Category: Basketball

KJ is poised for a breakout second season in the NBA.

The former Illini guard, who will now be playing with the Bucks in Milwaukee, is spending part of his summer with the Lithuanian national team competing for the FIBA World Cup. In a qualifier this week against Great Britain, Jakucionis scored 16 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and recorded six assists. He shot 8-of-10 at the free throw line.

KJ also scored 12 points and had 10 assists in a friendly against Ukraine.

If he keeps this up, the rebuilding Bucks will have a problem keeping him on the bench and he could work his way into the starting lineup.

Not bad for the Illini, who keep pumping out quality NBA players (see: Ayo, TSJ, Will Riley; soon: Keaton, maybe Kylan).

On the eve of his unofficial NBA debut, first-round draft pick Cameron Carr signed his Lakers rookie contract, the team announced Thursday.

The Lakers acquired Carr, a 6-foot-5 guard, in a swap of picks with the New York Knicks. Carr will play for the Lakers in summer league games beginning Friday in San Francisco.

Terms were not announced, but the standard rookie contract for the 24th pick this season is about $16.9 million over four seasons with team options in the third and fourth seasons, according to Spotrac.

Read more:Lakers announce summer league schedule, roster

Carr does not play the position most thought the Lakers would target in the draft. Desperate for a big man, the Lakers instead traded to get the shooting guard out of Baylor.

But Carr fits the bill with his athleticism and length. He recorded a 7-foot wingspan and 8-8 standing reach at the NBA combine, where he also impressed scouts during the five-on-five scrimmage with 30 points and seven rebounds on six-for-12 shooting from three-point range. At Baylor, he averaged 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists last season.

Carr’s father, Chris, played six seasons in the NBA, highlighted by a runner-up finish in the 1997 NBA dunk contest.

The winner was Kobe Bryant.

With a chance to make his own NBA legacy, the 21-year-old Carr has found inspiration from his father.

“He was a good outlet for me because he’s been where I want to go, and he’s been down the road I want to go,” Carr told reporters at his introductory news conference. “He’s been a heck of a person to stand next to. Especially in tough times where sometimes I don’t know where I want to go. Man, I can lean on him and ask him. He’s been a lot of help for me.”

Read more:Lakers get their new center. How Walker Kessler, three free agents fit with Luka Doncic

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

LeBron James could be headed back to the Eastern Conference.

The Philadelphia 76ers are reportedly the latest team to express interest in the four-time MVP, according to ESPN. 

The 76ers made one of the biggest moves of the NBA offseason by acquiring Jaylen Brown in a trade with their division rival Boston Celtics on Wednesday, July 1.

Brown is coming off one of his best individual seasons, finishing sixth in the regular-season MVP voting, but he apparently fell out of favor with the Celtics, following various comments after their ouster from the playoffs – ironically at the hands of Philadelphia.

The Brown trade made Philly’s roster younger after unloading Paul George and four draft picks to Boston as part of the trade.

Now, a potential agreement with James would help create a dramatic shift in the Eastern Conference, just two years after the Celtics won their league-leading 18th NBA championship in 2024.

If the 4-time NBA MVP were to choose the Sixers as his next destination, James would join a roster that includes former MVP Joel Embiid, five-time All-Star Jaylen Brown, two-time All-Star Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe, who finished third in Rookie of the Year voting.

James future had been uncertain since the Los Angeles Lakers’ season ended in the playoffs, but provided some clarity earlier this week when he told the Lakers he was not going to be returning for a ninth consecutive season with the franchise.

The 41-year-old, 22-time All-Star averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 60 games played this past season for the Lakers.

JAYLEN BROWN TRADE GRADES: Clear winner in seismic deal between Celtics and 76ers

Would LeBron James fit in Philadelphia 76ers lineup?

With the Jaylen Brown trade, the 76ers projected starting lineup would feature center Joel Embiid, power forward Dean Wade, and guards Brown, Maxey and Edgecombe. The Sixers signed the 6-foot-9 Wade to a four-year, $39 million deal earlier this week following his seven-year stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Philadelphia also inked veteran guard Anfernee Simons as a free agent and selected Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr. with the No. 22 pick in the 2026 NBA draft.

Where could LeBron James play?

James is expected to take his time and see how the free agency period unfolds. James is no stranger to the conference. Two of his former teams, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat, are among the teams expected to be interested in James. 

There’s still a possibility for James to remain in the state of California, taking a trip up North to Oakland to play for coach Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors, joining a roster that includes Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler.

According to ESPN's Anthony Slater, the Warriors received some indication from James and his representatives that they remain on the four-time champion’s short list, but they may not necessarily be at the top of that short list.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LeBron James to Sixers? Rumors heat up after sudden Jaylen Brown trade

The Cleveland Cavaliers have not had an ideal offseason thus far — at least publicly. To summarize, the Cavaliers have lost both Keon Ellis and Dean Wade. While Ellis was expected to depart, Wade was someone who, as July 1 approached, seemed more and more likely to be out of Cleveland’s price range. With both of those “wings” off Cleveland’s roster, there is a king-sized hole in their wake.

For now, it appears that Koby Altman is getting creative to find ways to add wings with upside to the roster. As first reported by HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, Cleveland has interest in bringing in free agent Jonathan Kuminga in a sign-and-trade with the Atlanta Hawks, who Kuminga last played for.

In order for this potential acquisition to take place, the Cavs would need to be under the first apron for a sign-and-trade to be legal. And while they are under the first apron right now, they still haven’t signed James Harden yet.

The Cavaliers find themselves $27.7 million under the first apron. However, Harden is expected to take much of that salary, therefore the Cavs would need to move the likes of Denis Schroeder and or Max Strus to make this work, as they would need to be under the first apron after the sign-and-trade is executed.

Kuminga is an interesting dart throw for a team like Cleveland. Presumably, Kenny Atkinson’s stint with Golden State is driving this reunion, so maybe there is more ceiling than floor potential.

An athletic wing is clearly a need on this Cleveland roster, where there is a dearth of options between 6’5” and 6’8”. Kuminga is an athletic slasher who hasn’t really hit his stride as a former lottery pick in 2021.

It feels like Cleveland should view Kuminga as their LeBron James backup option if the King decides to go elsewhere. I don’t think Kuminga really changes anyone’s expectations on the Cavaliers and might not replace the value that Dean Wade brought to the wing.

Last season, Kuminga averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game on .463/.333/.724 shooting splits.

Now that the door has closed on a Tobias Harris return as he has chosen to move on to San Antonio, John Collins appears to be the new starting PF in Detroit. Collins signed a 3-yr/$51 million deal and brings a different skillset than Tobias. However, John’s skillset is a much better fit around Cade Cunningham, Ausar Thompson, and (hopefully) Jalen Duren.

Shooting

Collins’ three-point percentage has increased the past three seasons, starting at 37.1% in 2023-2024 and eclipsing 40% this past year. Last season he averaged 13.6 PTS, 5.3 REB, and 1.0 AST and he’s a career 37% three-point shooter.

Collins does majority of his three-point shooting from the corners where last season he shot 45% from the left corner and 41% from the right corner. Tobias shot 43% and 35%, respectively. Playing off of Cade Cunningham, John will have plenty of open looks to knock down.

Harris’ offensive game is different due to his post creation and ability to get his own shot. That’s not Collins’ game, but Collins doesn’t focus on the midrange. I’m in favor of losing Harris’ midrange shots for more opportunities at the rim or behind the arc.

	Harris FGA	Harris FG%	Collins FGA	Collins FG%
At the rim	144	59.0%	240	75.4%
Midrange	292	48.6%	196	46.4%
Three	224	36.6%	218	40.8%

While Harris took ~100 more midrange attempts, Collins took ~100 more rim attempts. I’d like to see Collins three-point attempts rise as he has never shot more than four per game, but given his efficiency from beyond the arc, it’s time to increase the volume as this team will benefit from it.

Finishing

Using the table above, Collins is an elite finisher. Harris’ inability to get to the rim with his athletic ability was the reason 44.3% of his attempts were midrange shots. Majority of Collins attempts come at the rim and he finished 8.4% higher than the NBA average of 67.0%. Not only is John a step above Tobias around the basket, but a step above most of the league.

Small-ball Five

This is the first time in a while that the Pistons have a real stretch four that can also play some small-ball five. I’m very intrigued with the idea of a lineup where Ausar can play next to a big man that can pull the defending center away from the paint. If you need Collins to be a five in short spurts, he can do it.

We know he’s a threat from the dunker’s spot.

He can be a lob threat in the pick-and-roll. I can’t wait to see him catch these from Cade.

He can even provide some weak-side rim protection here and there.

This is in no way an article shaming Tobias, but highlighting how I believe John Collins is a better fit for this current roster. In fact, go check out Sean Corp’s farewell to Tobias for some great thoughts on Tobi’s second visit in Detroit.

This roster plays fast and they should. Trajan Langdon has given Cade Cunningham a third lob threat in the starting lineup, so good luck stopping this team in transition. They’re all great rim finishers and elite athletes who best play with pace and space. Collins is best used in an offense that focuses on getting inside or finding an open three and he excels at both. I’m hoping he can maintain his efficiency while increasing his three-point volume, but I have no doubt he’ll surpass Harris’ 13.5 PPG over the last two seasons.

I’m still waiting on that big offseason domino to fall, Trajan. (please get TMIII)

Go Stones.

In all likelihood, the LeBron James Decision 4.0 will drag on for a while. That’s great for me, as someone who benefits from a lengthy news cycle with one of the most popular players in NBA history. It’s a little less fun for impatient fans who want to know whether the league’s all-time leading scorer will be joining the Golden State Warriors.

I don’t know, and you don’t know, and LeBron himself doesn’t know. And that means one thing: the Warriors don’t know. According to a recent report from ESPN’s Anthony Slater, the Dubs have reason to believe that they are one of the teams that James has a strong interest in joining … just not the team at the top of the list.

“The Warriors, meanwhile, have been given indications from James that they remain on his short list,” Slater wrote, “but team sources have expressed a recent belief that they aren’t necessarily at the top of that short list, as James continues to survey the landscape.”

It’s unclear who is at the top of James’ list of potential teams, but we know that the Philadelphia 76ers, after making a shocking trade for Jaylen Brown, have strong interest in bringing James on board. Not surprisingly, he has also been linked to reunions with both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat, while other top teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets have made pushes for his services as well.

With the Dubs on the short list, there’s only one thing to do: send in Steph Curry and Draymond Green for a recruitment meeting. Maybe in the Hamptons?

The Golden State Warriors are bringing back a lot of the band for the 2026-27 season, but there’s one fan favorite who won’t be returning: scrappy guard Pat Spencer. According to a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania, Spencer agreed to a two-way contract with the Phoenix Suns on Thursday.

Spencer, who was a lacrosse superstar in college, spent his first three years playing for the Warriors, with his role increasing each season. He played in just six games as a rookie, then in 39 during the 2024-25 season, but while averaging just 6.4 minutes. But during this past season, Spencer appeared in 66 games and started 14, while averaging 18.6 minutes, 7.2 points, and 3.5 assists, while earning high praise from the fans and coaching staff.

It’s a little surprising to see Spencer sign a two-way deal this early in the offseason, as it seemed like there was a possibility that someone would give him a standard contract. But apparently his agents felt that wasn’t a possibility, and jumped on a chance to sign a two-way deal with a preferred team. With Phoenix having recently traded Grayson Allen, there will likely be backcourt minutes available for Spencer, who will have a chance to earn a standard contract as the season goes on, as he did late in each of the past two seasons.

Spencer, whose brother Cam plays for the Memphis Grizzlies, ends his Warriors career having appeared in 111 regular season games and eight playoff games. Since this is his fourth season in the NBA, it’s his last year having two-way contract eligibility.

Best of luck and thanks for the memories, Pat.

After lead assistant coach and defensive guru Sean Sweeney departed San Antonio for the head coaching position with the Orlando Magic, Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson was tasked with his most important hire for the second straight year. Suffice it to say, he nailed it again with the hiring of legendary college coach, NBA veteran head coach and Hall of Famer Billy Donovan, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Billy Donovan has agreed to become the lead assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs and head coach Mitch Johnson, sources tell me and @PeteThamel. After 11 seasons as a head coach in Chicago and Oklahoma City, Donovan accepts the position with the Western Conference champions. pic.twitter.com/HdhjtsQG2K

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 2, 2026

Donovan made a name for himself as the head coach at the University of Florida from 1996-2015, where he won back-to-back championships in 2006 and 2007. He joined the NBA in 2015 as head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder, where the made the playoffs in each of his five years there, including the conference finals his first season. He then spent the last six seasons as head coach of the Chicago Bulls, where they were mostly a bubble team under his watch. He stepped down after this season, citing “a series of thoughtful and extensive discussions with ownership regarding the future of the organization. … I believe it is in the best interest of the Bulls, to allow the new leader to build out the staff as they see fit.”

While his success levels as an NBA head coach don’t match his college days, his strengths align perfectly with what the Spurs need (and lost with Sweeney’s departure). He is known as a teacher of the game for his player development skills and helping refine basketball IQ, which is perfect with the Spurs young core. He is also known for his offensive and defensive schemes and ability to adapt them to fit the personnel, which is again exactly what the Spurs need.

With the draft and free agency going on, it was easy forget about the coaching vacancy, but this is the second straight year that Johnson has made an excellent hire for his right-hand man, and with Donovan being a veteran of the game with head coaching experience and content to take on a lesser role, he’s likely to last more than one season, while Sweeney was always on borrowed time.

Welcome to San Antonio, Coach!

The San Antonio Spurs were just a few wins away from an NBA title in 2026. Rumors have swirled since their defeat regarding their next moves to ensure they can get over the hump and hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy next season.

Well, they've made their first move, adding Billy Donovan to their coaching staff, per ESPN's Shams Charania.

Donovan had spent the last 11 seasons as a head coach in Oklahoma City and Chicago, but will now take a step back, operating as the Spurs' "lead assistant coach" under Mitch Johnson.

Who is Billy Donovan?

Donovan took over as head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2015, nearly leading the Thunder to the NBA Finals that season, but falling in seven games to the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference finals.

Despite losing Kevin Durant the following season, Donovan experienced solid regular season success, reaching the playoffs in each of his next four years as the head coach in OKC. Unfortunately, he never made it out of the first round of the playoffs again.

Donovan and the Thunder mutually agreed to part ways following the 2019-20 season. Donovan then joined the Chicago Bulls and helped lead them to the postseason in just his second year with the team, marking their first postseason appearance in five years. They lost in the first round, though, and have not been back to the playoffs since. In fact, since that season, Donovan's Bulls never posted a record above .500.

Has Billy Donovan ever won Coach of the Year?

No. He finished third in voting in 2020 after leading the Thunder to a 44-28 record and the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference.

That said, he was named the co-recipient of the Michael H. Goldberg NBCA (National Basketball Coaches Association) Coach of the Year award for the 2019-20 season.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Billy Donovan to become lead assistant coach for San Antonio Spurs

After spending the full season with the G League’s South Bay Lakers, forward Anton Watson was listed on the Los Angeles Lakers Summer League roster. Watson averaged 10.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.6 steals per game in 2025-26.

Forward Drew Timme, who was on a two-way contract with the Los Angeles and South Bay organizations for the 2026-27 season, was not named to the roster alongside Watson.

Lakers’ Summer League roster and schedule pic.twitter.com/kCXDPfnWsB

— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) July 1, 2026

That now makes for five Gonzaga Bulldogs alumni participating in the different NBA Summer Leagues during the month of July.

Dallas Mavericks guard Ryan Nembhard

Golden State Warriors forward Graham Ike

San Antonio Spurs wing Tyon Grant-Foster

Indiana Pacers wing Jalen Warley

Los Angeles Lakers forward Anton Watson

The 2026 California Classic, a summer league taking place inside both the Golden State Warriors’ Chase Center and Sacramento Kings’ Golden 1 Center, starts on July 3 through 6.

San Antonio’s Grant-Foster will kick everything off at the Chase Center against the Miami Heat on Friday, July 3, at 5 p.m. PT on ESPN/Prime Video. The second game of the day will be Ike and Golden State’s Gold squad against Los Angeles’ Watson at 7:30 p.m. PT on ESPNU/Prime Video.

Following the California Classic, the 2026 NBA 2K27 Summer League in Las Vegas, Nevada, runs from July 9 through 19.

Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho

I think we might be looking at what the Phoenix Suns roster might look like come opening day after the team signed former Golden State Warriors guard Pat Spencer to a two-way NBA contract, according to ESPN NBA Insider Shams Charania. Suns officials completed the contract on Thursday evening with Mark Bartelstein and Ross Aroyo of Priority Sports.

Free agent guard Pat Spencer has agreed to a two-way NBA contract with the Phoenix Suns, sources tell ESPN. Spencer's role grew across three seasons in Golden State, where he averaged 7.2 points and 18.6 minutes last season. pic.twitter.com/fj6HI217GF

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 2, 2026

Spencer, who turns 30 on Saturday, had the best season of his three-year career last season, averaging 7.2 points, 3.5 assists, and 2.4 rebounds per game on 42.7% shooting from the field, 35.7% from deep, and 77.2% from the charity stripe. As a starter, his numbers ballooned to 11.4 points, 5.1 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game on 45.1/40/60 shooting splits.

One of Spencer’s best games last season came against the Suns back in February, where he scored a career-high 20 points and was one of the Warriors’ main contributors in their fourth quarter double-digit comeback with Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler sidelined.

Every season of his career, Spencer has increased his minutes, points per game, and games played, and has built a reputation as a pesky defender, which fits right in with the physical culture that the team is building, spearheaded by Dillon Brooks. As the season went on, Spencer’s role with the Warriors continued to expand, as he averaged 10 or more points in two of the last three months of the season, including shooting 40% from downtown in the month of February, and dished out 5.4 assists per game.

After the team resigned guards Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin, picked up the team option on Jamaree Bouyea’s deal, and now signed Spencer, Phoenix has fortified its guard rotation after some concerns about its depth heading into the offseason.

Spencer joins CJ Huntley and Koby Brea as the team’s other two-way players. The roster is up to 18 players, with 15 standard and three two-way deals.

The Knicks have been looking for their Mitchell Robinson replacement in the Big Easy, but the Pelicans are telling them to take a hike. 

New York has tried to acquire New Orleans center Yves Missi this offseason, but multiple offers to the Pelicans have been rejected, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes. The Pelicans view the big man as a vital core figure. 

The Pelicans have also reportedly told the Knicks that they have no intention of moving Missi. 

It’s not the first time that the Knicks have pursued the 6-foot-11 big man in 2026, with The Post’s Stefan Bondy reporting in February that the team approached New Orleans specifically about Missi. 

At the time, a source told Bondy that New Orleans was looking for a first-round pick in exchange for Missi. The Knicks did not have any first-rounders to give up. 

The Knicks have seemed to have heightened their search to fill the gap left by Robinson’s departure, which was a foregone conclusion — with owner James Dolan saying he was unwilling to go into the NBA’s second apron — after the celebration of the team’s first title in 53 years settled down. 

A league source also told The Post that the Knicks were among the teams that were vying to sign Marvin Bagley III before he eventually agreed to a deal with the Nuggets. 

Missi averaged 5.7 points per game and 5.8 rebounds last season with the Pelicans, while also averaging 1.5 blocks per game. 

The big man is one of New Orleans’ best offensive rebounders and rim protectors, and it makes sense that the Pelicans are not interested in sending him elsewhere. 

The Knicks do need to fill the hole in their frontcourt after Robinson’s departure. 

The beloved Knick spent eight years with the organization before he agreed to sign with the rival Celtics on a three-year, $47.4 million contract.

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

The Cleveland Cavaliers have invested a lot of faith in Evan Mobley. They’ve tightly clung to him as their biggest trade asset, keeping him off the table despite some enticing options becoming available.

You’d only do something like this if you believe the 25-year-old star has more room to grow. Potential is the most valuable thing in sports. Mobley had that in spades during his first few seasons. But now? There are questions as to how much higher his ceiling can get.

That’s why earlier this week we asked you, Fear the Sword readers, to share your opinion on Mobley’s future development. Has he reached his ceiling, or is there potential left to uncover?

It was a perfect split. Exactly half of the voters said that Mobley has already reached his ceiling.

I’ll admit. I’m surprised.

It’s bold to say anyone has reached their potential at just 25 years old. Mobley has already been an All-Star, All-NBA player, a two-time All-Defensive member, and won Defensive Player of the Year. That’s a stronger start than I think some fans realize.

This poll isn’t just about Mobley himself. But it’s a show of faith in Cleveland’s developmental system. To assume that Mobley has peaked is to believe that the Cavs have already put him in the best possible position to succeed. Again… I’m surprised that half of the voters believe that.

Mobley’s development has not been Cleveland’s main priority. They’ve put almost all of their chips into building around Donovan Mitchell. Their moves in free agency and on the trading block have supported that. Mobley, on the other hand, is largely asked to fill the margins and support Mitchell more than anything. This isn’t a team that’s constructed around Mobley being the guy.

From that perspective, I can’t imagine that Mobley has reached his ceiling. There has to be more to uncover in the event Mobley is ever the focal point of a team. Even in his current role, the Cavs can do more to boost Mobley as an offensive creator.

The Cavs currently have the sixth-highest odds of winning the 2027 NBA championship. They probably won’t get any higher than that if Mobley really has peaked as a player.