Category: Basketball

A trade first reported on June 28 is now officially complete. The Phoenix Suns have sent Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, and an unprotected 2033 first-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Miles Bridges, a 2027 second-round pick, and a 2029 first-round pick.

In a statement from the team:

“Miles has established himself as a highly productive player whose game continues to evolve,” said Suns general manager Brian Gregory. “His elite athleticism, strength and versatility allow him to impact the game on both ends of the floor. He embodies the grit, competitiveness and work ethic that fit our identity, and we’re excited to welcome him to Phoenix.”

“We also want to thank Grayson and Royce for the impact they made in Phoenix,” added Gregory. “Both played important roles in helping us build our foundation, and we appreciate everything they brought to our team. We wish them and their families all the best.”

There was a bit of a holdup because several other transactions had to be completed before the Suns and Hornets deal could become official. The entire sequence ultimately came down to one player, Mouhamadou Gueye. Gueye signed with the Chicago Bulls on April 9, which meant he could not be traded until six months after his acquisition. That date is today, July 9.

Here is how the dominoes fell.

The Timberwolves, Nets, and Bulls agreed to a deal that sent Julius Randle and the No. 28 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft (Joshua Jefferson), to Brooklyn. In return, Minnesota acquired the No. 33 pick (Isaiah Evans) from the Nets and Mouhamadou Gueye from the Bulls. Chicago received Nic Claxton.

The Hornets also agreed to send LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Timberwolves in exchange for Naz Reid, an unprotected 2033 first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps, and three second-round picks.

Both transactions were put on hold because of Gueye’s trade restriction. Once eligible to be moved, Minnesota completed its deal, which opened the financial pathway to acquire Ball and Green from Charlotte. That, in turn, cleared the way for the Hornets to acquire Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale from Phoenix.

From the Suns’ perspective, this was about more than simply acquiring Miles Bridges. By sending out Allen and O’Neale, who combined to make $29 million, and bringing back Bridges at $22.8 million, Phoenix reduced its payroll by approximately $6.2 million, $6,173,913 to be exact. Before the trade, the Suns carried a payroll of roughly $215 million, placing them about $6 million above the first apron. They needed to create room if they wanted access to the mid-level exception.

The Bridges trade accomplished exactly that.

Phoenix now sits at approximately $208.1 million in team salary, seeing as Jamaree Bouyea’s contract is not guaranteed until January 10. The first apron is $209 million. What did that create? Hello, Luke Kennard. The Suns will be able to use the taxpayer mid-level exception to sign Kennard to a two-year, $12.4 million contract with a player option in the second season. It’s a pretty impressive bit of cap gymnastics by the front office. And to think, the entire sequence was delayed because the Bulls signed Mouhamadou Gueye last April.

So now it is official. Miles Bridges is with the Phoenix Suns. A player the organization has had its eyes on for the past couple of years. Will it work? We’ll find out next season.

Shake off those Monday blues, there’s basketball to be played! The Knicks continue their NBA Summer League action in Las Vegas this afternoon as they square off against the Detroit Pistons at the Cox Pavilion. After getting blown out twice, the exhibition continues to shine a spotlight on player development (Pacome Dadiet, Mohamed Diawara) and recent draftees (Tyler Nickel, Jack Kayil). The young Knicks squad will have their hands full physically against a tough Detroit frontcourt.

Tip-off is 4 pm EST on Prime Video and MSG. This is your game thread. This is Detroit Bad Boys. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Be cool, everybody. And go Knicks!

After a rough debut in the Clippers’ first Summer League outing, many fans began writing off top-five draft pick Keaton Wagler, prematurely labeling the guard as a bust.

He didn’t write back though.

The nerves caught up to Wagler during his debut in a loss to the Sacramento Kings, where he tallied seven points on 1-for-7 shooting.

But three days later, he shook those nerves off and showcased the poise he played with as an Illini to lead the Clippers to a blowout win over the Utah Jazz. Wagler led the Clips in scoring with 23 points, going head-to-head with the No. 2 pick in the draft, Darryn Peterson, who also racked up 23 points.

“That second game, all the nerves were out the way,” Wagler said postgame. “I was just playing freely and shots were falling.”

Wagler sank 4-of-7 from 3-point range and showcased his signature step-back to nail his final triple of the night. He also dished out four assists.

Late in the fourth quarter, he even did something that Illini fans had never seen him do in orange and blue: dunk the basketball. If anything, that’s a sign that he’s already adapting to the NBA.

Boston Celtics (2-0) vs Atlanta Hawks (2-0)
Monday, July 13, 2026
6:00 PM ET
Summer League Game #3 
TV: NBCSB,  Prime Video
Cox Pavilion

Both of these teams are undefeated so far in 2 games in Summer League. Atlanta beat Brooklyn 83-76 and then beat San Antonio 93-66. They have 10 rookies on their team along with 1 3-year player, 2 2-year players, and 3 1-year players. The Hawks scoring has been spread out across their players with no player dominating. The Celtics are playing in the second of back to back games while the Hawks have had off since Saturday.

The Celtics are coached by Amile Jefferson. Jefferson was named Director of Player Development for the Duke Blue Devils in 2021. He was promoted to assistant coach at Duke for the 2022-23 season. In 2023, Jefferson became an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics under head coach Joe Mazzulla. Jefferson played with Jayson Tatum at Duke and he played for the Celtics on an Exhibit 10 contract before being hired as an assistant coach.

The Hawks are coached by Sanjay Lumpkin. Lumpkin was a video coordinator for the Utah Jazz in 2020-22. He then served as the Jazz Player Development coach for the 2022-23 season. He has been an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks from 2023 until present.

The Celtics are averaging 42.5 rebounds per game while the Hawks are averaging 37.5 rebounds per game. The Celtics need to continue to crash the boards and beat the Hawks to rebounds. The Celtics are turning the ball over 15.5 times per game while the Hawks are averaging 17.5 turnovers. It’s not unusual for Summer League teams to turn the ball over a lot but the Celtics should try to take better care of the ball.

Neither team is shooting the ball very well, but both teams have been able to play enough defense to get wins in both games. The Celtics are shooting 42.5% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc. The Hawks are shooting 37.5% from the field and 26.7% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to continue to play good defense while improving their shooting.

The Hawks also played in the Salt Lake City Summer League. They played 3 games and went 2-1 in that competition. They lost 103-102 in overtime to the Utah Jazz. They then won their last 2 games, winning 82-77 over the Oklahoma City Thumder and 96-82 over the Memphis Grizzlies. They shot 40.7 from the field and 36.7% from beyond the arc over those 3 games. They will have the advantage in chemistry after playing the extra 3 games together.

Celtics Summer League Roster
Mohammad Amini #54 R
Chris Cenac, Jr #12  R
Tucker DeVries  #41 R
Hugo Gonzalez #28  1
Caleb Grill #37  R
Curtis Jones #26 R
Kyle Mangas #43  R
Dillon Mitchell #20 R
Hank Morgan #51  R
Nick Pringle #40  R
Day Day  Thomas  #38  R
John Tonje #8  R
Milos Uzan #29  R
Chauncey Wiggins #50  R
Alondes Williams #46   3
Amari Williams #77 1

Head Coach
Amile Jefferson

Starters in 1st 2 games
Curtis Jones
John Tonje
Hugo Gonzalez
Dillon Mitchell
Amari Williams

Celtics Players to Watch

Hugo Gonzalez – Hugo was the 28th pick in last year’s draft.  In last year’s Summer League,  he averaged 10.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists.  He averaged 3.9 points and 3.3 rebounds in 14 minutes per game last season.  His +11.9 rating was the highest for any rookie that played at least 100 minutes.  So far in Summer League he is averaging 15.5 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals per game while shooting 23.1% from the field and 22.2% from beyond the arc.  He shot better in Game 2 than Game 1 but still needs some improvement in that area.   

Dillon Mitchell – Mitchell is a 4 year college player who was drafted with the 40th pick.  He is 6’8″ with a 6’10” wingspan. He is a super athlete, good finisher, rebounder and defender.  He averaged 8.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.3 steals per game over 37 games with 25 starts last year.  He was named to All Big East 3rd team and Big East All Defensive team.  He is an excellent defender but weak on offense.  He shot just 19.3% on 3’s and 48.8% on free throws in college.  He showed some promise on offense against the Hornets, shooting 50% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc.   In the first 2 games, he is averaging 14 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 steals and 2 blocks while shooting 46.2% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc. 

John Tonje  – Tonje came to the Celtics as a 2-way player from Utah in the Chris Boucher trade at last year’s deadline.  At the end of last season, his contract was converted to a standard contract.  His option wasn’t picked up this season but the way he has played in Summer League, he is earning at least a 2 way contract again.   He is averaging 18.5 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assists, and 2 steals while shooting 50% from the field and 61.5% from beyond the arc. 

Amari Williams – Amari was the 46th pick in last year’s draft.  He spent most of last season on a 2-way deal but was converted to a standard contract at the end of last season.  He averaged 1.4 points, and 1.8 rebounds in 6.6 minutes with Boston last year.  He averaged 15.8 points, 10.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.8 blocks with Maine last season.  He has already been signed to a 2-way contract for this season.  He is averaging 14.5 points, 9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 3 blocks while shooting 64.3% from the field with no 3’s.   

Atlanta Hawks Roster
RayJ Dennis  #0  2 years
Kingston Flemmings #4  R
Kobe Johnson  #12  R
Henri Veesaar #13  R
Asa Newell  #14  1 year
Jacob Toppin #15  3 years
Kobe Knox  #19  R
Zuby Ejiofor #20R
Game Madsen  #22  R
Devon Higgs #26  R
Isaac McKneely  #27  R
Cameron Horhen #28  R
Eli Ndiaye  #30  1 year
Zeke  Mayo  #39  R
Isaiah Wong #45 2 years
Keshon Gilbert  #51  1 year

Head Coach
Sanjay Lumpkin 

Hawks Starters for Both Games
Kingston Flemings
Isaac McKneeley
Gabe Madsen
Asa Newell
Zuby Ejiofor

Hawks Players to Watch

Kobe Johnson – Johnson played 2 years in college at USC and UCLA.  He went undrafted in 2025.  He signed an Exhibit 10 contract in 2025 with the Hawks but was waived before the season.  He played last season with the College Park Skyhawks in the G-League.  His older brother, Jalen, plays for the Atlanta Hawks.  He is averaging 14 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 50% from the field and 25.3% from beyond the arc. 

Zuby Ejiofor – Ejiofor was the 23rd pick in this year’s draft.  He played 1 year at Kansas and 3 years at St Johns in college where he averaged 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 2/1 blocks per game in his senior year.  He was the Big East Defensive Player of the Year and Big East Player of the Year.  He is averaging 12.5 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals per game while shooting 38.5% from the field and 42.9% from beyond the arc.

Henri Veesaar – Veesaar is an Estonian player who played 3 years at Arizona and 1 year at North Carolina.  He was the 52nd pick by the Clippers in this year’s draft and was traded on draft night to Atlanta.   His senior year, he averaged 17 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game.  He has signed a 4 year contract with the Hawks.  He is averaging 10 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 61.5% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc.   

Kingston Flemings – Flemings was the 8th pick in this year’s draft.  He played 1 year of college ball at Houston with Chris Cenac, Jr.  He was 2nd team All American and 1st team All Big 12.  He started 37 games and averaged 16.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 47.6% from the field and 38.7% from beyond the arc.  In Summer League, he is averaging 7 points, 4 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1 block while shooting 33.3% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc. 

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Date: July 13th, 2026
Time: 10:00 PM CDT
Location: Thomas & Mack Center
Television Coverage: Prime Video

The Minnesota Timberwolves suffered their first loss of Summer League on Saturday night, falling by 19 points to the Denver Nuggets in a game that technically offered Denver a chance to avenge its first-round playoff elimination at Minnesota’s hands. Well, provided everyone agreed to ignore the minor detail that Anthony Edwards, Nikola Jokic, and almost every other player who made that postseason rivalry compelling was nowhere near Cox Pavilion.

So yes, Denver got its revenge. It was just the least satisfying version imaginable. That does not mean there was nothing worth watching. Summer League has never been about the stakes attached to the final score. It is about searching for evidence, however incomplete, that a young player may eventually become useful when the games matter. It is the NBA’s annual Rorschach test, only with more missed jumpers and significantly worse transition defense.

Minnesota entered the game without the player Wolves fans were most eager to monitor. Joan Beringer, who opened Summer League with an encouraging 18-point, 12-rebound performance against New Orleans, was held out because of back tightness. In a normal July game, losing one prospect should not completely alter the outlook. For this particular Wolves roster, however, Beringer’s absence mattered because he represents one of the few internal options Minnesota has to address its suddenly depleted frontcourt.

Beringer’s development has taken on more urgency than anyone would have expected a few months ago. He is no longer just an intriguing young big who can be allowed to develop quietly at the back of the rotation. The Wolves need evidence that he can eventually contribute, and possibly sooner than anticipated. His debut against New Orleans supplied some early optimism. His absence against Denver left Minnesota short-handed and removed one of the team’s most natural sources of rebounding, interior activity, and defensive size.

The result was not particularly inspiring. Denver controlled the game, Minnesota struggled to mount a meaningful response. The Wolves did not look especially cohesive, and never found the combination of energy and execution required to cut into Denver’s advantage.

Still, the most important development of the evening was not the 19-point margin. It was Isaiah Evans finally making his debut. Minnesota selected Evans with the 33rd pick in the draft, but he was unable to participate in the Summer League opener while the organization completed the transactions connected to the LaMelo Ball trade. Saturday offered Wolves fans their first real look at the team’s top selection from this draft class, and it would be fair to say that the introduction did not unfold the way Evans probably imagined it during the weeks leading up to Las Vegas.

He struggled to find his shot, never appeared fully comfortable, and looked like a young player trying to adjust to the speed and physicality of a higher level of basketball. That is also completely fine. This is precisely what Summer League is supposed to be for. Evans is a second-round rookie playing his first game in a new environment after being forced to wait for the trade machinery to stop moving before he could even step on the floor. The jury on Evans should therefore remain exactly where it belongs: completely undecided.

He will get more opportunities, beginning Monday night against the Portland Trail Blazers, to settle into the offense, regain his shooting touch, and display the skills that convinced Minnesota to use its first selection of the draft on him. The important thing is not whether he immediately dominates. It is whether he responds, looks more comfortable, and begins stacking together positive possessions that provide some evidence of future value.

The same applies to the Wolves as a whole. The organization is trying to evaluate Beringer’s readiness, determine whether Roko Zikarsky can provide useful frontcourt depth, get its first meaningful look at Evans, and identify any other player capable of forcing his way into a training camp conversation.

Monday’s game against Portland offers the next set of clues. Monday’s game tips at 10 p.m. Central, which is not ideal for anyone with a normal sleep schedule, a morning job, children, or even the mildest interest in functioning like a responsible adult. Summer League has a way of testing a fan base’s devotion, and staying up past midnight to evaluate second-round picks in July may be the purest version of basketball fandom available.

For the Wolves fans willing to make that sacrifice, Canis Hoopus will have the comments section open and ready.

The stakes remain low, the tip time is unnecessarily late, and the conclusions should remain temporary. But Timberwolves basketball is on television again. For the middle of July, that will have to be enough.

It’s safe to say that Will Riley is feeling confident.

The former Illinois and current Wizards forward caught fire in his second NBA Summer League game. Riley had a game-high 32 points in 29 minutes. He also added 6 rebounds and 3 assists.

His scoring ability was on full display in the victory, something Illinois fans likely remember well. Riley went 9-14 from the floor and an impressive 6-8 from beyond the arc. He also knocked down 5 free throws in 6 attempts.

After a quiet first half in which Riley put up just 5 points, the second-year forward exploded in the second half. He sunk 5 catch-and-shoot three-pointers. He also made a nice full-court pass that led to an AJ Dybantsa slam late in the fourth quarter. 

In his first game this summer, Riley had 18 points but was less efficient. He shot 5-12 from the field and just 1-2 from deep. 

The former 21st overall pick has his work cut out for him this offseason. He averaged over 10 points per game in his rookie campaign, but will compete with multiple veterans and the number one overall pick for playing time.

If he can keep scoring like he is in summer league, though, finding his way onto the court shouldn’t be a problem.

This is a sight that could send Knicks fans into cold sweats — even in July.

Jalen Brunson was spotted Saturday for the first time since his left wrist surgery, photographed paying a visit to The Other Lucy Beach Grille in Margate, New Jersey.

Brunson’s left hand and wrist were wrapped and resting in a sling almost a month after winning NBA Finals MVP with the Knicks.

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Brunson underwent wrist surgery Tuesday to repair a tendon issue in his left hand and wrist that he dealt with throughout the Knicks’ playoff run, which resulted in their first championship since 1973.

Brunson also confirmed online that he will make an appearance at Madison Square Garden for the WWE “Saturday Night’s Main Event” this weekend after Roman Reigns extended an invite.

“Thank you, Jalen, for taking the time to inspire, uplift, and show that even a small act of kindness can have a lasting impact. Robert will never forget this special moment, and neither will we,” the caption read from the restaurant, which is run by the H.O.P.E. program.

“Congratulations again on an incredible season and on bringing home the title! We wish you continued success both on and off the court. Thank you for inspiring the next generation and for showing what great leadership looks like. We truly appreciate your visit and hope to see you again soon.”

Brunson’s recovery is estimated to be six to eight weeks, meaning he should be ready to go when the Knicks begin their title defense later this year.

Brunson’s discomfort didn’t stop him from putting on a world-class performance during the Knicks’ run to the championship.

In the title-clinching Game 5 win against San Antonio, Brunson posted a Knicks’ Finals record 45 points after adding 36 in the Game 4 comeback from a 29-point deficit.

He averaged 32.6 points in the Finals overall.

After the clinching Game 5, Brunson admitted he felt some pain.

“I’m hurting right now,” Brunson said. “I’m not going to lie to you. I’m hurting right now. But like I said before, the opportunity presented itself.”

Draymond Green and Udonis Haslem have found a way to turn the reported Bam Adebayo/Tyler Herro scuffle into a full-blown NBA enforcer feud.

Because apparently, one scuffle is never enough.

The drama started after Adebayo reportedly struck former Miami Heat teammate Herro during a workout Friday morning at practice near Resorts World Las Vegas. Herro, recently shipped to the Milwaukee Bucks in the Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster, declined to explain what happened.

“My only comment is no comment,” Herro said.

The Heat also went with the classic “aware and not commenting” approach.

Green, however, had plenty to say.

On “The Draymond Green Show,” the Warriors forward wondered whether Haslem would bring the same outrage for Adebayo that he once brought for Green after his infamous 2022 practice punch on Jordan Poole.

“I remember one person when the Jordan Poole incident happened with me who was really, really outspoken about it and it really Bothered me, was Udonis Haslem,” Green said.

“I saw UD get into it with guys on teams that was younger than him before. Ala Jimmy Butler,” Green continued. “Then he came out like, ‘That’s ridiculous! You get into it with your young guy I would never. I can’t believe you did that.’ What is it ‘Heat Culture or Heat way?’ Maybe they don’t have fights.”

Green even admitted he did not actually want Haslem to come down on Adebayo the way Haslem once hammered him.

“Reality is I don’t want him to have that same energy because I love Bam,” Green said. “That’s my brother, my dog.”

Green also appeared to draw a direct line between Herro and Poole, saying Herro, who is from Milwaukee like Poole, has “a lot of bravado as a young guy” and “probably said some very disrespectful things like Jordan Poole.”

Haslem, who spent two decades as Miami’s resident culture cop before moving into a front-office role, did not wait long to respond. In a lengthy social media post, the retired Heat captain essentially told Green to stop trying him.

“I see some things just don’t change,” Haslem wrote. “You was on sucka s–t four years ago when you swung on Jordan Poole and you on sucka s–t now.”

And that was just the warmup.

Haslem argued Green’s punch was not comparable, pointing out that Green was a 32-year-old champion and veteran leader when he struck the 23-year-old Poole. Adebayo and Herro, he noted, are much closer in age and no longer teammates after Herro’s trade to Milwaukee.

“First of all Bam is 28. Tyler is 26. Neither one of them got it all figured out yet,” Haslem wrote.

He then made the distinction even sharper.

“Anyone who knows Bam knows he’s strong as baby bear,” Haslem wrote. “If he would’ve unloaded on Tyler 100% it’s over. You fired off on that young boy like it was a club punch and you never met him before in your life.”

Haslem also defended his own history of checking teammates in Miami, including Jimmy Butler, saying that kind of behavior would not fly with the Heat.

“Call it Heat Culture or whatever you want,” Haslem wrote. “But before I let one player disrespect [head coach Eric Spoelstra] in front of the squad, cut his legs out and disrupt what 15 other guys tryin to get accomplished, I’ll kick his ass.”

Finally, Haslem made it clear he is not interested in becoming a recurring character on Green’s podcast.

“Ion really vibe you and I think you know that,” Haslem wrote. “You brought me into this and I am retired and out the way. I suggest you keep it pushing cause I ain’t giving out no more hall passes bra!”

Of course, being “out the way” apparently still includes dropping five-paragraph warnings on social media.

The original Adebayo-Herro incident remains cloudy. No video has surfaced, no punishment has been announced and nobody involved seems eager to explain exactly what happened.

But Green and Haslem have already done what NBA gadflies do best in July: Turn somebody else’s fight into their own.

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You’d have to say that even with a couple of obvious concerns, the Nets Off-Season has been a success, starting from June 23. Their best draft pick in 16 years (think about that!) has been, as his Summer League coach said, “electric” and the development of their second best pick in that timeframe has been exciting. They also got a two-time All-NBA and three-time All-Star who’s still capable of putting up 20 and 7 plus another first round pick in what was essentially a salary dump, much like they did last year. Yeah, they want to win.

Yes, their rim protection and rim running are questionable, Drake Powell has raised questions about his NBA future as a shooter and they didn’t come away with a superstar or even a star in free agency (yet?) but adding Mikel Brown Jr., Julius Randle and another first in Joshua Jefferson while watching Egor Demin dominate has provided, let’s say, some suggestion of hope that the first of many corners has finally been turned.

And they did it without cutting into their cache of draft picks, although their seeming reluctance to move any of their record cache of second rounders was a bit of a head-scratcher.

The big news of the Off-Season of course is drafting Brown Jr., aka MBJ or ‘Kel. Randle has the resume’ but he’s 31 going on 32. While Brown Jr. has played only two games, both were filled with moments that make it less than crazy to say Brooklyn has a lead guard who can play on either end of the court, score from all angles and throw some passes that makes most fans wonder when they last saw a playmaker like him in black-and-white.

Despite bleating, mostly from pundits, that the Nets should have taken Darius Acuff, he of the “sizzle”, “box office” and “star quality,” over Brown Jr., there’s now increasing if begrudging agreement that the players taken before and after Brown Jr. have shown more flaws than the Nets pick at No. 6.

Acuff’s defense has been as advertised, that is somewhere between awful and non-existent and unlikely to improve any time soon. His scoring (19.5 ppg in four games), by his own admission has been inefficient. In two games in Sacramento and two more so far in Las Vegas, he’s shooting 13-of-41 or 31.7% overall and 8-of-31 from deep or 25.8%. Remember it was his shooting that wowed everyone during his time at Arkansas, not his defense. Oh no.

Keaton Wagler taken at No. 5 has only played in two games and while his 23-point effort Sunday night in Las Vegas was solid, it comes after a 1-of-7 shooting night in his Vegas debut. As they did prior to the Draft, critics noted his lack of athleticism as well as his high BBIQ. Wagler, for example, finished 50th in the NBA Combine’s shuttle run out of 72, and he didn’t dunk once at Illinois last season.

Brown Jr., in comparison, has played only two games, one each in the two leagues, and is averaging 15.0 points while shooting 10-of-23 or 43.5% overall and 5-of-11 or 45.5% from deep. He’s also tallied seven assists to four turnovers in 41 minutes. The eye test, as anyone who watched the games, can attest, was even more impressive.

So maybe, the Nets didn’t screw it up? that they won’t regret for all time and a day not taking Acuff? Without explanation on Sunday night, Steven A. Smith, who famously excoriated the Nets for taking Brown Jr. over “box office” Acuff, reposted a positive interview he did with the Nets pick prior to the Draft…

A back-handed apologia from Steven A that he might have been wrong the first time? Is it Brown Jr., not Acuff who’s “box office?” On the other hand, it should be noted that despite Brown Jr.’s play as well as his high pick, Smith’s colleagues at ESPN didn’t even mention him in its discussion of first impressions of the 2026 Draft Class.

Of course, we’ll know more Tuesday when the Nets and Brown face off against the Kings and Acuff at 6:00 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime.

Yes, it’s only Summer League which is after all, the ancestral home of NBA hype, and it’s only been two games, and Coach Dutch Gaitley offered these areas of improvement for Brown Jr. after his first game.

“The thing we’re challenging him now is figuring out his spots in the flow of the offense. Him and Egor together, how can we get both of them going at the same time,” Gaitley said. “And defensively is increasing his physicality. The first part is hitting bigs when they’re rolling, boxing them out. He’s smart, so some of the stuff he’s doing defensively I told him was Level 4, Level 5. We’re still on 1.5 in summer league.

“He’s smart enough that he knows what the next iteration we may not get to until October; but he knows it already. How can we do the little things and the simple stuff perfect before we build on [it]? And the last part is just getting into the ball, more physicality, pick-and-roll, which defensively isn’t what he’s not known for right now, but it’s something that’s going to surprise a lot of people.”

Still, gotta be happy. Demin too has been a revelation for those who think the Nets got nothing out of their five-firsts in 2025. It’s no exaggeration that Demin has been the best player on the court in the three games he’s played. one of the top marks in the Summer, and going to the rim as will. From going 1-of-4 in the paint in his first three games last year in Vegas to hitting 11-of-12 in his first two games in Sacramento was a revelation for a lot of people if not the assistant coaches who worked with him since March. Overall, he’s 22-of-42 — 52.4% — even if his 3-point shooting has fallen off at 7-of-23 or 30.4%.

There have been other positives out of the Summer beyond “Brooklyn’s Backcourt” … whose trademark the Nets have controlled since DWill and Joe Jesus. Chaney Johnson, who just turned 24, has continued to show he’s an NBA player, particularly in his Las Vegas debut where he dropped a 20/10 double-double and showed off his 40+ inch max vertical as well as some new found strength, Although somewhere between 6’7” and 6’8”, he’s been playing center at times and Gaitley has noted his position-less possibilities.

“I knew Chaney was a beast. It’s further confirmed,” Gaitley told the media. “In the ESPN thing, they asked about all of our rookies: ‘Who’s the one guy you haven’t talked about?’ I was like, ‘It’s Chaney Johnson.’ And the reason is Chaney has to play at the center just because we need him to play the center.

“If we needed Chaney to play point guard, Chaney would play point guard. He does whatever is called for the team. He’s an outstanding teammate. He plays as hard as anybody on the court. I think he’s got a really bright future.”

Bruce Brown II? In any case, he’s putting up 15.0 points and 8.8 boards while shooting 22-of-34 or 64% overall and 4-of-6 from deep. Not a bad pick-up.

The Nets other confirmed two-way, No. 43 pick Tyler Bilodeau, has had some moments as well in his three games, his most impressive night being Brown Jr.’s debut in Sacramento where he hit 6-of-8 from deep, each time wide open and ready thanks to Brown Jr.‘s gravity. (Nothing official on who will get the third two-way but Grant Nelson, the athletic 7-footer who had nice numbers last year in Long Island then Brooklyn before injuring his knee seems the betting favorite.)

Then, there’s remaining first rounders from last year’s Draft. Nolan Traore, who had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee after the season, is in Las Vegas but still recovering. Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf have looked much like themselves in Summer League with Saraf showing more defense, Wolf more shooting. Joshua Jefferson’s first game was disappointing but he had just signed his new contract and put on his first NBA uniform.

The big story though is Drake Powell, the 6’7” wing, is having a horrible Summer League, shooting 1-of-28 overall — that’s 3.7% — in four games. It’s so much of an aberration now that it’s easier to deal with. No one can be that bad. He’s not hurt, he’s still moving well and he even grew an inch over the summer. Is it the “yips” described by Wikipedia as “psychoneuromuscular impediment, a sudden and unexplained loss of ability to execute certain skills in experienced performers such as athletes.” Others have described it as performance anxiety. Whatever, it is real, but for the most part it’s temporary.

And Gaitley, ever the optimist, will remind you as he reminded the media the other night, Powell is still playing good defense, citing how he played vs. Acuff.

“People have talked a lot about his shot. They haven’t talked about his defense, and his defense has been outstanding,” Gaitley told The Post’s Brian Lewis. “He was the primary matchup for [Darius] Acuff in the first game, and [Acuff] had two points on him the whole entire game. He had 11 matchups and only had two points; that’s really impressive.

“Offensively, just trying to simplify it for Drake. Hey, if you’re open, shoot it. If you’re not open, drive it. Sometimes he gets caught in between he maybe should’ve shot it. And then he’s like, ‘Oh, I made the wrong decision. All right, now let me shoot it.’ And it’s like, right now you’ve just got to get off it. So I think hopefully the game slows down for him.”

Powell, one of the top high school players in the country two years ago, spent his freshman year under UNC’s Hubie Green, who saw Powell as a defensive specialist. He got little usage on offense and despite his high school achievements (which included being valedictorian of his graduating class), he fell from a preseason ranking in the top five to No. 22 on Draft Night in 2025. He was the biggest reach of the five-player class in that ESPN’s final mock had him going at No. 32.

The Nets remain optimistic. There are a lot of tools there, but an issue can’t be ignored even if there are reasons it can be dismissed. Maybe Brooklyn would be well served by hiring a dedicated shooting coach. They know about the “yips.”

Hail, Hail, the gang’s all here!

Looking at the bench and nearby seating at the Summer League games, it’s hard to figure out who isn’t there, rather than who is. The Nets Summer League roster includes six players under contract: Egor Demin, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf, Danny Wolf, Mikel Brown Jr. and Joshua Jefferson plus two two-ways in Chaney Johnson and Tyler Bilodeau.

Also seen cheering and checking their mobile phones nearby have been Michael Porter Jr., Julius Randle, Noah Clowney, Keon Ellis, Terance Mann, Josh Minott, Day’Ron Sharpe and Nolan Traore who would normally be on the court except, as noted, he’s recovering from a ‘scope. That leaves only the yet unsigned Moe Wagner! (He has been seen at a Liberty game this week, however, and our Lucas Kaplan notes he’s been living in Brooklyn all summer.)

Same thing with the coaching staff. Jordi Fernandez has been watching from the stands and six of his nine assistants, everyone but his three senior assistants, Steve Hetzel, Juwan Howard and Jay Hernandez, are on the bench. Those three are on hand, however. The Nets have also brought four video assistants, including one, Foster Loyer, who is being promoted to “special assistant to the head coach;” three Long Island Nets coaches, including the newly minted head coach Shawn Swords; and advance scout Brian O’Connor. Sean Marks has been on hand as well, mobile phone in hand.

Randle spoke about how the simple presence of veterans can help youngsters adapt to NBA life,

“They’re really excited to have me here. Jordi [Fernandez] is really excited. He feels like going into every game, we’ve got a chance to win every single game,” Randle said. “To have that confidence from your coach is amazing. … I get to come in and be a leader, show guys how to be a pro.

“We’re coming in trying to win. It’s as simple as that. However we can help give the younger guys experience and confidence and help them fast-track or whatever it is to contribute to winning basketball, that’s really all that matters.”

It’s something Demin says he’s seen already from the 13-year veteran.

“He’s experienced being around many different teams and playing in the different levels of the different stages of the season and playoffs,” Dëmin said. “He brings an amazing knowledge. And he seems a great person.”

Done yet? Probably. but …

The Nets currently have 14 players on guaranteed deals, with Moe Wagner waiting in the wings, plus the two two-ways in Tyler Bilodeau and Chaney Johnson. It would appear that the Nets free agency is done, but depending on how they manipulate and time things, they have a little wiggle room.

Per Yossi Gozlan of Third Apron, they can probably whittle together just a bit less than $12 million without Wagner’s two-year, $19 million contract and that could signal that the Nets are holding on to their last vestige of optionality. The Nets can sign Wagner out of cap space or fit his first year salary into the $9.4 million room MLE that’s available to them. Some have speculated that the similarity between his salary and the first year of the MLE

Signing him out of cap space of course would basically put them at or near the salary cap but still tens of millions of dollars short of the luxury tax threshold or the first apron. Using the MLE would mean delaying his signing till they’re out of other options.

Any trade at this point — and we have no inside information — would likely take full advantage of the Nets cache of draft picks. Other than expending them in the 2026 Draft, the Nets haven’t moved any of their picks in the off-season and in fact added a first, the 28th pick they used on Joshua Jefferson, in the Julius Randle trade.

As more than one league source has told us, gathering this many picks means the Nets want to be opportunistic either now or at the trade deadline.

Of course, we don’t know what the Nets will do with MPJ, but applying logic it would seem they are going to extend him. They had multiple chances to deal him last deadline but decided against it. Instead, they shut him down. Considering that more than one amateur capologist has suggested Marks and Tsai could rework his contract, add as much as $9 million (that number again) to the $40.8 million he’ll make next season, then extend him to a contract with declining salaries. He’s only 28.

Final Note

Adam Silver will speak to the media Wednesday as he always does during Summer League and the press conference is likely to be dominated by the still unresolved Aspiration scandal involving alleged circumvention of the salary cap by the Clippers in signing Kawhi Leonard, the burgeoning gambling scandal that recently snagged veteran Terry Rozier and the revelation in Wired Magazine that James Dolan’s facial recognition programs are a lot more widespread and egregious.

The Nets are not directly affected by any of them, but the league needs to deal with all three. Each affects the most basic trust between fans and the league. Cheating whether in the boardroom or on the court and spying on fans all have the ability to damage the league for a long time.

LAS VEGAS — After the Phoenix Suns traded Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets and bought out Bradley Beal this summer, all the attention turned toward how the team planned to build around Devin Booker, whom Suns management has continued to express the team is building around despite numerous rumors and mock trades surrounding the NBA All-Star.

Along with acquiring Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green, two of the most important pieces the team is planning to build around are Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Maluach, who are getting their second go-around in NBA Summer League after both played sparingly in their rookie years. Both were acquired in the deal that sent Durant to Houston.

After the team’s second game in three days and an 81-75 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday, the two reflected on their second stints playing in Summer League in a joint postgame interview.

Maluach, who’s currently leading the Summer League in rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 50% from three on 5.5 attempts a game, has said he’s been given opportunities to learn how to be more adaptable. He’s trying to find ways to improve while playing and when no one’s watching.

“I go back and watch film and just observe the game and just really get better. Continuing while the game is going on, keep on adjusting, keep on getting better throughout the whole game,” Maluach said.

While he’s been strong on the boards and has averaged a combined three steals and blocks per game so far, the Duke product is focused on cutting down his turnovers after averaging 3.5 in his first few contests. He knows as a young center it’s something he needs to focus on.

“Being a young big, when the (regular) season gets here I know a lot of people are going to pressure up into me and try to make me turn over the ball, and I just gotta be able to take care of the ball so that my coach can trust me with the ball.”

Fleming, who has had a rough start to Summer League shooting just 36.8% from the field, is taking pride in doing the small things and being a leader as a veteran on the roster, along with Maluach.

“Just being able to make the next play for my teammates and knowing they’ll do the same when one of us (him or Maluach) gets in trouble, just being there for each other,” Fleming said.

When it comes to the defensive side of the ball, Fleming wants him and Maluach to take a unified approach to limiting other teams.

“I think we all just gotta go out there trying to make the right play. Whether it’s me, whether it’s him (Maluach), we both go out there just looking to make the right play.”

After the game, it is important to note that Fleming had his left hand wrapped up but said he was “fine” and that he was just feeling a bit “sore.”

As is typical for many players going into their second season in the NBA, playing in Summer League, Fleming and Maluach’s time in Summer League could possibly be over. However, Suns assistant coach Chaisson Allen, who is the head coach of the Summer League team, signaled there is a chance both could play tomorrow against Milwaukee because he said it’s important for young players to get reps.

Phoenix will play the Milwaukee Bucks at 7 p.m. tonight in what will be the team’s third Summer League game, which can be watched on Amazon Prime.

The Spurs re-signed Victor Wembanyama, something everyone expected to happen. What was surprising about it was that Wembanyama, a consensus top-five player in the league, decided to settle for the normal maximum contract instead of one that would have gotten him a bigger payday if he simply met some criteria he was likely to meet.

While not providing an immediate impact on the cap situation, as the extension doesn’t kick in until next season, Wemby’s decision does help the Spurs in several ways going forward.

The Spurs have gained a lot of certainty about their cap situation

While Wembanyama’s decision has been described as a pay cut, that’s not technically accurate. Not yet, at least. The most Wembanyama could have signed for was 25 percent of the salary cap, which is what he’s slated to get. What The Alien gave up is the possibility of getting paid 30 percent of the cap if he had made an All-NBA team or won Most Valuable Player or Defensive Player of the Year in the 2026/27 season.

The chances of Wembanyama reaching one of those benchmarks were likely, as he was recently unanimously named DPoY and made first-team All-NBA. Now, Wemby only just made it to the 65-game threshold for the awards, so there’s a case to be made that health could have prevented him from getting the 30 percent max. Even then, the Spurs wouldn’t have known until next season how much money Wemby would command.

The biggest immediate benefit to the Spurs is that they have gained certainty. They know for a fact that the most Wembanyama will get is 25 percent of the cap and can prepare for the future accordingly. They’ll also get to avoid the awkwardness of having Wembanyama’s health and rest intertwined with his earning power, but that’s a bonus.

Wemby’s sacrifice could push back the time for painful decisions

The added predictability to their cap situation should allow the Spurs to push back some tough decisions. Instead of making $54 million in 2027/28, Wembanyama will make $43 million. San Antonio will have around $202 million in committed salary for 11 players, including Luke Kornet’s partially guaranteed deal, narrowly below the tax line, estimated to be set at $211 million. The aprons will be set over the tax line.

In theory, the Spurs could keep Kornet, bring back Keldon Johnson to a smaller contract, and sign their first-round pick while not crossing the second apron line. If Johnson commands a higher salary than they are comfortable paying, they could let him go and use their mid-level exception to replace him while likely still remaining below the first apron. If they want to stay under the tax while signing their first-rounder, they could easily do so by letting Johnson go, waiving Kornet to save around $7 million, and filling out the roster with minimum contracts.

It’s unclear whether the Spurs will want to duck the tax or be fine with paying it while not crossing the second apron. What Wembanyama’s new extension does is likely allow them to do either while retaining their core rotation players. For now, at least.

The cap reckoning is still coming, but Wemby’s sacrifice could inspire others to take less to stay together

Wembanyama deciding to take 25 percent of the cap no matter what brought predictability and potentially delayed some tough decisions, but those tough decisions are still coming. What the Spurs can hope for is Wembanyama’s sacrifice to inspire others.

Eventually parting ways with De’Aaron Fox, who signed a veteran extension for 30 percent of the cap, seems inevitable, as the young Spurs whose small contracts are making his deal palatable become more expensive. Especially since the two players likely to earn max or near-max contracts are also on-ball guards. By 2028/29, San Antonio will have to get money off the books for a Stephon Castle extension, and if it doesn’t come at the expense of trading Fox for expiring deals before then, it will likely cost them their depth. There’s no escaping that reality.

What Wembanyama’s decision can affect is what happens next. Now, there would be nothing wrong about Castle and Dylan Harper signing for the maximum, whatever that might end up being. It’s not their fault the tax and the aprons are so punishing. But if they do take less, keeping both of them, along with Wembanyama, could be possible, at least for a while. Having 75 percent of the cap or more tied to three players would make team-building hard, but if the Spurs can get even small discounts from the guards, they could use their draft picks to add cheap depth while still having room for a couple of mid-sized deals.

Unless the CBA changes dramatically in 2029, paying three stars for the rest of their careers will be close to impossible, but pay cuts across the board could buy the core some time.

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Eight more games are on tap for Monday’s Summer League slate, and I’m highlighting my favorite values from Kalshi.

The Celtics come in as small dogs against the Hawks, but I’m taking them to win. The Heat go toe-to-toe with the Cavaliers, and I’m taking the Heat to prevail. No. 5 pick Caleb Wilson went off in his Summer League debut, and I expect him to lead Chicago to victory against the Jazz, who will be without Darryn Peterson.

Check out my NBA Summer League picks for Monday, July 13.

NBA Summer League predictions for July 13

Pick
Celtics moneyline	+156
Heat moneyline	-104
Bulls moneyline	-177

Today's Summer League Picks

  Celtics moneyline (+156 at Kalshi)

A pair of 2-0 teams face off, but the Atlanta Hawks are heavy favorites, offering strong value in betting on a strong Boston Celtics team at +156.

Rookie second-rounder Dillon Mitchell has been electric, and the St. John’s product will look to build on a 24/8/2 performance with six steals and two blocks. Last year’s rookie class of John Tonje, Amari Williams, and Hugo Gonzalez have played big minutes in SL action, parlaying NBA experience into productive play time.

Atlanta sports a strong SL roster featuring Kingston Flemings and Asa Newell, but Boston’s depth and experience will keep them competitive and push them over the top in what should be a competitive matchup.

 Heat moneyline (-104 at Kalshi)

Through two Summer League games, the Miami Heat have six players averaging double-digit points, including NBA vets Jahmir Young and Trevor Keels, who are averaging 20+ apiece.

Second-rounder Ryan Conwell posted 19 points in his SL debut and rested Saturday, so he should have fresh legs as he builds on a strong debut.

Fellow second-rounder Maleek Thomas has shined for the Clevleand Cavaliers, and they boast a pair of experienced players in Nae’qwon Tomlin and Malaki Branham. 

Both teams have strong talent at the top of their rosters, but the Heat are a bit deeper and should have the edge as small favorites.

 Bulls moneyline (-177 at Kalshi)

The Utah Jazz aren’t short on talent, but they haven’t won a SL game yet. Their path to victory won’t get easier tonight with No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson out of action.

The Chicago Bulls lost their lone SL game by a single point, staying competitive with a Grizzlies roster that may be the most talented in Vegas.

Rookie Caleb Wilson posted a monstrous 35 points in his debut, and he may be the best player on the court in tonight’s matchup. I’ll take him to deliver another strong performance and guide his team to its first win of the summer.

Monday’s NBA Summer League parlay

Celtics moneyline

Heat moneyline

Bulls moneyline

+686 at Kalshi

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