Russell Westbrook

Lakers up one. Thirty seconds left. Eighteen on the shot clock. Russell Westbrook, who'd brought the ball up court and hadn't passed, jacks up a jumper. He, of course, bricks. LeBron James holds up his hands in apparent disbelief and annoyance.

Los Angeles sat Westbrook, but the Trail Blazers went onto win yesterday, completing a comeback that mostly occurred once Westbrook entered the game late in the fourth quarter.

Asked about pulling Westbrook, Lakers coach Darvin Ham said, "We don’t have time for feelings or people being in their feelings."

LeBron also drew attention for his quote, telling the media they were trying to set him to say something about Westbrook but he wouldn't do it.

On one hand, when someone basically says "if I don't have anything nice to say, I won't say anything at all," that indicates they don't have anything nice to say. LeBron's non-answer sounds pretty telling.

On the other hand, LeBron's press conference began with three straight questions about Westbrook – none of which were explicitly about Westbrook and only one of which mentioned him at all. The first was about Portland covering Westbrook with a center, Jusuf Nurkic, but ended with asking what the Lakers wanted to get offensively in that situation. The second was about shot selection. The third was about going for a 2-for-1 with the lead.

If he wanted to defend Westbrook, LeBron could've. LeBron didn't. But the quote comes across slightly differently in context.

Phoenix Suns

NBA commissioner Adam Silver apologized to Phoenix Suns employees over the misconduct of Suns owner Robert Sarver. Silver, via Baxter Holmes of ESPN:

"Obviously, it's a failure of an overall system, of a league of 30 teams," Silver said

"Did I hear ever that Robert could be difficult to deal with? Sure," Silver told employees. "But that's very different than conduct which is viewed as discriminatory in any way."

This is why I didn't dwell on the specifics of the NBA's punishment for Sarver. The league was complicit, allowing all those transgressions to occur under its watch. The NBA is a business trying to make money, not a reliable arbiter of justice. The league has a responsibility to ensure its employees are treated appropriately and fairly. Until the league handles that duty better itself, I'm not relying on the league to swoop in after years and years of violations and suddenly get it right.

Tanking

Adam Silver also made headlines for telling Suns employees the NBA has considered relegation as a way to combat tanking. But in the same Baxter Holmes article that revealed Silver discussing relegation, Silver immediately explained why it's not viable.

In other words, the NBA considered relegation only to cross relegation off their list of viable solutions.

As fun as the concept sounds in theory, relegation would hurt fans.

NBA teams are located in places where they serve, give or take, the largest number of fans. The NBA's minor-league teams play in smaller markets or, generously, second-fiddle in the parent club's market. Think of the net negative for fans if Houston is relegated so Fort Wayne, Indiana can be promoted.

There are better solutions to tanking.

Jaylen Nowell

Timberwolves guard Jaylen Nowell is expected to bypass an extension, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Maybe Minnesota isn't offering this much and Nowell somehow knows Minnesota just wouldn't offer this much under any circumstances. But this report seems to imply Nowell wouldn't take even the largest-allowable extension (four years, $58,017,792).

That'd be daring.

He could get more as an unrestricted free agent this summer. The 23-year-old is scoring 15 points per game despite not yet shooting as well as he can. Talented scorers tend to get rewarded in free agency.

But Nowell has earned barely above the minimum salary so far in his career. An extension would be a great opportunity for financial security, even if it means not chasing every last dollar.

In our Mock Rookie Extensions podcast, Nowell and the Timberwolves agreed to a three-year, $20 million-$22.5 million extension with incentives Nowell is now on track to meet.  

Terry Rozier, Josh Richardson

Shams Charania of The Athletic named Hornets guard Terry Rozier and Spurs guard Josh Richardson as Lakers trade targets.

Los Angeles and Charlotte discussed three- and four-team trades over the summer, according Charania. Which sounds to me like the Hornets wanted no part of Russell Westbrook, so the teams were looking for another team to take Westbrook. But nobody wants Westbrook. So, that doesn't sound like a deal with any real traction. Plus, off to a 2-1 start, the Hornets might be less likely now to sell.

Richardson makes more sense with San Antonio so actively tanking. The Spurs, as shown on our cap sheets, also have nearly $30 million in cap space. That could help facilitate a trade for Westbrook, whose $47,063,478 salary is about $35 million higher than Richardson's $12,196,084. Richardson's shooting and defense would be welcomed by the Lakers. The Spurs should demand significant draft capital if giving the Lakers a good player and salary relief, especially by taking Westbrook's toxic contract for someone else on an expiring deal. Los Angeles is eying 2023 free agency.

Joel Embiid

Joel Embiid said he was sidelined two months entering training camp due to plantar fasciitis, Derek Bodner of The Daily Six Newsletter relays.

Glass-half-full outlook: This would explain Embiid's and 76ers' slow starts. Doc Rivers said Embiid is feeling better, and the center can play his way into shape and rhythm now.

Glass-half-empty outlook: Yet another health issue for Embiid.

Anthony Edwards

The Timberwolves have built their identity around two centers: Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert.

Minnesota's franchise player is Anthony Edwards.

“The smaller we go, the better it is for me,” Edwards said.

That quote drew some attention, but it's fairly obvious. Edwards was asked about his best offense coming in a small lineup, and of course he scored better with more spacing around him.

But the Timberwolves' defense takes a hit in those small lineups. Gobert upgrades the defense.

Edwards' challenge is figuring out how to score effectively while allowing Minnesota to put more defensive personnel on the floor. The Timberwolves' goal is to win, not put Edwards in the easiest position offensively. Part of being a star is succeeding in difficult situations.

For his part, Edwards said he was eager to figure out how to play better with two centers.

Jalen Brunson

Jalen Brunson went in the second round just four years ago, because he's small and not particularly athletic.

The Knicks just gave him $104 million, because he's a really good basketball player.

Fred Katz of The Athletic explored Brunson's unique offensive strengths, including this great origin-story quote from Brunson: “No one really knows how to guard a guard in the post in high school." Smart and fundamentally sound. Those traits have remained the bedrock of Brunson's game, even has he has expanded his repertoire.

Myles Turner

Pacers center Myles Turner tripped over a "low-level staffer" – not a ball boy, as previously reported – Gregg Doyel of IndyStar went out of his way to point out. Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files described the other person involved in Turner suffering an ankle injury that's sidelining him a week as a "basketball assistant."

There are low-level staffers on NBA teams whose responsibilities include what I'd describe as ball-boy duties. I fail to see the relevance of the distinction.

But passing along because we value accuracy here and just in case the difference matters to you anywhere near as much as it does to Doyel. I could be the one missing the significance.

Strategy Stream

Nate and Danny will be calling tonight's Nets-Grizzlies game on League Pass Strategy Stream. Tune in, and subscribe to the calendar to track their upcoming telecasts.

-Dan Feldman