Author: NBA Basketball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

Nothing motivates the greats quite like the quest to prove someone wrong. When the Dallas Mavericks shocked the NBA by trading Luka Doncic to the Lakers, it was followed up by spin out of Dallas about GM Nico Harrison and the franchise's concerns about Doncic's lack of commitment to conditioning, taking care of his body and defense.

This summer, we have seen "skinny" Luka on social media as he works out to get in shape. Doncic spoke about that with Men’s Health Magazine.

" Just visually, I would say my whole body looks better...

"Every summer I try my best to work on different things. Obviously, I'm very competitive. This summer was just a little bit different, you know. It kind of motivated me to be even better...

"Obviously, be the best that I can be, take care of myself. This year, with my team, I think we did a huge step. But this is just the start, you know. I need to keep going. Can't stop."

The Mavericks were not wrong to have concerns about Doncic's conditioning, it certainly has not been consistent throughout his career. (It's still a massive leap from having concerns to trading a top-five player in the world as he enters his prime because of it.) Doncic has improved his conditioning in the past, but due to injuries and other reasons, it has never stayed at the level Dallas' Harrison — a Kobe Bryant guy — expected.

What should scare the Mavericks is that they have just become the motivation he needed to genuinely change. If the disrespect from Dallas, combined with being on a new team and watching LeBron James' commitment to his body and conditioning daily, changes Doncic's habits, then the Mavericks have unleashed a monster on the league.

Doncic had spent the summer back in Europe with family and friends, but landed back in the United States in the last 48 hours for a Jordan Brand promotional shoe tour. After that tour, he returns to Slovenia to lead his national team in the EuroBasket that starts at the end of this month.

Doncic is eligible for a contract extension this summer: On Aug. 2, the Lakers can offer him a four-year, $223 million extension. They will, and Doncic is expected to re-sign with the team, although most likely on a three-year, $165 million max contract (or three plus a player option) because in three years he will have reached 10 years of service in the league and then can sign for up to 35% of the salary cap (the most the Lakers could offer right now is 30%). Expect that deal to be finalized before the season starts (possibly this week, while he is in the USA on a shoe tour, or perhaps closer to Lakers training camp).

Thirteen-year NBA veteran Marcus Morris has been arrested in Florida, officially for fraud related to insufficient funds on a check, however, his brother and manager said the situation has been overblown.

Morris was arrested on Sunday in Broward County, Florida, a fact confirmed by NBC Sports, as was the reason for the arrest (TMZ was first to report it). The arrest was also confirmed by Marcus' twin brother Markieff Morris on X, who at the same time played this down and defended his brother.

In the comments on that post, Morris' manager, Yony Noy, made this official response.

Morris was the No. 14 pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, taken out of Kansas by Houston. Morris played 13 seasons in the NBA for the Rockets Suns, Pistons, Celtics, Knicks, Clippers, 76ers and most recently, the Cavaliers. Last season, Morris was part of the Knicks' training camp but was waived before the regular season began and did not play in the league. For his career, Morris averaged 12 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.

The NBA offseason isn't entirely over — there are still some solid free agents available, some veteran extensions to sign, and some restricted free agents still hanging out there — but we know the shape of teams at this point.

Who had the best NBA offseasons? Let's break it down, with seven teams that stood out to me.

Houston Rockets

Kevin Durant.

Those two words alone made this a winning offseason for Houston. Anyone who watched their first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Warriors saw Houston's problems with half-court shot creation and end-of-clock situations — Durant solves those problems. Even at age 37, the man is still a walking bucket.

However, the Rockets did more than just add Durant. The addition of Dorian Finney-Smith — adding more defense plus 3-point shooting to the mix — was one of the best moves of the offseason. Clint Capela gives Houston another solid rotation big man. They locked up Fred VanVleet on a good deal, and also re-signed Steven Adams, Jae'Sean Tate, Jabari Smith Jr., Aaron Holiday and Jeff Green.

Houston enters the coming season a clear title contender — that's the sign of a good offseason.

Denver Nuggets

At the heart of the tension that ultimately led to the dismissal of coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth was the question of how hard to lean into the young players the team had drafted. Malone wanted more veterans, while Booth wanted more time for the players he had drafted.

This summer, the new front office in Denver did what Malone had been asking for, adding veterans. Jonas Valanciunas is the best backup center Nikola Jokic has had and will help the second unit not fall off a cliff when the three-time MVP rests. The Nuggets signed Tim Hardaway Jr. and are bringing back Bruce Brown. Most importantly, they sent Michael Porter Jr. to Brooklyn for Cameron Johnson — an upgrade for the Nuggets. Both Johnson and Porter Jr. are a near 40% threat from beyond the arc, but Johnson is a better defender and a more consistent, high-IQ player who will thrive playing next to Jokic (the cost of a 2032 pick is the price they pay to chase titles now, with Jokic at his peak).

Denver, like Houston, upgraded and is a full-on contender entering next season, that's a win.

Atlanta Hawks

Atlanta went all-in on one more (last?) attempt to build around Trae Young — and they did it smartly. This team needed defensive upgrades, such as a high-level rim protector and more wing defense. Enter Kristaps Porzingis at center — who can protect the paint and is a great pick-and-pop partner for young — and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. However, the biggest addition will be the return to health of Jalen Johnson (a step forward by Zaccharie Risacher helps as well).

Atlanta has gone from a "will they make it out of the play-in" team to one with a real shot at a top-four spot in the East. That's a strong offseason.

Orlando Magic

Orlando is already acknowledged as a team on the rise — they were the No. 6 seed in the East last season, despite Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner missing chunks of the season with matching oblique injuries — but they needed more shooting.

Check that box. The Magic could not have landed a better fit than Desmond Bane, a career 41% shooter from beyond the arc who also can do some secondary playmaking and is a plus defender. Orlando also added Tyus Jones, a floor general backup point guard who will boost second units. If just-drafted Jase Richardson can shoot well enough, he could get some run as well. The other thing Orlando did: lock up Banchero for four years with a max extension (the fifth is a player option). All of those are good moves.

Coming off watching Indiana make a run to the NBA Finals, it's not hard to envision the Magic having a similar run if things break their way.

Los Angeles Clippers

Los Angeles knows who it is, it knows who its stars are, understands its potential limitations, and still this summer leaned hard into that "one more run with the old guys" identity (while setting up the chance to make a pivot and change this team dramatically in 2027).

They did it smartly, starting with adding Brook Lopez and John Collins to the frontcourt. Los Angeles scooped up Bradley Beal after Phoenix waived and stretched him, getting the three-time All-Star at a fair price considering his contributions, and filling the hole left by Norman Powell's exit. Chris Paul is returning home for one more season.

The Clippers are 11 deep with guys who can and will expect rotation minutes, a balancing act for Tyronn Lue to figure out. This is a 50-win team from last season that has gotten deeper and better. The Clippers are a top-six team in the West with a shot to host a playoff round. That's a good offseason.

Oklahoma City Thunder

They didn't do anything spectacular, but they didn't have to. OKC locked up its three-man core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren with massive extensions (although getting Holmgren on a straight 25 without escalators is good work). That trio keeps this team in the contender conversation for the length of those deals, (five years). The cast around that core is going to change somewhat as the second tax apron comes calling starting in 2027, but no team has the draft picks and flexibility to survive that as well as OKC.

For next season, this team runs back the same roster that just won 68 games and a title — they are the bar to clear for any team talking title.

San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs are here in part because I like their offseason moves, but also in part because I think we're not talking enough about how big a leap they could make next season. This team gives me Detroit vibes from last year, where Victor Wembanyama comes into his own as a superstar and the talent around him starts to come together.

The Spurs had a great draft — the lottery gods blessed them with Dylan Harper, but picking up Carter Bryant at 14 looked like a steal of a pick based on Summer League (his defense was great, the offense is a project). More importantly, they signed Luke Kornet as a backup to Wembanyama, providing them with another quality big, so they don't have to wear Wemby down and can give him some nights off as needed. Also, the Spurs signed Kelly Olynyk as a stretch four/five to help with the frontcourt rotation.

With a full season of De'Aaron Fox and Wemby, and Harper finding his groove as a rookie, this is going to be a fun team to watch this season.

While NBA training camps don't open for another two months, there's never a bad time to participate in a mock draft. I participated in an extremely early draft for a 12-team, nine-cat head-to-head fantasy league thanks to FBI Basketball's Adam King. While mock drafts can become a bit monotonous for some, they can serve as solid "fact-finding missions" regarding the community's thoughts on players and their team situations.

Going into this draft, there were a few players I was interested in regarding their early draft positions. Is Victor Wembanyama still a surefire top-three pick despite a blood clot ending his 2024-25 season at the All-Star break? He has been given full clearance, but that remains a worthwhile question to evaluate. Is Nikola Jokić still the first overall pick, or will it be Shai Gilgeous-Alexander? When will Cooper Flagg come off the board, and are any other rookies worthy of top-100 consideration? Below is a round by round breakdown of Sunday's mock draft, including thoughts on my strategy.

For this mock draft, there was a third-round reversal. For those who may not know what entails, it simply means the draft order flips every other round. I picked eighth in the first round.

Round 1

1.1: G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

1.2: G Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

1.3: C Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets

1.4: C Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

1.5: F/C Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks

1.6: G Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers

1.7: F/C Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

1.8: G/F Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves

1.9: C Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks

1.10: G James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers

1.11: F/C Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies

1.12: G Derrick White, Boston Celtics

It did not take long for things to get interesting. Not only was Jokić not the first overall pick in this mock draft, but he wasn't second, either. The three-time MVP was the third overall pick, with Detroit's Cunningham going second behind SGA. It's an interesting selection, to say the least. Cunningham's coming off his best season as a Piston, and he likely hasn't reached his ceiling due to age and seasons limited due to injury. With Jokić going third, that pushed Wembanyama to fourth overall. I decided to go with Edwards, as Giannis went off the board with the prior pick. Some likely would prefer KAT in that spot, but Edwards being the pick did not feel that controversial.

Round 2

2.1: F/C Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat

2.2: F Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

2.3: G Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers

2.4: G Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

2.5: F/C Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers

2.6: G/F Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns

2.7: G/F Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder

2.8: G Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

2.9: F Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets

2.10: G LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets

2.11: G/F Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets

2.12: F Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic

Tatum going with the 14th overall pick is a serious reach, given that he may not be healthy enough to play in time for the fantasy playoff weeks. And it's possible he doesn't play at all next season. The first three picks for the manager who selected Tatum were Jaren Jackson Jr., JT and Tyrese Haliburton. Two players facing steep odds of playing next season, and one who may not be ready for the start of the season after undergoing surgery earlier this month. Thompson and Banchero being second-round picks is intriguing, but at least they're healthy. I used my second-round pick on Mobley, which may be a reach due to the partnership with Jarrett Allen. However, Mobley still has a ways to go before he reaches his ceiling, so it's a gamble I'm willing to make in that spot.

Round 3

3.1: C Alperen Şengün, Houston Rockets

3.2: G Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers

3.3: G/F Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks

3.4: F/C Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder

3.5: F Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers

3.6: G Josh Giddey*, Chicago Bulls

3.7: G/F Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers

3.8: F LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

3.9: G Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

3.10: F Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors

3.11: G/F Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks

3.12: F Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks

Sunday's mock draft was the third I've participated in this summer, and Flagg was a fourth-round pick in the first two. The prized rookie came off the board late in the third round of this mock, and he's the one rookie in this class worth rolling the dice on. Flagg will play plenty next season, and Kyrie Irving's absence due to a torn ACL may mean more time on the ball for the rookie, even with the signing of D'Angelo Russell. Giddey was a third-round pick despite his contract status still undetermined; staying in Chicago would represent his best shot at living up to that draft spot. With Haliburton set to miss a significant portion of next season, if not all of it, I grabbed Siakam. He might have been available in the fourth round, but I was unwilling to risk it.

Round 4

4.1: G Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers

4.2: G/F Desmond Bane, Orlando Magic

4.3: C Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings

4.4: F Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic

4.5: G Tyler Herro, Miami Heat

4.6: C Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz

4.7: G De'Aaron Fox, San Antonio Spurs

4.8: G Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets

4.9: C Myles Turner, Milwaukee Bucks

4.10: G/F Josh Hart, New York Knicks

4.11: F OG Anunoby, New York Knicks

4.12: G Jalen Green, Phoenix Suns

Maxey still being on the board to begin the fourth round was wild; he's the biggest steal in this draft for that reason. While injury did end his 2024-25 season prematurely, the 76ers guard does not have the same injury profile as teammates Joel Embiid and Paul George. Anunoby, selected with the penultimate pick of this round, also represents solid value, while I decided to use my fourth-round pick on Murray. He was a top-20 player in nine-cat formats last season, still appearing in 67 regular-season games despite dealing with some health issues. Green's an intriguing option in Phoenix. While he had his moments with the Rockets, the inconsistent production limited his fantasy ceiling. Does that change playing alongside Devin Booker?

Round 5

5.1: F Michael Porter Jr., Brooklyn Nets

5.2: F/C Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves

5.3: G Jordan Poole, New Orleans Pelicans

5.4: G Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers

5.5: C Nikola Vučević, Chicago Bulls

5.6: G/F Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics

5.7: G Jared McCain, Philadelphia 76ers

5.8: C Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

5.9: C Ivica Zubac, Los Angeles Clippers

5.10: C Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers

5.11: C Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons

5.12: G Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies

With Brooklyn's five first-round picks appearing to require a lot of patience based on their play in Las Vegas and Cam Thomas' contract status undetermined, Porter could be primed to put up gaudy numbers next season. Even if Thomas signs his qualifying offer or agrees to a deal with the Nets, Porter should be the top offensive option for the first time in his NBA career. Embiid going in the fifth round wasn't too surprising given the injury history, and it's unknown if he'll be 100 percent when the regular season begins. But McCain coming off the board one pick before, and he's also coming off a knee injury? That's a major roll of the dice. I played it safe with my fifth-round pick, selecting Vučević. The front office and ownership appears to be fine with competing for a play-in tournament slot, so Vooch's fantasy value should be safe for another season.

Round 6

6.1: F Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans

6.2: F/C Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards

6.3: F Trey Murphy, New Orleans Pelicans

6.4: G/F Mikal Bridges, New York Knicks

6.5: F Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers

6.6: F Matas Buzelis, Chicago Bulls

6.7: F Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets

6.8: F Miles Bridges, Charlotte Hornets

6.9: F Jimmy Butler, Golden State Warriors

6.10: C Mark Williams, Phoenix Suns

6.11: C Brook Lopez, Los Angeles Clippers

6.12: C Onyeka Okongwu, Atlanta Hawks

Two more players whose draft spots jumped out to me were Williamson and Leonard. Both have been plagued by injuries in recent seasons, but the latter brings more to the table regarding overall fantasy value. That said, Williamson still went four picks ahead of Leonard in this mock draft. While I would argue that Kawhi should have been off the board before this point, I'm not sure I can say the same for Zion. Also of note in this round was Buzelis being selected with the sixth pick. He certainly looked good at summer league, but is he ready to make this big of a jump? Buzelis should be locked in as a starter, but expecting sixth-round production may be a bit much, especially with Giddey's status undetermined. I selected Miles Bridges with my pick, but would have preferred Butler, especially considering his fit alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.

Round 7

7.1: G Coby White, Chicago Bulls

7.2: F Jaden McDaniels, Minnesota Timberwolves

7.3: G/F Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers

7.4: C Kristaps Porziņģis, Atlanta Hawks

7.5: G Fred VanVleet, Houston Rockets

7.6: C Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers

7.7: C Kel'el Ware, Miami Heat

7.8: F DeMar DeRozan, Sacramento Kings

7.9: C Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves

7.10: F Julius Randle, Minnesota Timberwolves

7.11: G CJ McCollum, Washington Wizards

7.12: G Immanuel Quickley, Toronto Raptors

Another round, and another safe pick for yours truly. However, I like VanVleet's position in Houston, with the Rockets adding Kevin Durant. Adding one of the sport's all-time offensive greats should clear space for everyone. VanVleet's field goal percentage has never been great, but I would not be surprised if his three-pointer and assist production were boosted next season. I hoped to grab Avdija, but he went off the board two picks before I was on the clock. Porziņģis in Atlanta is intriguing; does he start alongside Onyeka Okongwu, or will one come off the bench with Zaccharie Risacher remaining a starter? I'd bet on the former scenario, especially if Jalen Johnson is healthy and can capably defend small forwards.

Round 8

8.1: G Anfernee Simons, Boston Celtics

8.2: C Deandre Ayton, Los Angeles Lakers

8.3: G/F Zach LaVine, Sacramento Kings

8.4: C Jakob Poeltl, Toronto Raptors

8.5: G Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers

8.6: G Payton Pritchard, Boston Celtics

8.7: F Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz

8.8: F Cameron Johnson, Denver Nuggets

8.9: G Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs

8.10: C Daniel Gafford, Dallas Mavericks

8.11: G/F Christian Braun, Denver Nuggets

8.12: G Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs

The second rookie went off the board in this round, with Harper being the ninth pick. Given San Antonio's perimeter depth, will there be enough room for him to provide top-100 value as a rookie? Last season, no rookie finished ranked within the top-100 in nine-cat formats, with Kel'El Wre and Zach Edey leading the way. According to Basketball Monster, the highest-ranked rookie with guard eligibility was the aforementioned McCain, and he only played 23 games due to a knee injury. Ayton can play well above his draft position, mainly if he stays healthy. Playing alongside Luka and LeBron represents an excellent opportunity for the Lakers' new starting center. Nembhard and Pritchard's draft positions were boosted due to the Haliburton and Tatum injuries, but the latter finished last season as a top-100 player. I took Johnson, who moves from Brooklyn to Denver, and he could benefit immensely from playing alongside Jokić and Murray.

Round 9

9.1: F PJ Washington, Dallas Mavericks

9.2: F Toumani Camara, Portland Trail Blazers

9.3: G/F Quentin Grimes*, Philadelphia 76ers

9.4: G/F Norman Powell, Miami Heat

9.5: F Tari Eason, Houston Rockets

9.6: F Paul George, Philadelphia 76ers

9.7: G Donte DiVincenzo, Minnesota Timberwolves

9.8: G Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks

9.9: G Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings

9.10: G Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic

9.11: G Scoot Henderson, Portland Trail Blazers

9.12: C Isaiah Hartenstein, Oklahoma City Thunder

Irving being a ninth-round pick when other players with similar injury concerns went much earlier was interesting. And his chances of returning early enough to help fantasy managers are higher than those of Haliburton or Tatum. Other interesting picks in this round included Powell, who was traded to Miami and will figure prominently in the Heat offense, and Henderson. The departure of Anfernee Simons means it's "prime time" for Scoot, even with Portland adding Jrue Holiday in that deal. With Damian Lillard back but unlikely to play this season, Henderson has an excellent opportunity to take a leap forward. Is he up to it? George was also a ninth-round pick, and the injuries had a lot to do with that. I used my pick on Eason, who can offer solid value as a rebounder and defender despite coming off the bench.

Round 10

10.1: C Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies

10.2: G/F Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers

10.3: F/C Kyle Filipowski, Utah Jazz

10.4: G/F Shaedon Sharpe, Portland Trail Blazers

10.5: F Tobias Harris, Detroit Pistons

10.6: G/F RJ Barrett, Toronto Raptors

10.7: C Nic Claxton, Brooklyn Nets

10.8: F/C Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors

10.9: F Bilal Coulibaly, Washington Wizards

10.10: F/C Bobby Portis, Milwaukee Bucks

10.11: G Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

10.12: G/F Dillon Brooks, Phoenix Suns

Edey was the first pick of the tenth round, but due to ankle surgery it's possible he won't be ready to go when the season begins. His rookie season in Memphis was good, but it's fair to wonder if the 7-foot-4 center is a player whose ceiling is limited but the floor is reliable. The Filipowski pick is interesting; Taylor Hendricks may return to the starting lineup after suffering a broken leg early last season, but Filipowski's offensive value makes him an intriguing option in fantasy leagues. Can Claxton get back to being the free-throw punt option he was before last season? Among the factors that will impact that is how Brooklyn addresses the point guard position. Wanting another player with center eligibility, I selected Draymond since he can also be used at forward and offers solid value outside the points category.

Round 11

11.1: G Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

11.2: F Keegan Murray, Sacramento Kings

11.3: F/C Santi Aldama, Memphis Grizzlies

11.4: F Ausar Thompson, Detroit Pistons

11.5: G Bradley Beal, Los Angeles Clippers

11.6: G/F Devin Vassell, San Antonio Spurs

11.7: F Aaron Gordon, Denver Nuggets

11.8: G VJ Edgecombe, Philadelphia 76ers

11.9: G/F Kyshawn George, Washington Wizards

11.10: G Dejounte Murray, New Orleans Pelicans

11.11: G Keyonte George, Utah Jazz

11.12: C Dereck Lively II, Dallas Mavericks

Due to the health of JJJ and Edey, Aldama's ceiling may be raised, at least for the early portion of the season. Murray may be in a challenging spot in Sacramento, but the Kings adding a point guard (Dennis Schröder) could help matters. Sacramento did not address the position after trading De'Aaron Fox, negatively impacting Murray's opportunities. He could represent significant value in fantasy leagues, regardless of size, if that changes. Beal's recent injury history has not been good, but he was worth the gamble for me in the 11th round. I doubt he's on the board this late in drafts when actual fantasy drafts are held in the fall.

Murray is an interesting "draft and stash" option since he won't be fully recovered from his Achilles injury when the season begins, and fantasy managers may also have to wait on Lively. Keyonte George being selected despite Utah's logjam at the point is interesting. Isaiah Collier jumped him to take over the starting point guard duties last season, and Utah added Walter Clayton Jr. in the draft. Lastly, another rookie was selected in this round, with Edgecombe coming off the board. His ceiling will be determined partly by the availability of Philadelphia's more experienced perimeter players.

Round 12

12.1: G/F Brandin Podziemski, Golden State Warriors

12.2: C Khaman Maluach, Phoenix Suns

12.3: F John Collins, Los Angeles Clippers

12.4: G Bub Carrington, Washington Wizards

12.5: G Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons

12.6: C Goga Bitadze, Orlando Magic

12.7: G/F Cam Thomas*, Brooklyn Nets

12.8: G Kevin Porter Jr., Milwaukee Bucks

12.9: G/F Andrew Wiggins, Miami Heat

12.10: G T.J. McConnell, Indiana Pacers

12.11: G Russell Westbrook, Free Agent

12.12: G Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta Hawks

The final round of fantasy drafts is about the "home run swing," as it's a low-risk, high-reward spot. Porter appears on track to be a starter in Milwaukee next season, and the combination of that opportunity and his improved play down the stretch factored into my decision to select him. However, Minnesota's Terrence Shannon Jr. and Detroit's Ron Holland II are two players I wish I'd considered more. While one can argue that Holland's situation isn't great from a fantasy standpoint with Jaden Ivey returning from a leg injury, Shannon should have added value following Nickeil Alexander-Walker's exit in free agency. Also of note in the final round of this mock draft is that Cam Thomas remains a restricted free agent, and Westbrook is still an unrestricted free agent.

Conversations between the Bulls and head coach Billy Donovan regarding an extension began during the season and were well underway before the New York Knicks called to express interest and request permission to speak with Donovan. Chicago shot down New York, but for Donovan's camp, it never hurts negotiations to have other teams calling about the coach.

The deal is done, Donovan signed a multi-year extension, a story broken by ESPN’s Shams Charania and confirmed by Bulls PR.

Donovan has a 195-205 record across five seasons coaching the Bulls, and he led them to the playoffs once (a first-round exit at the hands of the Bucks in 2022). The past three seasons, the Bulls have not advanced past the play-in tournament.

That record would have a lot of coaches polishing their resumes and looking for a new gig, but two things are different with Donovan. First, ownership in Chicago likes the current power structure and has recently extended the contracts of executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley — the entire management team is locked in.

Second, how much of that record is on Donovan, and how much should be on Karnisovas and Eversley for the rosters given the coach? Donovan was given a roster that, for much of the past five years, was built around DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic, with the front office also making a big bet on Patrick Williams. You get what you pay for, and Donovan did as well with this as could be expected.

DeRozan and LaVine are gone, and the Bulls are betting Donovan is the coach to help them transition to what's next. Last season, Donovan attempted to change things up, pushing for a faster tempo, which worked with the arrival of Josh Giddey (who is at his best in open space). Chicago now has to work out its long-term contract with Giddey, although that will get done before the season starts.

Whatever the Bulls are going to look like in a couple of years, we know who their coach will be.

Predicting what 41-year-old LeBron James will want to do a year from now is a fool's errand. Even one of basketball insider Marc Stein’s sources tried to convey the same sentiment in kinder words when discussing LeBron's future: "It all really depends on how this coming season goes."

LeBron’s future was the hot topic at the NBA Summer League, however, the conversations ultimately went in circles because the only realistic option after he picked up his $52.6 million player option was for him to spend the next season in Los Angeles. There isn’t a trade to a team he wants to be on that’s available, and a buyout is highly unlikely.

But what about the season after that, a 24th LeBon season where he turns 42? Stein speculated about that in his Saturday Substack missive.

I believe that, by saying what I just said in the previous paragraph, it means that I expect him to retire in a uniform that isn't purple and gold. It's pretty clear at this juncture that the Lakers have launched the Luka Dončić Era. It certainly appears as though they are approaching the 2025-26 season as LeBron's last in Tinseltown. If James doesn't want retirement forced upon him, as one suspects, that almost certainly means he would have to find a new team next summer...

I believe that the Warriors, who have shown an interest in acquiring James dating to the February 2024 trade deadline some 18 months ago, will remain in the mix if James ever does reach the point that he's looking for a last hurrah elsewhere.

Then there are the Dallas rumors, about LeBron wanting to team up again with two people he won a title with in Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving. The Mavericks might be interested, but not in a trade that guts the roster, Stein said.

While there is a fascination with where LeBron might play next, this comment sums up the vibe NBC Sports has gotten when discussing this around the league: LeBron is a fun parlor game, but Giannis Antetokounmpo is the player teams are really watching closely.

I believe that Giannis Antetokounmpo's future in Milwaukee... still holds far greater behind-closed-doors interest among rival teams than the ongoing chatter about how much longer James is A) likely to play and/or B) be a Laker.

Damian Lillard was always going to retire and enter the Hall of Fame as a Portland Trail Blazer, but his return to the city ended up happening much sooner than expected. After Lillard tore his Achilles in an April playoff game, and with rumors of Giannis Antetokounmpo's frustration growing, Milwaukee shocked the league by agreeing to waive and stretch Lillard, buying him out and making him a free agent. That cleared his path to a return to Portland.

In recent interviews, Lillard spoke about all of it. When discussing his tenure with the Bucks, injuries were the main topic — Antetokounmpo missing Lillard's first playoffs with the team, then this year with his Achilles — with Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

"I think you gotta be a little bit lucky to win big. You gotta be healthy and you gotta be playing your best at the right time and I think we just had bad luck."

He also talked about loving the experience of playing alongside Antetokounmpo, despite some criticism of his production and play.

"But I think Giannis and I, we was the highest-scoring duo during that time. We won a [NBA] Cup. I think a lot of people for me personally was like, we want to see Dame do this and Dame do that, but I'm playing with a 30-plus point per game scorer, a guy who plays with the ball in his hands the same way I've done my whole career. He's aggressive and attacking and I still managed to score 25 points per game and seven assists over my two years pretty much. So I think it's kind of unfair how people was like Dame (isn't the same) because of the way I played in Portland. I had the ball all the time, so it just looked different. But I think for how productive I actually was I think it's been viewed unfairly."

Now, Lillard is just happy to be home, as he told Anne M. Peterson of the Associated Press.

"Just knowing that I'm going to be back home for all parts of my life, with my kids, playing for the Trail Blazers, driving on the same streets that I've driven on pretty much my entire adulthood, my whole family being here, my mom, my brother, my sisters, all my friends around the city of Portland," he said. "All of those things count. I wasn't expecting it to happen so soon."

It did. He is going to spend this season more as an assistant coach working with young guards like Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe and Toumani Camara. He will join them in the rotation in a year.

For now, he's just happy to be home.

Restricted free agency is a state of limbo that players try desperately to avoid, as the rules are heavily tilted in favor of the teams. This year, in particular, is tough because there were so few teams with cap space, meaning the player had even less leverage. If you need proof, the cases of the Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga and the Nets’ Cam Thomas are perfect examples of how a player can get stuck in restricted free agency.

In the end, the smart money is on Kuminga and Thomas returning to play for their current teams, which could create an awkward dynamic. In both cases, it would be for considerably less money than they think they deserve, and on shorter contracts that could help facilitate a trade.

There have been updates on both in recent days, here is where things stand.

Jonathan Kuminga

The pace of talks around the Warriors forward has picked up, but that doesn't mean the sides are closer to a deal. While Warriors' general manager Mike Dunleavy made what the team considered a fair offer, Kuminga told ESPN’s Anthony Slater that the offers the Warriors have made do not come close to what he is seeking.

But Kuminga hasn't found anything they presented appealing, he said, so the drawn-out negotiations will remain motionless, likely keeping the Warriors' other offseason business on pause. They are the only NBA team not to sign or trade for a player this summer.

There are two reasons why Kuminga is stalled: money and role. On the money side, Kuminga is reportedly seeking a contract in the $30 million a season range, while the Warriors are offering shorter deals, two or three years, in the low $20 million a season range. That's a huge gap.

The other part is the role. Kuminga wants a larger one, to have the ball in his hands more, something he has not consistently had under Steve Kerr in Golden State (even after stretches where he has played well).

That's why the original hope for both sides had been to find a sign-and-trade deal that would get Kuminga to a new situation and the Warriors a first-round pick and a player — except that trade was not out there. Phoenix remains interested and could offer Kuminga a larger role, but they lack a first-round pick to trade and are not exactly deep with talent they want to move anymore. Slater summed it up this way at ESPN.

"Kuminga is in search of a more guaranteed, consistent starting role and featured opportunity, sources said. That's something the Suns and Kings have pitched. Kuminga would be a significant part of the Warriors' rotation to open next season, and they'd need his supplementary scoring on nights when Steph Curry, 37, or Jimmy Butler, 35, rest. That's something coach Steve Kerr has told Kuminga in recent weeks... But Kuminga no longer wants to be a secondary option or a fallback plan, fearing a minimization in important moments."

In the end, the most likely outcome is Kuminga signing a two-year, $45-50ish million contract — then Kerr has to showcase Kuminga, even if Curry and Butler are healthy. The Warriors will need that added shot creation with their current roster, but it also showcases Kuminga as a potential trade asset at the deadline or next summer.

For now, with the NBA season almost three months away from starting, there is no pressure to finalize a deal quickly. So the stalemate continues.

Cam Thomas

Cam Thomas is a bucket getter — 24 points a game last season when healthy, shot 34.9% from 3, and is a guy who draws doubles — and he wants to be paid like an elite scorer.

The Nets don't see it that way, and so the sides are at a stalemate. Thomas is hoping for a contract that averages more than $20 million per season, but the Nets have not offered anything exceeding $14 million per season, according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report.

"I have not heard that Brooklyn has offered Cam Thomas anything further than a two-year deal with a team option on the second (year) that I don't believe is going much north – if north at all – of the $14.1 million mid-level exception…

"Cam Thomas thinks of himself as one of the most elite play-maker scorers in the NBA, and he wants to be compensated as such… I definitely believes he wants north of $20 (million per year)."

Where the disconnect lies in Thomas' value concerns his level of efficiency in getting buckets and his defense, rather than anything else — teams think he is a one-trick pony, even if it's a really good trick. Thomas got mad at The Ringer’s Zach Lowe when he said the league consensus on Thomas was that of an "empty calorie ball hog." Thomas should not like that, but it doesn't mean Lowe is wrong — that absolutely is the perception of Thomas, fair or not. Thomas said in his defense, "This is most likely the same consensus teams who can't guard me and send double teams from jump ball . Why are we double teaming a guy who's 'not that good' make it make sense please." While nobody is saying Thomas is 'not that good,' the reason teams send doubles is that they don't fear him passing out of it and making the defense scramble (there also isn't a lot of other shot creation on the Brooklyn roster).

There is real value for Thomas around the league, but he needs to get out of Brooklyn, and right now, there is no trade that gets him to someone who will pay him. Expect the sides to settle on a two-year contract, one that (much like Kuminga) is very tradable at the deadline or next summer, to get Thomas somewhere he wants to be.