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

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Lakers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

In both the California Classic and Las Vegas Summer League, Lakers fans had plenty to be excited about.

The team won two out of their three games in San Francisco. In Las Vegas, they went undefeated during their first four games, advancing to the elimination round.

The Lakers lost to the Warriors and failed to advance to the title game, but in Summer League, the most important thing is seeing potential in young prospects.

From that perspective, LA got everything they wanted from Summer League. Cameron Carr averaged 18 points per game and had a plus-minus of +9 in Las Vegas. Adou Thiero looked like a second-year player ready to put Summer League play in his rearview mirror. He averaged 15.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.

With Carr and Thiero playing so well, the Lakers appear to have two young players on their roster that can impact winning this fall.

For our SB Nation Reacts survey this week, we asked fans which player they are most excited about after this Summer League between Carr and Thiero, and the Lakers rookie won the poll by a wide margin.

Carr did it all in Summer League. He was a great scorer for the Lakers and also a vocal leader. He was talking trash on the court and letting all the opponents know he was here to play. His game backed up that chatter, and he kept that energy during his postgame interviews.

“No rebraid because basketball or nothing.” 😂

Cameron Carr doubles down on being all about ball! pic.twitter.com/k436sAf0f6

— NBA Draft (@NBADraft) July 16, 2026

Everything fans wanted to see from Carr, he showed. He was creating on-ball, scoring big-time buckets, competing hard on defense and blocking shots.

Cameron Carr Summer League blocks pic.twitter.com/um0Iqcs27Z

— pickuphoop (@pickuphoop) July 17, 2026

While Carr was great, Thiero was equally impressive.

He had some monster dunks, displayed his ability as an on-ball creator and showed that he could be a good athletic wing option for the Lakers this upcoming season.

With Carr and Thiero shining, Chris Mañon being a defensive menace, and Arthur Kaluma making a case for a two-way deal, the Lakers had a very successful Summer League.

They did a ton of winning and gave Lakers fans optimism that these young players will be an important part of the future.

The next time we see Carr and Thiero play will be during preseason action. Hopefully they look just as promising this fall as they did in Las Vegas and San Francisco this summer.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have traded one of the foundational players from their 2025 NBA championship run in an effort to trim payroll and stay out of the dreaded second apron. The Thunder traded Lu Dort to the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team deal that also sends former No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher to the Dallas Mavericks, according to ESPN insider Shams Charania. Here’s the full breakdown of the trade:

Thunder acquire: Three future second-round picks

Hawks acquire: Lu Dort, Ryan Nembhard

Mavericks acquire: Zaccharie Risacher

The Thunder have reportedly saved $224 million in luxury tax and payroll this season by trading Dort, Aaron Wiggins, and Isaiah Joe. OKC is now under the second apron, and they are acquiring a 2027 second rounder from the Chicago Bulls (via Dallas), a 2031 most favorable second rounder from the Hawks, and a 2032 most favorable from the Hawks in the deal, according to Jake Fischer. Atlanta has added another bulldog defender on the perimeter, and the Mavs are taking a flier on a failed No. 1 overall pick.

Let’s grade this trade from every side.

Hawks trade grade for Lu Dort deal

Atlanta found some magic after trading Trae Young to the Washington Wizards in January of last season. The Hawks finished 28-15 after the trade with the league’s No. 8 net-rating at +4.9, then proceeded to take two games off the New York Knicks in the first-round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

In landing Dort, Atlanta adds another bulldog perimeter defender to pair with fDyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Dort is on an expiring $18.2 million deal for the 2026-27 season, which means the Hawks maintain a lot of cap flexibility ahead of the next summer. The Hawks are positioned to have $40+ million in cap space next season according to Charania, and they’re going to be very annoying to play against this year with arguably the league’s toughest defensive trio on the perimeter.

It feels like Atlanta has quietly become one of the best-run teams in the league since promoting Onsi Saleh to lead executive. The Hawks added Kingston Flemings via the brilliant Derik Queen trade, re-signed C.J. McCollum to a smart one-year deal, and added Devin Carter and Aaron Wiggins in trades. Risacher was drafted by the old front office, and he clearly wasn’t part of the Hawks’ long-term plans. Moving off him now seems fine to me given that he was set to make $31.2 million over the next two years. Atlanta is clearly loading up on defense around star forward Jalen Johnson, and they have the assets to make a bigger splash a year from now.

Dort is so physical defensively that he’s a borderline dirty player, and that might be putting it charitably. The East has gotten much stronger this summer, but no one will want to play the Hawks this year.

Grade: A-

Thunder trade grades for Lu Dort deal

Sam Presti always has a long-term vision in mind. He moved off Josh Giddey before he was due for an extension, and added a critical piece to a championship team in Alex Caruso in the process. Now he’s dealing Dort to significantly trim OKC’s tax bill, and potentially open up an extension for Cason Wallace.

Again: doing all of this on the fly (literally!) but Oklahoma City should see their luxury tax bill drop from ~$102.2M to ~$19.6M.

That’s the difference in the tax bands by shedding roughly $15.5M in one trade.

And of course, under the second apron now too. Cason Wallace…

— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) July 19, 2026

The Thunder were always going to be very expensive once the extensions for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren all kicked in. Presti has done well to navigate the second apron as a small market team by moving off role players, replacing them with cost-controlled draft picks, and adding more future assets to potentially make more moves in the future.

The Thunder were the No. 1 team in our way-too-early power rankings. To get back to being a championship team, OKC will need Williams and Holmgren to regain the form they showed on the 2025 title run. In many ways, this team has outgrown Dort. Wallace feels like a more dynamic two-way player, and this also potentially opens up more opportunities for Wallace, Ajay Mitchell, Nikola Topic, and rookie Bennett Stirtz.

Presti isn’t perfect, it just feels that way sometimes. This is pretty good business to move off Dort, add some second-round picks, and maintain flexibility going forward.

Grade: A-

Mavericks trade grades for Zaccharie Risacher deal

Risacher was a pretty shocking No. 1 overall pick from the weak 2024 NBA Draft. I didn’t even have him as a top-10 prospect on my final board, though I shouldn’t exactly be taking a victory lap on that one given that I had plenty of bad calls on my board that year. ESPN was pushing Risacher as the No. 1 overall pick prospect that year. New Mavericks general manager Mike Schmitz started his career covering the draft for ESPN, so it isn’t too surprising that Schmitz saw him as a possible reclamation project.

Risacher was always a bet on a 3-and-D wing. So far, he hasn’t been too impressive in either area. Risacher’s defense graded out in the 26th percentile on EPM last season, and he’s a 36 percent three-point shooter on 8.5 attempts per 100 possessions for his career. Risacher offers very little shot-creation or playmaking. He’s not a plus rebounder for his position, either, and his scoring efficiency has been below league-average both years of his career.

Still, he’s only 21 years old, and could benefit from a change of scenery. He could be a good fit next to Cooper Flagg long-term if he actually becomes effective in the 3-and-D areas he’s supposed to be good at, and he’s already a pretty solid transition player who should run the floor well. I’ve never been a big fan of Risacher, but there’s an outline of a good player there, and the Mavs certainly bought very low on him in this deal. Schmitz knows what he’s doing, and if he believes in Risacher’s long-term future, then this is a fine flier to take at minimal cost.

Grade: B

The first overall number one pick in the draft lottery era for the Hawks will be calling another city home. Shams Charania of ESPN broke the news about Zaccharie Risacher:

BREAKING: The Oklahoma City Thunder trading All-Defensive wing Lu Dort to the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team deal that sends three second-round picks to OKC, former No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher to the Dallas Mavericks and Ryan Nembhard to Atlanta, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/4ewUxhRQA5

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 19, 2026

Risacher was drafted first overall after the Hawks unexpectedly won the draft lottery in 2024. After finishing second in rookie of the year voting in 2024-25, last season was a different tale. Risacher averaged just 9.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game.

The Hawks also sent out two second-round picks and received NBA champion forward Luguentz “Lu” Dort and young defensive-minded guard Ryan Nembhard from the Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks respectively.

According to a blockbuster report from ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Dallas Mavericks have traded for Zaccharie Risacher, former number one overall pick in the 2024 draft by the Atlanta Hawks. The Mavericks are trading Ryan Nembhard to the Hawks.

BREAKING: The Oklahoma City Thunder trading All-Defensive wing Lu Dort to the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team deal that sends three second-round picks to OKC, former No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher to the Dallas Mavericks and Ryan Nembhard to Atlanta, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/4ewUxhRQA5

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 19, 2026

While the bigger news for NBA fans at large is probably the Lu Dort of it all, but Dallas taking a shot on a disappointing pick in Risacher is interesting. The Mavericks will accept Risacher into their salary cap using the trade exception created by the Anthony Davis trade to the Washington Wizards earlier this year.

According to Jake Fischer, the Mavericks are sending a 2027 pick that they received from the Chicago Bulls at some point.

Risacher joins the Mavericks after two seasons with the Atlanta Hawks where he made a marginal impact. Through 142 career games he’s averaging 11 points, just under four rebounds, and an assist per game in 24 minutes of action. His shooting splits are solid, a career 35% from three-point range, but he also doesn’t get to the line much while also shooting a subpar 69% from the charity stripe. His role decreased last season as he played fewer minutes and games, and it became clear prior to the trade deadline that Risacher’s days in Atlanta had an expiration date.

Where he fits in Dallas is anyone’s guess. The French forward WAS picked number one overall, but even at the time it didn’t entirely make sense as to why Atlanta picked him.

Considering what it took to trade for Risacher, this trade has to go down as a pretty spectacular, low-stakes gamble. The Mavericks essentially sent a second-rounder in next year’s draft away for a shot at a former number one overall pick. If he doesn’t work out, then next year you decline his team option. This is good business.

I’ve often whined about past team’s and the lack of pedigree, well the Mavericks enter the year with three number one overall players on their roster for the second straight season. That’s nothing to scoff at. With a few veterans still likely available to be traded, the Dallas offseason is likely not done yet.

LeBron James’s free agency continues as he decided not to reveal any decision at his scheduled events at Fanatics Fest this weekend.

While LeBron didn’t make any announcement at Fanatics Fest, other players in attendance this weekend were asked about the possibility of James joining their team. One of those was Cleveland Cavaliers point guard James Harden.

“That’s the goal, that’s the plan,” Harden said when asked by ESPN Brazil if he could envision a trio of himself, Donovan Mitchell, and LeBron. “Hopefully, we’ll see [that] in the next few days.”

LEBRON JAMES NOS CAVS? 👀😱 James Harden falou sobre a possibilidade de um Big 3 com ele, Donovan Mitchell e Lebron James jogando pelo Cleveland Cavaliers!#NBAnaESPN#NBA#LeBronJames#Cavs#JamesHardenpic.twitter.com/CIt2OVS8vS

— ESPN Brasil (@ESPNBrasil) July 19, 2026

“I hope he comes to Cleveland,” Harden said in a separate interview about James this weekend. “It’s a perfect storybook finish. He’s at home for his last year. But you know, he’s going to decide. He’s smart enough. I don’t think anybody’s pitches are going to move him.”

Harden comes across as quite confident in both clips that James could be returning to Cleveland. In many ways, it felt reminiscent of how head coach Kenny Atkinson and Mitchell have handled questions about LeBron in the last week.

That said, the Cavs are hardly the only team that seems confident about LeBron signing with them. Gilbert Arenas mentioned at a live recording of his podcast that he talked about the possibility of James signing with the Miami Heat with Giannis Antetokounmpo, saying, “They’re thinking in Miami that they’re getting him.”

Additionally, the Philadelphia 76ers are pulling out all the stops to let James know they would love to add him to their team. It’s been reported that Sixers owner, Josh Harris had a “brief, friendly conversation” with LeBron during Fanatics Fest this weekend.

We’ll see how this plays out. LeBron is reportedly getting much closer to a decision. Whether or not we get an announcement of that in the coming days remains to be seen.

The 2026 Summer League is in the books for the Phoenix Suns. They leave Las Vegas with a 3-2 record, a number that will disappear into the desert haze long before anyone cares to remember it. What should stick with you is the feeling.

This organization arrived in Las Vegas with one mission: develop the young core. Mission accomplished? Never. But on the right track? Indeed. The Suns put their future under the brightest lights they could find, and those young players didn’t blink. They attacked, they flashed, and they gave fans something tangible to hold onto as the franchise continues building toward what comes next.

Which brings us to one final Summer League tradition, the Second Annual Bright Side Baller of the Summer League.

Sure, it’s a little ridiculous. We’re handing out imaginary awards for games that don’t count. Then again, that’s part of the fun. Around here, we do it after every game. The Bright Side community votes on who they believe was the best player that night. I make the graphic, we celebrate the performance, and it becomes another bookmark in the archive. A snapshot of who owned that moment before the basketball calendar swept everyone into the next one.

Last season, the voting (like the performances that garnered votes) was inconsistent. Nobody truly separated from the pack. Oso Ighodaro eventually claimed the Summer League crown with two Bright Side Baller awards, edging out Koby Brea and Ryan Dunn, who each collected one. It was a team searching for standout moments, and finding them in different places every night.

This year? There wasn’t a debate. Khaman Maluach owned Summer League. In the four games he played, he walked away with the Bright Side Baller award every single time. Four games, four wins, and one closed case.

The leap went far beyond the box score, although the box score certainly did its part in feeding the excitement.

MIN	PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL	OFFRTG	DEFRTG	NETRTG	REB%
27.4	19.5	12.8	1.0	2.0	1.2	113.8	88.8	+25.0	22.4%

Those numbers make it easy to dream about what Maluach could become. They grab your attention immediately. But the statistics only tell part of the story. The real takeaway came from everything that never finds its way onto a stat sheet. His aggression on both ends of the floor. His communication as the anchor of the defense. His leadership. His energy. His passion. Every game, every possession, every timeout, it poured out of him.

Even in the finale against the Spurs when he sat in street clothes, you could still feel his fingerprints all over the game. He was on the bench barking at teammates, celebrating every big play, jawing with the opposition, completely invested in every possession like a man who couldn’t stand being separated from the action.

If there was one word that defined Khaman Maluach throughout this entire Summer League, it was “engaged”. He wasn’t there to survive the experience. He was there to consume it, to drag everyone around him into the fight, and to leave Las Vegas looking like someone who knows exactly where he’s headed.

Summer League is its own ecosystem. It’s a place where elite young talent gets to stretch its legs, where future role players become stars for a week, and confidence grows with every possession. The biggest fish find themselves swimming in a much smaller pond. That was Khaman Maluach in the summer of 2026. He rose above everyone around him. He imposed his will on games. More importantly, he looked like he expected to. There was never a sense that he was hoping things would work out. He carried himself like someone who believed he belonged at the center of the conversation.

Now comes October, and the pond gets a whole lot bigger. Maluach returns to being the young guy, another name on the depth chart, another player fighting for minutes in a league that doesn’t hand out opportunities because of a strong week in Las Vegas. Every possession has to be earned and every minute has to be taken.

The difference is that Summer League gave us something real to believe in. He looks ready for the next step. Not because he dominated a handful of exhibition games, but because his approach changed. His mind seems to be catching up to the incredible physical tools he has always possessed. The game is slowing down and the confidence is becoming authentic.

The Suns know there will be opportunities. Mark Williams isn’t going to carry the load for all 82 games, and every season has a way of creating minutes for players who prove they’re ready. That’s what changed in Las Vegas. Before Summer League, Maluach’s potential lived almost entirely in his physical gifts. Now it’s supported by confidence, communication, and a growing understanding of the game. October will present a much tougher challenge than July ever could, but for the first time, it feels like we’re waiting for an opportunity rather than wondering if one will ever come.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rockets fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

This week’s question asked you to grade rookie Bruce Thornton’s NBA Summer League performance this summer. Thornton got off to a red, hot start, and though he laid a bit of an egg in last night’s loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, scoring just 8 points on 2-for-12 shooting, he did add 8 boards and 7 assists to go along with some top-flight performances in his previous games. It’s important to note that we graded Thornton before last night’s game, which could have changed some results.

As you can see, 68 percent of voteras gave Thornton an A, while if you count the As and Bs, that’s 98 percent of voters. I think it’s safe to say that not many were expecting this type of production from the Rockets rookie.

Don’t forget to head over to our friends at FanDuel. Thornton is currently a +25000 to win NBA Rookie of the Year. That means if you’re feeling really confident, a $100 bet will earn you a cool $25k if he somehow wins it. Certainly a long shot, but one that might be worth the chance.

Thanks for voting. We’ll be back back soon with more Reacts.

After meeting in the NBA Finals five years ago, there are, strangely, many parallels between the Suns’ and Bucks’ journeys since that point, the main one being that both teams ended up trading their star player without having the fallback of owning their own picks. Granted, Giannis being traded at 31 years old—as opposed to Durant at 36—meant he had significantly more value, which meant the trade return was superior and gave the Bucks a much better opportunity to reshape their roster with young talent in the fashion of a typical rebuild.

And honestly, credit to Phoenix, who traded Durant and proceeded to have maybe the most feel-good season of any team last year. They hired an excellent coach in Jordan Ott, made shrewd roster moves around the edges, and won many more games than anyone expected them to, qualifying for the playoffs in a crowded Western Conference. Their play was excellent, but most importantly, their vibes were high. The expectation that I had, at least, was that the Suns would keep the same group together and continue to tread water whilst they climb another season out of the significant pick debt they are under.

The number one thing I wouldn’t have done? Trade another future pick!

Well, that’s exactly what Phoenix did, dispensing of their unprotected 2033 pick. I mean, before I even get to who they traded for, just moving that pick should have been off limits solely on principle. As the saying goes, “if you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.” And then you consider that they had dealt it in exchange for Miles Bridges, who—not even getting into his off-court issues—is barely even a needle mover! Congratulations, you went from the eighth-best team in the West to the seventh-best. Bravo. All the analyses I saw of this deal—every single one—panned the Suns, and rightly so.

Milwaukee needs to learn from this fatal flaw. As I mentioned, they are in a very similar position to Phoenix overall, but unlike the Suns, they have been able to build a young nucleus—let it grow! Let the broth simmer, and those flavours develop; add a secondary ingredient here and there, but don’t alter the whole recipe. To me, there should be little consideration given to trading a first-round pick for at least the next two years. Getting your head back above water in terms of pick equity should be a long-term goal here. The sugar rush of improving rapidly is enticing, but if that move doesn’t bring real, tangible results for a long time, you’re right back to square one.

Having said all of this, if the Bucks do trade a future pick (or picks), that player had better fit the age demographic. Of course, this is relevant given the team’s reported interest in Nuggets restricted free agent Peyton Watson. Look, I remain mostly against such a deal, but Watson does fit into that aforementioned age demo, so I’d be able to stomach it if that came to fruition. It’s trading for guys who are closer to 30 than 20 that I’m staunchly against.

Patience is a virtue.

Despite narrowly missing out on the Summer League playoffs due to a point-differential tie-breaker, the Toronto Raptors are scheduled to play their final contest against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday.

Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST on NBA TV Canada and ESPN2.

Here are three storylines to consider ahead of the Summer League finale.

Is Allen Graves legit?

The Allen Graves experience has fully delivered on what the analytics predicted. Even without the luxury of true offensive gravity to occupy the defence’s attention, Graves demonstrated how his complementary game can benefit the likes of Kawhi Leonard and Scottie Barnes.

Through four contests, Graves is averaging 16.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.3 stocks (steals and blocks) while shooting 50 per cent from the perimeter. Beyond the statistical output, Graves has also seemingly elevated the average fan’s awareness of the nuanced contributions that an elite role player provides.

Graves’ uncanny ability to warp 50-50 balls into scenarios that greatly favour him and his knack for consistently knocking down open shots will mesh perfectly with the Raptors’ dynamic duo of Leonard and Barnes, particularly in the post-season.

While it wouldn’t be surprising if Graves is limited against the Nuggets, should he play meaningful minutes, it would be encouraging to see him attack the rim. Outside of a near-perfect start to his career, Graves’ lone blemish is his lack of free-throw attempts.

Grab both centres?

Collin Murray-Boyles’ absence has turned out to be a blessing in disguise. While many hoped to see Murray-Boyles dominate Summer League in his own signature way, the sophomore’s finger injury created additional opportunities for Nate Bittle and Jamarion Sharp.

Bittle, a seven-foot centre, has consistently impressed onlookers through four Summer League games. The 23-year-old big man went undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft, but has made the most of his opportunity with Toronto. It’s easy to envision Bittle coming off the bench – and even playing extended minutes should Poeltl miss games – on a Raptors team desperate for centre production. Bittle is a perimeter threat, protects the rim, rebounds the ball at a decent rate, and has touch on his passes that Head Coach Darko Rajakovic will certainly love.

Sharp, a seven-foot-six centre, may not have the finesse and shooting touch that Bittle possesses, but instead leverages otherworldly size and motor skills that can’t be taught. He’s a cheat code of a lob threat and easily erases shots at the rim. The reigning G League Defensive Player of the Year may have earned a training camp invite with how efficient he’s been off the bench in Summer League.

Worrisome guard play?

It’s no secret that Raptors fans were clamouring for a guard in the first round of the draft. When they didn’t get that specific archetype, attention was turned to the Raptors’ Summer League roster. Headed into the opener, two guards who stood out were Chucky Hepburn and 2026 second-rounder Jaden Bradley.

Unfortunately, neither improved their stock ahead of pre-season.

Hepburn, in his second year in the Raptors’ system, began Summer League with a slight advantage. His reputation as a tenacious two-way guard is something Toronto could use on its bench. Regrettably, Hepburn had a Summer League to forget. In two games, Hepburn averaged 6.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.0 steal and 2.0 turnovers. The six-foot guard struggled with efficiency, averaging 23.8 per cent from the field 8.3 per cent from deep in 29 minutes of action.

After undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in January, the Raptors seemingly removed Hepburn from Summer League action.

For Bradley, it’s been a bit of an awkward debut. It’s nonsensical to draw serious conclusions about a second-round rookie in Summer League. Still, it’s been confusing to see Bradley play without the confidence that carried him through his four years at Arizona.

In four games, Bradley is averaging 6.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.7 turnovers in just under 20 minutes a game. What’s more worrisome is that he’s struggled immensely with his shot, averaging 29.6 per cent from the field. He’s also only attempted three shots from the perimeter and has converted zero. In his final year with the Wildcats, Bradley averaged 46.3 per cent from the field and shot 39.4 per cent from deep on nearly two attempts a game.

Hepburn and Bradley will likely need additional reps with the Raptors 905, but there’s a potential spot on the main roster up for grabs, even if it’s just in stretches. How these two guards develop will help determine whether either of them is considered.

Would you believe I went to sleep in Spain thinking the Knicks had landed the last piece of the puzzle as they submitted an offer sheet for Mavericks big man Moussa Cisse…

…and I woke up to P&T’s Michael Zeno informing me the Mavs had matched the Knicks’ two-year, $4.7 million offer, updating his story on it, and killing my hopes of New York’s putting an end to this third-string-center saga? Cold world, links and notes.

• In all honesty, and while Cisse isn’t a world beater, the move was shrewd and one for a kid coming on the cheap and with huge upside — definitely something better (given the role he’d have taken on) than signing Jonas Valanciunas or any other dodderer. Nick Richards remains out there, but the Knicks’ front office keeps showing us they can come up with out-of-left-field moves at any moment.
• SNY’s Ian Begley noted that if the Knicks sign a third center, as it looks to be the intention following Saturday’s developments, they simply will not have enough space to give rookies Tyler Nickel or Jack Kayil a standard contract for next season. A third center would fill the 14th roster spot, and there would only be one left for one of Nickel or Kayil, who would need to sign a two-way deal. That inevitably points to Nickel staying and Kayil going back to Germany, as explained here.

“If the Knicks sign a third center, they wouldn’t have enough financial wiggle room to offer Nickel or Kayil a standard NBA contract. With Miles McBride, Jordan Clarkson and Landry Shamet all on the roster next year, having Kayil stay overseas would make the most sense. Nickel could be in line for a two-way contract.”

• SNY’s Rafael Canton dropped a piece sharing the four main takeaways from the SummerKnicks run in Sin City. Mohamed Diawara’s Summer League was described as a “failure to launch.”
• Fellow SNY scribe David Vertsberger put together an “offseason development wish list” in which he discussed what all players under contract should improve at heading into the 2027 season. Here’s an example:

“Mikal Bridges – Pick-and-roll and isolation playmaking

“Bridges was invaluable and hilariously efficient in New York’s playoff run, but at times it felt he had a little more to give when Brunson was being pressured, and the Knicks needed an extra dose of ball-handling.

“He stepped up with his shooting as others like Jose Alvarado took over more ball-handling duties, but this could be an area for Bridges to tap into more.

“ His mid-range game is so effective; being comfortable using a screen or developing some kind of go-to dribble move that creates some space when he’s out on the perimeter could take his game to another level — it would also make defenses second-guess giving him a favorable matchup.”

• Jalen Brunson was asked at the Fanatics Fest whether he had recruited LeBron James to New York, and described his job nicely.
• Jose Alvarado spoke at the ESPY Awards ceremony about being the only native New Yorker on the championship roster. “It’s cool,” Jose said, among a few other things, including his foodie preferences.
• No offseason for Andre Drummond.
• Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns returned to Madison Square Garden on Saturday, this time as part of WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event. You can check out JB’s cameo and KAT’s table-breaking performance in full, if you’re into it.

Jalen Brunson.

The King of New York.

Madison Square Garden. pic.twitter.com/cX2fonTtCG

— WWE (@WWE) July 19, 2026

• Tyler Kolek, at the ESPYs, said he would approve of Timothee Chalamet playing him in a movie about the Knicks’ championship season, while Kolek himself could probably play Chalamet’s role in the joint.
• Kolek, for one, is already getting his acting reps.
• Trae Young embarrassed himself in a very public and sad way.

I can’t even imagine John Harbaughs reaction to seeing this LOL pic.twitter.com/hCfiCvwCxV

— WyattzWorld (@WyattzWorId) July 18, 2026

With Hugo Gonzalez, Chris Cenac, and Dillon Mitchell on the bench for Game 5, we got a good look at Amari Williams, Milos Uzan, Tucker DeVries, and John Tonje in Boston’s finale against Orlando — all players either directly or tangentially related to the Celtics. Williams will again be on a two-way contract and split his time in Maine and Boston; he’ll be eligible to play 50 games with the big club. Uzan and DeVries have Exhibit 10 deals for training camp in October and will most likely join the G League affiliate in Maine. Tonje is effectively a free agent after he was traded to the Celtics last season in the Chris Boucher deal and his option was declined.

To make it to the bigs, role players have to have at least one portable NBA skill. Think Sam Hauser and his three-point shooting or Jordan Walsh’s lockdown defense. They can build out from there, but for anybody showcasing their talents at Summer League, unless you’re a lottery pick expected to be a face of the franchise, you’re working to be a complementary player.

With that in mind, in Boston’s 103-97 loss to the Magic in their Sin City finale, the Celtics got a good look at some of those players.

Williams is such an interesting prospect because of his unique ability to be an offensive hub in the high post. Unless you’re Nikola Jokic, it’s not a skill that most teams will try to develop with their bigs, particularly one so far down on the depth chart. With Williams, the Celtics seem dead set on trying to make that happen. He has definitely shown a willingness to work outside of the restricted area and use his 6’11 frame as a watch tower in the half court over the last week in Vegas. Here’s a nifty find on the back cut for the hockey assist. 

Mo lays it in 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/bLnn1yewig

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) July 18, 2026

There’s a long way between “Amari loves to pass” and “Mazzulla can rely on Williams to be a playmaker above the break,” but the team will have another year to see if this is a real development in his game.

With Uzan, there’s no question he can play. Even with the short turnaround of putting together a Summer League roster, getting a few practices in together, and developing chemistry with his teammates, it’s obvious that he’s got the skills to run point on a team. He averaged a tidy 9-4-4 through five games and finished with nine points in 17 minutes on Saturday.

Milos starting off hot 🔥 pic.twitter.com/dH0BzE35PL

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) July 18, 2026

Depending on whether Mitchell signs a standard deal or gets put on a two-way, Uzan’s future with the franchise is still up in the air, but at least expect him Maine green. 

DeVries again showed that he’s capable of contributing from beyond the arc. He hit 3-of-6 against the Magic and finished his summer slate making 9-of-27. Of all the niche skills, shooting will always be a premium that teams will look for on the edges of their salary cap, especially with today’s collective bargaining agreement. DeVries was a 36% three-point shooter in five years at the college level, but if he can hit Hauser’s over-40% watershed mark, he’ll find a job somewhere in this league, if not in Boston. 

The curious case is Tonje. The shooting is real. He averaged 14.2 points per game in Vegas at a high efficiency rate (51% from the field, 45% from 3) with 14 points in the finale on 6-of-9 shooting. Another year in the G League could lead to a promotion like Ron Harper Jr.

Here’s CelticsBlog’s Noa Dalzell on Tonje’s improved defense and John shouting out his development coach.

John Tonje gave a shoutout to his player development coach, Nana Foulland, for helping him improve on the defensive end:

“I gotta give a special shoutout to a coach named Nana who’s actually standing right here in front of me. All summer, we’ve been focused, trying to get… https://t.co/FX8319sRb8pic.twitter.com/8yyx7xIjGm

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) July 19, 2026

And as much of a revelation as some of the players were, this summer’s sensation was also the premiere of Amile Jefferson as a head coach. Here’s a snippet again from from Noa’s profile on the 33-year-old coach:

“On a regular day-to-day basis, you just see me walking around – I’m very calm, very smiley, just easy to be around,” Jefferson told CelticsBlog in an exclusive conversation. “But, as a player, or when I’m coaching, that side gets unlocked, and then I get super competitive, and I’m a totally different person.”

Near center-court, Jefferson emphatically clenches his fist when Hugo Gonzalez sinks a three-pointer.

“That’s a foul, ref!” he belts each time he believes the whistle should have been blown.

“I’m trying to let them know that I’m in the fight with them, that they’re not alone,” Jefferson said. “And making sure they can hear my voice, making sure they know that I can help them be organized, making sure that they know that I got their back. And whether it’s screaming out a call or coverage, or whether it’s just giving an encouraging word, when I’m out there, I’m locked in – and probably am a little bit of a different person.”

Make sure to check out that piece at CelticsBlog.

Some Atlanta Hawks fans may tell you that the team hasn’t made many moves this offseason, but if you check the transaction list, you’d see several things they did. No, it was Jaylen Brown, or trying for LeBron James, but they’ve made moves that will keep them financially flexible, while also competitive now and in the future.

One of the several moves they made that may have gone under the radar was acquiring Devin Carter and a second-round pick from the Sacramento Kings.

Carter is going into his third year in the league after being selected with the No. 13 pick by the Kings in the 2024 NBA Draft. At the time, the pick was seen as a good move for Sacramento, but through two seasons, it’s obvious things just didn’t work out. With the recent selection of Darius Acuff Jr., one of their several guards was going to be on the outside looking in, and it happened to be Carter.

He didn’t see many minutes until the final two months of this past season, and he showed that when given the opportunity, he can make an impact.

The first thing that stands out about Carter is his athleticism and his ability to get to the rim. His upper body is sturdy, and he uses that to his advantage when attacking the rim against smaller opponents, or even stronger defenders. Either way, he’s shown that he has a knack for being physical, and that’s special at the guard position.

The closest person that the Hawks have at guard who can get to the rim with his type of skill is Dyson Daniels, and Quin Snyder has always praised his ability to get two feet in the paint. If Carter can do that, he’ll be a good piece off the bench if they need him.

Before coming into the league, Carter’s 3-point shot was something that seemed promising for his career. Through two seasons, he’s shooting a combined 27.4% from the 3-point line, and he shot 26.3% this past season. Whether it’s a change of mechanics or simply needing to improve, Carter is going to have to get that part of his game fixed, especially on a Hawks team that loves to shoot 3s.

The good news is that he showed a little more consistency down the stretch of last season, and the hope is that he can carry that into the upcoming season. The best way to put him in the best situation to succeed is by surrounding him with shooters when he’s on the floor.

Just like Carter uses his athleticism and frame to make plays on offense, that’s what he uses on defense as well. For a guard, he also rebounds better than most, which shows he isn’t afraid of doing the dirty work when he’s on the floor. His energy on that side of the ball could be what the Hawks need off the bench.

Carter isn’t seen as a primary ball handler, so putting him on the floor alongside someone like CJ McCollum or Kington Flemings would be key. He may still have a long way to go as far as playing time, with several Hawks being interchangeable, but if Carter brings the energy that he showed at the end of last season, things could look good for him.

If things don’t work out, the Hawks can say that it was a low-risk, high-reward move, and it didn’t cost them much to see if he could pan out on the team

Earlier in the week, we ran a basic poll question, asking you all which player you most enjoyed watching in the NBA Summer League held out in Las Vegas. One guy cleared the question easily.

First round pick Sergio De Larrea ran away with the vote, getting 63% of the vote. And why was obvious if you were able to watch more than the opening game. In four contests, De Larrea averaged just under 30 minutes, while putting up 8 points, 8.8 assists, five rebounds, a steal, and a block. While those numbers may underwhelm some, it was clear watching him in the third and fourth games when he had 12 assists in a win over the Grizzlies and 14 assists in a win over the Thunder that this guy has something.

Now, don’t get me wrong, Morez Johnson Jr. had a great debut but he played just two games and the second one was against a Lakers team full of try-hards, and Dallas looked flat-out asleep. Vsevolod Ishchenko was a surprising delight, but his lows were a bit lower than De Larrea and he didn’t play as consistently. That said, he’s an obvious future hardcore fan favorite once he makes the transition to the NBA.

Sergio is the guy we’re going to talk about all summer. If the Mavericks get wild and play him at the starting point position immediately (unlikely, but let a man dream for now), we could be in for a fun ride. And look, if you want to get top-notch value for him, on our partner FanDuel, he’s a +25000 to win Rookie of the Year. How can you NOT take that bet?

He needs to continue to work on his shot, but the playmaking and vision were really something. If his outside shot can fall consistently, even from just a catch-and-shoot situation, then we the Mavs might have a stew going.