That local interest sparked this local ownership group but they were behind the expansion efforts of Detroit, Cleveland, and Philadelphia. The hope is they become a priority for the next potential expansion.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn terms of the path forward for us, it looks more and more like it\u2019s going to be expansion,\u201d Gerritson said. \u201cAnd in terms of the expansion process, we weren\u2019t able to submit a formal bid last time it was open purely because of timing. Since then, we have worked tirelessly to meet and exceed all standards for expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n
The goals, according to Gerritson, is a world-class playing facility and local partnerships to pair with the star power and capital investors the group has acquired.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got everything,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve checked all the boxes. We\u2019re ready to go. We\u2019ve had conversations with the NBA and WNBA. They know who we are. So it\u2019s all looking very positive. There are some things we don\u2019t know but we feel good about our chances. Whether it takes five years or a couple of years, we\u2019re committed to bringing a team to Boston.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the popularity of the sport, the WNBA, I think it would be in everybody\u2019s best interest if there was an accelerated timeline for expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n
The biggest priority for the WNBA after this expansion announcement is a new collective bargaining agreement with the players association. While the league continues to grow, roster spots are scarce with the expansion Golden State Valkyries waiving guard Julie Vanloo after she returned from her commitment to the Belgian National Team. Most players who leave their teams for national commitments are generally given back their roster spots when they return. But with the emergence of former UConn guard Kaitlyn Chen, Vanloo was expendable and with only 12 roster spots, she was jettisoned.<\/p>\n
There is a need for more WNBA teams, and the BWBP wants to be part of this growth.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s in the WNBA\u2019s court,\u201d Gerritson said. \u201cWe\u2019ve done everything that we\u2019ve been able to do from getting the public support to a lot of the stuff we\u2019re doing at the grass-roots level. At this point, it\u2019s really up to the league. They all know this group is more eager than ever to put a team in Boston.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gerritson said the BWBP would be open to conversations with new Celtics ownership about a collaboration. There are a lot of questions that remain, most notably when and if the WNBA will expand again and whether Boston is a priority for a new team with the Sun only two hours away. But the BWBP said its ready to file the application for expansion when the league is open to continued growth.<\/p>\n
![\"TD](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/N4SUHNEYM24V23RMUDO3OJS3A4.JPG\")
TD Garden was packed when the Sun played Sparks last August.Danielle Parhizkaran\/Globe Staff<\/p>\n
Remaining free agents<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s class is not stellar<\/p>\n
We\u2019re a week into free agency and there have been more trades than impactful signings, but there are a handful of available players at moderate salaries that could impact their new teams, including Celtics center Al Horford.<\/p>\n
This was not a stellar free agent class, which is why teams such as Washington accepted contracts through this season instead of saving up money for this group. <\/p>\n
Here is a look at the most attractive remaining free agents and where they may be headed:<\/p>\n
Horford \u2014 There are several teams interested in the 39-year-old big man, including the Celtics, but it\u2019s likely the Boston fan favorite will head elsewhere. Horford has to determine whether the West Coast is an option to conclude his career. Horford is comfortable in Boston. His family resides here and it could be a difficult decision to uproot and head to Golden State for perhaps one season. With the Lakers signing Jaxson Hayes to a one-year contract to backup Deandre Ayton, there is little chance for Horford to head to the Celtics\u2019 rivals. Golden State is the favorite here, but Horford could return to Boston on a discount contract or even retire.<\/p>\n
Jonathan Kuminga \u2013 In the previous generation, being a restricted free agent was an enticing situation because teams could bid on players and the current team had the right to match. But in this free agent generation, restricted players are often too difficult to acquire unless their current team has no interest in re-signing them. There has been no formal offer for Kuminga, a promising but inconsistent swingman who has been stifled in coach Steve Kerr\u2019s system. The Warriors would love him back on their qualifying offer for one more season and it might be the safe bet for Kuminga to bet on himself, accept the offer, and become an unrestricted free agent next summer.<\/p>\n
Quentin Grimes \u2014 The 76ers guard had a breakout stretch after being acquired from the Mavericks and now he reportedly wants $25 million per season, so therefore he has no offers. Teams that make offers to restricted free agents need salary cap space, meaning teams can\u2019t drive up the market price with no intention of honoring the deal. Grimes is likely to return to Philadelphia and then become an unrestricted free agent next summer.<\/p>\n
Russell Westbrook \u2014 Once again, Westbrook may have overplayed his hand in free agency, opting out of the final year of his contract with the Nuggets at $3.4 million in hopes of landing a more lucrative deal elsewhere. Westbrook is not for every NBA team and there is a limited market for an energy-filled veteran who has a tendency to pout when he\u2019s not playing his desired minutes. After Westbrook opted out, the Nuggets brought back Boston native Bruce Brown to fill his role. Brown is younger and played the best basketball of his career with the Nuggets. The best Westbrook could do now is accept a minimum deal from a contender and hope for the same role he received in Denver. It would have been prudent just to stay with the Nuggets.<\/p>\n
Chris Paul \u2014 The soon-to-be 40-year-old point guard wants to play another NBA season and wants to stay close to his West Coast home. That counts a lot of teams out but Paul still has market value. He played in all 82 games last season for San Antonio and is still a strong floor leader. A team looking for a part-time point guard and mentor would be smart to bring him on. The Clippers could bring him back to pair with James Harden or he could return to Phoenix, who lost point guard Tyus Jones to the Magic.<\/p>\n
Chris Boucher \u2014 He\u2019s played in Toronto all but one game in his career and is a solid 3-point shooter from the corner but he\u2019s likely to get only a minimum deal because of the drying market. Boucher was solid last season in averaging 10 points and 4.5 rebounds in 17 minutes and may be a target for a contending team that\u2019s low on cap space. The Raptors are still in rebuilding mode and general manager Masai Ujiri was just fired, so Boucher is expected to sign with a new team. Injuries have plagued Boucher, who has played in 76 or more games just twice in seven years.<\/p>\n
Malcolm Brogdon \u2014 He just hasn\u2019t been the same player since winning the Sixth Man of the Year award in his lone season with the Celtics. Brogdon has played in just 63 games over the past two seasons. The question is whether Brogdon still has enough left at age 32 to be a quality backup point guard. Now that he comes at a likely inexpensive price, he can play a role on a winning team instead of being just a trade chip as he was in the past two seasons. Brogdon\u2019s days as a starter likely are over but a contending club will eventually take a chance on a player who was very good just two years ago.<\/p>\n
Cameron Payne \u2014 He had his moments in New York but Payne eventually was benched for the Eastern Conference finals against the Pacers. Teams usually like their backup point guards to be steady game managers but Payne sometimes believes he\u2019s capable of more than he can deliver. There are too many solid guards on the market for Payne to be a priority.<\/p>\n
Daniel Theis \u2014 This is an interesting one because his former team is looking for a center but Theis\u2019s days of playing major minutes may be over. Theis knows the Celtics\u2019 system and is not afraid to get physical. But for any team, Theis is likely an 11th hour option as a backup center. He played in 39 games last season with the Pelicans but he\u2019s still capable of grabbing rebounds and giving out hard fouls.<\/p>\n
Marvin Bagley \u2014 The second overall pick in 2018 is a journeyman now but he can still run the floor and provide a spark with his energy. Bagley was limited to 31 games last season because of injuries but he could be a final resort for a team looking for a third big man. Bagley just hasn\u2019t been able to stay healthy or productive and it\u2019s been a disappointing career considering he was selected ahead of Trae Young, Luka Doncic, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.<\/p>\n
Gary Payton II \u2014 The defensive ace\u2019s three-year, $27 million contract has expired and the Warriors are likely to move on from the oft-injured reserve. He\u2019s likely to sign a minimum or maybe a taxpayer midlevel contract. Payton can give a contender a solid on-ball defender and decent 3-point shooting. Injuries have been a problem and he\u2019s only played in more than 62 games once in his career.<\/p>\n
![\"Russell](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/LVMY6FU24BATLJ5CNSMNPRRVXE.jpg\")
Russell Westbrook opted out of the final year of his contract with the Nuggets, which might not be a sound financial move.Kyle Phillips\/Associated Press<\/p>\n
Getting her due<\/p>\n
Sparks retire Parker\u2019s number<\/p>\n
The Los Angeles Sparks haven\u2019t been the same WNBA franchise since Candace Parker was benched by coach Derek Fisher in the playoffs and then allowed to sign with her hometown Chicago Sky, whom she led to a championship in 2021. The Sparks finally honored the all-time great by retiring her No. 3 this past weekend during a game against the Sky. Parker, now an NBA commentator, was gracious.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I got drafted out here, it became home,\u201d she said. \u201cI lived here longer than I\u2019ve lived anywhere else, and so it\u2019s super important for me to be able to see this jersey in the rafters before any of the other ones. I think it\u2019s just super special to be able to share that with my teammates and coaches and the organization that bet on me and picked me first in the 2008 WNBA Draft.\u201d<\/p>\n
The WNBA expanding is evidence of the league\u2019s growth and Parker has been outspoken about what she tabs as unfair criticism of the league\u2019s players outside of basketball. The game is more popular than ever and players such as Parker set the stage for that ascension.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think where the game is, it\u2019s just the next picking it up and taking it where it needs to go, leaving it better than you came into it,\u201d she said. \u201cI know I had vets like Lisa Leslie [and] Cheryl Miller [who] was a huge inspiration for me, and I think she laid the foundation to where the league is playing now, the athleticism and the style of play. So, I think to see where women\u2019s sports is, as a society, we should be proud, because I think we need women in leadership positions, and that\u2019s the best way to do it through sport and giving it a chance \u2026 I can tell my kids that as a little girl and a little boy, you can dream it, and you can do and accomplish anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Candace](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/VCXQ6UE6XVF5ZMV4UHSJUMF3BU.jpg\")
Candace Parker’s No. 3 was retired by the Sparks.Harry How\/Getty<\/p>\n
The Trail Blazers had been trying to rid themselves of Anfernee Simons and Deandre Ayton since the end of the season and they traded Simons to the Celtics in the Jrue Holiday deal and bought out Ayton\u2019s contract. Ayton was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft and he has yet to make an All-Star team. He hasn\u2019t been the same player since clashing with Phoenix coach Monty Williams during the 2021 NBA Finals. Ayton was traded to Portland in the deal that allowed the Suns to acquire Kevin Durant. Ayton should have gotten the hint when the Blazers acquired Robert Williams in the Holiday deal and then took centers Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen in consecutive drafts \u2026 The Celtics added former Grizzlies and 76ers big man Kenneth Lofton Jr. to their summer league squad, giving the 22-year-old another chance to make an NBA impression after he won the International MVP in the Chinese Basketball Association last season. Lofton has NBA skills and potential but weight has been an issue since he left Louisiana Tech early and was undrafted in 2022. He signed a two-way contract with the Grizzlies and scored 40 points with 10 rebounds in his first NBA start. But he\u2019s bounced around since that Memphis stint, getting waived by the 76ers, Jazz, and Bulls before heading to China \u2026 An interesting free agent is former No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons, coming off that five-year max deal he signed with the 76ers. Simmons apparently does not want to play for the league minimum but that may be his only choice. <\/p>\n
Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at gary.washburn@globe.com<\/a>. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe<\/a>.<\/p>\n