Post about the potential of the new-look backcourt with a full-speed Simmons in the mix.

"I'm trying to think how can we use [Simmons and Dinwiddie in the backcourt] as an advantage for us? Spencer can handle the basketball, he can shoot off the basketball. There's history to that. And there's history to Ben creating shots for guys, because he plays with the pace. Really like not too many people can match that pace. And so can we use that to advantage to get easy baskets? When you're scouting us, who's going to bring it up? It's not gonna be the same person every single time."

The Nets open their preseason schedule tomorrow, Oct. 9, on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers. That will be our first look at the allegedly 100-percent Ben Simmons. If he is indeed back to his old ways, Simmons could radically change the trajectory of this Nets team and make them a genuine force in the East. Not long ago, Simmons was a perennial All-Star and a DPOY runner-up.