Category: Basketball

Brayden Burries’ contested layup with just over a second left secured a tight 96-94 win for the Bucks over the Philadelphia 76ers in their last Summer League outing. With the win, Milwaukee improved to a 2-3 record. Burries scored 27 points while adding four rebounds and five assists in a promising ending to his time in Vegas. Kam Jones and Nate Ament each pitched in with twelve points, while Gerald Ayayi led the Sixers in scoring with 22 points on 13 shots.

NBA.com Box Score

Game Recap

The Bucks started two-way signee Kam Jones, rookies Brayden Burries and Nate Ament, Pete Nance, and Bogoljub Marković. The Sixers started Duke Miles, Dante Maddox Jr., Gerald Ayayi, Amani Lyles, and Isaac Johnson. Meanwhile, Philadelphia’s first-round draft-pick, Labaron Philon Jr., sat out.

The game started in a back-and-forth contest, with Ament pouring in Milwaukee’s first five points in the game. But he wasn’t the Bucks’ only rookie who got on the scoresheet early, with Burries’ and-one layup giving them a 13-10 lead midway through the first quarter. Milwaukee continued to do the right things on offense, freeing up willing shot takers like Zack Austin for open three-pointers and sending Ament up for thunderous lobs. A Jones three-point buzzer-beater put Milwaukee up 28-22 at the end of the first quarter, their largest lead in the game.

The Bucks got off to a hot start at the start of the second quarter, stretching their lead to double digits by connecting from long range. In addition to the long ball, Milwaukee scored frequently in transition, so when Philly went cold and lacked any sort of offensive generation, it directly translated to fast-break layups and numerical advantages for the Bucks. B.J. Boston’s and-one added an exclamation point to a big 9-2 Bucks run. However, the 76ers hunkered down on defense, and some big buckets from Maddox cut the Bucks’ lead to just one point. Eventually, Mylik Wilson’s driving layup and a last-second Lyles chase-down block sealed Philadelphia’s halftime advantage. Philly up, 51-50.

The Bucks continued to battle the Sixers into the third quarter, reclaiming their lead thanks to a pair of quick layups from Jones and Burries, the former of whom had to limp off the court after landing awkwardly. From there, the Sixers and Bucks exchanged scoring runs, with Milwaukee working past their initial turnover troubles by consistently converting at the rim. However, Philadelphia gained a narrow edge at the end of the third quarter, leading 74-69.

In a continuation of the back-and-forth affair, Milwaukee quickly tied the game and took the lead to start the fourth quarter. They caught fire at the right time, forging a 10-0 scoring run off some clutch Kam Jones three-pointers, and held a tight lead throughout the final frame. However, Milwaukee failed to score in their final four possessions, including on a long Nance airball with just 13 seconds left. Philadelphia attempted to run a play to secure the win, but a blocking foul from Marković sent Gerald Ajayi to the line, where he promptly tied the game up. With under 10 seconds left, Burries received the ball in the backcourt, drove all the way downhill to the rim, and converted an acrobatic layup with time expiring to secure the win for Milwaukee. Yeah, he might just be that dude.

Stat That Stood Out

Although Burries will rightfully draw most of the attention for his insane game, Nate Ament shot 2/3 from three-point range. The figure isn’t overly impressive by itself, but when you consider Ament shot 7/18 (.388) from three throughout his five Summer League appearances, his outside shooting becomes genuinely intriguing, if not exciting. One of Ament’s biggest concerns when he was being drafted was his inconsistent shooting, but it looks like he’s been working through it in Las Vegas.

The Sixers wrapped up their 2026 Summer League with a 96-94 loss at the buzzer to the Milwaukee Bucks Saturday evening.

Labaron Philon Jr. got the day off, ending a solid summer for the rookie after four games. His shooting numbers got very skewed by a rough final outing. He ended up averaging 18.5 points per game shooting 38% from the field and 25% from three along with 3.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists.

In three appearances, Johni Broome averaged 14.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game on 45%/13%/25% shooting splits. He also sat out the finale.

In Saturday’s game, Gerald Ayayi, who’s had a long career overseas, led the Sixers with 22 points shooting 7-of-13 from the floor along with three assists. Dante Maddox Jr. put up 15, shooting 4-of-10 from the field. Brayden Burries, the No. 10 overall pick in this year’s draft, led all scorers with 27, including the game-winner.

While both Burries and Nate Ament were able to get theirs to varying degrees of success, the Sixers being able to turn the ball over prevented the Bucks from running away with the game early. Each team turned it over 19 times — Ament had five of them.

The Sixers had their own issues completing passes at the start of the game, but flipping that script is what allowed them to go on a 20-4 extended run that started in the second quarter and ended in the third.

After shooting well from deep in the first half at 46%, the Sixers found a lot of success attacking the rim in the third quarter. Duke Miles started the game off making three of his first four shots, all from beyond the arc before Maddox found his stroke from outside. He may have been on a bit of a pitch count, only playing 11 minutes in this one.

Similar to Miles, Isaac Johnson only played 12 minutes of this game, but had a bit of a bounce-back with 10 points and six rebounds. Nick Townsend, an undrafted forward out of Yale, got more run in his second appearance of the summer. He finished with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting.

Their shooting would regress though — they only made one three-pointer in the second half — a big reason why they weren’t able to put the Bucks away. They kept their determination in attacking the rim. Ayayi slashed for a big and-1 that cut the lead to four with under two minutes. A minute later, Maddox drove to find Townsend cutting baseline to make it a two-point game.

After getting another stop, Ayayi drew a foul and went to the one with a chance to tie the game. He drilled both (which you still have to do despite the G League rule). Unsurprisingly, the Bucks went to Burries and he got all the way to the basket for the game-winner with 1.5 seconds remaining. For as good of a day he had, Maddox had the ball tip off his feet before he got a heave off. An unfortunate end to Summer League, but at least one that didn’t go to overtime.

Bell Ringer

Standings

• Labaron Philon Jr. – 2
• Isaac Johnson – 1
• Amani Lyles – 1

Candidates

• Dante Maddox Jr.
• Gerald Ayayi
• Nick Townsend

With 9 teams logging 3-1 records in the 2026 Las Vegas Summer League, Boston got one final consolation game at the Thomas and Mack Center, Las Vegas, Saturday evening against the Orlando Magic. In an entertaining final game, Boston would get scoring from all thirteen active players. In a fast paced, physical game, the Magic hold on to win, 97-103.

Boston started Milos Uzan, John Tonje, Tucker DeVries, Alondes Williams, and Amari Williams for the final game in Vegas. Unfortunately for Boston fans, Hugo Gonzalez and rookies Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell were in street clothes for the contest, watching from the Celtics bench.

Orlando jumped out to an early 2-10 lead as Boston was just 1 from 5 in the field. Milo Uzan drained a three-pointer at the top of the key and had a step-back as he had 5 straight points for the Summer Celtics. New Magic head coach Sean Sweeney was in attendance for the game to see his side up by ten, 9-19.

DeVries laced a corner triple for his first made bucket of the game; he was feeling it and hit a deep transition heat check trey. On the next play, Boston was back in the game, 15-19, with 3 minutes to go. Nick Pringle, Caleb Grill, and Daveon Thomas checked into the game late in the first, as they would be seeing extended action in this one.

A Chris Jones transition dunk capped a min run for the Summer Celtics before the Magic finally broke the scoring drought. Nick Pringle had a big put-back flush for Boston as the scores were tied at 24 points apiece at the break in a fast-paced opening quarter.

Mo Amini cut through the lane to score the layup at the start of the second quarter, his first points of the game. Kyle Mangus hit a three-pointer as the Summer Celtics showed plenty of scoring depth with nine players hitting the scoreboard in just 11 minutes of play. Amari Williams started the second quarter and provided the hustle play with offensive rebounding and interior scoring. Tonje laced a two-pointer at the foul line, Boston back up, 33-32.

DeVries came back into the game and immediately continued his hot shooting night as he peeled off a screen at the top of the key to hit his 9th point, assisted by Milo Uzan with his third assist. Grill hit a deep triple; John Tonje had a loud one-handed tomahawk on the break, Boston up 45-43. Wiggins hit the Summer C’s seventh three-pointer of the game as he became the tenth scorer for the team. Boston took a 3-point lead into the half, 48-45.

John Tonje scored the team’s first 4 points of the second half, as he continues to impress and make a case for a two-way contract with the Maine Celtics. Alondes Williams netted a three for his fifth point of the night, Boston up 56-53. Summer league coach Amile Jefferson has this summer league squad amped up and very aggressive on the defensive end, they had 9 steals and forced 12 turnovers at the 5 minute mark of the third quarter.

Orlando went on a 7-0 run in the middle of the third to take back the lead, 61-65. Caleb Grill’s trey at the top of the key gave Boston it’s first score in three minutes of action. The Magic outscored the Summer C’s 19-8 in a crucial third quarter stretch of play. The third quarter was not great for the Celtics, the Magic stretching it out to a ten point lead, the shot the lights out going 13-18 in the quarter, 71-81.

Amile Jefferson rested Tonje, Uzan and Amari for the remainder of the game, the deep bench hopefuls getting an extended run to close it out. Boston went on a 7-0 run with Grill, Thomas and Wiggins chipping in points. Orlando countered with a 7 point run of their own. A Kyle Mangus three-pointer with 2 minutes to go got the lead back to just 4 points, 95-99.

The Summer Celtics battled and scrapped right to the end, but Orlando would take the lead and win the final game of 2026 Summer League.

The Washington Wizards play the Atlanta Hawks tonight at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN and Monumental Sports Network. In addition, the Washington Mystics will play the Golden State Valkyries at 8:30 p.m. ET which will also be on Monumental Sports Network, though I anticipate it will move to the Monumental 2 since both games will overlap.

Go DC basketball, let’s see the Wizards close out the Summer League with a W. And let’s see the Mystics build up on their winning record.

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

The Cleveland Cavaliers extended Donovan Mitchell to a massive $270 million deal. We asked you, the fans, for a reaction.

You voted overwhelmingly in favor of Mitchell’s extension.

More than two-thirds of Cavs fans agreed that signing Mitchell to a long-term extension was the correct move. Only 29% disagreed with the decision. That means the loudest detractors you’ve seen online are simply part of the vocal minority. Most Cavs fans are still on board with Spida.

In fairness, it’s understandable why some fans have become disgruntled. Getting swept by the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals, all while Mitchell struggles to establish himself, was frustrating to watch. Even more frustrating was Jalen Brunson getting the better of him once again — while doing it on a cheaper deal.

I get it.

But the simple truth remains: Mitchell is too valuable to insult with a low-ball offer. This franchise hasn’t seen many players better than him. They certainly haven’t had a superstar embrace them like this since LeBron James. That’s the type of relationship you don’t want to sour by being cheap.

For a reminder, here are the details of Mitchell’s deal.

• 2027-28: $60.9 million
• 2028-29: 65.8 million
• 2029-30: $70.6 million
• 2030-31 (player option): $75.5 million

I think every fan would vote for paying Mitchell less if it meant opening the door for more improvements to the roster. But that wasn’t what we asked. We wanted to know if you agreed with the Mitchell extension. And, given everything we know, the answer was a resounding yes for a reason.

FanDuel currently has the Cavs over/under for wins set at 47.5. They’ve won more than that in each of Mitchell’s four seasons in Cleveland.

Mitchell has led the Cavs to multiple 50-win seasons. He’s been one of their most consistent playoff performers outside of his recent struggles, which, in the end, led to their deepest playoff run in years. There are plenty of things to complain about or nitpick, but losing Mitchell was a non-starter for Cleveland.

It's widely known that LeBron James has a shortlist of teams that he'd be willing to sign with as a free agent for the 2026-27 season.

The teams include the Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, and Minnesota Timberwolves.

There since has been a bevy of rumors and speculation from sports figures, entertainment celebrities and media outlets all inching for the same thing: to find out James' decision.

There have been trolls fooling fans who want James in their city. James himself has leaned into the trolls, uttering phrases and dropping baseless hints that get fans on the edge of their seats assuming they know where he's headed.

But truth is, no one knows what the final say will be. James has reportedly narrowed it down to three teams: Cavaliers, Heat and 76ers. The Warriors remain a dark horse in the race.

According to USA TODAY Sports' Lorenzo Reyes, James has all the information he needs from teams and is now weighing his options.

A decision can come at any point now. Here's what people are saying in relation to James' next basketball destination:

The only thing that got ripped was this guy’s rep.

Washington Wizards star Trae Young’s magic seemed to fizzle Saturday, when he failed miserably while trying to tear apart a Jalen Brunson jersey during a stunt appearance in Midtown and wound up getting torn up himself on the internet.

The NBA sharpshooter was trying to re-ignite his longtime rivalry with the Knicks and their rabid fanbase at Fanatics Fest with the bid to destroy Brunson’s shirts after walking on stage and apparently reprising some antics he performed in the past while appearing in the WWE, video shows.

But “Big Body Brunson’s” shirt was also apparently too big and strong for Young, who spent close to a half-minute at the Javits Center sports gala futilely trying to rip it in half.

He eventually gave up and tossed the jersey into the crowd.

As expected, Young felt the vitriol of Knicks fans soon after his antics.

“Did he forget his ass is Trae Young?” barked DJ Zullo of the podcast Knicks Film Skool on X

Young later claimed it was all in jest.

He posted a video of himself of social media watching highlights of previous performances against the NBA champs, and said “I just be trolling sometimes.” while adding laughing face emojis.

 “Happy for some of my boys over there fr!” he added, while including salute and hands-together-praying emojis.

Young briefly made himself public-enemy No. 1 at Madison Square Garden in 2021 by famously bowing to the crowd while knocking the Knicks out of the playoffs as a star for the Atlanta Hawks.

The NBA calendar has officially entered its quiet season. The draft is over. Most of the fireworks of free agency have already gone off. Las Vegas Summer League is winding down. Outside of the occasional contract signing or end-of-the-roster move, the league typically settles into a boring stretch. In other words, it’s the dead zone.

Unless, of course, you’re one of the handful of franchises still waiting on LeBron James. Ever since LeBron informed the Los Angeles Lakers that he would not be returning in purple and gold, the league has been engulfed in a second version of “The Decision.” There hasn’t been an hour-long ESPN special (at least not yet), but the speculation has reached an almost comical level. Every podcast has an opinion. Every television analyst has “sources.” Every former player has a theory. If someone has a microphone and a social media account, chances are they’ve already explained why LeBron should definitely head to their preferred destination.

By now, the list has become familiar. The Cleveland Cavaliers. The Golden State Warriors. The Miami Heat. The Philadelphia 76ers.

…and, somehow, the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The fact that Minnesota isn’t just being mentioned as a longshot but consistently appears among the five primary destinations says something about how dramatically this franchise’s reputation has changed. Ten years ago, the idea of LeBron James voluntarily choosing Minnesota would’ve been treated like satire. Fifteen years ago it would’ve been grounds for a wellness check.

Today? It’s an actual conversation. Whether it ultimately happens is another matter entirely.

The fascinating part is that nobody seems to know where James is leaning. LeBron and Rich Paul have kept this process remarkably quiet. Every day brings another report, another rumor, another anonymous executive claiming to have “heard something,” only for a contradictory report to emerge a few hours later.

At this point, even the biggest names in NBA reporting feel less like insiders and more like amateur meteorologists standing outside with their finger in the air trying to determine which way the wind is blowing. One forecast says sunny. The next says thunderstorms. Then somebody announces a tornado warning.

Meanwhile, LeBron hasn’t said a word.

What has made this saga especially interesting from a Minnesota perspective is the number of respected basketball voices who have openly connected James to the Timberwolves. This isn’t just Wolves fans talking themselves into a fantasy because it’s July and there isn’t much else happening. Max Kellerman has repeatedly argued that Minnesota makes tremendous basketball sense. On his and Rich Paul’s Game Over podcast, Kellerman laid out the basketball fit in detail, explaining why the Wolves offer one of the most complete situations available.

Even more interesting was hearing Kendrick Perkins make essentially the same case on that very show. Perkins broke down how pairing Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball’s offense and Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels’ defense with LeBron would immediately create one of the league’s most dangerous cores and potentially give James his best opportunity to chase a fifth championship while becoming the first player in NBA history to win titles with four different franchises.

Even good ol’ Boogie Cousins added his own support during a Summer League interview. Suddenly it wasn’t just one person throwing out Minnesota as a dark horse. It became a legitimate basketball discussion.

Then franchise great and team ambassador, Kevin Garnett made a convincing argument why LeBron should absolutely choose to come to Minnesota…

…oh wait. He did the opposite.

Come on, KG.

If anyone was going to publicly campaign for LeBron to finish his career in Minnesota, you’d think it would’ve been the greatest player in franchise history. Instead, Wolves fans were left watching everyone else make the case while Garnett remained notably absent from the recruiting effort.

Still, the momentum surrounding Minnesota hasn’t disappeared. If anything, the waiting has only intensified because it sounds like this decision may finally be approaching its conclusion.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has reportedly encouraged James to make his decision sooner rather than later so the league can finalize its schedule. That’s understandable. Wherever LeBron lands instantly becomes appointment television. Opening Night, Christmas Day, and every other marquee slot on the calendar depends on knowing where the biggest star of his generation will be playing.

The schedule can’t really be completed until LeBron picks a jersey. The basketball world is essentially sitting in an airport terminal waiting for one delayed flight, and judging by the latest SB Nation Reacts poll, Wolves fans are hoping that flight lands squarely in Minneapolis.

An overwhelming 88 percent of respondents said they want LeBron to choose Minnesota.

That number honestly surprised me. Not because the basketball fit doesn’t make sense (it absolutely does), but because LeBron has never exactly been universally beloved in Timberwolves circles. Like every fan base, Wolves fans have spent years rolling their eyes at some of the theatrics. The media circus. The carefully orchestrated announcements. The endless conversation that somehow always circles back to LeBron himself. This latest free agency saga is just another example. The entire league has essentially paused while everyone waits for one player to decide where he’ll spend the twilight of his career.

That isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, but basketball has a funny way of making old grudges disappear. Because while opinions about LeBron the personality may vary, opinions about LeBron the basketball player are much harder to argue. He remains one of the two or three most influential figures the NBA has ever produced. Michael Jordan sits alone in terms of global impact, but LeBron is firmly in that next chair. His arrival instantly changes how a franchise is perceived. National television schedules shift. Free agents pay attention. Championship expectations become real rather than theoretical.

For a franchise like Minnesota, one that spent decades wandering through the NBA wilderness, that kind of validation would be impossible to ignore.

The comments LeBron himself made this week only added more fuel to the speculation. Speaking during Fanatics Fest in New York City, James hinted that the clues about his next destination have already been placed out in the open.

Read into that however you’d like. Personally? I’m choosing to believe the Instagram photo of LeBron relaxing on a boat while several Wolves emojis conveniently appeared alongside the post was exactly the clue he was talking about.

Do I know that’s true? Absolutely not.

Do I care? Also no.

It’s the middle of July. The regular season is still months away. Let us have a little fun. Because if LeBron actually chose Minnesota, it would immediately become one of the defining moments in franchise history.

It would validate everything this organization has built under Alex Rodriguez, Marc Lore, and Tim Connelly. It would represent another enormous vote of confidence in Anthony Edwards, not just as an All-NBA player, but as someone worthy of becoming the face of a championship contender alongside one of the greatest players the sport has ever seen. It would instantly elevate Minnesota from “interesting contender” to one of the premier attractions in professional basketball.

Most importantly, it would signal that the Timberwolves are no longer viewed as basketball Siberia, but rather as a destination. That would be a remarkable transformation for a franchise that spent much of its existence simply hoping competent players would want to stay.

Now, I hear the other side. The twelve percent of Wolves fans who voted “no” aren’t crazy. Some simply don’t enjoy everything that comes with LeBron: The constant spotlight, the nonstop media coverage, and the inevitable circus that follows him everywhere he goes. Those concerns are legitimate, but if James ultimately decides that Minnesota is where he wants to spend the final chapter of his career, it would be impossible to ignore what that decision represents.

It would mean one of the greatest players in basketball history looked around the NBA landscape and concluded that the Timberwolves gave him his best chance to compete. Think about how unbelievable that sentence would’ve sounded even five years ago.

So if the impossible actually becomes reality, the lingering frustrations of the past probably need to stay exactly where they belong… in the past.

Because what would matter most isn’t everything LeBron has done elsewhere. It would be what his decision says about what the Timberwolves have become.

Until then, all anyone can do is wait.

Wait for the announcement. Wait for the schedule. Wait for the notification that could completely alter the trajectory of this franchise.

For now, the NBA’s quiet season continues. But somewhere, one decision still has the power to turn a sleepy July into the biggest day in modern Timberwolves history.

The Timberwolves 2027 Championship odds still sit at +2200, at FanDuel Sportsbook – the same as last week. If you think LeBron James is coming to the Twin Cities, now is the time to get in on that action!

Rucker Park in Harlem, New York, has seen its fair share of iconic pickup basketball games.

Saturday marks the 24th anniversary of Lakers great Kobe Bryant showing up at Rucker Park to play pickup games against fans.

The anniversary of Bryant at Rucker Park came right after he won his third NBA title with the Lakers, cementing him and Shaquille O’Neal as one of the greatest duos to play for the franchise.

When Bryant pulled up to the park, he came with his entourage, his fist in the air, as basketball fans attending the event cheered endlessly for the reigning champion.

Upon his arrival at the park, Bryant shouted: “Straight to the court.”

According to Ericka Goodman-Hughey and Anthony Olivieri from ESPN, Rucker Park has had many famous names play pickup games, including Allen Iverson and Kevin Garnett. The difference with their performances and Bryant’s, however, was that Bryant was much quieter about his appearance.

At the peak of pickup street basketball games during the early 2000s, Rucker Park was a staple for some of the most iconic pickup games.

Pickup basketball has been a crucial part of New York’s basketball culture, as the games were not played like traditional basketball games; the players would perform all sorts of trick shots and flashy moves against each other.

Bryant’s performance lasted only one half because the event ended up getting rained out. But still, he put on a show in which he tallied 15 points, seven assists and seven rebounds.

During the event, Bryant was seen performing all kinds of flashy plays such as bouncing the ball over opponents’ heads, making passes behind his head and alley-ooping the ball to himself off the backboard to make a dunk.

Outside of performing plays that are considered unconventional in basketball, Bryant also performed some of his more traditional moves, such as shooting 3-pointers, performing layups, and of course, his signature step-back fadeaway shot.

When the event was over, Bryant interacted with the fans who attended and greeted them as a way to show respect.

Many have wondered aloud of late what the Knicks’ plan is for the final roster spot they are legally able to fill under the second apron.

After losing Mitchell Robinson and Ariel Hukporti to division rivals, they’ve signed Andre Drummond and shown interest in the likes of Jonas Valanciunas and Kevon Looney, but the latter two have found better deals and situations elsewhere, leading to speculation throughout the last two weeks.

Several members of the P&T community have loudly vouched for Moussa Cisse, a young big man on the Dallas Mavericks who’s currently on a two-way qualifying offer with the team. Despite his promise, his market was extremely quiet all throughout free agency.

That was until Saturday afternoon, when the Knicks boldly staked their claim and signed Cisse to a two-year offer sheet.

Cisse went undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Memphis after a complicated, five-year college career that began at Memphis, saw him transfer to Oklahoma State the year after Cade Cunningham left, saw him spend 2023-24 at Ole Miss, and saw him return to Memphis for his fifth season. In his collegiate career, he was known as an elite rim protector with limited offensive ability who split time as a starter and backup center.

Cisse inked a two-way deal with the Mavericks last October after making an impression throughout Summer League and training camp, spending much of 2025-26 in the G League, where he dominated to the tune of 14.7 points and 13.1 rebounds on 63.1% from the field in 15 games.

But with the Mavs’ season in total free fall due to their rebuild around Cooper Flagg, Cisse was able to appear in 38 games with the big league club, where he flashed his potential. A 15-point, 9-rebound, 4-block gem at the World’s Most Famous Arena on MLK Day is probably where most fans saw him for the first time:

Outside of that game and a 17-point, 20-rebound gem to close the season in a meaningless game, he flew well under the radar, averaging just 4.5 points and 5.7 rebounds on 57.4% from the field, never attempting a shot outside eight feet.

His per-36 numbers are quite impressive, averaging 11.5 points and 14.7 rebounds, showing that he’s a bang-for-your-buck big. All told, this is probably the closest you could come to a Mitchell Robinson replacement in terms of size (seven feet, 7’5” wingspan!), defense, rebounding, and impact, albeit with a lot more risk due to his youth and rawness. He mimics a rookie Mitch at times with his foul woes at times, but with all the positives as well.

The contract structure is quite odd. He’s signed to a two-year deal worth about $5 million, but only $1.1 million is guaranteed for the soon-to-be 24-year-old. The second year of the deal is completely non-guaranteed, giving the team flexibility, similar to how they structured the Jose Alvarado and Landry Shamet contracts.

And then, there’s the elephant in the room. Cisse is not a regular free agent. He’s just the second player this offseason to sign an offer sheet and the first to sign one with the Knicks since the infamous $72 million contract to Tim Hardaway Jr. in 2017, which wasn’t matched by Atlanta.

The Mavericks have the right to match, having until the end of the day on Monday to decide. At this point, it’s out of the Knicks’ hands entirely.

Cisse’s contract would fit fine in the Mavericks’ sheets, but it would be their 19th player on their roster and 16th signed to a standard deal, likely necessitating them to cut someone by the time the season begins. Only Ryan Nembhard’s contract is non-guaranteed (and they wouldn’t cut him anyway), so they would have to eat the salary of whoever they cut. It’s also important to note that Cisse’s partially guaranteed first year is fully guaranteed before preseason begins on October 1.

The big question, though, is if Dallas wants to keep him.

I’d imagine that their plan the whole time was to get him back on a two-way contract. His limited NBA experience wouldn’t give him much leverage, and prospective teams would be scared away by the RFA tender. Now needing to give him a two-year standard deal to keep him, it’ll at least be considered in the room.

Their center rotation is already a bit jammed with Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II, along with a mountain of power forwards in Cooper Flagg, Morez Johnson Jr., Santi Aldama, and P.J. Washington. I doubt this would stop them if they wanted to retain him, but it’s a factor.

There’s also the minutiae of offer sheets. If the Mavericks match, Cisse gets a no-trade clause for the 2026-27 season, something that could hurt Dallas’ flexibility. There’s also the factor of them having an entirely new brass from when he initially signed in Dallas last year, with both GM Nico Harrison and head coach Jason Kidd dismissed. Will Dusty May and Masai Ujiri want him?

If the contract is matched, there is no recourse for the Knicks. Teams above the first apron are prohibited from acquiring players via sign-and-trade, which kills any hopes of negotiating something afterwards. If it isn’t matched, the Knicks will likely be done for the offseason and ink Tyler Nickel and/or Jack Kayil to a two-way contract.

We just have to wait and see. I’m not confident, but I’d be ecstatic if Dallas once again undervalued a guy and allowed him to waltz to NYC.

Observations after Sixers wrap up summer league with tight loss to Bucks  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers’ 2026 summer league is in the books.

The team wrapped up its Las Vegas summer league campaign Saturday with a 96-94 loss to the Bucks. Brayden Burries’ lefty layup with 1.5 seconds left won it for Milwaukee. 

Both the Sixers and Bucks went 2-3 over their five games in Vegas. 

Gerald Ayayi was the Sixers’ leading scorer with 22 points. Dante Maddox Jr. and Nick Townsend each had 15. 

Here are observations on the Sixers’ summer finale: 

Philon and Broome’s summers 

Labaron Philon Jr. and Johni Broome watched the action from the sideline. The Sixers started Duke Miles, Maddox, Ayayi, Amani Lyles and Isaac Johnson. 

Philon averaged 18.5 points, 5.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds over his four summer games as a rookie. 

He didn’t shoot nearly as well as at Alabama (38.2 percent from the floor, 25.8 percent from three-point range), but the No. 22 overall pick was awfully impressive as a ball handler and played confident, skillful basketball.

Broome recorded 14.7 points and 9.0 rebounds per contest. The lefty big man had a rough third game, scoring two points on 1-for-5 shooting in the Sixers’ blowout loss to the Rockets. He posted double-doubles in the team’s wins over the Pistonsand Pacers.

The bigs without Broome 

While Johnson could never rekindle the sharpshooting magic from his 20-point performance in the Sixers’ summer opener, he had a solid finale.  

Johnson tallied 10 points and six rebounds on Saturday in 12 minutes. He also had a few decent moments defending guards and wings on the perimeter. That presumably won’t ever be a strength for the 7-foot Johnson, but it would boost his chances of professional success if he could hold his own defensively outside of the paint on occasion. 

Drew Cisse served as the Sixers’ backup center behind Johnson. He threw down a dunk in the first quarter a few seconds after stopping John Butler Jr.’s drive. Cisse put up six points and seven rebounds.

The 25-year-old Cisse was part of the Sixers’ organization last season, playing 36 G League games for the Delaware Blue Coats and averaging 5.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks. Offensive rebounding is an eye-catching tool for Cisse. He set a new G League record last year with an enormous 20 offensive rebounds in a game.

Several standouts in finale  

Milwaukee’s lineup included two lottery selections in Burries (No. 10 pick) and Nate Ament (No. 13). Burries scored 27 points and Ament added 12.

Maddox and Miles sunk early step-back threes for the Sixers. Miles had a second straight good outside shooting game, going 3 for 4 beyond the arc.  

As Maddox showed throughout summer league, his game is centered around firing up threes. He went 2 for 6 from long range and ended the summer at 11 for 31 (35.4 percent). Maddox appeared in all five of the Sixers’ games and averaged 15.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists.

Ayayi wound up being the Sixers’ most productive guard and scored efficiently (7 for 13 from the floor). He missed some chances to finish inside during summer league but played with force and often seemed to find the ball around the rim.

Townsend also fared well as a driver. The Yale product was 6 for 9 from the field in his only extended playing time of the summer.

Though the Sixers faced a double-digit deficit in the second quarter, they pulled to within one point late in the period on a Maddox mid-range jumper. Mylik Wilson’s layup on the Sixers’ final possession of the first half gave the team a 51-50 edge.

The game stayed tight in the second half. The Bucks made a 10-0 run early in the fourth quarter and it seemed that they’d hold a slim lead until the final buzzer, but the Sixers kept competing and tied it up with 9.6 seconds left in the fourth on a pair of Ayayi free throws. Burries then delivered in the clutch for the Bucks.

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Who: Summer Suns (3-1) vs. Summer Spurs (3-1)

When: 7:30 pm Arizona Time

Where: Thomas & Mack Center — Las Vegas, Nevada

Watch: Arizona Family Sports, Prime Video

This will be the Summer League “consolation” finale for the Phoenix Suns after they missed out on the semifinals.

Phoenix saw what they wanted to see from their top prospects in Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, and Koa Peat, as they will be sidelined for this one.

Phoenix has gone 3-1 through four contests, with these three leading the way:

• Khaman Maluach: 4 games, 19.5 PPG, 12.8 RPG (2.3 offensive), 1.0 APG, 2.0 BPG, 1.3 SPG on .532/.400/.684 shooting splits, 2.5 TOV in 27.4 minutes per game
• Koa Peat: 4 games, 16.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG on .510/.000/.625 shooting splits, 3.0 TOV in 27.2 minutes per game
• Rasheer Fleming: 4 games, 12.0 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.0 BPG on .474/.421/.500 shooting splits, 1.8 TOV in 26.7 minutes per game

That opens up more opportunities for Koby Brea to showcase his offensive repertoire and allows some of the other young bucks to get more looks with three of their top scorers sidelined.

Probable Starters

In the Summer League, you never know what the lineups might be, so the best we can do is guess, especially with the news of no Man Man, Peat, and Sheer. They’ll likely go with four guards/small wings and a big. Lots of small ball without those three in the mix.

Carter Bryant did not play in the Spurs’ win over the Utah Jazz earlier this week, so we can rule him out for the Spurs.

Suns

• Darius Brown II
• Koby Brea
• Devin Askew
• Javonte Cooke
• Reed Bailey

Spurs

• RJ Davis
• Ja’Kobi Gillespie
• Miles Kelly
• Maliq Brown
• Tarris Reed Jr.

Injury Report

Suns

• Nothing Reported as of now outside of the “key 3” sitting out

Spurs

• Nothing Reported as of now. No Carter Bryant expected on the Spurs end.

What to Watch For

The Koby Brea show?

It’s his time to shine. He has led the Summer Suns in minutes per game thus far, and has had little to show for it outside of drilling 6 threes against the Bucks.

There is some reason for concern if he doesn’t separate himself in this one. I don’t put a ton of stock into Summer League action, but an extended stretch of bad play is certainly not ideal from someone who should look advanced entering year two as a 23-year-old prospect.

Here’s a look at the Summer Suns’ numbers through the opening four games, sorted by minutes per game:

Who steps up?

With the top three scorers all sitting this one out, expect to see Javonte Cooke and Darius Brown Jr. to take on a larger role, along with Brea. Jameer Nelson Jr. and Corey Camper Jr. should also see an uptick in minutes.

They only have two other “bigs” on their roster who have hardly played to this point, so there should be plenty of small ball. Reed Bailey and Jake Stephens… now is your time to shine.

The Spurs will get the bulk of their offense from their dynamic backcourt of RJ Davis and Ja’Kobi Gillespie. We’ll see if 2026 1st round pick Tarris Reed Jr. suits up for the Spurs, though it seems unlikely. They acquired the 26th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft from Denver for three 2nd round picks.

Either way, it figures to be a relatively loose environment with nothing on the line and several key players out on each side. I’m here for a Koby Brea 30-piece.

Prediction

It’s like throwing darts blindfolded.

Let’s go with the Spurs by 10. The shorthanded Summer Suns go down.

The Knicks are on the verge of adding to their center depth, agreeing to a two-year deal with Moussa Cisse on Saturday.

According to SNY's Ian Begley, the offer sheet to Cisse, who spent last season with the Mavericks, starts at the veteran's minimum of $2.5 million. But since Cisse is a restricted free agent, the Mavericks have 48 hours to match. If Dallas doesn't match, the Knicks would lose the ability to sign their draft picks to contracts via the second-round minimum while also staying under the second apron. 

In short, if Summer League standouts Tyler Nickel or Jack Ayil are to play with the Knicks this upcoming season, they'll need to agree to two-way deals. 

ESPN's Shams Charania reports that the offer sheet is half guaranteed in the first year, with the 2027-28 season being non-guaranteed. 

Cisse, a Memphis product who went undrafted, played 38 games for the Mavericks in his rookie season. He averaged 19 minutes a game while posting 4.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.

The 23-year-old Cisse could provide the Knicks with much-needed depth at the center position. With the departure of Mitchell Robinson and Ariel Hukporti, the Knicks entered the offseason with just Karl-Anthony Towns on the roster who could play the position. New York went ahead and added veteran center Andre Drummond in early July.

New York targeted Jonas Valanciunas to bolster the position further, but the veteran center signed with the EuroLeague.