Category: Basketball

This was a complicated season for Donovan Mitchell. The Cleveland Cavaliers aren’t in a position to make a deep playoff run if Mitchell doesn’t carry them through a turbulent regular season. Simultaneously, the disappointing four-game sweep in the Eastern Conference Finals can be laid more at the feet of Mitchell than anyone else on the roster.

Regular Season Stats

• 27.9 points
• 5.7 assists
• 4.5 rebounds
• 48.3% FG
• 36.4% 3PT FG
• 86.5% FT

Mitchell held the Cavs together when their roster was decimated by injuries during the regular season. His efficient scoring and energy were a godsend for a team that was in desperate need of both most nights.

This past season was Mitchell’s second-highest scoring output and his second-highest efficiency. Further implementation and perfection of the short mid-range floater — in addition to his usual scoring output — allowed him to increase production without sacrificing efficiency. Mitchell converted 55% of his looks in the short midrange (four to 14 feet from the basket), putting him in the 95th percentile for scoring guards from that zone.

The increased usage in the short midrange was part of a season-long plan to keep wear and tear off his body. In previous years, he was more of a downhill finisher who initiated contact at the rim to draw fouls and get to the line. This past season, he got the shot off before contact, allowing him to play 70 games (his second-highest since being traded to Cleveland) and the entire postseason.

This was important because the Cavs as a team went as Mitchell did throughout the regular season. Cleveland was 22-6 when Mitchell played and scored 31 or more points. That record got better the more he scored. When Mitchell put up 35 or more points, his team was an outstanding 14-1.

More importantly, it was Mitchell’s off-the-court leadership that kept the team afloat when they could’ve gone completely off the rails.

“He kept this thing together,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said after their Game 7 win over the Detroit Pistons. “When things weren’t going great, he was the beacon, the light, his leadership carried us on the court. … And when things weren’t going great, he was the person everyone looked to his positivity. I would have said this even if we lost.”

The postseason proved to be a different story.

Mitchell has long been an efficient and productive playoff scorer, even though his teams had never advanced out of the second round before this past season.

The 2025 series against the Indiana Pacers is a good example of this. Mitchell contributed 34.2 points per game, but that wasn’t enough to carry the team over the finish line, considering the injuries and struggles everyone else was going through. It’s difficult to point a finger at Mitchell when his teammates weren’t living up to expectations.

It was easier to blame Mitchell this past postseason run. Mitchell’s scoring was more inconsistent than normal during this playoff run against rangey wing-heavy defensive teams like the Toronto Raptors and Pistons. He failed to eclipse 25 points in nine of his 18 postseason appearances. For context, he achieved this in six out of nine appearances in 2025 and in seven out of 10 games in 2024.

This is important because the regular-season trend of the Cavs performing well if Mitchell did continued in the playoffs. Cleveland was 4-2 in postseason games when Mitchell scored 30 or more points, and were 4-8 when he scored less. This included going 1-3 when he registered 20 or fewer points.

The lack of consistent scoring highlighted the other shortcomings in Mitchell’s game, particularly with his playmaking for others. He wasn’t able to get teammates involved, and when he wasn’t scoring, the offense was mostly stuck in neutral. This is why Cleveland’s offense was 11 points worse with him on the floor in the postseason compared to when he was off.

Assists aren’t necessarily the most accurate way to determine whether someone is creating for others, but they can be instructive. Mitchell averaged 5.7 assists in the regular season. He only exceeded that average once in 18 playoff games.

This coincided with Mitchell’s passes made per game and potential assists dropping. He averaged 41.7 passes per game in the regular season, and just 34.6 in the playoffs. His potential assists went from 11.1 per game in the regular season to 7.6 in the postseason.

The frustrating part of this is that when Mitchell made a concerted effort to get others involved, it led to tremendous team and individual success.

Mitchell made it a point to get the bigs involved in Game 7 against the Pistons. He had a playoff-high eight assists in that game, with all but one of those helpers going to either Evan Mobley or Jarrett Allen. The willingness to make those passes opened up the offense for himself and his teammates, resulting in a lopsided 125-94 road elimination victory.

Mitchell’s team advanced to the conference finals for the first time in his career, but it felt like many of these wins were despite Mitchell’s efforts, not because of them. That was a first for his Cleveland tenure and was in stark contrast with Jalen Brunson’s postseason run with the New York Knicks.

The two undersized scoring guards often find themselves in similar places in the NBA player rankings and have similar archetypes. The difference between the two this past playoffs was Brunson’s willingness to move the ball and compete defensively.

Brunson consistently took what the defense gave him. This led to 14 assists in Game 2 against Cleveland because the Cavs consistently double-teamed him. This caused Cleveland to adjust away from that strategy in the final two games of the series, which allowed him to attack one-on-one mismatches.

At the risk of belaboring the point too much, this is also seen in Brunson’s passing numbers. Brunson made 63.6 passes per game in the regular season with 11.7 potential assists per game. Those numbers didn’t dip much in the playoffs as Brunson posted 63.1 passes per playoff game with an average of 10.3 potential assists.

It’s fair to point out that Brunson is the point guard of the Knicks, while Mitchell isn’t. However, if you’re in the 99th percentile for usage in the regular season and 100th percentile in the playoffs — as Mitchell is — the point guard designation doesn’t matter all that much. In the NBA, whoever has the ball in their hand needs to be able to act as a facilitator if they’re going to optimize the offense. And with Mitchell occupying that many possessions, he needs to do a better job of helping his teammates.

The shorcomings Mitchell’s games aren’t skill-related. He has the tools to be a great passer (and defender). The question is whether he wants to improve his game the way he needs to in order to help his team more in the playoffs next season, regardless of how different the roster might look.

The difference between the regular season and playoffs makes it difficult to grade Mitchell’s year. On one hand, the Cavs aren’t in a position to even make a playoff run if it weren’t for his consistent play on a nightly basis. On the other hand, his shortcomings directly led to Cleveland not being able to put away Toronto and Detroit as early as they should’ve, which contributed to the one-sided loss to New York.

I’m going to lean more negative than I’d like in this situation. The playoffs are all that matter for someone in Mitchell’s position. And that is where he fell short most.

Grade: C

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

Saturday’s four-game Summer League slate didn’t disappoint, and there are four more games on tap today as the California Classic heads into its third day of action.

I’m all in on the Sacramento Kings and Darius Acuff Jr. as they face the Warriors’ B-Team, the Golden State Blue. I’m betting on Yaxel Lendeborg staying hot for the Golden State Gold, and the power of friendship (and experience) will prevail for the Nets as they take down the Bucks.

Check out my NBA Summer League Predictions for Sunday, July 5.

NBA Summer League predictions for July 5

Pick
Kings moneyline	-244
Warriors Gold moneyline	-284
Nets moneyline	+143

Today's Summer League Picks

Kings moneyline (-244 at Kalshi)

No. 7 pick Darius Acuff Jr. was electric in his Summer League debut, leading the Kings to a tight win over the Nets on Saturday. 

Acuff Jr. led all scorers with 25 points in the 3-point victory, scoring some key late buckets and feeding Nique Clifford for a go-ahead triple in the waning seconds to account for his fourth and final assist of the contest.

Acuff Jr. is a true game changer who can take over when his team needs him the most, but Sacramento also gets second-year man Clifford, who saw 25.1 minutes per game as a rookie. 

Fellow sophomore Dylan Cardwell logged meaningful minutes as a rookie, delivering 12 games with double-digit boards and 20 games with multiple swats.

Sacramento’s California Classic roster brings the electricity of Acuff Jr. and the experience of Clifford and Cardwell, making for a highly competitive squad. The Golden State Blue roster is significantly weaker, as lottery pick Yaxel Lendeborg is suiting up for the Gold team. The Kings are heavy favorites for a reason.

Warriors Gold moneyline (-284 at Kalshi)

Golden State’s Blue team lost by double digits in its California Classic opener, but the same can’t be said of the Gold Team, which beat the Lakers 104-72.

Michigan standout Yaxel Lendeborg led the way with 19 points, six rebounds, five dimes, a steal, a block, and perfect 4-for-4 shooting from beyond the arc.

Lendeborg was joined in the first unit by Malevy Leons and L.J. Cryer, who each started a game for the Dubs a season ago, and Will Richard, who started 20 games in 2025-26.

The Blue Team has draft pedigree and experience, while only one of San Antonio’s starters (Miles Kelly) in its first game had NBA minutes. Spurs top pick Jayden Quaintance is sitting out Summer League, so San Antonio will prioritize minutes for Tarris Reed Jr. and its second-rounders.

The edge goes to the more talented and experienced Golden State squad.

Nets moneyline (+143 at Kalshi)

Milwaukee won its first game handily over a far less talented and experienced Golden State Blue team. Brooklyn, on the other hand, went toe-to-toe with arguably the best roster at the California Classic. It took a 3-pointer from Nique Clifford in the final seconds of the game for Sacramento to squeak past Brooklyn.

The Nets will have to wait at least one more game for No. 8 pick Mike Brown Jr. to debut, but the team has more than enough firepower to contend with the Bucks.

Brooklyn’s starting five in its first game featured three first-rounders from last year’s draft — Egor Demin, Drake Powell and Ben Saraf. Chaney Johnson logged 17 appearances with the Nets last season, and he and second-rounder Tyler Bilodeau rounded out the first unit.

Milwaukee has a pair of hungry players in Brandon Boston and Kira Lewis Jr., two four-year vets looking to make a return to the league, but Brooklyn has chemistry and recent NBA experience. I’ll give them the nod as they avenge a narrow loss to the Kings.

Sunday’s NBA Summer League parlay

Kings moneyline

Warriors Gold moneyline

Nets moneyline

+363 at Kalshi

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Love it or hate it, the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers keep getting linked to the same big men in the free-agent market.

After the Knicks took the lead in the race for veteran New Orleans Pelicans center Kevon Looney, edging the Lakers to it, it’s the Los Angeles mob who has now seemingly overtaken New York in the pursuit of Denver Nuggets big man Jonas Valanciunas while also getting some interest in Loony.

Looney seemed to be the Knicks’ primary target in the market before New York reached a deal with Andre Drummond on Friday.

Now, according to NBA reporters Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, the Lakers have shown interest in both Looney and Valanciunas, with the Euro also being in New York’s radar, according to SNY’s Ian Begley and The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III.

“Looney remains on the Lakers’ radar, sources say, as does Nuggets center Jonas Valanciunas. The latter, remember, was a Lakers free agent target two summers ago before Valanciunas opted to sign a multiyear deal with Washington instead.

“Sources say that the Lakers’ interest, furthermore, is certainly welcomed by the Nuggets, who have made Valanciunas available in trade conversations since Denver’s season ended and especially in connection with the recent draft as the Nuggets explored various deals while also shopping the No. 26 overall pick.”

Stein and Fischer added another name to the list of potential Knicks’ targets for their backup center spots, reporting that New York is “monitoring” Charlotte Hornets big man Moussa Diabate, whose expiring $2.5 million contract fit New York’s second-apron plans and could be easy to trade for in a one-for-one deal.

Back to Valanciunas, it looks like landing the Lithuanian could take a bit of patience on top of beating competitors such as the Lake Show.

Valanciunas has one year left on his contract with Denver at a $10 million cap hit, but that figure can drop to a $2 million guarantee if the Nuggets waive him by Wednesday, July 8. That deadline creates three realistic paths for the Nuggets and JoVa:

• Trade him before July 8, avoiding paying him the $10 (or $2) million entirely
• Keep him as Nikola Jokic’s backup at $10 million
• Waive him before July 8, saving $8 million and paying him $2 million

Obviously, given the self-imposed constraints the Knicks are operating with, the last outcome is the only viable path for the Knicks to land the veteran.

Following the Drummond signing, the Knicks have around $6.5 million to fill two roster spots before the start of the regular season while remaining below the second apron. That financial position makes a trade for Valanciunas at $10 million impossible, and even signing him could be a stretch depending on the center’s demands and the need to add at least another player.

Now, for the plot twist, BasketNews’ Jonas Miklovas and Karolis Tiskevicius reported on June 23 that Valanciunas had already committed to a two-year deal with Zalgiris Kaunas as long as he gets waived and enters the NBA’s free-agent market.

“Jonas Valanciunas has committed to a two-year deal with Zalgiris Kaunas, according to BasketNews sources, if he secures a release from his NBA contract with the Nuggets. If finalized, the veteran center will leave the NBA after 14 seasons and return to Lithuania.

“After 14 years in the NBA, Jonas Valanciunas is closing in on a return to Europe and has committed to Zalgiris Kaunas, if he secures a release from his NBA contract with the Denver Nuggets, according to BasketNews sources. If everything goes as planned, the Lithuanian center is expected to sign a two-year deal with Zalgiris.”

However, Stein and Fischer reported that the idea of Valanciunas being destined to return to Europe isn’t that clear. “NBA interest in Valanciunas seems to be growing given the increasing need for proven size,” they wrote. “The notion that Valanciunas is destined to return to Europe is suddenly a murky topic again.”

Valanciunas played 65 games for the Nuggets last season, averaging 8.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists while shooting 58.2 percent from the field. Across 1,002 NBA games, he has averaged 12.8 points and 9.0 rebounds while shooting 56.1 percent.

For now, New York has already addressed its most pressing offseason need in signing Robinson’s replacement after Mitch left for the Celtics and Ariel Hukporti bolted out to Philly. Until Denver makes its decision, Valanciunas will remain an unresolved question, and by the time that happens, the Knicks might have found their second bench big man.

You can follow Antonio on Twitter at @chapulana.

After an underwhelming debut in this year’s California Classic tournament, the Lakers look to bounce back against the Miami Heat on Sunday. This is their first game of a back-to-back with the finale against the San Antonio Spurs taking place on Monday.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Miami Heat

When: 1:30 p.m. PT, July 5

Where: Chase Center

Watch: ESPN, League Pass, Prime Video

The Lakers opened their summer campaign with a rather forgettable performance. Not only were they blown out by the Golden State Warriors on Friday night, but they looked exactly like a team that just played a basketball game together for the first time. Thankfully, they won’t have to dwell on that loss for long.

To be fair to the Lakers’ first game of the summer, it wasn’t all that bad. The biggest positive takeaway was how this year’s 24th pick in the NBA Draft performed. Cameron Carr wasted no time in proving his potential. The 21-year-old from Baylor University put up 19 points in 23 minutes, showing signs that he is indeed NBA-ready.

As for Adou Thiero, well, let’s just say he had an off night, but it certainly wasn’t for a lack of effort. It seemed like he forced a lot of possessions and it didn’t help that his shots weren’t going in either. On top of that, he also had a bad fall in the second quarter, but the sophomore confirmed that he’s alright. Hopefully, we see him bounce against the Heat like the rest of the team.

Speaking of the rest of the team, Coachella Valley Lakers forward Arthur Kaluma — who tallied 12 points, six rebounds and two blocks— performed well. But outside of him, nobody really played great. There was a clear lack of floor general and proper execution, which should be cleaned up as this team continues to play together.

On Sunday, the Lakers will face a Heat team that’s coming off a thrilling 88-87 victory against the San Antonio Spurs. Their 37th overall pick this year, Ryan Conwell, scored 21 points in his debut and had some help from the likes of Jahmir Young and Trevor Keels. The Lakers will have their hands full again in this one.

But hopefully Los Angeles responds with a stronger all-around team effort in this one and gives us more reason to be excited about this year’s Summer League. Let’s see if they can do just that on Sunday.

Notes and Updates

• As of now, there are no injuries to report on the purple and gold side.

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.

Former Knicks center Mitchell Robinson finally revealed Sunday morning how he broke his hand before the NBA Finals, stating he banged on one of his trucks after learning his brother had been in a car accident.

Robinson, who signed a three-year, $47.4 contract with the rival Celtics in free agency after helping the Knicks win their first NBA championship in 53 years, fractured the fifth metacarpal in his right hand after the team defeated the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals and underwent surgery.

He didn’t miss any games and played in the Finals with his hand wrapped.

The 28-year-old detailed how he got hurt in a Facebook post.

“I would like to address the concerns regarding my finger, which was actually my knuckle,” Robinson began. “To provide some context, I had been dealing with personal issues, relationship problems, and internal struggles, which affected my performance on the basketball court. In this league I simply follow the instructions given to me y’all have seen videos of everything I’m very capable of doing. Moving forward to the Eastern Conference finals, after our victory in Cleveland, everything seemed to be going well. We were celebrating our achievement, but for me, things took a turn for the worse.

“As many of you know, I am a compassionate and private person who enjoys listening to country music. Without going into details about my upbringing, I am extremely protective of my siblings, whom I care for deeply. Upon returning to New York, I received an unexpected phone call, and my family members contacted me, informing me that my youngest brother had been involved in a car accident. I did not see the messages until I arrived home late that night. As the eldest sibling, I felt a deep sense of concern, and I immediately went into panic mode. I began returning calls and texts, and when I FaceTimed my brother, I thought he was deceased. He was wearing a neck brace, unresponsive, and not speaking.

“I broke down in tears, feeling like a failure for not being able to protect my siblings. Being 910 miles away, I felt helpless. In a moment of frustration, I banged my hand on my truck. As many of you know, I have a deep affection for my trucks, but my siblings and daughter are my top priority. Before judging someone, it is essential to understand their circumstances, which may not be publicly known. Life is unpredictable, and it is how we respond to challenges that truly matters.

“After consulting with doctors, I was able to gain the confidence in myself to go in and get the job done and WE DID 2026 NBA CHAMPS.so at the end of the day I battled with so much throughout this season even made a huge sacrifice to not see my daughter as much this season because I needed to focus and lock in so she can have a better future than I did.”

While Robinson’s minutes were limited as the Spurs used the Hack-a-Mitch strategy against the poor free-throw shooter, Robinson was impactful when he was on the court.

He successfully defended Victor Wembanyama at the end of Game 2 as the Spurs star missed the final shot attempt of the game to put the Knicks up 2-0 in the series.

With owner James Dolan not wanting the Knicks to enter the second apron, they couldn’t afford to retain Robinson, who will now try to usurp his former team with hated Boston.

This year’s iteration of the Toronto Raptors Summer League team has high expectations. Last summer, the Raptors made it to the semi-finals before falling to the Sacramento Kings. The Raptors brought a defence-first roster headlined by Collin Murray-Boyles, Jamal Shead, Ja’Kobe Walter, Jonathan Mogbo, Ulrich Chomche, and Chucky Hepburn. The group was flanked by veterans like A.J. Lawson and Jamison Battle.

While Murray-Boyles is technically listed on the roster, he’ll likely be on a minutes restriction after proving his importance in the NBA playoffs. It’ll be up to a combination of young, scrappy guards like Hepburn and Martin, and the rookie Allen Graves to carry the mantle.

Below are the reported rosters that the Raptors will face during the annual summer tournament.

Boston Celtics

• Chris Cenac Jr. (6’11, drafted 27th in 2026 by Celtics)
• Tucker DeVries (6’7, undrafted in 2026)
• Hugo Gonzalez (6’6, drafted 28th in 2025 by Celtics)
• Kyle Mangas (6’4, undrafted in 2021, played for Austin Spurs)
• Dilon Mitchell (6’8, drafted 40th in 2026 by Celtics)
• Nick Pringle (6’10, undrafted in 2026)
• Day Day Thomas (6’1, undrafted in 2026)
• John Tonje (6’4, undrafted in 2025, played for Maine Celtics)
• Milos Uzan (6’3, undrafted in 2026)
• Jordan Walsh (6’6, drafted 38th in 2023 by Sacramento Kings, played for Celtics)
• Chauncey Wiggins (6’10, undrafted in 2026)
• Amari Williams (6’11, drafted 46th in 2025 by Orlando Magic)

Cenac: In an alternate timeline, Cenac’s free-fall in the 2026 NBA Draft stopped with the Raptors. The versatile and high-potential forward will be a fun matchup to watch, particularly for Graves fans.

Gonzalez: In a competitive NBA regular-season game, Gonzalez finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and a block against the Raptors. His frenetic energy will be turned up to the max in a Summer League environment.

Houston Rockets

• Davide Casarin (6’5, played in Lega Serie A)
• Oscar Cluff (6’11, undrafted in 2026)
• Quadir Copeland (6’6, undrafted in 2026)
• Isaiah Crawford (6’6, undrafted in 2024, played for Rockets)
• Michael Foster Jr. (6’8, undrafted in 2022, played in Israeli Basketball Premier League)
• Miller Kopp (6’7, undrafted in 2023, played for Cleveland Charge)
• Chris Ledlum (6’6, undrafted in 2024, played in the Bundesliga Basketball League)
• Ben Middlebrooks (6’10, undrafted in 2205, played in the Swedish Basketligan)
• Stevie Mitchell (6’3, undrafted in 2025, played for Rio Grande Valley Vipers)
• Tristen Newton (6’5, drafted 49th in 2024 by Indiana Pacers, played for Valley Vipers)
• Daishen Nix (6’5, undrafted in 2021, played for Valley Vipers)
• Bruce Thornton (6’0, drafted 31st in 2026 by New York Knicks)

Casarin: He’s been playing professional ball overseas since he was 15 years-old. Now 23, the cerebral guard and Lega Serie A Most Improved Player is ready to leave his mark in the NBA.

Thornton: Both of the Rockets’ picks were traded. Thornton was originally selected by the Knicks at the top of the second round and moved to Houston.

Indiana Pacers

• Keion Brooks Jr. (6’7, undrafted in 2024, played for the Noblesville Boom)
• Cameron Hildreth (6’4, undrafted in 2025, played in the Liga ACB)
• MJ Iraldi (6’6, undrafted in 2025, played for the Boom)
• Yuki Kawamura (5’7, undrafted in 2023, played for Pacers)
• Keba Keita (6’7, undrafted in 2026)
• Taevion Kinsey (6’5, undrafted in 2023, played for Santa Cruz Warriors)
• Tamin Lipsey (6’1, undrafted in 2026)
• Rienk Mast (6’10, undrafted in 2026)
• Gabe McGlothan (6’7, undrafted in 2024, played for the Boom)
• Taelon Peter (6’3, drafted 54th by the Pacers, played for the Boom)
• Alex Reese (6’9, undrafted in 2021, played for the Rip City Remix)
• Kowacie Reeves Jr. (6’7, undrafted in 2026)
• Jalen Slawson (6’7, drafted 54th in 2023 by Kings, played for the Boom)
• Braden Smith (5’10, drafted 38th by Chicago Bulls)
• Jalen Warley (6’6, undrafted in 2026)

Hildreth: Played for Basquet Girona in 2026, a club founded by former Raptor and champion Marc Gasol

Smith: As the NCAA’s All-Time leader in assists (1,103), Smith will be an intriguing watch, particularly as a floor general in a chaotic environment.

Miami Heat

• Ezra Ausar (6’8, undrafted in 2026)
• Kendall Brown (6’7, drafted 48th in 2022 by Minnesota Timberwolves, played for Maine Celtics)
• Cam Carter (6’3, undrafted in 2025, played for Sioux Falls Skyforce)
• Ryan Conwell (6’3, drafted 37th in 2026 by Oklahoma City Thunder)
• Tre Donaldson (6’2, undrafted in 2026)
• Myron Gardner (6’5, undrafted in 2023, played for the Skyforce)
• Vladislav Goldin (7’0, undrafted in 2025, played for the Skyforce)
• J’Vonne Hadley (6’5, undrafted in 2026)
• Keyshawn Hall (6’6, undrafted in 2026)
• Meechie Johnson (6’1, undrafted in 2026)
• Trevor Keels (6’5, drafted 42nd in 2022 by the New York Knicks, played for the Skyforce)
• Nate Kingz (6’3, undrafted in 2026)
• Arnas Sakenis (6’11, undrafted in 2026)
• Ian Schieffelin (6’8, undrafted in 2025)
• Tre White (6’7, undrafted in 2026)
• Jahmir Young (6’0, undrafted in 2024, played for the Skyforce)

Conwell: The second-rounder is a pure bucket-getter. Conwell is one of the best shooters in this year’s rookie class.

Young: Averaged 26.0 points and 8.9 assists in the G League last season

The 2024-25 season was one of the most successful in franchise history for the Westchester Knicks. They won a franchise-record 22 regular-season games, captured a second straight NBA G League Winter Showcase title (the first team ever to repeat), and advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals. The season reinforced Westchester’s reputation as one of the league’s best developmental programs . . . before a step back in 2025-26.

This past season, Westchester stumbled out of the gate, going a painful 1-13 in the G League Tip-Off Tournament. The slow start kept the Knicks out of the Winter Showcase championship bracket, but the early portion of the schedule still gave young players and two-way prospects valuable game reps.

The club finished 14-22 and 13th in the Eastern Conference, ranking near the bottom of the G League in both offensive and defensive efficiency. Westchester averaged 112.9 points per game but allowed 119, resulting in the league’s worst defensive rating and underscoring the organization’s biggest area for improvement heading into 2026-27. The defensive slip was a surprise, considering who their coach is.

Head coach DeSagana Diop has helmed the team since 2022. A former defensive-minded center drafted eighth overall in 2001, he spent 12 seasons in the NBA before beginning his coaching career with the Texas Legends, then serving as an assistant with the Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets. He also coaches the Senegal national team.

During his time in White Plains, Diop has emphasized defense, player development, and a strong organizational culture, helping prepare prospects for opportunities with the Knicks. Widely regarded as one of the organization’s rising coaching talents, the big fella has earned recognition for his developmental work and his player-first approach. Given the success he’s had with the club so far, we’re guessing that the stinker last season was just a blip. The W-Knicks will rise again!

Dink Pate, a 20-year-old guard who stands 6’8”, emerged as one of Westchester’s biggest developmental success stories. The young Texan averaged 16 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists while making significant strides as a shooter. After entering the season with questions about his perimeter game, Pate knocked down 37% of his three-pointers, earned a spot in the NBA G League Next Up Game, and flashed the versatile two-way potential that once made him one of the nation’s top recruits. 

He’s also a front-runner for the best name in the G League. Sometimes I’ll be walking around the house and it just pops into my head: Dink Pate. It sounds like a tiny serving of ground liver. But, I digress. Barring injury, the MSG Knicks are too deep at guard for Pate to get any room, so try to catch this kid in White Plains as often as you can. 

Linebacker-sized Trey Jemison III gave Westchester a steady interior presence, averaging eight points, eight rebounds, three assists, and 1.4 blocks across 21 games. The two-way center anchored the paint with his rebounding and rim protection when not waiting in the wings as a break-in-case-of-emergency center for the big league club. 

Given that the MSG Knicks are short-handed after losing Mitchell Robinson and Ariel Hukporti, Jemison has the opportunity to prove he is ready for a bigger role on Mike Brown’s team. If so, that doesn’t mean that you won’t see him in Westchester—Huk played seven games there last season, diving his time between White Plains and Manhattan. Also, TJ3 has a reputation for being a gentle giant, so don’t be shy about asking for his autograph. 

Forward Nick Jourdain (6’9”, 220 lbs) quietly emerged as a dependable rotation forward, averaging 7.8 points and 5.2 rebounds while appearing in 32 games. The 25-year-old undrafted rookie brought energy, rebounding, and defensive versatility, giving Westchester another intriguing developmental prospect to monitor. 

Check out this half hour long documentary on him, produced by the G League. This is so good, it deserves a second post sometime.

If his age surprises you, note that Jourdain played five years of college ball, with three at Temple and two at Memphis. If his offensive skills (which are not great) catches up with his defense (which is), Jourdain could generate more interest from NBA clubs. 

Bryson Warren (G, 6’3”, 175 lbs) emerged as one of Westchester’s breakout performers, averaging 19.8 points and five assists while displaying the shot-making and playmaking. He’s an intriguing prospect who made the most of his G League opportunities and positioned himself as a player worth watching.

Familiar face Pacome Dadiet (15 GMS, 23 PPG) flashed the offensive upside that made him a draft target, Dillon Jones (18 GMS, 15 PPG) showcased his all-around game as a playmaking forward on a two-way contract, and veteran Isaiah Roby (32 GMS, 12.9 PPG, 6.4 RPG) provided steady frontcourt production while earning the NBA G League Community Assist Award for his leadership on and off the court.

Tyler Kolek played just four games with the team, but left a mark. He delivered probably the best performances in franchise history, erupting for a career-high 42 points and 11 assists while knocking down nine three-pointers in a 141-131 win over the Greensboro Swarm. He capped the remarkable day by joining the Knicks that evening and scoring 11 points off the bench, giving him 53 points across two games in a single day.

This should be an important step-forward year for Kolek at MSG, but even so, expect him to get a few reps at White Plains to stay sharp. Whenever you hear that Kolek has been assigned to the Westchester Knicks, buy a ticket.

Stay tuned for a 2026-27 season preview. 

Go W-Knicks!

P.S. I wasn’t going to include this because it might stir some feelings for you, but here’s Huk balling out with the Dubs last season:

I’m late to yesterday, so happy 5th of July to those reading me from the United States. Better late than never, ask the Knicks fanbase. On to some links and notes.

• Andre Drummond gave his first public comments since joining the Knicks, and he seems to understand he’s joining “something bigger than me.” Speaking with Mika Ortiz, the Big Penguin said he brings “a similar talent, similar energy,” to New York as Mitch did.
• The Knicks had an early interest in three-time champ Kevon Looney before landing on Drummond. That’s ancient news, as now we are dealing with reports pointing toward a possible trade for Hornets 24-year-old Moussa Diabate and his $2.5 million expiring deal, per Jake Fischer and Marc Stein.
• On the veteran front, Jonas Valanciunas is another name that still won’t fully go away and keeps gaining traction. I have a full post on it coming out later today, but for now, I can tell you that Denver has made him available in trade discussions, with a deadline for waiving him scheduled for Wednesday.
• The New York Post’s Zach Braziller discussed three potential Summer League storylines, including a potential trade involving Pacome Dadiet, who seems to have lost his place on this team. If you’ve read me here or the comments section, you already know I’m all in for freeing that cap space by dumping him somewhere, even if it takes a bunch of picks to sweeten the deal. A tease:

“The clock could be ticking on the 6-foot-9 Dadiet. Diawara appears to have passed him. In two years, Dadiet has played in only 47 games as a Knick. Over the next few weeks he has a chance to impress. The better he performs, the better for the Knicks. Dadiet could be a trade chip, with the team looking to avoid the second apron, and with roughly $6.5 million to spare.”

• Staying SL, there is some conflicting stuff going on involving rookie Jack Kayil. The German was left off the Knicks roster, but now it looks like his agent is saying he’ll be there in Las Vegas.
• Patrick Ewing is leaving his Knicks ambassador role and returning to coaching with the Wizards. More from us on it here. Big Pat coached MJ back in his first stint there, and who knows if he will have the chance to load-manage LBJ there next!
• Rich Paul told Forbes that James is not expected to make his free agency decision “anytime soon,” which still means it could happen any day.
• It took them a few days, but plugged-in folks out there finally realized they had to include Bronny in the LBJ sweepstakes, somehow, some way. And now, here we are with Cleveland supposedly leaving roster spots open not for James, not even for James Harden, but for Bronny. Savannah must be pissed.
• For some reason, I don’t remember including this James Dolan interview with Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post in any of my post-championship Bulletin posts. I found chunks elsewhere, I think, but not the full feature back then. Weird. Still worth the read, even if the subject isn’t the most appreciated people around these places. Dolan discussed the Thibs firing, son Quentin’s magic hands, and a bunch of other stuff. Quote sample:

“The thing is, is to learn. Right? That might be the thing I feel best about is, I felt, I feel, that now after 25 freaking years of doing this, I might actually have learned something.”

• Braden Smith shouted out Brunson when discussing undersized guards succeeding in the NBA in a Q&A with Hoopshype. He believes a little dude renaissance is slowly but surely coming to the league, even though the free-agent market has gone wild the other way, with one particular team doing stupid things to land one.
• Our friends from MeridianSports reported on Saturday that UCLA has offered Serbian prospect Nikola Kusturica (currently at FC Barcelona) a $12 million NIL deal for two seasons. He’s 17 years old. AJ Dybantsa is 19 and will earn around $15 per year the next two seasons in the NBA. Sheesh…

Ever since the Lamelo Ball trade (which remains yet to be completed), Timberwolves fans have been focused on one question:

Will LeBron James be coming to Minnesota?

The answer is obviously yes, as he will inevitably play either for or against the Wolves at some point in the coming season, his record-setting 24th (how?) season. Whether LeBron is on the way or not, the Wolves have a massive hole at power forward.

James on a minimum deal would undoubtedly be the best solution to that problem (and arguably the most valuable contract the league has ever seen). Let’s go through the other options, inspired by the tweet by Wolves Wire.

Before we hop into that, let’s start with the on-roster options.

It seems like the Wolves plan on playing Jaden McDaniels at the four, despite the fact that the majority of his career has been at the three. This would leave an open spot on the wing, instead of in the front court, which can be filled by trade throw-in Josh Green or an unexpected leap from one of TJ Shannon or (the more likely option in my opinion) Jaylen Clark.

The depth behind this stack would still be abysmal, with Ayo Dosumnu and Joan Beringer, the assumed sixth and seventh men off the bench, being either too small or too big to fill in at that other forward position.

If we discard the idea of playing Jaden out of his most common position, then the options become far crazier and weirder.

Some have been comparing TJ Shannon’s athletic profile to former Ball teammate (and forever hatewatch member) Miles Bridges, although Shannon was last listed 20 lbs below Bridges and does not have the same burly body type that has allowed the undersized swingman to feast off of Lamelo’s creation abilities.

There was also a report that prompted the question of whether Beringer could play alongside Gobert. I would pretty decidedly say no, and that any question that returns a team with two of the best off the dribble volume three point shooters to a world in which that is their *only* option must be rejected wholeheartedly.

That leaves just yesterday’s signee, Trey Lyles, which… You know what, man, never say never.

That leaves us with the three categories of the aforementioned tweet. Julian Phillips’ option was declined, which means the only options are rerouting Green or attaching Shannon to Green’s 14.6 million dollar deal to reach a slightly larger 17.4 million, with an enticing, admittedly older prospect on the hook.

Three of those remaining options have been moved already, with Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O’Neale both headed to Charlotte and Santi Aldama in Dallas. With that glut of forwards on the Mavericks, maybe they are the most logical partner if a deal ends up getting done.

However, that leaves just Naji Marshall as the odd man out. Lucky enough for the Wolves, he probably provides the best skill set for what Minnesota needs. The 28-year-old experienced a bit of a breakout for an understaffed, overasked Mavericks team. He acted as a secondary creator off the bench, shot a high percentage from the field, and scored a career high 15.2 points per game in an expanded role.

He may only be 6’6, the same height as Anthony Edwards or TJ Shannon, but he has the strength and build to hold up as a full-time four. His ability as a perimeter stopper would also push Jaden McDaniels to a more natural defensive role as a help-side shot blocker.

While many fans have also been excited about the idea of trading for the Dallas Mavericks’ other forward, PJ Washington, that option seems impossible without a surprise Rudy Gobert trade. While it may make sense to move Gobert into two serviceable pieces, the defensive support system that Rudy provides is likely more valuable than ever with Lamelo in tow.

Additionally, any two-for-one move would take the Wolves out of the LeBron sweepstakes, as they only have one open roster slot right now.

Of the forward options listed in the original post, neither Nikola Jović nor Obi Toppin seem worth moving Shannon for. However, there are other younger second draft options that could be available to the Wolves.

Maybe former sixth overall pick Jarace Walker can turn his career around and become the player many anticipated he would be coming out of Houston: a fluid, connective piece, a playmaking forward with a defensive and rebounding focus.

Or maybe that could come in the form of Taylor Hendricks, the oft-injured ninth overall pick that the Utah Jazz dumped to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade, now on an expiring deal.

Is there any universe in which the Wolves can find their way into the Herb Jones conversation, using TJ Shannon, who has one of the two rumored first-round picks? Unlikely, but the fit is near ideal.

Ultimately, in the words of the iconic Jonny K, this is not a problem that needs to be solved now, or even before the season starts. The Wolves have a hole, but so do many championship teams. Jose Alvarado was vital for the New York Knicks’ championship run this year. He was acquired for two seconds and a bad contract.

Minnesota needs to make moves, but there is no agency to make them.

Until the King comes North…

Dallas Mavericks new head coach Dusty May is reportedly making Willie Green his first coaching staff hire. Just days later, it is now being reported that Joe Boylan will also be joining May on the sidelines this season, despite rumored interest from the Milwaukee Bucks.

Boylan’s resume is somewhat sparse compared to someone like Green, with a start in 2013-2014 as an assistant coach involved in player development with the Golden State Warriors. His next coaching stint came in the same role for the New Orleans Pelicans beginning in 2018 and lasting two seasons before another brief hiatus. He joined the Minnesota Timberwolves staff as an assistant from 2022-2024 and then landed with the Memphis Grizzlies for the 2024-2025 season, also as an assistant.

The slightly spotty coaching history lends an air of mystery to Boylan and what he brings to the staff, but a deeper look shows those gaps were filled with roles in the G League. It should also be noted that his various stints have paired him with generally accomplished coaches Mark Jackson, Alvin Gentry, Chris Finch and Taylor Jenkins, the latter of whom is at the helm in Milwaukee. Despite familiarity with Jenkins, it seems Boylan is choosing Dallas, despite reports to the contrary. Multiple sites, including our friends at Brew Hoops previously reported that Boylan was reuniting with Jenkins, but that no longer appears to be the case.

Getting back to what he brings to the staff, Boylan is known as a player development guru and founder of Cognition Coach. This is a cerebral person that is skilled at getting the best out of players by way of teaching player how to self-organize and pivot around game situations to problem-solve their way through a variety of scenarios. In short, it simulates game like scenarios and is more spontaneous and chaotic than rote drills that typically take place in a vacuum against token (or outright absent) defenses. Boylan has been quoted as saying:

“I became known as the ‘games coach.’ I was the guy you went to when you wanted a situation with defense and decisions. By that time in my career, I had adopted the CLA [constraints-led approach] as the underpinning of all of my practice design. Jaden McDaniels went from shooting 66 percent at the rim in his rookie year, doing the Mikan Drill, to 68 percent in Year 2, to 72 percent in his third season, to an elite 74 percent by Year 4. We exposed him to situations similar to the game, over and over again. No matter what situation arises, the player knows how to solve it. Maybe it’s a spin move in one scenario but a scoop in another. Maybe changing speed or direction works one time, maybe changing hands the next.”

Assistant coaching hires are rarely the exciting news of the offseason, but Boylan and his particular style are certainly intriguing. With a two core rookies in Cooper Flagg and Morez Johnson, Jr., along with newcomers Sergio de Larrea, Tobi Lawal and others, Boylan could prove to be a major boon to a young developing team.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

Cameron Boozer made his NBA Summer League debut on Saturday against Oklahoma City, and it’s safe to say he left an impression.

Boozer played 24 minutes, and scored 15 points, pulled down 4 rebounds, and also passed out 4 assists.

It was a successful debut in general, obviously, but stats don’t tell the whole story.

As we saw at Duke, one of Boozer’s best talents is that he makes his teammates better. You could probably cobble together a way to measure that from analytics, but eyeballing the game?

You know it when you see it.

What no one really thought about though is that in the NBA, Boozer has a bigger canvas to work with.

In the NBA, the lane is 16 feet, as opposed to 12 in college, and the three-point line is about 1 foot and 7 1/4 inches further back.

Both of these factors are going to work in Boozer’s favor, as it will spread the court. For that matter, so will the 24 second clock.

We got a hint Saturday when Boozer worked the court for passes, tip-ins, and threes. It’s nothing new to Duke fans, as we said, but the way the NBA court is laid out is going to really work to his advantage.

It’s going to be really interesting to see how things work out for him going forward. One thing that’s possible soon is that Memphis may decide they’ve seen enough and shut him down early like Dallas did last July with Cooper Flagg, pulling him from Summer League play after just two games.

• Cameron Boozer checks all the boxes in Summer League debut
• After strong debut, Cam Boozer says he must earn ‘centerpiece’ title
• Memphis dominates Oklahoma City in Cameron Boozer’s summer league debu
• Cameron Boozer Details Grizzlies’ ‘Great Basketball’ in Summer League Win Over Thunder
• Grizzlies news: Cameron Boozer having ‘fun’ in Summer League debut
• Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer strong in summer league debuts
• Cameron Boozer scores 15 points for Grizzlies in NBA Summer League debut
• Grizzlies news: Cameron Boozer flashes franchise potential in Summer League debut
• Aday Mara Reacts To Facing Cameron Boozer in Salt Lake City Summer League
• It only took one game for Cam Boozer to prove he is the perfect Memphis fit
• Cameron Boozer Talks NBA Summer League Debut with Grizzlies After No. 3 Draft Pick

Go to the DBR Boards to find Blue Healer Auctions || Drop us a line

This is a Cleveland Browns site, as the somewhat inside joke in the comments will remind us. If we are being honest, we are also a site full of sports fans who like a lot of different things. Whether that is the World Cup and Olympics every four years, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Guardians, the Columbus Blue Jackets and Crew, The Ohio State Buckeyes, or one of the many other colleges in the state, Ohio is full of sports.

Last month, we asked a blog full of Browns fans if they wanted LeBron James to return to the Cavaliers. Overwhelmingly, the answer was no.

With July 4th in the rearview mirror, it seems that James might indeed return to Northeast Ohio. According to reporting and a few sources I still have around the Cavs and LeBron (I covered the team for a while, including during the 2016 NBA championship), we could hear leaks that James will be signing with his home state team on a contract that could last two seasons (one year plus a player option).

As a Browns site, that means we have to ask the question about what reunion fans would want to see on Cleveland’s football team this year or next. There are a myriad of former Browns players around the league, but few have the type of cache to be worthy of being included here.

Looking at active players, not which former Cleveland great would you want to teleport onto this team from their prime, just three came to mind:

RB Nick Chubb

One of the best to do it, Chubb is a free agent after spending last season with the Houston Texans. Chubb had 122 carries last season for just over 500 yards and three touchdowns. Major injuries have significantly impacted Chubb’s explosiveness, as his yards per carry number fell from over five yards a carry in his first six seasons to 3.3 and 4.1 the last two.

Chubb could sign as Cleveland’s third-down back and provide Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson a veteran mentor in 2026, perhaps his final season. The veteran back could also wait to see if a contender has an injury that leads to a phone call.

QB Baker Mayfield

As noted in the piece linked above, Mayfield is set to hit free agency after the end of this season and has been unable to come to terms on an extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While Browns fans will probably argue about how good Mayfield actually is, something the Bucs might be doing internally as well, he’s clearly better than the quarterback play Cleveland saw last year and is expecting in 2026. Mayfield is somewhere between ‘better than terrible’ and Top 10 as a quarterback.

Should the Browns make a play to bring him back in ‘27 because he’s significantly better than what they have and more certain than anyone they can draft, or should they continue to shoot for a Top 10-level quarterback? Mayfield may not want to return, but Kevin Stefanski’s departure might help.

TE David Njoku

Focused on players that Cleveland fans have loved in the past (which excluded Odell Beckham Jr.), Njoku fills out the list. The former first-round pick signed with the Los Angeles Chargers this offseason after saying goodbye to Browns fans and the city. Njoku’s production never lived up to his physical gifts or contract, but he gave a lot of effort and endeared himself to the fans during his time in Cleveland.

Turning 30 years old in early July, Njoku could have a number of seasons left in the league. While it may only be in a backup role, a return to help a young, growing team could make sense for the infection Chief.

Which, if any, of the three do you want to return? Which do you think is most realistic?

I finally got an opportunity to watch the Spurs first Summer League at the California Classic. It’s exciting to see the new guys come together. It was also interesting to learn the league is testing out a free throw rule that has been in place for the G-League.

The “One Free Throw” rule is substituted for any foul resulting in a shot whether it be an “and one,” or a two or three-point value. It’s all or nothing, you get all the available points or nothing at all. The caveat is that the standard free throw rules kick in at the two-minute mark of the fourth quarter and continue through any subsequent overtime.

The G-League has utilized this format since the 2019-2020 season and it has been said to improve game flow. The commentators for the Spurs/Heat Summer League game estimated a 5-6 minute subtracting in game length.

Personally, I don’t like it, but then I am always resistant to change. My big “I remember when” harkens back to when players had five fouls before having to sit out the remainder of the game. I accept and evolve, but still remind folks of how it used to be.

So like any adjustment to the game, I eventually come around. That said, I question the use of the rule for timing. Couldn’t the game be shortened by five or six minutes (or more) if they simply reversed the Coach’s Challenge? For me, that kills two birds with one stone. Lose the last big new change while simultaneously canceling the new one.

Another good point was brought up during the game — what is the hit to revenue? When players shoot free throws, they generally get a quick spot in for Frost Bank, Beldon Roofing, or Thomas J. Henry. Does the loss of those ad buys make a significant impact?

Also, how will this affect free throw averages? Do the makes/misses could as one shot of the amount of free throws the shot is worth?

I realize we’re only one game in. There’s still time to get used to it. And nothing official is happening in regular season NBA games.

What about you, Pounders, any initial thoughts on the free throw rule?

Welcome to The Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.

Today is July 5. The fireworks are over. The barbecues are over. NBA Free Agency still exists. And the Washington Wizards made a lot of coaching news yesterday. And no, Brian Keefe wasn’t fired. The biggest news is that Patrick Ewing is going full circle. He’s back in DC, and back with the Wizards, the first team he was a coach on.

As you may be aware, there are some NBA Summer League games going on in the West Coast and Utah. But they are separate from the Vegas Summer League which everyone participates in. The Vegas League is later this week.

These smaller summer leagues in Utah and California began play last Friday and there are some games going on today. But the Wizards aren’t participating and never have historically. You can chat about those games below as well.

This is also going to be the last day of these discussion posts that are on free agency, but also trades and anything else on your mind.

Enjoy your Sundays!