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The NBA offseason is in full swing, and among the crazy moves that have already taken place, one of them notably involved someone who’s the most notable Syracuse Orange men’s basketball alum in the league.

Jerami Grant is entering his 13th season in the league, and it will, at least for now, be spent with a new team.

Grant was part of a blockbuster-ish move between the Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies. Portland traded Grant and Kris Murray to Memphis in exchange for former two-time All-Star Ja Morant.

Assuming he stays there by the time the offseason ends, this will be Grant’s fifth NBA team in his NBA career. Grant, who was drafted No. 39 overall in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, previously had stints with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, and Portland, most recently.

Despite being in the league for some time, Grant certainly still brings plenty of value to any team.

Grant’s archetype — a forward who can both knock down threes at an efficient rate and be a multi-position defender — remains the league’s highest commodity. While he isn’t the elitist of defenders or the best of rebounders (career 3.9 RPG), he can fit into the larger scheme and won’t necessarily be “hunted” by opponents.

Last season, he averaged 18.6 PPG in just under 30 minutes per contest, and his perimeter efficiency is especially noteworthy. Grant knocked down 39% of his 6.1 attempts per game. That’s been a constant for years for him. Across his last four seasons and 221 games (201 as a starter) in Portland, he’s been at 39% on 5.8 APG.

Also, Grant has been a reliable 15- to 20-point scorer. Pair that with being wing-sized and theoretically fitting into any defense, and he can still retain his value well past his true prime. In 2026-27, Grant will be playing his age-32 season.

In Memphis, it will be interesting to see how the team manages him.

On the one hand, Grant’s aforementioned skill set and veteran expertise in the league will help a franchise that is now turning the page on the Morant Era and moving into a full-on rebuild. Memphis needs that for a team with a new young core of guys like Cameron Boozer, Cedric Coward, Zach Edey, and Jaylen Wells.

On the other hand, Memphis’ offseason may not be done quite yet. Take a look at the Grizzles’ roster, and it’s clear the team is *way above the 15-player limit. That came via the moves Memphis made during the offseason, new draft picks, and younger players from the previous season. Grant can be moved by Memphis starting on August 29, according to Spotrac, so it remains to be seen if he stays or goes.

Grant’s current deal is also a hurdle in any potential move.

He can still be under contract for at least two more seasons. This is part of a five-year, $160 million deal he previously signed with Portland. Grant’s 2026-27 salary is guaranteed at just over $34 million. He then boasts a player option for just over $36 million for the 2027-28 season.

For any team, even with the value he can bring to a better team than Memphis, it’s a big financial pill to swallow, especially in an era of the second apron and new financial restrictions that franchises are navigating. Grant’s 2026-27 salary makes up 20.7% of the cap that year; for the player option season, it would be 20.9%.

Of note, teams are still willing to pay in the ballpark of those figures. The challenge is taking that salary in midseason, especially when it’s tougher to find the matching salary and adequate flexibility to make it work.

What most likely happens is that either Grant gets dealt again, or he stays in Memphis for at least the start of the year and gets moved during the trade deadline or next offseason.

Another intriguing option is that if Grant stays, he could decline the player option to sign a longer deal.

A realistic example is someone like Andrew Wiggins with the Miami Heat. Wiggins just signed a three-year, $64 million extension. In this case, Wiggins accepted his $30.2 million player option for this year, then added two years at the remaining $34 million. A similar configuration will likely happen with Grant, either declining or accepting the option, and either in Memphis or with a new team.

Again, Grant will have options, and it will certainly be interesting to see what comes next for the veteran ‘Cuse alum.

We are now through the first weekend of the Las Vegas Summer League and after a couple opening summer leagues in California and Utah respectively, all 30 NBA teams have shown up for the main event. The University of North Carolina has quite a few players represented, so let’s take a look at Tar Heels (and former Tar Heels) who are playing in Las Vegas this Summer.

Henri Veesaar, Atlanta Hawks

Veesaar continued his strong finish to the Utah Summer League with a strong start in Las Vegas. In his first game against San Antonio, Veesaar finished with 14 points and six rebounds while hitting five of his eight shots — including two of his five from downtown — in 19 minutes off the bench for the Hawks.

Veesaar’s second game was not as impressive, as the big man finished with just six points and a single rebound in 17 minutes in a win against the Nets. Veesaar did hit three of his five shots but missed his lone three-point attempt.

Veesaar and the Hawks next play Monday against the Celtics.

Drake Powell, Brooklyn Nets

Powell continues to have a horrible second round of Summer League. After playing poorly in California, the former first-round pick has scored five total points in 45 minutes across two games starting for the Nets. All of Powell’s points have come off free throws as he is zero for 11 in Las Vegas, including 0-for-4 from behind the arc. On a positive note, Powell does have five total rebounds and three assists while only committing one turnover despite his shooting woes.

Caleb Wilson, Chicago Bulls

We covered Wilson pretty extensively after his record-setting debut, but I did want to do a little comparison before moving:

Player A

26 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.5 apg, 2.3 spg, 1.8 bpg, 2.3 topg, 62.3 FG%       

Player B

21.8 ppg, 7 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.5 spg, 1.83 bpg, 3.5 topg, 49.2 FG%

Player A is what Wilson averaged against the perceived top three for the 2026 draft. Player B is what those top three averaged against Wilson. Wilson is 2-2 in those games, with both losses coming by a combined three points. Assuming no one gets shut down (a summer league tradition for top picks), Wilson’s next two games come against Peterson and Dybantsa respectively, which means two more chances for the number 4 pick to show why he should’ve been picked higher.

Cormac Ryan, Milwaukee Bucks

Ryan came back for the Bucks after missing Milwaukee’s final two California Summer League games with a less-than-impressive game off the bench against the Heat. Ryan finished that game with just seven points shooting just two for seven from the field, including one for four from three. Though he did have eight rebounds and two blocks in 22 minutes, Ryan also had four turnovers in the 30 point blowout loss.

In his second game against the Spurs, Ryan came off the bench again and acquitted himself well, scoring 15 points, grabbing five rebounds, and getting four steals in the loss to the Spurs. Ryan’s next game is Monday against the Suns.

Pete Nance, Milwaukee Bucks

Nance, who did not play with Milwaukee in California, started both of his games for the Bucks. Nance had an efficient game against the Heat, scoring 16 points and grabbing seven rebounds while hitting six of ten from the floor — including four of his eight three point attempts — in 21 minutes of play. In his second start against the Spurs, Nance finished with eight points, five rebounds, and five assists in a quieter game. Like Ryan, Nance’s next game is Monday against the Suns.

Tyler Nickel, New York Knicks

Nickel has had a pretty impressive Summer League for the NBA champions. The former Tar Heel scored 18 points while hitting six of ten from three in his first game against the Nets. In his second game he had 16 points while hitting four of 11 from deep. Both games were blowout losses, but Nickel can’t be blamed for that. Nickel’s next game is Monday against the Pistons.

RJ Davis, San Antonio Spurs

Davis continued his impressive Summer League with three more games this weekend in Las Vegas. After two good showings in California, including one start, the five-year Tar Heel started off his Vegas showing strong with 12 points, three assists, two rebounds, and two steals in 25 minutes off the bench in a loss to the Hawks. Two days later he had five points, three rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 18 bench minutes in a blowout win over the Knicks. In both games Davis did have three turnovers, but seemed to be a valuable player.

In Davis’s third summer league game, the second year guard made his second start of the Summer League in a game against the Bucks. Davis had his best game of the Summer League season, scoring 20 points while dishing out three assists and getting two steals in in 29 minutes in the win for the Spurs. Davis’s next game is Wednesday against the Jazz.

Seth Trimble, Washington Wizards

Trimble, who signed with the Wizards on an Exhibit 10 contract, is playing for his NBA future. So far the four-year Tar Heel has looked alright. In his first game against the Jazz, Trimble had two points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals in 12 minutes off the bench in a game where the spotlight was definitely on the top two picks from the 2026 NBA draft.

In his second game against the Kings, Trimble had eight points, five rebounds, two steals, and an assist. Trimble’s best shot is probably getting some sort of G-League deal (whether two-way or not) and so far he is showing off his all-around game in Las Vegas. Trimble’s next game is Tuesday against the Bulls.

Additionally, former Tar Heels Jalen Washington and Caleb Love signed with the Chicago Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers respectively. Washington didn’t get any playing time in the Bulls’ one game this weekend, and for some reason Love is not on the Sixers’ Summer League roster.

LeBron James is 41 years old and still seizes the epicenter of the NBA offseason discourse. He is a gargantuan figure, almost larger, if not bigger, than the sport of basketball itself. Therefore, it is assumed that where LeBron goes, he will be the sun of any team’s solar system.

A common complaint amongst NBA pundits about another potential reunion with the Cleveland Cavaliers is that LeBron’s positional fit is, if anything, more awkward than others’. While LeBron will be the biggest name on the roster wherever he lands, at this phase of his career, LeBron cannot be the end-all, be-all of the roster. The good thing for both LeBron and the team is that his game is so versatile it seamlessly integrates into whatever the roster requires of him.

LeBron’s tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers really took an interesting turn when Luka Dončić arrived. While it definitely extended the window for LA, it left LeBron in a position we hadn’t really seen him in his 23 years in the league: a clear second banana.

Instead of inviting criticism, it actually drew the King more praise — highlighting that this new role was a perfect transition for an aging mega-star. LeBron is one of the smartest players in league history. He knows what the team needs and what leads to winning. Instead of being the focal point, he showed that he can expand his game to help maintain a dependable floor of production while also driving winning through contributions that extend beyond the box score.

LeBron’s greatest offensive strength this past season wasn’t any one skill; it was his capacity to be whatever the Lakers needed on a given night. He could function as the engine of the offense, initiating nearly every action, or recede into a complementary role, leveraging his screening, cutting, spacing, and connective passing to elevate the players around him. Few stars possess that kind of stylistic flexibility without sacrificing their effectiveness.

That versatility became especially valuable as the Lakers’ personnel shifted throughout the year. Rather than forcing the offense to conform to him, James continually reshaped his game to fit the roster at hand, ensuring the team retained its identity regardless of who was available.

By the time the playoffs arrived and injuries thrust him back into the spotlight, he effortlessly expanded his responsibilities, controlling tempo, diagnosing coverages, and creating advantages wherever they presented themselves. His ability to toggle between superstar creator and elite complementary piece wasn’t simply a luxury; it was the foundation that kept the Lakers competitive under constantly changing circumstances.

In Cleveland, LeBron would be able to continue this role on a greater scale, as Cleveland’s roster is more balanced. With James Harden and Donovan Mitchell, they would carry the bulk of time on-ball, allowing LeBron to choose his spots. The presence of dynamic bigs in Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen allows LeBron to have plentiful options while also having elite lob threats and, in the case of Allen, an excellent screener. Knockdown shooters like Sam Merrill and Max Strus are archetypes that have always had success with LeBron throughout all iterations of his career.

The basketball concerns floating around about LeBron being an awkward fit with the Cavaliers are underselling the fact that the Lakers have asked him to be the ultimate basketball chameleon over the last season and a half. LeBron can insert himself into any offense in the league and find his best way to ingratiate himself with any roster. Cleveland offers him the most coverage of responsibility to be the guy of any of the realistic options out there. It already is apparent that Cleveland’s stars are welcoming and not daunted by the prospect of the King joining the Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers aren’t desperate for the 2010’s version of LeBron James; this isn’t 2014 when he brought with him a level of competency that the franchise was lacking. This team has been a constant postseason presence since 2022, having just made their first non-LeBron run to the Eastern Conference Finals. The potential reunion is one where LeBron can insert himself into the Cavaliers lineup, and it’s not like the messiah arrived. It instead feels like the ultimate complementary piece that completes the Cavaliers roster.

The balance of power in the NBA flipped dramatically this offseason, after a flurry of big acquisitions turned the Eastern Conference into a hotbed of contenders. 

With so many players changing homes, let’s rank the top 10 teams in the East based on likelihood to represent the conference in the 2027 NBA Finals...

10: Magic

A team that was largely quiet, the biggest thing going for Orlando is a bet on better health and their new head coach, Sean Sweeney. They have some of the best on-paper talent in the East that’s failed to unlock its full potential in recent years. Could this be the one?

9: Hawks

The Hawks are banking on the back half of last season not being a fluke, doubling down on smart guard additions in Devin Carter and Aaron Wiggins, plus drafting Kingston Flemings. They can easily sneak their way into a high seed while the rest of the East works through new teammates and injury concerns.

8: Pistons

All-Star center Jalen Duren still hasn’t re-signed, but even if he does, the Pistons needed a stronger summer to push themselves to new heights. With their spacing and secondary creation sticking out as major weaknesses in the playoffs, their one needle-mover was trading for Isaiah Joe, and otherwise swapping one middling power forward for another and trading away Caris LeVert.

7: Heat

Pat Riley made the biggest splash of the summer in trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo, forming a dynamic duo with center Bam Adebayo. The talent speaks for itself, but the fit and supporting cast aren’t saying anything pretty.

Their current starting backcourt is Davion Mitchell and Tim Hardaway Jr., and they’ll be relying on a thin bench to help fill out the rotation. What’s more is their spacing will be a big question mark, especially in the postseason.

6: Cavaliers

The Cavs, like a few teams on this list, can vault a few spots if one particular pending free agent decides to sign here. In the meantime, they’re returning about the same roster from their Conference Finals run last year, hoping a James Harden training camp and the drafting of Meleek Thomas gives them an edge.

5: Celtics

As we saw last season, Boston has the depth and system to power through the regular season despite any on-paper talent they might be lacking. They can now double down on that system with a cleaner fit in Paul George, and a bolstered rotation thanks to the acquisitions of Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley.

4: 76ers

Adding a top talent and capable innings-eater like Jaylen Brown will do wonders for Philadelphia's regular season record and ultimate postseason ceiling, but plenty of questions remain. A Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid-centric offense now has a 1A guy thrown in the middle -- one who can’t drift into a supporting role for stretches as seamlessly as the previous player in his position.

The spacing and defense with Brown in the rotation is just the tip of the iceberg. Their depth is still questionable and while we’re assuming full health, we haven’t seen Embiid play 40 regular season games in three seasons, and his postseason impact is slowly degrading as well.

3: Pacers

Everybody seems to be sleeping on the 2025 Finals runner-up after an injury-riddled and Tyrese Haliburton-less 2026 season. Perhaps that’s because they were quiet this summer relative to the rest of the East, or because they’re replacing a spread five with paint-centric Ivica Zubac.

But if Haliburton is back and healthy, and they can avoid another avalanche of bad luck, Indiana will be in prime position to take advantage. Teams will be adjusting to new players and systems while the Pacers can pick up on the fast-paced chemistry they already built between their two All-Stars and strong supporting cast.

2: Raptors

Assuming the Kawhi Leonard trade goes through without a hitch, Toronto becomes the biggest threat to New York, pairing Scottie Barnes and his talented group with a legitimate alpha and postseason killer. The Raptors took the Cavs to seven games in last year’s first round without Immanuel Quickley, and are banking on improvements from Collin Murray-Boyles and Jamal Shead, plus whatever contributions they get from rookie Allen Graves.

Fans may point to Leonard’s availability, but if he’s healthy enough to get them to the postseason and suit up at that level, they could beat anybody in the East. Toronto's defense will be near flawless and adding an efficient 28 points per game scorer materially changes their offense.

1: Knicks

The reigning champs still hold the crown, despite the improvements to their competition and the loss of Mitchell Robinson. They signed Andre Drummond in Robinson's place and re-signed the rest of their championship core, setting the stage for a repeat attempt.

The 2026 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas opened with a bang for multiple former Huskies. Liam McNeeley put on a show for Charlotte in their win over Orlando, putting up 28 points on 7-for-8 from downtown.

“I mean, a little nerves early on and they’re a team (Orlando) that’s got a little bit older guys, if you will, for summer league,” he explained. “So just kind of getting our feet settled into the game and responding to that physicality,” said McNeeley.

After being drafted late in the first round of the 2025 draft, McNeeley had a slower start to his NBA career, averaging 4.3 points in 31 games played for the Hornets. Year two for the soon-to-be 21-year-old could see him making the rotation after Charlotte moved off of star guard LaMelo Ball. McNeeley’s performance in this year’s Summer League can be the key reason McNeeley will get more looks during his sophomore season.

Looking over this season’s rookie class, Alex Karaban missed the California Classic due to a right ankle sprain during team practice on July 2. Karaban was cleared to play Thursday against the Clippers as he finished scoreless in 24 minutes, picking up 2 rebounds and an assist.

​Tarris Reed made his debut in the California Classic earlier this week. The Kodiak Bear picked up right where he left off back in March as he put up a pair of double-doubles against the Lakers and Hawks. Reed scored 12 points on 6-for-10 shooting in his first game against Los Angeles as he hauled in 12 rebounds and 1 assist. In his second game, we saw more of the same, as he made his presence known by dominating the glass and making shots down low, putting up 14 points and 10 rebounds.

​Dan Hurley made an appearance on the broadcast during the Houston vs Denver game and had much praise for his center.

​Tristen Newton, who was a key benefactor in the back-to-back National Championships, was on the floor for Houston with Hurley in attendance. Newton finished the night with 13 points and 3 steals, making a smooth and-one finish as Hurley shouted “Gimme that!” as he saw the ball fall through the basket.

Hurley made it clear that Newton can be a rotational player. Newton was named to the All-NBA G League First Team for the 2025-26 season, averaging 25.6 points for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Houston’s affiliate. Just like McNeeley, the Summer League may turn some coaches’ heads and get some Huskies NBA minutes.

Fittingly, Tyler Herro used the song ‘Coming Home’ in his farewell video to the Miami Heat. On the same day, he also posted a drenched Bucks workout singlet to his Instagram story, along with a Twitter post reading “414” when the trade was announced in principle a few weeks ago. Whether he gets traded to another location or not between now and the start of the season, this is a man who is genuinely excited about the prospect of playing in his home state, which, like it or not, is not something pro athletes often say about Wisconsin.

I’m starting to come around.

From obscurity to celebrity: The come-up

As most Wisconsinites are aware, Tyler Herro grew up in Greenfield, just a 20-minute drive from the heart of Milwaukee. He starred at Whitnall High School, committing early to attend the University of Wisconsin. Later, though, Herro decommitted from UW to accept an offer from the University of Kentucky, which, it must be said, upset a few folks back home. It’s worth mentioning that Herro was not some automatic one-and-done prospect coming into his freshman season at Lexington, like so many Wildcat recruits are. The risky decision to step away from the comfort of Wisconsin into the firestorm of Kentucky took, as Kobe would say, “cajones” and, looking back, was a microcosm of the fearless mindset that would set Herro apart in the coming years.

Before long, the (wild)cat was out of the bag. Coach Cal injected Herro into his starting lineup from the jump, and he did not disappoint. His slick scoring and feel led him to average 14.0 PPG, 4.50 RPG, and 2.50 APG, and he went on to be named the SEC’s Rookie of the Year. Herro later declared for the 2019 NBA Draft, where he was selected 13th by the Miami Heat.

Feet to the Heat

The kid known as “Boy Wonder” experienced a baptism-by-fire in his rookie season—on multiple levels. I mean, his rookie year was quite literally interrupted by a worldwide pandemic; yet and still, though, his numbers in the shortened regular season were phenomenal, averaging 13.5 PPG on nearly 40% shooting from deep while playing on a team that was trying to compete for the title (which they did, of course, downing our very own Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the 2019-20 NBA Playoffs). Herro was one of the headline stories to come out of those playoffs, announcing himself, at that time, as a near-untouchable piece of the Heat’s future.

Durability issues aside, Herro has been among the NBA’s upper echelon of players since that point. From year two to year three, he dramatically upped his PPG average from 15.1 to 20.7—a mark he has spent the rest of his career around. Herro won Sixth Man of the Year for the 2021-22 season and was selected as an All-Star three years later. Frankly, for all the issues people might have with the 26-year-old—and I’ve been a skeptic, to be sure—you look at the stats and have to concede that, when healthy, this is a damn good player who can contribute to winning basketball in the right situation. Over the last five seasons, Herro has averaged 21.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.5 APG while shooting 38.4% from three on a whopping 7.7 attempts per contest. He’s good!

Herro’s offensive game is built on the back of his three-point shooting ability. I mentioned his raw shooting stats above, but looking at the advanced tracking, there is no drop-off even when you differentiate his catch-and-shoot threes (37.3%) from his pull-ups (38.7%)—both on high volume, mind you. For whatever he lacks in explosiveness, he makes up for with craft. The Bucks will have touches to soak up (to some extent), and Herro is comfortable operating with a high usage, as evidenced by his shooting 50.3% on all shots taken off 3-6 dribbles, which, aside from off 0 dribbles, easily accounts for his most frequent shot taken. Yes, Herro will need to be insulated on defence, but I also think he’ll be highly motivated to shed the “poor defender” tag that has dogged him for his entire career.

Boy Wonder’s future in the Cream City

Look, is Herro a top option on a champion team? No way. But his reputation in the league simply doesn’t do justice to the player he has become. Behind the loud bravado and ostentatiousness lies an extremely talented hooper who is clearly motivated to prove the doubters wrong; trust me, this man is keenly aware that Pat Riley has attempted to trade him multiple times. And let me tell you something else: with nothing in the way of draft picks to play for this year, I am very down for a revenge-fuelled season powered by healthy levels of spite and pettiness, with none other than Herro leading that charge.

Now, would it be a smart choice for the Bucks to invest in Herro as a franchise pillar for the next 5-10 years? Probably not. Investing in him long-term may well be like choosing to satisfy your hunger with candy: it’ll have you feeling a buzz in the moment, but it’s not sustainable in the long run. At the same time, the Bucks don’t necessarily have to know what the “long run” looks like for a few years yet, and I’m not opposed to a sugar rush.

Welcome home, Tyler Herro.

#1 2-for-2

The Summer League Celtics are undefeated! It hasn’t been pretty; in fact, at times, it’s been downright gritty. Nevertheless, Amile Jefferson’s squad has found ways to win, and that’s a skill in itself.

Securing a dub against a Charlotte Hornets team that boasted Ryan Kalkbrenner, Liam McNeeley, Tidjane Salaun and Sion James — four players with a collective total of 279 NBA games worth of experience, all within the Hornets’ system, is no easy feat.

You’ve got to give credit to the Summer League C’s for rising to the level of their more experienced opposition.

#2 Dillon Mitchell is doing it all

Would it be Summer League if we didn’t have at least one player we collectively began to get behind in their battle for an NBA contract? Currently, Dillon Mitchell, Boston’s second-round draft pick, is without a contract. Based on his performances over the first two Summer League games, things won’t stay that way for too long. The question is, will he fill Boston’s 15th and final roster spot, or land on a two-way next to Amari Williams?

To Mitchell’s credit, he’s doing everything possible to show the range and versatility in his game. Against Charlotte, Mitchell ended the game as Boston’s top scorer with 24 points; he led the team in rebounds, was second in blocks and led the team in steals.

In an all-action performance, Mitchell showcased what he can do despite not being a featured part of the offense.

“He was so alive today. He played with such great energy,” Jefferson said of Mitchell after the game. “He crashed every time. He had like three different times where he almost had a tip dunk. When he’s playing with that kind of pop, he’s going to be really good. And then any time he gets an open three, he should shoot it.”

There’s an argument that Mitchell doesn’t bring anything new to Boston’s rotation. After all, Joe Mazzulla can already lean on Jordan Walsh and Hugo Gonzalez if he needs a defense-first wing to disrupt the flow of a game. Yet, Mitchell is a more explosive athlete than his more experienced teammates, and can provide a different level of downhill pressure with a sprinkling of vertical spacing.

When watching back through the game this morning, one play that didn’t end in a bucket or even a highlight stood out to me, because it was translatable to the Celtics brand of defense.

There’s nothing spectacular about this play. Yet, you don’t need spectacular moments from your second-round draft picks; you just need them to be a viable fit for your system with a legitimate level of upside. In the video above, you can see Mitchell reading the Hornet’s offense, remaining patient and then rotating over to provide help at the nail. His presence and timing allow him to get his hand on the rock and add a steal (maybe a forced turnover?) to his stat sheet.

Under Mazzulla, the Celtics are a heavy nail-help team. Having an explosive wing who can cover ground quickly and bail out of missed rotation in the rearview is a luxury. The fact that he’s already finding success as a high helper shows that some of his impact will be translatable to the next level.

#3 Hugo is doing just fine

6-of-26. That’s what Hugo Gonzalez is shooting in Summer League so far. Outside of some flashes when working in the pick-and-roll, Hugo’s offense has been patchy at best. I’m ok with that for three reasons.

First, this might be the first time in Hugo’s career that he’s been tasked with carrying this level of offensive usage, not just as a scorer but also in terms of touches and overall creation. As a teenager playing in Real Madrid’s pro system, Hugo likely had an ancillary role similar to the one he played for the Celtics this past season.

Therefore, Hugo is likely facing a new level of defensive attention. His shots are coming from new spots and in new ways. And, of course, the pressure to create for others could be adding a new level of weight to his shoulders, because, at times, he has looked to get off a pass when bullying his way to the rim may have been the better move.

Secondly, this is the Summer League. Thrive, struggle, it doesn’t matter; everything right now is about growth, getting live reps, and finding holes in your game that need to be plugged. Look back to last summer and think about the struggles Baylor Scheierman had in this exact same tournament. Then correlate those struggles to the success he had as the NBA season wore on.

Not only did Baylor find his rhythm from deep to the point where most Celtics fans have become comfortable with the notion of trading Sam Hauser, but he also emerged as a highly reliable defender, both within the system and in isolation.

Finally, Hugo’s only struggle right now is scoring the rock. In two games, he’s registered 14 rebounds, 12 assists and 4 steals. His defense has been solid, and he’s navigated screens well, closing out with purpose and providing reliable help all over the floor.

“His intensity, how hard he plays, how competitive he is — he embodies the name on the front of that jersey,” Dillon Mitchell said of Hugo after the game.

Summer League is about growth and development. Hugo is working through the hurdles that come with forcing that growth through discomfort.

He’s doing just fine.

#4 Active hands

If you want to play an up-tempo brand of basketball, then finding ways to get out in transition is the first step. The Celtics ended yesterday’s matchup with 11 steals, contributing to 17 fast break buckets. According to NBA Stats, those 17 points accounted for 19.5% of Boston’s overall scoring total.

Jefferson’s team was jumping passing lanes, picking pockets, and rotating on time in order to force some mistakes. Of course, getting the steal or forcing the turnover is only half the battle. The other side of that coin is finishing your food, regardless of how much is on the plate.

Credit to this team, they play hard, fast and with purpose, and that’s why they were such a threat to get out in the open floor and make the most of those opportunities.

#5 Maximizing possessions

I’ve got a feeling that I’m going to be harping on about maximizing possessions all season. From the outside looking in, it certainly seems that it’s going to be a focus for this team (in terms of offensive rebounding and making the most of those additional opportunities), especially with the bigs on the roster. So, it should come as no surprise that the Summer League Cs are dominating in the maximization of their offensive possessions, too.

The out-boarded Charlotte 14-7 on the offensive glass, resulting in an extra 14 points. Mitchell had 7 offensive boards, Amari Williams had 2, John Tonje had 2, and Curtis Jones, Chris Cenac Jr. and Milos Uzan all had one apiece.

Once you factor in those offensive boards, the steals and the forced turnovers, it quickly becomes clear why the Celtics managed to take 14 more shots than the Hornets. Not only are they maximizing the number of bites they’re getting of the apple, but they’re also finding new apples to eat along the way.

If we’re talking about translatable aspects regarding what we’re seeing, the onus on offensive rebounding and possession creation via defensive event making is something I’m expecting to be a feature of the team throughout this season and the years to come. That’s why it’s great to see that focus being placed on the Summer League roster — success starts when you’re building from the ground up.

#6 A battle is emerging

John Tonje and Milos Uzan are both without an NBA contract right now. Tonje has been Boston’s most reliable offensive threat over the first two games. Uzan, on the other hand, has shown flashes of self-creation, playmaking, downhill scoring and a perimeter shooting touch.

Boston currently has two two-way spots available. How Brad Stevens chooses to move forward with Mitchell could mean there’s only one spot left by the time training camp gets underway. There’s a chance that either Tonje or Uzan will take that slot.

Coming into Summer League, Tonje, 23, had a slight edge over Uzan due to his familiarity with the Celtics system. He played in 11 G League games for the Maine Celtics and 6 NBA games under Mazzulla. However, Uzan isn’t going to go away easily. His speed, directional changes and self-creation have all been impressive over the opening two games.

The fact that Uzan has earned slightly more playing time (60 minutes and 16 seconds over two games) than Tonje (54 minutes and 47 seconds) hasn’t evaded me. Perhaps Uzan being younger (23) than Tonje (25) will play a role in the Celtics ‘ decision-making when it comes to handing out contracts. Or perhaps they will prefer Tonje’s added experience.

Either way, it feels like a battle is starting to emerge for a potential spot, and when looking at Boston’s guard rotation, whoever wins that duel may find themselves earning some NBA minutes at points in the season. I’ve got this chalked up as a subplot, both now and heading into training camp.

#7 Cenac’s offense…

…Wasn’t great.

However, one thing that has impressed me over the first two games is how Cenac lets the action come to him. Make or miss, he didn’t force the issue. He didn’t hijack the offense. Instead, he stuck to his role, performed well on defense and provided some upside as a connecting force.

Of course, the one bucket he did score, a one-dribble drive starting at the nail, was impressive and shows the level of athleticism and potential that he possesses.

Still, the most impressive sequence of Cenac’s night came early in the first quarter, where he got a block on defense, ran the floor, worked in the PnR and found a shooter on the weakside with a kick-out pass for three.

Cenac is certainly going to be somewhat of a project. However, his ability to make an impact on defense, his mobility, athleticism and even how he attacks off the bounce are all solid foundations. If he can work on finding a level of consistency from the field, Brad Stevens may have unearthed another late first-round gem.

#8 Hello, Tucker DeVries

We didn’t see Ticker DeVries against Toronto, but he found some playing time against the Hornets, earning 18 minutes off the bench. DeVries was as advertised: a reliable shooter on the perimeter with upside on the glass and solid movement.

He ended the night with three treys, shooting 42.9% on 3-of-7 shooting, and he chipped in with 2 assists and a rebound. If DeVries can have another shooting night like that on Monday, I may begin to wonder whether Jefferson will call his number on some set plays if/when the Celtics need a bucket.

Not a bad Summer League debut, but nothing breathtaking, either.

#9 A piece of the playbook

I’ve spoken quite a bit today about things translating from Summer League to the NBA, so allow me one more.

Much like the Maine Celtics, the Summer League Celtics use Mazzulla’s playbook where possible, ensuring that the Xs and Os are worked on from the jump. So, I wasn’t surprised when I saw the Celtics flow into a chest action midway through the fourth quarter.

Chest actions have been a staple under Joe Mazzulla. Simply put, it’s a read-and-react play where a shooter sets a ghost screen for the ball-handler at the top of the perimeter before running off a flare screen to get open at either the wing or slot. The play works because it forces the cutter’s defender to navigate two screens, often causing them to get caught up on the flare, therefore opening an easy catch-and-shoot opportunity.

In this instance, the Celtics use the chest action as an entry into an angle PnR with Cenac. Credit to the Hornets, they switch the action and take away Cenac’s roll, forcing Uzan to feed the weakside elbow. The ball eventually finds Cenac on the block, but the play doesn’t come to anything.

Nevertheless, it’s fun seeing the Celtics working on actions that translate to their NBA playbook. They don’t need them to work out every time; they just need them to become second nature. That’s when the decisions and overall execution will become sharper.

#10 A back-to-back

Now, we turn our attention toward the Atlanta Hawks, who the Celtics will face on Monday, July 13, on the second night of a back-to-back. It will be interesting to see whether Jefferson’s minutes distribution changes, or at least his substitution patterns.

Still, this is a good opportunity for the younger guys on the roster to get a feel for playing two nights in a row and fighting through the inevitable fatigue that comes with it.

Can Boston make it 3-for-3 in Summer League? Maybe, but the Hawks, who are also 2-0, won’t be an easy out. I guess we’ll find out later today!

You know what Summer League is, as do I. It’s a proving ground for players whose names you’ll know for a week and a half before they disappear into the developmental highway, trying to carve out some semblance of a professional career in this beautiful sport we call basketball. As a result, there’s typically a lack of cohesion on both offense and defense. These players have only been together for a couple of weeks, so chemistry is limited, execution is inconsistent, and quality basketball can be hard to find.

For the second consecutive game, the Phoenix Suns struggled in the opening quarter of Summer League basketball. After scoring only 10 points against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night, they mustered 12 points in the first quarter on Sunday afternoon against the New Orleans Pelicans. This time, there was no second-half comeback. The Pelicans led from wire to wire, never allowing Phoenix to take control of the game before ultimately handing the Suns their first Summer League loss, 81-75.

So what, if anything, can you take away from a game like this?

For me, it was a continuation of what I saw in the first game, which itself was a continuation of what we saw from the Phoenix Suns a season ago. This team is going to play physical, they’re going to play aggressively, and they’re going to make you earn your points. That’s what we’ve seen through two games, and to me, that’s the definition of a cultural focus on executing a specific style of basketball.

How did the Pelicans beat the Suns in a game that didn’t count? They shot the three ball better. New Orleans was +15 from beyond the arc. So what, am I right? Well, here is why I find that important. The reason they were taking so many threes is that the interior became a place the Pelicans didn’t want to live. If they ventured inside, they had to deal with the toughness and physicality Phoenix was dishing out.

The Suns finished with 22 fouls. For the second consecutive game, rookie Koa Peat went over the legal limit, this time committing seven. He now has 15 fouls in two games in Vegas, and that doesn’t concern me. In an environment that allows you to be physical, he’s taking that physicality directly to the opposition. Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Maluach combined for 4 blocks and 2 steals. They also combined for 8 fouls. This is a team that had issues defending the interior last season, and now there are young players in the developmental pipeline who are focused on doing exactly that.

That’s what I take away from this game. The Suns have size on the interior developing within the organization, and eventually, that could change the way Phoenix Suns basketball is played night in and night out. The gritty persona is beginning to combine with a physical presence.

Summer League won’t tell us whether these players will become meaningful NBA contributors, but it can show us what the organization is trying to build. Through two games, that vision is becoming clearer. Phoenix wants length, physicality, and players who make opponents uncomfortable. The results in Vegas will be forgotten by August. The habits being established, and the identity behind them, could stick around much longer.

Summer Bright Side Baller Standings

The 19 and 11 dropped by Khaman Maluach in Game 1 against the Portland Trail Blazers were easily enough for him to earn the first Bright Side Baller of the Summer League.

Summer Bright Side Baller Nominees

Game 2 against the Pelicans. Here are your nominees:

Khaman Maluach
15 points (5-of-9, 2-of-4 3PT), 15 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, 0 turnovers, +10 +/-

Darius Brown II
18 points (7-of-12, 3-of-7 3PT), 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, +7 +/-

Koa Peat
12 points (5-of-10, 0-of-1 3PT), 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 4 turnovers, 0 +/-

Rasheer Fleming
11 points (4-of-10, 1-of-4 3PT), 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers, -11 +/-

Javonte Cooke
9 points (3-of-10, 0-of-4 3PT), 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, -12 +/-

Jameer Nelson Jr.
8 points (3-of-8, 0-of-2 3PT), 2 steals, 3 turnovers, -12 +/-

Vote away!

Checking hype train status after Celtics' first weekend at NBA Summer League originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

LAS VEGAS — Every summer, we descend into the 110-degree desert heat for a few days at Vegas Summer League and make rash declarations about the Boston Celtics’ youngest players based on the tiniest of samples of exhibition basketball. It’s a tradition unlike any other.

Yes, it’s time for our annual status check on summer hype trains while we power rank the things that have stood out most through the first weekend of Celtics summer hoops on the campus of UNLV.

Let’s be honest: After a month of drama around the Jaylen Brown trade saga, most Celtics fans were desperate for any sort of distraction. Summer league hoops arrived like a mirage in the offseason desert. We’ll take any distraction from the second apron.

And if we’re staying honest, the Celtics have had some absolutely dreadful starts to their first two summer league games and, despite that, they’re 2-0 and sit atop the Vegas standings.

Let’s ignore the painful first-quarter offense and all the haphazard turnovers and put a spotlight on what has left the hype trains scrambling most.

1. Hugo Gonzalez

Sure, it would have been nice if Gonzalez dominated both ends of the floor in extended minutes to start summer league. Then we could sit here and suggest he’s already graduated from summer league at age 20. Instead, he has looked like a guy who spent the past week globe trotting, first traveling to Europe for FIBA qualifiers with his native Spain, then relocating stateside to travel from Boston to Vegas. That’s a lot of miles — on the court and off. The Celtics have put more on Gonzalez’s plate at summer league and it’s been a mixed bag at times.

The shots haven’t fallen but his passing has been excellent and, when he cranks up the defensive intensity, he looks like someone ready to carve out a bigger regular-season role. More importantly, if you need another indicator of the Hugo Hype Meter, teammate Dillon Mitchell said everyone outside the hotel wants Hugo’s autograph.

2. Dillon Mitchell

We’d suggest that the 40th pick in June’s draft has hit the ground running, but he seemingly spends most of his time floating above the court. Mitchell has embraced the tenets of every Boston wing with his willingness to corner crash and hoist open 3-pointers. He made more 3s against the Hornets (two) than he did in 1,041 minutes in his senior season at St. John’s (one).

Mitchell’s athleticism is super intriguing. He pursues tip dunks like they are his oxygen (even if fellow rookie Chris Cenac Jr. nearly killed him on a putback quest of his own). Mitchell has had multiple instances through two games where he’s floated long enough around the rim on defense to swat opposing offerings. He’s perpetually causing chaos. If he’s already bought in this much at the very start of his Boston tenure, imagine the potential as the Celtics thrust him further into their player development machine.

3. Chris Cenac Jr.

A 19-year-old rookie riding the summer roller coaster is no surprise. Cenac Jr. made a loud debut by hitting the overtime-forcing 3-pointer against Toronto, then struggled to get himself going against a more NBA experienced Charlotte frontcourt.

Still, you can’t help but watch Cenac Jr.’s raw potential and envision how the Celtics can mold him into an impact player. Boston’s player development record is well documented at this point. It’s going to take time with Cenac Jr., but his length and athleticism give him a chance to impact the game at both ends when he’s on the floor.

4. John Tonje

Credit to Tonje. Last season, his biggest role might have been helping the Celtics navigate Salary Cap Tetris while finishing below the luxury tax line. Tonje had the reputation as a scorer after putting up quality numbers in his senior year at Wisconsin, then in the G-League after being drafted by Utah (53rd pick in 2025). Not only is he shooting 61.5 percent on 3s to start the Vegas experience with Boston, but he’s trying to prove he can contribute in other ways, too.

Tonje delivered a little pick-6 to seal Boston’s overtime win to start the summer schedule. He’s strong and he rebounds. Even at age 25, Tonje is doing enough to make the Celtics continue their investment in his development.

5. Amari Williams

Similar to Cenac Jr., a good opening night gave way to some struggles against the Hornets’ frontline. What we like: Williams is an excellent passer and his five turnovers Sunday weren’t entirely his fault. Williams’ size gives him a chance to alter shots on the defensive end and he’s totaled seven blocks over two games. Starting the year on another two-way should help get Williams the reps he needs to continue his own development.

6. Pink polos

The Celtics continue to dominate the sartorial competition at summer league. The sheer variety of colors and patterns that Boston’s coaching staff trots out in recent summers has put the rest of the league on notice. Not even the second apron can slow Boston’s polo game. The Spurs’ coaches busted out their own pink polos on Sunday night.

7. Milos Uzan

The offense has typically run best with Uzan on the floor. He’s a strong playmaker who tries to take care of the ball. The Celtics were plus-24 in his 31 minutes on Sunday. This has to be enjoyable for Uzan, a Las Vegas native. There’s a lot of competition for Boston’s final two-way slots, especially if Mitchell starts his rookie season on one. But Uzan has the sort of game that you want to see more of and the Celtics seem to like running him this summer with Cenac Jr., given their time together last season with Houston.

8. Tucker DeVries

An undrafted shooter from the Midwest? Put him on the Sam Hauser track. DeVries can clearly shoot the ball, and he can punish teams with his passing when they close out. We’re eager to see what he can do if more minutes arrive later in Boston’s summer excursion.

After a fantastic rookie season, the natural next question regarding Cooper Flagg is, just how good can he be? Specifically, can he become good enough to be the best player on a championship team? He has a lot of promising attributes — defensive intuition, scoring with physicality, touch unprecedented for a kid his age and a growth rate higher than 99 percent of teenagers. The glaring hole in his game is the 3-point shot, something that he made at just 29.5 percent last season. It would be easy to say that to get to the next level, he needs to become a great shooter. I would argue, however, that that isn’t necessary. Becoming a league-average shooter is fine, but he really needs to lean into what he does best: score in the paint. 

If you watched Flagg at all last year, you would know the most obvious part of his game was his control and pace going downhill. He was not just good at driving for a rookie — he was among the league’s best at scoring on the way to the basket. Of players who drove at least 12 times per game (Flagg was at 12.8), he was seventh in the NBA in points per drive (0.71). This was partially due to the physicality he displayed and his ability to get to his spots at will, but a lot of it had to do with his touch in the paint. According to NBA.com, Flagg took the sixth-most non-rim paint field goals, and shot them at just above 47 percent:

For someone his age, playing in a conference with guys like Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren, and Rudy Gobert patrolling the paint, that is incredibly impressive. He never shied away from driving into the league’s finest shot-blockers, evidenced most clearly by the below highlight Giannis Antetokounmpo for a crucial late-game finish:

We know he is great from 15 feet and in. But, in a space-and-chuck league, why would he not try to get his 3-point shot up to 40 percent on volume? Well, let’s look at the last seven non-Steph Curry NBA Finals MVPs and what they did in the regular season from three:

Cooper Flagg shot 29.5 percent from distance on 3.5 attempts in his rookie year. The league average was 36 percent last season and has hovered between 35 and 37 percent since 2019. All of these guys who won Finals MVP were no better than a percentage point (or two in Jokic’s case, but he shot just two threes a game) than the league average. What they all did, however, was get to their spot at will and score in the paint. They were forces of nature, for lack of a better term. That is exactly what Flagg should focus on to get to the next level.

Now, he certainly has to shoot better. If he makes 36 percent of his threes versus 30 percent, that opens up the floor for his drives. If he takes between five and six threes a game and makes two to three of them, he becomes respectable enough for the defense to stretch. But, of his 11 30-point games last year, he shot more than six threes just twice, and scored 40 points three times while shooting five or fewer. That is the formula: be lethal going downhill, and shoot enough threes to keep the defense honest. If Flagg bumps up his efficiency on the shots he is already borderline elite at creating, we will be looking at a guy who resembles all of the recent Finals MVPs.

Two games into the 2026 summer league, things are going well for the Wizards.

Finally.

No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa has impressed with size, athleticism, skills, competitiveness, and motor. Will Riley has hit shots. Felix Okpara, the second round pick in June, hustled and blocked three shots. The summer squad is defending hard and effectively.

As a long-time Wizards observer, I barely know what to do with myself. Competence — even during summer league ball where the games have ridiculous rules and nothing really matters — is a welcome sign of progress from this franchise.

I mean, for a second straight game, they hounded a highly-respected guard prospect into a subpar night. In the opener, it was second overall pick Darryn Peterson. Against the Sacramento Kings, it was Darius Acuff Jr. At one point, Acuff was visibly frustrated, and Amazon Prime analyst (and former NBA coach) Stan Van Gundy said that Acuff needed to play harder — that he needed to compete against Washington’s physicality.

Even better, against Acuff and the Kings, they defended effectively with no one committing nine fouls.

Yes, it’s only summer league. Still — the Wizards were out-competing their opponent. The Wizards?!

While the positives abound, it’s important to keep in mind that a) it’s summer league, not NBA basketball, b) there’s plenty for these guys to improve upon.

The second one is important — youngsters the team wants in the rotation next season are producing in summer league while also playing imperfectly. Let the coaching progress.

Here are a few observations on areas for players to develop during what the team calls “Jump Season,” and the rest of us call the “offseason.”

Dybantsa

• Defensive motor. He didn’t get back on defense twice last night. Does it matter in summer league? No. Transition defense can be a big deal in real NBA games.
• Shooting. I’m not worried about the percentage (just 1-11 from deep in Vegas) at this point, though I don’t love the form. It’s at least a quick and compact motion, and he hasn’t been shy about pulling the trigger, which suggests he’s confident taking threes. I’d love to see him raise the release point a few inches to maintain a clear view of the target.
• Make more use of the athletic tools and skills to create easy shots for the team instead of living on a diet of difficult shots. Drivers of high-level offense in the NBA don’t do it by making lots of tough shots.
• Learn to create for teammates — he did it a few times against the Kings, so I think he’s seeing the court well and making decent reads. When he sees multiple defenders on him, he needs to get the ball to teammates and let them make plays. The ball will come back. I suspect this will be less of an issue when he’s playing with better teammates in the regular season.

Will Riley

• Get. In. The. Weight. Room.
• Maybe it’s just me, but the incessant dribbles that actually should be carries worry me. What if the NBA ever decides to enforce its rules?
• Like Dybantsa, I’d like to see Riley become more of a threat as a playmaker for teammates.

Tre Johnson

• Didn’t play against the Kings, so this is based on only the opener. I want to see the same thing I wanted to see last season — what concerned me about him as a draft prospect — more to his game than shooting and scoring.
• To that end, Johnson needs to keep getting stronger (the weight room work is showing) so he can compete in an increasingly physical league.
• Something of a theme in this one: I want to see Johnson, Riley, and Dybantsa (and, well, everyone else really) threaten defenses in multiple ways by using their scoring prowess to unlock plays for teammates.

Felix Okpara — I’d be surprised if he’s on the opening night roster. Here’s what he needs to do to carve out an NBA career:

• Get stronger.
• Improve defensive awareness.
• Set better screens.
• Make better reads on roll lanes.
• Go harder — the effort isn’t bad, but it’s not at NBA speed. At least not yet.

None of these are even the slightest reason for worry. Every young player — heck, every player of every age — has areas where they can improve. And the fun thing with youngsters is that if they do the work, there’s a good chance these “areas for improvement” will actually improve. Especially when the area is something like “get stronger.”

This is a weird spot for Wizards fans. Competent play, promising youngsters, a potential superstar performing well. It’s still a long wait to the games that matter, but this is starting to get fun.

During the Spurs 2026 title run, they infamously faced their 1999 Finals rival New York Knickerbockers. For San Antonio, that meant a high level of celebrity attention on the Alamo City. One of the many notable fans descending on the city was Ben Stiller.

Stiller, the child of comedy duo Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, showed a penchant for acting and directing early in life, directing Super 8 films throughout his childhood. He parlayed his passion into his own Fox Network sketch comedy show in 1992 before breaking headlong into mainstream film.

Numerous films, accolades, and three-and-a-half decades in the rearview, Stiller announced last month that he was indeed filming a documentary on the Knicks.

During the Finals he sat with the the Inside the NBA crew and shared about the upcoming film.

“Obviously, I’ve been shooting some stuff on my phone, but it’s kind of going to be about all eras of the Knicks. And this team, obviously, there’s a culmination here of something that’s been going on for a long time.”

Indeed. After fifty-three years, the Knicks won their third NBA title, tying them with the Heat, Pistons, and 76ers for the sixth most titles in league history. And Stiller was sideline throughout the season, the playoffs, and the Finals capturing moments on his phone.

One thing that will make his documentary is the historic Game 4 comeback. The Spurs gave up a 29-point lead, the largest in Finals history.

But the 2026 championship run isn’t the only focus of the film.

“You know, there’s so many great eras. And this team, I think, you know, when you look at the ’70s championships, the ’90s runs and then this team doing it again, I think there’s just so much within that.”

The film has partnerships with with HBO and A24. At this time, a release date has not been set.

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