By R.L. Bynum
There were significant changes for the Tar Heels in the offseason, with Harrison Barnes, Nassir Little and Leaky Black changing teams and a Chicago departure setting up the Bulls as Coby White’s team.
Most teams had their media days on Monday and opened camp on Tuesday.
The preseason starts Friday and Sunday with the reigning champion Boston Celtics playing exhibitions against the Denver Nuggets in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The rest of the league starts preseason play next week. Opening-day rosters are set on Oct. 21, with openers on Oct. 22.
Three rookies are going through their first NBA camps, with Armando Bacot at Memphis, Cormac Ryan in Oklahoma City and Harrison Ingram in San Antonio, where Sacramento dealt Barnes as part of a three-team deal in July.
Phoenix waived Little in August after he played sparingly with the Suns and he signed last month with the Miami Heat. After one season, the Charlotte Hornets waived Black, and he signed late last month with the Washington Wizards.
Fifth-year Orlando guard Cole Anthony, sixth-year Brooklyn forward Cameron Johnson, third-year Utah center Walker Kessler, second-year Cleveland center Pete Nance, fourth-year Brooklyn center Day’Ron Sharpe and White are back with the same teams.
After getting limited playing time last season in Houston, 11-year NBA veteran Reggie Bullock hasn’t signed with a team. Also unsigned are three players who played last season in the G League for the Texas Legends — forward Justin Jackson (who played briefly last season for the Minnesota Timberwolves), guard Theo Pinson and center Tony Bradley.
On July 8, the Kings sent Barnes to San Antonio in a three-team deal, with Chris Duarte and two second-round draft picks going to the Bulls and DeMar DeRozan going from Chicago to Sacramento.
That last part significantly increased White’s role in Chicago this season. DeRozan was the Bulls’ best player and the focus of their offense. White has taken both roles this season, and you could call the Bulls his team.
“I’m used to playing different roles,” said White (his part of the press conference in the above video starts at the 1-hour, 13-minute mark), who will likely play a lot at the 2 spot. “I’ve been doing that my whole career. On the ball, off the ball, whatever it may be, I think I’ve thrived in multiple roles. I’m excited. It’s a different opportunity to learn coming off last year, stepping into a new role.
“Would I want to have the ball in my hands all the time? Sure. But that’s not realistic. We’ve got other good guards on this team that are just as good with the ball in their hands. Me, I’m doing what’s best for the team.”
Last season, White averaged 19.1 points and 5.1 assists while shooting 44.7% from the floor — all career highs — making 37.6% of his 3-point attempts and shooting 83.8% from the free-throw line.
At 24 years old, White says it’s “kind of wild” to be in a leadership role.
“But it’s a blessing for me to be in the best league in the world and be considered a leader on the team,” White said. “I’m never going to take it for granted. I’m going to do my best for my teammates, always going to put them first.”
He’s already become a big fan favorite, and “Co-by, Co-by” chants rang down in Chicago when he scored 42 points against Atlanta in the Bulls’ 131–116 play-in game victory on April 18.
“When opportunity knocks, some people are ready to step through that door,” teammate Zach LaVine said. “Coby has always been ready for that. Talk about his leadership? He’s been doing that the last couple years. Coby is a very outspoken person and somebody we can count on for consistency, not just with his play but with his personality and the way he talks.
“That’s going to be great for us. Coby is only going to get better and better. I’ve been one of his biggest supporters since he was a rookie, and I can’t wait to see where it keeps going.”
Barnes and Ingram are part of a Spurs team built around center Victor Wembanyama, with some new faces, including veteran point guard Chris Paul.
“I think the difference between me and CP is like seven years, and the difference between me and Jeremy [Sochan] is like 11 years,” Barnes said. “We have a wide spectrum of guys on this roster, but I think the biggest thing is just establishing habits. It’s how you continue to get better every day and judge yourself on an internal metric versus trying to see external approval, right? That’s what you try to do every single day in this league. It’s difficult, especially as a young guy trying to get established and things like that, but I think for all of our guys, just trending in the right direction is gonna pay dividends for us now and for the long term.”
Ingram will be battling for playing time at power forward after averaging 12.2 points and 8.8 rebounds in his only season at Carolina. In a clip the Spurs posted on X (formerly Twitter), he sounded eager to get going.
Little is back in his home state with his third NBA team. He grew up in Florida and attended high school in Orlando before playing his one season at Carolina.
At Heat media day, he said he worked out with four teams before signing with the Miami Heat, although it’s a non-guaranteed contract. He’ll no doubt hope to get more of a chance to play after averaging only 10.2 minutes over 45 games for Phoenix.
“They wanted me here the most,” Little said. “I feel they value the type of player I am the most.”
Black likely will play some with the Wizards’ G League team, the Capital Go-Go, but hopes to stick on the NBA roster.
Ryan averaged 12.7 minutes, 4.0 points and 2.3 rebounds for the Thunder’s Summer League team. He signed an Exhibit 10 contract and will likely play a good bit with Oklahoma City’s G League team, the OKC Blue.
G League training camp opens on Oct. 28.
Bacot will battle for a roster spot in Memphis, which also welcomed rookie center Zach Edney.
Johnson is expected to start at small forward for Brooklyn after averaging 13.4 points and shooting 39.1% from 3-point range, while Sharpe will be the Nets’ backup center behind Nic Claxton.
Also expected to be a backup center is Walker Kessler, who is in his third season and will likely play behind former Wake Forest big man John Collins.
Anthony again is expected to come off the bench for Orlando as he begins his fifth season with the Magic after averaging 11.6 points last season.
Tar Heels on NBA preseason rosters
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
Age 24 | 6–2, 185 | 5th season | $12.9 million salary | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)
Roster situation — Reserve point guard/shooting guard
Statistics last season — 81 games, 11.6 points, 43.5 FG%, 33.8 3P%, 82.6 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists
First exhibition — 1:30 Monday, Oct. 7, at New Orleans
Armando Bacot, Memphis Grizzlies center
Age 24 | 6–11, 240 | rookie season | $1.16 million salary | UNC 2019–24 (5 seasons)
Roster situation — Competing for reserve minutes
Statistics last season (UNC) — 37 games, 14.5 points, 54.0 FG%, 4-10 3P, 78.1 FT%, 10.3 rebounds
First exhibition — 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7, at Dallas
Harrison Barnes, San Antonio Spurs forward
Age 32 | 6–8, 225 | 13th season | $19 million salary | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting small forward ahead of Julian Champaignie
Statistics last season (Kings) — 82 games, 12.2 points, 47.4 FG%, 38.7 3P%, 80.1 FT%, 3.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists
First exhibition — 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7, vs. Oklahoma City
Leaky Black, Washington Wizards guard
Age 25 | 6–6, 209 | 2nd season | Exhibit 10 contract | UNC 2018–23 (5 seasons)
Roster situation — Competing for a roster spot, likely to get G League playing time
NBA statistics last season — 26 games, 2.7 points, 48.1 FG%, 45.0 3FG%, 66.7 FT%, 1.8 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist
G League statistics last season — 25 games, 7.1 points, 43.7 FG%, 33.3 3FG%, 61.9 FT%, 6.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.5 of a block
First exhibition — 7:30 Sunday, Oct. 6, vs. Toronto in Montreal
Harrison Ingram, San Antonio Spurs forward
Age 21 | 6–7, 230 | rookie season | $578,577 salary | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Roster situation — Competing for reserve minutes at power forward
Statistics last season (UNC) — 37 games, 12.2 points, 43.0 FG%, 38.5 3P%, 61.2 FT%, 8.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists
First exhibition — 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7, vs. Oklahoma City
Cameron Johnson, Brooklyn Nets forward
Age 28 | 6–8, 210 | 6th season | $22.5 million salary | UNC 2017–19 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting small forward ahead of Jalen Wilson
Statistics last season — 58 games, 13.4 points, 44.6 FG%, 39.1 3P%, 78.9 FT%, 4.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists
First exhibition — 10:30 Tuesday, Oct. 8, at L.A. Clippers
Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz center
Age 23 | 7–0, 245 | 3rd season | $2.97 million salary | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
Roster situation — Backup center behind John Collins
Statistics last season — 64 games, 8.1 points, 65.5 FG%, 21.1 3P%, 60.2 FT%, 7.5 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist, 2.4 blocks
First exhibition — 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, vs. New Zealand Breakers
Nassir Little, Miami Heat wing
Age 24 | 6–6, 220 | 6th season | $2.43 million salary | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
Roster situation — Competing for reserve minutes
Statistics last season (Suns) — 45 games, 3.4 points, 46.0 FG%, 30.0 3P%, 85.0 FT%, 1.7 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist
First exhibition — 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, at Charlotte
Pete Nance, Cleveland Cavaliers center
Age 24 | 6–10, 225 | 2nd season | Exhibit 10 contract | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Roster situation — Competing for a roster spot, likely to get G League time
Statistics last season — 8 games, 27 minutes, 3 points, 1–6 FG, 1–1 3FG, 0–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 turnover, 1 steal, 2 fouls
First exhibition — 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8 vs. Chicago
Cormac Ryan, Oklahoma City Thunder guard
Age 25 | 6–5, 195 | rookie season | Exhibit 10 contract | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Competing for reserve minutes; like to get G League minutes
Statistics last season (UNC) — 36 games, 11.5 points, 38.2 FG%, 35.4 3P%, 87.4 FT%, 2.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists
First exhibition — 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7, at San Antonio
Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Age 22 | 6–9, 265 | 4th season | $3.8 million salary | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
Roster situation — Backup center behind Nic Claxton
Statistics last season — 61 games, 6.8 points, 57.1 FG%, 26.7 3P%, 51.0 FT%, 6.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists
First exhibition — 10:30 Tuesday, Oct. 8, at L.A. Clippers
Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
Age 24 | 6–5, 195 | 6th season | $12 million salary | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting shooting guard
Statistics last season — 79 games, 19.1 points, 44.7 FG%, 37.6 3P%, 83.8 FT%, 4.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists
First exhibition — 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, at Cleveland
Photo via @chicagobulls
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