Category: Basketball

Our in-season Grades coverage typically does not apply for Summer League games, but getting to see the Dallas Mavericks take on the Golden State Warriors in person alongside other members of the Mavs Moneyball staff makes for a special exception.

The vibe and atmosphere of Summer League games are definitely unique and special, and simply put, a lot of fun. Getting a glimpse of players that will certainly see playing time next season, as well as some potential diamond-in-the-rough members of the roster is a fun experience.

Grading someone like Ryan Nembhard with 60 games of NBA experience, against someone like Sergio De Larrea with zero games of NBA experience doesn’t quite jibe, so we’ll take a different approach this time around.

Let’s get to the grades!

Ryan Nembhard: Satisfactory

15 PTS / 3 REB / 11 AST / 1 STL / 1 BLK – 35 MIN

Nembhard did what you would expect from him after watching him play on the big stage last year. His shot was a little rusty with a 6-for-15 showing, pulled down largely by a 1-for-6 from beyond the arc. To his credit, he was the only Maverick to post a double-double and he managed to dish a team high (by far)11 assists for a team that only shot 43% overall.

Sergio De Larrea: Needs Improvement

9 PTS / 6 REB / 5 AST / 1 STL / 1 BLK – 29 MIN

This grade may seem a touch harsh for a young player who was in Spain about a week ago, who then came overseas to play with a team full of strangers. In other words, he put up a nice well-rounded stat line under what were surely stressful circumstances. The “Needs Improvement” was largely due to two factors. First, he was 3-for-14 from the field and 1-for-9 from deep, with many misses looking especially bad – but so be it; first game a few days after arriving in the country. Second, his handle does not look NBA-ready. Again, this adjustment for him can’t be understated, but he definitely struggled in this department. The good news is he showed real flashes at different spots during the game.

Morez Johnson, Jr.: Exceptional

27 PTS / 8 REB / 3 AST / 3 STL / 2 BLK – 26 MIN

Johnson was an absolute beast who put together an excellent game. He was arguably the best player on the floor for either team. At one point I turned to fellow Mavs Moneyball staffer, Matt Martinez, and commented that Johnson appeared to be on a slightly different level than most of the other players. You could tell he had a good court sense, positioned himself well, rotated well, and just simply appeared NBA-ready. The only knock on his game was seven fouls (in Summer League, each player is allowed more than six fouls), but even that spoke to his willingness to play defense and help on rotations. I fully expect he will clean that up. Johnson showed up in a big way and Mavs’ fans should be excited for what he can bring.

Tobi Lawal: Meets Expectations

5 PTS / 4 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 1 BLK – 14 MIN

The “Meets Expectations” grade here is a bit loaded, as those very expectations are subjective. He bricked two of the three three-point attempts he took, bringing his overall shooting to 2-for-6, but had a solid game in limited minutes. There is raw talent that can certainly be harnessed into a serviceable (or better?) NBA player. He showed some defensive chops and demonstrated some high-flying freakish athleticism. Whether his ceiling is a player like Moussa Cisse, Dereck Lively, or beyond, is yet to be determined, but there is definitely something there.

John Poulakidas: Satisfactory

14 PTS / 2 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 24 MIN

Poulakidas did what he does, and that is shoot. He didn’t do it especially well (5-for-15 overall; 4-for-12 from deep), but adjusting for Summer League and the squad of unfamiliars he was playing with, we can afford him the benefit of the doubt. There isn’t much to say about his game, but it was at the very least solid as he showed he remains the player he was last season.

Vsevolod Ishchenko: To Be Determined

7 PTS / 3 REB / 1 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 27 MIN

I simply can’t come up with a better grade for Ishchenko, as he was a bit of an enigma. Watching the game live, it felt like he had a much bigger impact than the box score would indicate. He seemed a little less bulky than he appeared to me in photos, and he was a bit timid – like De Larrea, to be expected under the circumstances of having arrived in a new country to play with strangers mere days ago. He definitely did not strike me as a player who is years away from seeing NBA minutes; it seems he will improve simply by way of adjusting to a lot of change, and that leaves me feeling hopeful.

Final Thoughts

This was day one of a squad of guys who have zero NBA minutes under their belt. With all things considered, it was a lot of fun and there were a lot of flashes of what many of these players could become. Where De Larrea may have felt a bit disappointing (again, I think we can afford him a good amount of grace), Johnson was spectacular. There is fun to be had with these guys and we’ll hopefully see more of it on Saturday night.

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

LeBron James' next destination remains the biggest uncertainty ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season as he continues to explore free agency.

The 41-year-old, the best free agent still available, spent the past eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers but informed the team he would not be returning.

While some Lakers teammates, such as Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić, thanked James for the time they shared, other teams and players have begun making their pitch to James.

Several teams interested in signing James have been able to send a voice note to James, via his agent Rich Paul, making their pitch, according to ESPN’s Sham Charania.

The Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers have all been considered suitors for the all-time leading scorer.

Warriors guard Stephen Curry was out at the American Century Championship golf event in Nevada on Thursday, July 9, when he was asked about potentially playing with James.

"The pitch is: Do you want to play good basketball and be around people who know how to play the game? Raise our floor, our competitiveness this year. There’s good golf in the Bay,” Curry said.

James has been seen on social media spending a lot of time on the golf course early this summer.

Steph Curry on the Warriors’ chances at LeBron James: “I don’t have a percentage. It’s kinda up to him.”

“The pitch is: Do you want to play good basketball and be around people who know how to play the game? Raise our floor, competitiveness...There’s good golf in the Bay.” pic.twitter.com/6R4pA28Hbj

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) July 9, 2026

Jaylen Brown of the 76ers also mentioned James while making an appearance on IShowSpeed's Twitch live stream while attending the World Cup game between France and Morocco at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Brown was seen telling Speed to pitch James: “You have to tell LeBron that he has to pull up.”

“LeBron, pull up to Philly,” Speed said. “Think about it. LeBron. Jaylen Brown.”

“LeBron, pull up to Philly,” Speed says next to Jaylen Brown pic.twitter.com/5idN0uWEEg

— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) July 9, 2026

James is expected to continue to take his time before coming to a decision. He has spent part of his summer in Cleveland.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Steph Curry, Jaylen Brown share thoughts on possibility of playing with LeBron James

The Lakers will begin the second leg of their Summer League stint in Las Vegas against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday. This will be the first game of a back-to-back as they take on the Dallas Mavericks the following day.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

When: 7 p.m. PT, July 10

Where: Thomas & Mack Center

Watch: Prime Video

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The Lakers will be challenged right away in their first game in Las Vegas against the Thunder. Assuming both teams field their complete rosters, Los Angeles will see OKC’s top pick, Aday Mara, as well as Bennett Stirtz, who was taken at No. 16 in this year’s NBA Draft.

While the Thunder remain stacked with talent, the Lakers have quality players as well. Lakers rookie Cameron Carr played very well at the California Classic. This is Carr’s time to shine, and if he plays well in Las Vegas, the entire NBA world will be discussing him this weekend.

LA will also feature other young players, such as Adou Thiero. He didn’t play in Summer League last year since he was recovering from knee surgery, but now he’s healthy and available.

He had an up-and-down California Classic, showing signs of brilliance but also some questionable performances.

Both Carr and Thiero left the California Classic with minor injuries. Thiero was dealing with a wrist injury, and Carr had problems with his toe, but Lakers coach Ty Abbott said both will be ready to go on Friday.

Cameron Carr said he is over the toe issue that limited him in the 3rd Cali Classic game. “It just looked a little weird.” Lakers coach Ty Abbott said that Carr and Adou Thiero (wrist) will play in Vegas Friday, but it hasn’t been determined how much they’ll play in LV overall. pic.twitter.com/bBM9uIjAK2

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 9, 2026

Beyond this duo, Lakers fans should be keeping an eye on how the two-way players Chris Mañon, AK Okereke and Peter Suder do.

In a competition like this, it’s not at the level of a typical NBA game. But it is a good test for young players.

Ideally, they all play well, no one gets hurt and the Lakers like what they see from their young core. The Thunder should provide a good test for them on Friday night. Here’s hoping they ace it in Las Vegas.

Notes and Updates

• There are no injuries to report at this time.
• The Lakers play back-to-back games this weekend and also have at least two other contests in Las Vegas.
• If they win their games and advance, they’ll be playing in the semifinals next weekend.

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.

The brief hiatus from basketball has ended, and it is time to put on your best basketball-watching attire and enjoy some Knicks Summer League play in Las Vegas.

After the wild ride that was the 2026 NBA Playoffs and the ultimate high of the Knicks bringing the Larry O’Brien Trophy back to New York, it is important to reset the evaluators and remember what mid-July basketball means. These games are not about raw shooting percentages or final scores. Sloppy play and chaos become the norm when a roster is put together in a week. Instead, the focus should steer towards processing speed, offensive set execution, and general defensive awareness.

By leading the Knicks to a championship, Mike Brown has solidified his status as a top NBA coach. Earning a spot on Brown’s rotation involves defensive discipline, aggressive closeouts, and making intelligent extra passes.

Here is what to watch for as the Knicks take on their cross-town rivals.

With New York’s veteran core taking the summer to bask in championship glory, Pacome Dadiet and Mohamed Diawara should see massive usage. For the summer, this team is theirs. The goal here is clear. The coaching staff needs to see Dadiet’s ability to create his own separation and effectively initiate offense against set defenses. For Diawara, the focus is defense. Coaches will want to see if he can consistently disrupt passing lanes and quickly switch onto smaller guards.

Friday’s game also marks our first look at second-round selections, Jack Kayil and Tyler Nickel. Kayil’s addition to the roster is a last-minute surprise, as many of us expected him to remain overseas. For Kayil, the intrigue lives in his physical and intellectual approach to the guard position. Keep an eye on how he uses his solid frame to handle pick-and-roll coverages. Possessing advanced playmaking instincts, the real test will be whether he can find consistency with his outside shot. The key aspects of Nickel’s game to keep an eye on are his off-ball movement, floor spacing, and defensive mechanics. His success shooting the basketball is well documented, but how is he with the other pieces that make a complete player?

Of course, one cannot ignore Tyler Kolek’s absence from the roster. This is a major statement by New York’s front office and coaching staff. Keeping Kolek away from the often-disorganized Summer League play suggests that the staff views him as a finished enough product to enjoy a little more vacation time.

The Nets are bringing a “loaded” young group to Vegas. They are set to feature the 2025 draft selections heavily: Drake Powell, Ben Saraf, and Danny Wolf. The tactical challenge New York will face immediately is Egor Demin. Demonstrating a bounty of aggressiveness, Demin showcased his ability to attack the paint during the California Classic. If this continues, the Knicks’ interior defensive rotations will be tested right from the beginning. New York will face a different test on the perimeter. Brooklyn’s #6 overall pick, Mikel Brown Jr., should be the focal point of most of the Nets’ offensive sets. Brown should put the Knicks’ perimeter defenders to work early. The wings need to stay glued to him while also collapsing effectively when Demin drives into the paint. If New York can force Brooklyn’s role players to beat them, they are doing their jobs correctly.

Game Details

• Date: Friday, July 10
• Time: 6:00 p.m. EST
• Venue: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV
• How to Watch: Amazon Prime / Gotham

It’s on nights like these that I’m reminded of the ravine that divides the NBA from all other levels of basketball. This Summer League tilt was sloppy on both sides, and not many fringe players earned an NBA contract tonight, by the looks of it.

This matchup has always been about the number-one pick AJ Dybantsa and the number-two pick Darryn Peterson. Rivals since high school, these two are in an eternal struggle for the designation of being “number-one”. They wanted to be the best in their high school class. They wanted to be the first off the board in the NBA Draft. Rest assured, these two will be battling for Rookie of the Year honors by the season’s end.

Both stars were fully aware of the magnitude of this game, and both wanted to be the first to strike in the Thomas and Mack Center.

Dybantsa took his first touch all the way to the basket and forced up an off-kilter shot that missed everything.

Peterson took the ball the other way and forced up a top-of-the-key three-pointer that missed badly.

Dybantsa quickly picked up the slack, flipping an under-and-around lay-in and following that up with a good leading bounce pass through traffic to find a cutting teammate.

From there, the 1-2 combo settled in and let the game flow around them.

For the first time in a Utah Jazz uniform, Darryn Peterson walked among mortal men as a commoner. He had a very slow start in his Las Vegas debut, opening the night 0-for-3 from the floor and even whiffing on his first all-or-nothing foul shot. His steps were hurried, and he stood unstable before his first trip to the bench. Not quite so infallible outside of the mountain air in Salt Lake City.

AJ claimed the first quarter, dicing up the defense with fadeaways, dribble chains, and this vicious, inhumane slam that will dominate your social media feed for the next day or so.

AJ SO TOUGH 😭🔥 pic.twitter.com/mCkX79J4b5

— ESPN (@espn) July 10, 2026

Washington set the tone for some — should we say physical — defense out on the perimeter, and the officials gave the Wizards liberty to reside in Peterson’s chest for the majority of the game. The number-two pick couldn’t get himself into a rhythm as he’d step out of bounds, dribble off his foot, and sputter under the heat of the Wizards’ aggressive double-team scheme.

They were incredibly handsy from end to end, frustrating Jazz ball handlers as the whistles piled up at the other end.

AJ Dybantsa lives at the foul stripe — that’s his superpower — and he has since his days at BYU, where he led the nation in foul shots taken per game. Perfectly within his idiom, Dybantsa was 6-of-7 from the foul stripe — keeping in mind the experimental do-or-die free throw rule. Considering how much more physical the Wizards played at the defensive end, it’s a mystery how the Wizards managed to reside in the comfort of the bonus for the entire first half.

Neither player was efficient from the floor, but Dybantsa won the first half of this marquee matchup.

Dybantsa finished the first half with 19 points on 4-of-12 shooting.

Peterson lagged behind with 11 points on 3-of-9 shooting and a pair of dimes.

that's 𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝, rook 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/tZfn1q29Y8

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) July 10, 2026

The lead shrank to single digits, and what appeared to be a blowout in the first half — Washington led by as much as 20 — rapidly drew tighter in the second half. It had become a two-possession game before the clock hit 0:00 in the third quarter.

Both stars lived up to the bill in this one, clearly displaying their individual talents despite their efficiency not leaping off the box score.

Peterson’s tendency to cough up possession has to get straightened out. He’ll be a target for his whole career, so learning to handle and exploit on-ball pressure will be critical to maximize his effectiveness and keep his teammates involved.

Cody Williams stole the show a bit for the Jazz, despite a rocky opening to the night. Though he struggled to stop Dybantsa on the defensive end, he notched 16 points on great efficiency (6-11, 2-3 3PT) plus 5 rebounds. He’s not a ball-handler, despite the Jazz’s wishes, but thrived on a newly added stepback mid-range jumper tonight.

Dybantsa had a strong night, finishing with 27 points on 7-for-18 shooting, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals.

The Wizards ultimately won this game behind the strength of their NBA guys, Tre Johnson and Will Reily, who combined for 41 to pair with Dybantsa’s 27. They also strongly benefited from Jamir Watkins, Darryn Peterson’s assignment fouling a grand total of 9 times (not a typo).

Peterson likewise fouled 9 times in this one, an ugly blemish on what was an unsteady night for the rookie. He finished with 24 points on 6-18 shooting and 2-7 from three-point land (thanks to a bank-shot heave at the final horn). Dybantsa will be crowned the winner of this head-to-head with Peterson thanks to better highlights and the team win, but neither player dominated, despite what X will likely tell you.

Washington defeats Utah with a final score of 92-88.

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Calvin Barrett is the Associate Editor for SLC Dunk. Originally from Springville, Utah, he currently lives in Japan and has covered the NBA and college athletics since 2024.

AJ Dybantsa made his Wizards debut as Washington defeated the Utah Jazz 92-88 to open 2026 Las Vegas Summer League play.

The Wizards’ starting lineup — Will Riley, Tre Johnson, Dybantsa, Jamir Watkins and Felix Okpara — was comprised of all five of their selections from the previous two NBA Drafts.

Riley opened the game at point guard, while Dybantsa played on the wing and Okpara manned the paint. 

Johnson scored from all three levels for a quick nine points on 3-3 FG. He ended the half with 18 points on 7-11 FG and finished the game with 26 points.

Dybantsa’s first points came off a contested reverse layup. A minute later, he got to his spot and drilled an and-1 mid-range jumper. Then came the boom.

Washington’s No. 1 pick got into the lane and posterized a Jazz defender, flexing as the crowd inside Thomas & Mack Center rose to its feet.

NASTY 🤢 https://t.co/cMDL4Fd6tVpic.twitter.com/pYDoFcEClc

— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) July 10, 2026

Dybantsa flashed his elite first step and relentless rim pressure while drawing contact at will. He ended the first half with 17 points on 4-12 FG.

Watkins assumed the Darryn Peterson assignment and defended him well. The second-year wing, who recently signed a two-way contract, held Peterson to just 6-for-18 FG, 2-for-7 3PT and eight turnovers. He committed 9 fouls (the Summer League foul limit is 10), but overall, his defense made Peterson work for every point.

Dybantsa shook off a quiet start to the third quarter with a pair of impressive finishes, the first a one-legged mid-range jumper as the shot clock expired. The next was an acrobatic, English-filled layup that came off a tough drive.

Another ridiculous finish from AJ through contact. He’s a relentless driver. pic.twitter.com/5YZxRaAHOP

— Wizards Film Room (@KevinFolliNBA) July 10, 2026

The BYU product missed all five of his 3-point field goals. And despite creating impressive separation on a few turnaround jumpers, he left most of those short as well.

But as far as Summer League debuts go, it appears Dybantsa’s couldn’t have gone much better. He finished with 27 points — tied for the most by a No. 1 pick in their Las Vegas Summer League debut — seven rebounds and two steals on 7-for-18 FG.

Dybantsa exited the game with one minute remaining with what he called “leg soreness,” but he said on the ESPN broadcast he is okay.

NBA Summer League’s new rule limits free-throw attempts to just one shot, no matter the type of shooting foul or bonus situation. Dybantsa shot 7-for-8 from the line, but if standard rules applied, he would’ve attempted a whopping 15 free throws.

Will Riley used a mean spin move and an and-1 finish to propel the Wizards to a narrow victory. He finished with 17 points on 5-for-12 FG.

Josh Hart is still upset over Mitchell Robinson’s departure. 

On Thursday night, the Knicks guard took to X to reply to the Celtics announcing Robinson as a key big man on their team, writing to Boston, “Yo admin delete this.”

Hart and Robinson played four years together in New York after the Knicks acquired Hart in a trade with the Trail Blazers in 2023.

Yo admin delete this. https://t.co/MtKphiexRU

— Josh Hart (@joshhart) July 10, 2026

Robinson and his former teammates have been interacting with each other through social media quite a lot since the center signed a three-year, $47.4 million deal with Boston. 

Robinson, who spent eight years with the Knicks, even said he didn’t want to leave New York when chatting online with NBA Finals hero OG Anunoby.

“I tried brother, I didn’t want this to happen,” Robinson replied to an Anunoby comment about his exit on Instagram.

“Hopefully the truth comes out at some point. I’m going to miss you big dawg!”

Robinson’s murky Knicks future was a big talking point immediately after the championship run, especially after owner James Dolan made it clear he had a reluctance to go into the second apron of the salary cap.

“There’s certain things in the NBA that you’d have to be suicidal to do. One of them is the second apron. Cannot go into the second apron,” Dolan said in an appearance on WFAN’s “The Carton Show” last month before Robinson signed with the Celtics.

“I’ll write as big of a check as possible, but I can’t write a check that goes into the second apron.” 

The second apron is set around $222 million this season, with restrictions and other punishments imposed on teams that go over that. 

Robinson was drafted by the Knicks in 2018, averaging 7.5 points, eight rebounds, 0.9 steals and 0.7 assists per game in his eight seasons. 

During the Knicks NBA Finals run, he averaged 5.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 0.3 assists per game. 

The Knicks have brought back Landry Shamet, Jose Alvarado, Mohamed Diawara and Clarkson this offseason and replaced Robinson with veteran Andre Drummond. The deals cost the Knicks $17.5 million against the cap.

AJ Dybantsa made his NBA Summer League debut with the Washington Wizards on Thursday, July 9, in Las Vegas.

The Wizards selected Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick on June 23.

There was a level of interest in Dybantsa’s debut, especially playing against the Utah Jazz and the No. 2 overall pick, Darryn Peterson.

Dybantsa had a highlight dunk while going on to score 19 points and four rebounds in the first half. Peterson added 11 points and two assists in the half.

AJ DYBANTSA ROCKS THE RIM 🤯

He's got a game-high 27 and counting in his NBA Summer League debut on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/7FwWWJkP6G

— NBA (@NBA) July 10, 2026

He had a brilliant game, but did sub out in the waning minutes of a close contest. ESPN's broadcast showed him grabbing at his leg and reported him saying "it hurts."

Dybantsa didn't seem concerned after the game, telling ESPN it was just "leg soreness."

"Nothing crazy. I'll be back," he said.

AJ Dybantsa on his leg: "It hurts"

AJ exited the game with 1 minute left 👀 pic.twitter.com/KVHTOhQIt7

— WizardsMuse (@WizardsMuse1) July 10, 2026

Here's how Dybantsa finished out his debut against the Jazz.

AJ Dybantsa stats tonight vs. Utah Jazz

• Points: 27
• FG: 7-for-18 (0-for-5 from 3-point)
• Free Throws: 7-for-8
• Rebounds: 7
• Assists: 2
• Steals: 2
• Blocks: 1
• Turnovers: 1
• Fouls: 1
• Minutes: 26

Darryn Peterson stats tonight vs. Washington Wizards

• Points: 24
• FG: 6-for-18 (2-for-7 from 3-point)
• Free Throws: 6-for-8
• Rebounds: 3
• Assists: 3
• Steals: 0
• Blocks: 1
• Turnovers: 8
• Fouls: 9
• Minutes: 30

Wizards vs. Jazz highlights

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: AJ Dybantsa injury update, stats from Summer League showdown with Darryn Peterson, Jazz

Philadelphia is putting all hands on deck to get LeBron James to the City of Brotherly Love. 

Eagles running back Saquon Barkley made his pitch for James, who is currently a free agent, to join the 76ers next season. 

“If you want to go out with a bang, I feel like a great spot would be in Philly and bring a championship to Philadelphia,” Barkley told reporters on Thursday. “You’ll be remembered forever.”

Barkley also said Philadelphia is one of the best sports towns in the world, and has praised the city’s fans since joining the Eagles in 2024. 

“They’re crazy, but in a different way,” Barkley said. “When you’re on the Giants’ side, oh these motherf—ers are insane. On this side, you see they just love it.”

Barkley has been a superstar since touching down in Philadelphia, putting up 3,145 rushing yards, 30 rushing touchdowns in his two years with the Eagles, earning his first All-Pro honors for his 2024 season. 

The ex-Giant is one of many prominent figures across sports and entertainment trying to get James to play in their city for what could be his final season in the NBA. 

James, 41, is testing free agency after spending eight seasons with the Lakers. 

He reportedly is open to numerous teams, with the Cavaliers, Heat, and 76ers being seen as the favorites, according to ESPN’s Shams Chariana.

James is entering his 24th season after being selected No. 1 by the Cavaliers in the 2003 NBA Draft. 

Well, the Bucks surprise us once again by re-signing Pete Nance to a new deal after they waived him just a week ago. Per Jake Fischer and Eric Nehm, the contract is for two years with a team option on the second year; it is also non-guaranteed, giving the team extra flexibility if they want to move off it early.

This brings the roster back to 16 players. It was down to 15 after the deal that sent Taurean Prince and Gary Harris to Detroit in exchange for Caris LeVert (and picks), but it is now a player over the limit. This either means that 1) there could be more fireworks to come in this crazy Bucks offseason, or 2) there will be some fierce training camp battles.

As for Nance, it’s good to have him back. Not only is he a good player, but he’s also a great person to have around the locker room to be a “veteran” for the younger guys (or even just guys who are up and down from the Herd to the Bucks, like he was). A solid shooter and fast decision-maker, Nance can play a role and help this team win games this season.

The Dallas Mavericks fell to the Golden State Warriors in their first game of NBA Summer League, 101-90. LJ Crier scored 25 for the Warriors and rookie Yaxel Lendeborg scored 21 to go along with 10 rebounds and six assists. Rookie Morez Johnson Jr. led Dallas with 27 in defeat.

The opening minutes of the game featured both teams feeling one another out; the Warriors took an early lead by attacking the rim and glass. Tobi Lawal spent early minutes on Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, playing solid defense against the bigger player. Sergio De Larrea scored his first points via a free throw only to exit the contest for Vsevolod Ishchenko after an off-ball collision with a Warrior. Following a timeout, the Warriors pushed past Dallas and threatened to take a double-digit lead. A Morez Johnson looseball putback followed by a dunk through a dish from De Larrea closed the lead to two. Dallas trailed 24-20 after one quarter of basketball.

The Warriors opened up the second quarter with a 9-0 run featuring consistent rim pressure. Dallas called a timeout after pushing the lead up to 16 just over three minutes into the frame. Johnson kept the Mavericks in it, and a flashy Nembhard lay-up cut the lead to 10 around the three-minute mark. The Warriors closed the half hard, lighting the Mavericks up from three while Dallas could not hit a shot. Johnson was a consistent bright spot, scoring 14 points in a variety of ways while also grabbing six boards. The Mavericks shot just 3 of 19 from three in the half to the Warriors six of nine. Dallas trailed 59-39 at the half.

The second half didnt get better for Dallas, at least not in the short term. The Warriors continued to hit shots from outside and Dallas wasn’t able to make much of a dent in the scoreboard. Poor shooting plagued Dallas in the third as well, and the Mavericks entered the final frame down 79-66.

De Larrea opened the fourth for the Mavericks with some fireworks, dishing a nice ally-oop to Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu. Feisty playmaking from Ishchenko in the quarter kept the game exciting, but the Mavericks simply could not finish good looks. Following a timeout at the 5:30 mark, Johnson finished a drive and got the foul and free throw, which cut the lead to 10 for the first time since the second quarter. Dallas followed that up with a John Poulakidas three and Johnson dunk to cut it down to five. The Maverick run continued with an Ishchenko basket. LJ Cryer hit back-to-back buckets to give the Warriors breathing room with under three minutes to go. The Mavericks were not able to get over the hump. Dallas fell to the Warriors 101-90 in their opening game of Summer League.

‘We have Rez and they don’t.’

If you had concerns about the Dallas Mavericks selecting Morez Johnson Jr. with the ninth overall selection in June’s NBA Draft, perhaps a 27-point, eight-rebound, three-assist, three-steal, and two-block performance will settle your nerves some. Do I have any idea what kind of player Johnson will be at the NBA after just one game? I do not. But what I do know is this is an NBA player who will find ways to contribute.

Dallas played a pretty bad basketball game; it’s to be expected for guys who’ve never played before (the Warriors are coming off of games together in the California Classic). Johnson had the type of game where he slowly and steadily made an impact. A loose ball putback here, a big rebound in traffic there. All of a sudden, he had 27 points on 17 shots. You feel his presence defensively; he’s a big, big person on the court that’s not easily moved.

So I recommend enjoying this workmanlike performance from a very solid player.

Dallas isn’t going to win much if they can’t shoot the ball

This sounds familiar doesn’t it. Dallas took 38 threes as a team, the Warriors just 20. The Warriors hit 10 (50%, for those of you who are bad at math). The Mavericks hit just nine attempts (24%). That is very bad. In top level analysis, I am here to inform you that you must hit shots in order to win basketball games.

A mixed outing for Sergio De Larrea

Let’s start with the good. De Larrea finished his first summer league game with nine points, six rebounds and five assists. He only committed one turnover, was a willing passer with his eyes often up near the rim looking for his teammates to finish plays.

But we must also discuss the bad. He was three of 14 from the floor, including just one of nine from beyond the arc. His handle, particularly in the first half, was incredibly loose. De Larrea was often too upright, his dribble nearly out of control at times.

Now, he’s allowed to have a poor shooting performance, and if you watched this game, his second half was much more confident than the first. But he got to the rim often enough and heard ghosts, stuttering at times, instead of just going up with confidence. He’s also another tall, rangy guy who looks taller to me than the listed height.

There’s some THERE, there, if you get me. Let’s see what he does next.

We see you, Vsevolod Ishchenko

I had no idea what to expect from our new Russian friend. Guys, he looks 16 years old in the face and I am learning just now that he’s 21. But if you want to see a guy who’s not afraid of the moment, Ishchenko is your guy. His box score contributions were meek, just seven points and three rebounds. But I saw a guy with a tight handle and really good vision. Once his teammates actually passed him the ball in the fourth quarter, we got to see some wizardry in potential dimes, very few of which were actually finished with a made basket. That’s okay though, this is a learning situation and today I learned Dallas drafted guys who have some ability. Let’s see what they do against the Lakers.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are one of a handful of teams trying to convince LeBron James to sign with them in free agency via voice note messages that may or may not actually get to LeBron himself. As of now, they appear to be the favorites to secure his services. That noise is only going to grow louder as Bill Simmons outright said LeBron returning to the Cavs was “done.”

Simmons mentioned on the most recent episode of the Bill Simmons Podcast that the Golden State Warriors were just used as leverage. This led him to say that LeBron is going back to Cleveland, and that the “Cleveland thing is done.”

“And now it’s pretty clear they (Golden State) were being used as leverage as LeBron goes back to Cleveland… the Cleveland thing is done,” – Bill Simmons on LeBron’s free agency sweepstakes 👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/Z9OBX8ADUB

— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) July 10, 2026

How much you want to read into this is entirely up to you.

Simmons says this in a somewhat flipant way, an hour into a two-hour podcast. If he were going to break news this big, it’d make a lot more sense to lead off his show with this or put it up on the website he owns. That could easily lead you to believe this is just speculation based on all the other reporting and noise around a return to Cleveland.

On the other hand, Simmons is extremely plugged in. He’s been in NBA circles for decades and knows what he’s talking about. Additionally, he also has a direct connection with Rich Paul.

The Ringer — Simmons’s website — hosts Paul’s podcast Game Over. If there is someone who you’d think would be in the loop on this, it’d be Simmons.

Again, how much stock you put into this is up to you. What we can definitively say right now is that it seems like LeBron is coming back to Cleveland for a farewell tour. We’ll find out whether that materializes soon enough.

Big man Jonas Valanciunas is now a free agent.

On Wednesday, the Nuggets waived Valanciunas despite his fully guaranteed $10 million salary for the 2026-27 season, according to multiple reports.

Denver still owes him $2 million following the move, but will save cap space after signing Marvin Bagley III to a veteran minimum, keeping them under the second luxury tax apron. 

Valanciunas considered leaving for the EuroLeague last summer after being traded to the Nuggets, but ended up staying in the NBA and averaged 8.7 points with 5.1 rebounds in 65 games played. 

The 34-year-old shot 58.2 percent from the field while filling in the Nuggets’ backup center role playing 13 minutes a night. 

According to ESPN’s Shams Chariana, Valanciunas will garner interest from multiple clubs, including the Knicks. 

Valanciunas is on the Knicks’ radar and they view him as a potential third option behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond, SNY’s Ian Begley reported.

He also has experience working with Leon Rose, as the Knicks president was his agent before taking the front-office job. 

A move to Europe is possible once again this summer with Lithuanian club Zalgiris Kaunas interested, according to BasketNews.

Valanciunas would be brought in to help the Knicks replace Mitchell Robinson, who signed a three-year, $47.4 million contract with the Celtics after spending his entire career in the orange and blue.

The seven-footer averaged 4.8 points and 5.5 rebounds in 13.9 minutes per game during New York’s championship run this season. 

The Knicks signed Drummond, another potential replacement for Robinson, to a one-year, $3.9 million deal on Saturday. 

He appeared in 63 games with the 76ers last season, recording 6.4 points and 8.4 rebounds through 19.5 minutes.

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.

Well, the Lakers certainly took advantage of the optionality that they had prepared for this summer.

None of the Lakers starters who helped LA jump out to a 3-0 lead against the Rockets in the playoffs are returning. In their place comes an infusion of new talent.

Los Angeles traded for Walker Kessler and signed Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Collin Sexton.

With the entire rotation getting revamped, Lakers fans will have plenty of new players to get acquainted with.

For our SB Nation Reacts survey this week, we asked fans which new Laker they were most excited to see next season.

Kessler won in a landslide.

Kessler is the new max player in Los Angeles and the center the franchise has been looking for. Luka Dončić reportedly wanted him on the team, so expectations and pressure will be at an all-time high.

Naturally, that makes his play very compelling, crucial to LA’s success and an exciting player to watch.

The Lakers’ first game of the upcoming year will be highly anticipated, mainly because Kessler will be making his Lakers debut.

Mamu, Grimes and Sexton will all also be important to the Lakers, but none are considered franchise players or All-Stars, so the general hype is far lower.

Another player whose hype seems to be down is LeBron James.

He has left the Lakers and is looking for a new team.

As part of our national survey, we asked NBA fans if they wanted LeBron on their favorite team. The majority said thanks, but no thanks.

A ton comes with LeBron being on a team. Yes, he is a tremendous talent, and plenty of winning will occur.

However, both his stans and his haters can be exhausting to hear from every day. And his agent, Rich Paul, speaking to anyone who will listen on his podcast doesn’t exactly make things any better.

Also, at LeBron’s age, the end of his career is nearing.

While he still has plenty to give to the game, it’s not surprising that fans of other teams would rather not bet on him winning another title. Maybe it’s best just to let someone else deal with the LeBron media circus and all that comes with it.

That’s no longer the Lakers’ problem, but they are hoping Kessler is the solution and the missing piece the franchise needs to be champions again.

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