The 2022-23 NBA schedule was released on Wednesday (what portion of it wasn't previously leaked, anyway), and naturally, we're all running through it circling the matchups that stick out. Here are 10 to mark on your calendar through the first six weeks.

The New York Knicks and rising star forward RJ Barrett are in the process of finalizing a four-year contract extension worth up to $120 million, Barrett's agent Billy Duffy told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Monday night. When signed, the deal will not only complicate the Knicks' pursuit of Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell but also end one of the NBA's most embarrassing streaks with Barrett becoming the first New York draft pick to sign a multi-year contract extension since Charlie Ward in 1999.

The Los Angeles Lakers have finalized a trade that sends Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Patrick Beverley, according to Adrian Wojnarowski. No picks will be involved in the deal from either team. 

The Kyrie Irving trade speculation may have ceased (for now), but that doesn't mean the Los Angeles Lakers' point guard drama has come to an end. On Thursday, the Lakers acquired veteran defensive pest Patrick Beverley, leading to speculation about the status of beleaguered nine-time All-Star Russell Westbrook moving forward.

The Orlando Magic received some rough injury news over the weekend, as guard Gary Harris suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee, according to Adrian Wojnarowski. Harris, 27, will undergo further evaluation to determine a timetable for a return. The severity of the tear will go a long way toward determining just how much time Harris will have to miss, but with the regular season set to start in less than two months, Harris being forced to miss at least some of the season seems like a real possibility. 

Contrary to what he reportedly said last week, former NBA star Dennis Rodman will not be traveling to Russia to seek the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was recently sentenced to more than nine years in prison on drug charges. After the United States government publicly discouraged his plan, Rodman seems to have backpedaled on his unsanctioned diplomatic mission.

With the Kevin Durant saga now over after he and the Brooklyn Nets agreed to continue their partnership heading into the season, all eyes now shift to the Utah Jazz and All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell. While Mitchell hasn't formally requested a trade from Utah, he reportedly has a list of preferred destinations if it were to happen. 

The Kyrie Irving trade speculation may have ceased (for now), but that doesn't mean the Los Angeles Lakers' point guard drama has come to an end. On Thursday, the Lakers acquired veteran defensive pest Patrick Beverley, leading to speculation about the status of beleaguered nine-time All-Star Russell Westbrook moving forward.

The New York Knicks' interest in Donovan Mitchell is well chronicled. Utah is open to trading Mitchell, but Danny Ainge, who basically comes to these negotiations in a ski mask, is asking for the world. Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that New York offered the Jazz Obi Toppin, Evan Fournier and a total of five future first-round draft picks for Mitchell (two unprotected and three protected), but Ainge wants more. 

Kevin Durant lost.

The Brooklyn Nets were in DEFCON 1 less than two months ago, as former league MVP Kevin Durant requested a trade while his superstar teammate Kyrie Irving looked to be out the door, too.

Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem announced Sunday afternoon that he will be returning for his 20th and final season with the franchise. Haslem made the announcement at his youth basketball camp in Miami.

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum revealed in an interview on Sunday that he played through a fractured wrist during the 2022 NBA playoffs. Tatum did not miss any games in the playoffs as he led the Celtics to their first NBA Finals appearance since 2010, where they ultimately lost to the Golden State Warriors in six games. 

The NBA typically uses Christmas Day to showcase some of its most exciting teams and players, and this year is no different. The league's 2022 Christmas slate is jam-packed as it features five games, all of which are interesting in their own way. Not all games are created equal, though, so here we've gone ahead and ranked the five different games scheduled for Dec. 25, from least to most intriguing.

It's been almost two months since free agency started and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Collin Sexton remains unsigned. The 23-year-old guard has a three-year, $40 million offer on the table from the Cavaliers to remain in Cleveland, but reports at the start of summer indicated that he's looking for a deal that would pay him around $20 million a year. So far nothing has materialized for Sexton, but a recent report suggests that at one point Sexton was part of sign-and-trade discussions with the Dallas Mavericks.

Horace Grant's four NBA championship rings, including the three he won with the Chicago Bulls during their first three-peat from 1991-93, are up for auction. Per Heritage Auctions, the three Bulls rings are expected to fetch as much as $100,000 each, while his 2001 Los Angeles Lakers ring could sell for around $40,000. The auction will run until Aug. 27. 

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are set to give fans an inside look at their iconic 2008 Olympic gold medal journey as executive producers for a new documentary called "The Redeem Team" debuting Oct. 7 on Netflix. The 2008 team was a special one, as that roster helped the United States get over a hump they had been dealing with for a few years. The Americans had to settle for bronze during the 2004 Summer Olympics and also during the 2006 FIBA World Championship. 

With the NBA schedule released earlier this week and all of us trying to figure out how the season will play out, one stark question looms ominously and frustratingly over our predictions: What, pray tell, is the Brooklyn Nets roster going to look like on opening night?

Four-time NBA champion. Eight-time All-NBA. Two-time scoring champ. Two-time NBA MVP, including the only unanimous selection in league history. All-time leader in 3-pointers made. For any other player, this resumé alone would merit significant consideration as the greatest to ever play basketball.

The NBA announced on Tuesday that there will be no games scheduled on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022. All 30 teams will play the previous day for what they are referring to as "a civil engagement night."

Carrying the last name of perhaps the greatest NBA player of all time has its benefits, but also has its challenges. For high school star LeBron James Jr., better known as "Bronny," that includes the lofty expectations surrounding his development as a prospect. It all adds up to intrigue if -- as LeBron James himself has said he hopes will come to fruition -- the two someday can play together in the NBA.

The full 2022-23 NBA regular-season schedule was officially released on Wednesday, which means the start of the season is right around the corner. The upcoming season will tip off on Oct. 18, run through early April and feature a full 82-game slate for each team. 

Bronny threw down a stunning slam in France on Monday

Although Ben Simmons was traded from the Philadelphia 76ers to the Brooklyn Nets more than six months ago, there were still some loose ends that needed to be tied up between the All-Star guard and his former team. Simmons filed a grievance against the Sixers back in April in an effort to recoup a portion of the nearly $20 million in salary that Philadelphia withheld from him last season for refusing to play in games prior to getting traded. Now, the two sides have come to an agreement, per Adrian Wojnarowski, though the exact dollar amount will remain confidential. 

We're nearing the start of the 2022-23 NBA season, and with that comes the release of the schedule, which will be unveiled in its entirety on Wednesday at 3 pm E.T., per the league. Already we know the five Christmas Day matchups, featuring stars like Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo, and now we also know both games for opening night on Oct. 18.

The Los Angeles Lakers might be going through a tough period, but team owner Jeanie Buss is not actually resorting to selling PlayStation 5s to help her team. Buss' Twitter account was hacked this week and the hackers made posts saying she was selling three video game consoles to donate all the proceeds to charity.

Bill Russell, one of the greatest and most important athletes across all sports history, passed away at the age of 88 on Sunday. Naturally, the tributes came pouring in from the NBA community and beyond. 

It's been just about a month since the news broke that Kevin Durant had requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets. A few rumors have leaked regarding packages the Nets have asked other teams for, including a ludicrous one from the Timberwolves and a counter to a trade proposal from the Celtics that reportedly included Jaylen Brown, but nothing has appeared close to happening. 

Bill Russell, an 11-time NBA champion as a player and coach with the Boston Celtics and one of the most important figures in NBA history, has died at the age of 88, his family announced Sunday. Russell passed away peacefully with his wife Jeannine by his side. His family released the following statement.

Kobe Bryant didn't expect to exchange pleasantries with his opponents on Jan. 17, 2006. With the Miami Heat in town, he surely assumed another frosty reception from former teammate-turned-rival Shaquille O'Neal. But when pre-game stretches began, Bryant received a surprise visit from the Big Diesel. He congratulated him on the impending birth of his second daughter and the two shared the sort of pleasant interaction that many assumed after years of public feuding was simply no longer possible. And then, after the game, O'Neal spoke to reporters and it suddenly made sense. 

Bill Russell established himself as a legend both on and off of the basketball court. Over the course of his illustrious career with the Boston Celtics, Russell posted some unparalleled and sometimes downright unbelievable statistics that helped to secure his place as one of basketball's most revered -- and decorated -- players. He finished his career with averages of 15.1 points, 22.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game, and totals of 14,522 points, 21,620 rebounds and 4,100 assists.