Joel Embiid

Joel Embiid refusing to be transparent about his injury even within the 76ers and people within the team fearing upsetting Embiid by talking about his health created a dysfunctional environment last season, Yaron Weitzman of The Ringer details.

The obvious exponentially compounding factor: When Embiid is hurt, the 76ers are more likely to lose – and they lost a lot last year. Losing exacerbates nearly all problems.

But this reporting only adds to our understanding of the baggage Embiid carries. Maybe you empathize with him on a human level, given his personal sorrows. Maybe you understand his desire for privacy. Maybe you just think superstars can get away with whatever they want.

But it is harder for a team to succeed when operating under so much weight.

Meeting

Someone leaking that Tyrese Maxey called out Joel Embiid in a team meeting for always being late hurt the vibe of the entire 76ers team last season, according to Yaron Weitzman of The Ringer. Everyone promised to keep details of the meeting private and players left the meeting feeling they'd turned a corner, per Weitzman.

Embiid took the reversal hardest. He called the leaker "a real piece of shit" and was said to be investigating the leaker's identity.

Were other players actually mad – or just rallying behind the franchise player? Leaks happen in the NBA. Embiid was the only one whose reputation was sullied.

Embiid later said he knew who the leaker was and indicated the player could be back this season. Charania said he'd be stunned if Embiid actually knew the source.

So, everyone could be back together this season, with perhaps a falsely accused leaker (or accurately accused leaker) and a team full of players deeply upset by it (or just supporting Embiid). What could go wrong?

Daryl Morey

76ers president Daryl Morey often arrived in the office looking like he hadn't slept and friends described having to “talk him off the ledge” during phone calls, according to Yaron Weitzman of The Ringer.

Hopefully, that is far more figurative than literal.

Top executives set the tone for their organization. We saw that in Houston, where Morey dwelled on things outside his control and the (extremely productive) Rockets (team he built) likewise didn't always show resilience.

Philadelphia needs some optimism, and it'd be helpful if it came from the front-office leader.

Kawhi Leonard

The Clippers took the microphone from Ramona Shelburne of ESPN after she asked Kawhi Leonard multiple questions about Aspiration and didn't call on other reporters who had questions about the scandal, Shelburne said on ESPN LA.

Well, that explains why nobody asked Leonard the painfully obvious follow-up when he called it inaccurate he did no work for Aspiration: What work did you do for Aspiration?

Honestly, I'm surprised Leonard said as much as he did about it. I expected him to say he's focused on just basketball. By answering, he opened himself to getting caught in contradictions when talking to the NBA's investigators.

Ultimately, if the NBA investigation satisfactorily answers the remaining questions, that will be that. The Clippers would be cleared where it really matters.

But for now, the Clippers look both harsh and as if they have something to hide.

Jonathan Kuminga

Jonathan Kuminga felt forced into taking a team option, according to Anthony Slater of ESPN.

Well, yeah. Players never want a team option, and Kuminga's agent went public to emphasize how much Kuminga didn't want one. But the Warriors had plenty of leverage holding Kuminga's matching rights and used it.

We'll see how he responds. Though Kuminga himself said basically the right things, someone from his camp already leaking dissatisfaction rather than putting the free agency saga behind them doesn't instill confidence about this season going completely smoothly.

J.J. Redick

The Lakers gave J.J. Redick a two-year extension, bringing his contract to five years, $45 million ($9 million annually), according to Shams Charania of ESPN.

This is a nice payday for the young coach – and maybe even beneficial to the Lakers. Redick can coach the Lakers hard with players knowing the coach isn't going anywhere. That's especially important, as he was initially linked so close to LeBron James, who's infamously now on an expiring contract with Los Angeles.

Hollinger & Duncan

Hollinger & Duncan is BACK on video, if you prefer watching Nate and John:

Houston Rockets

Watch Nate and Jackson Gatlin preview the Rockets season:

-Dan Feldman