Lakers No. 9 threads a long, dynamic lineage. Jim Chones arrived in 1979 to shore up the frontcourt and help LA capture the 1980 title, posting 10.7 points and 7.4 rebounds in two seasons. A 1981 swap sent Chones to Washington Bullets as compensation when Mitch Kupchak signed with LA, reshaping the No. 9 legacy. Chones finished in Washington and later broadcast Cavaliers games, keeping the thread alive from Detroit Gems to Showtime.

From the Gems’ NBL roots to Minneapolis and onward, the No. 9 arc illustrates how one digit can echo through eras: frontcourt fits, championship runs, and rosters reshaped by trades and signings that ripple through fantasy value across generations.

Eric Gordon returns to Philadelphia on a one-year veteran minimum, aiming to regain health after wrist surgery and a 39-game 2024-25 campaign. He remains a defiant defender who can knock down important threes when he’s right. His three goals for 2025-26 are simple but pivotal: get healthy, space the floor for Embiid and Maxey, and serve as a mentor to a young guard group. Oct. 22 marks the start of a season that could hinge on Gordon’s health and shooting, plus how Nurse leverages a veteran voice off the bench.

Gordon’s health narrative, floor-spacing touch, and leadership duties could unlock a deeper Sixers rotation. If he’s able to contribute meaningful minutes, Philly benefits on both ends, especially with the progression of budding guards. This stint could redefine the bench dynamics and veteran presence that the Sixers lean on during a demanding NBA schedule.

Ben Simmons’ arc remains a fantasy enigma as injuries and pressure collided with hype. Patrick Beverley argues confidence cratered after the injuries and the Philly backlash, hinting that a smaller market might have staged a different outcome. Simmons’ three All-Star selections and 2018 Rookie of the Year remind fantasy managers of elite potential, but his shooting drought and current free-agent status cloud projections for 2025.